After ignoring Mido, Tenur went directly to his resting place, where he intended to take a few minutes nap before continuing his activities.
It was still daylight, but due to the fatigue of his body, Tenur quickly fell asleep as he lay down on the floor of his area, where there was no comfortable bed for him.
Tebu saw Tenur going to sleep but did nothing, waiting for a time when fewer 'eyes' would be nearby, and the conditions would be favorable.
'Rest one last time, you cur!
Tonight it will be time for me to 'suicide you'!'
Tenur would sleep peacefully for 50 minutes without even imagining that someone was planning his death.
When it was close to the end of Tenur's rest time, Mido went in search of him to continue the routine that Mero had passed on to them.
While doing so, he saw Tebu leaving the area where the servants of this ship rested and found it strange that this person was not working. 'Why was he around here? He should be preparing the water for the lord's afternoon bath...'
But Mido left that matter for later as he saw Tenur getting up.
"What are we going to do now?" The 'young' captive asked.
"Let's continue the repair of those pieces..." Mido quickly explained what they had to do, something they had already started in the previous days.
Since they were traveling on a ship that was not that big and had few people, this group had a few problems to solve.
Combined with Tenur's problem-solving skills, there had been almost nothing for him to get involved in lately except meat production.
Hence, Tenur went back to fixing some of the tools and workpieces of the slaves and servants on that ship.
He didn't think these were good uses of his skills. Yet, considering he wasn't working too hard, ate, and rested enough not to complain, he was doing it all with optimistic thoughts in mind.
So he would keep going until nightfall!
...
After helping to prepare Mero's dinner, Tenur finished his work for the day and went to rest.
He would now have until about 4 a.m. to sleep until he would have to wake up to start preparing the next day's meat.
As there was almost nothing to do in that place, with no electricity and in the middle of a boring and tiring trip, he simply wanted to start sleeping, even though it was still 8 p.m.
He entered that servants' rest area opening his mouth sleepily, and soon went towards where he had been sleeping lately.
That place was practically empty when he arrived since, unlike the servants on this ship, Tenur had no more work to do after Mero's meal.
But someone was there waiting for him!
'Uh? Tebu? What is this guy doing here? He should be working next to that woman and lord Mero.' Tenur thought as he saw that person watching him, sitting there.
Tebu was one of the highest-ranked servants on this ship.
He was responsible for dealing directly with Mero, preparing the bath, taking care of the food, and even engaging in messenger service for this nobleman.
Tenur knew this as he had talked to several servants since he had gained morale among these individuals for solving several problems on this trip.
Then, seeing Tebu when Mero should be eating caught Tenur's attention.
"Tebu, are you around here? The lord released you early today, huh?" He asked, probing the situation of this individual.
Tebu immediately realized this and said in a low voice. "Slave, don't talk to me like you are my equal. What's more, don't ask questions about lord Mero. He is not someone for you to casually refer to."
"Uh? What are you talking about? What's the reason for that?" Tenur immediately realized something was wrong with that man who was the same height as him, only much stronger.
Tebu walked toward Tenur, saying. "You are a pest. Do you think I don't know what you are doing? You're trying to fool my lord and make some kind of dirty play.
But I won't let you, slave. I won't let you harm my lord!"
"Oh? So that's it?" Tenur was surprised.
He was not planning anything specific against Mero. Tenur did not know enough about this society to have already planned all his steps and whether he would act against Mero.
But he had plans to improve his position through Mero and achieve better living conditions.
Therefore, listening to that man, he couldn't help but look at his actions. 'I'm attracting attention, eh? But what can I do? The resolution of these matters is so simple for me. I've shocked these people without intending to a few times...
On the other hand, this is the only way I see in front of me to improve my situation and not die of physical exhaustion.' He thought silently, seeing that he would need to be more careful.
If Tebu was suspicious that he would act against Mero, then it was to be expected that others would think that having someone so impressive around would be dangerous!
"Tebu, it seems that you have got it wrong. I just don't want to work as a slave of burden, so I am demonstrating my skills to the lord. But that's all I know how to do. If the lord orders me to do more, I will disappoint him." He said as he stepped back, seeing that that man was approaching him.
"No. You are planning something dirty. Your words are worthless, slave!" Tebu clenched his fists and acted before anyone got in his way.
He then jumped toward Tenur's neck, trying to strangle that person.
'I will kill you and then make it look like you took your own life...' He smiled as he reached for his opponent's body.
Tenur was still weak compared to the people of this world, even more so compared to Tebu, who had over 20 years of physical labor on his record.
He quickly caught up to his opponent and immobilized him, strangling this light-skinned foreigner mercilessly.
Tenur felt in despair in this situation, not knowing how to get rid of that brute who could kill him.
'What do I do?
If I don't do anything, this wretch will kill me!
No!
I can't allow it!
Now that I was improving my life in this damned world!' His eyes reddened, while his face lost some of its colors due to his situation.
In the midst of this, suddenly, Mido appeared in that place, already suspicious that Tebu was planning something.
"Tebu, stop what you are doing!" Mido shouted as he ran towards that servant, drawing attention with his voice to other servants nearby.
Tebu heard that and immediately let go of Tenur, feeling that if he didn't try to run away, he would suffer greatly at Mero's hands.
It was a fact that he was trying to protect his master. But Mero had not authorized any of them to act against that slave.
Given this, even thinking the best for Mero, Tebu would not escape exemplary punishment by being caught trying to murder Tenur!
"Damn it!" He shouted as he ran toward one of the sides of the ship.
Unfortunately for this fellow, running away would be something he would never achieve!
The moment he passed the door of that servant's rest area, one of Mero's guard members hit him with a rod, causing his body to plummet.
Then, as someone tried to help Tenur, several individuals surrounded that rebellious servant, not taking long to arrest him and take him to Mero.
"What's going on here?" The master of this ship was faced with Tebu half beaten and Tenur with several bruises on his neck.
Mido then said. "My lord, Tebu tried to kill Tenur."
"What? Is that true?" Mero asked that slave.
Tenur said. "Yes, my lord. He tried to kill me when I was going to sleep in the servant area."
"What? How dare you, Tebu?" Mero shouted in pure hatred at that individual.
"Lord, I was doing it for you! This person knows too much to be a good influence on the lord!
I'm sure he wishes the lord harm!"
"Tsk!
That's for me to decide!" He then asked Tenur. "Very well, Tebu is guilty of attempted murder. As his victim, how do you want him to be punished?"
Everyone looked at Tenur in silence while he thought of the best answer so as not to frighten these people.
"My lord, this slave cannot tell an appropriate method of punishment as he does not know the local traditions. Therefore, even if he is a criminal, Tebu should be punished following the lord's traditions, not this slave's.
Thus, I dare not say how the lord should punish him." Tenur said, lowering his body in a humble manner.
...