You received: Denar ×500. You received: Immigrants (Small Scale) ×1 wave. You received: Random Draw Scroll (Low-Tier Troops) ×1 (10-person squad). You received: Swadian Light Infantry Template (Protagonist).
A dialogue box appeared before Shen Mu's eyes.
These were all rewards he had already known he would receive upon completing the mission.
However, the contents of the dialogue box had not ended yet.
Ding! You have soldiers who can be upgraded!
Swadian Militia ×10 could be upgraded into: ① Swadian Footman (melee infantry) / ② Swadian Skirmisher (ranged shooter)
Upgrading to a Tier 3 Troop required 50 Denar per person.
Because this dialogue box had appeared last,
Shen Mu looked at it first.
"Ten Swadian Militia can be upgraded, but each one costs 50 Denar to upgrade?"
There was some helplessness on Shen Mu's face.
The Mount & Blade System had just rewarded him with 500 Denar, yet before they had even been manifested, he had to spend them all.
It was as if it knew exactly how much money Shen Mu had.
"Upgrade them all into Swadian Footmen."
Shen Mu pursed his lips without hesitation.
He made his choice immediately.
At the same time, he communicated with the system through his thoughts again and selected his own reward. "Load the Light Footman Character Template."
Ding! Your 'Swadian Militia ×10' have been confirmed for upgrade to 'Swadian Footmen'. Ding! The 'Swadian Footman' Character Template has begun loading.
Streams of white data began turning into white light and spreading from Shen Mu's brow.
The largest stream shot toward the Swadian Militia beside him, who were still clearing the Wheat Field and cleaning up the battlefield.
A smaller stream came directly to Shen Mu, wrapping around his entire body like a cocoon.
Only after around ten seconds did the white light finally fade away.
But Shen Mu's figure had undergone a tremendous change.
The cold-weather leather coat he wore had become Chainmail, solidly crafted from ring upon ring of iron, with an orange Cloth Curtain worn over it.
The longsword in his hand had been replaced with a Germanic Sword better suited for slashing, while his left hand now held a high-quality Fan Shield.
A two-meter-long spear of superior material, with more iron at its tip, also hung from his back!
"So this is the Swadian Footman Template?"
Shen Mu slowly closed his eyes as a peculiar sensation spread through both body and mind.
It was all the experience possessed by a qualified Swadian Footman: after rigorous training in the camps of Kingdom of Swadia lords, being issued equipment and weapons, knowing how to use them and cooperate with nearby comrades, and knowing his place on the battlefield!
That was right—everything a Swadian Footman knew about close combat, using a spear, using a shield, and using a Germanic Sword!
It was as though Shen Mu had spent years struggling and training on Calradia during those brief dozen seconds.
And today, he had finally become a Swadian Footman!
"Phew—"
Shen Mu opened his eyes again and looked at the brazier before instinctively drawing his Germanic Sword.
He looked at the brand-new Germanic Sword, its edge gleaming coldly.
A sense of familiarity surfaced in his hand.
It was as though, during those dozen seconds of template loading, Shen Mu had truly fought hard with this old companion!
He knew how to use it!
"This is truly interesting." Shen Mu felt even more heartfelt amazement at the function of the Mount & Blade System.
It was practically letting him ascend to the heavens in a single step.
After all, whether on his past life's Earth or on this world's predecessor, Blue Star, Shen Mu had never possessed any combat experience.
What the Mount & Blade System had granted him now, in Shen Mu's eyes, had its greatest value
not in this set of equipment,
but in the genuine combat experience, Combat Skill, and tough mentality in the face of battle belonging to a Swadian Footman!
"Now, even if I ran into skeletons or zombies, I actually feel eager to test them out and see what they are made of."
The corner of Shen Mu's mouth rose slightly. Perhaps this was called fighting spirit.
"Lord Shen Mu!"
At that moment, Swadian Footmen in Chainmail, carrying Sword and Shield and spears, lifted the Cloth Curtain and filed in from the Wheat Field.
