Chapter 380 - 264: The Academy Faction Joins (Part 2)

Chapter 380: Chapter 264: The Academy Faction Joins (Part 2)

One by one, they expressed their gratitude, exclaiming they had made the right choice.

Claude stood beside Henry, a somewhat forced smile on his face as he watched the men celebrate.

These men would be a precious asset under Henry’s command. The next task was to integrate them into his army as quickly as possible.

’But can these men be trusted?’

"My lord, leave the rest to me." Claude clapped his hands, speaking loudly to draw everyone’s attention.

"Everyone, please follow me. I’ll take you to your quarters."

The former classmates all nodded and followed Claude deeper into the camp.

Along the way, they looked around curiously, taking in the city—a Count’s fief.

Claude led them to a newly built barracks area in the camp, one specifically set up for new recruits.

Clean and tidy rooms had been prepared, each furnished with a new bed and simple furniture. The men could move in right away.

Claude opened the doors one by one, letting the men look inside.

"These are your quarters. The conditions are simple, but at least they’ll shield you from the wind and rain."

The men laughed heartily, unconcerned about the living conditions.

Claude said, "Next, I’ll have someone bring you toiletries so you can rest properly. You must all be exhausted after such a long journey."

The cadets nodded one after another, their faces showing their gratitude. They were indeed exhausted from their travels.

As scions of nobility, they still cared a little about their appearance.

Who doesn’t like being clean? Seeing these arrangements, a warm feeling washed over them.

’Our classmate really came through for us. It feels like we’ve come home.’

"After you’ve washed up, I’ll arrange for you to register for enlistment," Claude continued.

"Although you’ve already passed Count Henry’s preliminary assessment, there are still some necessary procedures to complete."

After they put away their belongings, Claude led them to the camp’s logistics area. A row of wooden barrels filled with hot water was already prepared.

Claude had soldiers hand them towels, soap, and other toiletries so they could wash themselves thoroughly.

The cadets stripped off their clothes and, covered in dust, jumped into the wooden barrels, reveling in the comfort of the hot water.

Amazing.

’There was nothing more refreshing than bathing outdoors in the middle of summer! Well, maybe if you added a glass of wine!’

After they finished washing up, Claude took them to the registration area.

A long table was set up there, piled high with various documents and forms.

A clerk and a soldier in charge of registration were sitting at the table, waiting for them.

"Name, origin, specialty..." the clerk asked, quickly recording the information.

Although the cadets were puzzled, they still stepped forward one by one and answered the questions seriously.

’Perhaps this kind of record-keeping is what makes Henry’s army so strong? Every leader has their own little methods.’

Claude supervised the entire process from the side. The addition of these men was of great significance to Henry’s army.

They not only brought a wealth of knowledge and skills but also new vitality and new challenges. Henry’s army had never taken in so many outside officers on such a large scale before.

The enlistment procedure wasn’t complicated, but because it involved verifying each person’s information and creating a file, it still took a considerable amount of time.

Claude waited patiently until the last cadet had finished registering.

"Alright. You are now officially officers under Count Henry’s command," Claude said with a smile.

"Next, I will arrange for you to familiarize yourselves with the camp environment and to get to know the soldiers in your assigned units."

The cadets all nodded. From this moment on, their fates were intrinsically linked with Henry’s.

When these new officers were assigned to their respective infantry squads, they quickly sensed an invisible barrier.

The soldiers were already used to their own way of doing things, and their attitude toward these sudden "outsiders" was somewhat cold.

Most importantly, these men had a different air about them; they didn’t have the "scent of loyalty."

The new officers stood before their respective squads and tried to make small talk with the soldiers, but the responses they received were mostly silence or perfunctory nods.

The soldiers’ eyes held a hint of scrutiny, as if to say, ’Who are you people? Have you even got what it takes?’

This feeling of being ignored was frustrating for the new officers. They had originally thought that their skills and academy background would allow them to integrate into the group quickly, but reality had dealt them a harsh blow.

"Why are these guys so disrespectful?" one of the new officers grumbled under his breath.

"Yeah, we’re officers, for crying out loud. Why are they treating us with such disrespect?" another chimed in.

"Don’t worry, I have an idea," a burly new officer suddenly said.

"In the army, fists are the best language!"

Hearing this, the others all nodded in agreement.

They had all undergone rigorous training at the academy and naturally understood that in the army, strength was the only thing that truly mattered.

So, they unanimously decided to adopt the fastest way to integrate into military life: beat the soldiers into submission and break down the barrier.

That afternoon, the camp grew lively. The new officers proactively sought out their squads and challenged the soldiers to a spar.

At first, the soldiers were hesitant, not wanting these challenges to interfere with the final phase of their own recruit training.

But under the new officers’ persistence, they gradually accepted the challenge.

"Alright, let’s see just how tough you outsiders really are!" a soldier said tauntingly, taking up a fighting stance with a heavy spear in his hand.

The new officers weren’t about to back down and revealed their own weapons.

The first new officer to step up was a cadet who specialized in Swordsmanship. His technique was precise, and every move showed signs of his academy training.

However, the soldier he faced was fearless. Relying on a month of high-intensity sparring experience, he nimbly dodged the officer’s attacks and occasionally counter-attacked.

"Hey, your Swordsmanship isn’t bad, but a real battle is a different story!" the soldier shouted as he dodged.

The new officer’s face flushed slightly as he focused more intently on the fight. But in the end, elite was elite. After a fierce exchange, the new officer, with his superb Swordsmanship, finally forced the soldier back.

"Alright! Well done, senior!" the other new officers cheered and applauded for him.

"Hmph, not bad. But don’t think that means you’ve won," the soldier said. Though defeated, his words showed no sign of submission.

Next, a second new officer stepped up. He was a cadet who specialized in polearms. His spear technique was fierce and powerful, brimming with momentum.

The soldier facing him was no slouch either, wielding a Double-Bladed Spear. The two went back and forth, locked in a dead heat.

In the end, the new officer executed a spinning spear technique, knocking the soldier’s Double-Bladed Spear from his hands and winning the match.

"Haha, so what do you think? Had enough?" the new officer said smugly.

"Not convinced! Let’s go again!" the soldier retorted, unwilling to concede, but a hint of approval had crept into his voice.

And so, one match after another unfolded in the camp. The new officers gradually earned the soldiers’ respect with their strength.

Although the soldiers still wouldn’t admit defeat, their attitude was no longer as cold as before.

"Hey, these new guys actually have some skills," a soldier muttered to his companion.

"Yeah, we can’t underestimate them."

Claude, meanwhile, saw all of this unfold. He thought to himself, ’It seems these new officers really do have what it takes. It won’t be long before they’re fully integrated into the Lord’s army.’