The Gift of Freedom

As they talked, the slave gladiators began entering the combat area one after another.

Holding a microphone, the host stood on a suspended glass platform, enthusiastically introducing all the contestants.

He paid particular attention to the strongest gladiator sent by Gladiator King Augustus-the Mountain.

He was a giant nearly eight meters tall, with deep-blue skin and bulging muscles all over his body. He looked just like a hulking monster.

His face was ferocious, two sharp teeth jutting from his mouth, and he carried a greatsword wider than a door!

Every step he took on the floating bridge sent ripples spreading across the water.

As soon as the Mountain appeared, deafening cheers erupted from the stands.

"Tch, a monster like that gets my blood pumping every time I see him."

Rosward studied the Mountain through his binoculars. "Unfortunately, he isn't a captain. He's a rare slave Augustus trained personally."

With her hair hanging loose, Rosy asked blankly, "Longinus, if we want to keep our slave alive, can't we just have him withdraw from the match? Doffy won't object either, right, Doffy?"

Doffy still hadn't come out of his sulk, and his displeasure was written all over his face. "Do whatever you want. I'm never taking part in this kind of game where someone else pulls the strings again."

Charlos chuckled. "You can't. Once they enter the arena, they can't withdraw, and other Celestial Dragons are taking part in this gladiator match.

"If you want to stop it, you'll have to get Lord Garling to come, Longinus."

Just then, Sullivan's gentle, humble voice came through the host's commentary microphone:

"Excuse me, may I interrupt for a moment?"

"You are..."

"I am Sullivan, Lord Saint Longinus's personal butler. I have come to announce his will."

"Well... could you please wait a moment? I need to consult Lord Saint Freck first..."

"No need!"

Hoffman's magnetic voice cut in:

"I am Hoffman, captain of Lord Saint Garling's personal guard squad. I am acting on Lord Saint Garling's instructions:

"Premise: so long as Lord Saint Longinus's actions do not endanger the holy land,

"Conclusion: Lord Saint Longinus's will may be regarded as Lord Saint Garling's will!"

The colosseum fell silent in an instant, then erupted in cries of astonishment a moment later.

Hero King Garling and the Holy Knights he led hardly ever involved themselves in the lives of ordinary Celestial Dragons. Many Celestial Dragons went years without seeing Garling, let alone the ordinary dignitaries of the World Government.

One thing was beyond doubt: Garling, who held the privilege of executing Celestial Dragons, was unquestionably a hard-liner with real power among them.

The host's voice trembled. "P-please, go ahead!"

Sullivan cleared his throat, and his voice gained a note of authority:

"Lord Saint Longinus decrees:

"At this grand gladiator event, the life of the slave Hector shall be spared in Lord Saint Longinus's name. Anyone who kills the slave Hector shall surely face retaliation from the Donquixote family!

"I repeat: anyone who kills the slave Hector shall surely face retaliation from the Donquixote family!"

The moment he finished, the arena erupted. A Celestial Dragon had sent his personal butler to protect the life of a slave, even invoking a privilege granted by Lord Saint Garling!

How many years had it been since anything so bizarre happened in Mary Geoise?

Hector had never heard Longinus's name, and he had no idea what was happening.

The envious looks from the slave gladiators around him made him deeply uncomfortable, and he stood there awkwardly.

"Well, well, well! As expected of Mad King Longinus, but this isn't the Donquixote residence..."

A frivolous yet elegant male voice rang out through the microphone, and the spectators suddenly began chanting the same name.

"Saint Freck! Saint Freck..."

Lu Ye raised his binoculars and looked up at the glass platform high above, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

Freck was back, standing on the host's glass platform with a round breathing mask on his head that he hadn't had before.

"I know what you all want to hear from me..."

Freck tapped the microphone and strode confidently to the front amid the enthusiastic cheers from the stands below.

"This is the property of my father, Gladiator King Augustus. When my father founded the North Star Colosseum, he personally told me that he wanted only to advance the art of gladiatorial combat and offer every honored guest a spectacular feast of combat!

"For the sake of the Jaygarcia name, we fear no one. But today, we will respect Lord Garling's will, even if it is merely being...

"Abused by a brat who doesn't know his place!

