Septimus walked with firm steps toward the administrative building in front of the forum and sat down on an exquisite wooden chair located in the most prominent place in the hall, offering a broad view of the entire main chamber.
The clone guards formed on both sides of Septimus with their shields raised in alert.
On the other hand, the governor's two daughters sat timidly on two lower seats positioned at each side of Septimus.
The nobles and merchants began entering slowly while showing respect toward Septimus.
A fat man wearing luxurious robes approached Septimus and greeted him politely with a fawning expression.
Septimus observed the coarse appearance of the fat man, doubting his relation to him when comparing him with the very different appearance of his two beautiful daughters; the comparison was highly incongruous.
The fat man in luxurious robes was the current governor Appius Varenus of the African province and father of the two sisters, Varenia Maiur and Varenia Minor.
Septimus returned Appius's greeting and allowed him to handle the following fiscal matters.
Septimus's purpose in witnessing the tax meeting originated from a simple whim to observe the disputes between nobles and merchants without interfering too much. A simple observer analyzing the social interactions among the nobles and understanding them so as not to feel alienated from the upper-class social circle.
Septimus extended both arms and pulled the two Varenia sisters beside him closer.
The forum gradually filled with Phoenician merchants, Numidians, Romans, and Roman and Phoenician nobles.
All of them competed or negotiated for a piece of the province's tax revenue pie.
At the entrance of the forum, a group of nobles and merchants whispered respectfully.
A man approximately twenty years old with a confident expression entered the hall and approached Septimus with a courteous expression.
"Greetings, great General Septimus, I am Demetrius, the financial manager of General Pompey," said Demetrius with a cordial smile on his face.
Septimus nodded, showing a bit of interest. Demetrius was Pompey's trusted man and the person in charge of financial affairs.
It could be said that Pompey had talent for war but was another wasteful noble when it came to managing his money; Demetrius, his former trusted slave, handled all of his financial matters.
On the other hand, Demetrius's freedom was due to the butterfly effect caused by Septimus in Rome.
Demetrius had originally been a slave with excellent abilities for making money and was highly valued by Pompey. During the siege of the city of Rome, he managed to infiltrate inside and convince many Roman soldiers to defect to Sulla's side, thus earning his freedom. Afterwards, he became Pompey's financial manager, administering all of his businesses.
At the same time, Demetrius overflowed with pride and confidence; with Pompey's growing fame, he had become quite well known.
Even some kings of small states had to curry favor with him, not to mention these unrefined merchants and minor nobles. The only exception was the gloomy young man seated on the chair and surrounded by two beautiful young women.
Even Pompey and Sulla were cautious when facing the stern Septimus.
From within the hall, some nobles and merchants glanced sideways, and Demetrius, with a smile, politely greeted Septimus and engaged in brief trivial conversation before turning around to begin a discussion with Governor Appius.
Septimus returned Demetrius's greeting but showed little interest in the trivial conversation, focusing his attention on the two Varenia sisters and the social panorama of the upper class.
Ever since he had been easily deceived by a group of Numidian tribal leaders, Septimus understood that he needed to become more observant and acquire more social experience within the Roman upper class.
Septimus's social interactions had been limited to women, freedmen, citizens, merchants, bandits, and so on.
Septimus's replication ability granted him the advantage of using thousands of clones to complete many activities without the need to interact with people.
The greatest social interactions of Septimus and his clones were concentrated around women, but the dominant or affectionate behavior devoted to women could not also be devoted to other people.
Septimus had not been a very sociable person before transmigrating, but neither did he wish to become a withdrawn person.
Inside the forum there was also a young noble dressed in luxurious clothing with an expression worn down by excesses.
The young man was named Quintus Cornelius Scipio and was the grandson of Nasica Scipio. He also possessed another more prominent identity that allowed him not to fear political persecution, as he was the adopted son of General Metellus, one of Sulla's prominent allies.
The political persecution against the enemies of the state imposed by Sulla as a measure of revenge had also slightly affected the main branch of the Scipio family, but it brought many problems to many collateral branches of the Scipio family in Africa.
The situation eased with the adoption into the Metellus family of a member of the main branch of the Scipio family.
The Scipio family showed signs of decline, but the patriarch Caecilius Metellus had brought his family into the highest spheres of power.
General Metellus and Nasica were good friends, and the adoption of a member of the Scipio family was intended to provide them with political protection.
General Metellus had great influence within Sulla's government and was one of his trusted generals. Few people would dare marginalize the Scipio family and offend Metellus.
Quintus Scipio observed Septimus from the corner of his eye with a hostile expression.
The group of nobles accompanying Quintus consisted of nobles related to the Scipio family in the province of Africa.
The Scipio family had held strong influence throughout the African province, and after the Roman civil war and the defeat of Enobarbus, the influence of the Scipio family was rapidly suppressed by nobles from Rome who desired a share of the pie.
Fortunately for the Scipio family, General Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius adopted the grandson of Nasica Scipio.
The adoption of Quintus Scipio as a member of the Metellus family generated confidence among the nobles of the Scipio family in the African province who had been displaced.
Time passed slowly, and the hall quickly filled with a crowd of nobles and merchants.
In addition to Quintus Scipio and Pompey's financial manager, some of Rome's newly rich had also sent their subordinates to compete for the lucrative opportunities, since tax collection was a secure way of making money.
The auction and negotiations unfolded within a lively atmosphere.
Unlike a modern auction, the nobles and merchants negotiated with the governor to determine a price.
Governor Appius, like a proud peacock, took charge of directing all matters related to taxes.
Septimus was slightly surprised by the blatant acts of corruption among the Roman upper class in Rome's provinces.
Corruption had become a normal habit among officials in the Roman provinces, and even the governor openly accepted bribes.
On the other hand, accepting bribes seemed to be something common among governors; it would have been strange if Governor Appius had not done so.
The negotiations proceeded relatively normally, and Septimus slowly became bored.
The clone guards, with serious expressions and their large shields, prevented the approach of nobles or merchants who wished to come closer to start a conversation with Septimus.
The example of Appius, a Roman noble devoted to commerce who voluntarily offered his two daughters and gained the position of governor, had spread among the upper class of Utica.
Many declining Roman and Phoenician nobles would be willing to offer their wives, daughters, and even mothers in order to obtain Septimus's support.
Septimus stationed the clone guards to avoid the nuisance of dealing with a group of excessively enthusiastic nobles and merchants.
The auctions and negotiations were nearing their end, and Septimus's presence acted as a deterrent against several Roman nobles or important figures such as Demetrius who wished to use status to pressure Appius and obtain greater benefits.
The pressure of power was useless in the presence of a person with greater status and power.
On the other hand, Septimus was also the protector of the city of Utica, and using coercive methods would mean offending an irrational maniac and waiting for his revenge.
Time passed minute by minute, and Septimus enjoyed a cup of wine while observing a group of merchants unite in order to acquire the right to collect taxes from a certain area.
"Do you have any idea who you are speaking to!"
"Splash"
A sudden shout was heard in the hall that managed to alert everyone, and most of the merchants and nobles directed their attention toward the source.