ã€ŠI Became A Black Merchant In Another Worldã€‹


 Chapter 1

    These days, there are plenty of protagonists in otherworldly stories who want to live a peaceful, relaxed life.

    A life completely opposite to the busy, stressful one of the 21st century Korea.

    I¡¯ve lived comfortably in this world for about 20 years now without a single complaint.

    Except, of course, for the lack of electricity.

    ¡°Is the easy life coming to an end?¡±

    Once I walk through that door and hear my father¡¯s decision, my life will probably change 180 degrees.

    But there¡¯s no avoiding this moment.

    ¡°Father, I¡¯m coming in.¡±

    I knocked on the door three times before entering the room.

    The father of the body I¡¯ve been inhabiting looked at me with a serious expression and told me to sit.

    ¡°This will take a while. Sit down.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Yesterday, your brother¡¯s formal investiture as the heir was completed. As a result, I am no longer the head of the Medici barony.¡±

    He may have stepped down from his position, but it was only in appearance.

    My brother, the eldest son, is just a 30-year-old kid, so he¡¯ll need plenty of help from our father.

    ¡°By tradition, now that you¡¯ve reached adulthood, you have to leave this house. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re aiming for your brother¡¯s barony, but...you never know what might happen in life.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±

    He¡¯s essentially telling me to leave, but there¡¯s no point in arguing.

    If I resist, I¡¯d be seen as a traitor to the family, aiming for the barony, and might face a mysterious death.@@@@

    I find it oddly amusing that I¡¯m experiencing a classic banishment scene straight out of a web novel.

    But the father before me isn¡¯t the kind of cruel man who would kick me out for being the second son without any talent.

    ¡°Fabio, even though you¡¯re the second son, you¡¯re still my precious child. So, I¡ªno, the Medici family¡ªwill support you as much as possible. If you want to go to the academy, you can go. If you want to become a soldier, I¡¯ll make sure you have a path to become an officer. We¡¯ll give you ample funds from the family.¡±

    The academy he mentioned isn¡¯t the type filled with beautiful girls like in web novels, obviously.

    It¡¯s a place where 100% of the students are male, and upon graduation, you get a certificate equivalent to the fifth grade public service position in Korea.

    But having a certificate doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll be hired, so you¡¯d also need to make an appropriate donation when you apply for jobs.

    Becoming an officer would mean using the family¡¯s connections to get a cushy lieutenant post.

    It¡¯s not fair by any means, but that¡¯s how employment works in a fantasy world like this.

    No matter which path I choose, the family¡¯s spending won¡¯t be insignificant, but most nobles provide this level of support at minimum.

    Golden spoon fathers can¡¯t stand seeing their kids suffer because of a lack of money.

    ¡°What are you planning to do? I¡¯ll fully support whatever you decide.¡±

    Neither option appeals to me much.

    I¡¯ve already seen how the army and civil service function here, where it¡¯s normal to use family connections and money to secure a job.

    Right now, my mind is filled with countless examples of success stories distilled from many people¡¯s failures.

    Failure is simply not an option.

    In this fantasy world, the Tosca Empire, you have to establish ties with politics if you want to do business.

    From small-time bakery owners in rural villages to large merchants with dozens of shops.

    Because if merchants don¡¯t give respectful gifts to officials, they¡¯ll find any ridiculous excuse to destroy their shop.

    Korean history textbooks call a more polished version of this kind of control ¡®merchant monopoly rights.¡¯

    ¡°If I try to create something revolutionary, it could end up being for nothing if I don¡¯t win over the right people. So, I should start by making something that¡¯ll appeal to them.¡±

    I have the backing of the Medici barony, but they won¡¯t help unless I prove I can succeed independently.

    Declining an offer like a position in the academy or as an officer is like turning down an acceptance to Seoul National University¡¯s medical school in Korea.

    They won¡¯t take kindly to a son who rejects such an opportunity to become a merchant.

    ¡°The nobles in this world survive by flaunting luxury. I should make something luxurious first, right?¡±

    If nobles don¡¯t flaunt luxury, they¡¯re devoured by others.

    If you boast about frugality, other families will see you as easy pickings and come at you with forks and knives.

    So, they pour taxes collected from the people into luxury, all to uphold their family¡¯s prestige (and pomp).

    They¡¯re even willing to go into debt with merchants to flaunt luxury.

    Leading a new luxury trend means more chances to get close to the nobles.

    ¡°I need to create a new luxury item to show my potential. But what should I make?¡±

    Things like glass crafts are already everywhere, and if I spread concepts like Rococo architecture, it might not work.

    There¡¯s a 99% chance of failure because it won¡¯t fit the current trends.

    Art usually fails if it doesn¡¯t follow trends.

    And those trends are set by people as high up as emperors or grand dukes.

    ¡°So, in the end, it has to be something visually pleasing and delicious.¡±

    In this Tosca Empire, nobles spend most of their time, outside of eating and sleeping, attending lavish banquets and engaging in power struggles.

    Just by creating a fresh, visually appealing dish for these banquets, I could bring some exciting change.

    An indulgent dessert that¡¯s white, fluffy like a cloud, and adored by women...

    ¡°Should I start with a cake made from whipped cream?¡±

    A cake with a white base topped with vibrant fruits¡ªbeautiful to look at, and the ultimate luxury item loaded with sugar and fruit.

    It¡¯s sure to be a hit.

    Failure? That¡¯s simply not an option.

    _____________________________

    Dear Readers,

    I hope you enjoy immersing yourself in the plot of the book with me.

    Your thoughts and ideas mean a lot to me, and I would love to hear your feedback on the translation. Your thoughts, big or small, are incredibly valuable and help me continue to improve and translate books that resonate with you.

    If my translations resonate with you, I invite you to share your thoughts, feedback, recommendations, or simply pass the book along to a friend - your support not only fuels my passion, but also helps these stories find new readers.

    Thank you for being a part of this journey. I look forward to hearing your impressions and sharing how these stories have touched you!

    With warm wishes,

    SataBog??

 Chapter 2

    In the banquet hall of the Medici family, one dish caught everyone¡¯s attention.

    A cake adorned with pure white whipped cream and vibrant, jewel-like fruits.

    Naturally, the nobles¡¯ interest was entirely focused on this unique dessert.

    ¡°Has there ever been a dessert like this in the Tosca Empire?¡±

    Being unfamiliar, they assumed it must be some kind of exotic Eastern delicacy.

    ¡°The Bread Guild doesn¡¯t make anything like that. Could it have come from the East?¡±

    ¡°But it fits so well with the other dishes in the banquet.¡±

    They were both intrigued and cautious.

    ¡°To come up with something this new, they must have hired a genius chef. The new Medici Baron isn¡¯t ordinary.¡±

    Just as curiosity was heating up, Albert, the new Medici Baron, entered.

    Thanks to the new dessert, the atmosphere was relatively bright.

    It wasn¡¯t exactly lively, but curiosity was in the air, and so was a sense of heightened expectations for him.

    ¡®Fabio¡¯s new dessert is already receiving such high praise.¡¯

    ¡°This is a new dessert our family has created, a cake. We will serve it as the final course of today¡¯s banquet.¡±

    Nobles from families friendly with the Medicis congratulated Albert on his succession and exchanged small talk.

    In doing so, they subtly revealed their curiosity about the cake.

    ¡°I wonder what this new dessert from the Medici Baron will taste like.¡±@@@@

    As a result, the banquet meal was served a bit earlier than usual.

    Dishes like peppered tenderloin steak, pasta laden with cheese, and other dishes coated in spices like cloves and nutmeg.

    They were more about flaunting wealth than flavor.

    Most of the dishes fit the banquet of nobility perfectly but were, honestly, just expensive.

    ¡°And now, for today¡¯s dessert: cake.¡±

    Would something that looks this good also taste good?

    The nobles swallowed instinctively.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to seeing what this new Medici dessert tastes like.¡±

    ¡°I was getting bored of the same old dishes every time.¡±

    Nobles are incredibly sensitive to trends.

    Failing to keep up with changing fashions could mean political downfall.

    Decline often leads to ruin or even death.

    So, if they don¡¯t adapt to something new, it could be the end for them. The question is, should they accept this unfamiliar dish?

    ¡°Please, enjoy.¡±

    They swallowed again as they gazed at the cake, each piece carefully plated.

    It looked like a work of art, with glistening red strawberries atop the white whipped cream.

    The cake¡¯s true worth became apparent the moment they tasted it.

    ¡°The whipped cream melts sweetly, like snow.¡±

    ¡°What a delicious dessert. Truly worthy of the Medici name.¡±

    ¡°This is bound to start a trend.¡±

    The other banquet dishes served only to showcase wealth, and many nobles felt it wasn¡¯t even worth eating.

    But the cake had just the right amount of sweetness, not too overpowering, and the strawberries¡¯ fresh tanginess was perfectly balanced.

    It was so good that they already wanted to have it again the next day.

    Some nobles even let their guard down in front of the Medici Baron.

    ¡°Baron Medici, could I have another slice? It¡¯s truly delicious.¡±

    ¡°Your steps seem bolder.¡±

    Father smiled the moment he saw me.

    It¡¯s only natural he¡¯d be pleased to see his child achieving results to be proud of at such a young age.

    With a smile, he pushed a basket on his desk toward me.

    The basket was full of letters from nobles.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard from Sebastian, so I won¡¯t belabor it. You did well. Thanks to you, Albert was able to hold his head high.¡±

    To nobles, banquets are wars where lives are on the line.

    Of those, weddings, funerals, and the first banquet held after assuming lordship are particularly important.

    ¡®The debut banquet is a moment where a noble¡¯s capabilities are assessed.¡¯

    Father¡¯s praise was soon followed by a sigh.

    ¡°You¡¯re standing out even in a humble trade. It makes me think you could have a stellar career as an officer or official. But since you¡¯ve kept your promise, I won¡¯t force you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re serious about business, you¡¯ll need seed money. How much will you need?¡±

    The more initial capital, the better.

    But there¡¯s no point in speaking too broadly to a noble who¡¯s survived lifelong political battles.

    ¡°One suitable shop in Vecchio Street, a skilled pa?tissier, and fifty gold coins.¡±

    I can¡¯t precisely convert a gold coin into Korean won.

    That¡¯s because the nominal value of currency in this era differs vastly from 21st-century Korea.

    But, based on the Tosca Empire¡¯s standards...

    Fifty gold coins would buy you a middle-class home in the capital.

    ¡°You¡¯re asking for quite a bit.¡±

    ¡°I believe what I¡¯ve done is worth that much. And I¡¯ll return the favor with political gains.¡±

    It may seem excessive to ask for the equivalent of a small apartment for a single new cake...

    But what I¡¯ve done is worth at least that much.

    I¡¯ve proven that the Medici family won¡¯t have uncertainties in its leadership succession, and I¡¯ve raised the family¡¯s prestige.

    ¡°What do you intend to do?¡±

    ¡°I want to create a space where people can chat over cakes, pastries, and tea.¡±

    Introducing new pastries or cakes every few months in a world that doesn¡¯t have them will quickly turn it into a trendsetting hotspot.

    Nobles are thirsty for anything new in this stagnant environment.

    Once at the center of trends, the cafe? will become a hub for political and economic influence.

    ¡°Even though you¡¯ve made a name for yourself with your cake, Fabio de Medici, that alone won¡¯t be enough to attract people.¡±

    Currently, I¡¯m just the second son of a barony who invented a new dessert.

    I¡¯m not exactly unknown.

    But people won¡¯t flock to the cafe? just for my name.

    So, I¡¯ll use another strategy.

    ¡°I¡¯ll use the cake¡¯s reputation to attract courtesans.¡±

    Courtesans, the empire¡¯s equivalent of Korea¡¯s geishas or idols.

    As idols, they heavily influence trends across the empire.

    Why? Because they¡¯re stunningly beautiful.

    And if beautiful women¡ªidols, no less¡ªfrequent the cafe?, there¡¯s no way it could fail.

    ¡°Just by giving them free cakes and pastries, they¡¯ll line up to come.¡±

    Father picked up a pen and quickly wrote an order and a check.

    ¡°You¡¯ve proven your worth, so do as you please. Even if you fail, I won¡¯t hold it against you.¡±

 Chapter 3

    The courtesans of Joseon and this world are worlds apart in status.

    It¡¯s not simply a matter of being free citizens versus lowborns; many courtesans here come from noble families.

    These are women who either missed their short window for marriage or whose families have fallen from grace.

    Raised as noblewomen, they possess knowledge, grace, and refined education from birth.

    With noble blood and a strong will to live life actively, these women have what it takes to become everyone¡¯s favorite.

    Especially here on this continent, where it¡¯s considered a virtue to keep multiple courtesans or even mistresses in addition to one''s wife.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. I am Fabio de Medici, the second son of the Medici family. It is truly an honor to be in the presence of such beauty.¡±

    The standard greeting for any noble when meeting a courtesan.

    But at this moment, I wasn¡¯t exaggerating a single word.

    The person before me had the looks that could rival any Hollywood actress.

    ¡®So this is what they mean by eye candy.¡¯

    ¡°Pleased to meet you.¡±

    She spoke politely, but her attitude conveyed a sense of looking down on me. I couldn¡¯t blame her for that.

    After all, she was a courtesan of Count Bovong, my father¡¯s lord. In terms of power alone, she was far above me, a mere second son of a barony without a title.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been indebted to the former Baron Medici for some time, so I¡¯m glad to finally have a chance to repay that favor.¡±

    She flashed a smile that could easily captivate anyone.

    Her smile was like a living photograph, mesmerizing.

    No wonder men are so crazy about courtesans.

    ¡°And I¡¯ve also been quite interested in you, young master.¡±

    ¡°What might that be about?¡±

    Her gaze landed on the refreshments before us.

    A white whipped cream cake and a fragrant cup of tea.

    ¡°It¡¯s only a dessert, but it became a sensation the moment it was made. Thanks to that, you¡¯ve become quite well-known in social circles.¡±

    In the 21st century, being a trendsetter, even in Korea, wouldn¡¯t get you a seat in the National Assembly.

    But in this era, power fluctuates based on one¡¯s reputation among nobles.

    To lead a trend is to overcome a significant hurdle to success.

    Who knew that making just one cake would earn me this much recognition?

    ¡°I¡¯m grateful for your kind words about someone as inexperienced as me, madam. I came today with a special favor to ask.¡±

    ¡°Yes, feel free to speak. I¡¯ll introduce you to a perfect partner for you.¡±

    In the Tosca Empire, it¡¯s common knowledge that when a noble debuts in society, they attend with a courtesan.

    In romance fantasy novels, they bring their legitimate wives.

    But in reality, politically arranged marriages are often loveless, so it¡¯s not uncommon for men to bring a courtesan as a partner, even if they¡¯re married, unless it¡¯s a particularly formal occasion.

    For a man, it¡¯s simply more convenient to go with a beautiful, well-mannered, and obedient woman.

    In the 21st century, it would be impossible to understand someone cheating on their wife, but what can you do?

    In a world full of one-eyed people, someone with both eyes straight ahead would be considered abnormal.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that. I came to ask for a little help with my business.¡±

    ¡°Do you want me to introduce you to other nobles or merchants?¡±

    Honestly, it does make me feel a little guilty, given the unfairness I faced when looking for part-time jobs in Korea.

    But a guilty conscience doesn¡¯t pay the bills.

    It¡¯s not as if I¡¯m betraying anyone, so there¡¯s no reason to feel bad.

    The man left with a dejected look.

    ¡°Hiring staff based on appearance sure makes for a pleasant view.¡±

    The men in suits looked quite handsome, and the women in maid uniforms brightened up the surroundings.

    The furniture, floor, wallpaper, and tableware¡ªall carefully chosen¡ªcreated a scene that looked like something out of a romance fantasy novel.

    ¡°And desserts and tea that women go crazy for? This place is bound to be a trendsetter.¡±

    Once the opening creates a buzz, it¡¯ll be chaos.

    Nobles, unfamiliar with the concept of patents, will undoubtedly try to imitate our cafe?.

    They¡¯re a bunch who can¡¯t stand not having what others have.

    And they¡¯re always ready to do whatever it takes if there¡¯s money to be made.

    The grand clock I¡¯d bought to set the cafe?¡¯s ambiance and track time chimed.

    ¡°Is it time to open?¡±

    Since the staff training wasn¡¯t quite complete, this opening is only temporary, just a trial run.

    The employees, lured by high salaries and rigorously trained, quickly moved to their positions.

    The moment we opened, a few women in extravagant dresses arrived at the cafe?.

    ¡°Welcome.¡±

    A male staff member in a suit approached to greet them.

    He smiled as he welcomed them, and the women smiled back.

    After all, being good-looking is always best.

    ¡°I¡¯ll show you to the terrace.¡±

    The man guiding them was actually a regular citizen chosen for his face and height.

    Thanks to crash training, his movements had a dignity that rivaled that of a noble¡¯s butler.

    Not quite a match, but close.

    ¡°What would you like to order?¡±

    After taking their orders, the courtesans began chatting.

    They talked about the cafe?, events from yesterday, and which clothes looked good...

    And onlookers¡¯ gazes lingered on them as they passed by.

    Different expressions, but generally filled with admiration and a touch of envy.

    A few noble ladies saw the cafe? sign and were about to step inside.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ladies, but we¡¯re not officially open yet. Only special guests pre-approved by Young Master Fabio can enter.¡±

    They looked like they wanted to protest.

    But after looking at the staff¡¯s convincing expressions, they nodded in understanding.

    ¡°We officially open the day after tomorrow, so please visit us then.¡±

    By the end of the day, it felt like a whole truckload of noble ladies had promised to visit.

    Success was practically guaranteed.

 Chapter 4

    I arrived a few hours early to prepare for our first day of business.

    I didn¡¯t expect anyone to be here yet.

    ¡°Get out of the way! Do you even know which noble family my lady belongs to?¡±

    ¡°Do you think your lady is the only noble here?¡±

    ¡°One punch and I¡¯ll send you flying, you lowlife!¡±

    Our cafe? is not meant for commoners.

    So, I wouldn¡¯t expect people speaking so coarsely out in the open to be our customers.

    The noble ladies themselves would never stand in line like this. That would be unbecoming of their status.

    So, they must have sent their servants in their place.

    Once the doors open, noble ladies from various families will be pouring in.

    ¡°Antonio, have you finished cleaning up the cafe? and getting everything ready?¡±

    Antonio, the only dashing middle-aged man here and our deputy manager.

    Normally, he carries a subtle smile and has a relaxed, gentlemanly demeanor.

    But maybe the unexpectedly large crowd is getting to him.

    He was smiling, but the corners of his mouth were twitching a bit.

    ¡°As you instructed, the cafe? has been thoroughly cleaned, and we¡¯ve prepared an ample supply of cakes and tea leaves. However, I¡¯m afraid we might not be able to handle this many customers with our current staff.¡±

    I had anticipated a crowd for the grand opening.

    So, we hired more staff than we needed for the cafe?¡¯s size and stocked up on plenty of supplies¡ªenough to make even Antonio anxious.

    But at this rate, we might run out of ingredients before the end of the day.

    Maybe even faster if people start taking cakes to go.

    ¡°Tell the kitchen to put more hands on baking. While not everyone can handle the whipped cream and decorating, anyone should be able to help with the dough.¡±

    Spreading whipped cream evenly isn¡¯t exactly difficult.

    It¡¯s just not something a novice can pick up in an instant.

    On the other hand, anyone can manage the dough as long as the measurements are correct.

    ¡°Also, pick someone who can write, and set up a temporary stall outside to start taking orders for those wanting to take their cakes to go.¡±

    Of the servants waiting out there, probably half, maybe two-thirds, are here to buy cakes to take back home or to a tea party.

    ¡°Spread out the crowd and, since it¡¯s not open yet, hire some porters to help with deliveries.¡±

    While the noble ladies themselves aren¡¯t waiting, it¡¯s also not ideal to keep their servants waiting too long.@@@@

    ¡°And give those waiting out there a glass of water¡ªor better yet, some warm soup. It¡¯s late autumn, and they must be cold and hungry from waiting since the morning.¡±

    Serving dozens of bowls of soup would be a considerable expense.

    But if it buys goodwill, it¡¯s a cheap price to pay.

    And the profit from the patrons buying cakes and tea will more than cover this cost.

    ¡°Oh, thank heavens, I was freezing out here!¡±

    The faces of those who received the soup lit up with smiles.

    They¡¯d go home and spread stories about how kind the Medici family¡¯s second son is, even to servants.

    ¡°We¡¯re about to open!¡±

    With that announcement, noble ladies, elegantly dressed, appeared from all sides.

    They switched places with their servants and filed into the cafe?.

    ¡°This place has such an atmosphere.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s relaxing here. I like it.¡±

    The ladies looked around with gleaming eyes.

    The tables and chairs, the handpicked staff, the pretty cakes and cookies...

    Everything was meticulously tailored to appeal to a feminine sensibility.

    ¡°Unlike tea parties at home, we can talk freely here. It¡¯s so nice.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, at tea parties, you¡¯re forced to pretend to be friendly with women you don¡¯t even like.¡±

    I designed this cafe? to be a place where people could come with friends, free from political obligations.

    If it becomes a place for women to gather and chat, like a salon...

    ¡°Here you are, milady.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Please come again.¡±

    As soon as she left, one of the young men made his move.

    ¡°Excuse me, but would you like to have a cup of tea with me?¡±

    He stammered a bit, blushing as red as an apple.

    But whatever he said seemed to work, as the two soon sat together, chatting away.

    By the end of the day, quite a few patrons had ended up on impromptu dates.

    Cafe? Medici had quickly become a sanctuary for those seeking genuine encounters.

    The cafe? had swiftly become the talk of the social scene, thriving in its role.

    ¡°Reckoning is complete.¡±

    Business went far better than expected.

    I could probably expect a decent profit, but let¡¯s see how much we made.

    ¡°Our total revenue: 7 gold coins, 8 silver coins, and 72 copper coins. Total: 78 pounds, 72 pennies. Total expenses: 1 gold coin, 9 silver coins, and 95 copper coins, 19 pounds, 95 pennies.¡±

    Daily revenue around 6 gold coins.

    Considering the initial loan of this building and 50 gold coins from my father, it might not seem like much.

    But 6 gold coins are about a year and a half of income for a city commoner.

    The wealth disparity here is far greater than in 21st-century Korea, but still, to earn that much in a single day...

    ¡°Hurrah! Hurrah!¡±

    I was the only one cheering, but I didn¡¯t feel embarrassed.

    With steady earnings like this, I could live quite comfortably.

    ¡°Congratulations, young master.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Antonio.¡±

    ¡°This was all thanks to your efforts.¡±

    I did all the planning.

    But without their hard work, it would have been a meaningless pipe dream.

    ¡°It was your hard work that made this possible. Thank you.¡±

    To succeed, you must reward your subordinates for their contributions.

    That way, they¡¯ll work even harder...

    And stand by you in times of danger.

    ¡°Antonio, other staff members get a daily wage of 3 coppers and 3 pennies.¡±

    Antonio, as the deputy, earns twice as much as regular staff.

    Compared to my earnings, it might seem stingy.

    But in this line of work, a daily wage of 1 penny and a copper coin is typical.

    3 pennies is like a full-time position at a major corporation in Korea.

    ¡°Today, since it¡¯s our first day, and you¡¯ve all done so well, I¡¯ll double your wages. Thanks for your hard work, and I look forward to more.¡±

    Everyone cheered.

    After all, regardless of the cafe?¡¯s earnings, their own pay is what matters most.

    ¡°Line up, everyone.¡±

    The only reason I¡¯m personally handing out wages is simple.

    Since I¡¯m paying, I want them to feel a bit more grateful.

    Those who received their unexpected wages bowed deeply and repeatedly.

    ¡°Thank you, young master. Really, thank you!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll always share my joy with you when there¡¯s good news. Treat this place as your own and work hard. Good job today, everyone. Tomorrow, same time. Antonio, post a notice for more bakers, and send a letter for extra carts before you leave.¡±

    Our cafe? flourished with all of us working as one...

    Until just two weeks later, an unexpected trouble arrived.

    ¡°Who¡¯s the bastard who reported Cafe? Medici to the church as a den of debauchery?¡±

 Chapter 5

    As soon as I heard that we¡¯d been reported to the church, I was stunned.

    This isn¡¯t Joseon during the era of strict Confucian rules, where men and women over the age of seven shouldn¡¯t mix. Are they really reporting us for men and women happening to meet and talk here?

    It¡¯s not as if we¡¯re setting up mixed tables like in a club.

    ¡°So, what exactly is going on?¡±

    A sigh escaped my lips, and I clenched my fists without realizing it.

    Samuel, my butler, shook his head.

    ¡°Baron Valiano reported to Vice-Bishop Christian, accusing Cafe? Medici of promoting natural encounters between men and women, which he claims is a vile act that goes against the Bible and church doctrine.¡±

    Sure, in principle, noble marriages are supposed to be arranged by the family.

    Romantic relationships are considered as obscene as walking naked through a park and having public relations.

    But this principle is rarely upheld in practice.

    For all but the most high-ranking nobility, it¡¯s quite common for younger children to fall in love and marry from a chance encounter at a ball.

    ¡°Hypocritical bastards. They think they¡¯re so pure?¡±

    In medieval and early modern Europe, it was generally expected that a man would take one woman as his wife and love her for life.

    But in a society where macho pride was a measure of power, loving only one woman was almost an impossibility.

    They satisfied their lust with ¡°free love,¡± with courtesans, with maidservants selected solely for their looks, and so on.

    Men who didn¡¯t participate in such practices were branded as weaklings and became fodder for gossip.

    The same goes for the Tosca Empire, and the church here doesn¡¯t clamp down on it.

    In confession, they¡¯ll just take this as an opportunity to extract more donations.

    In fact, church priests often go out the back to ¡°relieve¡± their troubles or enter de facto common-law relationships.

    But when someone powerful breaks moral codes, it¡¯s called a ¡°romance.¡± When someone weak does it, they¡¯re a criminal just for breathing.

    ¡°Vice-Bishop Samuel claims Cafe? Medici is a den of debauchery, where young men and women commit indecent acts that defile the Lord¡¯s name. He intends to punish us severely in the church court.¡±

    ¡°And, of course, the judge will be the Vice-Bishop himself.¡±

    When people hear ¡°church court,¡± they probably think of witch trials where the guilty verdict is predetermined, and the punishment is usually burning at the stake.

    However, sentencing someone to be burned alive is considered one of the harshest executions, even by medieval standards, and is rarely carried out.

    More than likely, they won¡¯t kill me outright since I¡¯m a Medici noble and I haven¡¯t openly defied the church.

    But the punishment will be far from light.

    ¡°He¡¯ll likely order Cafe? Medici to be shut down, all our profits confiscated, and label me with all sorts of excuses as a godless heathen.¡±

    Cafe? Medici is already a trend in the Tosca Empire.

    Nobles seek natural encounters and conversations here, and our cakes are a staple at every banquet.

    If I continue like this for a year, I could earn enough to buy a small village.

    After all, a baron¡¯s second son ranks about as high as a second lieutenant in the military, while a duke is akin to a field marshal.

    ¡°Your Grace, Fabio de Medici, the second son of Baron Medici, has sent you a letter directly.¡±

    The Duke let out a small chuckle.

    The Medici family is one of his top vassals among the thousands under him...

    But even then, there¡¯s a vast chasm between a baron and a duke.

    For the second son to be making requests, it¡¯s almost laughable.

    But there¡¯s something about a young man bold enough to make such a request.

    If it¡¯s a desperate move, he¡¯ll be disappointed, but if it¡¯s calculated?

    ¡°Fabio de Medici... the one who created that cake and Cafe? Medici. How bold of him. What did the letter say?¡±

    ¡°He claims to have a proposal that could benefit Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°The kid¡¯s crazy.¡±

    The Duke smirked.

    Even though he said that, he was curious to see what this young man, who made such an impression with his cakes, had to say.

    ¡°And it seems he¡¯s currently being prosecuted by Vice-Bishop Christian.¡±

    ¡°A man with that little sense? He¡¯s either crazy or a genius.¡±

    As Duke of the Visconti family, he¡¯d met all kinds of people over the years.

    Among them were some of the most talented individuals.

    ¡°Talented people often make seemingly insane moves to achieve the best results.¡±

    A brilliant mercenary captain, who he had once made a baron, had charged into an enemy camp of thousands with only a few dozen men when everyone else insisted on retreat.

    It had seemed like madness at the time, but it won them a resounding victory in a nearly lost battle.

    ¡°It¡¯s better than groveling for help with nothing to offer. Why should I aid those who don¡¯t fulfill their duties?¡±

    ¡°Precisely. Those who beg for help without offering anything in return are worthless.¡±

    ¡°What do you think? Shall I meet with him?¡±

    The Duke had a personal interest, but objectively, Fabio de Medici was worth investing in.

    In just a few weeks, he¡¯d grabbed hold of the Empire¡¯s latest trend, political influence, and a sterling reputation in the social scene.

    Despite receiving minimal support from his family, he¡¯d accomplished all this.

    If the Duke poured money into him and provided protection, who knows? Fabio might bring forth diamonds, not just golden eggs.

    ¡°Clear my schedule for tomorrow afternoon.¡±

    _____________________________________

    TL Notes:

    As we see Fabio navigating the power struggles of the Tosca Empire, his frustration with the era¡¯s rigid norms is palpable. In a world where the church wields significant control over personal freedoms, Fabio''s resourcefulness and bold ambition set him apart. His struggle against the church¡¯s influence is a reminder of how deeply ingrained societal expectations can be¡ªand how difficult it is to challenge them, even with modern insights.

    Fabio¡¯s sharp commentary and clever tactics make him a unique protagonist who not only aims to profit but also to disrupt and reshape the social landscape. As he seeks allies like Duke Visconti, we¡¯re beginning to see how he might tip the scales in his favor. Stay tuned as Fabio¡¯s journey continues, and don¡¯t hesitate to share your thoughts on his strategies and confrontations. What do you think will be his next move?

 Chapter 6

    In reality, while a baron might be comparable to a congressman in terms of status, they often appear as minor characters in fantasy novels. A duke, on the other hand, is always depicted as a high-ranking figure in such stories.

    That¡¯s understandable¡ªdukes in this world are akin to party leaders or prime ministers in the 21st century. They wield enormous power.

    After spending nearly 20 years in the Tosca Empire, I felt a strange mixture of awe and anxiety about whether I should humble myself accordingly.

    "Thank you very much for sparing the time to see me, Your Grace."

    Bow too low before powerful people, and it¡¯s the wrong answer.

    It¡¯s not that one should eat humility with a spoon, but one must show modesty tempered with confidence to avoid being looked down upon.

    ¡°If you had trembled like those other ordinary men, I would have been disappointed. I quite like your confidence¡ªproud but not arrogant.¡±

    The duke offered a faint smile.

    He raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Do I not scare you?¡±

    Fear, after all, directly correlates with authority.

    Saying I wasn¡¯t scared might suggest I looked down on him, which could easily provoke his anger.

    By Korean standards, this would be an incredibly uncivilized reaction, but in our empire, for a lower-status individual to act unafraid of someone powerful is considered extremely rude.

    You could get your head bashed in with no one to blame but yourself.

    ¡°How could I not be, Your Grace?¡±

    ¡°And yet you seem quite bold.¡±

    ¡°I fear nothing more than failing to earn your trust. That¡¯s why I remain calm and composed in the presence of your esteemed authority.¡±

    The Duke of Visconti, listening to my words, tapped his fingers on the desk before him.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s talk a bit longer. Have a seat.¡±

    I was relieved that my strategy of modest yet assertive behavior had paid off.

    But this was only the beginning of the real battle.

    The duke gestured to have the tea set cleared away and then produced a fresh pot made of gold.

    Normally, you¡¯d have to bring a teacup close to your nose to smell the tea¡¯s aroma. But here, the fruity scent hit me even before I tasted it.

    ¡°What do you think of the tea¡¯s aroma?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never had such fine tea before.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Royal Grey, personally bestowed upon me by the Imperial Family.¡±

    At first glance, this conversation seemed trivial.

    But beneath the surface, there was significant meaning.

    A duke of his stature probably has several crates of such tea leaves in storage. After all, the Imperial Family often gives out these gifts.

    Even so, tea like this¡ªfit only for royalty¡ªis priceless beyond imagination.

    It¡¯s not something one can buy just by amassing wealth.

    This indicated he had high expectations for me.

    ¡°My hopes for you are high.¡±

    If I didn¡¯t live up to those hopes, it would undoubtedly be a disappointment and a threat.

    ¡°I can offer you a chance to put the Sforza family in its place.¡±

    In the Tosca Empire, there are two ducal families.

    The Visconti family is the weaker of the two, while the Sforza family is the strongest.

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep it a secret.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, boy. A secret from me?¡±

    My worth had already skyrocketed with just this one reveal.

    Why would I share more?

    Let him imagine things on his own and boost my value.

