Galen returned to his courtyard and asked the gatekeeper to inform Omar and Varokal, as well as Fardel and the two team leaders he recommended, that he had something to discuss with them.
The day after Fardel met Galen, he sent him the captain positions of both teams. They were Flair Newo and Kimir Garson, the younger sons of two wealthy farm-owning families and Fardel's struggling brothers.
The information given by Fardel flashed through Galen's mind: Flair Northfold, a fifth-level troll hunter, a ranged professional unique to Stromgarde, a scout inherited from the high elves thousands of years ago, the third son of the Viscount Northfold family, and the family's fief was in Northfold Farm, northwest of Stromgarde, the fourth largest grain production area in the Arathi Highlands, second only to Fardel's Dabyrie Farm.
Kimir Garson was a priest and a man whose family owned a mine. He was the second son of Viscount Garson. His family owned a large mine east of Stromgarde and was one of the wealthiest families in Stromgarde. Danath's fief was just south of the Garson family's fief. Galen had met Lord Garson several times.
It must be said that the great nobles of Stromgarde were still quite brave and wise. At least they still cared about these heirs who had no inheritance rights, and did not raise them to become idiots indulging in sensual pleasures and letting their bodies be emptied by alcohol and sex.
Not long after, the five people entered Galen's study together. He gestured for them to sit down. Omar and Varokal had been Galen's guard leaders since he was a child. They had known each other for many years. The two stood aside. On the other side were Fardel and two other nobles who were also familiar to him.
"I have called you here to discuss something. I have decided to hold a military investiture ceremony in five days, and then there will be a small military parade. You need to make some preparations."
Galen's tone was very serious; this could be considered his first public appearance. In the previous twelve years, the people of Stromgarde only knew that their beloved King Thoras had an outstanding prince, and Galen was also immersed in the process of strengthening his personal strength. He rarely participated in gatherings and some public events. The people of the kingdom only knew Galen's name but had never seen him.
This time, he planned to remain silent for ten years and then make a big splash.
Feeling the prince's seriousness in this matter, the five people present were startled and looked much more serious, waiting for the prince's next order.
"Omar, how is your and Varokal's progress in recruiting citizens to join the army in Stromgarde?"
"Your Highness, four hundred men have been recruited."
"Very good. I officially appoint Omar as the captain of the first team and Varokal as the captain of the second team. You will both reorganize your own teams with the original twenty members of the guard team as the foundation."
After Galen finished speaking, he turned to ask Fardel, "Have you finished recruiting members for the team?"
"Your Highness, we have informed the family that you will contract the mine, and the family is very interested in your proposal. To show our sincerity, we will first provide 300 soldiers to complete our team and let them serve under Your Highness's command."
"Well, let's not talk about the mine today. Our priority now is the ceremony in five days. How strong are these three hundred people?"
Galen didn't care where the troops came from, as long as they obeyed his orders. His main force had always been the base's troops.
Galen thought that the base's army should be the main force, and the Stromgarde army should provide auxiliary support.
"One hundred elite third-rank soldiers and two hundred from the regular army, from the guards of various families, all veterans who have participated in battles."
"Very good. I am very satisfied with your sincerity. After the ceremony, we will discuss the mine in detail."
"In addition, I have decided to name our team Scarlet Flame. My idea is to build an army comparable to the Cavalry Regiment. We currently have a thousand men. Once we gain a foothold in the Southeast Mine, we will expand and form our own Scarlet Flame Knights."
"Scarlet Flame, Your Highness, what a good name."
"Scarlet Flames will burn all enemies of Stromgarde. What a grand meaning!"
The five people in front of him obviously liked this name very much, but they also raised questions.
"Your Highness, currently, our three teams, plus the personnel transferred by King Thoras, only number over 700 people, less than 1,000."
"The remaining three hundred people are already on their way, and the leader is a seventh-level mage."
Everyone was shocked. They did not expect that the prince had a seventh-level mage under his command. Mages were rare talents in Stromgarde and even in other human kingdoms. They were mainly concentrated in Dalaran, a mage-ruled city-state. A seventh-level mage had already entered the ranks of high-level mages and was eligible to apply for the construction of his own mage tower in Dalaran.
"One more thing. The captain of the guard is my teacher, Amor."
Another breaking news, Amor, adjutant of the Highland Cavalry Regiment of Stromgarde, a ninth-level strong man.
They couldn't help but be shocked. Although the Scarlet Flame Army was still in its infancy, its foundation was already stronger than most legions of the kingdom and enough to crush most private armies of the nobles.
A ninth-order strong man, the pinnacle of high-level professionals, was only one step away from entering the legendary stage. On one side, there were only a few such people in the kingdom. Coupled with Omar, Varokal, and His Royal Highness the Prince, who was the commander-in-chief, these three had all reached a high level.
The future of Scarlet Flame was bright.
Fardel, Flair, and Kimir looked at each other with joy in their eyes.
The result would be known in five days.
Five days later.
In the morning, a team of a thousand men gathered in front of the royal castle. The three hundred men led by Gandalf arrived in Stromgarde two days in advance and urgently trained with other teams for two days.
There were already quite a few people watching in the stands of the martial arts arena, most of them nobles of Stromgarde and their families. The common people were outside the square and on both sides of the street. Since Galen had announced the parade route in advance, the citizens of Stromgarde had finished their breakfast early and spontaneously waited to watch one of the few lively events.
In the training ground, the Scarlet Flame Army was divided into ten square formations, arranged in neat rows, with swords and muskets hanging from their chests. They wore no armor, but red Stromgarde tunics with a red flame printed in the center of the chest, and the red cloaks prepared for them by Galen tied behind their backs.
Right in front of the phalanx team, Galen stood on a high platform, looking at the ten hundred-man phalanxes, a feeling of heroism rising in his heart.