At dinner time, Ackerman broke the rye cake into pieces and put it into the hot soup. He said to Todd: "Boss, you really don't want to consider my suggestion?"
Todd glanced at him sideways and said nothing.
Regarding the title "boss", Todd objected several times, saying it sounded like a bandit, but others used it so often that he acquiesced.
Seeing Todd's unresponsiveness, Ackerman became anxious: "Think about it, from the beginning to now, every class you take is free! Even if the class is free, you also own the materials for making fake blood.
Pay some money! In fact, there are so many gladiators, as long as each one collects a little money, we will make a lot of money!"
Casper added a branch to the bonfire, glared at Ackerman and said: "Many people don't even have enough to eat, and you make them pay?!"
The latter protested: "But in any case, providing it for free is too much... I heard that some gladiators got the fake blood we provided and sold it at a high price."
When Casper heard this, he scratched his head and felt something was wrong.
"Let's form an association." Todd looked at the burning branches in the fire and said calmly: "It's similar to a union, mainly responsible for the daily affairs of the gladiators."
Casper was a little confused: "The association is for merchants and craftsmen, and it does not have much binding force. For those rebellious gladiators, why can't we establish a semi-military armed force with you as the leader?"
Todd didn't even think about it and directly rejected the proposal: "If I dare to do this in the arena, I'm afraid I will soon encounter an army that will destroy me."
Ackerman thought for a while and then said: "That's right. But if you want to establish an association, then you must set a threshold for those who join."
Todd nodded.
Ackerman began to count the conditions in detail: "First, those who join must be dedicated. After joining the association, they cannot stay in the original faction; second, those who join must be loyal and have past experience."
People who have committed crimes such as betrayal should not be accepted."
Todd pondered for a while and added: "One more thing, those who join must be slaves who have lost their freedom. Those who voluntarily join the arena for any reason are not allowed to join the association."
Ackerman and Casper looked at each other. They were a little confused as to why Todd would propose such a condition, but in the end they nodded in agreement.
"There is one last thing." Ackerman put down the wooden bowl, his face full of excitement: "This gladiator association must be given a resounding name."
Todd said with a bit of a headache: "Name?"
Ackerman raised his hand high: "What will happen to the champion? It just fits Mr. Boyle's identity as the Red Champion!"
Todd laughed and rejected this plan: "Similar to the principle of establishing a militarized force, this proposal cannot be adopted. The name is too ostentatious and will cause us unnecessary trouble."
Ackerman shrugged helplessly: "Really? I've always liked this name, so what should I call it?"
Stepping on the blood-stained ground under his feet and looking at the red branches burning in the bonfire, Todd suddenly said: "Let's call it red branches."
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After dinner, he finalized some details of the Red Branch Gladiator Association with Ackerman and Casper. Todd handed over the rest of the liaison work to the two of them and went to the prison area on the underground floor to visit Boyle.
of tribesmen.
When Fried, an old barbarian warrior, saw the arrival of the clan leader, he quickly got up from the ground and patted his chest to indicate that he was in good condition.
Todd leaned against the cell door, looked at his people, turned to the jailer and said, "Open the cell door."
The latter said with an embarrassed look: "Mr. Boyle, I told you a long time ago..."
"Open the cell door. I want to say something to my people. If you are worried, you can lock the cell door after I walk in."
The jailer thought for a moment.
Boyle came to visit these people almost every night, and nothing happened for so many days; besides, he was now exempted from the death penalty and was unlikely to take risks.
Thinking of this, the jailer opened the cell door, watched Todd walk in, and locked the cell door again.
After greeting the tribesmen one by one, Todd called the veteran warrior Fried and the shaman Minnie, found an uninhabited corner of the prison, and whispered: "At the end of this month, the Kingdom of Ulster will hold a
Celebrations. These guards in the arena will be exhausted from the management of the prison due to the reception work of the royal family, nobles and envoys. At that time, it will be the best time for you to escape. "
The veteran soldier Fried lowered his voice and asked: "Escape? With so many of us, even if we can escape from the Red Circle, how can we possibly leave the territory of the Kingdom of Ulster?"
"There was a woman named Deirdre. Do you remember her?"
Todd's question made Shaman Minnie raise her head, and a smile suddenly appeared on the old woman's wrinkled face: "Ah, Deirdre, that poor child..."
