Magic, steel, heavy industry

Chapter 57 Emergency Assembly

Karl had grown accustomed to life in the military camp.

Although he, Blackie, and Skinny were assigned to different classes, they would always get together during breaks to talk about everything that had happened that day.

After dinner, the guard team began their night training. They needed to conduct a long-distance raid without fire at night and set up tents as quickly as possible after arriving at the designated location.

Because they have this kind of training every night, the recruits are already used to it and are doing it faster each time. Tonight, they completed the entire training in just 40 minutes and returned to the barracks.

On the military camp parade ground, Carl and two companions sat on the grass, relaxing their muscles.

"Hey guys, haven't you noticed that Instructor Mount's expression seems different today?"

Blackie lay on the ground, looking somewhat puzzled.

Mount was the night training instructor, and the recruits were all intimidated by his eyes, which could see everything in the dark, when they first met him.

Upon hearing this, Carl shook his head blankly. "No, he's always like that. He never says a word to us."

"That's because you're standing in the middle, unlike me who's at the very front. I think he's probably thinking about how he's going to punish us tomorrow. All the instructors are the same."

Blackie gritted his teeth, his eyes revealing his dissatisfaction with the instructor.

They no longer address the guards as "Knights," but directly as instructors, as Lord Vilan says, this is the military terminology.

Karl chuckled. "I don't care what they do to us. Lord Vilan said that once we become veterans, the instructors will be no different from us."

"Yeah, I'm really looking forward to that day. I feel like I'm about to pass my practical training. I'm definitely going to beat up all those instructors then!" Blackie raised his fist, looking smug.

"I think you want to get beaten up by Instructor Ge Yi again," Skinny said with a loud laugh, and then the three of them burst into laughter.

A moment later, Karl suddenly asked, "How are your magic powder crossbows going? My aim is still terrible, I'm going to get yelled at again tomorrow."

"It's all the same. I really don't know how Instructor Rossi manages to hit the bullseye every time." Blackie shook his head.

The three of them talked for 20 minutes before returning to their respective dormitories after relaxing.

Karl lay in bed, an uncontrollable smile playing on his lips.

Aside from the tiring training every day, everything else is beyond what I could have imagined before.

The three meals were plentiful, with delicious goat milk and eggs, smoked meat and incredibly soft wheat bread, and instructors who seemed fierce but actually cared a lot about everyone, as well as so many comrades in the guard team.

That's great... If every day were like this, I'd be a soldier for life...

Carl drifted off to sleep.

He didn't know how many hours he had slept, but before dawn, Karl heard a series of urgent knocks on the door in his sleep.

"Emergency assembly! Get dressed within 5 minutes, grab all weapons and equipment, and assemble on the parade ground! Hurry!"

Is that Instructor Rossi's voice?

What the heck... it's not time to get up yet...

wrong!

"Emergency assembly!"

Karl suddenly sprang up from the bed, startling all his comrades in the first squad. They didn't have time to ask why; they jumped out of bed and dressed as quickly as possible.

Such sudden gatherings have happened several times before, and the consequences of being late are severe, so no one dares to dawdle.

Squad leader Doku, while pulling up his pants, roared, "Hurry up! Anyone who disgraces Squad 1 will have to run 50 laps around town!"

Five minutes later, everyone ran onto the playground. Ignoring whether their clothes were neat or not, the three class leaders shouted, "Count off!"

The new recruits skillfully counted from 1 to 10.

"Reporting, Captain! Squad 1 should have 10 members, and 10 members are present!"

The three squad leaders reported that none of the 30 new recruits were late.

Only then did they have time to see the situation on the parade ground. All the instructors were wearing leather armor and were fully armed, watching them.

"Is this training this rigorous? All the instructors are here."

Carl thought to himself.

Even now, the new recruits still don't know what happened and think it's just another training exercise.

Carreras did not immediately respond to the squad leaders' reports, but stood there silently for 5 minutes.

Finally, footsteps approached from ahead, and Vilan walked over with Llorente and about a dozen other people.

All the new recruits stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief. How could even the lord have come? It wasn't even dawn yet!

And the people behind the lord...

The recruits only recognized Advisor Llorente and Miss Iglesias; the rest seemed to be refugees.

That's right. Behind Vilan, apart from the chief alchemist Merino, were all leaders of the North Shore refugees.

Bear Eyes, Old Man, and even Mad Cat, the leader of the Casalan refugees.

Vilan summoned all the leaders of the refugee communities on the north bank. This was Vilan's insistence, as it was an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the fighting capabilities of the leadership guard and let these refugees know who could protect them.

It also serves as a deterrent, and it is believed that after this incident, Vilan can confidently accelerate the process of accepting refugees.

He didn't stop, but went straight to the guard team.

Carreras immediately turned around. "The entire guard is assembled! Please inspect them, Lord Vilan!"

Vilan nodded. "Take your weapons. I have reliable information that the bandits who plundered the grain six months ago are going to attack the town this morning and rob everyone."

His tone wasn't harsh, but what he said made all the guards stare wide-eyed.

The robbers are about to attack!

And it will arrive immediately!

At that moment, everyone's mind went blank for a brief time. Although they trained every day, training did not involve fighting bandits. So many days of peaceful life had made many people forget that soldiers not only had to train, but also had to go to the battlefield.

Now that Vilan has ruthlessly exposed their lies, some of the new recruits are starting to tremble.

The bandits' ferocious appearance from six months ago loomed over them like a shadow.

Vilan sighed inwardly, his expression unchanged, and continued, "Soldiers, I hope you are prepared. You are the guardians of Anvil Territory. If you retreat and run away, the bandits' blades will not hesitate to fall on my head. Not only me, but also your families, your friends, everyone you know will be tortured, humiliated, and finally killed."

"Serving in the military is never child's play. Showing mercy to the enemy is a betrayal of your lord and comrades."

After saying his last words, Vilan turned and left.

The leaders of the refugees all had complicated expressions; they didn't understand whether this would really work.

Would a group of soldiers composed of serfs really dare to fight to the death against more than a hundred bandits?

The only response they received was a loud shout from Carreras.

"Everyone, turn left! Check crossbow bolts. Target: Old Valley. Full speed ahead!"

"yes!"