The total number is 268; some must have died on the way, otherwise there should be about 300. With more than 200 robust individuals, two hundred-man teams could be formed. Under normal circumstances, Derek would never support so many soldiers; it’s too costly. However, with war approaching, every investment made now would yield significant returns.

Thus, Derek once again took command at the mountain base and began training. This time, the training intensity was greater and stricter. Fortunately, the supplies were abundant; otherwise, such intense training could wear people out. He consciously began to cultivate his knights and squires, teaching them some basic military knowledge, including formations, commands, tactics, and how to gauge troop morale, inspire confidence, and respond to various situations.

Derek would regularly simulate battles, putting both sides into different roles and engaging in strategic exercises. For squires like Simon, although nominally titled as knight-squires, their career status had changed on the panel.

Simon

Class: Knight Level 9 (85/100)

Experience Pool: 0/100

Some knight-squires, having not met certain standards, had adequate combat skills and basic military knowledge. With a capable group of subordinates, Derek could focus on multiple tasks, remotely managing production and training in several areas. He even began to travel back and forth, bringing along a few squires to keep switching locations. This was also a form of training for the knight-squires.

One day, he left the mountain base again in front of everyone. This time, he left Simon in charge. Before leaving, Derek quietly instructed, “Be careful. I see some of these slaves are rebellious. Relax the supervision a bit and give them an opportunity.”

Simon had also noticed some troublemakers among the slave soldiers but didn’t think they would dare to take risks. “These fools shouldn’t dare to do anything, right? They’ve seen our strength and their treatment isn’t bad. There’s a chance for freedom in the future.”

Simon didn’t believe it; he thought the treatment at the base was already quite good, taking care of every aspect. Derek knew it was a good opportunity, as people had to grow by making mistakes. “Remember, always prepare for the worst. If these guys are dissatisfied with such favorable treatment, doesn’t that indicate they might cause some trouble? And power can cloud some people's judgment; you can’t apply the logic of normal people to everyone.

“Don’t just think about winning; consider the possibility of losing and be prepared. Think it over carefully.” After Derek left, Simon was left deep in thought. He took Derek’s reminder very seriously but found it hard to believe. However, he made preparations behind the scenes and soon noticed the base’s defenses weakening, as some began to have ulterior motives.

“We want to go home! These people treat us no differently from the slave catchers; they see us as slaves too.” Some began spreading rumors among the slaves, trying to rally support. After spending some time together, those who felt discontent were clear about each other's sentiments. Under targeted persuasion, many were swayed.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Their strength is terrifying; have you forgotten the fate of the slave catchers?”

“Ha, they’ve trained a few days longer than us, but I’m no worse now.”

With a period of training behind them, their confidence swelled, even if they couldn’t compare to the new soldiers who had the panel’s support. In fact, the widening gap led some to develop other ideas, fearing that those who lagged behind would be abandoned as useless.

If they didn’t take a chance, would they just wait to be cannon fodder? After two days of planning, they finally set a time. Once a revolt began, could others remain uninvolved? If one revolted, everyone would be suspected. They believed that many would awaken to join the uprising. As for what to do after the revolt, why overthink it? They could always run home.

Simon quickly received news that these individuals had underestimated human nature. Derek’s side had just taken in a group, and not everyone wanted to die together. Taking advantage of these fools was easier than inciting a revolt.

After hearing the informant’s message, Simon was completely stunned. Derek had guessed correctly once again. After this, he truly remembered Derek’s words. Then... Simon became furious and resolved, “If it weren’t for Derek’s reminder, we might have suffered a loss this time.”

He reassured the informant, promising a position as a sergeant for those who actively supported him. Those who rallied to his side would surely be rewarded. Although the lower-ranking individuals might not like the informant, the higher-ups wouldn’t necessarily mind.

At midnight, a group of agreed-upon slave soldiers sneaked out of the barracks, planning to steal weapons and then revolt. However, shortly after they stepped outside, torches lit up one after another. They then saw a group of fully armed soldiers surrounding them.

“Kill them!” Simon ordered coldly, giving them no chance. He even woke everyone up to inform them of the consequences of betrayal.

Derek, who had returned to the manor, noticed changes on the panel, with several new names appearing suddenly. “Looks like something has happened.” Then, he forgot about the matter, considering it a minor issue.

Among the two estates transferred to the family, one had become a large military camp, while the other turned into a blacksmith shop. Aside from the original population, some craftsmen and officers' families were also settled there. For example, young Tru’s father became part of the estate, ensuring a sense of security.

With the lower ranks settled, Derek felt more at ease. The panel wasn’t infallible; if unforeseen events occurred and morale shifted, changes could happen at any moment. Even if he could react promptly, it would still lead to losses.

However, the chances of change had decreased significantly. Meanwhile, the panel opened up a third page. The first page was for personal panels. The second page was for the military. The third page was for the estate, or rather, civil administration. The effects were the same; it was just a method of classification.

Derek studied it and found that farmers were included, indicating a more solid foundation. With the same land, if his family’s yield increased by 30-50%, that would add up to a significant amount. He was now focusing on two things: the army and weaponry.

With the entire northern province preparing for war, restrictions on this aspect had loosened considerably. Otherwise, the Ferreira family’s large-scale military exercises would have drawn attention long ago. Who knows if the kingdom's military would come to check things out?

After all, while nobles have the right to form armies, the kingdom isn’t naive; it’s fine to build armies within reasonable limits, but suddenly increasing troop numbers raises questions.

Taking advantage of the situation, Derek began to train a large number of blacksmiths, needing only level four or five to forge simple weapons, assisting master blacksmiths.