A week passed quickly, and Septimus devoted himself to the hedonistic lifestyle of the upper class in the city of Utica.
The young and promising Roman general became a great source of attraction for women of the noble class.
Septimus paid little attention to his reputation, causing him to become an adored figure among the ladies of the upper class, while among the rest of the people of the province his name became notorious.
Septimus's brutality in the Forum of Utica had spread throughout the entire African province, and his reputation for violence became known among the population.
On the other hand, Quintus Scipio and the Roman captain managed to survive the beating, but they were unable to travel by sea and had to remain temporarily in the residence of a famous healer.
Governor Appius generously contributed 1000 denarii to the famous healer, who managed to save Quintus Scipio's life. Appius was generous because he did not wish to become the cause of the beginning of a political conflict between General Metellus and Septimus.
Septimus showed no interest in Quintus's life or death; the Scipio family and the Metellus family did not represent a significant threat.
The clone army also began preparations to return to the region of Campania. The task of eliminating the groups of bandits was successfully completed, managing to obtain many benefits.
The clone legions scattered throughout the province returned with a great quantity of gold and silver looted during the war.
The elephants would also be transported by ships conditioned to withstand their weight; the task of transporting elephants weighing between 2 and 4 tons by sea required several previous preparations.
The weather in the city was pleasant, and the port of the city of Utica received unexpected guests.
Outside a residence, three carriages stopped, and a group of men wearing luxurious robes slowly stepped down.
After 10 minutes.
A delegation from Rome requested an audience with Septimus and was guided to the main hall where he was located.
Septimus vaguely suspected the intentions of the delegation and easily accepted the meeting.
A military tribune headed the delegation, and upon seeing Septimus, he stopped and presented a classic Roman salute.
"Greetings, General Septimus. My name is Titus Tullius, and I have come to bring you a message from the dictator Sulla," said Tullius with a serious expression.
Septimus returned the greeting and nodded without changing his expression.
"The dictator Sulla is very satisfied with your achievements, General, and declares you an exceptionally excellent commander, worthy of the title 'Sword of Rome,'" said Tullius with praise.
Septimus's thoughts synchronized with the clone spies throughout Rome, and he quickly understood the origin of the title.
Septimus's victories in Africa caused the propaganda of the Senate and the nobility to proclaim him with the title "Sword of Rome."
Septimus understood that the true intention of the nobility and the Senate was to portray him as a threat to Sulla and allow both sides to fight and weaken each other.
On the other hand, Septimus also considered himself deserving of the fame of invincibility on the battlefield.
Not to mention Sulla and Pompey, even Hannibal, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar together might not be rivals for a transmigrator with an unlimited self-replication ability. If Septimus wished, he could dominate all of Rome in a matter of weeks.
"The dictator Sulla and the Senate consider that the war has already ended, and you should dissolve your troops and return to Rome to receive rewards," said Tullius with a courteous expression.
Tullius maintained his calm, but his back was soaked with sweat. Septimus's reputation was well known, and Sulla's message could cause his instant death.
Septimus calmly observed Tullius, and his indifferent expression showed neither fury nor shock.
"Then what will happen to my triumphal procession?" Septimus asked with a smile.
"No... I... I don't know..." Tullius stammered without knowing how to answer the abrupt question. He felt sweat forming on his forehead.
"I defeated several enemy armies, and Sulla together with the people of Rome should reward my feat with a triumphal procession," said Septimus calmly.
Tullius regained his composure and quickly organized his response to avoid offending Septimus or angering him.
"General, unfortunately according to Roman law, only consuls, magistrates, dictators, and masters of cavalry, or those who have occupied these positions, may lead triumphal processions. So I hope you understand," said Tullius awkwardly while trying not to anger Septimus.
"If we are speaking of Roman law, then there should not be lifelong dictators either," replied Septimus with a calm expression.
Septimus's words caused the expressions of the other members of the delegation, who had remained silent, to change drastically.
"What are you saying? Sulla was elected lifelong dictator by the citizens' assembly," a man in luxurious robes could not remain silent and responded to Septimus.
The other members of the delegation looked at the man with horrified expressions while sweating profusely and wishing they could kill the idiot.
The thoughts of most of the members of the delegation were almost the same; if that imbecile wanted to die, he should not drag all of them along with him.
Septimus's gaze quickly silenced the man who had just spoken.
The reputation of sadistic killer, widely spread by the nobility, caused the man's bladder to loosen, and a yellow liquid seeped down his leg, forming a small puddle around his feet.
Septimus ignored the man who had cowered under his gaze and focused his attention on Tullius.
Tullius took a deep breath and slowly said, "As compensation, the dictator Sulla can tacitly approve what you did in Rome and Africa and also grant you nominal control of the region of Campania."
"Nominal control?" Septimus asked with a mocking smile.
"The dictator Sulla considered that you had not reached the proper age to hold office in the region of Campania, but he decided to compensate you with land, money, and when you reach the appropriate age, you will be able to occupy the position of prefect of the city of Capua," said Tullius with a nervous expression while inwardly praying not to serve as a sacrifice to relieve Septimus's fury.
Septimus was amused by Tullius's words and let out a laugh.
He understood that Sulla was trying to test his limits, but Septimus knew that Sulla was not a brainless fool consumed by the power of a dictator.
It was likely that the delegation had been manipulated and the message distorted in an attempt to create an irreconcilable conflict between Sulla and Septimus.
Sulla's enemies must be numerous, Septimus thought to himself.
Regardless of Sulla's thoughts and the conspiracies of the Roman nobility, nothing could stop Septimus's control of the region of Campania.
On the other hand, Septimus would also insist on celebrating a triumphal procession in Rome in order to disgust Sulla and all the conspirators.
In the original history, Pompey also did not meet the qualifications for a triumphal procession in Rome and was willing to become enemies with Sulla, but in the end he managed to obtain the right to celebrate a triumphal procession in the city of Rome.
Septimus was no less capable than Pompey, and he refused to believe that he could not achieve the same. The clone legions gave him confidence.
Sulla had also prepared laws to limit Septimus's military power.
The Roman Senate, through Sulla's instigation and several noble families, had proposed compensating the soldiers of the clone legion with fertile land to cultivate.
The purpose was to disintegrate the enormous power of the clone legion and divide the legionaries among several locations.
"I seem to remember that Sulla enacted a law stipulating that the guards of noble families should not exceed half a legion, and violators would be treated as enemies of the state," said Septimus with a smile as he suddenly remembered the new laws proposed in Rome.
Tullius and the other members of the delegation became slightly frightened upon hearing Septimus's words, and their legs trembled slightly.
Septimus grew bored while observing the silent and trembling members of the delegation and stopped paying attention to them.
"Transmit my message to Sulla and to all of Rome; the region of Campania belongs to me, and every prefect, magistrate, and tribune must remain under my total control," said Septimus with a serious expression.
Tullius quickly nodded without contradicting Septimus.
"Transmit my personal message to Sulla; I will disembark with my troops in the region of Campania, and afterward I will march toward the city of Rome. The Senate and Sulla have two options: war and destruction, or peace and the celebration of a triumphal procession," said Septimus with an indifferent expression.