Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

Samael smiled with narrowed eyes and spoke softly.

Boudica pondered for a moment, then nodded helplessly, agreeing with Samael's statement.

"Of course, there are other reasons as well."

Firstly, holding this line of defense is a skill in itself, and given Rome's recent predicament, changing generals at the last minute might not be a good thing.

Secondly, he originally sided with Agrippina the Younger, but now he's leading the Seventh Legion to maintain neutrality, which is a win-win situation for us.

As for the third point, this guy owes me a favor. I've already given instructions: the Hunnic wolf cavalry have been infiltrating unusually, and he should coordinate with the Celts militarily. This is a good thing for the overall war situation and will eliminate our worries about our rear.

As they pondered, the ancient serpent and the commander atop the city wall exchanged a nod, a tacit understanding forming between them.

This commander was a smart man, so he did not directly attack their troops in the early stages, leaving room for maneuver.

When he fell into Samael's hands, the latter did not kill him outright. Whether for the sake of the stability of his own defensive zone or to repay the favor of showing him a way out, the alliance between the Seventh Legion and the Celts would inevitably proceed steadily.

At the same time, this can be considered a form of remedy.

After all, only His Majesty the Emperor has the power to appoint and dismiss legion commanders.

Unfortunately, Agrippina the Younger never became empress…

Sometimes, not taking sides is also a form of taking sides.

"As expected, you politicians are all corrupt at heart!"

Boudica's eldest daughter, leaning against her, overheard her teacher's meticulous analysis and found the intricacies of the situation incredibly perplexing. She rubbed her temples and muttered complaints.

However, the carefree girl didn't notice that both elders' faces turned dark at the same time.

This sudden, sweeping attack brought them all into the scope of the strike.

Immediately, the First Princess felt a weight on her shoulder as two fingers, one on each side, landed on her. A sinister atmosphere filled the air, and her teachers and mother on either side looked at the unfortunate child with "kindness."

Tsk, why are you speaking such blunt truths?

Nero lifted the curtain, gloating inwardly and beckoning, thus aiding and abetting the tyrant by providing the enclosed space for the execution.

A moment later, mournful sobs and wails came from inside the carriage, and the procession was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Along the way, with the resonance of the Pantheon's divine seal and the written proof of the Seventh Legion, the provinces they passed through, after conducting detailed verification, all allowed the group to pass without exception.

By this point, Samael and the others' meticulous planning had begun to bear fruit, subtly and gradually.

Before setting off, Gu She overruled all objections and opposed forcibly breaking through the Seventh Province, advocating that the team's journey should be carried out openly and in an upright manner, heading towards the City of Seven Hills.

The logic is simple: he couldn't possibly lead Nero to dismantle all seven or eight provinces along the way, fight his way to the Pantheon, and force Romulus, the ancestor of the gods, to grant this girl imperial privileges, could he?

With that effort, he might as well stage a coup, kill Romulus, and put Nero on the throne—that would be much more satisfying.

To have a legitimate reason to return to Rome, obtaining an audience with the Pantheon was a crucial step.

According to Samael's calculations, Rome was gradually becoming powerless, and Romulus, the ancestor of the gods, would certainly not refuse the joining of the Celtic tribes.

Therefore, as long as the good news was relayed to the Pantheon through the Temple of Mars, everything fell into place.

Furthermore, now that Nero and Boudica have been registered in the Pantheon, and all the important figures in Rome are focused on them, it will not be so easy for other clans with designs on Britain, or for that wicked woman from the Claudius family, to resort to any underhanded tactics.

When the target is exposed to the sunlight, darkness will have nowhere to hide.

The provincial armies dared not openly obstruct an imperial prince on his way to report for duty, which actually made them safer.

As for the few groups of petty thieves who stumbled upon the scene, whether intentionally or unintentionally, they were filtered out by the guards and found to be mostly small fry with little ability or background. Before Brunhilde could even make a move, they were wiped out by the Celtic soldiers who were protecting her.

The ten-day trip passed smoothly and quickly.

When the city of Rome, perched atop seven hills, came into view, even the lazy and gluttonous Nero had gained a few pounds.

Rome, situated atop seven hills—Palatino, Capitoline, Esquilino, Viminale, Quirinale, Cirio, and Aventinus—is also known as the City of the Seven Hills. Slightly longer from north to south than from east to west, its city walls wind and undulate along the hills, forming an irregular shape resembling a crouching lion.

The city is well-planned, majestic and imposing. The buildings on both sides stand tall with walls, and each brick is engraved with defensive and restrictive divine patterns. The main streets in the city are arranged in a regular "well" shape, dividing the city into several blocks.

The main roads are straight and flat, nearly ten meters wide, and paved entirely with blue flagstones. Aqueducts extend in all directions, and drainage ditches are hidden in the streets. Lead-cast and ceramic drainage pipes divert water from the road surface. Fountains cascade down, and sculptures are scattered throughout, creating an atmosphere of cultural luxury.

