Nighttime Alarm

While Roland was still burning the midnight oil in conversation with Apophis Breo, Ismir and his group were already preparing to rest. The kingdom was in such a miserable state that no entertainment could possibly flourish. People were still struggling between filling their stomachs and starving to death, their greatest pursuit being a few more bites of hot food. Neither their circumstances nor their strength allowed for any entertainment.

Even the taverns in Flowing City had fallen into decline. Alcohol had become sour wild-fruit wine, grain was forbidden from being used for brewing, and naturally, no one was selling them grain either. Sour fruit wine and small dried fish had become the taverns' only offerings... not to mention a dump like Windhelm Town.

"The nights are still a little chilly. The wind's gotten stronger." Ymir watched the Roaring Barbarian Bear Flag snapping in the night wind atop the crude, half-finished castle.

"City defense officer, you're not resting yet?" A patrol squad happened to pass by Ymir, and they teased him.

"Heh heh, I'm taking another look around. I can only rest after ruling out every possible loophole. Otherwise, if wolves carry you off in the middle of the night, I won't even know..." Ymir laughed heartily.

The two patrolmen exchanged amused smiles. As for why each Windhelm Town patrol squad only had two people? One only had to look at Ismir's pitiful military strength. He had a total of just thirty soldiers. Pulling ten men each night to form five patrol squads along the walls was already the limit; any more, and they would not be able to rotate shifts.

"Alright, I'm going to check elsewhere!" Ymir did not keep chatting idly with them. He turned and left on his own. Watching his back as he carried his greatsword and