Chapter 244: The Future of Rome 4

Chapter 244: The Future of Rome 4

< 244. The Future of Rome 4 >

The assassins, who were stunned by Caesars words, gritted their teeth and glared at Brutus as they heard Cassiuss scream.

So it was you who tipped him off!

Trebonius shouted angrily.

The other assassins followed suit, hurling insults and curses at Brutus.

Shame on you for siding with the enemy who is ruining the republic, when you are a descendant of Brutus!

I thought you were just a coward who didnt have the guts to join the plan, but that was an overestimation.

Didnt I tell you? He is Caesars bastard son!

Brutus just stood there dumbfounded, with an expression of disbelief.

It took him a long time to realize that the accusations were directed at him.

You think I told Caesar about the assassination?

What nonsense was this?

The assassins kept pouring out their resentment towards Brutus, even Cato gave him a doubtful look.

Cato was also someone who openly opposed the assassination, but he didnt bother to tell Caesar about it.

He had no loyalty to him, and more importantly, he didnt even know that the assassination was planned for today.

Did you really tell Caesar?

Of course not! Come on, Cassius. What kind of evidence do you have to make such a ridiculous claim? I admit that I didnt cooperate with you, but that doesnt mean I would betray my family.

The senators, who were just screaming and running away a moment ago, were now watching the situation with keen interest.

Caesar also didnt order his soldiers to arrest the assassins right away, but deliberately let the argument escalate.

There were only two people besides us who knew about this plan: Cato and you. But Cato didnt even know that we were going to execute it today. So its obvious that you were the one who leaked it.

No, but I

Brutus tried to argue that he didnt know the schedule either, but he remembered what happened yesterday.

Cassius had said something.

Today would be a very meaningful day.

But how could he have guessed that they were going to carry out the assassination today from that?

It would make more sense to assume that they had some trick to stop the final vote on expanding the senate.

He had considered the possibility of assassination, but he never expected them to draw their swords and attack in the senate house.

Brutus noticed the strange looks from hundreds of senators around him and gave a fierce glare at the assassins.

How can you accuse me of being a traitor without thinking that you might have slipped up? I didnt cooperate with you from the start, so I have no reason to be called a traitor. But even so, Im not so low as to sell out my friends!

Brutuss protest didnt convince the assassins that he wasnt a traitor.

This assassination plan was carried out in utmost secrecy, so they didnt even tell their families about it.

They knew they would lose their heads if they got caught, so who would risk talking about it?

Decimuss voice, filled with hatred, echoed in the senate house.

You cowardly scoundrels! You dont have the courage to stain your own hands, but you pretend to care about the future of the republic like hypocrites! You are nothing but trash with big mouths! Go ahead and keep betraying those who have a cause and worry only about your own survival. Do you think there is a future for you as Caesars slaves!

The criticism gradually spread not only to Brutus but also to others.

But the senators who were watching didnt sympathize with the assassins at all.

They just sneered coldly.

To be called cowards by those who brought weapons into the senate. You see all kinds of things in life.

Cassius, who believed Marcuss words as if they were carved in stone, finally relaxed and let himself be pulled out of the senate house by the soldiers.

At least Cicero wasnt arrested because he didnt wield a knife himself and just watched from behind.

He was lucky in that sense, but he didnt like Catos gaze at him.

Cicero hurriedly left the senate and returned to his mansion, fearing that he might be accused of being with Cassius.

The senate meeting on the Ides of March ended in a chaos that no one expected.

But the day of fate wasnt over yet.

This was just the beginning, not the end.

Caesar decided to meet again tomorrow and finalize the treatment of the assassins.

Of course, no one doubted what the outcome would be for them.

The maximum was death, the minimum was confiscation of all their property followed by permanent exile.

The problem was how far the punishment would extend to those who were involved with them.

It wasnt certain that it was limited to those who participated in the assassination or drew their swords themselves.

Those who interfered with the consuls attendance at the meeting were also accomplices, and there might be more who hadnt been revealed yet.

The senators tried to cut off all ties with the assassins families to avoid being caught in the net.

They couldnt afford to have any trouble, so they naturally became busy.

Only Caesar, Marcus, Spartacus and Surenas remained in the spacious senate house where everyone had left in a hurry.

Marcus looked at his confidants and pointed his finger at the entrance.

Go ahead and wait for me.

Yes.

When they were left alone, Caesar came closer with a snicker and sat next to Marcus.

I owe you my life today. I didnt expect you to have armed soldiers waiting nearby.

You seemed calm even though you must have been surprised.

You told me not to worry about anything. I didnt think it would be an assassination attempt.

Didnt you consider that possibility at all?

Marcus scratched his head as if he couldnt understand.

Caesar gave a hollow laugh and nodded.

Its one of my bad habits. Sometimes I forget how stupid they are. I thought they would stop at this point, but they always surpass my expectations with their idiocy What could they do even if they killed me? They wouldnt get anything they wanted by killing me. Did they not even calculate that much?

People dont always act rationally. There are more people who rely on their emotions and make irrational decisions. I thought you would know that.

Still, its hard to imagine that they would bring knives into the senate. But how did you know about this plan in advance? They didnt seem to suspect that you knew anything.

Contrary to the assassins assumption, Caesar had no idea how this had happened.

Of course, the one who tipped him off was not Brutus either.

I can only tell you the details after this is over, but someone I trust had already taken care of everything. I feel a bit sorry for Brutus. He seemed genuinely wronged.

Well, at least he can decide where he stands with this opportunity. Thats a relief. Anyway, we just have to decide what to do with them. Do you have any thoughts?

Marcus closed his eyes slightly.

He brushed off his toga hem that Cassius had grabbed and whispered.

You already know what I think. Get rid of them.

< 244. The Future of Rome 4 > End