“So who exactly is coming to the Popular Assembly today?”

  “It seems already decided that all Tribunes will attend. A fight will probably break out over that trademark law.”

  Men in togas spoke in low voices. They were major merchants who controlled the markets in Rome.

  From loans and guarantees for politicians to slave trade, real estate, and publishing.

  Their hands reached wherever there was money to be made.

  Recently, what they were focusing on was Palmolive, the new olive oil created by Lucius Caesar.

  Since the trend started, they had been making fake Palmolive and distributing it in the market.

  Thanks to that, they were making huge profits.

  “If the trademark law passes today, our business will be threatened too.”

  “Don’t worry about that. Even within the Senate, they don’t look favorably on this bill anyway.”

  One man said.

  “Especially Cato, I heard he even had a small fight with young Caesar at the Senaculum. Since his pride is at stake now, he won’t let the law pass.”

  “You’re right. If even one Tribune opposes, they can block the legislation. We’ve greased quite a few palms too.”

  Even as the son of the Pontifex Maximus, there were limits.

  No matter how independent the Tribunes were from the Senate, in the end, didn’t they all follow money?

  Just as they were conversing, a murmuring sound echoed through the Forum.

  A crowd surged into the Forum.

  [Association of Fake Palmolive Victims]

  At the unfamiliar Latin phrase, all the men frowned.

  “Association of victims? What on earth is that?”

  “It seems young Caesar organized a protest group.”

  “Did he pour money to hire that many people?”

  The unexpected crowd sent a ripple through the Forum. Except during election season, it was rare for such a large crowd to gather around the Forum.

  But what surprised them wasn’t simply the number of people.

  “Wait, what on earth is that?”

  “I can’t even guess.”

  He muttered, wide-eyed. The protesters were pulling several large carts in the center.

  The carts were piled high with sacks. But they couldn’t even guess what was inside.

  “What on earth is young Caesar plotting?”

  ***

  “You prepared very well for a first timer, Felix.”

  My words were sincere. At this level, it was comparable to a protest in the 21st century.

  “You have no idea how hard it was, Young Master.”

  Felix sighed.

  “But can we really pass your trademark law this way?”

  “We’ll have to wait and see.”

  To emphasize that citizens gathered voluntarily, I deliberately did not stand at the forefront of the protest.

  Doing so could give them a pretext to attack me for inciting chaos and division.

  While Felix and I were watching the protest scene, a massive man approached my side.

  It was the great Imperator, Pompey.

  “Truly amazing. How much money did you spend to gather this many people?”

  Pompey looked at the protesters gathered around the Forum with an incredulous expression.

  “I haven’t given them any money.”

  “They showed up like this without being paid?”

  “I merely gave the citizens who were scammed an opportunity to express their anger.”

  “I brought Hispania and the East into Rome’s embrace.”

  Pompey smirked.

  “Even I wouldn’t be able to gather that many citizens without throwing money.”

  “But a group protest alone won’t be enough. The Tribunes supported by the Senate will eventually cast opposing votes.”

  “I know.”

  “You know?”

  Pompey tilted his head.

  “Do you have another plan?”

  “It’s simple. Providing what Roman citizens love most.”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  What do Roman citizens love most?

  Chariot racing, gladiator fights, beast battles, plays, performances, festivals, speeches, and even triumphs.

  All of this could be summarized in one word.

  Entertainment.

  That was exactly my plan.

  Creating entertainment that captivates Roman citizens instead of boring debates.

  “I will present a show that Roman citizens will never forget.”

  ***

  The Forum of Rome was bustling with citizens from the morning.

  For them, the Popular Assembly was an event beyond simply exercising their vote.

  “So who is coming out today?”

  “I heard all the Tribunes have gathered.”

  At the Popular Assembly, citizens watched politicians they supported argue.

  It was an amphitheater—words instead of swords.

  The murmuring of citizens grew louder, making it difficult to hear the person next to you.

  Just then, one of the Tribunes stepped onto the Rostra and shouted.

  “Silence! The Popular Assembly will begin!”

  The massive rostrum called the Rostra was placed in the center of the Forum.

  As a trophy brought back after the war with Carthage, numerous politicians stood on this Rostra and gave speeches to citizens.

  As the trumpet sound demanding order resonated, the Forum fell silent.

  Ten Tribunes went up to the podium and sat in their respective seats, officially starting the Popular Assembly.

  The first person to step onto the podium was Pompey’s loyal subordinate, Aquilius.

  “I, Tribune Aquilius, request a speech from the great Imperator, Pompey!”

  A moment later, Pompey revealed himself on the Rostra.

  At the same time, shouts from his supporters echoed through the Forum.

  “Pompey! Pompey!”

  Pompey waved to them, fully showing off his massive physique.

  “My fellow citizens! You must know that all sorts of fraudulent Palmolive have been circulating in the market for some time now!”

  He read the speech, holding it in one hand.

  Pompey wasn’t much of an orator. However, the power emanating from his presence and voice was enough to overwhelm the audience.

  His long speech ended with this one sentence.

  “Therefore, I request the Tribunes to propose this law suggested by Lucius Caesar to the Popular Assembly vote!”

  “Hear, hear!”

  His supporters shouted with cheers.

  But not everyone reacted that way.

  “The big bear talks well!”

  “Pompey, who couldn’t even keep his promise to his soldiers, should step down immediately!”

  A few hecklers—paid by the anti-Pompey faction—booed.

  “What did this bastard say about our general just now?!”

  Citizens divided into two camps and shouted at each other.

  “Everyone, be silent! Silence!”

  Only after the trumpet sounded again did the Forum become quiet.

  Amidst the chaotic atmosphere, a man stepped onto the podium.

