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(Simulator) Chapter 93: A Compensation of 10 to 100 Talents—Men Named Gaius Are Always Ruthless
🕑 Added 2024-09-24 17:12:00 +0000 UTCStrabo’s lips began to tremble!!
How infuriating!
How utterly infuriating—!
This was beyond unfair.
While the Law of the Twelve Tables was usually disregarded by the nobles, Strabo still had enough sense to keep his wits about him.
After all, he was standing in the middle of the Forum, running for the office of tribune!
As a candidate, could he openly mock Night’s invocation of the Law of the Twelve Tables in front of so many commoners?
To do so would be tantamount to stomping on Roman law itself, a blatant disrespect that would make him appear to be trampling on the Republic's legal foundation.
Though the nobles frequently bent the law to their will behind closed doors, they couldn’t publicly challenge it.
If Strabo openly dismissed Roman law, how could any commoner continue to trust him?
How could the people still support him?
The implications were clear: if he openly ridiculed the law, the crowd might turn on him, tearing him apart, devouring him alive in their anger.
Strabo panicked.
“You…!!
Nonsense! I had no such intention. Lord Lista, you’re deliberately twisting my words! Do you really want to escalate this?”
“Who’s trying to escalate the situation here?
Strabo, or are you claiming that everyone here misunderstood what you said—!”
“Please, do not try to confuse the situation.
Here, in the sacred Roman Forum, I swear before the gods…
Do you dare deny that you spoke those humiliating words earlier?
It’s unbelievable that someone from the esteemed Pompey family could utter such vulgarities.
And now, in front of everyone, you’re denying your sacred words spoken before the statues of the gods.
If you don’t understand the law, I can teach you.
But if you intend to trample on the law and treat Rome’s justice as a mere plaything, are you prepared to face the wrath of the people?”
...
At this moment, the surrounding crowd, who had been closely following the confrontation, was buzzing with excitement.
You could hear whispers among the citizens: “I can’t believe Strabo would say something like that.”
“Slandering others is a crime punishable by death.”
“That’s just so low.”
The murmurs of the crowd worked like daggers, each word adding to Night’s momentum and stabbing at Strabo’s reputation.
Night’s calm, pointed words delivered a devastating blow to the man as hs face suddenly paled—this was bad.
If rumors spread that he disregarded Roman law, even though he wouldn’t literally face execution as a noble, his political career would take a severe hit.
Worst of all, his support among the common people would plummet.
How could anyone trust a man to defend their interests if he didn’t even follow the law himself?
Realizing his grave error, Strabo desperately sought to salvage his reputation.
...
“I had no such intention, Lord Lista.
I apologize for any inappropriate remarks I made and am willing to pay for any... um, emotional…”
Night corrected, “Emotional damages…”
“Yes, I am willing to pay for these damages as a sign of my apology. Please forgive my thoughtless mistake.
And let me be clear—my personal error does not reflect on the entire Pompey family.”
...
Strabo, swallowing his pride, admitted his mistake with a veneer of sincerity, though he was burning with frustration on the inside.
Night, however, wasn’t done. “There’s also the compensation for damage to my reputation and the personal safety protection fee.”
Strabo gritted his teeth, struggling to keep his composure. “Just tell me how much you want.”
These made-up fees were ridiculous to him, and if not for the need to maintain his image in front of the people, he wouldn’t pay a single coin.
Night answered, “Ten talents.”
Strabo exploded, “Are you insane?! That much?!”
In Roman terms, one talent was already an enormous amount of wealth, enough to fill a chest with gold.
Ten talents—well, that would be at least ten chests of gold coins.
And now, just for a few careless words, Strabo was being asked to pay such an astronomical sum?
If the Pompey family found out about it, even though he was one of the most promising young members of the family, he would undoubtedly face severe punishment upon his return.
Strabo had initially thought he could settle things with a small payment of a few aurei, but he hadn’t expected Night to demand such a large amount.
However the latter, calmly replied, “Lord Strabo Pompey—compared to your life, ten talents is not much. You can refuse to negotiate, but I also have the right to pursue legal action under Roman law.
I trust the courts will give us a fair outcome.
If you think that sum is too high—
Tiberius, imagine if you were kidnapped by pirates, and they demanded a ransom.
What do you think your value would be?”
Tiberius hesitated, “...Uh.”
Understanding what Night was trying to do, Tiberius felt uncertain.
He wanted to support Night’s point but didn’t have the boldness to outright claim such a high value for himself.
....
Just as the situation felt tense, a cold, strong voice cut through the crowd,
"At least fifty talents! The Gracchus name alone is worth 500 million!
My brother isn’t great with words, so I’ll answer for him.
And that fifty talents?
That’s just for me, Gaius Sempronius Gracchus.
As for my brother, Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, his value would be double that—his talents far surpass mine.”
A figure emerged from the crowd, and as he stepped forward, the citizens parted to let him through.
He bore a striking resemblance to Tiberius, but his demeanor was far more domineering and sharp.
His piercing gaze locked onto Strabo Pompey.
The latter, startled, blurted out his name, “Gaius Sempronius Gracchus… You—what are you doing back here?”
Night: ???
So, Tiberius’ younger brother has arrived, huh?
Perfect timing!
However, fifty talents? Wow!
That’s about the same price as Gaius Julius Caesar himself.
What is it about people named “Gaius” that gives them such boundless confidence?
Meanwhile, Strabo was visibly unsettled.
The Gracchus brothers, both here together?!
A look of confusion flashed across his face.
Wasn’t Gaius supposed to be on the battlefield in Spain?
How could he have returned so suddenly?
Little did Strabo know that the reunion of the Gracchus brothers signaled the start of something much larger—something truly earth-shattering.
.....
