Although the second century Decius did not know who Watson was, he played the role of Watson with due diligence. Although he felt quite uncomfortable with the corpse in front of the round table, Decius still mustered his courage, entered the room, and quietly closed the door.
In the old days, there was no such thing as protecting the crime scene. So Decius had no objection to what Zhang Heng wanted him to do next. After he looked around the room, he did not make a move immediately. Instead, he turned to ask Zhang Heng again. “Uh… Although I understand what you said earlier, what are we looking for exactly?”
“Pay attention to all the corners where things may be hidden. Check whether there are any notes or inconsistencies with Amidio’s identity.”
As he spoke, Zhang Heng came to a cabinet. He then stretched out his hand to open the cabinet door, and he started to pull out all the clothes from the wardrobe. After that, he bent down and looked under the cabinet. So, Decius quickly copied what Zhang Heng did. He began to search Amidio’s residence with Zhang Heng.
Unfortunately, neither of them could find the thing that Zhang Heng mentioned before the patrol team arrived.
“Maybe he placed the items at his friend’s place?” Zhang Heng asked.
By the time the patrol team arrived, Zhang Heng and Decius had already left Amidio’s residence, leaving the messy crime scene behind them for the patrol team. They were taken aback when they saw how unkempt Amidio’s residence was.
“It’s bad. We don’t know Amidio that well. So, we don’t know which friend he chooses to trust.” Decius said bitterly, “And Klaus will not help us anymore.”
“It’s okay. The one who should be feeling anxious now is the enemy. Now, they had killed Amidio. If that thing is with Amidio’s friends, he will find a way to deliver the thing to the person that could help to avenge Amidio’s death.”
“Who can avenge him?” Decius asked.
“Me.” Zhang Heng said, “Since the enemy doesn’t want me to meet Amidio, they definitely don’t want me to know who the mastermind is. So, all I have to do now is tell Amidio’s friend to deliver the thing to me.”
Zhang Heng waved his hand, beckoning a painter drawing an advertisement on the wall not far away from him. The latter then put down his brush and paint and walked over to Zhang Heng.
Zhang Heng asked the artist, “How much does it cost you to paint a picture?”
“One Sestertius, sir.”
“I’ll give you 1 Denarius.” Zhang Heng threw a silver coin at the painter.
“I need you to write something on this insula’s wall: Zhang Heng, the Emperor’s advisor, is responsible for investigating the murder of Amidio. Please come to us for clues. Meet me at the Tiber’s bank.”
“That’s it? It’s not supposed to cost you so much.” The painter received the silver coin and said.
“Just words. However, I want you to fill the walls of the building so every passing person can see it.”
“No problem.” The artist accepted the large sum of money and immediately began to put in work. He put a pause to his previous job first and tried his best to complete the task given by Zhang Heng first.
“Will this be useful?” Decius looked at the big letters on the wall with doubt.
“Well, I think we should know about it tomorrow.” Zhang Heng patted Decius’s shoulder again, “Let’s stop here today, Watson. Let’s go home for dinner. After a day of running around, I need a good rest, and we will continue tomorrow.”
After being reminded by Zhang Heng, Decius remembered that his stomach was grumbling. Due to the incident that he went through earlier, he had forgotten that he was feeling hungry. And now, he realized that he had lost his appetite. With a worried look, he asked, “Do we really have to investigate this matter? We have already witnessed the death of someone. Who knows what will happen next? Will we also be targeted by the enemy?”
Zhang Heng nodded when he heard Decius’s concern, “I can’t rule out this possibility, but I am a gladiator champion, the Emperor’s adviser, and not a nobody like Amidio. It would be more difficult to kill me. Besides, they would have to face lots of trouble after they kill me. So strictly speaking, you will be in danger next. Not me.”
“…”
“But don’t worry, you are my Watson. As long as I’m still alive, it doesn’t make much sense for them to kill you.” Zhang Heng comforted.
Decius sighed again when he heard Zhang Heng’s reply, but he did not say anything more after that. In the end, he went home looking worried.
By the time he returned home, it was already over his meal hour. Decius was not the son of a first wife. Hence, he did not expect anyone to wait for him to come back for dinner. However, when he walked to the kitchen with a hungry stomach, he was told that no one had saved any food for him.
After a busy day, Decius had all but anger stored in his stomach. After that, he planned to look for the servant who cooked the dinner and vent his anger on him, but all his anger disappeared the moment he saw another person in the kitchen.
That man was an old servant dedicated to serving his brother, Nino. Decius knew immediately who the person targeting him tonight was. His mother was just a slave, and he was the product of his father’s one-night stand. In other words, his position at home had always been very awkward. He was constantly looked down on by his half-brother and mother.
Decius knew that he would be the one to suffer from this quarrel in the end. So, he did not say a word after that. He turned around and went back to his residence, where his wife bought him dinner from outside.
Decius asked his wife while eating, “Did Nino harass you again today?”
Decius’s wife hesitated and finally nodded. “It’s no big deal. All he has is his potty mouth.”
“That bastard, his good life won’t last long,” Decius sneered.
Decius’s wife seemed to worry that his words would be overheard. Hence, she looked around and whispered softly, “He is your younger brother, after all. If you happen to cause some big trouble, who do you think your father will favor?”
“I don’t care what the old man thinks. Anyway, I will never be a member of this family,” Decius said.
“Don’t say that. He is responsible for all our living expenses, and he also found you a job.”
“It’s only temporary.” Decius hugged his wife. “But don’t worry. I have found a way, and I will be able to enter the Senate soon. Then, we won’t have to rely on anyone anymore.”
“The Senate? But you are not his official son.”
“I’m not going to rely on that old man. I have my own way of doing things,” Decius said secretively, and he took his wife to the bed, “but before that, I will continue to play the useless big brother role in this family. I’m sorry that you have to suffer because of me.”
“Then, how will you make it up to me?” Decius’s wife bit her lip and gazed at her husband with affectionate eyes.
“I will give myself to you tonight,” Decius said with a smile.
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