Chapter 196: Outsider · The Loyalist

Just as Dean returned to the station of his Knight Order, some people dressed in special attire appeared outside Vauban City—

Wearing cotton jackets over their plain clothes, their thick leather boots stepped on the snow, making crunching sounds, while on the horses behind them were placed armor, sabers, swords, longbows, crossbows, and even weapon s like flying daggers and maces, which clanged and jingled as the horses moved.

Although it was a squad of less than ten people, the armor and weapons on the horses made the guards of Vauban City inspect them carefully.

“More mercenaries!”

A guard standing by the gate of Vauban City could not help but mutter in a low voice.

“Last time these guys actually dared to attack Vauban Castle; the County King should have forbidden any mercenaries from entering Vauban County!”

Another Vauban City gate guard said indignantly.

Obviously, the attack on Vauban Castle, as well as the recent riots in Vauban City, had made these guards’ opinion of mercenaries drop to the lowest point.

“My Lord, we are not like other mercenaries; not only do we abide by the law, but we are also happy to help you solve any trouble!”

A tall and thin mercenary with a slightly frail feeling heard the conversation of the guards and immediately turned around to explain.

“Easier said than done!”

The city gate guards naturally dismissed this.

“Don’t worry, in a few days, you will have a new appreciation for us!”

The frail-looking mercenary said with a smile, and then walked toward Vauban City, and the surrounding mercenaries immediately followed—obviously, this frail-looking mercenary was the leader of this group of mercenaries.

The city gate guard was stunned by this situation.

However, before he could come back to his senses, another group of mercenaries appeared in front of him, and there were even more of them; suddenly, these city gate guards threw the previous matter to the back of their minds.

In the distance, shadows were moving—

“Boss Nord, the people from ‘Poison Scorpion’ are here too!”

This figure ran back to the stopping place and reported to that tall and thin young man full of a frail aura.

“‘Poison Scorpion’ will certainly come; how could that guy pass up such a chance to become famous… after all, that is a future Gold-rank Expert!”

The tall and thin young man full of a frail aura smiled slightly.

“Yes, that guy’s luck is really bad; not only is he targeted by a guy like ‘Poison Scorpion’, but even the ‘Lion’ Mercenary Group has mobilized!”

This mercenary shook his head and sighed at the misfortune of ‘that guy’.

“The Lion Mercenary Group just sent their first team Captain Kestted; although that guy is very strong, he doesn’t need our attention. He is a guy who doesn’t play tricks, and the Lion Mercenary Group has already taken root in Hosh County and has a good relationship with the Earl of Hosh, so they should just be here to watch the fun!”

The tall and thin young expert analyzed.

“Therefore, ‘Poison Scorpion’ is the guy we need to focus on—that guy is our competitor… the share of the mercenary market in Vauban County is something both he and we are determined to get!”

“Of course, the most important thing is to defeat that future Gold-rank Expert—only such a reputation can allow us to rise. We must choose a stepping stone that is glittering but can be steadily taken!”

At the end, this tall and thin young man revealed a confident smile.

The subordinates nearby did not raise any objections, and even took it for granted.

After all, their Regiment Commander had completed the Knight’s Baptism five years ago; if not for the lack of a good enough Baptism Potion, the Grand Knight’s Baptism would have been completed long ago.

In Dell County, mentioning the ‘Nord Mercenary Group’ was known to almost everyone.

Because, when the ‘Nord Mercenary Group’ was officially established, their Regiment Commander had continuously killed two Grand Knight-level mercenaries who came to provoke them.

Killing Grand Knight-level mercenaries as a Knight made the name ‘Nord’ resound with prestige in Dell County; even though they had fewer than ten people, they still dared not be ignored, precisely for this reason.

Of course, the ‘Poison Scorpion’, which could be mentioned in the same breath as them, apart from their numbers, their Regiment Commander Ster also had outstanding qualities.

His ability to use poison and assassinate was a favorite topic of discussion.

People even suspected that Ster was responsible for several sensational murders in Dell County, but no one could produce any evidence.

Among them was a Grand Knight.

Therefore, that mercenary from the ‘Nord Mercenary Group’ would say that ‘that guy’ was really unlucky.

After all, no matter how great the future, one needs to grow up first.

Without growing up, potential is just potential, not strength; this is true even for a future Gold-rank Expert.

