assistirfilmes Chapter 312: Chapter 311: It Was Truly a Magnificent Duel (2)
Chapter 312: Chapter 311: It Was Truly a Magnificent Duel (2)
Chapter 312: Chapter 311: It Was Truly a Magnificent Duel (2)
"Head butler, it's time," Wendy said.
Claude nodded. "Alright, let's go."
The day of the showdown had finally arrived. Today was the day of the mock battle.
By now, the participants in the experiment would be utterly famished and too weak to function. They had only been provided water and that strange powder for every meal.
Claude moved with a confident expression.
His destination was the large arena once used in Desmond's estate.
Gladiator arenas like this, where slaves fought, were rare facilities only estates as great as Desmond's could afford to maintain.
Ghislain, who had arrived earlier, waved as Claude entered.
"What's with that expression? You seem awfully confident."
"Why not? There's no need to be tense about a game where victory is assured."
"Didn't you lose last time with that same attitude?"
"Then so be it."
It was true. Someone like Claude, who had nothing left to lose, naturally exuded a carefree
aura.
In the spectator stands, key figures from the estate began to gather. As the crowd grew, Claude raised his hand.
Thud!
Step, step, step, step!
The gates on one side of the arena opened, and 200 soldiers marched out in perfect order. Each soldier carried a wooden shield and a club made of bundled straw. To prevent fatalities, they were armed with non-lethal weapons. Even so, getting hit by one would still hurt a lot.
These were the soldiers Claude had prepared over the past month.
Ghislain watched the soldiers and smirked.
"What's this? You've been training soldiers on the side? Not bad."
"Of course. I've managed them personally."
Claude had selected only the strongest and most physically fit among the soldiers. He had provided them with the best diet, balanced training, and ample rest to refine their bodies.
On top of that, he had pushed Piote to use holy power to ensure they were always in peak condition.
Claude wasn't someone who relied solely on mental toughness. He used his knowledge to the fullest, turning a short month into an opportunity to create elite soldiers.
Ghislain nodded as he observed the soldiers.
'He does have talent, though he's foolish in the strangest ways.'
Despite the estate's busy schedule, Claude had trained the soldiers to such a high standard in just a month. His determination to win the bet was clearly reflected in the soldiers.
Claude also gazed at his soldiers with a satisfied smile.
"This bet is nothing like the others.'
In previous bets, all he could do was watch the results. He had no control over the outcome. But this time, he could change the game with soldiers he had personally trained. The bet was simply about which side would win.
He didn't believe the starved participants would have any strength left, but he had still prepared thoroughly. He had even given the soldiers strict orders to pummel the other side without mercy.
Once Claude's soldiers had formed their ranks, Ghislain made a gesture.
Creak...
The gates on the opposite side of the arena opened slowly.
For a long while, no one emerged. The crowd craned their necks to peer into the darkness beyond the gates.
"Uhhhhh..."
Finally, the participants, who had subsisted on water and powder alone, let out groans as they emerged.
Ten knights, twenty elves, and twenty soldiers appeared-far fewer than Claude's forces. The numbers had been reduced due to the inclusion of knights.
They shuffled forward awkwardly, holding only straw clubs. They had even abandoned their shields, claiming they were too heavy.
Claude smiled, certain of his victory.
'Heh, they've turned into complete zombies. Of course, after starving for a month, how could they be fine?'
The participants were noticeably thinner than before. Their eyes were sunken, and their steps looked weak and unsteady.
Gordon, in particular, who had once been grotesquely muscular, now looked leaner and almost stylish.
While Claude smiled, Belinda's eyes sparkled in surprise.
"Their muscles haven't shrunk as much as I thought, and their eyes are still sharp.'
As an assassin, Belinda's keen observation quickly assessed the situation.
Though they appeared fatigued and weak, their bodies seemed almost sculpted-lean and stripped of excess fat. It was as if they had intentionally dieted and exercised to achieve this
state.
Their eyes, far from lifeless, burned with fury.
Ghislain gestured again, and Gillian shouted loudly, "Begin!"
Thud!
Claude's soldiers raised their shields. They only needed to hold the line and prevent the participants from reaching the food behind them.
If the participants managed to breach the soldiers' line and eat the food, they would win.
