“What about the other clans?”

“The large ones have sent 2,000 while the smaller clans have sent around 1,000 troops each. They’ve been stationed around the perimeter. Due to the ongoing wars in the east and south, they probably weren’t able to send very many warriors.”

Dongye nodded with a grim expression.

“Regardless, no matter how difficult it may be, the imperial court gave a direct order for us to defend Porato. Furthermore, since the leadership agreed, we’ll need to make sure that we’re thoroughly prepared. Let’s go.”

The two urged their horses and moved forward. As they moved, they saw various groupings of warriors from various clans and people from various guilds busily moving about.

The large residences had tightly shut their gates, and there were little to no citizens walking in the large, main streets.

Vagrants and commoners who were busily finding ways to survive and servants who were rushing out completing the orders given to them by their nobles watched the two pass by with fear-filled eyes.

While riding his horse, Dong-ye suddenly pulled the rein and stopped in front of a recently erected barrack alongside a rocky hill. Even though he had only briefly ridden, white dust had piled up on his shoul...