It was morning, and the sun was already blossoming over Winterseed.


    At the southern border of the vige, Rowan and Brandon could be seen bidding farewell to Dragun and Vishirk.


    "How long do you guys n to spend on your journey?" Rowan asked curiously.


    "Three days at least," Dragun replied with a calm smile.


    He told Rowan why they would be spending so much time on their journey, exining that it would take a normal person one month toplete it at normal speed, not including the time needed for rest.


    "However, it wouldn''t take us that much time since we have certain transportation magic artifacts to make our journey faster. Nevertheless, at our current stage, we can only travel a pretty short distance with them per usage, and it requires a lot of mana," Dragun continued exining until Rowan understood.


    Brandon stood by, watching with a calm expression as Rowan conversed with Dragun.


    His hatred and disappointment for Dragun still hadn''t abated, so he found it pretty difficult to utter a word to his old friend.


    He was quite surprised that Rowan had begun speaking with Dragun; he wondered what might have ignited the connection between them.


    Thest time he saw them interacting, Rowan had almost shed his sword at Dragun, so the light mood between them made him wonder.


    Rowan also spoke to Vishirk.


    Vishirk promised he would keep an eye out for the ingredients they had discussed. He even promised to inquire about the price for the ones he couldn''t find.


    Rowan thanked him before wishing both of them journey mercies.


    Dragun and Vishirk nodded before Dragun brought out a magic slip and tore it. Silver light enveloped both of them, and then they disappeared.


    Brandon was quite shocked by the magical scene, but he kept hisposure and began walking beside Rowan as they made their way to the vige square, where the soldiers were already waiting for them.


    "Lord Rowan, it seems you have forgiven Dragun," Brandon started as both of them strolled down thene.


    "Notpletely," Rowan replied. "I am still very disgusted with him for leaving, but right now I need him in the vige, as he is the only one who can help Ri realize and develop her magical potential."


    Brandon nodded upon hearing Rowan''s exnation.


    They continued discussing as they strolled to the vige square—Brandon expressed his shock and delight at the changes taking ce in the vige; he also gave some suggestions about certain issues, which Rowan appreciated.


    Both of them arrived at the vige square after some time.


    The vige square was almost filled to the brim with soldiers.


    Some of them even had to stay outside.


    Rowan stared at therge number of soldiers under hismand, and a smile appeared on his face.


    He asked the system to do a quick headcount and report the number of soldiers at the vige square.


    Rowan stared at the number with a smile before strolling to the front with Brandon.


    The soldiers were already aware of his presence, so they began to gather themselves properly.


    Rowan climbed on the raised tform and stared at the soldiers for a few seconds before speaking to them.


    He did not forget to thank them for their efforts in therge construction project they had justpleted.


    Then he proceeded to drop the reality bomb.


    "I have a feeling a storm is brewing somewhere and headed towards Winterseed, and the only defense we have against that storm is you," Rowan began.


    He exined the magnitude of the storm approaching the vige byparing it to the hordes of goblins they hadst defeated.


    His exnation stirred different emotions among the crowd; each soldier turned to another with confused and horrified expressions etched on their faces.


    "Did Lord Rowan just say the danger level is more than ten times higher than thest horde attack?"


    "That can''t be true. If it is, then we are doomed!"


    "It took two of us to fight a single goblin, and they still posed a significant threat to us. Now Lord Rowan is saying we will be facing monsters ten times stronger than them?"


    "If Lord Rowan and ze weren''t super strong and awesome that day, all of us would''ve lost our lives!"


    "One hundred of us can''t even bring down a single hobgoblin!"


    The soldiersined one after the other.


    Captain Rnd and the other captains were as horrified by the details as the soldiers.


    Even Brandon was terrified and confused. A question formed in his mind that he couldn''t help but ask.


    Since he was standing in the front row, he was able to get Rowan''s attention and ask, "If I may ask, how did you know about this? Have there been signstely that all of us failed to notice?"


    Rowan looked at Brandon and shook his head.


    "I had a vision a few nights ago, a very vivid one, and I heard the voice of the ancestor warning me not to let the dark future they showed me happen in reality. They are trying to warn everyone through me," Rowan told the most tant lie with the most serious expression on his face.


    Everyone believed his lies instantly without a single doubt in their hearts.


    They had seen Rowan make things appear out of nowhere. They had seen him move and wield strength at an unimaginable level, and on top of all that, he has a powerful divine beast!


    They believed Rowan was blessed and sent by their ancestors to help them; thus, when he told his lie invoking the ancestors, they believed immediately!


    The crowd of soldiers was immediately filled with chatter of worries.


    "This is very serious. We are very weak, how can we protect the vige?"


    "I will do anything to be powerful to save this vige from destruction!"


    They voiced out their worries.


    Rowan smiled as he witnessed his lies sink deep into the hearts of his people, triggering the right emotions and reactions — Just what he needed to motivate them to train harder and faster.


    "At this rate, they will learn the skills as though their lives depend on it." Rowan muttered with a smirk.