That night.
In the night sky above Black Gate, even moonlight could not penetrate the dark clouds, yet countless torches illuminated the tall, dark city walls.
The light from these torches illuminated the city walls, preventing the orcs lurking in the darkness from making any rash moves.
"Didn't that human who betrayed his own kind say the guards would shift their defensive focus to the other side tonight? To cooperate with him, I even had those slaves specifically go to the other side to die during the day. But now, not only have the guards on the city wall not decreased, they've increased. What exactly is going on?"
A pale-skinned human, his voice dangerous, questioned the orc chieftain kneeling before him. He wore a black robe and had a pair of red eyes that seemed to burn with blood-flames.
The orc chieftain, several sizes larger than this human, fearfully prostrated himself on the ground, not daring to look up, and replied with a trembling voice: "Black Hand, sir, I… I don't know what's going on either. That damned Ranger Captain did tell me he would open the city gate for us from the inside tonight, but other than that, I really don't know…"
"Click—"
"Thud."
Before the orc chieftain could finish speaking, his head rolled with the sound of a blade being unsheathed, and black blood gushed from his neck, staining the dry ground.
Black Hand didn't spare another glance at the orc chieftain's corpse. Instead, he casually pointed to an orc prostrate on the ground behind him: "From today onward, you will take its place and maintain contact with that human traitor."
"Yes, yes!"
A flicker of excitement crossed the face of the pointed orc. Its physique was noticeably weaker, and it was not as powerful as the deceased orc chieftain.
If not for Black Hand's words, it would never have been able to become the chieftain of this orc tribe in its lifetime.
On the city wall, an armory that was originally used to store weapons had been converted into a dining hall by the Rangers living there.
And at this moment, inside the dining hall, the usual dinner of only rice porridge and dried hard meat had transformed into various steaming hot delicacies, including but not limited to juicy fresh fruits, rich fatty steaks, and amber ale whose fire-like glow shimmered in the goblets.
The Rangers, who had been diligently defending the city wall all day, entered the dining hall and were all attracted by the lavish dinner before them.
A middle-aged Ranger Captain approached another younger Ranger Captain, clicking his tongue in wonder: "Hiss, what's going on today? Is that stingy Talion willing to bring out so much precious food?"
The young Ranger Captain's expression was solemn as he asked uncertainly: "Is there a very important military operation coming up? Is this our last meal prepared for us?"
The middle-aged Ranger Captain rolled his eyes: "Who cares if it is, let's eat first."
Then he called his team members to bravely enter the dining hall, filling a table, and feasting heartily.
The team members behind the young Ranger Captain watched their compatriots eating and drinking heartily, and the fatigue and hunger from the day immediately filled their bodies and minds, looking expectantly at their captain.
The young Captain sighed and waved his hand: "Forget it, even if it's a last meal, so be it. Hurry in and eat. We haven't smelled alcohol in half a year. I wonder if these ales have gone sour."
However, when he and his team members sat down, raised their goblets, and the cool, slightly bitter, refreshing ale entered their throats, it made his eyes widen.
These ales were not at all the sour, aged ales that this young Captain had imagined, but fresh ales as if they had just been chilled from a cellar.
More and more Rangers were drawn to the dining hall, until the very last Ranger coming off duty entered, and the place was already bustling with noise.
When Talion saw that it was about time, he also entered the dining hall to show himself, smiling and greeting the happily eating and drinking Rangers.
The Rangers responded with cheers.
"Talion, why are you suddenly so generous today?"
"Exactly, is there something difficult you need us brothers to do?"
"Talion, I toast you!"
"This fruit is amazing, after eating it I feel full of energy."
Talion answered them one by one, until he reached the center of the dining hall, casually raised a goblet filled with ale, and said to the Rangers in the dining hall: "What do you think of this dinner?"
"Of course, I want to eat like this every day. If I ate this well every day, I could kill two more orcs."
"Haha, then I could slay four more than you!"
The young Ranger from before was near Talion. His face was flushed with a slight buzz, and he let out a burp, asking Talion: "Talion, quickly tell everyone, what exactly is going on today?"
The dining hall gradually quieted down. Talion cleared his throat, looked towards another door in the dining hall, and said: "Because today we have welcomed a very important guest, and the food you are eating was actually provided by the guest."
The other Rangers laughed upon hearing this: "I knew it! Otherwise, with all that food piled up in the granary for so long, how could such delicious dishes be made?"
"A guest?"
The young Ranger was startled, then a look of realization appeared on his face.
When he had come off duty not long ago, he had heard that two unfamiliar people had arrived at Black Gate today.
However, he hadn't expected that these two people could be considered so important by Talion, which made this Ranger Captain curious as to who they were.
Talion called out from the doorway, "Lord Arthur, the wizard, and Miss Melina, please come in."
wizard?
