Chapter 168: The ‘Baptism’ Ceremony – Part 1

Three days had passed since Dean’s late-night talk with the Miss Baron of the Tier Baron Family. It was the most relaxed period for Dean since he arrived in Vauban County. Every day, he woke up early for training, had breakfast, followed by morning training, then lunch, and continued training into dinner time after a short rest in the afternoon.

In fact, as the Regiment Commander of the Ferrchelen Knight Order, Dean only spent about a third of his afternoon on training. The remaining two-thirds of the time were needed for handling official duties.

However, in Vauban City, there was clearly no need for that.

Therefore, for the past three days, Dean and Huck led the young subordinates to sweat freely on the courtyard’s playground; the chanting of work songs never stopped.

The Guards and Knights of the Defendi Territory and Janel Territory joined this training on the afternoon of the first day. However, they withdrew one by one by the afternoon of the second day.

The high-intensity, heavy-load training was like using beasts of burden, causing the Guards and Knights of those two territories to turn pale.

Therefore, starting from the third day, those Guards and Knights who appeared much more mature from the Defendi Territory and Janel Territory looked at the youths from the Tier Territory with a hint of different emotion in their eyes.

Of course, apart from the fact that these youths were carefully selected by Dean, a more important reason was the 20 Morale (a 20% increase in combat power) brought by the [Military Organization Lv3] and the Title [Ferrchelen Knight Order Regiment Commander]. One must not underestimate this 20% increase. A group of young people who already had a quite good foundation, with basic attributes fluctuating around 1.2 to 1.3, saw their fluctuation values reach 1.4 to 1.6 after such an increase.

This was already close to the Knight-rank level. Especially with the boost, after the bodies received sufficient exercise, rest, and nutrition, the speed of this increase was obviously extraordinary.

At least, Theron, the strongest among the youths, according to Dean’s evaluation, saw his Strength and Constitution attributes fluctuate between 1.8 and 1.9 after the boost.

With just a period of time for such boosts to be fully developed, they would be good hands at the Knight-rank level.

However, apart from Theron, the other youths still differed slightly from Dean’s expectations.

Of course, even with a slight difference, it was enough to face the Guards and Knights of the Defendi Territory and Janel Territory.

As for the real Knights?

With Dean and Huck present, the Guard Captains and Knight Order Commanders in the Defendi Territory and Janel Territory, who both possessed Knight-rank strength, did not have any real actions in a true sense.

Perhaps the Guard Captain of Baron Defendi received some instructions, but upon seeing Huck’s unfriendly gaze, and seeing him alone carrying a log thick as an adult’s waist and fifteen or sixteen feet long, swinging it up and down with one arm, the man thought for a moment and chose to retreat.

Watching the man’s departing back, Huck spat on the ground.

The Miss Baron of the Tier Baron Family, who had been sitting by the playground all along, bowed politely to Baron Defendi, whose face looked grim—after knowing Dean’s true strength, she would absolutely prevent any ‘inquiry’ behavior, whether friendly or… containing malice.

Upon seeing the apology from the Miss Baron of the Tier Baron Family, Baron Defendi stiffly smiled, turned around, and left.

Of course, that Guard Captain remained by the playground, constantly observing Dean’s movements.

However, it seemed he stood too close.

The logs in Huck’s hands always flew out of control, and the youths’ arrows also missed the target.

After merely half an afternoon, even with Knight-rank strength, this Guard Captain of Baron Defendi had to temporarily leave the side of the playground.

After all, the feeling of being randomly aimed at by more than ten arrows, plus a sufficiently weighted log, was really uncomfortable.

As soon as this Guard Captain turned around, the youths of the Ferrchelen Knight Order simultaneously spat on the ground.

That unified sound of spitting made the Guard Captain turn around with a dark expression.

However, seeing Dean, who looked at him with a half-smile and cold eyes, this Guard Captain once again made a wise choice—returning to his room.

“You dog relying on others’ power!”

Theron mocked him then.

And this mockery seemed to become a beginning; the youths of the Ferrchelen Knight Order directly referred to that Guard Captain of Baron Defendi as the ‘Evil Dog’.

As for Baron Defendi?

Simple, ‘the owner of the Evil Dog’ or… ‘the villain staying with the Evil Dog’!

However, the former was obviously more convenient and gradually became the unified term used by the youths of the Ferrchelen Knight Order for Baron Defendi. But once, during dinner, Huck muttered ‘the Evil Dog’s collar’, and immediately, this new term replaced the original one.

