"...... Apis"

"Know what I'm asking you for here today?"

In the empty and secluded Lugdunum Executive's residence, Appis's voice was so loud that it was like a lion in the hollow. Livius knew that eighty percent of the matter of taking in Ronaus was exposed. But how was it exposed? How was it exposed? Levius was completely confused at the moment, for for for for more than a week Ronaus had been locked up in that basement and had never been seen, except once or twice in the dead of night when he had bathed in the bath. Could it be that the servant who had been bringing him food had reported it to Appis? That's impossible......

"I don't know ......"

Levius replied nervously.

"Ronaus. You know this person. ”

Sitting in the lion-headed chair behind his desk, Apis said lightly.

“…… Meet ......"

"Who is he?"

In the dim light, Apis got up and asked.

"A friend of mine, to be exact, my father was a friend of his father......"

Faced with Appis's cross-examination, Levius wanted to deny his relationship with Ronaus. But if you think about it, since Apis already knew about his secret suspect, he must have sent someone to investigate his relationship with Ronaus. It seems that there is no point in deceiving one's superiors and concealing it any longer.

"You know he's on my list."

"Know ......"

Having said that, Levius knew that Apis came to him today to break this relationship and hold him accountable to the end.

"Tell me, friend, why are you doing this? Ronaeus is your partner, brother. Am I not? I trust you, you can come and go freely in and out of my mansion, and even the Praetorian Guards can't do anything to you. It can be said that in Lugdunum, you are a privileged person, and yet, you use this privilege to deceive and fool me. Alas, Levi, I have been betrayed and deceived so much, and you have made me feel tired and disappointed. ”

There was no one else in the empty room, not even the servants were torn apart. Appis walked up to Levius and spoke helplessly and bitterly.

"I'm sorry, brother...... If you still think of me as a brother......"

Levius bowed his head in pain. In the most dangerous times of Apis, he did not abandon or betray, helping him to stabilize the situation in Gaul and balance the forces of all sides, what a firm feeling of affliction, but now, because he secretly harbored a Ronaus, he destroyed this unbreakable trust. Levius waited, waiting for Apis to dispose of him.

"In fact, I've always considered you my brother. Together we went out of Rome, out of Italy, together in the conquest of Germania, together in the administration of Gaul, in the administration of the city. But after so many years of contact, you don't really know me. You want to shelter your friends, there's nothing wrong with that, it's your heavy feelings, and you won't be ruthless like some people. But if you really want to shelter your friends, your relatives, you can tell me. I drew up the list, and the Janissaries were responsible for arresting them, but I was the one who decided what to do with the rebels. You can tell me what you think, and I can make a decision on the basis of what is. For example, the exile of Ronaus to Britain or Far Spain. Spare his life. Yes, if you really want to, I can do it quietly. Brother, there is nothing we cannot negotiate. ”

Appis said, placing his hand on Levius' shoulder. At this point, the city councillor Levius was even more uneasy. He originally thought that Apis would no longer trust him because of this, but he didn't expect that Apis trusted him more than he imagined.

"...... Apis"

"Say no more, brother. This is the end of the matter, and I will take him and exile him to Far Spain. Leaving him a sum of property, enough for him to live there normally, was a benevolent decision for him. And between you and me, I hope it doesn't happen again. I will still trust you, brother, and stop hiding and deceiving me......"

Appis said, his face pained and haggard. As a result, Levius was ashamed and blamed himself.

……

"No, no, I'm not going to Spain! That's where the barbarians stay! ”

When Ronaus was taken out of the villa, outside the villa of the Livius family, many people gathered to watch the excitement. People exchanged heads and talked a lot. It's like the noise in the market, and it's endless.

Several strong Janissaries grabbed the weak Ronaus like chickens, and then shoved a ball of torn linen into his mouth to prevent him from making any more noises and causing controversy among the people. Levius stood there, his heart mixed. Some aristocrats could already see from this incident that Appis's favor for Livius might be coming to an end, and now was a good time for them to win over the dictator......

The purge of opponents caused a brief period of white terror in Lugdunum, however, Apis soon redistributed the looted property. Give 30 percent of your points to the civilians in the city.

For a time, the whole city was boiling, and public opinion was in an uproar. The effect of this is undoubtedly like Caesar's generous gift of his property to the commoners of Rome. Even though Apis has the shadow of a dictator, people have real benefits in their hands, and they no longer have such lofty ideas.

Looking at the boiling crowd in the square, Apis remembered the time when Cato the Younger was electing to criticize Roman society, and criticized those citizens who took people's money and voted for others for having no moral bottom line. However, this is the reality. People's lives are precarious, and who cares about so-called ideology and politics. All ideas arose from the wealthy nobility and knightly class. Civilian...... Whoever gives the benefit will follow him...... The philosophical works of Socrates and Plato are rarely read by the common people, but when you talk to them about the Agrarian Law, there are many people who can answer a question or two......

The "pomp and circumstance" of the people of Lugdunum queuing up to get money reached Italy, and Octavian gritted his teeth. He knew that his hopes of counterattacking Gaul were dying. Appis, like himself, was a good hand at agitating the people. In this way, the people were completely immersed in the real gains, and forgot about the crushing defeat of their commanders in Britain...... To get the public to change the topic and focus, it is actually very simple, that is, to use another more eye-catching thing to cover up the topic of public opinion before.