"I understand that taxes for a villa are paid only as a percentage of the amount of grain that has been sold, not on the estate itself," Septimus said with an expressionless face to Titus.
Titus frowned upon hearing Septimus. Originally, he had believed he was just a young man who was unaware of Roman regulations, but upon hearing him recite Capua's tax system, he began to doubt whether he wanted to take advantage of this young man.
Septimus also doubted whether this fat tax collector was acting out of greed or if someone else was testing him. In any case, if the matter got out of control, this tax collector would be stabbed by unknown thieves tonight.
"I have come to conduct an inspection. Recently you purchased a villa, but the taxes from grain sales have decreased notably," Titus said with a serious expression.
It was true. Septimus had formed half a legion; in addition to his various clones in different positions, a large part of the villa's grain production was used to feed the half legion and the remaining clones, so the villa's profits were minimal.
Septimus was not interested in that small amount of money; his income came from the sale of sugar, which was why Titus misinterpreted that Septimus was evading taxes.
"I will double the amount of taxes to be paid. I hope the matter ends there," Septimus said expressionlessly to Titus.
"The estimated tax amount is determined after I conduct the inspection," Titus said without blinking.
"I will pay triple the amount," Septimus said, fixing a murderous gaze on Titus.
Meanwhile, the clones placed their hands on the hilts of their weapons.
Seeing this situation, Titus became slightly frightened. He had faith that Septimus would not harm him, but outside Capua he was not sure. Septimus' villa was located two days from Capua, enough time for unknown bandits to intercept and attack him along the road.
"Very well, let it be triple the normal price," Titus said with an arrogant look.
Although the tax payment would be multiplied by five, for Septimus it was now a small amount. In Rome and throughout the Italian peninsula, taxes were very low, unlike the high taxes in the Roman provinces.
Watching the fat tax collector walk away, Septimus suppressed his killing intent.
In roughly half a year, Marius would die, and in the following three years Cinna would die. When Sulla disembarked, he could join his side with five legions or more and win the entire city of Capua as his own territory.
With his ability, Septimus possessed immortality and the capacity to form armies to sweep across all of Rome.
With the disadvantage of one day losing the essence of living, without purpose and without reason, the only solution he found was to let the history of Rome unfold, acting according to his whims; in that way, living in this era would be more interesting.
For that reason, Septimus planned to maintain a place on this piece of land in Rome and enjoy Roman culture and women, adopting the identity of a powerful noble whom no one could afford to offend.
Having resolved the problem, Septimus directed 30 clones to Capua to purchase construction materials. He intended to build a small fortress city in this villa and keep a legion inside to protect his wealth. He would also sell white sugar in Capua.
"With my current strength, I do not need to be cautious with the Roman upper class," Septimus said to himself.
The clones, having their objectives, began to act.
In Capua, the purchase of a large quantity of construction materials alarmed the merchants and the Roman upper class.
Amid the intense bustle of purchasing construction materials, two months passed.
During these two months, Septimus completed the purchase of the two neighboring villas, expanding his territory. He also increased the number of clones in the villa to 6,500, maintaining a reserve of clones ready to complete a full legion in case of emergency.
His reputation also began to be known in Capua. The Roman upper classes began to notice this discreet young man who traded in white sugar and purchased large quantities of materials. Thanks to the efficiency of the clones, Septimus was able to advance rapidly in the construction of the villa's walls.
Septimus planned to build a reinforced perimeter wall 12 feet high, about 3.5 meters, and a moat with watchtowers spaced every 100 meters. Although Septimus longed to build a wall on a military scale, without the permission of a Roman senator it would attract attention.
In Rome, the construction of large military walls in villas was not permitted unless you were a powerful senator, so Septimus had to settle for 3.5-meter stone walls reinforced with 5-meter watchtowers every 100 meters.
In this way, he could conceal the number of his clones and armed clone guards, giving the impression of having only a few hundred slaves. Previously, Septimus kept his clone legion inside wooden huts; now he could build more comfortable and robust military barracks.
Another point to highlight is that Septimus increased the production of the bakery and moved the blacksmith to the villa to arm his private clone guards.
Now his only source of income lies with the clones who trade white sugar in the cities of Naples, Rome, Sicily, and Capua.
During this time, Septimus has not faltered in training with bladed weapons, sending at least 200 clones to the underground arena. If it were not for Gaudas' look as if he were witnessing a bloodthirsty madman, Septimus would send thousands of clones. With only 200 clones, he has achieved bloody combat experience; as a result, all his clones can be considered veteran gladiators.
Septimus concluded that buying his own ludus and infiltrating his clones to serve as gladiators in the arena of Capua would be more profitable, which would prevent him from having to hide his ability.
Having planned to buy a ludus, Septimus mobilized his clones to search for a declining ludus to purchase.
Finding a decent ludus, after spending 200,000 denarii and negotiating the property without the slaves and gladiators, the lanista of the ludus agreed to the sale. After a satisfactory negotiation, Septimus could consider himself a Roman lanista.
Having concluded the purchase, Septimus sent private clone guards to collect the clones he had left in Gaius' ludus along with 3,000 denarii as compensation and farewell.
What Septimus did not expect was that Gaius' attitude would change upon learning that he wanted to recover the 30 volunteers.
Originally, Gaius did not pay attention to Septimus nor to these 30 volunteers; their talent was average or mediocre, but their constant improvements made him change his mind. If among these 30 volunteers a champion or a legend were to arise, fortune would come to his ludus.
For that reason, he refused when Septimus wanted to recover the 30 volunteers. He already considered them slaves of his property; after all, they were foreigners outside Rome. If he said they were slaves of his ludus, there would be no proof to demonstrate otherwise.
Septimus, together with 40 clones armed as guards, headed to Gaius' ludus.
As they approached, the clones drew the attention of the guards of Gaius' ludus.