69novels Chapter 11 Tiberius: After a few days of living in luxury, does he really think he's the master
Chapter 11 Tiberius: After a few days of living in luxury, does he really think he's the master
"So, your plan is to have two people walk along Bloodwave Cape Avenue and then wait for the kidnapper to come looking for you?" Vito's face showed surprise after hearing Tiberius's plan.
"We'll follow you at a distance, and once you encounter the kidnappers, you'll blow your iron whistle, and then we'll catch the Bloodwave Cape bandits."
"This is what you call fishing?"
"Otherwise what? Am I supposed to go door-to-door asking, or search everywhere around Bloodwave Cape Avenue? That's impossible!" Tiberius raised an eyebrow, his face full of smug satisfaction at his plan. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures!"
In later generations, entrapment was naturally not recognized, and its effects were not legally acknowledged.
But this is the world of Game of Thrones, who cares about all that?
Moreover, this concerns whether Tiberius can successfully desert and leave the front lines in Valantis.
To achieve this goal, they wouldn't hesitate to resort to entrapment or even torture to extract confessions.
"Then who will be the bait?" Vito continued to ask.
"Of course it's myself!" Tiberius said proudly.
Without a doubt, Tiberius had to do this himself; he knew the saying, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." As the one who proposed the plan, his age and strength were undoubtedly a guarantee of its success.
Who would have thought that a twelve-year-old kid had someone dead on his hands?
"What courage!" Vito exclaimed.
"Oh, right, here are the things you asked me to prepare: chainmail, which can be hidden under an overcoat; an iron whistle, which can be heard ten miles away with a single whistle; and a crossbow, which can be carried in a pocket." Vito took the items out of the bag one by one and stuffed them into Tiberius's arms.
"And your own equipment, Vito, don't forget," Tiberius reminded him.
"Your duty is also important—my uncle's knights will follow far behind, positioned between me and the knight. Once I blow my whistle, you must also blow your own whistle and immediately run to my position."
"Or else..." Tiberius touched his cheek. "What if that guy is into anal sex? I'm afraid I'll have to sacrifice my virility!"
"Don't worry about anything!" Vito sneered. This killer wore a full breastplate under his cloak, a dagger was tucked into his belt, and he had two crossbows in his arms.
"Robbers? Ha! I've killed more people than they've stolen gold coins!" Vito said confidently.
This isn't him bragging. Vito is a veteran mercenary. Mercenaries survive long either by being ruthless or by being cautious.
Coincidentally, Vito has both.
"How is my uncle doing?"
"The commander has selected twenty of the best knights. As you requested, they are following us at a distance, and will come to us immediately upon hearing the whistle."
"Very good, then, I only need one more thing now."
"What?" Vito asked, somewhat puzzled. "You've almost finished preparing..."
"Bait, I need another bait!"
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The air was filled with the rich fragrance of flowers and the sweet aroma of pastries. Several elegantly dressed female slaves, some even better dressed than young girls, sat on a marble bench, sharing a plate of candied fruit and laughing softly. Before them stood Tiberius, dressed only in a linen shirt and a well-worn leather armor.
The central figure among the female slaves is Zera, the most beautiful slave in the manor. She is famous for her rare, well-maintained long silver-gold hair—which is why Tiberius sought her out.
"What? Go to Bloodwave Cape? Are you kidding me!" A silver-gold female slave impatiently interrupted Tiberius, then turned to continue talking to her female companion.
"Miss Zela," Tiberius spoke again, his voice low and sincere.
"Please reconsider. You don't need to go to any dangerous places. Just a short walk with me near Bloodwave Cape Avenue, like a leisurely stroll. The Legion Commander's men will be nearby to protect us; you'll be absolutely safe. This concerns Lord Rogal's daughter; it's a matter of utmost importance!"
"Young sir," Zera drawled, with a affected air that mimicked a noblewoman.
"I've made myself perfectly clear. I am Lord Lisanzhuo's private property. Look at my hair." She proudly twirled the glossy ends of her hair with her fingers.
"This is maintained with special essential oils and milk, not for going out into those dusty, fishy places. Besides, acting as bait? Ha, that doesn't sound respectable at all, and it's dangerous. Isn't it? Moreover, a lady and a mercenary brat..." Before she could finish speaking, the female slaves around her started giggling.
“I understand your concerns, Miss Zela. I guarantee your safety in the name of my uncle, Jules the Keeper of the Faith! Lord Rogar will reward you handsomely afterwards, and your courage will be appreciated…” Tiberius forced down his anger. “As for myself, I have absolutely no ill intentions towards you!”
