"The first man to establish a veterans’ fund was Lucius Julius Caesar! And Crassus followed soon after, establishing one of his own!"

A man’s voice echoed across the Forum, commanding the attention of the gathered citizens.

Dressed in a stark black toga without a tunic underneath, his bizarre attire made him instantly recognizable even from a distance.

Cato the Younger.

"They deliberately manipulated the rest of the Senate into following their lead! And under the vile pretense of serving the Roman people, these ’foundations’ have been running a shadowy money-lending business! They promised to keep your money safe, only to secretly loan it out behind your backs to line their own pockets with interest!"

As the citizens murmured uneasily, the crowd around Cato continued to swell.

"What is he trying to say?"

"Who knows? Cato is always screaming about something. All he does is complain."

"Don’t be too harsh on him. When he was a quaestor, no one worked harder to root out corruption than he did."

Ignoring the whispering crowd, Cato plowed ahead with his fiery speech.

"And Lucius Caesar even exploited the sacred Floralia festival to further his father’s ambitions! He baited the merchants with ’advertising’, sparking a mass withdrawal meant to push those very foundations to the brink of collapse!"

"That’s absolutely absurd! Are you claiming Caesar engineered this entire crisis?!"

"I am!"

At a citizen’s outraged question, Cato pointed a finger at the sky.

"Caesar and Crassus had their funds ready beforehand, as if they knew exactly what was going to happen! They waited until the banks were on the verge of death, and then swept in to seize them at their weakest moment! They bought Rome’s gratitude by flashing their silver and posing as saviors!"

His voice rose to a fever pitch.

"Desecrating the holy Floralia festival for profit, and intentionally orchestrating a financial panic to seize control of the Republic’s wealth... This was Caesar’s master plan all along!"

"I can’t listen to this utter nonsense anymore! What have you ever done for the citizens of Rome, Cato?!"

"Are you calling Caesar a fraud right now?!"

Furious citizens began to push their way toward the rostrum, but Cato didn’t flinch.

Instead, he roared even louder.

"We must eradicate these parasitic foundations that are gnawing at the soul of Rome! And we must pass laws to ensure our sacred festivals are never again used as a tool for profiteering—!"

Cato never finished his sentence.

The enraged mob surged forward, completely surrounding him.

"Someone shut that lunatic up!"

Citizens hurled rotten fruit and swung their fists at him.

A violent scuffle broke out, and then someone screamed.

Cato collapsed, blood pouring from a gash on his head.

A heavy stone, thrown by someone in the mob, rolled to a stop next to him.

"Murder! Cato is dead!"

"Caesar’s supporters murdered Cato!"

Screams of terror and shouts of rage echoed across the Forum as chaos erupted.

***

"If we don’t act first, this is exactly what will happen."

Once I finished laying out the possible scenario with Cato, I leaned back in my chair.

It was only a product of my imagination, but it was plausible enough to be unsettling.

"A highly plausible scenario. Cato is exactly the type of man who would do something like that," Felix said, stroking his chin.

"He’s a contrarian who opposes things simply for the sake of opposing them. And his obsession with the mos maiorum—with Roman tradition itself—borders on fanaticism."

"Well, mimicking his ancestor is how he achieved his political success. It’s only natural he’d keep pursuing it," I chuckled.

Honestly, Cato’s personality was almost comical in its predictability.

He was a carbon copy of his ancestor, Cato the Elder—the man who famously ended every speech by demanding the absolute destruction of Carthage.

Uncompromising stubbornness, an unhealthy obsession with tradition, and an aggressively frugal lifestyle.

Yet, ironically, Cato loved drinking wine more than anyone else in Rome.

Considering my father hardly drank at all, the two men were polar opposites in every conceivable way, both politically and personally.

"That said, his great-grandfather had some rather bizarre quirks of his own." I said with a laugh.

"He allowed his male slaves to sleep with his female slaves, but only if they paid him a fee first. The man practically ran a brothel in his house."

Charging your own slaves for sex. What kind of depraved man does that? 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"That is certainly not a model of patrician virtue," Felix noted dryly.

"So, is it time you shared your master plan with me, young master?"

"I had a long talk with my father the other day and gave it some serious thought. We need some formal process to inspect and restrain the banks, and stop Cato from sabotaging the festival. We have to accomplish both simultaneously."

How could I solve both problems at once?

"Cato is a man entirely consumed by his own principles."

That rigid obsession was exactly why he committed suicide after losing the civil war in the original timeline.

