Chapter 134: Escalating the Issue, Thoughts on a New Order
Upon arriving at the training ground, just as Jason had revealed last night, Ron and the other apprentices were informed that the morning’s training had been changed to territorial mobilization, maintaining order, and treating the wounded.
There were quite a few apprentices like Ron who were already mentally prepared, but a significant portion of them were completely caught off guard. Even though they wouldn’t actually be sent to fight the cultists to the death, the nature of this training content was enough to prove that the apprentices wouldn’t be able to stay out of the fray.
At the very least, they would shoulder far more responsibilities than the ordinary territorial subjects.
“The notice has been announced, and the orders have been given. Everyone, get moving!”
Under the encouragement of the instructors, the apprentice squads finally found their backbone. However, Ron noticed that the squads whose instructors had previously died were now assigned new ones. Yet, his very own Blood and Fire Squad seemed to have been overlooked.
The Blood and Fire Squad had just won the apprentice division team tournament at the territory’s Martial Tournament yesterday, yet as every other squad was led away by their respective instructors, only the Blood and Fire Squad was left standing in place.
Ron could clearly hear several faint but piercing sneers. This instantly caused his expression to darken. He might not have cared about these things for himself, but he had to take responsibility for the honor of his squad and for Instructor Morris.
Barring any surprises, Ron would advance to become a Formal Knight in no time and leave the Blood and Fire Squad. When that time came and the squad was left with only four members, what kind of situation would they face?
“Who just laughed? Step forward!”
Ron blocked all the squads who were just about to leave the training ground. Right in front of Chief Instructor Arnold, he threw out his interrogation to the assembled groups.
Arnold’s expression turned somewhat ugly. Even though he knew exactly why Ron was doing this, for Ron to jump out and block everyone right after he had just issued the order for all squads to head to the residential district felt a bit too arrogant.
“Ron, return to your squad!”
“Instructor, someone just insulted Instructor Morris, who sacrificed his life for the territory. Are you just going to sit back and ignore this? If things are like this, who will dare to sacrifice themselves for the territory in the future? Who will dare to dedicate themselves to the territory?”
Those apprentices had mostly been mocking the Blood and Fire Squad for being left all alone. They didn’t dare, didn’t want to, and certainly didn’t intend to mock Morris. But by Ron escalating the issue to such a high-stakes moral principle right now, the actions of those few were magnified.
Realizing the severity of the problem, one apprentice flatly refused to accept Ron pinning such a massive crime on his head. He immediately retorted:
“You’re talking nonsense! I just said it was pitiful that the Blood and Fire Squad has no one to lead them. I didn’t mean to insult Instructor Morris.”
“When you said that, did it never cross your mind why we don’t have a leader? Instructor Morris isn’t here because he didn’t want to come. It’s because he sacrificed himself for the territory, for all of us! And yet you’re making light of his sacrifice!”
“I did not!” That apprentice still wanted to argue.
But with this kind of issue elevated to a matter of principle, saying more would only make things worse. His following words were cut off by his instructor. Chief Instructor Arnold also realized that he had to do something; otherwise, if he let the situation develop, it might spiral into an uncontrollable state.
He immediately stomped his foot, causing the ground to tremble slightly. Then, he reached out and pointed at several people in succession, commanding loudly:
“You few, a hundred laps around the training ground, right this instant! You will recite Article 49 of the Territory Codex while running. You are not allowed to stop until you finish. Jochi, you stay behind and supervise them!”
After saying this, Arnold turned his gaze toward Ron but didn’t say anything directly. Ron understood and immediately called out, “The Instructor is just!”
He then retreated back into the ranks. Judging by Chief Instructor Arnold’s pinpoint accuracy in calling out the offenders, Arnold had clearly noticed their remarks long ago but had remained indifferent and done nothing until Ron stepped forward.
Furthermore, the Article 49 of the Territory Codex that Arnold included in the punishment was the clause related to the honor of fallen sacrifices. Making those guys recite it was obviously a direct response to Ron’s accusation.
Therefore, Ron didn’t pursue the matter any further.
…
Afterward, the squads set off. On the way to the residential district, Ron finally spoke with the other members of the Blood and Fire Squad about the squad’s future for the first time:
“I’ve been invited by Captain Monte. Once my apprentice training period ends, I might join his squad. What are your plans?”
They had all met Captain Monte back when the Blood and Fire Squad was helping repair roads in East Town, so Ron didn’t have to worry about Justin and the others not knowing who he was talking about.
However, now that Ron had said this, it practically meant the disbandment of the Blood and Fire Squad. The only reason it hadn’t happened yet was simply because the apprentice training period wasn’t over.
Justin and the others instantly felt their spirits sink. They had just won the championship in the Martial Tournament yesterday, and today they were informed that the squad was on the verge of disbanding.
Even if they had a premonition before, they never expected it to happen like this, arriving so suddenly.
Nevertheless, after sorting out their emotions, Justin and the others still offered Ron their congratulations without missing a beat. Then, they asked the crucial question:
“Ron, are you about to advance?”
“Not quite. There are no shortcuts to physical reinforcement. I’ve only been on the Knight’s Path for a little over a month at most, so how could it be that fast?”
“You only mentioned physical reinforcement but left out your Sword Stance mastery. Could it be that your Sword Stance state has already reached the advancement standard?”
“Pretty much.”
Once again, the group picked up on the crucial detail. Regarding this, Ron wasn’t willing to hide it from his friends. Besides, his performance in the Martial Tournament earlier was more than enough for anyone with a discerning eye to know his current Whole-Body Force state.
All of this could be explained away by talent, unlike the 【Perspective】 ability generated by Pollution Secret Patterns, which couldn’t be brought into the light.
“Then, Ron, it won’t be long before we’re calling you Sir Knight!” Justin wiggled his eyebrows and said in an exaggerated tone.
“Don’t even think about it! Even if I become a Grand Knight in the future, I still hope you guys will just call me by my name.”
Titles and forms of address were a part of constructing Order, but Ron believed that true Order should be built upon power, or in the terminology of his homeland, built upon the foundation of productivity.
So-called titles, or rites and laws, were merely tools for those in power to maintain their authority. True Order required authority, but it didn’t require the authority of an individual. Rather, it needed the authority of Order itself, which the individual represented.
It was just like in Ron’s homeland, where the attitude of ordinary people toward officials, though still influenced by the residual reverence and awe of the old era, was mostly characterized by the fearlessness born from the new Order.
This was Order, a reasonable new Order!
Of course, in the current world, a Grand Knight inherently represents immense power, or rather, immense productivity. This was the biggest difference from Ron’s homeland.
What a reasonable new Order should look like definitely couldn’t be copied wholesale from his homeland. But as far as Ron’s personal feelings were concerned, he didn’t want a thick barrier to form between himself and this group of friends.