"It all starts with the catalyst for the Third Punic War.
You know, Numidia has always been a friendly ally of Rome.
When conflict broke out between Carthage and Numidia, I followed Scipio Aemilianus to support Numidia, leading to the Third Punic War against Carthage."
Night remained silent
He didn't argue against this point.
To be honest, if he remembered correctly, it was actually Numidia that invaded Carthage first, and Rome merely used that as an excuse to attack a weakened enemy.
But the victor writes history, and debating the justification for war was meaningless.
Every unjust war could be made righteous; all it needed was a convenient pretext.
Night: "And then…"
Tiberius spoke, "We followed the army and besieged Carthage for three years, eventually capturing the city.
At that time, Scipio Aemilianus, standing before me, made that famous reflection.
You've probably heard of it—the 'victor's dilemma.'
"Carthage, this powerful nation, has existed for over 700 years since its founding.
It used to be so invincible
But now the country has become a ruin
Today, our Rome has been established for more than 600 years.
But will Rome one day follow in the footsteps of Carthage?"
"Just like that, Rome might also one day fall into ruins, right?"
After making that prophetic statement in the tone of Scipio Aemilianus, Tiberius explained that his father (Gracchus the Younger) once stood up for Scipio Africanus when he was being suppressed by the Senate.
This choice of alliance later earned him Scipio's favor, leading to his father marrying Scipio's daughter—Tiberius's mother—resulting in two sons and a daughter.
The two sons were the Gracchus brothers, and the daughter married Scipio Aemilianus.
So, he was actually the brother-in-law of the famous Scipio Aemilianus.
Because of their close relationship, he understood Scipio's wisdom and talent better than anyone else.
Gracchus knew that Scipio wasn't exaggerating.
Furthermore, reforming the system was a tradition in the Gracchus family.
His father, Gracchus the Elder, wasn't just someone who rose through marriage; he had a significant impact on Tiberius's upbringing.
There had been a rebellion in Spain, and it was his father who personally led the slave army to suppress it and implemented a series of policies.
This is what brought about 40 years of peace with the Spanish tribes.
Afterward, he climbed the ranks, becoming a prosecutor, a praetor, and eventually a Roman consul.
During this process, Gracchus the Elder introduced two key laws: one that prohibited a few individuals from monopolizing public construction rights, and another that allowed slaves who had been granted freedom by their masters to regain Roman citizenship.
(According to the rules, freed slaves could only regain citizenship starting from the next generation.)
As long as a freed slave had more than 3,000 asses in property and a child over five years old, they could regain Roman citizenship.
His father had freed countless slaves, winning the admiration of many commoners, even gaining the approval of the Senate for such positive changes.
From a young age, Tiberius aspired to one day become a great man like his father, shining for the betterment of Rome.
With such influences, he had long been aware of Rome's military issues and the many injustices in conscription.
He felt deep compassion for those soldiers who, like slaves, faced unjust treatment.
But Tiberius knew…
He was different from his father.
His father's policies didn't touch the core interests of the Senate.
That's why they could proceed smoothly and earn universal praise, but he was not the same…
Tiberius had already envisioned a grand plan in his mind, but out of hesitation and fear, he held back.
He kept that ambition buried in his heart until—
During the recent war in Spain, Tiberius met Night, Carl, and the others.
"It was you all who gave me the courage to do everything!
In the past, I wanted to be a great man like my father—that was my dream.
But now I realize there's something more challenging and necessary than a dream: responsibility.
It's no longer just my dream.
It's the shared hope of everyone.
Some of Rome's laws are wrong. Someone truly just must step up to change it all.
I feel like I can no longer avoid it…
Reform has never been something one can casually talk about with a smile.
I'm no longer fighting out of admiration for someone's figure.
Instead, I'm determined to strive for a tomorrow where everyone can smile.
Now, I think I somewhat understand my father's mindset."
....
Tiberius looked at Night sincerely and then suddenly bowed deeply to him.
"Please help me, Night.
I need your strength!
Forgive my weakness—I know I can't accomplish anything on my own.
If it weren't for your appearance, I'd probably still end up on this path.
Like a moth to a flame, knowing it's doomed, but still unable to resist taking the gamble, pouring everything into madness!"
"I probably won't succeed in the end and will become a laughingstock in everyone's eyes.
But I want to prove that at least I fought for it, that I resisted.
It was you who showed me that madness could also bring about miracles!
Please take me on one more wild ride, Lista Night Magnus!!"
....
After pouring his heart out, Tiberius closed his eyes, nervously awaiting the response.
He had said everything he wanted to say and even things he wasn't sure he understood himself.
Whether the other person agreed was now up to fate.
But deep down, he selfishly hoped that Night would agree.
And as for Night;
He took a deep breath—
Looking at the man he had intended to help from the beginning.
Now, his mindset was entirely different from when he first entered the simulated universe of Rome.
This was never a game.
A simulated life isn't a game of life.
His decisions shaped every change in this simulated universe and could even influence a fragment of the universe's concept.
A foolish yet romantic idealist—
Only now did Night fully realize who Tiberius was—this man who, in history, failed in his reforms, reportedly beaten to death along with over 300 of his supporters, their bodies turned to pulp.
He wasn't stupid, nor was he unaware of the immense obstacles to reform.
From the beginning, he acted as if he were on a path of self-destruction, driven by a relentless obsession.
He had the altruistic ideals of a saint but lacked the ability and patience needed.
Should he help this man?
For the first time, Night seriously and earnestly asked himself this question.
But hadn't the answer already been decided long ago?
...