Chapter 732: The Eternal City

"The Vandals are coming! The Vandals are following!"

On the quiet streets of Rome, the old soldier who had escaped shouted weakly with his already hoarse voice.

Every Roman passing by had horror written on his face when he heard the news. They opened their eyes wide and pricked up their ears, listening to the hoarse voice over and over again.

The children even screamed and ran after the panting old man. Fear slowly spread throughout the city of Rome amidst the not-so-small turmoil.

Until the first Vandal warship crashed into the beach, leaving a deep scar on the beach like a dagger.

The Vandal soldiers jumped off the bow of the ship. There was no trace of Romans on the shore except for scattered shields and spears.

In this way, without bloodshed, the Vandals marched forward triumphantly, leaving a mess on the ground, and headed straight for the city of Rome.

"Where are our troops? Where are our troops?"

I believe every Roman was asking the same question when they learned that the Vandals had set foot on Roman soil.

The demons that destroyed the Kingdom of Dido were heading towards the Eternal City. It was undoubtedly a great irony that at such a critical moment, there were no soldiers who were willing to swear to protect the safety of Rome.

Aetius, the famous Shield of the Empire, was far away in Gaul, powerless against the imminent threat to Rome.

But what about the Central Field Army? What about the Italian Legion? And what about the Guards responsible for the protection of Rome and Augustus's safety? They all seem to be gone.

All the field armies located in the Apennine Peninsula, especially around the city of Rome, disappeared. They disappeared without a trace before the coast guard discovered the Vandals, as if they all knew that a powerful enemy was coming.

This was the first time such a strange incident had occurred, even though they did not enter the city but were merely stationed around Rome, just like when they faced Attila's army.

But now the Apennine field armies seemed to be collectively silent, as if all this had been planned long ago. In the empty military camps outside Rome, there were no flags that the field armies should have, as if all this had been planned by the Romans and the Vandals.

This was the first time in thousands of years that the Roman army, which had always been considered loyal, actually abandoned the Eternal City.

The desperate Roman citizens thought of God the first thing they thought of in panic. Now, perhaps only God could save the Eternal City. Just like when Attila was forced to retreat, thousands of Roman citizens came to the front of the cathedral and knelt in front of the only successor of St. Peter, the current Pope Leo I.

They cried and begged God for mercy to save them from the disaster. Among them were not only nobles, but also civilians, soldiers, and even beggars.

The cries were like invisible spears, penetrating the stone walls, across the courtyard, and finally into the ears of Leo I.

"It's so pitiful that they always think of God's love when they are in despair. Listen, listen to their pious voices." Leo spoke slowly in a tone that almost showed no emotion. He picked up the cup and drank it all in one gulp. Then he pursed his lips and licked the traces of milk at the corner of his mouth.

He had to endure the noise and turned his head away in disgust. Standing in a tall building, he could see the citizens crying and begging for his help when he opened the window.

The fully armed guards guarding the Vatican surrounded the iron fences. They prevented some fanatical believers from climbing over the fences and rushing in to beg Leo and scare Leo.

These guards were strong enough, well-equipped, and loyal enough for Leo to confidently entrust the task of defending the church to them.

"What on earth is Flavius ​​Luca doing now? Doesn't he know that now is the time when the legion he brought is desperately needed?" Leo muttered to himself, turning his head from time to time to look at the city wall in the west in the distance. Soldiers armed with spears and bows and arrows were patrolling back and forth. Looking at them, their number was so few that it was really pitiful.

Leo couldn't help but let out a sigh. He was waiting for Luca, and what was Luca waiting for?

In the garden of the palace, Eudolia was reading a parchment scroll.

She tried so hard, very hard, reading word by word, she was so diligent, was she really worshipping the creator of these poems? Or was she hiding from something, desperately avoiding something that shouldn't exist.

Okay, admit it, she actually doesn't like these poems and literature. Rhetoric and grammar always modify a person's words and deeds. Although this can make a person look well-educated, and the words he speaks reveal the aristocratic temperament that makes others look at him with admiration.

"Hidden gold and jade are no different from rubble buried underground!" Eudolia repeated Horace's poems over and over again, looking up and looking around from time to time.

Because of that quarrel, she hadn't seen Huneric for three days. It wasn't so much that she missed this guy as it was because she was lonely. After all, there were not many people to chat with in such a deep palace.

"Hidden gold and jade are no different from buried rubble!"

Eudolia went on to say it, looking around at the scenery. It was early spring, the time when everything came back to life. Everything was full of life, with birds singing and flowers blooming, but there was no one with whom she could enjoy the beauty.

Eudolia thought she had gotten used to loneliness, but always at the most critical moment, she was tortured by the loneliness and felt very uncomfortable. Holding the parchment scroll, she sighed softly.

"You are so young, why are you sighing?"

The sudden voice coming from behind made Eudoria exclaim in surprise. She quickly turned around and saw Luca.

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This was a new meeting. Luca was no longer wearing the majestic armor he had worn in the Pantheon. Instead, he was wearing a purple toga and a milky white gown underneath. He looked so ordinary, without the glory of Augustus. Looking at Luca without the cold barriers like a wall, he did look a little more approachable.

Luca spread his hands, tilted his head, and asked Eudoria with a smile: "Can I come over?"

Eudolia was really surprised by Luga's completely different behavior. She looked at Luga in a daze, and after a long time she nodded slightly, which meant she agreed to Luga's request.

Having obtained consent, Luca naturally did not delay. He took a step and walked slowly to Eudoria's side.

"How did you get in?" Eudolia asked in a low voice, lowering her head, "Why didn't the servants notify me?"

"I didn't let them tell you this. Well, please forgive my dictatorship. After all, I was very afraid that you would be disgusted with me and refuse to see me."

"You are Caesar!" Eudolia deliberately said sarcastically, "If you want to see someone, that person will be unable to resist."

"But you are different, Eudolia, you are different." Luca lowered his head and looked at Eudolia, saying seriously.

"I'm so flattered!"

"Don't be too surprised, Eudolia. I just want to talk to you as a friend." Luca shrugged. "Friendship is nothing but an apology and love that connects the harmony of all common things in the world."

"Cicero said so," Eudolia replied without thinking.

"Yes, yes!" Luca smiled and nodded repeatedly.

(End of this chapter)