Wu Lai never thought that there would be someone to greet him at the city gate, and what he didn't expect was that the person who greeted him was Doji's first steward, Rod.
"Respected Lord Wulaglindo, on behalf of my master, Lord Doji, Rhodes welcomes you back to Seneca City. Your return will make the sunshine above Seneca City even brighter." Rhodes said after introducing himself respectfully.
"Your praise is too exaggerated, so I cannot accept it." Wu Lai said with a smile, "Please tell Master Doji that yesterday is yesterday, today is today, and the future is the future."
Rhodes hesitated for a moment, then bowed and said, "Respected Lord Wulaglindo, Rhodes will certainly convey your kindness to you truthfully. Lord Doji sincerely invites you to visit him when you are free, and will be very happy to receive your invitation."
"There will be a chance." After Wu Lai finished speaking, he waved his hand slightly. Rhodes quickly made way. Nelton whipped the horse and the carriage quickly entered the city.
After the carriage traveled a distance, Nielden could not help but turn around and say, "Master Wu Lai, it seems that the tribune Dojian is trying to show goodwill?"
"Yes, it can be understood as a gesture of goodwill, or as a test." When Wu Lai finished answering, the smile on his face slowly disappeared, and his mood became complicated. If he could choose, Wu Lai would never be happy to meet an opponent who knew how to show weakness and compromise, and Doji was undoubtedly such a person. Wu Lai had not expected Doji to show weakness so decisively. In his opinion, Doji was not a pushover. Showing weakness and goodwill so quickly and so resolutely was undoubtedly a very thought-provoking thing. Wu Lai would not be stupid enough to regard Rhodes' appearance as a reconciliation signal from Doji.
Even if this is true, Wu Lai will not choose to stand on the same side with Doggie. Not to mention far away, even in the Seneca city-state, the consul Anthony and the tribune Aesop cannot stand with Doggie. These two people who can suppress Doggie, one is calm and has a deep foundation, and the other is tough and upright and can distinguish between good and evil, are more suitable to be Wu Lai's friends than Doggie, even if they are just temporary friends.
The carriage stopped in front of the temple for a short while, until Wu Lai had a brief visit to Mikoyan, and then drove back to the White Stone Building.
When Wu Lai jumped off the carriage and walked towards the main building, he immediately saw Hippo and El standing at the door of the main building to greet him.
After not seeing her for a few days, El seemed to have become more beautiful, but the fine linen skirt she was wearing was obviously too small, which wrapped her exquisite figure perfectly, making Wu Lai dazed for a moment.
"Master Wu Lai, thank you for your hard work on the journey." Just as Hippo and El bowed, Gao Kuai came out from the main building to greet them.
Wu Lai nodded: "I want to take a bath." The bath he took in Pingfan Town last night was very mediocre, which made Wu Lai a little dissatisfied.
"Okay, Master Wu Lai." Xibo's heart moved and he subconsciously glanced at El.
At Hippo's instruction, El took on the task of serving Wu Lei in the bath. She felt shy, worried and a little excited about it. However, she soon developed a sense of loss because Wu Lei's bathing time was very short and he was frowning and thinking most of the time. The number of times he noticed her was almost negligible.
For the first time, El lost confidence in her own beauty.
After taking a bath to wash off his fatigue, Wu Lai listened to Gauguin's report on the income and expenditure of the past few days and the progress of the project in the reception room. He nodded and asked him to call Vulture in.
A moment later, the vulture, with water droplets still dripping from its body, hurried into the reception room led by Gauguin.
"What do you want, master?" The vulture knelt down and saluted.
After sending Gauguin away, Wu Lai smiled and said, "Vulture, what is your ideal?"
The vulture was stunned and shook his head quickly: "Master, I have no ideals, only missions."
"So what do you think is your mission?" Wu Lai asked again.
"My master, my previous mission was to defeat the opponent, and now my mission is to obey your orders." The vulture replied.
