"Get your n ready. If you accept, your first mission will begin tomorrow."
"Do we have any details on the number of orcs we'll be facing?"
Count Ardan looked at Maxi approvingly.
A leader shouldn't rush headlong into a mission without knowing the details of his opponent.
"There are only about thirty orcs, but all of them are rather large and therefore strong."
Maxi didn't know this information, as studying orcs is part of the courses received at university.
No one expects students in high school to fight orcs, and teaching them to fight them will only encourage students to fight them, and in most cases, to die quickly.
"What does that an? What exactly should I expect?"
Count Ardan was slightly surprised that Maxi didn't know this kind of common sense.
Then he rembered that he was young and not noble, so it was rather understandable.
"We consider that as soon as an orc exceeds 2 ters, which is the case for most orcs, they have the strength to take on an apprentice knight."
"If an orc exceeds 3 ters, he can barely take on a knight, but he'll probably end up losing, and in short order."
"This knight will undoubtedly win thanks to his agility and technique. Because a contest of strength with an orc is generally a bad idea."
Maxi reflected slightly, and guessed that, based on the system, one ter of height was equal to one point of physique.
However, unlike the physique of humans, which was generally very balanced, that of orcs leaned heavily towards strength, endurance and defense, to the detrint of agility.
Hence the count's remarks.
"And according to the information, there are orcs to pay attention to?"
"Yes, they're led by an orc asuring 3 ters tall, and there are also 5 orcs asuring between 2.5 ters and 2.7 ters tall."
"The rest are pretty ordinary ranging from 2 ters to 2.3 ters."
Maxi nodded, quickly analyzing the situation.
The orc asuring over 3 ters had to represent the greatest challenge, especially if he had the ability to command and coordinate the other orcs.
The ntion of the five interdiate-sized orcs between 2.5 and 2.7 ters indicated powerful orcs that could seriously injure or even kill so of the rcenaries if they weren't careful.
"It's feasible, but we need to prepare our strategy well," Maxi thought silently.
Count Ardan watched him with rapt attention. Maxi's thoughtful reaction, his ability to envisage solutions and not just reactions, confird that he was not dealing with a simple rcenary leader.
"I wonder if he's born with it, or has soone taught him?" thought Count Ardan silently.
The Count could never have imagined that Maxi ca from another world, and that in this world there were many subjects to study in connection with the world of Eternity.
"We accept this mission."
Ardan inclined his head, satisfied with the swift, assured response.
"Irina is a strategic position, and its loss would weaken our control over the entire southern region. The defense of the village is crucial, but it might just be a prelude to sothing bigger."
Maxi frowned slightly, catching the nuance in the Count's words.
"You think the orcs are planning a major incursion?"
Ardan nodded slowly, his gaze lost for a mont in mories of ancient battles.
"It's highly probable. There are rumors of a coalition between orc tribes, a rare and worrying event. If they're true, we can expect a more devastating wave than usual."
Maximus frowned.
"The Count's words are the sa as Baron Edrin's, so there really could be sothing dark afoot?"
Maxi and the Count then discussed a few innocuous things, before Maxi respectfully left the Count's office.
After leaving the office, Maxi joined the courtyard, where Andrew was still chatting with Alden and other apprentice knights, while the other rcenaries were busy learning duels with the other apprentice knights.
There were victories and defeats on both sides, but the main thing was that each side learned from the other.
The rcenaries learned the orderly, thodical style of the apprentice knights, while the apprentice knights learned to counter the unpredictable and particularly deadly styles of the rcenaries.
But the arrival of Maxi caught everyone's attention, bringing the duels to a temporary halt.
"Get ready, Saber-toothed Tigers. We leave at dawn to defend Irina's village."
The rcenaries exchanged glances, smiles taut with concentrated faces. Andrew, who was closest, nodded.
"Agreed, Chief. We'll be ready."
Alden, sensing an excellent opportunity to make progress, interrupted Maxi.
"I wish to accompany you."
A murmur of astonishnt ran through the ranks, as Maxi watched the young knight with a piercing gaze.
But for him, having an apprentice knight at the stage of great additional success was an important added strength.
"So get ready, Alden. At sunrise, we'll leave to face this storm together."
"There's still ti before you leave, why don't you train with in the anti?"
Maxi turned to the person who had said this with surprise.
"Chevalier Alaric..."
"Why are you afraid?" added Alaric with a teasing smile.
"No, but the difference in strength is far too great between us."
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Alaric shook his head with amusent.
"Don't worry, I'm simply offering you a personal course to improve your skills."
All the apprentice knights in the academy couldn't believe it, and displayed gaping mouths.
One apprentice knight murmured:
"Am I dreaming or did I really hear what I heard?"
"I think I heard the sa thing," added another nearby.
"Professor Alaric really did offer personal training to the rcenary leader."
"Luck."
"Normally you have to be top in the top three of your year to benefit from it, and even then it's only a few hours' guidance."
The crowd was a little disgruntled and jealous of such preferential treatnt for an outsider to the academy.
Sir Alaric noticed this, and laughed at the apprentice knights.
"If you can reach the level of a knight at his age, even if he's the weakest knight who ever existed, then I'll gladly teach you all day."
The apprentice knights were shocked, while the rcenaries were suspicious that this knight could directly guess their leader's level of strength.
"Don't deny it Maxi, when you gave off that aura earlier, I felt threatened."
"Now you're back to normal, but you must still have the level of a knight."
Maxi shook his head.
"I'm at most slightly stronger than the apprentice knights at the peak stage, but the power of a knight is still a long way off."
Maxi's words created a silence in the crowd.
A rcenary from nowhere could take down all the students of the strongest academy in the south of the Kingdom.
It was unheard of.
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