The next morning of the day where Crásico delivered two of his legions to Arcadius, he had a long conversation with the praefectus of Seguno, Nevio Pérsico, in which he asked him for the levies of the city and one of his armies to be able to replenish his forces, things that the man with green eyes did not deny.
Thus succeeding in arming the VII Carge and VIII Laerta.
Seguno, border town with the tribes of Araquia
First week of the first month of 576
"I am grateful for all your services, Mr. Pérsico."
"And I am grateful to you for allowing me to participate in your plans, magister Crásico."
They raised their glasses and toasted.
They had decided to celebrate their good relationship and the beginning of the intervention in the tribal area, which would take place in two days, by going to one of the busiest bars in Seguno.
"In total, you, magister, have managed to gather at least twenty-seven thousand five hundred men... A rather generous amount."
"No," he smiled, "it wasn't just me."
Pérsico nodded at his denial, understanding that the man was referring to the soldiers he had ceded to him.
"I would like to make an announcement," he set the cup on the table.
Pérsico twisted his head and frowned in confusion.
But he could not help but feel honored to see that Crásico had, to his mind, a genuine interest in chatting with him.
"I want him to be consul of the VII Carge."
His words made Pérsico's face light up for a few moments.
Despite having succeeded in becoming praefectus, an already high-ranking position, he still had the desire to command a legio.
He raised his glass and toasted again, not needing to utter a single word to imply that he would gladly accept the position.
"And Traugott?" He asked, returning the object to the table, after remembering the boy he saw, at once, chatting with Crásico. He's young, but he could gain experience in leadership.
"I offered him the position, but he turned it down. He said he preferred to keep his status low."
The explanation for Traugott's refusal seemed a bit weak to him, he didn't understand how someone could turn down such a position.
However, he opted not to pry any further into his personal affairs, fearful of angering him, accepting his words.
Silence pervaded the table.
Pérsico kept his eyes fixed on his glass.
And Crásico was looking around the place, looking with repulsion at the noisy people, in his opinion, complete incompetents.
"Please, your attention!" A crier stood in the center of the bar, capturing the interest of those present. "I have brought news from Anko, the capital of Afriki!"
His words aroused curiosity in Crásico.
'Where is Philipart... What happened?' He thought.
He put his cup aside, and leaned back in his chair to make himself more comfortable.
The crier, seeing that he already had everyone's attention, took out from among his robes a roll of paper, which, after opening it, he began to read:
Not long ago, the council of Anko validated the title of magister per Occidentem to Philipart Cynther, being presented with their respective legions. And only a few days later, he was appointed, by the same council, dictator of all Afriki.
Crásico, whose eyes had remained relaxed, widened as he heard the last words.
He straightened up and focused, now, his full attention on the mouth of the crier, who closed the roll of paper, directing his gaze to those who looked at him.
Sweat beaded on his forehead; his breathing became rapid. Anyone who looked at him would say that something was eating him up inside.
"Magister Philipart has risen in rebellion against the Senate, declaring himself..." He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes. "Imperator of all Afriki!
His words shocked everyone present.
[It can't be.] [What shall we do now?] [Do they think they will force us to serve in the war?] It was heard from table to table among the incompetents.
On the other hand...
"It's a pity, don't you think so, magister Crásico? We are back to the time of wars at the Imperial level," he sighed as he recalled those bad old days.
Then, he took a sip of his drink, watching Crásico out of the corner of his eye.
The questioned, after listening to the words of the town crier, returned his gaze to the table, remaining thoughtful and ignorant to Persico's question.
"Interesting... Not only did he rise up in defiance, but he used a new term: imperator. Not bad for someone like him."
Pérsico choked as he listened to the calmness with which Crásico spoke.
"And you're not con-concerned, my lord?" He swallowed saliva, taking a napkin to wipe himself.
"No, it only saddens me not to be able to perform the intervention to the tribes, but from there... The news fills me with joy!" He raised his arms, waving his hands from one side to the other.
"And why is that?" Pérsico bent down a little as he felt the stares of the people, who were looking at them with disdain because of the calm and raised act of Crásico.
"Well... it's my chance to make the senators pay for forcing me to give legions to Arcadio."
"How will you do that? The chances are that now the Senate will ask for your armies, and even that you yourself will lead them against Philipart."
"Not if I act first," he smiled, fixing Pérsico with a defiant look. "Tell me, Nevio, do you know who the person in charge of the Ireólogo wall is?"
"If I'm not mistaken..." He narrowed his eyes. "Adrijo Dusa, an old friend of mine, why do you ask?"
"Perfect," he tapped the table as if he had won a bet. "I want you to take a carriage and travel to the wall camp, and when you stand before Dusa, say thus: by orders of the magister Crásico, the gates of Ireólogo are to be closed indefinitely; no one from Oriens is to cross into Asians."
"What?! But sir!"
"And!" He stood up from his seat. "If you refuse, you'll have to deal with my armies!"
Crásico turned his back with the intention of hearing no more refusals from Nevio.
"And where will you go now?!" He shouted as a last attempt to make himself heard.
Crásico stopped to look at him out of the corner of his eye.
"I will go to the capital of Asians, I have to talk to Urso Asiático."
"The praefectus of Lugrum?"
Crásico said no more.
He returned his gaze to the front, and walked towards the town crier.
"Listen," he called his attention. "I want you to look for basileus Arcadio, I don't care where he is, but when you find yourself in front of him, you will tell him..." He approached his ear: "magister Crásico has declared himself a rebel against the Senate, and, against you."