Five Rock City was a small city east of Born City, with a population of only sixty thousand, yet it was one of the important grain-producing areas in the Western Region of Windy Breath Province.
On the city walls, several thousand young and able-bodied men who had been armed at the last minute watched the slowly approaching army in the distance, their faces filled with fear.
At the watchtower, the lord of Five Rock City wiped the sweat from his forehead. From time to time, he glanced at the young woman standing beside him, looking as though he wanted to speak but could not bring himself to.
Five kilometers from the walls of Five Rock City, the army halted.
At the front of the formation, a Black-haired Youth sat astride a Red Phosphorus Horse and gazed at the distant city walls, a trace of confusion flashing through his eyes.
"Go summon Vesper."
"Yes, General."
The knight beside him answered at once before heading toward the right side of the formation.
Not long afterward, a middle-aged man rode a Hain horse to the front, dismounted, dropped to one knee, and said in less-than-fluent Common Tongue, "General Caus, what are your orders?"
The Black-haired Youth lowered his head and looked at the surrendered Aeran general kneeling on the ground. Expressionless, he said, "I remember you saying that Five Rock City had little will to resist and would open its gates and surrender as soon as the army arrived."
"Now, tell me what this is."
The middle-aged man raised his head and looked in the direction the Black-haired Youth was pointing. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.
"Gen... General, I... I..."
"Lead the troops under your command and take this city within three hours. I will report to the legion commander, formally incorporate