Surprisingly, Crassus accepted my invitation right away.
He came to my company office the very next day.
He probably would have come even if I hadn't invited him.
He looked at the reception desk and the company staff with interest.
"Business seems to be going well, young Caesar. By the way, the office is neat, but the walls look a little plain."
He said with his characteristic benevolent smile.
"Right, a fine wool carpet recently arrived from the East. It would make a good gift for you. I think it would look good on this wall. What do you think?"
"How could I refuse your offer, sir Crassus?"
I nodded.
Anyone listening would think he only came to offer his congratulations.
Even though he's a man with a heart blacker than anyone else.
"Lucius, you don't know how happy I was to receive your invitation. Ah, may I call you Lucius? Since you're about the same age as my son, I feel a sense of familiarity."
"Of course, sir. Please, come this way. I'll show you to my office."
I guided him to the second floor.
"First, let me say this. All I can say is—magnificent. Honestly speaking, when I lent you the money, I didn't expect you to succeed in such a big business."
"It is thanks to you, sir Crassus—your loan made it possible."
"No need to be so stiff! It's all your doing, isn't it?"
A brief silence followed.
Crassus silently sipped the wine Felix brought.
"I'll be frank with you."
Crassus leaned forward.
"I want to buy your insurance business. With fair terms of course."
As expected, he's playing this card.
Acquiring my business.
This must be what Crassus wants most right now.
Since the method of making profits by purchasing fire-damaged mansions is blocked, the only thing left is to acquire the insurance business.
A goose that could lay golden eggs, potentially generating even greater profits than before.
When I just smiled without answering, Crassus continued.
"One million sestertii."
Crassus looked straight into my eyes.
"I will acquire your insurance business for one million sestertii. On top of that, I won't collect the 100,000 sestertii I lent you before. So you're earning a total of 1.1 million sestertii."
"You are truly generous, Master Crassus."
I quickly tapped the calculator in my head.
One million sestertii was also the minimum property qualification to become a senator.
It was an enormous fortune.
In the short term, taking the million sestertii and handing the business over to Crassus was profitable.
But I was the first to start the insurance business in Rome.
Due to the nature of insurance, the first mover has an overwhelming advantage.
Once people know your name, it won't be easy for latecomers to catch up.
Moreover, through the insurance business, I could elevate the status of the Caesar family.
Through this, I could secure an advantage in future power struggles and businesses.
This was something that couldn't be bought even with ten or twenty million sestertii.
"I sincerely appreciate your offer, sir Crassus, but I'm afraid one million sestertii is a bit difficult to accept."
I replied in as calm a tone as possible.
"Is that so? Then I'll raise the amount to 1.5 million. How about that?"
Crassus was Crassus after all.
Despite my blatant refusal, he nonchalantly offered a higher price.
Half a million more than before. But 1.5 million wasn't enough for me either.
"Five million sestertii. Nothing less."
If it's five million, I might change my mind.
"Absurdly high. You're not serious, are you?"
Crassus snorted as if it were ridiculous.
"I am serious."
"Fine, then I'll add another million. 2.5 million sestertii. This is my final offer."
"I'm sorry, sir Crassus."
"I won't make this offer again. Think deeply once more before refusing, Lucius."
Crassus's face gradually hardened.
"Accepting my acquisition offer is not just about gaining money, but also gaining my favor. If your father were here, he would undoubtedly tell you to accept my offer."
Now it was a blatant threats.
Crassus's eyes were those of a predator eyeing its prey.
"In Rome, there's nothing you can't get with the name Crassus behind you. And the reverse is true as well."
It was a blatant threat, but instead of shrinking back, I held my head high.
Crassus was subtly hinting at the money my father owed him.
Sorry, but I'm not a pushover who succumbs to this level of threat.
As the amount of borrowed money increases, the power dynamic between creditor and debtor reverses.
If my father can't repay the debt, the one who falls into trouble is actually Crassus, who lent the money.
When I didn't answer, Crassus repeatedly urged me for an answer.
"Make a wise judgment, young Caesar."
