"The most troublesome men in the Senate are Silanus and Cicero."
"That's right. Cato has also been making some impact lately, but it's those two who are the most troublesome."
"If they were dead, the senators wouldn't be as agitated as they are now."
"Why don't we just kill everyone who gets in our way?"
Talk of killing the current and former consuls was casually made.
The conversations among Catilina's supporters were a clear rebellion plot.
But no one seemed hesitant or intimidated.
Instead, all sorts of radical opinions were expressed, blinded by anger and murder.
There was talk of killing all the tribunes who had veto power after Silanus.
Justus, Catilina's right-hand man, tried to keep the meeting as calm as possible.
"Folks, it's times like these that we need to be calm. I know in your minds you want to beat the crap out of everybody who's trying to stop this bill from passing, but realistically, we're not in a position to do that yet."
Catilina narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue.
"Justus is right. Killing those two is a huge risk. Add to that the fact that we would be risking the veto power of the tribune. Besides, we need the support of the people, and assassinating a tribune could be self-defeating."
"Yes, so we should start by discussing how to kill Silanus and Cicero for sure."
Manlius, who had served under Sulla for many years, calmed his nerves and nodded.
"You're right about that, but how do we assassinate them? If it becomes known that we did it, we'll just be giving them an excuse for a purge."
"That's right, first of all, we have to make sure we never get found out. If that doesn't happen, there's no point in killing those two."
"Hmmm...."
After closing his eyes and thinking for a moment, Catilina devised a plausible plan.
"It is customary for the consul and other powerful politicians to receive numerous visitors in the morning. Why not sneak the assassins in then? Some would cause a ruckus to distract them, while the rest would carry out a swift assassination."
It's a classic, but it worked.
Justus unfolded a piece of parchment and laid out the details of his plan.
"It's a job you can't afford to fail, so you have to plan every single move you make. The movement of the people you're going to assassinate, how you're going to assassinate them based on their behavior and location, any escape routes, what you're going to do if something goes wrong. All of this needs to be carefully thought out, and then you have to think about the really worst case scenario: the assassination fails and you get caught."
"Yeah. You're right, we'll screen the executioners to make sure they're hard to connect to us, just in case. It'll take us three or four days, if not more, to get everything ready."
"So let's start with a few days apart and carefully observe how Cicero and Silanus greet their visitors in the morning, because if we can figure out their habits, we'll have a much better chance of succeeding in the assassination."
"Good, I can finally stop looking at the face of that rookie I don't like."
That's how the approximate assassination meeting ended.
Common sense would dictate that the consequences of assassinating the current and former consuls would be overwhelming, but Catilina's group didn't care.
No matter how determined one may be, one's judgment alone is not enough to stop the incumbent, Catilina.
The Senate could have tried to do the same, but Catilina always traveled with escorts and supporters.
He also stopped welcoming visitors in the morning.
It was the end of a crazy conversation where neither success nor failure was predictable.
* * *
Eventually, after three days of observation, Catilina's group was able to plan the perfect assassination.
In the meantime, Catilina has been attending Senate meetings with casual interest, trying to draw attention to himself.
While the senators criticized Catilina's shamelessness, they had no idea what he was planning.
This was thanks to Catilina's relentless pursuit of debt relief bills.
Of course, there were those who questioned why he kept repeating the same behavior when he knew it wouldn't work.
But it never occurred to them that the current consul was plotting to overthrow the Republic.
Meanwhile, Catilina and the rest of the team were ready to go.
He was confident that no matter what happened, he could successfully kill Cicero and Silanus.
The assassins hid their daggers and poison under their togas and headed for the mansion of Silanus and Cicero.
They were prepared to drink poison and kill themselves if the assassination failed.
However, an unexpected variable occurred.
Apparently, the gates of the residence of Cicero and Silanus, which had been open until yesterday, were firmly shut.
The assassins' plan was based on blending in with the visitors.
It had never occurred to them that they might not even be able to get into the mansion.
