"Did you not eat? All of you, perk up!"
"Sweat more during training, bleed less during war. You fools, why can't you understand this..."
Under the scorching sun, Hudson watched the group of sweating youths, relentlessly scolding them.
Since the completion of the knight squire selection, this scene had become the norm, and everyone had grown accustomed to it.
Knights were born for war, and going to battle was only a matter of time. As squires, they naturally had to keep up. Not only did they need to fight enemies, but they also had to act as human shields at critical moments.
For the sake of his own life, Hudson put in his utmost effort, applying all the training knowledge he had in his mind.
After three months of rigorous training, the ten youths had begun to take shape. Even the usually stern Baron Redman acknowledged Hudson's results, openly stating that he had the potential to become a general.
Unfortunately, potential was just that—potential. Having been beaten down by society, Hudson didn't think he was anything special.
No matter how others evaluated him, he never rexed the training of his subordinates.
If one paid attention to the surroundings, they would notice Baron Redman and his three youngest sons observing from a distance—or rather, secretly learning.
In this isoted world, knowledge was incredibly hard to come by. Especially knowledge reted to military affairs—there was no pce to learn it, and one could only slowly figure things out through trial and error.
The scattered notes of elders were the most precious inheritance of the nobility.
The reason great nobles always maintained their advantage was rgely due to their monopoly on knowledge.
What Hudson considered insignificant training methods were, in Baron Redman's eyes, priceless. Too embarrassed to ask his son directly, he chose to secretly observe and take notes.
This, however, was torture for the three young boys. At their mischievous age and spoiled by the baroness, they had no idea how valuable the knowledge before them was. Baron Redman's efforts were destined to be in vain.
Especially Lesuer, who was gring at Hudson with resentment. If Baron Redman's attention hadn't been elsewhere, he would have surely received a beating.
After hesitating for a long time, Lesuer finally couldn't hold back and said, "Father, I've completed my basic knight training. What about the life essence..."
Before he could finish, Baron Redman's face darkened, and he shot Lesuer a fierce gre, saying nothing.
The more this happened, the more anxious Lesuer became. He had paid a heavy price for that life essence, and if he couldn't get it, it would be a total loss.
In desperation, he could only hope that his two younger brothers would speak up for him. Unfortunately, noble children matured early, and even as brothers, they were now competitors.
Family resources were limited. The more you took, the less there was for others. Lesuer had committed a grave mistake, and if he could be kicked out of the game, it would benefit everyone.
The fact that they didn't add insult to injury was already out of brotherly affection. After exchanging a gnce with Lesuer, the two boys tactfully looked away.
This scene happened to catch Baron Redman's eye. However, it wasn't enough to move him.
The noble world was cruel. If one didn't fight or compete, it was impossible to survive in this dog-eat-dog world.
The qualities of a knight: humility, honesty, compassion, bravery, justice, sacrifice, honor, and spirit.
The survival rules of the nobility, however, were: profit above all, hypocrisy, utilitarianism, selfishness, rationality... all essential skills.
Only after survival was ensured would noble spirit emerge: integrity, morality, a sense of mission...
What one couldn't have was always the most desirable. The things people most admired were often what they cked most in real life.
"Don't get distracted. Watch Hudson's training carefully. It will benefit your future development."
Baron Redman spoke earnestly.
After all, they were his sons. He couldn't be completely cold-hearted. In his view, Lesuer was putting the cart before the horse. Instead of obsessing over the life essence that wasn't his, he should take the opportunity to learn more.
In fact, when Baron Redman first discovered Hudson's talent for training, he had considered having him train an elite force.
However, his family's finances were tight, and they couldn't afford a standing army. The only armed force in the barony was the castle's guard, numbering less than fifty.
With such small numbers, individual combat prowess was naturally emphasized. Moreover, guards and soldiers were fundamentally different, and blindly copying methods would only backfire.
In a sense, the art of training soldiers was a chicken rib for minor nobles. Only by serving the king or a great noble could it be of any use.
Unaware of his father's calcutions, Hudson continued to train his subordinates diligently. In this world of supernatural powers, ordinary people found it difficult to compete.
Even a junior knight like Hudson could easily defeat a dozen strong men. This was the foundation of the nobility's continued rule over the world.
Due to the monopoly on resources and the tacit understanding among the nobility, life essence never flowed to the common people. It was almost impossible for a commoner to become a knight. The only viable path for ordinary people was to become warriors.
Even though both were supernatural paths, a knight of the same level could completely dominate a warrior. This wasn't just because of the knight's mount but also because of the awakening of the seed of life.
Although Hudson didn't fully understand what the seed of life was, he had experienced the benefits it brought.
The most obvious improvement was in his overall physical fitness. After every intense training session, the seed of life would release energy to repair bodily damage.
In contrast, warriors had it much worse. Without the seed of life to assist them, the hidden injuries from daily training alone were numerous, not to mention the damage sustained on the battlefield.
Long-lived knights were common, but long-lived warriors were rare, often not living past fifty. Short lifespans naturally limited their strength progression. Across the continent, the number of powerful warriors could be counted on one hand.
As for the mysterious mages, that was a blind spot in Hudson's knowledge. The few mentions in the family's library couldn't provide a clear picture.
Other niche professions were even more obscure. Ordinary people might never encounter them in their lifetime, and Hudson had no way to learn about them.
If it were just about training knight squires, simple training would suffice. There was no need to go to such lengths.
But deep down, Hudson had a restless heart. Even though he kept telling himself to "y low," his actions betrayed his ambition to build a core team.
The first bucket of gold in life was always the hardest to obtain. With only ten people at his disposal, the number might be small, but it was better than nothing.