Five days passed.
At the gates of Rome, a dozen praetors, quaestors, tribunes, and some Roman senators with their guards were waiting for someone.
The news of Septimus' arrival in Rome had spread among the interested nobles.
Although Sulla had previously implemented many policies to weaken Septimus' military power and disperse many clone legionaries throughout Rome.
Septimus had amassed unimaginable wealth during the civil war and had earned even more from the African campaign, and his businesses were booming. Investing all this money into the construction of the Campania region.
On the other hand, Septimus had more than 250,000 Roman citizens under his command in the Campania region.
The votes of more than 250,000 Roman citizens represented a great political asset in Rome.
Throughout Rome, the number of Roman citizens was approximately between 1.2 and 1.3 million registered adult male citizens.
Many Roman citizens were scattered across different regions or colonial cities far from the city of Rome.
Rome in the year 78 B.C. was a republic with an electoral system developed over decades.
The Romans highly valued the idea that the "Roman people" had to physically gather in the capital to exercise their political authority. Therefore, although there were many citizens in other regions or distant colonial cities, most of them barely participated in the voting due to the enormous distances and travel costs.
On the other hand, Septimus, with his more than 250,000 citizens in the nearby Campania region, became a very popular person among the upper class.
Septimus did not belong to any political faction and was known for showing disinterest in the political affairs of Rome except for those related to the Campania region.
The political factions in Rome, motivated by their own interests, preferred to maintain a cordial relationship with Septimus and avoid him supporting an opposing faction.
Septimus was also a great moneylender among the nobles.
Lending money to senators guaranteed political influence, and the profit was almost certain.
The senators possessed many properties both inside and outside Rome.
Few senators had the courage to deny a debt to Septimus, and the few who could not pay had to become lackeys of Septimus.
Crassus, in the original history, had greatly inspired Septimus, and he decided to emulate him by offering interest-free loans to some senators in order to gain their support.
In fact, this approach was very effective; most senators wanted to advance in politics, which required substantial expenses.
At least 100 senators owed money to Septimus, which granted him considerable influence within the Senate.
The senators and nobles spoke in low voices, occasionally bursting into laughter.
Just then, someone shouted: "Look, General Septimus is here!".
A sinister banner with three decapitated heads impaled on spears appeared in the distance, and a large procession approached.
Rome was not safe, and Septimus had to travel almost always with his elite guard.
"Fabius, it has been a long time since I last saw you! You've gained so much weight lately," Septimus said calmly to the fat senator.
Fabius was a poor noble from Capua and was one of the first people to swear loyalty to Septimus.
Later, Septimus did not find him useful, and killing a loyal person was not his style.
Fabius was sent to Rome and became a tribune of the plebs using Septimus' financial and political support.
Due to his own efforts and Septimus' influence in Rome, Fabius became a well-known senator.
"We welcome you to Rome, great general," Fabius said with a humble expression. He was not stupid, and all the power he had was due to Septimus.
After exchanging greetings, the group headed toward the city gate.
During the journey to Rome, Septimus understood Sulla's motives for ignoring his delegation.
The Senate was currently in a state of panic and turmoil due to Lepidus' opposition to Sulla.
Sulla and the Senate were wrapped in political struggles without enough energy to address the issue of the pirates in the Mediterranean.
No matter the era, politics is a constant confrontation between various politicians pursuing their own interests.
Septimus had closely followed the events in Rome. Lepidus had initially used his supposed affinity with Sulla to amass a considerable fortune at the expense of the enemies of the State during the civil war.
However, two years earlier, Sulla, as history had shown, had resigned from his position as dictator for life. At that moment, Lepidus revealed his true aversion toward Sulla.
He repeatedly delivered speeches against Sulla on various occasions, gaining the support not only of the exiled nobles, but also of Pompey.
Thanks to this support, Lepidus became consul that same year.
Consequently, Sulla, Lepidus, and Pompey were practically bitter political enemies.
The current situation in Rome was very tense, with citizens and nobles confronting each other.
This was another conflict between citizens and aristocrats, which would later lead to a war.
In the original history, after Lepidus left the office of consul, he went to recruit his own two legions in order to rebel, attempting to become a dictator for life like Sulla. He failed; otherwise, Rome might have suffered another horrible massacre.
Septimus gradually understood the political situation in Rome.
Just then, they arrived at the Piazza del Popolo.
A great crowd had gathered in one corner of the square, and a very loud voice echoed through it.
Septimus' group did not attract attention in the crowded square.
Septimus pushed his way through the crowd with 6 clone guards protecting him.
At the top of a wooden box, Lepidus could be distinguished.
After advancing through the crowd, Septimus spotted a handsome young man surrounded by four burly slaves.
"Pompey, I did not expect to see you here," Septimus said as he approached with a friendly expression.
Indeed, it was the young Pompey, who would be betrayed by his wife in the near future.
Septimus held no enmity toward Pompey, and during the last years, through commercial collaborations with Demetrios, they forged a cordial friendship.
Pompey's expression changed slightly, and then he forced a smile. "Septimus, it has been a long time."
The two greeted each other cordially.
"What is he saying?" Septimus asked curiously.
"Nothing, you will understand when you listen," Pompey said somewhat awkwardly.
Septimus nodded and carefully listened to Lepidus' speech.
"Distinguished citizens of Rome, the massacre from a few years ago was an absolute tragedy. Countless nobles and elites of high moral standing, completely loyal to Rome, were brutally murdered, and their properties were shamelessly confiscated. What did they do wrong to deserve such a fate?"
"What law designated them as enemies of Rome? No! No law forced them to suffer such a disgrace!"
"It was a brutal massacre, an organized robbery, and the properties of those murdered victims of Rome must be returned!"
Upon hearing this, someone shouted excitedly.
Others directly shouted: "Return the properties! Repair your crimes!"
"Return the properties! Repair your crimes!"
Upon hearing the crowd's shouts, Septimus' expression changed slightly.
"Do you support this clown?" Septimus said with a mocking expression.
Septimus refused to believe that Pompey did not know he had benefited enormously from the civil war.
These were tens of millions of denarii in assets; if he returned them, Septimus swore that he would kill him and trigger another civil war.
Pompey felt somewhat nervous, but quickly calmed himself.
"I did not know all of his political ideas," Pompey said calmly.
Septimus inwardly mocked Pompey's response.
"I do not care if you oppose Sulla, but I hope you understand the consequences of opposing me," Septimus said with a serious expression to Pompey.
The threat in his words was obvious, and Pompey understood them perfectly.
"Well… He and I are friends, and I do not know all of his political proposals," Pompey said with slight seriousness in his voice.