After a series of chaotic events, Rynar finally set out with his men and the dwarves. Their destination was the southernmost stronghold of the kingdom's territory—Lulong Fortress! At this moment, Reynard was stationed there as the garrison commander. This fortress was not only the southern gateway of the Zaltarion Kingdom but also the southern gateway for all the kingdoms near the Lonely Mountain.
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"Incredible! How did the sages of the Zaltarion Empire manage to seal such a magnificent fortress back in the day?" Balin and the other dwarves were in complete awe. A fortress of this magnitude would take even the strongest dwarven builders several years to construct. As for sealing it away for future generations, they knew in their hearts that they lacked such an ability.
"Thank that unreliable system. There's no way the sages of the Zaltarion Empire could have sealed a fortress like this unless they were gods!" Rynar thought to himself.
"As long as the fortress garrison stands their ground, the orcs will break themselves against its walls!" Balin praised the defensive might of Lulong Fortress without reservation. Although he didn't fully understand the purpose of the Dragon Hunting Towers, their mere presence hinted at terrifying defensive capabilities.
"Exactly. As long as the central stronghold remains intact, the orcs can never fully conquer the fortress. The defenders can always launch counterattacks from within. Unless they unleash forbidden spells in mass quantities, there's no way to destroy this place outright!" Rynar proudly explained.
"Let's rest here for the night, Your Highness. It's getting late, and even if we hurry, we won't make it far. Better to recover our strength and set out tomorrow," Omsk suggested, stepping up beside Rynar.
"Lord Balin, what do you think?" Rynar still considered the dwarves' feelings.
"Of course! Spending the night in a secure fortress is far better than sleeping out in the wild!" Balin nodded in strong agreement. The wilderness was unsafe, after all. While their numbers would deter predators, they might also attract unwanted visitors—such as roaming orc warbands.
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With a resounding boom, the fortress's heavy gates shut behind them as they entered.
"Oh, King Rynar, we'll rest here by the gate. No need to go through the trouble of arranging accommodations for us!" Balin pointed to the open space near the entrance. They were already grateful that Rynar allowed them to enter and rest within the fortress. Going deeper into its defenses would be inappropriate. After all, a stronghold guarding a kingdom's gateway should be kept as secretive as possible. Balin himself couldn't imagine inviting allies into the heart of dwarven fortifications.
If Rynar had known Balin's thoughts, he might have laughed. Even if the dwarves leaked the fortress's secrets, Rynar wasn't worried. Knowing about Lulong Fortress was one thing; conquering it was another. As a massive bastion designed with star fort principles, its defenses were impregnable. With sufficient supplies, the garrison could hold off enemies ten times their number. Even if an enemy knew its interior, they would still have to sacrifice countless lives to breach it.
"Uh… is that really okay?" Rynar hesitated. He hadn't thought about security concerns—just whether making the dwarves sleep on the ground or in tents would seem inconsiderate.
"No problem! We just need a quiet place to rest. No need to trouble yourselves," Balin insisted firmly.
"Alright then, but we'll handle the meals. We may not have your beloved dwarven ale, but there will be plenty of bread and roasted meat. Please, don't refuse!" Reynard stepped in, subtly pulling Rynar aside before addressing Balin.
"Of course! Many thanks for your generous hospitality. We appreciate it!" Balin grinned, accepting the offer.
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Once they had walked a short distance away, Reynard sighed and gave Rynar a helpless look. "Your Highness, you really have a big heart."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Rynar looked genuinely confused. He wasn't sure why Reynard was suddenly acting so serious.
"You invited outsiders to rest in one of our most critical defense fortresses—and you even wanted to let them go deeper inside. Did you not notice that even the bluntest of dwarves found it inappropriate? A kingdom's defense system is of utmost importance. It cannot be exposed to outsiders," Reynard sighed again. Even if Balin and the dwarves hadn't mentioned it, Reynard would have limited their access himself. While Lulong Fortress was strong enough to withstand plots and schemes, precautions still had to be taken. Fortunately, the dwarves were wise enough to set boundaries themselves, preventing any awkwardness.
"Uh…" Rynar was stunned. As a young man from the modern world, how could he have known about all these diplomatic intricacies? He had simply wanted to ensure his allies' safety and comfort.
"Sigh… Never mind. Just be more careful next time," Reynard said, exasperated. He feared neither Sauron nor war—but having a king who unknowingly caused trouble was another matter entirely. And worse still, this king was his king. Nothing was more frustrating than being backstabbed by your own sovereign!
"Looks like we'll need to modify some of our defenses…" Reynard thought to himself. Although the dwarves hadn't seen much, nor were they likely to betray their allies, Reynard wasn't willing to take any chances. If Lulong Fortress fell, the entire kingdom would be exposed to the orc hordes of the south!
(Note: The eastern frontier of the kingdom remains largely unguarded, relying solely on the Tupet Centaur Tribe for defense. As a result, Zaltarion's military forces are mostly concentrated in the east for patrol and garrison duties.)
…
The night passed without incident.
"Take care, Your Highness! We await your triumphant return!" Reynard bid farewell to Rynar at the gates, stopping just short of stepping outside. The fortress garrison stood in formation, watching their king depart.
It wasn't that they didn't want to escort him further—it was that they couldn't. Their mission was to defend Lulong Fortress. With Rynar already taking 600 soldiers, the kingdom's remaining military forces were stretched thin. Sending more men to see him off? That would be a strategic disaster! They might return only to find the fortress overrun. Besides, with 200 Royal Guards escorting him, Rynar hardly needed additional protection. A force like that was strong enough to repel even an elite knightly order.
…
"Alright! Once we cross the river, we'll reach the Old Forest Road! Get ready to cross!" Rynar called out, retrieving two small Galleon-class boats from his spatial storage. Each vessel could ferry 300 people at a time, meaning they only needed four trips to transport everyone across.
"Balin! Organize your men. We need to cross the River Running. Once we're on the other side, we lose the advantage. Danger lurks everywhere—we must proceed with caution!" Rynar warned.
"Fear not, King Rynar! Dwarves fear nothing!" Balin thumped his chest.
"Of course! Your courage and valor are engraved in my heart. But we must still avoid unnecessary casualties. I want to bring every brother home!" Rynar said, placing a firm hand on Balin's shoulder.
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