A week passed, and Septimus entered the city of Rome.
After analyzing Rome's situation during this period, Septimus realized that it was total chaos, mainly due to Marius and Sulla.
The relationship between the current consuls, Marius and Cinna, and Sulla could only be described as one of deep, mutual hatred.
Since the implementation of Marius's populist reforms, Rome had been ravaged by constant wars.
First, nearly one million barbarians from various tribes in the region of Germania marched south, including three hundred thousand experienced warriors. The war between Rome and the Germanic tribes was brutal and bloody. As a result, Rome was only able to defeat two of the major tribes before the Germanic warriors withdrew.
(Note: Among the Germanic tribes of that era, children, women, and the elderly also went to war.)
Later, differing views on Roman citizenship triggered an internal conflict in Rome, which led to yet another bloody struggle.
Soon after, the conflict between Marius and Sulla erupted. Sulla fled to Capua to defend his cause, gathered soldiers, and led his troops on a march toward Rome, successfully expelling Marius.
Outside of Rome, a momentous event occurred in the East.
The Greeks, weary of Roman oppression, rebelled, and the King of Pontus massacred the local Romans.
Upon receiving the news, Sulla personally led an expedition to the East with the goal of suppressing the rebellion.
Taking advantage of the situation, Marius, along with Cinna and Carbo, seized the opportunity to return and seize Rome. They carried out a massacre that lasted five days and five nights, leaving the streets soaked in blood and plunging the city into chaos.
Marius's massacre included a large number of plebeians, senators, elites, and even consuls and tribunes, simply because they did not oppose Sulla.
Even Marius's relatives, the two uncles of Julius Caesar, were ordered to be executed by Marius for failing to adopt a hard stance against Sulla.
The massacres of those years terrified Rome's upper class and generated irreconcilable hatred toward Sulla's supporters.
As a man from the future, Septimus knew that Sulla would return after suppressing the rebellion in the East and would consequently fight a series of battles against the allies of Marius, Cinna, and Carbo, until he finally conquered Rome.
In revenge, Sulla would replicate Marius's actions with even greater brutality, plunging Rome into a bloodbath.
Historical estimates indicate that more than 130 senators and 2,600 elites died at the hands of Sulla and Marius. Nearly half of the 300 senators were murdered, along with their families.
Afterward came the Spartacus uprising and the great war between Caesar and Pompey, followed by the later conflict between Mark Antony and Octavian.
These were only the major wars fought in Italy, not counting the smaller conflicts in other Roman provinces and distant foreign lands.
Because Rome was engulfed in so many wars, a famous Roman historian even wrote three thick volumes of a book titled Commentaries on the Civil War.
Septimus felt a surge of excitement at being able to witness these historical events, which marked the end of the Republic and gave birth to an Empire.
Septimus's objective upon entering Rome was to purchase a hill near the city and build an enormous castle capable of housing twenty thousand clones. To achieve this goal, he would require a vast amount of money.
The only way Septimus could obtain money, aside from plunder, was by inventing new products from the twenty-first century and selling them to the upper class.
Septimus wrinkled his nose as he entered the city of Rome; his first impression was one of poverty and disorder.
Since the Punic Wars with Carthage, Roman nobles and elites had grown increasingly wealthy, while Roman citizens had become poorer with each passing year.
Slavery had created cheap labor for the Roman upper class, and Roman citizens were left with only a few options: joining the army, selling themselves into slavery, or seeking employment. However, with so many slaves available, it was difficult for a Roman citizen to find work.
The economic situation of Roman citizens was precarious, which was why Marius's prestige and his military reforms in favor of the citizens had such a significant impact, and why his reputation endured for years after his death.
As the carriages passed through the streets, several beggars approached.
"Does the noble lord have bread?" one beggar asked, holding out his hands.
"I'll do any work for food!" another beggar shouted at the carriages.
Dozens of people in tattered clothes gathered around the convoy, begging for money or food.
The guards on horseback dispersed the crowd and hastened the convoy toward the residence of the Scipio family.
Finally, Septimus and the carriages arrived at the Scipio family residence.
"Hahaha, welcome to Rome, young Septimus," Senator Nasica said with a smile.
Septimus planned to stay at the Scipio family residence for a while before purchasing his own home. Constructing a castle on a hill would take far too long, and Septimus could only proceed slowly.
"Thank you for welcoming me into your home," Septimus replied with a calm smile.
Senator Nasica escorted Septimus, along with an irritated Fausta exhausted by the journey, to a small welcoming banquet.
"The situation in Rome is somewhat tense. Consul Marius's illness has worsened, which has limited all kinds of celebrations. I hope you understand," Senator Nasica said.
In Rome during this period, the average life expectancy of common people was around forty years, and many died even earlier. For the upper class, the average ranged between fifty-five and sixty-five years. That Marius had managed to live to seventy was nothing short of a miracle.
Everyone knew that Marius's death was approaching, and the upper class did not wish to be misunderstood by holding a banquet in such a tense situation. It would be unfortunate to draw Cinna's wrath by appearing to celebrate the consul's poor health.
Septimus paid little attention to the modest celebration. He kept clones on hand to control Fausta in case she lost control. The next day, he planned to organize his clones to purchase a residence and a shop to sell white sugar, using the same model as in Capua. If possible, he did not wish to meet with Cinna.
After two days, Septimus headed to the residence of Fausta's father to begin the marriage ceremony.
Fausta's father was named Publius Cornelius Scipio Faustus. He was a senator of the Scipio family, but his influence was minimal. He lacked character and was a man of little ability, easily deceived.
The ceremony lasted half a day, and Septimus avoided an extravagant celebration, heading directly to his new residence.
Septimus's new residence in Rome was located on a small hill, with other elite Roman residences as neighbors. In the past, it had belonged to a family that was purged by Marius's soldiers.
Septimus only planned to stay in Rome for a short time. The tense atmosphere caused by Marius's imminent death was suffocating.
Another week passed, and Septimus opened a white sugar shop in Rome. The business model attracted the attention of the upper class and generated good income. Unfortunately, due to the political situation, few banquets were held, or the profits from white sugar consumption would have been astronomical.
Rome's upper class remained discreet. The massacres of previous years were still recent memories, and no one wanted to stand out. Even Cinna's own supporters shared the same instinct for self-preservation.
None of this concerned Septimus. His objective on this trip was to complete the marriage ceremony and establish a shop to earn money so he could purchase land on a hill in Rome. The construction of the castle would be an enormous expense.
Meanwhile, in a massive residence on one of Rome's seven main hills—
Inside one of the rooms, wine jars and food lay scattered across the floor, while slaves knelt motionless.
"Summon all the physicians in Rome," Cinna said coldly.
Cinna was restless over the grave condition of Consul Marius. Since falling ill, Marius had been bedridden for days, unable to rise.
"Consul, that young man named Septimus has been in Rome for several days. Do you wish to see him?" one of the slaves asked upon entering the room.
"It is not necessary at the moment. There will be other opportunities later," Cinna replied impatiently.
To Cinna, meeting Septimus was not an urgent matter. The talent of that young man could be cultivated gradually. On the other hand, Marius's death would damage the morale of the soldiers.
Cinna was irritable due to Marius's condition and, for the time being, had no plans concerning Septimus.