The Mad Tycoon of Rome

< 246. The Future of Rome 6 >

Marcus left Caesar’s residence and headed straight to where the assassins were imprisoned.

On his way, some citizens approached him and asked for his opinion on the attempted assassination.

“I have already discussed this with Caesar. The punishment for this matter will be decided entirely according to Caesar’s will. I think that is right.”

The citizens were greatly satisfied with Marcus’s firm answer and dispersed.

They naturally expected Caesar to sentence them to death, but even if he did not, they would accept it if it was Caesar’s intention.

Rather, they might praise Caesar for choosing exile according to the Roman law, even for the assassins who aimed at his life.

The assassins who ignored the Roman law and wielded weapons in the sacred Senate House.

And Caesar, who punished even those according to the legal procedure.

Even a three-year-old child could tell who was right, as the difference was so clear.

Perhaps when the sentence was announced, the citizens would change their minds as if they had never demanded the death of the assassins, and commend Caesar’s mercy.

In fact, what Caesar feared most was that the assassins would sacrifice their lives while insisting on their legitimacy.

Although the angry citizens would now actively demand death, such things always received re-evaluation over time.

If the assassins really gave up their lives for the restoration of the republic, this could pose a political burden for Caesar in the future.

It would be inevitable that some would say that executing them all was a bit too harsh.

Caesar had always claimed that the final decree of the Senate was illegal, but he could also be criticized for using it himself.

If the aristocrats really intended to stop Caesar by sacrificing their lives, they should have used this point.

But Caesar and Marcus were confident.

There was not a single one among the assassins who had such a spirit.

And their expectation was right on target.

Until Marcus arrived, the assassins had been in a state of panic.

They had no idea of restoring the republic or killing a tyrant in their minds anymore.

Although they were imprisoned, they could still hear the news of Rome from the soldiers, and the angry shouts of the citizens echoed in their ears.

Cassius and Decimus, who had confidently led the assassination, sighed repeatedly with their heads in their hands.

Trebonius was no different.

He leaned his forehead against the wall and lamented how things had gone so wrong.

“Where did we go wrong?”

Cassius lifted his head weakly and answered.

“We followed the plan exactly. The traitor is definitely Brutus.”

Trebonius glared at Cassius with a sharp look and shouted.

“You were the one who brought Brutus in! Don’t forget that. If it’s Brutus’s fault that our plan failed, then it’s all your fault!”

“My fault? Didn’t everyone here agree when I suggested bringing Brutus in? If there was anyone who said we should think again, I would admit it was my fault.”

“That’s because you were so confident that you could bring Brutus in. It would be symbolic to have someone from the bloodline of the one who opened the door of the republic join us! But look at this mess!”

Decimus, who had been quietly lamenting his fate, muttered softly.

“How could someone who inherited Brutus’s blood betray the republic? I can’t understand…”

Everyone nodded as if they agreed with his words.

It seemed clear from the circumstances that Brutus had betrayed them, but they still couldn’t easily believe it.

Trebonius gritted his teeth and spat out a hateful conjecture.

“Maybe it’s true that his father is Caesar. Then he’s not from Brutus’s bloodline. He’s from Julius and Servius’s bloodline.”

“Trebonius, that’s just a rumor…”

“It’s not a rumor if we’re in this situation because of him!”

“It’s not over yet. Cicero is still outside. He’ll contact Marcus and come up with something.”

Decimus tried to calm Trebonius down by patting his shoulder.

It was right then that Marcus entered the room.

Trebonius, who was about to say something more negative, rushed to Marcus as soon as he saw him and grabbed his hem and fell down.

“Marcus! We’ve been waiting for you. What’s the situation? You can save us, right? Huh?”

“Calm down. Let me explain what’s going to happen next.”

Marcus gently removed Trebonius’s hand and looked around.

The assassins looked at him with hopeful eyes, waiting for him to open his mouth.

“First of all, I won’t ask why you did such a thing. It’s already a past matter and there’s no point in arguing about it. But the situation outside is not good. As you may have heard, the citizens are demanding your immediate execution. There are also many people who are protesting in front of the consul’s house, asking him to invoke the final decree of the Senate.”

“The final decree? What the…”

Cassius opened his mouth wide.

He was stunned by the fact that the extraordinary weapon to protect the authority of the Senate could be used against them.

And he had no choice but to realize that they were completely marginalized.

Trevonius asked with an anxious expression.

