"It won't be long before the dozens of field legions of the North African Army Group in Bernifis will reach Rome, and then Ravenna, Your Excellency the Treasurer!" Remitius smiled, tapping the table with his gnarled fingers, making a "dang dang" sound.

"Do you mean, then, that Berniface wants to force Caesar to abdicate with Platicia with his army, and then ask the Senate to crown him as the new emperor of the Empire?" Arecio questioned Remitius, "You don't think that's too impractical, do you?" You are not just facing Aetius, I believe that it will not be long before the expeditionary armies of the Eastern Empire will destroy you before you have time to regret it! ”

"Oh oh oh no, no, no, you misunderstood me, Lord Arecio!" Remitius waved his hand again and again, and then said: "We are justified in sending troops, and that is what Platicia meant!" ”

"Placidia!" Arecio almost turned his back on hearing the name, how could he not believe that just before he returned, he clearly saw that Placitia seemed to have just learned of the news of the march of Berniface, how could it be that in the mouth of Remitius it had become an order from the Queen Regent?

"You're lying!" Arecio said to him fiercely.

"So, how can you prove that I'm lying? Lord Arecio! In the face of Arecio's intimidation, Remitius calmly surprised Arecius himself. He looked back at Arecio, who was still pacing back and forth, with a smile on his calm face, as if he was waiting, waiting for Arecio to justify himself.

Arecio stopped talking, yes, how could he prove that it was not Madame Placidia's order, and tell him bluntly what he had seen and heard in the gladiatorial arena? Wouldn't that be telling him that he had already met Aetius? No, Arecio thinks he's not a fool, he can't just be at the mercy of others!

"Ah, maybe I'm overthinking, because that barbarian of Aetius is destined to die!" I just didn't think that even Her Excellency the Queen Regent could agree with me, it's really a little incredible! The quick answer made Remitius not seem as focused as he had just been, and Arecio couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in his heart. It seems that such a catastrophe has been passed by forcefully, so a new question arises, why would Remitius be so insistent on testing him constantly? What the hell was he worried about?

"Say, my friend!"

Arecius was now behind Remytius, and asked in a deep voice, "What do you want to get here, or do you want me to express something verbally?" ”

"Oren!"

Remitius replied very decisively, he turned his head and looked up into Arecio's eyes, and continued: "There is still enough support for the wealth in the imperial treasury, of course, it would be better if we could provide mercenaries, because we want to clear the king's side!" ”

That's what Berniface intended! Only then did Arecio understand why he was truly favored by the two giants, who managed the treasury, and both sides of the two giants desperately needed money from the treasury to maintain their armies, capable of defeating and completely destroying each other!

"Aetius was the commander of the central field army of the Italian provinces, not only Rome but also Ravenna, or Naples and Florence, and the armies of all regions were under the command of Aetius! Besides, where am I going to find mercenaries for you, do you want me to negotiate with the pirates? ”

"No, it doesn't have to be that way, Lord Arecio, Lord Berniface has taken your concerns into account, so he asked me to bring this to you!" As he spoke, Remitius pulled out from his pocket an ornately framed parchment, which he handed to Arecio. Arecio took the parchment and slowly opened it, it was a letter of commission, the contents of the Latin text outlined with a quill pen stroke by stroke made him unable to believe his eyes.

"Lies! It must be a lie! ”

Arecio looked at the parchment and looked it back and forth, trying to find a flaw in it.

"Don't bother, Lord Arecio!" Remitius smiled, snatched the letter of appointment from Arecio's hand, and carefully rolled it up and put it in his pocket, looking at Arecio with wide eyes and staring at him. He sneered and said, "Well, Your Excellency the Treasurer, you should believe this!" ”

"It can't be! That's impossible! Arecio took two steps back and sat down in his chair, still babbling, "Impossible, impossible, is this really Platitia's decision?" What the hell is this crazy woman thinking? Really with her damn brother (Flavis. Honorius) is just as crazy! ”

"Recognize the reality, Your Excellency!" Remitius smiled and slowly stood up, looking at Arecio, who was slumped in his chair. "This is a genuine letter of appointment from Her Excellency Queen Regent, Placitia, and besides, the scepter has been in the hands of Her Excellency Boniface, who is now the true commander of the Central Field Army! All the field legions in the provinces of Italy are no excuse for you, Your Excellency. ”

"Aren't you afraid of Aetius biting back?"

"No, the Queen Regent, Lady Platicia, has assured us that Aetius is about to leave for Gaul to quell the endless rebellions and commotions from which no god can escape. How could this barbarian break free so easily? By the time he came to his senses, he had been declared a common enemy of the two Roman Empires. "Remitius spoke fiercely, with a confident look.

"Your Excellency the Treasurer, those who go along will prosper, and those who go against will die!"

If Arecio were to be in modern times, and he had read the history of Rome, he would have known which of the two sides of the struggle between Berniface and Aetius would have won in the end, but he was just a beautiful ordinary man, without foresight, and did not realize the great potential contained in the body of Aetius, a barbarian whom he underestimated! Right now, he saw Rome, where he was, or Naples, Florence, and Ravenna, the capital of the empire. All the field legions there would be under the banner of Boniface, not to mention the Afrigian army, which was still riding the waves and rushing towards Rome day and night.

"Then I will do what you command, Mr. Remitius!" Arecio finally compromised, he already had no expectations for Aetius, and now Berniface's strength surprised him, such a general who controlled almost half of the empire's army, when he set foot on Roman soil, even if he directly rebelled and became emperor, no one could stop him!