Sparta: Many childrens, Many Blessings, Starting from the Gladiator Chapter 56 56

With the plan set, it was ti to put it into action.

Early the next morning, Marcus gathered everyone in the training ground courtyard.

Seventeen people — plus himself, eighteen.

Standing in the morning sunlight, every face carried a mix of expectation and unease.

They knew that Marcus had stayed in the office until midnight yesterday, so sothing big must be coming.

"Listen up."

Marcus got straight to the point. "Starting today, 'Shadow' is going to expand — not just recruiting people, but also reforming the structure."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across every face.

"Our current model doesn't work. It's too loose, no discipline, slow to react when sothing big happens. Gracchus could change his mind at any ti, and more and more people at the dock are watching us. If we want to survive and live well, we must change."

Gisco scratched his head. "Boss, how do we change?"

"Change according to the Roman legion model."

Marcus said, "But not a complete copy. We will have our own rules."

He walked in front of the crowd and began assigning roles.

"First, divide into teams. Everyone will be split into three small teams. Team One, Combat Team, captain Gisco, responsible for ard operations — protection, conflict, clearing obstacles. Team Two, Intelligence Team, captain Amir, responsible for gathering information, reconnaissance, and surveillance. Team Three, Logistics Team, captain Drusus, responsible for supplies, finances, and daily operations."

He looked at the three of them. "Any problems?"

Gisco grinned and thumped his chest. "No problem! I'm good at fighting!"

Amir looked a bit nervous but still straightened his chest. "I… I'll do my best."

Drusus nodded. "Leave it to ."

"Good."

Marcus continued. "Second, training reform. Starting today, two hours of basic training every morning — physical fitness, weapons, combat. Two hours of specialized training in the afternoon — Combat Team practices coordination and tactics, Intelligence Team practices tracking and disguise, Logistics Team practices managent and accounting. One hour of summary in the evening to report the day's progress."

So people below began whispering.

"This… this is even more tiring than being a gladiator."

A gladiator nad Virgil muttered.

"Tiring?"

Marcus looked at him. "Virgil, if you think it's tiring you can quit now. If you quit, I'll give you five denarii and you can go find an easier job. But those who stay must follow my rules."

Virgil shrank his neck and stopped talking.

"Third, compensation reform."

Marcus said, "Previously it was a fixed monthly salary of ten denarii. Starting today, it will be performance-based. Base salary five denarii, the rest depends on performance — bonuses for completing missions, extra rewards for ritorious service. If you don't want to work hard, say so now."

No one spoke this ti.

"Fourth, discipline."

Marcus's voice turned cold. "Three iron rules. Violators will be kicked out. Serious offenders… will be executed."

The courtyard beca so quiet you could hear breathing.

"One, do not betray your brothers. Two, do not harm innocent civilians. Three, obey orders. Just these three. Rember them."

He waited a few seconds. Seeing no one objected, he nodded.

"Now, choose your teams. Decide which team you want to join. The captain must agree."

The crowd began to move.

Most of the original gladiators chose the Combat Team — after all, that was all they knew how to do.

Gisco picked eight of the strongest, making nine people including himself.

Amir's Intelligence Team selected four people, all young and sharp.

The Logistics Team had the remaining four, led by Drusus.

"What about the two of us?"

Saxa asked with her arms crossed.

She and Octavius had not moved yet.

"You two are the Special Operations Group."

Marcus said, "You report directly to . Octavius is responsible for assaults, Saxa is responsible for infiltration and assassination."

"Sounds good."

Saxa smiled.

After dividing the teams, Marcus had each team captain take their people for etings to draw up detailed training plans and task assignnts.

He himself returned to the office, where Lucretia was already waiting.

"How did it go?"

"First step is done."

Marcus sat down. "Now let's talk about your tasks."

Lucretia sat up straight.

"I want you to build a 'Shadow' intelligence network."

Marcus lowered his voice. "This network is not under Amir's control. It reports directly to . Target groups — servants, mistresses, and illegitimate children of nobles, rchants, and officials. Anyone who can access upper-level information, find ways to bribe or plant eyes on them."

Lucretia frowned. "This will require a lot of money."

"I have the money."

Marcus took out a small money bag from the drawer and pushed it over. "There are two hundred denarii inside as startup funds. If it's not enough, ask again. But every expense must be recorded and must have value."

Lucretia picked up the money bag, weighed it, and nodded. "I understand."

"One more thing."

Marcus said, "On Mira's side, have her try to get close to Gracchus's inner circle. She doesn't need to take risks. Just pass on whatever she can hear. The focus is — the progress of the tariff proposal, and which senators Gracchus has been trying to win over lately."

"Good, I'll explain it clearly to her."

After Lucretia left, Marcus called Amir over.

"Your task is heavy."

Marcus said directly. "The Intelligence Team only has four people now, which is not enough. You need to develop informants at the docks, markets, and taverns — you don't need to let them know about 'Shadow', just pay for information. Who is saying what, who is doing what, especially anything about us and Gracchus, I want to know all of it."

Amir nodded seriously. "I will."

"Give a weekly intelligence summary."

Marcus added, "Also, keep a close eye on the remaining forces of the Nodus training ground. Batiatus is finished and the Nodus boss is dead, but their gladiators are still scattered outside. These people may seek revenge."

"Understood."

In the following days, "Shadow" began operating at high speed like a machine.

Every day before dawn, the sound of horns rang out in the training ground.

The Combat Team started training in the sand pit — no longer single combat, but small-team coordination.

Gisco simplified the Roman legion's formation tactics and taught them how to lock shields together, how to coordinate long and short weapons, and how to fight in tight spaces.

"Left side! Fill that gap on the left!"

Gisco shouted until his voice was hoarse. "You are not gladiators anymore! You are soldiers! You must coordinate! Do you understand coordination!"

The Intelligence Team worked even harder.

Amir took his four people around the streets and alleys of Capua every day, morizing the layout of every street, every shop owner, and every patrol team's schedule and route.

When they returned at night, they still had to learn how to disguise themselves, how to follow people, and how to pass secret signals.

The Logistics Team was not idle either.

Drusus reorganized the training ground's accounts and established a simple inco and expenditure recording system.

He was also responsible for purchasing supplies — food, dicine, weapon maintenance tools. Every expense had to be carefully calculated.

Saxa and Octavius's Special Operations Group were undergoing targeted training.

Octavius practiced how to exert his strength advantage in complex terrain. Saxa practiced infiltration and assassination — she had a real talent for it.

Marcus himself was not idle.

Every day he had to check each team's progress, handle daily dock affairs, regularly report to Gracchus, and still find ti to go to the port to watch the modifications on "Shadow."

The ship was being fitted with so "special" features — not weapons, but hidden compartnts and fast unloading devices.

These were all Leta's suggestions. She said sotis running fast is more important than fighting well.

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