Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Recruiting rcenaries and Knight’s Squires
In the military stronghold of the Korola Highlands, inside the rcenary Guild’s tavern.
It was now approaching evening, and the tavern was packed with rcenaries, nearly every seat taken.
Many rcenaries, having finished their missions or returned from hunting Demon Beasts in the Wilderness, had made their way back to Korola Town.
The rcenaries drank and played drinking gas, gathered in small, boisterous groups.
"Paul, how did your squad do today?"
At a neighboring table, two squads were drinking together, and one of their mbers spoke up first.
"I hate to admit it, but the haul has been terrible these past few days. Forget seeing a wolf; we’re lucky if we even manage to catch a couple of Magic Wind Rabbits."
Paul sighed and looked at Ackman, the one who had asked. "Why? Did you guys have a good haul today?"
"Hah, don’t even ntion it. I think everyone’s in the sa boat lately."
"Basically, ever since the Smith family started building their branch estate in the Swamp Wilderness, the number of Demon Beasts around the Korola Highlands seems to be dwindling."
"So, I’ve been thinking about heading over to the Swamp Territory to check it out. I also heard the rcenary Guild is planning to set up a small outpost there, but they’re still waiting for approval from the higher-ups."
Ackman mumbled nonchalantly as he took a big gulp of his drink.
"The Swamp Territory? Aren’t they still in the middle of large-scale land developnt over there? I heard it’s mostly full of workers from the Chamber of Comrce. If we rcenaries go, are you sure there’ll even be a place for us to stay?" Paul asked, a hint of hesitation in his expression.
"What’s the big deal? We’ll just bring so camping gear. What rcenary among us hasn’t slept in the wild before!" Ackman laughed dismissively.
Paul remained noncommittal. He took a sip of his drink and pondered for a mont.
"That is a decent option... but I’ve heard things aren’t going so well over there recently."
"Not so well? It’s worse than ’not so well’! I heard Demon Beast attacks have beco more and more frequent. The Guild has already sent nearly ten rcenary squads to take on garrison missions against the beasts over there."
"But that’s to be expected. Building a new territory dozens of miles deep into the Wilderness... plenty of Nobility were waiting to see the second son of the Gale Territory make a fool of himself."
"And here we are. The joke may have been delayed, but the punchline has arrived."
Ackman roared with laughter, though his tone was still relaxed.
"Of course, what does any of this have to do with us common grunts?"
"We rcenaries are always risking our necks. If it weren’t for dangerous, large-scale missions like this, how would we ever get stronger or make big money?"
"Besides, if we don’t reach Entry Tier, we’ll never even register with the Nobility, let alone escape this life as common grunts."
"If I could just reach Entry Tier, who would want to stay a rcenary? I’d go be a personal guard for a noble, beco a Knight! Why live such a dangerous life?"
Listening to Ackman, all seven n from the two squads unconsciously nodded in agreent.
"Yeah, the boss is right. Who’d want to be a rcenary if they could reach Entry Tier!"
"Of course, you can’t deny that we rcenaries are used to our freedom. Many risk their lives for Bloodline infusions, but even after reaching Entry Tier, they wouldn’t want to beco a noble’s lackey. But people like that are a minority."
"Otherwise, the rcenary Guild would have been a first-rate organization in the Human Alliance long ago, not the third-rate outfit it is now."
"..."
The rcenaries all chattered at once, but Paul remained silent.
Then, he suddenly spoke, his voice thoughtful. "Speaking of the Swamp Territory, have any of you heard the rumor from the Chamber of Comrce about half a year ago? The one about a Miracle appearing in the Swamp Territory?"
???
"A Miracle? How co I’ve never heard of it?"
"I think so... I feel like I’ve heard sothing about it. But from what I hear, most of the Nobility and Priests believe it’s just a tall tale the second son of the Swamp Territory made up to boast."
"Basically, almost no one believes it. After all, a Miracle hasn’t occurred in several hundred years. That’s just the kind of nonsense the Church uses to fool Commoners and slaves."
The surrounding n chattered on, but Ackman, who was taking another big swig of his drink, just scoffed.
"I don’t know anything about a Miracle, but I once took a mission from the Chamber of Comrce. During that ti, I happened to overhear a major rchant talking about sothing truly incredible regarding the Swamp Territory."
