Although it was just a ragtag group of soldiers, their presence still caused quite a stir. Everywhere they passed, it was as if even ghosts and gods avoided them.

  In all honesty, Hudson had repeatedly emphasized military discipline. Without his orders, no one dared to leave the main force, let alone cause trouble in the areas they passed through.

  But this didn’t matter. The locals fled at the sight of the army, leaving no opportunity for expnations.

  Occasionally, they encountered a few noble lords who were willing to communicate, but they were only eager to see them off. If it weren’t for Count Piers’ conscription order, these lords might have sent troops to drive them away.

  After three days of marching, Hudson noticed something was off—he seemed to be moving too fast.

  The conscription order wasn’t just for his family. All the nobles in the southeastern province were included, and judging by the reactions of the nobles along the way, they were still preparing.

  Being the first to arrive at the battlefield might earn him some favor, but it also meant he could be the first to be sent in as cannon fodder.

  Knowing his own situation, Hudson held no illusions about his "well-trained" army.

  Realizing this, Hudson slowed the march even further. They traveled in the mornings and set up camp in the afternoons, taking the opportunity to hunt and improve their meals.

  Plump wild boars, sturdy elk, lively rabbits, and agile pheasants… all became regur features on Hudson’s dining table.

  Even the ordinary soldiers often got a bowl of meat soup.

  The bountiful gifts of nature made Hudson understand why there were so many wandering knights in the Asnt continent.

  Land, forests, rivers, grassnds… all were private property of the nobility. Without a noble’s permission, commoners couldn’t hunt or fish.

  Since nobles only hunted occasionally, the animals’ reproduction rate far outpaced their hunting, leading to the current abundance of game.

  Rules were meant to constrain ordinary people, not nobles. Even the most destitute wandering knight could hunt freely. At most, they’d be chased away if caught by the ndowner.

  Just as Hudson was feeling triumphant after bagging a wild boar, a familiar voice interrupted him.

  "Young master, Knight Chelse has invited you to a banquet."

  To navigate the noble circles, Hudson had crammed a lot of knowledge about the aristocracy.

  "Is it Knight Chelse from the Harken family?"

  Hudson asked.

  There was no other way. The rate of name duplication among nobles in the Asnt continent was simply too high. Without specifying the family, it was impossible to tell who was who.

  If he didn’t crify this, showing up at the wrong pce could easily lead to embarrassment.

  "Yes, young master."

  The guard’s answer put Hudson at ease. Without hesitation, he replied, "Tell the messenger I’ll come over after settling the camp."

  "Banquets" were a hallmark of noble society. Whether it was networking, feasting, or discussing matters, everything could be done at a banquet.

  To gauge a family’s social connections, one only needed to see how many guests attended their banquets.

  Along the way, Hudson had been invited to many such gatherings. However, these weren’t for building retionships but rather to get him and his troops to move on as quickly as possible.

  Of course, such a blunt request would never be spoken aloud. A subtle hint was enough.

  Nobles valued face above all else. Unless absolutely necessary, they would never openly csh.

  Often, even if they secretly wished to kill each other, they would still maintain a facade of noble grace.

  But once the mask was publicly torn off, it usually meant a fight to the death, with little room for reconciliation.

  This was also why spoiled nobles rarely survived long. Offend enough people, and eventually, you’d hit a wall.

  As a smart man, Hudson naturally avoided making enemies. He always pyed along.

  As long as the host made their stance clear, Hudson would finish procuring supplies and promptly move on. If the host didn’t show, he’d set up camp and train his soldiers.

  Perhaps because he strictly enforced discipline and avoided causing trouble, his interactions were retively smooth, and he expanded his network considerably.

  After experiencing this repeatedly, Hudson gradually grew accustomed to the way nobles interacted.

  After arranging the camp affairs, Hudson brought a few attendants to the castle. What he saw left him speechless—this was probably the shabbiest castle he had ever seen.

  But recalling the rumors about Knight Chelse, Hudson wasn’t surprised.

  "A knight obsessed with magic" was the polite way people described him. In private, he had another title—"the spendthrift."

  Despite having no magical talent, he dreamed of becoming a mage, spending his days on bizarre experiments that left him penniless.

  If that were all, people might have just ughed it off. After all, there were plenty of spendthrift nobles, and one less competitor was always a good thing.

  But the problem was that Knight Chelse had exceptional martial talent. He was one of the few great knights in Saxony County, with the potential to become a silver knight.

  Logically, with his strength, he could have easily advanced his family’s fortunes. Yet Knight Chelse refused, even converting his military merits into monetary rewards.

  Unsurprisingly, all this money was poured into his magical research. Sometimes, to obtain magical materials, he would even work as a mercenary for the Mage Association.

  His formidable strength and unconventional lifestyle made Knight Chelse a "legendary" figure.

  Though the castle was dipidated, Hudson believed it was still safe. No neighboring lord in their right mind would provoke a great knight.

  Of course, the main reason was poverty. Dealing with a powerful but penniless figure like Chelse meant that even if you won the fight, there’d be no spoils to cim.

  "Little Redman, long time no see!"

  A hearty voice rang out, instantly ruining Hudson’s good mood. He sighed and expined, "Uncle Chelse, I’m Hudson. Little Redman is my elder brother."

  This was one of Hudson’s greatest frustrations. He couldn’t understand why fathers and sons had to share the same name. Unfortunately, this was quite common among the nobility.

  In families with five generations living together, just sorting out the names during a gathering could drive one mad.

  Hudson had no idea when his family had developed a connection with Chelse, but he suspected his father wouldn’t mention it even if there was one.

  After all, this knight’s reputation in noble circles wasn’t exactly stelr. While the friendship of a great knight was valuable, Chelse had a habit of borrowing money—and never paying it back.

  To protect their wallets, most nobles chose to keep their interactions with this "generous" knight brief and cautious.