"Join hands with the Caesar family, dear. Do you know how many publicani in Rome have jumped into the Palmolive venture right now? We need to get our share too."

  "To do that, I'd have to ask Lucius Caesar for a favor, wouldn't I? What was it called... that thing spinning in the water."

  "You mean a water wheel."

  Cicero sighed as he watched his wife shake her head. His wife, Terentia, was from a wealthy Plebeian family.

  Having inherited a massive fortune from her parents, she essentially managed all the finances of the Cicero household.

  Her real estate, farms, and businesses were more than enough to support Cicero's entry into politics.

  But to Cicero, it was not always a happy arrangement. With Terentia owning most of the assets, there wasn't much Cicero could do on his own.

  Some of his fellow Senators even mocked him, saying he was henpecked by his wife.

  "But if we take Lucius’s help, we will inevitably have to join hands politically as well."

  "Then just join hands with him. That child's father is currently the Governor of Hispania, and he's bound to rise to the position of Consul someday."

  Terentia fired back without pause.

  "Besides, because of you, we still haven't taken out insurance. Dozens of our insulae are exposed to the risk of fire. If we get insurance, we can avoid massive losses."

  "It's not that I don't understand that."

  Cicero forced himself to look away from his wife and started walking.

  The other slaves followed behind the two in silence.

  "But if I join hands with Caesar, I could draw opposition from other senators. Right now, staying neutral in the Senate is the wisest course."

  "You always worry too much."

  Terentia frowned as she replied.

  "You worry about this and that, and in the end, you accomplish nothing."

  "Then why not offer a sacrifice to the gods and pray my worries away?"

  Cicero replied with a laugh.

  Just as they were passing through the Forum, a man approached them.

  It was a fellow senator.

  "Cicero! Where on earth have you been? I've been looking all over for you."

  "Has something happened?"

  Cicero asked, looking at his colleague.

  "Praetor Appius has returned from Hispania. I heard he just finished his financial report at the Temple of Saturn and went to the Senate."

  "Praetor Appius..."

  Cicero searched his memory.

  He was one of the senators with little influence or presence

  His oratory skills weren't outstanding, nor was his political acumen—he was simply a mediocre senator.

  The only notable thing about him was that he held a grudge against Caesar.

  "Appius brought a report from Hispania."

  "Don't tell me it's about Caesar?"

  Cicero asked, grabbing his colleague's arm.

  There could be only one reason for such a commotion.

  Cicero was sure Appius had brought back evidence from Hispania to accuse Caesar. He turned to his wife with a triumphant smile.

  "Didn't I tell you, Terentia? Sometimes it is wise to keep your distance and observe the situation."

  Instead of answering, Terentia only frowned and crossed her arms. Then the fellow Senator spoke again.

  "It is about Caesar, yes—because Caesar sent it directly to the Senate himself."

  "Caesar sent it directly to the Senate? Sent what?"

  Cicero tilted his head.

  Did Caesar personally confess his own corruption?

  "It's a report on Palmolive. They say that since the Roman legions started using Palmolive, the number of soldiers contracting diseases has dropped by more than half."

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  The colleague said, wiping his sweat.

  "Right now, the Senate is in an uproar debating whether it's true or not. If it’s shown to be true, Palmolive will be untouchable."

  "..."

  Now it was Cicero's turn to remain silent.

  A triumphant smile spread across Terentia’s face.

  "Didn't I tell you, dear?"

  ***

  "Right now, there is no one who needs Palmolive more desperately than the Roman legions. The report Father sent should prove that."

  I said, gazing out over the Tiber. Like a vein through the heart of Rome, the Tiber’s banks were crowded with dozens of ships.

  Ships coming up to Rome from Ostia had to be pulled by mules with ropes, but ships heading downstream from Rome could navigate easily with just sails and oars.

  The same was true for Palmolive.

  Barges loaded with Palmolive moved slowly toward the port of Ostia.

  From there, the cargo would be transferred to seagoing vessels, cross the Mediterranean, and head to Hispania.

  "But why do you say it will be particularly helpful to the legions?"

  Vitruvius asked, glancing at the Palmolive factories rising nearby.

  Over the past few weeks, he and I had grown closer while supervising the installation of the water wheels together.

  "It's simple. Palmolive greatly reduces the risk of disease."

  This was the real reason I had kept it from Felix. Father’s report to the Senate had already proven it.

  In the armies of this era, the most terrifying thing wasn't the enemy soldier.

  It was disease.

  Due to the nature of communal living in the military, soldiers were inevitably vulnerable to outbreaks and infection.

  In fact, in this era, non-combat casualties due to disease often outnumbered combat casualties.

