As the saying goes, money makes the devil grind.

In a literal sense, this should be a kind of praise for ghosts, a kind of existence that needs money to help you grind, no matter how evil or despicable the origin, its strength is always guaranteed. However, Yulian looked at the mercenaries standing in front of the castle, and did not think that they could have anything to do with the ghosts who needed money to grind.

It was afternoon, and in the small square in front of the Twilight Castle, more than a dozen teams were standing in a scattered manner. These are the mercenary groups that came to the Twilight Forest after seeing the recruitment order. You must know that on the gold trade route, in addition to the merchants, the mercenaries are also an important object of frequent contact, they stretch the trade route, like a wolf of wealth everywhere looking for the smoke and breath of war, they do not ask about good or evil, good or evil, simply only with the amount of money to find their master. They take money to do things, and during the contract they are extremely loyal to their masters, and they will never betray them. Of course, the combat effectiveness of these mercenary groups varies, and some of them specialize in reconnaissance, sneak attacks, assassinations and other non-frontal combat. while some are good at frontal battles such as encirclement and suppression, and strong attacks. Their prices varied, and more importantly, these mercenaries chose their masters entirely of their own volition. There are only two things they desire, money, and the glory of battle.

This is also the reason why these mercenary groups are called "wild dogs", they do not accept captivity, they do not introduce recruitment, they only accept employment relationships, sign contracts, and leave when they expire, it's as simple as that.

Yu Lian is naturally familiar with these mercenaries, and because of this, after seeing the first batch of recruited mercenaries, You Lian is obviously a little dissatisfied.

These mercenaries, like their ancestors, wore a variety of protective gear and formed various teams. It's just that their numbers are so small that they look more like a team of adventurers than mercenaries. Because unlike adventurers, the units in the mercenary team are relatively single, except for those large mercenary groups, they are basically a single class. Therefore, their quantity is very important, and once they lack a quantitative advantage, then they can only rely on quality - so the problem comes, if they can use the strength of a few people to withstand dozens or hundreds of people, they are either high-level swordsmen or knights, and if they have such strength to run to do mercenaries, is there something wrong with their brains?

But now, looking at the crowds of swordsmen, archers, and a group of cavalry, Yulian also had to sigh. Among these mercenaries, there are not many young and strong, judging from their faces, they are either fledgling or old, and You Lian can even say that - the so-called old, weak, sick and disabled, the mercenary groups here are basically all accounted for.

With the Holy Grace on top, looking at the old archer with a dirty black blindfold, and then at the thin, almost skinny horses beneath the young cavalrymen, Yuren really didn't expect anything from the mercenaries. But now, he has no choice. Large-scale conscription is not feasible, and mercenary groups can only be attracted by increasing remuneration. Unfortunately, these mercenaries are now clearly more concerned with the front than the "rear", at least for now, and although the price offered by Yuren is quite attractive, they don't think there will be any battle in such a backcountry for the mercenaries.

"Judy, try them. ”

Yuren didn't say anything more, but lifted his chin, and then gave the order. The red-haired girl, who had received the order, saluted him, and then took a few steps forward to the mercenaries.

"Test now!"

At the same time as Judy's crisp voice sounded, the mercenaries, who had been lazy and lazy, suddenly seemed to change as if they were a different person, and they straightened up in an instant, stood up, and lined up in a neat formation. Even those mercenaries, who were young and still childish on their faces, were staring at the red-haired girl in front of them with a serious face at the moment, waiting for her to speak next. This is the process that mercenaries must go through before signing a contract. Only after seeing their strength, the mercenary will sign a contract with them with confidence, of course, this is also to let the mercenary have a general understanding of the strength of the mercenary group, which is also a very necessary process. However, the specifications of this test depend on the employer's own preferences. Sometimes it's strict, and sometimes it's unique. Only mercenaries who have passed these tests are eligible to sign contracts.

Although these people present didn't seem to have much strength in Youlian, they were mercenaries after all, and they were naturally familiar with this kind of pre-assessment.

"The test was simple. ”

Judy glanced at the mercenaries who were ready, paused, and then continued.

"As long as you can get within half a meter of me, then you are qualified!"

