Chapter 157: The Meeting (Part 2)

“Of course I am willing!”

Old Anders, having come back to his senses, seemed to have perceived something, and he answered very seriously.

“Then, bring the contracts for you and the four assistants, and we will sign them again!”

Dean sat there and gestured.

Although he had guessed that Dean would do this before, Old Anders still looked at the young man before him with some surprise, and then, he bowed and walked towards the front of the shop—signing a new contract required not only the person signing the contract but also a witness; after all, this was just an ordinary contract bound by the Lord and the County King, not those Magic Contracts.

“Is there something you want to say?”

Dean sat in his chair, looking at the two young men beside him who seemed to want to speak but hesitated, and he could not help but chuckle.

“Regiment Commander, why are we spending so much money to hire this shopkeeper?”

Ike, the quick-witted young man, asked before his friend this time.

And that slightly eager expression made Dean’s smile deepen—it was obvious that Ike was anxious to know the answer, and unlike Theron’s simple indignation, he wanted to truly know why.

Or perhaps… to confirm some guesses.

Regarding this, Dean, who intended to cultivate the two, would certainly not refuse—

“Ike, Theron, how much do you think it costs to hire a shopkeeper?”

Dean did not answer directly but asked his two subordinates.

“For the shopkeepers of those merchant caravans in Tier Town, it’s usually about 1 or 1.5 Silver Horns a week, even if Vauban City is more prosperous, it wouldn’t exceed 2 Silver Horns!”

Ike answered very directly, while Theron beside him looked blank.

“Then what about a shopkeeper who not only has fame and connections, but is also literate and knows arithmetic?”

Dean pointed to the kraft paper placed beside the ledger—on it were Old Anders’ handwriting and some numbers, which had just been noted to give Dean a more detailed explanation.

“At least 2 Silver Horns!”

After thinking for a moment, Ike gave this answer.

In Emerald, being literate and reading was absolutely not a simple matter; for Commoner families, it was basically a hopeless wish, and only the Noble class could receive such education, which was also one of the important reasons why the Noble class held important positions in the entire country apart from Strength.

And for Commoners to receive such education, there were only two ways—

1. Become a Knight and receive education.

2. Pay a large sum of money to obtain education.

Of course, the former also required payment, but it was only one-third of the latter.

Knowledge like arithmetic was the same.

Therefore, in Emerald, people who were literate and knew arithmetic were definitely people who could obtain the best job treatment—after all, being able to read and do arithmetic already showed that they were either rich or Noble, even if they had been so in the past.

Nobles usually gave such people a sense of dignity.

Obviously, that Old Anders was such a person.

Thinking of this, Ike nodded slowly and said, “I understand, Regiment Commander!”

“Understand what?”

Theron was still a bit confused, while Ike explained to Theron in a low voice.

It was very simple; being able to read and do arithmetic already made Old Anders worth spending 2 Silver Horns to hire, and the remaining 1 Silver Horn was for the other party’s former status—a shopkeeper of Commoner origin compared to a shopkeeper of fallen Noble origin, the latter clearly had more advantages.

After all, this was a spice and fur shop.

Commoners rarely patronized here; those who came here were still those Noble descendants.

And having Old Anders, a shopkeeper who was also of Noble origin, obviously made communication easier, and he could even use his original connections to drive the transaction volume of the entire shop.

And this was something a Commoner shopkeeper simply could not do.

Watching Ike explain carefully to Theron, Dean nodded secretly while repositioning this young man—compared to Theron’s ‘Knight Talent’, Ike was naturally somewhat inconspicuous, but staying in a remote small place like Tier Town without receiving any formal education, yet possessing such insight, was obviously not bad.

And his nature of being diligent in thinking was also valued by Dean.

“Perhaps, I can have an additional military advisor!”

Dean thought silently, and at this moment, clear footsteps sounded outside the door—

Tap, tap, tap…

After knocking, Old Anders walked in with a witness, looking at that witness, Dean stood up with a smile—

“Grand Knight Anluo, good day!”

“Dean Ken, Regiment Commander, good day!”

Facing the smiling Dean, that Grand Knight Anluo, who had fought side by side with Dean in Vauban Castle, immediately responded with a smile, and this Grand Knight dressed in casual clothes said: “I met Old Anders at the City Guard before, he said he was looking for a witness, and I thought I was very suitable!”

“This is of course!”

Dean nodded with a smile and invited the other party to sit down.

