Court Opening

Lucius delivered the report he received from the pirates to Verres. He asked why the boss didn't come directly, but the answer came back that he might get his tail stepped on for no reason.

Instead, as evidence, he cut off the hem of the toga that Cicero had.

It is the prerogative of senators to be able to decorate the toga with scarlet hemlines.

Judging that there was no doubt, Lucius readily believed their report.

Still, if Cicero fails to run in the election at all, things could get bigger, so let him return to Rome by Quintilis (July).

"Phew, now I can take a breather."

He doesn't know how much research Cicero did in Syracuse and Messana, but that alone won't win the trial.

Even if he loses, Cicero's claim of 40 million Sestertii will not be cited.

This is because Roman aristocrats thought they could get enough bribes if they went to become governor.

To put it bluntly, the person who didn't receive it at all was treated like a freak.

Even if there is conclusive evidence, one or two cannot move the hearts of aristocratic jurors.

Lucius was able to stretch his legs and relax with a light heart after a long time.

Thus, Marcus was able to escape the surveillance network and roam freely throughout Sicily.

He didn't let his guard down that things were going well.

He approached the witnesses carefully and secured evidence.

As a result, he was able to complete his preparations satisfactorily before early Quintilis.

Marcus, who rented an entire merchant ship, left Sicily with all witnesses and evidence in secret.

When they arrived at the port of Ostia, there was still quite a bit of time left until the election.

"I owe you so much for this."

Cicero expressed sincere gratitude to a young man much younger than himself.

"I understand why you are so favored by two current consuls. If you need any help later, feel free to tell me. I will try my best."

"Thank you for just saying that. Still, I think if Cicero wins the trial, that alone will be enough compensation. Please make sure to see the justice of the republic stand upright."

"Of course, of course. Make sure you come to the trial, too. Hortensius has a reputation as the best lawyer in Rome, but that's probably the end. In fact, objectively speaking, my eloquence is much better than that. I don't mean to brag, but since I was young, parents have come to school to listen to my arguments."

"Oh... Is that so? As expected, the person who will become the best lawyer in Rome seems to have been different from a young age."

"Haha, you understand very quickly, not like young people these days. It's like watching my childhood. Come to think of it, I was like...…."

Cicero was originally a little strong in self-praise. When Marcus responded appropriately to it, he was completely excited.

He constantly recounted his experiences when he had just moved to Rome and made a wonderful speech in the Senate.

In the end, an hour later, Marcus escaped Cicero's baptism of pride.

* * *

The election in Quintilis went as expected without any unusual changes.

They called the election for high-ranking officials in Rome by the Comitia Centuriata, but it is a little different from modern times.

Everyone, whether chaebol, students or office workers, has an equal vote in modern voting.

On the other hand, in Rome, the value of one vote differed depending on the degree of property.

Rome divided all its citizens into 193 groups according to the property inspected by the censors.

This is a method in which the candidate who receives more support from 193 groups is elected.

At first glance, it is similar to the electoral college system in the United States.

But the problem is that it grouped them according to property. The top wealthiest group consisted of just over ten people. On the other hand, the poor group had at least a few hundred, and in the case of the homeless, thousands went over to basics.

Each group is entitled to one vote, meaning that ten wealthy people have equal rights to thousands of poor people.

Ninety-eight of the 193 were made up of aristocrats and equites, not to mention more.

So the candidates in the election actively made pledges in favor of the rich.

The candidate supported by the Senate was advantageous for the election because of this election system.

Nevertheless, the Comitia Tributa, which elects the aediles and quaestor, was a little fairer.

Here, citizens were not divided by the degree of the property but by tribe, and candidates were elected by majority vote among the tribes.

Of the two elections, Verres was only interested in the outcome of the election of the Comitia Centuriata.

Fortunately for him, Hortensius and Quintus were safely elected consul.

When Quintus' brother was elected as a praetor, Verres shook off all the remaining anxiety.

"Hahaha, everyone did a great job. Things are going so well that I don't know if it's going to be like this."

"It was almost certain from the beginning that Quintus and I were elected as the next consul. Since the praetor has established a position, there is no possibility of losing if the trial is dragged by next year."

"It will be the same even if it opens this year. Cicero would have collected little evidence."

Verres, who belatedly confirmed the election results of the Comitia Tributa, muttered with a fishy smile.

"He must have been safely elected as a plebeian aediles. But I thought he'd be angry by now and come to argue, but he's more cold than I thought. Did he give up because he knew it was useless to argue?"

Hortensius tilted his head.

"Controversy? About what? You mean, obstructing the collection of evidence? Cicero would have expected that, so wouldn't there be no need to waste my emotions while building a vein on this side?"

