Steel torrents pioneering a different world.

Chapter 269 Official Notice: I'm Going to Hit You! (Please, I'm still recovering from my illness, it's tough!)

An army marches on its stomach.

The objective of this raid was to strike deep into the heart of the dwarven fortress, eliminate the enemy in one fell swoop, deliver a strategic deterrent to the dwarves, facilitate subsequent peace talks, and seize the initiative and the moral high ground.

Because the pioneering team needs to be able to fight hard when there is insufficient logistics later, the requirements for the pioneering team have become extremely demanding.

They must be the elite of the elite, seasoned veterans who have been through many battles.

Not only must they be able to adapt to the extreme cold and rugged mountains of the far north, but they must also be proficient in conducting assault operations in narrow and cramped tunnels.

An emergency mobilization order, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirred up huge waves in the base behind the time portal.

Fortunately, the pioneering team was backed by a vast reserve of resources that would make any power take notice.

These cold numbers and lists of supplies are being transformed with astonishing efficiency into fully armed, ready-to-go forces from another world.

The moment the order was given, a heavily armored combined arms unit, originally intended to join the pioneering team and be responsible for defensive tasks, was activated ahead of schedule.

The heavy tracks rolled over the alloy ground with a deafening roar as their massive bodies slowly moved toward the distorted portal of light and shadow under the guidance lights.

This pioneering team entered the other world ahead of schedule and worked together with the soldiers inside the pioneering base to defend it and establish a stable base.

Meanwhile, the 10,000 combat personnel who had just been withdrawn from the low-intensity battlefield in the other world also began to return to the rear.

During their brief rest period, they will wash away the smoke and fatigue, and make full preparations for the next, more arduous, cross-time operation.

All of this was done in silence.

Because of Xi Jinping's insane, Cthulhu-like industrial productivity at the Zhuhe base, the underground has long been excavated into a complex, spiderweb-like transportation network.

The movement of tens of thousands of troops and massive amounts of supplies was carried out silently in these huge underground tunnels, with not a trace of movement visible on the surface.

The returning pioneering team will receive the fastest possible physical rehabilitation and psychological support to prepare for the upcoming high-intensity combat operations.

It would actually be better to involve other units!

However, the command did not want soldiers from other units who were also full of enthusiasm to participate in this crucial battle.

However, there was no way around it; the omnipresent magical energy of the other world, along with the even more insidious mental interference, posed a tremendous threat.

These unseen threats can have unpredictable negative effects on newly arrived human organisms.

Even though all frontline personnel are now equipped with specialized energy protection gear and electric shock devices that can force them to regain consciousness when they are mentally traumatized, it is still difficult to completely resist them.

There's no way around it, because there are always some warriors who are naturally more sensitive to this special energy than ordinary people, and they need a longer adaptation period.

More importantly, for the sake of the highest level of secrecy, the vast majority of newly recruited pioneer team members have not yet been informed that they will be facing a real, monster-filled alien world.

Taking all factors into account, the only correct choice to organize an effective force within just five days is undoubtedly to select veteran team members who have already adapted to the alien environment and have carried out numerous missions.

As for the new recruits, they will work alongside veterans stationed at various defensive outposts to reinforce the existing defenses.

This is itself a highly efficient "mentoring" model in a real-world environment.

As the massive industrial machines roared to life, the non-combat personnel of the reclamation team also entered a high-speed work mode.

Intelligence analysts and tactical instructors of all kinds were studying the structural diagrams of the dwarf fortress, repeatedly deducing and analyzing them, turning every detail into a detailed report.

The seal point, in particular, which the dwarves are trying to destroy and which is now in grave danger, is the focus of all the analysis.

If it weren't for the fact that Lin Li, who originally wanted to slack off peacefully, was worried that the collapse of the spacetime rift would ruin his peaceful life, he would have had to spend several days creating a near-perfect terrain map and marking of defensive points for the pioneering team.

The command center will likely face a battlefield shrouded in mystery and uncertainty, and will certainly not launch a decisive all-out offensive.

The information provided by Lin Li was so detailed and comprehensive that even senior analysts were taken aback.

It doesn't seem like intelligence; it's more like an internal report written by the dwarves themselves to analyze their own weaknesses.

That's true, because Lin Li brought these things from the Mithril Clan.

Many of these are small ledgers containing records of the Mithril clan.

Lin Li quickly organized the data using Laplace's Demon and then handed it over to the pioneering team.

