In this region, there's no better place for development than Sentinel City.
The city is densely populated, rich in resources, and directly governed by the kingdom, making it relatively safe.
Of course, prosperity comes at a price—namely, sky-high property costs.
Even a small courtyard in one of the city's more remote corners, just big enough to house Arthur and his team, cost a staggering 30 gold coins.
Arthur gritted his teeth and emptied nearly all of his liquid assets to scrape together enough for the purchase.
The courtyard was about half an acre—not exactly spacious—but with some modifications, it would do.
The front yard could be converted into a blacksmith shop, while the back would serve as living quarters, just barely accommodating everyone.
However, there wasn't enough space for training soldiers, so they'd have to make do for now.
Thankfully, Arthur still had a stockpile of a few dozen iron swords and over a hundred spearheads—enough to keep the blacksmith shop running in its early days.
He wasn't too worried about money. He knew that right now, the most important thing wasn't wealth but stabilizing his position and waiting for the right opportunity.
Although the northern regions had been peaceful for the past few years, Arthur knew this calm wouldn't last. The shadow of war always loomed, ready to return, and he needed to be prepared.
After some basic renovations, Arthur's blacksmith shop quietly opened for business.
But his patience was wearing thin.
The soldiers' progress was painfully slow, like snails struggling through mud. It was frustrating.
Arthur understood that with enough time, they might gain the experience to become competent fighters.
But on the battlefield, these untested soldiers would likely crumble like wet noodles, unable to shoulder any real responsibility.
They needed blood.
Arthur decided to take the initiative and look for opportunities.
He began scouring the city, trying to find suitable tasks. Even without a war, danger was never far away. Merchants and nobles always needed protection, and there was no shortage of jobs for hired swords.
Before long, Arthur found himself in a tavern, standing in front of a task board plastered with various requests.
One in particular caught his eye: the Falcon Trading Company was recruiting a team of soldiers to escort a caravan.
Arthur wasted no time. He tracked down the Falcon Trading Company's office and managed to meet Geoffrey, the man in charge of recruitment.
"The journey starts here in Sentinel City and heads to Count Avington's territory. The whole trip will take about a month," Geoffrey explained, flipping through his records while giving Arthur a skeptical once-over. "I can pay you three gold coins. If the trip takes longer, we'll negotiate additional fees." His tone carried a hint of doubt.
Arthur had no reputation to speak of.
If not for his background as a knight and his family's name, Geoffrey wouldn't have even considered him.
Arthur knew three gold coins wouldn't cut it. His team's upkeep was expensive. The annual cost of maintaining a single spearman—including equipment wear and tear, rations, and wages—was at least 20 gold coins. A knight's equipment alone—warhorse, weapons, and iron-plated armor—cost upwards of 20 gold coins, with annual maintenance adding another 10. Altogether, a knight and a squad of spearmen could cost 30 gold coins a year. And that didn't even account for potential casualties, medical expenses, or weapon repairs during missions.
Three gold coins? That was laughable. Arthur didn't hesitate to refuse.
"Geoffrey," Arthur said firmly, meeting the man's gaze. "This might be my first job, but I'm no clueless rookie. Ten gold coins, and I'll take the job. Otherwise, you'll have to find someone else. I'm a trained knight from Count Avington's territory, and my soldiers are all seasoned veterans. You won't find a more professional team than mine."
Geoffrey frowned, clearly torn. He was willing to consider Arthur because of his background. While he scoffed at the "elite knight" claim, knights from Count Avington's territory had a far better reputation than wandering mercenaries.
"If you know the market, then you should understand that ten gold coins is out of the question," Geoffrey replied calmly, though his tone carried an air of finality. "Five gold coins. I'm willing to take a chance on you. After all, I've dealt with the Ashford family before."
Five gold coins was a reasonable offer.
Arthur wanted to push for more, but Geoffrey was already growing impatient.
"Five gold coins," Geoffrey repeated, his tone firmer now. "If you weren't a knight, I wouldn't even offer that much. At most, I'd pay four."
Arthur could tell that pushing any further would only backfire.
He smiled faintly, softening his tone. "Alright, five gold coins it is. This is my first job, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. But next time, once you've seen what I'm capable of, the price will have to go up."
Geoffrey, though slightly exasperated by Arthur's persistence, also seemed relieved. He nodded and said, "If you can prove your worth, the price will naturally increase, and there'll be more opportunities for collaboration."
The two quickly signed a contract, which was officially registered with the local merchant guild. The tavern that had facilitated the connection also recorded the transaction. In this world, breaking a contract didn't just cost money—it could ruin your reputation, and reputation was often more valuable than gold.
Back home, Arthur began planning his next steps.
He realized he needed a knight's squire.
For a knight, a squire wasn't just an assistant—they were an essential part of the knight's operations. A squire took care of feeding the warhorse, maintaining weapons and armor, and even helping the knight don and remove their armor during battle. On the battlefield, they followed closely, ready to assist in critical moments.
While a squire's combat ability was far below that of a knight, they were essentially a "knight in training," capable of playing a vital role when needed.
For commoners, becoming a knight's squire was a rare opportunity for upward mobility. It was the first step toward entering the knightly class and potentially changing their fate. While most spearmen would never earn a title or land in their lifetime, squires had a much higher chance of being promoted to full-fledged knights.
Of course, not all squires made it that far. Some remained squires forever, either due to a lack of talent or because their humble origins limited their opportunities.
Arthur couldn't help but reflect on his own position. His starting point in life was already a goal that most commoners could never hope to reach.
Because of this, his standards for a squire weren't overly high.
He didn't need someone with exceptional talent—what he needed was loyalty.
With the help of his Data Panel, even someone with mediocre talent could be trained and developed over time. But loyalty couldn't be taught. Choosing the wrong person could lead to disastrous consequences.
Fortunately, most of Arthur's soldiers were former farmers. These men were simple, unpretentious, and accustomed to serving the Ashford family. They followed Arthur's orders without question, making the selection process more of a "pleasant dilemma" than a challenge.
After careful consideration, Arthur finally chose a soldier who had consistently performed well to become his squire.
Gilbert
Class: Spearman (Level 8) → Knight's Squire (???)
Experience Pool: 15/100
Gilbert was one of the first recruits to undergo training under Arthur. Strictly speaking, he could no longer be considered a "new recruit." As a Level 8 spearman, Gilbert was physically strong, clad in simple leather armor, and armed with a short sword and a spear.
In one-on-one combat, ordinary recruits were no match for him. In formation battles, his spear thrusts could unleash devastating power.
Arthur had personally given Gilbert his name as a reward for his obedience, loyalty, and dedication to training.
In truth, there were others in the group with greater natural talent than Gilbert. But Gilbert had consistently remained in the top tier, never falling behind.
Arthur understood that opportunities always favored those who were prepared, and Gilbert was exactly that kind of person.
To help Gilbert transition into his new role as a knight's squire, Arthur spared no expense. He provided him with a full set of equipment: a suit of iron-plated armor, an iron sword, and a sturdy but modest horse. The total cost of these items was a hefty four gold coins. On top of that, Gilbert's wages were doubled.
It was a significant investment, but Arthur knew it was worth it.
If Gilbert could eventually complete formal knight training, the costs would only increase. This was precisely why many knights were reluctant to train squires—it required years, sometimes over a decade, of time and a massive financial commitment.
A single mistake could result in a complete loss of that investment.