Chapter 69 69
On the first night, no one could sleep.
The training ground was brightly lit until the second half of the night.
Gisco led the Combat Team in extra training in the courtyard. The sound of shields clashing rang out like hammering iron.
Amir's Intelligence Team was fully deployed, running all over the south and north of the city.
Saxa had slipped out before dark, saying she was going to "check the warehouse," and still hadn't returned.
Marcus sat in the office, a map of Capua spread out in front of him with several circles drawn in charcoal.
The warehouse where Lucius died was in the western dock area, less than three hundred steps from Leta's stronghold.
Scarface's Hammer Gang headquarters was in the south of the city, but people from them had been hanging around the dock area recently.
Valerius's mansion was east of the Senate — high walls and large courtyard, with at least thirty guards.
Gracchus's Oak Manor was north of the city, hiding the military equipment inside.
And that pottery workshop, Marcus…
Every thread was connected, yet all were broken.
Footsteps sounded outside the door — light, but Marcus recognized them. It was Octavius.
Only his footsteps were this heavy, and when he deliberately tried to lighten them, they became awkward.
"Come in."
The door opened and the giant squeezed in.
"There's movement on Scarface's side."
Octavius said, keeping his voice very low. "He met someone tonight at the 'Wild Boar Tavern' in the south of the city. I was watching from the roof. I was too far to hear clearly, but I recognized the person — Valerius's steward, named Titus."
"Titus…"
Marcus noted the name. "How did Scarface react?"
"He was nodding and bowing like a dog."
Octavius curled his lip. "Titus gave him a bag of something. From the shape, it looked like money. Scarface took it, said some more things, Titus patted him on the shoulder, and left."
"And then?"
"Then Scarface drank for a while in the tavern and left too."
Octavius said. "I followed him for a bit. He went back to the Hammer Gang's old nest and didn't go anywhere else."
Marcus nodded.
Scarface was indeed trading with Valerius.
But what was the content of the deal? Just watching the training ground? Or… a more specific task?
"Tomorrow,"
Marcus said, "take two people and stake out the 'Wild Boar Tavern.' If Titus goes to see Scarface again, try to listen to what they say, but don't alert the enemy."
"Understood."
Not long after Octavius left, Saxa returned.
She came in through the back window, covered in dust, with a streak of black on her face.
"I've figured it out."
Saxa grabbed the water jug and took a big gulp. "The locked room in the warehouse is fake."
"How so?"
"The windows were indeed bolted from the inside, but there's a mechanism."
Saxa said. "I felt a small groove under the window frame with a thin wooden stick stuck in it. If someone inserts a thin blade from outside, they can lift the bolt. After finishing, they put the stick back. From the inside it looks untouched."
"Professional technique."
"Extremely professional."
Saxa nodded. "Not something ordinary thugs could do. Also, there are drag marks on the warehouse floor — the body was moved. Lucius was probably killed elsewhere and then dragged to the warehouse."
"Can the time of death be confirmed?"
"Marcus said midnight, but looking at the wound…"
Saxa thought for a moment. "The degree of blood coagulation isn't right. If he died at midnight, the blood should have coagulated more by morning. I guess the time of death was earlier, maybe in the evening."
Evening.
At that time Marcus was in the training ground, with many people who could testify.
But Valerius could claim he hired someone to kill.
"Anything else?"
"Yes."
Saxa took out a small cloth bundle from her bosom, opened it, and inside were a few dried flower petals.
"Found them in a corner of the warehouse, stuck in the cracks between the boards. Take a look."
Marcus picked up the petals and examined them under the lamp.
Dark red, already dried and shriveled, but the shape was still recognizable — rose petals.
The kind of roses planted in the garden behind the Temple of Venus.
"The temple…"
Marcus said softly.
"Yes."
Saxa looked at him. "You went to the temple this afternoon and met Ilithyia. If someone wants to frame you, they could start from here — saying you went to the temple in the afternoon and someone died at night. Too coincidental."
Marcus clenched the petals.
Valerius even knew about this?
Was he monitoring Ilithyia? Or… did he have people in the temple?
"Don't tell anyone about the petals."
Marcus put the petals away. "Continue checking the warehouse. See if you can find any witnesses. There are boatmen at the western dock area at night. Someone must have seen something."
"I'm already asking."
Saxa said. "But those boatmen have tight lips. Even money may not make them talk."
"Offer more money."
Marcus said. "Tell Amir the Intelligence Team's budget is doubled. As long as we can buy information."
"Got it."
After Saxa left, Marcus leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples.
Three threads.
Scarface's deal with Valerius.
The mechanism in the warehouse's locked room.
The rose petals from the temple.
Each one could cost him his life.
The sound of a rooster crowing came from outside the window.
Dawn was approaching.
…
Early the next morning, Lucretia brought good news.
"I got the list."
She placed a roll of sheepskin paper on the table. Her face looked tired, with dark circles under her eyes. She clearly hadn't slept either.
"The jasmine scent sold by 'Aroma Pavilion' in the past month — seven portions in total. The customer list is here."
Marcus unrolled the sheepskin paper and scanned it quickly.
Seven names: five noble ladies and two maids from senatorial mansions.
One name made his eyes stop —
"Livia Valerius."
Valerius's daughter.
"She bought some?"
Marcus asked.
"Twice."
Lucretia pointed at the record. "Once twenty days ago, once five days ago. Both times the quantity was not small — enough to last a long time."
"But she didn't need to buy it herself, right? She could have sent a maid."
"That's the problem."
Lucretia said. "Livia usually does send maids, but these two times she went personally. The shop steward said she was very particular and even asked about the formula for the fixative."
Marcus frowned.
Valerius's daughter personally buying perfume and asking about the formula? A bit strange.
"Can you find out who she met on those two days?"
"I'll try."
"Livia often attends tea parties with noble young ladies. I still have some acquaintances in those circles."
"Be careful."
"I know."
After Lucretia left, Amir arrived with two young intelligence team members, both sixteen or seventeen years old and looking sharp.
"Boss, there's news from the dock."
Amir said. "Last night we asked seventeen boatmen. One said he saw Lucius hanging around the dock the evening before yesterday, talking to someone."
"Who?"
"Didn't see the face clearly, but the description was quite detailed — not tall, wearing a dark cloak with a hood, and walked with a slight limp."
A limp?
Marcus ran through the people he knew in his mind. No impression.
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