In the Halfling Kingdom.
Capital City — Halfling Royal Palace.
The throne room shook with a loud slam.
"WHAT did you just say!?"
King Gurdan roared, slamming his thick hand down on the carved stone armrest of his throne.
Veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes were bloodshot with fury.
A royal officer in ornate armor dropped to one knee, trembling.
"Y-Your Majesty… the reinforcement units sent to attack the dwarven capital…"
He hesitated.
"…they're… missing."
Gurdan shot up from his throne, face twisted with anger.
"Missing!?"
The chamber was silent.
"We had no reports. No calls for help. Not even a flare.
So we sent scouts and intelligence officers.
We waited for days."
"But they… never came back."
A second officer stepped forward, grim-faced.
"We then sent another tracking unit. To follow their trail and confirm—"
"And!?" Gurdan roared again.
"…All we found were scorched craters on the ground… fragments of armor. Burned banners. Shattered weapons…"
