Deep Abyss

Rome 8 v2

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Ladert's POV*

My bad feeling has now come true. Ever since the death of that influential woman Lady Domitia, the whole Rome has been engulfed in an unending chaos. The first event happened many days ago where the always profuse Rome has plummeted into shortages of essential goods. It was said that some of the trade routes were being influenced by someone.

Normally such situation would eventually die down as the matter will be solved soon yet this one didn't stop but rather become more stimulated. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Rome is slowly descending into scarcity. The food supply is gradually becoming lower and lower that the shop owners had no choice but to raise the price.

Of course it was accepted by the citizens at first for they could understand the reasonable excuse for it however when a week passed by without any kind of improvement, some kind of discord has been created. The citizens started doubting the movement of the government as this kind of move will only give benefits to those in the higher ups.

I, who experienced some darkness of humanities realized that this is not a movement that the government would do. They will also suffer if this keeps up so someone must be holding the strings from behind. I absolutely have no clue to what this man is trying to do and how he was not caught yet but my curiosity was picked by it.

The matter of Lady Domitia was already set aside for I could not get any proper information about it, there was only monster here, monster there. I decided to gather some info about this shortage of supplies as it is also affecting us. Strangely enough Luke seemed to be unaffected by the tidal wave that is being laid on us.

And from what I have gathered, this program of the trade routes being broken has been approved by the Emperor. That fact further increased the suspicion of the citizens has for the higher ups, they suspect that the paranoid Emperor has been influenced by the crazy senators leading to this grave situation.

That suspicion of them was slowly confirmed by the spontaneous protest and demonstrations that is happening in various parts of the city. The protest upgraded the growing discontent among the populace, it escalated the tension between the people and the government. I am baffled by how fast the things were progressing.

There was no resistance from the senate as if they were also handling some pretty important matters themselves, I could never know what is happening in there for I have no connections inside. I am merely a simple Liberti and if Lumino is already dead. This insufficient information is frustrating me, I want to know what is happening yet I am unable to.

Is this the limit of what a peasant could obtain…? If so then I wish to break it, I want to have more knowledge of everything!

???

3rd POV*

Emperor Caligula is currently seated at the highest seat in the court. Various senators could be seen arguing and blaming each other on their own places. This scene should have been normal yet people can see that it is clearly more heated than usual. Well that is normal for the reason they are called here is quite significant. Treason.

Every senator is called here for being suspected of treason. There are documents that was found on some of the circles with content being high-ranking officials having treasonous activities. The paranoid Emperor obviously didn't let this pass by. He even exiled his own biological sister just because she was ambitious, what would result to these fools?

"Now kindly shut your mouth before we will sew it for you. We have call upon this Roman Assembly for it was necessary to dig out the rats hidden among all of you" Consul Gavius Triarus, an old man in his midst 50 called out bringing a halt to the shouting and accusations in the crowd. His status is not something they can ignore.

He is the right hand of the Emperor after all, and also a Consul is a great status inside a Roman Senate. They are the highest-ranking of the regular magistrates, they have the right to appoint a person into becoming a senator likewise had the ability to impeach any of the senators right now. Just a simple word from him can make any senator shiver.

"Your Excellency, the plan has been created. Should we proceed with it?" Gavius asked Emperor Caligula who was gritting his teeth in anger but nonetheless still nodded his head. Gavius felt the need to finish this assembly immediately and fish the rat as the Emperor's paranoid mind will surely destroy everyone here if this continues.

Gavius ordered the senators, magistrates, censors and other consuls to take their seats. "We have a lot of things in our agenda however we must first start with the most imperative" he said before gesturing the servant to bring the documents. Everyone was confused by those documents, none of them had an idea to why they were called here and all they knew is that they were innocent.

Gavius opened the parliament in front of everyone, "We have confiscated these documents with the help of a mysterious note handed to us. In fact there is no need to find the rat as it is clearly written here. Senator Pyrrhus Corvus explain yourself why you own letters that is designated to the current Minister of Persia?"

The order has been broken. Everyone widened their eyes at the audaciousness! Each of their gazes went to the called man, a person with black hair. He is quite young, probably in his 20s. "Ridiculous! I am a loyal servant to the Great Emperor! You dare accuse me of treason?!" even the person himself could not accept that he is being indicated like this.

He has no recollection of doing such thing! In fact, he was more focused on the supply shortage in the city rather than the problems inside the senate. "Senator Pyrrhus! You are a bold to still come here despite knowing what you have done! What loyal servant?! You are merely an opportunists waiting for the proper time!" a senator from another circle called out.

This is a perfect chance for them to damage Pyrrhus name, furthermore the evidences has been laid, there is no reason to fear anymore. "Shut your mouth! Doesn't that description fit your standing very well?!" Pyrrhus was no pushover, he won't let himself be oppressed until he managed to fully clear his name.

"Now, it says that you are more than guilty if you choose not to face the situation calmly, am I right to assume that you are guilty senator Pyrrhus?" another one hit Pyrrhus on the back. "Stop talking like you are innocent senator Accius, If I heard correctly then you are part of that imbeciles who broke the trade routes right? The audacity of yours" this one supported Pyrrhus.

Chaos broke out, everyone started accusing and protecting the others. Because of desperation, they began revealing some risky information in front of others. The initial suspect has been drowned by the multiple scandals being openly revealed at the assembly. Though it was noticeable that there are some consuls who stayed quiet throughout the whole fiasco, they are the more experienced in this matter.

Emperor Caligula who watched everything felt like he has no one to trust in this world anymore. All of them are rats! They need to be punished! Emperor Caligula looked at the new servant of his that he recruited months ago. This servant was an excellent one for he could empathized with the Emperor, the perfect comfort that Caligula wanted.

The servant has a beautiful blonde hair parted in the middle, he is wearing a calm smile and just observing the situation. Caligula felt extremely isolated at this point with no one to trust, perhaps only this servant. The servant walked just behind Caligula and bend a little to reach his ears. Caligula perked up his ear waiting for his words of comfort.

Yet what came was not the one he expected. "Can you see it? The chaos around you" Emperor Caligula visibly shivered as the realization was forced into his mind. He slowly turned back to the crowd who are now slowly turning into a fist fight. Even the consuls could no longer handle the situation as their words are now being ignored.

"The brawl that is creating bloodshed, can you hear me? Can you hear what is being released on my mouth?" Each words spoken by the servant somehow brought profound realization inside the Emperor's head. With the mention of the concept of sound, everything around the Emperor became quiet somehow.

There was no sound being transmitted anymore, only the eerie voice of the servant. "I was born in a town straight out of a fairy tale. Many people died. My other self and I held hands and walked. We were… the only two people in the world… and we had no names…" Emperor Caligula started trembling on his spot. He saw the deep abyss in that voice.

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