  It was a Tribune named Rufinus.

  “Citizens, there is one thing to consider before proposing the bill! First, I express my agreement that this trademark law proposed by Young Caesar and Pompey is for the public interest!”

  The man waved the hem of his toga to both sides.

  “However, this trademark law will bring great harm to Rome!”

  Like a priest foretelling doom, the man shouted with a confident tone.

  “If the trademark law passes, some will use it to intimidate other innocent merchants!

  Citizens, think about it! Is there anyone here who wants to be punished for a crime they didn’t commit?”

  The speech continued after that, but the point was simple.

  That the trademark law could be used as a means to infringe on the rights of merchants.

  “If we pass this bill today, this so-called 'trademark’ will be stamped on the bread you sell and the clothes you wear! It’s a trick by the Caesar family to tax all goods in Rome!”

  “That sounds right.”

  “That's just bullshit!”

  His speech had a significant impact on the public.

  The Forum turned into a battlefield between those who agreed with the bill and those who opposed it.

  Watching the citizens’ reaction, Pompey swallowed curses.

  With just one plausible reason, any bill could be rejected.

  At this rate, it was highly likely that they wouldn’t even be able to propose it, let alone vote.

  Tribune Aquilius also looked anxious, seemingly thinking the same thing.

  “At this rate, we’ll lose the initiative.”

  “I don’t know what young Caesar’s plan is, but if he’s going to do it, he has to do it right now.”

  Just then, a citizen’s shout echoed through the Forum.

  “Wait, look over there!”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “What is that?”

  The noise died in an instant.

  At the same time, citizens’ gazes turned toward the entrance of the Forum.

  “By Jupiter's name...”

  Hundreds of protesters were dragging carts loaded with large sacks.

  There were so many sacks it was impossible to count.

  “What on earth are you bringing into the Forum?!”

  The presiding Tribune jumped up and shouted.

  “Protest outside the Forum! Disturbing the proceedings of the Popular Assembly is strictly prohibited by the sacred laws!”

  “We are not here to disturb the Popular Assembly!”

  The man at the head of the protesters shouted.

  Pompey noticed the man’s gaze momentarily turn to one side of the Forum.

  Lucius Caesar was standing there.

  As young Caesar nodded slightly, the man shouted again.

  “We just have something to show the Tribunes and other fellow citizens!”

  The protesters began to untie the sacks one by one and spread them in the Forum.

  Inside the sacks were wooden boards, tablets.

  Uncountable numbers of tablets were spread on the Forum floor.

  Rumble—!

  A roar like a building collapsing covered the Forum.

  Wooden tablets covered the stone floor of the Forum in an instant.

  Dust rose, and revealed beyond it was a mountain of countless tablets.

  Seeing that sight, all the citizens wore shocked expressions.

  “Wait, what on earth is that?”

  “It looks like something is written on the tablets?”

  With everyone’s attention focused, the man shouted again.

  “Written on these tablets are the names of all the victims who suffered damage from fake Palmolive! Each tablet is a cry from a Roman citizen who were robbed of money by swindlers and shed tears of blood!”

  At the same time, the murmuring grew even louder.

  “Just how many victims are there?”

  “I’m truly speechless.”

  Amidst the shock that hadn’t faded, Pompey turned his head to look at Lucius Caesar.

  “So he was aiming for this from the very beginning!”

  ***

  “Silence! Everyone, silence!”

  All the Tribunes looked flustered.

  Of course they would.

  They might have expected protesters coming, but they couldn’t have imagined this situation.

  I looked at the wooden tablets spread across the Forum.

  Names of victims easily numbering in the thousands.

  I had been diligently collecting signatures from victims until today.

  Actually, the idea came from a classic movie I watched a long time ago.

  A Christmas movie called Miracle on 34th Street.

  There was a scene where thousands of letters children sent to Santa Claus were presented in court.

  It was a simple signature, but the visual impact was sufficient.

  There were endless names of victims enough to fill the Forum.

  Could the Tribunes just ignore this after seeing it?

  Doing so would prove they didn’t care about the welfare of citizens.

  Reason and logic mattered—but they rarely beat emotion. Aristotle said so too.

  The most important thing in persuasion was Pathos, appealing to the audience’s emotions.

  “Let’s drive the swindlers out of Rome!”

  Seeing the tablets, the audience gradually began to lean toward my side.

  It was then.

  “Young Master! Young Master!”

  Felix ran up to me, gasping for breath.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Another group of protesters is flocking to the Forum.”

  Protesters?

  Did the opposition organize protesters as well?

  If two groups of protesters clash in the Forum right now, it will lead to terrible consequences.

  One wrong move and the entire Popular Assembly could fall into chaos.

  “What protesters?!”

  “Well, that is...”

  Felix hesitated for a moment and spoke again.

  “It’s the Association of Insurance Subscribers.”

  “Association of Insurance Subscribers?”

  What on earth does that even mean?

  “It seems they are coming to support the passage of this bill. Did you organize another protest group without telling me?”

  “That’s strange.”

  Laughter burst out of me.

  “I don’t remember doing that.”

  If you’re enjoying the story, I’d really appreciate a review—it helps other readers find my story.

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  Only 2 reviews left until the bonus chapter!

  It’s about a modern-day engineer who suddenly finds himself as an ordinary worker in the Roman Empire, and he introduces new engineering technology to society.

  From Engineer to Roman, written by LordOfMans222. I’ve read 18 chapters so far, and it’s been a really entertaining and interesting read.

  Lucius

  Romans really had so many repeated names that even authors in nowdays can’t escape it, hahaha.

  His story is more focused on engineering and warfare than mine, but it’s really good.

  From engineer to Roman