Imperium.
In Rome, this single word carried the weight of the world.
Simply put, it was the absolute legal and military authority granted to a citizen to command officials, armies, and even other citizens.
Roman magistrates were granted imperium through public elections, allowing them to exercise this power within the bounds of the law.
However, not all imperium was created equal.
For example, an aedile held some authority, but not the right to command a legion.
Imperium was synonymous with power itself. The ultimate dream of every Roman politician was to climb the cursus honorum and secure a higher imperium.
"Are you saying, then, that the Senate is prepared to grant me imperium?"
I could hear the frantic murmuring rippling through the Senate floor.
Hortensius's brow was still furrowed in a deep scowl, but he quickly forced his expression back into a mask of composure.
"I hardly think imperium is necessary for a simple inspection of the roads. There is absolutely no precedent for granting imperium to a member of the vigintisexviri."
"But as you yourself just eloquently stated, senator, the roads across Italy are fraught with peril. One never knows when they might cross paths with bandits," I replied, keeping my tone calm and even.
It was plain enough what Hortensius and his Optimate cronies were trying to pull.
They wanted to force me out of Rome so I couldn't reunite with my father when he returned in triumph from Hispania.
So, how should I play this?
The simplest course was to simply reject the proposal.
I could just humbly claim that I lacked the qualifications and authority for such a grave responsibility.
Hortensius undoubtedly expected me to do exactly that.
As Cicero had pointed out, it was virtually unheard of for a junior magistrate like the vigintisexviri to be burdened with such a heavy responsibility. The other senators wouldn't hold it against me if I declined.
But did Hortensius really think I was that predictable?
Though he had looked momentarily unsettled by my counter-question, he was already regaining his smoothly arrogant composure.
"I cannot possibly guarantee the safety of the roads if I am forced to ride out alone and unarmed."
"You make a fair point. Why don't we ask the rest of our esteemed senators for their thoughts on the matter?"
Hortensius casually waved his hand, and right on cue, several of his allied senators stood up.
"Lucius Julius Caesar has already accomplished magnificent things for the glory of Rome! Aside from the young Caesar, who else is equal to such a task?"
Just then, a very familiar face stood up from his seat.
"I, too, concur with Senator Hortensius."
It was Cato.
Dressed in his signature black toga, he spoke calmly.
Wait, did Cato actually stand with Hortensius?
"However, we must respect Lucius Caesar's autonomy in this matter. To forcibly impose such a heavy burden upon a junior magistrate is a gross violation of our tradition. Furthermore, to send him wandering across the entirety of Italy without the proper imperium to defend himself is tantamount to a death sentence."
Hearing Cato's words, Hortensius's face twisted into an complicated expression.
Honestly, I was just as confused.
Was he helping Hortensius, or was he helping me?
But one thing was clear.
Cato was taking a strictly neutral stance.
He was perfectly fine with sweeping me out of Rome, but his rigid morality wouldn't allow him to send me out defenseless.
"If he is to undertake this mission, must we not grant him at least enough imperium to command an armed escort?" Cato argued.
"There is wisdom in Senator Cato's words. But ultimately, the choice lies with Lucius Caesar. The Senate merely makes the proposal."
Just then, Cicero leaned in and whispered in my ear.
"You have absolutely no reason to accept this absurd proposal. Trying to abruptly exile you from Rome like this... their motives are all too plain."
Instead of answering, I simply nodded.
Logically speaking, he was right. I had no obligation to accept this gift laced with poison.
But every coin has two sides.
If you can flip it over, a grave crisis can easily transform into a great opportunity.
"Honorable senators."
I stood up from my seat, my voice echoing clearly through the Curia.
With the eyes of every man locked onto me, I delivered my answer.
"I am ready to go wherever the Republic needs me."
***
"What in the world was Lucius thinking, accepting a proposal like that?"
"..."
Crassus remained silent despite his colleague's baffled reaction.
