Because of pirate harassment, the Campanian fleet concentrated its efforts on protecting merchant ships.
Septimus had confidence in Campania's coastal defenses.
The region of Campania might lack many things, but men capable of fighting could be produced on a massive scale.
The clones stationed near the Mediterranean coast organized themselves to build defenses against possible pirate incursions.
Pirates were elusive and difficult to locate in an era without radar; detecting pirates depended entirely on human eyesight.
Fortunately, a batch of rudimentary telescopes was added to the coastal surveillance methods.
The defenses around the villages near the coast were intended to prevent a nighttime attack.
The organization and efficiency of the clone army were unmatched, and the defenses of the villages near the sea improved remarkably.
From the sea, the region of Campania had become an impregnable wall.
Septimus did not have the capability to completely exterminate the elusive pirates throughout the Mediterranean.
Unfortunately, Rome was absorbed in internal struggles and had no power to suppress the pirates. Even if someone wanted to suppress them, the opposing faction would do everything possible to obstruct them, fearing that if they gained military power, they would launch another invasion of Rome.
Rome had experienced its share of internal conflicts before, but never as brutal as in recent years, with frequent massacres of nobles and equestrians that caused widespread fear.
On the other hand, the pirates also had little opportunity to harass the clone merchant caravans frequently.
The Mediterranean Sea is vast, and finding small solitary ships was not an easy task.
The piracy industry in the Mediterranean prospered thanks to experienced captains and sailors with a keen eye.
Forty kilometers off the Sicilian coast, four pirate ships lay in wait for a possible target.
Inside one of the ships, Galius was chewing on a lamb shank, while Lexius stared angrily at a letter and Mercius cleaned his sword with indifference.
The letter was filled with persuasive words urging Lexius to abandon his attempts to continue attacking the region of Campania.
The nobles who supported Lepidus had no desire to provoke Septimus and force him to ally himself with Sulla once again, and stopping Lexius' harassment had become the most sensible option.
Lexius threw the letter into the sea with a grim expression.
During the past few days, the pirate group had attempted to infiltrate the coastal cities of the region of Campania with the intention of ambushing Campania's merchant fleets, but unfortunately their efforts had been in vain.
The infiltrating pirates were killed as soon as they entered the city.
Septimus was no fool, and identifying a pirate in a city filled with clones was not very difficult.
The cities of Campania displayed the appearance of typical Roman cities undergoing development and construction, but 95% of the men were clones.
Aside from the women, the few men who entered the cities of Campania did so for the purpose of trade.
Lexius was unable to infiltrate a single spy into the region of Campania, and eventually the pirates refused to attempt to infiltrate that dreadful region.
Pirates were not soldiers, and their only purpose was gold. Forcing them into a suicidal mission meant forcing them to flee.
On the other hand, the clone merchant fleets were protected by warships from the Campanian fleet, and attacking them meant engaging in a fierce battle.
The risks were not worth the rewards, and the pirates, who depended on plunder, had no intention of following Lexius' plans.
With a frustrated expression, Lexius let out a defeated sigh.
Mercius watched with indifference; his primary objective was to weaken Rome.
Septimus was unaware that one group of pirates had ceased hostilities, and he did not care.
In this era, pirates roamed freely, numbering at least several hundred thousand, with Lexius and Galius' group being one of the larger groups among a dozen major pirate bands.
Piracy in the Mediterranean had become a cancer.
Rome was entangled in internal conflicts and had no time to deal with piracy in the Mediterranean, but Septimus wasted no time and prepared a fleet of thirty five-masted warships to hunt pirates throughout the Mediterranean.
As he looked at the fleet prepared for battle, Septimus felt proud.
The thirty enormous ships were typical Roman warships built with military technology proven during the Punic Wars.
---
In the city of Rome, Sulla wore an unpleasant expression.
Originally, Sulla had intended to speak with Septimus and secure his support, but he discovered that Septimus had left the city of Rome after the trial.
Sulla did not know Septimus' intentions and was confident that he could suppress Lepidus on his own.
A week passed quickly.
Rome remained in an unstable political situation.
Sulla was writing his memoirs.
At that moment, Valeria approached him and gently caressed his shoulder.
"Can't you rest for a while? Yesterday you coughed up so much blood that you have no idea how terrifying it was."
"I have the feeling that my time is running out. I must finish my memoirs; otherwise, I fear I will never complete them," Sulla said with a smile.
"Don't say that. I believe the gods will protect you," Valeria said with a distressed expression.
Sulla shook his head and continued writing. It had to be said that the paper produced in the region of Campania was truly excellent; it felt far better to write on than papyrus.
Just then, Sulla's expression froze, and he coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
The bright red blood stained the paper crimson, and then Sulla continued coughing without end, spitting out mouthful after mouthful of blood.
His coughing caught Valeria's attention, and when she saw him, she let out a terrified scream.
"Cough... I'm fine, I can endure it, cough... call my children," Sulla said, his mouth full of blood.
"Yes... hurry and call the physician!" Valeria shouted nervously to a slave, who ran off immediately.
"Hold on! The physician will arrive soon," Valeria said in terror.
"Call my children! Does my word no longer matter?" Sulla roared furiously.
Valeria had no choice but to go and fetch Sulla's children. Then Sulla tore the bloodstained page from the paper and began writing his will.
To whom should he entrust his children?
Sulla had thought about it for a long time and finally chose Lucullus.
Lucullus was one of Sulla's most trusted allies and friends.
Sulla wanted his children to live peaceful lives, not to struggle for fame and fortune and suffer the same tragedies he had endured throughout his life.
Power may appear magnificent, but everyone ignored the hardships and sacrifices Sulla had faced to attain his status.
When Valeria returned with Sulla's children, they found Sulla lying lifeless over the table, leaving behind only a will.
"Ah!"
---
News of Sulla's death spread like wildfire, shaking Rome and even the Mediterranean.
The dictator and butcher had finally died, and countless people breathed a sigh of relief.
Many people realized the immense pressure Sulla had exerted.
Others were euphoric; Sulla's death had dispelled the cloud weighing upon their hearts, and at last they could act.
In the Roman Senate, a heated debate broke out regarding Sulla's funeral.
"I believe Sulla should receive a state funeral. He has countless military achievements, distinguishing himself in the Jugurthine War and the Germanic invasions, as well as during his campaigns in Greece and Asia Minor, where he defeated the rebellious Greeks and the Pontic army. His achievements are sufficient to merit a state funeral," Senator Lucullus said with a solemn expression.
"I object! Sulla holds no public office and has no right to a state funeral," a senator said in a loud voice.