“........................”

Hearing this strange test, the mercenaries stared at each other, completely unsure of what kind of test it was.

But looking at this young red-haired woman's armor, she shouldn't be known for her speed. Moreover, what do you have to do with speed when you are fighting? Is it faster than anyone to escape? But it doesn't sound like it, and it doesn't sound like it, and it sounds like it's half a meter away from her? This requirement sounds really a bit nondescript and unclear, and although the conditions are very simple and clear, the meaning behind it is completely impossible to understand.

In any case, the employer has already given the conditions, so as a mercenary, just go and do it. The mercenaries looked at each other a few times, and soon a few squads cautiously approached, weapons in hand, ready for everything, and headed in Judy's direction. The red-haired girl just looked at them, her expression did not change in the slightest, and the cool mountain breeze blew her long red hair, like a dancing flame. She reached out and pressed the hilt of the long sword at her waist, but did not mean to draw the weapon.

However, the speed of those mercenaries gradually slowed down.

Ten meters from Judy, the mercenaries were already sweating profusely, their faces flushed and their teeth clenched, as if they were resisting some invisible presence. But at this time, at least they were able to move forward, but when they were within five meters, the mercenaries moved more slowly, they could barely walk, and the hands that had been holding their weapons were also down, their eyes were red, and they gasped for breath, like fish on the shore. Some people have decisively chosen to give up and retreat, while others, although they are still struggling to persevere, hoping to continue to move forward, but looking at their appearance, it seems that they have no strength.

What's going on?

The mercenaries' reaction immediately caught the curiosity and attention of the others, who glanced at each other before moving forward as well to join them.

But soon, the same situation happened to these people, they couldn't even get close to Judy within three meters, and the strongest of these mercenaries was only charging with the help of their own mounts. He barely managed to reach within four meters, and then his horse refused to go any further, while the poor rider himself clung to his throat and shouted loudly, and rolled backwards.

The thing these mercenaries feel is simple, and that is the heat.

At first, they didn't pay attention to these enthusiasms, and even many mercenaries didn't notice anything unusual at all, they just moved forward and followed Judy's instructions to reach half a meter in front of her. But they soon discover that things are not as simple as they thought. As the distance narrowed, the mercenaries felt that the heat around them was getting higher and higher, and the scorching breath even made them a little dizzy. Some people's chain mail is even unbearably hot. And the mercenaries, who relied on their own physical endowments, continued to move forward, only to find that even the air had become extremely hot. Even with every breath they take, it felt as if a big fireball had been swallowed by themselves, and even breathing began to become difficult!

Although all the mercenaries in the square had already participated in the trial, none of them could get close to Judy half a meter, they could only stand at a distance of about four or five meters, forcibly resisting, trying to show the never-say-die situation of their mercenaries. After all, the existence of mercenaries, in addition to money, is best for face. Now let them retreat without a fight in front of a young girl?

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency, but it seems that all of them are not qualified. ”

Judy let out a long sigh as she stared at the mercenaries, then she turned her head away and looked at Yuren helplessly.

"Judy, I need to remind you once again that they are not facing the Knights of Grace at the moment, and they don't need such rigorous testing. ”

Facing Judy's gaze, Yulian also looked helpless. In fact, Judy was using the very basic requirements of conscription in the chaotic era - in that knightly world, how to fight against this kind of caste power of the soul was also important. After all, knights all possess powerful soul and faith power, and their momentum is also extraordinary, once they exude their fighting spirit, ordinary people have no way to maintain their fighting spirit in front of them. Therefore, if you want to fight such a war, you must make the soldiers have enough strength to resist the chivalric aura.

Of course, this is also very simple, as long as you have obtained the strength of the intermediate level or above, and awakened your soul caste or elemental power, you can use the body protection aura to resist this kind of battle qi coercion. But it is clear that these poor mercenaries do not have such strength.

The so-called calculus test questions for kindergarten students are nothing more than that.

Hearing this, Judy seemed to have just reacted, her face was slightly red, and then she immediately withdrew her coercion. At the same time, the mercenaries quickly retreated, quickly distancing themselves from the red-haired girl, while breathing heavily in the sober air of the mountains and forests to "cool down" their bodies. Although these mercenaries did not necessarily understand Judy's strength, now, they were keenly aware that this red-haired girl was difficult to deal with!

