Chapter 1

Lock is a second-class soldier in the Fustan Kingdom, and having started his military service at the age of 14, he is now a veteran with four years of service. Today, he is in a good mood because it is payday. A second-class soldier in the kingdom receives three silver dillers per month, plus two additional silver dillers provided privately by Baron Kedochi for his soldiers, making a total of four silver dillers. Why only four? Because the military always takes a cut from the state-issued pay, a common practice.

Lock is already eagerly looking forward to receiving his four silver dillers, and then he plans to ask Baron Kedochi's caravan to send three of them back home. He hopes his older sister can buy a ribbon she likes and no longer wrap her hair in rough linen, and that his parents can have a few loaves of white bread over the next month, as their health has been poor. The remaining silver diller, Lock will keep to buy drinks for his squad members. As a second-class soldier with some authority, he is the captain of a ten-man squad.

He knows his squad members are not doing well either. Third-class soldiers receive only two silver dillers a month, and servant soldiers get just one. They have to break their money down to copper dillers to spend, both to support their families and for personal expenses, which is never enough. To foster unity in combat and to have a few loyal subordinates who can cover for him in critical moments, Lock never hesitates to treat his squad to drinks.

His ten-man squad consists of five third-class soldiers and five servant soldiers. Three of them were added to the squad two months ago, while the rest have been fighting together for at least half a year. Most of them are around Lock's age, but with less military experience, having served for only one or two years. They mostly admire their squad leader, Lock, because he is generous and has a sense of righteousness. He always takes his squad out for drinks after receiving their pay, and after battles as well. Most importantly, they have all received some form of care from Lock during combat, which has kept their squad's casualties low after their first battle. As they fought more and more, the squad members became more cohesive, and their survival rate increased.

This is well-known throughout the entire camp. Whether new or veteran soldiers, anyone younger than or around Lock's age calls him "Brother Lock." This is a sign of respect for a strong leader, and it is said that Lock killed many of the barbarians from the Charlot Kingdom two months ago, accumulating enough merit to nearly reach the rank of first-class soldier.

Lock walked to the quartermaster's camp, where not only pay is distributed but also a marketplace exists where you can buy anything you want. Aromatic wheat beer? A sharp, fine steel sword? A sturdy warhorse? Or a beautiful woman? Everything is available here, and Baron Kedochi is very considerate of his soldiers' needs. However, the prerequisite is that you have money... or power. As a second-class soldier, Lock's capital might just meet the standard here, but he rarely spends extravagantly. Not just him; in the camp, soldiers with families and financial burdens rarely come here to spend, not because they have strong self-control, but because their silver dillers cannot withstand such extravagance.

"Hey, Lock! Your pay!" A rough voice shouted, and a burly, bearded man threw a bag of money to Lock. Lock opened it to find three shiny silver dillers and one hundred copper dillers.

"Uncle Yosha, how about a drink this afternoon?" Lock said with a grin to the bearded man.

"How many times have I told you to call me squad leader in the camp! You brat! One drink isn't enough to get me to go! At least two!" Uncle Yosha laughed and scolded Lock.

Lock's invitation to Uncle Yosha for drinks is not just out of politeness but also to discuss his promotion. His merits are almost enough to reach the rank of first-class soldier. First-class soldiers are a significant milestone; the baron will grant them the cultivation method for martial qi, a path to becoming a knight. Moreover, a first-class soldier can at least become a deputy squad leader, and seasoned first-class soldiers like Uncle Yosha are directly appointed as squad leaders.

Uncle Yosha's agreement to Lock's request is not just to save face; he sees potential in this young man. Moreover, Uncle Yosha and Lock are from the same town, Mine Town. Most of their battalion is from the Kedochi region. Over the four years since Lock joined the military, Uncle Yosha has given him a lot of help, from when he was a servant soldier to his current rank of second-class soldier. Uncle Yosha has watched Lock grow over the years and is willing to help him. This time, he plans to give Lock some advice on how to advance to first-class soldier.

"Sure, I'll come and call you then!" Lock put away the money bag and left. The surrounding exquisite armors, sharp long swords, and flirtatious women almost made him envious. A simple set of armor costs at least 100 silver dillers, or one gold diller, a decent long sword costs at least 10 silver dillers, and spending a night with a good-looking woman costs at least one silver diller. Lock doesn't have much extra money. His current equipment consists of a damaged leather armor, a sharp but nicked iron sword, an iron spear, and a short dagger hidden in his boot.

Lock returned to his squad's tent and saw his subordinates sitting in groups, playing cards and boasting. He was infected by this relaxed atmosphere. He kicked Cain, who was shouting while playing cards. Cain is the squad's scout, a third-class soldier, calm and stealthy on the battlefield, but loud and boisterous in life. He, Lock, and the squad's shield-bearer, Hans, have the best relationship. They have been comrades for over two years. "I'll take you all out for drinks this afternoon, now go get lunch! No more fooling around!" Lock said to his squad.

"Hey, boss, can you stop kicking my butt? If it swells up, what will I do if I get discovered on reconnaissance?" Cain winked at Lock, which made everyone in the tent laugh.

"Swelling is no problem, I'll get Brother Rich to give you some mint leaves to apply, and you'll be fine the next day!" the long spearman, Yar, joked. He is also a third-class soldier. Brothers Rich are a famous pair of homosexuals in the camp, often called upon to interrogate tough enemy prisoners. As for the mint leaves, they always keep them on hand for post-activity swelling, as they need to be ready for battle the next day.

"Get lost, little Yar, are you itching for a beating? Don't provoke me, or I won't hold back during training," Cain said, his tone more playful than serious.

These soldiers' daily entertainment is playing cards, boasting, and teasing each other. Everyone has a sharp tongue, and Lock likes this phenomenon because it enhances the cohesion of his squad. "Stop talking and go get lunch, and bring mine back too." Lock laughed and scolded his subordinates. "Cain, don't eat my meat, or you won't get any drinks this afternoon!"

"Don't worry, boss, no one will steal it, I'll make sure of it! Hans, let's go!" Cain promised solemnly before leaving.

The camp has established a hierarchical system to motivate soldiers to fight bravely and earn honor and merit. This is evident even in the meals. Servant soldiers eat chestnut cakes and potato soup; third-class soldiers eat black bread and potato soup; second-class soldiers eat wheat cakes, a piece of meat, and potato soup; and first-class soldiers eat with the baron and battalion leaders in the central tent, reportedly having white bread and meat soup. However, this treatment is not for everyone. Out of the camp's more than 500 people, only about 15 can enjoy this, including: 4 infantry squad leaders and their 4 deputies, the cavalry squad leader, Knight Will, Battalion Leader Kedochi, and his eldest son, Solon, and his steward. Lock has long looked forward to enjoying white bread.

Soon, his subordinates returned, and Cain handed Lock his lunch. "Boss, look at this big piece of fat, can I eat it for you?" Cain said with a grin.

"Get lost, later Hans and I will go to the quartermaster's camp. Have you all received your pay? If anyone needs to send money home, give it to Hans, and I'll help you send it," Lock took his lunch and kicked Cain, then turned to his squad members.

Perhaps the word "home" is too distant for soldiers in war, and everyone fell silent for a moment after hearing it. Most nodded in agreement. In other squads, it would be a taboo for the squad leader to ask for the soldiers' pay, potentially causing a mutiny, but not in Lock's squad. When his subordinates need to borrow money, Lock never hesitates.