The Fascist Regime

"Does anyone see you when you brought him here?" Nero asked after no one was around, except her and Acte. 

Lubbock had left, being escorted by Locusta and would be trained by her as a qualified assassin. 

Her position is laid back, as she takes a sip of the tea in her hand and enjoys the leisurely wind blowing on her face. 

Although she looks carefree, Acte knows that her question is very serious and will determine Lubbock's fate. 

As much as she is tempted to get her revenge against Lubbock, her duty and loyalty are above petty feelings like revenge, and she answers honestly.

"No, Nero, I used the secret passage in the public library when we made our way here, so no one would know about Lubbock meeting with you. After all, it's impossible I would make such a mistake after you trusted me with all of this."

"Good," Nero praised. 

"You will oversee the Night Raid from this day, Acte. Just observe them from a distance, never intervene, just keep an eye on them for me." 

This means she isn't chosen as the leader of Night Raid because Nero doesn't want Night Raid to be connected or associated with her in the future, as the bloody storm they set would undoubtedly become a nightmare for nobles, criminals, and enemies of the law and rules of the city. 

As a rule maker, it's impossible for her to admit that she broke the laws and rules that she set, to the point of using extreme means like murder and assassination. 

Acte nodded at the order calmly.

Since that day, Nero implemented many reforms toward the Praetorian Guards, granting them high authority for espionage, mobilization, and the elimination of corrupt officials. However, she removed their right to interfere with politics. 

They became her ears and eyes in Rome and her right hand in handling dirty work.

It was a deliberate move on her part to make them enemies of the nobles and senators while simultaneously granting them greater rights. 

Without the emperor, they were nothing, and she made this move to ensure their dependence on the emperor. 

This prevented them from betraying her or any future emperor, as the nobles and senators would not spare them for their acts of killing and monitoring. 

They couldn't resent or retaliate against the emperor, but who could say they couldn't give some retaliation to the Praetorian Guards?

Without the emperor's protection, they would be swallowed by the nobles and senators. 

To prevent them from resenting the emperor due to this move, their rights and wages were greatly improved. 

After all, who wouldn't want an improved and luxurious life along with the authority over life and death of others? 

Especially untouchable people like nobles and senators. 

Moreover, there were many flexible things they could do with this granted power, so they had no complaints about the emperor removing their right to interfere with politics.

Nero removing their right to interfere with politics was to prevent them from forming friendships with nobles and senators and turning their relationship into total hostility, which would lead them to be totally dependent on her and her alone. 

By granting them the authority to spy, mobilize, and eliminate corrupt officials, Nero positioned them as guardians of her interests and the people's well-being, pitting them against the potentially treacherous nobles and senators. 

This clever manipulation fostered dependence on the emperor for protection, ensuring their loyalty against potential dissent.

To manipulate public opinion and improve the status of artisans, she bought the brothels and taverns, manipulated the content of books, and controlled other media that could manipulate the truth, such as bards and senators. 

She went as far as to forbid any plebeians, senators, nobles, slaves, or others from criticizing the emperor's or government's way of work to prevent any dissent within the empire. 

Anyone who criticized her or the empire was treated as a traitor of Rome and thrown into slavery, with their houses ransacked. 

Her reign was one of tyranny and terror, where the opinions and freedoms of others did not matter to her. 

Only her voice and actions mattered; they should obey her and not refute any of her words or criticize the empire. 

Those who did faced slavery and death, as she ruled Rome with a tyrannical and iron fist, showing no mercy to anyone with a differing opinion.

During those two weeks, a bloody storm swept through Rome. 

The night raids were active, and nobles and even senators were no longer safe. 

To stage the bitter stage, Nero pretended to be assassinated and injured by them to clear her association with the Night Raid. 

Not only that, but her Praetorian Guards captured many potential traitors who had differing opinions of the empire or critiqued her actions, throwing them into slavery and prison. 

If they resisted, they were slain on the spot and sentenced to death.

Even the church itself showed favor and support for Emperor Policy. 

Because of this, they quickly became a large religion, surpassing any Roman gods' believers in large numbers. Whether it was the church or the emperor's side, they supported and cooperated with each other. 

Many objections and oppositions met a bloody end; she showed no mercy to anyone or anything that stood in her way. 

Her power and authority over Rome were absolute, with the military in her hands and the court obedient to her, plus religion became her voice. 

No one could resist her tyranny; even those who made bloody protests or unrest were only silenced and had their wealth ransacked. 

Since then, no one dared to speak ill of Rome or her reign.

Now, she has removed the threat and possibility of Praetorian Guard betrayal ever happening with this reform. 

Corrupt nobles and senators were living in nightmares, while public opinion was dictated by her.

The corruption within Rome was drastically reduced after the deaths of many nobles and senators at the hands of the Night Raid. 

Many factions were replaced by her own people, and now the court was totally dominated by her, with religion under her control as many temples of the gods were abandoned and replaced by the church.

Despite that, she is still not satisfied. 

Her mother and her former faction, who had already surrendered to her, are still alive. 

She would never forgive any of them, never!