    ¡°I¡¯m a merchant. It¡¯s my daily routine to risk my life for profit. So, how much will you pay?¡±

    The duke leaned back, smiling as if his lips were about to touch his ears.

    ¡°I hear you¡¯re currently tangled with the church. Without a powerful backer, you¡¯ll be unable to fend off Christian¡¯s attacks.¡±

    Does he plan to lower my price in exchange for saving my life?

    In any case, it¡¯s common in games to lower prices in return for sparing a life.

    I¡¯ll give him that much credit.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have the Archbishop of Florence move. He¡¯ll be at your service, like a dog to my command. Furthermore, I¡¯ll strip Christian of his clerical position.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°If you give me 30% of your revenue and control over product distribution, I¡¯ll invest fully. Isn¡¯t that a fair deal?¡±

    To be honest, yes.

    Other places often take almost 40% in protection fees without any initial investment.

    But if I give in now?

    Then I¡¯ll be a pushover forever.

    For someone like me, aiming to be a hidden force in this world, that¡¯s unacceptable.

    ¡°Thank you for your precious time, Your Grace.¡±

    With that, I stood up to leave.

    It was outrageously rude, but he couldn¡¯t kill me now.

    If he kills me here, he¡¯ll be branded as a political pariah for murdering the son of his vassal without cause.

    And if I leave?

    I could sell the steel mass-production recipe to the Sforza family.

    The duke scrambled to his feet and stopped me.

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    He shook his head.

    ¡°20% of revenue, with full protection and initial capital for new ventures. I¡¯ll even apply this to future contracts. How¡¯s that?¡±

    This is why monopolies are troublesome.

    The competitive landscape allows someone like me to maximize my worth.

    ¡°I pledge my loyalty to Your Grace. Now, let¡¯s discuss our investment in detail.¡±

    And so, using the ¡°new steelmaking process¡± as leverage, I secured an incredibly favorable contract.

    The duke, looking as though his soul had left his body, saw me off, but...

    I can guarantee this.

    Ten minutes after I leave, he¡¯ll realize the value of the steel distribution rights and start dancing with joy.

 Chapter 7

    I made all the preparations before the trial began.

    With a sitting archbishop and a duke on my side, that¡¯s more powerful than hiring a former high-profile lawyer.

    With that level of backing, I could probably get away with murder in broad daylight with just a slap on the wrist.

    Still, I was putting on a show, pretending I hadn¡¯t made any preparations.

    ¡°Antonio, we don¡¯t know when our guests will arrive, so we¡¯ll keep all the staff we hired. And pay them as promised.¡±

    ¡°Yes, young master.¡±

    ¡°And the coffee is good, but what if we try offering juice made from fresh fruits, like lemon juice, instead?¡±

    Antonio seemed a bit reluctant to answer, and he gave me a look that bordered on pity.

    ¡°Young master, are you sure? How could Bishop Christian accuse you of such a ridiculous crime...¡±

    Since Christian took me and this cafe? to church court, we¡¯ve barely had any customers.

    With a trial pending and no official backing, survival is going to be difficult.

    If others got involved, it could tarnish their reputations as nobles too.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Deus knows that I¡¯m innocent, so there¡¯s no need to worry. The church will surely clear me of all charges.¡±

    But despite my words, I don¡¯t trust the Tosca Empire, or rather, the Church of Deus.

    I mean, there could be gods since I got reincarnated here, but these so-called clergymen¡ªhalf of them have illegitimate children, and they launder identities to make them nobles.

    Then they drag an innocent like me to a church trial to ruin me.

    How am I supposed to trust the church?

    ¡°If you say so, young master. Just remember that we¡¯re always praying for you.¡±

    I may not deny the existence of gods in this world, but I doubt trusting Deus will solve anything for me.

    Still, it feels nice to see genuine concern on Antonio¡¯s face.

    ¡°This is a rosary we all chipped in to buy. Father Bio, who frequents the cafe?, even blessed it for you. We hope it¡¯ll help clear your name.¡±

    It was a silver rosary, not something nobles would typically wear.

    But if a priest blessed it, it must have cost them quite a bit.

    Did the entire staff pool a week¡¯s wages for this?

    Twenty years after my reincarnation, and I actually feel a bit choked up.

    All the employees were watching, cheering for me.

    They said they were sure I¡¯d be proven innocent, that a noble as kind as I am couldn¡¯t possibly lack faith.

    But there¡¯s no way I could tell them.

    That all of this was planned¡ªan archbishop, a duke, and I have already set up the acquittal.

    As for why I¡¯m going through with this tiresome act...

    Just then, the door burst open, and a group of people barged in.

    ¡°Is Fabio de Medici, owner of Cafe? Medici, here?¡±

    ¡°Right here.¡±

    ¡°I cannot admit to a single one.¡±

    The nobles who were unaware of the details watched me with curious eyes.

    ¡°Very well, then let Baronet Valiano, the accuser, recite the charges himself.¡±

    Valiano rose from his seat and began listing my alleged crimes one by one.

    ¡°The defendant, Fabio, opened an obscene establishment called Cafe? Medici, corrupting the morals of the Empire¡¯s capital, Florence!¡±

    In the 21st century, something like public indecency would be a minor crime unless it involved assault or a sex crime.

    But here, ¡°corrupting morals¡± could get you killed.

    It¡¯s nearly as severe as murder.

    ¡°Those are the crimes I have witnessed and heard about. And to Vice-Bishop Christian, marriage is a sacred union decided by one¡¯s parents, yet you have allowed men and women from noble families to meet at this cafe?, where they brazenly fall in love and engage in depravity!¡±

    The younger crowd in the audience responded with a chill.

    ¡°What¡¯s this old coot talking about? Falling in love at a ball is fine, but not at a cafe??¡±

    Meanwhile, a few old-timers seemed to agree.

    ¡°Marriage should be about family interests. These young people today have no sense of decency. In my day, we didn¡¯t even think of such things.¡±

    I can¡¯t say much to these old men now, but...

    Didn¡¯t you all marry ladies for political alliances and keep them locked up at home while you showed off your virility to courtesans and maids?

    Isn¡¯t that the real indecency?

    Deus teaches that men and women should become one flesh.

    These hypocrites speak like pious believers but...

    Vice-Bishop Christian made the sign of the cross, deeply affected by Valiano¡¯s words.

    ¡°Oh, Lord, the world has truly reached its end...¡±

    No, Christian, what¡¯s really absurd is your head.

    What kind of person assumes that men and women can¡¯t talk without immediately thinking of indecency?

    Fifty years old and still lustful, it seems.

    ¡°Yet, I shall fulfill my duties regardless.¡±

    The vice-bishop slammed his staff on the ground.

    ¡°There are fifteen witnesses, besides Baronet Valiano, who have given similar testimony. Though we cannot summon them all, they have all pledged before Deus and submitted written statements.¡±

    I didn¡¯t need to see them to know their contents.

    The logic would be nonsensical anyway.

    But these witnesses are of high status, and in a society where status equates to credibility, protesting would be futile.

    Not that it matters. The Archbishop of Florence will soon arrive and clear everything up.

    All I have to do is put on a show of bravado, acting as noble as possible in the face of inevitable danger.

    Pretend to be unfazed by the specter of death.

    ¡°Oh, Deus, please recognize my innocence.¡±

 Chapter 8

    Christian looked at me and gave a sly grin.

    ¡°As a bishop of the Church of Deus and a doctor of theology, I have been studying the word of Deus since you were sucking on your mother¡¯s breast. Do you really think it makes sense for someone like you, with your limited knowledge, to stubbornly defy my judgment, based on decades of devotion to His teachings?¡±

    If Christian and I debated theology, I¡¯d surely lose.

    I never studied theology in Korea, nor do I have any credentials to speak of. He may be a vice-bishop, but he¡¯s still a full bishop.

    And bishops hold power comparable to that of a baron in any given region.

    What could I do to maintain my composure until the archbishop arrives, without disgracing myself?

    ¡°Respected Bishop, I honor the rights and responsibilities that Deus has bestowed upon you.¡±

    Christian¡¯s face twisted with displeasure.

    Murmurs of confusion came from the audience.

    It made sense¡ªthey would find it odd for someone in my position to be agreeing with the judge who was trying to condemn me.

    ¡°I also respect the trials and hardships you endured to be called to Deus¡¯s service.¡±

    ¡°You know that, yet you remain so arrogant! Repent your sins now, and the Church will show you mercy.¡±

    ¡°But, respected Vice-Bishop and esteemed audience, I swear before Deus, the head of the Church. If I confess to sins I did not commit, would that not be deceiving all of you?¡±

    This is one effective way to drive an opponent crazy in a debate.

    Acknowledge the parts of their argument that don¡¯t contradict your stance, while firmly rejecting only the parts that are incorrect.

    It creates the appearance that I¡¯m having a polite discussion while making my opponent seem irrational.

    ¡°I am here because of a misunderstanding, and I intend to explain everything. Cafe? Medici is by no means an obscene place.¡±

    If this were Joseon, the land of Confucianism, I¡¯d be a dead man.

    A place where a noble lady can meet and speak with a man who isn¡¯t her betrothed, as chosen by her father? In Korea, that would be no different from running a brothel.

    But in the Tosca Empire, providing a space for men and women to date...? That¡¯s not a crime.

    ¡°Those who have visited Cafe? Medici know that it¡¯s a place where anyone, male or female, can come and enjoy tea and cake, and chat with their companions in a relaxed setting.¡±

    A few people in the audience nodded in agreement.

    ¡°And as for the concern about men and women meeting, it¡¯s a very natural occurrence.¡±

    ¡°Are you admitting to facilitating relationships by creating a space where men and women can meet freely?¡±

    I could see his mouth watering at the chance to condemn me.

    ¡°Scripture tells us to be fruitful and multiply. It also says that men and women shall become one. So, how can it be sinful if a man and a woman, drawn to each other, fall in love?¡±

    There¡¯s a big misconception about the medieval period.

    Many think only Latin was valid for scripture, and that only Latin Mass was recognized as legitimate.

    But in reality, some country priests without theological training didn¡¯t strictly adhere to this, and while Latin was preferred, other languages weren¡¯t forbidden.

    In the Tosca Empire, it¡¯s similar.

    ¡°If I had intentionally forced attractive men and women to sit together, that would be one thing. But allowing men and women to naturally grow closer¡ªis that truly a sin?¡±

    Even in the Middle Ages, public opinion matters.

    This entire trial was built on absurd charges.

    Now, with the archbishop¡¯s authority, their schemes are about to be overturned.

    In other words, they¡¯re doomed.

    ¡°Silence.¡±

    If bishops hold the power of barons, then archbishops wield authority on par with counts.

    The ¡°Archbishop of Florence,¡± in particular, is likely to be promoted to cardinal, making him the highest-ranking archbishop.

    He holds authority that far surpasses a mere bishop.

    ¡°Fabio de Medici is innocent.¡±

    According to the script, his next line followed.

    ¡°I visited Cafe? Medici just now. The tea was delightful, and the cake was delicious. I went with some bishops, and they all enjoyed it. It¡¯s a place where friends, men, and women alike, can come and talk. Some might fall in love there, but that¡¯s not at odds with scripture or doctrine.¡±

    The archbishop pointed his crozier at Baronet Valiano.

    ¡°It seems that Baronet Valiano, jealous of Cafe? Medici¡¯s success, fabricated these accusations.¡±

    Valiano turned white at those words.

    ¡°And you, Christian, as a bishop, it appears you sold your conscience and faith for a few coins. Otherwise, this nonsensical trial could never have happened.¡±

    Selling out one¡¯s faith is a serious insult in the Tosca Empire, equivalent to the worst curses in 21st-century Korea.

    Especially when directed at clergy.

    In fact, even killing a clergyman caught doing such a thing could result in a not guilty verdict.

    ¡°The final judgment will come after the cardinal approves it, but as the Archbishop of Florence, I hereby sentence Baronet Valiano to be burned at the stake for abusing the Church¡¯s authority.¡±

    Valiano collapsed to the ground.

    ¡°As for you, Bishop Christian, I will appeal to the Pope to excommunicate you and have you burned at the stake, as one would with a heretic.¡±

    Christian fainted.

    In a world where everyone believes in heaven and hell, becoming a heretic and going to hell is a fate worse than death.

    Not to mention that excommunication would ruin his entire family...

    One fool¡¯s greed is going to ruin hundreds of lives.

    ¡°This concludes the church trial of Fabio de Medici.¡±

    With that, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

    _______________________________________

    TL notes:

    Hello, dear readers!

    I hope you¡¯re enjoying the journey of I Became a Black Merchant in Another World as much as I am! I aim to bring Fabio¡¯s cunning and boldness to life while staying as true to the original text as possible. By preserving the nuances and unfiltered aspects of the story, I hope to give you an authentic experience of the world Fabio navigates.

    As the story unfolds, I encourage you to reflect on the layers of social dynamics and power struggles that drive our protagonist. Feel free to share your thoughts on how you perceive Fabio¡¯s tactics and his clashes with the church and nobility. It¡¯s a fascinating world, and there¡¯s so much to explore together!

    Thank you for reading, and I look forward to continuing this adventure with you.

    Happy reading!

    ¡ª [SataBog]

 Chapter 9

    The Duke of Visconti looked at the man before him and smiled.

    ¡°Archbishop of Florence, is it true? Are you telling me Fabio really outmaneuvered Christian at the church trial?¡±

    The archbishop nodded in agreement.

    ¡°I hurried to stop the unjust trial as soon as I heard it had started. I arrived a little late, and as I approached the courtroom, I could hear the young man passionately defending himself from outside.¡±

    ¡°So, that was Fabio.¡±

    ¡°Yes, as I was told.¡±

    The archbishop relayed every piece of information he had gathered to the duke.

    At first, the duke chuckled, thinking it was madness that someone would refuse to beg for their life and instead negotiate confidently.

    If such a rational and fearless person were to join him, he could indeed be useful in his ongoing rivalry with the Sforza family.

    But as the story went on, the duke¡¯s smile began to fade.

    It wasn¡¯t that he was so petty that he would be jealous of a capable subordinate.

    It was just that Fabio de Medici¡¯s performance at the trial was so astonishing that it almost seemed unreal.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that Fabio not only held his ground but also dominated Christian in the church court?¡±

    The duke let out a disbelieving laugh.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re the type to make this up. But it¡¯s hard to believe. Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°I saw it with my own eyes. Fabio had already swayed the audience¡¯s opinion, and the vice-bishop couldn¡¯t find a single flaw in him.¡±

    What Fabio had done appeared to the archbishop and the duke like this:

    It was like watching a knight, rigorously trained since childhood, don full armor and mount a horse for battle, only to face off against a ten-year-old boy wielding a twig¡ªand yet the boy won.

    Under normal circumstances, the child would lose a million times out of a million.

    But here Fabio had faced an impossible fight and won without even attempting to run.

    ¡°When I was his age, all I thought about was how to sneak a peek under a maid¡¯s skirt. Yet this kid is writing legends at twenty. My own sons seem pathetic by comparison.¡±

    The duke slumped his shoulders.

    Fabio¡¯s success was beneficial to the duke¡¯s family as a whole, but it made his own sons look inadequate.

    As a father, it hurt a little.

    The archbishop, noticing the shift in mood, made a clumsy joke.

    ¡°Talking about your wild days in front of a clergyman? For the sin of lust, you should go to confession.¡±

    Normally, the duke would respond with something like:

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t confession come with a hefty donation? Give me a discount.¡±

    But he wasn¡¯t in the mood for jokes.

    ¡°Not today. Are the rumors spreading well?¡±

    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve arranged for sermons on the event, slightly dramatized, to be delivered not just at Florence Cathedral but across Tuscany.¡±

    The Church of Deus operates like a military, with an organized administrative system.

    This structure allows them to send specific sermon topics and themes to priests in other cities and towns.

    ¡°Since the Duke of Sforza didn¡¯t directly interfere, we can¡¯t name him in the sermons. But everyone except the peasants and serfs will know who suffered the most from this incident.¡±

    But from my perspective, it was a troubling suggestion.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t say such things, even in jest. The Medici family¡¯s line of succession is sacred.¡±

    The duke gave me a bittersweet smile.

    ¡°Of course, you won¡¯t take the bait. Ten out of ten second sons from Sforza vassal families would start fretting or take the offer outright.¡±

    If I showed any hesitation or took the offer, the duke would let that information slip to the hostile vassal families.

    Then those families would purge any second sons who dared think of a coup.

    They¡¯d split, fall into chaos, or, in the worst case, implode and lose their lands.

    It wasn¡¯t that the duke intended to destroy me.

    Such an act would mean no steel mill capable of mass production, and treating his allies that way would leave him with none.

    So, given all the circumstances, his words were likely genuine.

    Stirring up division to ruin a vassal family would be self-destructive, but having a justified reason to replace the head of a vassal family was doable.

    ¡°I have no intention of harming you or the Medici family.¡±

    I may not trust him personally, but I trust his survival instincts.

    So, he should rest assured.

    ¡°My original plan was to get you out of the church trial and fund the steel mill, but that seems insufficient now.¡±

    The duke handed me a certificate.

    ¡°When our conversation ends, give this to the head butler, and he¡¯ll exchange it for five hundred gold coins. Consider it a personal gift, separate from the investment funds.¡±

    Five hundred gold coins¡ªa small fortune, roughly equivalent to twenty million won.

    A hefty reward just for ousting a bishop. Clearly, he wants to control me with money.

    Does he think I¡¯m someone who can be bought?

    Unfortunately for him, I¡¯m risking my life and putting on this entire show to earn money.

    Money will let me enjoy the life of a noble, luxuries, and beautiful women in this reincarnated world.

    In that sense, the duke is the perfect employer, laying down gold without hesitation.

    Damn, I might end up liking him.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°I have high expectations. Succeed, and the rewards will be substantial. And remember...¡±

    ¡°What should I remember?¡±

    The duke gestured for me to lean in closer.

    Once I was near enough, he whispered so only I could hear.

    ¡°I consider you more valuable than Albert. Being born first shouldn¡¯t be a privilege.¡±

    He¡¯s certainly a generous employer, but this man is terrifying.

    If I dethrone Albert and take the Medici barony by force, I¡¯d end up as a baron in title but a slave at the duke¡¯s beck and call.

    Is he trying to make me his slave, bound to his family¡¯s glory?

    Unbelievable.

 Chapter 10

    ¡°We¡¯ll be arriving at Fucecchio shortly, my lord,¡± said the coachman.

    I thought the carriage was too uncomfortable to sleep in, but somehow, I had managed to doze off.

    ¡°Quite the backwater, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    If anyone were to catch sight of the blast furnace and the reverberatory furnace that would transform pig iron into steel, our business would be over.

    Strictly speaking, the duke, as the pioneer, might still maintain a lead, but his profits would plummet if other families started copying steel production.

    With more supply than demand, steel prices would crash.

    That¡¯s why I requested an isolated location where no one would come.

    It¡¯s a small village.

    ¡°How many people live here?¡± I asked.

    ¡°There are around 70 households, so approximately 300 people in total.¡±

    The level of civilization and social structures fluctuate between medieval and early modern Europe, yet the population density and numbers resemble those of 19th-20th century Europe.

    Perhaps the land is more fertile here than it was on Earth?

    ¡°Three hundred people, not too few, not too many.¡±

    ¡°On top of that, we have around 200 new residents¡ªthe artisans and their families who moved here for work at the steel mill. They¡¯re living a bit away from the village.¡±

    By 21st-century Korean standards, it might seem strange to have them live separately.

    But in the Tosca Empire, this is normal.

    Artisans are considered middle-class citizens, while the serfs are akin to butchers or slaves in Joseon.

    It¡¯s a little uncomfortable that they live so divided, but I have no intention of meddling. I¡¯m not a crusader for democracy or human rights, and I¡¯d rather not lose my head over such ideals.

    Besides, if I¡¯m worried about a leak in steel production techniques, it¡¯s better for the artisans to remain isolated from others.

    ¡°This is the steel mill.¡±

    The factory wasn¡¯t operational yet, so black smoke wasn¡¯t billowing from the chimneys.

    But inside, I saw people bustling around under the supervision of an overseer.

    ¡°Have you thrown out your common sense? I told you to spread the clay thicker there!¡±

    ¡°S-sorry, sir!¡±

    ¡°Do you think an apology ends it? Do you want to quit being an artisan and go back to farming?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t make that mistake again!¡±

    The artisans looked like soldiers in a barracks, with the overseer as their drill sergeant. The veteran artisans were like corporals or sergeants, while the rest resembled privates.

    The Tosca Empire is a hierarchical society, and artisans, being involved in physically demanding and fire-related work, maintain a certain military discipline.

    The overseer grumbled as he directed the work.

    ¡°Hell, it¡¯s like we¡¯re playing with ghosts. Iron pouring out of this huge chimney or hearth? Common sense says steel is forged by beating low-quality iron with a hammer.¡±

    Before the introduction of reverberatory furnaces and crucible methods, steel was indeed made by hammering pig iron.

    So, he¡¯s not entirely wrong.

    The others might¡¯ve lacked funds or were denied permits to open their workshops by the guild.

    ¡°I once owned a forge with about thirty artisans in Florence. But that bastard Pietro, backed by Duke Sforza, slandered me and got me expelled from the guild.¡±

    A city councilor holds considerable power even in the 21st-century Korea, enough to make civil servants or firefighters nervous when they appear.

    The guild master position, although temporary, grants a noble-like status, along with the ability to collect money from the blacksmiths in Florence.

    It¡¯s a battleground where bloodless wars are fought.

    ¡°Since I was expelled from the guild, I can¡¯t work as a blacksmith anywhere else. Luckily, I had enough savings to support my family, but to become a useless freeloader...¡±

    Guilds were established to protect the interests of tradespeople.

    Being a guild member is akin to having a license.

    But if you¡¯re expelled? It¡¯s like having your license revoked in Korea. You¡¯re rendered helpless.

    And to requalify, you¡¯d have to spend over a decade as an unpaid apprentice.

    ¡°Thanks to the duke, I¡¯ve managed to scrape by. I will definitely repay the duke¡¯s kindness.¡±

    ¡°Are the others here in similar situations?¡±

    ¡°Yes, they¡¯re all talented artisans who were blocked from opening new workshops by the guild and ended up out of work.¡±

    The same meal means more to a starving person than to a full one.

    The starving man sees the person who feeds him as a savior, while the full man might see them as merely kind.

    So it¡¯s more efficient to help the hungry.

    The duke must have thought this way.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do this. Gather everyone here, except those working on urgent tasks.¡±

    The overseer looked at me in confusion.

    ¡°No matter your past, the duke doesn¡¯t care. I wholeheartedly agree with him. I ask only one thing of you all.¡±

    I raised a single finger, and they looked at me, puzzled.

    ¡°Produce steel from the mill. If you follow my design, you¡¯ll obtain quantities of steel beyond your imagination.¡±

    History on Earth has proven it.

    It will work.

    I¡¯m staking my life on this.

    ¡°I¡¯m confident you¡¯ll succeed. As proof, I¡¯ll distribute gold according to rank: five coins for the overseer, three for foremen, and one and a half for each artisan.¡±

    If you want employees to work hard, throw money at them.

    There¡¯s no work-life balance here, so this is the way to motivate.

    ¡°I¡¯ve staked my life on this. Show your gratitude to the duke with your lives, and he will reward you richly.¡±

    From that point, the artisans worked with relentless vigor.

    I¡¯ll make sure they don¡¯t work themselves to death.

    After all, I can¡¯t afford to lose these skilled craftsmen.

 Chapter 11

    After a month of hard work, the moment of truth had arrived.

    Would we succeed in copying iron, or would we fail?

    Everyone around me was watching the blast furnace, holding their breath in nervous anticipation.

    ¡°Please, let it work... please,¡± I murmured.

    Even if I failed this time, it¡¯s unlikely that the duke would lose faith in me or cut off support for the artisans. After all, he understands that introducing innovative technology rarely goes smoothly from the start.

    But if I failed two, three times...

    I would lose value. In the worst-case scenario, I¡¯d be cast aside.

    Right now, I may be the rising star, but if I lose the duke¡¯s favor, I¡¯d be left high and dry.

    I don¡¯t usually pray, but at this moment, I almost wanted to grab onto Deus himself.

    We had spent an investment of 10,000 gold coins on this.

    If we failed now, all that money would be wasted.

    ¡°We¡¯re opening the bottom of the furnace! Everyone, take a few steps back as molten iron will be flowing out!¡±

    The overseer directed me and the other workers to move away.

    As we stepped back, the furnace¡¯s base opened, and molten metal gushed out, glowing red like magma, sending everyone into cheers.

    ¡°Praise Deus! We¡¯re rich now!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen so much iron!¡±

    ¡°Tonight, drinks are on me, boys!¡±

    From what I¡¯ve researched, the Tosca Empire¡¯s steel-making techniques are primitive.

    They produce around 300 kilograms of pig iron in kiln-like furnaces similar to those used for firing ceramics, and blacksmiths have to hammer away for hours to extract any steel.

    Our furnace, however, just produced around 20 tons of molten iron.

    We¡¯ve built a blast furnace capable of producing over 70 times as much pig iron as before.

    I¡¯d love to join the cheering, but it¡¯s too soon to celebrate.

    To truly start printing money, we need to complete the reverberatory furnace to produce steel.

    ¡°Overseer, it¡¯s too early to celebrate. The real test is in the reverberatory furnace,¡± I said.

    The overseer left a few artisans by the blast furnace and moved toward the reverberatory furnace with me.

    Two artisans were sweating profusely, working the bellows at the reverberatory furnace.

    ¡°Damn, this is killing me!¡±

    ¡°Better this than pounding with a hammer all day. Just shut up and work the bellows.¡±

    Overseer Smith inspected the furnace and gave the order.

    ¡°Pour the molten iron!¡±

    Just like with the blast furnace, molten metal poured out.

    As soon as it emerged, the overseer and the foremen hurriedly scooped some out and rapidly cooled it.

    Once the surface had cooled, they quenched it in water and raised a piece triumphantly.

    ¡°It¡¯s steel!! STEEL!! Damn it!¡±

    Even the overseer, who rarely curses, was clearly overcome.

    We all understood his sentiment perfectly.

    ¡°We¡¯ve just produced over 1.5 tons of steel! Praise Deus!!¡±

    Since we¡¯re short on hands, they¡¯ll be given better pay than they¡¯re used to as serfs, and they¡¯ll have the opportunity to become free citizens.

    ¡°... I hope things stay this good from now on.¡±

    I genuinely hope so.

    Of course, things rarely stay easy.

    The steel from Fabio¡¯s steel mill soon flooded the Florence market.

    ¡°Steel, 1kg for just 15 copper coins! Dirt cheap!¡±

    Fifteen coppers for a kilogram of steel.

    It¡¯s a small fortune, about 15 times the daily wage of an average laborer.

    It might seem too expensive, but considering that skilled artisans usually crafted steel with backbreaking effort, it was suspiciously cheap.

    ¡°What, trying to pass off wrought or pig iron as steel? You think I¡¯m blind?¡±

    ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m lying to you?¡±

    ¡°Oh please, if you¡¯re a merchant, you should know that mixing in a little sand or sawdust with your flour is the basic skillset.¡±

    If the customer is a commoner or peasant, it¡¯s common for merchants to dilute the goods.

    For nobles, merchants might not tamper with the goods but will inflate the prices.

    This disdain for merchants was why Fabio¡¯s father and other nobles often looked down on them.

    ¡°Why would I scam you, Alfredo? You¡¯re a regular, and you¡¯re the only one who can handle this much stock. Just take a look for yourself.¡±

    The man, Alfredo, inspected the steel.

    He hammered it, poked it with an awl¡ªno scratches at all.

    Neither pig nor wrought iron could be this hard.

    ¡°Damn, where did you get steel like this?¡±

    ¡°If I told you, I¡¯d go out of business. Now, how much are you buying?¡±

    ¡°All of it. You know this price doesn¡¯t make sense.¡±

    ¡°We have 50 tons. Can you handle it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll sell it to the armorers in Florence or the Duchy of Milan.¡±

    Alfredo kept his expression calm, but inside, he was ecstatic.

    Steel commands a high price, and he was about to purchase 50 tons of it at a bargain.

    Even if it took time to sell, he¡¯d make two or three times the profit.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s write up the contract. Any defects and I¡¯ll refund accordingly.¡±

    On a regular day, he might¡¯ve questioned my honesty, but today, he was quick to sign.

    As he rose to leave, a thought occurred to him.

    ¡°But what will happen to the blacksmith guild if this much steel floods the market? They¡¯ve always made a killing with steel.¡±

    I smiled.

    ¡°Does it matter? Besides, I hear this steel is from the Visconti dukedom. I¡¯ve secured 50 tons; they must have about 2,000 tons in total.¡±

    ¡°Two thousand tons at two-thirds the usual price... has the duke lost his mind?¡±

    Even with a 30% discount, the duke would still make a fortune.

    Thanks to Fabio, they could now copy iron at barely 10% of the previous cost.

    ¡°What do I care? I¡¯m just here to make money.¡±

    ¡°Duke Sforza was backing the blacksmiths, right? Guess those blacksmiths are in trouble now.¡±

 Chapter 12

    In the Florence Blacksmith Guild, harsh words and curses were flying.

    "Does this make any sense? Which madman is selling steel at this kind of price?!"

    The guild master slammed his desk, repeatedly and with such force that it was surprising he didn¡¯t seem to feel any pain. His fury was palpable.

    "I get it! You can toss some cheap scrap metal into a blast furnace and run the waterwheel, but to make steel, you still need to hammer it until your arms give out! So how can this price be real?"

    The guild master felt like he was about to explode.

    Even while monopolizing steel for military supplies like weapons and armor, and cornering the market on tools, they¡¯d barely managed to scrape by.

    Now, with the advantage of monopolizing steel shattered, life was only going to get harder.

    No doubt the competition would start undercutting them, desperate to push them out.

    "At this rate, we''re all dead! Completely doomed!"

    The old tradition of appeasing those above them while making a living was officially over.

    "Sub-Master, can¡¯t we submit a petition to Duke Sforza or even the imperial court? Ask them to help, since the guild''s rights that have been built over hundreds of years are being trampled?"

    In this world, where nobles engaged in politics and merchants handled trade, the two were inextricably linked.

    So, if the merchants suffered, it meant the pockets of the highborn would be affected as well.

    And since they knew that their financial state was tied to their power, it was typical for the nobility to protect merchants as if they were extensions of themselves.

    But...

    "Master, the product in question is steel. Steel makes up most of the cost of weapons. What noble is going to intervene to keep steel prices high? Even if you raised the issue at the city council, it¡¯s bound to be blocked."

    For high-ranking nobles like barons, the price of a single suit of armor or a horse was not much of a burden.

    In fact, some high-ranking nobles ordered custom armor that cost as much as a castle.

    But even a baron might have dozens of knights or heavy cavalry under their command.

    These knights, struggling to afford armor themselves, would likely push back.

    No noble is going to ignore the plight of their retainers just to save a blacksmith¡¯s business.

    "Damn it, curse that Visconti duke! If it were anything else, we could claim guild rights were infringed."

    The guild master clutched his head.

    He could feel the throbbing pain as he sighed heavily.

    "What¡¯s the actual damage amount?"

    "Roughly 1,758 gold coins. And that¡¯s just an estimate¡ªif this continues, the losses will only grow."

    "Ten percent of our revenue, gone. Oh, God."

    Even though it was technically just ten percent, the ripple effect would be much greater.

    With steel flooding the market at 30% less than the standard price, most of the nobles, who were the primary consumers, would quietly buy the Visconti duke¡¯s steel.

    With lower-priced stock on hand, they¡¯d sever any unnecessary transactions.

    If only they were selling at our price, this wouldn¡¯t have happened...

    "Moreover, starting this month, fifteen noble families, including the Count of Boban, have notified us that they¡¯ll no longer be purchasing steel or related arms and armor. They¡¯ve even requested refunds on the deposits they paid."

    In large transactions, the guild required a deposit of 20-30% to cover costs for materials, tools, and production.

    So, this money was already fully spent the moment the deal was struck.

    Steel is flying off the shelves, yielding a 600% profit with every sale.

    While I¡¯m pocketing most of the money, the duke hasn¡¯t asked me to cough up a single coin.

    He must be gaining tremendous political influence by discreetly slipping this strategic resource into the hands of other nobles.

    I¡¯m not interested in politics yet, so it doesn¡¯t concern me.

    In fact, I¡¯d prefer the duke to thrive politically because it¡¯ll raise my own value.

    "If only things could stay like this."

    When I return home, my father, now a former baron, will probably pester me to find a wife and buy a knight title so I can join the nobility.

    I still have some unfinished business, so I can¡¯t go back just yet.

    Actually, if I went back now, I¡¯d probably be stabbed by someone sent by the Blacksmith Guild, harboring a grudge.

    As I leisurely enjoy my inspection...

    "This work is insane. Should¡¯ve just stayed a serf."

