Chapter 34 Cicero Marcus invited the Sicilian residents to his mansion and personally listened to their stories.
Their morale was buoyed by the interest shown by the son of the current consul.
The Sicilian residents represented all the cities except Syracuse and Messina. They expressed the gravity of their situation, pouring out their complaints almost as a lament.
"After serving as praetor, Gaius Verres was appointed governor of Sicily. Unlike his predecessors, he stayed in office for an unusually long time—three years."
"That's because there was no opportunity to replace him due to the slave rebellion."
"Yes, which made our suffering indescribable."
"Can you provide examples?"
"The figures alone will make it clear. In his first year as governor, Verres embezzled 300,000 modii of grain."
For reference, a Roman citizen received about 5 modii of grain per month. Thus, Verres embezzled enough grain to feed 5,000 people for a year.
"He truly amassed a fortune."
"And it gets worse. An area that had over 300 farmers was reduced to 80 in just three years of Verres' rule. He ruthlessly seized their lands and also engaged in usury and plundered cultural assets."
"I understand. He's an exceptionally corrupt politician. But do you have evidence?"
"We have witnesses. And if we look thoroughly, we are sure to find plenty of evidence."
Marcus shook his head slightly and sighed.
"Without concrete evidence, it's difficult to convict him, even if you file a lawsuit. Jurors might view bribery as a natural part of a governor's duties. You need clear evidence of embezzlement that exceeds the norm."
"If someone comes forward to prosecute Verres, we will fully support them. We will definitely find the evidence."
"I agree that someone like Verres should not be allowed to live comfortably in Rome. Unfortunately, I'm not very skilled as a lawyer, so I can't take action myself. However, I can introduce you to someone who can assist you."
"Is there such a person?"
"Certainly. I know someone who will be very interested in your case—because he will be the governor of Sicily next year."
The Sicilian representatives' faces lit up at Marcus' words.
They knew who would be the governor next year. One of them asked with a touch of incredulity:
"Can we really meet Pompey Magnus?"
Pompey and Crassus were publicly known to be at odds.
The Sicilian representatives also perceived this rivalry.
It also meant that the deception operation was working well.
"They may not get along, but they don't oppose each other on official matters. They are both representatives of Rome."
Marcus reassured the representatives and went with them to Pompey's mansion.
Pompey showed great interest in the matter.
He was particularly outraged by the disruption to Sicily's agriculture, a key industry.
The reason was straightforward: He might inherit the mess left by his predecessor.
Sicily was a crucial grain-producing region for Rome, and the governor was responsible for supplying grain to Rome. Failure to do so properly would lead to immense criticism from Roman citizens.
According to the representatives, Verres' atrocities over three years were severe.
Moreover, the current governor, Lucius Metellus, who was Verres' brother-in-law, was hiding the evidence of Verres' corruption while pretending to address the issues.
Public sentiment in Sicily was plummeting.
With the current situation, Pompey knew that he would face significant challenges as governor next year.
He couldn't afford to have his reputation and popularity tarnished by such a debacle.
Pompey promised to resolve the case and sent the representatives back.
He promptly began searching for a lawyer to prosecute Verres.
Marcus recommended Cicero, as history would later record.
Pompey, who had a good impression of Cicero, accepted Marcus' recommendation.
Cicero had supported Pompey during his bid for the praetorship and when he revived the Hortensius law.
Though Cicero acted according to his own principles, Pompey was grateful for his support.
Cicero, summoned by the incumbent praetor, promptly visited Pompey's mansion.
"You wish to discuss something with me?"
Although they were the same age, Cicero bowed politely before Pompey.
The disparity between Cicero, a novice from a commoner family, and Pompey, a nobleman from a prestigious family and serving as praetor, was apparent.
"Yes. I hear you are one of the best young lawyers in Rome. Marcus has highly recommended you."
"Marcus?"
Cicero glanced at the young man sitting next to Pompey.
Marcus stood and bowed politely to Cicero.
"I am Marcus Licinius Crassus II. I share my father's name, though it's an honor I don't fully deserve."
"Your father, the current praetor Crassus?"
Cicero's eyes widened as he looked between Marcus and Pompey.
Pompey understood Cicero's confusion and chuckled, gesturing for Cicero to sit.
"It's a separate matter that Crassus annoys me and that I like his son. You two should get acquainted. It won't hurt."
"I've heard that the eldest son of the Crassus family is a promising talent."
Cicero studied Marcus with interest.
Rumors that Crassus, typically known for his stinginess, had become a doting father were widespread in the Senate. There was also unconfirmed talk that he had transferred a significant portion of his business to his son.
This alone made Marcus noteworthy. Additionally, his connection with Pompey, who was Crassus' rival, was intriguing.
Cicero suspected that this young man might significantly impact Roman politics in the future.
Marcus also observed Cicero closely.
Cicero was a prominent lawyer and writer of the late Republic era, considered one of the greatest intellectuals of his time. He rose from a provincial commoner to praetor without notable military talent.
Marcus recognized the importance of maintaining a good relationship with Cicero, who would become a central figure in the Republican faction.
The two men studied each other for a while.
Pompey eventually broke the silence.
"If you two are familiar with each other, let's proceed. Cicero, let me explain why I called you."
Cicero sat down and listened quietly as Pompey outlined the situation. His eyes narrowed as he absorbed the details of Verres' numerous crimes.
