Immediately, he sent a prepared list through a summoned animal messenger to the Mage Association. It detailed the various magic items that needed to be crafted. The mage apprentices also needed to familiarize themselves with various spells that might be used during this period and focus their energy on training for battlefield spellcasting.

But no matter how hard mages try, they are not those who have a high survival rate on the front lines. Long-term focus on mental and spiritual training has left them with mostly fragile bodies. Mages need warriors skilled in melee combat for protection, but now Lynch has a better option—the Paladin order under Wislin's command.

These knights not only possess exquisite melee skills, but more importantly, they also have considerable medical knowledge. Whether using divine arts or herbs, they can provide excellent services to the mages. So, after sending off Regula, it was no surprise when the purple arcane wand knocked on the fortress commander's door.

"I need about a hundred of the best warriors, who preferably also have medical skills," Lynch said directly to Wislin. "I need them to cooperate with the mages and train together. To skillfully and seamlessly team up in the shortest time possible."

Wislin looked up from a pile of documents and materials. Without Kuboert's help during this time, he had to handle these trivial matters himself.

"Before I decide, take a look at this report first." The commander picked up a piece of paper closest to hand and handed it to the mage.

"What is this document about?" Lynch took it and saw bloodstains clearly visible on the paper, with some spots pierced by arrows. Many writings were smeared and unclear, but the general meaning was still understandable.

"The snake-men have secretly trained some elite squads specializing in infiltration and sabotage," Wislin sighed deeply. "Ordinary small camps are like undefended fortresses, completely unable to prevent their infiltration. As a last resort, I've commanded the outer warriors to shrink and gather as much as possible to prepare for individual attacks."

"But in doing so, the scoutable range is greatly reduced. If the enemy makes any move..." Lynch said.

"The most infuriating thing is that these invaders are actually conducting guerrilla warfare on Pate's land!" Wislin slammed the table heavily. "They're like locusts, devastating and then immediately moving on to the next target. Lynch, tell me, how can we stop them?"

"First, you need to calm down, Wislin. You currently don't have a good way to stop them," the mage said softly as he sat down on a plush chair opposite Wislin, his tone calm. "Think about it: why is the snake-man army starting to destroy facilities everywhere, turning villages and outposts into rubble?"

"To display strength? And to push my army to run around everywhere?" Wislin immediately replied. "You mean they want to attack the Five Realms Fortress, so they're trying to lure out the guards and then sneak in?"

"No, you overestimate the importance of this place," Lynch remained silent for a moment before ultimately deciding to tell Wislin the truth. "Think from another perspective: why, after the snake-men erected those teleportation stones, would they still need to go through the Five Realms Fortress? It's like a dagger stuck in the ground—is it really a substantial threat to an eagle in the sky?"

The paladin held his forehead, his palms soaked with cold sweat. He initially thought the Five Realms Fortress was the strongest barrier in the north to stop the snake-men, that with it, he could protect the lords, dwarves, and Haisas and Yim behind it. Wislin racked his brains, sacrificed many soldiers' lives, and now realizes the snake-men had already found a way to bypass this obstacle. In that case, what was the point of all the energy spent here? When the snake-men spread, these ever-strengthening fortress walls and stored grain and weapons offer no help to the civilians behind him.

"Wislin, don't swing from one extreme to another," Lynch tapped on the table lightly, drawing Wislin's attention with his voice. "The snake-men's current actions actually contain a lot of information. As I just said, they have the ability to bypass the northern solid defense line, reaching the most fragile spot in the continent's center. Therefore, their looting and destruction in the north holds no tactical value—except for one possibility."