Chapter 13: Return

In one corner of the Gladiator Training Center, Crixus was vigorously swinging his wooden sword.

The force and precision of his movements were so impressive that it was hard to look away. Even when Spartacus arrived at the training ground, Crixus continued his practice, only pausing briefly to greet him.

"You’re here?"

"Crixus, you’re still training on the day of the match."

"If I had trained like this from the start, you wouldn’t have surpassed me so easily."

It was the day of the gladiator match, and the training ground was empty except for the two of them.

"You’ve always been like a mentor to me, Crixus. You’ve improved my skills more than anyone else."

"Then as your mentor, I must continue to improve my skills. At least to reclaim the title of number one in Capua that I entrusted to you, even if just temporarily."

"By the way... I don’t think I’ll be able to spar with you for a while."

Instantly, Crixus’s flashy sword movements came to a halt. He turned to Spartacus with a questioning look. "What do you mean?"

"You know the Roman senators attended the match today, right?"

Crixus nodded. "Of course. Batiatus made sure we knew how important it was to put on a spectacular show."

"One of them is a young man named Marcus. I’ve ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠decided to follow him."

"...Did Batiatus sell you?"

"It was my decision. This young master is fundamentally different from other nobles. I believe going to Rome will lead to better treatment for many gladiators."

Crixus’s expression turned grim. Spartacus had always been selfless, even when he was a slave. Initially, Crixus thought it was an act, but he eventually realized it was genuine. He responded cautiously.

"Are you willing to sacrifice your own pride for this Roman to improve conditions for other gladiators?"

"No. The boy I’m following is truly different. I’m going to trust him and give my all."

"...It’s the first time I’ve heard you speak of a Roman like that. But I remain skeptical. I hope your decision brings some luxury."

Crixus had learned not to place much faith in promises. He had once hoped that becoming a veteran gladiator would bring change, that being the strongest in Capua would offer some hope. But as his skills grew and victories mounted, his hope diminished.

Spartacus, addressing his mentor and friend, said sincerely, "I won’t ask you to expect too much. But never give up. I promise to bring about change within three years at the longest, or two years at the shortest. If that happens, even a small shift will occur. The young master assured me that things will improve for you and everyone else if I follow him."

"The noble you chose to follow? Did he ask you to come with him? Why?"

"I’m not sure about his exact reasons. Maybe he guessed my connection with you and was considerate. Didn’t I tell you? He’s different from others."

For a moment, hope sparkled in Crixus’s eyes, but he quickly shook his head and regained his composure. "I can’t fully believe it. But I hope you find what you’re looking for there."

"Thank you. It bothers me to leave the others behind, but knowing you’re here gives me some peace. Without you, I wouldn't have left my comrades."

"Stop talking nonsense and focus. Your defeat isn’t ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just yours; it’s a defeat for all Capuan gladiators. Go with determination. If you go to Rome, make sure you maintain your reputation."

"Of course, I intend to."

Spartacus offered a meaningful smile.

**

Marcus stayed in Capua for two more days after the nobles who had accompanied him left.

He feared that if Spartacus left with them, it would cause a commotion.

"Have you adjusted to being outside now?"

"It’s still a bit awkward. In downtown Capua, too many people recognize me, so I can’t even walk around freely."

Though Spartacus was freed from the gladiator training camp, he still hadn’t fully adapted. However, once he was in Rome, where he could walk freely, he would have to come to terms with the fact that he was no longer a slave gladiator.

"You made sure to pass my message to Crixus, right?"

"Of course. But why did you care about Crixus?"

"Partly to reassure him, and partly as a precaution."

Spartacus tilted his head, but Marcus didn’t explain further. It wasn’t something that could be easily explained.

The goal of recruiting Spartacus had been achieved, but this could lead to a deviation from actual history: the rebellion of Spartacus.

While it was too simplistic to assume the rebellion wouldn’t occur just because Spartacus was absent, three main figures were pivotal in the historical rebellion: Spartacus, Crixus, and Oenomaus, who died early in the rebellion.

