After Star Prayer Day ended, Velin returned to his usual routine.
Belder, Orlando, and Andrew were responsible for the three counties of Qixing Territory, while O'dor oversaw the development of the Underground World. There was no need for Velin to worry about any of it.
Amid such leisurely days, Radiant Calendar 9729 came to an end, and Radiant Calendar 9730 arrived.
In mid-January, Velin was sitting in his study reviewing the documents Belder had sent over when Kyle strode in, his expression extremely grave.
"Lord, Raimondo has sent word. Gresley Military Town has been attacked. The attackers were Dwarves, but the Dwarves claim they were bandits roaming within Dwarven territory and had nothing to do with them."
"There are still two years before the truce expires. The probing between both sides has begun."
Velin had not expected the Dwarves' probing to be so fierce. Their first move had been to strike a border military town.
"Have Orlando and Andrew arrange military patrols along Qixing Territory's northern border. I have no intention of letting Dwarven 'bandits' burn, kill, and plunder within my territory."
"Yes, I'll make the arrangements." Kyle nodded solemnly.
Over the next month, most of the nobles in Cadro Province learned of the news. They began gathering troops and arming civilians to guard against attacks by Dwarven "bandits."
As for fleeing, no noble dared entertain such thoughts. The examples of nobles beheaded in the royal capital and nobles stripped of their titles were right before them, instantly extinguishing any such ideas.
Following the monster attack in the Graylight Wasteland and the military inspections of the past few years, regardless of the situation in other provinces, the size and combat strength of noble armies in Cadro Province had improved significantly.
At the end of February, three Baron Territories were attacked.