Gaby’s roll call was still going on, and most gladiator candidates were assigned with the type of gladiator they were going to become.
Some people were happy with the outcome, and some were displeased.
After all, the goal of the gladiator school was to provide wonderful performances to the audience. Thus, consideration had to be taken on the current number of each type of gladiator they had. Due to this, some of them were assigned to the category that they did not like.
Gaby told them that if they passed the assessment to become an official gladiator and survived five performances, they could ask for a change if they still did not like the field in which they were allocated. At the same time, Gaby also warned some of them to do their best and never slack off. Otherwise, they might just not live to the day they were allowed to change professions.
“Zhang Heng.” Gaby finally called out Zhang Heng’s name, “Dimachaerus.”
Zhang Heng nodded to show that he heard the result.
A Dimachaerus was a gladiator that wielded two swords in battle. With the only piece of defensive equipment on their bodies being a helmet, Dimachaerus focused on pure offensive abilities. Although the gladiators would not put on armor, most of them held a shield to protect themselves.
Since a Dimaechrus would go all out to attack an opponent like the Retiarius, their win rate in the arena was not high. On the contrary, they had a very high death rate. Nonetheless, this gladiator suited Zhang Heng best since it allowed him to fully utilize all his combat power.
However, Zhang Heng’s first choice was not Dimaecharus. He wanted to become a Secutor, the reason simply being that most of Secutor’s opponents were Retiarius. A Retiarius, on the other hand, was generally recognized as the type that could be easily defeated in the arena. Besides, a Secutor was equipped with a shield where he could use to protect himself.
Although Zhang Heng intended to work his way through the arena to eventually becoming a free man, he had no intention to go all out in the battle.
No matter which era it was, there was a certain price to pay for being a star.
Take Sethnets as an example. He was the gladiator school’s trump card and held the champion status in Victor Arena for three consecutive years. Although Mark Reuss could not stand the pressure from the people that came to the Victor Arena, he promised that he would eventually grant Sethnets his freedom. Prior to this, he vowed to squeeze every ounce of strength out of Sethnets to maximize his yield.
Mark Reuss knew that very well that he might have to wait a very long time before the next Sethnets appeared.
As a result, some gladiators who attended the gladiator school at the same time as Sethnets had regained their freedom. Unfortunately, Sethnets was still forced to drag his weakened body to the arena every day. In the meantime, Mark Reuss did carry out a few promises that he bestowed Sethnets, including increasing his remuneration share for each performance and finding more beautiful female slaves to serve him. Therefore, one could not accuse Mark Reuss of forcing Sethnets to fight in his arena.
But it had to be admitted that Sethnets had been gradually getting hooked on fame, lest he would have left the arena a long time ago. For Zhang Heng, the gladiator school was the same as a driving school. He had no interest in becoming the next Sethnets, turning himself into Mark Reuss’s new cash cow. It wasn’t even necessary for him to rely on gladiatorship to make more money. As long as he could redeem his freedom, it was good enough. That was why he did not overperform during the seven days of basic training.
However, everything had its pros and cons.
Since Zhang Heng laid low during the entire week, Gaby had not paid attention to him since the whipping incident during the first day. As a result, he was classified to be among the unfavorable group.
When he saw that the Secutor group was overcrowded, Gabi put Zhang Heng into the Dimaecharus group.
However, Gaby had a good impression on Zhang Heng since he worked hard on his training. Worried that Zhang Heng might overthink the whole thing, he added, “This is only temporary. When I find a more suitable candidate, we will let you join the Secutors.”
There was no doubt that Gaby’s words were just an empty promise.
Gaby’s eyes finally landed on Varo, announcing the fate of the former antique dealer.
“Varo… Retiarius.”
Compared with a few days ago, Varo looked very haggard now. Since the day he told his master that he was a former businessman, the thing he had anticipated to happen had not taken place. A whole week soon passed. Every morning, he would open his eyes in expectation of something good happening, but the only thing that would await him was another grueling day of training.
It was as if Mark Reuss had completely forgotten about him. After the first day of school, the latter had never visited the training ground, nor did he send someone to pick him up. Gradually, Varo couldn’t help but wonder if he would ever leave this place.
As time passed, he recalled what Zhang Heng said to him that day. He wanted to convince himself that it was just wild speculation without evidence, but he realized that he could not refute Zhang Heng.
Today, he finally decided that he would something about it. After listening to the group that he was assigned to, he did not care anymore if it was suitable. Instead, he pleaded to Gaby, nearly begging him, “You are the person the master trusts the most. Can you help me to ask him about me? I’ve been waiting for seven days. Could the master be too busy that he’s forgotten about me? Maybe you could give him a gentle reminder.”
Gaby frowned when he heard Varo’s pleas. He noticed that Varo was not paying attention to his training these days. As long as he could slack off, he would do it without any hesitation. His body was still here, but his mind was long gone. Varo had even begun panning where he would buy antiques to sell to his old customers and make a great fortune.
To Gaby, assigning Varo was a waste of time, seeing how Varo would most probably fail the assessment after forty-three days. He would end up being sold to the countryside and be put to work until he died. For those who had given up on their life, Gaby did not bother worrying about them anymore.
After looking at Varo’s pathetic state, however, he started to feel sorry for him. He then warned Varo for the last time, “Just like I told you on the first day you arrived at this school: do what you are supposed to do. You have already told your master about your situation as you wished. If you don’t receive a reply, it means he is never going to give you an answer. Can you please stop giving me any more trouble? I will whip you again…”
“But…” Varo wanted to say something, but Gaby interrupted him impatiently.
“No more buts! You know I have the right to decide whether a gladiator candidate is qualified to become a gladiator. I could just send you off to work in a mine now!” Gaby sneered coldly.
Varo seemed taken aback by Gabi’s last threat. In tears, he was unwilling to accept the outcome, but there was nothing more he could do but shut his mouth.
Gaby decided to tell him the cold hard truth, “I bought you for only three hundred sestertii. I won’t lose anything even if I sell you to the countryside. You should be thankful that you still have the opportunity to participate in this assessment. Yes, becoming a gladiator might cost you your life, but at least you can die in the arena like a man instead of dying on the fields like livestock or all alone, in a dark mine.”