With one of these key figures missing, the rebellion might be smaller and quickly subdued, but it was likely the gladiators would still rise up.

In fact, it was more advantageous for Marcus to let the rebellion occur. Although the Crassus family was wealthy, they lacked military strength compared to their rival, Pompey.

The rebellion of Spartacus was an opportunity to address this lack. Crassus, by suppressing the rebellion with overwhelming military force, ascended to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠position of Consul.

Marcus had a thorough plan to handle various outcomes, but if he had to choose, allowing the rebellion would be more beneficial. This was an undeniable fact.

Sending a crucial message to Crixus was Marcus’s way of hedging his bets. If Crixus acted on it, the rebellion might not occur as in history.

Even if there were no rebellion, Marcus planned to supplement the army and potentially recruit the skilled gladiator Crixus as a subordinate. This would also provide an opportunity to mobilize skilled gladiators for additional economic gain.

Ultimately, while a rebellion could complicate matters, it wouldn’t drastically alter the overall trend. Marcus could have ensured the rebellion never happened, but he chose not to go that far.

This was because altering history at will could lead to unpredictable butterfly effects in the future.

Marcus had a strong premonition that Crixus would likely not grasp the lifeline he had thrown him.

The moment to deliberately alter the course of history would be when Marcus felt everything was in place. Until then, he would use every available resource, even if it seemed ruthless.

He gave Spartacus, who still appeared confused, a final piece of advice. "When ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you get to Rome, you'll need to learn a lot more than just fighting. You'll need to understand how to engage and excite the audience both inside and outside the arena."

"I'm confident in fighting and winning, but honestly, I don't think I'll be very good at anything else. I’ve never thought about it before..."

"Don’t worry. There will be people to help you with pre-game interviews and speeches, and with the nuances of engaging the audience."

"If that’s the case, I’ll be fine. I’ll do my best."

As Marcus climbed into the carriage, he mentally organized his tasks. "First, I need to persuade Crassus to approve the business plan. Then I need to partner with gladiator training camps in Rome and create compelling narratives for the games."

He also needed to plan for title matches, recruit talent to handle the ranking system and overall administration, and address many other aspects of revamping gladiatorial competitions.

Although Marcus's knowledge seemed extensive, he faced clear limitations. He could propose ideas but lacked the specific knowledge needed for implementation. There was a risk he might be seen as an armchair strategist if he failed to deliver practical solutions.

It was crucial to present innovations that could be realized with current technology.

Marcus pondered this while the carriage rattled along. "First and foremost, stirrups and horseshoes come to mind."

A stirrup, a support attached to a horse's saddle, greatly aids in balancing. The invention of stirrups is said to have transformed cavalry, allowing it to expand beyond the elite aristocracy.

Northern nomadic tribes had used stirrups since before the 1st century B.C., but they only appeared in the West around the 8th century. Some theories suggest they might have been introduced around the 5th century, but this remains unconfirmed.

In contemporary Rome, saddles were improved, and the wealthy learned horsemanship from a young age, making stirrups seem unnecessary.

Marcus wondered why the Romans, known for their practicality, hadn’t developed such a useful tool. He quickly found an answer in the reactions of the Roman aristocracy.

"Hmm, it would be useful for those unfamiliar with horses, but I’m already skilled in horsemanship. I don’t see a need for such an invention."

Another aristocrat commented:

"If I use something like that, it might appear as though I lack confidence in my horsemanship, which could be a major obstacle."

These reactions suggested that the idea of stirrups might have been considered but dismissed due to a perceived lack of necessity.

Marcus took note of two key points in his research notebook:

Nobles, who were trained in horsemanship from a young age, felt no need for stirrups. Such inventions were likely seen as necessary only for beginners with limited skills.

Rome had been slow to recognize the value of stirrups, possibly because they had not faced the immediate threat from northern nomads. People often only realize the importance of such innovations after experiencing a direct challenge.

The only way to address this issue was to demonstrate how significantly stirrups enhance cavalry effectiveness.

