Arda, Lakeheart Town, inside the lord's office.
On the map, a red arrow started from Watchman Fortress, skirted around Yellow Earth Land, and finally vanished among the towering mountains in the north.
"We can confirm that Alba didn't pass through Watchman Fortress." Paul had just returned, and although his tone was calm, it carried a hint of gravity. "He withdrew from the dwarven territory to the grasslands."
Hansel Abbott, seated nearby, frowned. "The reclusive dwarves have always maintained neutrality... Yet this time, they let the orcs pass?"
"Perhaps they were forced to." Catherine stood by the window, her tone composed. "But regardless, they've already taken our enemy's side."
The room fell silent. The dwarves were a mysterious race. For thousands of years, they had maintained almost no formal contact with humanity. Their territory lay deep within the Rocky Mountains, making it difficult for outsiders to enter, let alone negotiate with them.
"We have to send someone there." Paul finally spoke. "If they're willing to reconsider their position, they might become allies in our fight against the orcs. If they refuse, then at the very least, we need to make them understand that siding with our enemies comes at a price."
He looked around at everyone present. "We need an envoy to travel to the dwarven territory."
For a while, no one in the room responded.
"Marquis, the problem is..." Hansel sighed softly. "No one knows how to find the dwarves."
Paul actually knew this. The scouting party he had sent had gotten lost while searching the vast Rocky Mountains, without finding a single dwarf.
Chief Steward Ford said, "Governor Stanford of the Northern Three Territories has come into contact with the dwarves before. Perhaps we could ask him?"
Paul shook his head. "That won't work. After Stanford returned to the