"We shouldn't have split our forces..." ..." Doug Perry grumbled for the fifth time today. Leading a 3,500-strong army, Samer was inching forward at an agonizingly slow pace on a road riddled with deliberately created potholes. While foot soldiers could help each other navigate the uneven terrain, and manage to make progress, it was an absolute nightmare for the large siege engines and supply convoys attempting to navigate through. During these two days of marching, he found himself repeating the same two orders—repair the roads and send out messengersIn the effort to mend the ravaged roads, his march slowed considerably, making it impossible for him to meet up on time with the army led by his brother, William Perry, advancing from the other side of the Black Forest. He had no intention of allowing his brother to enjoy the "success" of the Karinburg bloodshed in his absence! So, the moment he spotted the ruined roads, he swiftly dispatched messengers, directing them to traverse the forest and relay the current situation to his brother on the opposite side.However, oddly enough, despite sending out multiple waves of messengers, there was no sign of any response from the other side. "We never should've split our forces..." Doug Perry grumbled for the sixth time. This time, he deployed a small team to accompany a fresh set of messengers, journeying through the Black Forest to deliver a crucial message to his brother. "Quick, inform Lord Doug to mobilize reinforcements!" Just as the messenger bearing the plea for assistance departed, a warrior from the Sapphire Mercenary Corps rushed to the messenger's side, and the two swiftly became entangled in a fierce skirmish.The messenger had no time to aid his superior; he bore a more crucial mission. To successfully reach the other side of the forest and deliver the news of Lord William Perry's besieged main force to his lordly brother, Doug Perry, he had to proceed without attracting any notice. Stealthily maneuvering through the gruesome battlefield, he sprinted into the Black Forest. He succeeded; nobody on the battlefield noticed him, and there were no pursuers behind the messenger. Still, he ran faster and faster, yearn