Training and Reception

Hu Baifu and his group listened to the growing commotion inside, their expressions gradually turning grave.

"Unbelievable, truly unbelievable. This newcomer is quite the formidable fellow. In such a short time, he's already whipped them into shape."

People in the same trade were rivals. Hu Baifu had no mood to keep listening for entertainment, so he hurried to the other garrisons to discuss how to stop this dragon crossing the river.

If Lin Lei had heard Hu Baifu's words, he would surely have laughed to himself. Managing these spoiled young nobles was simple: just force-feed them motivational drivel. He hadn't listened to all that poisonous chicken soup in his previous life for nothing.

To people who had never experienced such things, this stuff was unbelievably effective. If modern people heard Lin Lei's low-quality motivational drivel, they would definitely be completely unconvinced.

For the following days, Lin Lei continued drilling these young masters. Although they had come here merely to idle away their time, they were still fairly capable. Compared to ordinary soldiers who had risen from the bottom ranks, they were clearly a cut above.

"They inherited the training of their fathers' generation. Why should they lose to ordinary commoners? Everyone in the territory has underestimated their potential."

Lin Lei thought this as his shouts of encouragement grew louder. Henry and the others were generally Bronze Rank Four. Lin Lei did not teach them how to improve their individual strength; instead, he taught them coordination within military formations.

In Lin Lei's eyes, Henry and the others were now nothing but a disorganized mob. They had no discipline and no concept of unity or cooperation. Forget comparing them to a modern army—even the guards of Wheat Town had stricter discipline than they did.

"Do you know what you lack the most right now?"

Lin Lei shouted at Henry and the others after they had completed a round of physical training. The people below looked around in confusion.

"Look at yourselves. Look at how you behave. You are worse than a pack of green-skinned Goblins. Their individual strength may not match that of us humans, but they have discipline and know how to cooperate as a team. They can even build Goblin Airships.

"And you? You are a noisy mess, like rats during a festival, looking everywhere at once. Under my command, the first thing you must learn is discipline.

"Forget your identities outside this place. During training, no whispering to one another. When you meet your officer, stop and greet him first..."

Lin Lei did not say much more. Many things could only be corrected through actual practice. True knowledge came from practice; too much talk was nothing but empty nonsense.

Three days later, at North Wind Garrison.

Lin Lei was training them in the goose step when one of his gate guards ran in from the entrance.

"Centurion, a messenger delivered this letter and asked me to pass it on to you."

As he spoke, the guard lowered the hand he had raised in salute—another thing Lin Lei had recently taught them—then took out a letter resembling a parchment scroll from his clothes and handed it over.

"Continue training. Henry, come out and call the commands."

Lin Lei called out to the formation. Henry was a talent Lin Lei had discovered recently. Compared with the other noble youths, he was highly obedient and learned quickly. On top of that, he was also a squad leader, so Lin Lei focused on cultivating him. His progress was a full half again as fast as the others'.

"Yes."

Henry did not say much. After agreeing, he stepped out of the ranks and began leading the training.

Lin Lei then opened the letter and read its contents. The writing was overly flowery, but he roughly translated it in his head.

"Miss Alice has completed her inspection of the sixteen territories and returned to Flower Territory from Pomegranate Town. The Lord will hold a celebration at the Lord's Mansion. Officers above the rank of thousand-man commander in the army, officers above the rank of centurion in the City Defense Department, and prominent figures from the business world have all been invited. Lin Lei is expected to arrive on time."

He looked at the signature. It was from his superior, Captain Otto. The banquet was tonight.

"A banquet for Miss Alice. It seems I need to prepare early. After all, she was the one who guided me."

Lin Lei thought to himself. Whether he attended or not actually made little difference. After all, he held the lowest status at the banquet. No one would care whether a mere centurion attended, even if such an official was practically heaven in the eyes of commoners.

But for Lin Lei, he had to attend this banquet. It was not only to repay Miss Alice for recognizing his talent, but also to build connections and establish a network of his own.

Moreover, Lin Lei had heard his subordinates discussing something.

"Edward, the lord of Flower Territory, possesses Platinum Rank strength. Even within the Kingdom of Kul Tiras, he ranks among the very best. He was once one of the many personal guards of Admiral Daelin Proudmoore and received his personal instruction."

Lin Lei fell silent. What had seemed like simple factional divisions in the game had become so intricate in reality. Beyond the famous racial heroes who stood in the spotlight, there were also countless unknown heroes.

He glanced at his dusty clothes. After leading these men through devilish training for the past few days, even his formerly neat and gleaming clothes had become covered in dust swirling through the air and sweat from his own body, all because he had set an example himself.

"I hope Flower Territory's tailor shops have something suitable for me. Otherwise, this will be troublesome."

Lin Lei had a headache over his attire. Judging by the sun's position in the sky, he felt he could not wait around here any longer. He had to find suitable clothing as soon as possible.

