Over the following days, the Fourth Legion recruited new soldiers, trained, and saw action.
Free City's recruitment drive was working; the foreign races simply couldn't get there quickly. Some places still enforced the Foreign Races Edict, so they also had to avoid human Towns.
Annan arranged for theaters and shops in various places to take them in temporarily, then brought them over through Portals.
As the Empire's one-month deadline drew near, the Fourth Legion's numbers crept closer to five hundred.
On the final day, Annan said goodbye to everyone. He ordered the Hellfire Legion and the Fourth Legion to stand by at their respective camps, then took his luggage and boarded the Dean Breichim Express Portal alone.
Morning mist blanketed the slopes of Montreal Mountain.
Today was hardly the mountain at its most beautiful. In slightly better weather, Montreal Mountain looked like a sacred peak beneath the first light of dawn.
Annan and Dean Breichim appeared outside Montreal Manor.
The gatekeeper knew who Annan was and opened the gate without even informing the household.
"Where's Olin?"
Annan asked the elderly butler, who had hurried out to meet him.
"She's resting. Old Ancestor is in the garden."
"Then I'll go to the garden first. Please give her this." Annan handed the butler Olin's gift and headed for the garden as though he were coming home.
Old Ancestor lay in a rocking chair, gazing at Montreal Mountain through the drizzle. She looked up and teased, "Finally remembered to visit me?"
Annan smiled sheepishly. "I was busy with the fifth Magic Film, and the moment I had some free time, the Empire called me up..."
"And you agreed?"
Annan straightened his back without thinking. "Fighting Ratfolk and defending Middle Earth is everyone's duty!"
Old Ancestor said nothing. She just kept smiling at