Part Two: The Human World Chapter Twenty-Six: The Selection of Heroes
The war in the West has reached a strange stalemate before it even begins.
Various countries around the Wild Highlands have sent envoys, and in just a few days, the royal capital has received several groups. Most of these people came with the same intention, and they all asked the imperial army to stand still, because there are merchants in their countries.
In the city of Oufu, some small countries have recognized the city of Oufu as a new independent country. Even if the military advocates war, the huge diplomatic pressure has caused His Majesty the Emperor to order the troops in the west not to act rashly. At the same time,
Euforth City also kindly returned all the goods that had been robbed some time ago, and the people and many nobles also began to have anti-war sentiments. It seems that Cedros's methods and methods are indeed very effective.
On the other hand, strange military news came back from the west. A huge undead monster appeared in the wilderness. Priest Nagsi led all the magicians in the army to eliminate it, but the whole army was annihilated. Before the war even started, he suffered such a huge disaster.
The damage caused a stir in the whole court. The military said that the priest of the Erni family was so happy that he had such a result. The Erni family accused General Sanders of improper command, especially the prime minister's grief over the loss of his son.
He even urged the change of commander. Naturally, the military could not agree easily, and the daily affairs of the government almost became a place for quarrels between the two sides.
The Magic Academy seemed relatively calm. Bishop Ronis rarely expressed his stance on political matters this time. He proposed to the emperor that he should withdraw from the army. He seemed to be very dissatisfied with the Nagsi priest recommended last time, so he did not appoint another prime minister this time.
His son also did not accept the candidate offered to him by the military ministers, and planned to appoint an unknown ordinary monk to replace the fallen priest Nagsi to command the remaining priests in the army. This is a method that is not biased towards anyone, and it is very difficult.
It is in line with the bishop's consistent style, and the ministers can only accept it obediently. As for why such a person was chosen, it is said that it is because of the monk's pious faith and praying for the corpses for several years, so he can gain the respect of the bishop.
.
During this extraordinary period, the selection contest for the Holy Knights was still held. And precisely because it was at a time when the struggle for power was fierce, the significance of this contest was naturally extraordinary.
Although the generals of the empire have control over the army, they never dare to act recklessly. What makes these generals who control the army dare not act recklessly is the core military force of the empire, which is directly under the orders of the emperor and the church.
The Knights. Although there are only less than a thousand people in total, each member has the combat effectiveness of a high-level swordsman. The dozens of magicians and priests inside are almost all the top elites in the empire. This huge combat effectiveness can
The army of tens of thousands of people was frightened. Their high mobility and combat effectiveness allowed them to rush and kill among ordinary armies more smoothly than a hot knife cutting butter.
The Holy Knights must act under the joint orders of His Majesty the Emperor and the Bishop, so there are very few opportunities to be sent to the battlefield. However, its status in the empire is transcendent, and its captains are assigned to the army in order to hone their abilities.
Holding an important position. This is a shortcut for the Erni family to enter the military.
The selection of such an important unit is of course extremely strict. Thousands of knights from all over the country come to participate every year, but only a dozen or so people who meet the conditions are selected from them. The most important thing is the examiner.
They are Captain Roland and Bishop Ronis of the Holy Knights. Although Captain Roland is from the military faction, he is famous for the perfect combination of military strictness, selflessness and meticulous personal cultivation.
. Together with Bishop Ronis, who is considered conservative and old-fashioned by others, he ensures that the core force of the empire is not affected by political forces. Anyone who belongs to any force must pass the test head-on if they want to join the Holy Knights.
Come honestly.
On the first day of the selection meeting, a variety of preliminary assessments were conducted, including equestrian skills, spearmanship, knightly etiquette, faith, etc. In these rigorous examinations, more than a thousand candidates were rushed through like washed sand.
After falling, only a handful of nearly a hundred elites are left. Then these survivors will compete for the last dozen places in the competition on the next day. The champion will receive the Order of Holy Knights personally awarded by His Majesty the Emperor.
The badge is a great honor for every knight, and it is also the capital for promotion. Generally, champions have the opportunity to become the squad leader of the regiment, commanding dozens of regiment members that can be used as a thousand-man army.
This competition every year has become a grand festival in the royal capital. Tall temporary stands are built around several open-air competition venues to meet the needs of the audience. During the finals, the emperor even came to watch.
The people in the square can no longer be described in just one word. It seems that everyone in the royal capital has gathered here. Whether they are nobles or commoners, they are all talking enthusiastically about the upcoming martial arts tournament. The betting odds have also been announced.
. Based on the past results of each contestant and the evaluation of professionals, everyone is assigned their own odds for supporters to express their enthusiasm with coins.
The biggest favorite on the handicap is a contestant named Rod Hart. This knight named Rod Hart has passed all the tests on the first day, and all the results are very good. According to the eyes of several veterans
Judging from his skill and grace, he was also the best among all the contestants. So he became the favorite to win the championship.
