Annan had prepared thoroughly for war, nearly emptying his coffers. The only question was... what if the Ratfolk and Demon Allied Forces never came?
News of the Ratfolk Invasion from Montablin Rock told him that was impossible.
"R-Ratfolk!"
When a vast number of Ratfolk appeared to the north, chaos broke out on the City Wall. No one even noticed the humans among them.
The Ratfolk who had slipped past the Scouts and Informants to appear outside the city were Annan's close allies: the Stuen Ratfolk.
They had come as promised to seek refuge with Annan—and had brought some humans as gifts.
Fortunately, apart from one unlucky soul who fell off the City Wall and broke a leg, neither humans nor Ratfolk died in the misunderstanding.
"Refuge?"
Annan eyed the Rat Swarm, which he estimated at twenty or thirty thousand. "Isn't this a bit conspicuous?"
The Ratfolk Elder said it was nothing. To a Clan, a few tens of thousands of Ratfolk were like one person going missing from a human Town.
"What I mean is..."
Annan glanced at the Ratfolk still streaming through the City Wall. "Aren't there too many of you seeking refuge?"
The Ratfolk Elder explained that after taking the Broken Mountains, he had become one of the three nominal local "Rat Elders." He had also gained an important duty: corrupting Annan.
In a way, the more important Annan became, the higher the Ratfolk Elder's standing rose.
Annan noticed a subtle change: the elder's spine Scepter seemed to have gained another segment, marking his rise in status.
Annan's eyes lit up. "So you're in charge of the Stuen Ratfolk on the Northern Frontier now?"
"Not quite. Two other Ratfolk share the responsibility with me." A dark look passed through the Ratfolk Elder's scarlet eyes.
The obvious next line