Chapter 104: ‘Dismount’ Might

In the early morning, a thick fog rose outside Janel Town.

Unlike outside Tier Town, which was near the Snowplains Dense Forest and where the thick fog seemed to be mixed with snowflakes, the fog in Janel Town, although also thick, did not reach the point of hindering travel.

The young men of the Ferrchelen Knight Order, the guards of Baron Tier, waited solemnly around the carriage.

In the early morning, Vice Regiment Commander Huck had already informed them about the matter of Baron Defendi’s nephew traveling with them—as people of the Tier Territory, they held a natural dislike for the people of the Defendi Territory.

Regarding this, Dean was also already aware.

The cause of everything was Gold Pulton.

Because every trade the Defendi Territory conducted with the Tier Territory took full advantage—they traded those inferior iron ores for countless fine furs.

Therefore, although the two sides had not reached the level of sworn enemies, the people of the Tier Territory never minded finding opportunities to teach the people of the Defendi Territory a lesson.

It was just like how Baron Tier would absolutely not give up any opportunity to embarrass Baron Defendi.

As for raising the price of iron ore again in the transaction?

Don’t be joking; if the price was raised any further, the people of the Tier Territory would not mind buying and transporting iron ore back from Vauban City.

Simply put, from the very beginning, Baron Defendi had controlled the price at a limit, and precisely because of this, the people of the Tier Territory and Baron Tier were filled with resentment.

After all, the other party clearly had the intention of taking advantage of someone’s precarious situation.

Rumble, rumble…

Amidst the sound of rolling carriage wheels, a group of faintly visible figures passed through that thick fog and began to appear before Dean and the others’ eyes.

A carriage nearly twice as wide as Baron Tier’s daughter’s was pulled by four warhorses and approached under the escort of a cavalry team of at least forty men.

Clearly, not only the size of the carriage but also the number of people was double that of Dean’s side.

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop…

The team of forty cavalrymen was neatly dressed, all in chainmail, wielding two-handed swords and spears; even the sides of the warhorses’ bellies were covered with a layer of iron chains, protecting those vulnerable areas.

And the knights riding on the warhorses all held their heads high with extraordinary air.

At least, judging solely from appearance, they looked more reliable than the young men of the Ferrchelen Knight Order.

Of course, it was only appearance.

Sitting upright on the horseback, Dean could clearly see the ‘small movements’ made by these knights of mercenary origin—the kind of hand signal communication was not unique to mercenaries but was also often used among thieves.

However, compared to the covert codes of thieves, these mercenaries’ hand signals were much simpler.

Especially for Dean, they were clear at a glance.

Mockery, sarcasm.

Basically, these were the meanings in the mercenaries’ hand signals.

Of course, if it were more specific, there was also an extra bit of smugness.

Clearly, these cavalrymen of the Defendi Territory were full of contempt for Dean’s group—because of Dean’s group’s crude equipment, and… their young appearance.

Whether in the rank of knights or in the rank of wizards, age seemed to have become a key point in measuring strength.

One could not say that the older one was, the stronger one became, but maturity in youth always represented maturity in strength and richness in experience.

Especially at the age of thirty or forty, one reached a golden age.

In fact, most Gold-rank Experts on Goedz appeared in this age group.

As for younger Gold-rank Experts?

Those were geniuses, and naturally, they could not be generalized.

Just like the carriage team of Baron Defendi’s nephew before their eyes, most of the forty-plus knights were in this stage—in fact, once mercenaries passed this stage, they would sprout the intention to retire; the powerful ones would go to some remote territories to seek an official position from the local nobles, while those with ordinary strength but a special skill would rely on their saved wealth to become artisans, or simply gather a group of people to open an inn integrating a tavern, restaurant, and lodging on some main roads.

As for those with ordinary strength and no special skills?

They would find some places to live the lives of hunters or farmers.

Perhaps they would be somewhat unwilling, but at least they were still alive, right?

Of course, the cavalry team before their eyes was far from that time—

At the age of thirty or forty, they were in their most glorious time, and the fierce aura and strength they displayed seemed to indicate that even when they retired, they would have nothing to worry about.

“Seven, eight, nine… ten guys close to Knight-rank, and more than twenty followers above the level of ordinary soldiers, plus a real knight… truly extraordinary!”

Dean swept his gaze over the approaching team and muttered softly to himself.

Distinguishing strength was not a very difficult task for Dean, who possessed the experience of his previous life.

In fact, thieves also had similar training.

However, it was limited to some appearances; once disguised, only those Thief Masters could distinguish them.

But the team before their eyes obviously had no intention of disguising.

They even looked so arrogant that they wished they could mark out their own strength levels.

After all, in this border area of the Emerald Kingdom, such strength was indeed worth being proud of.

If it was not clear enough, then a simple comparison with Baron Tier’s family assets would be clear enough—

According to the previous situation, under Baron Tier’s command, Boz, the Regiment Commander of the Ferrchelen Knight Order, and Guard Captain Allenor were existences of Knight-rank.

