Chapter 61: Source of Soldiers

The Baron’s dinner was sumptuous enough.

It could be said that it was the most sumptuous dinner Dean had had since coming to the Tier Territory from the Capital of Emerald, but, quite obviously, Dean did not have the mind to eat—after all the things that needed to be done were finished, and estimating the speed at which his subordinates were eating, enough for them to be full, Dean stood up to take his leave.

“Remember to nurse your injury well. In a month, you will need to represent the Tier Territory to go to Vauban County to participate in the ‘Knight’s Baptism’!”

When they were parting, the Baron saw Dean and his group out of the Mansion, instructing them in a low voice.

“Of course!”

Dean answered with great certainty, and then, left the main gate of the Baron’s Mansion—being able to obtain a ‘Knight’s Baptism’ for free, Dean did not mind.

As for Huck, whom Dean had invited?

When Dean left the Baron’s Mansion, the boss of ‘Snow Bear’s Home’ couldn’t wait to follow up—during this time, he only gave a few instructions to two reliable waiters, then walked into his own room, took his Armor and weapons, spending less than three minutes in total.

And this was within Dean’s expectations.

In fact, Huck’s love for the military far exceeded ordinary people’s imagination.

Even when facing death, this one-armed Knight could face death calmly and composedly—because, he was a soldier, and a soldier should die on the Battlefield.

Therefore, before speaking the invitation, Dean did not think Huck would refuse.

Facing Huck who had followed, Dean waved his hand towards the skinny Militia Captain, and immediately, the latter jumped onto his good friend Theron’s Warhorse, and the two Militia Captains shared one ride.

“Mount up!”

Dean pointed at that Warhorse.

Huck did not immediately jump onto the horse’s back, but very skillfully approached the Warhorse, showing that he was harmless. After gently stroking the Warhorse for a while, he put his Armor and weapons on it, and then he turned over and mounted the horse—the whole process was witnessed by all the Militia. Watching Huck mount the horse with one hand, even more skillfully than them, they all revealed expressions of admiration.

These simple and honest young people were always unusually admiring of capable people.

What’s more, Huck himself was a famous person in Tier Town—his illustrious military achievements were known to the young people, and with such a person as the Vice Regiment Commander, they naturally would not have any complaints, and were even delighted.

After all, a Regiment Commander who strategized, coupled with a Vice Regiment Commander who fought bravely, was simply the best thing possible.

“Ferrchelen, Victory!”

The two Militia Captains shouted involuntarily—this was the slogan taught by those old members after the Militia joined the Ferrchelen Knight Order on the first day, and they had to recite it every day, however, they had never shouted it from the heart like now.

“Victory!”

“Victory!”

The rest of the Militia followed in shouting, while Dean, who was at the side, smiled lightly and nodded—at this moment, the Ferrchelen Knight Order truly belonged under his leadership.

Of course, when the Baron announced it before, there was also a notification on his character panel—

[Obtained new Title: Ferrchelen Knight Order Regiment Commander!]

[Ferrchelen Knight Order Regiment Commander (Title): When you lead the combat forces belonging to the Ferrchelen Knight Order into the Battlefield, the combat forces belonging to the Ferrchelen Knight Order gain Morale +5 (combat power increased by 5%); and for every enemy killed by a combat force belonging to the Ferrchelen Knight Order, you will obtain 10% of the experience from it.]

Undoubtedly, compared to the [Apprentice Knight] which only obtained attention bonuses from Commoners and minor Nobles, the Title of [Ferrchelen Knight Order Regiment Commander] was several times better.

Of course, compared to Dean’s original Title [Lone Wolf of Hagaslo], there was still a big gap.

After all, the Title [Lone Wolf of Hagaslo] increased attributes, and not just a single attribute, but all attributes—the effect of +3 to all attributes was enough to make anyone swoon.

However, the effects were significant, and the restrictions were equally obvious—

First, Dean no longer obtained experience sharing from commanding the Battlefield or the boost to his side’s morale.

Second, once he was not fighting alone, then all attributes would be -3.

The latter was particularly important in life-and-death battles, therefore, in most of his previous life, Dean came and went alone.

