At the Eastern Military Camp in Free City.
The disorderly ranks fell silent as Femi arrived, helmet in hand, with his guards.
Femi's stern gaze swept over the recruits standing tall with their chests out and heads held high. They had enlisted only that morning, yet showed this much discipline without any training. Not bad...
Recruitment had drawn far more enthusiasm than expected. Once the City Lord's Mansion let word of the Breathing Method spread, young people flocked in. Even tourists from outside Free City and mercenaries trying to make a living came to try their luck.
The Breathing Method was passed down only among nobles and Grand Knights. Even many Professionals had no chance of obtaining it, yet Free City offered it to soldiers for free.
Femi's Hellfire Legion seized the opportunity to handpick a group of young men, all over 170 centimeters tall, who could become fighting troops with a little training.
Femi handed his helmet to Deputy and stepped onto the platform.
Thousands of eyes turned toward Femi and his scratch-covered Plate Armor.
Two emblems were painted on the right side of his breastplate: a drop of red blood and a red rat's head. They signified that he had killed more than a hundred Ratfolk and more than ten Elite Ratfolk, respectively.
"Many of you still don't know what the Hellfire Legion stands for. Now I'll tell you!"
"The Hellfire Legion began as the Second Musketeer Corps at Star-Moon Bay in Year 999 of the Saint Laurent Calendar, and was formally named in Year 1000. We've fought in battle after battle, against Ratfolk and against humans. We took part in the Second Expedition and crushed the traitorous Old Royal Capital of Reekan beneath our feet. But the Ratfolk are still in the North, threatening our people. The