The information now being given to the pioneering teams not only includes the basic structure of each dwarven clan, but also accurately indicates the approximate troop deployment of fortresses in various locations.

Of course, what shocked the pioneering team the most was the analysis file about the entanglements of interests and conflicts between the various clans.

The conflict files of those dwarven clans will be key to a breakthrough.

The target of this human operation is a fortress located deep in the mountains of the far south.

Guided by the coordinates, it travels 650 kilometers south from the Glacier Base along the Devil's Sea, and then 50 kilometers west into the treacherous mountains.

That place was a military stronghold specifically used by the dwarves to defend a key seal.

To understand the troop deployment, subsequent reinforcements, and future defense logic of this fortress, one must first understand the power structure of the entire High Mountain Kingdom.

After being driven to the harsh environment of the mountains, the dwarves of the High Mountain Kingdom multiplied and established a vast mountain empire.

Their food self-sufficiency rate is not high, and they rely heavily on foreign trade. However, the relative peace of the last few centuries has allowed the population of this dwarf kingdom to reach an astonishing peak of six million.

What is even more striking is that among these six million people, there are hundreds of thousands of slave soldiers who can be sent to the battlefield at any time.

The six million dwarves were divided into a strict clan system.

A royal family reigns supreme, ruling over five major clans and twenty-eight minor clans.

Wang Lingmin is the core strength of the kingdom and the most loyal supporter of the Dwarf King.

Below that are the five pillar clans: Mithril, Molten Fire, Blackrock, Shield, and Deepbrew.

However, the strength of these five clans had already become severely differentiated.

Mithril, Molten Fire, and Blackrock are the three giants who now truly hold the power in the kingdom.

As for the once glorious Shield and Deepbeer clans, they gradually declined over the centuries.

Their current situation can be described as a sunset.

In clan councils, they were mostly just echoes of the three major clans, having long lost the right to speak independently.

Attacking the fortress is easy.

But after destroying the enemies inside the fortress, it is also necessary to defeat and block all possible reinforcements, and to prevent the dwarves from launching a full-scale attack on the humans.

Who knows if the dwarves possess some incredibly powerful weapons?

Therefore, the pioneering team needs to give this operation a makeover.

The spacetime rift is being destroyed by the Mithril Clan, and a massive celestial convergence is imminent. The dwarves are not on guard, but the humans are!

Under this justification, humans can justifiably use all sorts of offensive language against dwarves.

The intelligence provided by Lin Li indicated that the nearest force capable of rapidly deploying troops and sending large-scale reinforcements was the defense force of Tranquil Harbor, which is close to the Devil's Sea.

Tranquil Harbor is the third largest port on the coast of the Dwarven Kingdom. Although there are royal tax officials and the like, the upper echelons here are basically controlled by the Mithril Clan.

This area, which extends 80 kilometers from the port, is home to approximately 760,000 dwarves. Port trade is essential to the livelihood of one-third of the dwarves, making it a densely populated region.

Under extreme mobilization conditions, the region can muster at least 100,000 able-bodied young men.

Of course, these hastily assembled soldiers posed little threat to well-equipped humans.

It's not like we're fighting with cold weapons; long-range weapons are perfectly adequate to deal with them.

The real threat has always been the dwarves' battle-hardened elite troops.

However, the dwarves' elite forces have suffered heavy losses in recent years!

Among the numerous documents, there is an old story about the dwarves, a foolish mercenary expedition.

More than a decade ago, the arrogant dwarf king Ironhammer accepted a job from the lizardman kingdom on another continent and sent an army of 50,000 to that other continent to participate in the war.

In that bloody conflict, more than 40,000 elite dwarves were either killed in battle or captured, with only less than 10,000 dwarves escaping back.

The Mithril Clan, which was the main force in the war at the time, suffered heavy losses as a result and has not yet fully recovered.

This also led the Mithril Clan to shift their core strategy to a long period of recuperation and development for a considerable time to come.

The dwarves near Tranquil Harbor also focus their daily activities entirely on the economy.

They make a living by fishing, maritime trade, steel casting, mineral trading, and selling various rare magical creatures.

With their unparalleled navigation skills in the Devil's Sea, they became the undisputed rulers of this area.

Of course, this hegemony is relative and has limitations.

The dwarven fleet was also unable to venture any further into the far north of the Forsaken Continent.

The further north you go, the more ferocious monsters there are in the Devil's Sea, and the more terrifying their size becomes.

