Although the usually dignified governor had given an answer, the citizens gathered around were apparently unwilling to believe the sad news, and they were clamoring for an explanation from the governor of the kingdom, Count Falsefer. After all, no one wants war to be on their heads.

"Our Father in heaven!" A black-robed priest in the crowd shouted, "Don't be joking, this kind of thing is not meant to be fun!" ”

Several citizens standing beside him heard his voice and said in an approving tone: 'That's right, yes, you can't say it's fun!' “

A late butcher looked at them with a strange look on his face, and asked curiously, "What happened, why are you here, and what makes you so excited?" ”

"Oh my God, don't you know? The hellish Salanders have declared war on us! ”

"God, this can't be true! You're lying to me, aren't you? ”

While the group was still chattering, several sergeants in beautiful plate armor rushed out of the palace and, after gathering a few of their men, quickly ran towards the gates of the city of Viruga.

"Oh my God, look at these errand boys, where are they going?"

"I believe it now, those damned Salanders have really declared war on us!"

"Yes, look at this posture, I don't believe it if it's not a war!"

"Almighty Holy Father, Holy Mother and Holy Son, if only I had known this news earlier! I just sent a caravan to Salander a week ago, and they're going to be finished, and oh my God, I'm going bankrupt! A tall, fat merchant with tears in his eyes came out of a shop on the side of the street and squeezed into the crowd, shouting in despair as he squeezed back.

The surrounding citizens heard his cry, gloated and sympathized with the rich businessman at the same time, and patted him on the shoulder to comfort him.

"Come on, Vito!" Another fat rich merchant walked out of the shop across from him and said with a little bitterness, "Even if all the people in Veruga are bankrupt because of this damn war, you weapons dealer won't be bankrupt!" You're just doing this because you see that war is imminent, and His Majesty doesn't want to make a fuss, so he wants to put all the blame on His Majesty and the Governor, forcing them to pay your pension, right? You filthy bedbug, scum of the kingdom! It's time for you to think about how to share your Majesty's worries, and you still want to cheat money, are you worthy of the country and the people! ”

The businessman named Vito really didn't expect that his competitor would tear his face with him in public. His face turned blue and white for a while, and he retorted a little weakly, "You don't fart there, Joe!" Everyone, don't believe his rumors, I am loyal to the country! ”

A hint of smugness flashed in Joe's eyes, and a mocking smile curled up at the corner of his mouth: "Oh yes, the great Iron Rooster Mr. Vito has become so great?" Hmph, I don't believe a profiteer like you! I, Joe, the owner of the Maiden's Hammer Weapons Shop, hereby declare here that I willingly donate five hundred ash wooden guns, three hundred straight-edged machetes, one hundred siege crossbows, and one thousand three hundred crossbows to the Quartermaster Department of the kingdom for the sake of our great kingdom! Finally, most of my life savings, 18,000 dinars, were donated to our great kingdom's army for the provision and bonus of the soldiers! Long live the kingdom, long live the Rhodoks! ”

"Hooray! Hooray, our generous friend – Joe! ”

"Long live the girl's hammer!"

…………

Under such cheers, the merchant named Vito fled back to his shop. He looked at the figure who was surrounded by the crowd and marched towards the palace through the door panel, and pouted with some disdain: "Qi, let you be proud for a while, those things are probably all your belongings, you give these things to others, I see how you fight with me in the future!" Hmph, let's see! ”

Maybe he thought he was clever and kept his cherished money, but what he didn't know was what he had lost in the end.

When Joe, the owner of the maiden's hammer, was carried to the palace by the frenzied crowd and announced by the governor that he would be received by the king himself, almost the entire street began to cheer, and the whole city of Viruga began to stir. People knew that the war had really come, and they no longer had any unrealistic illusions, and they all considered going to the front to serve their country. In the same way, they also know about the righteous merchant named Jo in the city of Viruga, and their family's "Maiden Hammer"!

- I'm the cute dividing line -

At the ruined head of Fort Garmic, Chief Villa walked around the city with his head bowed and somewhat depressed. And among all the soldiers standing on the city wall, no one dared to rush forward to talk, because everyone knew that his slump was not unreasonable.

In yesterday's battle, the Salander army, which totaled 30,000, lost more than 200 lives forever, and the troops under the Villa chieftain suffered more than 60% of the battle losses because they took the most pressure in the siege, and a total of 120 people were killed, which was the largest loss among all the lords.

However, in the eyes of Hakim Sultan, these are very worthwhile. For just yesterday the Lordoks' supposedly impregnable Fort Garmici was conquered at dawn after being besieged for seven days. Its lord, the Count of Verdelimus, had also been captured by his own army and was currently imprisoned in the dungeons of Fort Garmic.

For the ambitious sultan, this victory was the most important step in the Sarand's path to conquering Calradia! Therefore, in order to extend this advantage as soon as possible, Hakim Sultan ordered all his troops, after a day and a night's rest, to leave a part of their men to be handed over to the chief of Villa to be used to control the city, and the rest to march at once towards the Ameraburg.

Mighty armies walked along the mountain avenues, occasionally hanging captured infidels from trees along the way. The heavy baggage convoy followed closely in a line, and drove forward noisily.

Hakim Sultan rode on a tall, sturdy desert horse, a unique breed of horse native to Barrye, with great physical strength and endurance, and the horse he rode was one of the best in his class. He was followed by Chief Novas of Fort Terrama, a powerful nobleman with his head held high, looking triumphantly at the landscape that was so different from his native desert.

In the surrounding fields, an unknown purple-red flower blooms, and even though it is past spring, there are still many butterflies dancing around these clusters. The morning breeze ruffled the yellow and ripe wheat in the fields, and then climbed up the wildflower-filled hills and slipped into the dense grass. The orange-yellow sun spits out a golden glow that shone softly through the cracks in the clouds. He breathed greedily into the slightly moist air, deeply intoxicated by the beauty.

Just then, a cry of surprise caught his attention, and he followed the angry gaze of the soldiers, and the outline of a tall building caught his eye—the silver cross on top of the building glittering in the sunlight in the early morning mist. Everybody knows that it's a pagan church!

He turned his head to the Sultan to the side, and the rest of the group did the same. Hakim Sultan looked at these gazes with a calm expression, nodded faintly, and then, in such silence, rode his horse and galloped towards the church. Chief Noirs laughed cruelly, cracked his mouth and laughed wildly, and rode his horse after him.

It seems to announce to everyone: the war has begun!