Chapter 444 Invasion

Although he was soaked by the heavy rain, the clothes that kept leaking water were not his main concern at the moment.

The boat was like a container, constantly accommodating the rain water falling from the sky. He looked at his barrel of fish, although his hands were busy scooping out the water on the boat bit by bit.

"With so many today, I'm sure I can sell them for a good price!" Franco smiled with satisfaction as he held the fish he had caught from the fishing net.

He couldn't wait to get a brand new Suledes gold coin. This thing, which was as cheap as a stone in the eyes of the nobles, was extremely precious in his eyes.

"Oh, the damn rain!"

The rain was getting heavier, and the big raindrops hitting his face almost made him unable to open his eyes. He complained about the weather, but he could do nothing about it. He wiped the rain off his face, opened his eyes wide, and turned the boat with the oars, rowing hard towards the lighthouse that was faintly visible not far away.

"Squeak, creak, creak."

While paddling, he vaguely heard some unpleasant sounds, and he quickly lowered his head to look around the boat, fearing that there was a problem with his boat. It is true that the wind was strong and the waves were big, and such a small boat would not be able to survive for too long in the wind and rain. Fortunately, it was not too far from the shore, and as long as it could be carefully controlled, there would be no major risks.

"Squeak, creak, creak."

The groaning sound of wood was heard again. After Franco was sure that this was not his boat, he couldn't help but wonder in his heart: Who would go out to sea in such weather? Could there be someone else?

"Wow! Wow! Wow!" The sound of paddling told Franco that this was not a small boat. So which rich nobleman had gone crazy to go out to sea at this time?

With such doubts, Franco looked up, and at that moment, he saw a scene that was enough to suffocate him. Nearly fifty meters away from him, a huge warship was coming against the wind and waves. No, not just one, but ten, hundreds, countless warships. In the haze of the rainstorm, they were like monsters rolling in the sea, constantly moving forward, making a creepy roar. Franco could even clearly see the people walking back and forth on the warships. They were all fully armed, with swords drawn, ready for a war.

"What is this? What is this?" Franco began to become hysterical. He held his head with both hands and pulled his hair desperately.

"What should I do! What should I do!" Franco kept talking to himself, he was panicked for a moment.

The huge warship didn't seem to notice the guy drifting with the wind. Fortunately, he is safe now! Who on earth is this person who attacked under the cover of heavy rain?

"I have to inform everyone!" Franco calmed down, muttered to himself, and looked up at the lighthouse not far from the village, which indicated the direction for merchant ships heading to New Carthage. At critical moments, the guards there had a horn to transmit messages. As long as the horn sounded from the direction of the lighthouse, the nearby troops would be alert.

Having made up his mind, Franco immediately held the oars tightly with both hands, gritted his teeth, and began to paddle one after another. He completely ignored the fish in the wooden barrels scattered on the boat and jumping into the sea from time to time. He knew that if these warships of unknown origin chose to dock at their fishing village, it would be an unimaginable hell.

At this time, in the Governor's Palace of New Carthage, the same position was held, but compared to the past, there were fewer nobles watching the excitement. There were only Luca, John Antiochus who was recording, and Sebastianus who was listening. Opposite Luca sat Fitanius and his envoys.

The two sides faced each other, the scene was very serious, and both sides were looking at each other.

"Sir, I am very sorry for the slander a few days ago." No one expected that such a quiet scene would be broken by Fitanius. Everyone looked up at Fitanius in front of them as if they were instantly activated after hearing this. He was still dressed the same as when he came, but the laurel wreath on his head was no longer the withered and shriveled laurel branch, but a brand new golden laurel wreath specially given by Luca.

The fact that he came here wearing it naturally meant that he was very grateful for the gift given by Luca.

"Sir, the current situation is the main problem that you and the Purple Chamber have to face together." Fetanius said to Luca with a serious face: "Although I can feel your sincerity towards me, in faraway Ravenna, the deacon (prime minister) Attalus and the capital administrator Cassiodorus and even Augustus are waiting day and night for the answer I can bring back."

"I must make another promise to you, Mr. Fitanius!" Luca clasped his hands tightly against his chest and said to Fitanius in a heavy tone, "I must admit that I may be biased in doing this, but I remain loyal to Rome, there is no doubt about that, Mr. Fitanius. Of course, when the time is right, I will arrange for soldiers to escort part of the taxes to ease the tense situation between the capital and Rome."

"The two-member division left by the former Augusta Galla Placidia after his death is her last effort. However, there is still a big loophole in this division. As a member of the Purple Room, Lord Luca." Fetanius looked into Luca's eyes and lowered his voice deliberately, as if he was afraid that there would be ears on the other side of the wall.

"Ravenna and Rome, the Senate and the Purple Room are still trying to maintain their own unique order." Fetanius continued: "Sir Attalus and Sir Cassiodorus are already doing their best to allocate the existing funds, and Sir Jorian, the treasurer, is also doing his best to maintain Augustus' power."

Luca said worriedly: "But Aetius has already controlled the Central Field Army, the Gallic Field Army is also under his control, and he also controls the source of troops in Illyria in the north. There is no better source of troops in the entire western Rome."

"I know, Lord Luca, I know!" Fetanius stretched out his hand and said repeatedly.

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"No, you don't know, or you know nothing about it!" Luca interrupted him directly this time. Seeing Fitanius's surprised look, Luca did not hesitate and continued, "Look, look at my current situation. Aetius only needs to be on guard against Theoderic, but look at me, what's around me? Alans, Vandals, Suebi, Visigoths. They all want to eat us alive. I need troops, more troops, troops that can defeat them!"

"Sir Luca, I understand what you mean, but we still have one in Ravenna."

"My Lord! My Lord!"

When Fitanius reached here, he was interrupted by Marenius who suddenly rushed in. Marenius was seen panting, with a wet and disheveled-looking soldier following behind him.

"My Lord, the Vandals are coming from the sea!"

(End of this chapter)