Although the odds have been as low as less than 1:1, people are still placing bets to show their support for him. The cumulative amount of money bet on him has exceeded the mark of one thousand gold coins. This huge amount expresses
There was huge support.
Whether it was based on such great enthusiasm or such a large amount of money, the bettors even investigated the knight's origin and experience clearly. It is said that this good horse ran out of the knight school in Erathia
, this place rich in heroes and generals added a noble touch to his bloodline. And there were rumors that had long been circulated among the young nobles that this hero also saved Duke Mrak's daughter from a group of big-eared monsters alone.
When he came out, this was a heroic deed worthy of trust in his ability. Although he did not have a prominent family background, nor did he become Duke Mulak's subordinate just because he rescued the Duke's daughter, the Duke's only repayment was to help him, a commoner.
Some people even heard the name of this competition from his accent, which is said to come from a poor place near Airy. But his poor background, combined with his experience of saving beauty and his current achievements, made him a hero.
The soaring momentum fully meets the psychological needs of the ordinary public. Bishop Ronis's integrity and Captain Roland's rigor have always ensured the fairness of this selection meeting. Therefore, he is astonishingly likely to become the first civilian champion.
The bets are even more astonishing - they are different from the shiny but small gold and silver coins invested by the rich. They are accumulated from the small mountains of coppers of the common people. Just looking at them makes you feel powerful.
The betting was about to end. The last bettor walked up to the betting table and ceremoniously placed three silver coins in the square marked Rodhart. This was a rare gesture. This was a well-dressed person.
A girl who is so flamboyant that she wears a shoulder-baring fancy dress, which proudly exposes her shoulders and half of her chest, making the men around her salivate. Her originally cute and well-behaved face is a bit redundant.
She put on makeup. You can't blame her. This is probably an extension of her work habits and professional ethics. This young lady named Xuan is a very famous red card girl in the largest brothel in the royal capital.
"Hey, this beautiful lady, the odds have dropped to six points, why do you still want to bet on this knight named Rodhart?" the staff who accepted the bet asked loudly.
"Because I like him." The beautiful prostitute twisted her slender waist. "He is handsome, temperamental and courageous. He was born poor and worked hard on his own. This is the real hero. Those who
Comparing a nobleman who relies on family background and nepotism with him, I feel bad." She spat out in an imposing manner, this casual gesture is something that ladies and gentlemen of the world can never learn from.
Her speech immediately aroused applause from the surrounding crowd.
The prostitute was very happy to receive everyone's support. She winked at the board with the name written on it, as if it was the person she liked. She held her face with her delicate hands and said with some resentment:
"I don't know when he will come to me."
"That's so good. I'll just make a note of the young lady's innocent feelings." The staff shouted loudly and solemnly wrote down in the notebook. "I hope our hero lives up to expectations and let us all win some drink money.
I also wish this young lady that you will gain all your wealth and success, and that you will have everything you want."
This performance earned the jeers of all the men around him. "Are you going to treat this hero for free?" "Heroes seem to be mostly chickens, so you are in luck. Remember to use more effort.
"Whenever I come, you can come for free. I am also an aspiring young man..."
Amidst the cheers, the prostitute girl held her head up triumphantly and stepped off the stage facing the eyes of everyone. She walked past a young man who was holding his arms and looking at her and smiling, and pinched his arm. The young man smiled and stretched out his hand.
She was patted on the head as if to encourage her. She continued to walk into the crowd with a flourish.
There is still the smell of shaving oil left by the prostitute on his hands, and there are obscene comments about her around. Asa feels as if he has returned to the tavern in his hometown. Now he just needs to wait for all the formalities to be completed.
Head west and take advantage of this last chance to watch Rod Hart play today.
Asa walked towards Rodhart's lounge. He wanted to see how the hero who had gathered public expectations was preparing. If nothing else happened, Rodhart really should win the championship. He watched yesterday
After taking various exams and competitions, he discovered that his friend seemed to be born to be a knight.
Of course, it is not possible that he is born like this. This outstanding performance is attributed to the dream of knighthood that he has been addicted to since childhood. When a person completely indulges his life in a dream, the energy he puts in and the achievements he receives are unparalleled.
Those who rely on hard work or struggle cannot compare.
The key is that he is no longer the child obsessed with dreams. Mental maturity and stability are a person's greatest wealth and strength. Only calmness and calmness of mind can fully unleash a person's abilities. In Ah
In Sa's eyes, Rodhart is already quite strong now.
The contestants' lounge was located in a hotel outside the square. In order for them to have a good rest, it was guarded by soldiers. Ordinary people were not allowed to enter. However, an officer recognized that it was the bishop who was deeply loved by the people.
The monk, who was highly regarded by the Lord, immediately let him go and politely asked him if he was going to pray for the soldiers.
