Calamity Dragon, Starting with the Cultivation of Knight Families

Chapter 22 Recruiting Mercenary Knights and Squires
Inside the Mercenary Guild's tavern in the military stronghold of Colorado Highlands.

It was nearing evening, and the tavern was packed with mercenaries, almost full.

Many mercenaries who had completed their missions or gone out to hunt monsters in the wasteland had returned to Corola Town.

The mercenaries drank and played drinking games, gathering in twos and threes, creating quite a lively atmosphere.

"Paul, how did your team fare today?"

At that moment, two small teams sitting next to each other were drinking together, and one of them asked first.

"Although I don't want to admit it, the harvest these past few days has really been poor. Let alone seeing a wolf, catching two Demon Wind Rabbits is already considered lucky."

Paul seemed to sigh slightly, then looked at Ackerman who had asked the question and said, "So, did you have a good day?"

"Hey, stop talking. I think everyone's in the same boat lately."

"In short, ever since the Smith family established their branch territory in the swamp wasteland, the number of magical beasts around the Colorado Highlands seems to have been decreasing."

"So, I've been thinking lately about going to the Swamp Territory to take a look. I also heard that the Mercenary Guild is planning to build a small base there, but they are currently waiting for approval from the guild's higher-ups."

Ackerman muttered nonchalantly as he drank heavily.

"Swamp Territory? They're still clearing land on a large scale, right? I heard the Chamber of Commerce has the most workers. Are we mercenaries sure we'll have a place to stay?" Paul asked, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"What's the big deal? We can just bring some camping gear. We mercenaries have all slept in the wild before!" Akra laughed nonchalantly.

Paul remained noncommittal, took a sip of his drink, and pondered for a moment.

"That's a good option, but I've heard that things aren't going well there lately."

"Not good? Not good at all. I've heard that the monster attacks over there have been increasing recently, and nearly ten mercenary teams from the guild have accepted the mission to defend against the monsters."

"However, this is only natural. When it came to building a new territory fifty miles into the wilderness, many nobles were waiting to see this second son of Gale Territory make a fool of himself."

"Well, although the time to watch the joke was delayed, what was bound to happen still happened."

Ackerman laughed heartily, but his tone remained relaxed.

"Of course, what does this have to do with us peasants?"

"We mercenaries risk our lives. Without these kinds of dangerous, large-scale missions, how can we improve our skills or even make a lot of money?"

"Furthermore, without reaching a higher rank, we mercenaries can't even catch the eye of nobles, and we can't shake off our status as peasants."

"If I could reach the next level, who would want to be a mercenary? I could just become a knight and serve as a bodyguard for a nobleman. Why live such a dangerous life?"

Hearing Ackerman's words, the seven members of the two surrounding teams nodded in agreement.

"That's right, Captain is right. If you could reach the next level, who would want to be a mercenary!"

"Of course, it cannot be denied that we mercenaries are used to being undisciplined. Many of us risk our lives to undergo bloodline infusion, and even if we reach a higher rank, we do not want to be the lackeys of nobles. But such people are still a minority."

"Otherwise, the Mercenary Guild would have been a first-rate organization in the Human Alliance long ago, instead of being a third-rate organization now."

"."

The mercenaries chattered amongst themselves, while Paul remained silent.

Then, he suddenly said thoughtfully, "Speaking of the Swamp Territory, have you heard about the miracle that happened there, which was reported by the Chamber of Commerce half a year ago?"

???

"A miracle? I've never heard of that before."

"Yes, I think I've heard about it too. However, I've heard that most nobles and priests believe that this is just the second son of the Swamp Territory boasting on his own."

"In short, not many people believed it. After all, miracles haven't happened for hundreds of years. The church just teaches those bluffing things, which only fool the common people and slaves."

The people around him were all talking at once, but Ackerman, who was drinking heavily, just smiled disdainfully.

"I don't know anything about miracles, but I once received a mission from the Chamber of Commerce. During that mission, I overheard a big merchant talking about something quite unbelievable about the Swamp Territory."