    "What¡¯s the point of making so much money if we have no time to spend it?"

    Hearing this, an older artisan raised his hammer.

    The apprentice artisans, who were formerly serfs, quieted down.

    "Back in my day, you didn¡¯t get paid while learning a trade! You¡¯re now free citizens, getting steady wages. What¡¯re you whining about?"

    In the Tosca Empire, and across the continent of Almania, it¡¯s standard not to get paid while learning a trade.

    Yet, here, they¡¯re paid a silver coin for every month they work.

    "You brats must be slacking off if you¡¯ve got the energy to complain."

    "Forgive us, we won¡¯t complain anymore."

    "Hah, the world¡¯s gotten too soft. You kids are dead meat today."

    The younger artisans were dragged off by the older ones, probably to stir molten metal in the reverberatory furnace until they nearly dropped.

    "Even the former serfs are blending in quickly; work is so intense that they don¡¯t have time to be ostracized."

    At any other workshop, former serfs would likely be bullied far worse than in a 21st-century schoolyard.

    Here, though, there¡¯s no time to treat them as outcasts.

    Those boys will suffer through hell today, but tomorrow their senior will probably buy them a beer, and they¡¯ll bond.

    Turns out a hard grind and decent wages can solve discrimination.

    "If these former serfs get just a bit more experienced, we can aim for 40 tons daily."

    Even if profit per kilogram decreases as volume increases, overall profit will surely rise.

    "Time to call it a day?"

    Just as I was about to enjoy an early finish, a servant of the duke approached me.

    Judging by his attire, he was a proper noble with a knight¡¯s title. What could this high-ranking man want?

    "Trouble, sir! A shipment of steel has been robbed by bandits!"

    ...... That sucks, man.

    "The duke urgently requests your presence."

    For a man like the duke, finding a solution shouldn¡¯t be difficult. Why is he calling me?

 Chapter 13

    ¡°Haha, Fabio. You¡¯re like the golden goose of the Visconti family.¡±

    By the way he was addressing me, you¡¯d think he wasn¡¯t even remotely troubled by the 12 tons of steel that were stolen in transit.

    The amount lost might seem like a large sum, but in comparison to the profits we¡¯re making, it¡¯s practically insignificant. But that some pest dared to tarnish the duke¡¯s authority, and he¡¯s still smiling?

    It means he already has the situation under control.

    ¡°I¡¯m honored,¡± I replied.

    ¡°You don¡¯t try to distance yourself from it, do you?¡± he noted.

    ¡°Denying the consequences of my actions would be an insult to Your Grace¡¯s dignity, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±

    The ironworks venture has benefitted more than just me.

    The duke received 20% of the profits, plus he must¡¯ve earned substantial political influence by currying favor with various nobles through steel.

    ¡°To think someone at your age could already appreciate the true value of their work. I guess exceptional people really are different. You have to be at least this capable to be able to put a bishop in his place at a church court. I don¡¯t think I could ever best you with words.¡±

    A vassal should never seem better than their lord.

    It¡¯s unwise to simply accept praise like, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true,¡± even if it¡¯s honest. It would come off as arrogant.

    Even if I am more capable than the duke, I must always act as if I¡¯m beneath him, or else I¡¯ll be looked upon with suspicion.

    ¡°It was simply Deus guiding me, and Christian saying the wrong things, which allowed me to respond. I would never dare to match wits with Your Grace,¡± I replied.

    The duke seemed to savor my words.

    Not that I¡¯m a beautiful woman, but still.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough chit-chat. Butler, bring it here.¡±

    The butler handed me a document, heavy with flowery language and oaths to the divine.

    The longer and more ornate it was, the more weight it carried. But what mattered most was a single line of text:

    ¡°Of the total steel sales revenue of 124,217 pounds, 80%, or 99,373 pounds, will be paid out.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s nearly ten thousand gold coins.¡±

    They say if you run a business or even handle finance, you¡¯ll eventually have to manage eye-watering sums of money. But now that I¡¯m holding such an amount in my hands, it¡¯s surreal.

    I¡¯d seen cartoons where characters would get nosebleeds from massive profits, and now I kind of get it.

    This is sexier than sex.

    ¡°You¡¯re truly rich now. Soon, you could even be earning twice, maybe even three times as much.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s simply the result of a fair contract between us. No need for thanks. But aren¡¯t you curious?¡±

    ¡°Curious about what?¡±

    The duke gave me a devilish smile.

    In the end, as long as you placate the emperor, you can get away with anything.

    In the 21st century, the rule of law is paramount, but in this medieval legal system, the highborn can kill whoever they want, as long as the judge pretends to care about justice.

    ¡°Offer to supply steel to the imperial family at a discounted rate¡ª80% of the market price.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you take a loss?¡±

    For the duke, the political leverage gained from supplying the imperial family outweighs the income from steel.

    He wouldn¡¯t mind losing a bit if it increased his influence.

    But I care more about profit than politics, so this would mean a significant loss for me.

    ¡°As Your Grace¡¯s vassal, I can¡¯t let my own interests prevent you from seizing an opportunity. It¡¯s important to have a long-term vision.¡±

    My declaration of loyalty still didn¡¯t seem to fully satisfy him.

    He¡¯s spent a lifetime managing people with carrots and sticks.

    I¡¯d only known him a few months, so he¡¯s likely unsure of my intentions. I can¡¯t blame him.

    ¡°I want to live long and large. I want to enjoy wealth and luxury, not die a miserable death.¡±

    For now, I¡¯m delaying marriage to focus on building wealth and status.

    It¡¯s about the time that the nobility would start to label me an ¡®old bachelor.¡¯

    ¡°By offering the imperial family steel at a discounted rate, gain the right to trade steel without the blacksmith guild¡¯s involvement.¡±

    The duke didn¡¯t look entirely pleased with my suggestion.

    ¡°If I go against the guild, the other guilds might unite and refuse to supply goods to our faction.¡±

    For a noble to unilaterally crush a guild without cause would lead to a unified boycott, cutting off supplies.

    It¡¯d be a catastrophe.

    ¡°With the emperor¡¯s blessing, no one can challenge you for destroying the guild that dared to plunder a noble¡¯s convoy.¡±

    With the justification on our side, there¡¯s no risk of a united guild boycott.

    ¡°If you secure the right, the Florence blacksmith guild will be yours, and you could even raise prices for arms sold to the Sforza family.¡±

    The Florence blacksmith guild is the head of all blacksmith guilds in the Tosca Empire.

    While this isn¡¯t enough to enforce absolute control, it¡¯s enough to raise prices on steel products by 20% when selling to the Sforza.

    Considering the volume they buy, they¡¯ll feel the pain.

    ¡°I may lose a little profit, but I¡¯m sure Your Grace will make up for it.¡±

    At last, he smiled¡ªa smile full of malicious intent.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s do just that. And when this is all over, I¡¯ll have another reward ready for you.¡±

    ¡°It will be my honor.¡±

    ¡°I trust you¡¯ll handle the acquisition of the blacksmith guild smoothly.¡±

 Chapter 14

    As soon as the Visconti family¡¯s right to trade steel was legalized, I summoned the blacksmith guild¡¯s craftsmen. But instead of the prominent guild members, I called on those who barely made it onto the membership rolls.

    Ordinarily, when taking over a guild, it would make sense to start by recruiting the influential figures. But there¡¯s a reason for choosing this unconventional approach.

    ¡°I appreciate you all gathering here despite your busy schedules.¡±

    At my words, the craftsmen turned their gazes toward me. Judging by their expressions, it was clear they weren¡¯t pleased.

    Given that they belonged to the Sforza faction, a rival to the Visconti family, it¡¯s no wonder they would see me in a poor light. After all, we had infringed on their business interests, so it would be stranger if they didn¡¯t have a grudge.

    ¡°I asked you here today to have a productive discussion.¡±

    Of course, they wouldn¡¯t believe that. Who¡¯d believe an envoy from a hostile faction who says he just wants to talk? I wasn¡¯t here for a chat; I was here for a conversation with a sword in hand.

    ¡°Who¡¯s the representative here?¡±

    A bearded man stepped forward and answered.

    ¡°I run the largest workshop among us. Been a blacksmith for about 18 years.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Jacques.¡±

    ¡°Very well, Jacques. From now on, you¡¯ll be the spokesperson for everyone here.¡±

    It¡¯s easier to talk to one representative than to handle a dozen voices, so I designated him to speak on behalf of the others.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get to the point. As of yesterday, His Majesty Daniel de Toscana, Emperor of the great Toscana Empire, granted the Duke of Visconti the right to trade steel.¡±

    The news hadn¡¯t reached the lower-ranking craftsmen yet, judging by the way they exchanged anxious glances.

    ¡°They took our monopoly? So now we have to compete with that cheap steel from Visconti?¡±

    ¡°Damn, now that they¡¯ve opened up steel trading, they¡¯ll take over everything else, too.¡±

    The guild has existed for as long as it has for a simple reason: they monopolized not just skills and production but also the sale of their goods. But if that monopoly starts to crack? They¡¯ll be shoved out of the competitive market by a more agile economy.

    ¡°With the steel trade opened, the monopoly on agricultural tools, armor, and weapon manufacturing will soon follow.¡±

    Jacques looked stunned as he stared at me.

    But that wasn¡¯t the only shock coming their way.

    ¡°Additionally, a caravan under the protection of Duke Visconti was attacked by bandits. His Grace suspects that the blacksmith guild¡¯s upper echelon orchestrated it.¡±

    We haven¡¯t caught the culprits, but in a world without CCTVs, recordings, or telephones, not catching the culprits is practically a perfect crime.

    In the 21st century, a good lawyer could argue a lack of evidence and probably secure a not-guilty verdict. But in this medieval world? If a noble points a finger, that¡¯s all the evidence needed for an execution.

    Today, I¡¯m bewildered. I¡¯m not in any danger, but I¡¯m facing something I hadn¡¯t anticipated.

    ¡°The second son of Baron Medici, Fabio de Medici, will step forward to the podium.¡±

    I¡¯m in an utterly absurd situation. I thought I¡¯d receive some praise from the Emperor, dressed formally, and perhaps hear an official decree. But as soon as I arrived, I found myself in a hall filled with barons, viscounts, and even a few counts.

    And now, they¡¯re calling me to the podium.

    I feel an intense pressure, but it would be disrespectful not to attend a ceremony arranged by the Duke. Disrespect, in this case, is as good as a death sentence.

    As I ascended the podium, I noticed the attendants, dressed in ceremonial attire, wielding swords.

    ¡°His Eminence, the honorable and courageous Giovanni de Visconti, approaches the podium. Please rise!¡±

    With that, my mind began to clear.

    Ah, they¡¯re about to formally make me a noble.

    A typical knighthood ceremony could be as simple as issuing a certificate, or conducted en masse with several knights. But...

    Once on the podium, the Duke began reciting the customary oath, and I responded with mechanical affirmations.

    When he finished, he drew his sword and rested it on my shoulder.

    ¡°I, Giovanni de Visconti, solemnly swear before all nobles gathered here and before God that as long as Fabio de Medici remains loyal, I shall never forsake him. In return for his loyalty, I bestow upon him the village of Bio.¡±

    Of a hundred knights, only about 5% hold direct dominion over a village.

    I¡¯d just experienced an instant promotion in status. Even being a second son in a baron¡¯s family wouldn¡¯t have achieved this¡ªreceiving a fiefdom was on another level.

    And judging by the assembled nobility, it¡¯s clear what the Duke intends.

    He plans to pit my brother Albert and me against each other, making both of us toil for the Duke¡¯s gain.

    Politicians are indeed evil, but this feels excessive.

    Then the Duke gave his next command.

    ¡°Depart immediately and restore the fief.¡±

    ...This is absurd.

    The state of the land I was given was worse than I¡¯d imagined.

    Perhaps they saw my business acumen and hoped I¡¯d work some miracle to restore the place.

    But seriously, handing me a coastal village ravaged by famine and corrupt officials?

    ¡°Still, maybe it¡¯s a blessing in disguise. A coastal village could mean new opportunities.¡±

 Chapter 15

    The coastal area offered plenty of opportunities, but the current state of the village was, to be honest, disheartening.

    There were still people here, so at least the village hadn¡¯t become a complete ruin. But I saw no livestock¡ªno cows or pigs¡ªand most of the trees had been stripped bare of bark, exposing their inner wood.

    A mercenary knight, tasked with guarding me, let out a sigh.

    ¡°If they were desperate enough to eat tree bark, they probably turned to banditry not long ago.¡±

    If someone were faced with the choice of starving with their family or turning to theft, most people would choose the latter. Only saints or sages could remain steadfast when faced with starvation and despair.

    ¡°Have the villagers been gathered?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re waiting in the square outside the village elder¡¯s house.¡±

    If this were 21st-century Korea, I wouldn¡¯t need to gather the villagers. I¡¯d simply consult with the village chief, reach an agreement, and inform everyone of the decisions.

    But in a world where authority outweighs equality, it was necessary for me, the lord, to appear in person and display both power and mercy. Only by witnessing the authority of their ruler would the people feel reassured.

    As I approached, the mercenaries surrounding the villagers raised their voices.

    ¡°It¡¯s the lord! Show your respect!¡±

    At that, the villagers immediately knelt and pressed their heads to the ground.

    This wasn¡¯t the one-knee kneel with a bow that most people think of when imagining the Middle Ages. Here, the relationship between serfs and their lord was practically that of master and slave. So it was natural for them to bow so low.

    ¡°You may lift your heads and sit at ease. Who is the village chief here?¡±

    An old man, with a balding head and white hair, replied.

    ¡°I am Diego, the village chief of Bio.¡±@@@@

    ¡°The village doesn¡¯t seem to be in good shape. What exactly is the situation?¡±

    I could tell just by looking at the villagers. The chief¡¯s face was gaunt, and his clothes were in such disrepair that they were barely better than rags. The rest of the villagers looked only slightly better off than refugees.

    One would have to be a fool not to understand the situation from this scene.

    ¡°Oh, my lord...¡±

    The village chief and the others bowed their heads to the ground again, this time wailing in unison. With over three hundred villagers crying out together, I couldn¡¯t make out their individual words, but I could guess they were begging for mercy, lamenting about their families starving to death.

    If someone could witness this without feeling sympathy, they¡¯d have to be a psychopath. But feeling sympathy didn¡¯t mean forgetting to assert authority.

    ¡°I asked the chief about the state of the village. Chief, what¡¯s the situation?¡±

    ¡°The food ran out a month ago, my lord. We¡¯ve had to eat everything, even our cattle, chickens, and dogs. Now, we eat anything that can fill our bellies.¡±

    Diego started to weep, probably feeling the cruelty of a reality where the weak must starve to death. I¡¯d never experienced hunger, so I couldn¡¯t fully understand his feelings, but I could imagine how dreadful it must be to watch your family suffer and die while you¡¯re powerless to help.

    ¡°At this rate, we¡¯ll all die, my lord. That¡¯s why we were considering selling orphaned children to buy enough food to survive the year.¡±

    By 21st-century standards, this village chief would deserve immediate punishment. But by this world¡¯s standards, his actions were reasonable. Concepts like human rights and equality are luxuries that only apply when there¡¯s enough food to go around. In desperate times, sacrifices must be made to save the many.

    ¡°I¡ªI meant it only as a sincere gesture...¡±

    Most young noblemen wouldn¡¯t refuse a maid this pretty. I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t tempted, but I despise his intent to wield influence through his daughter.

    With that, I drew my sword and pointed it at the chief¡¯s throat.

    ¡°You think I don¡¯t know your motives? You want to keep your petty power, so you¡¯re trying to curry favor by offering your daughter.¡±

    Even a foreman of a small gang often gets arrogant, and a chief of a village of over three hundred would hold some real influence.

    ¡°That power is mine to grant or revoke from now on.¡±

    I had no intention of actually killing him, of course. Killing someone on my first day as lord would only incite fear among the villagers.

    The chief¡¯s legs were shaking.

    ¡°Chief, and all of you, listen closely. Don¡¯t even think about challenging my authority.¡±

    I plan to introduce valuable techniques to this village. To ensure security, they need to fear their ruler.

    ¡°If you respect my authority and remain loyal, I will provide aid as needed and ensure that none of you go hungry.¡±

    I¡¯m no philanthropist, but I won¡¯t let those under my charge starve.

    ¡°But if you defy me, there will be consequences.¡±

    A well-defined hierarchy is necessary in any organization. Without it, collapse is inevitable.

    Thinking this over, I realized that while seaweed is like brown gold to me, to them, it¡¯s just seaweed. If I offer aid after receiving what they consider worthless, it might seem suspicious.

    In that case, perhaps I should also take in some of the orphans they were going to sell.

    Since they¡¯re now under my protection, I should take care of them.

    ¡°The chief seemed reluctant about paying only in seaweed, so I¡¯ll also take the orphans in this village.¡±

    Once in my care, I could educate them and either employ them or help them find positions elsewhere.

    As I surveyed the orphans, one girl caught my eye. With black hair and eyes, pale skin, full lips, and a petite face, she was strikingly beautiful.

    I almost blurted out in awe.

    ¡°She¡¯s a walking idol.¡±

    She even had an impressive figure, which would only grow more alluring with time. With basic etiquette training, she¡¯d easily make an excellent courtesan.

    Now, I understand why the villagers would consider selling the orphans.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Chloe, my lord.¡±

    Since coming to this world, I hadn¡¯t even held a woman¡¯s hand. Perhaps I could have a beautiful maid around, like other nobles.

    ¡°From now on, you¡¯re my personal maid. You¡¯ll stay by my side at all times.¡±

 Chapter 16

    Even in 21st-century Korea, childbirth is an incredibly challenging ordeal.

    Especially on the continent of Almania, where medicine and nutrition are underdeveloped.

    One could even exaggerate slightly and say that if you give birth ten times, there''s a chance one of those times you might die.

    ¡°Nobles, merchants, serfs¡ªeveryone is sensitive when it comes to childbirth, right?¡±

    Even if a woman survives the perilous task of childbirth, her body often weakens considerably.

    Regardless of whether she¡¯s noble or poor, seeing a fragile new mother evokes concern.

    This is when seaweed soup, which is effective for postpartum recovery, comes in handy.

    ¡°It should be well-received. How popular must it be if some postpartum care centers serve seaweed soup three times a day?¡±

    I sat on a chair near the hearth, watching it bubble and boil.

    The soup filled the room with the unique savory and salty aroma of seaweed.

    When paired with rice, it makes a hearty meal in a snap.

    It¡¯s a pity there¡¯s no kimchi, but just the thought makes my mouth water.

    ¡°My lord¡ªor rather, young master¡ªlet me handle the cooking. You should rest.¡±

    Normally, a noble young master¡ªor a lord of a village, for that matter¡ªdoesn¡¯t cook.

    At most, the rare exception might roast an animal they caught themselves over an open fire.

    ¡°No, Chloe.¡±

    Across the entire continent, there¡¯s probably no one but me who can cook seaweed into a meal.

    It¡¯s been simmering for about 20 minutes now, so let¡¯s take it off and try it.

    ¡°Bring over two bowls and two spoons, please.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you the only one who¡¯s going to eat, young master?¡±

    Typically, noblemen dine alone on delicacies.

    But sharing a meal with someone is always better.

    Especially if that someone is a beautiful woman.

    So, on less formal occasions, I take the opportunity to enjoy good food with Chloe under the guise of pampering her.

    Naturally, I also aim to make her feel as comfortable as possible.

    After all, if you¡¯re always thinking about making money and developing products, your brain will explode eventually...

    ¡°Let¡¯s eat together.¡±

    As I ladled the seaweed soup into the bowl, the distinct smell of the ocean wafted up.

    To me, it was a fragrant aroma, but Chloe looked slightly apprehensive.

    As a serf, she probably wasn¡¯t picky about food.

    But that didn¡¯t mean she had no reservations about unfamiliar dishes.

    ¡°It¡¯s a bit strange, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Chloe nodded, acknowledging my comment.

    ¡°It looks like a bunch of thin, green cloth scraps floating around. It¡¯s weird, like, almost...¡±

    She didn¡¯t finish her thought because it was food I¡¯d made for her, but I could guess what she was thinking.

    Probably looks like something only heretics would eat.

    Seaweed soup is a dish enjoyed mainly by Koreans and Japanese people. Other foreigners, just seeing it, find it strange.

    In the village of Bio, there was a lot of interest in their new lord.

    In a world without newspapers, their usual news involved gossip about the neighbors¡¯ cowshed falling down.

    Compared to other lords, Fabio was visibly different.

    And that difference alone made him a subject of intrigue, especially for Maria, a newlywed local.

    ¡°I think our lord is a good man.¡±

    Even behind closed doors, people speak ill of their rulers.

    So it¡¯s not surprising to hear gossip about the lord.

    ¡°Right? No one else cares for us lowborns like he does.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand why he¡¯s giving us so much food just because we¡¯re having kids.¡±

    To Fabio, childbirth might not be a big deal, but in the Tuscany Empire, having children isn¡¯t seen as remarkable.

    Nobles, merchants, or serfs alike, women¡ªespecially wives¡ªbear between five to seven children on average, and sometimes even ten.

    ¡°He gives us salted meat, flour, and barley powder. It¡¯s more than enough.¡±

    Fabio provided supplies to mothers who were over nine months pregnant or had given birth within the last two months.

    They received four servings of salted meat, flour, and barley powder.

    The reason for the four servings was simple: if they didn¡¯t, the mother wouldn¡¯t get enough nutrition before and after childbirth.

    ¡°How was that woman when she had her baby?¡±

    Maria asked, rubbing her slightly rounded belly.

    ¡°It¡¯s not much, just really painful on the day itself.¡±

    The woman advising Maria laughed slightly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. Everyone does it. And these days, don¡¯t we have the young master making sure everyone¡¯s washed with soap water? No one¡¯s dying anymore.¡±

    ¡°Right, I haven¡¯t heard of anyone dying lately.¡±

    It was no exaggeration to say that in this village, it was common to hear about women dying in childbirth.

    One in ten births would result in the mother¡¯s death.

    So, a small church in the village held a funeral every two weeks for a mother who had died during childbirth.

    ¡°And that seaweed, the one the lord says is a precious Eastern medicine, is remarkable.¡±

    It was a seaweed that villagers ate reluctantly.

    Pregnant women on the verge of delivery ate it at least once a day.

    ¡°They say you can¡¯t go to the bathroom well after giving birth, but after eating that, it helps with that, and you feel better right away. I was up and about in two days.¡±

    Of course, Fabio couldn¡¯t bear to see them in such a state.

    He insisted that women who had given birth stay home and rest for at least two weeks.

    ¡°I think that Eastern medicine seaweed is amazing. After giving birth, I felt better right away. I wonder if I should steal some and give it to my husband too.¡±

    ¡°Indeed...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why, Maria, you should eat some too. It¡¯s good for you.¡±

    Fabio had planned to sell the seaweed as an expensive tonic for new mothers, just like in Korea.

    But in the village, it was already known as a cure-all.

    Fabio immediately went to see the Duke.

    _________________________________

    TL note:

    Thanks for reading! I¡¯d love to hear your thoughts on the story and the translation. Are there aspects you¡¯re particularly enjoying, or areas where you think I could improve? Your feedback is essential for making this reading experience the best it can be. Looking forward to hearing from you!

 Chapter 17

    Even a wasteland can become a major city if it has something special.

    Take Detroit, a mining town with nothing but coal during the American Westward Expansion, or Los Angeles, which is practically a desert but was rich in gold.

    My territory, the village of Bio, also needs a unique business to thrive, just like those cities.

    That''s why I chose seaweed.

    ¡°The village is too small to make salt, and it doesn¡¯t offer much of a competitive edge compared to rock salt.¡±

    In fantasy novels, people might rave about how amazing solar salt is, but that only really applies to places like Korea, China, and Japan, where rock salt isn¡¯t readily available.

    In Northeast Asia, people have to go through the trouble of boiling seawater to get salt.

    But on the Almania continent, we have vast salt mines everywhere, so solar salt isn¡¯t necessarily more productive.

    On the other hand, I can maintain a monopoly on seaweed for quite some time.

    It won¡¯t be easy for anyone to steal the cultivation technique.

    Plus, once we start harvesting, we can get huge quantities at low cost every year, which means I¡¯ll be rolling in money through volume sales.

    ¡°Like those damn Lowlanders who made a fortune selling tulips endlessly... I¡¯ll do the same with seaweed...¡±

    As I was lost in thought, someone tapped my shoulder.

    I turned around to see the Duke standing there.

    ¡°Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s got you so deep in thought? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re thinking about your new maid?¡±

    The Duke isn¡¯t the type to waste time probing into my personal matters like that.

    But, given that I brought Chloe with me on this visit, someone in his household must have mentioned it to him.

    It shows that I rank pretty high on his list of priorities.

    ¡°Finally acting like a boy your age, I see.¡±

    There are three main reasons why the Duke would joke like this.

    First, because he feels a genuine sense of camaraderie and wants to tease me.

    Second, to express that sentiment openly. And lastly, to let the servants in the mansion know that he values me, Fabio, highly.

    The last reason is the most important one.

    ¡®This story will spread across the Duke¡¯s faction by tonight.¡¯

    Therefore, I mustn¡¯t react too seriously to this joke.

    By 21st-century standards, this would be considered sexual harassment, but here, it¡¯s the Duke¡¯s way of showing friendly concern.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t even held a girl¡¯s hand, but being around such a beauty all the time...¡±

    ¡°As a man, what¡¯s there to worry about? Back in my day...¡±

    The Duke spent about three minutes advising me that it¡¯s best to be manly and just take her to bed.

    I¡¯m no saint, and honestly, the temptation is there.

    Chloe is mine, and I have the power and money to do as I please.

    But I don¡¯t intend to do that.

    Using power to exploit the weak isn¡¯t something I can justify as a 21st-century Korean.

    ¡®This is a line I won¡¯t cross.¡¯

    ¡°Sorry, Fabio. Seeing young men like you reminds me of my younger days.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your concern, Your Grace. I actually came here to offer you a special herb from the East that I discovered in my village.¡±

    I handed him a dried piece of seaweed in an elegantly ornate box.

    The Duke¡¯s eyes widened as soon as he received it.

    Wealthy old men always light up when it comes to health-related items.

    ¡°What¡¯s in here doesn¡¯t look particularly impressive. Just some dried plant scraps?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought at first. But this seaweed resembles an Eastern medicinal herb that I read about in my family¡¯s records. I even tested its efficacy.¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a special discount for you, Your Grace.¡±

    In my village, people see seaweed as seaweed and avoid it even during a famine.

    So the cost of goods is basically zero.

    But add in the marketing strategies and a little manipulation of statistics...?

    ¡®The Duke probably thinks it¡¯s cheap even at five gold coins.¡¯

    Poorer nobles might think differently, but no one would skimp on postpartum seaweed.

    Now that I have his interest, it¡¯s time to reveal the truth.

    ¡°Your Grace, this seaweed isn¡¯t a miraculous herb. It¡¯s merely a common seaweed that grows on the seashore.¡±

    The Duke¡¯s face showed clear irritation.

    ¡°But its effects are genuine. In the East, it¡¯s indeed used as a tonic for new mothers.¡±

    ¡°So you didn¡¯t lie?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always said that my principle is to live long and prosper. I¡¯m well aware of my position, and I would never dream of lying to Your Grace. That¡¯s why I¡¯m sharing my trade secrets with you now.¡±

    I plan to live a long, profitable life.

    I want to be able to hold Chloe close and enjoy a lifestyle I never could in Korea.

    And I need to live long enough to see how far I can climb with my abilities.

    ¡°Seaweed is a special tonic for postpartum recovery. To prevent maternal deaths, the delivery environment and the mother must be thoroughly cleaned.¡±

    In medieval times, most childbirth deaths occurred from infections due to unclean conditions.

    ¡°That¡¯s why even the Bible instructs us to wash, because it¡¯s good for you.¡±

    Many diseases can be avoided simply by washing well.

    Modern medicine has proven that truth.

    ¡°I¡¯ve tested these principles in my domain, and the results are overwhelmingly positive. Your Grace, I ask for your support.¡±

    The Duke chuckled at my words.

    ¡°What would you like me to do?¡±

    ¡°Please spread the word about my hospital among the nobles. If things go wrong, I¡¯ll take full responsibility with my life.¡±

    Currently, the maternal death rate is around 10%.

    If we can reduce it even by 2%, our hospital will be regarded as excellent.

    After all, for someone giving birth, that 2% could mean the world.

    If we manage to bring it down to 1%, not going to our hospital would be seen as foolish.

    ¡°To the first noble you introduce, I¡¯ll provide free services for all aspects of childbirth and a 40% discount on seaweed.¡±

    If the Duke recommends it and it saves a life, nobles will owe him a significant political favor.

    It¡¯s an attractive proposition for a man eager to topple Sforza.

    ¡°One question.¡±

    The Duke looked me in the eye.

    ¡°Are you truly willing to risk your life?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Good, but let¡¯s do it this way.¡±

    The Duke drafted a contract on the spot.

    ¡°If things go wrong, you don¡¯t need to die. Just give me your life and soul, and dedicate yourself to the eternal glory of House Visconti.¡±

    ¡°It is my duty as your loyal servant, Your Grace.¡±

    And so, I signed without hesitation.

    The Duke soon sent his cousin¡¯s daughter to my hospital.

    Naturally, she gave birth safely.

    The nobles, ever interested in childbirth, began to rave about the news.

 Chapter 18

    ¡°Baron Corona, have you heard of seaweed?¡±

    In the social circles where keeping up with trends is crucial, there isn¡¯t a noble unaware of seaweed.

    Yet, the reason for asking such a question is simple.

    In short, it¡¯s a way of saying, ¡°Hey, I heard your family is practically broke,¡± and making fun of them.

    For the recipient, it not only scratches their pride but also subtly implies that their family is being looked down upon, causing a minor political blow.

    The baron wanted to throw off his gloves in anger, but he suppressed it.

    Challenging a duel over such a trivial matter would be a disgrace to his ancestors.

    ¡°Haha, how could a noble of the Tuscan Empire not know about seaweed? I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s very beneficial for new mothers.¡±

    Baron Corona managed to respond with a polite smile.

    But his opponent had no intention of letting him off that easily.

    ¡°Ah, so you know. Actually, I¡¯ve recently managed to acquire a small amount myself.¡±

    His opponent handed Baron Corona a lavish box.

    Inside was about 100 grams of dried seaweed.

    The contents were worth ten gold coins, or 100 pounds.

    For a baron, that¡¯s not a huge amount, but it¡¯s not insignificant either.

    ¡°Our family, the Delle Barons, recently secured about two kilograms of it. I thought it would only be right to share some with Baron Corona, our close ally.¡±

    The Delle Barons support Duke Visconti, while Baron Corona supports Duke Sforza¡ªpolitical rivals.

    Giving precious seaweed to someone in that kind of relationship?

    It¡¯s no more than flaunting their wealth, saying, ¡°We¡¯re richer than your family.¡±

    Moreover, since money equals power, it¡¯s also a way of insinuating that they¡¯re stronger.

    One major reason seaweed became popular was precisely because it allowed for ¡°legitimate mocking¡± of rival families.

    Yet outwardly, it¡¯s framed as gifting an expensive medicinal herb, so getting angry would be unseemly.

    ¡®Refusing a gift would just make me look ungrateful.¡¯

    Baron Corona had no choice but to grit his teeth in frustration.

    ¡°Well then, I should be going. There are others I need to greet.¡±

    The divide between those who had secured seaweed and those who hadn¡¯t was stark.

    Even though it was eating him up inside, Baron Corona couldn¡¯t throw away the box containing 100 grams of seaweed.

    ¡°This is utterly humiliating.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t felt this way since he caught his beloved courtesan with another commoner.

    ¡°My family¡¯s vassals won¡¯t be able to show their faces.¡±

    If this kind of mockery came from a count or even a viscount, he could attribute it to differences in status.

    But for it to come from a fellow baron, especially a political rival?

    The mere thought made him shudder.

    His wife, who was also attending the banquet, began to grumble immediately.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand why we have to be looked down upon at this banquet just because we couldn¡¯t get seaweed.¡±

    While it was beneficial for new mothers, its true value lay in the fact that not having it meant disgrace in noble society.

    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±

    ¡°Once we have it, prepare for a banquet. I must get back at Delle for this humiliation.¡±

    That day, Baron Corona paid triple the usual price to buy a kilogram of seaweed.

    And he succeeded in securing a spot at Duke Visconti¡¯s hospital for his wife, who was due to give birth in five months.

    The Duke gained political influence, while Fabio profited from the seaweed sales in the black market.

    ¡°After all, playing on the nobles¡¯ vanity is the best way to do business in the medieval era, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    The cake, seaweed, and postpartum care center I initially introduced were all novel items that appealed to noble vanity.

    Thanks to that, nobles were now paying over four times the usual price for cakes packaged in boxes stamped with the Medici seal.

    It had become a must-have for banquets.

