The three emerged from the cell, watching Brand easily dispatch the three guards patrolling this level. The entire process was silent and so skillful it was astonishing. Frey always suspected that Brand had undergone special training before, but would a Highland Knight need such training?
The black dungeon beneath the barracks originally held no notable prisoners, and the vigilance was very lax—Ridenburg had another dungeon for common criminals. This black dungeon was mainly for holding deserters and robbers. However, the army usually executed such people on the spot, so this dungeon had hardly been used since it was built, and the prison guards were merely going through the motions.
But in the game, this dungeon was specifically for detaining players, a stark difference from its reality—it was always packed. If the White Mane Legion had any mortal enemy in the game besides Madara, it would be this kind of dungeon.
After dealing with the patrolling guards, the four of them headed towards the center of this level. The guard managing the keys was startled when he saw several people emerging from the darkness. He instinctively turned and drew a sword from the wall.
But Brand immediately raised his protective gloves to block. A layer of blue light emerged from the gloves, deflecting the guard’s sword. The blue light, about the size of a football, seemed to push the sharp longsword away with an inner force.
The White-maned Light Infantryman was taken aback, and Brand had already disarmed him before he could react. Then the young man pushed him against the wall, causing him to let out a muffled groan and pass out. Brand, knowing they were just ordinary soldiers, didn’t go for the kill, rendering them unconscious with a single move.
Frey, seeing him take down the last enemy, couldn’t help but say, "I didn’t know you were so strong, Brand—if not for this escape, I would’ve still been living in a well’s sky view."
"You’re pretty good too, no need to underestimate yourself. A mid-tier White Rank Swordsman, more than enough to join the Guard Team." Brand found the key to the next level on the guard as he replied.
"White Rank Swordsman?"
"That means no rank," the young man Char explained from the side: "The swordsman ranks Black Iron, Silver, and Gold correspond to Knight Pages, Official Knights, and Upper Knights, respectively. In Erune, Black Iron Swordsmen are also known as Knight Reserves. Noble children with any future prospects are sent to great noble houses to become attendants."
"By tradition, swordsmen of this rank have the right to not remove their hats when greeting minor nobles like squires and lords, though this tradition has largely fallen out of practice over the past half-century. Below Black Iron Swordsman is no rank. Generally speaking, your Guard Team and militia soldiers are at this stage, though there are differences in levels."
"I see." Frey suddenly understood. Previously, her vision was limited to being the top swordsman among the militias, but now it expanded.
However, Char hadn’t finished. Possibly realizing the lord’s intentions for nurturing this girl, he continued: "Black Iron Swordsman represents first-level power (3–20 ’Oz), Silver Swordsman represents second-level power (20–100 ’Oz), and Gold Swordsman represents third-level power (100–500 ’Oz). The ranks for wizards, priests, and other professions correspond to Intermediate Wizards, First Circle Wizards, and Second Circle Wizards. This classification is not based on any single country’s standard but is strictly established by the Flame Temple."
Frey and Romantic couldn’t help but blink, not realizing there was so much behind this. However, this knowledge wasn’t rare among commoners; it was just that Buqi was so remote.
"You should know, in powerful empires like Gruez and Ban Sai, regular army soldiers are at least Black Iron Lower, and captain-level figures are almost all above Silver. But here in Erune, even frontline soldiers in the border legions, more than half fail to meet the Black Iron Swordsman’s standard. Even captain-level figures serving as knights rarely surpass the Black Iron Middle rank." Char said pointedly.
"Char, if you say that publicly, we would be beheaded."
"If Lord isn’t afraid of being beheaded, why should I, his servant, fear?" The young man answered cleverly, continuing: "Lord should have reached Black Iron Swordsman level by now, which is quite rare for someone of his age. Char is very honored to follow such an outstanding person closely."