The day after New Year, the Heim territory was already bustling with activity.
Witt conducted a full-city personnel survey, and in just three days, he had assessed everyone's character. From them, he selected 500 people to join the newly formed intelligence organization.
Among them, many members of the city guard and miners under Black's command were also recruited.
Black then further screened the remaining guards and miners, ultimately finalizing a force of 500.
Hel planned to grant all one thousand recruits cultivation talents, but since her available traits were limited, they would need to demonstrate their abilities more in training to earn the best talents.
On the third day after New Year, snow began to fall.
Hel watched the feather-like flakes drifting down and muttered:
"Looks like the beastmen's plan is going to fail."
"What plan?"
Lily, next to her, was also watching the snow but was still licking the new cone from the sweet shop.
In this cold winter, sleeping in and enjoying a cone like this every day was her only joy.
"Previously, Sebas and I discovered that the little beastmen planned to spread a plague throughout the Sacrifice Kingdom. But because of this snow, the plague's spread may be hindered."
"Isn't that a good thing? Why are you still frowning, Young Master?"
Lily didn't understand. Her brain, full of useless yellow matter, couldn't think that deeply.
"Do you think a group capable of planning a biological attack wouldn't know that cold weather would slow down a plague's spread?"
"So what do you mean, Young Master?"
"There must be some hidden plot. Perhaps the plague is just a distraction—but why?"
Hel was puzzled. Did the little beastmen think the previous deaths weren't enough? But killing all of them wouldn't benefit anyone—just reducing the population? Or was there another scheme?
Using the bugs to gather intelligence was still too limited. Many elemental fluctuations and abnormal auras were undetectable by them. Even if the beastmen had secret arrangements, the bugs couldn't sense them. Perhaps it was time for her to go see for herself.
Meanwhile, at the Mandrake Duchy–Sacrifice Kingdom border, the Mandrake Pass, the aging Duke of Mandrake furiously chopped off the heads of several little beastmen charging the gates.
They had been fighting here for nearly a month. Ever since the little beastmen's full-scale invasion of the Sacrifice Kingdom, the pass had changed hands multiple times.
The Sacrifice Kingdom's forces had abandoned all villages, gathering all people and resources into a few eastern cities.
In the wilderness, nothing edible was left—crops, weeds, animals, or plants—all destroyed.
It seemed the kingdom's high command wanted to solve the little beastmen easily through cold and starvation.
For the beastmen to get food, they either had to risk moving further west or attack the few remaining cities with their lives.
The greedy noble lords, to protect their interests, made the ordinary civilians gathered in these cities the best soldiers.
Through coercion and inducements, these already-subjugated villagers began a prolonged tug-of-war against the little beastmen.
The reason the Duke of Mandrake personally defended the pass was that, after countless suicidal charges by the little beastmen, few civilians could be sent from the capital.
The remaining defenders were either noble sons or retainers/private soldiers serving the nobles. These people, forming the nobles' power base, could not be commanded directly by the duke.
After exhausting most of his combat energy again, the Duke withdrew from the wall, letting the civilians charge once more.
"Father, all the refugees from the capital are used up. The able-bodied have all been called here. If we keep going like this, we'll have to send women and children," said the duke's third son, Ducaan.
Since the eldest son had met with misfortune, Ducaan had abandoned his previous indolent demeanor, striving to impress the duke.
He knew his second sister would be married off eventually, so by proving himself, he could eventually inherit the duke's position.
"Even if we send women and children, Mandrake Pass must hold. You know the kingdom has issued a death order—if we let these little beastmen escape, I, the duke, would be finished," the Duke said, frowning. Perhaps because his son usually appeared weak, he instinctively thought Ducaan was pleading for the civilians.
"No, Father. I mean, this is a perfect opportunity to weaken the nobles inside the city. You are on the battlefield personally, while the city's nobles enjoy warmth and beauty. Is that fair?"
"You mean…"
"Either make them come personally, or send representatives. This is a royal command. If you are held accountable, they won't escape consequences.
Explain the risks and benefits, and I believe the smart ones will step up," Ducaan said, smiling coldly.
Though subtle, the duke, being wise himself, understood his meaning.
Using the little beastmen as a tool to remove his incompetent fourth son would not only allow him to reclaim the Heim territory legitimately but also silence the nobles once and for all.
After all, one of his sons had already died on the battlefield. Any nobles still lingering in Mandrake territory would have no choice but to exert themselves.