In a damp space surrounded by four walls within the sewers of the city of Parthenia, Epiphanes, blindfolded, was trembling in fear. He had been battered considerably between being taken from his warm bed and brought here.
"Let me go! My father, Quintus, the leader of House Agustus, won't let you get away with this!"
The old man nicknamed Sewer Rat, standing guard over the valuable hostage personally, aimed not to allow any accidents. The rope that would pull their organization out of the dark well they fell into stood in this boy's hands.
"Daddy's handsome boy! Look what happens to you if you don't pay back the money you took!"
Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!
The cage where the rats stood shook violently; one of them had caught the scent of fresh meat.
"I hope your daddy brings the money we want on time, otherwise I don't think there will be anything left of you!"
While every part of the young boy ached in pain, the old man wasn't neglecting psychological pressure either. It would be considered a miracle if Epiphanes could keep his sanity until the money arrived.
Everyone became uneasy due to footsteps coming from afar in the gloomy environment. While approaching steps escalated the tension, a deep sigh of relief was heaved after the silhouette started to become distinguishable.
"Sir, welcome!"
"All of you, get out!"
Astute was very tense; he wanted to face the truth as soon as possible. As soon as he saw the blindfolded boy, he approached him and grasped his face with his palm. When the young man's face became transparent and started to separate from his skin, a piece of his soul caused the city lord's expression to change.
"You vile woman, she hid this from me for years!"
Meanwhile, a gloomy atmosphere reigned in the Partheni mansion; everyone except one person was busy reckoning with the past. Thinking there could be no better time to explain her plans, Nafız chimed in.
"Gentlemen, if you are going to stop living in the past, I will grant you the opportunity to be the architects of a completely different future. While this happens, I guarantee you will get your revenge too!"
Eftelya had retired to rest in her room on the upper floor. While Marcos watched his father and his old friends consoling each other, the female orc's words dropped like a bomb in the living room.
"Could you be a little more clear?"
Fernandez was the first to react. Gathering his messy long hair, he adopted an attitude eagerly waiting for what he would hear.
"This city will soon emerge from the pit it fell into a century ago and become a part of the Great Orc Empire. Provided you play the role assigned to you in this change, you will be able to have a say in the administration of the city!"
While Nafız attracted the interest of the three friends, her eyes were on Marcos. As she guessed, the young man was also closely interested in what was being spoken.
"From today on, bodyguard and servant units consisting of orcs of our army will be dispatched from the gate Marcos is responsible for to the households of the employees under your families. It is your responsibility to show this transfer as an ordinary precaution!"
Wandering her gaze over the humans, Nafız continued her words.
"Quintus, you must not reveal anything to your wife; otherwise, our entire plan falls through. In case of such a development, I would have to kill everyone bearing the surname Agustus; don't create unnecessary work for me!"
The words spoken by the female orc quite normally caused the short fat man to think his blood had been drained.
"You will hire an equal number of orcs as reinforcement alongside the bodyguard army at the gladiator school. Soon you will need to organize a big festival in the arena; I trust you very much in this regard!"
The leaders of the city's three noble families were like cats that had swallowed the canary in front of the female orc bought from the slave market a short while ago. Let alone interrupting her, they were afraid even to breathe loudly. They felt crushed in the face of her tone of speech and noble movements.
"I will do whatever you say, but I have one request from you!"
Even though he was in intense emotions, Niko was burning with the fire of the revenge he would take.
"The death of the city lord must be by my hands!"
The gray-haired man wanted to avenge his wife, and the request was based on extremely just reasons.
"A reasonable wish; have your preparations completed when the time comes!"
Nafız liked the father and daughter in whose house she lived; they had managed to become a family despite all tragedies. There was no need to be heartless enough to withhold such a small favor from them.
Very strange scenes were happening at the Agustus gladiator school; warriors without their instructor had spent the day enjoying the sun. Interestingly, the newly arrived bodyguards hadn't lifted a finger regarding this matter.
"Alyon, come here; we have things to talk about!"
Morrison, together with a few gladiators, called out to the hulking orc from where they sat.
"Let's talk, instructor; so you finally decided to ask the question bothering your mind!"
When Alyon came to their side, the other gladiators were startled, even if they didn't want to show it.
"Who are you, really? Why did a group of bodyguards turn their angry gazes on us when we called out to you?"
Although Morrison voiced it, the event he mentioned was attracting the attention of all warriors. There were always a few soldiers near Alyon, and they were wandering around as if wanting to protect him.
"Since you asked this question, I hope you know there is no turning back, instructor!"
Alyon gave his final warning, and subsequently, when he looked into the eyes of those in the small group, there was no trace of fear.
"Very good, I am the ruler of the neighboring northern region, the person who will soon rule the Orc Steppes. The bodyguards around us are soldiers of the city of Nikonya under my protection!"
The explanation shocked everyone in the small group. Even though they thought about some things more or less, even they hadn't guessed this much.
"In a short time, this city will break free from the chains it was shackled with and come under our protection. When events take place, what do you plan to do?"
For people who had been earning their lives through death struggles for a long time, the world consisted only of the arena where they wetted its sands with their blood. They hadn't dreamed of otherwise even for a moment; what could they do other than kill people?
"This is our home, hot sands; it was like this today, and nothing will change tomorrow!"
Morrison was the first person to break the silence. Amidst the gazes of others agreeing with his words, he said, "What is your plan regarding us?"
"Everything will depend on how you behave when the need arises for you. I hope I won't be disappointed!"
While Alyon said his last word and moved to the place where he always sat, the minds of the people he left behind were muddled. They would make a decision, and most likely, their lives would depend on it.
When darkness covered the City of Parthenia again, people assuming their roles buried themselves in their meals as if living in happiness. The three great houses could not be exempted from this vicious circle; each of their members in pain was in mixed feelings.
"Wife, I have good news. I found the ransom to save our child!"
Quintus returning home was shouting with joy. The exhausted man from the morning was gone, replaced by someone drunk with the joy of saving his only son. He didn't neglect to rouse the whole mansion as soon as he entered the door.
"Quintus, my life! You are the best father in the world; how lucky Epiphanes and I are to have you!"
Husband and wife were like two veteran actors displaying all their skills in the final scene of the play. Hugs and tears falling from their eyes caused even the emotions of the witnessing mansion staff to swell.