In the end, all the assassins could do was turn their backs in frustration and walk away.
Catilina, who hadn't expected his plan to fail in this way, was stunned.
To make matters worse, Silanus and Cicero immediately called a meeting of the Senate as if they sensed something was up.
As usual, Catilina attended the meeting with a straight face to avoid suspicion.
But this time, it was no longer a case of playing it cool.
A furious Cicero and Silanus did not attempt to hide their anger.
Silanus raised his voice by pointing his finger at Catilina first.
"Catilina, there were reports of suspicious people lurking outside my house yesterday, and from what I've heard, so was Cicero. Doesn't that tell you something?"
Catilina shrugged casually.
"I wouldn't know that if you asked me, and isn't it natural for a major public figure's house to have a lot of people in it? Someone who came looking for you and got lost."
Silanus glared at the lying Catilina and shook his head.
"No. Cicero and I had already given notice to our Clientes that we would cease our morning visits as of yesterday. And we secretly told the other members of the Senate, all of whom would have known except for you."
"Huh, did you? So what, what do you want to say?"
"You still intend to keep them? I can only assume those suspicious men are under your control."
The corners of Catilina's eyes twitched slightly. Seeing him speak with such certainty made him nervous that he had some kind of proof.
Cicero, who rose from his seat, followed Silanus in denouncing Catilina.
"Catilina, how long do you intend to remain ignorant? In these times of growing social turmoil, who else but you could have the heart to harm me and Silanus, if not you, who are leading the mob behind you?"
"I knew you had an imagination, but I never thought you'd go so far as to be delusional. To accuse someone of being a wannabe murderer just because they were lurking outside your door. And I'm behind it? Do you have any proof? At best, you've got the flimsy excuse that I didn't know your schedule, and even if they were a mob that came to harm you, there's always the possibility that it was someone else who did it, not me!"
Catilina's counterargument was spot-on, albeit in a somewhat agitated state.
It would have been quite a stretch to push the incumbent out of office based on that alone.
The other senators didn't understand what was wrong with Cicero, who couldn't possibly be unaware of the fact.
Sensing the mood, Cicero gave a meaningful laugh.
"Catilina, do you really think we're pressuring you, the incumbent, out of spite?"
"No doubt!"
"You're sure you don't want to turn yourself in?"
"What do you want me to turn myself in for? Is catching a man alive for doing nothing your way of saying you're the best lawyer in Rome?"
Catilina refused to admit it until the end. Given the atmosphere, it didn't seem likely that either Cicero or Silanus had caught the evidence anyway.
If he turned himself in, he would be charged, and unless he was an idiot, there was no reason for him to admit the charges.
Seeing Catilina steadfastly denies the charge, Cicero raises a brow.
"Make no mistake, Catilina, I'm not bluffing when I suggest you turn yourself in. Nor am I sympathizing with you. I'm doing this to avoid the worst possible consequences of a Roman consul being caught trying to assassinate a fellow consul. I don't care if you have no sense of honor, but those of us who will be leading the citizens for years to come are in a different position. Turn yourself in, Catilina, and stop here, without further realizing the terrible plot in your head."
"You've been spouting nonsense all this time, and if you continue to do so, I will use the power of the consul to remove you from the room."
"Then I'll give you my final word: Silanus and I will accuse you in exactly one month. If you really think you have no evidence, see how far you can hold out. If you turn yourself in, I promise you we'll get away with expulsion from the city. But that will never be the punishment you'll receive if a juror finds you guilty of everything."
"I can't believe you called a meeting just to talk about this bullshit.... My answer won't change, so feel free to press charges in a month or not!"
Catilina, who was furious, left Curia Hostilia as it was.
The remaining senators hurriedly approached Cicero and Silanus.
"Are you really saying that Catilina sent an assassin to kill you both?"
"If you have hard evidence, shouldn't you press charges?"
Concerns and questions rained down on him, but Cicero didn't care.
Instead, a relaxed smile played at the corners of his mouth.
