During the night, an elderly man is slain by Pullo, and the local scoundrels loot the body. Next morning, Vorenus is listening to complaints and requests, when a fellow legionnaire Mascius visits him, asking about Pullo. The soldier tells that the army isn't happy with Caesar's attitude towards them and asks for land in Italy, but Vorenus tells him it's not possible, not on the Appenine Peninsula.
After a night in the brothel, Pullo gets robbed by prostitutes and goes back to Erastes Fulmen to ask for another target, but the employer tells him that he's acting too loud and that his actions are noticeable, yet still provides him with a job.
Vorenus goes to Caesar and Antony with Mascius' request, but the dictator thinks it's very difficult to satisfy it. Antony offers to evict his enemies, but Caesar still doesn't deter and tells the magistrate that the only land available is in Pannonia, but still tells to bribe Mascius and convince the soldiers to go with the offer. Vorenus is also invited to Atia's party along with his family. Mascius doesn't want to agree to Caesar's deal, but accepts it after receiving twelve thousand denarii.
Brutus is dismayed to find images of him killing Caesar on walls, but Cassius tries to convince him to play his part in the coming plot, showing him the dictator's excesses and comparing them to those of deposed kings.
Pullo assassinates another target, but he's witnessed by an elderly woman. Unable to kill her, he walks away, haunted by her shouting. At the party, Antony talks to Octavia, trying to convince her to make Atia take him back, but the young woman tells him she's feigning her cold attitude, and later they reignite their romance. Vorenus tells Caesar about the payment, and he seems pleased. Octavian asks if Pullo has been thrown in prison for murder and if there is something that could be done, but Caesar forbids any attempts. Undeterred, the youth asks for Timon's help. In the morning, the Jew looks for a good lawyer, but most of them refuse, except for one, a young and inexperienced man named Priscus Maevius. He tries to convince Pullo to make up a sympathetic motive or find a patron, but is unsuccessful. Vorenus comes to witness the trial, where Mascius tells him of his plan to free his fellow legionnaire, but the magistrate tells him of the implication of Caesar's soldiers killing citizens of Rome and asks him to call the plot off. Maevius is unable to sway the public's opinion, and Pullo is condemned to death in an arena fight.
Caesar asks Brutus to go to Macedonia and take the reins of governorship, but the young man is doubting his abilities, assuming that he's just being sent away from Rome as a sign of distrust. He refuses, but the dictator insists, making Brutus feel offended and deceived. He leaves Caesar's house in fury. At home, Brutus tells Servilia that he's no longer Caesar's friend and he's ready to fulfill his duty.
At the arena, Pullo refuses to fight his opponent and asks for a quick death, but an insult to XIII Legion makes him fly into a rage and kill his opponents. He defeats several more waves of enemies, but his injuries start catching up to him. A mace-wielding giant comes out last, and Vorenus decides to intervene, shouting his Legion's name and jumping into the arena. He manages to cut off the gladiator's leg and drives the mace into his shoulder, killing him, and the two walk away. Posca goes to Erastes Fulmen and chides him for using a veteran like Pullo in the assassinations, confirming that Caesar is behind every recent contract killing.
- An Arm and a Leg: A large gladiator gets his leg graphically cut in two by Vorenus.
- Berserk Button: Pullo reacts with murderous fury at his Legion being insulted.
- Like a Son to Me: Caesar tells Brutus that he considers his his son, but the relationship deteriorates because of Caesar's suspicions.
- Hitman with a Heart: Pullo serves as Erastes Fulmen's hitman, but he becomes ashamed of it and surrenders himself.
- Oh, Crap!: Timon quickly goes from cheering Pullo to crapping his tunic when the final opponent comes out.
- Ojou Ringlets: Niobe dons this hairstyle to attend Atia's party.
- Slap-Slap-Kiss: Literally with Antony and Atia, who enjoy slapping each other around.
- Toxic Friend Influence: Cassius attempts to make Brutus turn on Caesar, with varying success.
- Undying Loyalty: Pullo proclaims this to the XIII Legion, and Vorenus, inspired by this, decides to save his friend's life.
- Unnecessary Combat Roll: Averted. Pullo rolls towards one of his opponent and knocks him off his feet, finishing him off on the ground.
