4:00 PM: High Chambers of The Supreme Chancellor
Gaius was bored.
Again.
He'd been sitting and listening to these people drone on and on about the war. The gunboat attacks and the fleets, the victories and failures. It was comical really, as this is what happened every time another country did anything outside their borders or asked for diplomats. And every time they did, the foreign affairs ministry came charging in like bulls in a china shop, accosting him in a barrage of requests and pleads. And every time the Righteous Empire did nothing.
Yet the war machine was never turned off.
To make matters worse, Demascus had lost his armed combat match in the gladiatorial games. Gaius had bet 200 Imperium Units that he'd win. He liked Demascus, but unfortunately didn't know him personally enough to attend the funeral. So here he was, tuned out and out of betting money in his office. Out of all the things the position of supreme chancellor brings, he hated this the most. Suddenly, there was a creak at the back off the room as a door opened. And a god entered the room.
Although only a god figuratively, the man was none other than Cassius Horatius Zeno: The Emperor of the Righteous Empire, and his rule was divine. A man who could change the course of the entire country overnight. As the emperor, he could make any decision without being halted, although every emperor only made decisions based on the majority of votes. One emperor (Nonus) decided to make decisions based on his own desires. It didn't end well. Ever since then, the Zeno bloodline has been home to emperors who make decisions based on the people. Like war. Especially war.
Cassius was late, but it didn't matter now. He turned toward the group of individuals and instantly spotted Gaius among the star-struck others. "Gaius, old friend, we need to talk."