The arena was a fairly s.p.a.cious area – about a basketball court, and was fenced around the perimeter with a small metal fence. Although at the moment it was empty, the floodlights were working hard. No guards, no checkpoints were not observed.

Flitz stood in the center of the arena, hands behind his back, and dropped a mockery:

«Attack.» - Oh, he would give the a thras.h.i.+ng to the guy, if G.o.d forgive, he had lied to him. n.o.body likes bouncers, and especially he.

Kyon fully breathed the cool night air, clenched his fists and rushed into battle. With great speed, moving silently across the stone-paved floor, he carried out a series of blows to the vulnerable points of the old man.

Flitz, grinning, began to dodge without any tension, except, perhaps, yawned deliberately. He was going to defeat the young man not by speed or force, but by experience, so he didn't even strive to defend or attack. However, he could not expect that the kid will knock him off balance on the third strike, and the fourth strike would sighting fall into his thigh.

«Ugh...» - spat the old man and involved his hands tj the battle, briskly for his age rolled on the ground and barely managed to dodge the blatant "hook" in his long nose! «Yes f.u.c.king lucky he is...» - he complained on by some miracle missing attack and doubled his speed.

Kyon slowed down and with a barely noticeable sneer in his voice noticed:

«What happened, sir? Surely you are bored with the game in the giveaway?»

«Little duck, do you think you're quick and agile?! I have people like you for breakfast, lunch and dinner!» - Flitz got the stance of a boxer with bent legs and hands protecting the face. No trace left from the image of a Buddhist sage .

Kyon, marveling at the "diet" of local old-timers, prepared to defend himself.

The fight ensued. Now the old man rushed to the attack. A kick, another kick, turn 90 degrees to make another swing.... He didn't see Kyon's attack – the guy cleverly took advantage of his blind area – rather instinctively felt. He recoiled with a threefold increased speed – the fist pa.s.sed inches from his cheek…

Flitz didn't swear any more – he had to save his breath. The beginning bravado "Yes, I'll beat you without hands!" turned into a doubt that he'd be able to defeat this slimy little wolf. What a sharp sc.u.m!

Kyon indecently nickered. Indecently – this is because laughing in the face of such a high-ranking master, in principle, is somehow not very appropriate, but he could not help it. {If I fight 10 out of 10 combat fists, then Flitz is about 5. What a pity. A lot of mistakes, bad stance, defense poor as h.e.l.l, predictable attacks... Yes, definitely 5 out of 10, but I must admit, for such an age, he's awfully sharp... I wonder what his real strength is?}

Combat fists – is accepted subjective a.s.sessment of skill movements and tactics of combat. The higher it is, the higher quant.i.ty of the fists. It happens, for example, that a man without a weapon is like a bird without a beak, but if he gets a sword... his fighting fists rise. Or throwing weapons, bows, crossbows, etc.

Flitz disgruntle grimaced and snapped:

«Are you going to mock at me, f.u.c.king little b.i.t.c.h?!» - and before he could finish his utterance, he had sped up three times and caught up with the boy and gave him a heavy slap which made him fall. «Well, how do you like it?! Who's laughing here, ah?! hha! "hhe!»

Kyon's cheeks were already red from the slaps. Having caught the moment between the next blows, he prayed:

«Sir, I'm sorry! You're stronger... You're much stronger.…»

«hHo!» - the old man laughed and kicked the insolent boy once more for his own pleasure. – «Call yourself a dog t.u.r.d and I'll forgive you.»

Kyon grimaced: for some reasons that grandpa behaves not as the books depict behaviour of all these inspirational senior wise men. Whether writers, as usual, did not disdain literary tricks such as "fiction", or he got an unusually unceremonious example.

The guy gulping for breath because of exhaustion, took a faltering breath:

«I'm... A Dog... t.u.r.d... …»

The old man was almost crying with laughter.

The pride of the guy from the forced utterance of stupidity had not almost be hurt. Such trifles did not touch him.

The old man took a breath, pulled out of his pocket a pipe he took with him. While he intently ignited and smoked, and now and then cast approving glances at the young boy.

«I have to admit, your master was definitely not an ordinary person... These movements, the deceptions, the use of the opponent's blind spot, after all... not bad, not bad at all.»

«Nevermind... You are much stronger than the master.» - Kyon uttered respectfully. Why not amuse grandpa's ego.

«Flatter, a.s.shole... And yet I will not take you as a disciple, I don't f.u.c.king need you. I have no time, moreover, I have another job for you. You'll be my lady's punching bag.»

«What an honor...» - "happily" muttered Kyon, rising to his feet. What's the news, "punching bag"? – «What's that lady?»

«Juno...» - said Flitz thoughtfully puffing his pipe.

Kyon tried to ask the old man more about his near future, but in vain – the gray-haired man was deeply immersed in his thoughts.

{Fighting this monkey, I didn't even notice how much stronger he is than me... He fights with 6 out of 10 combat fists! Too brilliant! You can come across with such guy one time for millions... The most appropriate to to teach Juno to fight, and the body is strong.}

Combat fists though is quite a relative concept, but there had already const.i.tuted some standards. For example, one combat fist have those who know how to properly clench their fists. The two has a street fighter with the practice of the hundred battles, the one who understands the basics and something beyond it. The three has a warrior who pa.s.sed full combat training in the best school of the Kingdom with mark 5 out of 5 points. Four have outstanding students of respected Grand masters of martial arts, trained 3 years or more and qualified for the honoured t.i.tle of "four fists". The five have these very trainees, with a Grand qualifications already on the "five combat fists", but it is impossible to achieve it without the outstanding talent and many years of hard training. After qualifying, they also become new Grand masters.

