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The Rhine Alliance's army set out with no attempt at secrecy. By the evening the orders were issued, the waitresses in the taverns already knew all about it.

The news soon reached Stork Port.

Baron Lacken, the lord of Stork Port, summoned the two men he trusted most: the old knight Laudin and Municipal Official Legg.

Lacken sat on the sofa and said gravely, "I've received reliable word that the Rhine Alliance's army will pass through Stork Port and use it as an important base."

The news had been circulating in the city for two or three days. Any residents who could flee had already left for distant mountain villages, while those with connections had gone straight to Hanma City.

Those who refused to leave had packed their valuables into jars and buried them. They had boarded up every window, braced their doors with sturdy wooden poles, and stockpiled as much food as they could.

The once-bustling port was desolate. Even during the day, only two or three people hurried along the streets.

Laudin stood and declared firmly, "You can rest assured, my lord. I'll protect the castle!"

He didn't dare promise to defend the entire port city. Given the castle's terrain, defenses, and food reserves, in theory, it should be able to hold out until the enemy ran out of supplies.

Lacken said impassively, "I have definite information. The ones coming to attack us are the Wesen Army."

Laudin went deathly pale. He opened his mouth, but tried several times before managing to get a word out.

Back when he was beneath the walls of Hanma City, he had watched alongside the old baron as the Danma Kingdom's army failed to capture a fortress held by the Mainz Army and the Bayern Army, despite repeated assaults. The corpses had