Power struggle

Ianarius year 3 R.A., the Roman merchants was finally ordered to withdraw from Gehlgica fortress. Instead, the merchants was replaced by Roman legionnaires that act as a merchant. Amulius decided to replace them and installed well-trained legionnaires instead.

"I smell blood, Imperator. Lots of it. " Cassius said in their square table meeting. Amulius, Cassius, Marius, Justus and the centurions held a square table meeting to discuss their strategy.

"Its better to control a divided society isn't it? " Amulius said with a smirk.

The square table meeting held by Amulius, Cassius, Justus and Marius ended. Currently, Romavena has one army led by Amulius himself with Cassius as the Officer in charge during Amulius' absence. The current Roman army is expanded to thirteen centuries with eighty men each, a total of one thousand forty legionnaires including the royal century personally led by Amulius. The royal century is mostly composed of veteran loyal equites. The royal century are cavalry and legionnaire type of troop which makes them an all-purpose and elites. They are stationed outside of Regia and acts as personal century of Amulius which makes them similar to Praetorian soldiers but are extremely loyal to Amulius.

While Romavena is undecided as to how to deal with the situation in Gehlgica, the Orc fortress of Gehlgica is filled with heavy tensions which may escalate any time.

"Elder Mu, do you think that Langyako is still worthy of being the chief after he sold us?" An orc elder said to another elder which seemed to be neutral in the situation.

As days passed, more and more elders are joining the ranks of the rebels. Although thwy work in shadows, this doesn't mean that Langyako is ignorant about it.

"Chief! We need to publicly execute those traitors!" An Orc officer said.

Orc chief Langyako the wise is not that wise this time since it is about domestic affairs. The circulation of rumours that he sold Gehlgica to the Romans is going strong and increasing the ranks of the traitors. Although it is easy to just slaughter those traitors, it will greatly affect the strength of the fortress. He knows that once bloodshed is done, Romans or another forces will take advantage of it.

"Let them be for a little while longer. Trukaloc and the other orc forces will arrive within few weeks. As of now, we need to bolster our forces." Langyako said to an Orc officer. He doesn't dare to battle the traitors evenly because that will destabilise the fortress and that will lead to anarchy. He just felt relieved that his beloved daughter is in Romavena if a bloody battle starts within the tribe. He believes that she'll be more secured there and away from the chaotic society of the Orcs, Amulius will protect her.

"Orcs, hear me! For we are in crisis!"

A demonstrator appeared at the center of the crowded market. As he shouted and ask for sympathy from the crowd, some of the Orcs agreed with him. But there are also who do not.

"If you're a man, talk with your fist! Not with your tongue!" Thus, the demonstrator was met with a punch from the crowd. Although this ended into a brawl, the message was delivered. Some of the Orcs now think that they are threatened by the Orc chief's action to get close with the Romans. Though they do not know the concept of nationalism, they are more patriot to their race. The orcs respect strength but they trust their kins.

After a few weeks of demonstration orchestrated by the orc elders, the crowd was finally made to listen. In every demonstration, there are always crowd listening now compare to before. The more days passed by, the more orcs sympathised the rebels.

"Chief, this is becoming more dangerous. The elders are gaining the upper hand in this silent war!" A worried orc officer said to Langyako.

"Don't worry" Langyako just said two words, the chief himself is wary of the Orcs around him. He cannot just spout everything since he do not know if there are any elder's spy around. This is because a week ago, he ordered the relocation of a few weapons but it was ambushed right before it reached its destination. His instincts told him that he cannot trust anyone, the orcs can also be very cunning.

Meanwhile back in Romavena...

"Imperator, you have a visitor. He declared himself as an Orc elder of Gehlgica. He wished to talk to you in private." The guard said to Amulius.

Amulius find himself amused of the elder orcs' action since he actually plan to send a messenger to them too but they came first. Amulius talked to him in a wood lodging house near the hul'juk mine which was a former home of the goblins.

"Greetings human chief, I am elder Armuk of Gehlgica tribe. I came with a wonderful proposal."

Elder Armuk offered a deal to Amulius. The offer is basically about Romans providing weapons to them in exchange for orc slaves. During the negotiation, Amulius did not promise anything. He listened to Elder Armuk's proposal if it is beneficial to Romavena. Thus, the negotiation ended with an agreement. Romavena will provide weapons to the rebels but it should be in secret, in exchange the rebels will pay barrels of black oil from the mines of Gehlgica and including slaves. The deal sounds like a rip off, but Elder Armuk did not mind as long as they win. 'Once we win, you will all be our slaves' Elder Armuk thought.

The down-payment of the rebels arrived as soon as they reached into agreement. Amulius received ten orc slaves and ten barrel of black oil. After receiving, he was surprised and delighted but he carefully maintained his expression so as not to look like an ignorant or inferior to the Orcs. 'With this, we can create Greek fire. Romavena needs Gehlgica!'

Later, Amulius arranged for Cassius to secretly deliver weapons to the orc rebels. The agreed transaction site is near the Harpy's nest since there are no Orc wanderers here.

"I will leave you this matter. Check the products before leaving. If we are discovered, kill them all." Amulius said to Cassius. He wants him to personally handle the transaction.

Meanwhile, Amulius went back to Regia and locked himself in the master's bedroom. He remembered to check the stuffs that he looted way back during the competition.

"Darling, are you there?" Kwinpia's voice heard on the other side of door.

"I'm busy!" Amulius replied, Kwinpia obediently left. Amulius himself is horny most of the time but he also learned his priorities comes first. The stuffs inside the spatial ring might prove useful that will further strengthen him or Romavena itself. Amulius inserted a bit of his mana then his consciousness dive to the spatial ring.

Inside Aktioru's spatial ring, Amulius first checked the stuffs he looted from Aktioru. He found an armor made of a high quality steel but it has damages due to their fight. The tunic of Aktioru is made from silk which amazed Amulius since this kind of silk are from the far east so he decided to wash it. Aside from that, he found an amulet with a strange insignia. He guessed that this amulet is the proof of identity of Aktioru in Nescaria so Amulius just kept it and not dare to wear it.

As for the stuffs from Jack the dwarf, he was amazed with the guns that he used during the battle. The normal gun weapon of Jack is a lengthened pistol design wooden handle and metallic nozzle. There are also circle-shaped shrapnel bullets and head-sized black thing which he guessed to be explosives. The ultimate weapon that Jack the dwarf took out is also amazing that it is a rifle with a huge nozzle which Amulius did not know, a rifle cannon. Aside from the weapons of Jack, the other stuffs are neglible.

Amulius decided to send the guns, ammos and explosives to the weaponsmith of the military. He instructed them to try to research about it and try to mass produce it as soon as possible, the Ministry of medicinal arts and science innovation should have knowledge about the chemical composition found inside the bullets and a little leak from the explosives. Once they discover on how to create these black powder, these can be weaponize and increase their battle efficiency.