Sparta: Many childrens, Many Blessings, Starting from the Gladiator Chapter 45 45

"What do you want to say?"

Marcus spoke, his voice frighteningly calm. "Say that you drugged the food? Say that you hid poison in the sword hilt? Say that you never intended to give us real freedom?"

The banquet hall exploded!

"Nonsense!"

Batiatus's face turned iron-blue. "How could I do such a thing! This is slander!"

"Whether it's slander or not, we'll know after checking,"

Marcus said. "The kitchen steward Lucius is your distant relative. The 'Sedative Powder' is locked in the bottom drawer of your study. The poison in the sword hilt should still be with Crixus right now — to save his own life, he should be very willing to hand it over."

Batiatus's eyes widened, his finger trembling as he pointed at Marcus: "You… you…"

"What about ?"

Marcus smiled. "How do I know? Because I'm not stupid, Batiatus. You treated as a chess piece, as a tool, as a dog you could discard at any ti. But I am not a dog."

He turned to Gracchus: "Lord Gracchus, you saved my life today. I owe you a favor. But I am still a prisoner, still a slave. No matter what I say it's useless. I only want to ask one question — who do you believe?"

All eyes "swish" focused on Gracchus.

This commander slowly took a sip of wine, then put down the cup.

"I believe in evidence."

He said.

He clapped his hands.

The side door of the banquet hall opened. Two soldiers escorted a man inside.

It was Crixus.

This guy had lost all his dayti arrogance. His face was deathly pale, and his whole body was shaking like chaff.

When he saw Batiatus, he pounced over like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline.

"Master! Master save ! They forced ! They forced to say…"

"Shut up!"

Batiatus kicked him away.

But it was too late.

Gracchus waved his hand. A soldier stepped forward, took out a small clay bottle from his bosom, and a short sword — exactly the fine steel short sword Batiatus had given Marcus.

"Found on Crixus,"

The soldier said. "He said it was given by Master Batiatus. There is poison in the sword hilt, and the clay bottle contains 'Sedative Powder'."

The banquet hall completely erupted!

The nobles whispered among themselves. Their eyes toward Batiatus were full of contempt and vigilance.

Drugging gladiators — this broke the rules!

Although everyone tacitly accepted that gladiators' lives were worthless, on the surface they still had to talk about "fair competition."

What Batiatus did was equivalent to slapping all the spectators in the face!

"Slander! This is slander!"

Batiatus scread hoarsely. "Crixus hates ! He hates for not giving him freedom! He's taking revenge!"

"Is that so?"

Gracchus stood up, walked in front of Crixus, and looked down at him. "Tell , who instructed you?"

Crixus looked at Batiatus, then at Gracchus. His lips trembled and he couldn't speak.

"Tell the truth and I'll spare your life,"

Gracchus said. "Lie, and you die right now."

Crixus "waa" burst into tears and completely collapsed.

"It was Batiatus!"

He cried and shouted. "He told to find a chance to kill Marcus during the performance match! He said after it was done he would give freedom! The poison in the sword hilt was also given by him! He said he would slowly cripple Marcus, so that even if he won the performance match he couldn't go to Ro!"

"Enough!"

Batiatus roared in fury. "Drag this traitor away! Execute him!"

But no one moved.

The soldiers looked at Gracchus.

Gracchus nodded.

Two soldiers dragged the screaming Crixus out.

Screams echoed in the corridor, gradually fading away until they could no longer be heard.

Batiatus's face turned deathly pale. Cold sweat soaked his back.

"Lord Gracchus, please let explain…"

His voice trembled.

"No need to explain,"

Gracchus waved his hand. "Batiatus, you broke the rules of the arena, deceived the audience, and attempted to murder your own gladiators — although they are slaves, they are still your property. What you did damages the interests of all gladiator owners."

He looked around: "Everyone, if we don't deal with Batiatus today, tomorrow soone might drug our gladiators. Once the rules of fair competition are broken, this industry is finished."

The nobles nodded one after another and whispered among themselves.

Batiatus's legs went soft and he "thud" collapsed to the ground.

"However,"

Gracchus changed his tone. "Today is the Founding Festival. I don't want to see too much blood. Besides, Batiatus has contributed to Capua's entertainnt industry for many years."

He walked in front of Marcus and looked at this gladiator wearing handcuffs and fetters.

"Marcus, you are a warrior. Today you proved your strength and your innocence,"

Gracchus said. "According to the rules, Batiatus should be stripped of his qualifications as a gladiator owner. His property — including you — should be confiscated."

Marcus's heart sank.

But Gracchus's next words stunned him.

"But I have decided to give you a choice,"

Gracchus said. "First, beco a public gladiator, under direct managent of the Senate. Second…"

He paused and looked into Marcus's eyes: "Beco my personal guard. I will give you freedom, salary, and dignity. You only need to be loyal to ."

The banquet hall fell silent again.

Everyone was staring at Marcus.

Batiatus raised his head. His eyes were full of venom, as if he wanted to devour Marcus alive.

Marcus was silent for a mont.

"What about my companions?"

He asked. "Octavius, Saxa, and… the others."

"They can all be freed,"

Gracchus said. "Those willing to follow you can beco my guards together. Those who don't want to, I can give them freedom and let them leave Capua."

This condition was ridiculously good!

Marcus stared at Gracchus, trying to read sothing from this commander's face.

But he only saw a pair of deep, calm eyes that showed no emotion.

"Why?"

Marcus asked.

"Because you have value,"

Gracchus spoke honestly. "I can see you are not an ordinary person. I need talent like you. And…"

He glanced at Batiatus collapsed on the ground: "Suppressing Batiatus is also beneficial to . Saving you not only gains your loyalty but also strikes at my opponent. Two birds with one stone."

Very straightforward.

And very real.

Marcus thought for a mont and nodded.

"I choose the second option,"

He said. "But I have two conditions."

"Speak."

"First, I want to see my companions first to confirm they are safe. Second, I want all gladiators in Batiatus training camp who are willing to follow to be granted freedom."

Gracchus raised an eyebrow: "All?"

"All,"

Marcus said. "About twenty people."

"Quite the appetite,"

Gracchus smiled. "But I like ambitious people. Fine, I agree."

He waved his hand: "Unlock his chains."

Soldiers stepped forward and "clack clack" opened Marcus's handcuffs and fetters.

The heavy iron chains "clang" fell to the ground.

Marcus moved his wrists and looked at Gracchus.

"Thank you, my lord."

"No need to thank ,"

Gracchus said. "This is a transaction. I give you freedom, you give loyalty. It's very fair."

He turned and looked at the guests: "Everyone, today's farce ends here. Batiatus is temporarily detained and will await trial by the Senate. As for Marcus and his companions… from today onward, they are my people."

No one dared to object.

Gracchus's power in Capua was not sothing Batiatus could compare to.

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