The Arrival #
The Imperial Procurator steps onto the Picentian docks, his pristine white toga a stark contrast to the soot-stained industrial city. "Magnificent! A very loud, very dirty fairytale," he smiles radiantly.
He bypasses the local officials and heads straight for Gaius and Aulus, the "Merchant Princes." Taking Gaius by the shoulders, he whispers: "To build these 'fire ships'... it is almost too much for one mind to grasp. I am humbled just to stand in your... energetic presence."
With a delightful laugh, he picks a tiny piece of coal dust off Aulus's chest. "But come! We must talk! I want to hear every detail of how you’ve managed to be so... remarkably useful to the Emperor."