"Well, in principle, that's right. But I thought he'd be very angry, but it was a little unexpected. It's a reasonable kid, so I understand if he judged that there was little practical benefit to look at it."

"Because you interfered with the collection of evidence in some way.... It's hard to get caught."

"You don't have to worry. You wouldn't have found any evidence that I did it."

Hortensius looked suspiciously at Verres's boast.

While going through the list of people who won this year's election, a familiar name stood out.

"Julius Caesar was elected with the most votes among the quaestors. This young man's speech was also quite impressive."

Verres, who heard Caesar's name, asked with a frown.

"Do you know him?"

"Rather than someone I know, I've seen a trial in which he acted as a lawyer before. Even though he lost, I was quite impressed with the well-reasoned defense."

"Ha, what kind of logic is this fucking playboy?"

"Do you have any grudge against Caesar?"

When Hortensius asked, "I don't understand," Verres answered in a voice full of anger.

"Something you really don't know? Many of the senators' wives played with that rascal. Quintus' wife, who will be your co-consul next year, must have been with Caesar last week. Lucius' wife is also rumored to have had a relationship with Caesar while her husband was in Sicily."

"Haha... I can't believe that happened."

"Your wife should be good at controlling it too. That guy is only crazy about educated married women."

Although he did not speak directly out of pride, Verres' wife also had an affair with Caesar.

He wanted to divorce his wife right away. However, considering the connection with the Metellus family, the reality was that it could not be.

All he could do was ponder over the young politician who was flirting around.

In this way, the senators still perceived Caesar as nothing more than a debt-ridden prostitute.

For now, Marcus was the only one who knew how dangerous claws he was hiding.

* * *

When Cicero did not move until Quintilis, Verres concluded that he had abandoned the trial.

Even when Cicero asked for an interview with the praetor Glabrio, he thought he would say that he would drop the charges.

However, what Cicero said was the opposite of what he expected.

"We're all set to prosecute Gaius Verres. I want you to set up a trial as soon as possible."

The senators looked at Verres and Cicero alternately, holding their breath.

Verres was taken aback for a moment but was convinced that Cicero was bluffing.

'Are you saying that you will pay even a small fine? It's to the point where I feel sorry for him.'

Verres did not lose his composure and expressed his intention to participate faithfully in the trial because he was proud of himself.

Hortensius also declared that he fully prepared the defense.

When the opinions of the prosecution and defense teams came together, Glabrio decided to hold a trial within a month.

Rumors of the trial spread throughout the city within a few days.

They said that it would be the largest compensation trial in Roman history.

In addition, the decoy hired by Marcus spreads words favorable to Cicero.

"I heard that if Verres loses, Cicero, the aediles, will be able to bring in wheat cheaply next year?"

"That's right. I heard that the Sicilians have already been promised to do so."

"What, really? But can he win the trial? I heard that lawyer Verres was the Hortensius."

"So we should cheer for Cicero at least. If citizens unite and support them, wouldn't the jury be affected a little?"

Crowds are very sensitive to matters directly related to their interests.

Hearing that the trial might affect next year's wheat prices, the already high level of interest rose exponentially.

The structure that a lawyer from plebeian struggles against prestigious aristocrats was also well received by many citizens.

Marcus was determined to raise the scale of the trial to the highest level ever.

Cicero was naturally thirsty for public attention. The more attention this type of person gets, the more power they exert.

In fact, Cicero deliberately wandered around crowded places and enjoyed enthusiastic cheering.

The first trial day is finally approaching.

The area around the courtroom was so crowded that there was no place to step.

Marcus pre-empted a good place in advance, sat in a comfortable chair and looked around the court.

Not only the plebeians who prayed for Cicero's victory but also the wealthy equites and aristocrats gathered.

What is inevitable is that the nature of this case is that the residents accused the former governor of tyranny.

For the outcome of this trial, the way the province is governed in the future will inevitably be affected.

Instead, the aristocrats were paying keen attention and watching the outcome of the trial rather than the plebeian.

In their hearts, they were eagerly hoping that Verres would win the case.

Danae, who was standing behind Marcus, also felt the atmosphere, so she put her tongue out.

"It's getting really hot. If Cicero loses, wouldn't a riot break out?"

"It's all right. It won't happen."

"Are you saying that even if you lose, there won't be a riot? Or are you saying that there's no reason to lose...…."

"You'll find out when you watch it. Just in time, there's one more group to watch together."

A man was approaching through the crowd.

He wore a stylish toga that could tell that he had put a lot of effort into it just by looking at it.

