Chapter 61: The Source of Soldiers

  The baron's dinner party was sumptuous enough.

  It could be said that this was the most sumptuous dinner Dean had since arriving in Tylor, but it was clear that Dean didn't have an appetite for food - after finishing all the things he needed to do, and estimating the speed at which his subordinates would finish eating, Dean stood up and bid farewell.

  "Take good care of your injuries, in a month you'll need to represent Tirlith on the 'Knight's Baptism' in Wobang County!"

  At parting, the baron saw Deane and his party out of the mansion, whispering to them in a low voice.

  "Of course!"

  Dein answered very positively and then left the Baron's mansion - able to get a free 'Knight Baptism', Dein didn't mind.

  As for Dean's invitation to Hack?

  When Dean left the Baron's mansion, the boss of 'Snow Bear House' followed in a hurry - during which he only handed over two sentences to his trusted partners and then walked into his own room, picked up his helmet and weapon, taking less than three minutes.

  And this was within Dean's expectations.

  In fact, Hack's love for military life far exceeds ordinary people's imagination.

  Even in the face of death, this one-armed knight can still die with equanimity and composure - because he is a soldier, and soldiers should die on the battlefield.

  So Dean didn't think Hack would refuse before he said the words of invitation.

  Facing the approaching Hark, Dean waved his hand at the slender militia captain, and instantly, the latter jumped onto his good friend Siren's warhorse, with two militia captains riding together.

  "Mount up!"

  Deane pointed at the war horse.

  Hake didn't immediately jump onto the horse's back, but instead approached the warhorse with great familiarity, indicating his harmlessness. After gently stroking the warhorse for a while, he placed his armor and weapons on it, then mounted the horse - the entire process was witnessed by all the militiamen, who looked at Hake's one-handed yet more skilled mounting action, all revealing expressions of admiration.

  These simple young people always have an unusual admiration for capable individuals.

  Moreover, Hack was a celebrity in his own right within the town of Tir - his illustrious military record had been heard by young people everywhere, and with someone like him as their deputy commander, they would certainly have no complaints, but rather be delighted.

  After all, a commander who is good at strategy and tactics, plus a deputy commander who is brave in battle, is the best combination.

  "Vive la France, vive le vainqueur!"

  Two militia captains shouted involuntarily - this was the slogan given to them by the old members on the first day they joined the Fichalun Knights, and which they had to recite every day, only now it sounded different in their hearts.

  "Ten thousand victories!"

  "Victory for all!"

  The rest of the militia followed suit, shouting along with them, while Dean, on the other hand, smiled lightly and nodded - it wasn't until this moment that the Fitcher Knights truly belonged to his leadership.

  Of course, when the Baron was previously announced, there were also hints on his character panel.

  Obtained new title: Commander of the Fechalun Knights!

  【Fechalun Knights Commander (Title): When you lead the combat units belonging to Fechalun Knights into battle, the combat units belonging to Fechalun Knights gain Morale +5 (Combat Effectiveness increased by 5%). Additionally, for each enemy killed by a combat unit belonging to Fechalun Knights, you will receive 10% of the experience gained.】

  Undoubtedly, compared to the mere bonus of getting attention from commoners and petty nobles with 【Apprentice Knight】, the title of 【Fecharen Knights' Captain】 is several times better.

  Of course, compared with Dean's original title 【Hagathas' Lone Wolf】, it is still quite different.

  After all, the title of "Hagath's Lone Wolf" adds attributes, and it's not just a single attribute, but all attributes - the effect of +3 to all attributes is enough to make anyone swoon.

  However, the effect is significant, and so are the limitations ——

  Firstly, Dean is not on the battlefield to gain experience and boost his own morale.

  Secondly, once it's not solo combat, all attributes will be -3.

  The latter is especially important in the battle of life and death, so Dean was alone for most of his previous life.

  As for why I chose the title "Haggar's Lone Wolf"?

  At that time, Dean, who had lost his country and family, was facing layers of pursuit and had no choice. He tried every way to increase his strength, even the kind of baptism that would damage his foundation, he was willing to try, let alone a title.

  But now it's different!

  Glancing around at the militia, Hack felt that although such forces were still weak, they had already surpassed his own abilities at the same period.

  Dien is confident of making this Blood Moon War different once again.

  "Drive!"

  At the thought of the impending 'Blood Moon War' in less than ten months, Dean couldn't afford to delay any further. He shook the reins and his warhorse quickly broke into a gallop.

  "Giddy up! Giddy up!"

  The deputy behind, the militiamen closely followed their own battalion commander and quickly disappeared into the night.

  ……

  The morning of Telemark is always more unbearable than the night.

  Although the cold wind has stopped, the thick fog brings a layer of icicles that penetrate directly into people's clothes. In just a short while, it can freeze an ordinary coat stiff and hard.

  So, people in Tirol are accustomed to wearing leather jackets.

  And if it's a cotton garment, then you need the thick kind, about half the thickness of a palm, and at least in terms of defense, it's already not inferior to any fabric armor.

  However, Dean didn't have such an option ——

  The inner leather armor, plus an outer layer of ordinary cotton clothing, a coat and a bag with dry rations, as well as the long sword and longbow by his side, allowed Dean to maintain his agility while gaining decent warmth and considerable attack and defense power.

  As for the origin of the turtle shell?

  Naturally, they were elites from the original Knights of Fahr.

  Creak, creak, creak...

  Deen's boots trudged through the thick snow, making a crunching sound - last night's heavy snowfall had put the entire snowy forest in a semi-enclosed state, and those hunters who ventured into the mountains were probably hastening their return at this time, otherwise spending the winter in the snowy forest was absolutely not a good choice.

  For this winter that has come noticeably early, the militia of the entire Fichsaren Knights didn't have their usual worries - before Dean left the knights' base in the early morning today, he handed them over to Vice-Captain Hack and instructed him to train these young people well.

  Dean believes Hack will do extremely well.

  As for his reason for leaving?

  Cultivation and inspection are enough to make anyone no longer suspicious.

  And that's the advantage of being a 'noble family', because, as is well known, these 'noble families' have secret techniques that are passed down through generations and can never be leaked to outsiders.

  But what is Dean's real reason?

  Recruiting soldiers!

  It is clear that even if he were to recruit all these militiamen, their number would not reach the maximum capacity of the Fichtel Knights - one hundred men.

  But wanting to participate in a war is still not enough.

  Therefore, Dean had to find a large and powerful army with considerable strength as reinforcements.

  Fortunately, in the snowy forest, there really is such a source of soldiers: barbarians!

  That's right, it's barbaric!

  To the people of the Emerald Kingdom, they were savage, blood-drinking barbarians - in fact, the term 'barbarian' was explanation enough; however, Dene knew that the barbarians weren't truly savages.

  Or rather, barbarians and savages are two completely different concepts of people.

  Barbarians have their own civilization and also possess a considerable number of secret arts that ordinary people are unaware of.

  The barbarians were the tribesmen who had been driven out by the Man people.

  After losing the protection of their tribes and clans, these barbarians became frantic and savage in order to survive, to the point where ordinary people misunderstood them.

  So barbarians can communicate; they can even trade and employ each other.

  In the original history, the Duchess had done so before.

  Moreover, a breakthrough was made - she and one of the other's major tribes formed an alliance, gaining more than 5,000 barbarian warriors.

  And these barbarian warriors came from this snowy forest.

  At this moment, Dean needs to bring out this ally who has been 'dug up' ahead of time.

  But before that, Dean still had one more thing to take care of - dealing with the corpse of that snow bear.

  In the manner of "Devil's Blood Sword"!