Harrot really did have something to ask Marcus. He thought Marcus was a decent noble, far better than Count Sarik. Marcus happened not to fear offending Sarik, so if he could help and take in The Bald Man along the way, that would be perfect.
Harrot told Marcus about The Bald Man. Marcus frowned and replied, "This is rather troublesome!"
"Cleon is a rare talent. Of course I'd be happy to poach him, and I don't care whether Sarik gets angry."
"But the question is, is Cleon willing to leave? Can he see Sarik for who he really is? Can he let go of his concerns for the gladiators?"
"He already showed his distrust of Sarik during the day. I believe I can persuade him, but those gladiators..." Harrot trailed off, feeling a headache coming on. The Bald Man was too loyal. He would never abandon those gladiators, and Harrot had no way to drag him away by force.
Marcus's eyes suddenly lit up. He said to Harrot, "You're fairly familiar with those gladiators, aren't you? I have an idea. See if it works!"
"..."
"Are we really doing this? Isn't it too risky?"
"Relax, it'll be fine. Go persuade Cleon!"
Following Marcus's suggestion, Harrot went to discuss the plan with The Bald Man and the other gladiators.
The next day, Marcus went to the Training Ground and met with all the senior and elite gladiators. He then told the guards that he wanted to buy them, claiming that Count Sarik had already approved the matter.
Marcus was a noble lord who had awakened his Bloodline Power, the biological son of Marquis Harlaus, and Count Sarik's younger brother. The servants had no way of knowing that the brothers were on bad terms.
It just so happened that the four stewards were not at the Gladiatorial Arena. The One-Armed Man, Scarface, and The Bald Man were all at Count Sarik's castle, while the fat man had won a huge sum yesterday and was enjoying himself in the city.
Though the guards of the Gladiatorial Arena hesitated over whether to send someone to ask Count Sarik, they truly did not dare offend Viscount Marcus. In the end, they could only sell the gladiators at the "reasonable price" Marcus offered.
When Harrot first heard the plan, he had been scared out of his wits, his eyelids twitching wildly. Who would have thought Marcus had so few scruples? Through lies and coercion, he bought every senior and elite gladiator from the Gladiatorial Arena at an absurdly low price. That was a crime! Was he really not afraid that Count Sarik and the old Marquis would come after him?
Was Marcus afraid? Not at all!
It could only be said that Harrot had yet to fully understand how serious "opening up territory in the east" was, or the extent of Marcus's resolve to burn his bridges. Was treason something to joke about?
If Marquis Prague had not taken the lead, and if a large number of nobles doing poorly in the kingdom had not supported him, the kingdom would never have reluctantly agreed out of fear of igniting a civil war. Anyone who dared mention "expansion" would have been thrown into prison!
Even so, everyone preparing to head east and open up territory had been branded traitors. The moment they left the borders of the Kingdom of Lucanir, they would be stripped of their noble titles and have all their lands confiscated.
Marquis Harlaus and his Northern Province faction also opposed expansion into the east. Once he learned of Marcus's plans, he would surely fly into a rage.
Marcus had too many debts to worry about one more. He had completely let himself go. Forget tricking away a few dozen slaves—if pushed too far, he would even lead troops into a direct clash with Count Sarik.
Inside Count Sarik's castle, Sarik invited Harrot to a banquet. He still wanted to make one final attempt to win Harrot over.
After receiving Sun's Blessing, Harrot would have a high degree of compatibility with Bloodline Power, making him an ideal candidate for a Knight. Coupled with his already formidable martial skill and physical strength, once he received Glory, his combat power might surpass that of ordinary awakened nobles.
Sarik deliberately seated The Bald Man beside Harrot, hoping to play the emotional card. He was unwilling to offer generous rewards like Marcus had, so he could only resort to a few petty tricks.
Sarik said, "The fact that the Gladiatorial Arena produced a gladiator like you truly gratifies me!"
You were cultivated by the Gladiatorial Arena, so you should naturally be loyal to me!
This was the bandit logic Sarik was subtly trying to instill.
"I have always believed that gladiators possess extraordinary potential. The Bald Man before you was also promoted from among the gladiators by me."
He was trying to build rapport while hinting for The Bald Man to speak up and persuade Harrot.
Unfortunately, The Bald Man had already discussed everything with Harrot the night before. After seeing Count Sarik's true nature, he had been utterly disappointed. He remained seated in silence, completely unmoved.
Sarik raised an eyebrow. Was Cleon still angry? How had he not calmed down after an entire day? Don't cause trouble for me, you idiot!
Seeing that The Bald Man remained motionless, Sarik had no choice but to use his trump card. He gave a look to the guard beside him.
Count Sarik put on a heartbroken expression and said, "Man-Beast Combat has caused the Gladiatorial Arena tremendous losses. The gladiators suffered severe casualties!"
"I had been kept in the dark before. I never knew it would be so bloody and cruel!"
That was an outright lie. Count Sarik truly had thick skin!
"Bring that beast in!" At Sarik's command, the guards dragged over Scarface, who was covered in wounds.
