Chapter 550: The Knight

Baron Terry’s return was still fresh in Wu Ming’s memory.

It was said that the baroness had paid a considerable ransom to Viscount Garcia.

And this ransom, down to the last coin, was promptly shifted onto the peasants of Terry Barony.

Even William had been extorted by the tax collector, losing two silver Thalers.

“If that’s the case… has Windfire Plains finally become peaceful again?” Wu Ming quietly asked.

“As an outsider, Viscount Garcia has finally been accepted by the Blue Blood nobles, but… as long as people exist, the struggle will never cease!”

Clearly more relaxed after drinking, Rorian said.

“An outsider?”

Wu Ming was particularly sensitive to this term.

After months of exploration, he had gradually come to understand the situation of Windfire Plains.

Most of the nobility here could trace their lineage back to the Conqueror Thaler, carrying his blood to varying degrees and proudly calling themselves the “Blue Bloods.”

Their leader was Earl Blue Mountain.

As a noble from outside the region, although Viscount Garcia also had noble blood from the Highlands, he was clearly not accepted by the stubborn and exclusive Blue Bloods.

However, after this war, those Blue Blood nobles must have started to reassess the viscount’s capabilities.

“After the war, Viscount Garcia even married one of Earl Blue Mountain’s daughters, marking the beginning of his acceptance… and among all the nobles who participated in the war, not even a single Lord was sacrificed; the only deaths were a few knights… this is the rule of the noble game in this world…”

Wu Ming silently pondered, becoming even more determined about his future.

He must become a noble and join this world’s game!

Understanding the rules, utilizing the rules, breaking the rules, and then establishing new rules!

This is an inevitable path that one must go through as their power increases. Now, Wu Ming was walking precisely this path.

Seeing that Wu Ming did not appear obviously disappointed, Rorian was even more surprised.

A young man with such talent, strategy, and patience would surely be given an opportunity by the gods.

Therefore, he spoke slowly in a deep voice, “William, you know, many men died in the baron’s forces during this war, and many more were captured and sold into slavery…”

Such slaves, if their families could still afford the ransom, might have a slim hope of being redeemed. Unfortunately, the residents of Nia hamlet were generally not wealthy, and the generous Baron was even stingy with every copper coin regarding this matter.

“The shortage of manpower has already become apparent during this autumn harvest… therefore, the Baron intends to launch an expedition during this idle period!”

“An expedition? Against whom?”

Wu Ming raised his eyebrows.

“Naturally not against other noble lords, but against those rats in the wastelands! The wild people in the deep mountains!”

Rorian laughed.

There were many kinds of wild people on the wastelands. Pure cannibals could not be reasoned with and were killed on sight, but there were also mountain dwellers who had collectively fled into deep mountains or wilderness to escape taxes. Most of them had some skills, and if captured, would make excellent agricultural slaves!

William was a tenant farmer renting land from the baron, while serfs had no autonomy over their own bodies, being the lord’s property, or rather, outside the social hierarchy.

“I understand!”

Combining William’s memories, Wu Ming immediately grasped that this was the otherworldly version of a slave-hunting team.

“This expedition will be led by Sir Takur, a true knight. The baron has agreed to allocate thirty men to him, but as you know, that’s far from enough. Therefore, I recommended you to him!”

Rorian said, “Sir Takur is willing to pay you ten copper coins per day, and you will also have the right to share in the spoils. However, you must bring your own weapon and pass his inspection! What do you think?”

“No problem. Thank you, Instructor!” Wu Ming immediately agreed without hesitation.

Naturally, he wasn’t particularly interested in this temporary soldier job. The real opportunity, which prompted Rorian’s recommendation, was the chance to get close to a knight.

Likewise, Wu Ming desperately needed this.

Only by approaching the upper echelons of this world and understanding the rules of power could he better improve himself, both in terms of status and strength.

“Good. Bring your sword; let’s go see Sir Takur!”

Rorian stood up, leading Wu Ming to the town’s barracks.

“Sir!”

Seeing him approach, two guards immediately stood at attention and saluted.

“Where is Sir Takur?”

Rorian asked around.

“He’s at the training ground! You’ll see him as soon as you get there!”

The training ground within the barracks was vast. At the moment, it was completely empty except for a bear-like muscular man swinging a pitch-black horn hammer. The terrifying gusts of wind caused by his swings kept the surrounding soldiers from approaching.

Tall and strong!

This was Wu Ming’s first impression of the knight.

