Two days later.
Under Septimus' orders, the Roman fleet quickly mobilized toward the eastern Mediterranean.
Septimus also boarded a warship and arrived at Cilicia, the largest gathering place for pirates in the entire Mediterranean, where the Cilician pirates who harassed the whole Mediterranean were based.
The pirates of Cilicia had plundered numerous places and amassed unimaginable wealth. They had even built their own cities and proclaimed themselves kings and generals.
However, they were still no match for Rome's fleet and the clone legions.
The clone legions confronted the pirates with overwhelming force, sweeping through one pirate city after another, and quickly captured one of the largest pirate strongholds in Cilicia.
Without much suspense during the fighting, the clone army landed and wiped out every enclave of the Cilician pirates.
In less than a month, the clone legions advanced rapidly without much pressure until they reached the best-defended fortress of the Cilician pirates.
Cilicia is a mountainous country with numerous coastal areas. The fortress facing the clone legions had been built on top of a cliff, making it difficult to besiege and suppress the enemy.
From a distance, Septimus observed the layout of the fortress; the terrain was indeed extremely dangerous.
Unfortunately for the pirates, the clone army was not intimidated by an impregnable fortress.
Septimus had more than enough clone legionaries to sacrifice in the siege of the enemy fortress.
The clone legions did not fear spending countless human lives to capture an impregnable fortress.
The clone legionaries spent an entire day building ladders, siege towers, and Greek catapults.
From the city walls, the pirates watched apprehensively as the Roman army constructed enormous siege machines.
The efficiency of the clone army could be considered unmatched in any era.
The trees disappeared at a remarkable pace, and the timber was processed to construct siege machines.
The orderly tents of the clone army, stretching as far as the eye could see without any clear limit, managed to terrify the pirate leaders inside the city.
Septimus did not wait long before a group of pirates came out of the city and offered three living men along with a letter.
Half an hour later.
Inside a large tent.
Septimus watched the group of kneeling pirates.
"Filthy pirates, don't waste my time and speak," Septimus said expressionlessly to the pirate envoys.
"Great Roman general, we now know your name. We deeply regret what we have done, and we are willing to give up everything to save our lives," one of the pirates said with a humble expression.
Septimus looked indifferently at the pirates. The three prisoners they had brought were clearly men of special status.
The three men were unconscious, and the torture and interrogation would take time.
"Give me one reason to let you go," Septimus said with a hint of mockery in his voice.
He felt no sympathy whatsoever for those pirates; they had committed nearly every crime imaginable and had been absolutely ruthless in their acts of arson, murder, and plunder.
The pirate looked at him warily, wondering why the Roman general before him was behaving so strangely, but he quickly suppressed his doubts.
"I am the nephew of the great King Kragus. The three men we brought led all the attacks against the Campania region. The young nobleman named Lexius instigated that group of pirates."
"I also want to add that Lexius is an exiled Roman noble serving Sertorius, and he has made contact with King Mithridates of Pontus and with us, hoping that we would join forces to march against Rome. My uncle rejected him, and we are willing to hand him over to you," the pirate said with a humble expression.
Septimus' expression changed slightly.
For personal reasons, Lexius had instigated the pirates to attack the Campania region.
Sertorius and the faction of exiled populist nobles had neither the intention nor the courage to confront Septimus.
Septimus understood the intentions of the exiled nobles because the consul Lepidus, during his lifetime, had shown an intention to win Septimus' favor.
On the other hand, Sertorius' plan had a high chance of success.
Kragus was one of the pirate kings of the Mediterranean, and together with Antikraggs, they formed the two most powerful pirate groups in the Mediterranean.
Septimus understood all the events and considered every option.
He could seize the opportunity and attack the Kingdom of Pontus.
Two hours passed quickly.
Inside a dark cell.
Three men hung suspended while a group of clones used various methods to inflict pain upon them.
Septimus quickly learned Mercios' true identity.
Mercios was a nobleman from Pontus, and his purpose was to serve as a liaison between the exiled Roman nobles and King Mithridates.
Although Mercios resisted the torture at first.
The torture methods, combined with Septimus' basic knowledge of modern-era medicine, proved to be highly effective.
Septimus knew the human body perfectly and had extensive experience with torture.
After obtaining the necessary information, Septimus continued torturing the three men.
On the other hand, Septimus hesitated no longer and prepared to attack the Kingdom of Pontus.
Septimus did not wish to become involved in war, but peace was boring.
The influence of the clone army was concentrated in Rome, and the nations hostile to Rome showed little goodwill toward Romans crossing their borders.
The clone caravans that wished to trade outside Rome faced many difficulties because of their identity.
The sun slowly rose, and the pirates who had served as envoys were crucified in front of the fortress.
Septimus had never intended to spare their lives.
The siege progressed according to plan, and after suffering the loss of human lives comparable to an entire legion, the clone legionaries broke through the city's defenses and crucified the surviving pirates.
Kragus died while resisting, and his corpse was dismembered and nailed up in pieces.
His gruesome head and torso would be used as decorations on the legion's banner.
After a week of recovery.
Septimus organized 10 legions along with their respective supply transport ships.
The cleansing of the Mediterranean had left all the pirates with nowhere to escape.
Septimus had divided the Mediterranean Sea into two zones and used a large number of legionaries and warships to pursue every pirate group.
Five legions were enough to finish the job in the other half of the Mediterranean.
The legions were not as effective at sea as they were on land.
After organizing the provisions plundered from the pirates and gathered from the vassal states.
Septimus felt confident enough to begin a war against the Kingdom of Pontus.