York said to Merion happily, "'Buck Whitman', if you are free every Sunday afternoon, come and practice with me for one or two hours. Test the results of my training during the week."
Merion agreed without hesitation.
There was another fight on Colosseum today.
As soon as York left the training ground, he greeted Merion and ran to "free contract citizens" to inquire about the news on the field today.
When Merion was halfway through his dinner.
York came back from outside and rushed into the restaurant.
Seeing York sitting next to Merion, the newcomers quickly surrounded him and sat down.
Instead of letting York eat, they asked about the situation of today's battle.
"York, how was it going on the Colosseum today? Was the fight fierce?"
"How many people have died in the fight?"
"Are there more gladiators killed today, or fewer than yesterday?"
York quickly took a sip of soup, put down the bowl, and replied, "There are a total of eight matches today, and 5 of them died on the spot. Among the remaining three, two died in the judgment of the audience, and the other survived in the judgment of the audience. Today, a total of 7 people died."
"Oh my God! Why is it more than yesterday?"
"Only 5 of them died yesterday, but 7 died today."
"Even if the gladiator doesn't die on the spot, the survival rate of them being judged by the audience after losing is also low. It really depends on luck."
"That's right. The audience likes to watch the bloody fight in Cabul Colosseum, and then cut off the head of the loser."
A newcomer asked with concern, "York, have you ever asked about it? How high is the probability of survival when the audience judges the loser?"
"On average, one out of 3-4 gladiators will survive in the adjudication; the audience is also human, and sometimes it depends on the mood of them that day. If the whole battle that day is very wonderful and the audience is satisfied, they will not be so eager to make every loser's head fall on the ground and use their lives to obtain the final satisfaction."
"Then what special ability does the only one who survived the judge by the audience today have?"
"I heard from 'free contract citizens' that the competition of this gladiator on the spot was very wonderful, but his opponent was too strong." York replied, "And he is also very handsome. The audience doesn't want him to die so soon. They hope to see him on Colosseum in the future."
"That's over. My ugly face will definitely die if the audience makes a judgment."
"Well, let's not talk about you. Few of us are good-looking."
"There is no need to mention Merion. He is a handsome man, and even we men think he is handsome and strong. The other one is York, a handsome young man with clear eyebrows and clear eyes, slender like a girl. Some audience like this type of young men, and they certainly don't want to cut off his head."
"I also think that York should be very lucky if he loses to surrender because he can survive only by his face..."
"Why do you always look down upon me?" York interrupted the newbie angrily. With a red face, he said, "I'm a 'free contract citizen'. On Cabul Colosseum, 'free contract citizen' will never admit defeat!"
"Won't you surrender even if you lose?"
"Of course not!" York replied, "Why do only 'free contract citizens' use their real names on Cabul Colosseum? Because every 'free contract citizen' is not fighting for the slave owner Barney, but their own names! Even if Desen and I are fighting for paying off our debts, we don't choose to be robbers and rob ordinary civilians, but to come to the duel of Colosseum, because this is the glory of warriors."
York looked at Merion and said firmly, "Besides, I'm a good friend and brother of the 'Buck Whitman'. I'm Desen's brother and the captain of the Third Army of the Jackson kingdom. I'd rather die in the Cabul Colosseum battle than surrender!"
The newbies looked at York in surprise and found that this thin young man had dignity in his heart.
"York, you are indeed different from us. You are willing to sign a contract to fight in Colosseum. You are indeed not afraid of death!"
"We are all sold to Colosseum. Most people want to survive in the arena, whether they lose or win on Colosseum."
"Yes, although we are slaves now, we still want to live on."
York looked at these green hands with a sad face. After Merion's explanation yesterday, he sympathized with them.
"Don't worry. If I can win in the competition, I won't kill you on the spot," York said, "But if you are stronger than me on the stage, you don't have to let me go. Fighting to the death is also an honor."
Merion looked at York in surprise and appreciation. "You've grown up so fast, both in fighting skills and in thinking."
"That's because I gave up the beef and cheese that 'free contract citizens' would like to have for dinner tonight and came to eat and live with you." York said with a smile, "I have learned a lot from you. Here, I saw the other side of the Colosseum gladiators. The slave gladiators sold here are different from 'free contract citizens' who are willing to duel. This is another world, which can let me see more comprehensive problems."
York scratched his head and said with a smile, "It seems that to accompany you, it's worth giving up the extra food of beef and cheese every day."
Today was the last weekend in September.
On Cabul Colosseum, the competition in September was over.
After dinner, York told Merion that a total of 49 gladiators had died this month according to the news from "free contract citizens".
45 of them were slaves, and 4 of them were "free contract citizens."
"In fact, the total number of deaths on the Colosseum this month is more than that of the last month." Said York.
"I don't think this number is right." Merion frowned and said, "12 gladiators died this week. Moreover, 17 of our companions died in the last novice selection show. How could the whole month's statistics lead to the death of 49 gladiators? They must have said something wrong."
"Because Cabul Colosseum doesn't include the 17 partners who died in our talent show at all!" York explained. In their eyes, the 17 newcomers are not gladiators at all, just 17 slaves killed in a rare accident during a talent show.