Aske and his companions, with every segment of distance they covered, saw the bodies of fallen mercenaries by the roadside, either beheaded or shattered to pieces, each death crueler than the last. Within the Mind Channel, Nora's voice rose, somewhat worried:
"Aske..."
"It's fine," Aske replied, "Everyone, keep calm."
Thus, they had no choice but to feign calmness as they walked past the vigilant eyes of the roadside police.
Nowadays, Constantinople had become much more desolate, with the majority of the shops shuttered and the few pedestrians on the streets hurrying along wearing hats and masks, wrapped up tight despite the heat of the summer.
Upon reaching the Constantinople Arena, the nearby streets were surprisingly clean, devoid of any remnants of rioting, corpses, or bloodstains.
After all, the Arena housed many skilled killers; no mercenary, however hot-headed, dared to target the Arena's lord.
Except for Aske.
