Three weeks passed.
The new equipment produced by the blacksmithing area began to be produced, and the two legions that Septimus had were updated with new military equipment.
The two legions with new military equipment gave a more imposing appearance.
Rome in the future will be a bloody chaos; only by controlling a powerful army can one control one's own destiny.
If Septimus wants to create a powerful family that endures for decades, he needs to rely on military power.
Possessing the formula for white sugar guarantees an enormous source of wealth that attracts the greed of both noble and poor men alike.
The laws of Rome will not protect Septimus from human greed. Countless senators and equestrians were unjustly killed in Sulla's massacre; one of the main reasons was to fill the pockets of Sulla's legionaries.
To protect his wealth, his only option is to join the victors.
The formation of legions of clone guards is a task that Septimus does not plan to stop.
In addition, when the clones reach 35 years of age, Septimus plans to arrange their settlement in the acquired lands and organize wives for them. The purchase of a large number of slave women will also consume an enormous sum of money.
As long as Septimus has his replication ability, his control and power will only increase generation after generation.
Of course, this was only the beginning.
Next, Septimus would embark on a gigantic construction project, diligently transforming his villa into an enormous fortress.
Such a large project naturally attracted a great deal of attention. In a magnificent room, a middle-aged man dressed in a white toga discussed this matter with two women.
The man's name was Marcus Atilius Severus, the husband of Cornelia and father of Atilia.
"In almost a year, that young man has achieved great fame throughout Capua with strong backing in Rome," Marcus said with a serious face.
Marcus held an important position in the council of Capua, and after the death of the prefect, the city council held absolute power.
In Marcus' mind, and in that of both the upper and lower classes of Capua, Septimus' fate was to be crucified as punishment for opposing Rome.
Unexpectedly, Septimus changed the situation and discreetly recruited an army strong enough to threaten the city of Capua.
With the death of the prefect, Marcus glimpsed the possibility of taking the position, but without enough money to gain support, and with several competitors in Capua and in Rome, he needed solid backing.
Marcus thought of Septimus; previously, he had intended to marry his daughter to that young man, but at that time he only had a small bakery. Now he is a well-known figure, and the white sugar shop he opened earns a large number of denarii daily.
"It is a pity that that young man is married to a woman of the Scipio family," Cornelia said with regret.
Cornelia deeply regretted not allowing her daughter to marry that promising young man at the beginning; when her husband proposed the idea, although she accepted, she used other discreet means to change her husband's opinion.
"It does not matter; she can be a mistress," Marcus replied indifferently.
Marcus considered that offering his daughter as a mistress in exchange for the support necessary to become prefect of Capua was a deal worth making.
Atilia remained silent. At first, she had feelings for Septimus, but as a woman of the upper class exposed to all kinds of luxuries, she did not tolerate the idea of living frugally as the wife of a bakery owner. For that reason, she did not insist too much on the relationship with Septimus. Now she regretted her lack of vision.
"Tomorrow, you two will go to visit that young man's house," Marcus said after thinking.
Marcus intended to first learn Septimus' desires; it would be embarrassing if he offered his daughter and that young man did not agree. It was better for his wife to assess whether there was an opportunity to offer his daughter as a mistress.
"Alright, I will try to learn that young man's intentions," Cornelia said confidently, guessing her husband's thoughts.
Cornelia trusted in her daughter's beauty, and if that was not enough, she herself could become that young man's mistress behind her husband's back. Now, with Septimus' wealth and influence, it was normal to have mistresses.
Marcus sighed as he watched his wife and daughter prepare gifts for Septimus.
Being prefect of Capua was an opportunity, but it could also become a misfortune if Sulla defeated the Kingdom of Pontus and won the Roman civil war.
Two days passed quickly.
From a distance, four carriages at moderate speed, with ten guards on horseback protecting them, headed toward Septimus' villa.
Before approaching within one kilometer of the villa, 20 riders in black armor, carrying a banner with symbols of decapitated heads, blocked the road.
The 20 riders surrounded the carriages and the 10 guards, who were in panic.
"You are in the territory of Septimus, the impaler of heads. What is the reason for your entry?" shouted one of the guards forcefully.
Cornelia got down from the carriage with her legs slightly trembling and looked carefully at these soldiers in black armor.
The black armor bore the same sinister symbol of severed heads as on the banner, which generated a chilling feeling.
Gathering courage, Cornelia expressed her intentions.
Upon learning of these unexpected visitors, Septimus was somewhat surprised, but he became curious about their visit. He also remembered Atilia's figure from months ago.
After the clone guards escorted Cornelia and Atilia to the villa, the two women were able to see the large number of men busy building all along the path, without guards watching over them.
Atilia was only surprised by the large number of people working, without paying too much attention.
On the other hand, Cornelia realized that the men working were not being watched. If those men were slaves, it would be normal, but if they were all Roman citizens who supported Septimus, it only meant that his power was immeasurable.
Thousands of men obeying a young man who less than a year ago was only the owner of a small bakery with a useless drunk father.
Cornelia strengthened her resolve to seduce Septimus; she could see that that young man would achieve great fame in Rome with his ability to gather so many people.
The construction of Septimus' fortress progressed little by little due to the limitations of the time. Fortunately, thanks to the large amount of free labor from the clones, a great amount of money was saved on buying slaves skilled in construction and on wages for builders.
The only expenses Septimus had in the construction were the food consumed due to the enormous physical effort of the clones and the construction materials.
Septimus received the two beautiful women in the resting area of the residence.
"Welcome, beautiful ladies, to my home," Septimus said with a smile.
Septimus was unaware of Marcus and Cornelia's thoughts from months ago, and even if he knew them, he would not care. Neither side owed anything to the other.
After Cornelia and Atilia greeted Septimus, they began to converse superficially about the situation in Rome.
Cornelia looked curiously at this young man who was now a great figure in Capua, thinking about how to reveal her true intentions.
"Young Septimus, I heard that you married a young woman from the Scipio family," Cornelia said with curiosity.
"Yes, I married; right now my wife is unwell and is resting," Septimus replied without giving it much importance.
"It is a pity; I hope she recovers," Cornelia said with concern as she sat next to Septimus and held his hand without letting go.
After a long time without letting go of each other's hands, Cornelia and Atilia, a little dizzy from the wine, moved closer to Septimus while talking about gossip from Capua.
Atilia felt uncomfortable with her mother's actions but could only pretend not to notice. As she looked at Septimus, a mixture of emotions overcame her.
After a friendly conversation and drinking quite a bit of wine, Atilia managed to overcome her inner conflicts and took the initiative to approach Septimus together with her mother.
Septimus, carried away by the heat of the moment, began to grope both women.
"You must be very tired; I will help you get to your rooms," Septimus said as he stood up.
Septimus, embracing both women with one arm around each and a hand on their buttocks, headed toward the room.
Atilia was young, with a petite body and firm, elastic buttocks, typical of her age.
Cornelia was a middle-aged woman, still with traces of her beauty, with a voluptuous figure and larger, elastic buttocks.
Inside the room, only the low moans of two women could be heard, gradually increasing in intensity.
The night was long and full of passion.