007: Governor of Britain, It's Decided—You're the One!
In 48 AD, having conquered Britain, the Roman Empire was a superpower with formidable economic and military strength, solidifying its undisputed dominance over land and sea.
Ostia, a port city twenty-five kilometers from Rome, was the most prosperous port since Rome's Mediterranean conquest.
The morning's warm breeze fluttered flags in the harbor. Under a clear sky, ships gathered, crowds bustled; waves lapped the docks, sailors loaded cargo, merchants and passersby conversed—a cacophony of bustling noise and fervent activity.
At the center of all these gathered voices stood a person, as if completely detached from everything around him. Most of the people nearby looked at him with curiosity and respect, and he responded with a smile.
"Hey, Novia."
Upon hearing this, Novia, who had arrived early in the morning, slowly shifted his gaze away from the harbor and turned to look at Lucius, who was covered in sweat.
"Good morning, Lucius."
Under the morning sunlight that bathed the earth, the boy's gently swaying silver hair seemed, for a moment, to burst forth like a golden torch.
"What happened? Why did you go to Alexandria without a word? Were you forced? I told you those people aren't so easy to deal with..."
Novia didn't interrupt Lucius's muttering, waiting for him to finish before continuing, "I went voluntarily. But you must be quite happy now, right? How does it feel to become the governor of the Britannia Province?"
Late last night, after Novia had announced his plan to go to Alexandria to resolve the issue, Emperor Claudius had taken him back to the palace to rest. He then informed Novia that he intended to appoint Lucius Longinus, who had accompanied him on his journey, as the governor of the Anatolia Province.
This was an unexpected delight. After all, with a fellow believer like Lucius as governor, the Anatolia Province would essentially become Christian territory. However, Novia understood that this was likely something Claudius I had already planned, given that he had achieved victory with the help of a "miracle."
In the end, Novia declined the offer. Instead, in the face of Claudius I's puzzled expression, he requested that Lucius be appointed as the governor of the newly conquered Britannia Province.
Although Claudius I didn't fully understand, since it was Novia's request, he agreed. It would also save him some trouble with the Senate, as they would have less to argue about.
After all, Lucius had only served as a centurion in the Roman Empire—not even a tribune, let alone a noble.
Appointing him as the governor of Britannia, however, would likely lead to lengthy debates in the Senate. But in the end, they would probably agree to appoint such an unknown figure. Britannia had only recently been conquered and was prone to rebellions, making it a dangerous post where one could easily lose their life.
"You rascal, if I hadn't received the notification early this morning, I wouldn't have known you'd already left and even spent a night in the palace."
Lucius glanced toward Rome. Early that morning, while still sleeping on the street, he had been abruptly awakened and inexplicably appointed as the governor of Britannia. For a moment, he thought he was under some kind of illusion. Only after careful inquiry did he learn that Novia had already been released from prison, prompting him to rush to Ostia at once.
"Haha, I just wanted to give you a little surprise."
"You nearly scared me to death. I'm just a centurion—how am I supposed to manage all this?"
"Have some confidence. You'll learn as you go. No one is born knowing everything. I believe in you." Novia patted Lucius on the shoulder and then lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear. "There's a settlement on the banks of the Thames called 'Londinium.' Once you reach Britannia, remember to spend some time digging downward there, and make sure to use magic to shield yourself."
Londinium, present-day London, was the name of the settlement in Britannia. Beneath it lay the remains of the Dragon of Albion, which was precisely why Novia had Lucius appointed as the governor of Britannia. The Age of Gods had ended less than fifty years ago, so the remains likely hadn't yet transformed into a labyrinth. Even if they had, it wouldn't be a loss.
But for Novia, an intact carcass would be best.
"I understand. Don't worry."
Without asking too many questions, Lucius nodded. This didn't surprise him, as he knew Novia was someone who never acted without a clear purpose.
"Thanks. And next time we meet, remember to smile more sincerely, or you won't be able to deceive the Druid matrons in Britannia."
This was something Lucius had told Novia before. His eyes had been cursed blind by a Druid priestess. He had deceived her emotionally on the battlefield, leading to her execution, but before her death, she left him with this cross-shaped scar. He became blind just as the enemy army launched their attack.
Novia had often teased Lucius about this, saying it was his own fault and that he deserved it. Lucius, in turn, would retort that he had already paid the price.
"...Hmph, when I was your age, I'd already met quite a few. Want me to arrange a Druid for you in Britannia?"
"Haha, that won't be necessary. Just focus on your own tasks."
After sharing a playful punch with Lucius, Novia left with a smile, heading toward the large fleet that Emperor Claudius had arranged for him.
For the Roman Empire, the Mediterranean Sea was not a barrier but a thoroughfare. By ship, one could quickly reach any desired destination.
The voyage from the Port of Ostia to Alexandria in Egypt would take about a month, depending on the winds.
After a while, Lucius turned his gaze toward the distant horizon. Watching the boundless sea and the large fleet carrying Novia until it disappeared from sight, he finally turned back to Rome to prepare for his journey to Britannia.
Time passed slowly. Life on the ship was both monotonous and tedious. With little else to do, Novia spent his time preaching on board, and the results were, unsurprisingly, remarkably effective.
Finally, after about a month, Novia was about to set foot on Egyptian soil.
"That is Alexandria."
The sun was bright, the sky clear, and the blue of the sea likely mirrored the brilliance of such a radiant sky.
Using his magically enhanced eyes, Novia caught sight of the magnificent structure standing tall in Alexandria—a building undoubtedly steeped in mystery: the Library of Alexandria.
The Library of Alexandria was the reason Novia had come to the city and why he believed he could negotiate with the Atlas Academy. However, it wasn't the surface-level library he was after, but rather—
A counterpart to the surface library, located beneath the sea. A substitute constructed by Ptolemy and a branch of the Atlas Academy, eventually forgotten and lost by the latter.
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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