Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

"This is the heart of Rome. The outer provinces haven't fallen yet, so where would we get any external enemies? Besides, we don't need so many strategic reserves. The three consuls elected by the Pantheon are rolling in money. If they won't cut off any flesh, I'll do it for them. It's just that my hands are shaking, so I might cut off somewhere!"

Samael's gaze was gloomy, his eyes filled with murderous intent, causing the newly appointed High Priest of the Pantheon, who was waiting for news in the court, to fall silent.

The three nearby provinces existed to protect Rome and were directly under the Pantheon. Even if they wanted to betray the country, they couldn't collude with the Persian and Hunnic Empires. Nero had just come to power and couldn't be lenient all the time. He needed a few troublemakers to appease the gods. Samael wasn't afraid of their antics.

During the time when the ancient serpent ruled Uruk, he had long been familiar with the vested interests of various city-states who clung to their resources and property, and he was quite adept at dealing with them.

"The emperor of Cornelius, Scipio the Elder, has been killed in battle. His descendants hope that you will give Cornelius your support so that their family can regain the right of succession."

Cornelius's territory was in...the fifth province...and faced...the harassment of the Carthaginians?

Samael swept through the documents, opened the map, observed it carefully for a moment, his furrowed brows relaxed, and he made a more certain choice in his mind.

"According to procedure, the son succeeds the father. Let his son Scipio Africanus, who is in the army, temporarily serve as the governor of the Fifth Province and take over the local defense. Do a good job. Just say that I... cough cough, His Majesty the Emperor thinks highly of him. As long as he can ensure that the Fifth Province is not lost and achieve something, the throne of Emperor Cornelius will be his sooner or later."

Chapter Fifty NMD WSM!

Snapped!

With a crisp slap, Samael raised his hand and struck Nero on the forehead, interrupting the Rose Emperor's drooling over the plate of crystal grapes.

"Oh, I see. Prince Yu and I mean the same thing!"

Nero snapped out of his daze, wiped the drool from his mouth, sat up straight, and offered a few words of agreement, showing sufficient importance and respect. He then meticulously signed the appointment, ensuring the procedural legitimacy on the surface.

When the document was sent to the Pantheon, the plate of grapes was presented to Nero.

The little girl immediately beamed and picked up the fruit plate, puffing out her cheeks as she ate heartily.

Seeing this, Samael shook his head helplessly, but he also understood that Nero was just a child under ten years old. It was simply unrealistic to expect this girl to grow up so quickly. It was already good enough that she could sit here patiently and learn how to handle government affairs.

However, both the location of the fifth province and Scipio Africanus's overall strategic importance to the Roman Empire were extremely important and had to be treated with caution.

Scipio Africanus, whose full name was Publius Cornelius Scipio, belonged to the Cornelius clan, one of the six major clans, and was a famous general and statesman of ancient Rome.

He was one of the main Roman generals in the Second Punic War, and is best known for defeating Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, at the Battle of Zama.

Thanks to Scipio's victory, the Romans ended the Second Punic War on overwhelmingly favorable terms, earning Scipio the famous nickname: "The Conqueror of Africa."

Historically, Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, defeated the Roman army three times despite being at a significant disadvantage. He possessed strategic and tactical vision far surpassing his opponents and was hailed as the "father of Western strategy."

Although the situation has reversed, the Roman Empire is now riddled with weaknesses and does not possess a complete advantage, making it difficult to crush Carthage, this thorn in its side, with overwhelming force.

But Scipio Africanus, who was able to achieve final victory against Hannibal, was by no means an ordinary man.

Placing him in the fifth province would be a good way to make the best use of his talents.

More importantly, Carthage was located in North Africa and served as an outpost of the Egyptian Empire.

Now that Romulus, the patriarch of the gods, has died in battle, the entire Roman Empire is bound to be in turmoil and teetering on the brink of collapse. If, at this time, Egypt were to pass through Carthage...

Just as Samael was lost in thought, the solemn and oppressive magic circle diagrams drew forth a series of etheric vibrations from the Pantheon.

