“Tribune Rufinus! You are absolutely right!”

  My shout echoed through the Temple of Castor.

  A tense silence fell over the surroundings.

  Everyone held their breath, waiting for my next word. I looked out at the citizens and shouted at the top of my lungs.

  “It is exactly as Tribune Rufinus has just said!”

  “What?”

  Ironically, the most bewildered person there was Rufinus himself. He stared at me with a look of pure shock.

  “Goddess Vesta did indeed appear in my dreams and gave me the recipe for Palmolive!”

  “Wait, so the rumors were true?”

  The moment I finished speaking, the crowd began to murmur again.

  Rufinus stood there, jaw agape, staring at me. Right, he never expected me to lean into it like this.

  “In my dream, the Goddess told me that Palmolive is a liquid that will bring purity and blessings upon Rome!”

  I turned my head to look at the Tribunes standing on the temple steps. They were also whispering to each other wide-eyed.

  “However, until now, I could not reveal this fact to the citizens of Rome! Because I knew that no matter how much I spoke the truth, it would be difficult for you to believe.”

  This was a fact. There was a huge difference between people spreading rumors and me personally claiming to have received a divine revelation.

  Claiming divine inspiration is a risky move; few people believe it at face value.

  If it were that easy, every citizen in Rome would be claiming to hear the gods.

  In fact, making such a claim usually only invites backlash. If you’re not careful, you could even be heavily punished for committing sacrilege.

  But now, Rufinus had paved the way for me.

  He had left me no choice but to admit I received Vesta’s revelation.

  He probably thought he had backed me into a corner, but in reality, it was the exact opposite.

  “But now!”

  I pointed at the pale-faced Rufinus and roared.

  “Since the Goddess Vesta has also descended before Tribune Rufinus, I can finally speak freely! It goes without saying, but...”

  Everyone held their breath, hanging on my next words.

  “I have no intention of monopolizing Palmolive! Regardless of the outcome of today’s vote, I will release the secret of the Palmolive recipe to all the citizens of Rome!”

  “Waaaaah!”

  “Oh, Goddess Vesta!”

  The bombshell I dropped was enough to drive the citizens into a frenzy.

  Rufinus and the others had a simple scheme. They wanted to use the popular rumors to turn the citizens' support against me.

  ‘Lucius is monopolizing the Goddess’s blessing to fill his own pockets!’

  If they argued that, I would lose the moral high ground I needed to push this trademark law.

  It was hard to mount a logical counter-defense against claims wrapped in religion.

  On the surface, their plan looked perfect.

  If their opponent wasn’t me, that is.

  Could they have predicted this? No, probably not.

  They never imagined I would just nonchalantly give away the recipe.

  “Tribune Rufinus!”

  Shouting his name, I strode toward him. He flinched, looking terrified.

  I gave him a big smile, grabbed his hand, and hoisted it high into the air.

  “Waaaaah!”

  At that moment, the cheers of the citizens reached a fever pitch.

  The citizens were likely thinking this:

  The Goddess Vesta appeared even before Rufinus, who had been hostile toward Lucius.

  He testified that Lucius received the Goddess’s teachings.

  And then, Lucius generously revealed the recipe for the sacred Palmolive to the public.

  With an event of this magnitude, they would naturally conclude that I truly was blessed by Vesta.

  In the end, these men had practically declared me blessed.

  “T-this... this is...!”

  Rufinus muttered, his face drained of color.

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  He looked like he had no idea what to say.

  I laughed again and pulled him into a brief embrace.

  “Rome! Rome!”

  Amidst the continued cheering, the presiding Tribune shouted.

  “Any Tribune wishing to exercise their veto on this bill, step forward now!”

  Several Tribunes twitched, but in the end, no one stood up.

  The atmosphere of the assembly was burning so hot that it didn't allow for even a final struggle.

  After the formal reading of the petition, the voting began immediately.

  “The vote will now begin!”

  As the officials hurried into position, the voting began, starting with the Subura tribe.

  I spotted some familiar faces in the crowd.

  It was Cato and his colleagues from the Optimates faction.

  They were scurrying around the square frantic, talking to the elders of each tribe.

  They were likely trying to persuade them to vote against the bill.

  Sorry, but you're too late.

  Thanks to Rufinus’s self-destructive blunder, the situation had already tilted completely in my favor.

  The tribal elders shook their heads with expressions that said it was a lost cause.

  While Cato and his comrades ran around fruitlessly, the citizens continued to cast their votes.

  As one tribe finished, the next began in orderly succession.

  It didn't take long for the results to be announced.

  “We shall now begin the tally! Subura Tribe: In favor!”

  In favor, in favor, in favor, in favor...

  The streak continued without end.

  The result was unanimous.

  The trademark law was passed with the unanimous consent of all major tribes.

  Once the count was finished, the eldest of the Tribunes shouted from the temple steps.

  “By the traditions of Rome, I declare that the Trademark Law has been passed!”

  “Waaaaah!”

  Amidst the thunderous cheers, the fierce battle for the enactment of the law finally came to an end.

  “Phew, finally...”

  Before I could even let out a full sigh of relief, hundreds of people swarmed toward me.

  “Caesar! Caesar!”

  From people trying to touch my cheek to receive the Goddess’s blessing to those kneeling down to pray.

