Sparta: Many childrens, Many Blessings, Starting from the Gladiator Chapter 76 76

Gisco's words were like a basin of ice water poured from head to foot.

That dog thing Gracchus really moves fast and strikes hard.

"When?"

"Right now!"

Gisco was so anxious that his head was covered in sweat. "The ssenger just left. They said the person has already been tied to the pillar in the Senate square. The execution is at the third quarter of noon — there's still… still half an hour left!"

Half an hour.

Marcus glanced at the sun outside the window. It was almost noon.

"Why whipping? Shouldn't stealing be punished with a fine or imprisonnt?"

"They said she stole secret letters from the senator and must be heavily punished as a warning to others."

Gisco panted. "But boss, this is definitely a fra-up! Sister Mira isn't that kind of person!"

Marcus of course knew.

The letter Mira stole was the one he had asked her to take.

Gracchus found out but didn't make a fuss. Instead, he directly arrested her for public whipping — this was killing the chicken to warn the monkey, warning Marcus not to play tricks.

"Call everyone."

Marcus turned and walked out. "Combat Team fully ard, Intelligence Team scatter to keep watch, Logistics Team prepare dicine and bandages. Hurry!"

"Boss, you want to raid the execution ground?!"

Gisco's eyes widened. "That's the Senate square — at least fifty guards!"

"Not raiding."

Marcus pushed open the main gate. The sunlight was blinding. "I'm going to reason with them."

…

The Senate square was in the center of Capua, usually a place for citizens to gather. It was surrounded by marble colonnades with a high platform in the middle for announcents or — executions.

When Marcus arrived, the square was already surrounded by many people.

Curious citizens pointing and talking, rchants whispering, and a few old n in senatorial robes standing in the shadows of the colonnade, watching coldly.

On the high platform stood a stone pillar. Mira was tied to it, her hands raised above her head and bound to an iron ring at the top of the pillar.

She wore only a thin white slave robe. Her hair was disheveled, tear stains on her face, but she bit her lip and didn't cry out.

Two executioners stood beside her. One held a leather whip, the other carried a water bucket.

The whip was specially made — three strands of ox hide twisted together and soaked in salt water. One lash could tear off a layer of skin.

The bucket had sponges floating in it, used to splash the punished person awake — to prevent them from fainting too quickly and ruining the "warning effect".

Marcus's hands clenched into fists.

He pushed through the crowd and walked toward the high platform.

Gisco followed with the Combat Team behind him — nine fully ard n with shields and short swords. Their marching stance made the onlookers automatically part to create a path.

"Stop!"

The guards at the bottom of the platform blocked them, crossing their spears.

Marcus stopped and looked up at the colonnade.

Gracchus was there, wearing a purple-bordered senatorial robe, surrounded by several close senatorial allies, speaking in low voices.

Valerius was actually there too, standing on the other side with a smile of soone watching a show.

"Lord Gracchus!"

Marcus raised his voice, cutting through the noise of the square.

All eyes turned toward him.

Gracchus slowly turned around and looked down at him as if looking at an ant.

"Marcus?"

He feigned surprise. "Why are you here? Oh, right, this female slave used to be yours. What a pity — her hands and feet were not clean. She stole my secret letters."

"According to Roman law, a slave who steals from their master shall be publicly whipped twenty tis. This is already a light punishnt out of consideration for your face. By law, her hands should be chopped off."

The words sounded righteous, but every sentence carried thorns.

Marcus took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed his anger.

"My lord, Mira is my woman, not a slave."

He said, "I redeed her freedom long ago. She has free citizen status. If a free citizen steals, she should be tried by the court, not subjected to private punishnt."

A commotion arose in the square.

A free citizen? A senator publicly whipping a free citizen?

This was against the rules.

Gracchus's face darkened slightly, but he quickly recovered.

"Free citizen?"

He sneered. "Where is her certificate of freedom? Show it to us."

Marcus's heart tightened.

Mira's certificate of freedom had indeed been processed, but it hadn't been officially issued yet — the paperwork would take a few days.

Gracchus definitely knew this, which was why he dared to do this.

"The certificate is still being processed."

Marcus said. "But she is indeed no longer a slave. Drusus can testify to that. He handled it."

"Oh? Then it hasn't taken effect yet."

Gracchus waved his hand. "Since she is still a slave, she should be punished according to slave rules. Proceed with the execution!"

The executioner raised the whip.

"Wait!"

Marcus stepped forward.

The guards' spears pressed against his chest.

Gracchus frowned. "Marcus, are you trying to obstruct justice?"

"I wouldn't dare."

Marcus stared at him. "I just have one question — what exactly was the secret letter that Mira stole, that it made you so furious?"

"That is a matter of the Senate. You are not qualified to ask."

"Then let ask a different question."

Marcus raised his voice so the entire square could hear. "What if that letter wasn't a secret at all, but… records of so shady dealings?"

The square suddenly fell silent.

Gracchus's eyes turned cold. "What do you an?"

"What I an is,"

Marcus said word by word, "Mira did take a letter, but the content of that letter may be more worthy of everyone's attention than 'a slave stealing.' Why not read it aloud in public and let everyone judge?"

Valerius's side brightened.

Gracchus's face turned iron-gray.

"Absurd!"

He shouted. "How can senatorial letters be read aloud in public! Marcus, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll arrest you too!"

"Then arrest ."

Marcus smiled, a very cold smile. "Arrest and tie to the pillar with Mira. Let all of Capua see how Lord Gracchus treats the people who work for him. See who will dare work for you in the future."

The words were harsh.

Discussions broke out across the square.

No matter how powerful Gracchus's position as commander was, he still had to follow basic rules.

Publicly whipping a woman who had worked for him was already sowhat ugly.

If he arrested Marcus too, it would confirm the reputation of "killing the dog after the hunt," and no one would dare work for him again.

Gracchus stared at Marcus. Killing intent flashed in his eyes.

But he couldn't act.

So many eyes were watching, and his old rival Valerius was standing nearby waiting to catch a weakness.

For a mont, the situation fell into a stalemate.

Marcus's heart beat fast, but his face remained calm.

He was gambling — gambling that Gracchus cared about face, gambling that he wouldn't dare tear his mask off in public.

A few seconds later, Gracchus suddenly smiled.

A very amiable smile.

"Marcus, oh Marcus, you are still too young."

He walked down the steps and ca to Marcus, patting his shoulder like an elder lecturing a junior. "I know you feel sorry for this woman, but rules are rules. How about this…"

He turned around and said to the executioners, "Reduce the whipping by half — ten lashes. After the punishnt, send her for dical treatnt. I'll pay the dical fees. That should be acceptable, right?"

It sounded like a concession.

But ten lashes could still kill soone.

Mira's body probably couldn't even withstand five.

Marcus didn't speak. He just looked into Gracchus's eyes.

The old thing's eyes held triumph and a warning — know when to stop. Don't refuse a kind offer.

If he insisted on fighting head-on, Mira might die on the spot.

Ten lashes still gave a slim chance of survival.

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