Danae opened her eyes wide for a moment, then politely bowed her head and greeted him.

"Mr. Caesar is here. It's been a long time since I saw you. Congratulations on your election as quaestor."

"Yes, thank you. How have you been? Somehow, the more I look at you, the more your beauty seems to rise."

"What? Thank, thank you."

"Were you also a freed slave? In a little while, I could make a hundred men out of courting men."

"Oh...…that, there...… I'm flattered."

When Danae was embarrassed, Marcus, who was watching, smirked and intervened in the conversation.

"Are you trying to seduce the creditor's servant as soon as you come?"

"What do you mean, seduction? It's a pure compliment. And I don't know in about 15 years, but don't worry because it's not my taste now."

"Oh, I did. I forgot Caesar's taste for a second. Danae doesn't have a husband yet."

Caesar sat next to Marcus, laughing lightly at a bone-shaped word.

"How do you see the outcome of this trial?"

"I think we'll get a very interesting result. First of all, I'm also going to stand as a witness on the last day of the first trial."

"Witness? Has your Clientes in Sicily been looted by Verres?"

"No, it's a lot more interesting than that."

Before Caesar could ask anything more, Cicero stepped up to the podium with a dignified step.

The proceedings of the first trial began with the speech of the prosecutor and the defense counsel, who refuted it.

Another long speech by the second-class prosecutors and the second-class defenders follows this.

Only after all those speeches does the witness interrogation selected by the prosecution panel begin.

And whenever witnesses changed, prosecutors and defenders had heated discussions.

Due to this complicated procedure, the first trial, in which many witnesses appeared, lasted at least ten days.

Of course, the end of the first trial does not mean that the trial is over.

The second trial, which followed after a few days of recess, was almost similar in structure to the first trial.

In other words, the first day of the trial did not carry much meaning in practice.

If many lawyers were in the second class, the sun would often go down after only listening to speeches.

The prosecution team was Cicero, but Verres had a lot of lawyers recruited with money.

Cicero decided to throw the odds here.

An appealing voice rang out from his mouth as he stood in front of the judge.

"The Honorable Praetor Glabrio. I think this trial needs to be conducted in a different way than before. There are clear grounds and reasonable reasons for this."

Hortensius, who was listening to Cicero, hurried to the podium.

"What are you talking about! This trial must follow existing procedures. This lawyer will not accept anything that will work against Verres!"

"I'm not suggesting a way against Verres in particularly. I'm just trying to make the trial cleaner and more dense. Your Honor, will you listen to the way I designed it?"

"I'll do that. However, as the lawyer said, I will make it clear in advance that I cannot accept a trial in a way favorable to one side."

Glabrio nodded nonchalantly. He didn't like Verres, but he was a fair man.

He clearly expressed his intention to proceed with the trial only reasonably, but he did not want to take anyone's side.

That was enough for Cicero.

"First of all, I want all unnecessary speeches by the prosecution and defenders to be postponed to the second trial. Discussions and speeches made whenever witnesses change will only cut off the flow of the trial. The reason for this is that I have so many witnesses and evidence to summon this time and evidence to summon. If we follow the existing procedures, there is a concern that the first trial will not end even after a month."

"That would certainly be a problem."

"Yes. And unlike the defense team, I am the only prosecution team. In this situation, there is no need to keep listening to the long speeches of both sides. And this is a good story for the defense too. On the contrary, if they hear our speech for the first time at the second trial, the jury will listen much more refreshingly and happily."

"There are certainly too many charges against Verres. Deferring the speech will certainly focus on each charge. What do the defenders think?"

"Please wait a moment."

Hortensius frowned and was lost in thought.

Cicero's proposal made sense objectively.

And, strictly speaking, this was an offer that didn't hurt him either.

Cicero was the only prosecutor, and there were many more defenders besides Hortensius.

In this situation, only the defenders will speak almost unilaterally. It could have given the jury the impression that it was boring if it had gone wrong.

Anyway, the most important thing in the trial is the final defense of the second trial.

If he can catch the jury's attention here, this method will work in Hortensius's favor.

On top of that, the jury and the judge were unhappy that the trial was unnecessarily prolonged.

There was a concern that if he refused, even though he did not restrict the defender's right to speak, it would adversely affect his image.

"I don't think it's against the defender. If so, I have no objection."

"Since both the defenders and the prosecution have agreed, we will proceed with the trial suggested by the prosecution suggested. Prosecutor, please explain the charges against Gaius Verres."

Cicero took a deep breath and deliberately took a little pause.

Finally, feeling that he had sufficiently focused the jury's attention, he slowly opened his mouth.