Below them should be Huck, a man infinitely close to a knight.

Below that, should be those scums following Boz, having combat power higher than ordinary soldiers.

Perhaps among Baron Tier’s guards, there should be some experts, but there was still a considerable gap compared to the strength displayed by the Defendi Territory.

After all, the other party sent out a knight-level person, ten guys close to knight-level, plus those twenty-plus followers above ordinary soldier level for just a not-too-distant trip; such a team completely outclassed the entire Ferrchelen Knight Order.

Whether led by Boz or by Dean.

Of course, two different Regiment Commanders naturally had different ways of handling things—if it were that bully-soft-and-fear-hard guy Boz, he would definitely back down.

But the current Regiment Commander of the Ferrchelen Knight Order was Dean.

Those young people cultivated by Dean through fighting to support fighting would absolutely not be cowards—

“Hmph!”

Such a cold snort appeared from Theron, that Captain under Dean.

The young man with knight qualifications immediately snapped out of the shock from the opponent’s fully armed appearance and fierce aura; he gently kicked his good friend.

Suddenly, the other skinny Captain also came back to his senses.

“Everyone, perk up!”

Seeing his friend recover, Theron immediately shouted in a low voice, and Ike beside him also followed up saying: “Think about our former opponents; even they could not handle us without casualties—and we did it, we are stronger than them!”

“Stronger!”

“Stronger!”

…

Low roars rose from the mouths of the twelve young men; they thought of their previous bloody battles and every instance of brushing past death.

Under the shock of the opponent’s equipment and the deterrence of their fierce aura, their originally somewhat solidified blood and breathing returned to normal at this moment.

No, not just returned to normal—

Huff, huff, huff…

Amidst heavy breathing, the young members of the Ferrchelen Knight Order gripped their weapons and lined up, blocking the way before the opponents.

Although, including the two Captains, there were only fourteen of them.

But at this moment, this team of only fourteen people displayed an aura like a thousand troops; or perhaps… an aura that dared to charge even against a thousand troops.

Iron-blooded, fearless!

After undergoing Dean’s layers of tempering, the young people before their eyes finally began to show their own sharpness.

Regarding this, Dean, who had just replaced his [Title], nodded slightly—Dean currently had two titles, namely [Apprentice Knight] and [Ferrchelen Knight Order Regiment Commander].

The former could only add a bit of insignificant affinity and intimidation.

While the latter could increase the combat power and morale of the affiliated knight order, especially with the linked skill [Military Organization], which made this title particularly important.

After all, an increase or decrease of 20% in morale.

One-fifth of the degree was enough to turn an ordinary combat group into an elite one.

And before this, Dean specifically switched off the [Ferrchelen Knight Order Regiment Commander] title to let his subordinates experience a tempering.

After all, the enemies they would face in the future were not these scattered stragglers, but real elites.

Having an impressive ‘first time’ would naturally have endless benefits for their future growth.

At least, they would not be slaughtered by the opponent due to being stunned.

Dean was satisfied with his subordinates’ performance, and since his subordinates behaved like this, how could he show weakness as their Regiment Commander?

Snap!

Gently nudging the horse’s belly, the warhorse, which had already developed excellent coordination with Dean, immediately stepped forward two steps—

[Dragon Swordsmanship: Move Switching…]

[Selection: Momentum of Might!]

With Dean’s selection, suddenly, an indescribable but heart-palpitating aura began to appear on Dean.

Even the young people standing behind Dean, Huck, those guards of the Baron, and the Baron’s daughter could clearly feel it.

And the people facing Dean?

Naturally, it was people falling and horses tumbling!

It was not an adjective, but a literal sense of people falling and horses tumbling—

Neigh!

The warhorses seemed to be stared at by some Fierce Beast; they raised their front hooves one after another and retreated repeatedly. The knights on the horses, except for the real Knight-rank one and those close to Knight-rank with good horsemanship, were all thrown down by their own warhorses.

There were a few in sorry states who were hanging on their saddles, being dragged back and forth by their warhorses.

The scene instantly became chaotic.

The young people on Dean’s side were stunned for a moment, and then they laughed unceremoniously.

Even the Baron’s daughter, out of etiquette, could not laugh freely, but she covered her mouth and turned around.

However, even amidst the laughter, they did not forget to take a look at Dean.

After all, they knew clearly where that heart-palpitating aura that made the warhorses timid came from.

“How did this guy (Regiment Commander) do it?”

The Baron’s daughter and the young people of the Ferrchelen Knight Order were all guessing.

And Dean, sitting upright on the warhorse, also had a flash of light in his eyes—

In fact, the effect of [Dragon Swordsmanship: Momentum of Might] greatly exceeded his expectations; Dean’s original plan was just to slightly suppress those knights.

However, Dean did not expect it to have an effect on the warhorses.

Even, it far exceeded the effect on humans.