One of Scarface's eyes had been gouged out, and several bones in his body were broken. He was so badly injured that he could not even speak.
"Cleon, I have not forgotten the things you told me. I have given this greedy, despicable wretch the punishment he deserved."
"Now the Gladiatorial Arena is still under your sole control. I believe you can do even better than before!"
Sarik had looked into it. Not only The Bald Man, but even Harrot harbored deep hatred for Scarface. Sarik had already intended to kill Scarface, who no longer had any value.
Now, he could also use him to curry favor with The Bald Man and Harrot. It counted as squeezing out Scarface's last bit of value.
Sarik felt that he had now soothed The Bald Man's emotions and successfully left a good impression on Harrot. It was time to get to the point.
"Harrot, you are a talented man. I do not wish to see your gifts buried. Become my Knight, and I will surely let your abilities shine to their fullest!"
Sarik spoke with great emotion, as though he truly had Harrot's best interests at heart.
Harrot said nothing, but The Bald Man could no longer endure it. After seeing the truth, he realized that every word and action Sarik took was so hypocritical, so selfish.
The Bald Man loudly demanded, "Count Sarik, why didn't you stop the gladiatorial match yesterday? Since you recognized the dangers of Man-Beast Combat, why didn't you stop it yesterday?"
Sarik stared at The Bald Man in disbelief. He had not expected the honest and loyal Cleon to question him at a time like this.
Sarik was momentarily speechless. He truly had no answer. He had never cared about gladiators' lives in the first place. He had only canceled Man-Beast Combat because the losses among gladiators had become too great to sustain.
After hesitating for a second or two, Sarik answered, "Because I believed in Harrot! I could see the will in his heart and his hidden strength!"
"I believed he could defeat the Ogres! For his glory and future, I chose not to interfere with his match!"
The Bald Man slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Do you take everyone for idiots?"
"I have raised the issue with Man-Beast Combat countless times, and you never cared!"
"Without the greatsword Marcus gave him, Harrot would certainly have died at the hands of the Ogres!"
"You have been lying to me all along! You have been using me all along, using me to manage your Gladiatorial Arena and train gladiators! You never truly considered me a confidant!"
Sarik's gaze turned cold. The Bald Man's reaction was definitely not a momentary fit of anger. He must have learned the truth. It seemed there was no longer any possibility of winning Harrot over.
Since that was the case, there was no need for him to keep up a smiling face and pretend to be kind. The Bald Man had to be dealt with as well! He was far too reluctant to give such a useful pawn to someone else!
"What the hell are you to dare shout at me?"
"You are nothing more than a slave gladiator. What right do you have to advise me? To point fingers at my Gladiatorial Arena?"
Count Sarik's voice grew louder and louder, and his aura became increasingly fierce. Flames actually began to burn from his fiery red hair!
"Yes, what am I? In your eyes, I am nothing but a useful dog!" Tears filled The Bald Man's eyes. Being used and betrayed truly hurt.
"I worked for you painstakingly for more than ten years. I have repaid the favor of your promotion. From this day onward, I am no longer your subordinate!"
The Bald Man's heart-wrenching shout completely enraged Count Sarik. Flames erupted from Sarik's body as he roared:
"Cleon, since you have chosen to betray me, do not blame me for showing no mercy! Die!"
Fire flashed, and a massive fireball more than a meter wide flew toward The Bald Man. The temperature throughout the room rose, and its power could be felt even from afar. There was no doubt that if it struck The Bald Man, he would die!
The fireball was incredibly fast and could even turn, locking firmly onto The Bald Man. Every obstacle in its path was destroyed.
Just as the fireball was about to strike The Bald Man, Harrot rushed forward and stood in front of him.
Harrot stretched out both hands, strained with all his might, and shouted as he held back the fireball. An attractive force emerged from his palms, slowly absorbing the fireball.
The fireball's intense heat could not burn Harrot's palms in the slightest. As time passed, it gradually shrank, shrank again, and finally vanished completely. Harrot had absorbed the entire fireball!
Everyone was stunned by the sight. Even Count Sarik was briefly dazed. He had not held back in that attack—he had used eighty percent of his strength—and Harrot had absorbed it directly?
Harrot straightened his back, folded his arms across his chest, and declared proudly, "I am Lord Marcus's chief Knight! Cleon has already agreed to become Lord Marcus's subordinate and has received Lord Marcus's protection!"
"Count Sarik, if you continue attacking us, it will be regarded as a provocation against Lord Marcus. Do you wish to take the initiative and start a war?"
Within the Kingdom of Lucanir, lords generally exercised restraint toward one another. Even when conflicts arose, they would seek mediation from higher-ranking nobles.
But if a Knight granted Bloodline Power was killed without cause, it truly could trigger a war.
After all, every Knight who shared in Glory was a valuable talent possessing extraordinary power. Once such a Knight died, the power that had been shared could not be taken back, which was equivalent to permanently losing one Knight's slot.
If a lord could swallow that without protest, he might as well stop trying to survive in noble society. His own Knights would see him as a cowardly fool, and everyone else would see him as easy prey.
Before you continue