"…Our territory is the kingdom's top producer of food and iron ore, develops the kingdom's finest cosmetics, possesses a rune stone resource site, and even during this drought, thanks to immense productivity, no resident has gone hungry—earning the admiration of all. The territory boasts a military force of over 400 knights…."
Every single statement sounded utterly implausible.
Food, iron ore, cosmetics, rune stones. Possessing even one of these would make a territory stand out as wealthy, but to claim all of them in one place? The revenue must be unimaginable.
According to him, they were bringing in staggering wealth in real-time. Additionally, no one in the territory went hungry, and there was so much money that taxes were hardly collected.
It was, quite literally, the paradise of all paradises. The ideal dreamland everyone longed for. If one could secure a position as an administrator there, their life would surely be paved with gold.
Malone furrowed his brow even more deeply. It was clear this was a scam, but the exaggerations were simply too much.
'Are we supposed to believe this nonsense? Sure, times are desperate, but does he think we're this gullible? Even first-year political science students wouldn't believe such ridiculous claims….'
The other students seemed to feel the same way. As the atmosphere grew heavier, a student suddenly raised his hand and shouted.
"I don't believe you! How can such a territory exist?"
Malone turned to look at the student. He was a classmate with fairly good grades, someone who loved to show off and argue—a personality Malone didn't particularly enjoy.
'Still, I have to admit, it's nice that he's speaking up. Let him embarrass himself, and I'll just enjoy the show before leaving this absurd gathering.'
The other students appeared to share similar sentiments. None of them would have attended this meeting if they weren't desperate.
As the mood became tense, Claude responded with a disinterested look.
"Oh, you don't believe me? Why would I have any reason to lie? I'm here simply to support my juniors as a senior from this academy."
Claude wasn't lying, technically. He was merely embellishing the good parts and concealing the bad ones.
Despite his shameless response, the questioning student didn't back down.
"I've heard about the northern region of Lutania! It's known for its barren land, poor food supply, and constant raids from barbarians. I can't believe that a northern territory like Fenris is in such great condition!"
'Hmm, this kid? A know-it-all, huh?'
His skepticism wasn't entirely misplaced. The Fenris territory was indeed struggling with its lack of administrative manpower and other growing pains.
But how could they verify that? This whole event was meant to lure them in! What could he possibly do? What power did he have?
Claude tilted his head arrogantly and asked.
"Have you been there?"
"What?"
"That's just a rumor, isn't it? Have you actually been there?"
"Well, no, but…"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. For someone pursuing academic excellence, you're putting too much faith in hearsay without firsthand experience. How can you call yourself a scholar striving to uncover the truth and create a better world if you rely on baseless gossip?"
Scolded by Claude, the student looked frustrated. Why should he believe unverified claims, and why was it okay for the speaker to demand such faith?
As the student was about to retort, Claude cut him off.
"You saw the food we brought, didn't you? That's proof enough. We're donating it to the academy and still have plenty left. It's meant for other areas as well. Can any of the great lords in the Seiron Kingdom afford to do this so casually?"
The students murmured among themselves, nodding at Claude's words. Malone, too, recalled the mountain of food and felt his doubts waver slightly.
'That's true. In a famine like this, casually distributing so much food is no small feat. Could the territory really be as wealthy as he claims?'
The student, now at a loss for words, tried a different angle.
"Fine! Let's say I believe your claims about wealth. But 400 knights? That's completely unrealistic!"
The other students began whispering again. They, too, understood the typical number of knights a noble could maintain. Even in Lutania, where noble forces were stronger, a count might have about 50 knights, and great lords over 100. For a territory that had only recently been a barony, 400 knights seemed impossible.
Claude simply chuckled as if amused by their naivety.
"I brought 50 knights as my personal escort. Each one is a fully trained knight capable of wielding mana."
"There's no way!"
In Seiron, even counts rarely commanded more than 20 knights. To claim that a head butler's escort alone comprised 50 knights was unfathomable.
Malone's suspicion flared again. Could this be true?
Claude seemed to sense the growing doubt and snapped his fingers.
"Wendy, bring in the knights."
Shortly after, Gillian entered with 50 knights.
Malone felt his throat tighten as he nervously swallowed.
'Are those… actual knights?'
The other students were equally bewildered.
'They look more like mercenaries or bandits….'
'Are they just dressed up as knights?'
'I've never seen knights so sloppy before.'
