Chapter 7: Gaining a foothold

There is no place more suitable than the Watch City nearby.

It has a large population, is directly under the Kingdom, and has abundant supplies.

Of course, the price of the house is also very attractive.

In the corner of the city, a yard that can accommodate everyone also costs 30 gold coins.

Derek gritted his teeth and emptied his working capital to buy this yard.

But it is big enough, about one and a half acres in size. After renovation, a blacksmith shop can be built in the front and a small yard at the back door can accommodate everyone.

But there is no place to train, so we can only make do with it.

Fortunately, there are still dozens of iron swords and hundreds of spearheads, which can be sold to maintain operations.

Money is not the most important thing.

As long as this frame is maintained, we just need to wait for the opportunity to come.

Although there has been no war in the North in recent years, it has been a long time.

After a simple renovation, Derek's blacksmith shop opened quietly.

He couldn't sit still anymore. The progress of training was getting slower and slower. It was possible to become a sword god of Shilipo by relying on the data panel, but he was afraid that he would become a bunch of weak shrimps when he really went to the battlefield.

See blood.

Derek began to look for opportunities in the city.

Caravans and nobles always need to hire warriors.

No war does not mean no danger.

Soon he found a job as an escort.

In a local tavern, there is a commission board, which is a notice board for some local tasks.

The Goat Merchant Company needs a team of soldiers to protect the safety of the caravan.

Derek found out the location of the Goat Merchant Company and met the manager Vincent.

After announcing his origin and his intention.

"It takes about a month to travel from the City of Watch to the Earldom of Perez.

I can pay you 3 gold coins, and the overtime will be charged separately."

The thin manager of the caravan, Vincent, looked at Derek with a bit of suspicion.

After all, he had no reputation. If it weren't for his origin in the Knights and the reputation of his family, he would never give him a chance.

The annual maintenance cost of a squad of spearmen (equipment loss, rations, wages) is 20 gold coins, plus the basic equipment at the beginning is about 10 gold coins.

A knight, a warhorse, weapons, and iron-studded armor also cost more than 20 gold coins, and the annual maintenance cost is 10 gold coins.

Such a team of people, knights and a squad of spearmen, cost 30 gold coins a year to maintain, not to mention the cost.

Three gold coins? It seems to be a small profit, but mercenaries are not alive every day.

During the mission, do the dead and wounded need to be treated and compensated?

The loss of weapons will also increase.

Besides, isn’t it to earn more money to work out?

Derek refused without hesitation: "Butler Vincent, although this is my first time taking a job, I am not completely ignorant. I will take the job for 10 gold coins, otherwise you can find someone else.

I am an elite knight who completed knight training from Count Perez, and my soldiers are also veterans who have undergone rigorous training. You can't find another mercenary as professional as this one."

Butler Vincent hesitated. He was willing to use a newcomer because of Derek's identity. He didn't believe in any elite knights. If he was really an elite, he would definitely join the Knights. However, the knights from Count Perez always have a better reputation than other wandering knights.

"Since you know the market, you should know that 10 gold coins are impossible.

Five gold coins, I believe you once, and I have dealt with the Ferreira family."

Butler Vincent made a concession, which was also a normal price.

Derrick wanted to bargain, but finally Butler Vincent was a little annoyed: "It's just 5 gold coins. If it weren't for you, the knight, I could only pay 4 gold coins at most."

Knights have high maintenance costs, but they are also more popular.

Seeing this, Derek was able to bend and stretch.

"Then it's 5 gold coins. This is my first mission, so I'll give you a favor.

Next time, when you see my ability, you must increase the price."

Manager Vincent was entangled by him and was relieved to see that the deal was finally made. He echoed: "If you prove your value, the price will go up and there will be more opportunities for cooperation."

The two signed a contract and filed it with the local Chamber of Commerce. The tavern responsible for matchmaking will also record it.

If either party breaches the contract, it will leave a bad record in the local area.

Reputation is very important.

Back home, Derek must consider one thing.

He needs a knight squire, and fortunately he can choose one from the recruits.

For a knight, the service of one or more knight squires will help him feed his warhorse, maintain his weapons and armor, and even put on and take off his armor and assist in the charge.

It is almost a weakening plate for the knight.

For civilians, this is also a good way to get promoted.

Become a knight to get an admission ticket, and then consider making achievements.

Few spearmen were granted titles and fiefs, but it was much easier for knights.

Of course, some knight squires would always be knight squires.

It could be that they were unable to complete knight training, or it could be because of their origin.

Derek must be grateful for this body, otherwise his starting point would be the end point of many civilians.

From the perspective of combat power alone, knight squires and knights are not necessarily absolutely crushed.

For most wandering knights or even formal knights, knight squires are just tools and senior soldiers.

There is no need to teach etiquette, military command and other knowledge, just use them as servants and soldiers.

For Derek, this is also the case for the time being.

It is easier for him to choose a suitable candidate than for others.

No need to consider talent, just loyalty.

With the help of the panel, no matter how poor the talent is, it will be trained sooner or later.

But if loyalty cannot be grasped, it will only benefit others.

Fortunately, the soldiers selected from the farmers, although they have little experience, are mostly honest and dutiful.

They are even used to serving the Ferreira family, so Derek is easier to drive.

Derek's choice is a happy trouble.

In the end, he still chose a knight squire with high obedience.

Simon

Profession: Spearman Level 8 → Knight Squire ? ?

Experience pool: 0/100

This is the first batch of recruits to be trained. Apart from experience... he can't even be called a recruit.

An eighth-level spearman, with a strong physique, wearing simple leather armor, a short sword, and a spear.

Fighting alone, ordinary recruits are not enough for him to stab a few times.

Fighting in formation, he can burst out with powerful combat power.

Simon was named by Derek himself to reward him for his obedience, loyalty and hard training.

In fact, there are many people with better talents than him, but his level has always remained in the first echelon and has not fallen behind.

Opportunities come to those who are prepared.

Derek prepared iron-studded leather armor, an iron sword and a horse for him.

The equipment is worth four gold coins, and his salary has doubled smoothly.

The cost is not small. If he completes the knight training formally in the future, he will need more money.

This is also the reason why knights generally do not train servants casually. The cost of training for several years or even more than ten years is too high.