Even with their ironclad warships powered by magic crystals, they could not withstand the hundreds of meters long sea monsters and the endless siege of sea beasts.

Recently, the Dwarf Kingdom has been plagued by internal troubles. Not only does it have to deal with various attacks from creatures from other worlds caused by the "Celestial Convergence," it also has to deploy heavy troops along its long border to guard against possible attacks from other places in order to ensure the peace of its territory.

Based on comprehensive assessment, in the next two months, the dwarves can at most mobilize an elite force of 30,000 men from the vicinity that can pose a substantial threat to the pioneering team.

As the saying goes, when you go to war, you should do it with dignity and honor!

While the various mobile units of the rear reclamation teams were being mobilized intensively, the humans were not idle either.

Soon, an operation to directly inform them of the impending deployment was quietly unfolding.

The target remains the border outpost managed by the otherworldly dwarves.

This outpost, having previously hosted dwarven envoys, is now considered the front line of contact between humans and dwarves.

The roar of engines grew louder as a convoy bearing the distinctive flags of a pioneering team kicked up snow and finally came to a stop at the edge of the dwarven sentinels' line of sight.

After the car door opened, the other soldiers lined up in various places.

Yu Qiwen walked down alone, spread his hands, and faced the distant hillside, indicating that he had no hostile intentions.

He stood there, letting the cold mountain wind blow against his clothes, patiently waiting.

Not long after, a heavy hoofbeat echoed down the hillside.

Several dwarves rode on massive Gru beasts, slowly descending from the heights.

One of the dwarves wore armor bearing the emblem of the Blackrock Clan, had his beard braided into several thick plaits, and his eyes were filled with wariness and suspicion.

"Humans, you have crossed the line." The dwarf centurion reined in his horse and spoke in a hoarse voice, "State your purpose, or my muskets won't recognize you."

Yu Qiwen raised his head, meeting the other person's scrutinizing gaze, and spoke clearly, word by word.

"Dwarves, we told you last time that chaos was brewing within your ranks—you are in danger! We are here to warn you again—we have concrete evidence that the Mithril clans within your kingdom are plotting a cataclysmic disaster!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere froze.

"Apocalyptic catastrophe?" The dwarf centurion paused, then let out a sneer, as if he'd heard the funniest joke of the century. "Humans, if you're going to make up a story, at least come up with a decent reason. If you want to fight, just say so. Stop with these empty platitudes!"

As he spoke, his thick hand reached for the three-eyed fire-armored beast hanging on the side saddle of the Gru beast.

"Crack!"

From the human convoy behind, a chorus of crisp sounds of weapons being cocked rang out, and dozens of dark gun barrels instantly locked onto the dwarves who were trying to reach for their weapons.

"Don't move!" Yu Qiwen shouted without turning his head, stopping his men's impulsive actions. He looked at the dwarf again, his tone more serious than ever before: "We come with the sincerity of peace! Dwarven envoy, every word I say next concerns our very survival!"

He paused, then emphasized, "The higher-ups of your Mithril clan have been corrupted by evil beings from higher dimensions!"

They are attempting to reopen the spacetime rift, unleashing ultimate terror to devour the world we all share!

"Open a spacetime rift? Unleash ultimate terror?" The centurion frowned, his hand remaining on his musket but making no further move. "Human, this drunken tavern ramblings aren't funny at all!"

How could a mere border guard have access to the secrets of the kingdom's high command?

However, Yu Qiwen keenly noticed that although the other party's reaction was a rebuke, there was a hint of contemplation in their eyes.

Because he was not a member of the Mithril clan.

In fact, it is precisely because of this that humans have room to maneuver.

"Nonsense?" Yu Qiwen sneered. "That spatial rift in the Pangula Mountain Fortress isn't nonsense, is it? It was barely sealed by the ancestors of all your clans, in alliance with other races on the continent, using countless lives and blood! Now, those greedy bastards of the Mithril Clan are personally destroying the glory of your ancestors; they want to turn that fortress into a birthing place for evil gods!"

"Nonsense!"

The squad leader shouted sternly, but in his heart he was deeply shaken.

Even his mind drifted unconsciously toward the Panggule Mountains.

That place is home to the heroic deeds of our ancestors, and the stories that every dwarf has heard since childhood.

Seeing the other party's wavering expression, Yu Qiwen knew the time was right and dropped the final bombshell.

