After refusing Gérard's invitation, Arthur was uncomfortable staying too long in his surroundings.
He was aware that his refusal might be seen as a direct challenge and could provoke Gérard into taking an unexpected action.
Therefore, the next morning, he decided to speed up his journey and try to reach the base before Gérard, placing himself in a safer position and preparing for what might come next.
Although he was not convinced by Gérard's words about the nature of the alliance, he did not doubt for a moment the truth of his statements regarding his father's influence, Earl Globas.
It was well known that the Earl, though not at the pinnacle of the aristocratic power in the kingdom, remained one of the high-ranking nobles, enjoying wide influence and strong connections.
It would not be surprising that he had friends in the military who owed him favors, or that there were other individuals seeking to establish good relations with him, granting him the ability to influence the decisions of military leaders and even future troop deployments.
This alone was enough to make Arthur more cautious.
The Globas family was not just an ordinary noble family; it was a family with a long history and a complex network of political alliances and connections, making an encounter with them extremely dangerous.
In contrast, although Arthur's family held some power and influence, it did not reach the level of Globas in terms of impact and reach.
This made Arthur realize that refusing Gérard's invitation could be interpreted as a challenge to the latter's authority, potentially leading to unforeseen consequences.
Arthur did not want to find himself in a third-tier scenario where the "weaker" noble boy in the eyes of others became an easy target for the wrath of the heir to a stronger family, simply because he had not shown enough submission or respect.
In such cases, it was not uncommon for the stronger party to seek to "discipline" what it deemed a rebel, whether through political pressure, schemes, or even leveraging its influence in the military to remove them through more decisive means.
To avoid falling into this clichéd plot, Arthur saw that the wisest option was to withdraw cautiously before things developed into something undesirable.
Arthur did not mind if some described him as a rat fleeing the trap, as long as it meant escaping consequences beyond his control.
In the end, survival and careful planning were more important than clinging to pride in a situation that could lead to catastrophic results.
Upon arriving at the military base, Arthur realized that revealing his true concerns was not a wise choice. Others might view them as mere delusions or a form of paranoia.
Even if the soldiers were not familiar with the term itself, the idea of a noble's son rushing to the base only to avoid conflict with the Earl's son could seem pitiful or a sign of weakness in character.
There was no logical reason to raise doubts about his actions, but inventing another excuse, such as claiming he had come quickly out of extreme loyalty and a burning desire to serve the kingdom, was a more dangerous option.
Such an exaggerated claim could make him appear as nothing more than a cheap sycophant or someone who was underestimating the commander's intelligence.
Worse still, his actions could be interpreted as an attempt to manipulate or deceive the commander, which could bring consequences far worse than merely offending Gérard, the illegitimate son of the Earl, who, no matter his influence, was still lower than his direct superior.
When the commander noticed his silence, he did not ask any questions. Instead, he simply looked at him for a moment with a scrutinizing gaze before changing the subject.
He gestured to a nearby wooden seat and then said firmly:
Well, since you're here, let's not waste time. Sit down."
Arthur sat in the seat without hesitation, trying to maintain a calm and composed demeanor as he watched the commander arrange some papers in front of him.
"First, let me introduce myself. I am Earl Lucas de Alon, the appointed military commander of this garrison."
Upon hearing the name, Arthur felt a flicker of surprise, but it quickly vanished from his face before the commander could notice.
"De Alon"—this was the royal family's surname and the name of the kingdom itself. No one without royal blood was allowed to use it.
He realized that the situation wasn't as mysterious as he had initially thought.
The troops stationed on the border were not just local units, but a mixture of soldiers from various regions of the kingdom.
And with such a large military force, the king would not leave it under the sole command of Duke Krieman.
It was necessary to place someone from the royal family, even if from a distant branch, in a significant and sensitive position to ensure the army's loyalty to the throne.
This was a smart move by the king—appointing Lucas as an example.
No matter his rank or previous experience in the royal family, as long as he carried the "De Alon" title, no one could deny his connection to the king.
Even if he tried to show independence, everyone would assume he was loyal to the throne.
In doing so, the king minimized the chances of any secret alliances between the commander and Duke Krieman, preventing any potential rebellion within the army.
Arthur studied Commander Lucas carefully. A man appearing to be in his mid-forties, with sharp features and gray eyes reflecting long military experience.
He wasn't just a commander with a noble title, but a person with clear presence and authority.
Arthur wasn't sure whether this man was merely a tool in the king's hands or if he had his own ambitions, but he knew one thing: he had to be cautious in dealing with him.
After pausing for a moment, Commander Lucas clasped his hands on the table and added seriously:
"Before we discuss how to make use of the troops you brought with you, I would like to know the full details about them—their numbers, capabilities, and their readiness to fight.
How disciplined are they? Have they been in actual battles, or are they just soldiers who have undergone recent training?"
