Look, you stupid clerk. Senator Verginius has served Rome better than you could in a thousand lifetimes. You are the only person who believes that the Consul is a demigod here, as much as you try to convince the rest of us. I have spoken with your master, and even he is hollowed out from his brief session as Consul. But still you act as if everything's just peachy.

Now then, I shall defend the Consul, but in a less glamorous way than you have done, Mister UPS. What was done was done, and I now admit that the money received from controlling the Aegean was a necessary evil. While Roman blood may be shed for bad causes, far more bay have been shed if nothing was done. We would have collapsed financially.

As for the Iberian situation, I believe that we must impose a check on their growing power. For two long they have threatened Rome, and openly challenged us, but we did not take the bait. I think that we must send them a message in return. Perhaps our newly-returned Senator Verginius (welcome back, by the way) could take a little stroll through Iberian territory (not actually conquering anything)? If those fools know anything about us then they will know that this particular Senator is not to be trifled with.