Although Eman said that in a mumble, the others seemed to hear him.

"Yes, sir. About 1000 of them," the scout answered.

A mere local lord of a town having that many private soldiers was kind of surprising for Eman. But as a matter of fact, even in his old place in his old world, politicians often have their own private soldiers that they take care of secretly. It seems like this place is similar.

"Does the majesty know this? Let's say he knows, but why does he let it? Didn't he think that his status as an emperor might be in jeopardy if the local lords revolted against the imperial family?" Eman asked out of curiosity.

Rossbert opened his mouth. "The emperor and the imperial family know it. The reason why they are nonchalant regarding it is because of the system known as the 13 families."

"The 13 families…" Eman mumbled. It was lost in his thought. That's right. The 13 families act as the status quo probably.

"That's right. Because of the 13–"

"Uh, wait," Eman interrupted. "Let's pause with that subject for now, though it's my fault for derailing the subject. Let's continue the talk regarding the 1000 elite soldiers."

Rossbert nodded in agreement.

"Sure. Just ask us whatever you want to know."

"Are those soldiers the ones who are defending the rampart?" Eman asked.

"No, sir," the scout shook his head. "They are different."

Eman slightly narrowed his eyes. "If they are not the soldiers you mentioned, then where are they? Why didn't the mayor use them to defend himself and help defend the town?" When he was scouting in the air a while ago he didn't see any other elite soldiers. He didn't feel their presence around the manor either.

"I heard the mayor sent them to aid the Imperial Soldiers after the leader of the Imperial Soldiers requested assistance." It was Rossbert who answered him.

"That's strange," Eman touched his chin. "I didn't see any elite soldiers there except for the imperial soldiers," he said.

Everyone looked surprised when they heard him.

"Really?" Rossbert asked.

"Yeah. All I saw there were some low-level soldiers who I think were only at the squire level based on their fighting ability. I saw some town guards and some people not in uniform, though."

"You mean the mercenaries?" Affirmed Rossbert.

"Mercenaries? Yeah, maybe. Anyway, they are few in number and I didn't see the 1000 elite soldiers you said."

"But that's what I heard," Rossbert said.

"Sorry Mr. Rossbert, but something else happened besides that," the scout said suddenly.

"What is it, Diggo?"

Eman heard that name for the first time, it looks like it was the name of this person who gives off the feeling of a great scout.

Diggo told them what he heard. "Before the infiltration in the mayor's office took place, I heard the mayor's people talking about the disappearance of soldiers."

"Disappearance?" Des repeated the word.

"Yes, disappearance. The soldiers they are referring to may be the 1000 elite soldiers," added Diggo.

"….."

Everyone was surprised when they heard that. On the other hand, Eman seemed to have realized something.

"Didn't the mayor order his people to find them?" Rossbert asked.

"He did. But they failed to find them. It was as if they disappeared without a trace," Diggo replied.

Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief. "1000 people disappeared like that and without leaving a trace?!" Rossbert exclaimed.

"That is very strange," Des mumbled, and Diggo nodded. "Indeed."

Eman was quietly thinking deeply. From what he heard, he seemed to have realized what was going on. But he still could not tell if what he had in mind was right. There was something more he needed to know before he could say that his suspicions were correct.

"Who is the person in charge of those 1000 elite soldiers?" Eman asked.

1000 isn't a small number, so he believed someone was in charge of them.

"Hmm..." Diggo produced a humming sound as if trying to recall something. His recalling didn't last long because he immediately remembered what he heard inside the office.

"That's right!" Diggo flicked his fingers when he finally remembered it. "They are not only looking for the missing 1000 elite soldiers. I also heard that Mayor Gilbert also asked his staff and servants to find Wilbert Dona."

"Wilbert Dona?" Eman knitted his brows.

"The mayor's brother," it was Rossbert who answered.

"Biological brother?"

"No," Diggo shook his head. "Wilbert Dona is just an adopted son of Mayor Gilbert's parents."

Eman wanted to know what kind of person Wilbert Dona was, but he noticed they finally arrived at their destination, so he decided to postpone his question.

"It seems we're finally here," hearing Eman say that, the others reflexively looked below.

The three's eyes widened as they looked down.

"Although I already expected this kind of havoc, it was still surprising to see it in person," Rossbert said dejectedly.

The once a normal town when they first came here, now seemed like a den of monsters.

Beneath them, countless monsters could be seen swarming around. Some of them were climbing the half-destroyed barricade while others who had already crossed were eating the remains of the people scattered around.

The other monsters surrounded the remaining soldiers who were obviously tired and seemed to have lost hope due to the situation they were in.

There were only a few soldiers left who was surrounded by monsters who were always ready to attack them.

"Sorry, Lieutenant, it looks like we're done for," said one of Lieutenant Davis' men in a voice that seemed to have run out of hope to survive.

Dying along with the Lieutenant wasn't a bad thing for them. But much better if somehow they could save the lieutenant's life. If only they forced him to leave this place, or if only they did not choose to pass this place in the beginning, they would not suffer this kind of fate in this town. But as they say, regret comes late.

Lieutenant Davis also secretly blamed himself. If only he believed in his intuition from the start and did not wait for the mayor's promised assistance, this would have not happened to him and his men.

Unfortunately, no assistance arrived. The few soldiers who arrived for their assistance were total noobs who seemed like it was their first time raising a weapon.

No, in fact, they seem like sacrificial lambs only. Lieutenant Davis' last hope was the people he sent to get help from the Skyblaze Family. But it had already been a couple of days since they departed and he didn't receive a single reply from them.

There was nothing they could do now. Any moment from now, they would be as good as the monster's food like their other comrades who have sacrificed their lives first.

Looking at the aggressive monsters around them that were eager to charge at them, Lieutenant Davis and his men knew salvation was no longer possible in this situation.

There was only one outcome for all of them. To become the monster's belly fillings.

'What a sad outcome...' Lieutenant Davis thought.

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