Yu Qiwen didn't say another word, but calmly extended his hand and made a "please" gesture.

"We have evidence; seeing is believing."

Behind him, a team member quickly stepped forward and set up a strange metal device on the snow. With a slight hum, a clear beam of light shone onto the white sheet that had just been erected on an armored vehicle in the convoy.

The light and shadow flickered, and the image appeared.

A magnificent underground fortress appeared before the dwarves, its rugged yet exquisitely beautiful lines brimming with the unique architectural aesthetics of the dwarves.

The sergeant immediately recognized it as the interior of the Pangule Mountain Fortress!

But the next second, his pupils suddenly contracted.

In the scene, slaves of various races are fighting, and there are also headless corpses with resentful faces. The blood of the corpses flows into streams and drips into a pool of blood.

Then, every now and then, dwarves dressed in mithril clan attire would gather around the blood pool and perform some kind of blasphemous dark ritual.

This chilling scene was exactly like the demons of legend.

The cold wind on the hillside seemed to carry the smell of blood.

"This—how is this possible?" The color drained from the dwarf centurion's face instantly, turning it ashen. He stared intently at the screen, his voice distorted with extreme shock, "You—how could you possibly have filmed the interior of the fortress? This is a fake! Yes, a fake! Don't try to fool us!"

'

Despite saying that, his eyes betrayed him.

The architectural details and various markings are not something that outsiders can easily forge.

"Forgery?" Yu Qiwen's voice was soft, yet it struck the dwarf centurion's heart like a heavy hammer. "If the spirits of your ancestors are still protecting the High Mountain Kingdom, do you think they would stand by and watch these unworthy descendants of the Mithril Clan utterly destroy the glory they earned with their lives? This is what your ancestors told us!"

The spirits of our ancestors?

This statement caused the sergeant to shudder slightly. The pure hostility in his gaze towards the humans subsided somewhat, replaced by a complex and indescribable scrutiny.

What these humans gave us was both shocking and vicious.

He couldn't believe it, yet he couldn't help but be afraid.

What if it's true?

"This matter is of great importance, and I must report it to Envoy Bellegas immediately!" the centurion said with difficulty. Only that envoy was qualified to contact the Kingdom's Council of Elders directly.

"Of course we must report it." Yu Qiwen nodded, then changed the subject, uttering cold numbers, "But you don't have much time left. Five days, at most five days, and this ritual will be completed, and the seal on Pangule Fortress will be completely broken."

He took a step forward, his aura suddenly becoming fierce.

"Let me make this clear. If you cannot mobilize a large army and wipe out the traitors from the fortress within five days, we will launch a preemptive strike!"

Yu Qiwen's gaze swept over the dwarf in front of him, his tone calm, yet carrying a chilling determination!

"Regarding the possibility of future war and the potential for collateral damage during the cleanup process, we express our regret in advance."

"How dare you?" The dwarf centurion instantly bristled, roaring through rage, his teeth grinding. "Arrogant humans! You're declaring war on the entire Mountain Kingdom! Not even the Dragon Knights of the Dragon Empire could raze our fortress!"

"This isn't a declaration of war, it's self-preservation." Yu Qiwen completely ignored his anger. "We've already sent the same intelligence to the Elven race. This crisis isn't just about you; it concerns the safety of other races as well. Don't be narrow-minded!"

"You can take these images back and let your elders see them carefully, to see the masterpiece of the Mithril Clan."

Here is the user manual for using these things!

At this point, Yu Qiwen suddenly smiled.

"Of course, I know that it is a long journey to send the message back to the capital from the border. As fellow intelligent beings, we can do you a small favor and dispatch aerial units to deliver this evidence to your envoy as quickly as possible."

The dwarf centurion's heavy breathing was clearly audible in the cold wind. His hand, gripping the musket, was clenched so tightly that the veins stood out, but he ultimately did not raise it.

He knew that if what the other party said was true, then by the time the message arrived, it would be too late for him, with his Gru beast.

"Humans—your silver tongues cannot deceive us dwarves!" he practically spat out the words. "I will send a message to the messenger immediately! You just wait here!"

With that, he yanked the reins hard, and the massive Gru beast roared and turned to gallop wildly up the hillside.

Yu Qiwen watched his disheveled figure silently, then called out again—

"Remember, five days."

"You only have five days."

More than 100 kilometers away from the Ice River base, the wind and snow whipped up by the helicopter rotors gradually subsided.

