"Everyone, prepare to depart!"
"Adrian, take my orders to Simon and have him and his men set out immediately."
"Prepare the provisions, weapons, and warhorses; make sure everything is ready for battle."
Derek issued one command after another. According to the governor's orders, Earl Pérez had only ten days to organize his forces. From Pérez's domain to their location, even at a gallop, it would take a full day. Time was running out for Derek.
Fortunately, Derek's troops were far better trained than others. Many of his soldiers were at levels seven or eight, with even the new recruits generally above level five. He also had a contingent of elite knights, elite knight squires, and elite infantry. The earliest recruits had almost all advanced to elite status.
Unlike other armies, Derek's forces emphasized discipline, and the differences in strength weren't always apparent to the naked eye. The key was that if anyone questioned why his troops were so strong, they might just find themselves with a broken leg.
The enormous pressure Derek had borne to maintain and even expand his army was finally paying off. The Ferrera family could only contribute five knights and 300 soldiers, plus some hastily conscripted peasants. Derek, on the other hand, had managed to muster twenty cavalry and two hundred infantry on his own, leaving another hundred men to train new recruits and guard their lands.
Derek departed from the Ferrera estate, rendezvousing with Simon and his slave soldiers outside Pérez's domain. Once everyone had gathered, they marched under Derek's triangular banner into the Earl's territory. Within just a few days, Earl Pérez had returned to his lands and raised the banner of the Northern Province's Second Corps.
By the time Derek arrived at the camp, over ten thousand soldiers had already assembled. A knight tasked with welcoming the noble recruits saw the knight's emblem on Derek's chest and smiled.
"Sir Knight, please state your family name and the number of soldiers under your command so I can register you. Then, await the Earl's orders."
Derek had deliberately placed the emblem of the Pérez Knights in a prominent position, signaling his affiliation. In this army, those from the same faction were clearly favored, especially when compared to others.
"Derek von Ferrera, enfeoffed knight. My forces include 200 elite infantry, one retired Pérez knight, two knights from the Derek family, 20 knight squires, and 50 militia in charge of logistics."
Derek laid out his forces honestly, fully aware of the rules in a temporary army corps like this and not daring to hold anything back. The knight responsible for the registry inspected the troops, noting that aside from the militia, they were all fully equipped, with even a unit of heavy infantry present.
The knights, squires, and infantry all looked strong and battle-hardened, fully armed from head to toe—a formidable force indeed. Derek had made sure they were in full gear beforehand.
"Sir Knight, it's clear you understand how things work here. But if I may be so bold, I've never heard of the Derek family."
"Sir, I hail from the Ferrera family, but I've since established an independent branch. I retired from our knight order a year and a half ago."
Derek noticed the emblem on the other knight's chest and immediately adjusted his tone. That was right—this knight was also from the Pérez Knight Order.
The registration knight chuckled, not at all put off by the friendly overture. He had heard of the Ferrera family, but hadn't expected such strength—especially from a branch family. The fact that even a branch could field so many elites was impressive.
These records were to be reviewed by Earl Pérez, so adding such details meant taking on some responsibility. There was no need for the scribe to take such risks, as they didn't have to.
The registering knight directly opened the ledger, allowing Derek to see it. "My name is César Ulpin. We'll be working together, so I'll make sure you get a decent camp."
Derek immediately recognized the goodwill being extended to him. "I'll remember that, Sir César," Derek quickly leaned in, "My family is in the business of warhorses, weapons, and armor. If you ever need anything, feel free to reach out."
Derek wasn't extending goodwill randomly; the knight responsible for registration held a position of low rank but high influence, serving as the first line of communication for Earl Pérez in controlling the army—a role that could only be entrusted to someone loyal. Since Derek was currently under Earl Pérez's command, it was wise to build strong connections.
César hadn't expected Derek to say that. Such a business wasn't something just anyone could manage, which made César realize that he'd been away from his domain too long and knew too little about the nearby nobles.
"I'll keep that in mind. I'm sure I'll have reasons to trouble you in the future, Sir Derek."
With that, César became even more attentive, ensuring that Derek received a better campsite.
When Derek later found his brother Marco and saw his campsite, it was clear that Derek's was superior. Marco couldn't help but feel envious, "It really pays to be from the Pérez Knight Order. Your spot is much better than ours."
Derek simply smiled without explaining the details. However, it was easy to imagine what the conditions were like in a temporary camp for a force of over ten thousand soldiers.
Over the next few days, the number of troops continued to grow. As the deadline approached, Earl Pérez finally announced a brief review of the troops for the next day and a march the day after.
That night, the Earl stayed up late to review the registration records. Why was this a well-kept secret among military aristocrats? The records, though seemingly simple and unassuming, were the primary source of information for the commander. Which families had elite troops and which knights were highly capable—this was where it was all noted.
With an army of over ten thousand, the commander couldn't possibly inspect each soldier personally and had to rely on this limited information to appoint officers. This was where the opportunity lay—without someone to point it out, one wouldn't even have a chance.
After reviewing the records for a while, Earl Pérez suddenly called out, "César, come here. What's the deal with this von Derek?"
Earl Pérez, a noble of the northern territories, couldn't possibly know every single family, but he certainly knew the ones with significant power. It was nearly impossible for most families, except for a few, to field so many elite troops at once. The registration notes made it clear that this unit was outstanding. Unfortunately, the name Derek didn't ring a bell for the Earl.
If someone had exaggerated the details due to personal connections or simply because they were paid off, the Earl wouldn't have had an issue with that. But this seemed too outlandish. He knew César well enough to believe he wouldn't fabricate something like this, but he needed an explanation.
When César saw the name, he immediately recognized it and responded with a smile, "My Lord, you'll see for yourself tomorrow. I've described everything accurately—if anything, I may have understated it. Sir Derek's troops are indeed elite, and he is a former member of the Pérez Knight Order, hailing from the Ferrera family."
César gave a brief introduction, and Earl Pérez began to form an impression. If César was willing to vouch for him like that, it must be true.
"Arrange for this young man to be near the front tomorrow. I'll take a personal look," the Earl agreed, then chuckled, "If it's true, this young man has quite the ambition."