The knight's attendant, who had been leading the caravan into the town, appeared before them without warning. His face still showed signs of youth, but his voice was seasoned and authoritative.
"Are you mercenaries?"
Without suspicion, Kien nodded.
"War dogs, always finding new work!" The attendant sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "The Baron wants to hire you."
"What?" Kien's surprise was evident.
"Respectful sir!" The caravan boss quickly interjected, trying to smooth things over. "These two are still employed by our caravan. They can't accept any new work—"
"Merchant!" The attendant cut him off sharply, his face turning dark. "This is a notice, not a discussion!"
He stepped forward, his hand resting dangerously close to the hilt of his sword. "You have twenty minutes to pack. Then, follow me."
Mike Bai, seeing the attendant's hand move towards his sword, subtly pulled Kien away, urging him to stay quiet.
After settling the accounts with the boss and gathering what little belongings they had, Mike Bai, Kien, and Anna followed the attendant through the winding roads, alongside the five mercenaries who had been hired by the caravan.
Outside the town once again, the attendant stopped in front of a large tent, where several mercenaries of various types were scattered around. Without much fanfare, the attendant wiped his hands, suppressing his irritation, and called out coldly, "Wolfe! Your recruits are here!"
A moment later, a drunken middle-aged man staggered out of the tent. His messy, dirty blond hair and grimy green vest made it clear he wasn't concerned with appearances. A strong build covered in chest hair, he gave an uninterested glance to the group before his gaze finally landed on Kien, Mike Bai, and Anna.
Looking at the scrawny Kien, the youthful Mike Bai, and the darkened Anna, Wolfe shook his head. "This is a mercenary band, not an orphanage. Don't send children here."
"The last battle was a disaster! We're low on men. Take them or leave them!" With that, the attendant spun around and left, leaving the trio standing in confusion in the cold breeze.
Sighing, Wolfe ordered his men to escort the other mercenaries away but kept Kien, Mike Bai, and Anna standing by. Taking a few steps forward, he grabbed a large mug of beer and, with a half-drunk slur, muttered, "Been in a fight before?"
"Yes!" Kien answered eagerly, recounting his previous combat experience briefly.
"Hmm?" Wolfe raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. He had expected a green recruit, but this one had seen battle.
"Bill!" He snapped his fingers, gesturing to one of his men.
A large, silent mercenary stepped forward, tossing a training spear wrapped in cloth at Kien. He then grabbed a wooden shield and sword, preparing for a sparring match.
The surrounding mercenaries quickly gathered in a circle, eager to watch the spectacle unfold.
Bill casually took his position, signaling Kien to attack with a slight tilt of his head.
"Kien, it's up to you to set the tone for how we're treated here!" Mike Bai encouraged loudly, pushing Kien forward.
Kien gripped the heavy spear, lifting it cautiously. Despite Bill's casual stance, his instincts told him the opponent was no pushover.
Remembering Mike Bai's teachings, Kien bent his knees slightly, positioning the spear's butt against his waist, the tip drawing erratic circles in the air. Bill, sensing Kien's focus, lifted his shield in preparation.
The mercenaries around them jeered.
"Bill, what's taking so long? Can't beat a kid in a minute?"
Bill seemed to grow impatient with the teasing, his shield beginning to wobble.
"Now's my chance!"
Kien seized the moment, stepping forward and thrusting his spear toward Bill's exposed chest. However, Bill's battle-hardened reflexes kicked in immediately.
Bill swiftly stepped back, his shield slamming forward and deflecting the spear to the side.
"Not good!"
Kien felt the spear become weightless in his hands, but before he could react, Bill surged forward, trying to close the distance to nullify Kien's reach.
"Of course, it's a trap!" Kien's instincts flared, honed by his recent experience with bandits.
Seeing Bill rush in, Kien quickly pulled the spear back, stepping sharply backward. Despite the shorter distance, the spear was still a threat.
Though Bill's shield protected most of his body, his head and legs were exposed.
Kien raised the back of the spear high, aiming for Bill's head. Bill, distracted by the rising spear, instinctively raised his shield to cover his face.
At the last moment, Kien's left hand pressed down, redirecting the spear's tip toward Bill's leg instead.
"Smack!"
Bill, with his seasoned experience, deflected the thrust just in time with his sword, knocking the spear aside.
Taking the opening, Bill closed the gap and landed a swift, measured blow with his sword.
Kien stumbled back, the fight over. Bill gave a small nod to Wolfe.
"Not bad," Wolfe muttered, his lips curling into a thin smile. While Kien was young and underdeveloped, he had potential with some polishing.
As for Anna, Wolfe's eyes lingered on her for a moment, observing her shy posture behind Mike Bai. Though she tried to hide her appearance, her fragile frame gave her away—a girl with no real strength. Not worth considering.
It was Mike Bai that drew Wolfe's attention. The young man had seemed unnervingly calm throughout the entire sparring match. While the other mercenaries shouted and jeered, Mike Bai stood impassive, watching the fight quietly. When it ended, Kien glanced at Mike Bai, whose gaze had been one of quiet disdain. Kien even managed a faint smile.
Wolfe, scrutinizing Mike Bai further, began to form a suspicion. The boy's composure was unsettling, as was his physique—far more developed than one would expect for his age. In a time when food was scarce, that sort of build spoke volumes.
When Bill stepped forward to hand Mike Bai the spear, Wolfe called out to stop him.
"Wait!" Wolfe moved forward, blocking the sun as he towered over Mike Bai.
Mike Bai feigned surprise, but Wolfe's expression showed clear doubt.
"Kid, I don't care about your past. You're here now, and you're going to fight with me."
Wolfe's massive hand clapped onto Mike Bai's shoulder.
"So, welcome aboard!"