Immediately afterwards, messengers rushed into the palace's administrative hall one after another, their faces frozen and their voices urgent as they gave their reports.

"Urgent report! A large number of Persian Undead have been discovered on the Persian border in the ninth and tenth provinces! The number is enough for two legions! In addition, the Meteor Legion has also been spotted behind the Undead!"

"Urgent news from the Seventh and Eighth Provinces! Hunnic wolf cavalry have been spotted gathering at the Golden Horde along the route! The number of Hunnic wolf cavalry has now exceeded ten thousand!"

"Breaking news from the Pantheon: Unusual activity has been detected among the Carthaginians in the Fifth Province, suggesting they may be reinforcing the defenses! The Fifth Legion is now on high alert!"

Everyone present, including Nero and Boudica, paled at the sight.

"Yes, I understand. His Majesty and I are preparing for this. Let's go to the side hall and summon the three emperors to come and discuss countermeasures and await orders."

Furthermore, from this moment forward, Rome will be placed on a state of war alert. A team of magicians and priests will be assembled to construct a communication magic array, ensuring that all military intelligence transmitted from any province will be sent directly to the imperial palace.

Samael raised his hand and gestured as if pressing down, his tone calm and his expression indifferent.

That calm and composed demeanor exuded a unique magic that calmed people down, instantly soothing the fear in everyone's hearts and restoring everything to a state of tension and order.

After seeing off several messengers, the ancient snake put down its quill pen, raised its hand to lightly press its temple, sighed helplessly, and murmured softly.

The worst-case scenario has come to pass.

Although Samael had a premonition that Rome's overall strategic situation would deteriorate after the death of the Prophet, he did not expect the crisis to come so quickly.

In just two days, the Huns, Egypt, and Persia showed their teeth, leaving no room for respite whatsoever.

Queen Boudica looked at Samael, who was deep in thought at his desk, with considerable concern, and hesitated several times before speaking.

"Map! Sand table!"

After a moment, the ancient serpent opened its eyes and pondered. Boudica and Brunhilde immediately retrieved the necessary items.

Samael used the magic circle to find chess pieces of different materials and colors, placing them in various parts of Rome. The perilous situation before him gradually became clear.

"Regarding Nero inheriting the spear that founded the nation, and me presiding over the administration, have the three emperors raised any objections these past few days?"

"No, they're all very honest."

"Very good, it seems they're not stupid after all. They know that in this situation, internal strife is tantamount to suicide."

Upon hearing Boudica's reply, Samael breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in satisfaction.

Based on that meaningful glance before his death, the ancestor of the gods chose to trust him, most likely because he had received divine revelation from the Olympian gods and vaguely knew some of his identity.

However, it is commendable that these three wounded Roman emperors were able to recognize reality and choose to submit to others.

However, to some extent, it also proves that these few who became emperors were smart enough to know that in order to maintain a vast empire, at least one god was needed to oversee it.

Since Romulus's death, these Roman emperors can probably only rely on him now.

Otherwise, if he were to abandon his post, Cyrus the Great could lead his army deep into the Persian Gulf and, in a couple of days, throw them into the water to feed the fish.

Since internal conflicts have not yet surfaced, we can temporarily relax and focus all our attention on dealing with external threats.

"Your Highness, based on our experience in several encounters, the regular Roman legions scattered across various locations, while well-trained, are likely no match in numbers for the Hunnic wolf riders, the Persian Immortals, the Meteor Legion, and the Egyptian Anubis Guard—the elite of the elite—who have been forged through secret techniques. Perhaps..."

Brunhilde stepped forward to offer her advice, expressing her concerns and suggesting that the Viking fleet be moved to the City of Seven Hills.

"No need. Rome may seem to be surrounded by enemies on three sides and be engulfed in war, but if you analyze it calmly, the situation is not so bad."

Samael shook his head slightly, then summoned three people to conduct a meticulous analysis of the sand table.

"First of all, the Hunnic Empire mainly consists of light cavalry, which are highly mobile but lack the ability to attack fortified positions. Moreover, if their strategy of using war to sustain war is hindered, logistical support will become a major problem. If Attila really wants to launch a major offensive against Rome, he will need to mobilize more than just wolf riders."