The gaps between the cobblestones of the street are inlaid with fluorescent minerals mined from the seabed of the Bay of Naples, and there are charged magic crystals on both sides, so that even on a moonless night, passers-by can use the light from the minerals and magic crystals to distinguish the road.

Within the city, three landmark buildings stand out as the most prosperous and solemn.

First, there is the Roman Forum, located in the valley between the three hills of Palatine, Capitoline, and Esquiline. It is filled with temples, basilicas, sculptures, fountains, commemorative columns, and more, and also houses Rome's largest amphitheater.

Secondly, the Royal Palace of Rome, built on Palatine Hill, includes numerous halls, baths, a racetrack, a theater, and more. It served as the office and living quarters for seven emperors, including the first emperor.

The third, the Pantheon, stands right next to the palace. From a distance, it is a magnificent temple with a dome and classical colonnade in front. The dome is made of volcanic ash stone, and sculptures of the twelve main gods are placed inside. Twelve divine radiance patterns intertwine and entwine in the sky, appearing and disappearing.

In addition, Rome had everything from bars and public baths to bakeries, dye shops, inns, and theaters.

As the capital of the empire, its prosperity even surpassed that of Uruk in Samael's memory.

The convoy passed through the transportation barriers and entered the city smoothly.

However, they were soon hindered by the congested crowds and bursts of cheers and noise.

On the cobblestone streets, two groups of priests and priests carried a sculpture of a mother wolf protecting a pair of human cubs and a stone statue of Pan, parading through the streets and scattering flower petals under the protection of soldiers.

The leading priest held a shepherd's whip, which cracked crisply in the air, while elegantly dressed young women gathered on both sides of the street. Whenever a lucky person was struck by the whip, cheers and chattering arose from the crowd.

"Hmm, it seems like today is the Lupercalia festival. Everyone is celebrating. It looks like we can't go directly to see the God Ancestor. Why don't we join in?"

Hearing the commotion, Nero climbed out of the carriage and looked at the noisy, jubilant crowd, his eyes gleaming with eager anticipation.

"Join my ass! Rome has over 175 festival days out of 365 days a year, meaning we're celebrating for more than half the year! Just stay put and get your staff settled first!"

Samael grabbed Nero by the collar without any politeness, shoved the future tyrant, who loved excitement and celebration, into the carriage, and gave him an impatient order.

Left with no other choice, Nero had to stay obediently inside the carriage and give directions to everyone.

“My father left me a private house. It’s a quiet and secluded place with plenty of space. I’ve never used it before. We can all stay there for now and make plans after we’ve settled down.”

Samael, Brunhilde, and Boudica exchanged nods, gathered their group, and headed towards their lodging.

Chapter Thirty-Six: What are you laughing at, you beast! You're Rome too!

In the afternoon, after handing over the tasks of arranging the people and guarding the city to Boudica and Brunhilde respectively, Samael left his private residence in the far suburbs and headed towards the bustling city of Rome, where people were celebrating the Lupercalia festival.

Along the way, as the sacrificial procession passed by, some young nobles dressed as shepherds gathered together, brandishing sheepskin whips that cracked loudly, while their entourage scattered flower petals mixed with copper coins, pushing the lively atmosphere to a climax.

Even Samael was bumped into several times by the throngs of residents, and even caught a copper coin, sharing in the festive cheer.

The Lupercalia festival is a major celebration that originated in ancient Rome and continues to this day.

Legend has it that after the Trojan War, the Trojans fled outwards, settled down and multiplied, and thus inherited two estates.

One was the king's power, and the other was the gold and silver treasures brought back from Troy.

Of the two princes who inherited the estate, the elder, Numitor, chose the kingdom, while the younger, Amulio, kept the wealth.

But the scheming younger brother used his wealth to become more powerful than his elder brother and easily seized the kingdom from him.

Numitor's sons were all killed, and only his daughter Silvia survived because her brother's daughter pleaded for her.

The newly enthroned king sent his brother's daughter, Silvia, to the Temple of Vesta (corresponding to Hestia, the Greek goddess of the hearth) to become a virgin priestess, preventing her from marrying and thus ensuring that no offspring would participate in the struggle for the throne.

However, Sylvia caught the eye of Mars, the god of war (corresponding to Ares), and they became husband and wife, resulting in her giving birth to twin sons.

Fearing discovery and execution, Sylvia threw the twins into the Tiber River to be swept away by the current.

The twins drifted downstream to what is now the Roman region, where they were raised by a mother wolf who had lost her cubs. Later, they were adopted by a shepherd who named them Romulus and Remus.

The continuation of Rome began from this point.

The Lupercalia festival was originally held primarily to commemorate the she-wolf and shepherd who adopted Romulus, the ancestor of the gods, and to celebrate the birth of Rome.

Later, through continuous development, the Lupercalia festival also came to serve as a way to pray for blessings from Pan, the god of shepherds.

However, in a sense, Lupercalia is equivalent to Rome's national day, so it is naturally quite grand and is expected to last for several days.

