First Meeting with Commodus

Chapter 791

Before setting out, Zhang Heng had also received the information provided by Macrus. Among the opponents who required special attention was a fellow named Saturnilos.

He was a gladiator from the same era as Sisnatas, but just as he began to make a name for himself, Sisnatas was at the height of his prime. As a result, his reputation was completely overshadowed by Sisnatas. Naturally, Saturnilos was deeply dissatisfied, so he challenged Sisnatas.

However, the two belonged to different Gladiator Schools and would not normally face each other. If Saturnilos wanted to challenge Sisnatas, both Gladiator Schools had to agree.

But Sisnatas was already declining at the time. Macrus did not want the reputation Sisnatas had painstakingly built to become a stepping stone for a gladiator from another Gladiator School. Meanwhile, Saturnilos's Gladiator School also had doubts over whether he could truly defeat Sisnatas. After all, rumors had already spread that Sisnatas was preparing to retire. The safest course was simply to wait for him to leave, then let Saturnilos take his place directly.

If the two fought, a victory for Saturnilos would naturally be a good thing. His prestige would soar, and it would signify the passing of the scepter of the foremost gladiator. But what if he lost? Sisnatas was retiring anyway, while Saturnilos was in his prime. The Gladiator School behind him was counting on him to make them a fortune over the next few years.

Since the risks and rewards were disproportionate, the matter was ultimately dropped.

Still, there was no denying that Saturnilos had been the gladiator closest to Sisnatas during Sisnatas's era. After Sisnatas left, some believed Saturnilos had become the foremost gladiator in Rome. Recently, however, rumors had spread that, for some unknown reason, Saturnilos had suddenly become addicted to wine