The city was shaken by murder news again after a two-day break. The serial killer had returned, and this time his target was the high-ranking soldiers of the city guards. Without distinguishing between battalion or division, the command echelon had started to tremble in fear.
This was necessary for the Parthenia army to weaken, and Nafız continued to use the situation to compensate for her losses. After losing ranked soldiers one by one for seven days, Astute issued his order. Until the killer was caught, entrances and exits to the city would be closed.
As soon as the Cervantes and Partheni houses received the order, they immediately sealed the city's customs. For the first time in the history of the trade city, it had cut off its communication with the outside world by its own will.
"Are you sure? This idea seems very risky to me!"
Niko spoke with a worried expression; what he was asked to do was indeed quite dangerous.
"You do exactly as I say. The remaining risks are mine!"
After telling the gray-haired man what to do, Nafız set off towards Eftelya, whose treatment she was continuing. The young girl, whose illness was cured after her mother's soul left her body, was continuing her treatment with medicine cures and healing baths.
"Come quick, Nafız, you must see this?"
Eftelya, who had taken the first step of her life on the railings she leaned on, shouted with joy. A step, a step that seemed insignificant to most people, had caused roses to bloom on the young girl's face.
"What speed is this; soon you'll try to surpass me in a running race too!"
Although it was impossible for a person who hadn't used her leg muscles for years to take a step in such a short time, Mora and her mother's genius were involved. Nafız was using all the resources she had for the girl whose perseverance and fortitude she admired.
"I am living inside a miracle right now, and it's all thanks to you; stay with me always!"
Nafız just remained silent in the face of the young girl's words. Her pride was stroked by the call, but they both knew this wasn't possible. She didn't want to spoil the beautiful synergy formed by speaking; she just pursued enjoying the moment.
"My Lord, I have news!"
When the door opened, the City Lord sitting at his desk appeared.
"The Partheni house announced that the servant orcs who stole valuable items from the corpses after the massacre in their mansion will be punished in the arena!"
After thinking for a short while at the news he heard, Astute jumped to his feet excitedly.
"A good opportunity for the city to find morale! Notify Quintus that we will be ready there together with the high-level military echelon!"
The news dropped on the city like a bomb. The public was angry at the orc who robbed the poor guards, and the prominent families were eager to suck up to the City Lord. As thought, the event created a separate excitement in society by dispersing the gloomy atmosphere.
When the expected moment arrived a few days later, although the arena was packed to the rafters, it was surrounded by a flood of people formed by those who couldn't enter. The noble families had taken their places; except for Eftelya, who stayed at home upon Nafız's specific warning, not a single person was missing.
As always, Astute would be the last person to enter the arena, and the Agustus house hadn't broken the order just by arriving before the City Lord. Together with their son, whom they took back by paying his ransom, they were practically making a show of strength.
Quintus, walking with the most beautiful woman of the city on his arm, cast an arrogant glance at the rows where the other two houses were located before sitting in his place with an attitude of "I created the small mountains."
"Friend Quintus, you don't seem to be in high spirits today?"
While Fernandez watched his friend's movements, he admired him once again. While storms were raging inside him, the fat man wasn't making the slightest slip to the outside.
"How can I be well? You also know the incident that happened to me!"
On the evening he came home with enough gold to save his son, Quintus had made up a story built on lies to his wife. He had told her that Niko and Fernandez didn't help him and that he found the money thanks to a business partner from overseas continents.
"No need for you to worry. Our family and my hubby are in quite good condition!"
Athena was very angry at both men because of what she was told; she wasn't even in a state to see her eternal love. After her outburst looking at the leaders of the two families, she quickly sat in her place.
"You are cursing unnecessarily, Athena. We had explained to Quintus that day too that there was nothing we could do!"
Niko had no intention of letting the matter end here; he was pursuing to stoke the fire a bit more.
"What happened happened because of your concern to appear merciful. Look, if you had let me buy the female orc at the market that day, these events wouldn't have happened to you!"
When Epiphanes spoke from a high register, Niko wanted to content himself with just laughing, but a devil inside him was constantly poking him.
"You are right, Epiphanes. It seems you took the ability of foresight and evaluating the person opposite you from your father!"
The young man was proud of the satisfaction of being the dominant side against a family head. In this situation, it wasn't possible for him to notice the small change on the faces of his parents standing next to him.
"City Lord Astute has entered the arena!"
The man, to whom those around him bowed their heads as he took his steps, was very joyful today. Unlike usual, he wasn't alone; a command echelon consisting of at least twenty people was walking behind him.
As the group coming towards them approached, Niko and Fernandez's anger peaked, but saying the pain suffered is sacred if the expected day comes, they bowed their heads. When the City Lord and his commanders took their places, Quintus took his place on the stage with quick steps and declared the fights started.
Fights were passing very bloodily befitting the glory of the day; the enthusiasm of the people had spread to the gladiators too. The Agustus School was sending the most experienced warriors in their schools to the sands specially for this day. Since other gladiator raisers also adopted the same method to get into the lord's good graces, the quality of the shows had become very high.
As the fights continued, Quintus would remain in astonishment; each of his warriors wasn't leaving the arena without killing their opponents. He was the person who came out most profitable in the experienced warrior slaughter and should have been drowning in joy, but only the expression of the fat man's eyes had changed.
"Quintus, the warriors of your school are dazzling!"
When the short man, feeling a knife stabbing his heart as the City Lord's voice reached his ears, remained silent for a while, Astute turned his back curiously.
"Sir, I am also surprised; I didn't know what to say from excitement!"
Quintus, suddenly assuming his old sycophantic attitudes, had made the hearts of the two family leaders leap into their mouths. While the city lord turned his front laughing after the words of the incompetent-looking man, he thought everything was as before.
It was time for the final fight; the struggles lasting all day were just a preparation for it. The execution announced to the public carried interesting epic elements. The punishment of the orc slave who brought shame to the house she lived in would be given by her kin, the new conqueror of the arena.
When the hulking orc, who took down all his opponents with a single blow, stepped into the arena, the stands began to groan with cheers. The people loved him; in these dark days, he was like a sun rising in the dawn of blood and savagery.
When the other door opened, the female orc was thrown onto the hot sands by the officials. While the criminal, whose clothes were torn and who was covered in bruises and wounds all over, struggled to get up on her bare feet, objects were practically raining down from the stands like rain.