Secondly, for Egypt, it wouldn't be easy to pass through Carthage to the north. Besides, it's easy to invite a god but hard to send him away. Who could guarantee that Ramses II would really withdraw from Carthaginian land as promised? What if he didn't leave? Hannibal was a man of great character; he refused to submit to Greece and Rome, and he might not necessarily obey that Pharaoh.

Therefore, of these three forces, the Hunnic Empire and the Egyptian Empire could not shake the foundations of Rome; they were most likely only responsible for restraint and pressure. Only Persia was our mortal enemy, truly coming to conquer and plunder!

As the overall situation became clear, everyone felt as if the clouds had parted and the sun was shining through, and their unease gradually subsided.

Even if we assume that Egypt did persuade Hannibal to allow them passage north to partition Rome, the battle line from the Nile to Roman territory would be stretched out.

Don't forget, we also have allies. I've already sent the Pantheon to contact Greece and our fleet, asking them to cooperate with the Roman legions in a counterattack at a crucial moment! The outcome will be uncertain then!

unless……"

Samael continued to analyze the war situation, and at a certain point, he looked at Greece, his eyes flashing, and his voice abruptly stopped.

Just then, a messenger from the Pantheon rushed into the council chamber, holding a scroll decorated with olive branches, and urgently reported the news.

"Mount Ares is in dire straits! The Persian Empire has amassed 25 troops and over 1000 warships, led by the two Persian kings, Darius I and Xerxes, and is launching a major offensive against Greece. They have already reached the Aegean Sea coast!"

The Third Greco-Persian War has begun!

The Greek and Viking fleets are now unreliable, and the threats from the Hunnic Empire, Egypt, and Carthage have increased several times over. This could trigger a chain reaction, turning a feint into a full-scale attack!

Samael's facial muscles twitched violently as he recalled the "unless" that had just escaped his lips, his expression turning as black as the bottom of a pot.

Damn...

Chapter 51 Friend, should we jump out of the car?

Currently, Rome is surrounded by enemies on three sides.

The northern defense line faced the Hunnic Empire; the southern front required vigilance against attacks from Carthage and Egypt; and to the east lay the crucial Persian Empire.

Of the six Roman emperors, the most talented Caesar was sent to Greece to seek help. Of the remaining five, Nero was a newcomer with no real power and could only serve as a figurehead. Of the other four, one died and three were wounded.

In conclusion, the situation is not optimistic.

After a moment of contemplation, the ancient serpent decisively issued commands step by step.

"First, have each of the Pantheon send a team of a hundred priests to escort the three emperors to their respective provinces as soon as possible to set up defenses."

The decision to send away the three lingering Roman emperors was to avoid any obstacles and to firmly control the central city of Rome.

"Second, urgently draw troops from the two provinces near Rome to form a new legion. I remember that among the legion commanders, Mark Antony has experience fighting nomadic cavalry. Before Emperor Caesar went on his mission to Greece, he also recommended this man to the patriarch. Let him lead a legion to garrison the weak points of the northern defense line, cooperate in resisting the Hunnic wolf cavalry, and prevent the enemy from penetrating and breaking into the heart of Rome."

As for the vacant Sixth Province due to Caesar's absence, his nephew Octavian, who was in the army, was temporarily appointed consul, commanding the Sixth Legion to coordinate with the neighboring Fifth Legion against Carthage and the Egyptians. He was instructed to warn them that the Egyptians might not launch a full-scale attack, to be wary of probing attacks, and not to let them figure out their true strength. If they could hold out until the dust settled on the other two fronts, that would be considered a victory!

Samael, with his familiarity with some of Rome's best military commanders, made targeted arrangements to make the best use of their talents.

"Third, Boudica..."

At this moment, the ancient serpent closed its eyes and pondered for a moment, then suddenly opened them, waved its hand to set up a barrier, and looked at the victorious Celtic queen with a distant and profound gaze.

"Rome is now in turmoil and in danger of collapsing at any moment. You can choose to stay and fight for the reconstruction of Britain, or you can lead your people to withdraw. Tell me, whichever you choose, I will make arrangements. This is the courtesy of a friend."