Fortunately, Marcus had the expertise to make this case.

While skilled horsemen could perform well even without stirrups, the real difference became evident in specific scenarios. One such scenario was the charge of a lancer using a couched lance.

A lancer equipped with stirrups could fully harness the horse’s weight to deliver a much more powerful charge compared to one without stirrups. This difference was not merely a matter of horsemanship.

Of course, there might be resistance from those accustomed to the Roman cavalry's traditional methods. However, in warfare, having more effective tools is always advantageous.

Once properly demonstrated, figures like Caesar and Pompey would recognize the value of stirrups.

Horseshoes, on the other hand, were easier to introduce than stirrups. A horseshoe, a metal device attached to a horse's hooves, prevents wear. In places with poorly maintained roads, horses could go barefoot without much issue. But in Rome, with its solid roads, a horse’s hooves would wear down quickly without shoes.

The Romans were already using metal horseshoes, but their designs were far less effective than modern versions.

Modern horseshoes, dating from the 10th century B.C., could be replicated using Roman technology.

When Marcus discussed this with Septimus, he received a positive response. "It's feasible... I believe it will be profitable. You often come up with very clever ideas."

"Then we can proceed with the development?"

"Absolutely. As long as you know the principles, structure, and purpose, skilled artisans can produce a commercial-grade product within six months."

"Great. Let's begin development as soon as we return."

Just as Marcus began to feel optimistic, the carriage hit a jarring bump.

Marcus, jarred by the shock, gritted his teeth and noted to himself, "I also need to improve the wagons. They’re incredibly uncomfortable."

Despite the many challenges ahead, he couldn’t afford to relax. The reality of numerous unresolved issues loomed large.

The current strategy of staying in Caesar’s shadow until his death seemed sound. However, the potential challenges afterward were daunting.

"Even if Caesar dies, Octavian will still be a formidable opponent..."

Octavian, with his immense political power, was a top figure in Rome. He was known for his unparalleled intellect and strategic acumen. Against such a figure, Marcus's chances of success seemed minimal.

At best, the current plan might reduce Octavian's strength, but he would remain a significant threat.

Marcus turned to the three people in the carriage with him: Septimus, Danae, and Spartacus.

"Septimus, Danae, Spartacus—how should we handle an opponent who seems unbeatable? Please share your thoughts."

Danae, sitting beside him, was the first to speak. "Isn’t the best approach to prevent them from growing stronger in the first place?"

"That’s certainly one approach."

Marcus had already considered that strategy, so he was eager to hear more.

Next, Spartacus, sitting in the driver’s seat, spoke with a serious expression. "Actually, improving your own skills is the most reliable way. There’s no better alternative."

"It is indeed a solid approach, but if it were feasible, I wouldn’t be asking for advice in the first place."

"…Sorry."

Records indicate that Spartacus employed surprise tactics, but it seems people adapt to their circumstances.

Finally, Septimus, the most reliable of the group, scratched his head, looking troubled under Marcus's expectant gaze. "Try to appease him first. If that fails, consider assassination. That's the best I can suggest."

"Assassination is too risky."

In the end, no matter what option he chose, the situation remained uncomfortable.

Marcus leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and thought, 'I don't know. It’s a challenge involving someone who hasn’t even been born yet. I’ll need to spend more time developing a countermeasure.'

There were still ten years before Octavian would be born.

At that time, the range of possible responses would depend on Marcus's own position. A hasty decision now could limit his options later.

If only he could access unlimited books from the library, his worries might be alleviated, but that was not the case.

'There must be a solution, though. It’s not like I have nothing in mind.'

It was unfortunate, but clinging to an insurmountable problem only hindered him.

With knowledge of future events and key figures, the urgency diminished. Marcus knew he had to forge his own path, regardless of the library’s potential.

There was no reason to stop and worry excessively.

As the carriage continued to rattle annoyingly, Marcus muttered quietly, too softly for even Danae, sitting beside him, to hear.

"Augustus... the first emperor of Rome..."