After Zhang Heng packed up his things, he brought the slave girl to Varo's residence.
In the negotiation between him and Mark Reuss, in addition to one-fifth of the profit from each performance, he also included the slave girl and Varo's freedom. Now that the slave girl's freedom was settled, all that was left was Varo's freedom.
However, Varo was not at his residence. Zhang Heng heard from Varo's roommate that Varo should be at the training ground. So he grabbed the slave girl who was peeking her head out from behind and said to her, "I have something to discuss with Varo. You can go out and wait for us outside the door."
"Oh." The slave girl agreed obediently. She knew that Zhang Heng did not want her to listen to his conversation with him. However, she would not feel sorry for herself now. Instead, she remembered what Zhang Heng told her before. It was for her safety that he did not want her to listen to his conversation with him. So, she walked away happily.
After that, Zhang Heng came to the training ground alone.
Unlike when he promised to give the slave girl freedom, Mark Reuss was a little hesitant about letting Varo go. However, considering the huge income that Zhang Heng could bring to his monthly performance, he gritted his teeth and agreed.
And Zhang Heng was not surprised by this.
Zhang Heng had investigated the mastermind behind Varo's transformation from an antique dealer to a slave. The mastermind probably thought that Varo would never be able to come out of the gladiator school alive. Hence, the mastermind didn't do a perfect job. As long as someone was willing to look into it, they would be able to figure out the ins and outs of the incident.
However, Zhang Heng was a little surprised after learning the truth.
Varo was sweating profusely on the training ground. He did not even know that Zhang Heng had won the championship. Right now, there was only one thing in his mind, and that was training, training, and training non-stop.
Varo knew that his talent and strength were below average among the gladiators. Before this, he had to rely on Zhang Heng's secret help to survive. However, he could not rely on Zhang Heng for the rest of his life, not to mention that the two were now separated. If he wanted to leave this place and complete his revenge, he would need to put in more effort and sweat than others.
Zhang Heng did not want to disturb Varo when he saw this. He just stood aside and watched Varo train quietly.
It was not until a quarter of an hour later that Varo's practice came to an end. Varo then noticed Zhang Heng on the other side. He put away his wooden sword and walked over. "Is the gladiatorial performance over?"
"Uh-huh." Zhang Heng nodded.
"Who won the final championship?"
"The person standing in front of you right now."
"I knew it," Varro was sincerely happy for Zhang Heng. "No one can defeat you, my eastern friend. Now Mark Reuss has to worry about what kind of reward he should give you. You have brought glory and fame to the Victor Arena."
"In fact … Mark Reuss and I are no longer master and slave."
"What do you mean?" Varo was startled. "Did he sell you out? That can't be. Isn't he always thinking about finding Sethnets' successor? "
"No, I'm free now. After the performance, His Majesty the Emperor gave me the training sword."
"Is this true?" Varro's face was full of surprise. "But you've only fought a few matches. Was there any rookie who obtained his freedom so quickly?"
"Who knows, but I guess there's always a first time for everything." Of course, Zhang Heng would not tell Varro about his previous conjecture. He just said to the former antique dealer, "After I gained my freedom, I reached a new agreement with Mark Reuss. I will come back to help him fight a match every month. In addition to the reward, he also agreed to set you free."
"You brought me along?" Varro blushed when he heard what Zhang Heng said. He remembered that when the two first met, he told Zhang Heng euphemistically that he could not bring him along to do business.
However, Zhang Heng looked indifferent. "You don't have to think too much about it. At that time, we were not familiar with each other, and your reaction was normal. What I want to remind you is that your wife and best friend may not be your only opponent. Do you know a man called Pellegrino?"
Varo frowned. "This name sounds a little familiar. Oh, I remember now. He is a senator of the Senate. His servant once came to me with two antique vases and said that Pellegrino wanted to sell these two precious trinkets for money." Varo frowned when he heard Varo's words.
"And then?"
"After a detailed examination, I told him that his master might have been deceived because the two vases were not antiques at all. However, his servant said that I was deceiving him. He even framed me by saying that I swapped the vases when I was appraising them. But he was right beside me when I appraised them," Varro said. "Later, a few of my old customers came forward to prove my credibility. After that, the matter was dropped. After that, I didn't take it too seriously. Why did you mention Pellegrino? Wait, do you mean he has something to do with me being framed?"
"In fact, to be more precise, he is the mastermind behind all this. As for your best friend and your wife, the relationship between them has indeed … uhh … been going on for a while. They are afraid of being discovered by you, but with their abilities, they can't come up with such a plan."
"That's what I've always found strange." Varo smiled bitterly. "I said before that I never thought that my best friend would lie to me. Other than our friendship, it's also because I know what he's capable of. So, you're saying that Pellegrino wanted to deal with me, so he bribed my best friend and wife? But why? Why does Pellegrino want to target me? I am just a small antique dealer. Is it just because I didn't accept his two fake vases? "
"I'm afraid the biggest reason is that he is jealous of your family's accumulated wealth."
"Huh?"
"I've asked someone to investigate Pellegrino. This isn't the first time this old man has done something like this. Many people have been targeted by him before. They either accept his extortion, or they end up like you." Zhang Heng said.
"So, I'm being targeted by a senator?" Varro's eyes flashed with fear after listening to Zhang Heng. After all, the full name of the Roman Empire was the Roman Senate and the Roman people. There was a clear hierarchy, and the senators in the Senate were behemoths to ordinary people. Varro thought that his enemies were only his best friend and wife. He didn't expect them to be a high-ranking senator. However, after experiencing this incident, Varro's heart had become a lot stronger. His expression quickly returned to normal, and he said to Zhang Heng, "I have a request."
"Huh?"
"I don't want to regain my freedom."
"Oh, why? Haven't you been working hard for your freedom?" Varro clenched his fists.
Since Pellegrino is the mastermind behind this, he must have talked to Mark Reuss. This is why Mark Reuss ignored me when I recommended myself to him. If I leave the gladiator school, it will not take long for Pellegrino to learn about this. No, Mark Reuss will probably tell Pellegrino directly. He will not want to offend Pellegrino. Yes, I want freedom, and I dream of breathing the air outside again. But now is not the time. Before I become stronger and find a way to deal with Pellegrino, I will not leave this place. "Varo clenched his fists," That's when I still don't know who my opponent is. Since Pellegrino is the mastermind behind this, he must have talked to Mark Reuss about it.
Zhang Heng raised his eyebrows in surprise, "It seems that you have grown a lot during this period. Yes, this is indeed your best choice now."
"You have helped me a lot since we met," Varro looked into Zhang Heng's eyes and said sincerely, "I don't know how to repay your kindness. But in the end, this is my problem. So, I hope I can solve it on my own. I will find a way."
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