173: Chapter 99: Selecting Guards_3 173: Chapter 99: Selecting Guards_3 While explaining, Leon announced the benefits and requirements he was offering, “As long as you pledge loyalty to me and swear to obey the rules I establish, my Guard will thereafter receive two gold crowns a month as military pay, and I will cover all expenses, including Armor, weapons, accommodation, and food.”
As soon as Leon’s words ended, the whole group of young and strong men in front of him couldn’t help but stir.
Their eyes widened, glowing red with excitement, almost ready to rush forward and kneel down to pledge loyalty to the little knight, and not even the youths from wealthy village families were an exception.
Just the salary alone far surpassed that of a skilled blacksmith, and in this era, blacksmiths were not ordinary workers.
One look at Olivia’s house would affirm, they definitely belonged to the wealthy class.
And this was pure income, completely exclusive of living expenses.
If you compared it directly, an annual salary of 24 gold crowns was equivalent to thirty-four times the annual income of an ordinary tenant.
No doubt, for the ordinary Subjects, it was a ascend to heaven in a single step, completely turning their family’s fortunes around.
Leon was, of course, well aware of how generous the offer he presented was.
The amount of money could be used to maintain Hired Cavalry over a long term; it would be surprising if these young strong men weren’t excited.
Of course, Leon would rather cultivate his own private Guard within his own territory than use money to feed the mercenary wolves who recognized money over people.
However, to get this pay, he naturally set a high threshold.
Leon had thought about many methods and hesitated over how best to select the candidates.
But after much consideration, he decided to use the most direct method, searching for satisfactory warriors in person.
“My requirements are very simple,” he raised his voice, lifting the Blunt Sword from the ground with his right hand.
“Everyone has an equal opportunity—you can choose to don the Armor over there and pick any close combat weapon from the weapon rack.
Anyone who can stand up straight and isn’t struck in a vital part by me in five blows can become my Guard.
Of course, you also have the full opportunity to try to defeat me.”
Leon took a helmet from Kovis’s hand, not to protect himself, but to reassure the eager challengers before him.
“Today, don’t worry about offending me.
Whoever among you can hit my head, neck, or chest before losing, I promise to double the reward for you.”
Just hitting a vital part means double the compensation?
Fifty-six gold crowns a year?!
The crowd suddenly felt the air was filled with a sweet, dream-like scent.
A few veterans who had experienced battles and seen blood were quietly rubbing their hands, impatient to demonstrate their skills to the young little lord—wealth that could be obtained without risking their lives was right in front of them; how could they resist?
Leon looked at the crowd in front of him, eyes gleaming, each person as excited and uncontrollable as wolves.
He knew that these people were merely in awe of his knight status; in fact, they did not think that standing up to him for a few moves would be very difficult.
Including those young men from Selva who had heard of him saving the village, even if they respected him, it was just for his heroic act and kindness.
That was the truth, indeed.
Normally, Leon admitted he wasn’t strong enough to maintain being unbeaten or defeating opponents in five moves in a continuous bout challenge, especially since there were clearly veterans skilled in Martial Arts among the crowd.
But that was under normal circumstances.
If it was that easy to defeat him, he wouldn’t have offered such an exaggerated Guard salary.
Today’s action was not merely for selecting personal soldiers.
It was more about establishing his own authority in the hearts of these people and any warrior that could become a Guard.
He didn’t have deep blue to enhance his ability.
But, he did have a deep black that could enhance him.
So, who will be the first?” Leon asked with a light voice as he buckled his helm.