"I apologize, sir Crassus. I cannot accept that offer."
"..."
A short silence followed as he glared at me without speaking.
His expression changed in an instant; he smiled brightly.
"If that's your decision, so be it. What can I do? I can only hope that fortune favors your future business."
"Thank you for your understanding."
As I saw Crassus out of the building, Felix looked back at me cautiously.
"Will he back down quietly like this?"
"There's no way."
"Then aren't we in big trouble?"
"That's why I had you do something beforehand."
I shrugged.
A crowd had already gathered on the street in front of the building watching us with open curiosity.
"Crassus, of all people, visiting here... Did something happen?"
"If Crassus is trying to acquire Caesar's business..."
Looking at the murmuring people, I grinned.
With this, stage one was complete.
***
"What an insolent brat."
Crassus frowned as he looked at the street.
Like father, like son—both were rotten to the core.
Old Caesar was an incompetent man who didn't repay his debts properly, and the son even refused his generous favor.
"I didn't want to do this, but if Lucius won't submit, I have no choice but to take action."
"What do you intend to do, Master?"
"We will start an insurance business too. Let's offer insurance at a much cheaper price than Lucius."
Crassus said, leaning back in the litter.
Maybe this was for the better.
The concept of the insurance business wasn't that complicated.
Anyone with capital could attempt it.
In that case, having enormous financial power gave him a much greater advantage than Lucius.
In price competition, the side with more money always wins.
Lucius would pay the price for refusing his generous offer.
When he arrived home, he immediately summoned his subordinates to prepare for the business.
But that very evening, something completely unexpected happened.
"A crowd has gathered in front of the house?"
"Yes, it seems they are staging a protest."
"A protest? What on earth..."
Stepping out into the yard, Crassus's jaw dropped involuntarily.
A crowd easily numbering in the hundreds.
And they all had angry expressions.
"What reason could there be for such a crowd to gather in front of my house?"
"Listen to the slogans they are shouting, sir."
Crassus listened closely.
The slogans heard amidst the angry voices.
They were clear and distinct.
"Crassus, stop trying to eliminate Caesar Insurance immediately!"
"Crassus, who only cares about money, is now trying to eliminate insurance for his own profit!"
"The miser who torments Roman citizens, repent before the gods!"
Crassus frowned as he heard the slogans.
"Master, perhaps Lucius hired protesters to stage this."
"No, he wouldn't have the funds to hire this much manpower right now."
Crassus muttered.
It was rare for such a large-scale protest to occur in Rome.
A sight occasionally seen during election season.
"They're here of their own accord."
"But why on earth..."
"That cunning wolf cub."
Crassus said, clenching his fist.
Now everything became clear.
"So that's why he invited me to his building in the first place!"
***
As I said before, everything in Rome revolves around politics.
That applied to insurance as well.
To Roman citizens, it wasn't business. It was Caesar charity.
And just as insurance was spreading in earnest, Crassus visited Lucius Caesar.
None other than the man who'd profited most from Rome's fires.
"So what would Roman citizens think?"
"They would think Crassus is trying to eliminate insurance to protect his own profits."
"Exactly, Felix."
If Crassus tries to take my business, he can't help but draw the public's wrath.
Conversely, even if Crassus starts an insurance business himself, few would line up to sign.
The perception that Crassus is a miser who cares only about money is so strongly ingrained.
Doubts would inevitably arise about whether Crassus would really pay out when a fire hit.
"Then haven't you definitely won, Young Master? Crassus won't be able to touch us recklessly."
"That is true. But it's not a wise choice."
Crassus held immense power in Roman politics.
Quite a few senators and tribunes were on his side.
Compared to that, the reputation and influence I had in Roman politics didn't even come close.
Crassus would surely retaliate in some way.
The path I chose was different.
I wanted to protect my interests—and build an equal relationship with him.
The next morning, I visited Crassus.
"Lucius, I'm sorry, but I don't have the strength for pleasantries. May I ask what brings you here?"
"Of course, sir Crassus."
Looking at the weary Crassus, I smiled broadly.
"Do you happen to know about shares?"