Outside the walls of a village near a mountain, a group of people can be seen arguing.

Though they are divided into two groups, one side is completely outnumbered, consisting of three people, so much less than the other.

What's worse is that only one of the three people in the lesser group is arguing back.

These two groups are part of a caravan that is resting in a village as they get ready for the next day where they would need to cross the mountain beside the said village.

The lesser group is the group of White who wants for the people of the caravan to be trained in combat.

While the other group which consists of not less than ten people are the one against it.

"I'm doing this for free you know? Isn't it a good deal for all of you?"

Looking at it by the numbers, it would seem that the odds are against White.

Contrary to that though, the face of the single man that is arguing against the group of merchants doesn't look like he's losing at all but instead, his face is full of confidence that will make you think otherwise.

Seeing this, the group of merchants just got angrier at him thinking of him as being arrogant.

'He's just a hired mercenary! How dare he be so full of himself!'

That is what most of them think.

The numbers also of the opposing faction helped fuel their anger to oppose him. Being flamed and cheered upon as they talk back to White, made them more confident to disagree with him.

"We don't care. We paid you to guard us you know! Not train us to do your job!"

After getting the approval of Drey, White immediately goes back to Black to say the good news.

'The idiot has done it!'

It's not that he didn't think that White wouldn't be able to convince Drey.

Even Black knows that if White wants to do something, he would set his mind into planning, that convincing even an aristocrat would be an easy thing for him.

It's just that he didn't think that White is totally serious about it.

In reality, there's not even a need for them to train the Merchants as they could just leave the caravan if they want to.

It's just that White wanted to be in the caravan which is why they need to train them to be more ready in case of an organized attack done by their possible opponents.

"So how are you now going to convince those merchants?"

To the question of Black. White just smiled at him full of confidence and said.

"Good old bait tactics."

White then look back, then started walking towards the camp of merchants and started calling them all up.

He explained to them why they needed to train. The dangers, the advantages and disadvantages. He used so many information to try to convince them.

And as he expected.

The group of merchants that White has just gathered is now divided into two. The groups that disagreed with him and the people who agreed.

"I didn't think that there's less than half of them who don't know."

"Yeah. Apparently, they were really just idiots."

After being divided into two. White ordered Black and Isa to train them and made them join the guards that are already being trained by Black.

White planned to use Isa as their main teacher as she is better at teaching than Black for White.

Why he chose to make Isa and Black join together, for now, is because the people don't really know about the ability of Isa and the fact that they don't know how strong she is.

It would be way easier to convince people if there's a guarantor that they already trust and saw the ability off. Which is the role of Black.

White have thought of also training the merchants physically but with the time limit of being only two days. It would just make them more of a hindrance than of being more helpful instead.

As they leave, the argument between White and the others continues.

"Okay, there will be no end to this like this so I'll give up."

"Hmp! No one asked you to train us anyway."

With the constant exchange from the two sides, the merchant group finally heard something more to their liking.

"But!"

Unlucky for them though, White still isn't finished.

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"All of you who don't want to participate will be put on the back of the caravan."

The sudden declaration from White confused most of the merchants but some of those who at least understood immediately tried to counter him.

"Huh? What if we're attacked from the back? Who's going to protect us?"

"Don't you have your swords?"

The merchant was easily shut down by White but another one goes for a try.

"We paid you to protect us you know?"

Another merchant said angrily thinking that he made a good counterattack.

"Yeah. We will, which is why we're going to put you on the back."

White, restating what he said earlier made the other group more confused.

'Did he not hear what we just said?'

"Well, to explain. If we're ambushed by a big group of bandits. They would obviously put their strongest at the front."

When an ambush is done, it can usually be done in all directions.

What White is talking about though is an ambush to stop a caravan that is made up of mostly mobile wagons. In order to do that, they will need to block them which is why they would put their strongest at the front.

He's trying to say to the merchants that if they also don't put their strongest at the front. Their front might be destroyed before they could even react.

What they don't know is that bandits could also just put obstacles on the road to remove the need to do that but White thinks that there's no way some inexperienced merchants would know this.

"If we're attacked at the back first then we just need to outrun them right? If we're attacked both ways, then hold out until we came."

With the last statement of White. They were left without anything but be convinced by his talks. Although they don't really like the idea that they are going to be in danger. They can't really say anything anymore that they could use to talk back.

Some even started to question why have they not done this from the start.

'Wait are they done already? They should be smarter than this.'

As opposition grows quiet though. One again emerges to argue with White.

"Then what about our leader Drey!"