Samael, wandering among the crowd, reflected on the past and muttered some complaints in his heart.

No wonder the term "Romans" will become a joke about being luckier than "Europeans" in the future.

Damn, there are over 300 days in a year. Since the time of the ancient Roman kings, there have been more than 170 days of holidays. With holidays every few days, this life is too good!

What are you laughing at, you beast! From now on, you're Rome too!

After a wave of envy, jealousy, and resentment, the ancient snake chuckled to itself and made a few self-deprecating remarks. It dodged the congested crowds and headed into the city, where seven hills came into view.

Each of the seven hills, from bottom to top, boasts a magnificent architectural complex. These scattered palaces were the residences of the six major clans and the imperial palace.

On one of the hilltops, a courtyard with a rose-flower banner and a statue of Venus (corresponding to Aphrodite) was the home of the Claudius family.

In fact, the current imperial system of the Roman Empire has a close connection with the number "7".

As early as the reigns of the ancient Roman kings, apart from Romulus the patriarch, six other ancient Roman kings successively ruled.

But these Roman kings who received imperial privileges all rotted away into bones during the long expansion of their kingdoms and the erosion of time.

The rise of the six major clans corresponded precisely to the vacant imperial thrones of the six Roman kings, with Romulus the patriarch of gods at the head, becoming the new "Seven Hills" guarding the city of Rome.

There was no such thing as a coincidence here; it was mostly due to the deliberate guidance and control of this Roman god.

Whether Nero could inherit Claudius's imperial privileges and control the Seventh Province ultimately depended on Romulus's approval.

On the way, Samael listlessly let his thoughts wander, and the distance to the Pantheon drew ever closer.

That's right, that's why he came out today.

Who knows when the Lupercalia festival will end? Rather than waiting for Romulus's summons, I might as well go and investigate first. Maybe I can get some clues about the whereabouts of my friends and relatives on Mount Ares from the Olympian gods.

As Samael walked down a bustling commercial street, he heard the shopkeeper's helpless mutterings coming from the front of a candy and pastry shop not far away.

"Hey young lady, you've been looking around for ages, are you going to buy this last box or not?"

"The last box...which means...uh, the last box means..."

Hmm... let me take another look..."

The silver-haired girl standing in front of the door looked at a box of colorful candies displayed in the counter, hesitated for a long time, and then frowned and uttered words that made the shopkeeper burst out laughing.

"Forget it, young lady, you should call your parents over. I have business to attend to here."

The shop owner waved his hand impatiently, his intention to drive the shopkeeper away was obvious.

A ripple appeared in the silver-haired girl's indifferent eyes, and she turned her head away with a hint of reluctance, preparing to leave.

"Boss, we'll take this box of candy. Please pack it up first. Also, could you recommend some popular flavors so my friend can choose?"

However, at that moment, a clear voice came from behind the silver-haired girl. Samael walked into the shop with a smile, dropped a Hera Silver, and winked at Attila next to him.

The middle-aged shop owner, wearing an apron, picked up Hera's Silver from the counter, weighed it in his hand, and examined the opening repeatedly. He immediately beamed and enthusiastically promoted his candy.

It turned out to be an ancient Greek silver coin. These could be sold on the black market or caught the eye of a nobleman, and there would be a good profit to be made.

At Samael's prompting, Attila approached the counter and enthusiastically selected seven or eight boxes of candy she liked. Taking the full bag, her face softened with a hint of joy.

Gu She, indulging his whims, ordered a few items as snacks, and a short while later, the two returned home laden with their purchases.

However, the moment Attila stepped out of the shop, his eyes were drawn to a fluffy golden lamb doll hanging in front of the door. The Hun king turned his head and stared intently at the shop owner.

"Ahem, gentlemen, these are decorations used to attract customers and cannot be sold."

The shopkeeper explained awkwardly, shaking his head slightly. Attila, upon hearing this, couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Her eyes, which had regained their clarity, gradually suppressed her desire for that thing.

However, Samael walked up with a smile and shook hands with the shop owner in a friendly manner.

When the ancient serpent came out, he had a golden lamb doll in his hand. The shopkeeper, looking at the gold of Zeus in his palm, suppressed his joy and looked at the man who walked out of the store with awe.

Samael stuffed the plush toy into Attila's arms, glanced back at the shop, and looked smug.

"Cannot sell" simply means that we haven't given enough.

Of course, simply offering money would only make him a easy target, and the reason the shopkeeper took what he could get was the Claudius brand on his hand.

Perhaps it was because of their status as members of one of the six major clans that the shopkeeper enthusiastically recommended the Roman Forum to them as their next stop before they left.

Samael then pulled Attila up and, like a dutiful host, led the girl, who had abandoned her identity and had no connections, into the bustling crowd to fully enjoy the festivities.

However, the moment the ancient serpent turned to face Attila, a hint of darkness and solemnity appeared in its opening and closing eyes.

Strange, how did she end up in Rome?

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Red Roses and White Roses

Samael wasn't stupid; he naturally wouldn't forget Attila's identity.