Chapter 289
The first international academic exchange in history ended in resounding success.
Marcus's theories were applied across countless fields, and the scholars could now clearly see their path forward.
Thanks to this, the university presentation that marked the event's grand finale was met with tremendous enthusiasm.
So many scholars applied for teaching positions that a separate screening process had to be established.
The general public also showed immense interest.
It was a natural reaction, given the state's declaration that it would actively cultivate any bright and talented individuals.
No matter the era, parents always wished for their children to live better lives than their own.
Wherever a system allowed success through exams or scholarship, people recognized it as a means to rise from humble beginnings to greatness.
"The Shahanshah is truly an enigmatic figure."
Eusos muttered this aboard the ship returning to Greece.
"What do you mean?"
"How did he acquire all that knowledge?"
"Are you still doubting him? He is not a mortal like us. He's the real deal—a god born into this world in a human body. Doesn't mythology mention countless descendants of the gods?"
"I used to think myths were just myths... but now I have no choice but to admit it."
Eusos had yet to shake off the shock he'd received at the astronomy seminar.
The shock of having every truth he had ever believed in completely upended was beyond description.
However, he didn't feel only despair or regret.
When he encountered formulas that were incomparably simpler and cleaner than his own theories, he had even felt a kind of thrill.
A mountain of future research topics had also opened up.
A refreshing vitality, just like when he had first encountered astronomy, lingered in his heart.
In truth, though, the shock Theostos had received was far greater than Eusos's.
"You only attended the astronomy seminar, so it hasn't truly sunken in yet. I sat in on three different fields of discussion, and my entire perception of the world has been completely turned upside down."
"Was it really that profound? Well... if the astronomy seminar was such a massive shock, I can roughly imagine how the others went."
"Until now, we've merely been strutting around calling ourselves scholars while clinging to grains of dust."
"Athens and Rhodes are going to be turned upside down. The orthodox theories established over hundreds of years are about to be completely discarded."
"It won't just be Athens and Rhodes. Rome and Alexandria will be turned inside out as well. And strictly speaking, this isn't an uproar—it's a revolution."
Theostos laughed, his face still flushed with excitement.
"We should be grateful to be living in such an era of great transformation. How many people get to witness this sight—every piece of common sense they've ever known crumbling away, replaced by new truths?"
"When you put it like that, you're right. But why now, of all times? There must be a reason why Lord Marcus appeared."
"The gods must have been frustrated. Seeing humans fighting over bizarre theories, insisting they're right without making any progress. So, didn't he appear to deliver the truth? I've just decided to think of it that way."
It sounded plausible enough, so Eusos nodded in agreement.
In truth, the reason didn't matter.
Because, just as his dear friend said, being born into such an era as an intellectual was a stroke of unparalleled luck.
It was a divine fortune so immense that thanking the gods a hundred times over wouldn't be enough.
It was a bit random, but Eusos decided he would need to focus on his health once he returned.
He hoped to live at least a little bit longer so he could witness the coming changes of the era through to the end.
※※※
As the tail end of the year in which the scholars were introduced to a new world passed by, Rome was facing yet another transformation.
"Following Marcus's suggestion, we will pass the motion to divide the previously bloated powers of the Censor."
The moment Caesar's proposal concluded, the voices of the senators—acting like nothing more than automatic voting machines—erupted from all sides.
"I agree. The Censor held entirely too much power. In the past, a small number of people might have been able to handle the workload, but now it's inevitably beyond their capacity."
"The proposal to divide the authority among multiple organizations and have the heads of those organizations oversee the overall work seems highly reasonable. I am also in favor."
Only Cato looked on with distaste at a display that seemed more like a competition of loyalty.
Taking a breath, he cast his dissenting vote with his usual conviction.
"I believe we need to be more cautious. The role of Censor is a historic office boasting over three hundred years of history. Shouldn't we have more debate before abolishing such a position overnight?"
Normally, the other senators would have bombarded Cato with rebuttals, but lately, there was no need for that.
They knew perfectly well that someone else would handle the rebuttal without them needing to step up.
Everyone's attention turned to Cicero, who raised his hand and stood up from his seat as usual.
Since returning to the Senate, he and Cato had fallen into a routine of constantly tearing at each other's throats.
On the other hand, he maintained a good relationship with Caesar, who had helped him secure a place in the Senate once again.
Fears that Caesar would openly declare himself king once he gained absolute power had proven unfounded, so he had no reason to be wary.
He still felt a bit of aversion to the title of Permanent Consul, but he accepted it as unavoidable.
In truth, the Senate had forcibly held back a man trying to step down and nominated him themselves, so arguing about it now would just look ugly.
"As a conservative, I can somewhat sympathize with Cato's argument that we must preserve our traditions. However, he is overlooking something crucial. The only traditions worth protecting are those that hold value. The notion that we must keep a tradition simply because it is old naturally rigidifies a society. How did our Rome come to conquer the world? Why did Greece and Egypt, both once mighty, fall under our heel? Because Rome constantly changed and developed, while those two stagnated."
