The Mad Tycoon of Rome

< 239. Conspiracy 3 >

Cassius was startled by Cato’s fierce reaction and stood up awkwardly from his seat.

“Why are you doing this? Don’t you want the republic to survive more than anyone else?”

“Of course I do! I’m confident that there are not more than a handful of people in Rome who love the republic more than I do!”

Cato pounded the table with his rough voice.

He looked so angry that Cassius thought he might even smash his head with the cup he was holding.

“Unless Caesar dies, the republic cannot return to its original state. He clearly wants to be king. This is our last chance while Marcus is still in Rome. If we let Caesar live, he will start his movement for establishing a monarchy after Marcus leaves for the East. By then, it will be too late!”

“That might be true. No, I have a similar thought. Do you think I’m a fool? I know Caesar’s ambition better than anyone. I’ve been warning about it for more than ten years. Do you remember what the Senate said every time? That’s too extreme, you’re exaggerating because of your personal feelings. That’s what they poured out.”

Cato glanced at Cicero.

Cicero, who belonged to the moderate faction among the aristocrats, coughed and avoided Cato’s gaze as if he felt guilty.

He did not think that Caesar, ambitious as he was, would completely destroy the republic, and he still had no change in that opinion.

Maybe he had a desire to rise to a position like a lifelong dictator and wield power as he pleased.

But establishing a monarchy?

He couldn’t shake off the suspicion that Cassius and Cato were overinterpreting it too much.

On the other hand, Cassius was puzzled by Cato, who opposed the assassination even though he had the same thought.

“Why do you oppose the plan if you know all that? Do you intend to impeach Caesar fairly and squarely?”

“Any intention, however noble, is meaningless if the means of achieving it are illegitimate. You think you can restore the purity of the republic by conspiring behind closed doors? I doubt your mental state very much.”

“So there’s no other way. We can’t do anything politically to Caesar now. He is superior to us in every way. The support of the citizens, the political capacity, and the ability to use the system. The aristocrats can’t keep up with Caesar in anything.”

Cato snorted. 

He shook his head with a look of contempt as he looked at Cassius.

“So you want to kill him? What you’re saying is that you want to kill him because you can’t handle him. Do you really not know how this will look to a third party?”

“That’s not it. It’s for eliminating the threat to the republic and restoring the republic.”

“Nonsense!”

Cato’s voice rose even higher. 

He gritted his teeth with a fiery look as if he were going to war.

“You want to break the law to deal with someone who might break the law? And kill a former consul and a hero of Rome? You care about the purity of the republic, but not about the rights of the Roman citizens? How can someone who does not respect citizenship restore the purity of the republic?”

Cassius could not argue back and just fidgeted with his mouth.

He wanted to persuade him somehow, but he couldn’t think of anything.

As he fell silent, Cato turned to Cicero and said.

“I’m very disappointed. I don’t care about anyone else, but I can’t believe that Cicero would agree with such an absurd argument. How am I supposed to accept that the best lawyer in Rome is leading the way in breaking the law?”

“You misunderstand. I’m not saying we should blindly assassinate Caesar. If you calm down and listen to me, you’ll see that…”

“I don’t want to hear it. Just pack your things and get out. I have no intention of getting involved in this dirty business, whatever the reason. Peace achieved by unjust means can never last long. You’re no different from Sulla, who tried to strengthen the republic with dictatorship. Even if you rebuild the republic by assassination, it will collapse again in a few years.”

Cato closed his ears and went into his room.

Sensing that there was no room for persuasion, Cassius and Cicero sighed and left Cato’s house.

“We’d better exclude Cato from the plan.”

“It’s a pity. I thought he would be our most reliable supporter.”

“He’s a self-proclaimed defender of freedom. In both good and bad ways, he does not compromise with anything that goes against his aesthetics.”

“I think it’s our duty as lovers of the republic to take risks to cut off the sprout of tyranny. Don’t you think I want to walk only on clean paths like Cato?”

Cassius muttered resentfully.

Cicero did not agree or disagree with him.

“Anyway, what now? We couldn’t get Cato’s cooperation, so who else should we bring in?”

“…We need someone who can be a symbol for us. There’s no one more suitable for this role than my friend Brutus. Especially since we can’t get Cato’s help, we need his assistance more than ever.”

“Brutus is not only Cato’s nephew, but he also married Cato’s daughter recently, didn’t he? And he’s personally close to Caesar. It would be a relief if he just opposed the assassination, but there’s also a possibility that he might run to Caesar and spill everything.”

“No. His love for the republic is genuine. I’ve known him for a long time, so I’m sure of it. I’ll go and see his reaction first.”

“Fine. Do as you please. I don’t have much hope, but I’ll wait anyway.”

With Cicero’s permission, Cassius went straight to Brutus’ house.

He greeted his brother-in-law warmly and asked him his opinion in a roundabout way.

“What do you think of the future of the republic?”

