Swordsman

Chapter 34: Swordsman

"We can't keep killing each other," Ono said hesitantly after drawing most people's attention.

"If we don't have to kill each other in regular bouts, then we shouldn't be slaughtering each other."

"What happened to Yochura... shouldn't happen again."

Speaking of this, Ono looked at Yochura, who was huddled in the corner, with concern.

Yochura showed no reaction. He was immersed in pain, and the only thing he cared about now was figuring out when he would see his mother again.

"Here we go again?" someone spoke up. "You made this suggestion last time, and I thought you'd be more sensible after that humiliation."

"That's right, the arena doesn't say we have to kill each other in regular bouts. They prefer to save our lives to be expended in mass combat or festivals, but they haven't forbidden us from killing each other. What right do you have to forbid it?" another person added.

"I'm not forbidding it, I'm appealing..." Ono said to the two gladiators who clearly opposed him, "Please..."

Klyster watched the two people Ono was "begging" with a cold gaze.

She knew very well that Ono wasn't truly begging them to accept the no-kill principle, but rather begging them to be smart enough to save their own lives.

"Shut up, old man."

"I won't agree to any of your bullshit 'no-kill' ideas. In mass combat, we're comrades, fighting side-by-side, and that's fine. But in regular bouts, we are enemies!"

The two still firmly resisted.

Angron looked at Qin Xia.

Qin Xia sat cross-legged, his eyes closed, not making a sound.

But from a third-person perspective shaped by psychic power, Qin Xia observed everyone's reactions simultaneously.

Some clearly disagreed but were calmer, or rather, they had more time outside of gladiatorial life, which made them quite shrewd. They could tell that Ono was bringing up this previously rejected suggestion for a reason, so they were more cautious.

Others genuinely didn't care about the proposal.

Still others pretended to care because they were better at observing and had noticed what lay within the young Primarch's unconcealed gaze.

But it didn't matter.

The no-kill principle was just the first step.

"I've always agreed with Old Bear," a recluse who always sat in the corner spoke up.

"I don't want to participate in any of your escape plans, including Caesar's or anyone else's. I didn't participate when they tried to escape..."

As he spoke, the recluse scanned everyone, trying to help Ono persuade them. "I don't consider anyone my friend, but I'm unwilling to kill anyone, nor do I want to be killed by anyone. We really should consider Old Bear's suggestion carefully."

"Doesn't not adhering to the no-kill principle mean you have to kill people?" someone questioned.

"I think so," the recluse said. "If you don't want to be killed and you don't want to kill, why wouldn't you agree with Old Bear's proposed no-kill principle?"

The questioner was momentarily speechless.

Qin Xia looked at this recluse and thought he was at least a normal person.

This person might not participate in anything the gladiators did, but he would at least agree to something that benefited everyone out of a desire not to die.

"Why won't you accept it?" Ono asked, somewhat angry and fearful for those who refused. "Do we really have to kill each other when we don't have to?"

Seeing that they remained indifferent, Ono turned to Qin Xia.

He conveyed a message with his eyes: he truly hoped Qin Xia would try to persuade them.

As they saw Ono's gaze, as if asking for Qin Xia's opinion, the gladiators looked at the person who had carved the Triumph Rope for each of them after defeating the Scum Butcher last time.

"..." Qin Xia remained silent, not even opening his eyes.

"I also object," someone else stated clearly. "I'm sorry. If I can achieve better results in the arena and gain more fame, I can get out of this hell sooner."

Ono frowned. "By stepping over the corpses of fellow sufferers?"

"Either I get killed, or I kill someone. I have to get out by stepping over someone else's corpse," the person replied.

Ono was helpless.

Finally, after a brief silence, Old Bear turned and scanned everyone present. "Those who agree, raise your right hand."

His gaze swept over Yochura, and Ono corrected himself, "Those who disagree, raise your hand."

Those who opposed Ono couldn't even be bothered to raise their hands to show their disagreement.

Qin Xia noted the ten people who showed clear opposition, then his gaze shifted to the schedule on the wall.

He had his first regular bout that afternoon, and neither his partner nor his opponent was among those ten people.

Qin Xia wasn't worried at all. Glancing at the schedule, he saw that Angron and Klyster, at least, would get to be paired with those ten people.

A moment later.

The heavy footsteps of Security Mechs penetrated the gate and entered the cave.

Qin Xia stood up and walked towards the gate.

The gladiatorial combat was about to begin. As usual, the security mechs would escort the gladiators to the armory to retrieve their weapons before heading to the arena to fight.

But today, after the gates opened, the security mechs remained on either side of the path, as if lining up to welcome the arrival of a distinguished guest.

Then, a man in ornate attire strode down the path between the mech formation and entered the cave.

"Ahem." The man cleared his throat, his head held high. His gaze swept disdainfully over every gladiator, finally settling on Qin Xia.

"Before you stands the overseer of the gladiatorial arena, an honored servant of House Tal. Kneel and show respect!" the security mechs chimed in unison with cold, synthesized voices.

Qin Xia looked down at the overseer. "An honored servant of House Tal? I thought you'd have more pomp and circumstance."

The overseer met Qin Xia's gaze, his head held high, showing no hint of fear. In his eyes, all these gladiators were mere puppets under his control.

As if he had more pressing matters, the overseer didn't dwell on the lack of etiquette and couldn't be bothered to argue with these uncultured gladiators.

"Your schedule has been changed. Today, you will face a Praetorian Guard," the overseer said. "This Praetorian Guard's honorific title is Swordsman."

Qin Xia frowned.

"Oh, you haven't heard of this title? That's fine, but you'll soon know how much this person wants to kill you." The overseer wore a smile. "Let me give you a reminder. That group of slave hunters you blew up in the desert the other day..."

"The slave hunters had your parents in them, so you're bringing in Swordsman for revenge?" Qin Xia interjected.

"Don't interrupt," the overseer said, his expression clearly conveying, "You're dead." "Swordsman is my nephew."

"Alright, dig a bigger grave. We'll hold the funeral for your father and son tomorrow together, it'll be more convenient," Qin Xia said, walking past the overseer. "I'm saving you the trouble, so you owe me a favor."

The overseer was clearly not skilled in verbal sparring and was momentarily stunned by Qin Xia's words, taking a moment to recover.

He then looked at Qin Xia's retreating back and announced coldly, "A distinguished guest is here to watch your fight. He said you can make one request."

Qin Xia initially intended to ignore him, but then stopped and turned, as if struck by an idea. "I want to bring ten people."

Bringing ten people was an outrageous request.

The ten people Qin Xia wanted to bring were those who refused to abide by the "no killing" principle.

However, it seemed the overseer had a compelling reason to agree, as he nodded. "Ten people, excluding Angron, you can choose whomever you wish. They're all going to die anyway."

Qin Xia turned and scanned the gladiators.

The overseer lowered his head, not even looking at Qin Xia, and picked at his ear with his little finger.

"Not even a thank you?"

"It seems your gladiator friends never told you that no matter who comes here, they must appease the masters, appease your masters."

"If I want you torn to shreds, I only need to pick up my pen and schedule you for a series of fights on the combat roster, understand?"

The overseer flicked the earwax from under his fingernail.

"Never mind, I'm not one to quibble. Prepare yourself. I'm going to greet my master. You slaves can be impolite, but I, a person of high standing, cannot."