"Before answering your questions, I need to introduce you to intelligence about this world, particularly about Dwarves and Elves," Tarnes said, rubbing his temples.
Under the explanations of Tarnes and Nepheli Loux, with Kenneth Haight's occasional additions, Radahn gained a general understanding of this world.
Nepheli Loux picked up the tea brought by a maid from the council table and drank it in one gulp, exhaling deeply: "When you have time, you can personally walk around the city. Tarnes' territory has attracted many Dwarves and Elves, enough to form their own residential districts. The same goes for humans of this world. For a more detailed understanding, I suggest visiting the castle library, which has recently added many books about this world's knowledge."
Tarnes asked in surprise: "Ah? Where did these books come from?"
Nepheli Loux set down her teacup: "Some were brought by Dwarf and human merchants who came to trade in the Golden Tree territory, others are books compiled by the Elves themselves as gifts to us, and the rest were brought back from outside by your friends Rogier and D."
Tarnes realized: "I wondered why I hadn't seen Rogier and D. What are they doing now?"
Nepheli Loux shrugged: "Who knows? I didn't ask them specifically what they're doing, just that they often leave the Golden Tree territory, and from time to time humans come to join us."
Kenneth Haight spoke up: "I know a bit about this. Master D told me he's spreading word of the Golden Tree's greatness outside, promoting Lord Tarnes."
Nepheli Loux sighed: "So that's why humans occasionally come to us as entire villages... Well, let's set that topic aside for now and answer General Radahn's earlier questions."
Radahn indicated he didn't mind but would wait until important matters were settled before discussing these things.
Tarnes looked at Radahn: "Ask your previous questions one by one again."
Radahn nodded and raised his earlier doubts. Tarnes answered each one while briefly explaining his entire journey to the Lonely Mountain.
After all questions were answered, Radahn fell into thought.
He shook his head: "So originally those Dwarves just wanted to retrieve the gem symbolizing royal authority from the dragon, and you only promised to help them slay the dragon... I didn't expect things would develop into warfare. Well, gaining a large new territory isn't worth complaining about."
Radahn's gaze returned to the Middle-earth map on the council table, focusing on the Lonely Mountain's position.
He said gravely: "The Lonely Mountain's geographical position is extremely crucial. Once it's completely occupied by Orcs, the northern situation will become precarious. Surrounding humans, Elves, and Dwarves will lose initiative and can only defend passively, while Orcs can use the Lonely Mountain's advantage to attack at any time."
Radahn paused and continued: "So merely supporting our Dwarf allies and eliminating enemies outside the Lonely Mountain is far from enough. We must attack the Lonely Mountain and reclaim it to truly achieve our strategic objectives. Otherwise, Orcs need only hold the Lonely Mountain and wait for reinforcements, and this war will sink into a prolonged battle quagmire. That's not what I want to see."
Tarnes nodded, keenly catching two layers of meaning in Radahn's words.
First, Radahn believed that in the war's initial stages, retaking the Lonely Mountain should be the core objective, striking while Orcs were unaware of their intentions, catching them off guard, and seizing the Lonely Mountain in one move, like capturing a key position at the start of a chess game to establish victory for subsequent battles.
Second, Radahn also made clear that if the war unfortunately evolved into a prolonged war of attrition, they absolutely wouldn't let themselves sink into it.
After all, the Lonely Mountain was ultimately the Dwarves' homeland and territory. They came as support, as helping hands, not as the main force in a war of attrition. They wouldn't let their people bleed endlessly in this war that wasn't theirs.
"I understand your meaning, Radahn," Tarnes nodded slightly.
Radahn also nodded slightly, then asked: "So how many brave warriors from the Redmane Legion do you plan to summon? I hope you can summon my aide Ogha as well. With him by my side, I can confidently entrust many matters to him, like placing heavy burdens on a sturdy pack horse. Also, my forbidden knight Red Lion Freyja, and my old friend Jerren, they're all my capable right hands."
He listed his former subordinates' names one by one, golden pupils burning with fervent expectation as he looked directly at Tarnes, hoping he would agree to his request.
Tarnes silently calculated the remaining golden grace, then after a moment's consideration said: "Twenty Redmane Knights, plus seven hundred Royal Army soldiers and two thousand one hundred auxiliary troops. Will this formation suffice?"
Radahn seemed to have an answer ready, replying without hesitation: "If there were also war machines at my disposal, moving arrow towers, catapults, and such, that would be even better. However, two thousand one hundred auxiliary troops is indeed too many. From my experience, one Royal Army soldier paired with two auxiliary troops is sufficient for various matters. Whether assisting with armor or operating machinery, one thousand four hundred auxiliary troops would suffice. With the seven hundred surplus auxiliary positions, could you exchange them for Lion Guardians and Trolls? How many could we get?"
Tarnes quickly recalculated, then answered: "Then exchange for three Lion Guardians and five Troll Knights."
After careful consideration, Radahn nodded with satisfaction: "Good, that's sufficient. If used properly, these three Lion Guardians and five Troll Knights will certainly be far more effective than seven hundred auxiliary troops."
Kenneth Haight interjected into their conversation: "Forgive me for joining your discussion, Lord Tarnes, General Radahn. I heard you mention war machines, but I must remind you that the current Stormveil Castle doesn't have the machines General Radahn mentioned."
Radahn frowned slightly, but Tarnes smiled to reassure Kenneth Haight.
Tarnes said: "I understand your concern, Kenneth Haight. But rest assured, the things General Radahn mentioned are all prepared, just not in Stormveil Castle."
Kenneth Haight looked puzzled, but Nepheli Loux said thoughtfully: "So... General Radahn's castle, Redmane Castle, was also summoned by you?"
