Simulate the universe, starting with speedrunning Greek.

A barrage of curses erupted from below.

Anyone would find it unbearable to be humiliated like that.

Moreover, for Rome, which revered individual strength and combat, fighting was not something they abhorred, but rather something of honor.

If someone tells them that someone is trash and tells them to cultivate their character, they would twist that person's head off and kick it like a soccer ball, then see if that person can still speak and ask whether they should cultivate their character.

"Get down here!!"

"Get down here! Tiberius, Gracchus! You are not qualified to run for tribune!"

“You should be ashamed of your words and actions, you damned, arrogant nobleman.”

In the midst of the crowd's agitation, some even considered rushing forward to pull Tiberius down.

Strapo was stunned—what kind of move was this?!

Even Strapo Pompeii, his rival, was worried for him.

However, Tiberius remained remarkably calm at this moment—

Just before the scene was about to completely descend into chaos, he loudly drew everyone's attention, saying, "Are you angry because your sore spot was hit?"

Don't you even have the patience to listen to me finish?

Or are you just frogs in a well, living in your own world, unwilling to even open your eyes to the truths and realities of the world?!

"Let him speak!!"

"I want to hear what else he has to say!"

"Hmph, then let's wait and see." Many people couldn't help but suppress their emotions after being provoked, and even asked their companions to calm down first, wanting to hear what Tiberius had to say.

Tiberius's next words completely changed their worldview.

When the scene finally calmed down, he said coldly, "Let's continue. Let's start with that wrong fall."

The degeneration of the lower classes affected many other aspects of Rome.

This includes accounts of how Roman leaders, in order to gain votes and public support, had to strive to cater to the tastes of their citizens, with even the nobility pandering to popular preferences.

The practice of commemorating deceased Roman figures with honorable names led to the earliest fights between condemned prisoners and slaves.

In pursuit of excitement and to win votes, even the officials presiding over the funeral disregarded the funeral schedule and insisted on extending the competition time to please the audience.

You think this is a good thing, right?

Furthermore, holding such events allows you to share in the various treasures that Rome plundered during its conquests.

They could live off the food provided free of charge by the rich.

However, this over-reliance on such practices led to flaws in the election of Roman officials.

This is the first sin!

Officials are elected by any means necessary to win votes, instead of being chosen to be selfless protectors who work for the people's welfare.

Even in the lowest of positions, it became increasingly difficult for young people in Rome to realize their ambitions and talents and to win votes.

They have to spend a lot of money to support a long competition and also bribe voters.

Let me think... Maybe there will be free competitive matches to watch in a few days?

When Tiberius spoke with such sarcasm—

Many people below were startled, unable to hide their surprise, and Strabo's expression changed drastically.

—! Isn't that him?

In an effort to bribe voters, he did indeed plan to hold gladiator tournaments next.

But these are all basically unspoken rules, aren't they?

Damn it—! Tiberius knows he can't be elected, so he's deliberately escalating the conflict to drag me down with him?!

What a cruel heart! How could you do this to me?

Chapter Ninety-Nine: If stupidity is a sin, then this sin is unforgivable.

Strabo thought he had figured everything out and was horrified by Tiberius's sinister intentions.

however--

Tiberius never even noticed the other person.

He simply continued, "Perhaps in the short term, you think this is a good thing."

But no one has ever thought about it—

Who would vote for an official selected in this way if they didn't have money? They spent a fortune to win the election, so where will they recoup that loss?!

When Tiberius shouted with great emotion—!

At this moment, the anger in the hearts of the people below was suddenly doused with a bucket of cold water, and they all froze and calmed down.

That's right—

Those who aspire to official positions must learn to bribe and spend money, but would truly ambitious individuals really spend money to buy votes?

Would they engage in such bribery and collusion?

They were only thinking about the pleasure of receiving money and the joy of enjoying the free celebrations, without considering what would happen if all of Rome's officials were replaced by such a group of people.