Arthur wasn't surprised by the question; he had expected it.
The difference between a theoretically trained soldier and one who has smelled blood on the battlefield is vast, and the commander was right to clarify this point.
so he respond quickly :
"The forces I brought consist of 1,500 soldiers, as per the recruitment request.
Among them, 200 officers have prior experience as mercenaries. They've participated in battles against bandits and taken on various missions, so they are well-acquainted with organized combat.
The remaining soldiers are newly recruited, having undergone training that ranges from one to four months.
Most of the officers are at the 'Trainee Knight' level, though we also have an Iron Knight serving as my deputy."
Commander Lucas pondered his words for a moment, then raised an eyebrow slightly when he heard about the presence of an Iron Knight among Arthur's forces, along with over a hundred trainee knights.
This was an extremely rare occurrence. It was true that nobles had the resources and techniques to train strong knights, but that didn't mean they could easily elevate them to higher ranks.
The matter wasn't just about training; other factors played a crucial role in advancement, such as talent, unyielding willpower, and life-or-death battles, where these harsh circumstances often acted as the true catalyst to push beyond human limits and achieve progress in combat ranks.
Therefore, it was not surprising that Commander Lucas himself, despite holding the title of Earl and the support of the royal family to which he belonged, was still only at the 'Bronze Knight' level.
The issue was not as some people believed; just because someone's social rank rose, it didn't mean their personal strength would automatically rise with it.
What truly increased were the resources available to them, but the ability to turn those resources into true power depended on the individual and was not something granted by authority alone.
But when Commander Lucas discovered that most of them were mercenaries, the picture began to clear for him.
The idea that immediately appeared in his mind was that the Werner family had taken recruitment seriously, even going so far as to pay a high price to hire a large group of mercenaries to participate in the campaign.
While most nobles hired some mercenaries, the majority of them came from small, new groups or were content to fill their ranks with weak, inexperienced peasants.
Only a few of the major noble families had invested substantial financial resources in hiring seasoned mercenaries, such as the Werner family.
Lucas pondered this for a moment, then slowly nodded, as if evaluating the new information in his mind. Finally, he reached for the detailed map in front of him and pulled it closer, ready to dive into the strategic details.
"The current situation is complex. There are three main fronts that need support, and we will need to determine the best location for your forces." He then pointed to one of the spots on the map, where the front line stretched along the northern border.
"Is this improvement suitable for the context you want?"
"The current situation is complex. There are three main fronts that need support, but there is already the best location for your forces."
He then pointed to one of the spots on the map, where the front line stretched along the northern border.
"This area, the Iron Fortress, is facing repeated attacks from units with individual combat capabilities from the Orc tribes. As for maintaining the fortress, its defense is a key strategic priority."
Lucas continued, speaking further:
"The Iron Fortress is located at a strategic point, at the crossroads of several main paths used by the enemies. The repeated attacks on the fortress vary between full-scale assaults and bombardments from a distance. Given these threats, we will need to focus on defending the fortress gates and using the area's terrain weaknesses to our advantage."
He then took a slow breath, pointing out additional details on the map:
"The reason for sending you to this fortress is due to its sensitive location. There is already a group of noble forces assigned to defend the fortress, but they lack good coordination and experience in organized battles. Many of them are merely guards with basic training, and some lack sufficient experience in actual warfare. These soldiers, despite their bravery, cannot provide effective defense against the multiple and varied attacks the fortress is facing."
Lucas nodded his head, then continued:
"With 1,500 soldiers under your command, you will replace these disorganized forces. You will need to reorganize the internal defenses of the fortress, strategically positioning the soldiers within the walls. You will also have to quickly train the new recruits to develop their abilities in organized combat, which will enhance the fortress's ability to withstand upcoming attacks. This way, we can ensure that you will be able to manage the defenses more efficiently, guaranteeing the stability of the fortress in the face of future assaults."
Lucas added, drawing attention to the fortress's features:
"The fortress is small compared to other strongholds, but it has solid walls and high watchtowers, which gives it an advantage in defending over a narrow area. These advantages make it an ideal starting point for a counterattack."
He then raised his gaze to Arthur and asked him directly:
"Do you have any question for reservations about the location where you will send your forces? Or are you fully prepared to take on this mission?"
As Arthur studied the map before him, he felt a mix of comfort and unease at the same time.
The Iron Fortress was ideal for his forces.
Although the castle was smaller compared to some of the other fortresses owned by his family, its walls were strong.
The terrain surrounding it was somewhat difficult, making it more suitable for defense.
"Of course, as the commander said, this fortress isn't suitable for all forces to defend," Arthur thought to himself. "If the troops aren't well-trained enough, this place could become a trap rather than a strong defensive point."
He added to himself, "Fortunately, I decided to provide enough information about my forces, while hiding only a few details. Otherwise, I don't know if I would have been sent to a worse place."