Chapter 14: 14 Deterrence

Chapter 14: Deterrence

Facing the surging crowd of guards, Luo Ning smiled and gestured for everyone to quiet down.

"Approved by the Marquis and Earl, I can only take thirty of you."

Luo Ning pondered briefly and said, "Now, please step to the right if you are under eighteen years old."

With a rustling sound, the crowd moved swiftly, and a group emerged.

Luo Ning counted carefully—there were fifteen people, exactly half the number he intended to select.

"Good, you are chosen," Luo Ning said with a smile.

Those under eighteen still had the chance to awaken combat qi and become professional knights.

Thus, Luo Ning's first criterion for selection was age.

As for whether any among them could become mages, Luo Ning dared not hope for that.

The conditions for becoming a mage were extremely stringent; he recalled it required several times the ordinary mental power, and the age limit was not eighteen, but ten.

These guards were long past ten years old, so mages could no longer emerge among them.

According to his predecessor's knowledge, the number of mages in the entire Black Mountain City did not exceed double digits, and they were low-level ones.

Professional knights were more common and widely known.

"The remaining ones, start from here and run a lap around the training ground. Those who return first can follow me."

Running was part of the guards' daily training. With Luo Ning's command, forty-five guards began running along the perimeter of the training ground.

The training ground was not large; a lap was roughly eight hundred meters.

The favorable conditions Luo Ning offered spurred the guards to push forward with utmost effort; those who failed to pace themselves soon lagged behind.

Those slower or lacking endurance gradually showed signs of fatigue.

Soon, the first person returned to the starting point. Luo Ning nodded to him, and the guard cheered joyfully.

Then the second, third, fourth...

When the fifteenth arrived, Luo Ning signaled that those who had not reached the finish line could stop.

He smiled at the thirty guards gathered on his right side and said, "Congratulations on being selected. From now on, you are the guards of Baron Luo Ning Firestorm of Mountain Forest Town!"

"We serve at your command, Baron!" the guards shouted in unison.

"What I promised you, I will certainly fulfill."

Luo Ning looked at Zha Har. "Zha Har, give each person a silver coin now."

"Yes, sir!"

Zha Har carried the prepared money pouch and began distributing coins one by one.

Each guard who received money beamed with delight; nothing in the world brought more joy than receiving payment.

Those who failed selection looked on with envy.

As money was distributed here, two cavalrymen escorted five traitors slowly onto the training ground.

Meanwhile, a tall man dismounted and approached Luo Ning, performing a knight's salute.

"Pleased to meet you, Luo Ning. Ja Man Stout, captain of the seventh squad of the First Knight Regiment of the Black Mountain Territory, greets you."

For a moment, Luo Ning was puzzled, but as memories surfaced, he understood.

The First Knight Regiment stationed in Black Mountain City was responsible for castle defense today, with the seventh knight squad on duty.

Luo Ning recalled that this captain was a high-level knight and also a knight ennobled by Viggins.

Ennobled knights were considered part of the aristocracy.

"Greetings, Ja Man."

Luo Ning warmly greeted him. "What brings you here?"

Ja Man waved his hand, and five attendant knights kicked the five traitors, forcing them to kneel.

Ja Man cleared his throat. "Everyone listen and watch!"

Without amplifiers, Ja Man's voice resonated powerfully, silencing all the guards.

"These five kneeling were once Baron Luo Ning's guards. They not only failed to protect the Baron's safety but even pointed their swords at him!"

Ja Man's tone was solemn and grave. "The Black Mountain Family does not tolerate traitors!"

His voice echoed, and all guards were shocked—such a thing had happened!

Betrayal—how dare they betray the Baron?

"Traitors like these hold no value in living!"

Ja Man snorted coldly, drew his sword, and a chilling aura swept outward—the combat qi of a high-level knight.

Luo Ning thought perhaps this knight captain was even stronger than his father Viggins.

"Execute!"

Ja Man's sword struck the ground.

Thud, thud, thud...

Five knights raised their swords high, then swung them down. Five heads rolled on the ground, blood spurting forth.

The scent of blood permeated, tightening everyone's nerves.

"Being the Baron's guards is your honor. As your former captain, I hope you cherish this honor and serve Luo Ning wholeheartedly!"

"If any day you harbor thoughts of betrayal, even if the Baron mercifully spare your lives, I will not forgive you, and the Black Mountain Family will never let you go!"

After speaking, Ja Man sheathed his sword, its crisp sound startling everyone.

"Ja Man bids farewell, wishing Luo Ning all success." Ja Man bowed to Luo Ning and departed gracefully.

His attendants then directed the unselected guards to clean up the corpses.

Luo Ning glanced at the executed five; truthfully, his emotions stirred slightly, having only crossed over recently and not fully adapted to many things.

Yet he understood this world was thus.

Having Ja Man publicly execute these five traitors served as a warning to the thirty guards selected today, showing them the consequences of betrayal.

This was meant to deter hearts.

Seeing Mos Te's figure nearby, Luo Ning guessed it was likely arranged by Marquis Lu Lans.

From several interactions, Luo Ning found this old Marquis genuinely kind to him.

If his predecessor had strived harder, perhaps even with the Selena incident, the old Marquis would have suppressed it forcibly.

Regarding Earl Viggins, he was neither particularly good nor bad to his predecessor—just irritable and somewhat foolish.

Collecting his thoughts, Luo Ning took a deep breath and shifted his gaze.

"Well, guards, you have tonight to inform your families. Tomorrow morning, we assemble at the gates of Black Mountain Fort and depart!"

He waved his hand, signaling the guards to prepare.

"Maken, I'm leaving the training of these guards in your hands," Rooney said to the knight beside him.

"Yes, sir!"

Maken bowed and agreed, yet he hesitated, "But sir, I have no experience in training a team."

This was indeed a problem, but Rooney had a solution.

Of course, he had no experience in training a team either, but back on Earth, he had participated in military training—a rare and valuable experience.

Although the military training focused mainly on cultivating discipline, looking at these departing guards, what they lacked was precisely discipline.

Moreover, during his military training, Rooney had learned the sixteen-style military boxing. Whether it could enhance actual combat prowess was uncertain, but at least it had the effect of strengthening the body and improving health.

"No problem, I'll teach you a method when the time comes," Rooney said to Maken with a smile.

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(This chapter is complete.)