    Seaweed and postpartum care had become necessities that nobles would go into debt to acquire.

    ¡°I wonder how much money the seaweed and postpartum care centers will bring in.¡±

    I had ordered Sebastian to hire suitable people, so the financial reports should be coming in soon.

    Just then, I heard Sebastian¡¯s voice outside the door.

    ¡°Young master, may I come in?¡±

    A man with decades of experience as a butler hurried inside.

    It seemed the results were promising.

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    As expected, he wore a satisfied smile.

    ¡°Profits from seaweed sales and the Medici hospital have exceeded four thousand gold coins. All this in just one month.¡±

    They say the top 1% control 50% of the world¡¯s wealth in the 21st century.

    In the Tuscan Empire, where wealth redistribution is even less common, this makes even more sense.

    That¡¯s why I focus on selling goods aimed at nobles.

    ¡®This is more than I expected.¡¯

    Although the revenue is lower than when I first set up the ironworks, once seaweed saturates the entire Tuscan Empire, it¡¯ll probably match those profits.

    Unlike steel, which has consistent demand, seaweed and postpartum care will eventually lose their rarity, and sales will taper off.

    ¡°This is more than I expected.¡±

    Sebastian looked at me with wide eyes.

    Was he surprised that someone not yet twenty-one wasn¡¯t fazed by such wealth?

    But honestly, now isn¡¯t the time to jump for joy.

    ¡®I need to use this money to establish a merchant guild and solidify my foundation.¡¯

    My base of operations will naturally be my territory, the village of Bio.

    ¡°Prepare to invest all of this into the village and the merchant guild. Let¡¯s make Bio Village grow.¡±

    With significant funds, a foundational industry, and people, any place can develop rapidly.

    Now it¡¯s time to take that first step.

 Chapter 19

    In the Tuscan Empire, the administrative process for establishing a merchant guild is surprisingly simple.

    All you need to do is fill out a permit application.

    Of course, you have to grease the wheels with some ¡°gifts¡± to make things run smoothly.

    In our empire, if you¡¯re of low status, you even have to pay death taxes and bribes to the government when you die.

    That¡¯s the reality here, and you just have to accept it.

    ¡°Young Master Medici, Sub-Baron Raviolle will see you now.¡±

    If this were Korea, I¡¯d have to submit the paperwork and then wait for weeks.

    But in the Tuscan Empire, since centralization and record-keeping aren¡¯t as developed, procedures like background checks are done quickly.

    So, as soon as you submit the papers and give a little gift, approval comes through in no time.

    ¡°I¡¯m going in.¡±

    I knocked and entered to find the director sitting with a somewhat annoyed expression.

    It seems that even nobles can¡¯t manage a cheerful face while working.

    In that way, he¡¯s no different from a 21st-century Korean office worker.

    ¡°This might take a while, so have a seat.¡±

    In our empire, setting up a merchant guild usually requires only a single sheet of paper.

    But if he plans to scrutinize it in depth, something feels off.

    Sub-Baron Raviolle studied my document as if he were dismantling each word.

    ¡°Hmm, you wrote ¡®by the will of the Just Deus¡¯ instead of ¡®by the will of the Holy Deus¡¯ at the beginning. With such an oversight, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t accept it...¡±

    When writing any official contract in our empire, you must praise Deus or swear by him.

    Yet, to nitpick over such a minor deviation in praising Deus?

    Clearly, he¡¯s already hinting for a bribe.

    I might as well pay him¡ªit¡¯s filthy but necessary.

    I handed him a pouch of gold coins with a respectful bow.

    ¡°A small token of appreciation for your dedicated service to the empire, Sub-Baron.¡±

    ¡°No need for such gifts. Put it away.¡±

    His insistence on not needing it is as trustworthy as an elderly parent claiming they¡¯re ready to die, only to take their medicine right after.

    Having lived in Korea, I know that the same person who says they¡¯re ready to die will be taking herbal supplements five minutes later.

    Without the bribe, everyone knows my merchant guild application would be buried.

    ¡°This is just a gesture of my sincere gratitude.¡±

    The sub-baron opened the pouch and smiled contentedly.

    ¡°Well, such minor mistakes are common, even among imperial officials. We can let it slide.¡±

    With the bribe accepted, his tone softened considerably.

    ¡°Upon closer inspection, there are no major issues with your application.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. Does that mean you¡¯ll approve the establishment of my guild?¡±

    Sub-Baron Raviolle shook his head.

    They¡¯re probably worried that I¡¯ll grow big enough to threaten their livelihoods.

    So, rather than fume over it, I prefer to think of it this way:

    ¡®I must be quite impressive now.¡¯

    ¡°Quite right, sir.¡±

    ¡°And do I look like a pushover who¡¯ll just sit back and take it?¡±

    Being denied a guild license is a trivial matter.

    They didn¡¯t exactly come at me with swords to steal anything.

    But in human relationships, especially in politics, ignoring a seemingly minor issue can sometimes lead to huge losses.

    Trash who mistake kindness for entitlement.

    Hyenas in the political sphere who think they can keep feasting on you as long as you don¡¯t fight back.

    These are the types of vermin you find everywhere.

    ¡°Since they¡¯re making such a fuss over a minor issue like this, someone must be supporting the sub-baron.¡±

    A noble with a title likely isn¡¯t backing him.

    Such high-ranking individuals have nothing to gain from messing with me.

    ¡®I¡¯m not at that level yet.¡¯

    Though I¡¯m rising quickly, I¡¯m not yet a match for barons who own entire cities.

    ¡°Whoever is backing him must be offering enough benefit to make this hostility worthwhile.¡±

    ¡°First, I need to find out exactly who my enemy is.¡±

    Whatever I do, understanding the situation is key.

    Only by knowing where I stand can I make meaningful moves.

    Doctors always diagnose the patient¡¯s illness first, regardless of the era.

    ¡°I was planning to give the guild staff a bonus and a meal, but plans changed, Sebastian.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take my guards and head to the back alleys. Take Chloe and go home.¡±

    The backstreets of the Tuscan Empire are hardly a sight for Chloe, who¡¯s lived her life as a serf.

    They¡¯re full of beggars missing limbs, the moans of low-end prostitutes, and frequent stabbings.

    But as long as I don¡¯t provoke them, they¡¯ll likely leave me alone.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it too dangerous?¡±

    ¡°Look at my guards¡¯ armor and tell me.¡±

    I¡¯m practically the master of steel.

    I had custom plate armor made for my mercenaries at a third of the usual cost.

    So, my guards all look like true knights in their armor.

    A trained, well-equipped knight can take on twenty regular men alone.

    ¡°...Take care, then.¡±

    The slums, the back alleys.

    A place nobles turn to for dirty work, and I wonder what sort of neighborhood it¡¯ll be.

 Chapter 20

    The slums were harsher than I expected, yet rational in a certain sense.

    In fantasy novels, when characters go to the slums on a mission, they always seem to get caught up in some sort of incident.

    Though it was obvious that I was a noble, no one dared to mess with me.

    However, street brawls happened right in front of me.

    ¡°Please wait here.¡±

    ¡°Can my guards enter with me?¡±

    The low-level thug guiding me hesitated for a moment.

    ¡°No matter how honorable they are, the knights cannot enter this part of the slum.¡±

    ¡°Even if they have served my family for generations?¡±

    People say not to judge others by their appearance, but that¡¯s highly unrealistic.

    Our instincts judge others based on what we see.

    Since my guards are dressed in full plate armor, they look just like real knights as long as they keep their mouths shut.

    ¡°It would be inconvenient for us if any confidential information were to leak.¡±

    I signaled for my guards to stay outside.

    I should be safe enough, as long as I don¡¯t threaten these gangsters or fail to pay them.

    Even thugs know that if they betray a paying client, they won¡¯t get more business.

    If they couldn¡¯t grasp that, they wouldn¡¯t have survived here.

    ¡°We can guarantee the quality of the information. And if you need women, we have women; if you need dirty work done, we have skilled men who are discreet... whatever you require, we can provide.¡±

    They were open about killing or even arranging human trafficking.

    Unimaginable in 21st-century Korea.

    While I was conversing with the thug, he suddenly lowered his head.

    ¡°Hello, Boss.¡±

    The man called Boss promptly kicked the low-level thug.

    The thug crashed into the wall.

    ¡°You wretched fool! Do you think Sir Fabio Medici, heir of the Medici family, would buy women? How long have you been here, and you still don¡¯t know your place?!¡±

    The boss shouted at the thug, his hand raising and lowering naturally.

    Just like the mobsters I used to know.

    ¡°You got lucky today, punk.¡±

    With that, the thug scurried away like a rat with its tail between its legs.

    From the boss¡¯s reprimand to the thug¡¯s reaction, everything seemed too natural.

    ¡®They¡¯re acting.¡¯

    Did they think they could intimidate me because I¡¯m young?

    Unlike the thug who lacked any sense of dignity, the boss greeted me with some measure of poise.@@@@

    ¡°Greetings, Sir Medici. I¡¯m Corbo, in charge of the Spider¡¯s Tear here in the slums.¡±

    ¡°It seems you know me well, despite my not introducing myself.¡±

    ¡°Any nobleman I may not know, but I wouldn¡¯t fail to recognize someone destined for greatness.¡±

    Whenever someone says that, it¡¯s usually an insincere compliment.

    But judging from the expression on Corbo¡¯s face, he seemed to mean it.

    ¡°I apologize for the disrespect my subordinate showed you. Please forgive us.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize for your underling¡¯s actions.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your gracious forgiveness.¡±

    Corbo raised one corner of his mouth and smiled slyly.

    ¡°But if you ever find yourself lonely at night, just let me know. We¡¯ll prepare the finest. Unlike other gangs, we don¡¯t deceive our customers.¡±

    ¡°May I ask what this sub-baron did to you? If we knew, it might help us assist you further.¡±

    It¡¯s not like I was caught doing anything shameful.

    ¡°I¡¯d welcome any rumors spreading about this. That sub-baron used a law over 500 years old to deny me a guild permit. And he even took a bribe.¡±

    ¡°If he was going to refuse, he should have at least declined the gift. That¡¯s crossing a line.¡±

    Corbo laughed dryly.

    ¡°In a week, I¡¯ll send someone to my mansion, disguised as a hunter. Based on the quality and quantity of the information, I may have more work for you.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll bring back results that¡¯ll exceed your expectations.¡±

    When I returned to the mansion, Chloe greeted me at once.

    I had told her she could go to bed since I expected to return late, but here she was.

    ¡°You¡¯re back, sir.¡±

    That wretched sub-baron had soured my mood.

    But seeing Chloe made me feel better.

    They say that fathers find the strength to live another day just by having their children greet them when they come home.

    Now I understand why.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m back.¡±

    ¡°Sebastian had prepared a special meal to celebrate your guild. It¡¯s too bad...¡±

    Setting up the guild was supposed to be as simple as submitting one piece of paper, but here we are.

    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate.¡±

    The food wouldn¡¯t go to waste, as the servants would enjoy it.

    But it angered me that everyone¡¯s effort to celebrate had been wasted.

    ¡°No worries. We can celebrate later.¡±

    I put my hand on Chloe¡¯s head and patted it.

    ¡°Not everything in life goes perfectly, right?¡±

    That¡¯s how life is.

    Most of it¡ª90%¡ªis hardship and struggle, with less than 10% that feels like happiness.

    But finding gratitude in that 10% is what makes life worthwhile.

    ¡°When this is all over, let¡¯s go on a picnic outside. I¡¯ll bring plenty of your favorite cake.¡±

    Perhaps because of her hard life, Chloe loves sweets more than anyone else around me.

    And she eats them with such enjoyment.

    Seeing her like that, I ended up eating so much I nearly got sick of it.

    ¡®Sometimes three times a day...¡¯

    ¡°But don¡¯t eat too much.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t resist teasing her a little and gave her belly a gentle poke.

    Realizing my meaning, Chloe turned away.

    ¡°You¡¯re too much.¡±

    She stayed upset about it until the next day.

    A week later, the informant arrived at my mansion with more than I¡¯d anticipated.

 Chapter 21

    The way I was treated by Sub-Baron Ravioli was classic office politics.

    It¡¯s no different than a senior executive in a company trying to block a rising talent from advancing too quickly.

    ¡°What could I have done to deserve this?¡±

    Chloe, walking beside me, echoed my sentiment with an earnest nod.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done nothing wrong, sir. That sub-baron is being unreasonable.¡±

    Her gaze was filled with concern.

    ¡°You even look after the other servants. You¡¯re nothing like those other nobles.¡±

    It¡¯s not that I¡¯m particularly virtuous. I simply haven¡¯t had any reason to do otherwise.

    In office politics, being disliked often doesn¡¯t require a reason.

    The point is to eliminate someone as a threat before they rise any higher.

    ¡°In this world, people don¡¯t need a reason to cause trouble for others.¡±

    At this, Chloe bowed her head slightly, clenching her jaw.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. This fight is already won.¡±

    The members of the Tears of the Spider had gathered more information than I anticipated.

    The Sub-Baron wouldn¡¯t get away unscathed.

    ¡°If he¡¯s hit me once, he¡¯d better be ready to bleed for it.¡±

    Chloe¡¯s voice was subdued, with a hint of sadness.

    ¡°I just wish I could be of more help.¡±

    ¡°Just by being with me, you¡¯re already helping.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not enough.¡±

    Truth be told, Chloe¡¯s presence has made this ordeal easier.

    It might sound odd, but having her around is like owning an affectionate pet¡ªlike a cat with the loyalty of a dog.

    Just patting her head somehow dissipates any lingering anger I feel.@@@@

    But before I could say anything more, the coachman spoke.

    ¡°And? Is there a noble in this empire who¡¯s clean?¡±

    If there ever was, they¡¯re long dead. I agree with him on that.

    Even in Joseon, Admiral Yi Sun-sin refused to partake in corruption, yet survived and became a legend.

    Here, though, staying clean without the backing of exceptional talent is next to impossible.

    ¡°Do you think that¡¯s all I know?¡±

    I spread several documents in front of him, each one more incriminating than the last.

    ¡°The Pachi Guild has officially switched allegiance to the Sforza faction. You must have thought they were still aligned with the Visconti Duke.¡±

    Sub-Baron Ravioli¡¯s eyes widened as he skimmed the documents.

    ¡°This... This can¡¯t be. It¡¯s impossible!¡±

    And yet, it was the truth.

    ¡°David Pachi, the guild master, is preparing his heir for knighthood and has aligned with the Sforzas. So every favor you did for him? Now it¡¯s treason.¡±

    I could tell he felt trapped. As far as he knew, he was playing the game like a proper noble.

    But his political maneuvering turned out to be aiding a rival faction, which would label him a traitor.

    He sank to his knees before me.

    ¡°Please, spare my family. I¡¯ll do whatever you say. You know I¡¯d never willingly betray the Duke.¡±

    Desperation painted his face. He knew the consequences: disgrace, and the end of his lineage.

    ¡°You think begging for mercy will save you? What could I possibly gain from that?¡±

    The longer I succeed, the closer I¡¯ll get to securing a barony for myself.

    I have no need for a ruined sub-baron clinging to me.

    ¡°I¡¯ll show a shred of mercy.¡±

    I didn¡¯t want to waste time trying to publicly ruin him. I¡¯m no hero, and I don¡¯t care for a messy scandal.

    I have no intention of becoming a whistleblower and facing the likely dire consequences.

    The Visconti Duke will hear of this in a few days. He¡¯ll probably send you a final letter.

    Consider it your last chance to exit gracefully¡ªbefore you¡¯re forced to drink poison.

    ¡°Make the wise choice.¡±

 Chapter 22

    After I gave Sub-Baron Ravioli the chance to make a "wise decision," I followed through with my promise to take Chloe on a picnic.

    We headed to a small hill near Florence¡ªa place I''d often visited with my family as a child.

    "We''re going to a place where I used to go with my parents and brothers," I told her.

    "Really?"

    "Well, we only went about once a year. Both my parents were usually too busy to go out more often."

    Chloe gave me a look of sympathy, clearly moved. In Korea, family trips and outings are more common, and parents who don''t spend time with their children might be judged harshly. But in the Tuscany Empire, noble fathers simply don''t have the time or emotional connection for such things.

    In noble families, a father''s love often goes to the children of favored mistresses based on their looks or personalities.

    For children born to legitimate wives, the main inheritance; for children of mistresses, a portion of wealth and perhaps some affection.

    The arrangement still baffled me sometimes.

    "That''s how noble families are," I said. "Compared to others, my father was quite affectionate."

    "It still must have been lonely."

    I shrugged, remembering that my adult mind from a previous life had spared me from feeling the loneliness too deeply. But my elder brother, Albert, had been affected. His obsession with power and suspicion towards me might have stemmed from that.

    "It was lonely, but I managed. They did care for me in their own way."

    In other families, fathers often treated their children as mere subordinates.

    "How about you?" I asked, but the question immediately made her face fall.

    "No, I¡¯m sorry," I said quickly.

    Chloe had lost her entire family to a famine-induced plague. My thoughtlessness made me wince.

    She forced a sad smile and looked out at the fields, her eyes misting over with memories.

    "We were poor, but we were happy. Father was strict but played with us often, and Mother would tell us stories before bed."

    I could imagine the scene¡ªa burly but gentle father, a kind mother, and kids clinging to their parents.

    It was probably a simple but happy life.

    "Then last year, the lord changed, the crops failed, and the plague came. But still, it was a happy life."

    Tears gathered in her eyes.

    "I''m sorry," I said.

    She wiped her eyes quickly, turning back to me with a small smile.

    "But now, being with you, I¡¯m happy again."

    I reached over and ruffled her hair. She looked up at me with a grateful expression.

    The past can¡¯t be changed, but happiness now is what matters most.

    "We¡¯re here, sir," the coachman called.

    We got out of the carriage on a secluded hill covered with wildflowers. It was a beautiful spot.

    "Shall we lay out the mat and have lunch?"

    As I was setting up, Sebastian approached.

    She knew all too well what might have happened to her otherwise: sold off to some unknown man, perhaps forced into a life as a concubine or worse.

    "I have no one else but him to trust," she murmured. "I have to try my best to be someone he can care for."

    While the thought of being his official partner was unlikely, she was content as long as she could stay by his side.

    "Are you hungry? Let¡¯s eat," I called.

    She moved closer, sitting next to me so that we were just barely touching. She found comfort and security in that small connection.

    "This sandwich is really good, Chloe."

    "Is it?"

    "Yeah, it looks so nice I almost don¡¯t want to eat it."

    Even though I had access to top-tier food from the estate chefs, I always appreciated the care Chloe put into her meals.

    "It¡¯s so good I want more tomorrow. Would you make it again?"

    He praised her cooking as if it was the best thing he¡¯d ever had, making her feel warm inside.

    Unlike most nobles, I treated her with genuine care.

    "Thank you," she said, meaning every word.

    "You¡¯re really welcome."

    As I complimented her food, I noticed her gaze drift towards her own chest and linger for a moment. She probably thought I didn¡¯t notice, but I saw it.

    But Chloe wasn¡¯t stupid. She knew relying solely on looks could make her disposable someday.

    "Sir, I have a favor to ask."

    "What is it?"

    "I¡¯d like to study. I want to be more useful to you."

    It was a request beyond what any servant might ask.

    "Of course. I¡¯ll get you the books and hire a tutor if you need one."

    She smiled, and I could tell how grateful she was.

    "I suppose I really can¡¯t live without you," she thought, grateful for the opportunity to learn.

    "If you keep studying, I¡¯ll give you a reward too."

    She resolved to ask for a reward that would bring her closer to me, a little more intimate.

    Sebastian, watching from afar, sighed.

    "The young master is really clueless when it comes to these things," he muttered.

    "How did he climb so high in just four months?"

    In the end, with Chloe¡¯s constant support, I formally established my own guild. It didn¡¯t take long before I set off to Bioro Village to make it my base.

 Chapter 23

    It had been a while since I visited Bioro Village, and the place was nearly unrecognizable. The once dilapidated houses looked well-maintained, and the villagers seemed to have a bit more spring in their step. From inside the carriage, Chloe looked out and murmured quietly, ¡°It¡¯s completely different from a few months ago.¡±

    There was a hint of melancholy in her voice. I gently ruffled her hair, trying to comfort her. After a moment, the coachman called out loudly.

    ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at the village chief¡¯s house, sir.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    I moved to step out of the carriage, and Chloe started to follow, but I stopped her. Even though she was my maid and her place was by my side, I knew she wouldn¡¯t want to see certain faces here¡ªfaces of people who had once tried to sell her into slavery during a famine.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to follow me around the village,¡± I told her.

    ¡°But...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s an order. Go to the room I¡¯ll be staying in and continue your studies. Let¡¯s aim for you to be reading on your own by the end of the week.¡±

    I had promised Chloe a small reward for learning to read, hoping it would motivate her to work harder. She gave me a hesitant nod and returned to the carriage as I made my way to the chief¡¯s home.

    The village chief greeted me with a face full of gratitude and respect.

    ¡°Welcome, my lord!¡±

    ¡°How are things going in the village?¡±

    ¡°Thanks to your generosity, things have improved tremendously,¡± he replied.

    Of course, when someone in a position of power asks, ¡°How¡¯s life?¡± the answer is always, ¡°Good.¡± No one wants to be at the receiving end of punishment.

    But his enthusiasm wasn¡¯t just lip service. I could see the honesty in his eyes, the way he wrung his hands together¡ªhe meant every word.

    ¡°Generalizing like that doesn¡¯t help me understand. Be more specific,¡± I said.

    ¡°Well, before, we struggled to have even two meals a day. But now, while it¡¯s not gourmet food, we can eat three full meals daily.¡±

    It¡¯s easy to forget in the 21st century, but in pre-modern times, the frequency and quantity of meals are a direct indicator of economic health. In this era, peasants and commoners spend about 80% of their income on food.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be able to eat so well on the relief supplies I provided. How did you manage?¡±

    ¡°We grow seaweed as part of our labor obligations, as you know. But outside those hours, we hunt or gather herbs to sell.¡±

    It¡¯s true¡ªhope for a better life can drive people to incredible lengths, even 12-hour workdays, as it did my parents¡¯ generation.

    The ax fell, and Hans¡¯ head hit the ground. The mercenaries quickly cleared away the body.

    ¡°Your hard work in harvesting seaweed has earned me a considerable fortune,¡± I continued.

    The villagers looked at me blankly, unsure of what to expect. In Tuscany, it wasn¡¯t common for nobles to share their wealth with peasants.

    ¡°As your lord, I believe it¡¯s only fair to reward your efforts. I will give each household two gold coins.¡±

    Two gold coins¡ªenough for a city-dweller to live on for four years. In this rural area, it was an enormous sum.

    Everyone was stunned, even the chief. He hesitated, then spoke.

    ¡°My lord, you¡¯ve already waived our taxes and provided food for us. This is too much...¡±

    ¡°Even a peasant deserves a reward for good work. If you don¡¯t want it, you can refuse.¡±

    ¡°No, no, we¡¯re just grateful!¡± the chief exclaimed, and the crowd joined in, cheering.

    ¡°Enjoy it,¡± I said, smiling. I knew that generosity breeds loyalty, and loyalty breeds hard work.

    ¡°Now, let¡¯s talk about the future.¡±

    Everyone¡¯s attention was rapt.

    ¡°I plan to turn this village into a port city. We¡¯ll build a harbor, bring in shipbuilders, and create a market. Soon, goods from across the Empire and beyond will flow through here.¡±

    This village had the potential: it was close enough to Florence, the coastline was accessible, and there were enough trees in the surrounding forests to build ships.

    ¡°Merchants from Tuscany, Lyon, and beyond will come, bringing wealth and prosperity.¡±

    The villagers buzzed with excitement, even if they couldn¡¯t fully grasp the economic impact. I¡¯d had the benefit of modern education, so I knew exactly what this could mean.

    ¡°In a few years, when we¡¯ve built a shipyard and Bioro becomes a bustling port city...¡± I paused, letting anticipation build.

    ¡°...I will free you and your children from serfdom. You will become free citizens.¡±

    The medieval serfdom system was inefficient. When peasants knew they¡¯d be taxed no matter how hard they worked, they didn¡¯t work hard.

    ¡°If all goes well, we¡¯ll celebrate with another festival tomorrow. I¡¯ll provide the food and drink, so enjoy yourselves.¡±

    With that, I turned my focus back to expanding trade. My next destination was the Kingdom of Lyon, where I would establish the next step in our plans.

 Chapter 24

    In both 21st-century Korea and the Kingdom of Tuscany, expanding into international markets is essential for business success. Selling domestically is fine, but reaching overseas markets allows for larger sales volumes and greater profits. Conversely, importing foreign goods can be equally profitable.

    That¡¯s why I had come to the Kingdom of Lyon¡ªto hire shipbuilders and secure new trade routes. However, my arrival was quickly interrupted.

    ¡°Stop right there.¡±

    I hadn¡¯t been in Lyon long before I encountered a band of thugs. Not just any thugs¡ªthese were official soldiers dressed as officers.@@@@

    ¡°What brings a young noble like you to Guillaumetown? I¡¯ll need to conduct an inspection.¡±

    Official soldiers shaking down citizens for money was familiar enough to me. But these weren¡¯t customs officers, so any inspection they conducted would be unofficial at best. If they found the seaweed I was carrying, they might seize it under the guise of ¡®confiscation.¡¯

    The one who spoke seemed to be a captain. I had to tread carefully to avoid provoking him.

    ¡°Good day, officer. I¡¯m Fabio de Medici from Tuscany, traveling to expand my horizons.¡±

    The officer looked me over. ¡°Not suspicious, then. Still, you¡¯ve brought goods into our port, so there¡¯s a customs fee.¡±

    It was obvious he wasn¡¯t a real customs official. Yet I knew better than to escalate things here.

    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m sure your work is demanding. Please, take this,¡± I said, passing him a pouch of gold coins.

    The mayor opened it, his expression unimpressed. ¡°Seaweed from the East? It¡¯s said to be medicinal, but I have no use for it.¡±

    That reaction was strange. Seaweed was highly prized in Tuscany, especially among nobles who valued its properties for safe childbirth. Seeing that he seemed uninterested, I had Chloe bring in a larger box and used the opportunity to give the mayor a discreet pitch.

    ¡°This seaweed has a hidden benefit, Mayor. It¡¯s not just good for childbirth; it also provides remarkable benefits for men.¡±

    The mayor¡¯s curiosity piqued, and he listened closely.

    ¡°It works wonders. Trust me¡ªever since I discovered it, I¡¯ve had unmatched stamina.¡±

    His interest was fully captured. It was clear he had personal struggles, and I offered a solution that could boost his confidence. I then gave a little ¡®truth¡¯ to cement my credibility.

    ¡°After taking this seaweed, I found it improved my vitality tremendously. In fact, every eligible woman in my village is now pregnant,¡± I said, adding a wink for effect.

    The mayor was now thoroughly convinced, treating the seaweed like a treasure.

    ¡°Remarkable! You¡¯ve brought me a rare gem. Tell me, what can I do for you in return?¡±

    ¡°I would like to bring in shipbuilders. Can you assist me with this?¡±

    With the mayor now on my side, I was ready to start formalizing my plans.

 Chapter 25

    "You must realize, shipbuilders are incredibly valuable. What assurance do I have in handing them over to a noble of Tuscany?" the mayor asked, his skepticism evident.

    In truth, I didn¡¯t need the mayor¡¯s permission to recruit craftsmen or shipbuilders. Offering these workers better pay would entice them to leave the guild and join me. No law on our continent could prevent this. But making enemies of the entire city wouldn¡¯t serve me well.

    ¡°Tuscany and Lyon may experience occasional diplomatic friction, but we are bound to remain allies in the long run. You needn''t trust me personally, but rather trust the circumstances,¡± I replied, setting the stage.

    The mayor seemed cautious, but he was listening. He had to consider that Tuscany¡¯s potential adversary was Milan, while Lyon¡¯s was the Empire of Hanover. We were both too preoccupied with our immediate enemies to turn on each other.

    ¡°True enough,¡± he conceded.

    ¡°And so, helping me now shouldn''t pose any real problem, should it?¡± I added.

    A faint smile crossed his face, a signal that he was willing to negotiate. But to secure his approval, I would need to offer something enticing.

    ¡°If you allow me to recruit shipbuilders, I can ensure a steady supply of seaweed to the Kingdom of Lyon. For the next three years, I would also refrain from selling it to any other city within Lyon.¡±

    Rumor had it that seaweed¡¯s reputation had spread beyond our borders. People had already attempted to sell it off clandestinely, as Hans had tried.

    ¡°So all seaweed supplies for Lyon would go through Guillaume?¡± he asked, interest piqued.

    ¡°Nobles won¡¯t be able to resist its benefits. For both childbirth recovery and the enhancements for men that I¡¯ve mentioned, the demand will be high.¡±

    The mayor could foresee the business potential. And he seemed aware of how a lucrative commodity could fuel the growth of his city.

    ¡°Everyone here belongs to the local guild,¡± he said. ¡°Poaching workers like us is...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got the mayor¡¯s approval,¡± I said, producing the document.

    The craftsmen exchanged glances, dropping their guard. I approached one who appeared to be a novice. ¡°What¡¯s your monthly wage?¡± I asked.

    ¡°I earn fifty copper coins with meals and a place to sleep.¡±

    ¡°How about a silver coin and half a pound of food per month, with upgraded meals and lodgings?¡±

    His eyes widened. I was offering double the pay and significantly better conditions. The others started whispering among themselves.

    ¡°I¡¯m offering twice the pay for anyone who joins me. I need a hundred workers, all ranks welcome,¡± I announced, raising the stakes.

    I could see I¡¯d piqued their interest. I also offered referral bonuses for skilled sailors and captains. Money talks, and I intended to speak loudly.

    And within days, I had gathered the manpower, skilled laborers, and a ship suitable for trade. We were ready to establish a shipyard in Vio Village, and soon we would embark on our next venture.

    _________________________________

    TL Note:

    Thank you for joining Fabio on his ambitious journey so far! If you¡¯re enjoying the twists and turns of I Became a Black Merchant in Another World, I¡¯d love to hear your thoughts¡ªfeel free to leave a comment or rating. Your feedback keeps this translation thriving!

    Curious to see how Fabio''s plans unfold? Stick around for the next chapter, where new alliances and challenges await. Your support is what drives this story forward¡ªso stay tuned, and let me continue exploring this world for you!

 Chapter 26

    Just because I''ve succeeded in recruiting shipbuilders and the impoverished from Guillaume doesn''t mean everything is over.

    I''ve only just opened up a path for trade in the Kingdom of Lyon, but I haven''t secured any business partners yet.

    Still, I probably won''t have to go out of my way to find someone to trade with.

    ¡°We are the Maron Trading Company, based in Marseille. Some even refer to us as a trading giant.¡±

    If this were Joseon, in East Asia, that phrase would be followed by some modest expression like, "But we¡¯re not quite that impressive."

    Because in Joseon¡ªor rather, in East Asian countries¡ªit''s considered polite to pretend to be humble even in the 21st century.

    Failing to do so would get you labeled as arrogant, with people pointing fingers at you from all directions.

    But here on the Almanian continent, in European culture, as long as you''re not outright arrogant, it''s not a big deal.

    ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been selling seaweed in the Kingdom of Lyon lately. Why not sell it through us? We''ll pay you generously.¡±

    ¡°How much are you willing to pay?¡±

    ¡°30 gold coins per 100 grams.¡±

    If we were selling this in the Toscana Empire, that would be a decent rate.

    After all, the production cost is just a few copper coins, so selling it for nearly 100 times that amount¡ªeven with a discount, there''s no real loss.

    But expecting to buy foreign medicinal ingredients at domestic prices? That¡¯s a bit shameless, don¡¯t you think?

    ¡°70 gold coins per 100 grams. For nobles, let¡¯s make it an even 100 gold.¡±

    ¡°That seems nearly double the price distributed among the Toscana Empire''s nobles.¡±

    ¡°Still, isn''t there a lot of demand? Even Mayor Guillaume was... Ahem.¡±

    I had ordered the construction of a shipyard on the Bi?o village coast, and I''d hired mercenaries to organize the ¡°special preparations¡± for the impoverished there. Then, upon returning...

    Mayor Guillaume proudly bragged to me that his seaweed soup with garlic and fish had revitalized his stamina.

    He said the quality of his life had changed so much that he almost ran over to kiss me on the cheek, calling me his lifelong savior.

    I hear it''s customary for men to kiss on the cheek when they¡¯re close in this country... But I¡¯m not into that.

    ¡°A rare medicinal herb that''s good for stamina and even better for pregnant women. And nobles from the Toscana Empire are crazy about it. Can you imagine them not buying it?¡±

    ¡°How much can you supply?¡±

    Now, it¡¯s crucial not to let greed for more money lead me to oversupply.

    If you sell too much, people might pay a high price at first, thinking it¡¯s rare.

    But if something becomes too common, its price will plummet.

