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Chapter 366: An Interesting Old Man

“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.

Thud.

As Thaurid landed on his back, almost everyone in the queue could not help but reassess Argentum yet again, wondering how strong he was if he went all out. From what he had shown just now, they had a feeling that it wouldn’t be difficult for him to defeat Irren at his current state, even thinking it was just a walk in the park.

With that in mind, a small portion of those in the queue hastily made up excuses to leave the queue and do their own things. As for those that remained, either they believed they had the ability to defend against Argentum’s attack, or they were more motivated to join the Tempest Regiment in order to become as strong as Argentum.

And just like that, the entrance test to become one of the Tempest Regiment members had begun. A great portion of people at the beginning were sent flying a couple meters away by Argentum, though as time passed, he adjusted his strength to where it would only temporarily debilitate them and not send them flying. Surprisingly, a few people started to avoid his attack, being enlisted to the Tempest Regiment with wide smiles on their faces. Nevertheless, after defending against Argentum’s attack, they all simultaneously thought the very instant they passed.

‘Never mess with the town leader!’

With how straightforward the entrance test was, the number of people decreased quite quickly, with about half of the people at the beginning having already taken the test within a couple of hours. At this moment, a man that seemed out of place along the queue in front of Argentum.

Unlike the other men that had taken the test before, the enthusiasm and vitality felt from him was far from what Argentum felt from the others. Instead, the man gave off the feeling that he was just doing it because it seemed interesting. Not to mention that the fact the man looked like he was already beyond his prime.

Of course, Argentum did not tell the man to move out of the way as he found it quite interesting for an old man to enter his entrance test. With that, he said, “Please introduce yourself.”

“Claude Vorendell,” the old man replied before scratching his head as he continued, “I think I’m 62 years old? I’m not sure. It’s been a while since I celebrated my birthday.”

“In any case, I’m here to join the Tempest Regiment.”

“Alright, then,” Argentum said as he nodded, preparing an attack that was slightly weaker than the ones he had sent out before. Surprisingly, the old man noticed this and told him, “You don’t need to hold back. It wouldn’t sit well with me if you did.”

“In fact, I also want to apologize for what happened back then,” the old man continued, prompting Argentum to ask with a hint of confusion, “Back then?”

“The first time you came to this town. I was the one who led the guards to where you were, so I feel like I am partly to blame,” Claude replied, to which Argentum became silent for a bit.

In the end, he decided that there was no point becoming angry at the old man as it had already been some time since then. Not only that, but he knew that the old man was just doing it for the sake of the town. Nevertheless, with the old man telling him that he was the one who led the guards to where they were, he could not help but think that the old man might have some special talents.

‘Well, I’ll find that out later,’ Argentum thought as he said to Claude, “Prepare yourself.”

In response, Claude nodded as he slightly bent his back, saying back to Argentum, “Don’t hold back.”

Whoosh!

Without hesitation, Argentum punched towards the old man, aiming for his stomach. Unfortunately for Argentum, the old man wouldn’t give him the chance to do so, taking a step back to just barely miss the attack.

Just as Argentum was about to retract his fist and tell the old man that he had passed, the old man decided to use Argentum’s extended arm as an opening as he weaved through and lightly grasped Argentum over the neck not long after.

With the help of his enhanced senses, as well as his Origin Sense, Argentum saw how the old man took advantage of the opening to retaliate back at him, leaving him at a slight loss for words.

As the old man released his grasp over Argentum’s neck, the old man let out an awkward chuckle as he apologized, “My apologies. I must have gone slightly overboard.”

In response, Argentum said back with a chuckle, “You didn’t. In fact, I’m quite surprised to see that you’re still limber at your age.”

“In any case, your prowess doesn’t fit the level of a Tempest Regiment member anymore,” he continued, leaving those at the queue at a loss for words. If what Claude did wasn’t fit for a Tempest Regiment member, then what would their moves be worth?

Though, it did not take long for them to realize that their fears were unfounded as Argentum looked at Claude with a light smile and asked, “With that, I would like you to become an instructor of the Tempest Regiment. How about it? Would you like to give it a try?”

Hearing the offer given to him, Claude instantly replied, “Do I get a bigger salary?”

“But of course. It has to be worth your while,” Argentum said with a laugh.

With that, Claude extended his hand, to which Argentum received as the two shook his hands.

“Well then. I don’t see any harm in giving it a try,” Claude grinned as he accepted Argentum’s proposal.