Thirty-five kilometers west of Dog Forest City, at the edge of the forest, stood a Beastmen camp made up of several hundred tents. North of the tents was a low hill, and at its foot lay another stockade enclosed by bamboo poles.
Under the Three Moons, at the very center of the Beastmen camp, a Werewolf over three meters tall stood beside a massive Scorch Wolf Retainer. These two were the leaders of the Scorch Wolf Tribe, the most powerful force in southern Hindukush.
The gray wolf Retainer lay sprawled on a long chair. Looking at the Werewolf beside him, he instructed, "Tagwa, tell the reinforcements from the Royal Court not to venture too deeply into the forest if they can help it."
"But Tata, will those monkeys from the Royal Court and the Lizardman mercenaries listen to us?" Tagwa, the Werewolf, scratched his head. "I get the feeling that the White Ape Tribe has come out in full force. They're planning to become our neighbors down south!"
"Hmph, that's exactly what they're thinking." The Retainer snorted disdainfully. "Breathing is hard up on the plateau. Those monkeys must have had their brains fried. They think the forests of the plains are like the plateau forests back home—no Magic Beasts, no mid-grade Magic Plants, just endless trees waiting for them to pick fruit from."
"Er..." Tagwa did not want to defy Tata, nor did he want to speak ill of the Royal Court, so he merely laughed it off.
"The Royal Court's new army has already arrived near Xianyuan and will soon head to the Eastern Region front. Tomorrow, I'll return to Dog Forest City and lead the main force there as well. Your task is to hold the mines and Dog Forest City. Do not set a single foot into