After Pompey finished, Cicero took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking with a troubled expression.
"So you want me to prosecute Gaius Verres?"
"I understand you served as quaestor in Sicily and performed admirably, with many supporters still remembering you. If you succeed, Sicily could become a significant client. Wouldn't that be advantageous?"
Cicero hesitated, scratching his head.
Sicily held importance for Cicero, as Pompey noted. His discovery of Archimedes' tomb and the subsequent acclaim from Syracuse remained a proud achievement.
Successfully prosecuting Verres would significantly boost his career prospects, possibly paving the way to praetorship and even the consulship.
"But gathering evidence will be challenging. Verres is a former governor, and the current governor, Lucius Metellus, is his brother-in-law. Lucius Metellus' brother is a strong candidate for next year's praetorship, and his other brother, Quintus Metellus, is a consul. If the trial is held next year, we will have little chance. It's too tight a timeline to conduct the trial this year."
The court judge is usually one of the praetors of that year. If the consuls and praetors are aligned, they can place a favorable praetor in charge of the trial.
Cicero continued, frowning.
"The Metellus family will employ all sorts of tactics to protect Verres. And Hortensius will likely defend him. I'm not very confident."
Hortensius was reputed as the best lawyer in Rome and had close ties to the Metellus family. He was also a leading contender for the consulship this year, his reputation overshadowing Cicero's.
Pompey clicked his tongue, recognizing the severity of the situation.
"If the trial is delayed until next year, we're doomed. With two consuls and a praetor on the same side, we can't win."
"Yes. It's also a heavy burden for me, a commoner, to challenge the entire Metellus family."
"But I will be the governor of Sicily next year. What if I assist you in securing evidence?"
"First, we need to hope that Lucius Metellus, the current governor, doesn't hide all the evidence."
Pompey sighed, realizing the difficulties.
As the mood grew somber, Marcus, who had been listening quietly, interjected.
"We need to hold the trial this year. If we gather evidence and file the lawsuit before August, we can bring Verres to trial under Glabrio, who is handling it. Glabrio is an honest man and won't help Verres. We'll have a good chance of winning, won't we?"
"You mean we need to gather all evidence by the end of July?"
Cicero asked incredulously.
Marcus nodded calmly.
"Yes. They will likely use delaying tactics, so we need to be ready by the end of July, after the public office elections."
"It's April now. Sicily is not easily accessible. How can we find all the evidence in such a short time? With travel time, we have less than two months."
"It will be difficult, but it's possible."
Marcus spoke with unwavering confidence.
In the original history, Cicero had successfully navigated this tight schedule and conducted the trial.
Though Marcus couldn't predict if the course of events would change, he decided to act to ensure success.
He assured Cicero with determination.
"I will help you secure the necessary evidence and witnesses. Let's prepare the fastest ship to Sicily."
"You will assist me?"
"Yes. If we depart by the end of April, we can reach Sicily by early May. We'll then have about 40 days to gather evidence and return to Rome in time for the trial."
"That would be a great help. But why do you want to see Verres brought down?"
"A corrupt individual like him should not be allowed to remain. For the sake of the Republic, we need honest politicians."
Cicero, a staunch republican, was pleased by Marcus's words and nodded.
"You are right. We cannot allow someone like Verres to act with impunity. He must face the consequences of his exploitation and embezzlement. We need to set a clear precedent."
"Exactly. Verres' downfall will serve as a strong warning to future governors."
Marcus aimed to make this trial more significant than originally planned, sending a message to corrupt officials and boosting Cicero's reputation.
Cicero, recognizing the importance of the case, resolved to undertake it as his historical mission.
He stood and declared with determination.
"Consul, I will prosecute Verres."
"Excellent. I believe you will win this case. Marcus, make sure to support Cicero."
"Leave it to me."
Marcus smiled triumphantly and bowed his head, hiding his expression.
Three days later, Cicero officially announced his intention to prosecute Gaius Verres on behalf of the Sicilian delegation.
The charges were straightforward: Verres was to return all ill-gotten gains and pay compensation of 43 million sesterces. Given Rome's annual budget of 200 million sesterces, this was an astronomical sum.
Hortensius, reputed as the best lawyer in Rome, immediately offered to defend Verres. The Metellus family, one of Rome's most prestigious families, also pledged their support.
Despite this, Cicero vowed to reveal Verres's crimes.
The news of this high-profile trial spread rapidly through Rome.
Marcus had hired gossipmongers, but even without them, the citizens reacted eagerly. It was a challenge from a young senator of modest origin against the noble aristocrats.
The public, while expecting Verres to win, secretly cheered for Cicero.
Meanwhile, Marcus, overwhelmed with work, hardly had time to sleep. He delegated minor tasks to Septimus and Danae but remained swamped.
Amidst this, Danae approached Marcus.
"Excuse me, sir… Are you very busy?"
"Huh? What is it?"
Marcus looked up from his documents, rubbing his eyes.
Danae, with a cautious expression, said,
"There's a nobleman requesting a loan for the July elections. I think you should make the decision, as I doubt he'll repay it. He's borrowed a lot already and now wants more."
Marcus looked at the name of the loan applicant and froze.
"Sir?"
Danae called out, but Marcus was absorbed in the name on the paper.
The name was clearly visible: Gaius Julius Caesar.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Read 284 more chapters ahead on NovelDex!
https://noveldex.io/series/the-mad-tycoon-of-rome
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━