Ackerman's words immediately drew the attention of everyone around him.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Ackerman enjoyed the feeling, so he slammed his wooden beer mug down on the table and gestured for everyone to lean closer. Once everyone had moved closer, Ackerman began to whisper:

"This is no small matter, so don't spread it around, or the Chamber of Commerce and the Swamp Territory will definitely come after me."

"Ah! Boss, I promise I won't tell. Don't you know me?"

“Yes, we’re so familiar with each other, Ackerman, don’t worry, we definitely won’t cheat you.”

Everyone was giving their assurances, and their interest was clearly piqued.

Finally, Ackerman spoke, completely satisfied.

"Gentlemen, do you know why I said I was going to the Swamp Territory?"

"Heh, do you really think I'm only upset because of my recent hunting income?"

Ackerman, his face beaming with smugness, continued:
No, none of them.

"Because I heard a big secret: when the person in charge of the Chamber of Commerce was in charge of the construction of the Swamp Territory, he discovered through a magic detection stone that the magical beast bound to the second son of the Swamp Territory was very likely not a second-tier beast, but a third-tier one!"

"What? A third-tier magical beast? There are third-tier magical beasts in the wasteland? Are you kidding me?"

"Exactly! How could it be a third-tier magical beast! The second son of Gale Territory is only first-tier. Let alone defeating a third-tier magical beast, even if he were to be severely injured by his blood pact, the soul strength of a third-tier magical beast would be enough to backfire and turn him into an idiot! Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"Boss, you must have had too much to drink and misheard me!"

Everyone exclaimed that it was impossible; looking at Ackerman's drunken state, it would be strange if they didn't have doubts.

This greatly upset Ackerman, but he knew his usual behavior wasn't easy to explain, so he angrily slammed his fist on the table and shouted:
"Believe it or not! I've already told you, and I'm planning to go to the swamp to make a big score."

"I'll take on any new mercenary missions that come up in the Swamp Territory. As long as the beast tide in the Monster Mountain Range doesn't break out, I don't think all the wild monsters around the Swamp Territory could defeat it even if they joined forces."

"."

A miracle? A third-tier magical beast?
Paul did not immediately question Ackerman's words, but instead immediately connected them with some recent rumors about the Swamp Territory.

Then, Paul spoke.

“I trust Ackerman, so if there are any mercenary missions in the Swamp Territory, our team will take them.”

"Huh? Captain, no way? You're going crazy with that drunkard Ackerman too?"

Both members of Paul's team seemed somewhat taken aback.

However, at that moment, the guild's tavern suddenly became lively.

Because the union staff member who usually handles the distribution of tasks suddenly came down from the second floor.

At the same time, a message was loudly announced.

Swamp Territory has issued new mercenary missions, and this time there are ten mercenary squad slots available, with increased rewards. All mercenary squads that participate in the missions will receive ten gold coins as long as they stay in Swamp Territory for half a month.

Ten coins! Not copper or silver coins, but gold coins!

This is enough for a decent-income family to earn at least ten years' worth of income!
Even mercenaries, with the best of luck, might not earn ten gold coins in a year.

Moreover, the mission also stated that if any mercenaries performed well in this mission, the Swamp Territory was willing to recruit five knight squires from among the mercenaries!

Not to mention the generous gold coin rewards, the availability of knight squire positions is even more enticing.

After all, becoming a nobleman's squire means catching a ride on the nobleman's coattails.

Regardless of the significant changes in their own generation, this is undoubtedly a great boon for the children and descendants of mercenaries.

Because, in this world and this era, under normal circumstances, noble knights and squires are not recruited from outside, let alone mercenaries.

The so-called knights and squires were actually trained by the noble families from a young age.

Noble families regularly selected adult offspring from the children of concubines and the children of their most favored servants to be trained as knights and squires, thus effectively ensuring loyalty within the noble family.

So you can imagine how lively the entire Mercenary Guild was at that moment!
(End of this chapter)