Alien Knights

At dinner, Ackerman broke the rye cake into hot soup and said to Todd, "Boss, do you really not consider my suggestion?"

Todd gave him a sideways look, but said nothing.

Regarding the title "Boss", Todd objected several times, saying that it sounded like a bandit, but other people used it too much, so he acquiesced.

Seeing that Todd didn't respond, Ackerman became anxious: "Think about it, from the beginning to the present, every class you have taken is free! It's fine that the class is free, and you have to pay for the materials for making "fake blood"! In fact, there are so many gladiators, as long as everyone charges a little money, we will make a lot of money!"

Casper added a branch to the bonfire, glared at Ackerman and said, "Many people can't even eat enough, you make them pay?!"

The latter protested: "But no matter what, it's too much to provide for free...I heard that some gladiators got the fake blood we provided and sold it at a high price."

Casper scratched his head when he heard this, and felt that something was wrong.

"Let's form an association." Todd looked at the burning branches in the fire, and said calmly: "It's similar to a trade union, mainly responsible for the daily affairs of gladiators."

Casper was a little puzzled: "The association is aimed at merchants and craftsmen, and it doesn't have much binding force. For those rebellious gladiators, why can't you build a semi-military armed force with you as the leader?"

Todd didn't even think about it, and directly rejected the proposal: "If I dare to do this in the arena, I'm afraid I will soon meet the army that destroys me."

Ackerman thought for a while, and then said: "That's right. But if you want to establish an association, then you must set a threshold for those who join."

Todd nodded.

Ackerman began to count the conditions with his fingers: "First, the person who joins must be dedicated. After joining the association, he can no longer stay in the original faction; second, the person who joins must be loyal. People who have committed crimes such as betrayal in the past should not be accepted."

Todd pondered for a while, and added: "One more thing, the joiners must be slaves who have lost their freedom. Those who voluntarily join the arena for any reason are not allowed to join the association."

Ackerman and Casper glanced at each other. They were a little puzzled as to why Todd would propose such a condition, but they finally nodded in agreement.

"There is one last thing." Ackerman put down the wooden bowl, his face full of excitement: "This Gladiator Association must be given a resounding name."

Todd said with a bit of a headache: "Name?"

Ackerman raised his hand high: "What will happen to the champion? It just fits Lord Boyle's identity as the "Red Champion"!"

Todd rejected this plan with a smile: "The same as the establishment of a militarized force, this proposal cannot be adopted. This name is too ostentatious and will cause us unnecessary trouble."

Ackerman shrugged helplessly: "Really? I have always liked this name, so what should I call it?"

Stepping on the blood-stained land under his feet, looking at the red branches in the campfire, Todd suddenly said: "Let's call it 'Red Branch' (Red Branch)."

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After dinner, he finalized some details of the "Red Branch Gladiator Association" with Ackerman and Casper. Todd handed over the remaining liaison matters to them, and went to the prison area on the basement level by himself to visit Boyle's clansmen.

Seeing the arrival of the patriarch, Fried, a veteran barbarian, quickly got up from the ground, patted his chest, and signaled that he was in good condition.

Todd leaned on the cell door, looked at his "clan", turned and said to the jailer, "Open the cell door."

The latter said with a look of embarrassment: "Master Boyle, I told you a long time ago..."

"Open the cell door, I want to talk to my people. If you are worried, you can lock the cell door after I walk in."

The jailer thought for a moment.

Boyle had been visiting these people almost every night, and nothing had happened for so many days; besides, he was now exonerated, and it was unlikely that he would take the risk.

Thinking of this, the jailer opened the cell door, watched Todd walk in, and locked the cell door again.

After saying hello to the clansmen one by one, Todd called on the veteran warriors Fried and Shaman Minnie, found an empty corner of the prison, and whispered, "At the end of this month, the Kingdom of Ulster will hold a celebration. These guards in the arena will be tired of handling the management of the prison because of the reception work of the royal family, nobles and missions. At that time, it is the best time for you to escape."

The old soldier Fried asked in a low voice: "Escape? With so many of us, even if we can escape the "Red Circle", how can we leave the territory of the Kingdom of Ulster?"

"There was a woman named Deirdre, do you remember her?"

Todd's question made the shaman Minnie look up, and a smile suddenly appeared on the old woman's wrinkled face: "Ah, Deirdre, that poor child..."