“What do I think of the future… That’s a difficult question. Only the gods know the future, don’t they?”

“But it is us humans who must seize that future. What would you do if you had to shoulder evil yourself to bring down a greater evil? Do you think it is right to maintain a lofty attitude that cannot tolerate even a bit of injustice?”

“Well… But I think it would be hard to get a proper result if you go through an illegitimate process. Isn’t this a universal truth that applies at any time, regardless of the era?”

Brutus’s clear answer made Cassius realize that he could not persuade him.

In the end, what he said was the same as Cato.

It was too much for Cassius to change his friend’s mind alone.

Unlike the original history, Brutus had a trustworthy ally in Marcus, and more importantly, he did not have to suffer from his wife Porcia’s persuasion.

Originally, Porcia, who hated Caesar extremely, did not show so much hostility towards Caesar now.

That was because the event that caused her hatred, Cato’s suicide, did not happen at all.

It would be useless to try to persuade him half-heartedly, and it could even leak the plan to Caesar.

Cassius left a word of understanding and stumbled out.

“It’s so hard to cut off the sprout of tyranny.”

But he had no intention of giving up. 

He already had twenty reliable comrades by his side.

If he could only make Caesar’s ambition to become king clear, Cato and Brutus’s thoughts might change.

He walked back with more strength in his steps, thinking about his future plans.

※※※

Cassius’s unexpected visit also gave Brutus a lot of things to think about.

Brutus was not a person who lacked sense or was foolish.

He roughly guessed what Cassius’s question meant to him.

‘Cassius… You’re not really going to do such a foolish thing, are you?’

If he really wanted to assassinate him, Cassius would not act alone.

He had to assume that at least dozens of people were with him in his intention.

He wondered if there were many people who had such foolish ideas, but on the other hand, he also thought it was possible.

‘Caesar has many enemies. Among the radical aristocratic senators, there must be many who would rather kill him.’

Brutus was convinced as he recalled Cassius’s expression just before.

That was not the face of someone who was just about to make a plan.

It was the face of someone who had a firm conviction in his heart.

‘Cassius… Why did you make such a stupid choice?’

Cassius was Brutus’s close friend and at the same time his brother-in-law.

If he did something stupid and something went wrong, he himself would also be in trouble.

His family could also be shaken as a whole.

Brutus, who was intelligent but not very bold, did not know what to do with the sudden anxiety.

He had no idea how far Cassius had talked about this matter.

He didn’t seem like someone who would talk rashly, but this was not an ordinary matter.

If it leaked out even a little bit, a bloodbath would blow in Rome right away.

He hurriedly left the house and headed for the Crassus mansion where Marcus was staying.

“I’m sorry for coming so suddenly.”

“What are you sorry for? Come on in, Brutus.”

Brutus, who was led into the reception room, looked at Marcus, who was leisurely sipping tea, with interest.

There was a young man sitting in front of him who looked like he had just become an adult, and for some reason his eyes kept going to him.

Marcus noticed his gaze and smiled softly and introduced them to each other.

“Have you never seen him before? Octavius, you must have heard his name well. This is the famous Brutus. Brutus, say hello. This is Gaius Octavius I’m taking care of. He’s a very talented and smart young man, so we talk often.”

“Oh, yes. Nice to meet you, Octavius. I’m very happy to meet another brilliant young man.”

“I’m honored to meet the successor of the great family that founded the republic.”

Brutus did not look down on the young commoner who was much younger than him.

He thought it would be good to get along with him if he was such a talented person that Marcus praised so much.

He sat down and looked at the tea cups that Marcus and Octavius were sipping and blinked his eyes.

“Is that the tea thing that’s popular these days?”

“Yes. Do you want to try some?”

“I’ve heard that it’s a luxury item enjoyed by the nobles of the East. I’d be honored if I could taste it.”

He politely received the cup and carefully put it to his mouth and tilted his head.

Marcus chuckled and slowly brought the tea cup to his mouth.

“It must be unfamiliar to you because you’ve never tasted or smelled it before. By the way, you must not have tried coffee, which is being distributed these days.”

“I’ve heard of it. You mean that black liquid? I heard it’s a miraculous drink that keeps you from falling asleep.”

“Yes. Next time you come, I’ll give you some coffee. It might taste too bitter at first, so I’ll give it to you with a lot of sugar.”

“Thank you for your kind hospitality.”

Brutus said that and cautiously looked at Marcus.

“Do you have something to say?”

“…Yes. It might be a trivial matter, but…”

He hesitated and glanced at Octavius who was sitting next to him.

He was reluctant to speak rashly in front of someone else, but if he asked to avoid the place, he might arouse unnecessary suspicion.

He thought it would be better to just casually bring up the topic as if nothing was wrong.

He made up his mind and asked in a tone that was as natural as possible.

“Did Cassius ever come by?”

< 239. Conspiracy > End