Gendry and the twenty new recruits had arrived at the area they were responsible for blockading.
This area was located on Rhaenys's Hill, north of the Street of the Silent Sisters, near the Old Gate. It contained luxurious and extravagant brothels, courtyards of officials and nobles, as well as scenic spots like sculptures, gardens, fountains, and murals.
Gendry had never been here before, nor did he know anyone here. He believed the other twenty felt the same.
Hot Pie and many others were looking around, their faces full of wonder, even becoming increasingly reserved and uneasy.
To look at them, they didn't seem like soldiers on a mission, but rather like poor, inexperienced boys who had stumbled into a high-class establishment.
Seeing this, Gendry decisively gave the command, "March!"
Hot Pie and the others immediately straightened up reflexively, their serious expressions returning as they marched forward with neat steps.
"One two one, one two one, one two..."
Gendry ignored the surprised looks of passersby and focused on thinking about his mission.
After the morning drill today, everyone was assigned tasks. The entire force was divided into a thousand teams, each with about twenty people.
Eight hundred teams were sent to various locations within the city to be responsible for blockading and guarding, one hundred teams blockaded the city gates, and the final one hundred teams were responsible for assisting various departments in carrying out tasks in different areas.
Fortunately, the Gold Cloaks and new recruits who had received Divine Grace were almost all team leaders. Gendry was also assigned his own team and mission area.
"Grid 239," this was the name displayed on the Divine Grace Light Screen for this area at this time. Gendry's team was naturally "Team 239," with a total of twenty-one members.
Although he only had twenty men under him, Gendry was already very satisfied.
In less than half a month, he had gone from a smith's apprentice to a captain of twenty soldiers, and had even been granted Divine Grace by His Majesty. No one could ask for more.
Everyone in the barracks was full of hope.
His Majesty not only provided generous and thoughtful treatment, but also established a clear reward system. Regardless of origin, everyone could get everything they deserved after proving their ability and making contributions: Gold Dragons, honor, protection, and promotion.
Regardless of origin? At first, no one dared to believe it, but one living example after another gradually appeared before their eyes.
Squad Leaders, Centurions, Quartermasters, Scribes, outstanding new recruits were granted Divine Grace and became officers. Among them were sons of merchants, orphans without parents, impoverished commoners, and even beggars.
Everyone knew how ordinary, even difficult, the lives of these lucky ones had been before.
Just like everyone else, they didn't believe they could become much better people. They didn't think about anything, just struggling with all their might for a full meal, a cotton coat.
The reason they responded to the Royal Family's call was nothing more than selling their lives. They had never had any long-term plans.
After all, at that time, no one would have thought that the army would continue to exist.
It was obvious that after Renly's rebellion ended, the army should naturally be disbanded. The officers would return to their families to continue enjoying life, while the surviving soldiers would face life with injuries and hardships all over their bodies.
Soldiers who had seized spoils of war could quietly reminisce about their past experiences in the latter half of their lives.
Unlucky soldiers could only work, rely on relatives and friends, find every possible way to earn bread, endure people's ridicule, and even have to tell stories of their war careers in exchange for a meal or a cup of ale.
Everyone knew this.
This was war and its soldiers. It had always been this way.
But now it seemed to be changing.
The mission of this army did not seem to end with the conclusion of Renly's rebellion, and the soldiers did not seem to be just dispensable grains of sand.
Show your ability and loyalty, make contributions, transform from grains of sand into real people, and create your own story. The more such stories there were, the more fervent and bright everyone's eyes became, and the more sincere and enthusiastic the laughter and singing in the barracks became.
By now, everyone had believed that they too had a bright future.
Who could still not strive upwards?
Gendry also secretly made up his mind. Do every task perfectly, fight a few more battles, suppress Renly's rebellion, and survive to the end. Perhaps being a General was not impossible.
General, Gendry. It's time to have a surname. What surname should I take?
All of this starts today.
"Holy Radiance: Act I - Washing Away the Dust," Gendry looked at the name of the mission on the brilliant Light Screen before him, full of confidence.
Dust, no matter how much dust there was in King's Landing, it was ultimately just dust.
Gendry clicked on the mission map on the Light Screen.
King's Landing had been divided into eight hundred "grids." The vast majority of these grids were white, which meant that the mission teams were in place and could initiate the blockade at any time, just waiting for the command.
A few were black, which meant that the mission teams had not yet arrived and needed more time.
Gendry also knew that after the command was issued later, the grids where the blockade was successful would turn green, while grids with problems would turn red. Nearby teams would have to provide support, but they also had to ensure that their own grid was not affected.
After all grids turned green, all teams responsible for carrying out various investigation tasks would begin to act and appear as Blue Orbs on all Divine Grace Light Screens.
Grids that had been investigated would turn white again. Some of their mission teams would continue to guard the grid, while others would join other grids or investigation teams.
Throughout the entire process, all teams had to constantly pay attention to the changes in the Blue Orbs.
A steady flicker of the orb indicated that everything was normal;
A flicker with red stripes indicated that support from nearby teams was needed;
A flicker that was entirely red indicated that an attack was underway and all available teams needed to provide immediate support.
As for more dangerous situations, that was not something the teams throughout the city were responsible for. There were more powerful figures to handle those.
Gendry remembered that face with the hideous burn scars, the Commander of the King's Landing City Watch, Sandor Clegane.
Fire, what a terrifying power.
Although he had only seen it once, Gendry was certain that no one could resist that kind of power; it was a more awe-inspiring Divine Grace.
At this moment, the last grid on the Light Screen turned white.
Gendry's spirits lifted. He signaled his squad to get ready, while he himself stood still, waiting for instructions with his eyes and pounding heart.
Bang~
A glowing scroll popped out of the Light Screen, unfurling violently to reveal golden text.
"Ground Net Activated."
Gendry turned to the twenty soldiers, raised his right arm high, and took a deep breath. "Begin the operation! Full area lockdown! No entry or exit!"
Hot Pie and the others stood at attention and saluted. "Yes!"
Gendry began issuing orders. "You, you, the three of you go to that alleyway. The five of you block off the main street. The two of you go over there. The five of you call everyone over. Report immediately if there's anything!"
"Yes!"
Everyone in the squad became busy.
Seeing the soldiers' actions, the pedestrians' expressions immediately turned panicked, and they instinctively wanted to run away.
Gendry drew the sword from his waist. "By His Majesty's command, we are searching the entire city. No one is allowed to move! If you move again, you'll die for nothing!"
The cold gleam of the blade shone brightly, making it extremely persuasive.
Looking at the now quiet crowd, Gendry didn't completely relax.
There were many important figures here, powerful people who usually had great influence. Were there any Dust among them?
He took out a White Steel Ball and activated the button.
He hoped this treasure would be useful.
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