As for why he chose the Title [Lone Wolf of Hagaslo]?

At that time, with his country ruined and his family dead, Dean, facing layers of pursuit, had no choice at all. He had tried any method that increased his Strength, even those repeated Baptisms that damaged his roots, he was willing to try, let alone a Title.

However, it was different now!

Glancing at the surrounding Militia and Huck—although such a force was still very weak, it had already surpassed his past self at the same stage.

Dean was confident that he could make the coming ‘Blood Moon War’ different.

“Giddy up!”

Thinking of the ‘Blood Moon War’ that would arrive in less than ten months, Dean couldn’t delay any longer. He shook the reins, and the Warhorse ran quickly.

“Giddy up! Giddy up!”

The adjutants and Militia behind him followed their Regiment Commander closely, quickly disappearing into the night.

…

The early morning in the Tier Territory was always harder to endure than the night.

Although the cold wind had stopped, the thick fog, carrying a layer of Ice Spikes, penetrated straight into people’s clothes. In a short while, it could freeze ordinary coats hard.

Therefore, people in the Tier Territory were accustomed to wearing leather coats.

And if it was a cotton-padded jacket, it needed to be the thickened kind, a full half a palm’s thickness. At least in terms of defense alone, it was no less than any cloth Armor.

However, Dean did not make such a choice—

Leather Armor on the inner layer, and an ordinary cotton-padded jacket covering the outside, plus a coat and a bag containing dry rations, as well as a Longsword and Longbow carried with him, was enough for Dean to maintain his agility while obtaining good warmth and considerable attack power and defense power.

As for the origin of the Leather Armor?

Naturally, it came from the elites of the original Ferrchelen Knight Order.

Creak, creak, creak…

Dean’s Boots stepped on the thick snow, making such sounds—a heavy snow in the latter half of last night had caused the entire Snowplains Dense Forest to enter a semi-closed state. Those hunters who entered the mountains were probably speeding up their return now; otherwise, spending the winter in the Snowplains Dense Forest was definitely not a good choice.

For the winter that had clearly arrived early this year, the Militia of the entire Ferrchelen Knight Order had none of their usual worries—early this morning, before Dean left the Knight Order station, he had handed them over to Huck, the Vice Regiment Commander, and instructed the other party to train these young people well.

And Dean believed that Huck would definitely do a very good job.

As for his reason for leaving?

Cultivation, patrolling, and so on, were enough to stop anyone from doubting.

And this was the benefit of being a ‘Grand Noble’, because, as everyone knew, the secret techniques passed down in these ‘Grand Noble’ families were simply impossible to spread to outsiders.

And Dean’s real reason?

Searching for a source of soldiers!

Obviously, even if he increased the number of Militia he had taken in to the limit that the Ferrchelen Knight Order could hold—one hundred people.

However, it was still not enough to participate in a war.

Therefore, Dean had to find a source of soldiers that was large in number and possessed considerable Strength, to serve as aid.

And fortunately, in the Snowplains Dense Forest, there really was such a source of soldiers: Barbarians!

That’s right, Barbarians!

These savages who drank blood, in the eyes of the people of the Emerald Kingdom—well, the name Barbarians was enough to explain everything; however, Dean knew that Barbarians were not truly savages.

Or rather, savages and Barbarians were two completely different concepts of people.

Barbarians not only had their own civilization, but also possessed many Secret Techniques unknown to ordinary people.

And savages were tribesmen expelled by Barbarians.

Without the protection of their tribe and clan, these Barbarians, in order to survive, became crazy and savage, causing ordinary people to misunderstand Barbarians.

Therefore, Barbarians could be communicated with; they could even be Traded with and hired.

In the original history, that Grand Duchess had done just that.

And she had achieved breakthrough progress—she formed an alliance with a large tribe of theirs, obtaining over five thousand Barbarian Warriors.

And these Barbarian Warriors came from this Snowplains Dense Forest.

And at this moment, Dean needed to ‘dig out’ this ally in advance.

However, before that, Dean still needed to complete one thing—dealing with that Snow Bear Corpse.

Using the method of the [Demon Blood Dagger]!