Hayden continued to read the article, the Top Mercenaries Making Waves…
This third article shifted its focus to the kingdom's mercenaries. They highlighted the exploits of the Crimson Talons, a renowned mercenary group which seemed a lot more interesting article for many other students.
The article praised their recent success in protecting a caravan from the Black Bull Bandits but also raised concerns about their growing influence.
"Mercenaries are getting too famous…" one student said, his tone was disapproving. "They're practically running some parts of the kingdom."
"At least they're doing something," another student countered. "The Knights can't be mobilized so easily after all."
Hayden wryly smiled at this since he could also tell what kind of community would be built under the leadership of Mercenaries or when they actually held more power than the government.
Anyway, Hayden continued to read as he found the article intriguing. He had always been curious about the role of mercenaries in the kingdom and how they interacted with the Knights and other powerful humans.
The article began by describing the Black Bull Bandits, a notorious group of outlaws that had been terrorizing the western trade routes for months.
They were known for their brutal attacks and well-organized raids, the bandits had become a noteworthy threat to merchants and travelers alike.
'The Black Bull Bandits are no ordinary outlaws. With their knowledge of the terrain and their ruthless leader, they have managed to evade capture by both the Knights and local militias. Their last successful attack on a merchant caravan left dozens dead and caused significant losses to the county's trade.'
Of course, it was all because the caravan didn't pay the Black Bull Bandits. Fighting could actually be avoided as long as they give enough offerings to the bandits. It was actually a part of their lesson during the History Class.
After all, even Knights have to learn when to avoid battles to reserve their limited Aura. There was a part of the kingdom's history where the Knights had to fight dozens of battles before arriving at the main battle and ultimately failed. It was because they had been weakened by hundreds or even thousands of warriors beforehand.
In any case, it seemed that the caravan leader in the news was stubborn, or perhaps, the amount of money the bandits were asking was just too much…
Then, the article introduced the Crimson Talons, the mercenary group that had taken on the task of protecting another merchant caravan. It was led by Captain Rylai, a Sword Master and also an Aura User.
'The Crimson Talons intercepted the Black Bull Bandits during their latest raid. In a nighttime ambush, Captain Rylai and her team managed to not only repel the bandits but also capture their leader, Jack the Bull. The caravan was saved, and the bandits' hideout was later discovered and dismantled.'
Then, the article included a detailed battle and also praised the Crimson Talons' combat abilities... Apparently, there were three Aura Users in the Bandit Group while there were two in the Crimson Talons.
After that, Hayden confirmed that there were indeed many people feeling concerned about their rise.
'The Crimson Talons' latest victory has further cemented their reputation as one of the most effective mercenary groups in the kingdom. However, their rise has not been without controversy. Some fear that their growing power could undermine the authority of the Knights and the county.'
"Is that really possible?" Hayden couldn't help but feel amused as the article even quoted several officials and scholars as they addressed some issues.
"Mercenaries are becoming too huge and powerful. They could operate outside the law, answering only to their clients. If left unchecked, they could become a threat to the region's stability." said Lord Alden, a noble from the western region.
It was too much of an assumption but Hayden wasn't really sure how the Mercenaries handle things, so he couldn't say much.
Others, however, defended the mercenaries.
"The Knights can't be everywhere at once. Mercenaries like the Crimson Talons fill a crucial gap, protecting those who would otherwise be left vulnerable. Their success should be celebrated, not feared." Scholar Ullyses, a prominent historian, argued.
Hayden couldn't help but think that this matter was some sort of publicity for the Mercenaries and also officials as he read several more opinions from other notable figures in the region.
Hayden already felt satisfied reading these three news but as he flipped through the pages of the newspaper, he found another article that made him a bit concerned.
In his mind, this should actually be the one in the headlines!
Aura Knight Deployed Against Protesters
It reported that an Aura Knight from a small county in the south had been deployed to suppress a group of farmers protesting unfair taxes. The use of such a prestigious figure against ordinary citizens had caused some outrage, and the county was facing backlash for overreacting.
"Aura Knight against farmers…" Hayden muttered as he couldn't help but shake his head.
It seemed that the world outside this academy was a lot more problematic than he thought.
'I should really get stronger and… become rich.' Hayden thought as he couldn't help but realize that strength and money were something he must possess if he wanted to live a peaceful life.
Pah!
"This is ridiculous!" A student near Hayden said as he slammed the newspaper on the table. "Aura Knights are supposed to protect the kingdom, not intimidate its people."
It seemed that he also read the news. Well, according to their etiquette class, Aura Knight shouldn't really involve themselves in such matters since the farmers were only ordinary people.
"I heard the farmers were just asking for lower taxes," another student added. "They didn't deserve to be treated like criminals."
Hayden agreed to this statement as he finished reading the newspaper…
As he thought of leaving, an announcement that could be heard by everyone in the academy alerted them.
"Attention, all students and faculty. Please gather in the main auditorium immediately. This is an urgent announcement."