A chill suddenly ran down people's spines.

This is such a simple principle that even the most ordinary people can easily understand it.

No one would be foolish enough to spend a lot of money just to buy a hollow reputation.

They are not children anymore, and they naturally understand very well that people will only work hard and fight desperately for something if there is profit to be made.

Just as Rome coveted the land and wealth of other countries, and thus waged war against them.

These are not reasons that people cannot understand or cannot comprehend, but rather that they have simply not paid attention to them and have fallen into a blind spot. Or, even if someone does notice them, they know it is difficult to change the status quo, so they simply pretend they know nothing.

But now there is one person—no, there are some people—who are not sleeping.

It awoke from its slumber and attempted to awaken more people.

Tiberius: "Let me tell you."

Being elected is certainly profitable—who in this world would do business without any risk?!

Why do our Roman politicians rack their brains to seek official positions and constantly expand their influence, even at the cost of going into debt to run for office?

Was it so that he could become a high-ranking official and then serve the people of Rome? No—

Some might think that spending money to garner votes is just paying for suffering, but in Rome—

If one seizes the opportunity to become the governor of a wealthy province, then no matter how much debt is incurred during the election, it can be repaid within a year of the governor's term.

At the same time, within each province, they enjoyed supreme power, unrestrained by the Roman legal system. So who were the ones who ultimately suffered persecution?

It's the people—!

Taking advantage of one's position—

If nobles and high-ranking officials can still purchase large amounts of land, then who are those who lose their share of land as a result?!

It was the soldiers—!! It was the countless civilians, the men of every Roman household who fought desperately on the front lines—the soldiers' rightful wages.

It was a feat they earned by risking their lives.

Now, the land north of Rome that originally belonged to the Etruscans has become the estates of wealthy Romans.

The soldiers who conquered that land for Rome did not receive even a small farm.

How many of you have family members or friends who were drafted into the army and have been on the battlefield for many years without returning?

How many people have been left destitute because the sole breadwinner of their families left to go to war?

Because of extreme poverty, some people have been reduced to selling their children to nobles as slaves?! Those wealthy landowners cannot find enough free people to cultivate their land, and are even less willing to relinquish the land that you deserve.

So what happened in the end?! What happened in the end?!

When Tiberius roared, "I'll tell you, in the end—they will find a way to turn free people into slaves, so that they will have endless wealth!"

Some might say that as long as everyone refuses to back down, everything will be fine.

However, how long can a person endure hunger?

Relying on your husbands, brothers, and fathers, the sole pillars of your families, fighting on the front lines, the conquered lands have brought Rome a large number of prisoners.

Among them were perhaps Carthaginians, Spaniards, Gauls, Macedonians, Greeks, and Asia Minor people; tens of thousands of captives were sold into slavery.

Even if you can hold out for a while, the nobles will never lack cheap labor!

Ultimately, this persistence will be defeated, degenerating into meaningless, absurd, and laughable farce.

It will degenerate into hysterical despair and tears.

It is your own hands that have abandoned your loved ones and the happiness that was within your grasp. This folly is the second sin!

Let me tell you—!

During the slave revolt in Sicily, not only slaves, but also many small farmers who were free citizens burned down the villas of large landowners in various places.

Why do you think those free people would help the slaves rebel?

Is this just unnecessary pity?

At this moment, the entire central square below the stage was completely silent.

Strabo heard this with utter terror, and his gaze toward Tiberius turned to one of dread.

How dare he say that?!

In Rome, some problems are not that the upper echelons are unaware of them, but rather that they simply cannot manage them.

Or rather, once they take control, it will affect the interests of all the nobles themselves.

This would also offend other nobles!

But Tiberius then spoke the most authentic version of Rome.

At this point, the Rome that Tiberius spoke of was no longer glamorous, no longer adorned with flowers, and no longer prosperous.

Instead, it was filled with filth, darkness, barbarity, oppression, and coercion.