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"Moreover, Your Excellency, you also need our assistance. The mercenaries of the Fallen City are experts in the Swallowing Swamp. Despite the changes in terrain, it remains their greatest strength. My comrades would serve as your finest guides through the marsh. Additionally, nearly two hundred of my men remain in the Fallen City. Though not elite, they make excellent spies and insiders. With their help, we can conquer the city with minimal losses. With guides, we can also eliminate any stragglers who might seek refuge in the swamp."

"In this lies our mutual interest, Your Excellency. Controlling the Third Golden Trade Route is akin to possessing an endless river of gold. You could establish your own power and become a significant figure in the Beastman Alliance, even on the entire Xinghai Continent."

Upon hearing this, my estimation of the old man Hake rose even higher. His wisdom was more valuable than his prowess as a Sword Master. Nevertheless, I still had questions that needed clarification.

"Why not seize this opportunity for yourself, or seek a more powerful partner? Surely, someone more ambitious than a rural youth like me would be a better prospect?"

"Your Excellency jests. After four hundred years of evolution, the human world is no longer the united front it once was. The royal and noble families hold tightly onto all wealth and power. The benefits of the Golden Trade Route, though substantial, cannot satiate their greed. They wouldn't tolerate a group of commoners sharing in the spoils. Whether we act independently or pledge loyalty to a human faction, our fate would only be exploitation followed by abandonment. As for bowing to other forces within the Beastman Alliance, they likely already have their proxies. Why would they consider us? If we look to emerging powers, there's none more promising than Your Excellency. I trust you don't believe anyone else possesses more potential than yourself?"

Apart from the last compliment, the old man's knowledge and eloquence were truly remarkable, reflecting his worth. If I were to achieve success in the future, I would naturally not forget about a talent like him. In truth, I had already considered these points, but if he hadn't demonstrated such clear judgment, our cooperation would have taken a different form.

Later, I learned that the old man was once a fallen noble from the City of Purple Thorn in the Duchy of Langton. He incurred the wrath of the City Lord, who was also the head of the first family of Langton, the Purple Thorn Clan, resulting in the destruction of his family. By a stroke of luck, he escaped from the City Lord's dungeon, stole the City Lord's treasure and the secret martial arts manual of the "Purple Radiant Thorns," set fire to half of the City Lord's mansion, and fled to the Fallen City, where he founded the Cobra Mercenary Group under an assumed identity.

In the Fallen City, all manner of creatures coexisted, with around five thousand combat-ready individuals. However, with winter approaching and the water levels dropping, many had returned to the human world, leaving only about half of the population behind. The city's major powers consisted of the Sapphire Mercenary Group backed by the Duchy of Langton, the Red River Mercenary Group made up of local criminals, and the Cobra Mercenary Group led by Old Hake.

Old Hake commanded roughly three hundred men, mainly operating in the swamps. The Sapphires numbered about five hundred, mostly former soldiers of Langton, working in tandem with the Langton military, responsible for the route between Purple Thorn City and the Fallen City. The Red River group exceeded one thousand members, though their composition was diverse, and their combat effectiveness was the weakest. They mainly occupied the Fallen City, extorting protection fees from merchants.

Having decided to take action and recognizing the urgency, I mobilized all available forces, preparing for a decisive strike. Old Hake took on the task of persuading his mercenaries, contacting his old allies in the Fallen City, and gathering intelligence. I dispatched agents to summon disciples from all the werewolf tribes, preparing for assembly, while also organizing all available half-orc slaves as auxiliary forces. My first disciple, Antara, was sent to eliminate the tribe of the captured half-orcs from the Glacier Village battle, aiming to strengthen our ranks. Meanwhile, I contacted the usual distributors of Blizzard House, leveraging their commercial network to purchase a large quantity of military supplies.

From our vanguard post, Frostriver Village, to the Fallen City, the journey originally took a month. With the emergence of the new passage, it now takes roughly twenty days. However, I didn't provide horses for the fleeing Sword Master Lanster and his companions, and some of them were still recovering from injuries. It might take them twenty-five days to reach their destination. If he needs to muster troops, the time needed for recuperation, organization, and resupply would add another ten days. The moment he departs the Fallen City, that will mark the beginning of the battle.

Within just a few short days, my disciples gathered from all directions, exceeding my expectations with nearly four hundred having reached the sixth level of Golden Bell Shield, predominantly led by Heavenly Wolves and Snow Wolves. Among them were also disciples from the Red Wolf, Gray Wolf, and Black Wolf factions, presenting a magnificent sight.

What pleased me most was the inclusion of thirty Ox-Tribe Yaks and over fifty Dog-Tribe Mastiffs. Though neither group could serve as cavalry, they proved stronger and more enduring in battle than regular Werewolves, significantly enhancing my forces' siege-breaking capabilities. Initially, when I admitted them into my fold, it was merely an experiment to gauge other races' receptiveness to cultivating the Golden Bell Shield technique; I never anticipated such a rewarding outcome.

Confucius said: Education should be provided without discrimination. Indeed, these are words of timeless wisdom! Recalling the magnificent sight of the Master's three thousand disciples and seventy-two sages, my heart resonates with a profound sense of awe.

On the seventh day of my military mobilization, the decrees of commendation from both the War God Temple and the Wolf Clan Chieftain arrived. It was none other than Shaman Romeo who delivered them, greeting me with a smile before proceeding to announce the rewards from both factions.

"......Beneath the glorious might of the God of War, Odin, the youthful Snow Wolf warrior, Xuanfeng Blizzards Wolfe, has achieved exceptional feats, thus earning the honorific title of Temple Blade Knight."

"......In the presence of our revered Ancestral God Wolf, endowing the brave warrior of the Snow Wolf Department, Xuanfeng Blizzards Wolfe, with the privilege to assemble his own guard, equal in prestige to his own commendable deeds...."