    ¡®Wild pine mushrooms are pricier than shiitakes not because they taste better, but because they¡¯re rarer, right?¡¯

    ¡°40 kilograms. It could decrease based on local circumstances.¡±

    ¡°...Could you supply a bit more?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid not. I have plenty of requests from other traders as well, plus domestic consumption within the Empire.¡±

    I filled in the blanks on the prepared contract.

    ¡°Please sign here.¡±

    There were three copies of the contract prepared. We would keep two originals, and one copy would be split in half for verification.

    ¡°When you wish to verify the transaction, just bring the half-contract.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    With that, the trader from the Maron Trading Company stood up.

    Just before he exited, he asked again.

    ¡°Are you really unable to supply more?¡±

    Do they think I can¡¯t tell they¡¯re trying to scare me with seizure threats just to fatten their own pockets with excuses like customs duties or tax evasion?

    And how is this courteous?

    It¡¯s like the department head who gropes a female subordinate and then pretends to care about her career prospects.

    ¡°If you didn¡¯t have a permit, we¡¯d have arrested you all by force. And since these items belong to their owner, seizing them is difficult.¡±

    He must know what seaweed is. Mayor Guillaume has been raving about it.

    As soon as I mentioned it has an owner, he must have thought,

    ¡®These are for the nobles; don¡¯t mess with them.¡¯

    ¡°Fine, then. As a special favor, we¡¯ll impose a customs duty.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already paid all customs duties.¡±

    I slipped a small gift to the customs officer at the port.

    So I brought them in at the lowest tax rate. It¡¯s borderline tax evasion, but technically, it¡¯s all legal.

    ¡°Normally, we impose a 50% duty on luxury goods like this. So you¡¯ll need to pay half the cost of the seaweed.¡±

    What a piece of work.

    He''s just interpreting the law in the most favorable way for himself to squeeze money out of me.

    ¡°And if you want to continue doing business here, you¡¯ll need my help. Hate to say it, but in this city, everything flows through my hands as the treasurer.¡±

    As treasurer, he likely controls all the money in this city.

    Collecting taxes, managing budgets¡ªall his domain.

    ¡°Choose wisely.¡±

    Then, Treasurer Louis made a circle with his fingers.

    He''s asking for a bribe.

    I feel like I could explode with anger, but right now, I have to escape this situation by paying him off.

    A gentleman¡ªor rather, everyone¡ªknows.

    When faced with a deadly situation, survival comes first, even if you have to bow.

    Then, you can take your revenge later.

    ¡°I¡¯m low on cash after securing this shipment, so I can¡¯t pay all the customs duty right now. Please wait until I receive payment.¡±

    I told him as much, and then handed him about 100 gold coins from Sebastian.

    A smile spread across Louis¡¯ face as he beheld the shimmering coins.

    He¡¯s probably delighted at the thought of squeezing money out of someone who¡¯s about to dominate this city¡¯s trade.

    ¡°Of course, I can wait. Our city¡ªno, I am very generous. But until you¡¯ve paid all the duties, you cannot leave Guillaume.¡±

    Like hell, I¡¯ll pay that duty.

    Once you bow your head, they¡¯ll see you as an easy mark forever.

    ¡®It might be hard to get swindled once, but once it happens, you¡¯re branded for life.¡¯

    He loves showing off that city councilor title. Let¡¯s see him go all out.

    I¡¯m the kind of madman who, once provoked, will find a way to bury my enemies.

    Louis left with his loot.

    ¡°Sebastian, find out where the other council members live, especially those allied with Louis.¡±

    Those who think money can buy everything are the ones ruined by it.

    Time to teach him that lesson.

 Chapter 27

    Why does a company president get to play the role of president?

    There are many possible reasons.

    They could have founded the company, inherited it, or climbed the ladder from the lowest ranks to secure control.

    But when you get down to the core of it, there''s only one real answer.

    Whatever the reason, the subordinates are the ones who decide to uphold that person as president.

    The technical term for this is a social contract.

    ¡°If there¡¯s no one to hold up a treasurer from below, he¡¯s just another washed-up old man in the back room.¡±

    It does me no good, and I don¡¯t even have the means, to meddle in the politics of a foreign country¡¯s nobility.

    I need to make all his subordinates my allies instead.

    ¡°Is the Head of Human Resources available?¡±

    I knocked on the door, and an elderly man cautiously emerged.

    Judging by the absence of an expensive suit, he must be a servant.

    ¡°The master is resting at the moment. Please come back later.¡±

    ¡°Let him know Fabio de Medici has come to see him.¡±

    I pulled a silver coin from my wallet and slipped it into his hand.

    A bribe should at least ensure that he¡¯ll pass along the message that I¡¯m here.

    It wouldn¡¯t be right to just take the money and stay quiet.

    ¡°The master says you may enter. Please, follow me inside.¡±

    Inside, the Head of HR looked at me and gave a sly smile.

    ¡°Quite the handsome one, aren¡¯t you? Sometimes, I can¡¯t help but think heaven is unfair.¡±

    Hearing that from someone who¡¯s way past their prime doesn¡¯t give me even a sliver of joy.

    ¡°Thank you so much for the compliment.¡±

    ¡°Seeing young folks like you gives me a bit of energy. But tell me, what brings you here at this late hour?¡±

    ¡°I came to seek your assistance.¡±

    As soon as he heard the word ¡®assistance,¡¯ a smile crept onto his face.

    The practice of paying a substantial sum in exchange for help has existed in every era, medieval or otherwise.

    So he must have assumed I was here to hand over a hefty sum for his help.

    But I¡¯m not here to grovel.

    ¡°If a young man strays down the wrong path, it¡¯s the duty and privilege of us elders to set him straight. Only then can we call ourselves respectable.¡±

    The words sound polished and nice, but I can see right through his intentions.

    He might as well hold his girlfriend¡¯s hand and swear they¡¯re only staying at the motel to sleep.

    I¡¯d probably believe that more.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m actually here to assist you. Before you make a poor decision, that is.¡±

    I smirked, raising one side of my mouth.

    I¡¯d end up a nobody in some remote village, living a simple life with Chloe.

    Not that such a small existence would be bad, but I intend to go much higher.

    ¡°So let me make it clear: I have countless ways to get back at you.¡±

    If buying off the HR chief and the other councilors fails?

    Fine, then I¡¯ll simply throw an enormous amount of money at the city officials.

    They might start off by saying they won¡¯t be swayed by money, but faced with an irresistible amount, their resolve will crumble.

    The Head of HR just stared at me, saying nothing.

    But he was visibly trembling, as if he had realized too late that he¡¯d picked a fight with the wrong person.

    ¡°However, I think we could still have a good relationship.¡±

    Color returned to the HR chief¡¯s face.

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Just a bit of cooperation will suffice.¡±

    ¡°Whatever it takes. I¡¯d even give you my daughter if you asked.¡±

    This being the medieval era, fathers, whether noble or commoner, seem to regard their daughters as possessions.

    Even the village chief of my Bi?o estate once offered me his daughter to secure his position as the head of the village.

    Truly, this is a world where the concept of human rights¡ªor any rights at all¡ªis nonexistent.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t there council meetings in a week? I¡¯d like you to impeach the treasurer.¡±

    The HR chief¡¯s eyes shifted.

    Then, he murmured hesitantly.

    ¡°Our two families have been allied for nearly 120 years. If I impeach him, what do you think would happen to me?¡±

    If you don¡¯t impeach him, what do you think would happen? You¡¯ll be kicked out of your councilor position and fall into ruin.

    ¡°I¡¯m giving you one last chance. Think carefully and make your choice.¡±

    I looked him in the eye.

    Then, I reached out and lightly tapped his brow with my finger.

    ¡°Are you going to lose everything because of a flimsy sense of loyalty? Or are you going to work with me?¡±

    To help him make the right decision, I handed him a little something¡ªa reminder of our potential partnership.

    Not money, but a different kind of ¡°friendly fee.¡±

    ¡°This is just a small part of the evidence of your misconduct that the administrative officials have collected. Again, I don¡¯t necessarily need you, but if you become useless to me...¡±

    I made a slicing motion across my throat with my finger.

    ¡°Some rather unfortunate events might occur.¡±

    Finally, the Head of HR bowed his heavy head.

    ¡°If you spare me, I¡¯ll crawl through the mud like a dog.¡±

    ¡°I always reward those who follow me well. So I believe we¡¯ll get along just fine.¡±

    And just like that, I succeeded in buying off all the councilors except for the treasurer, through a mix of intimidation and bribery.

    Before long, the council meeting convened.

 Chapter 28

    The treasurer of Guillaume, Louis de Fadorne, had a smile that stretched from ear to ear for the first time in a while.

    He¡¯d successfully bribed council members, including those affiliated with Mayor Guillaume, a man luckier than Louis, who¡¯d managed to become mayor.

    He was convinced he could milk the young lord from the Toscana Empire, Fabio de Medici, for all he was worth.

    ¡®As long as we all get a good piece of the pie, we¡¯ll be just fine.¡¯

    ¡°Head of HR, the weather¡¯s lovely today. How about we grab a drink after the council meeting? My treat at a fine establishment.¡±

    But the Head of HR turned him down.

    ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to drink today. Perhaps another time.¡±

    ¡°I was going to break out my best bottle just for you.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, but I think I¡¯d suffer a dreadful hangover if I drank tonight.¡±

    The treasurer found it odd that the HR chief, who would normally be the first to join for drinks, was refusing him.

    He wanted to ask what was wrong, but the mayor had arrived to preside over the meeting, so there was no time to pry.

    ¡®If he¡¯s really feeling sick, I¡¯ll send him some good medicine.¡¯

    He was reluctant to spend on medicine, but taking care of his allies would secure their loyalty for the long run.

    ¡°Let¡¯s begin the meeting,¡± the mayor declared.

    As the meeting started, Louis¡¯s smile broadened.

    The money hadn¡¯t yet flowed into his pocket, but stripping down that young Medici lord was bound to bring him a fortune.

    Even if he funneled some into the city¡¯s treasury under the guise of customs duties, it would still be enough to sustain him and his allies.

    Because of this, Louis found it hard to focus on the various agenda items brought up at the meeting.

    ¡°And now, let¡¯s discuss what to do about the merchant from the Toscana Empire, Fabio de Medici. Treasurer, please tell us about his infractions and alleged crimes.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Mayor.¡±

    Louis opened his prepared documents and began to read aloud.

    ¡°Fabio de Medici is accused of tax evasion, unauthorized business activities, and disregarding legitimate orders from administrative officials while conducting his trade.¡±

    According to the plan, the HR chief and other council members in his faction were supposed to raise a commotion, denouncing Fabio as a villain.

    But for some reason, they weren¡¯t following the agreed script.

    Seeing that things weren¡¯t going as he had envisioned, Louis started to feel uneasy.

    ¡®Could I be the one getting outmaneuvered here?¡¯

    But with his sword already drawn, he had no choice but to swing it.

    If he killed his opponent, he could survive, but if he sheathed his sword now, he would surely be struck down in turn.

    He stood tall, as if he were on the righteous side of justice.

    ¡°The estimated amount of tax evasion is about two thousand gold coins¡ªroughly twenty thousand pounds. This is just a preliminary figure; a thorough investigation might reveal even greater tax evasion.¡±

    Two thousand gold coins would be about the annual income of a town with a population of over a thousand.

    Even if Guillaume was a wealthy port city compared to others of similar size, that sum was no small amount.

    At the mayor¡¯s command, everyone in the room stood up.

    ¡°Regardless of the issue, someone who almost caused a diplomatic incident must be punished severely.¡±

    ¡°Ever since seaweed sales began, the city has been prospering...¡±

    ¡°A man blinded by personal greed deserves death. He has no honor.¡±

    While the mayor¡¯s faction standing up was expected, Louis¡¯s supporters showed no signs of remorse, even though they should have felt at least a little twinge of conscience.

    But politicians always find ways to justify their actions. They had likely convinced themselves they were serving justice.

    ¡°That kind of man cannot be allowed to live.¡±

    The mayor, seeing that everything was playing out as planned, delivered his judgment.

    ¡°In the absence of Viscount Jacques de Guillaume, I, Brio de Frau, will issue the ruling. I hereby strip Treasurer Louis of all titles and command him to leave the city with his family by noon tomorrow.¡±

    Banishment¡ªa social death sentence.

    Typically, when banishment was politically motivated, some time would be given to gather possessions.

    ¡°Before you leave, all of your properties, assets, and wealth will be confiscated. You¡¯re permitted to leave with only the clothes on your back.¡±

    I had only suggested expelling Louis alone, expecting him to get ambushed by bandits outside the city.

    But the mayor and his allies had taken it upon themselves to show excessive loyalty.

    ¡®Maybe they¡¯re hoping I¡¯ll reward them even more for their loyalty.¡¯

    As the verdict was read, Louis cried out.

    ¡°You fools! Do you know how much you¡¯ve taken from me? How could you do this? You¡¯re worse than pagans! Just gut me now!¡±

    Hearing this, Louis¡¯s supporters winced.

    They weren¡¯t feeling guilty¡ªat least not entirely. They were more concerned about him exposing their corruption.

    ¡°What are the guards waiting for? Beat him and throw him out!¡±

    And so, Louis was flogged and expelled.

    From that moment, the real power of Guillaume shifted entirely into my hands.

    ¡°Sebastian, isn¡¯t the world a terrifying place?¡±

    Sebastian smiled at my words.

    ¡°Yet you¡¯ve handled it quite well, young master.¡±

    I did indeed handle it well.

    But I doubt things will go this smoothly in the future.

    The higher I climb, the stronger my enemies will become.

    ¡°Young master, I wish I had only good news to deliver, but there is one unfortunate matter.¡±

    I had barely scaled one mountain when I found another.

    ¡°Baron Medici has requested some assistance from you.¡±

    Damn it, that wretched brother of mine.

    Why does he always have to bother me?

 Chapter 29

    There''s a common misconception about Western family life.

    People think that once you''re married, you don¡¯t have to worry much about your in-laws or extended family.

    That¡¯s only partly true.

    If the family is poor, Westerners do get a lot more freedom in their marriages compared to us. But if they¡¯re wealthy and socially prominent, then they have to endure the same traditional obligations we do, especially around holidays, when in-laws can be as demanding as any strict old family back home.

    For example, there¡¯s this lovely tradition during Thanksgiving where daughters-in-law show up three days early to start cooking. If they don¡¯t, they¡¯re treated to a whole symphony of criticism.

    And why am I thinking about all this now?

    ¡®If I, a noble, refuse my older brother''s request for help, what would happen?¡¯

    The whole Toscana Empire would surely brand me as unfit for noble society.

    After all, it¡¯s an unspoken rule that brothers support each other¡ªit¡¯s the duty of a decent man.

    ¡°Sebastian, isn¡¯t this just too much? Usually, it¡¯s the older brother who inherits the family title who should be helping out the younger brother, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, in most noble families, that¡¯s how it works,¡± Sebastian replied, his voice trailing off.

    Sure, even if there¡¯s no one else around, badmouthing our dear Baron Albert de Medici might be a bit much for him.

    ¡°Still, perhaps the young master simply... No, never mind.¡±

    Does he actually think highly of me, seeing me as someone dependable? Or is it just that he sees me as an easy target?

    Sebastian must know the truth; even in small talk, he can¡¯t bring himself to offer any false comfort.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have a cake ready for when you return home.¡±

    It¡¯s not like I¡¯m obsessed with sweets, the kind of person who de-stresses as soon as I have a bite.

    But watching Chloe enjoy a piece while I pat her head or admire her is certainly relaxing.

    I suppose this is what people mean when they say they live to see their wives at the end of a long day?

    With that, I headed straight to my brother¡¯s office.

    ¡°Greetings, brother. How have you been?¡±

    Albert rose from his seat as I spoke.

    The moment he stood, he even went so far as to give me a light hug.

    His face wore a gentle smile.

    ¡°Though I¡¯ve taken on the role of Baron Medici in father¡¯s stead, I still struggle with my own shortcomings. How have you been, Fabio?¡±

    Albert and I have always maintained an ambiguous relationship.

    We¡¯re not close, but we¡¯re also not at each other¡¯s throats.

    As the successor to the barony, Albert required a sense of dignity that set him apart from his siblings, and I respected that, which is why we¡¯ve managed to maintain this kind of relationship.

    That¡¯s why I was using formal language with him, out of respect for the title of ¡°Baron.¡±

    And yet, he was acting all chummy, as if we¡¯d been close all along?

    There¡¯s definitely something unpleasant he¡¯s about to ask of me.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been striving to succeed as a merchant, following the example of our family¡¯s founder.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I should work harder myself.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±@@@@

    ¡°The Duke recently held a gathering with young nobles.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Our family is short on funds.¡±

    Just like in the 21st century, marriage is both a joyous and costly affair in the Toscana Empire.

    In Korea, people say that holding a wedding alone can cost an entire year¡¯s salary. In the Empire, regardless of one¡¯s rank, a wedding often costs as much.

    Refusing to follow this custom makes you an ungrateful wretch who disregards the good wishes of your guests.

    That¡¯s why the cost of a noble¡¯s wedding can be astronomical.

    ¡®It can range from the family¡¯s total annual income to as much as five years¡¯ worth.¡¯

    ¡°With the chance to marry a count¡¯s daughter, I can¡¯t just decline due to a lack of funds. This is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.¡±

    I grit my teeth, dreading his next words.

    Because I knew exactly what he¡¯d say.

    ¡°Lend me seventy thousand pounds, brother. You have plenty of money, so you can help the family with that much, right?¡±

    Seven thousand gold coins¡ªthe equivalent of two years of income from our Medici lands.

    I could probably scrape together that amount in a few months by selling seaweed in Lyon and dealing in steel.

    Converted to Korean currency, it¡¯s enough to build three skyscrapers in Gangnam.

    ¡°Well, I...¡±

    ¡°Please, Fabio! Who else could I ask?¡±

    Go ask someone else, please.

    They¡¯d lend it to you at thirty percent interest.

    Given that you¡¯re marrying into the Farnese family, if you offered some political backing, they might even lower the interest rate.

    But here in the Toscana Empire, which values familial love and duty almost as much as Joseon, I cannot refuse my brother¡¯s plea for help.

    So, I¡¯ll lend him the money.

    But I will absolutely make sure to get something in return.

    ¡®As the saying goes, family doesn¡¯t abandon those who owe them money.¡¯

    ¡°Let¡¯s draw up an IOU.¡±

    ¡°Fabio! I love you!¡±

    My brother pulled me into a tight hug.

    No thanks, I¡¯d rather only Chloe embrace me.

    ¡°Great! Let¡¯s start with the IOU!¡±

    Albert was practically skipping with joy.

    It¡¯s strange to see a borrower so enthusiastic...

    ¡°Interest will be five percent, and the loan of seven thousand gold coins will be repayable. If repayment becomes difficult, I¡¯ll accept other forms of collateral.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Let¡¯s do that.¡±

    I have a feeling he¡¯s banking on family bonds, like some fraudsters in Korea who think they can just get away without paying.

    Does he think I won¡¯t collect my debt? After the wedding, we¡¯ll see.

    I¡¯ll find a way to get my money back, no matter what.

 Chapter 30

    The marriage between the Farnese Count and Medici Baron families was celebrated with grandeur.

    In true noble fashion, they rented the cathedral in Florence, where thousands of guests arrived, dressed to the nines and feasting on luxurious delicacies, while costumed performers added to the spectacle.

    It felt less like a wedding and more like a massive local festival.

    "No wonder this cost a fortune," I thought.

    To the guests and onlookers, this was what set nobles apart. But it was all just wasteful extravagance.

    Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly noticed the groom and bride approaching my seat. The ceremony must be over, and now it was time for the reception.

    ¡°Fabio, thank you for attending the wedding. I hope you, too, find a wonderful wife and settle down soon,¡± my brother Albert said, giving me a tight hug.

    He looked like he was about to nuzzle his cheek against mine. Was he trying to put on a show of brotherly affection for the crowd?

    Or did he think he needed to act this way?

    Lady Farnese, now my sister-in-law and the Baroness Medici, smiled as she watched us.

    ¡°You two seem very close. It¡¯s lovely to see.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you think so, sister-in-law, though I must admit, it¡¯s a little embarrassing.¡±

    My father and I have a relatively close relationship, but Albert and I? We¡¯re just blood-related household mates.

    ¡°I hope we can all get along well from now on, young master.¡±

    The Farnese family clearly values their connection to the Medici barony, and it seems they¡¯re just as eager to maintain ties with me.

    It¡¯s not like I want to strain relations with Count Farnese, either.

    ¡°Now that we¡¯re family, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll get along splendidly.¡±

    ¡°Please visit us often.¡±

    ¡°If I have the chance, I will visit without hesitation.¡±

    Even if the Baroness holds some affection for me, my brother Albert doesn¡¯t care much for me. There¡¯s no need to stir up trouble by visiting too frequently.

    After exchanging pleasantries, Count Farnese himself approached me.

    I had assumed he¡¯d be busy hobnobbing with the higher-ranking nobles, far more important than myself.

    But he took the time to find me?

    There had to be a political motive.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re Fabio. I¡¯ve heard about you from the Duke several times.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor, Count.¡±

    ¡°I heard you covered a substantial portion of the wedding expenses. That must have been quite a burden.¡±

    Every time I think of the thousands of gold coins I forked over, it still stings.

    Why should I have to spend a fortune on my brother¡¯s wedding?

    It¡¯s an injustice that I can¡¯t even openly complain about.

    ¡°Though I¡¯ve branched out, I am still part of the Medici family. I simply did what was necessary.¡±

    ¡°This is infuriating.¡±

    Thankfully, I¡¯d anticipated this and already planned out ways to get my money back, beyond simply confronting him or filing a lawsuit that would turn our family into a public spectacle.

    ¡°If he keeps dragging this out, we won¡¯t have a choice. Sebastian, did you find people who can spread the word?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve gathered some well-connected individuals.¡±

    In the 21st century, politicians are constantly embroiled in lawsuits and scandals, shrugging off rumors as part of the game.

    But here, in this world where honor is more important than life itself, any noble who hears a rumor tarnishing their reputation would rather challenge the source to a duel or negotiate to clear their name.

    Only when the opponent is weaker do they resort to other means, but that¡¯s not a concern right now.

    ¡°With the IOU secured, I don¡¯t necessarily need to be repaid in cash.¡±

    I¡¯m not a billionaire, but I have enough money to start diversifying.

    I need to secure resources beyond money¡ªmy factory, connections with different social classes, and even more accomplishments.

    To reach the next level, I can¡¯t just chase wealth blindly.

    ¡°Spread a rumor that, in lieu of repaying the debt, the Baron will grant me part of his estate.¡±

    While it¡¯s not common in the Toscana Empire, benevolent lords sometimes carve off parts of their lands for younger siblings.

    A village or two, or even more.

    In light of the money I lent him, it¡¯s only natural that Albert might grant me some land.

    After all, he¡¯s practically penniless from the lavish wedding.

    Paying me back in cash would be difficult, wouldn¡¯t it?

    ¡°And let it be known that I¡¯m supporting the Medici Barony¡¯s financial recovery.¡±

    With Albert as Baron, it¡¯s practically impossible for me to demand repayment directly.

    But conversely, it¡¯s only natural for me to lend a helping hand.

    Family is a shared fate, and a capable younger brother helping his older sibling is the way of things.

    It¡¯s why nobles arrange marriages for political reasons¡ªto seek aid from one¡¯s in-laws or patrons when their family is in peril.

    ¡°An excellent idea. But if I may ask one thing?¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    Sebastian leaned in, his voice cautious.

    ¡°Are you considering taking over the Medici Barony entirely? If so, I¡¯d gladly support you.¡±

    With my abilities, I could reach the baronial rank by taking a roundabout route.

    But there¡¯s no need to invite scandal by seizing my brother¡¯s title.

    As a modern man, I¡¯m willing to endure criticism for money and power.

    But I¡¯m not about to set myself up for a trap that could bind me later.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say I have my sights set on one of the Baron¡¯s other assets¡ªhis smuggling operations. I might take a shot at that in due time.¡±

    Smuggling¡ªin 21st-century terms, they called it ¡°trade for the public good.¡±

    ____________________________________________

    TL note:

    Hey, fam! If you''re loving this wild ride, don¡¯t forget to drop a comment below and let me know what you think¡ªI''m all ears for your theories, thoughts, and feels! Hit that like button if you¡¯re vibing with the story, and share it with your crew who needs to get in on this action. Can¡¯t wait to hear what y¡¯all have to say! ????????????????

 Chapter 31

    In a tavern in Florence, as usual, all sorts of rumors were circulating.

    "Did you hear? The third son of the Bolognese family got a maid pregnant."

    "Imagine that¡ªhaving a child before even getting married. The Bolognese family sure has luck with kids."

    "The church''s talk about loving only your wife is just nonsense, isn''t it?"

    Most of the gossip in taverns was nothing but empty talk.

    However, in the Toscana Empire, where nightly activities were limited to either intense exercises with their wives or idle chatter over drinks, these rumors were invaluable.

    Each one of them would be recycled countless times over.

    "I heard that the Bolognese family sent that maid to a village outside the city for a while."

    The Bolognese family could not ignore the pregnancy, whether it was an incident of rank-based coercion by their third son or a maid seizing the opportunity for a rise in status by seducing him.

    If it had been a one-night affair, they could have paid her off and told her to keep quiet until the wedding. But since there was a child involved, even the power of the nobility couldn''t keep a lid on it.

    So, Lord Bolognese, the head of the family, decided to send the maid away for recovery in the countryside.

    The people of Florence, known for their intellectual curiosity, were fully aware of these circumstances.

    "They say a woman¡¯s fate depends on her man, and look at her now¡ªshe hit the jackpot! To the maid who turned her life around!"

    The man spreading the rumor raised his glass.

    Others around him raised their beer mugs for a toast as well.

    "If I had known, I''d have been born a beautiful girl!"@@@@

    "What nonsense! You look like a cabbage shredded on a grater. You should be thankful you were born a man."

    "Someone ought to break your skull with a hammer, you idiot!"

    Normally, the gossip would end here, with everyone laughing off baseless rumors. But this time, a man quietly drinking in the corner smirked.

    With a slight shrug of his shoulders, he exuded arrogance.

    "Is this all it takes to make you lot laugh?"

    All eyes turned toward the man who had ruined the mood.

    Typically, these gatherings were for people to craft ¡°stories¡± about noble families, as if they were novels, mocking them in the process.

    But now, Florence''s cherished pastime was being disrupted.

    "Hey, don¡¯t kill the vibe. Just leave, alright? You don¡¯t seem like one of us anyway."

    The man downed his beer in one go and slammed the glass down on the table.

    "I¡¯ve got a more interesting story¡ªabout the Medici family."

    The man glanced around the room, gauging reactions. The Medici were just prominent enough to avoid being ignored but not so lofty as to be untouchable.

    "Anyone living around here knows that Baron Medici married the Count Farnese¡¯s daughter, right? Well, they say Fabio put up a huge amount of money for that wedding."

    To the point where even Baron Albert Medici couldn¡¯t ignore it.

    Albert hadn¡¯t been in the best mood lately.

    Objectively speaking, his life seemed to be progressing smoothly, like a ship with the wind at its back.

    He had formed a marriage alliance with the esteemed Farnese family and, unexpectedly, ended up with a very beautiful wife.

    Of course, even if she hadn¡¯t been beautiful, he never would have considered rejecting the marriage.

    It¡¯s a hundred times better to have an attractive wife, even if it¡¯s common knowledge that spouses rarely get along.

    "Who the hell spread this damned rumor?"

    Fabio often treated Albert like a fool, but Albert was no idiot.

    Naturally, he had a good sense of who might have started it...

    "Why can¡¯t a younger brother just give his elder brother a small loan of seven thousand gold? It¡¯s nothing to him¡ªhe can easily earn that back in a few months."

    If Fabio had heard this, he would have thought:

    "Even a hundred million is a big deal, even to the CEO of a large corporation, you idiot."

    However, what irritated Albert the most was that his younger brother, who should have been subservient, refused to obey him completely.

    He wanted to berate him for not being able to do this simple favor for his elder brother.

    "But Duke Visconti and my father-in-law wouldn¡¯t look kindly on me berating Fabio over something like this."

    Even though there was a marriage alliance in place, he wouldn¡¯t face immediate repercussions.

    However, if he didn¡¯t pay back the loan, he¡¯d ruin his reputation as Baron Medici.

    As a baron, he might be near the top of the noble hierarchy, but counts and dukes held power far beyond his reach.

    "Typically, family loans are just a formality."

    Among nobles, that was indeed common sense.

    But the stipulation was that it was usually an elder brother supporting a younger sibling in times of hardship.

    For an elder brother to extort money from a younger brother and then refuse to repay it was shameful.

    "Now that the rumor has spread, I have no choice but to hand over the land..."

    Since he had put it in writing, failing to follow through would make him look like a dishonorable fool.

    "Fabio, that bastard."

    Albert ground his teeth in frustration.

    However, he had not yet decided to see his brother as a full-fledged rival.

    After all, Fabio had powerful connections, and turning family into foes would be frowned upon among the nobility.

    For now, he simply noted this event in his mental ledger of grievances against his brother.

 Chapter 32

    It seems my brother Albert was moved by the bond between us Medici brothers.

    Not even three days after I spread the rumor, he ordered me to come to the Medici estate.

    It must be true that sincerity moves hearts. After all the effort I put in, Albert¡¯s heart must have finally opened up.

    ¡°Thanks for coming, Fabio.¡±

    The last time he squeezed money out of me for his wedding, he treated me like the best brother in the world. Now, his attitude has changed.

    It¡¯s just like they say: people change their tune when they¡¯re desperate and when they¡¯re done.

    Now that his financial crisis is over, his thoughts have changed too.

    It¡¯s truly heartwarming to have a brother like this.

    As soon as the door closed, Albert¡¯s expression soured slightly.

    ¡°There¡¯s no one here to overhear but you and me. So, tell me honestly¡ªwas it you?¡±

    Of course, I was the one who spread the rumor.

    Put yourself in my shoes¡ªwould you admit it?

    Even if you commit a crime, as long as there¡¯s no evidence and you¡¯re not caught, there¡¯s no problem. If I confess, I¡¯d be giving myself up.

    It¡¯s not like I did anything morally questionable.

    All I did was ask for what I was owed¡ªhow could that be wrong?

    ¡°Why would I spread rumors about your debt to me, Baron? And how could I recklessly discuss matters of the Medici estate?¡±

    The Toscana Empire cherishes the values and traditions of the medieval age.

    Whether in the East or West, brothers fighting over debt is seen as a disgraceful act.

    And the matter of the Medici estate is so delicate that even the emperor can¡¯t interfere without a good reason¡ªwho am I to give my opinion?

    If I gave him an opening to accuse me, I¡¯d be risking my neck.

    ¡°It¡¯s disheartening to know you don¡¯t trust me. Aren¡¯t we brothers, after all?¡±

    Our relationship isn¡¯t exactly rosy, but look at that irritated expression of his.

    Even if he grits his teeth, what can he do?

    ¡°Still, when a man borrows money, isn¡¯t it proper to repay it? Even if it¡¯s family.¡±

    The sacred texts themselves say that a man who doesn¡¯t repay his debts can be stripped of everything but his clothes and left to sleep on the streets.

    Albert forced a smile.

    He should hide that twitching at the corner of his mouth.

    Showing emotions like that makes him look weak.

    There¡¯s a reason why they tell you to keep a poker face at work in 21st-century Korea.

    ¡°Of course, I should repay you. But as you know, my financial situation isn¡¯t great.¡±

    A nobleman is always at his poorest right after a wedding.

    To solidify alliances and display the family¡¯s grandeur, they end up spending everything they have on the ceremony.

    ¡°I¡¯ll never give you five villages! Never!¡±

    Albert wasn¡¯t foolish enough to fall for such an obvious trap.

    ¡°Four villages. Let¡¯s say around thirteen hundred people. If you grant me that, we can consider the seven thousand gold paid in full.¡±

    ¡°That sounds like quite a lot.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not even asking for interest out of consideration for you, Baron.¡±

    When merchants claim they¡¯re ¡°taking a loss¡± or ¡°selling below cost,¡± it¡¯s almost always a lie.

    It¡¯s as true as the saying, ¡°Everyone falls in love and marries in college.¡±

    ¡°Even giving up four villages is a strain on me. You know I don¡¯t have many lands I can freely dispose of. Can¡¯t you cut me some slack, little brother?¡±

    The nerve of this man to appeal to family ties when he was trying to cheat me out of my money!

    Should I just bash his head in?

    ¡°I¡¯m willing to substitute around 70% of that with young, unmarried female serfs. The remaining 30% can be eligible bachelors without land rights. You don¡¯t even have to give me villages with farmland. But in that case, I¡¯ll need over two thousand people.¡±

    It¡¯s not like I plan to farm like other lords.

    I intend to expand seaweed production, secure a smuggling route, and recruit workers to produce the special goods I¡¯ll sell.

