Some questions lingered in Derek's mind, unspoken. If the Earl of Pereira were truly planning a rebellion, should he align himself with him or not?
But business was business. Aside from the heavy armor, the Earl ordered a large batch of weapons, clearly amounting to a deal worth tens of thousands of gold coins. With this, Derek had accomplished more than half of his tasks in Pran City.
What remained was to inspect a few properties and meet with the Northern nobles. The entire circle of Northern nobility, even counting the minor noble families with knightly titles, amounted to only forty or fifty families. It was a small and tightly-knit group, making it easy to connect with them.
This time, unlike before, Derek's status had changed, and so had the way he was treated. By the time he left, he had gained five or six more retainers. These were the young scions of noble families, sent by their families as a political investment in the Augusta family.
Even though the year's end was approaching, the allure of great benefits compelled these minor nobles to send their eldest or second sons to serve under Derek. Much like how the Ferreira family once operated: the eldest son would inherit the family estate, the second would serve in the kingdom's army, the third would work for a local great lord, and the fourth would train with an allied family.
If Derek had not risen to power, this would have been the political path for the Ferreira family. The noble lineage allowed these young men to easily start as junior officers and, after spending a decade or two in service, either return home to help their eldest brother or become mid-level officers to further their family's influence.
Now, these young Northern nobles found themselves in a similar situation. Whether they would eventually join the kingdom's officer ranks or continue to serve Derek, their service would certainly benefit their families.
Derek welcomed these young men, both as a way to draw in Northern nobility and to assess the new additions to his knight roster.
Virut Krono
occupation: Knight Level 6 (45/100)
Experience Pool: 20/100
A skilled knight from a baronial family, the future Baron Krono.
He was the most notable of the young men who joined Derek. At his age, becoming a Level 6 knight made him a standout among his peers—better than Derek had been at that age. Had it not been for the panel's support, Virut might have been the epitome of the new generation of Northern knights.
His choice to follow Derek was surprising, and after a brief interaction, Derek understood his motivations. Not every noble subscribed to the philosophy of cunning and deception. Virut was an example of a young knight driven by honor, wholly captivated by Derek's reputation and achievements.
He was drawn by the glory of the new generation of Northern knights and wanted to follow a true Northern knight, even if that meant disregarding political considerations. Otherwise, it would have been more appropriate for his younger brother to follow Derek.
Derek appreciated such young men. Hot-blooded youths were far easier to handle than deceitful politicians, and he needed a few like them to enhance his image. Virut's allegiance, as a future baron, served as a testament to Derek's growing influence. If someone of Virut's status was willing to follow him, what reason did others have to refuse?
Indeed, Virut's presence did elevate Derek's prestige. Most of the young knights saw this as a golden opportunity and were highly motivated. Having a fervent admirer like Virut, who brought with him both influence and dedication, made Derek take him seriously. The fact that Virut appeared on the panel from the start suggested that his enthusiasm was genuine, not a facade.
Upon returning to his territory, Derek first arranged accommodations for the knight retainers. Some of them, like Virut, were far beyond the skill level of typical knight retainers, having completed their knight training and surpassed the average knight in strength. While they might be too old to be considered knight retainers, in Derek's elite ranks, there was always room to refine their skills further.
The average skill level of knights had declined over the years, likely due to the lack of significant wars. Thirty years ago, during the civil war, elite knights clad in heavy armor were still common. Nowadays, they were rare. But with tensions rising, Derek anticipated a resurgence of elite knights, and he was determined to make his knightly order renowned from the start.
Dedicated followers like Virut were destined to become elite knights. Even regular knight retainers would need to reach at least Level 5 or 6 to earn the title of honorary knight. As for those with ulterior motives who didn't appear on the panel, Derek had already made a mental note of them, along with the families they represented. This was a quick way to distinguish friends from foes.
Of course, in a way, these individuals had succeeded—they stood out from the group of knight retainers, earning Derek's attention and a spot on his list of people to watch.
Shifting his gaze from the uneasy retainers, Derek focused on his passionate followers. If he was going to wield influence, he might as well go all out. Nothing fostered camaraderie like the barracks.
Martial prowess was something Derek never neglected. Even now, he continued to train daily, honing his combat skills. Despite his natural limits, the panel's support allowed him to make incremental progress. And if training was essential, why not train alongside the knight retainers? Spending time together would eventually allow him to thoroughly influence—no, inspire these young men.
For example, when Derek chose Virut as his sparring partner, the excitement on Virut's face was almost overwhelming. Virut, a fervent believer in the ideals of Northern knights—strength, ruthlessness, and honor—saw Derek as the embodiment of those values. Being chosen as a sparring partner left him not only excited but also so thrilled that his hands trembled.
"How strong are Northern knights really? Will I be defeated in a single move? Do I stand a chance of beating Viscount Derek?" Virut's mind raced with thoughts, torn between hope and doubt. He feared shattering his fantasies, yet he dreaded making a fool of himself.
Seeing his unsettled state, Derek frowned and reminded him, "Virut, how can a knight's hand fail to hold a sword? Get a grip on yourself, or you'll never become a true Northern knight."
Fortunately, Virut's nerves were due to inexperience rather than laziness in training. After taking a deep breath, he looked at Derek with renewed determination. "I understand. I will become a Northern knight like you. Come… let me see just how much I need to improve."