While Septimus watched Fulvia walk farther and farther away, a man with a cunning face approached him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, my name is Gaius Cornelius Fabius and I am a lawyer," the man said courteously.
"The Cornelia seem to be a very famous clan in Rome," said Septimus, not paying much attention to the man.
"Yes, the Cornelian clan has produced many consuls," said the man with great pride. In fact, both Sulla and Cinna belonged to the Cornelian clan.
Fabius smiled, trying to ingratiate himself with Septimus. In reality, he was an unfortunate noble, from a very poor family.
His presence at this banquet was entirely due to his connections, forged by handling litigation for the powerful and wealthy, combined with his shamelessness, which often earned him the contempt of the nobles.
"Most of the nobles in Capua either fear you or envy your fortune," said Fabius.
"I know," replied Septimus calmly. He preferred to be feared.
"I want to serve you, as long as you give me your trust I will give you my loyalty," said Fabius seriously, stating his intentions.
Septimus was slightly surprised by the direct request of this noble.
"Why would I accept?" asked Septimus.
"I am a well-known lawyer in Capua, I can help you with everything you need within the city," said Fabius humbly.
"What do you want in return?" asked Septimus, staring at him.
"I want... I want to dedicate myself to politics! I want to restore the glory of the Fabius family! I do not want to keep living like this! It turns out that I have something you lack. Although my family is going through difficult times, some of my relatives still hold high positions and I have many contacts. You also have something that I need, and I hope that you can sponsor me," said Fabius in a low voice.
"I am willing to give you an opportunity," said Septimus, looking at Fabius with disdain. Rome had existed for centuries; there were countless fallen nobles. Even Julius Caesar and Sulla were considered fallen nobles in their youth. A true alliance? He did not deserve it.
Septimus planned to use Fabius as bait or simply kill him if he saw that he was not useful.
Fabius blushed as he realized that he had underestimated Septimus; he had treated him as a talented young man, proud, with a lot of money but no influence and easy to persuade, which is why he dared to present his request.
"Anyway, I expect to obtain information and I will give you what you want," said Septimus.
He did not fear that Fabius would hide anything; lying to him meant certain death.
Fabius clenched his teeth and said, "I think we should talk somewhere else."
Septimus thought for a moment and said, "It is fine that we talk in a discreet place."
Fabius nodded, and the two temporarily separated, then went one after the other to a discreet place.
Septimus told his two guards to keep watch.
"The truth is that I learned about this well; I only vaguely heard that some nobles will attack your trade caravans," said Fabius.
"Attack the trade caravans? My caravans are well protected with a large number of men; how could they succeed?" asked Septimus with amusement.
"I can help you find out. I know many people," said Fabius.
Septimus reflected for a moment and asked: "I want to know who is involved."
"I will find out this information quickly," said Fabius with a flattering expression.
Septimus did not know if Fabius was telling the truth or if there really were nobles so greedy that they sought death. Only then did he realize how uninformed he was.
The nobility in Rome was mixed and there were all kinds of people; generally, one could discern a noble's origin by his full name. For example, Lucius Cornelius Scipio Africanus indicated that he came from the Cornelian clan, while Scipio Africanus meant that he belonged to the Scipio family, which conquered Carthage during the Punic Wars.
"I am willing to provide you with 100,000 denarii," said Septimus calmly; if Fabius lied to him, he could use the loaned money as an excuse to confiscate the property of his entire family. Poor Roman nobles also had relatives with money.
The nobles in Capua only knew that Septimus had between 2,000 and 3,000 men. If they truly knew the real power of Septimus, they would not have the courage to go against him.
"Also, may I ask you something?" asked Fabius.
"What is it?" said Septimus impatiently.
"If you ever go to Rome, I hope you can take me with you," said Fabius humbly.
Septimus saw a burning flame of ambition in his eyes. Without a doubt, he was an ambitious man.
"No problem," said Septimus after thinking for a moment. He would use Fabius as a disposable subordinate.
"Thank you very much, Master," replied Fabius humbly.
Shortly after Fabius left, Septimus departed from Marcus's mansion.
The next morning, in the Licinius family mansion.
After hearing his son's words, an old man bedridden nearly fainted from rage.
The old man's name was Lucius Licinius Guta, father of Licinius; he was a widower with only one son.
"You are an idiot, how did you dare to offend that madman?" shouted Lucius furiously at his son.
Licinius, as the only son of a great noble family in Capua, deeply despised people of lower origins.
Lucius looked at him and sighed deeply. This son of his had caused a great problem.
"I only said a few words after drinking too much wine," said Licinius timidly upon seeing his father's anger for the first time.
"Only a few words? You have condemned the family with your stupidity!!" shouted Lucius, unable to contain his fury.
Lucius, after agitating himself, calmed down, seeing that his son was an incurable fool, and continued, "Do you think it is so easy to reconcile with Septimus?"
Licinius lowered his head, not daring to look at his father. At the banquet he had envied Septimus's wealth and the attention he received from noble women, which is why he dared to provoke him and make such a venomous oath. As a young noble protected by his father, he did not consider the consequences of his words.
Lucius was disappointed in his son; he was very ill, after the death of his wife he had been busy with politics, which had caused his son to become an arrogant young man who acts without measuring consequences.
"I want you to apologize to Septimus and obtain his forgiveness," said Lucius with authority, without waiting for a response, as the slaves helped him walk toward his room.
Licinius had a vacant stare.
He trusted that Septimus, after having committed so many crimes against Rome, would not dare to act recklessly.
The conflict at the banquet had become news among the upper class of Capua; all the nobles of Capua knew about the conflict between Septimus and the arrogant Licinius.
Few nobles had confidence in the victory of the Licinius family.
On the other hand, Septimus evaluated the construction of the villa; he had the idea of quickly attacking the villa of the Licinius family. But first he had to finish the construction of the torture room.
Septimus did not pay much attention to the torture room, and only after meeting Licinius did he decide to accelerate its construction to welcome his first guest.