Even in the new year, the streets of Rome were bustling with crowd.
With the lingering mood of the Saturnalia festival not yet faded, petals still remained in the Forum.
The same was true for the wooden tablets bearing the names of the victims of the fake Palmolive scam.
Although most had been cleared away, a few tablets commemorating the event were still attached to the Rostra.
Meanwhile, the Senate was arguing as fiercely as ever.
After long discussions, the lottery was approved, and the Senate formed a committee to prepare for sales.
But there was another controversy.
"The publicani have a duty to honor their contracts! To say they won't pay the designated taxes just because their profit is bad!"
"They aren't saying they won't pay! They are asking to reduce the amount they have to pay immediately considering the situation in the provinces, and to be given a deadline to pay it back gradually..."
"A contract is sacred! It cannot be changed arbitrarily!"
Rome didn't collect provincial taxes directly. It sold the right to collect them—contracts the publicani bid for—then demanded a fixed sum up front.
The publicani handled this work; they obtained the right to collect taxes through a contract and paid a designated amount to Rome.
However, as the economic situation in the provinces worsened, the publicani were unable to pay the promised amounts.
"If we set a precedent now, all publicani will refuse to fulfill their contracts in the future!"
The hardliners in the Senate, led by Cato, rejected the publicani's request outright.
Ultimately, the publicani had no choice but to ask for help from their biggest sponsor, Crassus.
"Do not worry too much, everyone. I will try to persuade the Senate somehow."
"We are begging you, sir Crassus. At this rate, we will all go bankrupt. The situation in the provinces is bad right now, so how can we pay this entire amount immediately?"
Amidst this atmosphere, the election period to choose new public officials began.
"Did you hear the news? They say over five members of the Metelli are running in the Vigintisexviri election this time."
"It looks like the Metellus family is going to sweep this election."
The Metellus family was one of the most influential in Rome.
A prestigious Patrician family that had produced six Consuls in fifteen years.
They formed connections with prominent families through marriage, and through that, advanced into even more magisterial positions.
By repeating this process, they established themselves as one of the most powerful forces among the Optimates, the noble faction.
But there was another rumor heating up Rome.
"I heard Caesar is also running in the Vigintisexviri election."
"Caesar? You mean Lucius Julius Caesar? I thought he was still too young to run for election."
"It's a bit of an early run, but the Vigintisexviri doesn't have an age limit."
"Caesar has accomplished a lot of things, but... even so, wouldn't it be hard to beat the Metellus family?"
While everyone's attention was focused on Caesar, a meeting was in full swing at his residence.
***
"If you tell me to take charge of this business again, I'd rather die. No, not just die, I'd take crucifixion over that."
Felix said, taking off his hat.
Having been officially freed from slavery, Felix had started wearing a Phrygian cap, the symbol of a freedman.
"Running the towers sounds easy when you say it, but doesn't it mean managing many towers while simultaneously training the operators?"
Felix continued.
"Palmolive and insurance are already giving me a headache; I cannot take this on as well."
"Don't worry too much. I'm not that terrible of an employer."
I coughed lightly.
Actually, I *was* planning to entrust it to Felix.
It seems I'll have to change my plans.
Men as capable as Felix were rare.
If Emperor Augustus had Agrippa, I had Felix.
He needs to live a long, healthy life and most of all, keep helping me.
"Just as you said, the semaphore towers aren't a matter that ends with simply managing the towers."
After meeting Pompey, I entered the temple in my dreams and studied related materials.
The woman who had reappeared not long ago wasn't there, but I was able to learn a lot about semaphore telegraph towers.
"We have to make sure the tower operators can memorize the signals, and we have to constantly change the encryption for messages."
Otherwise, other people could observe the signals and break the code.
We had to constantly change the encryption system to maintain secrecy.
Then we'd have to gather the sent and received messages in one place and manage them systematically.
Just like I said before, it was essentially a neural network.
To spread widely from the heart of Rome to its farthest edges, an elaborate system would be needed.
"I plan to ask Pompey to take that on."
"Pompey? Weren't you only asking him for help in this election?"
Felix asked.
"I know Pompey is the greatest general in Rome right now, but... will he be of any help with this kind of business?"
"A general isn't simply someone who only fights."
I answered with a smile.
There was another reason why Pompey was great.
Like all excellent generals, he understood the importance of intelligence gathering and administrative work.
Before heading into war, he always dispatched spies to gather intelligence, and he made victory possible through thorough supply management.
If it weren't for my father, no one would even dream of beating him.
"To install numerous towers, you need outstanding organizational skills and sense for logistics. Pompey has both."
"And countless veterans under his banner as well."
Felix nodded.
"But would Pompey accept such a proposal? I feel like he would consider it too trivial a task for him to do."
"He'll change his mind soon enough."
Sending and receiving communications holds a meaning far beyond simple text.
As everyone in Rome will soon realize, great power and glory follow it.
And influence, of course.
"What do you intend to do about Crassus? Anyway, didn't you reconcile with him along with Pompey last time? The Palmolive war with you ended too."