The piercing sound of horns shattered the silence of the southern forest, repeating the same message in standard Elvish: the humans meant no harm, they had only come to return the captives.

This marks the fourth time that humans have returned prisoners.

As the helicopter door opened, several elf captives who had been taught how to use human photographic equipment emerged.

They stared blankly at the familiar forest.

To ensure that both the dwarves and elves received the message, the humans had to send a group of elven prisoners back this time.

Unlike the previous times, this time the released elves were bombarded with explosive information: a major problem had arisen within the dwarves, and the Mithril Clan was conducting some kind of evil ritual deep within the fortress, attempting to destroy the forbidden seal.

Even more shocking is that the humans have given the dwarves an ultimatum: they will attack Pangolier Fortress in five days.

Human warriors recorded this scene, while others removed their shackles.

"Remember, you must relay what we've told your rear! This is very important!"

Some time later, in the Elven Royal Court, at the Holy Temple.

Bathed in soft light, the leaves of the Red Leaf Sacred Tree rustled softly without wind, as if whispering tales of distant sights.

But the atmosphere in the temple was so heavy it was almost palpable.

The governors, priests, several highly respected prophets, elders from various clans, and the commanders of the temple guards gathered together, their faces filled with astonishment and doubt.

The sacred tree network, controlled by the elves, allows everyone to share memories and experiences.

The images transmitted back by the Sacred Tree Network were so clear they were breathtaking.

The blood-soaked pool, the crazed mithril dwarves, the brutal gladiators, and the final resting place of their corpses.

Of course, there was also that ominous crimson energy—scene after scene was impacting the understanding of every elf present.

"It can be confirmed that the building in the image is indeed from inside the Pangula Fortress." A prophet in charge of intelligence spoke first, his voice dry. "Those northern humans—the depth of their infiltration is beyond our imagination."

"But they dare threaten to attack Pangule Fortress? Did they get kicked in the head by a unicorn?" An elder of the Fire Clan, clad in silver armor and exuding arrogance, sneered, his brows furrowed with disdain. "Who do they think they are? Do they really think the dwarves' anti-aircraft magic cannons are just for show?"

He looked around and raised his voice: "Pangule Fortress is impregnable. Even the Dragon Knights of the Dragon Empire couldn't break through it, and distant rotorcraft bombardments couldn't penetrate it either. Are those humans just spouting nonsense? Utterly laughable!"

"Elder Lorthene, you can't say that." Another elder prophet shook his head, his expression serious. "The birds we recently controlled have sent back an important report: the northern humans have not long ago completely purified a celestial convergence point that could very well evolve into a calamity. Their strength is far greater than we assessed."

Upon hearing this, a series of soft gasps filled the hall.

Purify the catastrophic spacetime rift?

This cannot be accomplished by brute force alone.

"Even so, why should we trust humans?" Elder Lorthen remained defiant. "Perhaps this is a human conspiracy to sow discord between us and our dwarven allies! Who knows if these images they sent back are forgeries?"

"Forgery?" The priestess, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. Her voice was ethereal and distant, as if it came from the top of the sacred tree. "But these images have no magical fluctuations; they are simply alchemical creations. Moreover, the Mithril Clan has indeed had problems in recent years! These—are most likely real."

The entire room fell silent instantly.

"The Mithril Clan—they've truly fallen." A priest muttered to himself, his eyes filled with astonishment. "The dwarves are our most steadfast strategic symbiotic partners, how could they—"

"Upon closer reflection, it's true! In recent decades, the Mithril Clan's reputation has indeed deteriorated. I've long heard that in their pursuit of the ultimate art of killing and forging techniques, they've begun to study some forbidden knowledge."

"Have they really gone so far as to worship those other gods?"

"this----"

The crowd began to discuss the matter, and the topic gradually veered towards the internal problems of the dwarves.

The governor rubbed his furrowed brow, tapped the armrest, and drew everyone's attention back: "Gentlemen, now is not the time to discuss dwarven beliefs. The key question is, what should we do?"

"Of course, we should immediately inform Half-Man of this news."

"That's right! We must remind them that if Pomgruppy Fortress really does encounter problems, we need to take action as well!"

Elder Lorthorn, however, offered a different opinion: "Notifying them is fine, but we don't need to get involved, do we? This is the dwarves' own affair; let them handle it themselves. As for the humans—letting them get a taste of their own medicine will be good; it'll dampen their arrogance."

"I agree. Let's just wait and see."

