Wise Choice

Wise Choice

The thugs looked at one another. Could it be done like this? After taking their money, he was using that very money to hire them?

What was this? He had not spent a single copper coin and was getting them to work for him for free.

But they did need money now. In the end, the lead thug reacted quickly. They had already lost the money; refusing would not bring it back. They might as well hear out his terms first.

So he asked, "Do you want us to teach the people from Unap Arena a lesson?"

"Oh, no. Don't worry, I won't put you in a difficult position," Zhang Heng said. "It has nothing to do with Unap Arena. I just want you to investigate something else for me."

Zhang Heng briefly explained the former antique dealer's situation, then said, "Under normal circumstances, selling Valo off and throwing someone of his abilities into a Gladiator School would be a waste. Clearly, someone had spoken to Macrus beforehand. Valo's wife and that friend of his are both commoners, so they should not have been capable of doing that. I need you to find out who is pulling strings behind this. A friendly tip: you can ask a slave trader named Chickpea. I'll give you ten denarii first, and the rest once the job is done. What do you think? If this partnership goes well, I may come to you again next time."

The lead thug glanced at his companions. One of the four was hesitant, but the other three nodded at him. So the lead thug nodded as well. "All right."

"A wise choice. Come to the Gladiator School and find me once you have news." Zhang Heng counted out ten silver coins and returned them, along with