Inside the South Slope Ruins of Iowa, Landen was still questioning the two Merfolk Naga Warriors.
"Do you know anything about the Sea Monsters' plan to attack the Fjord?"
"Your Majesty, we know nothing," Fuershi and Tao'ola said, shaking their heads together. "Sea Monsters originally had a hard time adapting to the water temperature and salinity of the Ice Sea. Whether jellyfish, octopuses, or mantis shrimp, once they reached High-Rank, they preferred to remain in warm waters. Their offensive in the north this year has puzzled us as well."
"I see." Landen nodded. "Do you know of any places like the White Mountain Peninsula—territories that originally belonged to Sea Elves or Sea Beastmen, but are now being targeted by Merfolk or Sea Monsters?"
"There is one. Farther north lies a body of water called Moonfall Lake. It was originally occupied by the walrus-folk and Sea Lion clans among the Sea Beastmen, but I heard that several groups of our people have already gone there. They intend to follow the river and charge into Moonfall Lake in one fell swoop, wiping out those Sea Beastmen for good!"
"Moonfall Lake?" Landen froze for a moment. "Isn't that at the northernmost edge of the Gallop Plains?"
The gossip had landed right on his own doorstep, leaving Landen rather stunned. He had thought he had ample time to prepare for a direct clash with the Sea Race, but reality was that the enemy had already reached his front door.
"My lord, there is no need to worry. For tens of thousands of years, Sea Monsters and Merfolk have never ceased their attacks upon the land."
Seeing Landen's expression darken, Fuershi hurriedly continued, "Yet whenever the Sea Beastmen or Sea Elves face great calamity, they always receive direct support from the Dragon Race. Once Merfolk