"You needn't worry about that. Of course, part of me wants to condemn Catilina right now, but the Senate has already shown to the outside world that it causes too much turmoil. I meant what I said to Catilina earlier. I'd like to try to get him to turn himself in and end things on a good note."
"But apparently Catilina isn't going to listen to you?"
"Then we have no choice but to depose the consul, albeit in an ugly way. It's unheard of, and it's going to be a big mess, but we have no choice."
The majority of senators praised Cicero for thinking of the Senate's dignity in this situation.
Even Cato praised Cicero's decision, saying it was rational and well thought out.
Surrounded by a crowd of senators shouting support, Cicero's attention is suddenly drawn to a corner.
His gaze fell on Crassus, who had silently watched the whole thing unfold.
His eyes seemed to ask, 'Is this enough?'
Crassus smiled in approval and gave a subtle nod.
'That's enough.'
A smile that could not see through was saying so.
Cicero, who turned his eyes again, was relieved to be convinced that things were going well.
The fact that Crassus gives his approval means that the people who came up with the plan think so too.
In this moment, the name Cicero trusts most is not the Crassus he sees in front of him.
As the meeting adjourned, the name stuck in Cicero's mind even more strongly.
'Marcus.'
The shocking conversation he had with him two days ago still lingered in his mind.
Cicero suddenly lifted his head and looked up at the sky. The dusky full moon was slowly rising high in the sky.
The cloudless sky promised a beautiful night sky that would shine with stars.
His heart was filled with the conviction that the future of the Republic would be as bright as the moon over Rome.
* * *
Catillina, who left the Curia Hostilia, convened his supporters as it was.
Despite his demeanor in front of the senators, he was actually nervous.
"You mean they said they had evidence?"
Manlius asked in disbelief.
Catilina's voice came out of his mouth in a low, sullen tone.
"He said yes. I don't know if he's bluffing, but the look on his face was so confident."
"It's a lie. If it were real, they would have acted immediately. It's a ploy to sway you, Catilina, by setting a deadline and forcing you to turn yourself in."
"Yes..., I suppose, but it's understandable that Cicero wouldn't press charges right away, given his personality...."
The Senate was, by nature, a group of people who staked their lives on their honor and pride.
Newcomers like Cicero should be seen to be understanding of the Senate's desire for this.
From that perspective, he understands Cicero's attitude.
Even Justus seemed to agree with Catilina.
"It's certainly a possibility. Maybe Cicero really does have proof."
"On what basis are you making that assumption?"
Manlius raised his voice, unable to hide his impatience.
This was no ordinary matter if you were caught trying to assassinate an incumbent and former consul.
You may have to run away at night now.
Everyone in the room stared nervously at Justus.
"First of all, what I suspect is that Cicero and Silanus did not receive visitors as soon as we had a perfect assassination plan. Besides, he told the Clientes that he had to keep it secret. That's why only the people we sent received suspicious eyes."
"Certainly... is a bit of a coincidence."
"So you think our plans have been leaked in advance, and of course you know what that means?"
Everyone in the room gulped.
There's only one answer when a carefully crafted assassination plot is leaked in advance.
It means there's a traitor.
All the supporters looked around at each other in disbelief.
If left unchecked, this can lead to a lack of mutual trust.
Justus spoke up quickly.
"Even if it was leaked, it's unlikely that the people in this room would have betrayed. If a truly detailed plan had been leaked, the assassins would have been caught on the spot. Perhaps some part of the plan leaked out during the execution phase."
"Well, that's a reasonable way to look at it."
"Yes, but if there was any evidence that we were involved, that would be a big problem."
Hearing that, Manlius frowned and pounded his fist on the table.
"Then we shouldn't be wasting time like this. You must make up your determination, Catilina."
No one understood what Manlius meant by 'determination'.
The idea is to start a full-scale armed uprising.
Catilina muttered in a self-deprecating tone.
"Is there no way...."
Manlius nodded furiously.