These were ten Swadian Footmen who had completed their upgrades and become true regular soldiers of the Kingdom of Swadia.
Along with the five Swadian Militia still holding Hunting Crossbows, their faces carrying a trace of embarrassment.
All of them respectfully placed a hand over their chests and greeted Shen Mu.
"Mm." Shen Mu nodded, looking at the ten Swadian Footmen with satisfaction.
Naturally, he also felt some regret for the remaining five Swadian Militia.
There was nothing to be done about that.
Upgrading required experience.
Even in this world, soldiers summoned under the Mount & Blade System Rules still had to meet the requirements before they could be upgraded.
But Shen Mu did not mind.
After all, on this Blue Star now filled with Undead Monsters, was there any need to fear a lack of battles?
On the contrary, Shen Mu was now more worried about how he would obtain Denar.
The 500 Denar the system had just rewarded him with had almost vanished without him even taking a proper look at them, becoming one of the upgrade requirements.
Shen Mu was once again completely broke.
"But there are other rewards."
With a shift of thought, Shen Mu changed the contents of the dialogue box.
Item Name: Immigrant Tide (Small Scale) Item Description: After using this item, you will receive a small wave of immigrants, numbering approximately 10 to 30 people. The immigrants' race and type will be determined according to existing personnel types. ... Item Name: Random Troop Summoning Scroll (Low-Tier Troops) Item Description: After using this item, a random troop summon will be performed, producing a 10-person squad. The summoning types are not limited to Low-Tier Troops from the Original World, DLC, MOD, and other worlds. ...
Shen Mu raised an eyebrow at this.
These two rewards both seemed to be items that increased population.
They would neatly make up for the current shortage of personnel under Shen Mu's command.
"Then I'll use them both." Shen Mu made his decision.
Ding! A group of immigrants composed of 20 Swadian Peasants has arrived from the distant Kingdom of Swadia! However, their arrival seems to have drawn the attention of something 'evil.' Please lead your troops to a designated location and receive them. The rendezvous location is being determined... Determination complete. Rendezvous location: the entrance to the residential complex outside the first floor of this apartment building. Ding! Due to similarities between the items you used, 10 'Lake Rats Recruits (from the Lake Rats, the third faction in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord)' lost on the battlefield have encountered these immigrants and joined their group. Now, please receive them!
Dialogue boxes refreshed one after another before Shen Mu's eyes.
"Receive them?" After reading the contents, Shen Mu's expression became somewhat remarkable.
These rewards had actually given him something huge!
He actually had to lead his troops out of this safe apartment room and go directly down to the first floor.
To the entrance of the residential complex outside the first floor, no less, to receive his rewards!
"This is quite the surprise."
Shen Mu pursed his lips.
But he did not leave immediately. Instead, his thoughts stirred as he looked at the chest still floating in his mind.
It was a chest pieced together from wood, with brass inlaid around its edges.
It was the reward from killing the little demons that had defended the Wheat Field earlier.
"Open it!" Shen Mu communicated with the system through his thoughts.
Ding! You opened a 'Bronze Chest.' Congratulations! You received... Kingdom of Rhodoks Top Shooting Competition! Item Description: In the distant Kingdom of Rhodoks, 10 Rhodok Sharpshooters are currently holding their Sniper Crossbows and taking part in a moving-target shooting competition. Item Effect: Upon deploying this item, these 10 Rhodok Sharpshooters will use their exceptional eyesight and powerful Sniper Crossbows to kill enemies for you within 10 minutes.
"Kingdom of Rhodoks Top Shooting Competition?!" Shen Mu swept his gaze over the contents, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.
How was this a shooting competition?
This was clearly timely aid!
"Everyone, assemble!" Shen Mu made up his mind. Raising the torch in his hand, he rushed to the apartment door, shoved it open, and charged outside. "Prepare for battle! Follow me!"
Shen Mu was going to receive the immigrants from the Kingdom of Swadia, as well as the Lake Rats Recruits from Sturgia in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord!
Before you continue