After confirming Haru's news, Ang finally breathed a sigh of relief. He understood that the situation in Bahoya City was gradually stabilizing, and it was only a matter of time before the Temporary Portal reopened. When that happened, he and the North Wind Warband could return directly to the Empire without becoming further entangled. After all, with his limited forces, he simply could not influence the course of a battlefield like this.
However, Haru's mention of crises in other cities put Ang on guard. Large numbers of Hellhounds were pouring into cities everywhere, potentially triggering a refugee tide, and those people might choose to flee to Bahoya City. Ang quietly decided to prepare in advance so his troops would not be caught up in any unexpected developments.
The next morning, sunlight pierced through the thin mist and fell across the wilderness outside Bahoya City. Ang set out fully equipped, leading the North Wind Warband. This time, they took the initiative, targeting a small pack of Hellhounds roaming nearby. According to scouting reports, the pack numbered around two hundred and had lingered in the area for days. Because it was relatively small, the other nobles could not be bothered to send troops for a Clearing Operation, focusing instead on the larger groups with thousands of Hellhounds.
Though the North Wind Warband was not large, it was well equipped. Combined with the practical combat experience they had gained over the past few days, they could now handle ordinary Hellhounds with ease. Two-headed Hellhounds were troublesome, but Ang would deal with them personally, leaving the soldiers to focus on the other enemies.
As they neared the target area, the Hellhounds had clearly noticed the North Wind Warband's arrival. They bared their fangs and growled low, their scarlet eyes gleaming with madness and bloodlust.