The water wheel spun with a splashing sound.
Thump—
Thump—
Thump—
The submerged paddles rose, pouring water forward again.
Watching the gears connected to the water wheel move, a strange sense of grandeur swelled in my chest.
With this, I'd just accelerated Rome's development overnight.
Everyone watched in awe.
"It really does turn."
Felix said, surprised.
"Of course. Considering who made it."
Vitruvius answered, puffing out his chest.
In the next moment, he bowed his head slightly and said.
"Of course, I couldn't have made it without your blueprints, sir Caesar. All I did was simply refine the design."
"If you hadn't modified it, it wouldn't be running properly like this."
I replied with a smile.
After all, it was Vitruvius who actually built this water wheel.
He had adjusted the size and shape of the water wheel in detail to match the flow rate.
If I had tried to build the water wheel exactly according to the blueprints on my own, it surely wouldn't have withstood the current and would have been smashed to pieces in an instant.
Then I would have become a laughingstock in front of the Roman citizens.
Having Vitruvius was really reassuring.
"Then let's check if the crank turns properly."
Vitruvius said, approaching the water wheel. The water wheel itself was important, but the crank was even more crucial.
The crank, which converts the rotational motion of the wheel into reciprocating motion, played a massive role despite its simple structure.
"Ooh, it's moving properly."
When we connected the pre-prepared wooden rod to the wheel, the rod began to move up and down in sync with the rotation.
I murmured without thinking.
"To think I'd see milling done like this in my lifetime."
"I'll have to adjust the length a bit so it rotates to fit the size of the barrel. Other than that, there don't seem to be any issues requiring modification."
"That's a relief."
Felix said with a sigh.
"Since the work is roughly finished now. Dragging me all over the city on your whims, Young Master, I really thought I was going to die."
"It's not over yet, Felix."
I said, placing a hand on Felix's shoulder.
I felt like I was working him too hard lately, but I was giving Felix a hefty bonus for it.
The most important thing for employee motivation was incentives.
With the money I was providing, Felix could also buy his freedom from slavery in a few months.
Though Felix himself was desperate to reduce work somehow.
"Installation is finished today, Young Master. So can't we just go home and rest now?"
Hearing my words, Felix's face turned white as a sheet in an instant.
"Have mercy—look at my face, sir."
"Preparations are all done, so you should check the first batch of liquid soap with me before leaving today, shouldn't you?"
"About that, there's work I need to handle on the insurance side today."
"Don't worry too much about that. I already assigned it to Babu in advance."
"Oh my, what sin did I commit in my past life for Jupiter to send me such hardships!"
Cornered, Felix eventually fell to his knees.
"How dare you say such insulting words to your master!"
I shouted in an exaggerated voice.
"By Roman law, I should whip you, but I will grant you special grace and sentence you to overtime instead."
"Please just whip me instead!"
"Do you two always carry on like this?"
Vitruvius, watching our little routine, burst into laughter and asked.
"Well, you could say that."
I replied, helping Felix up.
The water wheel was still turning with a vigorous sound.
***
Palatine Hill
Crassus's Mansion
"Move faster! Finish cleaning before the guests arrive!"
Hundreds of slaves moved busily, carrying out their respective duties.
From sweeping floors to managing valuables, attending to guests, and guarding the mansion, there was no part the slaves didn't handle.
On the outside, Crassus's house looked quite modest, unbefitting his reputation.
But the mansion was practically a palace.
And in the deepest part of that palace, the tablinum, the heir's education was in full swing.
"The most important thing in management is to closely monitor income and expen..."
"Enough! Enough!"
A man in a toga shouted, slamming the desk.
At his sudden shout, the Greek tutor flinched.
The man's name was Publius Crassus.
Crassus's eldest son.
He slammed his wine goblet down and shouted.
"Management this, management that! My ears are going to bleed. That's enough for today's lesson."
"But Master Crassus said..."
"What reason is there to learn the same thing repeatedly? Are you explaining to me how much your skills are lacking?"