It is hard something say for sure for the ranks five combat fists and higher, but if you believe the literature, the six fists have geniuses among geniuses who were given the opportunity to study many years with the great master, and found enlightenment, which gave them their own unique fighting technique. What concerns the seven fists... Such a number can possess just celestial genius, but there very few of them for each Empire. Eight and more were already conjectures and inventions of inveterate dreamers.

{I would take him as a disciple, but he is only on the 2nd stage. I don't need that kind of trash. And yet, it would be a pity to lose him; I know that little flay-flint, she'll break his thin neck, like the snieveler's.} Having finished smoking, Flitz decided that it was necessary to give to the guy medical ointment of high quality. Perhaps, the lady would like him, and would not kill him on the first day.

After a long pause, the old man finally started speaking:

«Kyon, do you like girls?»

From the unexpected question, the guy was taken aback and didn't come up with anything more intelligent than:

«No, not at all... I exclusively for boys.»

«hha! Good toilet joke! Do you want me to tell you a terrible tale about how recently an ordinary slave with a lascivious muzzle dared to touch my mistress and immediately lost his eggs, and after a couple of minutes of annoying squeak – lost his head too?» - Flitz said softly.

The young man, clearly presenting himself in the place of the poor fellows and fearfully swallowed:

«I think, you shouldn't.»

The old man smiled innocently and spread his hands:

«Sorry, I've already finished the story. hHo!» - and, having decided that he made a rather depressing impression on the guy, spoke more seriously: - «Unfortunately for you, our lady is too beautiful, so it doesn't matter if you love the boys or the girls.»

Kyon got a bad feeling his b.a.l.l.s clenched reflectively…

«But don't worry. I'm not cruel enough to make you a eunuch! Although, I admit... I had such an idea. But I'm not a beast, right?» - as if reading the thoughts of the boy, Flitz hurried to "calm him down". – «We have recently developed a drug that removes all attraction to the opposite s.e.x. Well, for year or two, because there occurred some cases... Anyway, it doesn't matter. You will just lose all the attraction to the opposite s.e.x for five years, and then everything will recover... I guess.»

Kyon has exclaimed indignantly:

«Probably? What do you mean probably?!» - sounds very hopeful, Yes. However, remembering the properties of the Synergy, the tension slightly released him in general, and the lower chakras in particular.

«Don't worry your head! It's gonna be okay... I guess.» - whom is he trying to convince? Kyon or himself?

«Thanks even for that...» - breathed the guy and bowed his head to look sad.

Flitz dusted off the ashes, and the both went back to the office.

«You know, Kyon, you're luckier than the rest of the slaves! Do you think here is much better than in the mine? I beg you... Solid hazing. The newcomer slaves are beaten like meat for chops. The ranking system is the same and the food little better... In addition, you can be eaten by beasts, if you do something to infuriate them or will just look in their eyes. But the air will certainly be cleaner.» - he gladly sucked in the cool night air, as if giving the guy an example. – «But you'll be higher than all this stuff. To serve Juno herself means a lot... You will be good to heal, to feed, clothe, treat…»

Kyon suspiciously squinted. {Has he repeated accidentally?}

«Well, and you will admire such a cutie during the fight... Although... The latter can be deleted. Why look at a tasty piece of chicken if you don't have teeth, tongue, appet.i.te... And forget about it, hhe! So cheer up! Just think, you will not be able to pet a snake for ten years! It's worth it!» - Flitz seemed to feel a kind of s.a.d.i.s.tic pleasure, intimidating guy in a "fun-loving" manner.

«First you said year or two, then five years, and now ten?» - outraged Kyon of such a geometric progression.

The old man patted him on the back to cheer him up:

«Five years, ten years, who cares?! But you will see the symbol of our family! Well... After escaping a girl, at least...» - suddenly from his throat flew out a nervous chuckle: - «If the mistress got to know that I compared her with a piece of chicken... Probably immediately jumped to complain of his grandfather, Bai, and left nothing of me... hHo!»

Kyon raised an eyebrow in interest:

«Mr. Bai, isn't that the Patriarch?»

«Yes, that's right... And he's my friend!» - do not forget to boast Flitz – «Wait, you don't know the family history?! My G.o.d... You better not talk about it! Because you will be beaten for ignorance and lack of erudition. Okay so I was attached, so I will not judge, but Juno... Man, I suggest you learn to keep your mouth closed.»

Kyon smiled involuntarily manner of conversation of the old man. «Sir, are you really a friend of the Patriarch himself? How did it come?»

The old man shout with laughter and looked up thoughtfully – «Our friends.h.i.+p did not begin as it should be... Once upon a time I fell in love with his daughter, and he tried to kill me... And today I am part of his family and the most important formacist! "hhe!»

«Is the Patriarch's daughter really your...?»

Flitz waved his hand – «Of course not...» - there appeared the silhouette of another girl with exactly the same appearance before his eyes. He never paid attention to the questions of the guy further on.

Kyon immersed in his thoughts. It's a long way from willing to kill to friends.h.i.+p; the past of the Patriarch and Flitz must have been fun. He was glad that the old man was willing to share such information with him, at least as part of his boasting. Even he was surprised by the fact that the granddaughter of the Patriarch, which he had heard in the mine, making plans for the seduction and on the way to the estate thought how to get close to her, became his mistress at once! What a good luck! As if the heavens themselves had decided to pave the way for his domination! Is it right?