"I like your answer. Although, your understanding will affect your ultimate achievement. Well, let's not talk about this. I heard that before you participated in the farewell match, you were a teacher in a gladiator school?" Wu Lai asked.
"Yes, master, I train new gladiators for the previous master." The vulture replied.
"I also heard that, apart from gladiatorial contests and farewell matches organized for sacrifices, celebrations, and festivals, gladiatorial contests at other times are actually a form of gambling, which is very popular among bored citizens, right?" Wu Lai asked again.
Vulture nodded: "You are right, Master. The purpose of a gladiator's existence is to earn gold coins and glory for the Master. Every gladiator hopes to do this."
"How much is the most you have ever earned for your master?" Wu Lai asked with a smile.
"I heard it was 20,000 gold coins." A hint of pride flashed across the vulture's eyes.
"Did he give you any reward?" Wu Lai frowned.
"Six days of vacation, rich food, and..." Vulture suddenly pursed his lips.
"And Puya's sister, right?" Wu Lai's question surprised Vulture, but he quickly nodded and said, "She is also a female gladiator."
Another love story of joy and sorrow. Wu Lai sighed in his heart and asked with a smile: "Vulture, I know that according to the rules of Assyrian gladiatorial games, gladiators who are sold at the farewell game are equivalent to losing the qualification to participate in the gladiatorial games. However, the reason why I am interested in you is precisely because of your gladiatorial skills. Can you give me some advice? How can I get back the gold coins I paid for you as quickly as possible?"
The vulture thought for a while and said hesitantly: "If the master thinks it is okay, I can build a gladiator school for the master and teach all the gladiator skills I have mastered to the gladiators recruited by the master."
Wu Lai laughed and waved his hands. "No, no, Vulture, I was just joking. I don't need to rely on gladiators to make money, and I didn't consider spending a thousand gold coins to buy you as a business deal. I bought you because I need talents like you. Your rich fighting experience and your loyalty are what I need most. Due to restrictions, after you have achieved the value I expected of you, I can only give you freedom and money at most, making you a wealthy civilian. But please believe me, I hope to give you more than what the code stipulates."
The vulture was suddenly moved, and he knelt down again and saluted: "Thank you, Master. In fact, I am very lucky to have met you."
"Let's wait together for the world to change. Perhaps one day, all I said will come true." Wu Lai waved his hand to signal Vulture to stand up. "In the past few months, there have been 390 child slaves working in my White Stone Building. However, rather than calling it work, it's more like a long-term selection process for them. Half a month ago, the selection results came out. There are 225 child slaves who meet my preliminary requirements. Starting tomorrow, I need you to train them, train their physical fitness and simple fighting skills. I'll give you two years. During these two years, you have to lay a good physical foundation for them and instill the idea of loyalty to me. After two years, I want to see that they are as loyal as you while being strong."
"I will do it, Master," said the Vulture.
"They will listen to you in terms of training, and you can punish those who disobey you. I will provide all the supplies you need. Puya, I will be your assistant. Don't hide any difficulties, just tell me. What I want is a perfect result. I don't expect that in two years, you can train all the 225 child slaves I gave you to meet the requirements. But I believe that what you will return in the end will definitely be the best." Wu Lai said firmly.
"I'll listen to you, my master." Vulture nodded heavily.
Wu Lai showed a satisfied smile on his face, and then he called Gauguin who was waiting outside the door in. Vulture noticed that Gauguin was holding a long wooden box in his hand.
"Give it to him." Woolley pointed at the vulture. Gauguin hesitated slightly and handed the long wooden box to the vulture.
"Open it, Vulture," Woolley said with a smile.
After Vulture opened the lid as instructed, his sight froze for a moment. Inside the box was a long sword, the blade was black, the blade glowed silver, and a dove with its wings spread was engraved on the copper guard, it was exquisite, sophisticated, yet full of murderous aura.
"I have only made seven of these swords, and the most precious materials have been used up. So, even I am not sure whether the eighth sword will appear." Wu Lai said with a smile, "Vulture, today, I give you this sword, and also give you the task of using this sword. From now on, anyone who tries to stop me from moving forward will be killed with this sword. Do you understand?"