After the mercenaries had regained their composure, Yuren stepped forward, stared at the mercenaries in front of him, was silent for a moment, and then spoke.

"I'm disappointed, guys. ”

“..............................”

"Frankly, your strength is really weak, and it doesn't meet my requirements. And I don't think you're in your current state to be able to win on my battlefield............"

Although Yu Lian's words were very sharp, these mercenaries couldn't say a word to refute at all. That's exactly what happened, they couldn't even get close to a young girl, and they were already deprived of the ability to fight before they even really started fighting. This kind of momentum is beyond the imagination of these mercenaries, originally they still had a trace of expectation and excitement, but now, these mercenaries have only frustration on their faces.

"However, I do need manpower at the moment. ”

Just when the mercenaries thought they were hopeless, Yulian's words made their eyes light up again.

"I'll give you a chance, you can stay, and I'll hire you to fight for me, but, I have my conditions. ”

Saying this, Yulian stopped, he carefully observed the mercenaries, and then frowned imperceptibly, and set his eyes on the pair of mercenaries in the farthest distance.

They were the largest number of members here, fifty in all, all warriors. What caught Yuren's attention was the armor they were passing on. You must know that although mercenaries fight in group armies, they are not in the habit of becoming a formation. Especially when it comes to armor, it's mostly what is suitable for what to wear. They will only use decorations, patterns or flags to represent and establish their affiliation to others. But these people were different, they wore the same style of armor, and they carried the same standard weapons - even the equipment was identical, two long swords hanging from their waists, and a metal longbow behind them. It doesn't really look like a mercenary, after all, everyone is good at something different. A weapon that works for some is nothing more than waste for others. Moreover, at the moment, these swordsmen are all using dual swords, so that is, they are good at this.

If it is understandable that one or two people use dual swords, but fifty people also use dual swords, then it can only be said that it is the result of practice. And this kind of exercise is certainly not something that those mercenary groups will do. Most of the mercenary exercises are done on their own, and large mercenary groups will conduct some tactical drills, but they will not ask what kind of weapons each team member uses.

So, where do these people come from? And who are they?

Yuren's gaze paused for a moment before moving away, and then he froze, and continued.

"My condition is that you must obey my orders and train according to my methods, and I will give you the strength of a mid-level swordsman within a month! Moreover, I will give you enough remuneration and even prepare weapons for you! However, I have my conditions, that is, you must sign a three-year employment contract with me! For three years, you can only fight for me! You are not allowed to leave, and you are not allowed to escape, otherwise, I do not guarantee that his head will still be able to grow on his body safely. ”

If those mercenaries were still a little surprised before, then Yu Lian's words almost immediately caused an uproar among the mercenaries! Every mercenary who heard You Lian's words had only one thought in their minds.

Intermediate!!

The mid-level field is not difficult, but it is not easy either, many people have tried it, and many people don't even have the strength to try. Although these mercenaries also have a lot of combat experience, they have not been able to awaken the power of the soul. Reality is not a game, and you can't upgrade and change classes just by accumulating experience, so many of these mercenaries have given up their efforts to hit the middle level. And the people who came to Yuren's territory were even more.

After all, in the eyes of the mercenaries, there is no war in the Twilight Forest, and even if the mercenaries are recruited, there will be no particularly fierce battles. Coupled with the good pay, they will choose to come here. Trying to live a life of drunken dreams and death. Many of them have despaired and given up their efforts, but now, Yulian's words have rekindled the hope of those mercenaries who had already given up hope!

Intermediate! Intermediate! Give them the strength of a mid-level swordsman within a month!

This is enough to make any swordsman's heart move!!

"Honorable lord, I have a problem!"

And at this moment, there was also a question from the noisy crowd.

"Excuse me, can you guarantee that we will definitely become mid-level swordsmen, and is this kind of training dangerous?"

"Of course I can guarantee it. ”

You Lian replied with a lot of confidence, this is not surprising, there are many similar potions to improve strength in the chaotic era, and there are many alchemy masters and war masters among the maids under their command, under their education, if these people can't reach the intermediate level while training while knocking medicine, then they might as well die headlong.

