The standard equipment of the soldiers of the Praetorian Guards is actually very simple, a bronze helmet, a bronze vest breastplate, brown leather shoulder pads, brown leather skirt, brown mid-length leather boots and brown leather wristbands, a total of six pieces. Especially the bronze helmet, which is an antique style, shoulder-length flat cylinder, with a T-shaped gap on the front, exposing eyes, nose and mouth.
It is said that there is only one copper mine in the Haneyabad Islands, and the pirates did not find iron ore after they established the kingdom. In addition, the coastal countries imposed an embargo on the mineral resources of the Haneyabad Kingdom, and even the second King Road When De I formed the Royal Guards, he could not provide metal armor. Finally, someone came up with the idea of casting helmets and breastplates with bronze, so that the soldiers of the Guards had standard equipment.
Over the past few decades, the Imperial Guards have not encountered any big battles. At most, they have suppressed the resistance of the slaves and put on a show during the celebration, so even the current Kingdom of Haneyabada has the ability to replace the Imperial Guards. A suit of equipment, but considering the cost, it was nothing in the end. Anyway, the style of this equipment is old enough, just for future generations to respect the tradition left by the predecessors.
Stam led Lorist to walk in the dark passage, just like two soldiers on patrol.
Lorist held a semi-circular bronze shield in his left hand, and a spear with a bronze tip in his right hand, which was also the standard weapon of the Praetorian Guard soldiers. And Stam didn't wear a helmet, but wore a bronze breastplate and a long sword by his side. He explained that he was a veteran, so he didn't have to be well equipped, and he always carried a shield and a spear.
There are two torches stuck on the wall of the front entrance, and there are two guard soldiers with spears and shields standing below. Seeing Stam and Lorist coming, one of them is very strange: "Hey, brother Stam, you Didn't you go back to rest? Why are you here again... "
Stam pointed to the zenith above angrily: "The bastard said that there are few people tonight, so we must pay special attention to safety. He asked me to be on duty temporarily, and then patrol around..."
The two soldiers giggled, and the soldier who spoke just now shook his head: "Our squadron leader is targeting you more and more, Brother Stam, why don't you transfer to another squadron."
Stam responded vaguely: "Let's talk about it, I have to go back to being a soldier for a few years when I go to another squadron..."
Turning across the passage, there are two rows of iron fences in front, and there are four soldiers on duty in the middle. But with Stam leading, the two are unimpeded. After passing the two rows of iron fences, Lorist discovered that there was a stairway leading to the underground.
After going down the stairs, there are two rows of iron fences and four guard soldiers in front of them. Stam took Lorist through again under the pretext of being forced to inspect by the superior. In front of him was a square-like underground space. Stam softly explained to Lorist that this is the basement floor. The slave servants who work for the arena and the female slaves who reward slave gladiators live on this floor, and then go down The second floor is where the slave gladiators are held.
Lorist grabbed Stam and pretended to be nervous and asked, "What's going on? Why is our young master imprisoned here? Didn't you say he was under house arrest?"
Stam shrugged his shoulders: "I can't do anything about it. Who told your young master to hate the great swordsman Benag, who was originally imprisoned there. In the evening, people from your chamber of commerce came to inquire, and the great swordsman Benag ordered Escort him to the bottom floor to make him suffer, and I brought someone to escort him."
After passing the square on the first basement level, there are two rows of large iron fences and four guard soldiers in front of it. After passing through, there are two rows of large iron fences and four guard soldiers on the stairs on the second basement level. However, the second basement floor is different from the first basement floor. It is full of small rooms separated by bluestone. In front of the small rooms are a row of fist-thick iron fences. In the light, one can vaguely see a dark figure sitting or lying inside. They are all slave gladiators.
More than a dozen heavily armed guards turned out from a passage in a bluestone compartment. The leader of the soldiers saw Stam froze for a moment, and came over to ask Stam the same question.
Stam still pointed and complained a few words, the leader of the soldiers laughed, and the rest of the soldiers also laughed and rebuked Stam's misfortune.
Stam said: "Okay, brother, I'm unlucky enough. Now I walk down a circle and I'm done with my business, and I have to go back to sleep. Why don't you go down with me to make inspections."
The leading soldier shook his head: "Go down by yourself, we just came up. By the way, the great swordsman Benag is also below, so be careful not to provoke him."
"Huh?" Stam was taken aback, "Why is Great Swordsman Benag coming here so late?"
"Isn't it just because of the boy who came to practice swordsmanship? I heard that someone came to look for him today. The great swordsman Benag might be in a hurry, so he must force that boy to learn from him when he comes here at night," said the leader of the soldiers.
Stam looked at Lorist, who nodded slightly. Stam said: "Forget it, it's none of my business, I just complete my rounds and don't see anything else."
After arriving at the third basement level, Lorist found that the space was much smaller than the second basement level. Stam explained: "The three basement levels of the arena are all the most dangerous slaves, or the most disobedient slaves. Gladiator, this place is the most unguarded and the strictest. Brother, I don’t know that the great sword master Benag comes here at night. If you have a chance, let this young master of your family concede defeat and keep it first. Let's talk.