William himself was already quite tall, but this knight, Sir Takur, was even two heads taller. Not to mention, his arms were thicker than William’s thighs!

“This strength…”

Upon seeing the man’s build, Wu Ming was already surprised. When the knight threw down the hammer, creating a small crater in the ground, Wu Ming’s pupils constricted slightly: “Definitely beyond the limits of an ordinary person!”

Ordinary people had their limits in all physical attributes. After months of training, Wu Ming was certain he had already reached the pinnacle of human capability.

He represented the perfect limit.

But this knight before him had broken through the normal threshold, surpassing the limits of a common man!

“Indeed… supernatural power still exists!”

Observing Takur as he took large, somewhat clumsy steps toward them, Wu Ming relaxed slightly in his mind: “Of course, this supernatural power seems to have drawbacks—only enhancing strength while sacrificing speed?”

Just from the knight’s gait, Wu Ming could deduce a lot.

If he gave it his all, using agility and swordsmanship, along with a good sword, he might even have a chance to kill this knight with one strike!

Naturally, this would involve great risk. If he were hit first by the knight’s attack, he would truly become a meat pancake.

“Haha! Rorian, this is the William you mentioned earlier? Not bad!”

Takur gave Wu Ming a hearty slap on the shoulder, deliberately applying some force. Although Wu Ming could withstand it, he deliberately turned pale and staggered slightly.

“Hmm, solid!”

Despite this display, Takur was very satisfied: “You’ll make a good soldier! Kid… on this hunt, you might even snatch yourself a woman from the wild folk!”

Clearly, in his mind, this kind of military action was merely a raid.

“Alright, let me see your sword skills now!”

Sir Takur laughed heartily. Seeing the longsword Wu Ming drew, he shook his head: “You need a new longsword. Believe me, although the wild folk and cannibals wield dull stone axes and wooden spears, you’ll still need great strength and a good sword to cut through them!”

After watching a few sword movements from Wu Ming, he had already accepted him as one of his soldiers.

“We will set out three days from now, at first light. Of course, you can come to the barracks earlier if you’d like!”

Sir Takur clearly had high hopes for this young fellow named William.

“I understand!!”

Wu Ming bowed deeply, his sharp perception constantly assessing the towering Sir Takur before him.

“Amazingly strong. I wonder whether it’s through training or some other means…”

Becoming a knight in this world was extremely demanding. Even if a lord wished to promote someone, it would require great cost. It was said that a series of rituals were also necessary.

For example, one had to go to Howling Castle, pray in the chapel for seven days and nights, and be anointed with some holy oil, for which the knight candidate also needed to make a substantial donation to the church.

If possible, Wu Ming naturally wanted to obtain some holy oil for study, but with his current status, it was simply a dream.

He also wanted to study the secret of the Blue Bloods. He couldn’t very well just bleed the Terry baron’s entire family dry, could he?

Some things, once done, would make him an enemy of the entire world, greatly harming his grand plans.

After leaving the barracks, Wu Ming headed toward his hovel, beginning to secretly plot.

He had a bit of research interest in the wild people and cannibals of the wastelands and deep mountains.

Especially those true wild tribes, who were said to have their own unique beliefs and cultural customs. Although regarded as crude and savage by the townspeople, there might still be some truth hidden within.

“Woof woof…”

As he passed Madame Roa’s inn, he found a crowd had gathered. Sophia’s sobbing could be faintly heard, causing him to stop involuntarily and push his way into the crowd.

“Madame Roa,” said the fat tax collector Phaid, his face oily and gleaming as he waved a tax bill smugly, “according to the lord’s newly issued decree, you have already failed to pay the brewing tax, leather tax, and daily sanitation tax for these past months!

Adding the accumulated interest, the total is five golden Dharons and seven silver Thalers!”

“Gods above!”

Someone nearby gasped softly.

“You all shut up!”

Phaid scanned the crowd. “Unless any of you are willing to pay the poor lady’s debts? I have absolutely no objection!”

At this, everyone instinctively shrank back.

With the lord captured and the ransom passed on to the peasants, plus this greedy tax collector’s added surcharges, the already heavy burden had almost become unbearable.

Seeing that he had silenced the crowd, Phaid turned back with satisfaction: “Madame Roa, if you cannot settle your tax debt today, I will have to regretfully inform you that your house and inn will be seized as compensation, and you and your daughter will be sold into slavery!”

At this, his eyes fixed on the sobbing Sophia, a lecherous gleam flashing in them.

“No!”

Madame Roa cried out, “In the name of the gods, you cannot do this!”