Freed looked at Todd: "What does running away have to do with her?"
"As long as we escape from the city, she will arrange transportation, customs clearance documents, and team disguises so that we can return to the south safely."
"Deirdre's father signed a covenant with Conchieber. She may really be able to send us back!" Freed looked excited. Later he thought of something and asked worriedly: "Will she?
Won’t you join forces with Conchieber to deceive us?”
Todd shook his head slightly: "I don't think so. If Conchieber wanted to kill me, he could have a hundred ways. There is no need to choose a method that is both laborious and risky."
Fried nodded: "Then there is no problem on my side. Please tell me what should I do?"
"On the day of the celebration, the royal family will arrange a grand gladiatorial fight in the red circle. Most of the guards will be transferred to the ground to maintain order and be responsible for reception. At that time, it is the best time for you to act."
Todd drew a simple sketch on the ground with a stone: "There is a hidden sewer in the southernmost waste dump on the second underground floor. The fence has been loose due to old age. From there, you can directly enter the forest outside the city, Dee.
Delly's contact person will be waiting for you there."
"But one thing you must pay attention to is time. From the time the guests enter to the end of the competition, there are only two hours at most. You must rush outside the city as soon as possible to meet with the contact person."
Fried first nodded to express his understanding, then suddenly thought of something and shouted: "No! What should you do?!"
Looking at the jailer who was attracted by the sound, Todd quickly gave the old soldier a silent gesture.
Waiting for the jailer to look away again, Todd whispered: "You don't have to worry about me, I will naturally find a way to escape from here."
"If the king finds out that we have all escaped, he will pour out all his anger on you!"
After Todd's repeated assurances, Fried gave up questioning.
"I want to chat with the patriarch alone for a while." Shaman Minni suddenly said.
Freed glanced at the old woman and got up with a sigh.
Minnie said nothing and stared at Todd for a long time, until she saw the latter twisting his body uncomfortably.
"How did Boyle die?"
After hearing what the other party said, Todd was shocked, but a confused look appeared on his face: "What did you say?"
The old woman closed her eyes, and her tone was so calm that Todd couldn't believe it: "I have been taking care of that child since he was born. I know his pronunciation and his habits of doing things very well. So, there is no need to talk about it anymore.
Hidden from me."
The matter was so important that Todd decided to play dumb: "I don't know what you are talking about..."
Minnie opened her eyes, looked at Todd and shook her head: "Are you still unwilling to admit it? Listen, the child's lower right alveolar, the third tooth from the back, is no longer there because he fell into a horse when he was a child.
Yes. Why don’t you open your mouth and let me see your teeth?”
Cold sweat ran down Todd's cheeks.
Shaping can change the fat connective and epidermal tissue, but it cannot change the bone structure. Besides, Todd never thought of missing teeth.
Looking at the other party's pale face, Minnie smiled and said, "You have nothing to say? Now tell me, how did Boyle die?"
Todd took a deep breath and recounted the night of rescuing Boyle in detail.
After listening to the narrative, Minnie did not show any emotion, nor did she ask about the other person's identity. She just put her hand on Todd's forehead and said calmly: "As I said before, you have a unique and kind-hearted person."
Soul, this is why I trust you."
After walking out of the prison, Todd looked back at the old shaman. He had too many questions to ask, but it was obviously not the time now and he could only wait until he escaped.
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On the eastern road of the Kingdom of Ulster, a cavalry regiment of 500 people, flying the flag of the Kingdom of Connaught, escorted a beautifully decorated carriage and drove slowly towards the west.
A charming and gentle voice came from the carriage: "How far is it from Armagh City?"
The leading cavalry commander had answered this question countless times, but upon hearing this voice, he still perked up and replied respectfully: "There are still two days to go, Your Majesty the Queen."
A low sigh came from the carriage: "Are there two more days?"
The commander thought for a while and carefully suggested: "Your Majesty, if you just want to watch the gladiatorial fight, the kingdom also has its own gladiatorial arena. There is no need to come all the way here."
A burst of laughter came from the carriage, as clear and sweet as a clear spring falling into a jade plate, hitting everyone's hearts bit by bit: "Watch your words, I am now the head of the Connaught envoy.
Bearing a heavy responsibility...Pfft...Hee hee..."
The commander and his adjutant looked at each other and shook their heads helplessly.