"Henry, come here."

Lin Lei waved from afar, calling over Henry, who was still strictly carrying out his orders.

"I need to go out for a while. Continue the training. When it is time to finish, dismiss everyone on your own. Understood?"

Lin Lei spoke slowly to Henry.

"Understood!"

Henry answered loudly, startling the somewhat furtive Lin Lei. Lin Lei said nothing, simply patted him on the shoulder and sent him back to continue leading the group.

After arranging everything, Lin Lei took Red Fire and headed out the gate, muttering as he walked.

"Why do I feel like Henry has been completely fooled? His eyes are actually that fanatical."

"Centurion!"

As Lin Lei passed the entrance, the two gate guards who were not training saluted him, leaving the soldiers outside bewildered. In recent days, North Wind Garrison had gained gate guards, shouts for morning drills at six every day, and all sorts of strange new practices. People often lingered outside the garrison to observe.

"Centurion Lin! Centurion Lin!"

After Lin Lei left the garrison and was walking down the road, someone called to him from far behind. Lin Lei turned around and waited for the person to catch up.

"You are?"

The man was Hu Jing, a centurion of the same rank as Lin Lei. But since entering the City Defense Department, Lin Lei had received no assignments and had remained at North Wind Garrison training, so he did not recognize the man who had stopped him.

"I'm Hu Jing, the centurion at the garrison opposite yours."

"Oh..."

Lin Lei looked as though he had suddenly understood, but then asked in confusion.

"Does Centurion Hu have something important to discuss with me? Judging by how you stopped me, it must be something important."

Hearing Lin Lei ask about his purpose, Centurion Hu did not beat around the bush. He took a red envelope from his clothes and handed it to him.

"What is this?"

Lin Lei accepted the envelope in confusion.

"An invitation."

Centurion Hu replied casually.

"Captain Ao has distributed the invitations. I came to deliver yours.

"You look like you are heading out. Do you not have suitable formalwear?"

"That's right. I was just about to find a suitable tailor shop and get an appropriate outfit."

Lin Lei answered casually. Then he remembered that Centurion Hu was an old hand in Flower Territory, so he asked with a tentative attitude.

"Centurion Hu, you have been in Flower Territory for a long time. Do you have time to take me to a suitable tailor shop?"

"No problem. You asked the right person. When it comes to knowing Flower Territory inside out, no one in the City Defense Department would dare claim to be better than me. If you need a tailor shop, the best one is in the west of the city. I'll take you there."

With that, Centurion Hu led the way while Lin Lei followed close behind. The two soon left the City Defense Department and hailed a carriage at the entrance.

"Please."

Centurion Hu gestured for Lin Lei to get in first before climbing aboard himself. The tailor shop in the west of the city was quite far from the City Defense Department, so taking a carriage was the best option.

Once inside the carriage, Centurion Hu continued the topic he had not finished earlier.

"There are forty or fifty tailor shops of all sizes in Flower Territory, but the only truly good one is Lady Moran's in the west of the city. Lady Moran is only thirty this year, and her family's craftsmanship can be traced back to her great-grandfather's generation. Even every garment in the Lord's Mansion is made by them.

"Moreover, Lady Moran is not only skilled at business—her personal combat ability is also very high. Compared with the two of us, her Silver Rank Three strength is far beyond ordinary people.

"Lady Moran is very beautiful. She once had a husband, but he died in an Ogre attack, leaving her a widow managing her family's vast estate. The men of Flower Territory all hope to become the man beneath her skirts, captivated by her beauty and wealth."

Centurion Hu clearly intended to befriend Lin Lei and went on endlessly about Lady Moran. When he spoke of her beauty, he unconsciously narrowed his eyes as if savoring some memory, leaving Lin Lei clicking his tongue in amazement.

"She is that impressive? Then she must have a lover, right?"

Lin Lei asked.

"That... I'm not sure. I haven't heard that she has a lover. But some people say she often goes in and out with beautiful women. What a waste."

As he finished speaking, Centurion Hu even lowered his head and sighed, making Lin Lei feel a chill run down his spine. Centurion Hu had thick brows and big eyes, a body covered in bulging muscles, a chest full of hair, and a massive face larger than a basin. Even if Lady Moran liked men, she certainly would not like his type.

...Not necessarily. What if she happens to like that sort of exceptional specimen?

Lin Lei mocked him inwardly and even laughed aloud, jolting Centurion Hu awake from his pleasant fantasy. He looked at Lin Lei with a foolish grin.

The carriage had not traveled for long before reaching Moran Tailor Shop. Many people were lined up outside the entrance. Judging from their clothing, they were all nobles and dignitaries. Centurion Hu led Lin Lei obediently to the back of the line.

Outside, Lin Lei and the others might enjoy a little privilege, but here, they were among the lowest in status and could only wait obediently at the back of the line.