"N-No! Then I will take my leave for today."
Startled, the Greek tutor gathered his papyri and fled the room.
A moment later, another man entered the room.
It was Pollio, Crassus's secretary and slave.
"It seems you still can't find interest in your studies."
"Pollio. Why is Father suddenly so concerned about my education? It feels like it's gotten much worse lately."
"Probably because of Lucius Caesar."
"You mean young Caesar everyone talking about?"
At Pollio's answer, Publius scoffed.
"What influence did that kid, who just turned 17, have on Father?"
"It was that kid who started the insurance business."
"Ah, that insurance? I think I've heard of it a few times."
Publius snorted and put his legs up on the desk.
"Come to think of it, Father also mentioned the name Lucius a few times recently. Did he say he sent our fire brigade to that guy's business?"
He waved a wine goblet toward Pollio.
"A fire brigade. Isn't the real lucrative business only real estate and slaves? How much money can you make with mere insurance?"
"The Master doesn't seem to think so."
Pollio sighed and said.
"Please stop threatening the tutors from now on, sir. Now everyone avoids just hearing your name. There's a limit to me finding new tutors."
"I'll consider it, Pollio."
Pollio nodded and left.
Left alone in the room, Publius fell into thought.
Lucius Caesar.
Surely, he saw that guy once at a banquet hall personally.
A kid who didn't even look like a man. Publius muttered, recalling Lucius's appearance.
"To be scared of a guy like that. Father has gotten old too."
***
"Isn't Young Caesar truly amazing? To achieve such great things at that young age."
"I agree. It's truly astonishing. Perhaps he received a revelation from the gods."
Roman Forum and streets.
Lately, one name had been on everyone's lips.
Young Caesar.
Many people looked at the insurance he started with suspicion. But the atmosphere changed as payments were actually made.
After that, the fire brigade went around suppressing fires, and even prevented fires by placing sandbags and water buckets throughout the city.
In hundreds of years of Roman history, no one had spent their own money to perform such tasks.
At most, they handed out cash during elections to pay for bread and wine, but actually improving daily life was rare.
As the frequency of fires decreased dramatically, rumors even circulated that Lucius Caesar had received a revelation from the gods.
That the goddess Vesta, who manages Rome's sacred fire and hearth, instructed him to create insurance.
"But didn't Goddess Vesta only give revelations to virgins?"
"His father is Pontifex Maximus, so you never know. Maybe he really did receive a revelation from the Goddess."
"I heard he's building something new near the river this time. Seems like some kind of factory."
"A factory? He's already starting a new business?"
News that Lucius Caesar was building something near the river gradually increased public interest.
Strange devices and tools never seen before.
The water wheel itself became a big topic of discussion.
Even some senators and tribunes came to see the water wheel.
"What on earth are they making there?"
"Isn't it a smithy?"
"I've never seen devices like that in a smithy."
Even before the first olive oil soap was produced, the attention of Roman citizens turned toward the riverbank.
Lucius, who succeeded in the insurance business and joined hands with Crassus.
What is that young man doing this time?
"Has anyone heard anything?"
Ironically, the person most surprised by this public reaction was Lucius Caesar himself.
"There are rumors that I started the insurance business after receiving a divine revelation?"
"Yes, didn't you stop by the temple before starting the insurance business, Young Master? It seems that's why such rumors arose."
"I went to research fire history, not to receive a revelation."
I didn't expect it to be misunderstood in this way.
Since people wouldn't know I went for data research.
Did they think I received some kind of revelation?
"Anyway, it's not bad for us."
Religion was an essential part of Roman life. Unlike the 21st century where the role of religion has diminished, everything in Rome right now was tied to the gods.
War and peace, marriage and romance—even politics. Everyone wanted the gods on their side.
If people want to believe I received a revelation from the gods, I saw no reason to correct them.
"Then let's use that misconception for this plan too."
"This plan?"
"A plan to get everyone talking about the new liquid soap."
What could be better than free marketing?
With all eyes on us, the first batch of liquid soap finally began to pour out.