Came in Style, Left in Disarray! (Double Chapter)

"Sherry, what is it?" Nalant frowned slightly at the sight of so many bees surrounding Sherry.

These bees normally returned to their hives if they had nothing to report.

Clearly, something unexpected had happened again.

"My lord, these bees say they discovered many enemies—more than a few days ago!" Sherry immediately relayed their report.

"More than last time? How could there be another force of over a thousand men? That doesn't seem like one of those minor noble squads!" Nalant was puzzled.

Realizing her lord had misunderstood, Sherry timidly reminded him, "My lord, every single bee discovered a force of over a thousand men..."

"Oh, every one of them... What? Every bee discovered a force of over a thousand men? Sherry, are you sure you didn't hear wrong?" Nalant froze mid-motion.

"Yes, my lord. These bees all returned by different roads from the south and east!" Sherry answered weakly.

"How is that possible? Wouldn't that mean there are over ten thousand men? Those reinforcements came back far too quickly. What, did they take a train?" Nalant's heart sank. He could not understand why the enemy's return had differed so greatly from his estimates.

"My lord, what is a train?"

"A burning carriage... Sherry, how far away are the enemies? Are there any signs of enemies to the north?" Nalant casually brushed off the little girl's question and hurriedly asked about the important matter.

He felt like he'd just been screwed by a dog. He had only just shown off beneath Giant Forest City's walls, yet retribution had come this quickly.

If it were merely a force of a thousand men, he could still fight them with gunpowder. But if there were over ten thousand, he would not dare take them head-on even if they were all infantry.

Sherry also knew