At that moment, he quickly moved and reached a practical conclusion:
"So, my first plan to gather strength until the coming-of-age ceremony has failed? And the backup plan—to be nothing more than a mascot for the family in the upcoming war—failed even before it could take shape?"
He knew his father was right from a practical standpoint.
In the end, the standing army was the last shield of the territory and couldn't be easily sacrificed in a campaign that might yield little gain—or even end in complete failure.
However, understanding the reasoning behind it and accepting it were two entirely different matters.
Taking a deep breath, he asked, trying to maintain his composure despite the tension creeping into him: "If I can't rely on the family's soldiers, then who am I supposed to rely on?"
Viscount Rosson smirked coldly, as if he had anticipated this question beforehand.
Then, in a calm tone laced with an unmistakable challenge, he replied: "You will recruit your own men. You have two choices: either hire mercenaries who chase after gold, or rely on serfs and free citizens seeking a new identity."
He paused briefly before adding : "Since you are leading the army provided by House Werner under the conscription order, the family will cover the costs—whether you choose mercenaries or peasants—as long as you do not exceed the set limits.
You may also seek assistance from Emmanuel and the veteran soldiers. The most important thing is that the news has not yet reached all the participating nobles, and there is still enough time to prepare before joining the campaign."
The family's policy was clear: its standing army consisted of only a few hundred soldiers—just enough to protect the territory in peacetime—while relying on conscription during wars or major crises.
This approach had been followed by all previous viscounts, who saw maintaining a large permanent army as a needless drain on resources.
Thus, risking these trained soldiers meant losing years of investment and training, a loss that could take more than a decade to recover.
On the other hand, recruiting peasants or mercenaries was a far more practical option.
Even if the newly formed army suffered heavy losses, it would not affect the family's stability.
For the nobility, war was not just a struggle for power—it was an effective tool for restructuring society, reducing excess population, and selecting battle-hardened survivors to join the standing forces once they had proven their worth on the battlefield.
But for Arthur view , it wasn't that simple.
A mercenary army?
While it would provide him with a ready fighting force, mercenaries only fought for the highest bidder.
At the first sign of danger, they might flee—or worse, turn against him if they received a better offer.
As for the peasants, he would have to train them from scratch, an almost impossible task given the limited time he had, even with the help of veteran soldiers and the guard captain, Emmanuel.
Mercenaries could be bought with gold, but the looming threat of betrayal was always present.
And the peasants?
Even if he managed to equip them, they wouldn't be on par with professional fighters, leaving him in a dangerous position the moment battle began.
Every choice before him was fraught with risks and demanded sacrifices.
But then, suddenly, a new possibility struck him—an alternative that could change everything...
"....The Summoning Card!"
Arthur recalled the card he had received after his first draw, the one he had yet to find the right time or place to use.
It wasn't that he didn't want to use it—he simply knew from the information he had absorbed upon obtaining it that the summoned troops would appear beside him permanently.
They would transition from a mere virtual existence to reality, and he wouldn't be able to return them to the card.
That was why he had avoided using it inside the castle; the sudden appearance of unknown soldiers could raise his father's suspicions.
But now, this card seemed like the perfect solution.
If he could summon soldiers using the card and present them as hired mercenaries, he could quickly form the core of his army.
More importantly, these soldiers would be directly loyal to him—eliminating the risk of desertion or betrayal that came with traditional mercenaries.
Additionally, this approach would help him avoid the chaos that would arise from relying on untrained peasants.
He could conceal the true strength of these troops by integrating them among regular recruits, presenting them as a hired mercenary group.
This way, he could maintain a high level of secrecy while covering the recruitment costs with the funds he would receive from his father.
A preliminary plan quickly took shape in Arthur's mind—a solution that balanced all his current problems.
However, he showed no sign of relief.
Instead, he sighed quietly, organizing his thoughts in a more practical manner. Then, with a steady voice and his eyes locked onto his father, he said:
"I understand. I'll start looking for the right men tomorrow."