Their attire was knightly, but their demeanor was anything but. Some leaned lazily against walls, others squatted as if bored. One even spat on the ground, to the collective disgust of the students.
'He spat on the academy grounds! How could a knight behave like that?'
'They're filthy! Vulgar! Those aren't knights; they're frauds!'
The students looked at them with suspicion again, as they did not seem to have the dignity of a knight at all.
Even Claude frowned at the sight of them.
'Seriously, these guys. They're hopeless. Why are they acting like this here of all places?'
Gillian, too, glared at the knights, his patience wearing thin.
Though the knights reluctantly straightened their posture, the damage was done. To salvage the situation, Claude addressed Gillian.
"Gillian, show the students their mana. Quickly."
With a reluctant grimace, Gillian signaled the knights. Soon, their swords shimmered with a blue mana coursing through them.
The students gasped in awe.
"It's real. They're actual knights. But why do they act so… uncouth?"
"Fifty knights as an escort? There must be even more back in the territory! The military strength of Fenris is truly staggering!"
Satisfied with the reactions, Claude waved dismissively.
"Alright, that's enough. Put it away. We don't want to scare our juniors too much."
What he really didn't want was the knights collapsing from mana exhaustion.
"So, do you believe me now?"
Faced with undeniable proof, even the questioning student fell silent.
A scholar's ultimate dream was to serve in a royal court or a great territory where they could truly make an impact. This was the opportunity of a lifetime.
Malone, his doubts now replaced with excitement, felt his heart race.
To keep that number of knights, it costs money, but they also need to be treated well.
He has thrown away all doubts. If you don't believe when there's this much evidence, there's nothing in the world you can believe in.
'It's real. They're really knights. Even if some of it was exaggerated, this is incredible! I want to go there. I want to work in that paradise of a territory! I want to prove myself, to achieve my dreams!'
But excitement soon gave way to anxiety. Surely, the competition would be fierce. Everyone would want this chance.
'What do I do? Everyone will apply. No one cares about moving to another kingdom when the alternative is starvation.'
The fear of missing this opportunity consumed Malone. Looking around, he saw similar determination in the eyes of every other student. They were now competitors.
Nervously, Malone raised his hand and asked.
"How many people are you planning to hire?"
The other students perked up, hanging on Claude's answer.
Sensing their anticipation, Claude raised his chin confidently and declared.
"Everyone who wants to join."
"What?!"
The students' eyes widened in disbelief. Malone stammered as he asked again.
"Really? Anyone who wants to go can join?"
"Of course. As I said, our territory is vast and populous. We need as many officials as we can get."
"But why choose us? We're inexperienced and unproven. Surely there are better candidates in Lutania…."
Malone's self-doubt was palpable, but Claude responded with a warm smile.
"Didn't I mention? I'm also an alumnus of the Seiron Academy. I want my juniors to succeed. Helping each other ensures that the reputation of our academy grows stronger. You understand, don't you?"
"Ohh…."
The students were deeply moved. So this was the power of alumni networks. No wonder people always emphasized connections.
Still nervous, Malone hesitated.
"But I'm not skilled enough yet…."
"Oh, come now! Skills don't matter. You'll learn everything on the job. The important thing is your passion and resilience. Without those, you're already as good as dead!"
The truth was, in Fenris, losing passion or breaking under pressure did indeed mean death. For the first time, Claude had spoken with absolute honesty.
And the naïve students were once again in awe.
"You're right! Real skills are forged through experience!"
"Offering opportunities to everyone without discrimination is such a noble policy!"
"The total lack of elitism shows what a truly great leader you are!"
The hall buzzed with excitement. Seizing the moment, Claude began distributing contracts.
"Here, take a look and decide. I think you'll find the terms very agreeable."
Reading the contracts, the students were once again astonished.
"The pay is incredible!"
"They even promise housing and support for our families?"
"This is unparalleled. I've never seen an offer like this!"
It wasn't just generous—it was practically unprecedented. The terms were better than those offered to mid-level officials in the Seiron royal court.
As the awestruck students stared at the contracts, Malone murmured to himself.
"Why… Why go to such lengths for inexperienced recruits? I've never heard of a territory offering such exceptional conditions…."
The other students silently nodded in agreement, equally overwhelmed.
Watching them, Claude answered in a soft, reassuring voice.
"Because our motto is, 'A family-like territory.'"
The students' faces glowed with emotion.
[T/L: Please support me and read 130 extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]