Sparta: Many childrens, Many Blessings, Starting from the Gladiator Chapter 51 51

Dock No. 3 was at the northernmost end and had been abandoned for a long ti.

More than half of the wooden pier had rotted. Stepping on it made "creak creak" sounds, as if it would collapse at any mont.

In the distance, the skeletons of several broken ships stood, looking like beached whale corpses in the night, eerie and sinister.

The shipyard was semi-underground. The entrance was hidden under a pile of tattered fishing nets. You wouldn't notice it unless you looked carefully.

Marcus signaled Octavius and Saxa to wait outside and bent down to crawl in himself.

It was darker inside than outside, pitch black, impossible to see your hand in front of your face.

The air was thick with the sll of heavy mold mixed with cheap alcohol.

With the sliver of moonlight coming in from the entrance, one could barely see a figure curled up on a pile of straw in the corner, holding a wine bottle in his hand.

"One-Eye?"

Marcus spoke.

The figure moved, turned his face — sure enough, he had only one eye. The other eye socket was empty, looking horrifying.

"Who is it?"

His voice was exceptionally hoarse.

"Asking about sothing."

Marcus walked over and squatted down. "Recently several batches of goods at the dock were robbed. I heard you know who did it."

One-Eye "gulp" took a swig of wine and sneered: "What if I know? What if I don't?"

"If you know, this bag of money is yours."

Marcus took out a small bag of silver coins and weighed it in his hand. The coins clinked with a pleasant sound. "If you don't know, you might have to find another place to drink — like the bottom of the sea."

One-Eye stared at the money bag with greed flashing in his eye.

"…It was done by 'Sea Snake' people."

"Sea Snake?"

"A group of pirates, active in the nearby waters."

One-Eye took another sip of wine. "Their leader is called Leta, a crazy woman. They've been short on money lately and targeted rchant ships from Capua. But the dock guards are strict, so they couldn't go ashore themselves and hired locals to do the job."

"Who are the locals?"

"I don't know their nas."

One-Eye shook his head. "I only know it's a gang of thugs from the south of the city. The leader has a scar on his face from forehead to chin, looks terrifying. They were responsible for robbing the goods. The pirates handled selling them."

"Where are the goods?"

"Most of them have been shipped away. A small portion…"

One-Eye paused. "Hidden in Warehouse No. 3 at Dock No. 7. They'll deal with it after the heat dies down."

Marcus threw the money bag to him.

"Anyone guarding tonight?"

"Two."

One-Eye said. "Scarface is guarding personally. That guy is very vigilant, not easy to deal with."

"Got it."

Marcus stood up and left.

Back outside, he told Octavius and Saxa the situation in full detail.

"What do we do now?"

Saxa asked. "Rush the warehouse directly?"

"No."

Marcus shook his head. "Go back first. Tomorrow during the day, we'll go openly."

"Why?"

"Because we are now 'legitimate'."

Marcus said. "Gracchus gave us authority to investigate the dock robbery. Tomorrow, we will search the warehouse in the na of the Senate. If the goods are there, we catch them red-handed. If not… we'll think of another way."

"What about Scarface?"

"Let Amir and Marcus keep an eye on him."

Marcus said. "Don't alert the enemy. Just know where he is."

When the three returned to the training ground under the cover of night, the sky was already showing the first light of dawn.

Marcus didn't rest. He imdiately assigned tasks — Amir took two people to the south of the city to find "Scarface." Marcus took people to stake out near Dock No. 7. Saxa and Octavius stayed at the training ground on standby.

He himself went straight to the Senate mansion.

It was already the second half of the night, but Gracchus hadn't slept yet — or rather, he was woken up by Marcus.

In the study, Gracchus was wearing a sleeping robe, his face not looking too good.

"You'd better have sothing important."

"I found the goods."

Marcus said directly. "In Warehouse No. 3 at Dock No. 7. The robbers are a gang of thugs from the south of the city. The leader has a scar on his face. Behind them is the pirate 'Sea Snake,' leader nad Leta."

Gracchus's sleepiness vanished instantly.

"Evidence?"

"The middleman from the black market identified them. There are guards at the warehouse."

Marcus said. "I suggest searching the warehouse tomorrow morning in the na of the Senate. Catch them red-handed, then follow the vine to find the pirates behind it."

Gracchus stared at him for several seconds, then suddenly grinned.

"Quite efficient, Marcus."

"Taking money and doing the job. As it should be."

Marcus remained expressionless.

"Fine."

Gracchus nodded. "Tomorrow morning, I'll send a team of guards with you. Rember, I want them alive — especially that Scarface. I want to know how many insiders the pirates still have in Capua."

"Understood."

When he left the mansion, the sky was already turning pale.

Marcus returned to the training ground. He didn't sleep, just sat in the courtyard, watching the east gradually brighten as the morning glow slowly dyed the sky red.

The first operation of "Shadow."

It could not fail.

...

After daybreak, the Senate guards arrived on ti — twenty n, fully ard. The leading centurion was nad Marcus, a serious-faced veteran with an old knife scar on his face.

Marcus brought Octavius, Saxa, Gisco, and Drusus — leaving Amir and Marcus behind to continue surveillance.

The group marched toward Dock No. 7, drawing many sidelong glances and discussions from dock workers.

Warehouse No. 3 was an unremarkable stone house. The door was locked.

Marcus gave a signal. Two soldiers stepped forward and swung their axes —

"Bang!"

The lock broke with a snap.

The door was pushed open. Dust "whooshed" up.

The warehouse was stacked high with wooden crates and burlap sacks.

Marcus walked over and pried open a wooden crate with his dagger — inside was silk, gleaming with a soft luster in the dim light.

He opened another burlap sack — a strong scent of spices hit his nose.

"Is this the batch?"

Marcus asked.

Marcus carefully checked the markings on several crates — they matched the list Gracchus had given.

"Yes."

"Search!"

Marcus waved his hand. "See if anyone's here!"

The soldiers scattered with a "whoosh." Sounds of searching filled the warehouse.

The warehouse wasn't big. They finished searching quickly — no one was there.

"The guards ran."

Saxa kicked a straw mat in the corner. "Soone must have tipped them off last night."

Marcus frowned.

At that mont, hurried footsteps ca from outside.

Amir ran in panting, his face pale: "Boss! Scarface… Scarface is dead!"

"What?"

"Early this morning, soone found him dead in an alley in the south of the city."

Amir was out of breath. "His throat was slit, killed with one cut. The scene… was very clean. No clues left at all."

Silenced.

Marcus's heart sank.

The pirates moved much faster than imagined.

"The goods were found, but the lead is broken."

Marcus said. "How do we explain this to Lord Commander?"

Marcus looked at the warehouse full of goods and was silent for a long ti.

"At least the goods were recovered."

He finally said. "As for the pirates… they failed this ti. They will definitely try again. We'll wait for the next opportunity."

Marcus nodded and ordered the soldiers to start moving the goods.

Marcus walked out of the warehouse and stood on the dock.

The sea wind blew over, carrying a salty fishy sll, making his clothes flutter.

Pirate Leta…

"Sea Snake"…

He silently rembered this na.

...

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