One morning, Ang had just managed to pull himself away from the busy forge shed when he received a summons from Marquis Yaglu. When he entered the marquis's council chamber, Ang saw him standing by the window in deep thought, his brow tightly furrowed. When the marquis turned and saw Ang, the worry on his face eased slightly.
"Baron Ang," the marquis said bluntly, "my scouting party has discovered that more and more people have recently been pouring into Bahoya City. These refugees are fleeing everywhere, and they may draw the hellhounds' attention. I need you to scout along the direction they came from and confirm whether there are any traces of hellhounds. We need to prepare in advance."
Ang had wanted to refuse, but seeing the concern on the marquis's face, he pondered for a moment before nodding. "My lord Marquis, I need some time to arrange matters at the garrison. I'll set out immediately afterward."
The marquis let out a breath of relief. "Good. This mission may take quite some time. Make sure everything is properly arranged before you act."
After agreeing, Ang bade the marquis farewell and returned to the garrison.
Back at the garrison, Ang gathered the soldiers of the North Wind Warband and assigned their daily duties. He also sent letters to Haru, Robel, and Carlet, explaining why he was leaving and his possible itinerary. He hoped these measures would ensure that the garrison continued operating smoothly during his absence.
After Quintina learned the news, she volunteered to accompany Ang, but he firmly refused. "Quintina, you'd better stay here and behave yourself. Your situation is special right now. Showing your face in public could easily expose your identity. If you really get wanted, I don't need to remind you what the Pillar of Fire punishment