Rodhart's room was at the very back of the top floor. Asa went upstairs and happened to see a man walking into Rodhart's room, while several other guard-like people were standing outside with a look of arrogant vigilance.
.A few curious contestants wanted to go over and have a look, but were immediately scolded away by the guards.
This is not a place where one can come in casually. And these participating knights are not people who can be scolded at will. Asa felt very curious. He looked around, turned and walked to the end of the corridor, and walked out of the corridor when no one was paying attention.
He climbed out of the window, climbed out of the outside wall a few times, and rushed from under the eaves into the mezzanine under the roof. This hotel is of high quality and not too old. The wooden boards on the top floor are very strong, and no one makes any noise when climbing up.
Like a gecko, he climbed up to Rodhart's room without making a sound, and saw the situation below through a gap in the wooden board.
A middle-aged fat man in luxurious clothes sat carelessly on a chair. He was not necessarily dignified, but at least very imposing. He looked at Rodhart, who was standing next to him with his hands hanging down, with the same imposing look. This person was the one who was standing next to him.
The one I met in the magic academy, today’s Prime Minister.
"Those who think they can succeed by relying on their own brains and abilities are just fools who only have eyes for themselves because they are young. A truly smart person is one who knows the current affairs and knows how to adapt to them." Although the Prime Minister was sitting, he
He looked at Rodhart standing next to him with a condescending look. "I can see that you are a smart person. A truly smart person."
"Thank you, Prime Minister, for your compliment." Rodhart looked very respectful.
"I believe you can understand me, so I will tell you straight to the point. This championship is of no use to you. It will only be useful if a truly powerful person gets it. Even if you get the emperor's award,
With the support of those ant people, but without backstage or background, do you think that someone with a poor background like you, without any noble family blood flowing in his body, can really rise smoothly in this ever-changing court? Now the court is
You can't imagine the brutal struggle of political forces in China. People like you without any background can only be pushed around by the political trend and are just small pawns. As long as those of us who are really in power are not happy, or
When political struggle requires that, it can still turn you back into a commoner and even kill you." The prime minister told this country boy the seriousness of the matter with very appropriate dignity.
Rodhart was silent. Asa felt that this was not alarmist, it seemed to be the case.
The prime minister softened his tone and showed his magnanimity again. "I can see that you are a very talented person. But personal talents are useless, and whether you want to join any force, you must spend time.
Only when you can prove your loyalty and talent can you get the chance to be reused. I am also in the process of employing people now. As long as you slowly prove your talent and loyalty to me, you will definitely be able to really make a difference one day. I said
Did you understand everything I said?"
Rodhart was still silent. Asa couldn't see his face, but he could see the uneasy eyes flickering in the Prime Minister's pretended to be calm.
After a while, I heard Rodhart's plain but affirmative reply: "I understand."
"Very good." The Prime Minister said with a very satisfied look and voice. "Listen carefully, now you have an opportunity to show your talent and loyalty. That is to give up this title that is useless to you.
.Your opponent in the finals will be a knight named Strong. He is the best in this conference and the favorite to win the championship. The most important thing is that he has the noble blood of the Erni family in his body. He is my
A nephew. Do you understand what I mean?"
"clear."
"The venue for the final is the big ring in the center. The third wooden board on the left side of the ring is a little loose, and it will sink slightly as soon as you step on it. Do you know what I mean?
?”
"Know."
"There will be many experts watching the battle, and Captain Roland is the number one swordsman in the empire. The fake show must be done for real, and it is inevitable that everyone will get injured, but with so many priests around, it should be
It won’t be anything serious. You know?”
"I know." The hero who represents the people's dreams is now as docile as a little sheep in front of the majesty of the prime minister.
"Well, very good." The Prime Minister was very satisfied with the young man's sensibleness and knowledge of current affairs. He took out a small bag from his arms and threw it on the table with a heavy sound. "Here are fifty gold coins. The matter is over.
I will give you more later. And these small sums are just the beginning. I admire young people like you who understand current affairs, know the benefits and are capable, and are capable. I can tell you that as long as you work hard
, I will never let you down in the future. As long as you don’t let me down now." The Prime Minister stood up, nodded, and walked out of the door with dignity.
The door of the room was closed, but Rodhart still stood there without moving. After being stunned for a long time, he walked to the table, picked up the money bag left by the prime minister, weighed it, seemed to sigh with satisfaction, and took out a bright yellow coin.
He held the gold coin in his hand and flicked it with his fingers, making a pleasant sound.
Asa climbed out of the mezzanine on the top floor and returned to the corridor, heading towards Rodhart's room. But when he walked to the door, he scratched his head and realized that this matter was originally Rodhart's own. What would he do naturally?
It was his business, so he turned around and walked out of the hotel.
Asa suddenly remembered the prostitute lady just now, and couldn't help but feel pity for the three silver coins she had bet. Even if her money was not hard-earned money, at least it was hard-earned money.