  I had to deal with them one by one, unable to move properly due to my cumbersome toga.

  It was only after Felix rushed in with other slaves that I was finally liberated from the crowd.

  “Young Master! Are you really going to reveal the Palmolive recipe?!” Felix asked, almost screaming as soon as we were clear of the mob.

  “What about it?!”

  “What on earth were you thinking, saying you’d just give away the secret?”

  “What do you think is going to happen now, Felix?”

  “Well, obviously, every merchant in Rome is going to try to make and sell their own version of Palmolive!”

  Felix stared at me as if he couldn't believe his ears.

  “Our profits are going to hit rock bottom.”

  “Is that so?” I asked back, taking a breath of fresh air.

  Promising to reveal the recipe wasn't a desperate last resort to pass the law.

  It was quite the opposite. I had simply made a rational choice.

  “Through today’s vote, I’ve secured an image that no one can touch. Tribune Rufinus personally gifted it to me.”

  I continued.

  “Now, whenever anyone hears the word ‘Palmolive,’ they will naturally think of the name and crest of Caesar.”

  The Roman youth who created Palmolive through the revelation of Vesta.

  Lucius Julius Caesar.

  “Even if someone else makes Palmolive, they won’t be able to beat the Caesar brand.”

  It was a simple fact that anyone in the 21st century would know.

  You can make a soda that tastes 99% like Coca-Cola, but you can never beat Coca-Cola.

  The image of the original brand is where the true power lies.

  Today, I hadn’t just gained a law; I had gained the most powerful force of all.

  As I was about to leave the Forum, Pompey approached me, cutting through the crowd. The citizens nearby stepped back to make a path for him.

  “You are truly...” He burst into laughter and shook his head. “I’m truly speechless. I really don’t know what to say.”

  “With this, the authority to examine and manage trademark rights has passed to the Tribunes, sir Pompey.”

  “As I said yesterday, you are either truly divinely inspired, or you are a complete and utter madman.”

  I simply smiled in response. With the passage of the trademark law, Pompey’s plan to empower the Tribunes had also succeeded.

  Strengthening my friendly relationship with him—a future member of the Triumvirate—was another unexpected achievement.

  “By the way, you...”

  Pompey suddenly looked at me with a sharp gaze.

  It was like a hawk sizing up a rabbit.

  I felt a chill went down my spine.

  Did Pompey have a reason to look at me like that?

  “You aren’t married yet, are you?”

  “Pardon?”

  What kind of question was that all of a sudden? While I was lost in confusion, someone else approached us.

  It was another familiar face.

  “Look here, Lucius! You were truly magnificent today.”

  Crassus approached with a laugh.

  In the next moment, the gazes of Crassus and Pompey collided.

  Uh oh.

  “Crassus.”

  “Pompey.”

  The two glared at each other in silence.

  Two rivals who had built their power together under Sulla.

  One was a great general and military genius; the other was the greatest businessman in Rome. Those two were now glaring at each other right in front of me.

  I was the sandwich caught in the middle.

  To an outsider, it might look like they were having a catfight over me.

  It would have been nice if they were not middle-aged men.

  “Sir Crassus, as it happens, I was planning to visit you personally after the bill passed today.”

  As proven today, great risks can always become great opportunities.

  “Do you have a moment?”

  “Of course, Lucius.”

  Crassus wore a triumphant expression, as if he had won.

  Pompey frowned for a moment, then slipped back into his friendly smile.

  “Then we shall speak later, young Caesar. We still have things to discuss regarding the implementation of the law and the duties of the Tribunes.”

  “Of course, sir Pompey. I will visit you first.”

  After Pompey left with his supporters, I walked toward Crassus.

  Crassus and Pompey.

  Of the two, there was something I had to get from Crassus first.

  ***

  Crassus hadn’t helped me at all in passing this bill. In fact, it was Pompey who had joined hands with me.

  Then why did Crassus come to congratulate me while playing the gracious patron?

  The reason was simple when you thought about it.

  To prevent Pompey and me from fully aligning with each other.

  Crassus and Pompey were rivals who envied each other.

  And I was like a counterweight placed in the center.

  Depending on which side I—who had increased my value through today’s events—chose, the scales could tip.

  “First, I must congratulate you on passing the bill today. I didn't think you would pass it so successfully.”

  “Thank you, sir Crassus.”

  I cut him off mid-sentence. How shameless of him to offer hollow congratulations when he hadn’t lifted a finger to help.

  But that just meant Crassus was in a more desperate situation than Pompey.

  He would grant almost any request to win my favor.

  “Actually, there was one favor I wanted to ask of you.”

  “A favor from me? Feel free to speak your mind.”

  “It wasn't just a few merchants who distributed the fake Palmolive in Rome. There was massive capital behind them.”

  Upon hearing my words, Crassus’s eyes sparkled for a moment.

  Yes, if anyone knew, it would be Crassus.

  Even if he wasn't directly involved, he would know who manufactured and distributed the fake Palmolive.

  There was nowhere in the Roman market that Crassus’s network didn't reach.

  “What are you trying to say?”

  “I want to meet them face-to-face and have words with them.”

  And I’m going to make them pay the price for messing with me.

  6 hours after this chapter.)