Whoever Wins, We Listen to Them 1/2
"This is a Roman fortress! Do you intend to oppose the Empire?! Guards, prepare for battle! If I die, the First Legion Commander will take over!"
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the commander's forehead was covered in sweat, but a flash of ferocity appeared in his eyes, and he roared angrily.
Britain key fortress on the front line of Britain, guarding the gateway to Rome, it had to simultaneously face attacks from the Celts and Huns. Without a commander with courage and skill, the Pantheon would naturally not dare to place people on such an important battlefield.
"To be an enemy of Rome? Ha..."
At the same time, the silvery, shimmering wings of the swan fluttered as Brunhilde broke through the Magecraft barrier, flew over the high wall, and carried her petite figure to the fortress.
The little girl, half a person's height, broke free from his arms and jumped down, stepping onto the crenellation. Facing a group of Roman Soldier, she took a deep breath, gestured wildly, and began to deliver a passionate speech.
"I am Nero Claudius, the Imperial Marquis of the Claudius Clan, one of the Six Clans, the sole heir to the throne of my father Claudius I, the Roman flower blessed by the divine ancestors! I have endured many hardships to expand the territory of Rome, and I am now qualified to enter the Pantheon, receive investiture, and become the emperor to whom you serve!"
Rome is here! The future head of the Claudius Clan is here! The man you will pledge your allegiance to is here!
Brave citizens, fearless warriors, when did the swords of the Romans turn against their own people in the struggle for dirty power?
Answer me with your free will! Do you intend to stand in my way and prevent me from moving forward?!
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the Roman Soldier gradually softened. Their iron will to resist Samael's divine might crumbled, and their swords and shields fell limply, clearly indicating their indecisiveness.
What they were trying to stop was Claudius Clan's successor, the His Majesty the Emperor.
It may not necessarily succeed, but what if it does?
"Rest assured, gentlemen, as citizens of Rome, we would never do anything to harm Rome. If we truly harbor hostility, you..."
Samael suppressed his imposing manner, patted the slightly overweight commander beside him in a "friendly" manner, looked around, and smiled at the group of Roman Soldier, the meaning of which was self-evident.
As everyone stretched their stiff bodies and looked at each other, they couldn't help but realize that this seemingly massive battle hadn't resulted in a single casualty.
Clearly, the other side was extremely restrained in their actions.
Therefore, many Roman Soldiers did not immediately assume a fighting stance, but instead lowered their swords and shields and looked at each other in disbelief.
"Therefore, Commander, please do us the favor of accompanying Lady Nero to the Temple of Mars to activate the Great Altar and verify each other's identities."
The ancient serpent smiled slightly, embraced the commander who seemed to be crying and laughing at the same time, and bowed his head in submission. He then instructed Brunhilde to protect Nero, and together they descended the city wall. Wherever they went, Roman Soldier automatically parted to make way for them.
The soldier didn't want to die. He didn't want to die for his country. He had finally climbed to this position. He had food and drink, and his lover had only been with him for a few months. If he had a way to live, who would choose to die?
Moments later, a solemn tremor emanated from the Temple of Mars in the center of the fortress, the Great Altar lit up, and a stream of light bearing the mark of a rose shot into the sky.
Divine resonance! It's the Pantheon's response!
The Roman Soldier, who had been watching with bated breath, breathed a sigh of relief, their swords and shields hanging limply at their sides.
Even disregarding the future emperor's identity, the two top-tier hero units hidden within their ranks alone made them unwilling to become enemies with the other side.
It should be known that when a demigod-level being appears on the battlefield, it is nothing short of a one-sided massacre for ordinary soldiers.
Therefore, in legion battles, heroes of demigod rank and above will generally tacitly seek out opponents of the same level to fight, rather than focusing their attention on these lowly soldiers.
However, this Rules is merely a convention and does not apply to all situations.
These two broke through the fortress's blockade with a single attack, their strength is unfathomable.
If we were to actually go to war with this group, I don't know how many lives would be lost.
Meanwhile, in the vast and solemn Temple of Mars, the commander gazed at the rose mark that lit up on the Great Altar, his eyes flickering and his expression shifting between light and shadow.
The news of this group reporting on their duties has already been approved by the Pantheon. This is troublesome.
Now, even if they wait until they leave this area and try to intercept them halfway, it will be too late, unless he is prepared to bear the wrath of the Pantheon.
A slender, pale hand gently patted the commander's right shoulder. The slightly overweight middle-aged man shuddered, his body tensing instantly. He glanced guiltily at the smiling, black-haired young man sitting down beside him.
Intercept? Unless he's got a death wish!
The gods of the world are the strongest beings on earth. Unless the ancestor of gods intervenes, who can stop these guys from heading to Rome?
Moreover, the price offered by Agsipina was generous, but it wasn't enough to justify his willingness to risk his life.
"I said, just give way to me, why make such a fuss?"
Samael sighed and glanced at the commander who seemed to have already sided with Nero's mother.
The simple, downward gaze made the slightly overweight middle-aged man tremble uncontrollably, like a frog being stared at by a venomous snake. Instinctively, the commander swallowed hard and gave a dry, honest response.
"There's no way around it, people always need to eat..."
"Tsk, the commander's salary isn't low."
"..."
Immediately, seeing the middle-aged man's troubled expression, Samael realized he had asked a foolish question.
Regardless of the era, almost no one in Van Gogh's faction lived entirely on a fixed salary.
Moreover, judging from the equipment and training of the soldiers inside the city, this guy is quite clear-headed and didn't dare to embezzle military funds.
Samael became interested, stroking his chin as he asked casually.
"Isn't the entire jurisdiction enough for you to extort money from?"
"This is a military fortress, there's practically nothing to gain here. Even the nearby Celts have been ravaged twice by Caesar and Claudius, they're all penniless now. If they had connections, who would want to stay in this godforsaken place..."
Knowing he was at the mercy of others, the commander decided to speak frankly, his face filled with sorrow, and honestly revealed his suffering. Finally, dejectedly, he inquired about the outcome.
"Tell me, what do you intend to do with me?"
"Dispose of? You are loyal to Rome, to the Pantheon. Only the emperor who accepts the mandate and controls the Seventh Province has the right to dispose of a legionary commander, Ai-Yu?"
Samael patted the slightly overweight middle-aged man on the shoulder and spoke softly, his tone carrying a profound meaning.
The commander's body trembled, and a sudden realization dawned on his eyes. He immediately concealed the sorrow on his face and gave a solemn reply.
"Aiyi, I will immediately order people to prepare fodder and water, open the city gates, and welcome you all into the city to rest."
The ancient serpent nodded and waved, letting the commander leave without a trace, and then wandered around the Temple of Mars, trying to find a clue to the gods' disappearance.
When the slightly overweight middle-aged man returned to the command post, he reassured the soldiers one by one and sent his trusted confidants to convey orders. The last guard hesitated for a moment, then cautiously approached the desk and whispered something to the commander.
"Sir, are we really going to rely on a child?"
"Our loyalty is only to Rome, only to our ancestral gods. No matter how the Seven Hills change, I will maintain the defense of the front and defend Rome's territory. No matter who the emperor is, I will always be the commander, won't I?"
The commander took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and glanced at the guards beside him.
However, the strong and powerful soldier shook his head, completely bewildered.
"Idiot!"
After frowning and cursing, the commander threw a signed order at the face of his personal guard, a cunning glint in his eyes, and spoke in a low voice.
"Whoever wins, we'll listen to them..."