Hearing such a term for the first time, the Miss Baron of the Tier Baron Family covered her mouth and laughed ‘giggle’ without caring about her demeanor.

Baron Defendi’s face became increasingly stiff.

The utensils and decorations in the room also seemed to have changed.

Time passed in this atmosphere of mutual wariness and seemingly peaceful situations until the morning of the fourth day—

“You need to wear armor and carry your Longsword!”

The Miss Baron of the Tier Baron Family reminded Dean once again.

“I am not unfamiliar with the process of the ‘Knight’s Baptism’!”

Dean answered as usual.

Then, relying solely on his own strength, he easily put on the [Weight-Reducing Solid Steel Armor], and when the white cape was fixed to the steel rivets on the two shoulder guards, Dean picked up the [Light Sharp Knight Sword] and turned around.

Immediately, the Miss Baron of the Tier Baron Family’s eyes lit up.

Even Huck and others nearby were stunned for a moment.

The [Weight-Reducing Solid Steel Armor], or rather the Half-Body Armor, seemed really suitable for Dean, not only showing an unprecedented heroic appearance but also highlighting a sense of strength in beauty with his body, which was only within the normal range—this was what ordinary Formal Attire lacked, and equally, what the clumsiness of full-body armor could not replace.

When that white cape began to appear behind Dean, everyone present seemed to see a Commander standing on a hill, surrounded by many Knights, commanding thousands of troops.

“Re-Regiment Commander, this is a real Knight!”

Theron said with his speech becoming unclear.

Although his speech was unclear, the people around him all nodded.

“Taking off this armor, I am also a Knight… Let’s go, we need to head to Vauban Castle!”

Dean smiled lightly and then walked out first.

Everyone followed behind, filing out one by one.

The Miss Baron of the Tier Baron Family, as a guest invited by Marquis Vauban, still took a carriage; the rest, including Dean, one of the protagonists today, all rode Warhorses.

At the gate of the residence, three carriages of Baron Defendi, Baron Janel, and Baron Jandu, who had specially rushed over, along with unequal escorts, were waiting there.

“Sir Knight Dean Ken is indeed extraordinarily heroic. I hope you can always maintain it!”

Baron Defendi’s words carried a sarcastic tone.

“Of course!”

Dean answered simply and directly. Moreover, he directly swung himself onto the Warhorse, showing no intention to converse. However, upon meeting Baron Jandu, he nodded very friendly—

“Good morning, Jandu!”

“Dean, you must do your best!”

Jandu had obviously learned some insider information about this ‘Knight’s Baptism’.

“I will definitely!”

Dean smiled and nodded.

“Then, let’s set off!”

As a former Guard of Marquis Vauban, Baron Jandu, at this time, also represented Marquis Vauban and shouted the command to depart.

Next, the carriage convoy composed of three Barons and one Baron representative set off, heading towards Vauban Castle at a moderate pace.

…

And just as Dean’s party set off, on the other side of the Upper District of Vauban City, near the border with the Lower District, inside a white church.

An old man with white hair and beard, wearing a red robe, was also walking towards his carriage.

The old man’s hair, beard, and facial wrinkles had long represented his age, but those eyes were unusually bright, like a pair of light bulbs, making them hard to look directly at.

However, at this moment, those eyes were emitting a gentle radiance—

“Gulodal, Higgs!”

The old man called softly. Immediately, two figures, one tall and one short, appeared before him.

“My Lord Bishop!”

Among the two young men, neither the tall Gulodal, whose height was exceptionally superior to normal people, robust like an ox, with a face full of arrogance, nor the ordinary-sized, even slightly weak, silent Higgs, kneeled respectfully on one knee.

“I know you are the strongest among the youths of Vauban County, especially after two years of traveling, your strength is undeniable… So, I hope you can shine brilliantly on the stage of Vauban County—representing the Divine Church!”

This old man, the Regional Bishop of Vauban County, Deholl, said slowly.

“Yes!”

The silent Higgs was still as sparing of words as ever.

“I will definitely smash the head of that guy named Dean Ken!”

Gulodal shouted loudly.

Deholl did not reprimand Gulodal; instead, he nodded with a smile and turned to enter the carriage.

Next, the entire team representing the Divine Church in Vauban County set off, heading towards the Inner District, that is, Vauban Castle.

And it was a very coincidental fact that when the Divine Church’s team appeared before Vauban Castle, Dean’s party had just stepped onto the newly repaired drawbridge.

The two sides were a head in front of the other, neither too close nor too far.

They looked at each other clearly enough.