Attendant Down

"Young Master, I am Torr, the blacksmith's apprentice. My respects to you!" The youth immediately lowered his voice in greeting after taking a kick from Master Judd.

"Hello, Torr." Sean nodded in reply, his tone quite casual. Then he spoke to Master Judd again: "I have a few more small items that I need you to forge, Master." With that, he pulled out another piece of parchment and handed it to Master Judd.

"It is my honor to serve you." Master Judd took the drawing and examined it, and the two exchanged further words.

The drawing depicted several small parts Sean wanted added to the saddle, a synthesis of his knowledge from two lifetimes of saddles, intended to improve stability while riding.

"Master Judd, once you're done, you can have Torr deliver them to the castle." Sean pointed at Torr and said to Master Judd with a smile.

Master Judd paused for a moment, then immediately agreed: "Yes, Young Master. Once finished, I will have Torr deliver them to you personally."

After Master Judd left with Torr, Sean immediately sent one of the cavalrymen accompanying him to summon the workshop foreman.

Torr appeared to be a youth of seventeen or eighteen. Likely due to his trade as a blacksmith, he was very strong. From the way he walked when leaving, Sean judged he had not yet trained in the Knight Secret Method, and his demeanor seemed honest and simple. Knowing how to forge meant he could maintain weapons and armor, and with that honest nature, he was an ideal candidate for a squire.

Sean inquired about the workshop's operations with the foreman and casually mentioned Torr. The foreman, unsuspecting, answered everything. Once Sean had learned what he needed, he dismissed the foreman and left the workshop with his guards, returning to the castle.

Upon meeting Butler Al in the castle, Sean told him about Torr's situation as he understood it and asked Butler Al to investigate Torr's background thoroughly. Butler Al smiled and agreed to Sean's request.

A few days later, on Friday, November 32nd, in the afternoon, Sean was practicing basic spear techniques with a spear borrowed from the castle guard. Sean had learned military spear techniques at the academy, but he rarely practiced them. After several days of continuous training, boosted by his high perception, he had essentially mastered the spear's application.

In his past life, Sean had fantasized about becoming a general charging across ancient battlefields, and he especially admired Zhao Zilong of Changshan from the Three Kingdoms period. He vaguely remembered reading that Zhao Yun's master, Tong Yuan, trained him with a simple method: take a rope of appropriate length, hang it from a tree branch so it hung naturally, tie a loop at chest or abdomen height with an inner diameter slightly larger than the spear's width, and then repeatedly thrust the spear through the loop. It was said Zhao Yun did this tens of thousands of times daily.

Sean tried this training himself. At first, even with his high perception, it was exceptionally difficult. To avoid damaging the loop, the spear had to be thrust with great precision, especially as the rope swayed in the wind. But after a few days, the results were satisfactory. Sean didn't know any peerless spear techniques, but he understood that any weapon's killing art required speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness.

This training method seemed simple, but it actually honed Sean's eyesight, thrusting speed, and power control. When real results emerged, it would greatly enhance his combat effectiveness. He was confident of that.

At that moment, a young maid ran quickly toward Sean from a distance. Stopping about ten paces away, she bowed respectfully and said, "Young Master Sean, at the castle gate, there is a blacksmith's apprentice named Torr requesting an audience with you."

Sean paused his thrusting practice and asked the maid, who stood respectfully, "Is he carrying anything?"

"According to the gate guards, he is carrying a large bundle and holding a spear he claims you commissioned," the maid replied respectfully.

Sean took a towel and casually wiped the sweat from his forehead, then said, "Bring him here. I will meet him here."

The maid immediately acknowledged, stepped back a few paces, then turned and hurried toward the castle gate.

On the day Sean first met Torr, he had asked Butler Al to investigate Torr's true background. Within a few days, Butler Al had reported Torr's basic information: his life and family were very simple. He was born in Sean's family's territory, now sixteen, turning seventeen next year. From a young age, he had learned blacksmithing from his father, Master Judd.

Torr's parents were also born in the family's territory. His father was a blacksmith, his mother a housewife who mainly cared for the family, occasionally sewing or washing clothes for the territory's soldiers to supplement their income. Their financial situation was modest. The family had lived in the territory for nearly a hundred years, so their loyalty to the lord was unquestionable. Torr himself was honest and straightforward, making him an ideal candidate for Sean's squire.

Soon, the maid led Torr to the open space where Sean was training. After the maid bowed and withdrew, Torr nervously greeted him: "Honorable Young Master, as you requested, I have brought the spear you commissioned and the other items."

