Heavy Armored Soldier

"Give me the IOU." Suye's expression was calm, torchlight flickering in his eyes.

Lawrence slightly raised his chin toward Suye.

A Strong Man immediately walked over, snatched the Money Pouch from Suye's hand, and respectfully presented it to Lawrence with both hands.

Lawrence untied the pouch, pinched its bottom, and lifted it.

Clatter...

Crisp Gold Coins poured from the pouch like a golden waterfall, scattering at Lawrence's feet and carpeting the ground like golden stars.

Countless people gasped. They had never seen so many Gold Coins in their entire lives.

Lawrence did not lower his head. He continued staring at Suye and slowly said, "Kneel! Pick them up one by one, lick them clean, and hand them over."

Snickers rose from the crowd.

Suye did not move an inch.

"Looks like you've forgotten this afternoon's lesson!" Lawrence lightly flexed his wrist.

Suye's expression remained utterly calm. "I only want the IOU. If you don't have it, I'll go to the Temple of Themis, Goddess of Justice, and then to the Temple of Athena, Goddess of Wisdom. If I remember correctly, that IOU bears the God Names of two great deities. Unless you want to blaspheme the gods."

"Shut up!" everyone behind Lawrence shouted in unison.

Lawrence stared at Suye for a full half minute before saying, "There's also one hundred Golden Eagles in interest."

Suye extended his hand to the Right Side. Hark untied a Money Pouch and placed it in Suye's hand.

Suye opened the pouch and flipped his Right Hand. A second golden waterfall cascaded down, its clattering especially pleasing in the silent night.

It was as though stars had fallen to the ground, dyed gold by blazing fire.

At the two men's feet, it seemed as if the entrance to a treasure hoard had opened, firelight and golden gleams dancing in everyone's Eyes.

"You can try licking them," Suye retorted.

"How presumptuous!"

"You're courting death!"

"We'll break his dog legs in a minute!"

"You little bastard who doesn't know Life and Death!" Koro shouted.

Lawrence raised a hand, stopping his Subordinates from cursing.

"Not enough," Lawrence said.

"I'll give you one more chance." The corner of Suye's mouth actually curled upward slightly.

Lawrence said, "This has nothing to do with the gods. I also need a storage fee for the IOU."

Suye nodded and turned his head. "Mr. Hark, one of Lawrence's Subordinates is carrying a Prohibited Weapon—a Scimitar. What should the City Guard do if they discover it?"

Hark slowly raised his Right Hand, pressed his thumb and Middle Finger together, then quickly flicked them apart.

Snap! The crisp finger snap rang through the entire intersection.

"You dare carry a prohibited Scimitar? You really don't take our City Guard seriously!"

Two excited young men holding Short Swords pushed through the crowd.

"Put down the Scimitars!" The two men rudely raised their Short Swords and pointed them at Lawrence and the people behind him.

Though both were young, they radiated a fierce aura. They were both Warrior Apprentices, far stronger than ordinary people.

The Subordinates looked hesitantly at Lawrence.

Lawrence looked at Suye, then at Hark, and only then at the two soldiers.

"I just drank with Captain Lux yesterday." Lawrence forced a friendly smile onto his face.

One soldier looked hesitant, but the other, a Taller Soldier, gruffly said, "What Captain Lux? Never heard of him! Put down the Scimitars now, or I'll blow the whistle this instant!"

As he spoke, the Tall Soldier put a Wooden Whistle into his mouth and slowly puffed out his cheeks as he inhaled.

Lawrence's Subordinates instinctively took a step back. Once the whistle sounded, someone would certainly be held responsible—but it would definitely not be this soldier.

Anger flashed across Lawrence's face. The "Centipede" instantly turned red as he slowly said, "Hark, is this Mr. Kelton's order, or yours?"

"Mine." Hark's answer was crisp and decisive.

Lawrence froze for a moment. The Wrath Fire on his face grew even stronger as he said, "Put down your long metal weapons."

The sounds of metal hitting the ground rang out one after another. Half the people behind Lawrence were left unarmed.

Only then did the Tall Soldier put away the Wooden Whistle, whistle once, and bend down to collect the weapons.

This extra money was easy to earn.

After the Tall Soldier had tied up all the weapons, Suye suddenly pointed at Koro by the tavern entrance and said, "Friends of the City Guard, this man named Koro cut my neck with a Scimitar at my home today."

"Hmph!" Hark suddenly snorted.

As if he had received an order, the Tall Soldier tossed aside the weapons, went around Lawrence, reached out with his large hand, and grabbed Koro by the neck. Like carrying a chick, he hauled Koro before Suye.

Lawrence suppressed his Wrath Fire and said, "Soldier friend, you are being too impulsive."

"Would I have come here if I weren't impulsive?" The Tall Soldier grinned, proudly tapped his Left Chest with his Right Fist, and looked at Lawrence with contempt.

Lawrence's face darkened, and everyone behind him changed expression slightly.

That was the Heavy Armored Soldier's Salute! It meant that there was at least one Black Iron Heavy Armored Soldier in this soldier's family.

In Greece, Heavy Armored Soldiers had already become the backbone of society. Even nobles feared them.

It could even be said that the foundations of every powerful city-state in All of Greece were Heavy Armored Soldiers.

Ordinary City Guards were not frightening, but every Heavy Armored Soldier had countless comrades.

Lawrence looked at Hark.

Hark had once been a Heavy Armored Soldier. If he wished, he could become one again in the future.

Lawrence did not move.

Heavy Armored Soldiers hated Bandit Groups more than enemy city-states, even more than Norsemen, Egyptians, and Persians.

The Tall Soldier placed his Right Hand on Koro's head, revealing a cruel smile as he viciously pressed down.

Koro's body went limp, and he heavily dropped to his knees.

"Mr. Lawrence... save me..." Koro panicked.

"When you drew your blade, you should have thought of this moment." Lawrence's casual voice pierced Koro's heart like a Sharp Sword.

"I..." He was about to speak when his expression changed. He hurriedly shut his mouth.

He quickly turned to Suye and said, "Young Master Suye..."

What awaited him was Suye's heavy Right Fist.

Bang! Koro fell sideways to the ground, seeing stars and unable to tell the night sky from the Gold Coins.

"I was wrong..." Koro's voice abruptly stopped.

Everyone saw Suye bend down, his Right Fist crashing into Koro's face again and again like a sledgehammer driving piles.

One punch, then another.

Even when droplets of blood splashed into his eyes and painted the world red, Suye did not stop.

Koro's blood slowly flowed out, staining the Gold Coins a new color.

At first, Koro was still screaming, but gradually, his voice grew softer and softer.

"You're more impulsive than I am! Hahaha..." The Tall Soldier laughed loudly and grabbed Suye's Right Arm.

Suye panted heavily, slowly rose to his feet, and said, "Thank You."

The Tall Soldier grinned. "Every last person in this tavern is scum! They all deserve to die! But if he really dies, you'll have a little trouble too. In a moment, we'll drag this suspected Bandit Group member carrying a Prohibited Weapon back. If he dies on the way, it has nothing to do with you."

After saying that, the Tall Soldier bent down, grabbed Koro by the ankle, and dragged him behind Hark as though hauling a large ham.

Lawrence's Subordinates could not believe what they were seeing. Lawrence had valued Koro greatly these past few days.

Yet now, Koro had nearly been beaten to death by Suye in front of everyone, while Lawrence did not even dare move.

Lawrence stared fixedly at Suye.