Recommendation

Ever since advancing to Rookie Knight, Sean had been suppressing his true strength. Whether sparring with Jim or Ben in private or fighting others during Swordsmanship Class, he approached every match with the mindset of guiding others in swordsmanship. As a result, no one had noticed his true abilities.

Not long after Sean and the others arrived at the swordsmanship training ground, they unexpectedly saw Head Instructor Thomas Gru leading the other swordsmanship instructors into the training area. The class soon officially began, and today's Swordsmanship Class was once again focused on student sparring.

Just as Sean was planning to find Jim for a practice match, he heard Head Instructor Thomas Gru calling to him from afar. He could only greet the instructor leading them before walking toward the corner of the training ground where Head Instructor Thomas Gru was standing.

Head Instructor Thomas Gru was holding two Wooden Swords. When he saw Sean approach, he tossed one of them to him and asked with a smile, "Sean, it's been a long time. How has your swordsmanship training been lately?"

"It's been a long time, Head Instructor Gru." After catching the Wooden Sword, Sean first greeted Head Instructor Thomas Gru. After a brief pause, he answered with certainty, "I feel that my swordsmanship has improved again. I was just hoping to ask for your guidance."

After receiving Sean's confident answer, Head Instructor Thomas Gru revealed a gratified smile. Then he laughed and scolded, "Good kid, you seem quite confident. But—" Before he could finish, Head Instructor Thomas Gru had already rushed forward with his sword.

Sean immediately became alert and thrust his sword at Head Instructor Thomas Gru's chest with his right hand. Head Instructor Thomas Gru blocked Sean's straight thrust with his Wooden Sword and said with a smile, "Remember, you won't know whether you can do it until you fight..."

"You're right, Head Instructor. Then I won't hold back." Sean replied with a smile before his expression turned serious. He knew Head Instructor Thomas Gru was a rare and worthy opponent, and he could use this opportunity to test his true strength.

Neither of them spoke again as they began fighting in earnest. Their movements grew faster and faster, while the force contained in their Wooden Swords became increasingly powerful. Head Instructor Thomas Gru was not too surprised at first. The moment Sean had stood before him, he had sensed that Sean was different from the last time they had fought. It was the intuition of a warrior with extensive combat experience, an intuition that had saved his life countless times on the battlefield.

From the moment they began fighting, Head Instructor Gru constantly pressured Sean, forcing him to give his all. Soon, they had exchanged more than a hundred moves. Head Instructor Thomas Gru was nearly fighting at full strength as well, yet Sean still showed no signs of being at a disadvantage. This result finally shocked Head Instructor Thomas Gru.

A Rookie Knight not yet fifteen years old—he was a peerless genius capable of shocking the entire Empire. As far as Head Instructor Thomas Gru knew, no one in the Empire's history over the past century had advanced to Rookie Knight at such an age. Back when he was young, the academy instructors had called him a knightly genius, yet even after constant hard work, he had only successfully advanced to Rookie Knight at the age of twenty-two.

At this thought, Head Instructor Thomas Gru immediately retreated several steps and broke away from the fight. Sean also stopped his Wooden Sword in confusion.

"You've advanced to Rookie Knight?" Head Instructor Thomas Gru asked in shock after seeing Sean stop.

Only after hearing Head Instructor Thomas Gru's question did Sean realize that he had unconsciously used his full strength while fighting him. This was clearly not something Sean had wanted, and it made him somewhat annoyed.

"Yes, Head Instructor Thomas. It was just a few days ago." Sean answered immediately, though he still tried to conceal the true time of his advancement.

"Unbelievable... truly unbelievable." After hearing Sean's confirmation, Head Instructor Thomas Gru murmured absentmindedly. It took quite a while for his expression to return to normal. Then he smiled and congratulated him, "Congratulations, Sean. Congratulations on advancing to Rookie Knight. Your talent truly astonishes me. Do you know what becoming a Rookie Knight means?"

"Thank you for your congratulations, and even more so for all your guidance over the years." Sean first thanked Head Instructor Thomas Gru, then asked, "I truly do not understand it very well. I hope you can explain it to me." After speaking, Sean looked at Head Instructor Thomas Gru. He knew that since the Head Instructor had raised the question, he would certainly explain it to him.

Head Instructor Thomas Gru smiled and patted Sean on the shoulder. "Sean, Rookie Knight is only the name of a cultivation realm, but it is the beginning of the extraordinary. You are still young, and your future holds limitless possibilities." As if remembering something, he paused before continuing, "And since you were born a noble, if you entered the Imperial Army now, you would be directly granted Captain Rank. This would greatly reduce the dangers you face and allow you to go further..."

"Think about it. Even without inheritance rights, a noble officer with boundless prospects like you will definitely be welcomed by high society." After speaking, Head Instructor Thomas Gru gave Sean a warm smile.

Sean had actually already realized that his advancement would inevitably elevate his status greatly, much like his current conversation with Head Instructor Thomas Gru. Though he still spoke respectfully, that was only because the other man was his teacher. If it were someone of equal standing, Sean would not need to act so deferentially.

"I understand everything you've said, Head Instructor, but I'm still too young. I need to wait a few more years..." Sean deliberately omitted the formal honorific, making himself seem much closer to Head Instructor Thomas Gru.