The moment Lucius Caesar readily accepted Hortensius's proposal, the Senate session moved at astonishing speed.
The inspection of the roads around Rome and the major roads of Italy.
To facilitate this task, Lucius was officially granted a limited imperium to command an armed escort and issue orders to the allied cities when necessary.
"Lately, the magistrates from the allied cities have been flocking to Lucius, desperately begging him to build towers in their cities," Crassus muttered softly.
He slowly turned his gaze toward the benches where Hortensius was seated.
Hortensius was desperately trying to maintain a calm facade, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed his shock.
He clearly hadn't expected Lucius to accept his trap so easily.
The same went for the Metellus faction.
Crassus could hear their frantic, hushed whispers.
"Do you think he's setting another trap, like he did when he asked for funding for the towers?"
"Whatever he's planning, it doesn't matter. As long as we can force him out of Rome, it's a victory."
Listening to their panicked muttering, Crassus thoughtfully stroked his chin.
"An imperium granted to a boy who isn't even twenty years old yet...."
And it wasn't just the senators who were completely caught off guard by Lucius's decision.
***
"If you had simply refused the proposal, not a single soul in the Senate would have dared criticize you."
My mother sighed heavily, pressing her fingers to her temples.
"Your father will be returning to Rome very soon. And you volunteered to inspect the Italian roads? Right now, when the countryside is practically full of bandits?"
"I won't just be inspecting the roads, mother. I'll be making an official tour of the allied cities while possessing imperium given by the Senate," I explained.
She was right. This was a blatantly political maneuver to exile me from Rome.
But at the same time, it handed me an unprecedented opportunity.
"Right now, the vast majority of the allied cities are desperate to secure a tower. If I personally visit them with the authority of the Senate behind me, I can secure far more firm political support from them."
"You are doing this for your father's coming election?"
"I'm doing this for both of us."
I nodded firmly.
It was the perfect chance to make myself known to the allied citizens and build a reputation as a magistrate who worked to keep their roads safe.
Until now, my influence had been confined within the walls of Rome.
Using the Senate's official mandate as a legal excuse, I could now extend that influence across the entirety of Italy.
"A significant portion of the allied citizens possess full Roman citizenship. If we can secure their support, it will be an enormous asset in any future election."
"But still..."
"Thanks to the information the allied cities submitted for the towers, we've already finished drafting the first map. This is the perfect opportunity to put it to the test."
"I suppose there's no stopping you now."
Mother let out a defeated sigh, a faint smile touching her lips.
"But no matter how hard you push your horses, there is no way you can complete a tour of Italy before your father returns."
"It's more than possible."
I walked over to my tablinum and retrieved the map I had been preparing.
It was the very first comprehensive map of Italy, stitched together using the information submitted by the allied cities.
It was still missing quite a few minor details and rural routes, but it was much more accurate than any other map in the Republic today.
Of course, through the Library in my dreams, I had access to modern maps far more accurate than this one.
Historically, however, no truly comprehensive map of the Italian peninsula existed until the age of Augustus, when Agrippa was tasked with conducting large-scale surveys.
In other words, there was no reliable map showing the exact terrain and local features of this period.
But thanks to the allied cities painstakingly carrying out the surveys for me, I was able to put together a comprehensive master map far sooner than anyone else could have managed.
If I cross-referenced their survey data with modern topographical data for Italy, I'd end up with an almost flawless map.
"If my entire retinue travels exclusively on horseback, we can visit every major city within two to three months. We won't need to drag massive, slow-moving supply wagons, either. We can just resupply at the cities as we pass through."
History had already shown that such a tactic could work.
During his civil war against Pompey, Julius Caesar had marched his legions across Italy at an astonishing speed.
By utilizing cavalry, he had completely threw Pompey's plans into ruin.
"We visit each city, secure their political support, finalize the logistics for their tower construction, and ride back to Rome right on schedule."
