Sparta: Many childrens, Many Blessings, Starting from the Gladiator Chapter 67 67

Marcus glanced at the soldiers — their hands rested on their weapons, positioned with careful formation that sealed off all escape routes. This was not an "invitation," it was an escort.

"Alright."

He nodded. "I'll go with you."

"Boss!"

Gisco wanted to step forward but was stopped by Marcus raising his hand.

"It's fine."

Marcus said, "I'll be back soon. You all continue training."

He walked out of the training ground gate. The soldiers brought by Marcus imdiately surrounded him, sandwiching him in the middle.

The group crossed the streets, heading toward the Senate.

On the way, Marcus tried to speak with Marcus.

"Centurion Marcus, what exactly is this about?"

Marcus looked at him and lowered his voice: "There's been a murder at the dock."

Marcus's heart sank.

"Who died?"

"A rchant nad Lucius."

Marcus said, "He was found dead in a dock warehouse this morning, his throat slit, blood everywhere. There was a note in his arms with your na on it."

Lucius?

Dead?

Marcus's mind spun rapidly.

Wasn't Lucius supposed to be in the brothel in the south of the city?

How did he end up at the dock? And dead?

"The note had my na on it?"

Marcus asked. "Just my na?"

"There was also a sentence."

Marcus paused. "'Debts must be repaid, murder must be paid with life.'"

A fra-up.

A blatant fra-up.

"I didn't kill him."

"I know."

Marcus's voice lowered further. "Lord Sextus also thinks there's sothing wrong, which is why he 'invited' you for questioning instead of having you arrested directly. But Marcus… this matter is very troubleso. Senator Valerius has insisted in the Senate that you did it, saying you 'killed to silence him' because Lucius knew the secret of your collusion with pirates."

As expected.

Valerius had made his move.

First kill Lucius, then fra him.

Killing two birds with one stone — eliminate a disobedient middleman and take down Marcus at the sa ti.

"What did Lord Gracchus say?"

Marcus asked.

"Lord Gracchus…"

Marcus hesitated. "He said it must be handled 'fairly and impartially,' and that he cannot shelter you just because you are his man."

Ha.

Marcus sneered inwardly.

Handled fairly and impartially?

Gracchus was preparing to distance himself.

If he was convicted, Gracchus could conveniently get rid of this "trouble." If he cleared his na, Gracchus would lose nothing.

Truly clever calculation.

The group arrived at the Senate. They did not use the main entrance but entered through a side door and were taken directly to a small interrogation room.

There was only Sextus in the room, sitting behind a wooden table.

On the table were several items: a bloodstained dagger, a crumpled note, and a small money bag.

"Sit."

Sextus pointed to the chair opposite him.

Marcus sat down.

Marcus and the soldiers withdrew and closed the door.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Sextus did not speak imdiately. He simply looked at Marcus, those old eyes seeming to pierce through him.

After a long while, he spoke: "Lucius is dead. Do you know?"

"I just heard from Centurion Marcus."

"Do you know him?"

"I do."

Marcus answered honestly. "He used to be the kitchen steward at Batiatus's training ground. After Batiatus fell, he ran away. I heard he later worked for Senator Valerius."

"You know quite a lot."

Sextus said. "Then do you know why he died?"

"I don't know."

Sextus picked up the note and spread it on the table.

On it was indeed written "Marcus," along with the sentence "Debts must be repaid, murder must be paid with life."

The handwriting was sloppy, as if written in haste.

"This was found in his arms."

Sextus said. "Valerius claims you killed him because he threatened to expose your cris."

"What cris?"

"Colluding with pirates, smuggling contraband, privately maintaining ard forces…"

Sextus paused. "And murdering Batiatus."

Marcus smiled. "Batiatus was publicly executed. Everyone in Capua saw it."

"But there were problems with the execution procedure."

Sextus stared into his eyes. "You have no judicial authority, yet you killed soone in public. Valerius says that was murder, not justice."

"Why didn't he say so at the ti?"

"At the ti… the situation was special."

Sextus put down the note. "Now he is digging up old accounts, combined with Lucius's death. With both matters pressing together, so people in the Senate have already begun to waver."

Marcus was silent for a few seconds, then asked: "My lord, do you believe I killed him?"

Sextus shook his head. "I don't believe it, but I need evidence."

"Where did the dagger co from?"

"The murder weapon, stabbed into Lucius's chest, but the fatal wound was the cut on his throat."

Sextus picked up the dagger. "A very ordinary dagger, ten denarii each at any blacksmith shop, but there is a mark carved on the hilt."

He turned the dagger over. At the bottom of the hilt was indeed carved sothing — a coiling sea snake.

Leta's mark.

Marcus's heart tightened.

"Do you recognize this mark?"

Sextus asked.

"I do. It is the mark of the Sicilian pirate group 'Sea Snake,' but this dagger is not mine."

"I know."

Sextus's expression was grave. "It's too obvious. If you were the killer, you wouldn't leave such blatant evidence. This is a fra-up, but a very clumsy one."

He put down the dagger and leaned back in his chair. "Valerius is getting anxious. The tariff proposal will be voted on next week. He must bring you down before then, because you are Gracchus's representative at the dock. If you fall, the dock will fall into chaos, and the tariff proposal will be hard to pass."

"So the reason you called here…"

"I am not interrogating you. I am reminding you."

Sextus said. "Valerius will not let this go. Lucius's death is only the beginning. There will be more to co. You must be careful."

Marcus looked at this old senator and suddenly felt he could not fully understand him.

"My lord, why are you helping ?"

"I am not helping you."

Sextus said seriously. "I am helping Capua. The dock is now managed by you in an orderly manner. Tax revenue has increased, disputes have decreased, and smuggling has decreased."

"If you fall and soone else takes over, they may not have the ability. I don't care about your relationship with Gracchus, nor do I care whether you are colluding with pirates — as long as the dock remains peaceful, I will support you."

A very practical reason.

But Marcus liked it.

"Thank you, my lord."

"Don't thank yet."

Sextus stood up. "There is only so much I can do. On the Senate side, Valerius has already united five or six senators to establish a special tribunal to investigate you. Gracchus… he may abandon the chariot to save the general."

"I understand."

"You have three days."

Sextus said. "Within three days, find evidence to prove your innocence, or… find sothing that can counter Valerius. Otherwise, even I cannot protect you."

"That's enough."

Marcus also stood up. "My lord, may I see the body?"

"It's in the morgue. Marcus will take you there."

Sextus walked to the door, then stopped and looked back at Marcus.

"Young man, Capua needs stability. Do not disappoint ."

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