The Swamp Territory, training grounds of the Baron's Mansion.
Lucia was holding their two-month-old child, sitting off to the side and quietly watching York in the middle of the training grounds.
Before York stood five mercenaries—now Quasi-Knight Squires—receiving his guidance.
These were the five most outstanding mercenaries York had recruited from the last battle.
York's training for these five men focused not only on Martial Techniques but also on instilling in them the so-called Knightly Spirit.
Humility, Honor, Sacrifice, Valor, Compassion, Honesty, Justice, and Spirituality.
As Knight's Squires, the reserves for Official Knights, cultivating the Knightly Spirit was essential.
After all, in this world, the title of Knight didn't just refer to strength; it often also represented the honor of the Nobility.
York had been training these five mercenaries for nearly two months.
He felt that he had said and done just about all he could.
At the very least, they looked the part. Dressed in knightly uniforms, their every move already carried the air of a noble's Squire.
As for what was on the inside, York didn't have high expectations for these grown men.
'After all, these men came from a mercenary background. Being too strict would only be counterproductive. That's why, if I had the choice, I'd still prefer Knight's Squires who were trained by a family from a young age.'
'Whether it's their upbringing or their manner of speaking, Knight's Squires trained from childhood are ultimately much better than these latecomers.'
'Their bearing! The key is their bearing!'
'But it doesn't matter.'
In the end, York had recruited these mercenaries as Knight's Squires to cultivate a core team that belonged solely to his Swamp Territory.
In the future, he could train their descendants. All in all, there was no need to be overly demanding.
"These past few days, your training has gone very well. You finally have the proper bearing of a Knight's Squire."
"Next, at noon three days from now, I will gather all the subjects of my territory and conduct your knighting ceremony in front of everyone."
"Remember, after the ceremony, you will also be considered 'Knights.' It will also represent your official oath of fealty to me and to the Smith family of the Swamp Territory!"
York, clad in gleaming silver armor, exuded a solemn air. He then looked at one of the five mercenaries, a man with a rugged face, and said:
"Paul, from now on, you are the captain of these five men!"
"Yes, my Lord!"
Paul knelt on one knee, accepting the order with a knightly salute.
As a veteran mercenary, Paul was already almost forty years old.
Although his decision to join the Smith family of the Swamp Territory had been a sudden one, it was also the result of careful consideration.
The Swamp Territory, he realized, offered a slim but tangible opportunity.
It was the only new territory and new family established in the Wilderness within the Silver Lion Duchy in the last decade.
Here, the population was small, life was relatively dull, and there was a lack of necessary entertainment.
There was even the constant risk of facing small Beast Tides from the surrounding area.
But for that very reason, this place was in greater need of manpower, providing a perfect stage for veteran mercenaries like him.
As long as they could continuously earn merits in this new territory for this new family, they would have a chance to truly undergo the Bloodline infusion ceremony and step into the Extraordinary Realm—something they previously couldn't even dream of.
As mercenaries, almost all of them were of low birth. Even if they survived one near-death experience after another, most of them could never save up the minimum one thousand Gold Coins required for a Low Tier Bloodline infusion ceremony in their lifetime.
Even a veteran mercenary like Paul, with over a decade of such perilous experiences, had only managed to scrape together a little over one hundred Gold Coins.
Therefore, in this world, reaching Entry Tier, let alone crossing class divides, was an incredibly difficult feat.
Unless veteran mercenaries were willing to take enormous risks and form parties to hunt Entry Tier Magical Beasts, it was generally very difficult for them to get such an opportunity.
Not to mention, the Bloodline infusion ceremony itself carried the risk of failure and death.
Thus, in the context of this world, Paul's choice to become a Knight's Squire was by no means a bad deal.
Although joining the Swamp Territory required them to pledge their loyalty and even sign an 'Indenture Contract,' the reward was a major turning point in their lives. Even if they ultimately failed to become Entry Tier Knights, their descendants would have far more opportunities.
As it happened, Paul was a family man and already had two children.
That was why, even as a veteran mercenary, he had rarely taken risks before, let alone formed a party to hunt an Entry Tier Magical Beast.
Therefore, joining the Swamp Territory was, for him, a stable and secure choice.
Moreover, after witnessing the last battle, Paul had come to understand one thing very clearly.
The Swamp Territory's situation was not as dire as the outside Nobility perceived it to be.
A Tier Three Demon Beast, a Lord who was already a Tier Two Elite Knight when he had his contract Battle Pet 'Self-Destruct,' and the rumors of a Miracle from the outside world—all of this gave Paul the conviction to make his decision.
'Even if my judgment is wrong, so what?'
'There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Everything is just one big gamble.'
'If you want to gain something, you naturally have to give something up.'
'That's just how things are in the world of adults.'
Besides, based on what Paul had learned about the Swamp Territory over the past two months, his confidence in it was only growing.
A Patriarch who possessed the strength of an Elite Knight at only twenty-four years old.
A Tier Three Demon Beast Battle Pet that definitely possessed a High Tier Bloodline.
On top of that, he had the strong support of the Baron of Gale Territory from his main family branch, as well as the favor of his wife's father, Viscount Calum.
'Isn't all of this enough?'
'It's enough! More than enough!'
Paul still remembered the intense looks of envy and jealousy from the other mercenaries when York had chosen him to be a Knight's Squire.
So, even if the outside world predicted that the Western Realm would face another Beast Tide from the Demon Beast Mountain Range in about twenty years, what did it matter?
'A lot can change in twenty years.'
Coupled with the gains from the previous battle, the Swamp Territory's development was bound to advance by leaps and bounds in the coming years.
Therefore, as he gazed at the Lord and Baron to whom he had sworn allegiance, Paul's eyes were filled with unwavering resolve.
Meanwhile, York was also very pleased as he looked at the resolute, tough-looking Paul before him.
"Excellent! Paul, I have high hopes for you! Don't let me down!"
"By the way, I remember you have family living in the Korola Highlands, don't you, Paul?" York asked suddenly.
Paul nodded. "Yes, Lord."
Hearing this, York smiled and said:
"Good. In that case, Paul, you may go."
"Your intensive training is now complete. You can go and bring your wife and children to settle here in our Swamp Territory!"
"Of course, all of you may go! But remember, you must return within three days."
"Alright, that's all for today! Go get some rest!"
Hearing York's words, the five Quasi-Knight Squires, including Paul, all beamed with joy and readily agreed.
Only after Paul and the other four men had excitedly hurried from the training grounds, all planning to set off immediately to retrieve their families, did York finally have a chance to relax.
York took off his Light Armor and walked over to Lucia's side.
He was teasing his one-month-old child and chatting intimately with Lucia about the territory's affairs when Lucia suddenly saw a familiar expression appear on her husband's face.
York stared blankly for several breaths, then his face filled with excitement.
"Your Majesty has finally initiated another Divine Descent!"
"It's been almost a year!"
"Lucia, quick, bring the child! We'll go have an audience with Your Majesty together..."