"Old friend, the final investigation results are out, that Appis is ......"

"Wait, let me guess. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info”

The soldier sent to Aretion to investigate Appis's original origins finally returned, and Cota learned of it outside the door. The truth is so lucky, but also so cruel. And when Cota walked into Sabinus's living room to tell his old friend about it, Sabinus stopped him, and it would be extremely important for him.

At the same time, there is a mystery about Apis's life in Sabinus's heart is also very contradictory, on the one hand, the old general hopes that his biological son in this world is still alive, but on the other hand, he does not want Apis to be the biological son who has been lost for many years and dare not claim it, in the face of complex and contradictory psychology, Sabinus sat on the chaise longue and stopped Kota from telling him the truth directly, Sabinus needs to ease the matter himself. Whatever the truth, he needs to be relieved at the last moment.

"Well, I guess he's my son. Tell me, Kota, that if Apis is not my son, perhaps I can have someone look for him again. ”

Sabinus finally spoke, and in the dark, lightless living room, the aged Sabinus was performing a confessional ritual to confess to the gods and thank them for giving him another chance.

"No need to send anyone to look for it, Apis is the Vibius who has disappeared for many years, he is your own son, an old friend."

Cota replied with a sigh, the oil lamp on the wall stretching the figures of the two of them very long, as if time and space were so long. A complicated expression appeared on Sabinus's face, which was melancholy and melancholy, relief and exclamation.

It is gratifying that fate has made people reunite him with his own son, whom he has not seen for many years, and it is on the Gallic battlefield that he has conquered, in the Predator Army.

Melancholy is the rough twenty years of his own son, murdered by the great nobles, sold into slavery, forced to fight wild beasts in the arena, and subjected to countless cynicism. All this, as a father, Sabinus can be described as full of self-blame and guilt.

"Appis, where is he now?"

Sabinus looked at Kota, his eyes full of guilt and self-reproach, and muttered.

"In the city of Rome, I often go to temples, theaters, bathhouses and other places, and in addition, I occasionally visit the family of the fallen veteran, the Roman family in Lopi Lane."

Kota calmly asked.

"Take me to him."

Sabinus is like a melancholy, staggering old man at the moment, his body is thin and strong, just like his heart, which is full of self-blame and anticipation, hoping to use his efforts in the next years to make up for the mistakes of his first half of life. In addition, the family does need a capable successor.

……

Two days later, in an upscale apartment on the streets of Thebes, the old general Sabinus met Appis again, who was in a good mood and full of spring.

Accompanied by Cota, the old man looked a little overwhelmed and didn't know how to talk to the young man in front of him. It seems that there is so much to say, but I don't know where to start.

The atmosphere at the scene was a little awkward and tense, and Appis first greeted politely-

"Honorable Legionnaire, Sabinus. I'm so surprised that you're here to stay, and I don't know what I can do for you. ”

Appis opened his mouth politely, but he didn't know what the senior commander in front of him was looking for him. Apis preferred Kota to Sabinus. Because the young officer had repeatedly promoted and rewarded himself in front of everyone, even when everyone was against him, Kota still tried his best to protect himself, and Sabinus, who always seemed to be against him, looked down on his slave origin. But in front of him, Sabinus today seems to have a different demeanor, he is as gentle as a father, looking at his children lovingly.

"Child, you have grown up in darkness and pain, and have achieved your skills and position through the trials of swords and fire, and General Sabinus appreciates your courage and wisdom, and intends to transfer you to his name, to be his personal guard, the captain of the cavalry of the Eighth Legion. I don't know if you'd like to do that? ”

The atmosphere of the father-son meeting was a little solemn, and old Sabinus almost held back tears, choking up and unable to spit out a word. Seeing such a scene, Kota hurriedly came up with a temporary line for his old friend. This embarrassment was alleviated.

"I do!"

Apis blurted out almost without even thinking about it. Being able to change from a reconnaissance captain to a corps leader's personal guard and cavalry captain, the speed of this promotion is simply fast, Apis doesn't know what luck he hit today, he actually let the two legion commanders come in person, and as soon as he is promoted, he is a cross-level promotion, this kind of treatment makes himself a big step closer to the promise to Octavia, if he has this identity, then he wants to marry Octavia, it seems that it is no longer so unattainable.

Of course, there will be a qualitative increase in salary and status, but these are not the most important compared to being with your beloved girl.

"Then, from now on, you will be my deputy. Young Appis. ”

Sabinus held back his emotions and said in friendly words.

"Yes, General."

Appis almost screamed with excitement, returned to Rome, reunited with Octavia, and now received the sudden weight and promotion of the Legionnaire, happiness came too suddenly, too unreal......

……

"Why don't you tell him who you really are? Are you afraid that your father and son will recognize each other? ”

After coming out of Appis's apartment, Cota asked Sabinus curiously. They came for this purpose before they came, however, the meeting just now obviously did not achieve this purpose, Sabinus still did not break this relationship, what is he worried about? Worried about what? Kota didn't know.

"Maybe in this matter, he and I need buffer time, I need to rely more emotionally on him, take care of him, and he also needs to slowly accept this long-forgotten father, the reality is lucky for him, but it is also cruel. How does he accept a cowardly father? A father who shirks his responsibilities? ”

Sabinus replied to Cota's words, but he was also whipping himself, his own heart.

"Fate was cruel to the boy. May the gods protect him. ”

Sabinus's answer made Kota sigh as well.