    Keeping workers for life is surprisingly easy in this era.

    ¡®Arrange marriages and make sure their workplace and home are the same.¡¯

    It¡¯s a strategy inspired by Japan during the bubble era.

    The company would provide apartments, cover tuition fees, and create an environment where an employee would practically have no choice but to stay for life.

    And I¡¯ve added the perk of providing a spouse.

    In this era, survival matters more than love, so most people wouldn¡¯t turn it down.

    ¡°Anyway, unmarried female serfs who can¡¯t find husbands usually end up in the city, selling themselves for a bowl of porridge.¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡±

    ¡°Considering our family ties, I¡¯m doing you a favor.¡±

    It¡¯s a plan that maximizes my benefits, but it probably looks like I¡¯m taking on all his problems.

    Albert¡¯s face brightened noticeably.

    While I¡¯d gain a lot, he¡¯d be free of the seven thousand gold debt and rid of his potential troublemakers, so he must be pleased.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll have the deed written up. You¡¯ll need to wait about four months for the transfer to be complete.¡±

    ¡°Yes, brother.¡±

    With that, I left his office.

    I went straight to visit my father, the former Baron Medici.

    I wasn¡¯t just going to pay my respects¡ªI was going to flaunt the fact that I took payment in problematic people instead of the seven thousand gold for his sake.

    There¡¯s a saying for a reason:

    If you don¡¯t make a fuss after doing someone a favor, they¡¯ll just forget about it.

 Chapter 33

    Unlike my brother, my father welcomed me with a smile as soon as he saw me.

    He walked over with such enthusiasm that he almost seemed ready to embrace me.

    ¡°I regret that we didn¡¯t have a chance to see each other during the wedding. It¡¯s good to see you now.¡±

    Years before Albert took over the Medici barony, Father had kept a bit of a distance from us due to political considerations.

    It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t care for all his children equally, but it was easy for others to misunderstand if he did. If people started speculating that he was favoring some of us, it could lead to factions forming, which could tear the family apart.

    Not only that, but the Emperor, who delights in stripping nobles of their titles, might have gotten involved, as has happened with other noble families.

    Now that there was no longer such a burden, Father could openly show his affection.

    ¡°You¡¯ve grown so much since I last saw you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Father.¡±

    ¡°I have no regrets now. Albert has successfully allied with the Farnese family, so our Medici house will prosper even more. And you¡¯ve made a name for yourself as a merchant, so you¡¯re destined for greatness.¡±

    These words, half sincere and half wishful, were spoken from a place of joy, expressing that he couldn¡¯t wish for anything more.

    But people often say, ¡°If you¡¯re old, you should accept it,¡± even as they diligently take herbal remedies to stay alive.

    He then grasped my hand firmly.

    ¡°I¡¯ve done little for you, yet you lent seven thousand gold for your brother¡¯s wedding even after gaining your independence from the family. Thanks to you, I was able to save face.¡±

    In the 21st century, once public officials retire, from the lowest rank to the president, they usually step away from their previous lives.

    However, in the Toscana Empire, even after retirement, a noble retains their influence until death.

    If a son¡¯s mistakes were severe, his father could still strip him of his title, and they could interfere in politics too.

    Not that Father would meddle unless absolutely necessary.

    ¡°Your standing within Duke Visconti¡¯s faction has risen considerably. At this rate, I could see Albert becoming a Viscount before I die.¡±

    If a baron is like a mayor, a viscount would be akin to a deputy governor.

    The difference in rank may seem small, but the impact is substantial, almost like comparing a colonel to a general or a department head to a director.

    ¡°Perhaps you should think about marriage... No, on second thought, it might be best for you to wait. Who knows how high you¡¯ll rise? Marrying just anyone now could be a disadvantage.¡±

    In the 21st century, parents often urge their children to marry as soon as they land a job.

    But...

    ¡°Now that I¡¯ve passed down the title, it¡¯s a bit lonely, and I¡¯m going on about things that don¡¯t matter.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no problem, Father. I actually have a favor to ask.¡±

    He looked at me and smiled warmly.

    ¡°As long as it¡¯s within my power, I¡¯ll help however I can.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to take on the role of financial administrator for the Medici family, even if just for a short while.¡±

    Asking to manage the family¡¯s finances might seem sudden, but it¡¯s not unheard of.

    In noble families, it¡¯s common for a third of the key positions to be filled by relatives, especially roles like financial administration, where trust is crucial.

    ¡°Finance, you say? I wouldn¡¯t think you¡¯d need a position like that.¡±

    Even if I were to pocket some extra money as the Medici family¡¯s financial administrator, it wouldn¡¯t make a significant difference.

    No matter how hard I worked at it, it would hardly be enough to match my monthly income.

    ¡°It seems even more lively than Guillaume.¡±

    In terms of population, Guillaume is larger than Lukasi.

    However, Lukasi is one of the top ten trading hubs in the Toscana Empire and is close to Florence, the capital.

    It¡¯s ideally positioned to flourish as a commercial city, with all the right conditions.

    ¡°While fewer people live here compared to Guillaume, more merchants pass through.¡±

    Since I started selling seaweed, the number of incoming merchants has surged, though it¡¯s hard to say for sure now.

    ¡°There¡¯s a special store here I want to show you. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Strictly speaking, it¡¯s not that special.

    But it sells the product that propelled the Medici family to its current status.

    And the reason I¡¯m willing to become the family¡¯s financial administrator for Albert¡¯s sake.

    ¡°What kind of special item is it?¡±

    Without elaborating, I led Chloe to a marketplace where these particular items were sold.

    ¡°You can hold my hand so you don¡¯t get lost.¡±

    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Chloe glanced around, then took my hand.

    At first, she barely held on, but then she tightened her grip as if she¡¯d never let go.

    We walked to the marketplace in silence.

    Thanks to various Korean media, I was no stranger to women, so I wasn¡¯t trembling with nerves.

    But Chloe, with a blush on her face, said nothing.

    Still, I could see the corners of her lips gradually lifting.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been studying hard lately, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been studying a lot because I want to be helpful to you, Young Master.¡±

    The tasks of a personal maid aren¡¯t particularly difficult.

    It¡¯s more like a long-hour community service job or an office internship.

    ¡°¡¯Pepper and Cloves: Exotic Spices for Sale,¡¯ it says.¡±

    Pepper and cloves¡ªspices that once dragged medieval people across the seas by their collars.

    But I¡¯m not yet powerful enough to compete in the spice trade dominated by those giants.

    The biggest prize for the greatest merchants is a monopoly on spices.

    If I were to openly desire it now, every great merchant in Toscana would team up to crush me, and not even a duke or the emperor could protect me.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. So, how much do you think it costs to buy 1.5 kilograms of pepper?¡±

    ¡°Well, it says here that it¡¯s one gold coin for 100 grams, so... 15 gold coins.¡±

    One gold coin is enough to buy a cow.

    Even for a monopoly, these prices are outrageous.

    Then again, I shouldn¡¯t talk, considering I sell seaweed with a production cost of two copper coins for several gold coins.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to explore a bit more, but I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s eat first.¡±

    The next day, I attended my first Medici family council meeting.

 Chapter 34

    No matter the company, nobody likes a parachute appointment.

    After all, there¡¯s a 99% chance they¡¯re unqualified freeloaders, causing trouble for everyone else¡¯s career and power.

    But when I started my first day as financial administrator, everyone at the Medici estate welcomed me warmly.

    ¡°Master Fabio, you¡¯ve grown so much since I last saw you two years ago.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a blessing for our house, with the young baron now linked to the Farnese family and you thriving as well.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to work hard to make sure we don¡¯t let you down.¡±

    Having only seen people plotting behind my back before, this was a refreshing change.

    The sincerity from the family¡¯s retainers was evident.

    Upon reflection, I realized that although I was a parachute appointment, I was competent and only temporarily in this role, so I wasn¡¯t a threat to anyone¡¯s position.

    It¡¯d be stranger if they weren¡¯t welcoming.

    ¡°Thank you for the warm welcome.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s only right we greet you with open arms since you¡¯ve come to help the family, Master Fabio.¡±

    If they speak kindly, I ought to return the favor.

    And considering the saying, ¡°A good word can repay a thousand debts,¡± I should give them a gift.

    ¡°This is a gift for you, Captain of the Guard. It¡¯s the finest seaweed harvested from my territory.¡±

    From my perspective, it was a modest offering, but the Captain received it as though it were a chest of gold and jewels.

    ¡°As it happens, my granddaughter is due to give birth soon. I was thinking of buying seaweed for soup, but now I can use this. She and my son-in-law will be thrilled.¡±

    ¡°Try adding some garlic and dried fish to the soup¡ªit enhances the effects.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    A beaming smile stretched across the Captain¡¯s face.

    It looked like he might just float away.

    I¡¯d better distribute more gifts, or the others might think I¡¯m playing favorites.

    ¡°Take a box each. It¡¯s a costly item, but what¡¯s the harm in giving it to my fellow servants of the Medici barony?¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Master Fabio.¡±

    Everyone received a box of seaweed with smiles they couldn¡¯t wipe off their faces.

    A 200g box like that could practically buy a decent house, so of course, they were thrilled.

    Then Albert, the head of the baronial retainers, brought the room back to focus.

    ¡°I understand that everyone¡¯s excited to have Master Fabio here, but we didn¡¯t come here to chat. Let¡¯s save that for later and get to work.¡±

    At Albert¡¯s words, everyone took their seats, their expressions turning serious.

    Even if that didn¡¯t happen, I could foresee the decline in our territory¡¯s morale.

    ¡°So, we should sell assets to resolve the immediate crisis and expand the spice trade to boost our revenue.¡±

    This wasn¡¯t a particularly innovative idea.

    Anyone connected to the Medici family could think of expanding the spice trade for more income.

    ¡°Master Fabio, the spice trade is undoubtedly lucrative. However, increasing trade volumes would lead to considerable friction, as it operates under an unspoken agreement among the Toscana Empire¡¯s merchant elite.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t oblivious to this.

    But from a modern perspective, the merchants¡¯ collusion to stay within their territories seemed highly inefficient.

    ¡°Of course, increasing trade volumes could cause friction. That¡¯s why we¡¯ll have to ¡®smuggle¡¯ it. We¡¯ll use the Medici name when we buy, but we¡¯ll sell under an untraceable alias.¡±

    During the Age of Exploration, trade often meant smuggling.

    Vasco da Gama, the first European to reach India by sea, was angered when they refused to trade spices for the trash he offered as tribute.

    He took the spices by force instead.

    So why should we, the Toscana Empire, play fair?

    ¡°By sowing suspicion among the merchant elite, we can remove ourselves from the line of fire. As long as we¡¯re not caught, we have nothing to worry about.¡±

    In a conflict where proof is lacking, the one who prepared the deception first can easily slip away from suspicion.

    ¡°We need to pay off our debt. And as financial administrator, I¡¯ll personally oversee this trade with the authority entrusted by my father.¡±

    While running this operation, I¡¯ll expand my network, build additional smuggling routes, and set up pipelines for future trades.

    That¡¯s why I took on this mission to restore the Medici family¡¯s finances.

    ¡°What do you think of my proposal?¡±

    Albert nodded approvingly.

    ¡°Master Fabio, you¡¯ve built an enormous trading network within a year with just a few gold coins. Your proposal is entirely logical, and our Medici fleet specializes in discreet operations.¡±

    In a world without radars or satellites, it wasn¡¯t hard to avoid detection.

    That¡¯s why pirates thrived here.

    ¡°Do you have any other concerns as financial administrator?¡±

    There was one more thing.

    ¡°I think the taxes on the serfs are excessive, but that¡¯s beyond my purview, so I won¡¯t address it now.¡±

    ¡°Understood. For today, let us host you, Master Fabio. You can begin your work tomorrow.¡±

    One key task was making a good impression on the Medici barony¡¯s retainers.

    That way, if my brother ever turned on me, they might stand against him.

    Over the next few days, I prepared to carry out my duties as financial administrator and organize trade with foreigners, then set sail.

 Chapter 35

    ¡°The port is in sight! We¡¯ll be docking in less than an hour!¡±

    At those words, the crew picked up the pace, preparing to unload the cargo.

    ¡°Prepare to disembark! As soon as we dock, get the cargo off the ship!¡±

    ¡°And don¡¯t even think about picking a fight with those heathens just because you make eye contact! If you act up, you¡¯re dead!¡±

    ¡°No drinking here, so leave your booze on board!¡±

    The sailors hurriedly lifted crates filled with goods we planned to sell onto the deck.

    Though this could have waited until we docked, preparing in advance meant saving precious minutes on labor costs once we arrived.

    ¡°Everyone, listen up! Change into the new clothes now!¡±

    They scowled at the order.

    It made sense to be annoyed at being told to change in the middle of all the hustle, but that wasn¡¯t the only reason for their discontent.

    The captain voiced his protest.

    ¡°Master Fabio, do we really have to wear those heathen clothes? You might be in charge, but this feels like too much.¡±

    Several crew members added their complaints.

    The people of the Albanian continent, followers of the Deus faith, and those on the Medina continent, who believe in the Madhbah faith, mutually consider each other heathens.

    Telling them to dress in the clothes of a hostile country was akin to ordering them to wear enemy uniforms.

    There was, however, a reason for insisting on this change, despite the sailors¡¯ objections.

    ¡°The Medina continent is hot and humid. If we don¡¯t wear their clothes, we risk heatstroke. Plus, wearing their attire will help us make a good impression during our transactions.¡±

    In the 21st century, salespeople might have to take clients to karaoke bars and play along with their antics for the sake of business.

    It¡¯s not for fun but to support their families.

    This world isn¡¯t so different.

    Still, forcing them into clothes without adequate compensation would make them resist.

    ¡°Four silver coins.¡±

    At those words, every sailor¡¯s gaze turned to me.

    ¡°Wear their clothes, and I¡¯ll give you four silver coins each. Wearing heathen clothes doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯re abandoning Deus. We¡¯re doing what we must to survive.¡±

    Honestly, I could give up my faith if it meant getting along with these Madhbah followers.

    I¡¯d even join their prayers five times a day and claim their deity is the same as ours.

    But in our world, that would be outright heresy, punishable by death.

    So, I¡¯ll settle for just making them wear the clothes.

    That amount of pepper and cloves could buy a minor barony.

    Though the value was based on Albanian continent prices, it was still considerable.

    ¡°We don¡¯t only trade with the Medici family, so supplying that much might be difficult.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not asking for free goods.¡±

    I produced a sample of our family¡¯s prized product, seaweed, which could be sold for the price of gold due to its secret recipe.

    ¡°This is seaweed. You may have heard of its benefits?¡±

    ¡°I have, indeed. It¡¯s said to enhance a man¡¯s vitality and benefit new mothers. I¡¯ve purchased it from the Medici family before, but I never imagined receiving so much as a gift.¡±

    Though seaweed was more common these days, it was still outrageously expensive.

    To be specific, 10 grams could buy a cow.

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m the one who produces it. Rare as it may be, it¡¯s more common in its place of origin.¡±

    In the Qing dynasty, the price of ginseng in Korea was exponentially lower than in China, not only due to demand but also because Korea was the source.

    It¡¯s likely pepper is just as affordable in its homeland.

    ¡°This box holds enough for 150 servings, about 300 grams. If you assist me, I¡¯ll provide an additional 10 kilograms.¡±

    While that might seem like a lot to them, it¡¯s only worth about one silver coin to me.

    But since they don¡¯t know that, they¡¯re bound to see it as a treasure.

    ¡°Ah, well then, I can arrange to supply you in bulk. Expanding our market benefits us as well.¡±

    Al-Sini took a deep breath before continuing.

    ¡°For us, trust is paramount, so selling more than what was promised is difficult. However...¡±

    He gave me a sly smile.

    ¡°If you can deal with some troublesome heathen pirates who¡¯ve been plaguing us, I could arrange for the goods they stole from us to be sold to you.¡±

    In other words, he¡¯s suggesting ¡°double-billing.¡±

    It¡¯s a proposal that benefits both sides.

    Not only would I gain more spices, but it would also strengthen our relationship with the Al-Sini family.

    Of course, dealing with pirates requires careful planning.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±

    I immediately began preparations to gather information on the pesky pirates bothering the Al-Sini family.

    ________________________________________________

    TL note:

    Hey readers! ???? As we dive deeper into A Black Merchant In Another World, things are heating up in Fabio¡¯s world of cunning deals and high-stakes alliances. I hope you¡¯re enjoying this thrilling ride through the intricate webs of noble politics and merchant maneuvering as much as I am.

    Remember, your thoughts and reactions help shape this journey! Leave a comment below and let me know your favorite moments, predictions, or even just say hi! ???? Your likes and shares are the best way to support and keep these chapters coming. Can¡¯t wait to see where Fabio¡¯s ambitions take us next¡ªso stay tuned for more twists and turns ahead!

 Chapter 36

    In the Middle Ages, when it came to gathering information, the go-to spot was always the tavern.

    You¡¯d walk into an inn or pub, buy a round of drinks, ask if anyone knew anything, and from there, start collecting information in a way that would make dominoes jealous.

    Especially in harbor cities, where pirates openly drank and reveled, such places were hotspots for whispers and rumors.

    So naturally, I headed to one of the taverns frequented by the local pirate crew.@@@@

    To catch a tiger, you¡¯ve got to venture into the tiger¡¯s den, after all...

    Besides, pirates generally know better than to cause trouble in the city.

    ¡°Does anyone here know about the brave souls who gave those Al-Sini bastards a taste of their own medicine?¡± I asked, loud enough for everyone in the tavern to hear, but no one replied.

    I went through the trouble of coming to a bar known to host pirates, only to be greeted with such apathy.

    Maybe a little grease for their tongues would do the trick.

    ¡°Bartender, how about a plate of roasted pork for each of these courageous sea warriors gathered here?¡±

    I handed over three silver coins as I said this.

    The bartender, showing an admirable lack of curiosity, didn¡¯t even bother asking why I¡¯d want to mingle with a bunch of pirates.

    He probably figured out I was here to gather intel from them.

    If he didn¡¯t have that level of awareness, he wouldn¡¯t last long in this continent¡ªno, in the Toscana Empire.

    ¡°Make sure they know the drinks are on me, too. Give them all the beer and wine they want.¡±

    When it comes to spending money, it¡¯s best to do so boldly if you want to grab people¡¯s attention.

    Not long after, a man wearing a pistol approached me.

    Judging by his flashy attire, somewhere between nouveau riche and thug, he seemed like a lieutenant in one of the local pirate crews.

    ¡°Captain Andre of the Blue Flag Pirates. If you don¡¯t mind, may I regale you with a tale or two as thanks?¡±

    He began rubbing his thumb and forefinger together with impressive fervor, his eyes fixed on me as if he were staring at a naked beauty.

    A money-hungry fiend, huh?

    He probably had to be like that to stay aboard a ship and make a living raiding merchant vessels.

    ¡°I¡¯d be honored. Hey, bartender, bring us a bottle of 17-year-old whiskey, along with some salami and cheese.¡±

    In Korea, you can buy cheap wine or beer to drink your fill, but whiskey, with its lengthy distillation and aging process, remains costly.

    And the Toscana Empire isn¡¯t much different in that regard.

    With the food laid out and a glass of whiskey poured, Andre finally spoke up.

    ¡°What kind of story would you like to hear?¡±

    ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been enlightening Al-Sini merchant ships with the teachings of Deus.¡±

    Though such words are not found in the holy scriptures of Deus, the Pope has made it clear in his own decree:

    One gold coin could buy a serf¡¯s most prized possession¡ªa cow.

    So it¡¯s no wonder he was skeptical.

    ¡°How much to buy your pirate crew?¡±

    Contrary to the romanticized image of pirates in certain comics, the reality is much grimmer.

    Pirates are often disgruntled merchant sailors who mutinied against their captains.

    Their lives may be democratically organized, but it¡¯s still a miserable existence.

    They wait for ships to rob, only to die meaningless deaths mid-raid.

    Afterward, they blow their loot on booze and women.

    It might seem fun at first, but imagining it as a lifelong career must be bleak.

    ¡°I¡¯m building a new harbor village. I need sailors and captains to escort trade ships. How about it?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d hire us instead of someone else?¡±

    Well, it doesn¡¯t have to be them specifically.

    But these pirates have plenty of experience with heretic raiding, so they¡¯d be useful allies. If I could dissolve the pirate crew and bring them to my side...

    Then I could report back to the Al-Sini family that the pirate threat has been dealt with.

    ¡°The Al-Sini family asked me to get rid of you. But they¡¯re heretics, so why bother hunting down ¡®good¡¯ pirates who only raid heretics?¡±

    If I¡¯d had enough forces to eliminate them, I would¡¯ve enslaved them by now.

    But I don¡¯t, so here we are.

    ¡°You¡¯re only pirates because you¡¯re in a tough spot. Yet, you still target ¡®heathens¡¯ because you¡¯re not entirely without morals.¡±

    In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, European Christians rarely enslaved each other.

    After all, enslaving a fellow Catholic was seen as unethical.

    Of course, they didn¡¯t call it slavery, but it was effectively the same.

    ¡°I happen to have many unmarried maidens on my estate. They¡¯d make fine wives and provide you with homes. You could live like decent men.¡±

    Andre accepted my proposal immediately.

    ¡°We don¡¯t enjoy being pirates. What should we do?¡±

    ¡°First, surrender your pirate flag to me. I¡¯ll tell Al-Sini that you¡¯ve been completely eradicated.¡±

    The next day, I set sail to meet with the Al-Sini representatives.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the Blue Flag Pirates¡¯ emblem and the captain¡¯s sword. We¡¯ll take the prisoners, as per custom.¡±

    I now had the Blue Flag Pirates under my command.

    And I¡¯d extract my reward from Al-Sini in exchange for their ¡°defeat.¡±

    Isn¡¯t that the proper way to negotiate?

 Chapter 37

    Al-Sini¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at the sword and the folded pirate flag on the table before him.

    ¡°Impressive, taking down the Blue Flag Pirates in just three weeks.¡±

    To be fair, a trading company of Al-Sini¡¯s caliber didn¡¯t fail to capture them due to lack of strength.

    Those pirates were quick to flee and adept at evading, which is likely why they hadn¡¯t been caught yet.

    ¡°They were just a small-time gang with a single ship. They weren¡¯t a significant threat.¡±

    ¡°But they were slippery devils. How did you manage to eliminate them?¡±

    I couldn¡¯t exactly admit that I hadn¡¯t ¡°eliminated¡± them but had rather recruited them.

    Not that it would necessarily harm me; after all, Al-Sini had asked for a solution, not specifically for their elimination.

    But if I confessed, I¡¯d have to hand over the future marines and sailors I¡¯d tied up as pretend prisoners in our hold right now.

    I wasn¡¯t about to hand over people who¡¯d just sworn loyalty to me.

    ¡°No matter how quick they are, they can¡¯t hide their tail. They only target the Sultanate¡¯s merchants and military vessels. While they¡¯re criminals in the Sultanate, here in the Toscana Empire, they¡¯re more like upstanding citizens.¡±

    Al-Sini had likely sunk numerous ships unrelated to the Medici family or the spice trade alliance.

    Those caught near our territorial waters would probably end up as slaves in the salt mines.

    ¡°Given that, they felt quite relaxed in the ports near Toscana, able to rest without fear. And pirates love boasting about their exploits...¡±

    Pirates aren¡¯t all that different from the older men who brag about their glory days.

    Not knowing when they¡¯ll meet their end, they crave recognition and frequently share tales of their adventures.

    So, tracking down a few rumors wasn¡¯t too difficult.

    ¡®They probably thought no one would pursue them all the way into the Toscana Empire.¡¯

    They weren¡¯t entirely wrong, but they should have been more careful.

    What if it hadn¡¯t been me but someone else on their trail?

    ¡°So, I followed them until they reached the open sea, far from any prying eyes, and then launched an all-out assault.¡±

    ¡°Your persistence is truly remarkable. In that case, we¡¯ll have to honor our agreement.¡±

    Al-Sini shrugged his shoulders and offered a sly grin.

    ¡°A merchant must keep his promises, after all. As agreed, I¡¯ll have the entire shipment ready for you within a week.¡±

    With the spice supplies secured, my immediate concerns were now settled.

    Moreover, I could now continue dealing with Al-Sini as a proven merchant and trusted member of the Medici family.

    But why settle for just this? There was still room to extract more value from this situation.@@@@

    ¡®Sure, I could also take it to the Kingdom of Lyon for a quick transaction.¡¯

    But I¡¯d rather travel far, seeking both adventure and profit.

    Though I won¡¯t be able to establish connections this time, since it¡¯ll be smuggled...

    If you want to become a great merchant, smuggling is essential knowledge. Best to learn it thoroughly when the opportunity arises.

    After Fabio departed, Al-Sini chuckled softly.

    ¡°Is this what they call natural talent, Muhammad?¡±

    The man called Muhammad did not respond.

    Al-Sini pressed further.

    ¡°He¡¯s quite something, don¡¯t you think? I could forgive him for making those pirates his subordinates.¡±

    What tipped him off was Fabio¡¯s refusal to sell the prisoners, despite the potential to increase his reward.

    Al-Sini tapped his fingers on the desk.

    ¡°And to think, after just a few cups of coffee, he immediately understood how to market it in the Toscana Empire.¡±

    There are certain principles one must follow to succeed in business.

    The most crucial one is buying goods at a low price and selling them high elsewhere.

    Always maintain trust with trading partners.

    ¡°Above all, though, it¡¯s about recognizing value where others do not.¡±

    Muhammad finally spoke.

    ¡°Yes, our founding ancestor of Al-Sini once saw potential in pepper, which was then considered an inedible seed. By promoting it as a medicinal and culinary treasure, he revitalized the family¡¯s fortunes.¡±

    A man who had redefined pepper as both a medicinal and culinary ingredient.

    ¡°I heard this Fabio character was also the first to recognize the value of seaweed, which even our Sultanate¡¯s nobles can¡¯t get enough of. He may well be like our founder, uncovering hidden value in seemingly useless things.¡±

    Founders are practically sacred in noble and merchant families alike.

    Criticizing one¡¯s parents might be forgivable under certain circumstances, but a word against the founder is unforgivable.

    Al-Sini¡¯s praise was among the highest he could offer.

    ¡°By spring, we¡¯ll be able to supply that seaweed. So prepare a list of prominent nobles who are expecting children. We¡¯ll sell it to them at a premium later.¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±

    ¡°And make me some soup with that seaweed, with plenty of garlic. I¡¯m over sixty, but if I¡¯m going to profit from seaweed, I may as well have another child.¡±

    Fabio returned from Granada safely after completing his smuggling venture.

 Chapter 38

    Upon my return to the Medici Barony, I was met with a warm welcome from all my retainers.

    ¡°Young master, welcome back!¡± ¡°You must be exhausted from your long journey.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve prepared a feast of delicious food for you!¡±

    The way they looked at me was almost sickeningly sweet.

    It¡¯s the kind of look I¡¯d prefer to receive from Chloe or other beautiful women, not from a bunch of old men.

    Still, it¡¯s nice to be greeted so enthusiastically, even if it¡¯s a bit uncomfortable.

    Or maybe they¡¯re just curious about how much money I brought back?

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you all have some idea of the results by now.¡±

    The retainers here are sharp enough to tell from the sailors¡¯ expressions and mood alone.

    They¡¯d already deduced that I¡¯d made a substantial profit on this trade mission.

    I deliberately took my time pulling out the documents detailing our earnings, letting the anticipation build.

    Albert, the highest-ranking of my retainers, spoke on behalf of everyone.

    ¡°Young master, please, don¡¯t keep an old man waiting. Tell us the news.¡±

    I held up the document and began reading from it.

    ¡°After deducting bonuses for the sailors, ship repair costs, purchases, and mercenary fees, our net profit amounts to 12,000 gold coins. With that, the Medici Barony can pay off the debts from our marriage alliance with the Farnese Count¡¯s family, and there will still be some left over.¡±

    All the retainers clenched their fists as they listened.

    Some gripped so tightly that their hands turned white, but their faces were lit up with smiles.

    They were so overjoyed that they didn¡¯t seem to notice any discomfort.

    The debt that could have strangled our family was now gone.

    It would be strange if they weren¡¯t happy in a situation like this.

    In the midst of this joyous atmosphere, Albert asked on behalf of everyone.

    ¡°Even if you took risks, like smuggling, I find it hard to believe that Al-Sini would simply hand over enough spices to earn 12,000 gold coins. How did you manage it?¡±

    The spice trade is a guaranteed goldmine.

    One gold coin¡¯s worth of pepper from the Sultanate can be sold in the Toscana Empire for 30 gold coins, flying off the shelves.

    ¡®In other countries, smuggling can drive the price up to as much as 50 gold coins.¡¯

    ¡°I pretended to eliminate a pirate crew that was troubling the Al-Sini family, then recruited them into my service. In exchange, I received spices allocated to other families, which I sold in the Kingdom of Granada.¡±

    These retainers are close to me, almost like my father¡¯s old friends.

    But if word got out that I¡¯d taken in a pirate crew, someone would surely use it as an excuse to tear me down.

    I¡¯d rather hide this from even my allies, though it¡¯s impossible with the Medici retainers having accompanied me.

    In that case, it¡¯s better to reveal it openly.

    The captain of the guards then spoke up.@@@@

    ¡°So, how did you recruit the pirates? Did you use the Medici family¡¯s military might to intimidate them?¡±

    ¡°With just one merchant ship? How could I have threatened a pirate crew with that?¡±

    To exaggerate slightly, a single pirate ship can have the combat power of two, sometimes even three, merchant ships of the same size.

    Merchant ships are slow due to their cargo load and carry minimal cannons.

    While they can defend themselves to some extent, they can¡¯t match a pirate ship built specifically for combat.

    ¡°When I dug up some information on them before the fight, I found out they were relatively ethical pirates¡ªthey only targeted heretics.¡±

    Usually, people say that and still manage to sleep just fine.

    But Chloe, who lost her parents and siblings to illness, genuinely worries and can¡¯t rest whenever I¡¯m seriously ill.

    ¡®More than once, I¡¯ve had to force her to get some sleep.¡¯

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stay in today. So, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    If it¡¯s not urgent, I can afford to delay my tasks once in a while.

    Chloe smiled brightly at my words.

    Then she immediately left the room to inform a butler that I¡¯d be resting for the day.

    Since I couldn¡¯t sleep, I thought of reading a book when Chloe returned.

    ¡°Young master, do you remember promising to reward me if I studied hard?¡±

    I had considered what to give Chloe as a reward, even while at sea.

    I could introduce her to cakes that no one in Toscana has tasted, or perhaps buy her a pen as encouragement to study more.

    I¡¯d thought about it but hadn¡¯t decided.

    Now that Chloe seemed to know what she wanted, I wondered what it might be.

    ¡°May I use that reward now?¡±

    ¡°Of course, ask away.¡±

    ¡°Could you rest with me here today? You just came back from a long voyage and drank a lot. If you don¡¯t rest, you might fall ill.¡±

    Looking back, I hadn¡¯t really spent time with Chloe since I started my duties as financial administrator.

    She¡¯s the kind who easily feels lonely, so she must have missed me a lot.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s rest today and go somewhere nice together later.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Chloe clenched her fists and blushed a little.

    ¡°Well, young master... There¡¯s something I¡¯ve wanted to try for a while. Would you let me?¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°A lap pillow... You must be tired, so let me.¡±

    It¡¯s that thing couples do in those romance comics where you wish they¡¯d just explode already.

    ¡°My mother said it made her feel better when she was tired, and it helped me feel safe too...¡±

    Wanting to get as close as possible to Chloe, I couldn¡¯t say no to her request.

    So, I immediately lay down with my head resting on her thighs.

    As I lay there looking up, most of my view was blocked by her chest.

    What size is she, anyway? At least an F, maybe even a G?

    One day, I¡¯ll make them mine...

    Strangely, even though I hadn¡¯t felt sleepy, drowsiness suddenly washed over me.

    The last words I heard as my consciousness faded were:

    ¡°It would be nice if we could stay like this forever.¡±

    Not long after, having finished all my duties as the Medici Barony¡¯s financial administrator, I returned to Florence.

    As soon as I arrived, an urgent message from the Duke awaited me.

 Chapter 39

    When Duke Visconti summoned me urgently, I braced myself mentally, but he greeted me with a remarkably calm expression.

    ¡°You must¡¯ve had quite a time cleaning up after your brother¡¯s wedding,¡± he said.

    Honestly, if I hadn¡¯t taken the lead, the Medici Barony would have been forced into austerity measures for at least two years just to pay off that debt.

    Even regular folks, who don¡¯t care much about appearances, find it hard to tighten their belts. Imagine if they also had to maintain the family¡¯s prestige while cutting back. Albert might have collapsed from sheer frustration.

    For that alone, I¡¯m due a lifetime of gratitude from him... but all I got were a few words of thanks and a token gift?