“Do you think the final decree will be activated? I mean, will Caesar…allow it?”

Decimus added sarcastically.

“Why does Caesar need to allow it? He just needs to watch the consul activate the final decree.”

“But Caesar…he…always criticized the illegality of the final decree.”

“Oh, so you mean Caesar will stick to his political beliefs and not stop the final decree that is aimed at us? Don’t be ridiculous. He doesn’t have to kill us himself, he just has to pretend to be helpless and watch. Why would he refuse that? He’s a master of politics, Caesar is.”

The assassins’ faces were filled with despair at Decimus’s cold analysis.

They realized that Caesar had no reason to spare their lives.

It was a golden opportunity to uproot the pillars of the aristocratic faction, and he wouldn’t miss it.

Marcus quickly intervened in the conversation before the assassins fell into panic again.

“Don’t worry too much. That’s why I came.”

“…?”

“I’ve already talked to Caesar. He said he would give you two choices and let you do as you please.”

“He gave us a choice? Really?”

“Yes. First, if you want to act as the guardians of the republic until the end, he said he would let you stand in the court. But how it will end…I’m sure you all know.”

The assassins eagerly shuffled their feet, as if to tell him to say the next option.

Who would be crazy enough to go to trial?

It was obvious that they would be executed without even choosing exile.

No one would listen to them even if they shouted that they did it for the republic.

There was no one who cared about the assassins’ lives right now.

The only thought that dominated their minds was that they wanted to live.

Marcus knew that very well and opened up the only escape route for them.

“The second option is permanent exile. Of course, all your assets will belong to the Roman treasury. I suggested Greece, but Caesar seemed to think that would be more like a vacation than exile. The destination was decided to be the Arabian Peninsula south of the Nabataean Kingdom.”

“The Arabian Peninsula? Where is that?”

“It’s an area I subjugated before. It’s an area that you can reach by crossing the Red Sea east from Africa.”

The assassins exchanged glances with mixed emotions.

But there was a common light of relief deep in their eyes.

They felt like a ray of hope had shone on them when they thought they were doomed.

It was humiliating for them as senators to be banished to an unheard-of region, but they could save their lives.

Most of the people gathered here were satisfied with that alone.

Rather, what they regretted now was whether they could take some of their assets with them.

Trevonius grinned almost ear-to-ear as if he had never been in a dire situation.

“You’re amazing, Marcus! I knew you could persuade Caesar! But how did you do it?”

“I convinced him that executing prominent nobles was not humane and could also be politically burdensome in the future. Fortunately, he was quick at calculations and agreed easily.”

“Of course. It must have been quite a burden for him to execute us patricians. Not one or two, but more than twenty.”

“But do we have to go to Arabia? I think Egypt would be better…”

Cassius asked.

They only had the impression that Arabia was a region where naked barbarians roamed.

“South Arabia has some decent kingdoms. It’s hotter than Rome, but you won’t lack anything there.”

“Oh, really? That’s good then. As long as it’s civilized, I can bear it. Can you bring us back to Rome after a few years?”

“It might be difficult for Rome, but…maybe I can change your exile location to Syria.”

That alone satisfied the assassins greatly.

They had heard rumors that Antioch had undergone tremendous development and become a city comparable to Rome.

If they could live in Antioch, they could endure exile life.

“Then go and tell Caesar right away. We’ll gladly accept exile and go to Arabia. And make sure he doesn’t change his mind.”

“You’ll have to sign a document stating that you won’t stand in court and accept exile.”

“Of course. We’ll do it right here.”

The assassins rushed to sign and stamp on the paper Marcus handed out.

They gambled their lives on this.

The assassins who escaped safely sat down and sighed with relief or laughed out loud, enjoying their joy in their own ways.

Trevonius thanked Marcus several times by holding his hand.

Decimus and Cassius were no different.

They had killed Caesar and restored the order of the republic, but that had long disappeared from their minds.

They had to save their lives first, whether they wanted to rebuild the republic or not.

The most important thing for them was to get out of here safely, and the restoration of the republic was the next problem.

“There’s no need to thank me. It’s quite a distance from Rome to Arabia, so you’ll have to prepare well. I wish you good luck.”

Marcus said casually and left his seat.

That’s right.

It was a long way from Rome to Arabia.

It wasn’t just the physical distance, but they had to ride a ship for a long time.

So who knows what will happen.

< 246. The Future of Rome  6> End