…
As the first rays of dawn painted the sky with warm hues, heralding a new day filled with plans and calculations, Arthur donned his light armor and secured his sword tightly at his waist before leaving his room.
He made his way to the small meeting hall, where his aide, Garin, was already waiting for him.
A knight does not live alone.
He cannot tend to his weapons, armor, and horse by himself.
He needs aides—companions who can care for him in times of peace and stand beside him in times of war.
Arthur was no exception. Now that he had officially earned his knightly title, he had to choose his personal retainers.
This wasn't just a matter of convenience; it was a crucial decision.
These people would stand beside him in battle and be the first to face death in his defense.
Garin was not just a knight serving the family—he bore the name "Werner," albeit from a distant branch.
His father had been a simple knight, granted a small village as his fief, though he held little influence.
However, his contributions in other ways were noteworthy, having added six new members to the family. As the fifth son, Garin had almost no chance of inheriting anything.
His fate was to become a commoner once his father passed and his eldest brother claimed the inheritance.
To prevent this, his father made a decisive choice about his future: he sent him to the castle to be raised and trained as a knight, hoping he would find a place in the service of the main family and strengthen the ties between their branches.
In truth, there were many like Garin in the castle—knights from noble families who used such arrangements as a means of survival, support, and maintaining the status quo.
It was also a way to ensure the nobility's dominance, preventing commoners from rising in rank too easily.
Garin was relatively tall, with a sturdy build honed by years of grueling training.
His light brown hair was always slightly unkempt, and his gray eyes held a sharp, calculating look.
He wasn't a man of many words, but he knew when to speak and when to remain silent—a valuable skill for any knight serving under the nobility.
As Arthur entered the hall, Garin lifted his head slightly, his keen eyes studying him before he spoke respectfully."Sir Arthur, have you decided where to start recruiting men?"
He extended a stack of papers, detailing information about traveling mercenaries and peasants who might be suitable for enlistment.
Arthur took the documents, flipping through them slowly, scrutinizing each name and the carefully recorded notes.
The reports were thorough, requiring him to think carefully.
"I can't summon troops from the card right away..." Arthur thought, his eyes scanning the names. "If I do, the sudden appearance of well-trained forces will raise suspicion with Viscount Rosson. I don't know if he's watching my every move, so it's best to start the traditional way—recruiting local forces first. I can build a foundation with the available men and gradually introduce the summoned troops later to avoid drawing attention to their origins."
With this plan forming in his mind, Arthur began analyzing the details Garin had provided.
Most of the mercenaries listed had bad reputations, despite their combat skills.
Some had fled from previous battles, while others deserted their posts in armies, either to escape death or in search of a different life.
Their questionable loyalty was a serious issue—it could raise suspicions and threaten the stability of any force Arthur led.
As for the peasants, they were eager for an escape from their miserable lives in the fields.
Their loyalty could be secured with the promise of a better future, but their lack of combat experience was a major drawback.
Training them into competent soldiers would take time and effort.
"Damn it! Is this really what I'm supposed to work with? A band of cowards or men who have never even held a sword?" Arthur thought grimly.
"If I didn't have the game's features, I'd probably just gather whatever money I could and flee at dawn."
Arthur looked at Garin seriously, trying to ensure he was making the best possible choice.
"Are you sure this is all the information available on potential forces? What about the wandering knights traveling across the kingdom in search of opportunities to prove themselves and earn titles? Or men who are driven by honor rather than just money?"
Garin gave Arthur a strange look before replying, "Sir Arthur, there are indeed some wandering knights who carry their family's legacy, but they are few in number. Most of them prefer serving powerful nobles, such as an earl, or working as knights in the service of the viscount for many years in exchange for land and privileges granted upon achieving notable accomplishments."
He then hesitated briefly before continuing, careful not to dampen Arthur's enthusiasm.
"However, there is also a group of mercenaries with a notorious reputation, known as the 'One-Eyed Wolf,' who recently arrived in the city.
These men are not like ordinary mercenaries. It is said that they were once caravan raiders, and their leader, Marx—nicknamed 'The One-Eyed Wolf'—has a bounty on his head, placed by one of the nobles."