"They're just orcs. Hardly worth needing reinforcements."
Upon hearing this, both Gandalf and Balin frowned slightly.
"Just... that's tens of thousands of orcs, and there'll definitely be trolls and various giant beasts." Balin's voice carried obvious concern. "I know you're strong, Levi. If it were just you alone, you could cut through their entire army and back without trouble. But this is defense. You need to protect this territory."
"Yet you're not one of those stone giants as big as mountains who can block everything simultaneously."
Gandalf nodded in agreement. "When you're doing something, there'll definitely be other places you can't watch over."
"Of course I understand."
Levi smiled, but there was something different in his expression. "Falodan, can you tell me how many Rangers are in this area?"
"Your own... never mind."
Falodan gave up lecturing the absent-minded person before him. Instead he said: "From the Weather Hills to the South Downs, then from the South Downs to the Angle. In this region, we could probably gather over a thousand Rangers within three days."
He paused, considering. "Incidentally, since our hidden settlements aren't far from here, my kinsmen can also come to support. But you know our situation. Being able to gather several hundred would be the limit."
The Dúnedain were already few in number, mostly scattered throughout Eriador. Perhaps you might encounter Rangers anywhere in this vast wilderness, but meeting many at once was obviously unlikely. Less probable than Levi staying peacefully in his territory doing proper work.
"There's also Roadside Keep. Based on training over these years, excluding Rangers out on practical training, available ready forces are about three thousand."
"Three thousand soldiers plus over a thousand Rangers."
Gandalf summarized for him, smoke curling from his pipe.
"Enough. These people are sufficient to handle those gathered orcs, as long as we can deal with the Nazgûl and their unknown methods."
"Ha, don't forget there's a dwarf here too." Balin puffed out his chest. "My axe will serve you. Oh, but I don't seem to have brought one. Could you find me one?"
"Of course. You'll have whatever kind of axe you want."
After promising Balin, Levi looked at Falodan again. "Is that all?"
"That's all we can gather quickly in this area."
The conference hall fell silent.
"What's wrong?" Gandalf was first to break the quiet atmosphere.
Wasn't this enough? Over four thousand elite troops. Raise the walls higher, add some iron golems inside, and as long as they could handle the Nazgûl, that Moria army couldn't break through no matter what.
Similar events had already played out in the Battle of Five Armies, where the numerical disparity between sides was much greater than now.
Moreover, Falodan had just said this was what could be gathered quickly. As the battle progressed and news spread, their side would only grow stronger. Their reinforcements would come in endless streams, while orcs would dwindle with each battle.
"Still not enough."
Levi suddenly stood up.
Defending the city could certainly hold, but...
"I want to see the limits of my territories."
"I'm making a trip to other territories."
"Other territories? Which do you mean?"
"All of them."
That day, several hundred construction workers stopped all other work. Instead, they focused on accelerating wall construction.
Since it was built by the river, the workload for building walls was much reduced. That great river could serve as a natural barrier.
Under the construction team's urgent work, just one morning saw the wall's foundation completed with a basic framework. Next they needed to build higher, then higher still.
They just needed to keep stacking upward to increase height. As for structure, stability, or bonding? No need to consider any of that.
As long as it remained within his territory, no matter how it was built, everything would be maximized.
"He left."
Outside the castle, the three stood somewhat at a loss.
Balin turned around, seeking opinions from the other two. "What should we do?"
"We should knock some sense into his head so he knows lords shouldn't leave before battle begins."
Gandalf's eyes narrowed with irritation.
Falodan patted the occasionally ill-tempered old man's shoulder consolingly: "That's just how he is. Don't get worked up over it."
"Though he usually seems unreliable, he'll definitely return at crucial moments."
He looked directly at Gandalf. "Or do you think he's someone who would joke around with his people's lives?"
"Of course not."
Gandalf shook his head, his anger cooling slightly.
"From what I've seen, there's no one in this world who cares more about his people's welfare than he does. Not even elves living beyond the mortal world."
"Then trust him."
With that, Falodan mounted his horse.
"Where are you going?"
"To Roadside Keep. To organize and mobilize."
After Levi left, this task naturally fell to Falodan, even though he nominally hadn't joined Roadside Keep. But actually, Roadside Keep had no corresponding position. Or rather, hadn't had time to establish one. Usually whoever was suitable would take on the role.
Currently, Falodan is the most suitable person for this job. In terms of age and combat experience, he might not be the most outstanding among Rangers. But in understanding this region's territories under Levi's rule and Levi himself, he definitely surpassed most people.
This proved true. When Falodan came to Roadside Keep and explained the entire situation, whether Ranger instructors stationed there for training or citizens, most elected him as leader of this operation.
As for backup commander candidates established as insurance? There were many. So many they needed numbering.
Everyone was a soldier, but everyone could also be a commander when necessary. Though this hadn't been fully realized yet, due to related policy implementation, various territories already showed this trend.
At Riverside Keep's entrance, Gandalf and Balin looked at each other.
Following Levi, Falodan had also quickly departed. Now only the two least familiar with the territory remained.
"Are you leaving too?"
Balin looked up and asked.
"Leave? Where could I go?"
Gandalf sighed heavily. "I can't leave."
"Both Levi and that Falodan with a record of killing Nazgûl have left. Now only I can handle some possible unexpected situations. I need to stay and guard for them."
"Alright, then I'll follow you."
Balin nodded with determination.
"Come with me."
Gandalf opened Riverside Keep's main door: "According to Levi's directions, the armory's on the left. While we have time, you can go find a suitable weapon."
Clang.
When the armory doors opened, Balin's eyes lit up like a child in a candy shop.
"Elves, dwarves, humans... even orcs. All types of weapons forged by every race are here."
"Simply wonderful! If I could have an armory like this, I could sit here admiring them all day."
He moved through the racks with practiced ease. "This one."
He picked up a dwarven steel battle axe, testing its weight.
"I like this."
His grin was fierce. "Big, hard, heavy, and sharp. No orc skull could withstand even one blow."