'Finally'

"What about Drey?"

He tried to ask like he don't know.

"He didn't agree to it. Would you also put him at the back?"

Being the leader of the caravan itself. His safety would be of the highest priority.

He also knows that Drey is the one who paid the three of them to guard the caravan. They won't want to be on his bad side if they want to be paid full.

"You got me there. I will admit."

The merchants were surprised. It seemed that they got really got White. Even the merchant who made the last statement was surprised by his reaction.

"Then how about this you all. If I could convince Drey. Would you all join?"

He didn't look at them first but only at the ground, then after saying his last word did he look again at them with a face that says 'this is my last chance'.

The merchants who saw this on the other hand thought that this is finally their chance to finally end the argument once and for all in their favor. As they didn't think for a second that Drey would agree to this at all.

"Deal. If you could make him agree then I'll join that training."

Looking back like he lost everything, White walks off towards the direction of Drey.

The merchants can only see the face of White before looking back. The last thing that they saw is the face of White that seemed to lose all hope.

What they didn't know though is that as White looks back. His face is already saying that he won.

'Fools!'

...

Most of the people that are part of the caravan are now training outside the village.

The only people now left that are not training is the people that are with White.

They are currently inside the village guarding the caravan in the event that the villagers do something weird. Or at least that's what they said.

In reality, they are indeed guarding the caravan but what they are really doing is completely different

"I thought you're just gonna teach us how to fight?"

"Well, I found good wood that I could use so, it's a shame to not use that."

They are not making weapons. What they were trying to make are spears. Wooden spears to be exact.

"What's so good about spears anyway."

Asked by a young merchant.

"You didn't know? Spears are the ultimate weapon."

"I don't buy that. Then why are swords more costly then? Isn't it because they are better."

White just laugh at what the young merchant has said.

'At least he knows its value as a merchant. Or, he could just be another idiot.'

"It's because you're a merchant why you think like that."

"What?"

"That swords are better because they are more costly."

Annoyed by what White has just said. The young merchant got annoyed at White.

"Listen here, kid. In fighting, we don't want expensive things. What we want is something that works and I'm telling you, spears work do those jobs better than swords."

White stands up and immediately grabs one of the wooden spears he made.

He then look at the young merchant and said.

"Come, stand up. Let me show you."

At the invitation of White, the young merchant got scared at the impossibility that White is asking.

"Th-that's impossible you know? I'm not a fighter like you!"

Like earlier, White laughs again before saying.

"I forgot about that. Then how about this."

He grabbed another spear that he is not done yet, then he pointed his other hand that is not holding onto something the scared merchant.

"Do you have any training with a sword?"

The sudden question made him confused but the young man still chose to answer.

He thought that it doesn't make sense as he already said that White is a soldier. Even if he was trained with a sword, it doesn't matter when you're opponent is trained on it as a profession.

"Ye-yes."

"Then take this spear."

He toss the unfinished spear he was holding to another merchant that he saw who looks weakest then said.

"Fight this guy."

Though scared, the merchant decided to trust White and took the spear. He stood up from his sitting position and hold the spear as he saw fit.

"What do I do?"

The scared merchant said as he try to ask for advice on how to fight from White.

"Just trust your guts."

"What?"

The scared merchant wasn't fully convinced but he decided to go with it.

The young merchant on the other hand look at White.

"What? Don't tell me you're still scared to fight him?"

"Are you mocking me?!"

The young merchant then looks at his opponent and draws his sword.

"Okay, since both of you are ready. Go there and wait for my signal."

The two of them got to an open field and got ready to fight. The other people who then wanted to watch gathered around them and surround the two.

As they got to their position, they both ready their weapon as they wait for the signal to start the fight.

Amongst the people who are watching them. They were divided on who's going to win.

One side sided with the thought that the spearman (scared merchant) would win while the other, sided with the swordsman (young merchant).

Most of the people who believed in the Spearman didn't exactly believe him because they thought he was stronger.

Some of them believed because of White which they know is a good fighter while remaining ones people just really thought that the spear will win against a sword.

On the other side are the people who believed that the swordsman will win as they have the same opinion as him while remaining one also really just thought that that he's just the stronger fighter.

"Ready?"

White acting as the referee for the two looks at both of the fighters for confirmation. When he saw that they look ready enough, he decided to start the fight.

"Start!"

When White started the fight. Many people expected that the fight would be a long one. Since both of the fighters are actually beginners.

Though as both sides exchange blows from time to time. Not even a minute has passed and...

"I forfeit."