It was not strange for a Grand Knight to appear at the City Guard, but to act as a witness was surprising, as one could tell by looking at the shocked appearance of the four assistants.

Even Old Anders had a look of surprise on his face.

Obviously, he did not expect that he would get a Grand Knight to act as a witness just by mentioning it casually.

Of course, Old Anders would definitely not think this was due to his own face.

Subconsciously, Old Anders looked at Dean’s young face again, and associating it with the rumors in the Ancient Castle, this shopkeeper became even more cautious and respectful.

Nobles with titles were not rare in Emerald, but a Noble who had both a title and Grand Knight Strength, and was young in Emerald, that was not common in Emerald.

Moreover, every single one represented a meaning: a boundless future.

For such a young man with a boundless future, Old Anders, who came from a Knight family, naturally knew what to do.

Therefore, the process of signing the contract next was very simple, without any errors.

It was completed almost amidst the conversation between Dean and Grand Knight Anluo.

And when Old Anders took his own contract and left the room with the four assistants, Grand Knight Anluo put away his smile and asked with a slightly serious gaze: “Dean, have you undergone the ‘Knight’s Baptism’?”

“No, you know my body has just recovered, I plan to reach the true peak before undergoing the Baptism!”

Dean shook his head and answered.

In the previous conversation, due to the friendliness shown by this Grand Knight, Dean and the other party were already on a first-name basis; of course, Dean still hid some things.

“Then, is it possible to do it on the day of the ‘Baptism’ arranged by Lord Marquis?”

Saying this, a trace of embarrassment appeared on this Grand Knight’s face, and then, anger.

“Did something happen?”

Looking at the other party’s expression, Dean asked directly.

“It’s Bishop Deholl, the Divine Church also has two knights who have reached the standard to undergo the Baptism this time—they are both very good, at least, among the young people undergoing the Baptism that day, except for you, Dean, the others are far behind!”

A trace of shame appeared on Anluo’s face.

“So that’s it!”

Dean nodded slowly.

The struggle between Divine Power and Royal Power always appeared in such unintentional moments.

And regarding this, Dean did not feel any aversion—for the Divine Church, he had never had any good feelings, and even, his heart was full of hatred.

Therefore, Dean certainly would not refuse—

“Of course!”

Dean said very definitely.

“Thank you so much, Dean!”

Anluo stood up and bowed slightly.

Then, after the two chatted for a while longer, that Grand Knight Anluo got up to leave—obviously, the City Guard still needed him to be there.

After all, Vauban City had not been peaceful these past few days.

Last night, a fire broke out in the Civilian District, five people died, and what’s more, they were five people carrying weapons—Dean clearly remembered the worry that appeared on Anluo’s face when he mentioned this.

Therefore, not only the Upper District and the Ancient Castle, but in the Lower District, that Marquis also began to station Grand Knights.

And during this time, the fact that Anluo could come here to act as a witness, apart from his gratitude for Dean’s ‘life-saving grace’ in the battle, was more to share the worries for that Old Marquis.

This was something that every subordinate Knight should do.

And regarding this, Dean did not care.

At least, he sensed that Anluo had no malice.

“Let’s go, let’s return to the residence!”

Dean said, and led the two subordinates towards the outside of the shop, while Old Anders took an assistant to see Dean’s group to the door of the shop.

The two sides bade farewell according to their respective statuses, and no one noticed the pattern that Dean instantly drew at the most inconspicuous corner of the wall outside his shop.

…

Lunch in the residence in the Upper District was as sumptuous as always.

Marquis Vauban would not skimp on this aspect, on the contrary, he was exceptionally generous—

Chunks of roasted Horned Sheep meat, golden bread, boiled eggs, large basins of stewed vegetable soup.

It could be said that except for the absence of wine, everything looked perfect.

Of course, this was the food for the young people of the Ferrchelen Knight Order, while the lunch for Dean, Huck, and that Miss Baron from Tier was even more sumptuous and delicate.

However, whether it was Dean or Huck, they both sat at the same dining table with the young people.

For Dean, as the Regiment Commander of a Knight Order, he had to share joys and sorrows with his subordinates; this was his responsibility and his duty.

Otherwise, how could he lead his subordinates to charge into battle?

And for Huck, since his Regiment Commander and subordinates were all here, why would he leave?

As for the food?

Eating meat loudly and laughing was more enjoyable, and it even surpassed the taste of the food itself.

And at this moment, a Baron Guard ran in carrying two jars—

“Regiment Commander Dean Ken, this is the Honey and goat milk that Miss Lily sent to you!”