Inside the city of Decapitadora, in a luxuriously decorated villa.
Amid the laughter of a group of women and children seated around an elegant table filled with exquisite dishes,
Septimus stood at the center, observing the lively extended family.
Every year, Septimus' family celebrated the prosperity of the entire region.
The custom also spread throughout the region of Campania and was gradually imitated by the upper class of Rome.
The festival created by Septimus centered around the family and was an occasion eagerly anticipated by the children.
The celebration resembled the Christmas of later generations and consisted of a peaceful family gathering.
The feast included not only a variety of cooked dishes and fruits, but also a wide assortment of pastries and fine wines.
Septimus adopted a style similar to that of a modern Western celebration, allowing all the women and children to choose their favorite dishes.
Luxury was the prevailing trend in Rome.
As a beneficiary of this extravagance, Septimus had no reason to discourage it, and the example set by his family would easily be imitated by the nobility throughout Rome.
Moreover, if the wealthy accumulated their riches without spending them, it would lead to an economic crisis.
"What is this?" an adorable little girl asked curiously, pointing at a steaming pot of noodles.
Next to the pot sat a cook wearing a white apron, with a wooden tray containing several silver bowls.
"Italian pasta. Would you like to try some?" the cook said with a smile.
At that time, Rome did not have pasta, and Septimus wanted to improve Rome's monotonous diet; consequently, he intended to enrich the Roman culinary scene.
Of course, these noodles could not compare with the Italian pasta of later generations.
As he observed the lively scene, Septimus kept his attention focused on the city of Rome.
The nobles who supported Lucullus' faction took advantage of the momentum created by the thousands of veteran legionaries heading toward Rome.
The thousands of veterans marching toward Rome were not unarmed.
Because of the butterfly effect caused by Septimus during the civil war in Rome,
Sulla's legions had not suffered many casualties, and a large number of veteran legionaries had benefited greatly from the subsequent proscriptions and acquired land.
Thousands of veterans gathered into groups with their own military equipment.
Unlike the region of Campania, where Septimus could requisition military equipment with a single thought,
throughout Rome, the legionaries kept their weapons and military equipment in their own residences.
The legionaries' weapons and military equipment could be passed down to their sons.
The thousands of veterans who gathered to march to Rome carried their own military equipment.
The nobles of Sulla's faction also helped by donating large quantities of supplies throughout the entire journey.
The veterans were Roman citizens, and the Roman nobles with ambitions of beginning a political career did not miss the opportunity to earn a good reputation that would benefit their future in politics.
The region of Campania remained peaceful, unlike the turmoil in other regions.
Septimus had no desire to become part of the spectacle.
Sixty kilometers from the city of Rome,
various legionary standards, battalion standards, and centurions' standards were present.
Every soldier wore armor, carried a short sword, and remained beneath his respective centurion's standard, followed by supply wagons, as though they were truly marching into battle.
This enormous army marched toward Rome, with additional troops continuously joining along the way.
A cold wind howled as the army of improvised veterans marched along the Appian Way.
Everywhere, standards fluttered, and solemn veterans stood beside the Appian Way, silently watching the procession pass.
From time to time, caravans passed by, their eyes filled with astonishment at the sight of that immense army.
Not only they, but all of Rome trembled beneath the might of these Roman legions.
The various Roman legions formed from veterans advanced while maintaining basic order.
Lucullus and a group of senators secretly led the enormous improvised army.
Nearly 90,000 legionaries had gathered, while another 20,000 were on their way or advancing toward Rome by another route.
The powerful army marched slowly toward Rome, finally making camp ten kilometers from the city.
By then, a large procession had gathered outside the city of Rome, including Sulla's veterans, Valeria, and Sulla's children.
"Senator Lucullus, thank you," Valeria said, her eyes red and swollen.
Learning of Sulla's death had been as though the world had collapsed around her.
Especially the negative rumors circulating throughout Rome had deeply disturbed her.
But now a great number of veteran legionaries had gathered to honor Sulla with a state funeral.
"It is what I ought to do. If anyone dares to intimidate you in the future, you may come to me," Lucullus said with a smile, gently embracing her.
Valeria nodded slightly.
Lucullus and the nobles glanced toward Sulla's funeral carriage. Sulla's body rested upon a golden bier pulled by eight oxen.
Septimus' absence was noticed by all the senators, including Lucullus and Sulla's family.
Crassus frowned, but deep down he understood that Septimus was trying to distance himself from Sulla's faction.
Two hours of preparations passed quickly.
The senators and Lucullus exchanged a few brief words with the veteran leaders, who expressed their immense gratitude for their intervention, especially considering that they were confronting the Senate and the Roman consuls.
"Can we depart now?"
"Yes."
"Then let us move out."
So the entire group set out once again, this time marching toward Rome, but in a different manner.
The procession had grown even larger. Sulla's funeral carriage led the legion, just as it had during previous campaigns, except that this time it was his funeral carriage, with Lucullus and Valeria following behind it.
Along the way, villagers and citizens frequently approached to offer various precious items, including hundreds of liters of spices, which were piled onto the funeral carriage.
There were also 2,000 golden wreaths. According to Roman custom, these villagers and citizens joined the funeral procession, and for a moment the entire procession reflected a golden glow beneath the sun.
When the procession was two kilometers from the city of Rome, they encountered someone who surprised them.
Pompey, commanding his three legions, was waiting silently by the roadside.
Many people did not give Pompey a warm welcome.
Sulla's will mentioned nearly everyone, but not Pompey, revealing the bitterness of their relationship.
"I have heard that you also support a state funeral for Sulla. Thank you for your support," Lucullus said, taking the initiative.
"It is my duty," Pompey replied uncomfortably.
"Then join us," Lucullus said.
Pompey nodded and joined the rear of the procession.
The procession continued toward Rome, and fifteen minutes later the gates of the city of Rome came into view.
At that moment, the gates of Rome were thrown wide open. After heated debates in the Senate, the city had finally received the veteran legions.