Tarnes nodded: "Of course, but since the Golden Tree's protective range is now very large, I didn't summon it near the Golden Tree."
He looked up at Radahn, whose face showed some emotion upon hearing "Redmane Castle," and pointed to the map location: "Your Redmane Castle is here, above Lond Daer harbor, with the broad Greyflood River to the east."
Radahn immediately memorized this location and nodded.
Tarnes continued: "As for the Freyja and Jerren you mentioned, I can likewise summon them to aid us. However, Ogha... I cannot be certain he can answer the call."
Freyja could definitely be summoned. Tarnes remembered this Redmane Legion warrior was encountered in the Shadow Realm, so summoning her would require Shadow Grace.
Tarnes hadn't used Shadow Grace to summon anything for nearly a year, so surely those reserves were sufficient.
He suspected Shadow Grace might not even be enough to summon Messmer along with his castle and army.
But as before, considering that Lands Between residents didn't know about the Shadow Realm, to avoid unrest, Tarnes should at least wait until this Lonely Mountain expedition ended before summoning Shadow Realm forces.
Summoning Jerren was even easier. He just had to avoid Jerren meeting his teacher, Sellen.
He wondered what Jerren would think when his memories returned and he saw scenes of himself, as Sellen's student, helping his teacher kill Jerren multiple times.
In Tarnes' memory, whenever he stood beside Teacher Sellen, Jerren would always speak with that tone mixing regret and heartache, accusing him of inevitably becoming Caria's enemy, his words full of regret and helplessness.
He wondered what wonderful expression Jerren's face would show upon seeing the wedding ring of the Princess of the Moon, that is, Carian Princess Ranni, on his finger.
Suddenly, Tarnes remembered that Radahn was Ranni's brother.
Better not reveal this to Jerren then.
Tarnes thought with inexplicable guilt.
Radahn's expression seemed frozen for an instant. After a brief pause, he said softly with some regret and sorrow: "I see... During those long years when I was eroded by Scarlet Rot, struggling in madness's depths, Ogha had already fallen?"
Tarnes comforted him: "Though I'm unclear exactly how Ogha sacrificed himself, his powerful soul didn't return to the tree but stayed to continue fighting. Ogha's soul now rests with me. I think he still hopes to see you once more, waiting for his soul to shine again."
Only then did Radahn's expression ease slightly. He sighed: "So he became a spirit-like existence serving you? That's good, better than completely vanishing from the world without a trace."
Tarnes then looked at Kenneth Haight: "Now that our expedition army's soldier numbers are determined, how are provisions on your end?"
Kenneth Haight bowed slightly, his expression confident and respectful as he responded like an opera performer: "Please be assured, my lords! From the moment you depart, provisions will never trouble you. Fort Haight will be this expedition's solid backbone for supplies! Continuous provisions will flow like a babbling brook, never running dry, ensuring every warrior can march to battle well-fed!"
Tarnes nodded slightly, looking at Radahn: "Do you have any other questions? If not, come with me to the Golden Tree's courtyard. I'll summon the Redmane Legion's warriors into this world."
Kenneth Haight maintained his respectful posture: "Then I'll take my leave first. Once Lord Tarnes has summoned General Radahn's army, I'll immediately lead Fort Haight's soldiers to deliver the prepared provisions without delay."
Nepheli Loux's face couldn't hide her boredom: "Fine, you all have things to do. I'll suffer a bit longer, temporarily sitting in that lord's seat for a few more days as acting lord, enjoying the breeze from Stormveil's heights and keeping company with war hawks as entertainment."
Tarnes coughed lightly: "When this war ends, I'll take you to the Lonely Mountain, Nepheli Loux. Then you can escape these lordly duties."
"I hope so, as long as you don't suddenly disappear for so long again."
Stormveil Castle's courtyard couldn't accommodate so many people, especially with the Golden Tree now occupying most of the courtyard space. Therefore, the Redmane Legion could only temporarily use Stormveil Castle's Storm Legion training grounds for assembly.
Some hot-tempered Redmane Knights initially had complaints about this, but when they saw General Radahn, no longer mad but filled with reason, they swallowed their grievances.
As long as General Radahn was well, they had no complaints.
Loyalty! Devotion!
The red armor worn by Redmane Legion soldiers blazed like raging flames across the training grounds.
Whether Redmane Knights, Radahn's Royal Army soldiers, or auxiliary troops, they all stood straight as pines, eyes sharp and determined like cheetahs watching prey.
Especially when General Radahn stood before them, the gazes directed at him burned with near-fanatical devotion, bright as torches in the night.
Red armor gleamed brilliantly under the Golden Tree's radiance like flowing lava. Every groove in their armor was a medal from their baptism by fire, silently telling untold stories of courage and loyalty.
The Redmane Legion's banners fluttered fiercely in the wind, the lion emblems on the flags baring fangs and claws, that vivid red like never-extinguishing flames.
Broadsword blades trembled slightly in the wind, spear points aimed at the sky.
But without exception, these weapons were gripped tightly by soldiers eager for General Radahn's commands.
"ROAR!"
A roar filled with savage ferocity shook the training grounds like thunder crashing from clear skies.
Three Lion Guardians were brought to the training grounds by Tarnes, emanating wild auras, their black fur bristling.
Behind Tarnes, five Troll Knights remained silent like five stone statues, golden greatswords on their backs, following closely.
The moment the Lion Guardians' wild gazes met Radahn's, they fell silent as if enchanted, quiet as tame cats crouching on the ground. Their sharp fangs and claws retracted, leaving only submissive eyes fixed on Radahn, awaiting this Lands Between demigod's commands.