Recruitment

After Harrot returned to his cell, he ate, drank, and then lay down to sleep. Harrot planned to get up and read when no one was around at night, so sleeping now meant he'd wake up around the middle of the night.

Soon, Harrot fell into a deep sleep, not waking until the dead of night.

Harrot yawned, looked at the bright moon in the night sky, and sighed at his good luck. He pulled out the Sword Fighting Manual from his inventory and began to study it.

The Sword Fighting Manual didn't have many pages, and the text was only a few thousand words at most. However, unlike reading a novel, it required careful and meticulous attention. The book detailed various sword techniques and training methods.

Harrot pondered carefully, absorbing the content bit by bit. He couldn't help but marvel at how well the book was written; just a small portion of its content had already greatly benefited him.

Harrot was completely engrossed in reading for over an hour when he suddenly heard footsteps. The sound wasn't loud, but in the dead of night, it was particularly jarring.

Harrot quickly put the book back into his inventory and lay down, pretending to be asleep. The book in his inventory showed a reading progress of 7%. Harrot wondered who would be visiting the cells in the middle of the night.

Soon, Harrot's confusion was resolved. Scarface, a scrawny middle-aged man with a long scar across his face, was secretly approaching Harrot's cell with two attendants.

Scarface? Is that him? What's he doing here? Harrot silently wondered, continuing to feign sleep.

Scarface told an attendant to wake Harrot. One attendant took out a waterskin and poured some water through the iron bars into the cell, right onto Harrot's head.

His pretense of sleep over, Harrot shook his head, pretending to have just woken up, and looked at the three people by the cell door.

"Hello, new Gladiator. I'm the manager of the Gladiatorial Arena. I have something I want to discuss with you."

Scarface said in a low voice after Harrot had woken up.

Harrot had nothing good to say to this kind of scum, but he also didn't want to offend him for no reason, so he replied, "What is it?"

Seeing that Harrot didn't immediately chase him away, Scarface thought he had a chance. Previously, when he approached other Gladiators, they would all tell him to get lost without a word. Finally, there was someone he could communicate with; he had to find a way to win him over.

"Are you interested in working for me?"

"Don't let The Bald Man's current arrogance fool you. My standing with Count Sarik is much higher than his. I'll be able to kick him out soon. You have no future following him."

"As long as you pledge allegiance to me, once I get rid of that bald barbarian, I can grant you the privilege of not having to fight in the arena. You'll just need to help me discipline any disobedient Gladiators. I can even find a way to release you and make you my trusted subordinate!"

Scarface thought of a good way to deal with The Bald Man and couldn't help but smile complacently.

Since the existing Gladiators had completely sided with The Bald Man, he would win over the newcomers!

As long as he slowly built up his influence, once his power base was fully established, he could address the awkward situation of not having any Gladiators under his command. He could then naturally propose to the Count to get rid of that bald barbarian.

More importantly, after witnessing The Bald Man's combat prowess during the day, Scarface didn't dare to confront The Bald Man directly anymore, and he desperately wanted a powerful expert under his command.

Harrot was a little incredulous when he heard Scarface's words. Recruiting me? Are you serious?

Harrot looked at Scarface's serious expression and couldn't help but find it amusing. Doesn't this idiot know that his reputation among the Gladiators is a constant negative?

Scarface was not only a treacherous and despicable scoundrel, but he also established the "Man-Beast Combat," a competition that generated immense hatred. Furthermore, as a former slave trader, he inherently didn't view Gladiators as human.

In contrast, The Bald Man had an excellent reputation. Without harming the interests of the Gladiatorial Arena, he maximized benefits for the Gladiators. Having been a Gladiator himself, he had become like a brother to them.

In this situation, you still think you can win people over? What's even more outrageous is that the conditions you're offering are not only incredibly stingy but also can't be fulfilled immediately! Is your brain not working, or do you think my brain isn't working?

Harrot was truly shocked by Scarface's foolish behavior.

Harrot knew that if he didn't accept the olive branch Scarface extended, he would absolutely offend him beyond repair. In that case, there was no need to be polite; he might as well just tear off the facade.

"Work for you? Dream on, you piece of trash. I'd love to twist your head off and kick it like a ball!"

During the day, Scarface had beaten Hark and Stone, who were arguably his first and second friends he'd made in this new world. Cursing him now made him feel much better.

"Wh-what? You, you lowly slave, how dare you refuse me! You, a slave, dare to curse me!"

Scarface clenched his fists in anger, veins bulging, his voice trembling slightly. He glared at Harrot, his eyes wide. He wished he could just take a whip and cruelly lash this ungrateful slave, but unfortunately, he couldn't do anything to Harrot right now.

"You wait, I'll make you regret crossing me!"

Leaving that threat, Scarface walked away.

Scarface was a scumbag who only believed in profit and cared nothing for emotions. He also held a deep disgust for slaves, believing they were mere animals to be disposed of at will, with no right to defy him, their master.

Amidst his anger, he truly couldn't understand why, even after offering such generous terms, Harrot remained unmoved. He had given Harrot the chance to transform from a slave with no rights into his personal guard! For a lowly slave, this should have been the greatest gift!

