The morning sun seeped through the walls of the arena, casting warm rays inside. Finn sat in front of the iron railing in the arena and slowly straightened up. As he gazed at the dazzling sunrise, he frowned and crawled back into the cool shadows beneath the bed, curling up to escape the light.
Just as he settled in, the sound of cracking whips echoed from outside. It was a testament to Augustus's relentless work ethic, though the slaves didn't appreciate his diligence.
"Elijah, look at that little guy; he's not moving again. Why does he only come alive at night?" Brute rubbed his eyes, sitting up. "Fuck, what's up with Augustus lately? I've never seen him work this hard before. Has his bonus increased or something?"
"Maybe this batch is more important than usual," Elijah replied. He had already been awake, leaning against the headboard, tapping his fan against his palm while keeping a close watch on Finn. His mind was racing. "That feeling from last night—was it just an illusion? No, it can't be. It must be him. But why… is it because of that child? Could he be that special?"
"Brute, what day is it today?" Elijah asked.
"Today? Hmm, the seventh. The show's tonight, right? Hey, Elijah, want to place a bet?" Brute flipped through a small notebook he kept nearby.
"Betting is pointless, but who knows what might happen tonight," Elijah replied with a faint smile. "I didn't think your little notebook would prove so useful."
"Of course! I've always had a terrible memory. My mother told me to write down what I needed to remember. Now I can just look it up whenever I need to. My mom is amazing." Brute's eyes sparkled with excitement whenever he mentioned her.
"Hey, my mom wrote to me yesterday. Want to see it?" he asked, leaning against the iron bars that separated him from Elijah.
"No, thanks," Elijah answered, rubbing his temples. "I shouldn't have brought that up. I should make a note: 'Never mention Brute's mother in front of him.' I should keep it on a paper and hang it from my ear."
The arena needed performances to survive, but organizing large shows required significant investment and time for promotion. Therefore, it held smaller-scale events at regular intervals to sustain operations, waiting for the right moment to schedule a major spectacle for big profits.
LB Arena followed a routine of small-scale performances every five days, referred to as "weekly shows," which opened a limited number of special seats and a portion of the arena. Every fifteen days, there was a more formal gladiatorial event that allowed ticket sales to determine seating capacity. During these events, the entire arena was opened up, featuring warm-up acts, side shows, announcers, and more.There were large-scale "super gladiator" events, but these were unscheduled, with posters only released a month in advance. Today marked one of LB Arena's formal gladiatorial performances.
Today felt different from any other day. From the moment the sun rose, the arena buzzed with activity. While there had been smaller shows, the contrast to the upcoming gladiatorial event was significant enough to stir even Finn from his usual lethargy.
People moved to and fro in the arena's central combat area, inspecting the ground, checking weapons on the racks, and ensuring the cages for the gladiators and beasts were secure. In the stands, personnel surveyed the seating arrangements, the walls' wear and tear, and the odd iron rods scattered about.
Finn, as usual, tried to doze off, but today he found it impossible. He kept glancing at the person nestled in the straw, an unshakable sense of unease gnawing at him, as if something was about to happen.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the day's heat began to dissipate, ushering in another wave of excitement at LB Arena. Thanks to Elmo's earlier endeavors, the entire Dune City had turned its attention to the gladiatorial performance, making it an unprecedented spectacle akin to a grand festival.
In the exclusive VIP section reserved for nobles and wealthy merchants, dressed aristocrats raised their wine glasses as if attending a grand party, oblivious to the bloody and violent spectacle about to unfold.
"My goodness, isn't that Duke Murphy? How come you have the time to come to my place to watch the show today?" Elmo, who was greeting guests at the door, spotted Duke Murphy surrounded by a group of nobles. With his signature smile, he approached to welcome him.
"Haha, Mr. Elmo's big business has been the talk of all Dune City lately. Buying so many slaves at once—I bet this gladiator show is going to be truly spectacular. I certainly wouldn't want to miss such an exciting performance. But there sure are a lot of people here today, huh? Good thing I didn't bring her along. Haha..." Duke Murphy laughed heartily.
Dune City belongs to Lawhoadal Regnum, the largest and most powerful nation on the continent of Loya. The first emperor of Lawhoadal Regnum, Emperor Lawhoadal, was the only ruler ever recognized by the Supreme Church of the Sun God—the most authoritative and powerful religious organization in the world. He was considered a near-godlike figure. Over nearly ten generations, each emperor has been an exceptional leader, which is why the Lawhoadal Regnum has endured and thrived for so long. The empire's vast expanse can be glimpsed from the fact that it encompasses the immense Everlasting Wilds in the far west of the continent and the majestic Dune City.