    Good grief. Is he actually jealous of his younger brother, who¡¯s only got a knighthood?

    ¡°I see you¡¯re frowning just at the mention of it. Must¡¯ve been quite a hassle,¡± the Duke remarked.

    ¡°Even though I¡¯ve become independent from my father and brother, I¡¯m still part of the Medici Barony. It¡¯s my duty,¡± I replied.

    The Duke chuckled.

    ¡°People may know what they¡¯re supposed to do, but when it comes to cleaning up other people¡¯s messes, it¡¯s natural to feel resentful. By the way, I hear you just returned from the Kingdom of Granada?¡±

    How does he even know that? Even though the Medici family is a vassal of a vassal of his, we kept that smuggling route under tight wraps.

    Perhaps to be a Duke in the Toscana Empire, you need to know everything about your vassals as if they were on the palm of your hand.

    ¡°Yes, I took a calculated risk on behalf of my family,¡± I said.

    ¡°Traveling around for adventure when you¡¯re young is well and good, but as a noble, you should learn to take care of yourself. What if something had gone wrong?¡±

    It¡¯s not as if I took those risks for the thrill. It¡¯s a calculated gamble, knowing the potential success outweighs the risks I can manage.

    ¡°Sometimes, to climb higher, one must take risks. It¡¯s all part of my effort to grow, to be of more use to Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got a honeyed tongue, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    The Duke seemed amused, even though he called me a flatterer.

    ¡°Fearlessness is fine, but avoid reckless actions. The line between courage and recklessness is razor-thin,¡± he advised.

    ¡°I understand, Your Grace.¡±

    Just as he said, recklessness and courage are easily confused. Courage is when you face a daunting challenge, even if you¡¯re scared to the bone, because you¡¯ve calculated the odds and have a chance of winning.

    Recklessness is running into a fight without knowing if you can win. Like trying to smash a boulder with an egg¡ªfutile.

    Young people everywhere often don¡¯t see the difference, and they usually end up in tragic circumstances.

    ¡°I called you here because I have good news,¡± the Duke said.

    Am I finally at the age for marriage? Is he arranging a match for me?

    ¡°He¡¯s quite fond of hunting and martial arts. They say he¡¯s even impressed the swordsmanship guild.¡±

    The swordsmanship guild is packed with prestigious swordsmen, known for their high standards. For them to be impressed, he must be a serious fitness enthusiast.

    No wonder he¡¯s turned into a training maniac.

    ¡®The mental strain must be tremendous.¡¯

    ¡°He probably takes care of his diet, doesn¡¯t he?¡±

    Young men rarely bother with health foods unless they¡¯re after something to boost their energy.

    Based on that, it¡¯s safe to assume the Second Prince is a healthy man with a strong libido. Likely, he relieves his psychological stress through intimate encounters.

    King Sejong, and later, King Seongjong, known as great rulers, also relied on such outlets for stress relief.

    ¡°Fortunately, I have something better than seaweed.¡±

    Primitive Europe uses coffee as an aphrodisiac, like chocolate. He¡¯ll think it gives him the strength of a tiger.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how His Highness will test me, but I¡¯m ready to win his favor.¡±

    A few days later, the Duke took me to meet the Second Prince.

    I wasn¡¯t bursting with nervousness, but my hands tightened naturally.

    The Duke immediately struck up a casual conversation with the Prince.

    ¡°What do you think of the sword I sent you last time? It¡¯s forged with a new steel technique and is quite sturdy.¡±

    The Second Prince examined the blade, appraising it as if undressing a beautiful woman with his eyes.

    ¡°Beautiful. You must¡¯ve folded this steel many times to temper it.¡±

    The Duke chuckled.

    ¡°I was sure you would appreciate its value, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°I know a thing or two about swordsmanship, Duke,¡± replied the Prince.

    The Duke then pointed at me with a hearty laugh.

    ¡°I may have enhanced it a bit using a method our friend here devised, but it¡¯s the quality of the raw material that impressed you, right?¡±

    I lowered my head humbly.

    Now, the Second Prince turned his attention to me.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re the second son of the Medici Barony. The one who thought up cakes, seaweed, and this new steelmaking technique? I¡¯ve had my eye on you for a while.¡±

 Chapter 40

    In both Europe and Korea, those of lower status must show humility before their superiors.

    You flatter the other person¡¯s abilities while downplaying your own.

    However, too much humility can come off as insincere or even disrespectful.

    Right now, it¡¯s best to respond confidently without boasting.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°Bold. But given your achievements at your age, you have every right to be a bit proud. Don¡¯t you agree, Duke?¡±

    Duke Visconti nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Young people today, they lack abilities, have little to show for themselves, yet they¡¯re so full of pride.¡±

    His words reminded me of managers and department heads back in Korea, shaking their heads about the ¡°MZ generation.¡±

    They always start with ¡°Back in my day,¡± and go on about how young people today don¡¯t work hard, lack skills, but still want everything handed to them.

    A friend studying history once told me this gripe has been around since the ancient Sumerians, humanity¡¯s first civilization.

    And here I am, hearing the same old complaints even in another world.

    ¡°But Fabio is an exception. That¡¯s why I personally brought him to introduce him to Your Highness, despite his humble nobility.¡±

    It¡¯s true the Duke has done some questionable things regarding me.

    He keeps throwing the Medici Barony in my face, intending to tie me down to his service for life.

    He tries to maneuver me into situations where I can¡¯t survive without him.

    It¡¯s like something a dark, yandere-type young girl would do. Why is a man over sixty doing this?

    ¡®Still, it means he cares about me, so I can¡¯t exactly hate him for it...¡¯

    It¡¯s a strange feeling, though, being on the receiving end.

    ¡°If the Duke speaks so highly of you, I look forward to seeing what you have to offer.¡±

    The Duke gave me a glance, signaling me to proceed.

    While he didn¡¯t say anything directly, I knew what he was implying.

    ¡°It¡¯s a gift prepared with the utmost care, in gratitude to Your Highness.¡±

    The box I¡¯d given to the Prince¡¯s servant was placed before him.

    The Prince opened the box and gave me a puzzled look.

    ¡°What are these black, round beans? You don¡¯t expect me to eat them as they are, do you?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not meant to be eaten directly. To enjoy them, you roast these coffee beans, grind them, and then brew them with water.¡±

    Both the Duke and the Prince eyed the mysterious beans with suspicion.

    ¡°When I went to buy pepper, I saw heretics drinking this. I asked them about it, and they told me that this drink, made from what they call coffee beans, helps them stay awake.¡±

    They both grimaced at the mention of something heretics consumed.

    The Prince¡¯s expression even showed a hint of strong displeasure and anger.

    But I can assure you, once he drinks it, stays up all night, and feels that surge of energy...

    He¡¯ll likely be convinced that it enhances his vitality and would want more.

    ¡°Also, it has properties that increase virility. The heretics use it as an aphrodisiac.¡±

    Out of a hundred noblemen, I¡¯d bet there isn¡¯t a single one who doesn¡¯t care about their virility.

    I¡¯d bet my life on it.

    Though he didn¡¯t limit himself to just her, he slept with Mary at least five out of every ten nights.

    ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡±

    As soon as Mary arrived, Peter began to caress her, and they were soon entwined, as usual.

    Once, twice¡ªhe climaxed, then leaned back against the pillow.

    No matter how much he trained, two rounds left him exhausted.

    ¡°Mary, you¡¯re as beautiful and sweet as ever.¡±

    As always, Mary nestled into him, her owner and master.

    Peter should have been drifting off to sleep by now...

    But he didn¡¯t feel tired at all.

    In fact, he was as alert as ever.

    This let him focus on every sensation.

    Mary¡¯s gasps for breath after their intense encounter, her snow-white skin glistening with sweat, her soft skin against his.

    Usually, he¡¯d fall asleep savoring these feelings...

    ¡°I can¡¯t sleep. It¡¯s all because you¡¯re so adorable.¡±

    And with that, Peter went at it again.

    That night, the Second Prince broke his record, going six times.

    The next day, he went straight to see the Emperor.

    ¡°Your Majesty, this coffee that Fabio de Medici gave me¡ªit works wonders.¡±

    Though Peter was the Emperor¡¯s son, it was a rather brash approach.

    The Emperor was considering scolding him.

    ¡°At first, I was wary, as it¡¯s something the heretics drink. But I had to try it since Fabio, vouched for by Duke Visconti, suggested it.¡±

    Deciding to hear him out, the Emperor thought, ¡®If he¡¯s so obsessed, there must be a reason.¡¯

    ¡°My mind was sharper, I handled my duties more efficiently, and my stamina at night has never been better. Usually, I¡¯m drained after a little enjoyment, but last night, I didn¡¯t even feel drowsy or tired after going all night.¡±

    The Emperor was human, too.

    Like any high-ranking man, he was interested in anything that promised vitality.

    ¡°Hm...¡±

    ¡°The effort in procuring such things, the ability to discern value, the management skills¡ªright now, Fabio is just a knight, but he could be invaluable to the Crown Prince in the future.¡±

    The Emperor wondered if Peter was blinded by how Fabio had boosted his masculine pride, but...

    Nothing Peter said was unreasonable.

    ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll consider testing him properly. Now, off with you, Peter.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Father.¡±

    As Peter left, the Emperor called after him.

    ¡°Peter, you¡¯re still young. Do you really need that coffee? Give it here; I¡¯ll take it for my health.¡±

    A very human command indeed.

    Peter was resentful but had no choice.

    After all, the man was both his father and the Emperor.

 Chapter 41

    Late at night, I heard Sebastian¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Young Master, it seems that His Highness the Second Prince has sent someone.¡±

    If this were a message from any other noble, I¡¯d tell them I¡¯d see it in the morning unless it was urgent.

    Even a certain chairman once said that a person needs good sleep to work well.

    No matter how busy you are, securing a good amount of sleep is essential.

    ¡°I¡¯ll change and come down. Serve our guest the best tea we have¡ªor rather, some coffee.¡±

    The Second Prince, or rather, the Emperor who uses the Second Prince as a mouthpiece, wouldn¡¯t send just anyone.

    So the person downstairs is likely one of the Emperor¡¯s inner circle.

    In company terms, they¡¯d be an executive from a huge corporation.

    ¡°Be as courteous as possible and prepare about 150 grams of coffee beans as a gift.¡±

    When meeting someone important, it¡¯s proper etiquette to offer an appropriate gift (bribe).

    If you ignore that, you could be seen as an ill-mannered fool, and you never know when you might be erased from this world.

    I quickly changed my clothes and went downstairs.

    Hopefully, this unofficial envoy brings some good news.

    The man who came as the envoy was dressed in a way that clearly marked him as someone of noble birth.

    Sipping coffee with a dignified posture in his fine clothes...

    Is this what a true noble looks like?

    ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting. I am Fabio de Medici.¡±

    The unofficial envoy put down his coffee with a subtle smile.

    ¡°The aroma and rich flavor of this coffee and cake kept me from noticing the time. I¡¯m the one who dropped in unannounced, so the fault is mine, not yours.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for saying so.¡±

    ¡°Allow me to introduce myself. I am Antonio de Allegrone, the Second Prince¡¯s chamberlain.¡±

    I¡¯ve heard that the Allegrone family is one of the larger baronial families.

    However, as the Prince¡¯s chamberlain, his practical authority far exceeds that of most barons.

    The fact that someone like him came in person suggests that the Emperor acknowledges my value.

    ¡°I¡¯m here today to convey a command from His Highness the Second Prince.¡±

    At this, I straightened my posture.

    Antonio lowered his voice, adopting a cautious tone.

    ¡°The Pereira Trading Company has been selling steel to the Duchy of Liguria.¡±

    The Toscana Empire isn¡¯t at war with any other nation at the moment.

    But we do have potential adversaries.

    Following the principle of ¡®ally with distant states, strike those nearby,¡¯ we consider neighboring states like the Duchy of Milania and the Duchy of Liguria as potential enemies.

    Right now, the balance of power between us and them prevents conflict.

    But they¡¯re countries we could go to war with at any time...

    Selling strategic materials like steel to them? That takes guts.

    ¡°The Pereira Company is currently selling steel at two to three times the market price. It¡¯s a petty, despicable thing only those without any breeding would do.¡±

    When I told my father, the head of our grand Medici Trading House, that I wanted to become a merchant, he opposed it, calling it a base profession.

    It¡¯s no wonder Allegrone sneers at merchants.

    ¡°If you succeed, His Majesty will grant you a great opportunity. Someone of your abilities shouldn¡¯t remain a low-ranking knight.¡±

    Proving my skills might earn me a baronetcy and a chance to aim higher...

    It¡¯s an enticing offer for someone who needs to increase his standing.

    No, to survive, I can¡¯t refuse.

    ¡®If it can¡¯t be mine, destroy it!¡¯

    The Emperor might not say this, but he would likely act accordingly.

    ¡°I accept the mission.¡±

    ¡°Your ambition reminds me of my younger self.¡±

    Sorry, but I¡¯m far more handsome than you...

    It may sound rude, but you¡¯d never get a date in Korea with that face.

    Antonio patted my shoulder and stood up.

    ¡°The Second Prince has high expectations for you. Try not to disappoint him.¡±

    I said I¡¯d show the Pereiras how spicy things can get...

    But the Pereira Trading Company ranks among the elite trading houses in the Toscana Empire.

    They¡¯re unlucky not to have bought a barony, but their influence rivals that of a baron.

    ¡°They have influence comparable to most barons. All they do is trade, yet...¡±

    They don¡¯t reveal all their strength, but the little they do show is enough to hint at their power.

    They run dozens of trading companies with hundreds of guards, merchants, and porters.

    If they make a mistake, they can just buy off high-ranking nobles with cash.

    No matter how quickly my trading house grows,

    ¡®I¡¯m just breaking into mid-sized business, while they¡¯re a conglomerate.¡¯

    Considering the steel mill, I might rank higher among mid-sized businesses, but my assets and production facilities are tied to the Duke.

    So that¡¯s my limit.

    ¡°Which means I have to be even more careful.¡±

    But caution alone won¡¯t solve everything.

    ¡°I need to find something to deal a blow without them catching on. For that, I¡¯ll need voluntary cooperation from their employees.¡±

    Lower-level employees of the Pereira Company might cooperate, but it¡¯s doubtful the higher-ups holding critical information will.

    They¡¯re not just employees; they¡¯re also vassals to the Pereira family.

    I might have to use threats.

    ¡°Do I need to catch those involved in the smuggling red-handed?¡±

    The crucial thing is not getting caught.

    In 21st-century Korea, even if I committed a crime, as long as I wasn¡¯t discovered, a judge couldn¡¯t punish me.

    And in the Toscana Empire, as long as I have the Emperor¡¯s backing, I can¡¯t be punished as long as I¡¯m not caught.

    Then, an idea from the wisdom of a certain notorious country came to mind.

    ¡®How would the East India Company handle this?¡¯

    They inherited all of Britain¡¯s wisdom and fought on the frontlines of that nation.

    Those people would surely have a clever trick for situations like this.

    After pondering for a while, I came up with a clever plan.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start by roughing up those committing illegal acts within the trading company. Sooner or later, answers will come.¡±

 Chapter 42

    In movies or dramas, when investigating a conglomerate, they start with raids and quickly move into deep investigations.

    However, in reality, catching white-collar criminals isn¡¯t so easy.

    Even if a crime is committed, using aggressive tactics like raids as a quick fix is a last resort, and it could lead to officers being dismissed in droves.

    ¡°Here, they¡¯d probably take my head physically.¡±

    Even if the Emperor protects me, if I recklessly expose myself despite instructions to move secretly?

    If I¡¯m found dead in a barrel by some river or beach, it¡¯ll likely be ruled a natural death.

    ¡®Even back-alley thieves don¡¯t use such tactics without caution.¡¯

    As I was lost in thought, Sebastian called out to me.

    ¡°There¡¯s someone here who insists on speaking with you urgently, Young Master. Would you like to meet with him?¡±

    The way he asked made it sound like the visitor didn¡¯t look very promising.

    There¡¯s a 99% chance this person will brag about some useless information, acting as if it¡¯s priceless.

    Still, life is full of surprises, so who knows?

    ¡°Bring him in immediately.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood. He doesn¡¯t look too clean¡ªshould I have him washed before bringing him up?¡±

    From what Sebastian said, he must be quite dirty...

    ¡®Last time, I almost gagged from the stench after telling them to bring someone up without washing.¡¯

    A month¡ªor even two¡ªwithout bathing must have been the norm for the beggar who visited before; the smell almost killed me.

    Even Chloe kept her distance until I could clean up after dealing with him.

    ¡°Wash him, and make sure he¡¯s fed before bringing him up.¡±

    About an hour after giving my instructions, a man entered my office.

    While he was now clean, his clothes still had a lingering bad odor.

    If this is how he smells after a bath...

    When I become an official, I might need to establish a Medici Public Bathhouse to forcibly clean up the beggars. Honestly.

    When I grimaced at the smell, he began rubbing his hands together.

    ¡°You claimed to have information I¡¯d want¡ªis that true? If you¡¯re lying, I¡¯ll be disappointed.¡±

    Just because I¡¯m disappointed doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll kill him on the spot.

    If I did that in the middle of the capital, I¡¯d likely have to deal with the city guard¡¯s investigation.

    I could probably get away with just a few days in jail if I provide suitable gifts and bribes for my defense, but still...

    ¡®It wouldn¡¯t be an honorable act.¡¯

    I¡¯ll likely settle for giving him a stern lesson about not coveting other people¡¯s money.

    The man shook his head vigorously.

    ¡°How could someone as lowly as me dare to lie to such a noble person?¡±

    His groveling attitude makes me think this might be another waste of time.

    But, I can¡¯t judge his value just yet.

    Sometimes information leaks from the most unlikely sources.

    Poor and yet with a warped sense of money.

    Koreans like him, always looking for a big score, often ruin their lives. Seems it¡¯s no different here.

    So, I dismissed him.

    My time is precious; I can¡¯t waste it.

    The man then made a desperate plea.

    ¡°Wait, wait! I have even better information!¡±

    ¡°From someone who claims to have only been an odd-jobber, I find it hard to believe you¡¯d have anything more useful.¡±

    For things like embezzlement or tax evasion, secrets that shouldn¡¯t leak from a company, you¡¯d need at least a manager¡¯s position to have access.

    Employees lower down might know some details, but...

    ¡®They rarely know enough to directly send someone to prison.¡¯

    ¡°I heard this from a friend. The Pereira Company abandoned a director¡¯s daughter after framing him. I know where she is!¡±

    Like I¡¯m going to believe that.

    Is this guy a con artist? Or perhaps an amateur spy from Pereira?

    Even if I¡¯m the only one here with a sense of human rights, I¡¯m tempted to start with pulling his nails.

    I was about to order my guards to seize him when he interrupted.

    ¡°Until yesterday, I planned to tell Pereira where she was to change my life. But I came here because I figured you¡¯d pay more! Even a worthless bug like me knows how wealthy Fabio de Medici is.¡±

    Coffee may not yet be widely known among nobles, but my hospital attracts a steady line of noblewomen arriving in carriages every day.

    And seaweed is already considered a miracle medicine among commoners, rivaling Korean ginseng.

    On top of that, he claimed he came here for a higher price instead of selling her out to Pereira...

    It seems plausible.

    ¡°Her name is Christina Modica, and she¡¯s hiding in slum district number four! As the daughter of a former director at Pereira, she must know something.¡±

    He¡¯s not wrong.

    But if he knows her identity...

    ¡®He¡¯s probably leaking information bit by bit, hoping someone will come along to exact her family¡¯s revenge.¡¯

    Otherwise, how could someone like him evade capture by a massive trading company for months?

    Or it¡¯s just a rumor.

    ¡°It¡¯s worth checking. Guards, take him to one of our estate rooms and treat him well.¡±

    He¡¯ll be politely confined.

    If the information proves true, I¡¯ll reward him handsomely and even arrange a change of identity.

    If not, I¡¯ll treat him as a spy and conduct a very thorough interrogation.

    His face turned pale with fear.

    ¡°Please, please! I¡¯m telling the truth!¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s true, I¡¯ll give you a reward beyond your imagination. And you¡¯ll be well taken care of, so don¡¯t worry about meals.¡±

    The meals we serve the servants will be a feast for him.

    I then instructed Sebastian to investigate slum district number four.

    Before long, I found exactly who I was looking for.

 Chapter 43

    Christina entered the room and greeted me with a respectful bow.

    ¡°I am Christina Modica, the last surviving member of the Modica family.¡±

    Though she wore tattered rags to hide her identity and looked as if she hadn¡¯t had a proper wash while hiding in the slums...

    ¡®They say even rags look like luxury on a beautiful woman¡ªseems to be true.¡¯

    Her white hair and blue eyes gave her the appearance of a character straight out of a fantasy world. While her figure wasn¡¯t as ample as Chloe¡¯s, her body was certainly one that stirred a man¡¯s desires.

    ¡°I appreciate you coming.¡±

    In response, she clenched her lips tightly and said, ¡°How could I not, knowing I could finally get revenge on the Pereira Company for what they did to my family? And thank you for saving me from their clutches.¡±

    Christina is currently on the run from the Pereira Company.

    If they catch her, who knows if she¡¯ll be killed or, like Chloe, end up as someone¡¯s slave.

    A normal person would first express gratitude for saving their life.

    Her delayed thanks suggest that revenge consumes her thoughts so much that she hardly felt relief at escaping death.

    ¡°No need to thank me. I need you, Lady Modica, to fight against the Pereira Company.¡±

    She sighed at my words.

    ¡°Modica. Our family has long since been wiped out, yet you still call me ¡®Lady¡¯?¡±

    Just as one needs a company to be considered a CEO, a noble lady only maintains her title if her family still exists.

    Without a family, she¡¯s just another person who was once someone important.

    I could easily treat her as a subordinate, but...

    ¡°In our empire, there are many families who have fallen only to later exact revenge and rebuild. You can reclaim your family¡¯s honor after your revenge.¡±

    Saying it is easy, but the reality is harsh.

    If revenge were that simple, I assure you, there would be massacres among noble families in the Toscana Empire every week.

    ¡°We¡¯re allies, so we should treat each other with respect.¡±

    Even if I hold all the cards, I need Christina¡¯s cooperation.

    Her information is crucial for fulfilling the Emperor¡¯s order to punish the Pereira Company.

    If calling her ¡°Lady¡± and treating her well buys her favor, it¡¯s a small price to pay.

    A faint, relieved smile crossed her face.

    ¡°Thank you, Young Master.¡±

    ¡°So, could you tell me exactly what happened?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll leave nothing out.¡±

    I may have been imagining it, but her blue eyes seemed to carry the weight of an ocean¡¯s depth.

    Her gaze alone radiated such immense hatred for the Pereira Company that it felt almost as if she could kill someone with it.

    ¡°My father served as a director at Pereira for two generations, starting with my grandfather. He did everything for the company and the Pereira family, regardless of how dirty the work might have been. He even opposed the head of the trading company when necessary. He took pride in that.¡±

    In the Albanian continent, trade is akin to warfare.

    Christina gritted her teeth again.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Still, you could restore your family¡¯s honor. I could even grant you a knighthood and enough money to live comfortably for life.¡±

    A knighthood is noble status. The idea of me, a mere knight, offering such is a bit absurd, but...

    For a landless knight, the title doesn¡¯t hold as much value. It¡¯s like buying a title document in late Joseon.

    ¡®I¡¯m essentially making an investment for future loyalty from anyone considering betraying me when similar situations arise.¡¯

    She shook her head.

    ¡°Thank you, but I can¡¯t forgive the Pereira family for ruthlessly killing my family. I ask for revenge instead.¡±

    ¡°That sounds unreasonable.¡±

    At that, she knelt and pleaded with me.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you everything¡ªmy body, my heart, even my soul if necessary.¡±

    Her aura was so intense it gave me chills.

    It slightly swayed my resolve, but this was absurd.

    ¡®Taking on Pereira without the Emperor¡¯s support? That¡¯s a quick way to die.¡¯

    Besides, I don¡¯t even intend to avenge the villagers who sold Chloe into slavery.

    Why should I seek revenge for someone else?

    It¡¯s ridiculous.

    ¡°Your value doesn¡¯t outweigh the lives and safety of those who rely on me.¡±

    With that, I rose from my chair.

    ¡°I won¡¯t risk annihilating the Pereira family for revenge.¡±

    She bowed her head in frustration.

    ¡°However, if you truly wish for revenge, following me might be your best chance.¡±

    Other magnates often hire bandits to ambush rival shipments, but they never seek outright destruction.

    ¡®One wrong move, and they¡¯d be destroyed too.¡¯

    Before leaving, I glanced back.

    ¡°And remember, revenge isn¡¯t the end, Christina. You should find happiness and reclaim your honor. That¡¯s the best revenge.¡±

    Victims of school bullying often say being happier than their tormentors is the best revenge.

    That¡¯s half right and half wrong.

    Surpassing the bullies might irritate them, but they¡¯ll still brag about their deeds at parties, never paying for their crimes.

    ¡°Noble revenge can take a decade. So, change into proper clothes and eat well. It¡¯ll be a long battle.¡±

    I then instructed Chloe, who was waiting outside, to prepare clothing and a room for Christina.

    This is both an act of kindness and a necessary measure, as she¡¯s my ally for now.

 Chapter 44

    For the first time in ages, Christina Modina could rest well.

    ¡°Since my father was killed, this is the first time I¡¯ve slept so peacefully. Until now, I¡¯ve only taken short naps, never knowing when someone might come after me.¡±

    Despite saying that, she still had dark circles under her eyes.@@@@

    About every three hours, she would wake up from nightmares, reliving the brutal execution of her beloved family members on the gallows.

    The person who probably suffered the most was her father. Even until the end, he told her to forget about impossible revenge and to use the emergency funds he had hidden away to seek asylum in the Kingdom of Lyon.

    Her father apologized profusely to her older and younger brothers, saying he was sorry he couldn¡¯t protect them from Pereira¡¯s evil reach.

    Her mother, unable to understand the concept of death, comforted her infant sister with a forced smile to try and soothe her fear.

    Even while enduring unspeakable torture, her siblings never betrayed her whereabouts, repeatedly telling her, ¡°Only you must survive, Christina.¡±

    The memories made her clench her teeth in anger.

    ¡°Father, Mother. I will get revenge for both of you, even if I have to sell everything I have.¡±

    Then she heard a knock on the door.

    Was it the young lord of the Medici family? Or someone else?

    She adjusted her ragged clothes quickly. No matter how beautiful a person might be, rags were still rags, so there wasn¡¯t much of a difference.

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Chloe said as she entered, carrying a white bathrobe and a fabric to cover her chest.

    ¡°The Young Master has instructed me to take good care of Lady Modina. Although, as the Young Master¡¯s personal maid, another maid will likely serve you most of the time during your stay.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t saying this just out of politeness. Even though Christina had lost all social status, they treated her with the respect of a noble lady.

    She could feel they were treating her as a colleague working towards the same goal, rather than pitying her.

    ¡®If I have nowhere else to go, perhaps staying with the Medici family wouldn¡¯t be so bad.¡¯

    With the money her father left, she could probably live quietly as a small landowner in some rural area, though there was always the risk of encountering bandits or bad people along the way.

    In the worst case, she might be falsely accused and have her property seized by locals.

    Feeling a bit lighter, Christina cracked a joke.

    ¡°Does this bathrobe mean the Young Master expects me to warm his bed tonight?¡±

    It was the kind of playful comment she could never make as the daughter of a merchant family. But now, as a fallen lady, a social rank lower than even a serf, she could afford to be cheeky.

    Chloe shook her head.

    ¡°Th-th-that¡¯s such an embarrassing thing to say...¡±

    As she spoke, Chloe blushed as red as a ripe apple, looking down and stuttering.

    ¡°He just asked me to get your measurements and prepare new clothes for you. The Young Master isn¡¯t the kind of person who would force a woman just because he has the money and power to do so!¡±

    Drawing on her skills as a former noble and a merchant, Christina quickly deduced something from Chloe¡¯s response.

    ¡®She really loves her master.¡¯

    There was no other reason for her to get so flustered, stuttering with embarrassment like that.

    Her impression of Fabio had risen considerably.

    As a woman, she didn¡¯t appreciate men who pressured others for favors, and he seemed to be a man of integrity in that regard.

    ¡°Since then, I don¡¯t really get bullied. In fact, I¡¯ve made friends with the other maids and the butler. Sometimes, the Young Master gives me money and lets me go out to enjoy myself.¡±

    ¡°He must really cherish you.¡±

    ¡°And all the other servants like him too. He always remembers their special occasions and pays them well.¡±

    Noblemen, especially ones of Fabio¡¯s status, rarely bothered with their servants¡¯ family events, if at all. They¡¯d only care about their top staff, like the chief maid or butler, if even that.

    Lower staff usually received only a half-silver coin and free room and board.

    So, for other maids to stay after marriage was uncommon.

    Hearing this, Christina was impressed.

    Caring for servants might seem insignificant, but it builds loyalty that could be invaluable in a time of crisis.

    ¡®They¡¯d rally around the family during a crisis.¡¯

    ¡°How did you become his maid?¡±

    Becoming a maid usually required connections since Fabio¡¯s servants were from well-off backgrounds.

    Given her awkwardness, Chloe probably didn¡¯t have any connections.

    ¡°If I¡¯m honest, he just claimed me when he was given his estate.¡±

    Fabio had never said those exact words, but they weren¡¯t far off.

    ¡°There was a famine in the village, so I lost my family and almost got sold into slavery. I hated that the people who used to be so kind turned on me like that.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re similar to me. Do you want revenge?¡±

    Chloe shook her head.

    ¡°Maybe I do, but being with the Young Master makes me happy. And since those villagers are his subjects, I¡¯d rather not cause him trouble.¡±

    ¡°Do you really like him that much?¡±

    With a smile only a girl in love could give, Chloe replied, ¡°I could look at him all day, every day, and I¡¯d be happy. I love it when he strokes my hair, and I hope it¡¯ll always be like this. Though I wouldn¡¯t mind if he expressed himself a bit more passionately.¡±

    Christina hadn¡¯t eaten for days, but just seeing that smile made her feel full.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m learning to write and do math, to help him someday. The butler says I¡¯ll need a few more years of training, but...¡±

    Most personal maids, especially those as favored as Chloe, rarely bothered to make any efforts beyond maintaining their appearance and securing their master¡¯s favor.

    They disliked studying and didn¡¯t want to work hard.

    ¡®For a girl who has probably never studied before...¡¯

    And as she listened, Christina found herself thinking.

    ¡®I may not know his capabilities, but in terms of character, he¡¯s remarkable.¡¯

    With Chloe looking like she had found a new family, Christina asked her one last question.

    ¡°Are you really okay with not seeking revenge?¡±

    ¡°Just being with him makes me happy. I¡¯d rather spend my time working on myself,¡± Chloe replied.

    Christina thought back to Fabio¡¯s words.

    Life remains after revenge, and true revenge includes finding happiness afterward.

    She whispered to herself, so quietly that even Chloe couldn¡¯t hear.

    ¡°Perhaps, while waiting for my revenge, and even after, I can stay here.¡±

 Chapter 45

    Inside the carriage, Sebastian asked, "Young Master, are you really going to sue the Pereira Trading Company? Even with the Emperor¡¯s order, this is a very dangerous move."

    Suing someone is akin to a declaration of war¡ªan open challenge. Suing the Pereira Trading Company is practically saying we¡¯re going to war.

    Facing Pereira head-on would mean certain defeat for me, ten times out of ten, or a hundred times out of a hundred.

    "It is dangerous, but what''s done is done. There¡¯s no going back now."

    Pereira and I have already crossed a line that cannot be undone. They will surely gather information on me, likely with the intent to eliminate me.

    I¡¯d bet a thousand gold coins on it. I¡¯m certain I can win.

    "Besides, if I disobey a direct order, not only will I lose everything, but the Medici Barony might also lose its title."

    It was a secret order, so the Emperor wouldn¡¯t openly strip my title, but if he wants it gone, a crime and evidence will suddenly emerge against us.

    "In that case, can¡¯t you leverage this information against Pereira, Young Master?"

    It sounds nice, sure. Talking things out rather than waging a costly battle¡ªwho wouldn''t prefer that?

    But that might be a bit nai?ve.

    "Maybe we could keep the peace for a while. But do you really think Pereira would let me live when I hold such a dangerous piece of information over them? If I were them, I¡¯d wait for the Emperor to look the other way, then try to assassinate me."

    I once read something online: If you kill everyone around you, there won¡¯t be anyone left to testify against you.

    It¡¯s nonsense, of course, but there is a grain of truth in it. If someone is likely to expose you, killing them means you won¡¯t face charges. It¡¯s a surefire way to eliminate the threat entirely.

    "That¡¯s why suing them is the best move right now. They need to know that I¡¯m capable of dealing serious damage to them. Only then can I guarantee some level of safety."

    Bullies tend to go after those they see as weak and easy targets. But if that target snaps back or goes to the school administration, the bully often stops.