"You're Torr, right? Good work. Let me see the spear first." Sean extended his hand.

Torr hastily offered the spear with both hands, saying, "Young Master, your spear. Please try it..."

Sean took the spear with one hand and weighed it. He estimated it weighed over twenty kilograms and found it very comfortable. It was nearly three meters long, and the grip was thoughtfully decorated with anti-slip patterns.

Sean swung the spear a few times with great satisfaction, producing a tearing "whoosh" sound through the air. After a while, he stopped and asked Torr, who had been waiting respectfully, "Is this spear made of fine iron?"

"Yes, Young Master. The spear is forged entirely from fine iron," Torr replied respectfully.

"Hmm... Torr, tell your father that I am very satisfied with his work. Also, I will instruct the workshop foreman to give him the appropriate reward." Sean smiled warmly. Then he called over a passing servant to take the saddle parts Torr had brought to the stable. He would modify the saddle himself when he had free time. Torr was about to take his leave, but Sean waved him to stop and asked, "Torr, have you ever participated in knight training?"

"No..." Torr, interrupted, thought Sean had further orders. Hearing the specific question, he paused and answered instinctively. Then he quickly recovered and repeated respectfully, "Young Master, I... I have never participated in knight training." His tone carried a hint of reluctance and regret.

"Show me your hand..." Sean considered for a moment, then said calmly.

"Oh... please, Young Master." Torr was puzzled by the request but immediately extended his hand.

Sean took Torr's right hand, glanced at it briefly, then let it go naturally. In truth, Sean wasn't looking at Torr's hand; he was using the contact to sense his attributes. Torr: Strength: 1.465, Constitution: 1.520, Agility: 1.415.

These numbers surprised Sean. Torr hadn't trained in the Knight Secret Method, yet his physical attributes were this high from only casual exercise. It showed Torr had the talent to become a knight.

"Young Master... this... what's wrong? I didn't do anything..." Torr, seeing Sean fall silent after looking at his hand, asked nervously. He stared at his own right hand, puzzled, looking at a loss.

"It's nothing, Torr. I have something very important to ask you. You must think carefully before giving a serious answer. Understood?" Sean snapped out of it, looked at Torr's expression, and spoke without hesitation.

"Young Master, please ask. I..." Torr grew even more nervous at Sean's words.

Sean waved to cut him off and said, "Torr, I am a Rookie Knight. So I need someone to become my Knight Squire. This is also supported by my father, the Lord Viscount." Sean looked Torr in the eye. Only after advancing to Rookie Knight could a knight practitioner recruit a squire. If the candidate was a vassal of another noble, the local lord's consent was required.

Torr's eyes went wide. He pointed at himself in disbelief, stammering, "Me... me... it's me... Young Master Sean, you... you mean... me... you're willing to recruit me as your squire?"

Seeing Torr's dumbfounded expression, Sean smiled and nodded, then said, "Torr, are you willing to become my Knight Squire? Think it over. I can give you a few days to consider." He then ignored Torr, leaving him to think alone.

Sean began to wield the fine iron long spear, using military spear techniques. The spear's weight suited him perfectly, and its length was comfortable. The spear moved swiftly, cutting through the air with a whoosh. Then Sean thrust, and with a dull thud, the fine iron long spear sank into a tree as thick as a man's embrace, the tip emerging from the other side.

Sean pulled the spear out forcefully, examining the undamaged shaft with satisfaction. He then looked at Torr, who stood stunned and shocked. A hint of a smile tugged at Sean's lips. He had done this not only to test the spear's sharpness but also to intimidate Torr, showcasing his strength and hinting at a threat.

Torr, shocked, watched Sean pull the spear from the tree. Seeing Sean's confident smile, he shuddered and snapped back to reality. Excitedly, he knelt and swore: "I, Torr, swear by the blood of my ancestors. I vow to follow the ancient covenant, to serve my knight master with all my might. To follow him, to revere him, to take his will as my direction. Here, I sincerely beg you, Lord Sean Winchester, to accept my loyalty and that of my descendants."

Sean's smile faded, his expression turning serious as he listened to Torr's oath. He walked up to Torr with the spear, rested it on Torr's shoulder, and said in a low voice, "I, Sean Winchester, am willing to accept the loyalty of Torr and his descendants. And within my power, I will help and teach Torr and his descendants." He then lifted the spear from Torr's shoulder, his expression softening into a smile. "My dear squire Torr, please rise."