Boudica drew his nameless sword of victory without hesitation, held it up before him, and responded solemnly.

"You gave me and many of my people my lives. I swear by this sword that I and the people of Celt are willing to fight for you!"

For me? And not for Rome?

It seems even you aren't very optimistic about the future of this precarious empire.

But it doesn't matter. Since you've chosen to trust me, I'll turn this dead end around!

This was true before, it is true now, and it will be true in the future!

The ancient snake pondered the meaning behind the words, nodded in satisfaction, its brow gradually relaxing. It sat back down at its desk, its five fingers rhythmically tapping the tabletop, and spoke in a deep voice as it pondered.

"Now, there are two things I need you to do..."

First, return to Britain immediately and closely monitor the movements of the Golden Horde. If more than 30,000 people gather, immediately summon the Celtic tribes and tell them that the Hunnic cavalry are coming to plunder people and food, and to burn and kill. Integrate Britain's existing forces as much as possible and cooperate with the Seventh and Eighth Legions to defend the fortresses along the line.

The Celts didn't need to confront the Hunnic wolf cavalry directly. Instead, they leveraged their familiarity with the terrain of Britain to secretly burn the Hunnic wolf cavalry's pastures, cut off their food supplies, or poison their water sources. They used the terrain to their advantage, resisting step by step. In short, they did everything they could to delay the Hunnic wolf cavalry, wear down their will to attack, and prevent them from launching a full-scale assault on the city!

All Celts who perished in this battle would be posthumously granted Roman citizenship, their families compensated by the Roman Empire, and His Majesty Nero would immediately fulfill the promises made in the treaty after the war!

Sensing a sense of crisis, Nero abandoned his playful and dismissive attitude. After Samael finished speaking, he obediently nodded and patted his chest to assure him.

"That's right, I can guarantee that I will absolutely keep my promise to you!"

Boudica stepped forward and listened carefully, her gaze gentle yet firm, nodding solemnly and earnestly.

Now, Nero, whom he had once cared for, had become the nominal ruler of the Roman Empire.

This also presented an opportunity for Britain to rise.

Since this is a high-stakes gamble that will determine the future of the Celts, it is only right to fight for the corresponding benefits for their people.

Samuel paused, tapping his fingers on the table, his fingertips sliding towards an island hanging outside Britain.

"Secondly, before the Hunnic wolf cavalry have amassed a large force and launched their siege, you need to head to this place as soon as possible, just in case!"

"This is...Ireland?"

"Yes, we've reached our destination. We'll go to this area and use it to open the gates to the Land of Shadows!"

While pondering, the ancient serpent tossed out a jet-black scale engraved with special runes. Boudica instinctively caught it, then suddenly realized something.

"The Land of Shadows, is that the legendary underworld that accepts the dead and the souls of the departed?"

"Yes! Once inside, go directly to the Queen and ask her for help, so that she can intervene to restrain the Hun king Attila if necessary!"

"The Queen of the Land of Shadows? I..."

"Don't worry, as long as you show her what you have, she'll understand everything and will definitely not refuse your request."

Samael responded firmly, but said that was all he could say and could not say more.

Now, the one guarding the Land of Shadows is none other than his own wife, Skadi, the goddess of winter. The victorious queen of the Celts has come forward to ask this "Queen of the Land of Shadows" disguised as a Celtic deity for help. Even if Odin finds out afterward, he can't say anything.

Boudica and Boudica met eyes, and Boudica, lost in thought, carefully put away the scale and slowly nodded.

Excellent! The issues on both the north and south lines have been initially resolved.

The northern defense line is heavily fortified with troops from four provinces, and Skadi is also in charge of containing the Hun king Attila, so theoretically there shouldn't be any major problems.

The southern camp adopted a defensive strategy, with Scipio Africanus and Octavian, one having defeated Hannibal and the other having destroyed Egypt, both formidable figures. If Ramses II wanted to advance north, he still needed to work on coordinating with Hannibal. Two legions would be sufficient for the short term.