Fried looked at Todd: "What does running away have to do with her?"

"As long as we escape out of the city, she will arrange transportation, customs clearance papers, and team camouflage so that we can return to the south safely."

"Deirdre's father signed a covenant with Conchi Urber, and she may really be able to send us back!" Fried looked excited. Later, he remembered something, and asked worriedly: "Will she join hands with Conchi Urber to deceive us?"

Todd shook his head slightly: "I don't think so. If Conchiuber wants to kill me, he can have a hundred ways. There is no need to choose a way that is both laborious and risky."

Fried nodded: "Then there is no problem on my side, please tell me, what should I do?"

"On the day of the celebration, the royal family will arrange a grand gladiatorial fight in the 'Red Circle'. Most of the guards will be dispatched to the ground to maintain order and be in charge of reception. At that time, it is the best time for you to act."

Todd used stones to draw a simple sketch on the ground: "There is a hidden sewer in the southernmost waste dump on the second basement floor. The fence has been loosened due to old age. From there, you can directly enter the forest outside the city. Deirdre's connector will be waiting for you there."

"But there is one thing that you must pay attention to, that is the time. From the entry of the guests to the end of the gladiatorial fight, there are only two hours at most. You must rush out of the city as soon as possible to meet the connector."

Fried nodded first to express his understanding, then suddenly thought of something, and shouted loudly: "No! Then what do you do?!"

Seeing the jailer attracted by the sound, Todd quickly gave the old soldier a silent gesture.

Waiting for the jailer to look away again, Todd whispered: "Don't worry about my affairs, I will naturally have a way to escape from here."

"If the king finds out that we have all fled, he will surely pour out all his wrath on you!"

Under Todd's repeated assurances, Fried gave up asking.

"I want to chat with the patriarch alone for a while." Shaman Minnie said suddenly.

Fried glanced at the old woman, sighed and got up.

Minnie didn't say a word, and stared at Todd for a long time, all the while seeing the latter twisting his body uncomfortably.

"How did Boyle die?"

Hearing what the other party said, Todd was shocked, but his face showed a puzzled look: "What did you say?"

The old woman closed her eyes, and her tone was so calm that Todd couldn't believe it: "I have been taking care of that child since he was born. I know his pronunciation and his habits. So, there is no need to hide it from me."

The matter is so important, Todd decided to pretend to be stupid: "I don't know what you are talking about..."

Minnie opened her eyes, looked at Todd and shook her head: "Are you still refusing to admit it? Listen carefully, the child's lower right tooth socket, the third tooth from the back to the front, is no longer there because he fell off the horse when he was a child. Why don't you open your mouth and let me see your teeth?"

Cold sweat ran down Todd's cheeks.

"Shaping" can change fat connective and epidermal tissue, but it can't change bone structure. Besides, the lack of teeth had never occurred to Todd at all.

Seeing the other party's pale face, Minnie smiled and said, "Is there nothing to say? Now tell me, how did Boyle die?"

Todd took a deep breath, and detailed the night he rescued Boyle.

After listening to the narration, Minnie did not show any emotion, nor did she ask about the other party's identity. Just put his hand on Todd's forehead, and said calmly: "As I said before, you have a unique and kind soul, and this is why I trust you."

Walking out of the prison, Todd looked back at the old shaman again. He had too many questions to ask, but it was obviously not the time right now, so he had to wait until he escaped.

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On the eastern avenue of the Kingdom of Ulster, a cavalry regiment of 500 men, flying the flag of the Kingdom of Connaught, escorted a beautifully decorated carriage, slowly heading west.

A charming and gentle voice came from the carriage: "How far is it to Ama City?"

The leading cavalry commander has already answered this question countless times, but he was refreshed when he heard this voice, and replied respectfully: "There are still two days' journey, Your Majesty the Queen."

A low sigh came from the carriage: "Are there two more days?"

The commander thought for a while, and carefully suggested: "Your Majesty, if you just want to watch the arena, the kingdom also has its own arena, so there is no need to travel all the way here."

The banter coming from the carriage was as crisp and sweet as clear water falling into a jade plate, hitting everyone's hearts bit by bit: "Pay attention to your words, I am now the head of the Connaught Mission, and I have a heavy responsibility..."

The commander and his adjutant looked at each other and shook their heads helplessly.