"So, gentlemen! I hereby declare Longinus's decree-in effect!"

As Freck drew out the final words, a chorus of disappointed complaints rose from the arena.

Clearly, everyone had something to say about the act of compromising the fairness of the match, but given Lu Ye's status, they didn't dare say anything to his face that would offend a Celestial Dragon.

Just as Lu Ye was wondering what Freck was trying to do, Jessica knelt before him. Her voice trembling, the little girl said timidly:

"Lord Saint Longinus, I know you want to protect my father, but I still want to ask you here...

"Lord Saint Longinus, I... I... um... please let my daddy throw his punches freely!

"Although we're lowly, gladiatorial combat is sacred. A gladiator with honor would never harm an opponent. Daddy is very safe, so please don't interfere with the fairness of the match..."

At her words, several Celestial Dragons doubled over laughing.

Shalria covered her mouth, shaking with laughter. "Longinus, why don't you give me this slave instead? Gladiatorial combat is sacred? Throw his punches freely? Yahihihi... She's just too entertaining!"

Lu Ye ruffled Jessica's hair and pressed the binoculars into her hands. "I won't say anything. Look for yourself. Your sacred gladiator match is about to begin."

From the moment Hector appeared in the arena, the lives of father and daughter were no longer Lu Ye's to save.

Any Celestial Dragon taking part in this game had the power to execute them. Even if Lu Ye arranged for father and daughter to leave Mary Geoise safely, a disgruntled Celestial Dragon would catch up to them and wipe them out.

Lu Ye could charge in and snatch them away, but after that, the two of them would have to remain within his sight forever. A single second out of it could mean death!

There was only one way for them to return safely to the sea: Hector had to follow their rules and survive this gladiator match!

Win or lose, he had to survive. Then he could disappear from the Celestial Dragons' sight!

Sensing the resentment in the stands below, Freck could hardly suppress his smile. A moment later, he raised the microphone and shouted:

"Silence!"

The crowd below fell silent as one, and Freck spoke unhurriedly:

"As the Gladiator King's son, the unfairness in the arena is a disgrace to me and a mark of disrespect toward the honored guests the Gladiator King invited here. But Lord Garling's will cannot be defied.

"So... as an apology, the Gladiator King Family will greatly increase the reward for the victor. We hope the gladiators will put on an even better performance!

"Besides the hefty prize of three billion five hundred million Beli, the Gladiator King Family will bestow an additional gift... freedom!"

As his voice fell, Freck spread his arms, and fireworks burst behind him!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The spectators began cheering for Freck again.

A huge chart was projected onto the white wall behind Freck, listing the names and photographs of one hundred gladiators according to the number of matches they had fought and their win rates.

Hector ranked second with the splendid record of nineteen wins and zero losses, behind only the Mountain, who had three hundred and fifty-seven wins and zero losses.

Freck's name appeared after the Mountain's information, while Longinus's name appeared after Hector's.

Jessica rubbed her little nose and said softly, with a hint of delight, "Lord Saint Longinus, did you see? My daddy is in second place. I told you he was an amazing gladiator!

"As long as he beats the one in first place, we can help you win the prize money!"

Lu Ye said nothing. This wasn't a fair ranking match, and the second-place contender's opponent wasn't just the one in first place. He could only hope that his status would intimidate the others and protect Hector until he walked safely out of the ring.

What Lu Ye didn't understand was what Freck meant by freedom.

As if he had heard Lu Ye's thoughts, the host turned to Freck with a sincere expression. "Lord Saint Freck, could you explain what freedom means here?"

Freck raised the microphone and enunciated every word:

"Freedom means casting off your status as a slave!

"Freedom means taking the hundred million Beli bestowed by the Gladiator King and the glory of a champion, and returning to the sea... as a free person!

"No matter who your master is, my father and I will use the supreme power of the Celestial Dragons to sever the bonds of the Hoof of the Soaring Dragon for the victorious slave and his family in the holy land!"

As he spoke, Freck lifted his chin and raised one finger, giving the stands where Lu Ye sat a pointed look.

"The Gladiator King Family promises! Even if the victor should die in an accident today, the hundred million Beli prize will surely be delivered to his family in the four seas."