Septimus observed Sextus coldly, waiting for an answer that would please him.
"My wife is from the Scipio family, and I can communicate with the senator Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica. As long as you offer him tangible benefits or marry a lady from the direct line of the Scipio Nasica family, your problem with Rome can be solved," said Sextus quickly, voicing all the ideas that had come to mind in an attempt to survive.
"Marry? Hahaha," said Septimus with amusement.
With his almost magical ability to replicate himself indefinitely,
why would he marry a pampered and possibly promiscuous noble lady when he could have innumerable women?
Not to mention the reputation for libertinism that characterized Roman high society in this era.
Likewise, by marrying a Roman noble lady, Septimus would become entangled with a multitude of hypocritical nobles who would seek to take advantage of their relationship.
Finally, for Septimus, having a libertine noble lady as a wife would expose him to a great deal of unnecessary attention, making it difficult to keep his secrets.
On the other hand, with a slave, he did not need to give explanations, unlike with a pampered noble wife.
Septimus could not find any benefits in marrying a lady from the Scipio family, therefore he shook his head at Sextus's idea.
"What kind of benefit do you suggest would interest Senator Scipio Nasica in resolving my misunderstanding with Rome?" Septimus asked Sextus with a serious expression.
"As long as you can offer the formula for white sugar to Senator Scipio Nasica, he would gladly be willing to use his family's influence to help you," said Sextus tentatively, trying to detect changes in Septimus's expression.
"I can grant the monopoly of selling white sugar in the kingdoms that trade with Rome," said Septimus calmly.
Septimus was aware that by trading with other kingdoms, he would face many variables beyond his control. Aside from pirates and bandits, he would have to deal with the greed of foolish kings.
The best solution was to offer white sugar at a price of 30 denarii to the Scipio family and let them use their family influence to open a new market in other kingdoms.
Upon hearing Septimus's response, Sextus frowned slightly; it would be easier and more convenient to simply offer the formula for white sugar.
If Sextus managed to negotiate and acquire the formula for white sugar without bloodshed, he could maintain his position as admiral of Campania and avoid punishment and humiliation for his defeat.
"Write a letter to your wife and have her forward it to Senator Scipio Nasica with my offer," said Septimus, leaving no room for argument.
He did not care about the opinion of a prisoner; if the negotiation worked for Septimus, it was indifferent to him.
"If war with Rome can be avoided, it will be beneficial for everyone; otherwise, there will be bloodshed, and Rome will regret it," said Septimus with a determined expression.
The conflict with Rome would bring many casualties among the clone guards, but with Septimus's almost divine ability, the final result would be his victory.
Rome could recruit 20 legions in extreme cases, but Septimus only needed a year or less to accumulate the same number of legions with superior combat skill.
Two days passed.
The replication ability activated, and Septimus added another legion to his army.
With the military equipment purchased and looted in previous battles, the new legion was fully equipped.
Septimus's clones had been working tirelessly in four shifts to maintain the intensity and speed of refitting the uniform style of armor and weapons.
Septimus wanted to maintain the uniform style of the armor with a characteristic black color with small red details and the emblem of three decapitated heads on the armor and shields.
That day, Septimus ordered his 20 slaves to follow him to an improvised elevated wooden platform 10 meters high to observe a scene that left them deeply shocked.
Septimus could only show off to these 20 slaves in charge of warming his bed during the week.
Showing off to his clones meant showing off to himself; he did not consider himself so egocentric as to do that.
From the elevated platform, the two legions formed uniformly like lifeless statues gave the sensation of a suffocating pressure only generated by an elite army.
Roman legions were composed of between 5,000 to 6,000 legionaries, with an auxiliary cavalry of between 300 to 1,000.
Septimus had no cavalry; he had not had enough time to form a cavalry of clones, which was why he only had infantry in his troops.
In a valley of unclaimed barren land less than 300 meters from Septimus's villa, two legions—a total of 12,000 soldiers in black armor, silent like an unsheathed sword—maintained an almost unnatural discipline.
The striking scene of that army caused shock and slight panic among the 20 slaves.
The slaves did not know where this mysterious army had come from; their entire world was confined to the surroundings of the villa residence. Septimus had forbidden them from going to places outside the villa residence.
Therefore, the slaves were unaware of all the intense blacksmithing activities carried out within the villa to equip this legion.
Their shock at the large number of legionaries was genuine for these slaves treated like canaries in a cage.
Septimus observed the slaves' reactions with slight amusement, feeling satisfied at fulfilling his whim of showing off.
After 5 minutes, the slaves slowly calmed down from the scene.
At that moment, Septimus slowly raised his arms.
With perfect precision, the clone legionaries unsheathed their weapons and, performing the same action, began striking the hilts of their gladii against their shields, producing a dull metallic sound.
The slaves, having recovered from their earlier shock, were instantly astonished again upon seeing such a scene; the uniform precision demonstrated by this army completely stunned them.
As bed slaves with intact virginity when purchased, their price in the Naples slave market was not cheap, and they had lived in isolation from a very young age.
The young slaves were unfamiliar with military matters of the time, but they knew that this army in black armor was a true elite just by observing the precision of its uniform movements.
Septimus also observed his clone legionaries; deep down, he felt like a fascist dictator.
At first, when Septimus transmigrated into this ancient era, he only sought to survive.
Upon discovering his ability and surviving bloody battles in the underground arena, Septimus's desires grew along with his ferocity.
As he observed the sea of heads and soldiers, Septimus's perspective on life changed.
The power to decide one's own destiny and that of the life and death of other people is intoxicating for any person.
After two minutes of savoring that feeling, Septimus lowered his hands, and the noise stopped quickly.
In the brief minutes he had spent observing this army, his perspective on life had slightly changed.
Power corrupts or changes you is a well-known phrase for the simplicity of its wisdom.
The slaves, upon observing the scene, remained tacitly silent, breathing softly to avoid making noise.
Septimus, from the elevated wooden platform and looking seriously at his two clone legions, felt inspired and delivered a brief improvised speech.
"Legionaries, you faced the army of the admiral of Campania and prevailed."
"You represent my fury against anyone who dares to challenge me."
"Show no mercy to the enemy and cut off their heads on spears—that will be your new creed."
"No mercy!!"
"Death to the enemy!!"
Septimus finished his short speech amid the dull metallic sound of sword hilts striking shields.
The speech was not planned, and the words he spoke were born from a simple whim to express himself.
Fortunately for Septimus, he had 20 beautiful spectators who listened to his speech with emotion, or it would have been embarrassing if it were only himself with his clones.
It would be the same as talking to a mirror while naked.