The next day, the Northern Province's Second Legion held a parade. Many merchants and young nobles awaited the Count’s appearance, blissfully unaware of the brewing tensions. Though the Second Legion was a temporary assembly, the current situation suggested it wouldn’t be disbanded anytime soon. For those without connections—lower-tier nobles and merchant youths—securing an officer's position here was a pathway to success. If lucky, one could even be formally appointed.

However, a few of the military nobility already understood that competition had begun the moment they entered the camp. Military noble families, like the Ferreira Barony, numbered only seven or eight and accounted for one-fifth to one-third of the legion's power. The rest comprised various smaller nobles and some middle-class youths. Knights from ordinary baronial families often struggled to grasp the underlying dynamics.

As Derek was assigned a prominent position, he knew his strategy had succeeded. In the center stood Count Pereira’s private army. To the left were military noble families like the Ferreiras. On the right, Derek was placed first, followed by a couple of other military nobles. The rest had to stand further back.

Derek knew he wouldn’t bask in the Ferreira family’s glory; that honor belonged to his brother Marco. Still, he wasn’t worried—he believed his own planning wouldn’t be inferior to his brother’s.

Sure enough, Count Pereira delivered an inspiring speech, promising promotions and titles after the war before he began inspecting the troops. It was a simple task, just a quick glance to get a general impression. Military families in the North had a decent level of armament. Families like the Ferreiras, despite only having a couple of hundred troops, trained many militia who were not lacking in skill. They could muster a fairly competent army, with the potential for over a thousand in a serious fight.

Marco’s men had undergone two months of intensive training, making them noticeably stronger than their peers. Count Pereira silently noted this.

As he passed by his private army, he slowed his pace. While he wasn’t very familiar with them, he needed to project authority; this was a fundamental aspect of maintaining control over the legion.

Then he approached Derek. The difference was clear, and Derek’s troops appeared even more elite, their equipment top-notch. It wasn’t easy to bring out such a formidable force. Many of the merchant youths and smaller nobles struggled even to form a proper line.

Count Pereira believed the registration ledger, feeling it may have understated Derek's abilities. He turned to his aides, asking, “Is Derek one of my knights?”

Subconsciously, he questioned how such an exceptional individual could have slipped through his fingers. Someone promptly filled him in on Derek’s background; these bureaucrats were well-informed, having checked into Derek’s situation once they saw his position.

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“What a pity!” Count Pereira felt regret. Given the chance, he would surely try to recruit him again. For now, having strong soldiers under his command was paramount, and Derek’s ties to the Pereira Knights held significant value.

As he approached, Count Pereira suddenly said, “Knight Derek, I’ve heard you completed your knight training with top marks. May I see a demonstration?”

Derek was taken aback, then overwhelmed with joy. The Count had called him out personally—this was an opportunity! He sensed the implication of the Count’s words: if he performed well, a good position could await him.

“Yes, I will comply with your wishes, my Lord Commander,” Derek replied, stepping forward and saluting with a fist across his chest.

How should he show his skills? An idea quickly formed in his mind.

“Arm yourselves!”

For the inspection, the knights were already fully armored. Compared to others, Derek’s elite knights were physical powerhouses, capable of wearing medium armor all day without issue. Based on his experience, soldiers reaching elite status were quite rare. In the entire Northern Province, level five or six knights were deemed adequate, seven or eight were considered excellent, and true elites were usually those with notable titles.

But Derek had a whole host of them.

So donning their armor was more than just a show; it sent a clear signal.

Amidst the astonished gazes, the knights swiftly mounted their horses. Initially, onlookers thought it was mere pageantry, but seeing their quick and effortless movements dispelled that notion.

Count Pereira had intended for Derek to merely showcase a bit of skill, but unexpectedly, Derek gathered his knights.

Seeing his guards tense up, the Count waved them aside, saying, “Step back; Knight Derek is one of our own. No need for concern.”

This momentarily touched everyone’s hearts; it was clear Count Pereira understood how to win people over.

Derek mounted his horse and confidently rode forward.

“Thud thud!”

The brown warhorse stomped in place, its powerful muscles showcasing its strength. This was an excellent quality warhorse.

“Charge!”

The sudden movement showcased the horse's explosive power and the knight’s control.

“Throw spears!”

With Derek’s short spear hitting the ground, a flurry of spears fell in a tight formation within a mere half-meter radius. This occurred not once but three times, with the horse galloping back and forth without a single misfire.

As the onlookers stood in shock, the knights adjusted their formation once more.

“Brace your lances! Attack!”

Next came scattered skirmishes, pursuing attacks, and various formation changes. The two squadrons of knights displayed exceptional skill, akin to elite standards.

Some previously confident nobles were suddenly struck by doubt.

"Is this what true military nobility looks like? How can we compete?"

Count Pereira felt similarly. He knew his own knights couldn't match such proficiency; each of Derek's knights could be considered a titled knight.

“How were they trained? Is there anyone among you who can replicate this?”

Count Pereira's knights awkwardly shook their heads. While some knights had that level of skill, coordinating their troops to that degree was another matter entirely.

When Derek returned to his starting point, dismounting, each knight appeared composed and unstrained.

“Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! I felt like I was watching the King’s Guard.”

Count Pereira praised him, then abruptly asked, “Has Knight Derek married yet?”

“Uh?”

Derek was bewildered, expecting compliments but finding himself on the receiving end of a matchmaking attempt.

Realizing he had misspoken, Count Pereira quickly changed the subject: “With skills like that, you’re more than worthy of commanding a thousand men.”