"You are too short-sighted. Once the calamity of the celestial convergence spreads, our race will be in grave danger, and the future losses will be even greater! We cannot stand idly by!"

"But we are completely short-staffed!"

While the people inside the hall were arguing and unable to decide whether to help the humans or how to help their dwarf allies clean house,

All the elves present stopped their discussion.

They all looked up at the towering sacred tree in the center of the temple.

A vast, ancient will, not belonging to this era, is slowly awakening from the depths of the sacred tree.

The brilliance of the entire temple dimmed at that moment.

A crystal-clear idea was directly imprinted in the minds of every elf.

That will was not in words, but a pure concept, washing over the hearts of every elf present like a torrent.

Ancient, majestic, and imbued with peaceful benevolence!

The radiance within the temple was completely swallowed up by the shadow of this will; only the sacred tree itself, with its veins flowing with a faint red light, seemed to connect the bloodlines of the past and present.

All the elves present, whether governors or elders, felt their own insignificance in the face of this will, like a speck of dust facing the entire starry sky.

"Mother Goddess—" a priestess whispered, slowly closing her eyes and placing her palm on the rough trunk of the sacred tree.

Seeing this, the others followed suit. The rulers, prophets, and elders all placed their hands on the branches or tangled roots of the sacred tree and bowed their heads in reverence.

In an instant, all the elves' hair began to glow faintly, echoing the veins of the sacred tree.

Their consciousness was drawn by a gentle yet irresistible force, sinking into a spiritual world composed of light, shadow, and memories.

Here, time loses its meaning.

Several figures composed of pure light slowly emerged. They were benevolent and holy, their faces blurred, yet they exuded an aura that made one's soul tremble.

The figure at the head was none other than the High Priest of the Elven race, who was temporarily guarding the forbidden area.

Beside her stood three great prophets, renowned for their wisdom, compassion, and mercy.

Their gaze seemed to pierce through reality, directly seeing the essence of the problem.

"I am aware of the matter."

The high priest's voice resounded deep within everyone's souls, without the slightest ripple.

"The Mithril Clan's corruption is real, but humanity's ultimatum is merely a pretext for their attempt to seize Pomgr Fortress."

.

These words left the elves, who had just been heartbroken for their dwarf allies, momentarily stunned.

Elder Lorthorn's spirits lifted; he discovered that his ancestor's views coincided with his own, and he straightened his back a bit more. "See? I told you those humans had no good intentions!"

"Those images are indeed a disgrace to the dwarves," the high priest's voice continued, "but this disgrace should be washed away by them themselves, not by the way a group of northern humans invaded their territory!"

"You should send a force to the northern border of the human race and put some pressure on them."

The command is concise, clear, and leaves no room for doubt.

"But, Your Excellency High Priest!" the commander in charge of military affairs said, forcing himself to speak. Even his spiritual body was somewhat unstable in the face of these powerful figures. "We are already stretched thin dealing with the forces converging from all directions of the heavens, and we simply do not have any extra troops!"

"That's precisely why we need to support half-humans even more."

The high priest's intention was resolute.

"The weaker we are, the tougher we must appear. Let those humans know that anyone who tries to harm our allies must be prepared to fight the elves as well. They cannot afford to gamble."

One sentence enlightened all the elves.

Yes, this isn't simply a matter of helping or not helping the dwarves; it's about strategic deterrence!

"Go."

As soon as the words fell, the beams of light vanished instantly, and the vast will receded like a tide.

The temple's light returned, as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.

But the commands imprinted in his mind were crystal clear.

The group looked at each other, their expressions varied.

Elder Lortheon, with a smug "I told you so" expression, cleared his throat: "Ahem, the High Priest's wisdom is indeed beyond our comprehension. In that case, let's proceed according to the ancestor's will!"

The governor frowned; he felt not wisdom, but a heavy pressure. Using an already strained military force to intimidate humans of unknown strength was undoubtedly a high-stakes gamble.

But he had no choice.

"Pass on my orders." The governor's voice was weary but unusually firm. "Immediately inform the envoy of Belegas of the situation. Tell him that we cannot interfere in the dwarves' domestic affairs, but the sword of the elves will hang over the necks of humans, giving them time to clean house."

"Furthermore, mobilize our ranger legions and move them towards the human northern defenses. Remember, our objective is to contain, not to start a war!"

"yes!"

The order was quickly relayed.

Soon, a carefully worded secret letter was sent to the dwarves!