"Emperor Marius? Asking me for aid? Miss, are you here to make a fool of me? If I remembered correctly, the Bacchus Empire and the Lionheart Kingdom were not allies..."
The lord was beginning to wonder whether he had not fully woken up yet.
Emperor Marius had nearly turned him into a traitor with a single letter. Even if they could not be called enemies, they certainly had some history...
And the Lionheart Kingdom and the Bacchus Empire had been fighting each other to the death not long ago. Though they were no longer at war, they were still considered hostile nations.
Coming to an enemy nation to request reinforcements?
That was certainly unusual...
"Lord Li Ang, I am Alina. Perhaps you do not know me... but I believe you should remember Knight Commander Loris? Sir Loris will explain the current situation to you."
Alina looked utterly exhausted. She had likely been traveling without pause, and she was covered in dust, with heavy dark circles beneath her eyes.
But she paid no attention to her appearance. Instead, she solemnly nodded at Li Ang, pointed to one of the Radiant Cross Knights, and immediately got to the matter at hand.
"Lord Li Ang, we meet again... We have indeed come to seek your help."
The Radiant Cross Knight stepped forward and gave a slight bow.
Li Ang did know him. He was the Radiant Knight who had led the blockade of Buyulin Village when the Red Death had broken out there.
"Sir Loris, if you are here on behalf of Emperor Marius, should you not be going to Lion City to see His Majesty Ulrich? What business do you have asking a local lord like me for aid?"
"Lord Li Ang, before coming to your territory, we had already gone to