Deterrence

Deterrence

Facing the eager guards, Luo Ning smiled and gestured for everyone to quiet down.

"With the approval of the Marquis and the Count, I can only take thirty of you."

After thinking for a moment, Luo Ning said, "Those under eighteen, please move to the right."

With a rustle, the crowd quickly shifted, and a group stepped forward.

Luo Ning counted carefully. There were fifteen of them, exactly half the number he needed to select.

"Good, you've been chosen," Luo Ning said with a smile.

Those under eighteen still had a chance of awakening Battle Qi and becoming Professional Knights.

So Luo Ning's first screening criterion was age.

As for whether any of them could become mages, Luo Ning did not dare hope for that.

The requirements for becoming a mage were extremely harsh. He vaguely remembered that one's Mental Power had to be several times that of an ordinary person, and the age limit was not eighteen, but ten.

These guards had long since passed the age of ten. It was impossible for any mages to emerge among them.

As far as the Previous Self knew, there were fewer than ten mages in all of Wushan City, and they were all low-level.

Professional Knights were more common and better known to the public.

"The rest of you, start from where you are and run one lap around the training ground. The first to return can follow me."

Running was part of the guards' daily training. At Luo Ning's command, the forty-five guards began running along the edge of the training ground.

The training ground was not very large. One lap was roughly eight hundred meters.

The excellent terms Luo Ning offered made the guards charge forward with all their might. Those who failed to pace themselves were quickly left behind.

Those who were slower and lacked endurance gradually began to show signs of fatigue as well.

Very soon, the first man returned to the starting point. Luo Ning nodded at him, and the man cried out in delight.

Then came the second, the third, the fourth...

When the fifteenth arrived, Luo Ning signaled for the others who had not reached the finish line to stop.

He smiled at the thirty guards gathered to his right. "Congratulations, you've been selected. From this moment on, you are the guards of me, the Baron of Mountain Forest Town!"

"We are willing to serve you, my lord!" the guards shouted in unison.

"I will certainly fulfill what I promised you."

Luo Ning looked at Chahar. "Chahar, one Silver Coin per person. Hand them out now."

"Yes, Master!"

Chahar carried down the prepared money bag and began distributing the coins one by one.

The guards who received their money beamed with joy. There was nothing more delightful in this world than getting paid.

Those who had not been selected, meanwhile, looked on with envy.

While the money was being distributed, two mounted soldiers escorted five traitors slowly onto the training ground.

At the same time, a tall man dismounted and approached Luo Ning, giving him a Knight's Salute.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Luo Ning. Garman Stout, Captain of the Seventh Knight Squad of the First Knight Order of Wushan Territory, greets you."

Luo Ning was briefly puzzled, but as memories surfaced, he understood.

The First Knight Order of Wushan Territory was stationed permanently in Wushan City, and today, the Seventh Knight Squad was responsible for the castle's defense.

Luo Ning remembered that the Captain before him was an Advanced Knight and also one of Wiggins's Ennobled Knights.

An Ennobled Knight was considered to have entered the ranks of nobility.

"Hello, Sir Garman."

Luo Ning greeted him warmly. "What brings you here?"

Garman waved his hand, and five Squire Knights immediately kicked the five traitors in the legs, forcing them to kneel.

Garman cleared his throat. "Everyone, listen up and watch closely!"

There was no amplification equipment, but Knight Garman's voice was thunderous, silencing all the guards.

"The five people kneeling here were once guards under Baron Luo Ning. Not only did they fail to protect the Baron's safety, they even pointed their swords at him!"

Garman's voice was stern and heavy. "The Wushan Family does not tolerate traitors!"

His voice echoed as all the guards stared in shock. Something like this had actually happened!

Betrayal? How had they dared betray the Baron?

"Such traitors have no value in remaining alive!"

Garman snorted coldly and drew the longsword at his waist. A frigid aura swept outward—it was the Battle Qi of an Advanced Knight.

Luo Ning felt that this Knight Captain might even be slightly stronger than his father, Wiggins.

"Kill!"

Knight Garman brought his sword down.

Pfft, pfft, pfft...

Five swords were raised high, then chopped down. Five heads rolled across the ground as blood sprayed out.

The Bloody Smell spread through the air, and everyone's nerves tightened.

"To become the guards of the Baron is your honor. As your former Captain, I hope you will cherish this honor and devote yourselves wholeheartedly to Lord Luo Ning!"

"If one day you harbor thoughts of Betrayal, then even if the Baron mercifully spares your lives, I will not spare you. Nor will the Wushan Family let you go!"

After saying this, Knight Garman sheathed his sword. The clear ring of steel startled everyone.

"Garman takes his leave. I wish Lord Luo Ning every success." Knight Garman bowed to Luo Ning, then departed with easy confidence.

His retainers began directing the unselected guards to clean up the bodies.

Luo Ning glanced at the five people who had been killed. To be honest, his emotions still churned a little. After all, he had only transmigrated here recently and had not fully adapted to many things.

But he understood that this world was simply like this.

Having Garman execute the five traitors in public was a warning to the thirty guards he had selected today, letting them know the consequences of betrayal.

This was a deterrent.

Luo Ning looked at Most in the distance and guessed that Marquis Lulance had probably ordered this.

After several interactions, Luo Ning had realized that the old Marquis truly treated him fairly well.

If the Previous Self had been even a little more promising, then even with the matter involving Selena, the old Marquis would probably have forcibly suppressed it.

As for Count Wiggins, he could not be called good or bad toward the Previous Self. He was simply hot-tempered and somewhat foolish.

Setting aside his thoughts, Luo Ning took a deep breath and shifted his gaze.

"Alright, guards. You have one night to tell your families about this. Tomorrow morning, gather in front of Wushan Castle, and we'll set out!"

He waved his hand, signaling for the guards to go and make their preparations.

"Macken, I'll leave the training of these guards to you from now on," Luo Ning said to the knight beside him.

"Yes, my lord!"

Macken bowed in agreement, but looked somewhat troubled. "But my lord, Macken has no experience training a team."

That was indeed a problem, but Luo Ning had thought of a solution.

Of course, he had no experience training a team either. But back on Earth, he had undergone military training, which was rare and valuable experience.

Although military training mainly cultivated discipline, wasn't discipline exactly what these departing guards lacked?

What's More, Luo Ning had learned Sixteen-Form Military Boxing during military training. Whether it could improve practical combat ability was another matter, but it could at least strengthen the body.

"It's fine. I'll teach you a plan when the time comes," Luo Ning said to Macken with a smile.

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