The other key players were all in favor.
"Looking at the situation, it is highly likely that Cicero's words are not bluffing. Then we can't just stay still like this."
"Fortunately, they kindly gave me a month or a grace period. Wouldn't that be enough to attract people?"
Having made up his mind, Catilina turned to Justus and asked.
"Can you do that?"
"Yes, but are you sure you want to do it?"
"If I turn myself in, I'm doomed anyway, so I might as well take the more likely option."
"Okay, so I have a plan for you, would you like to hear it?"
"Oh, did you already have something in mind?"
Catilina, who had never been good at scheming, pulled himself forward with a giggle.
Manlius, who was only good at commanding armies, focused his attention on Justus' words.
"No matter what anyone says, Catilina is the current consul of Rome. We must take full advantage of this, even if it means starting an uprising."
Everyone listened to Justus in silence.
He glanced around the room, then spoke in a confident voice.
"A month is enough time to rally supporters in Etruscan. But this time, we can't afford to let our plans slip, so we'll have to move more stealthily. If Catilina is willing to grant me some power of attorney, I'll take charge and see this through."
"If you do, I'll thank you. I'll be happy to give it to you. So, what do you plan to do after you secretly bring your supporters into Rome?"
"First of all, Cicero, Silanus, Cato, and all the other eyesores must be put to death, and then we can recruit the rest of the senators and convene the Senate. From there, we'll appoint Catilina as dictator and let him sort out the mess that is Rome. Since he's a consul, he'll be able to ascend to the dictatorship as long as the senators agree."
It is not much different from the way Sulla and Marius used it.
The only difference is whether you're marching in with an army and taking Rome or starting an armed uprising from within.
Catillina, feeling quite convinced, asked with his eyes shining.
"Do you think it would be possible to secure some recruits for the Senate?"
"It will be impossible to capture all the senators at once, but we can do it if we move as stealthily as possible, and besides, the consuls have military authority. We can kill Silanus, capture some of the leading senators, and give Catilina the Imperium, and the rest of them won't dare to rebel against us."
"That's an obvious way to do it."
Manlius clapped his hands in admiration.
Catilina and other supporters didn't object.
This is because it seemed to make the most sense realistically.
Since the method has been decided, all that is left is to make detailed plans.
They boldly entered into a discussion about who should be killed and who should be captured.
Silanus, Cicero, and Cato were, unsurprisingly, placed on the unanimous kill list.
Catilina also targeted Caesar for elimination.
No one objected.
They didn't like the fact that he owed money and didn't cooperate with them.
Subsequently, the names of various figures were constantly mentioned.
Those senators who were known to have a lot of money were mentioned more often.
As they debated who to kill, everyone's attention was drawn to the name that came out of Manlius' mouth.
"What are you going to do with Crassus?"
At the question of Manlius, Catilina was briefly troubled.
Though favored, Crassus and Catilina were incompatible as senators.
Besides, killing him and taking his property would be a tremendous help in running the country in the future.
But it wasn't clear to him whether he could realistically do that.
Justus, sensing Catilina's distress, stepped in to offer his opinion.
"You'd better not mess with Crassus. His mansion is protected by a huge number of guards at all times. Rumor has it that it's almost as large as a heavily armed army, and there's that Spartacus next to the eldest son of the Crassus family. It's going to take everything we can muster to get through there. Do you really think we need to risk that just to get one Crassus?"
"Well, now that you mention it."
"I think Justus is right. We'll have to mobilize an army and put pressure on Crassus. If he gives us half of his wealth, we'll let him live."
"I think we'll leave Crassus alone for now."
Finally, the killing register is completed.
It is not just a list of people to be killed; detailed measures are also carefully recorded.
Catilina stood up from his seat.
The date of execution is three days before the date of the accusation declared by Cicero.
Catilina will lead the rebellion personally.
He will stand tall as a dictator and put Rome under his feet.
The epic path of revolution had Catalina fantasizing about the sweat power he could achieve.
* * *