Ackman’s words imdiately captured everyone’s attention.
Seeing all eyes on him, Ackman savored the feeling. He slamd his wooden beer mug on the table and gestured for everyone to lean in.
Once everyone had gathered close, Ackman finally began to speak in a low voice:
"This is big, so don’t go spreading it around, you hear? Otherwise, the Chamber of Comrce and the folks in the Swamp Territory will definitely co after ."
"Ah! Boss, I swear I won’t say a word. You know !"
"Yeah, we’re all old friends here. Don’t worry, Ackman, we’d never sell you out."
Everyone made their assurances, their interest clearly piqued.
Satisfied, Ackman finally began to speak.
"Gentlen, do you know why I said I was planning to go to the Swamp Territory?"
"Heh, you really think it’s just because my hunting inco has been poor lately?"
Ackman’s face was a mask of smug satisfaction as he continued:
"No, that’s not it at all."
"It’s because I heard a huge secret. When the director from the Chamber of Comrce was overseeing construction in the Swamp Territory, he used a Magic Detection Stone and discovered sothing. The Demon Beast that the second son of the territory ford a Blood Covenant with... it’s most likely not Tier Two! It’s Tier Three!"
"What? A Tier Three Demon Beast? There’s a Tier Three Demon Beast in the Wilderness? You’ve got to be kidding!"
"Exactly, a Tier Three Demon Beast is impossible! That second son of Gale Territory is only Tier One, right? Forget about defeating a Tier Three beast; even if he tried to form a Blood Covenant with a heavily injured one, the strength of its soul would backlash and fry his brain! Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
"Boss, you must be drunk. You probably misheard!"
The crowd erupted in shouts of disbelief. Seeing Ackman’s drunken state, it would be strange not to doubt him.
This infuriated Ackman. He knew his usual drunken behavior didn’t lend him much credibility, so he slamd the table in a fit of anger and embarrassnt, shouting:
"Believe it or not! I’ve told you what I know, and I’m heading to the Swamp Territory to score big."
"The second a new rcenary mission for the Swamp Territory pops up, I’m taking it. As long as it’s not a full-blown Beast Tide from the Demon Beast Mountain Range, I don’t think all the Wilderness Demon Beasts around the Swamp Territory combined could take it down."
"..."
’A Miracle? A Tier Three Demon Beast?’
Paul didn’t imdiately question Ackman. Instead, he started connecting this to the other recent rumors about the Swamp Territory.
Then, Paul spoke.
"I believe Ackman. So, if a rcenary mission for the Swamp Territory cos up, our squad is taking it."
"Huh? Boss, you can’t be serious! You’re going crazy along with that drunkard Ackman?"
The two mbers of Paul’s squad looked stunned.
But at that very mont, the Guild tavern suddenly burst into an uproar.
The Guild staff mber who was usually in charge of posting missions had suddenly co down from the second floor.
And he was loudly announcing a piece of news.
The Swamp Territory had posted a new rcenary mission! This ti, there were slots for ten squads, and the reward had been increased. Any rcenary squad that participated in the half-month garrison mission in the Swamp Territory would receive a reward of ten Gold Coins.
Ten! Not Copper Coins or Silver Coins, but Gold Coins!
That was enough to support a fairly well-off commoner family for nearly ten years!
Even a rcenary would be hard-pressed to earn ten Gold Coins in a year, even with incredible luck.
What’s more, the mission posting also stated that if any rcenaries perford exceptionally well, the Swamp Territory was willing to recruit five of them as Knight’s Squires!
The generous reward of Gold Coins was one thing, but the chance to beco a Knight’s Squire was even more enticing.
After all, becoming a Knight’s Squire for a noble ant you had hitched your wagon to their rising star.
It might not bring huge changes for their own generation, but it was a life-changing opportunity for a rcenary’s children and descendants.
Because in this world, in this era, the Nobility generally did not recruit Knight’s Squires from the outside, let alone from the ranks of rcenaries.
The so-called Knight’s Squires were actually all raised and trained by the noble houses themselves from a young age.
Noble families would periodically select the adult children from their branch families, or from the families of their most favored servants, to be trained as Knight’s Squires, thereby ensuring loyalty within the noble house.
So, one can only imagine the uproar that erupted throughout the rcenary Guild in that instant!
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