Rather than accept Caesar’s pardon and live in what he saw as humiliation, he chose to take his own life.

During my election to the Vigintisexviri, he had inadvertently helped me by ruthlessly attacking Metellus.

And when I launched the lottery business, I had used his predictable nature to get my way.

"Therefore, the solution is remarkably simple. We give Cato exactly what he wants."

Felix’s eyebrows shot up.

"We give him what he wants?"

"But we don’t just stop there. We preemptively force it upon him."

Cato was as stubborn as a mule.

So, I was going to give him the opportunity to work like one.

***

Following Caesar’s spectacular return, the suffocating terror gripping the banks of Rome gradually began to fade.

"If I know my money is safe and I can withdraw it whenever I want, what’s the point of waiting in line at the Forum?"

"Exactly. Did you see the sheer volume of silver they brought? We have nothing to worry about."

As silver kites swept through Rome ahead of the Floralia festival, the Senate finally convened a session to officially address the financial crisis.

And at the center of attention were three—no, four—men.

Gaius Caesar, Lucius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus.

Lucius was present as Vigintisexviri, while the other three sat in the chamber as senators.

These were the men who had jointly pledged a staggering twenty-six million sesterces to save the Republic from economic collapse.

Furthermore, Caesar had willingly sacrificed his right to a Triumph despite achieving monumental military success in Hispania.

There was no longer a single politician in the Senate who dared to openly disrespect them.

Except for one.

"I see you’ve abandoned all pretense and are openly flaunting your little cabal," Cato sneered as the four men entered the Curia.

The senators aligned with the Triumvirate were already on their feet, applauding vigorously.

Even the neutral senators, along with those who owned or managed the rescued banks, joined in.

Amidst the thunderous applause, the four men took their respective seats.

"Now then, let us commence the discussion regarding the recent banking and foundation crisis," the consul announced.

Senatorial debates adhered to a strict speaking order.

The princeps senatus, the most senior and prestigious member, spoke first, followed by the former consuls and praetors in descending order of rank.

But today, the protocol shifted.

"Gaius Julius Caesar. Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. Marcus Licinius Crassus."

As the consul called their names, every eye in the Curia snapped toward the three men.

"We invite you to deliver a report on the resolution of the banking crisis."

A brief silence hung in the air before one of the men rose, as if the four of them had rehearsed it beforehand.

The returning governor of Hispania, the man who had forsaken a Triumph to save Rome.

Caesar rose.

"Following the funds provided by myself and my two esteemed colleagues, the withdrawals at the Forum have plummeted dramatically."

A collective sigh of relief swept through the Curia at his words.

Cato leaned against his hand, glaring at Caesar.

He could see right through Caesar’s insidious scheme.

They had used this crisis to increase their status and subjugate Rome’s entire banking world to their influence.

"However, this is merely a temporary stopgap. As long as these banks continue unchecked, a crisis of this magnitude is guaranteed to happen again."

Caesar’s voice was grim as he surveyed the room.

At his unexpected statement, a wave of panicked murmuring erupted among the senators.

"What is he talking about?"

"Don’t tell me..."

"I propose that the Senate conduct a thorough inspection of every single foundation and bank currently operating in Rome. We must determine whether they are truly using their funds for the benefit of the citizens, as they claim."

The Curia went dead silent, as if ice water had been dumped over the assembly.

The next second, the room exploded into a deafening uproar.

"A full-scale audit?! Have you lost your mind?!"

"We established these foundations out of the goodness of our hearts to serve the plebeians! And you dare suggest we submit to an audit?!"

Even Cato was completely thrown off balance. He frowned deeply, muttering to himself,

"What game is he playing now?"

There was no way Caesar was being genuine.

"Wasn’t it your own son, Lucius, who established the first of these foundations?!"

Amidst the screaming, a man sitting in the lower magistrate section stood up.

"As the esteemed senator pointed out, I did indeed establish the Veterans’ Fund," Lucius said calmly. "And senator Crassus followed suit with his own. However, this crisis has made it painfully clear that without proper oversight, these foundations pose a threat to the Republic. I am certain every senator in this room can agree with that."

His words triggered another wave of groans and frustrated sighs.

No one could deny that the reckless, unregulated lending by the banks had triggered the crisis.

And no one could deny that Caesar and his allies were the ones who had swooped in and fixed it.

"I fully support Gaius Julius Caesar’s proposal," Pompey declared, his massive frame rising from his seat.

Before his booming voice even faded, another man stood up.

"If we require regular audits, the citizens will place greater trust in the banks. A panic like this will never happen again," Crassus stated smoothly.

