Chapter 154: The Sacred Spear of Mars, the God of War
The legions stationed at the palace and the Court Mage Corps had long been dissatisfied with the Senate and officials' decision to surrender. So when they saw their own emperor among the opposing ranks, they were naturally willing to listen to what Lucius had to say.
If it were the real Lucius, she might not have spoken under such circumstances, but the current Lucius was an illusion controlled by Mary.
Thus, in this situation, the Lucius created by Mary's illusion quickly explained the matter, allowing these soldiers to directly learn the entire truth.
Mary's illusion magic and eloquence surprised the Lucius disguised as the battlefield saint beside Noah, but even more astonished were the opposing soldiers.
They were shocked to learn that Noah had been granted the name Romulus by the Pantheon.
They were also amazed that the exiled Noah had become King Arthur.
At the same time, among them, those belonging to the legions stationed at the palace were unaware that the Lucius currently in the palace was a fake.
But while they didn't know, the members of the Court Mage Corps were aware.
After all, the Lucius currently in the palace—the one the Senate had put forward to ease the turmoil—was created by the Senate using their magecraft.
So now they explained the situation to their comrades.
After hearing their fellow soldiers confirm this, the soldiers originally stationed at the palace finally pieced together what had been somewhat incomprehensible!
In their view, the situation likely unfolded as follows:
In the past, to control Rome, the Senate defied the will of the gods and exiled the emperor chosen by the gods! They even sent assassins to intercept him!
Then, they installed a more controllable emperor from within the country—this emperor was His Majesty Sword Emperor Lucius.
Sword Emperor Lucius had grown up under the Senate's control and, in rebellion against them, had done many outrageous things.
However, all were suppressed by the Senate.
As Sword Emperor Lucius became increasingly difficult to control, the Senate eventually drove him out and replaced him with a fake Sword Emperor!
Now, Sword Emperor Lucius had joined forces with Noah, who had been exiled and had now returned for revenge.
They had come back to punish the traitors in the Senate!
They understood! Everything made sense now!
After hearing Mary's words, the legions stationed at the palace and the Court Mage Corps surrendered directly and actively led Noah and his group toward the location where the Senate ministers and officials were gathered!
They felt no psychological burden about this.
Because the situation was now clear.
On one side stood the emperor recognized by the gods and the current Sword Emperor, while on the other were the Senate ministers and officials—in such a scenario, it was obvious which side was rebellious and which were traitors!
The true legitimacy of Rome lay in Britain; it was the palace that had rebelled!
The Senate ministers and officials were now gathered together.
Quintus and Manaka Sajyou were also present.
Regarding the officials' unanimous decision to surrender, Manaka Sajyou offered no opinion, essentially acquiescing, while Quintus, the first seat of the Senate.
In such circumstances, it was only natural to stand with the Senate—this was his position.
As someone whose family had served in the Senate for generations, he had no choice but to align himself with the Senate in this situation. One could even say that the idea of surrender might not have been without his influence.
Once he made this decision, the remaining Senate Ministers openly adopted this stance.
However, not all Senate Ministers were willing to surrender.
Among them, there were still a few who had no intention of surrendering.
Their surrender was indeed a pretense.
Their goal was to meet King Arthur, preferably along with the knights and armies he had brought this time.
For they still held Rome's final trump card—the Holy Spear of Mars, the God of War!
Before every major war in Rome, the emperor or consul would hold Mars's Holy Spear and recite—Mars, awaken...
This was a tradition in Rome.
Yet few knew that the Holy Spear of Mars, the God of War, was actually an artifact passed down from ancient times.
It was also Rome's final trump card.
This was the protection Mars had left for Rome.
Originally, there were both a sword and a spear.
But Mars's sword was lost during a certain era and, when it reappeared, it was in the hands of the great king of the Huns!
Many officials still believe to this day that the Hun king's formidable prowess was due to his possession of Mars's sword!
And this Holy Spear held the same power.
However, just as the sword could not be wielded by anyone while in Rome and could only serve as a trump card, the same was true for Mars's Holy Spear.
Throughout Rome's long history, at least in known records, almost no one had ever gained the recognition of this Holy Spear.
But as a trump card and a symbol of ritual, it served its purpose well.
And now, the time had come to activate this trump card!
The Senate was composed of Roman nobles.
The noble responsible for safeguarding Mars's Holy Spear had naturally joined the Senate.
At this moment, someone among them had already taken hold of Mars's Holy Spear, intending to activate this trump card and deliver a fatal blow to King Arthur as soon as they met him!
It was precisely because of this trump card that they had no intention of surrendering.
They had no dissatisfaction with their current lives.
In Rome, they could lord over the common people every day, and in the imperial palace, they merely followed the actions of other Senate members, doing nothing yet continuing to maintain the nobility's rule over Rome.
—What could be better than such a situation?
Nothing.
Especially since it was Britain... After surrendering, wouldn't Britain have its own nobility?
Once British nobles aligned with the emperor recognized by the Pantheon... how could they possibly live as comfortably as they did now!
If they didn't have the Holy Spear as their trump card, they might have surrendered.
But now, with the Holy Spear... they still had a chance!
This was what the noble in charge of the Holy Spear thought.
So when they waited until the sound of footsteps approached, he remained completely unperturbed. Even as the soldiers who originally belonged to the palace stormed into the room and drove them all out, he showed no trace of tension.
Even when he spotted Noah and Lucius standing together in the opposing ranks—he still felt no anxiety.
Instead, he first remarked inwardly on how overly confident these Britons were, having failed to confiscate their weapons. Otherwise, remotely activating the Holy Spear might have posed a bit more trouble. Then, the Holy Spear's overseer, knowing that he need not speak directly with these two emperors, silently recited the incantation to activate its power in his heart.
This was a trump card that could only be unleashed through a special incantation when Rome faced a crisis.
It was the power of the God of War, Mars!
Thus.
Whether it be King Arthur, the Sword Emperor, or those damned Britons—let them all perish together under the Divine Radiance of the God of War!