"Hear, hear!"
"Cato's opinion is far too antiquated!"
Cicero looked around at his fellow senators, who were showering him with applause, and leisurely continued.
"Our Rome is constantly progressing. I will honestly confess that I, too, have been setting aside time to study our recent economic situation. Fortunately, out of consideration for senators like myself, Marcus kindly sent texts all the way from the distant East. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to him."
Once again, applause and cheers poured from the senators.
Even Cato hadn't been able to formulate a rebuttal yet and was simply listening to the speech.
"When times change and circumstances shift, our institutions must naturally adapt to match. Otherwise, even Rome—currently enjoying its greatest golden age—might one day end up like Greece or Egypt. Just remember the recent Mugunghwa Crisis. There was also a time when merchants cleverly exploited loopholes in the system, driving up stock prices to reap the profits. The Censors failed to control the senators during that time. And naturally so. They didn't understand what was going on, either."
The two senators who had held the office of Censor at the time bowed their heads in shame.
It wasn't that they hadn't wanted to do their jobs.
Just as Cicero said, the tangled web of laws and systems had become so complex that they had suffered from cognitive overload when trying to make judgments.
That was why Caesar hadn't punished the Censors for failing to properly carry out their duties.
However, they couldn't just leave things the way they were, either.
Even setting aside simple political motives, there were more than enough reasons for the oversight organizations to become specialized.
By pointing this out, Cicero left Cato with no room for a counterargument.
"This is what I think. Moving forward, there is no tradition in Rome that we must unconditionally protect at all costs. In other words, reforming old traditions must itself become Rome's new tradition. Wouldn't such a spirit be the driving force that allows our Rome to prosper for thousands of years to come?"
It was a statement unimaginable coming from the old Cicero.
While half of his intent was simply to keep Cato in check, the other half was entirely sincere.
His passionate speech won applause and expressions of support from the senators, and even from Caesar himself.
Deprived of any grounds to refute the reform bill itself, Cato desperately racked his brain and launched an attack from a different angle.
"I have listened well to Cicero's excellent opinion. I will admit that I was short-sighted. Certainly, Rome's current development is incredibly fast. I often think the day might come when people like me, who remember the Rome of the past, are treated as relics of a bygone era. If there is a need for change, then it is right to change. I concede that point. However, we must also consider that overly rapid changes can accelerate chaos. Therefore, shouldn't a crucial position like the head of the organization be filled by an experienced and seasoned senator?"
Cato raised his voice, pointing to a specific section of the reform proposal Caesar had distributed.
"Looking at this proposal, it is structured meticulously and efficiently. I have no complaints about proceeding with it as is. However, placing a young man like Octavian at the head of the organization is something I think we should reconsider. How old is he? If I remember correctly, he isn't even thirty yet. In the past, he wouldn't have even been old enough to enter the Senate. Don't you think it's a bit dangerous to appoint such a young man to this vital role merely because he is a relative of our Permanent Consul?"
"That is..."
Cicero immediately tried to counter this as well, but Caesar raised his hand first to stop him.
"I suppose it would be better for me to explain this part myself. Octavian was not nominated for this position merely because he is my relative. If I have ever once prioritized personal relationships to entrust someone with a crucial duty, please, let me know."
"...Of course, you haven't done so in the past, but couldn't this be the start of it?"
"I appointed Octavian as the head of the oversight organization entirely based on his abilities. Those senators who have worked with him, whether privately or publicly, should know this. If there is a senator currently in the Senate with greater wisdom and deeper insight than him, feel free to recommend them. I would gladly entrust them with the role."
Naturally, not a single person could utter a word.
Octavian's capabilities had already been proven in multiple fields.
A man possessing an even more meticulous and cold-headed nature than Caesar, he also paid careful attention to his relationships with the other senators.
Even men like Cicero failed to pierce through the mask Octavius wore.
"I have met with him personally on several occasions, and Octavian truly is an outstanding young man. Above all, he is a youth who naturally embodies humility, respect for the Senate, and reverence for his senior senators. Furthermore, his scholarly knowledge is so profound that even I sometimes learn a great deal while conversing with him. You could say he reminds me of Marcus in his youth. I am convinced there is no one more suited for this role."
The rumor that Octavian might become Marcus's son-in-law was already an open secret among those in power.
Despite this, the Senate held deep trust in the young man who always maintained such a polite demeanor.
Caesar could have forced the motion through using his own authority, but he deliberately put it to a vote.
Even though it was an anonymous ballot, the motion to appoint Octavian as the head of the newly established Board of Audit passed with an overwhelming majority.
There was only one dissenting vote.
In practice, the dissenting vote might as well have had a name attached to it.