"I understand, master." Vulture was shocked and knelt on his knees immediately. He had never dared to think about gaining such trust and importance just after being bought.
"Please give this sword a name, master!" After a slight hesitation, the vulture lowered his head and pleaded.
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"Good suggestion." Wu Lai nodded, thought for a moment, and then said, "Then let's call it 'ruthless'."
"Thank you, master." The vulture closed the lid of the box gently.
After dinner, Vulture and Puya, who enjoyed the taste of "hot pot" for the first time, appeared in the child slave shed on the construction site. Puya, holding the list, gathered the child slaves who had been selected long ago to an open space, while Wu Lai had been waiting there for a long time.
In the light of the torch, Wu Lai's eyes were bright.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked loudly.
"Master!" The child slaves responded in an unisonous and loud voice.
Wu Lai frowned and raised his voice to repeat the question. This time, the child slaves' uniform answers finally satisfied him. Then, he smiled and said, "Do you know why you were chosen?"
The child slaves shook their heads.
Wu Lai went on to say: "That's because you were chosen by me, Wu Lai Grindo, your master! In the past few months, none of you present have been lazy, but have worked hard and shed blood for the White Stone Building. Your loyalty and hard work have won my favor and expectations. I am willing to give you a different life, a life that can bring hope to your future! Some citizens say that it is unkind for me to use you as labor. I don't care how others evaluate me. I only care about what I can bring to this world and what I can bring to you. What I want to see is absolutely different. You are what I call "different". Do you see the sword-wielding warrior standing next to me? His name is Vulture. From now on, he is the teacher of all of you. He will turn you into brave and strong people!"
After raising his right arm high, Wu Lai was disappointed to see the bewilderment and confusion on the faces of the more than 200 child slaves. Without waiting for cheers and applause, he shook his head helplessly, took out a booklet from his arms and threw it to Pu Ya, then nodded to Vulture: "I leave it to you." After saying that, he walked towards the main building while shaking his head.
After they were a little further away from the crowd, Gao Geng approached Wu Lai and whispered, "Master Wu Lai, they are just ignorant children, don't be angry."
"Am I angry?" After Wu Lai asked back, his cheeks turned red involuntarily. In order to avoid Gauguin seeing it, he stopped and turned around, looking towards the location of the vulture.
"I wonder if Vulture can handle these kids who can't understand the speech?" Woolley said to himself.
In Wu Lai's sight, the vulture with its back to him drew out its sword expressionlessly, and then pointed it diagonally at the night sky.
"This is the sword given to me by the master. The master said that disobedient children will die!" Vulture's expression suddenly became serious. More than 200 child slaves immediately felt his intimidating momentum and subconsciously took a step back.
"From now on, I am your teacher. In order to make you grow into the person the master needs, I will not show mercy just because you are still children. If you disobey me, complain, or slack off, I will whip you with thorns, and whip you hard!" said the vulture with a cold face.
Many child slaves shrank their necks.
"Those who are obedient, don't complain, and don't be lazy will have enough bread and dried meat! They will also have beds with mattresses to sleep on! Do you hear me?" the vulture asked loudly.
"I heard it!" the child slaves answered loudly while stealing a glance at the sword in the vulture's hand.
"If you are obedient, don't complain, and don't be lazy, just follow me for training tomorrow and you don't have to work anymore, okay?!" the vulture asked loudly.
"Okay!" The child slaves' responses rose another octave, with a bit more excitement and joy in their voices.
"If you want to have enough bread, eat dried meat, sleep in a comfortable bed, and don't have to work, what should you do? Answer me loudly?!" the vulture shouted.
"Be obedient! Don't complain! Don't be lazy!" the child slaves shouted in response.
Puya smiled slightly and couldn't help but glance at the vulture.
Not far away, Wu Lai shook his head and muttered as he walked towards the main building: "These naughty kids, are bread and meat more tempting than hope? They are really lacking in education."