Now, Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus were all standing in unison.

Cato clenched his fists tightly from his seat.

He couldn’t fathom what their true objective was.

Were they hiding their true intentions behind a facade of transparency?

Or were they stating their true intentions outright, knowing everyone would assume they were lying?

Whatever it was, they were undoubtedly maneuvering to tighten their grip over the city’s moneylenders and banks.

Cato planted his feet, preparing to rise and oppose the proposal.

It was then.

"Let’s assume we do form an audit committee. Who has the ability and the honesty to audit every single bank and foundation in Rome?!" one senator shouted.

"Exactly!" several others chimed in.

"There is only one man in this entire Republic suited for such a monumental task. And that man is... Senator Cato."

At Caesar’s gesture, the collective gaze of the entire Senate snapped toward Cato.

"Cato?!"

"During his tenure as quaestor, senator Cato earned a legendary reputation for his uncompromising integrity and incorruptibility. Who else but Cato could be trusted with this responsibility?"

Cato bit his lip so hard he almost drew blood.

"I have no intention of playing along with your twisted little games, Caesar."

"The financial stability of the Republic and the livelihoods of the Roman citizens are at stake. I hardly think this qualifies as a game, Senator." Caesar replied with a faint smile.

"If no audit is conducted, the citizens will lose their trust once again. They will withdraw their funds from any bank that refuses transparency, and they will rightfully question the true motives of these ’charitable’ foundations."

His calm, measured voice echoed through the vast hall.

"Furthermore, the personal assets of myself, Pompey, and Crassus are not infinite. If a second run occurs, we will not be able to stop it."

One by one, the senators reluctantly began to nod in agreement.

Caesar’s logic was unassailable.

The men currently holding the financial lifeline of the Republic were Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus.

If they publicly declared they would no longer provide money, the bank run would instantly resume, destroying them all.

"At the very least, it will restore the public’s trust and buy us some time. And Cato is far too rigid to use the audits for political blackmail."

"I refuse to agree to this!" Cato shouted, his face contorted in fury.

"The only action the Senate should take is to outlaw every bank and foundation in Rome at once!"

"..."

As the senators exchanged weary glances, the Senate moved forward with the vote. It wasn’t long before a new resolution was officially passed.

***

"To think they would use a Senatorial decree to force my hand."

After the session concluded, Cato muttered to himself as he strode along.

Caesar’s attack had taken him completely by surprise.

No matter how hard he thought about it, it just didn’t make sense.

There wasn’t a politician alive who willingly exposed their own financial ledgers.

Yet Caesar had actively spearheaded the motion to make them public.

And to top it off, Caesar had nominated him —Caesar’s most vicious political enemy—to lead the audit committee.

Cato had no intention of accepting the role, but a formal decree passed by the Senate was absolute law.

To defy it would be to defy the Mos Maiorum itself.

"They must think I’m a fool."

Cato growled.

The war was far from over.

The moment they thought they had won was the moment he would strike back.

Caesar was likely planning to forge the ledgers or hide the most incriminating records.

"I will dig up every single piece of filth you try to hide from me."

No matter how deep they buried it, the truth always surfaced eventually.

Whatever trick they were playing, Cato was confident he could expose their lies.

However, that confidence was shattered shortly after.

"Senator, we have brought the documents you requested."

Clerks from the Veterans’ Fund entered the room, pushing heavy wooden handcarts stacked precariously high with ledgers and records.

"Wait, what is all this?"

"These are the financial ledgers for our fund, exactly as you requested, sir."

"All of this is just the ledgers?!"

"Yes, senator. However, the records have all been kept in the new numerals. If you are unfamiliar with the numbers, our staff will gladly assist you. Also, this is merely the first batch. We will bring in the rest of the carts shortly."

"..."

Cato stared at the endless line of handcarts in stunned silence.

The sheer volume of papyrus and paper stacked before him looked as though it could fill several rooms from floor to ceiling.

"How in Jupiter’s name am I supposed to review all of this?!"

"Ah, and Lucius Caesar sent you this."

An employee stepped forward and placed a covered silver platter on the table, right next to a mountain of paperwork.

He lifted the lid, revealing a beautifully roasted, mouth-watering moray eel.

"There is nothing better for easing exhaustion than moray eel, Senator. You will have need of it soon."

Looking at the employee’s serious expression, Cato could only let out a hollow, broken laugh.

Meanwhile, more and more handcarts continued to roll relentlessly into the room.

"Are there any other documents you wish to request, senator?"