In the palace of Rome and Vienna, Romulus, sitting on a chalk stone throne, patiently listened to the information coming back from the defeated army on the front line.
Vienna, which was supposed to be just an ordinary settlement, was now like another Rome.
Vienna suffered a devastating fire in the fifth century, and it was not until hundreds of years later that it blossomed again at the hands of Babenberg and the Habsburgs.
However, Vienna has now become a super city that is no different from the most prosperous Rome.
Even a true Roman, even Nero himself, might not notice the difference between this place and "Rome" if he came here in person.
This place has become the second Rome——Rome Vienna.
"Well, even the conquering king and Zhuge Kongming were defeated by Rome (Nero)..."
Listening to the report of the defeated army in the audience, Romulus suddenly stood up.
"Yes Yes!"
The soldiers who had fled from the front knelt on the ground in fear.
Rome's punishment for desertion was actually quite severe.
In fact, the defeated soldier kneeling on the ground wanted to join the army commanded by Augustus Nero on the other side to save his life.
But the previous earthquake, which was said to have been caused by the wrath of the gods unleashed by the opposing governor, made it impossible for him to bypass the broken crust and mountains.
Forced to flee to the rear, he was eventually captured by other members of the United Empire.
He was not the only one who was caught in the defeated army, but he was the only one who was unfortunately escorted to Romulus to explain the defeat in person.
Romulus walked down the high platform paved with pure white marble and walked down the steps that were about a thousand steps high.
Finally, he came to the trembling soldier.
The soldier's head was bowed tightly to the ground, making it difficult to see his expression clearly.
But just by looking at his trembling body like chaff, it is not difficult to imagine his tears streaming down his face.
"Very good... Very good! .... Go away, find a piece of land, put down your weapons, and then build [Rome] well."
The soldier who knelt at the feet of Romulus stopped trembling and looked up at Romulus who seemed to have stepped out of a myth.
A confused expression appeared on the face full of tears and snot.
Although there was fear and unwillingness, the soldiers who came here had already accepted their fate.
Like every mortal who is willing to be defeated, he has no chance in the face of the huge empire.
Even if he doesn't want to, what can he do when thousands of people point his finger at him?
Just because they are unwilling to dedicate their lives to this, the deserters will get a fate worse than death.
Maybe my life is so miserable.
The soldier thus appointed waited for the sword that would finally come to his neck.
But what finally came to him was not a cold war; it was an almost blessing-like forgiveness from that divine ancestor, that Romulus.
"Even Alexander's defeat when facing Rome (Nero) is very normal. The defeat of this war was not due to your escape, but just because the conquering king actually wanted to conquer Rome (Nero). Even if If you don’t escape, the failure of this war will not change.”
As if he was not the loser, Romulus turned his back on the soldiers and stepped onto the high platform again.
Facing the empty white throne, imagining Nero sitting on it, Romulus said:
"You didn't join the army voluntarily - or maybe you regretted your choice later. In short, you are tired of war and death, so you chose to escape, right?"
"No...no...no! I am proud to join the Legion. My dream is to die on the battlefield for the [Empire] and to give my life for Rome!"
Although I don’t know what Romulus’s intentions were when he said such words, it is obvious that he should not admit it like this.
Even if that was the truth, the soldier still told a lie against his will.
You must know that this person is said to have killed even his twin brother.
Just because Romulus's twin brother Remus crossed the boundary agreed by the two to establish the city-state.
He may be great, but he will never be tolerant.
The being named Romulus was the founder of Rome, the son of Ares, the god of war, and the great first king————
They are divine ancestors, not humans.
Romulus frowned slightly as he listened to the unintentional words spoken by the kneeling soldier.
"You don't need to deceive Rome (me). Rome (me) now gives you a chance to realize your wish - what is your real wish?"
After seeing the change in Romulus' attitude, the soldier lay tightly on the ground again, forcing his body that was shaking again to breathe lightly.
He was afraid that any heavy breathing would anger Romulus.
However, seeing him like this, Romulus frowned even deeper.
Will the Rome he built turn people into this in the end?
Perhaps the man named Romulus was on the wrong track from the beginning.
From the moment he beheaded his twin brother with his own hands, Roman rule was dominated by violence and cudgels.
"You have no need to be afraid, Rome (I) will not blame you."
The intertwined trees lifted up the gorgeous floor in the palace, and the soldiers kneeling on the ground were lifted up by the trees and sat up to be at eye level with Romulus.
After a long silence, the soldier finally carefully expressed his wish:
"I want to return to the countryside, buy some land, get a wife and have children...I want to be as far away from the battlefield as I want."
It seems that the scenes he encountered on the battlefield left a very deep psychological shadow on him.
Broken ground, twisted mountains, lightning that seemed to shatter even the sky, and corpses and limbs scattered all over the mountains and plains.
More people and things were directly swallowed up by the earth and buried deep underground. They may not be able to be blown by the breeze again for tens of millions of years.
I will never see the sunshine again.
Romulus nodded and then sat on the throne.
"You go."
The soldier looked at Romulus in disbelief, then kowtowed to him ecstatically and walked out of the palace.
However, a hand pierced his armor and chest from behind just as he stepped out of the palace's hallway.
A magician with green courtesy took his hand out of the soldier's body and wiped his hand with disgust.
After casually turning the soldier's body into ashes, Leif Lenore turned to Romulus, who was frowning and squinting at him, and said:
"This is not in line with Roman (you) tradition, and it is also not in line with our contract."
After spitting contemptuously at the place where the soldier's body had been, Leif walked into the palace and faced Romulus.
"It's time for you to take action, fulfill our contract, and realize your (Rome's) wish——to wipe out Rome (you)."