"I'll tell you about that next time. Anyway, what's important right now is building the test towers connecting to the port of Ostia."
"Of course, that's if you win the election, Young Master. The rumors on the streets right now..."
It was then.
Mother knocked on the door and entered.
"Lucius, I'm sorry to interrupt. Can we talk for a moment?"
"Of course, Mother."
I stood up from my seat.
I had a feeling this year was going to be just as busy as the last.
***
"It's not a problem that you're running in the Vigintisexviri election. No, it's actually something to be proud of."
Mother said, sitting in a chair in the atrium.
"You are running in an election using the influence and money you gained yourself through business. If you win this election, it will make your path to entering magisterial offices much easier in the future."
"The path toward the Cursus Honorum will begin, just like my father did."
I picked up the wine cup on the table.
Actually, I didn't have much interest in the Cursus Honorum itself.
Becoming a Senator, and furthermore a magistrate, didn't mean much to me.
But right now in Rome, power meant survival.
Not knowing what would happen in the future, I couldn't just sit still.
I had no desire to be stabbed in broad daylight and thrown into the Tiber River like the Gracchi brothers.
"You must know that the sons of the Metellus family are running in the Vigintisexviri election this time."
Mother said.
"They have countless relatives, not just from their main family but also through their maternal lines. Most of them are Senators, and there are an enormous number of former and current magistrates."
"Then are you telling me to give up on the election?"
"I am trying to say that there is no need for you to push yourself at such a young age."
Mother let out a sigh.
She wore a gentle yet somewhat bitter smile as always.
"There are many ways to become a Vigintisexviri without fighting the Metellus family."
"Yes, I just have to wait one more year. But I don't have the luxury for that."
I said.
If original history holds, my father will return from Hispania this year.
He will definitely plan to run for Consul after that.
Rome will enter a turbulent period and be placed right in the eye of the storm.
I intended to do whatever was necessary to protect myself and my family.
To do that, I needed to establish our family's political foundation before my father returns.
"You always speak like someone chased by time, Lucius. That part of you really resembles your father."
Mother shook her head as if giving up.
"But is that tower thing really worth it? Listening to Felix's explanation, it sounds amazing, but... still, it seems like it's just the same as sending a messenger quickly."
"If my towers could be built all over Rome..."
I fell into thought.
A completely different change from now would probably come.
Not just militarily and economically, but politically as well.
This was exactly the part I hadn't explained to Felix.
I guess nobody in Rome could anticipate what would happen.
"I, and furthermore the Caesar family, will be able to extend our influence throughout all of Italy. Until now, I've only been active in Rome."
Rome was the heart of the Republic, but ultimately it was just one city.
Numerous Latin cities spread throughout Italy, and going further, all the way to Gaul and Hispania.
"If we succeed, we will be able to secure an advantage more favorable than any other family."
"If someone else had said that, I would have called them crazy, but..."
Mother stood up from her seat.
"I can't dismiss what you're saying, Lucius. Then I will reach out to the people around me as well. I should be able to find people to help you in this election."
"Thank you, mother."
Nothing was more reliable than family.
There were still many politicians and clientes in Rome who supported my father.
"But you will need a considerable amount of money to win this election."
Saying that, Mother wore a thoughtful expression.
"The Metelli have already taken action. They are flooding the streets with money to buy the votes. That means they view you as a threatening opponent."
"I would need massive funds to face the Metellus family head-on. I'd probably have to pour in all the spare funds I currently have."
I nodded.
Right now in Rome, there was no surer way to win an election than buying votes with money.
But no matter how successful I made the insurance and Palmolive businesses, if I engaged in a war of attrition with a monster like the Metellus family, it was highly likely I would fail.
They owned massive plantations, real estate, and mines all over Italy.
"And even if I win that way, it will be a pyrrhic victory. The money poured into an election never comes back."
I could buy the citizens' favor in the short term, but the cost was too great compared to the position gained.
"Then what do you intend to do? Surely you don't mean you won't spend any money at all?"
Mother tilted her head.
"Your father also spent an enormous amount of money on elections."
"Money isn't the only way to win an election, mother. Marius didn't become Consul because he was rich either."
Gaius Marius had ascended to the position of Consul several times throughout his life.
He managed to hold a position that other Senators struggled to reach even once in their lifetime, a whopping seven times.
The Roman citizens not only passed a special law so he could become Consul consecutively, but they even granted him the privilege of not having to come to Rome to run as a candidate.
Marius didn't need to throw money to coax the citizens.
The citizens voluntarily handed him the supreme power of Rome time and time again.
Then what was his secret?
It was the Kingdom of Numidia and the Germanic tribes.
Rome was threatened by two mighty enemies, and Marius asserted that only he could defeat them.
And he actually did it.
Marius captured the King of Numidia and defeated hundreds of thousands of Germanic invaders.
No matter how much money you pour, in a Republic, what ultimately matters are promises and results.
"I will show the Roman citizens a new future for them."