Two hours later, the grand arena had cleared, leaving only the military guards stationed along the tall perimeter walls.
General Maximus walked through the marble hallways of the imperial palace, holding Leo's hand while the massive black lion trotted calmly beside them.
Senator Cassius stood waiting near the heavy bronze doors of the imperial vault, holding a thick leather folder packed with yellowed parchment papers.
Senator Cassius: General, we have finished going through the ledgers inside Marcus's private chest.
General Maximus: What else did you find, Cassius? Tell me the truth.
Senator Cassius: It's far worse than we thought. Marcus didn't just steal your family estate and your land rights.
General Maximus: What do you mean?
Senator Cassius: He has been diverting the city's food funds into private overseas accounts for the last three years. He was planning to flee the country next month.
Leo: Is that why the children in the orphan house didn't have any bread, mister?
Senator Cassius: Yes, little one. He was taking the money meant for the city's wheat supply and hiding it away for himself.
General Maximus: How much did he steal from the public trust fund?
Senator Cassius: Over four million gold coins. Enough to feed the entire region for five full years.
General Maximus: Where are the bank transfer records?
Senator Cassius: Right here in these documents. Signed with Marcus's personal crest seal.
General Maximus: Take these records straight to the high tribunal court. I want every single coin seized from his private holdings and returned to the city grain reserve immediately.
Senator Cassius: It shall be done at once, General. What about the boy's maternal inheritance?
General Maximus: What inheritance?
Senator Cassius: Your late wife's family left a trust fund for Leo that was supposed to mature on his eighth birthday. Marcus intercepted the legal papers two weeks ago.
General Maximus: He tried to steal my dead wife's legacy to my son?
Senator Cassius: He filed a false death certificate for Leo claiming the boy died in the fire, which allowed him to attempt to transfer the trust assets into his own name.
Leo: But I'm not dead, Dad! I'm right here!
General Maximus: I know you are, my brave boy. And now the whole world knows it too.
Senator Cassius: With this physical proof and the boy standing right here in front of us, the tribunal will officially void every decree Marcus signed regarding your family's property.
General Maximus: I don't care about the money, Cassius. I just want my home restored and my son safe.
Senator Cassius: The estate is already being cleared by your old legion soldiers as we speak. The damage from the fire was mostly in the east wing. The rest of the house is standing strong.
Leo: Can Shadow come live in the big garden behind the house?
General Maximus: The garden belongs to you and Shadow now, son. Nobody will ever drive you out of it again.
Senator Cassius: General, the Senate has requested an emergency meeting in the main hall. They want you to assume the role of interim leader until elections can be held.
General Maximus: Tell the Senate I am a soldier, not a politician. I will maintain order in the city until the council chooses a rightful administrator, but my first duty is to my boy.
Senator Cassius: The people will follow you, Maximus. They saw a miracle in the arena today.
General Maximus: It wasn't a miracle, Cassius. It was justice catching up with a thief.