Although Clark wanted to refute the statement, at the corner of his heart, he felt that it was true. The bloodlust shown by the Young Master was utterly abnormal. There was no way a normal person was capable of that.

Then, a question came up. If the Young Master was actually this strong, then why did he always run towards the guards whenever trouble came up? Even back in the Gryphon City, the Young Master was always like that.

He would always make trouble, and his personal guards would always have to clean after him.

More and more questions piled up, and Clark was unable to answer each of them. In these past few days, the Young Master he knew became a different person entirely. Not only in the demonstrated skills, even the way he addressed other people had changed.

Lark clapped his hands once. “It’s too early to be teaching you spearmanship. First, we will focus on training your bodies. After all, the basics are the most important.”

The hall was silent. Everyone could still vividly remember the spearmanship the young master has shown them. It was beautiful yet deadly, like a dance with blades and swords.

“While carrying the spear in your hand,” said Lark, demonstrating the proper way of holding the spear. “Run around this hall. Three hundred times.”

The hall of the mansion was vast, and it would take them half a minute at most to run around it. Just thinking about running around it three hundred times was already tiring.

Lark grinned. “Those that are able to finish the task will receive dried fish for lunch.”

“I-Is that true?” asked one of the soldiers.

“Of course.” Lark nodded. “You have my word. Furthermore, the first to finish will get an egg.” Numerous gulping sounds were heard.

A fierce blaze filled the eyes of everyone. “Let’s start.”

After a clap, everyone started running around the hall while holding a spear in their hand.

***

While the soldiers were training, Lark approached Melody. She, too, passed the ‘seed’ test.

“It’s a refreshing sight, isn’t it?” said Lark. Melody bowed her head upon making eye contact. “Once winter ends, they can start training outside. Also, I’m planning to recruit more soldiers by that time. The number right now is simply not enough.” He stared at her for a moment. “Melody, I want you to work for me.” A straight offer.

Melody had heard of the evil deeds of the Young Master before. Honestly speaking, she did not want to work for such a person. But since she was homeless and jobless, just like others that came from Lion City, she was left with no choice.

“Payment will be fifteen silvers a month. Free meals, three times a day,” said Lark. “You will also be given a house once the construction in the eastern border is finished. Of course, depending on your performance, a raise is not out of the question.”

The offer was extravagant. Even when she had been working for the mistress back in Lion City, the amount was not that high.

“Y-Young Master, what kind of job is it?” she asked in a slightly trembling voice. If the young master suddenly told her to service him during the night, she would immediately reject the offer. No matter how many silvers were offered, she would never offer him her body. “I want you to teach the soldiers how to read and write,” said Lark.

His gaze went towards the soldiers running around. By now, they were terribly huffing, but probably due to the reward of dried fish, they kept running. The guards, on the other hand, did not want to lose to the ‘soldiers’.

Lark smiled in amusement upon seeing this.

“Read and write?” breathed Melody, her voice almost a whisper filled with uncertainty.

It was common for soldiers to be illiterate. After all, only nobles were able to afford basic education. She had never heard of someone training common soldiers such advanced skills.

Lark nodded. “Knowledge is a powerful weapon. Though a lot of people may disagree with me, the soldiers definitely need to learn at least this much.”

He saw that one of the soldiers was about to give up. He shouted, “Only those that finished three hundred laps will receive dried fish!

Remember that!”

Upon hearing it, the soldier fiercely looked ahead and continued running. Lark chuckled, “Good! Keep going!”

“So, how about it?” said Lark to Melody. “Would you teach the soldiers for me?”

There was a moment of hesitation. Melody carefully said, “I can teach them, probably… but Young Master, you… you won’t ask me for anything else, right?”

Lark slightly titled his head. “Of course, that’s not all.”

Melody shivered. She was determined to immediately reject him if he asked for ‘that’.

“You will be required to learn arithmetic, together with Gaston,” said the Young Master. “I plan to expand this town further. To do that, I need capable vassals.”

“Arithmetic…” her voice trailed off.

It was a popular skill known by all merchants. Just the thought that she would learn such skill made the offer enticing. After all, even some of the nobles did not know of it.

Melody considered all possible scenarios. After weighting the pros and the cons, she swallowed the lump in her throat then slowly nodded. “I accept the offer, Young Master.”