The great sword master Benag is one of the two great sword masters guarding our arena. He has a weird temper, greedy and lustful, and very cruel, with a small mind. Once our original captain got into a dispute with him for some reason, and he actually killed nearly a hundred slave gladiators in one go. On the contrary, it was said that these slave gladiators intended to riot, so that our original captain was not able to supervise. The crime was dropped to the city defense brigade.
So when you see the Great Swordsman Benag later, don't be impulsive, otherwise, my brother will take you in if he wants to, but he won't take you out if he doesn't. In case something happens to your young master, you should hold back first, and pass the news back to your family to ask your family to send a few great sword masters, and then you can propose to His Majesty the King to have a duel with the great sword master Benag, then is the real solution to the problem. Do you understand when I say that? "
Loris nodded. Only then did Stam take him forward with confidence.
By the light of the torch on the stone wall of the passage, Lorist saw the black hemp rope on the top of the corner of the wall again. The right hand handed over the spear to the left hand holding the bronze shield, a few steps behind, the right hand touched the waist, and a triangular thorn fell into the hand, and the internal force was instilled on the triangular thorn, and the right hand flicked lightly, three The thorns flew out, silently nailing the black hemp rope on the top of the corner to the stone wall...
Taking back the spear with his right hand, he took a few steps faster and followed Stam's pace again. And Stam didn't know about Lorist's small movements, the main reason was that it was too fast, Lorist completed it almost in two or three blinks of an eye.
This is the fifth triangular thorn nailed to the black twine. Originally, Lorist didn't understand what the black hemp rope was for. It was only after going down the first floor and passing through the two rows of iron fences under the stairs that there was a small brass bell for warning hanging on the hemp rope hanging on the top of the wall.
No matter which floor has an accident, the guards in the two rows of iron fences only need to pull a traction rope hanging down, and the small copper bells will ring, and it will be transmitted to the top, where the guards who received the alarm bell will ring. They will be vigilant and wait until the reinforcements of the guard soldiers come down to suppress or relieve those accidents.
Stam was right. The third basement floor is indeed the most heavily guarded place. In addition to the two rows of iron fences and four guards coming down from the stairs, there are actually two rows of iron fences and four guards at the corner of the front passage. . After passing through this pass, you can see the light of the torch not far away and hear the faint voice...
The structure of the third basement floor is quite different from that of the second basement floor. At least the avenue in the middle of the two rows of bluestone cells is very wide, and there are several square pillars. The light in front is the flames of two torches inserted on the pillars in the middle of the passage. When you get close, you can hear a rough voice laughing at something...
"Who?" A sharp voice sounded, obviously hearing the footsteps of Stam and Lorist.
"Respected Great Swordsman Benag, I am Stam, and we are conducting an inspection according to the order of the squadron leader." Stam stopped, bowed his head respectfully to the front, and Lorist also stood at attention following his movements. salute.
"What's the matter with Pabra? Is it necessary to patrol so diligently?" The sharp voice hummed dissatisfied.
Pabra was the name of the squadron leader Stam resented.
"Master Benag, I don't understand why the squadron leader asked us to inspect, but the squadron leader said that the guards must be stricter today, because the squadron is going out, and we have only two squads here, so everyone has to be vigilant..." Stam explain.
"Forget it, you two come here, just in time to help me..." said the shrill voice.
Stam walked over with Lorist.
Every time Lorist took a step, his mood became agitated, because with the help of the light from the torch, he found that most of the prisoners in the bluestone cells on both sides were his family soldiers and guards, and some of them were familiar even though they couldn't be named...
After reaching the brightest spot of the torch, Lorist not only saw El, but also several family knights including Fatty Shi, Jim, Tork, and Klimber...
Fatty Shi* was naked to the waist, wearing only a pair of tattered shorts. His originally obese body had become robust, with blood-stained welts on it, and black handcuffs on his hands and feet. and anklets. At this moment, he was sitting cross-legged in front of the thick iron gate, staring angrily at a gorgeously dressed old man standing in the middle of the aisle.
Jim's cell is next to Fatty Shi, but Jim's body is covered with dirty bandages, and his expression is a little sluggish, probably due to his injuries. Farther away are Tork, Klimber and others...
The cell where El was in was just inside of Fatty Shi, but El was still wearing clothes, and he didn't wear handcuffs and anklets. He half leaned against the bluestone wall, completely ignoring the gorgeously dressed man standing in the aisle. the old man.
Lorist looked at the old man, that is, the great swordsman Berg. Under the light of the fire, the face of the great swordsman Berg looked extremely ferocious.
"Boy, I'll give you one more chance. As long as you sign this agreement, press your fingerprints, and worship me as your teacher, I promise you will be promoted to the gold rank within three years, otherwise you won't be able to leave the arena..." The shrill voice It sounded.
El spat on the ground, without looking at the great swordsman Benag.