Upon hearing that word, the cafeteria, which had previously been filled with chewing and swallowing sounds, fell completely silent. Everyone simultaneously looked in the direction Talion was pointing.
Arthur had specifically changed into a Raya Lucaria Academy magic professor's attire, and in his hand, he held a Caria Glintstone Staff, looking every bit like a spellcaster.
Melina's attire, however, remained unchanged, except that she had pulled up the hood of her cloak as before, making it impossible to discern her features.
After the two of them entered, the two large doors of the cafeteria were closed by Talion's wife and son, respectively.
Some of the veteran Rangers in the cafeteria immediately sensed that something was amiss. Their hands instinctively went to their sword hilts, and they narrowed their eyes, constantly scrutinizing Talion and Arthur.
Influenced by these veteran Rangers, the other Rangers also gradually felt the strange atmosphere in the cafeteria and stopped eating.
Talion, his voice loud and his expression pained, said, "I must inform you all of an unfortunate piece of news. The reason the orcs have been able to attack our defensive areas these past few days is because someone among us has betrayed us and become Sauron's dog."
As soon as his words fell, the entire hall erupted in an uproar.
Arthur, however, gently waved his staff, and the Caria Glintstone Sword that suddenly appeared behind him silenced all the Rangers in the cafeteria.
Clearly, they dared not gamble on whether the Caria Glintstone Sword was sharp or not.
Talion said in a reassuring tone, "Everyone, don't worry. I've known about the traitor among us for a long time, but I've never been able to pinpoint the target. That's why, several months ago, I left Black Gate to seek the wizard's help. You all know about this."
The Rangers who had good relationships with each other exchanged glances and nodded.
Talion wasn't wrong about this; he had indeed suddenly left Black Gate several months ago without saying a word.
If it weren't for his wife and son remaining in Black Gate, everyone would have thought he was making a complete escape.
He never expected it was to seek help from the wizard.
Talion looked at Arthur, meeting his gaze, signaling that it was Arthur's turn to speak.
The Rangers only saw Arthur, his face completely hidden beneath a mask, take a step forward. Then, mimicking Gandalf's tone from memory, he said, "Brave warriors, please do not worry that I will mistakenly accuse you of being traitors. Each of you stands here guarding the peace of Middle-earth, and I would never allow such warriors to be slandered. But please also trust my Glintstone Magic; it can accurately point out who the traitor is."
The young Ranger Captain looked at Arthur curiously and asked, "You mean, you're going to use Glintstone Magic on us?"
Arthur smiled and said, "I have already used Glintstone Magic on you. The Glintstone Magic is called 'Truth Serum,' and its effect is very simple: whatever I ask, you will answer truthfully. For example, you, tell me your name."
He asked the young Ranger Captain.
The young Ranger Captain unconsciously blurted out, "My name is Beckett."
After he finished speaking, he realized what he had said, instinctively covered his mouth, and stared wide-eyed at Arthur.
Arthur shrugged. In reality, he didn't have any Glintstone Magic or Prayers that made people speak the truth, but he used an item that could charm people's hearts—the Enchanted Branch.
He ground the Enchanted Branch into powder and sprinkled it into the food and drinks the Rangers had just enjoyed.
Although its effect was not as strong as directly using the entire branch on a person to make them their follower, it was enough to make these Rangers obediently tell him the truth.
Arthur had already tested this with Talion.
Arthur looked at Beckett's surprised expression and calmly spoke loudly to the Rangers in the cafeteria, "You all saw it. Next, I will ask everyone a question. You should know the content of the question, and that is..."
Before Arthur could finish speaking, the middle-aged Ranger who had spoken with Beckett a short while ago suddenly threw a cup of wine, simultaneously kicking over a table and cursing, "Don't be fooled by this wizard! He and Talion are the traitors in cahoots!"
"Whoosh—"
The Caria Glintstone Sword behind Arthur instantly pierced through the wine cup, and without losing momentum, it pierced through the middle-aged Ranger's shoulder, pinning him firmly to the ground, causing him to emit continuous agonizing cries.
Melina, meanwhile, quickly moved to the captain's side, casually tore a tablecloth from the dining table, stuffed it into his mouth to prevent him from biting his tongue, then lifted him up and threw him next to Talion.
The surrounding Rangers didn't even react to Melina's actions.
Arthur and Melina's actions instantly calmed down the Rangers who had been on good terms with this captain.
Arthur looked at Talion and shrugged, "Although I wanted to say I found the traitor you've been troubled by before even asking, to prevent there being more than one traitor, I will still ask questions to everyone here."
Then Arthur refilled the Caria Glintstone Sword behind him and looked at the Rangers in the cafeteria, asking, "Among you, who has defected to Sauron and betrayed your comrades?"