Chapter 524 Struggle

"He is playing with fire!" Aetius held up a corner of his silk toga with his left hand and carefully wiped the soldier's staff held in his right hand. "Gaul and other places have just stabilized, and everything seems to have returned to the proper order. But he is like a bastard who is unwilling to settle down. He always wants to stir up the clear water again."

"He must think that he can do whatever he wants because he is so powerful." Litorius also looked serious in front of Aetius and said worriedly: "He is becoming more and more arrogant now."

"No, that's not right!" Aetius interrupted Litorius and muttered thoughtfully, "Flavius ​​Luca must have understood something, or he must have known all our recent movements and counterattacked my actions."

"I don't understand, Captain." Littorio shook his head, his distressed expression like he had eaten too much chili and was in pain going to the toilet.

"It is just as I suspected." Aetius said as he pondered, "I tried my best to promote the marriage between my son and Valentinian's youngest daughter, but at this time Luca jumped out and took control of the Senate by force."

"Valentinian must have known this before us. He saw hope in Luca. At least they are relatives." The more Aetius thought about it, the more suspicious he felt. He had greatly underestimated this so-called "lucky" and low-class guy. Yes, he underestimated him more than before.

"I thought I could avoid it by avoiding confrontation with him. To be honest, I don't want to go the way of confronting Boniface." Aetius said, raised his head again, turned sideways and asked the waiter beside him: "Is it time to eat?"

"Yes, my lord!" The waiter bowed to Aetius, then pushed down and clapped his hands toward the door.

At this time, only a few slaves were seen carrying a table full of food to Aetius under the watchful eyes of fully armed guards. Aetius slowly stood up and walked down the stairs under the service of the waiters.

The slaves placed the table and benches on one side of the hall. Everything was ready. A taster came up and used an iron fork to take the food on the plate into his mouth one by one. Aetius took his seat only when he had swallowed the food and his stomach had no reaction.

"Come along, my old friend." Aetius waved to Littorius and then gestured to the waiter beside him.

A brand new stool was placed in front of Littorius. Littorius was very embarrassed. He smiled bitterly, and his face was wrinkled like a green bitter melon. He looked at Aetius, then at the stool in front of him, and then at the delicacies on the table. He swallowed his saliva. Standing for so long made him tired and hungry.

After struggling for so long, he finally chose to give in to the food. With an apologetic smile on his face, he trotted over and sat opposite Aetius.

The waiter skillfully used the knife and fork to cut the large piece of roast meat in the middle of the table into small pieces of different sizes. Because of Aetius's taste requirements, the meat should be roasted to 50% to 70%. Served with cheesecake and fruits such as olives, it was a rare delicacy.

Perhaps only Aetius, or the senators and aristocrats from wealthy families, could maintain such a luxurious life under such extreme conditions.

Littorio could no longer hold back at the sight of the delicious food. He stared at the waiter as he slowly put the roast meat and then the soup into Aetius's plate. The roast meat, still dripping with oil, floated in the soup.

Finally it was his turn. He suppressed his hunger and pretended to be calm, sitting there and smiling.

"Don't be so polite, my friend." Aetius didn't seem to have an appetite, just tapping the expensive silver plate with his fork and spoon out of boredom. He just looked at Litorius, as if waiting for Litorius to eat heartily.

Knowing what a huge offense it was to have his master or boss watch him eat, Littorio held his knife and fork tightly, not daring to move, even though his stomach had already twisted into knots.

"Just like at home, Mr. Littorius, eat!" Aetius' tone was more like an order than a reminder, which made it difficult for Littorius to refuse.

"Well, as you wish, my Lord."

It was hard to refuse the kind offer, and Littorio could no longer decline. He was not used to using a knife and fork, so he picked up the bread, dipped it in the soup and put the barbecue into his mouth.

Soon, a large piece of roast meat and bread were eaten. "Is it delicious?" Aetius asked.

"Yeah!" Littorio paused for a moment and nodded.

"Well, now that you have eaten the delicious food, you should do something to deserve the food I gave you." Aetius slowly put down his fork, clenched his fists and stared at Littorio in front of him. This made Littorio feel embarrassed and uncomfortable, so he had to stop the work in his hands reluctantly.

"After eating, go to work."

"Where to?" Littorio asked.

"Rome!" Aetius picked up the fork again, turned it around, and handed the handle of the fork to Litorius.

"The fork and the knife were invented by Theodosius, who considered them civilization." Aetius stared at Litorius, "But look, the knife and the fork are both used to kill people, they are barbaric weapons."

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"I see that you don't like these two barbaric tools very much, but you have to adapt to it. It has come down from the battlefield and become a symbol of the nobles' civilization, because it will no longer make the nobles dirty their pampered hands."

Seeing Aetius speaking so clearly, Litorius didn't know how to respond, because he didn't understand what Aetius wanted to express. He just took the fork very obediently and played with it in his hand.

"Now, you have to understand how to cut elegantly and enjoy the process so that you can put food that is not suitable for your mouth just right in your mouth." Aetius picked up the knife, gestured in the air, and said to Littorio: "I trust you so much, my old friend, go to Ravenna and bring me the First Italian Legion. I need them, at this moment, now!"

Littorius could see the determined look in Aetius's eyes, and he could also understand how important the First Italian Legion was to Aetius. This was not a difficult thing to do, because Aetius was a sergeant and commanded all the troops of the Central Field Army.

"So, sir, what about the Second Naples Army?" Littorio asked, "The Central Field Army still has troops that can satisfy you."

"It would be best if you could lead them, my old friend." Aetius continued, "Then lead them to Rome and face Luca's army. I want to see what they choose!"

"As you wish, Captain!"

(End of this chapter)