Sparta: Many childrens, Many Blessings, Starting from the Gladiator Chapter 70 70

"Anything else?"

"Yes,"

Another young man chid in. "That person said Lucius and the limp guy talked for a while, seed to be arguing. Lucius pushed the limp guy, then walked toward the western warehouse area himself. The limp guy didn't follow, stood there for a while, then left too."

"Ti?"

"Around sunset."

Evening.

It matched Saxa's estimated ti of death.

"Can you bring that boatman here?"

Marcus asked.

"He's afraid of trouble and doesn't want to co."

Amir said. "But he said if he sees the limp guy again, he can recognize him."

"Give him money. Tell him to hang around the dock more these days. The mont he sees the limp guy, co report imdiately."

"Understood."

After Amir and his n left, Marcus drew a circle on the map at the location of the western warehouse and wrote "Limp" next to it.

Key witness.

If they could find this limp man, they would very likely know who killed Lucius.

But Valerius was definitely looking for him too.

They had to get to him first.

While he was thinking, noise ca from outside.

Marcus walked to the window and looked. More people had arrived at the training ground entrance — this ti not Senate guards, but the steward from Gracchus's mansion, accompanied by four guards.

"Marcus!"

The steward shouted at the gate, his voice loud. "Lord Gracchus summons you!"

What had to co, ca.

Marcus straightened his clothes and pushed the door open to go out.

"What is it?"

He walked to the gate and looked at the steward.

The steward was a thin man in his fifties who always looked down on people when speaking, with an arrogant air.

"Lord wants you to co over now."

The steward said. "Regarding Lucius's case, Lord wants to question you personally."

"Isn't the Senate having Lord Sextus handle it?"

"That's the Senate's business."

The steward sneered. "Lord Gracchus is your employer, so naturally he must also inquire. What, you don't dare to go?"

A provocation.

Marcus smiled. "I dare. Let's go."

This ti there was no escort surrounding him, but Marcus could feel eyes watching from the shadows.

Along the way from the training ground to Gracchus's mansion, there were at least three groups of watchers — Valerius's, Gracchus's, and possibly Sextus's.

In the study of the senatorial mansion, Gracchus sat in a large chair with tea and snacks in front of him, untouched.

His face didn't look good. When he saw Marcus enter, he waved for the steward and guards to withdraw.

The door closed. Only the two of them remained in the room.

"Sit."

Gracchus pointed to the stool opposite him.

Marcus sat down.

"Lucius is dead."

Gracchus got straight to the point. "Valerius insists you killed him. The Senate is now split into two factions, arguing fiercely."

"I didn't kill him."

"I know."

Gracchus took a sip of tea. "But the evidence is unfavorable to you. The pirate mark on the dagger, the perfu scent on the note, and the fact that you went to the temple yesterday afternoon — Valerius has already brought all of this out."

As expected.

"Then what is your intention, my lord?"

"I will protect you."

Gracchus put down his teacup. "But not for free. You have to do sothing for ."

"What is it?"

"The tariff proposal will be voted on next Wednesday. Valerius will definitely do everything to obstruct it."

Gracchus stared at Marcus. "Before then, I want you to find sothing that can completely ruin him."

"For example?"

"For example, evidence of his corruption, concrete proof of his collusion with pirates, or…"

Gracchus paused. "His daughter Livia's scandals."

Marcus's heart stirred.

"Livia?"

"That girl is not simple."

Gracchus sneered. "On the surface she's a pure noble lady, but behind the scenes she plays quite wildly. I heard she has been getting very close to a gladiator recently."

A gladiator?

Marcus suddenly rembered — on Founding Festival day in the arena, the way Livia looked at those gladiators… it was indeed different.

"Which gladiator?"

"One from Nodus training ground, called 'Viper' Theodorus."

Gracchus said. "After Nodus died, that kid ran away. No one knows where he's hiding now. But if we can find him and make him talk about his affair with Livia… Valerius's face will be completely lost."

A noble lady having an affair with a gladiator was a major scandal in Ro.

If sothing like this broke out about Valerius, he would never be able to raise his head in the Senate again.

"I'll do my best to find him."

Marcus said.

"Not your best. You must."

Gracchus leaned forward. "Marcus, we are now on the sa boat. If you fall, my entire arrangent at the dock is finished. If Valerius falls, the tariff proposal can pass. At that ti, both you and I will benefit. Understand?"

"Understood."

"Also,"

Gracchus took out a small money bag from the drawer and threw it on the table. "There are two hundred denarii inside. Use it for expenses. Don't save where money needs to be spent. Don't spare those who need to be silenced. I only want results."

Marcus picked up the money bag, weighed it, and put it away.

"Three days."

Gracchus looked into his eyes. "Before next Wednesday, I want to see Valerius ruined. Can you do it?"

"Yes."

After leaving Gracchus's mansion, Marcus did not return directly to the training ground.

He took a detour and went to the western dock area.

During the day it was very lively here. Boatn, rchants, and porters ca and went. The air was mixed with the sll of fish, sweat, and moldy goods.

The warehouse where Lucius died had already been sealed by the Senate, with two guards watching it, not allowing anyone near.

Marcus stood at a distance and watched for a while, then turned and walked into a small tavern nearby.

The tavern was rundown, tables greasy, with a few boatn drinking early.

The owner was a one-ard old man, wiping cups.

"A cup of barley wine."

Marcus sat down and tossed over a copper coin.

The old man poured a cup of murky wine and pushed it over.

Marcus took a sip. It was so sour he frowned.

"Boss, I want to ask about sothing."

He tossed over another silver coin.

The old man's eyes brightened and he pocketed the silver. "Ask what?"

"The evening before last, around the western warehouse area, did you see anything unusual?"

The old man looked around, then lowered his voice: "Are you also sent by the Senate to ask questions?"

"Also? Who else asked?"

"Two groups ca yesterday."

The old man said. "One group was well-dressed, like people from noble houses. The other looked fierce, like street thugs."

Valerius's people, and Scarface's people.

"What did you tell them?"

"What could I say?"

The old man shrugged. "I was in the shop that evening and didn't go out. But one regular custor might have seen sothing — Old Limp Cassius. He was unloading cargo at the dock that day and finished late."

"Where does Cassius live?"

"In the dock shantytown, the most rundown shack at the very end."

The old man paused. "But I advise you not to go. Old Limp ran away yesterday."

"Ran away?"

"Yeah, packed up and left at noon yesterday, in a panic."

The old man said. "He must have seen sothing he shouldn't have and was afraid of trouble."

Marcus's heart sank.

The witness had run away.

If Valerius's people found him first, he might be silenced.

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