…

And Dean, who was being thought of, successfully returned to the Knight Order. After being welcomed by his subordinates, he wrote a letter, detailing the transaction with Buchea, and then gave it to Ike, asking this subordinate to go to the town, find a merchant caravan, and deliver it to Old Anders in Vauban County.

“Huck, do you know anyone nearby who is good at raising falcons?”

Watching the back of his departing subordinate, Dean, who turned back to the room with his deputy, asked this.

“Do you want to use it to send letters? However, there are no falcons that can be used to send letters in the Tier Territory; those things are entirely piled up by Gold Pulton, and ordinary hunters simply can’t afford to raise them; however, there are carrier pigeons; do you need me to ask for you?”

Huck looked at Dean.

“Carrier pigeons? Hmm, that will work too!”

Dean hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

In fact, Dean, who was accustomed to war, trusted trained falcons more, because, unlike carrier pigeons, they were not easily killed—some specially trained falcons were meant to kill carrier pigeons, and could even track people on the ground; this was the kind of falcon Dean needed.

However, before finding a suitable falcon, carrier pigeons would do.

After all, he just wanted to communicate conveniently with Old Anders in Vauban City, and would not use them for other things; even if they were hunted down, there would be no loss.

“Huck, how is everyone’s training coming along?”

Just as Huck turned to leave, Dean called out to his deputy again.

“They are all very good; Theron has already started to approach the Knight-rank, and in another two or three months, he should be able to undergo the Knight’s Baptism—the Body Forging Technique suits this guy very well, he got started quickly, and became proficient with it!”

Huck reported in detail, and when mentioning Theron, who had a bright future, a smile appeared on his face.

“And the others?”

Dean nodded and continued to ask.

“Chad should be the closest to Theron, followed by Mah… as for Ike, his natural endowments are somewhat poor; even with the help of the Body Forging Technique, it will be difficult for him to reach the Knight-rank!”

Huck spoke one by one about the people he was paying attention to, and when mentioning Ike, Huck could not help but shake his head and sigh.

Obviously, our Vice Regiment Commander did not want to give up on anyone.

But with the change in strength, even if he did not give up, that sense of disparity was enough to make people give up on themselves.

“For Ike, I will make arrangements… Huck, are you willing to follow me?”

After Dean indicated that he had other arrangements for Ike, his expression suddenly became serious.

This kind of following was naturally not the relationship between a Regiment Commander and a Vice Regiment Commander.

It was an invitation issued by Dean Ken in his capacity as a Noble—for his deputy, Dean was quite satisfied with the other party’s ability; although his strength was somewhat lacking due to his physical disability, it definitely did not mean he had no potential. At least Dean was certain that, judging by the strength the other party had displayed, he had long surpassed ordinary knights who had undergone Baptism.

Simply put, once the other party underwent the Knight’s Baptism, he would certainly succeed and gain an increase in strength.

Naturally, Dean wanted to bring such a subordinate under his command in the true sense, but the other party’s displayed love for the Ferrchelen Knight Order had made Dean hesitate.

However, in the end, Dean wanted to give it a try—

“I am willing!”

To Dean’s surprise, Huck answered very readily, and even Huck said with some embarrassment: “Actually, I have been waiting for your invitation, but you never issued one, which made me think you needed guys with more potential and looked down on a disabled guy like me!”

“No, no, I just thought you couldn’t bear to part with the Ferrchelen Knight Order…”

Dean shook his head and explained.

“Aren’t you the Regiment Commander of the Ferrchelen Knight Order? Moreover, your enthusiasm for the Ferrchelen Knight Order is no less than ours… you provide us with food and weapons, perfect our training plans, and teach us the Body Forging Technique—although we have our own Body Forging Technique, compared to yours, the gap is obvious! In fact, I hope you become the true master of the Ferrchelen Knight Order!”

Huck said very seriously.

“Lord Baron will be sad to hear such words!”

Dean sighed.

“Lord Baron is also well aware in his heart that his finances determine that he cannot take care of the entire Knight Order too much, and after you paid out your own savings, and even some cultivation techniques we cannot access, some things are destined!”

Huck’s expression remained serious.

“I will discuss these matters with Lord Baron afterwards! Now… welcome to join, Huck!”

Dean smiled and looked at Huck.

“I, Huck, will defend My Lord’s dignity and honor with the battleaxe in my hand!”

Huck knelt on one knee and swore.

His voice was clear and loud.