Chapter 366: An Interesting Old Man (1/2)

”Right now?” Naturally, such a response had been out of expectations for the men as they expected him to tell them that the recruitment would start tomorrow or some other day. In any case, the fact that Argentum told them that the recruitment would begin at the day of the announcement kindled a fire of motivation and drive inside many of the men that lived in this town.

As for the women and the others that were disinterested in this part of his announcements, Argentum naturally did not make them wait any longer near the makeshift stage as he shouted at them, ”As for the others who have no intentions of joining the Tempest Regiment or those who have nothing else that needs my attention, you can all head back and do your own things. My announcements are now over.”

With that, the others nodded in response to his words, waiting to see what would happen to the town under his rule. Of course, Argentum did not let them leave just like that, letting out a chuckle as he left them with parting words.

”Remember that my words shall take effect starting tomorrow!”

Hearing that, the townspeople that were leaving the area suddenly hastened their paces, as if they were possessed by something or someone. In any case, Argentum knew that his words had given the effect he wanted to give to the townspeople, prompting him to lightly smile as he then focused his attention back on the men that were still crowding around the makeshift stage he and Delmann stood on.

As for Delmann, he could not help but think of Argentum's parting words to the townspeople that had already left. With that in mind, he asked him in a whisper, ”Can we really start all of those projects tomorrow, Sir Argentum?”

In response, Argentum replied in the same whispering manner, ”We'll only have the Livelihood Incentivization Law take effect tomorrow. As for the three projects, would you be able to recruit the required people within a week?”

Delmann went silent from the order given to him, pondering over the chances of him succeeding. After a while, he said, ”If I work with the new secretary, there's a high chance that I might be able to do so in a week. If not, I can guarantee that we would be able to recruit the required people within two.”

”That's more than enough for now,” Argentum lightly smiled as he responded with a nod. ”You're dismissed for now. Remember to manage everything needed for the Livelihood Incentivization Law and the three projects. Also, try and have a few people find and examine the nearby veins.”

”Understood, Sir Argentum,” Delmann said as he turned around, only to stop in his steps as his expression was that of conflict. Noticing this, Argentum asked him, ”Is something the matter?”

Hearing that, Delmann awkwardly chuckled as he scratched his cheeks, facing Argentum once more. ”Although I wouldn't mind doing what you've tasked of me right now, my curiosity over the formation of the Tempest Regiment is stopping me from doing so.”

With his head slightly lowered, he then asked with a hint of embarrassment, ”I don't know if Sir Argentum is fine with me staying here?”

Argentum let out a peal of loud laughter in response to Delmann's request, prompting the other men to look at Argentum with a hint of confusion. Though, not long after, they understood what was happening as he looked at Delmann and said with a grin, ”Why would I stop you? Feel free to stay.”

After that, he looked at the secretary he had just recruited standing amongst the remaining townspeople and beckoned him to come up on stage. ”Valstra, come up here. I need you to list down the people I'll be accepting to be members of the Tempest Regiment.”

He then looked at the townspeople and kindly asked, ”Can anyone spare our friend Valstra a piece of pen and paper? He needs it.”

Surprisingly, a great portion of the men hastily headed into their respective houses to grab a pen and a bunch of paper. By the time they came back, a large amount of pen and paper was available for Valstra to use, leaving him slightly surprised at the eagerness of the men to be recruited into the Tempest Regiment.

Seeing that Valstra had more than enough paper to list down the 300 or so members that would form the Tempest Regiment, he then looked at the men and town guards surrounding the makeshift stage and said with a nod, ”Alright. With everything ready, it's time for the entrance test.”

In an instant, all of the men were pumped up to take the test, only for them to be slightly curious as to what the test was not long after. With that in mind, one of the men decided to pluck up their courage and ask, ”Sir Argentum, may I ask what the entrance test might be?”

”I'm glad you asked,” Argentum replied with a light chuckle before leaping to a nearby open space. Of course, that move made the men reassess Argentum once more, not thinking that he was only good at governing the town anymore. With a relaxed stance, he then looked at the men near the makeshift stage and announced, ”The entrance test is incredibly simple. The participant has to defend against one of my attacks. It doesn't matter how you do it. If you dodge it, you'll pass. If you block it, you'll pass. If you retaliate against it, you'll also pass.”

”To those that pass the entrance test, not only will you become a member of the Tempest Regiment, you'll also be entitled to a salary of 5 gold coins per month!”

Unsurprisingly, after hearing that they would obtain a monthly income far beyond what they needed for their day to day needs, the men madly dashed to where Argentum was. Of course, Argentum made sure that those willing to go through the entrance test would queue up in a line as he told Delmann and Valstra to keep note of those that pass his test.

The first person to go through his entrance test was a slightly burly man at his 30s. Seeing as how Argentum's body did not have any muscles and the fact that he did not feel any sense of strength emanating from Argentum, the man could not help but think that it would be easy to pass through his entrance test.

Of course, Argentum noticed the gaze of slight arrogance appearing on the first man's face, prompting him to inwardly smile as he crafted a True Wind spell using [Sage's Wind Magic], aiming to increase his attack speed. After that, he silently cast the buff on himself, to which only a few people along the queue noticed.

At that instant, those people knew that the first man was in for a beating if he dared to underestimate Argentum. Unfortunately, that man was oblivious to what Argentum had done, though he still maintained a respectful expression as he said to Argentum, ”Thaurid Felmore, 32 years old. I would like to take the entrance test!”

”Very well. Prepare yourself,” Argentum warned with a calm tone, though a light smile was affixed to his face. In response to Argentum's warning, Thaurid only took on a relaxed horse stance, barely taut enough to give him a sense of stability.

Seeing this, Argentum looked at the others and said, ”From now on, if one wishes to take the entrance test, I would like to ask others to move out of the way. We might not know if we might see some…accidents.”

'Accidents? As if that's ever going to happen,' Thaurid thought to himself, confident that he would be able to defend against one of Argentum's blows.

”Here I go,” Argentum told Thaurid, prompting the latter to tighten his legs to give himself more stability…only to be sent flying forward as the former sent a quick yet strong punch towards his stomach.