Sure enough, Head Instructor Thomas Gru was delighted by Sean's familiar tone. He laughed heartily and said, "No need to worry. Your grades are excellent, and the academy can recommend talented students to join the Garrison Force early as Cadet Officers."

"Could you explain it to me in detail? I don't quite understand..." Sean immediately asked after hearing Head Instructor Thomas Gru's words. Sean knew that every world had the matter of accumulating seniority. The Imperial Army was no exception. As long as he was not being sent straight to the battlefield, he did not mind entering the army early, building up a few years of seniority, and waiting for an opportunity for promotion.

"Ha ha, Sean, even if you hadn't asked, I would have told you. Cadet Officers only need to spend three months in the army each year. The main purpose is to let talented students learn military formations and other knowledge in advance." Head Instructor Thomas Gru was very satisfied with Sean's attitude as he smiled. Then he continued, "Cadet Officers are uniformly granted the rank of Second Lieutenant Officer and enjoy the same benefits as Second Lieutenant Officers. Once you graduate, your rank will be reassigned, and all this seniority will be taken into consideration. So long as your luck is not too poor, becoming a Major Officer at twenty is not impossible." Head Instructor Thomas Gru thought very highly of Sean and intended to invest in him early.

"Sean, clear your schedule this Sunday. I'll take you to visit Lieutenant Colonel Merkel of the Garrison. Merkel and I are old friends. Once you join the Garrison, he can look after you as well," Head Instructor Thomas Gru decided.

"Head Instructor, thank you for your help. I'll make time on Sunday. It's just... does Lieutenant Colonel Merkel have any hobbies?" Sean readily accepted Head Instructor Thomas Gru's decision and replied with a smile.

Head Instructor Thomas Gru waved his hand, indicating that Sean did not need to bring a gift for the visit. The two then discussed a few more details, and it was soon time for class to end. Sean bade Head Instructor Thomas Gru farewell and left the training ground.

Normally, even academy-recommended Cadet Officers with outstanding grades would only be admitted after turning sixteen. This was because, after four years of academy education, students had developed basic social values. During the final two years, the academy gave students a certain degree of autonomy, allowing them to freely arrange their lives at the academy. This also carried the hidden purpose of testing the students.

Ever since Sean had transmigrated, he had displayed exceptional knightly talent, and his personality seemed unusually mature. This had always earned him the instructors' appreciation. With the soul of an adult, Sean was naturally unlike his somewhat childish peers. Now that he had successfully advanced to Rookie Knight, the Head Instructor, who had already thought highly of him, immediately increased his efforts to support him.

In the blink of an eye, it was Sunday, November 13. After breakfast, Sean led his Black Horse and waited at the academy entrance, as he had previously arranged with Head Instructor Thomas Gru. However, Sean had arrived early at the meeting place to show his respect.

After the previous Swordsmanship Class, Sean had found an opportunity to train alone with Jim and Ben. He honestly told them that he had advanced to Rookie Knight and apologized for deliberately hiding it from his two friends.

Jim and Ben were naturally greatly shocked, but faced with their friend's sincere apology, they quickly forgave Sean. In their eyes, Sean had merely told them "a few days late" about his advancement, perhaps because he did not want to dampen their enthusiasm for training. After congratulating him, Jim and Ben instead became even more confident in the effects of the new training equipment.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Sean quietly used his enhanced perception to examine Jim and Ben's attribute data.

Jim: Strength 1.385, Constitution 1.377, Agility 1.362; Ben: Strength 1.024, Constitution 1.102, Agility 1.002

Soon, Sean saw Head Instructor Thomas Gru riding toward the academy entrance. After exchanging greetings, Head Instructor Thomas Gru led Sean to the Garrison to visit Lieutenant Colonel Merkel.

The two rode to the entrance of the Garrison Barracks. After reporting to the guards standing watch at the gate, they entered the Barracks. The first thing Sean saw was an enormous drill ground, where a large number of soldiers were practicing military formations, while a few others trained in swordsmanship. Waves of shouts—"Hah!" "Ha!"—rang out, and two-story dormitory buildings for the soldiers surrounded the vast drill ground.

After Sean and Head Instructor Thomas Gru rode past the drill ground and the dormitories, they arrived at a smaller training field. Several two-story buildings stood around it, and Lieutenant Colonel Merkel's office, the place they had come to visit, was among them.

Head Instructor Thomas Gru led Sean to the entrance of one of the buildings, where a young man in his twenties was waiting. Upon seeing Head Instructor Thomas Gru arrive, he immediately stepped forward and saluted. "Welcome, Head Instructor Thomas. I am Sergeant Jason, Lieutenant Colonel Merkel's orderly." He then turned toward Sean and said, "Welcome to you as well, sir."

"Lieutenant Colonel Merkel is already waiting for you both in his office. Please follow me," Sergeant Jason said immediately after saluting. He then called over a soldier and ordered him to take care of Sean and Head Instructor Thomas Gru's horses.

After handing their horses' reins to the soldier Sergeant Jason had summoned, Head Instructor Thomas Gru and Sean followed Sergeant Jason into the two-story building before them.