Chapter 981 - 476: Sprouting Twin Wings on the Back

Gauss followed the Griffin Knight, landing in front of the Iron Guard Knight Order’s camp. The rest of the way had to be traversed on foot.

The Iron Guard Knight Order had their own distinct camp sector. They neither mixed with ordinary Adventurers nor stationed together with Barry’s army. Additionally, their logistics, medical care, and meals were entirely managed internally.

Walking through the military camp, Gauss could clearly sense the elite nature of the Iron Guard Knight Order. They wore similarly styled light-blue textured Armor. Whether they were army Mages, Warriors, lancers, horse archers, or other personnel, one could tell at a glance that they were part of the Iron Guard Knight Order. Their morale and demeanor were also far superior to regular soldiers, exuding a high-spirited confidence.

An invisible "mist" had begun to coil around Gauss the moment he landed. It felt as though if he were to clash with the legion here, he would immediately face the brunt of that power, becoming the shared enemy of the entire army.

His expression remained unchanged as he glanced at the Griffin Knight beside him.

Perhaps Gauss was not the only one to experience this. Seeing his calm expression, the guiding Knight quickly understood his unspoken question.

"Lord Gauss, this is not directed at you. Anyone who is not a member of the legion will feel the oppressive weight of the unified martial aura naturally gathered by our Iron Guard Knight Order upon entering this place.

"Right now, this aura is being maintained at a low point because we are not in a state of combat. If it offends you in any way, we ask for your understanding."

"I understand," Gauss nodded.

The group walked deeper into the military camp along a gravel path. Along the way, they passed numerous training grounds for the legion’s soldiers. The troops were entirely focused on their respective drills, and only a few resting soldiers cast curious glances in Gauss’s direction.

Gauss secretly nodded in approval. The combat effectiveness of an army could often be gleaned from such finer details.

Speaking of which, a long time ago, on his way to Forest Crown Town, he had briefly interacted with a Cavalry Captain named Bard. Bard was a Tier-4 Professional, whom the Gauss of back then considered quite capable. However, at that time, Bard was merely the captain of a small squad dispatched to carry out a commission. From this, one could easily imagine just how strict the Iron Guard Knight Order’s standards for strength truly were.

As Gauss continued walking, almost everyone he saw was a Professional. It was rare to spot a soldier who hadn’t condensed a Profession Tier. Moreover, he occasionally ran into Tier-5 Professionals or even stronger Master Level Professionals. These "big shots," whom ordinary people viewed as unreachable, were merely mid-level officers within the legion. Even the several Griffin Knights responsible for welcoming Gauss were Master Level Professionals.

This was the true depth of the Cold Jade Province’s strongest lineage, the family of the border Earl—the Count Xavier Family. Perhaps they lacked top-tier high-end power, but controlling the resources of an entire province still allowed them to continuously cultivate an ample stream of fresh forces.

Not everyone possessed favorable conditions like Gauss, allowing them to effortlessly ignore the olive branch extended by the Earl’s family. For most promising seedlings with a little Talent, they faced two choices: struggle as an Adventurer with an uncertain future, or join the Iron Guard Knight Order to grow using military resources while signing a long-term contract. Many would decisively choose the latter.

Serving under someone wasn’t shameful, especially when that entity was the Count Xavier Family. The prestige and reputation of this family had long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people throughout the Cold Jade Province.

The military camp was massive. As they walked, Gauss chatted idly with the Griffin Knights beside him. Perhaps out of reverence for his strength, perhaps because their superiors had already briefed them, or perhaps because Gauss wasn’t asking for classified information—whatever the reason, the Knights answered his questions without reservation.

Their backgrounds and family histories varied greatly. Among them were illegitimate children of nobles, descendants of branch families, and those of common birth. All of them had seen military recruitment posters on the streets of Farlim when they were young, and after passing through layers of rigorous screening, they eventually joined the Iron Guard Knight Order.

Joining the Iron Guard Knight Order wasn’t a life contract for them, either. At the end of every year, they had a fixed five to ten days of time off. If emergencies required them to stay on duty, they could easily make up for the lost leave whenever they had free time later. In addition, they received bonuses and gifts during major holidays, and their salaries were never deducted or delayed.

Overall, joining the Iron Guard Knight Order was an excellent job. Therefore, even when their contracts expired, many people didn’t actually leave the army but instead applied to extend their service. On one hand, the benefits and treatment were exceptionally good. On the other hand, they had grown accustomed to the fulfilling life in the legion; retiring rashly might leave them feeling lost and aimless.

Amidst their casual chat, Gauss arrived in front of a three-story brick and stone building. A vertical sign on the side read "Combat Command Center."

"This is as far as we’ll escort you," one of the Knights said.

A woman dressed as a secretary was already waiting at the door, taking over from the Knights to continue guiding him.

"I sincerely apologize. Commander Wenster was supposed to welcome you personally, but he is currently discussing urgent matters with several gentlemen.

"Please follow me to the reception room. Refreshments and drinks have already been prepared for you."

The entire building was constructed with special sound-absorbing materials, but even so, Gauss could faintly hear sounds of scolding coming from overhead. It sounded like some sort of disagreement had broken out.

Guided by this exceptionally gentle woman, Gauss went to the reception room. He sat for less than ten minutes before the woman beside him signaled that he could rise.