"Hahaha, the little guy is doing well. This big mouse wants you to worship him as a teacher. It's a dream. It will be promoted to the gold rank in three years. You will be promoted in the two years without his teaching. You will also be charged two thousand gold blessings every year." Tuition fees, I really want money, I'm crazy!" The rough voice sounded from behind the great sword master Benag again.
Well, the Great Swordsman of Benag has a mouse-like face, a bit like a big mouse.
Lorist turned his head and saw five or six slave gladiators standing in front of the opposite row of prison cells laughing and laughing at the great swordsman Benag. The iron chains on their bodies were thicker than those on Fatty Shi many.
The great swordsman of Benag was ashen-faced, but as if the sarcasm of the slave gladiators behind him didn't exist, he talked to El: "Boy, don't you know how to flatter yourself? Very good, I'll wait and see." Release these bastards who have made friends with you, and cut them alive one by one in front of you, and see if you agree!"
Lorist's eyes were fixed, because the Benag swordsman was pointing in the direction of Fatty Shi and Jim's cell.
A voice from behind scolded angrily: "Big mouse, you are in vain as a great swordsman, but you are only looking for silver-ranked black iron-ranked people, how shameless you are! Let me out, I am only a gold-ranked one, and I am not For a great swordsman like Brother Hughes, how dare you attack me! You paralyzed rat!"
The great sword master Benag was furious, turned around and scolded: "It's none of your business, do you want to be beaten?"
The slave gladiators on the opposite side laughed loudly: "Yes, we want to be beaten, big mouse, come in and beat us up!"
The great swordsman Benag was so angry that his face turned red and white, but he couldn't speak, he turned around and vented his anger on Stam and Lorist who were standing here: "You two didn't hear What did I say, go to the guard and get the keys to these cells..."
Stam turned back as soon as Lorist turned around: "Yes, go right away."
After walking for a while, Stam said, "It's unlucky for the two of us. Tonight, the great swordsman Benag is going to torture and kill a few slave gladiators to vent his anger. It will be disgusting for us to clean up later."
Lorist asked curiously: "Who are those people who laughed at the Great Sword Master Beynag behind their backs? Why didn't the Great Swordmaster Beynag take out his anger on them?"
"Hehe, that big mouse didn't dare, oh, I was wrong, it was the great swordsman Benag who didn't dare, those were all gold-ranked slave gladiators, and the first one to speak out was a great swordsman named Xiu Si, he is a legend in our arena. He has been a slave gladiator since the silver rank. He was promoted to a great swordsman in seventeen years of life-and-death fighting in the arena. Once the royal family wanted to recruit him but was rejected by him. Now It is said that the third-level great swordsman in the royal family used him as a training stone to advance to the sword master..." Stam said.
"No, except for Hughes, aren't the rest of the slave gladiators of the gold rank? Then why didn't the great swordsman Benag dare to teach them a lesson?" Lorist asked.
Stam snorted: "Hehe, does he dare? The first time the Great Swordsman Benag wanted to teach a gold-ranked gladiator a lesson, but he was seriously injured. Although he was rescued, his right ear was damaged. The slave gladiator of the gold rank was bitten off. In terms of swordsmanship, the great swordsman Benag may have the upper hand, but in a life-and-death fight, the great swordsman Benag is no match. Therefore, from now on, the great swordsman Benag Trouble with the slave gladiators of the Silver and Iron ranks..."
While talking, the two had arrived at the two rows of iron fence guards at the entrance of the passage. As soon as Stam said that the four guards handed over the key to Stam with sympathy, they also pretended that they would stick to their posts and could not leave.
"Fuck! Aren't you just afraid that Dai will ask them to clean it up? What are you pretending to do?" Stam grumbled and led Lorist back with the key, and quickly returned to the cell.
"Go, open those three cells for me, and pull those **** out for me." The great swordsman Benag pointed to the cells of Fatty Shi, Jim and Tok. Turning around and looking at El: "Boy, let me show you how to practice swords. It's not a limp fighting like yours. You will soon understand what is critical and one-hit kills, etc. After my demonstration, you will know that you will make great progress in swordsmanship only if you take me as your teacher."
"Haha, it's better to learn how to make holes with mice than to learn swordsmanship from you. That's your housekeeping skill..." The laughter of the slave gladiators came from behind.
The great swordsman Benag took a few deep breaths, suppressed the anger in his heart forcibly, and turned to look at Stam and Lorist: "What's the matter with you? Why don't you do what I say..."
Stam shivered and pointed to Fatty Shi's cell hesitantly: "Last time, the last time, sir, no, didn't you say that the identities of these slave gladiators are unusual, do you want to investigate clearly? Mr. Benag, you just Is it appropriate to pull them out?"
"Investigate what a fart!" The great swordsman Benag broke out: "Anyway, they will go to the arena in a few days, and they will die in His Majesty's sacrifice to the God of War. It doesn't matter if they die a few days earlier. Why don't they take care of me?" Do what you say!"
"Okay, okay." Stam pulled Lorist down, and the two walked towards the cell.
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