Because of the size of Lawhoadal Regnum, the nobility was extensive, with titles arranged by rank, some hereditary. The duke's position was third in the hierarchy, following the princely ranks, with various other titles such as marquis, count, viscount, and baron. While some noble ranks could vary in status depending on their territories, being a duke in the barren region of Everlasting Wilds was significant. Unfortunately, this area was home to two dukes.
"Oh, my goodness. Isn't that Duke Gardner? What a day it is that a gladiator show can attract two esteemed dukes!" Elmo's eyes lit up as he called out to Duke Gardner behind Duke Murphy.
As the crowd turned, they beheld a handsome man in his thirties, draped in resplendent garments, flanked by a group of noblewomen, a broad smile gracing his face as he walked toward Elmo and Duke Murphy.
Though Everlasting Wilds was vast, it was also barren, making the title of duke here quite reasonable. Duke Murphy ruled over this area, while Duke Gardner's title was inherited, though he was not the direct heir and had been sent to this remote region after acquiring his rank. This set the stage for a treacherous political landscape, rife with intrigue. Yet, this instability also provided opportunities for cunning individuals like Elmo and Kayden to flourish.
"Elmo, what a delightful scene! With such a lively scene and even Duke Murphy in attendance, how could I not come to take a look?" Duke Gardner said with an elegant smile, performing a noble bow towards Duke Murphy, who politely returned the gesture.
"Gentlemen, the sun is setting, and the winds are rising. Let's head inside to chat," Elmo suggested, glancing at the sky as he bowed respectfully to the two dukes.
"Don't you have other distinguished guests to attend to, Elmo?" Duke Murphy asked, seemingly a bit surprised.
"No, I don't. There's no one more distinguished than the two of you dukes," Elmo replied with a faint smile.
"Indeed, the two dukes are the most distinguished guests. Elmo, don't neglect them," Ruben said with a hearty laugh as he strode over with Rufus.
"Brother Ruben! I didn't expect you to have an interest in coming to see the show here. I must have neglected you," Elmo exclaimed, his expression one of surprise as he quickly apologized.
"There's no need for such formalities, Elmo. We're like brothers, and this little matter is nothing to worry about," Ruben replied with a hearty laugh, his expression warm and friendly. "Let's go inside and chat; we shouldn't keep the two esteemed dukes waiting while we chat out here."
As the group entered the arena, they exchanged meaningless pleasantries along the way. After ascending two flights of stairs and winding through several corridors, they finally arrived at the VIP section.
The simultaneous appearance of two dukes sent ripples through the crowd. Nobles flocked to them, some engaging in idle chatter while others fawned over them, leaving Elmo, the host, somewhat sidelined.
"The two dukes really do draw attention," Elmo remarked as he tucked himself into a corner, watching the crowd surrounding the dukes. He took out a cigar from his pocket and gently lit it.
"Elmo, my friend, your old habit hasn't changed at all. You still like to hide in the corner," Ruben said with a smile as he approached Elmo, who was standing there alone.
"Some habits are hard to break, even after ten years. What brings you here, Ruben?" Elmo replied casually, puffing on his cigar.
"Oh, nothing much—just trying to figure things out," Ruben said, his brow furrowing slightly.
"What's weighing on your mind?" Elmo asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Tell me, Elmo, what kind of lineup are you planning for tonight? With so many new arrivals, it must be tricky to organize," Ruben inquired, his smile turning sly.
"Indeed, it is a bit of a challenge. But I tend to be lazy, leaving those details to my capable subordinates. Sometimes, having good help is more practical than doing everything myself," Elmo responded, glancing at Ruben with a glint in his eye.
"Hey, why are you two hiding back here? Elmo, I can understand, but you too, Ruben? Is that the new trend?" Duke Gardner's voice cut through the air, drawing everyone's attention to the two men.
"What's going on? The show is about to start; aren't you curious to see?" Duke Murphy said gracefully.
"Ah, I'll stay back and witness the impressive arrangements of Elmo's capable subordinates," Ruben replied.
"Go on, Ruben; I prefer to stay here," Elmo said with a gentle smile.
Ruben, after a slight bow, made his way toward the front of the viewing area