  "And in the army, we can demonstrate it clearly."

  Since it's a large, organized group with fixed numbers, it was that much easier to grasp the process and results.

  But I hadn't expected Father to write such a detailed report and send it to Rome.

  It was a fact many people didn't know, but Caesar was formidable at administration too.

  "I heard about the documents the praetor brought back from Hispania. I truly couldn't believe it."

  Vitruvius nodded.

  "To think Palmolive could really prevent disease... I can only see it as a blessing from the Goddess."

  A blessing from the goddess Vesta.

  Well, that was easier than trying to explain bacteria and germs.

  At meals, after using the latrine, after training, and so on, soldiers began using Palmolive.

  As the same time, the number of soldiers falling ill dropped dramatically.

  There were claims that my father made a false report to promote Palmolive, but it didn’t change the truth.

  "If it weren't for you, sir, we wouldn't have been able to build this many water wheels all at once."

  Vitruvius said, clearly excited.

  His gaze turned toward the water wheels currently under construction.

  "The technical school students are also learning engineering design by actually building the water wheels. There could be no better training than this."

  "And we can make money in the process."

  I shrugged.

  Training students while turning a profit was a good deal.

  But it still wasn't enough.

  "There will be even more things for us to do in the future, Vitruvius."

  Until now, we had no choice but to rely on one genius named Vitruvius.

  Now, as time passes, more skilled people would come out of the technical school.

  Hundreds of professional engineers and builders equipped with practical knowledge would emerge.

  What could we achieve through them?

  “There was one thing I wanted to ask, Sir Caesar,” Vitruvius said.

  "Of course, I am happy to be given the opportunity to bring my ideas to life... but why are you throwing yourself into such ventures?"

  "Such ventures?"

  "Most Patricians and Equites make their profits through moneylending, real estate, or serving as provincial governors."

  Vitruvius continued.

  "You are probably the only person jumping into such challenging businesses, sir."

  "What I need isn't simply money."

  The current Roman Republic was like a candle in the wind.

  The Republic, which had continued for hundreds of years, was shaking from within, and whether anyone liked it or not, change was inevitable.

  The transformation of the Republic into an Empire was by no means a coincidence.

  It was merely the result of decades of accumulated pressures.

  The rise of Marius and the rule of Dictator Sulla.

  The conflict between Rome and its allies, and the clashes between Plebeians and Patricians within Rome.

  And Caesar was at the center of it all.

  "I need to win the hearts of the Roman people. To do that, simply making money is not enough."

  "Anyone listening would think Lucius Caesar has ambitions to become king."

  Vitruvius replied with a laugh.

  For a brief moment, his expression turned serious.

  "Do you wish to become Primus inter pares?"

  Primus inter pares.

  The phrase meant something simple: First among equals.

  A man whose authority and dignity were recognized by all Rome.

  Pompey Magnus was presenting himself as as the first man of Rome, but even he still lacked sufficient authority and reputation.

  "The first man of Rome."

  I muttered.

  I had never thought of it that way.

  "What I want isn't something so grand."

  What truly mattered to me was protecting my family.

  The true family that taught me love and respect.

  Father, Mother, and my sister Julia.

  I would do anything to protect them.

  At that thought, I let out a chuckle without realizing it.

  "But my father might have a different idea."

  ***

  The temple in my dreams was, as always, quiet and peaceful.

  Inside the temple’s massive library, books were piled up like mountains.

  Among them were books covering insurance, water wheels, and soap making.

  Besides those, there were books on finance, history, public relations, and psychology.

  I had been devouring every book I could get my hands on for the past 17 years.

  "It's a relief that time seems to pass slower here."

  I picked up the psychology book I’d been reading the last time I was here.

  Although I could only come to this temple once a week, I could stay for a surprisingly long time.

  I never timed it exactly, but it was enough time to read several books.

  After reading for a few hours, I stood up and started walking.

  The massive corridors seemed endless.

  "What exactly is this place?"

  It was a question I had carried with me since the first time I came here.

  Why was I reborn in this era, and as Caesar's son of all people?

  The woman who welcomed me here hadn't given me any explanation.

  She had simply cast me into ancient Rome.

  Even if there were no afterlife and everyone was reincarnated after death, it was strange that I retained memories of my past life.

  Not that I was complaining about having a cheat like this.

  As I stepped out of the corridor, I noticed something strange.

  It was the massive brazier near the temple entrance.

  Someone was standing in front of those flames.

  “You’re...!”

  "It's been a while."

  A woman dressed in a pure white stola looked at me and smiled.

  "Lucius Julius Caesar."

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