In an era lacking widespread education, most people would take the knowledge they gained from their own lives as truth and use it as a basis to view all things in the world. For those on the wrong path, the more life experience they had, the more likely they were to make foolish decisions.

After Scarface walked away, Harrot sneered. This truly is an idiot, oblivious to his impending doom.

Harrot could have chosen to play along or be a fence-sitter, thus avoiding an immediate confrontation with Scarface. However, he firmly chose to side with The Bald Man.

This wasn't entirely due to emotional reasons. After witnessing Scarface's stupidity, Harrot believed that, even on a practical level, Scarface couldn't possibly defeat The Bald Man.

It was very simple. In Harrot's opinion, Scarface was merely cannon fodder, a target thrown out by Count Sarik, not even a chess piece. Yet, he believed he was a trusted subordinate of the Count.

Harrot had received a modern education and often watched Yi Zhongtian's Lecture Room, making him well-versed in the political tactics of those in power.

Both Hark and The Bald Man were commoners. Even if they had received some cultural education, it was extremely limited. Furthermore, with the upper class deliberately withholding important knowledge, even if they had more experience, they didn't see things as clearly as Harrot, who was a transmigrator.

Count Sarik was Marquis Harlaus's eldest son. His resources and connections were far superior to those of an ordinary count. Moreover, he had the old Marquis behind him. As one of only three Marquises in Lucanir, the old Marquis was absolutely influential.

Why couldn't Count Sarik find the Magical Beasts and monsters that a mere slave trader could?

Why couldn't Count Sarik think of a simple tactic like "Man-Beast Combat" himself? Even if he didn't care much about the Gladiatorial Arena and wasn't willing to think deeply, surely someone under him could have thought of it?

The core of the Gladiatorial Arena was the Gladiators. Without excellent Gladiators, even if you caught monsters, who would fight them? Could Count Sarik not understand such a simple principle?

If Count Sarik were an idiot, he wouldn't have promoted The Bald Man to manage the Gladiatorial Arena in place of The Fat Man.

In many novels and films, nobles are often depicted as stupid, greedy, and lecherous good-for-nothings. But this world is a fantasy world with powerful Magical Beasts and monsters! A fantasy world with Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, and various other powerful sub-humans!

In Harrot's memory, the sub-humans—Orcs, Dwarves, Elves—beyond humanity each possessed stronger racial stats. With Magical Beasts and various monsters frequently causing harm, it was incredibly difficult for the weaker humans to survive in this world.

Harrot refused to believe that the high-ranking nobles in the human kingdoms of this world were incompetent!

Clearly, the shrewd Count Sarik already knew how to make big money and rake in huge profits. However, it was better for someone else to propose such things than for him to do so himself.

Harrot maliciously speculated that Count Sarik likely had someone specifically prompt Scarface.

Scarface thought he had actively approached the Count to offer him a brilliant idea for making a fortune, thereby becoming the Count's favored confidant. But in reality, the Count had specifically sought out a fool like him, with connections but no backing, to be a scapegoat.

Once the dissatisfaction of the Gladiators and other managers in the Gladiatorial Arena accumulated to the brink of eruption, Scarface would be thrown out to "appease the public." Not only would the Count's reputation remain untarnished, but he would also gain the extra loyalty of his subordinates.

Even from the perspective of how those in power choose and use people, rather than a conspiracy theory, Scarface was still a disposable pawn.

The Bald Man was promoted by the Count from among the Gladiators. His character was upright and kind, and he would undoubtedly dedicate himself fully to repaying the Count's kindness, ensuring both his capability and loyalty.

But what about Scarface? He was cunning and treacherous, formerly a slave trader, valuing money over sentiment. He had no loyalty whatsoever, and his abilities were nothing more than despicable, underhanded tricks.

No matter how one looked at it, Scarface's value could never be as high as The Bald Man's.

After this internal analysis, Harrot felt incredibly secure. Just as he was about to pick up his book again, he was interrupted once more.

Shortly after Scarface left, The Bald Man arrived at Harrot's cell door.

Harrot thought that The Bald Man must have seen Scarface leaving. This can't be misunderstood, he thought, and was about to explain himself when The Bald Man spoke first, dispelling his concerns.

"I overheard your conversation with Scarface. Honestly, for you to support me so much right after arriving, it really touches me!"

Harrot was momentarily stunned. Good thing I didn't try to play games or be a fence-sitter, or The Bald Man would have heard it, he thought, feeling relieved. Yet, he replied, "What's that scumbag even worth? I'd rather die than side with him!"

It was a rare chance to meet the boss alone, so he had to make a good impression. Harrot knew that badmouthing Scarface at that moment was the best way to bridge the distance between them.

Sure enough, The Bald Man's lips curled into a smile after hearing Harrot's words, and he also cursed Scarface a few times.

Afterward, The Bald Man used a key to open Harrot's cell door, then turned and walked away, waving his hand to signal Harrot to follow.

What's going on? Harrot was puzzled but followed nonetheless.