[19 days of Protection Period]
Nineteen days before the end of the Protection Period, a new announcement echoed through the territory, waking everyone up.
[Announcement: The territory is hiring people to guard the territory and clear out monsters in the vicinity.
Requirement: Men or women aged 18-50.
Physical: 30 or above
Overall potential: C or above.
Wages: 100 copper/day.
Benefits: 1 basic weapon every month
Free residency during the hiring period
Limitations: 0/70 people
Please submit your resume at the Village Center. ]
"They're hiring Guards again!" One man said, shaking his partner, who was holding their breakfast. This partner was also staring at the announcement and didn't have the energy to nag him.
"So many?" He asked and looked at his friend, "Are you going to join?"
"Of course! The lives of guards are the best now. They also have the best benefits."
However, there were still, understandably, quite a few cynical people. "That's because the monsters are low-level. Who knows what happens after the protection period."
There were also a few voices mumbling that there would come a time when the enemies would become too much for them.
By that time, wouldn't the guards be cannon fodder?
However, these were a great minority of the population. The life in the territory was really good, especially after going through so much suffering. Most people couldn't help but be optimistic. "I'll cross that bridge when I get there!"
Life was so precarious now. They ought to enjoy the benefits they could get now, rather than worry so much!
There were also more who analyzed the advantages further. For example, a group of young people gathered for breakfast, discussing their next step.
"Rather than the risk, the opportunities are much higher." One said, and another one added,
"At the very least, those who join the guards have obviously risen in level. Whatever happens in the future, if you're strong, you can depend on yourself if you have the strength."
His friend nodded in agreement, "Yeah, you can think of it as training with guards."
Similar conversations echoed across the territory and several were already lining up at the Village Center, as if being first meant their chances were higher.
Lining up, Lee asked his friend Joe, "Why do you think they're hiring so many guards?"
Joe shrugged. "Maybe because there's more people in the territory?"
"Hmmm makes sense." Lee said, "After all, some bad apples are bound to mix in."
"There already are," Joe said, leaning down and whispering, very gossipy. "There was a family who wanted to just leech off a kid, right? I think his name was Amos or somethin'."
"They'll definitely sign him up without his consent."
"There's really a lot of slots this time!" Lee said. After all, there were so few of them in the territory. This was basically half of the population right?
Joe paused for a moment and blinked, continuing to ponder. "Maybe there's a beast tide coming soon…"
Those who heard all whipped their heads at him.
"Take it back!"
"Stop!"
"No one asked you!"
"What if you have a crow's mouth you jerk!"
"..."
_______
Althea looked down at the people lining up on the first floor with her arms crossed. Fufi was running around her legs, looking as if he was asking to play.
She smiled, leaning down to pat the dog's furry head. Fufi squinted his eyes as if enjoying her ministrations and she couldn't help but giggle.
She also heard a soft chuckle next to her and she shifted her head to look at him. It was Rowan, and he was there to make some reports regarding the hiring.
"How's the training so far?" She asked Rowan, who immediately straightened his back as he answered.
"The upgraded training you requested has been in full swing. Drake has been using your hometown's training of the body and mind and I think it is quite effective.
"Especially if people don't develop elements in the end, the soldiers should still do well."
Althea didn't ask about the elements yet, because she heard she had to be level 10 to even feel its presence. She had too much on her plate now to be curious about a not-so-near future.
"What's Drake's level now?"
"He had stabilized at the peak of level 4. If he keeps it up, he should hit level 5 within a few days."
Althea nodded. "What about you?" She asked. Rowan was a level D NPC. For fighter-type NPC level D NPCs generally ranged from level 15 to 30.
"I'm at level 16, milord."
Althea nodded, thinking of her own level.
In fact, she did not dare train herself and kept herself in the middle of level 5, because she didn't know if the level 2 monsters during the tide were because the Territory was upgrading to level 2, or because the lord was level 2.
And also, she was too far along in her pregnancy. Premature birth in this place was much too risky.
But… she needed to be ready for an attack of level 5 monsters, just in case.
In their guard team, except for Rowan and Drake, the rest were level 2s or 3s. There were also a number of citizens in their level 3s.
More. She needed to do more.
Woof! Woof!
I can help! I can help!
She took a closer look at this pet she had been ignoring. Fortunately, the kids were there and they loved to play with him otherwise she'd be very guilty.
[PET STATS:
Name: Fufi
Age: 2
Level: 3 (6650/10000)
Life: 1310/1500
Spirit: 1320/1500
Physical: 111
Agility: 126
Defense: 94
Mana: 300
Skills:
Active: Investigation (D)
Passive: None
Elemental Affinity: Earth
Titles: None
Overall rank: A ]
Fufi had been stuck at level 3 for a while now. Part of it was because none of the team had been coming to train and hunt much the past week, and the other was that pets seemed to have a markedly higher experience requirement for the upgrade.
However, their base stats became a lot higher as they leveled up.
She smiled and booped the dog's nose, and turned her head to look at Rowan again.
"I have a favor to ask of you."