"And, I can tell you unequivocally, this kind of training is very dangerous. Once you fail, you are likely to face death. ”

Hearing this, Offariel frowned, and she hurriedly stepped forward and pulled the corner of Rayulian's clothes. In any case, he is also in great need of manpower at the moment, and if Offariel thinks that these people have finally come, he should slowly bring them in first, and when they get on the thief ship, it is not too late to explain the facts. But now, the lord directly put the stakes in front of them, saying that there was a high probability of death, isn't it obvious that people will take the initiative to retreat? Who is not afraid of death? Soon, a scene beyond Offariel's imagination appeared. After hearing Yuren's answer, these people went even more crazy.

"I do!

"I am willing, I am willing, please do not hesitate to give me any orders!"

"Me too!, my lord, if you can really make me a mid-level swordsman, I can even ask for no compensation!"

Hearing the shouts of these mercenaries, Ofariel's eyes widened in surprise, she couldn't understand why these people would want to join even though they knew that there would be such a big risk.

"You don't know them, Miss O'Faryl. ”

At this moment, Judy, who was standing next to her, saw O'Faryl's doubts.

"For these mercenaries, that's the best way to go. ”

"The best way?"

"That's right. ”

As she spoke, Judy nodded slightly.

"I think you may have forgotten that mercenaries are born to pay for their lives, which means that they could have given their lives for a few gold coins. For these people, the threat of death is just a daily routine. Perhaps in your opinion, this is a very risky trade. But this is not the case for these mercenaries. You are not a warrior and do not understand how important it is for these people to awaken the power of the soul. It can even be said that awakening the power of the soul is the lifelong pursuit of every martial artist, and they have given everything they can for this. Life is a price they can accept, and if they don't meet Your Excellency, then these people will never be able to awaken the power of their souls. But now, they have the possibility, and what they are paying is more than what they should have paid in the first place when they pursued this path. ”

Judy turned her head and looked at Ofaril quietly.

"Therefore, Your Excellency's conditions are not conditions at all in their opinion, and if you fail to advance, it will only be a loss of a surname. But if they make the cut, the gains they gain will far outweigh their losses. ”

“.....................”

Ofaril looked at the mercenary in front of him, and finally shook his head helplessly.

"I still can't understand it. ”

"You don't need to understand, Miss O'Fariel. ”

Yulian shrugged his shoulders, he naturally heard the conversation between the two, he could guess seventy percent of Ofariel's thoughts, after all, this former princess Her Royal Highness had never been a warrior, and she didn't understand at all, for a warrior, what it meant to be promoted. In her mind, life is the most precious, and there is nothing more cherished in this world than life. But it's clear that not everyone thinks the same way she does.

"Now, you can go down and lead these mercenaries to sign the contract, remember that our previous negotiation was the strictest kind. ”

"Yes, my lord. ”

After a brief explanation to Ofariel, Julien was about to turn away and reconsider the question of the strange princess. But at this moment, he found that the largest group of mercenaries was walking neatly towards him at this moment. Then, at the head of them, a warrior in a black iron helmet, stepped out of the crowd and came to him, staring at him.

"Hello, Honorable Lord. I am the head of the Iron Fire Mercenary Regiment. ”

The man gave Yulian a warrior's salute, and then spoke in a low voice.

"It may be a bit presumptuous, but I have something I want to ask you. ”

"What's the matter?"

For this eccentric mercenary leader, Yulian is just as curious.

"You just said that you can raise our strength to the intermediate level within a month. ”

"That's what I've said, and I think I've said too, the danger is high. ”

In the face of the other party's inquiry, You Lian nodded, there was no need for him to lie, and what he said was indeed the truth.

"So, I would like to ask, my lord, do you have a way to raise us to a high level?"

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Yu Lian's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What do you mean ..............."

"If you can raise our strength to a high level, we are willing to serve you forever and be your retainer!

With that, the warrior took off his helmet, revealing his face. Seeing his face, Ofariel couldn't help but whisper.

It was an orc.

(To be continued)