The God of Death is still a god—probably?!
Borrowing from the quote of a death god from another world—
No, in fact, they aren't the same at all.
The God of Death and deities are entirely different concepts.
The quote was from Aizen's classic line, adapted here.
Night's words, "Don't speak recklessly," whether due to the calm detachment in his voice, his cold, restrained demeanor, or the philosophical air they carried, were neither condescending nor dismissive,
But they exuded an overwhelming aura of dominance.
The Romans were captivated by this unique, arrogant aesthetic.
Many Roman citizens in the forum deeply remembered Night that day, developing a great curiosity and admiration for this "Last Hero of Rome."
Night didn't even need to wonder—if he had run in the election, the Roman citizens would likely have voted for him without hesitation.
The greatest irony was that those participating in the election might end up with fewer votes than someone who hadn't even registered.
At this point, Strabo Pompey was utterly crushed.
He simply pretended to be mute and fled in embarrassment, but in his heart, he made a firm resolution.
When he takes the stage later, he would utterly defeat Night and the others.
He would trample their faces underfoot and build his path to success.
'Tiberius must be trying to gain support by promising the people victory in war.'
Strabo had heard about Tiberius' speeches in the Senate, where he outlined the current issues plaguing Rome.
And the most apparent solution was to secure a victory in war to regain the people's trust.
So—
If that's the case, why not just target the opposing side directly?
After today, Strabo Pompey, the Gracchus brothers, and Lista Night were now sworn enemies.
He would follow the path of his enemies and make sure they had no path left to walk!
As long as he proclaimed his plan to lead Rome to victory first—
Whatever Tiberius said afterward would only seem like an imitation of him, leaving a lasting impression of mimicry in the people's minds.
Add to that his many military achievements in Rome, compared to Tiberius' lackluster military record.
In the end, who would the people vote for?
The choice would be obvious without needing any further hesitation—!!
He should've stuck to his original plan from the start.
There was no need to engage the opposition in meaningless confrontation, which had only brought humiliation upon himself and placed him in this disgraceful situation.
Unforgivable, unforgivable, unforgivable—!!!
With a mind full of hysterical rage, Strabo Pompey, face cold and stern, began issuing commands in secret…
Although some of the commoners he had previously bought off had lost respect for him after the recent events since they didn't want to support someone so cowardly as to back down in front of Night, they also wouldn't reject money.
So, the moment money was offered they started to speak out in support of Pompey among the crowd.
"It seems things have settled now—
The Pompey family does seem well-bred.
After realizing his mistake, he immediately offered a sincere apology."
"Lord Strabo isn't so bad, really.
By comparison, Tiberius is still quite young. I think we should still support Strabo Pompey."
"Even when facing difficulties from his opponent, he handled it generously and paid the ten talents—Strabo's magnanimity is commendable. I think he deserves our vote."
Pfft—!!
Night nearly burst into laughter upon hearing these people speak up for Strabo among the crowd.
They didn't even seem to know how to praise him properly.
If they were trying to support him this much, he almost wondered if they were secretly his detractors!
Were they being sarcastic?
Meanwhile,
Strabo Pompey had already ascended the platform in the square and started his speech.
"Citizens—! Good morning, people of Rome! I am Strabo Pompey!"
"A man determined to lead you all toward a more stable and prosperous life!"
As he began speaking, the murmurs among the crowd gradually quieted down.
Despite the embarrassment he had suffered earlier, Strabo still retained some renown, and the people had not completely lost faith in him.
Strabo Pompey then began to use his oratory skills to deliver a speech.
After detailing his numerous accomplishments and appealing for votes, he finally reached the pivotal promise of his speech.
He, like Marius in future times, began to boast of his military capabilities.
"Romans, you have seen my service, my loyalty, my dedication. But it is not enough to recount what has been done.
It is what will be done that matters.
If you elect me as your tribune, I promise you this: I will lead Rome to victory like none before!"
He paused, his voice rising with confidence. "The war in Spain? A mere thorn in our side. I will bring it to a swift and decisive end. Our legions will return, their shields gleaming with triumph!"
"And the slave rebellion festering in Sicily—those who dare to defy the might of Rome? I will stamp them out. Not a single enemy will remain standing. One by one, they will fall before us."
"With me as your tribune, Rome will not just win; Rome will conquer."
Strabo was painting grand promises.
It's important to note that the position of the tribune wasn't solely about protecting the rights of the people or being a voice for the public.
It also had a military component.
The tribune was a collective term for various military and civil officials in ancient Rome, usually elected by the Plebeian Assembly.
Their persons were considered sacred and inviolable, and they held special powers—most notably, the right of veto.
This power was so significant that they could even overturn decisions made by the Roman Senate, except for those of the dictator.
For any decision that violated the interests of the people, the tribune had the authority to veto it.
However, this power was limited to the city of Rome and its nearby regions.
The tribunes also played a key role in the People's Assembly.
Thus, the establishment of the tribunate wasn't purely Roman or divine, but rather republican in nature.
Though the People's Assembly had long lost much of its real power, the influence and standing of the tribunes were still highly respected among the commoners, even when compared to the Senate.
Strabo Pompey declared:
"If I am elected tribune, I will organize a legion and resolve Rome's many wars with unprecedented speed, bringing back the long-awaited victory for Rome!
Trust me, cast your precious vote for me!"
Then then raised his fist high, shouting passionately and triumphantly.
He felt quite good about his performance today!
After delivering an outstanding speech, he even recovered much of the confidence he had lost earlier due to Night's humiliating remarks.
Strabo's message was simple: I can fight! Trust me!
As for how he would prove that he could indeed fight?
Well, that was something he didn't need to prove—nor could he.
But history has shown that empty promises often work, a truth summarized by countless figures throughout time.
Even Marius would later rise to power using such promises.
At this moment, many Romans, tired of the frequent military defeats and negative effects on their lives, were swayed.
Since they had to vote anyway—why not cast their vote for someone who claimed he could win battles for Rome?!
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