"Appreciation?" Zera interrupted him, letting out a short, mocking laugh. "Am I not doing well right now? Look at what I'm wearing, what I'm eating!"
"As for you... child, you've probably never tasted such sweet grapes in your entire life, have you? The little bit of 'appreciation' I need has already been more than enough from Lord Risangtze. What's the point of taking risks in exchange? What do I lack?"
"Or perhaps..." She suddenly laughed with a sales pitch, her fox-like eyes making her appear even more mocking. "You're actually thinking of taking me out in the wild? Anyway, you are quite good-looking, it's a pity, if you were a knight, or a descendant of a baron..."
Seeing that Tiberius was silent, Zera assumed that he had been touched on a sore spot.
[Another one... Hmph, lusting after my good looks.] Zera thought.
Feeling bored, he waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a servant.
"Go find those lowly maids. For the sake of your silver coins and... cute face, they won't mind 'teaching' you a lesson. Go away, don't bother me here. If you don't leave, I'll call the guards. Honestly, a lowly mercenary like you dares to ask me for work?"
But what she didn't see was that Tiberius's pleading and unease vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, hard mockery and ruthlessness that belied his age.
"Oh?" Tiberius's voice was no longer deep, but rather raised, carrying a cold sarcasm. "It seems that a few good days have really made you forget what you really are."
Zera and the other female slaves were taken aback, seemingly not expecting the young man's attitude to change so suddenly.
Tiberius stepped forward, looking at the candied fruit on the plate, no longer concealing the disgust in his eyes: "You wear gold and silver, eating candied fruit, and you really think you're a noble lady? Look closely, who bestowed this silk upon you? Who gave you this delicious food? It was Lord Lisandro! And now his daughter is missing, and you, his property, a slave, dare to put on airs here? Refusing to do anything to save his bloodline? What do you think your good life is all about?"
"Zera, you are nothing but a slave. A slave who wears fine clothes and has had a few good days," Tiberius said, enunciating each word clearly.
Zera was startled by his sudden, harsh questioning, her face turning pale, followed by a surge of anger.
Slave. The word infuriated Zera, and a crack appeared in her arrogant mask, followed by vicious words.
She jumped to her feet: "You rude mercenary, how dare you...you! How dare you speak to me like that! I'm going to report this to the butler..."
Tibbie chuckled.
"It seems that Lord Lisanzhuo's luxurious lifestyle has not produced a loyal slave, but a slave who has forgotten his place and dares to speak recklessly to free citizens and legion envoys? Even to this extent..."
Tiberius stopped wasting his breath arguing with her; it was pointless and a waste of his breath.
He merely turned his head slightly and said to Vito behind him, "It seems this 'Miss Zela' needs some help to wake her up and make her realize her place."
Vito grinned as he walked up to the female slave, grabbed her hair, and slapped her unconscious before she could scream.
Zera's anger and shock froze instantly, and her body went limp as she collapsed. The female slaves around her screamed in terror, but were silenced by Tiberius's cold gaze, huddling together and trembling.
Tiberius looked indifferently at Zera lying on the ground, her beautiful silk dress spread out in the dust.
"You're quite decisive, kid." Vito grabbed the female slave's hair and turned to look at Tiberius.
He thought that Tiberius, at his age, would soften because of a pretty girl's pleas for mercy, or be rendered speechless by being bullied.
"Just a slave!" A ruthless glint flashed in Tiberius's eyes. "To put it bluntly, if I told Lisandro that deflowering all the female slaves in the manor would bring back his daughter, do you believe I wouldn't even blink? He'd just ask me, 'Is that enough? Should we add a few more?'"
"I believe you, but Tiberius, you're not cute at all!" Vito sighed, then easily hoisted the unconscious Zera onto his shoulder as if carrying a sack of grain.
He turned to Jules and told the commander that everything was ready and that they could now allocate manpower.
Looking at the female slaves inside the car, Tippi felt a little reluctant, but soon his heart hardened like steel.
Tiberius certainly came from the civilized 21st century. He was also a helpful and law-abiding citizen of the 21st century.
However, he was very clear that the morality of the 21st century and the morality of Westeros and Essos were completely different things.
Everything I've done is for survival!
As for the female slave Zera... to put it bluntly, she was a female slave who ate, drank, and wore Lisangzhuo's food. She was usually treated very well, with food better than some small landowners and clothes like a rich young lady.
Isn't Lisangzhuo doing all this so that she might need them someday? Could it be that Lisangzhuo is really doing charity?
Thinking of this, Tiberius glanced disdainfully at the female slave lying inside the carriage.
"After a few days of living in luxury, you really think you're the master of the house?"