Chapter 12: Heavily Armored Soldier

Chapter 12: Heavily Armored Soldier

"Give me the promissory note." Suye's face was calm, the flickering torchlight dancing in his eyes.

Lawrence tilted his chin slightly toward Suye.

A burly man immediately stepped forward, snatched the money bag from Suye's hand, and then respectfully held it out to Lawrence with both hands.

Lawrence untied the bag, gripped the bottom, and tipped it over.

Clang...

The crisp sound of gold coins cascaded like a golden waterfall, spilling at Lawrence's feet, scattering like golden stars on the ground.

Countless people drew sharp breaths; they had never seen so many gold coins in their lives.

Lawrence did not look down, still staring at Suye as he slowly said, "Kneel down! Pick them up one by one, lick them clean, and hand them over."

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

Suye remained motionless.

"It seems you've forgotten the lesson from this afternoon!" Lawrence gently flexed his wrist.

Suye's face was perfectly calm as he said, "I only want the promissory note. If not, I will go to the temple of Justice Goddess Themis and the temple of Wisdom Goddess Athena. If I recall correctly, that note bears the names of two great deities. Unless, of course, you wish to commit blasphemy."

"Shut up!" The crowd behind Lawrence shouted in unison.

Lawrence looked at Suye for a full minute before saying, "There's still interest of 100 golden eagles."

Suye extended his right hand to the side, and Hake handed him another money bag, which Suye placed in his hand.

Suye untied the money bag, flipped his right hand, and a second golden waterfall poured out, the clinking sound especially pleasant in the quiet night.

Like stars falling to earth, dyed gold by the flames.

At their feet, it seemed as if the entrance to a treasure trove was glowing with firelight and gold, reflecting in everyone's eyes.

"You can lick them if you want," Suye retorted.

"Insolent!"

"Looking for death!"

"Break his legs later!"

"Stupid little brat!" Koror shouted loudly.

Lawrence raised his hand, silencing his men.

"Not enough," Lawrence said.

"I'll give you one more chance," Suye's lips curled slightly upward.

Lawrence replied, "This has nothing to do with the gods. I also need a fee for keeping the promissory note."

Suye nodded and turned to say, "Mr. Hake, among Lawrence's men, someone is carrying a prohibited curved sword. What should the city guards do if they discover it?"

Hake slowly raised his right hand, snapping his thumb and middle finger together.

Snap!

The sharp snap echoed throughout the crossroads.

"How dare they carry prohibited curved swords, showing no respect for our city guards!"

Two young men, their faces flushed with excitement, emerged from the crowd, wielding short swords.

"Drop the curved swords!" They raised their short swords without hesitation, pointing them at Lawrence and his men.

Despite their youth, they exuded a fierce aura, being warrior apprentices, far stronger than ordinary people.

Lawrence's men hesitated, looking at him.

Lawrence glanced at Suye, then at Hake, finally turning to the two soldiers.

"I just had drinks with Captain Lukas yesterday," Lawrence forced a friendly smile.

One soldier hesitated, but the taller one growled, "What Captain Lukas? I don't know him! Drop the curved swords now, or I'll blow my whistle!"

He put a wooden whistle in his mouth and began to puff his cheeks, drawing breath.

Lawrence's men instinctively took a step back. Once the whistle blew, someone would be held responsible, but it certainly wouldn't be the soldier.

A flash of anger crossed Lawrence's face, "Centipede" reddening as he slowly said, "Hake, is this Mr. Kelton's order, or your own doing?"

"Mine," Hake answered succinctly.

Lawrence paused, his anger intensifying. "Drop all metal weapons."

The sound of metal hitting the ground echoed continuously, half of Lawrence's men were now weaponless.

The tall soldier pocketed the whistle, whistling and bending down to collect the weapons.

An easy payday.

Once the tall soldier had bundled all the weapons, Suye suddenly pointed at Koror standing by the tavern entrance. "Friends of the city guards, it was this man named Koror who cut my neck with a curved sword today."

"Hmph!" Hake suddenly snorted coldly.

The tall soldier, as if following an order, dropped his weapon, walked around Lawrence, and with his large hand, grabbed Koror by the neck, lifting him like a chicken and bringing him to Suye.

Lawrence, enraged, said, "Soldier friend, you're being too hasty."

"Would I be here if I weren't hasty?" The tall soldier grinned, proudly tapping his left chest with his right fist, looking at Lawrence with disdain.

Lawrence's face turned grim, and everyone behind him showed a slight change in expression.

This was the salute of a hoplite!

This meant that this soldier's family had at least one black-iron hoplite.

In Greece, hoplites were the backbone of society, even making the nobility wary.

One could even say that the foundation of all powerful city-states in Greece rested on hoplites.

Ordinary city guards were not frightening, but any hoplite had countless comrades-in-arms.

Lawrence looked at Hake.

Hake had once been a hoplite and could become one again if he wished.

Lawrence did not move.

Hoplites' hatred for bandits surpassed their enmity towards rival city-states, and even exceeded their animosity towards the people of Northern Europe, Egypt, and Persia.

The tall soldier placed his right hand on Koror's head, revealing a cruel smile, and pressed down viciously.

Koror's body went limp, and he fell heavily to his knees.

"Mr. Lawrence... save me..." Koror panicked.

"When you drew your knife, you should have thought about this moment." Lawrence's casual words pierced Koror's heart like a sword.

"I..." He started to speak but changed his expression and quickly closed his mouth.

He hurriedly turned to look at Suye, saying, "Young Master Suye..."

What awaited him was Suye's heavy right punch.

Bang!

Koror fell diagonally to the ground, stars dancing before his eyes, unable to distinguish between the sky and coins.

"I was wrong..." Koror's voice cut off abruptly.

Everyone saw Suye bend down, his right fist like a pile driver, striking Koror's face repeatedly.

One punch after another.

Even as blood splattered into his eyes, painting the world red, Suye did not stop.

Koror's blood slowly flowed, staining the coins anew.

At first, Koror screamed, but gradually, his cries grew weaker.

"You're more impulsive than me! Ha ha..." The tall soldier laughed, grabbing Suye's right arm.

Suye, breathing heavily, slowly stood up and said, "Thank you."

The tall soldier grinned and said, "Every single person in this tavern is scum! They all deserve to die! But if they actually died, you'd have some trouble. We'll drag this suspected bandit carrying illegal weapons back, and if he dies on the way, it has nothing to do with you."

With that, the tall soldier bent down, grabbed Koror's ankle, and dragged him like a large ham to behind Hake.

Lawrence's subordinates could hardly believe what they were seeing. These days, Lawrence had placed great importance on Koror.

But now, Koror was nearly beaten to death in front of them, and Lawrence did not dare move.

Lawrence stared intently at Suye.