"Hahaha..."
At the front, Gordon and Lucas staggered forward. The elves and soldiers followed, shuffling
along like zombies.
Step. Step. Step...
Their pace quickened, and before long, they were sprinting madly.
"They're coming!"
Claude's soldiers braced their shields tightly. They just needed to hold out until the
participants tired themselves out. Even though knights were among them, it was believed
they wouldn't last long without proper meals.
But this assumption was a grave mistake.
"Out of my way!" Gordon roared as he swung his straw club.
Boom!
"Hurk!"
The soldier blocking him was sent flying with a single blow.
Thwack!
Lucas, swinging and taking blows in a frenzy, suddenly realized that there was no one left in
front of him.
"I broke through."
The soldiers around them were all down. While some were still standing, breaking the formation meant the mock battle was over.
The knights following Lucas threw aside their straw dummies and shouted.
"We won!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"The food is ours!"
The knights rushed toward the food. A feast of various meats, fruits, and even alcohol awaited
them, as if to comfort them for their efforts.
Watching the knights eat like madmen, Claude muttered to himself.
"This is strange. I tasted it, and it made me hungry?"
Even eating it for just one day made him hungry-how could they endure eating only that for
an entire month and still fight like this? Watching Claude's bewilderment, Ghislain chuckled inwardly. Scholars and mages from past lives had focused solely on reducing volume, increasing
portability, and sustaining energy for long periods. A slight sense of hunger was inevitable. Eating the same thing continuously without chewing or savoring it would naturally become tedious. But in a war zone, it was an exceptional source of nutrition.
In battle, fullness wasn't the priority. The key was to continuously supply nutrients to
maintain extreme tension and movement.
Claude, who had never directly experienced war, made the mistake of judging by ordinary standards.
Even if he had known, he probably wouldn't have been able to survive on it alone for a month
anyway.
Ghislain lightly tapped the dazed Claude and spoke.
"So? Looks like the match is settled, don't you think?"
Claude glanced around with trembling eyes. Everyone around him was staring at him, clearly
waiting for him to admit defeat.
"Ha..."
Claude let out a deep sigh as he looked up at the sky, then let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"Well, I guess there's no helping it. To think the lord would succeed again. Just where did you learn all of this?"
In any case, he had to accept defeat.
Because that's what it means to be a gambler.
"Alright, I've lost."
Still, since he hadn't wagered anything, he felt surprisingly lighthearted this time.
"A-ahh, uh, uh..."
Meanwhile, Alpoi, the mages, Max, and the troubleshooters trembled uncontrollably, letting
out strange noises.
Max and the troubleshooters had gambled away 30 years. The mages, including the previous
wager, were now bound for 60 years as slaves. Forget retirement-surviving the next 60 years would be a miracle.
All they could do was gape at Claude.
When their eyes met, Claude shrugged with a bitter smile and shook his head, as if resigned.
He extended a fist lightly toward Alpoi and said.
"You lost, but you fought well. It was a truly impressive match, wasn't it, bro?"
"A-ah..."
As he looked at Claude's smiling face, Alpoi raised a trembling hand. He wanted to cast a spell
like before, but his hands were shaking, and he couldn't focus.
"A-ugh..."
That smiling face deserved at least one fireball.
"You, son of..."
Thud.
But before he could finish speaking, Alpoi fainted.
***
The new combat rations proved highly effective.
The ability to endure even when supply lines were cut or delayed would undoubtedly be a
massive advantage in warfare.
Everyone praised Ghislain, their mouths full of compliments.
"Incredible! As expected of our lord!"
"This will greatly extend operational ranges during war!"
"It's more than adequate as emergency rations!"
Ghislain nodded and gave instructions.
"Set up combat ration manufacturing facilities throughout the territory. Once sufficient
quantities are produced, distribute them to the citizens as emergency supplies. Also, research
ways to maintain quality over time and proper storage methods. It should last for years, but it
depends on how it's stored."
"Yes, my lord."
Though it was a lot of work, the vassals didn't object since it was essential.
Claude also clapped his hands in agreement.
"As expected of our lord, truly remarkable!"
"...Yeah."
Claude looked genuinely at ease, without a hint of ulterior motive.
Ghislain shook his head slightly at him, then addressed everyone.