From the young to the elderly, the looks directed at Septimus and his delegation were filled with open hatred.
Septimus did not understand why the city's population was showing such hostility, but he was not about to leave a hidden danger that could affect the logistical lines in the rear.
The clone legionaries were also human beings with the most basic need for food in order to survive.
Harassment of the supply lines or any possible disruption would cause the clone army to face starvation and force it to drastically reduce its ranks in order to survive.
Of all the different kinds of death Septimus had faced since transmigrating, he still had not experienced death by starvation, nor did he wish to.
*"Ahem... I think I know the reason,"* Julius Caesar suddenly said, pulling Septimus out of his bloody thoughts.
*"Oh? What reason?"* Septimus asked curiously.
*"After Sulla fought against the King of Pontus and conquered Asia, to punish those who had betrayed Rome, he imposed a fine of 60 million drachmas (one drachma = one denarius), which represented five years' worth of taxes.*
*"Those people simply could not afford that much money, so the tax collectors bought all the tax rights and then collected the money on their behalf. But Sulla cannot really be blamed; you know General Sulla desperately needed military funds, so he had no choice but to do it,"* Julius Caesar said cautiously as he analyzed the entire situation.
Septimus suddenly understood. So that was how things were.
Tax collectors were certainly not benevolent people. Given their methods, since they had paid such a large sum for the people of the province of Asia, they would undoubtedly try to recover it many times over.
*"According to my calculations, those people definitely have not finished paying off this debt. The tax collectors will only keep adding interest, making it impossible for them to pay off the debt throughout their entire lives,"* Julius Caesar said with a thoughtful expression.
Septimus nodded slightly. Thanks to his little butterfly wings, the Eastern Expedition had begun many years earlier than it had historically.
In fact, even ten years after Sulla had left the province of Asia, the people of the province of Asia still had not finished paying off the debt.
Later, in the original history, General Lucullus took pity on them and managed to reduce the tax, but this deeply offended the tax collectors, who wielded enormous influence in Rome. They incited senators and high-ranking Roman officials against him, causing Lucullus considerable trouble, which ultimately led to the loss of his military command and his premature transfer away from the war zone.
*"The discontent is too great, and it could affect the expedition's logistics,"* Septimus said with a thoughtful expression.
*"The only solution is to find a way to reduce this tax; otherwise, the people might side with the Kingdom of Pontus,"* Julius Caesar replied after thinking for a few seconds.
Septimus did not immediately agree; this matter fell under the jurisdiction of the governor of Asia.
On the other hand, Septimus could massacre and hunt down rebels or bandits and deter every possible attack against the transport caravans.
Although the lower class of the province of Asia was on the brink of extreme poverty, the upper class, with its enormous income, spent vast amounts of money on luxuries.
A large portion of that money ended up in the pockets of Septimus and the region of Campania.
Septimus did not need to think about the profits Terentius would lose by agreeing to lower the taxes, but it was inevitable that the revenues of the Campania region would also decrease.
The enormous revenues of an entire province also tempted Septimus.
A massive profit exceeding 60 million denarii, and with compound interest, the earnings undoubtedly amounted to more than 200 million denarii, involving countless Roman nobles and equestrians who purchased products from Septimus.
Septimus was willing to use his stay in the city of Chalcedon to enjoy himself and observe future sources of income.
Seeing that Septimus had not agreed, Julius Caesar sighed. He did not insist on persuading him, for he did not fully understand Septimus.
Even before they reached Chalcedon, they saw the welcoming party led by Terentius.
It was a huge group; besides Terentius, there were many Romans and several foreigners.
Upon seeing Septimus, they all beamed with radiant smiles, the most excited among them being a tall, red-haired, distinguished-looking middle-aged man.
He looked at Septimus with such enthusiasm, as though he were a savior, and immediately broke away from the group to greet him.
*"General Septimus, you must avenge us! Those people of Pontus are far too tyrannical...!"*
He burst into tears, the two-meter-tall man sobbing inconsolably, leaving Septimus bewildered and slightly disgusted.
*"Who are you?"* Septimus asked with a look of disgust.
*"My name is Deiotarus, King of Galatia. King Mithridates of Pontus is a wolf in sheep's clothing who has dared to attack Rome several times; his crimes are unforgivable..."*
The tall man was incredibly eloquent, describing the King of Pontus as a demon and a heinous criminal.
But after learning his identity, Septimus understood his purpose.
Galatia, located east of Asia Minor in present-day Türkiye and bordering the Roman province of Asia, was a kingdom founded by the Celts. It had been destroyed during Pontus' western campaign.
Thus, the King of Pontus had become the ruler of his conquered kingdom, and what he desired most was for Septimus to help him restore it.
Thinking of this, Septimus' curiosity about him diminished.
Seeing Septimus' indifferent expression, Deiotarus felt a chill run down his spine.
Septimus was his only hope of restoring his kingdom; if Septimus was unwilling to help him, then his royal family would truly be doomed.
*"General, on behalf of all the peoples of Asia, I welcome you,"* Terentius suddenly said.
Septimus nodded to the middle-aged man standing before him, and Julius Caesar, who was standing behind him, also offered a cordial greeting.
*"Greetings, esteemed General Septimus. I am Gaius Lamia."* At that moment, an unusually obese merchant approached with a radiant smile.
*"The surname Lamia is not common. Who is Aelius Lamia to you?"* Septimus asked with a hint of curiosity.
*"He is my brother. I never expected that you, General, would also know my brother,"* Gaius Lamia said with an excited expression.
*"We only met once and exchanged a few words,"* Septimus said calmly.
Aelius Lamia was a very wealthy Roman equestrian with a large following among the equestrian class. Unexpectedly, he had also become involved in the tax affairs of Asia Minor.
Several officials and businessmen introduced themselves, and Septimus treated them appropriately.
Given his status, he did not need to be excessively courteous toward these people.
However, those Roman merchants still wielded considerable influence, and Septimus could generate profits through potential business partnerships.
Next came the welcoming banquet. Terentius hosted a grand banquet in Septimus' honor, attended by nearly all the prominent figures of the province of Asia.
The banquet was held in a palace filled with Greek architecture. For centuries, the Greeks had colonized Asia, establishing numerous city-states. These city-states were later conquered by the Persians, forcing the Greeks to submit to them.
However, Alexander's expedition freed them from Persian rule, and the people here still held Alexander, that fervent admirer of Greece, in high regard.
Greek beauties moved among the guests, offering them a variety of services.
Caesar's eyes lit up as he gazed at the beautiful women, wishing he could flirt with one... no, with several.