"That is going to be an absolutely grueling march, Young Master."
Felix, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, spoke up.
"I will begin packing travel gear immediately. I guess I should bring some swords too."
"No, Felix. You're staying right here in Rome."
"What?" Felix scowled.
"But if I don't go, who is going to see to your journey and assist you on the road? We're talking about a multi-month expedition across..."
"Which is exactly why you need to stay in Rome."
I cut him off with a grin.
"While I'm gone, you're the only person I trust to manage everything here, Felix."
"Young Master..." Felix murmured, like he was touched by my reply.
"Of course, that also means that if anything catches fire while I'm gone, you're the one answering for it."
"Excuse me?!"
"Lucius, I admit you have a terrifying talent for business and politics, but an expedition like this is entirely new to you," my mother interjected, her tone turning serious.
"Riding across the Italian roads is incredibly dangerous. Especially if you only take a small, lightly armed escort with you."
"I am well aware that I'm not exactly a prodigy with a gladius," I nodded in agreement.
Objectively speaking, my swordsmanship was utterly ordinary.
No matter how elite my escorts were, the danger of the open road was undeniable.
And I certainly didn't harbor the delusion that I possessed my father's unparalleled military genius.
If that was the case, I needed a powerful ally.
"I have no intention of doing this journey alone."
***
It was a dingy tavern deep in the Subura district.
It was barely dawn, and the tavern owner was already sighing heavily.
"I'm terribly sorry, sir, but I really need you to leave now. I have to scrub the floors before the noonday customers comes."
He grabbed the shoulders of the man sprawled out unconscious on the floor and shook him vigorously.
But the man only let out a low, miserable groan and refused to open his eyes.
"And regarding the tab you ran up last night... when exactly will you pay for..."
"Didn't I tell you to just put it on my tab?"
The man slurred, waving a hand dismissively as he clumsily pushed himself off the floor.
Trying to stand, he immediately clutched his head in agony and collapsed into a nearby chair.
"Where are the others?"
"They all went home yesterday night, sir."
"And they just left me to rot on the floor. I swear, there isn't a single trustworthy friend left in this miserable city. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes, quite. Regardless, your tab has grown quite substantial. When exactly do you plan on..."
"Oh, don't worry your little head about it. I'll pay you back with a generous amount of interest on top. You know exactly who I am, don't you?"
The man patted the tavern owner on the shoulder, flashing a rakish, charming smile.
"By the way, something smells divine. Be a good man and fetch me a bowl of whatever soup that is, would you?"
"..."
The tavern owner let out a long, defeated sigh and shuffled off toward the kitchen.
Left alone at the table, the man grabbed a half-empty amphora of wine and tipped it back.
As the wine went down his throat, he shuddered.
"Ah... there truly is no better cure for a hangover than some wine."
Just as the man raised the amphora for another drink, the heavy wooden door of the tavern creaked open.
He didn't bother turning his head to look, but he could hear the heavy footsteps of several men entering.
"Hey there! It seems my treacherous friends have finally returned to pay the bill!"
He turned his head and immediately frowned.
The men who had just walked into the tavern were absolutely not his drinking companions.
"Am I seeing things, or is that you...Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus? The hangover must have turned my head to mush."
"It has been a very long time since I've seen a man guzzling unwatered wine this early in the morning."
Pompey scowled before turning to Lucius, who was standing right beside him.
"Lucius, is this truly the man you were looking for? He looks like nothing more than a pathetic, drunken vagrant to me."
"A vagrant? I take offense to that, sir. I was merely paying my solemn, daily respects to the great god Bacchus!"
The man shot back, proudly raising his amphora.
"I certainly never expected the great Pompey Magnus to track me down in a slum tavern. I suppose I'm not hallucinating after all. And the young man standing beside you is...?"
"Lucius Julius Caesar. It is a pleasure to finally meet you."
As the man's eyes widened, Lucius smiled and finished his greeting.
"Mark Antony."