“Are we friends?” Zhang Heng asked in a daze.
“Of course, we are advisors of the emperor. So, that makes us friends.” Altrus’s voice sounded as sincere as a man could get. Making someone believe him would be a breeze. Coupled with the Scopolia alkaloids, an ordinary person would have opened up to him immediately.
At the same time, Altrus was also very satisfied with Zhang Heng’s current reaction. He continued asking, “I heard that you come from a faraway Eastern empire, and there are rumors saying that you are a nobleman there. Why didn’t you enjoy your comfortable life over there? Why did you leave your home and come to Rome, a land thousands of miles away?”
“Oh, that’s a long story. I was from a once prominent family. My father was a general of the empire, but he was accused of something that he didn’t do. He was imprisoned by the authorities after that. In the next political warfare, my family was completely defeated by our political enemies. I lost all the people and things that I cared about. In the end, I was the only one left alive. I was forced to leave my country and head west. I didn’t know where I would end up. I just needed to… escape from there. The past is like a nightmare to me. I didn’t know that I would come to Rome at that time, and I don’t want anyone to know about my previous life.”
Zhang Heng knew that Altrus could never verify any story he would tell him. Hence, he could make up a story like this with confidence. At the same time, the tale doubled up as an explanation as to why he had such outstanding skill and political experience.
“Understandable,” Altrus nodded, “You are a citizen of Rome now, and this city will be your new home in the future.”
“I hope so.”
“Let’s continue to talk about what happened after you arrived. When did you first meet His Majesty?” Altrus asked.
“The first time I met His Majesty was at the dinner at Dior’s domus,” Zhang Heng said.
“I heard about what happened that night. You provoked Sartonilos and attracted His Majesty’s attention. Did you do this because someone wanted you to do it?”
“No, I did this because I wanted to be free and enter the upper class of society,” Zhang Heng’s voice began to waver, sounding a little murky. “Trust me, my background makes me no stranger to this kind of thing. If I’m looking for someone that I can lean on, of course, I have to choose the most powerful one I can find.”
“A wise choice,” Altrus paused. He then asked another question, “What do you think of Lucilla?”
“Who?”
“The emperor’s sister, Augusta Lucilla of the Roman Empire.”
“She wants to sleep with me,” Zhang Heng blurted without hesitation.
Altrus seemed amused, and he laughed out loud. “You are right! Lucilla behaves just like her mother in private. Men are like her trophies. You are the gladiatorial champion of the Amphitheatrum Flavium. You are still very interesting to her. I’m not surprised that she is interested in you. However, this is not what I wanted to ask. I want to know, what is your opinion or impression of her?”
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“I can’t see through her,” Zhang Heng said truthfully, “I heard some rumors about her. Her relationship with His Majesty the Emperor is not as good as it seems on the surface. Hence, I have been trying my best to stay away from her. No one likes a man that sits in the middle of the wall.”
“You are smart, smarter than most people,” Altrus raised his eyebrows. “Last question. Have you heard of the Balance Blade?”
“Balance Blade? What is that?” Zhang Heng wondered out loud.
“An ancient assassin organization that believes in Kreis. Its members believe that they are responsible for maintaining the balance of the world.”
“Kreis, I seem to have heard this name somewhere.” Zhang Heng showed a thoughtful look. “There is a person that goes by the nickname Cornu that seemed to have mentioned Balance Blade and other things to me. But I don’t really care about these things. I just want to mind my business, and I don’t want to cause any trouble. Wait… Am I in any trouble?”
“For now, no,” Altrus said. “I am quite satisfied with this conversation. I like honest people. I hope you can continue to maintain this precious quality. Please forgive me for being cautious. It has been quite eventful recently. As the emperor’s most trusted advisor, I have the responsibility and obligation to find out about everyone’s background. Since this is the first time we are meeting, let me present you a gift.”
“What’s the gift?” Zhang Heng yawned.
“You will know soon.” Altrus smiled when he heard Zhang Heng’s question. However, he did not elaborate on it. He then said softly, “You are very tired tonight and have drunk too much wine. Why not have a good night’s sleep?”
“You’re right. I’m going to sleep now,” Zhang Heng muttered sleepily. His eyelids were getting heavier and heavier. And he finally fell asleep on the chair.
Altrus waited for a while and clapped his hands to signal the waitress waiting outside the room to come in.
Altrus then said, “Take care of him. And when he is a little more awake, send him home safely.”
“That’s it? What if he wakes up and remembers that we drugged him and wants us to pay for what we did?” The maid frowned.
“No, he won’t remember a single thing after he drank that glass of wine,” Altrus said confidently. “Besides, even if he remembers it, he will dare to do nothing to us. That’s because I know a lot of his secrets now.”
“What about Clint? He doesn’t like you, right? You two appeared by Commodus’s side at almost the same time. However, you have always managed to gain more of Commodus’s favor. Clint was jealous of you. He was willing to let this Easterner become Commodus’s adviser because he wants to work with him to deal with you. Don’t you want to solve this problem?”
Altrus still remained indifferent when he heard the concern. “Clint’s is insignificant. He treats me as his biggest competitor that stops him from climbing up the ranks. However, I have never treated him as an opponent. He is just a self-righteous fool. I’m never worried about him.”
The maid fell into silence when she heard Altrus’s comment. Altrus then reminded the maid, “I will do my part, and you’d better do yours too. Let’s deal with the Balance Blade first.”
“We are fully prepared this time,” snorted the maid. “It’s time for the people from the Balance Blade to pay off the blood-debt they owe us. This time, we don’t plan to let any of them live.”
“Very well. This assassin organization is too dangerous. There is no need for it to exist. It is better to destroy it.” Altrus also agreed, “And now they are trying to get rid of me. If that’s the case, we need to make a move to get rid of them first.”