    It¡¯s not that the bullies suddenly reform; they just don¡¯t want to risk getting hurt or punished.

    If Pereira suffers a significant blow in court, they¡¯ll no longer see me as a pushover. Once they realize the Emperor is behind this, they won¡¯t dare lay a hand on me.

    Sebastian nodded in agreement. "You¡¯re right. Even street thugs and petty thieves only pick on those who can¡¯t fight back. And if their prey shows any intent to fight, they usually give up."

    "Exactly. That¡¯s the tactic we need to employ."

    "Young Master, you truly are remarkable. You remain calm even when faced with formidable foes. You don¡¯t seem afraid at all."

    I am scared of fighting a giant like Pereira. But I know that losing my cool could cost me everything. So, I force myself to stay composed to survive.

    And spending time with Chloe helps me relieve some of that stress.

    The driver¡¯s voice broke through my thoughts. "We¡¯ve arrived at the mansion of Baron Mancini."

    "Do you think I¡¯d charge recklessly without a reason? This is all part of a larger plan."

    I pointed to the critical section of the lawsuit.

    "Pereira Trading Company has committed gross procurement fraud against the Empire¡¯s military. I have gathered testimony and records from the last surviving member of the Modina family, who was once a Pereira executive."

    "They swapped out fresh pickled herring for rotten ones, used donkeys instead of packhorses, and skimped on armor materials? That¡¯s deplorable, even for merchants."

    If he could empathize with my argument, it meant Baron Mancini was beginning to understand that my accusations were not entirely baseless.

    Convincing someone is always hardest at first, but now that he was on board, things would move quickly.

    "This fraud implicates the current mayor of Florence and a former division commander. No matter how many high-priced lawyers they hire or how many ministers they enlist, they¡¯ll have a hard time escaping this unscathed."

    False accusations carry severe consequences in the Tuscan Empire.

    "If the allegations are solid, then why are you pursuing this? Pereira and you aren¡¯t even competitors."

    At that, I pointed upwards.

    A silent gesture that spoke volumes.

    "...I see. For someone of your caliber. Alright then, I¡¯ll take responsibility for this prosecution. You may go."

    Even just initiating prosecution would deal a substantial blow to Pereira.

    But I intended to be thorough. Striking them hard once would deter future threats.

    "The higher-ups are closely monitoring this. If you administer a heavy punishment, Judge Mancini, it could solidify your reputation as a courageous and fair judge willing to challenge the powerful."

    Baron Mancini swallowed hard.

    "With your nobility, aren¡¯t you due for a promotion to Chief Judge of the High Court? A mere knight like me has no right to suggest it, but that¡¯s the impression I get from those above."

    High-ranking noble judges without land, unlike me, rely heavily on bribes from merchants and other nobles.

    And the higher you go, the larger those bribes become¡ªby a factor of ten.

    "Here¡¯s our chance to prove our loyalty to the Emperor."

    Judge Mancini clasped my hand tightly.

    "Let¡¯s work together from now on."

    A few days later, I learned that Judge Mancini had exposed Pereira Trading Company¡¯s heinous crimes.

    The social circles were ablaze with the shocking news.

 Chapter 46

    Baccio Pereira, the head of Pereira Trading Company, had been so stressed that he hadn¡¯t been able to sleep properly for days.

    As he woke up, he shouted the name of the man who had become the source of his anger.

    "Damn that Medici bastard! Tearing him limb from limb wouldn¡¯t be enough!"@@@@

    The more he thought about it, the more his fury grew. He had fabricated a minor scandal to frame the Modina family, who had worked for his company for generations. How could this old matter suddenly resurface, and from where?

    It was maddening. He had buried the issue, but now it was coming back to haunt him.

    "May you be cursed before you even hit your mid-twenties!"

    Normally, a burst of angry curses would ease his frustration. But this scandal involved the military, and the fallout had already hit him hard.

    He quickly dressed and headed to his office. Upon entering, he found his chief secretary waiting with an apologetic expression instead of a smile.

    Seeing his secretary¡¯s face made his already foul mood worse. Something terrible must have happened while he was sleeping.

    Pereira gritted his teeth and ordered his subordinate to report.

    "Bad news, I take it? Go ahead and tell me what happened overnight. I won¡¯t blame you."

    "Yes, sir," the secretary began, swiftly reading from a hastily prepared report.

    "Baron Valdes announced that he will no longer be supplying us with wine and grapes after this transaction. He¡¯s shifting his business to the Piedmont Trading Company."

    "Damn it. While Valdes¡¯ grapes and wine aren¡¯t top-tier, losing that supply will disrupt other trades."

    Still, this was not a serious blow. Grapes were grown across the Tuscan Empire, so he could replace them fairly easily by purchasing elsewhere.

    "Viscount Billio has canceled an order for 500 padded armor sets, 100 full armor suits, 150 swords, and 500 spears, scheduled for payment in three days. Additionally, Count Riore has terminated all ongoing transactions with Pereira Trading Company and declared he will no longer associate with us."

    Viscount Billio and Count Riore were important economic and political partners. Their support not only provided economic benefits but also ensured his protection through political influence.

    Now, if both were cutting ties with Pereira, it meant his company was in political jeopardy. In fact, with nobles directly intervening in minor transactions, it was clear that political pressure had already started.

    "I have to handle Medici, no matter what it takes. If not, things will become genuinely dangerous."

    "There¡¯s more..." The secretary averted his eyes and spoke cautiously.

    "There are rumors that the High Court is preparing a tax investigation into our company."

    No one is entirely clean when investigated closely, let alone a vast entity like Pereira Trading Company with hundreds, even thousands of members. If a tax investigation begins, every hidden issue¡ªboth known and unknown¡ªwill be dragged to light.

    Besides, since he was under suspicion for military procurement fraud, the High Court judges and administrators would likely fabricate new charges just to punish him further.

    "Of course, I¡¯d be honored to serve you a cup."

    It¡¯s not that I respect him; on the contrary, I despise him. How could anyone be so heartless as to commit military procurement fraud with pickled herring?

    I prepared a cup of coffee for him.

    "Here you go."

    "The aroma is delightful, and the bitterness is quite intriguing. No wonder they say it¡¯s good for vitality."

    Spare me the bragging. I get it, I don¡¯t have your wealth or status yet, but I¡¯m still speaking to you with respect, aren¡¯t I?

    After finishing his coffee, Pereira fixed me with a hard stare, one so intense that it felt like he could crush me with his gaze alone.

    "You were born a Medici baron¡¯s son, raised with every luxury, and in just a year as a merchant, you¡¯ve managed to succeed. I wish my son was even half as capable."

    He set his cup down and continued speaking.

    "But you should know there¡¯s always someone higher. Even a humble merchant understands that."

    He¡¯s right, of course. For every businessman who earns a million a month, there are those who make ten times that. And above them are the billionaires.

    It¡¯s the same here in the Empire.

    "Whatever forces are behind you, you must find it amusing to challenge Pereira Trading Company like this. Do you think you can make a mockery of the Empire¡¯s merchant elite?"

    I¡¯ve never underestimated them. I even avoid competing directly with them, instead focusing on new markets they¡¯re not interested in, like seaweed, coffee, and postnatal care centers.

    I¡¯ve built new markets, but I never encroached on their traditional territory.

    "If you withdraw the lawsuit now, I¡¯ll consider letting this go."

    I¡¯ve never seen someone ask for mercy and actually mean it. Do you think I¡¯m acting impulsively like a high schooler?

    "Let me ask you in return, do I look that foolish to you?"

 Chapter 47

    As I stood my ground confidently, wrinkles formed on Pereira¡¯s brow.

    "As someone who has lived longer and as a merchant, I¡¯m giving special consideration to a rising new trader like you. Don¡¯t you understand that?"

    Consideration, my foot.

    He¡¯s hoping that if I drop the charges, the investigation by Judge Mancini¡ªwho¡¯s eager for a promotion¡ªwill lose momentum, which would reduce the penalties Pereira has to face. He¡¯s sugarcoating his words as if he¡¯s trying to nurture a young sapling.

    Even back in 21st-century Korea, when a new star began to rise, high-ranking officials and corporate leaders would try to stomp them down. Does he think it would be any different here, if not worse?

    There¡¯s a limit to how much you can look down on someone.

    "Let me be blunt. Going up against me right now is like a rabbit challenging a lion," he said coldly.

    By trying to coax me into dropping the charges, he¡¯s only revealing his desperation. He¡¯s clearly suffered massive political and economic losses. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have come here personally to sweet-talk me.

    "I won¡¯t deny that, Master Pereira."

    Indeed, there is a huge power gap between me and Pereira Trading Company.

    "But surely, you don¡¯t think I climbed this far in such a short time simply due to luck?"

    When a novice makes a profit from investing once, that might be luck. If they succeed multiple times, it¡¯s skill. I¡¯ve succeeded in business more than a few times. It¡¯s not all luck.

    ¡®While I shouldn¡¯t get cocky, I must admit I have some skill,¡¯ I thought.

    "I have His Majesty behind me," I stated calmly.

    Pereira clenched his teeth, but he didn¡¯t argue. As someone who¡¯s reached the rank of a great merchant, he¡¯s quick-witted enough to process the implications. He must have realized that what I said was true.

    "That¡¯s why I, a mere fledgling, dared to challenge a great merchant like you. Otherwise, why would I risk fighting you? If I were that stupid and simple-minded, I wouldn¡¯t have reached this position."

    Pereira sighed, the fight draining from him, leaving only bitterness.

    "Why would His Majesty...?"

    Watching him play the victim reminded me of something a prison guard friend once told me: ¡®Criminals rarely repent in prison. Nine times out of ten, they think the punishment is too harsh for their minor offense.¡¯

    This guy may not be in prison, but he¡¯s a criminal whose head wouldn¡¯t be enough of a penalty for his sins.

    "And this," I said, pulling out the ''nonexistent edict'' that Allegro, the unofficial imperial emissary, had given me, "is a direct order from His Majesty."

    I didn¡¯t hand it over for him to read. It was more effective to explain the contents as a veiled threat.

    "His Majesty is aware that Pereira Trading Company has been smuggling our Empire¡¯s steel to potential enemy nations like the Grand Duchy of Milania and Liguria."

    "But we¡¯re not at war with them," he replied, trying to deflect.

    "If you¡¯d been selling steel to a nation we¡¯re at war with, you¡¯d be facing a court-martial. Since that¡¯s not the case, I¡¯m here to discuss this politely."

    Even in this medieval world, where human rights are scarce, it¡¯s understood that those who aid the enemy deserve death. Even in Korea, aiding an enemy during wartime could mean a swift court-martial and execution.

    I leaned back and gazed at him, savoring the moment. Pereira deserved to be bled dry for his sins.

    "I hear that your board member, Alphard, acted on his own out of greed. Isn¡¯t that correct?"

    My tone suggested that if he offered up a scapegoat, the Emperor¡¯s wrath might be lessened.

    "Yes, Alphard did act independently. I will ensure stricter oversight."

    This was what I needed to secure my reward. The real negotiations began now.

    "But I doubt the Emperor or Judge Mancini will see it that way. After all, I¡¯m just a lowly knight. What influence could I have?"

    If you want to send a message to someone high up, you need to pay a fee. Likewise, if you want to contact someone influential, you should be prepared to pay generously.

    "Please, I beg you," he said, close to desperation.

    "I may carry the Emperor¡¯s order, but I¡¯m just a humble knight. Why would His Majesty listen to me?"

    Of course, the Emperor will listen to me¡ªhe values young men who carry out difficult orders. Pereira knows this all too well.

    "I will give you a luxurious mansion in Florence!"

    I guess he knows that I¡¯m wealthy and that offering me money alone wouldn¡¯t work.

    "A luxury mansion in Florence is worth at least a thousand gold coins."

    Mansions aren¡¯t just expensive; acquiring the land alone takes more than just money. It¡¯s a decent bribe. But I pretended to get up.

    "Perhaps you should come back another time."

    "Two luxury mansions! I will give you two!"

    "Try communicating that directly to His Majesty."

    He won¡¯t forget the resentment he feels toward me. We¡¯ll never be friends, so I need to get as much as I can now.

    "I don¡¯t need the mansions. Instead, give me the Friulano Winery and the vineyard owned by the Tuscan Trading Company."

    The Friulano Winery produces some of the finest wines in the Empire, and its value is beyond comparison with a couple of mansions.

    "That¡¯s a bit..."

    I shook my head.

    "Do you want His Majesty to continue harboring his suspicions?"

    One thing I know for sure is that while the Emperor doesn¡¯t intend to kill Pereira, if I report that Pereira hasn¡¯t fully repented, Judge Mancini will ensure justice is brutally served.

    Pereira¡¯s eyes filled with tears, and he clenched his fists so tightly that his hands bled.

    "I¡¯ll do it. Just please, convey my sincerity to His Majesty."

    "As you wish."

 Chapter 48

    After my significant conversation with Pereira, I received a summons to the imperial palace a few days later.

    Although I had submitted a report on the resolution of the matter and Pereira had likely expressed his remorse to the imperial family, I honestly thought it would take at least a month before I could meet the busy Emperor.

    ¡°Who would have thought that someone like me, a mere knight, would be summoned so quickly?¡± I mused.

    It wasn¡¯t what I expected, but it wasn¡¯t bad news either. It meant that the Emperor had been impressed with the results I had delivered.

    While I was lost in thought, the door opened, and a man¡¯s voice called out.

    ¡°Fabio de Medici, His Majesty has granted you an audience. Follow me.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood,¡± I replied, immediately rising from my seat and following the attendant.

    The attendant, perhaps concerned that I might commit some breach of etiquette, gave me a five-minute crash course on basic noble etiquette. I listened closely.

    Although I was already familiar with the customs, you never know when such details might become useful. The attendant might later report to the Emperor on my attitude during this briefing, which could influence his opinion of me.

    The Emperor greeted me in his chambers, sipping on coffee.

    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you. Sit comfortably.¡±@@@@

    Even in 21st-century Korea, when a boss insists you don¡¯t have to attend a company gathering or assures you it¡¯s okay not to drink, it¡¯s a trap. Unless you have a funeral to attend, you¡¯d better be there, and unless you have a medical reason, you¡¯d better drink what¡¯s offered. If you don¡¯t, it could negatively impact your standing in their eyes later.

    So when the Emperor said, ¡°Make yourself comfortable,¡± I knew better than to take him at his word.

    ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s an honor just to be in your presence. I couldn¡¯t possibly sit comfortably. Please, withdraw your command.¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s smile deepened.

    ¡°You know your manners well. Look up; I want to see your face.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty,¡± I replied, lifting my head.

    The Emperor studied my face closely.

    ¡°If you¡¯re that much weaker, shouldn¡¯t you have sought a more subtle approach? I imagine Pereira would love nothing more than to destroy you and the Medici family.¡±

    In resolving conflicts, it¡¯s crucial not to provoke a stronger opponent. But once provoked, peaceful resolution becomes impossible.

    ¡°From the moment I accepted your orders, there was no turning back in my conflict with Pereira Trading Company. To survive, I had to approach it as a general would a war.¡±

    ¡°A general, you say?¡± The Emperor¡¯s eyes lit up, and a faint smile of satisfaction crossed his lips. I could tell my evaluation was rising in his eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid of them, Your Majesty. If I were to face them without your protection, everything I¡¯ve built would be gone in an instant. They have the power, influence, and wealth to make that happen.¡±

    ¡°The Pereira Trading Company may lack land and titles, but they¡¯re as powerful as three or four baronial houses. You¡¯re only just starting to stand out. It¡¯s good that you¡¯re aware of the reality.¡±

    Even a small barony might only house a few thousand people, but a viscounty could support cities with over 30,000 residents. A count¡¯s domain could host hundreds of thousands.

    ¡°There isn¡¯t a knight alive who isn¡¯t afraid to face a strong foe. Everyone fears and trembles.¡±

    Even General Patton, known as the Mad Dog, once said, ¡®Courage is simply fear holding on a minute longer.¡¯

    ¡°I fear losing everything I¡¯ve built, so I had to ensure victory at all costs. I had to confront them in a way that would prevent them from seeing me as an easy target.¡±

    The Emperor listened intently, making sure not to miss a word.

    ¡°In the end, I concluded that the only way to protect myself was to strike hard enough that they¡¯d never think of crossing me again.¡±

    When bullies surround you, sometimes the only way to end it is to make an example of one of them. Even if you don¡¯t defeat all of them, the sight of one being beaten is usually enough to discourage the rest.

    The same principle applies in every area of life.

    ¡°If I¡¯d held back, they might have waited for an opportunity to crush me and the Medici barony. So, I chose the most effective way to survive.¡±

    The Emperor clapped, his face breaking into a wide smile.

    ¡°More than I expected. Good. Then, it¡¯s time to reward a knight who risked his life in battle.¡±

    ________________________________________________________________________________

    TL note:

    I apologize for the delay in publishing these chapters and hope this hasn¡¯t affected your experience on our site. As a gesture of thanks for your patience, I¡¯m excited to release ten new chapters all at once! I hope you enjoy them, and thank you for your understanding and support.

 Chapter 49

    The task I¡¯ve just completed is an unofficial mission that won¡¯t be documented.

    This means there won¡¯t be any tangible reward like land or a title.

    I¡¯m not sure what kind of reward the Emperor will offer since it won¡¯t be something that nobles typically covet.

    The Emperor chuckled and said,

    ¡°What you accomplished this time isn¡¯t an official mission. Neither the imperial family nor the empire has any ties to the charges against the Pereira Trading Company. Therefore, it¡¯s impossible to grant you land or a title.¡±

    Only an idiot would demand land or a title in this situation without understanding that.

    I may not be a genius, but I¡¯m not that stupid.

    ¡°Instead, it seems appropriate to grant you a portion of the Pereira¡¯s assets currently under Judge Mancini¡¯s investigation... Now, let¡¯s see, what would be suitable?¡±

    The Emperor quietly tapped his fingers on the desk in front of him.

    After a few taps, he finally spoke.

    ¡°I hear you¡¯re building a port to transform your territory into a harbor city?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°While this was an unofficial matter, you did contribute, so I¡¯ll provide something beneficial to you. I¡¯ll need a moment to think it over.¡±

    It was months ago that I brought shipbuilders from Guillaume City, gathered refugees and unemployed folks, and started constructing the port.

    By now, we¡¯ve probably got a small harbor ready to launch a few ships.

    Soon, those promising young men Albert recommended will arrive, too.

    Once this matter wraps up, I should start managing my territory.

    No, unlike other lords, my territory operates more like a production factory, so perhaps ¡°factory design¡± would be more fitting.

    ¡°Yes, the Pereira Trading Company possesses a good number of large carracks. I¡¯ll grant you two of them, along with plenty of cannons and gunpowder.¡±

    The merchant ship I bought last time had a displacement of just over 100 tons, a small-scale ship.

    I bought it for a few hundred gold coins, but a large carrack has a displacement of over 400 tons and can be used as a warship if needed.

    Each one costs at least 1,000 gold coins, and with cannons, the price doubles.

    ¡®Receiving something worth 4,000 gold coins is quite the haul.¡¯

    While my ironworks bring in a handsome profit, this alone is a significant gain.

    ¡°And since you¡¯ll need sailors and other expenses to operate the ships, I¡¯ll also grant you an additional 500 gold coins.¡±

    The Emperor and Duke Visconti both tend to give me more than necessary; they¡¯re almost too generous.

    When you¡¯re given a lot, it¡¯s because they expect a lot in return.

    I must do my best to meet those expectations.

    ¡°Additionally, I¡¯ll present you with a sword engraved with the imperial crest.¡±

    In dramas, we often see scenes where only grand commanders or knights who¡¯ve achieved great merit are given a ceremonial sword.

    Some people mistakenly think that receiving a sword signifies immense trust from one¡¯s lord.

    There are various types of swords granted as gifts.

    A sword close to standard issue is given as a simple commendation for fighting well, while a sword engraved with the family crest signifies that the bearer is a personal retainer.

    Then there¡¯s the ceremonial sword with the family crest, which signifies absolute trust or acting as a representative of the family.

    The sword I received falls into the second category.

    ¡°In the Modina family, which has held key positions in the Pereira Trading Company for generations, women are permitted to learn trade. So, Cristina was able to read and understand the account books, leaving behind the evidence.¡±

    ¡°Well, Pereira likely never imagined that a woman could keep account books. Typically, they aren¡¯t taught such things.¡±

    ¡°Thanks to her, I received substantial assistance.¡±

    Without Cristina, I¡¯d probably still be struggling to find any clue against Pereira.

    I owe her a debt of gratitude.

    ¡°Alphado from the Pereira Trading Company falsely accused Cristina¡¯s father, leading to his death, and now their family¡¯s honor is in shambles. Restoring their honor won¡¯t bring the dead back, but it will bring some comfort to the lady who aided me. I request permission to restore their honor and property.¡±

    The Emperor looked directly into my eyes and asked,

    ¡°The merit you earned isn¡¯t something I can fully repay with a few ships and a sword. If you wish for more, I can grant you land under a different pretense in the future.¡±

    It¡¯s a tempting offer.

    But I can¡¯t let my greed for land overshadow the interests of my ally.

    ¡°Even though she¡¯s from a fallen noble family, I can¡¯t ignore the wish of my partner in this endeavor. I¡¯m grateful for Your Majesty¡¯s generosity.¡±

    A deeply satisfied smile spread across the Emperor¡¯s face, almost with a hint of warmth.

    ¡°I shall grant your request. As soon as Judge Mancini delivers his ruling, the Modina family¡¯s honor and assets will be restored.¡±

    The Emperor looked as if he felt something was still missing and added,

    ¡°No, I shall personally write a letter of condolence to Lady Cristina and include a commendation for her father.¡±

    The Emperor truly is a master politician.

    By asking for the Modina family¡¯s reinstatement, I meant to emphasize that he was executing justice against the vile Pereira while cultivating an image of protecting and cherishing the vulnerable.

    But now, with a personal letter from the Emperor, rumors will spread through high society about how our Emperor cares even for the daughters of mere merchant families. His prestige will soar.

    ¡°Now, you may leave. Soon, I will give you a chance to prove yourself militarily, so rest well in the meantime.¡±

    Military service... I doubt he¡¯ll make me a commander. What kind of task does he have in mind?

    Not long after completing the Emperor¡¯s secret mission, I took Cristina¡ªnot Chloe¡ªto the square in Florence.

    It wasn¡¯t for a date but rather to avoid showing her the sight of a beheading.

    ¡°I hereby carry out the execution of Alphado Alphador!¡±

    After this execution, Cristina and I will likely be able to have a serious discussion about our next steps.

    Cristina should be able to gather her thoughts after witnessing this.

 Chapter 50

    In the medieval era¡ªor rather, in pre-modern times¡ªexecutions were nothing more than a form of entertainment.

    It was an era devoid of concepts like human rights.

    With no TV, not even radio, there wasn¡¯t much to enjoy.

    It¡¯s even joked that the high birth rates of that era were due to a lack of contraception and television.

    Thus, this scene was akin to a live broadcast of a rather intense TV show, and as the execution¡ªthe highlight¡ªwas carried out, the crowd erupted in cheers.

    ¡°That wretched bastard deserved to die!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what you get for messing with the soldiers¡¯ rations. Just goes to show you should live a decent life.¡±

    ¡°Take this with you on your way, you scumbag.¡±

    Apart from the affair with Cristina and the Pereira Trading Company, that man deserved death on his own merits.

    For the soldiers of this era, pickled herring is as staple as kimchi is for Korean soldiers.

    And yet, he gave them not just cheap rations, but rotten ones?

    Even in the afterlife, he deserves to be fed strange ingredients from a vast, desolate land.

    In a typical execution, now that the highlight is over, the soldier who carried out the sentence and the herald who read the Emperor¡¯s decree would usually step back.

    But they remained in place.

    Unlike Koreans who leave as soon as the credits roll after a movie, the citizens of Florence didn¡¯t budge until the herald and his entourage departed.

    And as if to meet the crowd¡¯s expectations, the herald boldly declared in a clear voice,

    ¡°By the decree of His Majesty, righteous and merciful, it is affirmed that Alfredo Modina and his family, falsely accused and executed by this vile criminal, were innocent.¡±

    Standing beside me, Cristina covered her mouth as she heard those words.

    Tears streamed down her face.

    And a short, soft sound escaped her lips.

    ¡°Oh, finally...¡±

    I quietly handed her a handkerchief.

    ¡°Therefore, by His Majesty¡¯s command, I, the herald, declare the restoration of the Modina family¡¯s honor in this place. Furthermore, the Pereira Trading Company is ordered to return all the assets of the Modina family to its sole surviving member, Lady Cristina Modina.¡±

    In any era, in any world, people cheer for the punishment of the wicked and the reward of the virtuous.

    They¡¯ll even celebrate when another villain, not themselves, faces the consequences.

    Lacking much in the way of entertainment, the citizens were as thrilled as if they were under the Emperor¡¯s spell, chanting his praises.

    ¡°Long live His Majesty! That¡¯s how the world should be!¡±

    ¡°The wicked are punished, and the righteous rewarded.¡±

    ¡°This one¡¯s on me, let¡¯s go!¡±

    After watching a captivating film or drama, it¡¯s natural to share one¡¯s thoughts with those around.

    So the citizens of Florence dispersed in small groups, eager to share their medieval thrill with others.

    ¡°Lady Modina, shall we head back now?¡±

    And that night, the sound of unusually loud sobbing echoed throughout the manor.

    ¡°Though my family¡¯s honor has been restored, as an orphan, I¡¯d only be able to arrange a marriage with someone from a poor family. If I let go of age, I might become the second wife of a man from a middle-class merchant family in his sixties or seventies.¡±

    There¡¯s an old saying: When a high-ranking official dies, no one comes, but when the official¡¯s dog dies, people flock to the funeral.

    In other words, without someone with actual power in the family, even former officials may find no one attending their funerals.

    Cristina¡¯s situation is exactly like that.

    ¡°Trying to become an independent merchant with my family¡¯s resources is risky. The head of the Pereira Trading Company is likely sharpening his blade of revenge, and even if I move somewhere else and become a merchant...¡±

    She glanced down at her chest briefly.

    ¡°As a woman, no matter how skilled I am, it will be nearly impossible to compete on an equal footing with other men. So, when my father was alive, I tried to join the company as an executive under his influence, intending to prove myself with my abilities. But those days are long past.¡±

    Nepotism isn¡¯t particularly frowned upon in our empire.

    In fact, it¡¯s almost encouraged to a degree.

    Of course, it¡¯s unthinkable to hire a woman through such means, but in an environment where nepotism is encouraged, if you show ¡®top 1%¡¯ capabilities, you¡¯ll earn recognition.

    Even in our country, incompetent nepotists are criticized, but those with outstanding skills eventually get recognized.

    ¡°Moreover, hearing from Chloe, who served me briefly at your command, she mentioned how you¡¯re kind not only to your attendants but even to a mere peasant. She said it¡¯s such a good place to work that even maids seeking to marry for social mobility want to stay on after marriage.¡±

    There are two reasons why I¡¯m good to my servants.

    One, in the 21st-century Korea, I was just like them¡ªa low-level employee or a commoner¡ªso I can empathize.

    And two, to prevent anyone from betraying me when things go south.

    Then Cristina looked at me with a smile.

    ¡°Even though you could have taken advantage of me, a fallen lady from a mere merchant family, as a pawn in your quest for revenge, you treated me as an equal partner. And you restored my wealth and my father¡¯s honor.¡±

    I know.

    As someone from 21st-century Korea, I¡¯m aware that my occasional kindness here can feel like a huge act of grace in this era.

    Back when I first arrived, I even used honorifics with the maids and got scolded for it.

    ¡°I will serve the Medici family¡ªand you, sir¡ªwith all my heart and soul.¡±

    Right now, I need Cristina.

    ¡°Use my abilities however you see fit.¡±

    ¡°Good, Cris.¡±

    Shortening her name and calling her like that is a privilege reserved for superiors or close friends.

    I did it with both meanings in mind.

    And honestly, if I¡¯m in another world, I can have more than just Chloe, right?

    ¡°Leave everything to me. I¡¯ll ensure you can showcase all your talents as a merchant.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor, sir.¡±

    ¡°Once this matter is settled, I¡¯ll be heading straight to my territory. Show everyone there just how capable you are, so they can¡¯t dismiss you just for being a woman.¡±

    Not long after, I made my way to the newly acquired lands that awaited development.

 Chapter 51

    In a clearing far from my village of Bio, over a thousand people had gathered.

    Though they varied in gender and age, they all shared one common trait:

    None of them could find stable work or settle down in their hometowns.

    I was here to offer them a new opportunity.

    ¡°I am Fabio de Medici, your new lord,¡± I announced.

    Despite my introduction, the people below the platform murmured amongst themselves.

    Serfs, who rarely left their home villages, had suddenly been brought to a strange place to meet an unfamiliar lord, so it¡¯s natural they would be nervous.

    In our empire, everyone knows that moving to a new place means hardship, so being uneasy is normal.

    However, with so many people gathered here, I couldn¡¯t possibly take the time to calm each one individually.

    I gave instructions to the mercenary captain.

    ¡°Strike the ground a few times with your spear to get their attention.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±

    Following my orders, he turned to the serfs and barked,

    ¡°Who taught you to yap when your lord is speaking? Quiet, all of you!¡±

    I¡¯ll have to remind them to use more refined language going forward.

    If they keep yelling at the serfs like that, it¡¯s bound to make them cry.

    ¡°I¡¯ll repeat myself. I am Fabio de Medici, your lord. This area and the surrounding lands don¡¯t have proper names, so let¡¯s call this place Vergello. Forget where you came from and whom you served. From now on, you are all serfs of Vergello.¡±

    No one can truly forget their hometown just because they¡¯re told to.

    What I really want is for them to think of themselves as natives of this place, Vergello, and to live here as if they¡¯ll stay even after they die, their spirits bound to this land.

    I¡¯ll do my part to foster a sense of attachment to their homes and workplaces.

    ¡°Where are you serfs from?¡± I asked.

    The serfs, who were hesitantly eyeing the mercenaries, quickly gave the answer I wanted.

    ¡°We are serfs of Vergello.¡±

    ¡°Good. From now on, you will live your entire lives here in Vergello.¡±

    Now that they know they belong here,

    it¡¯s time to let them know just how generous I¡¯ve been and what work lies ahead.

    These serfs may not be educated, but they know well what it means for a man to be without land or for a woman to be unable to marry.

    Surely, they¡¯re somewhat grateful for the meals I¡¯ve been providing.

    It¡¯s best to highlight that while I can, to win over their hearts.

    ¡°Leaving your hometown to live in a foreign place isn¡¯t easy; I know that well. And here, you¡¯ll be doing work that isn¡¯t farming.¡±

    Humans are naturally wary of and resistant to things they haven¡¯t tried before.

    Just as students would rather play than study something new, or seek out familiar foods at home,

    for those who¡¯ve never left their village, something new can be terrifying.@@@@

    However, new tasks often become less daunting after the first or second try.

    ¡°Some of you will weave cloth, others will spin yarn, while some will shear wool or cultivate cotton.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s meat and wine on another cart for you. After the serfs have eaten, you may have your share. And I¡¯ll be giving a bonus of 50 gold coins.¡±

    I hired a sizable force to manage these impoverished individuals, who, by medieval fantasy standards, are almost inherently viewed as potential criminals.

    With 500 mercenaries, each will receive about one silver coin.

    If I had the status to employ regular soldiers, I¡¯d have paid them half that.

    I can afford it, but it¡¯s a bit painful to pay so much.

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor, my lord.¡±

    After a brief conversation with the craftsmen, I met with Cris,

    who was discussing future plans with Sebastian.

    ¡°Head steward, we should consider selling our textiles to the heathens if we produce them in large quantities.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m hesitant about dealing with heathens...¡±

    ¡°Money is money, regardless of its origin. Plus, selling textiles to them and trading for coffee could increase our profits by around 8%.¡±

    I can see why Cris¡¯s father allowed his daughter to become a merchant.

    Within days of starting, she¡¯s having serious business discussions and can talk as an equal.

    Cris greeted me and asked,

    ¡°My lord, have you considered where to sell the goods? Selling to the heathens could be beneficial.¡±

    It¡¯s a good idea, but it¡¯s premature.

    In this era, textiles are a miraculous commodity that sells without price drops, no matter how much you produce.

    The textile industry was a driving force in the early Industrial Revolution.

    ¡°Selling to the Alsini Trading Company would work, but for now, let¡¯s establish a sales route through Mayor Guillaume to the Kingdom of Lyon. We¡¯ll also need to secure sources to buy as much wool and cotton as possible.¡±

    Sebastian and Cris both looked at me with curiosity.

    ¡°Even with new machines and all these people, textiles aren¡¯t so easy to produce, are they?¡±

    It¡¯s difficult to explain.

    I haven¡¯t personally spun yarn or woven fabric, after all.

    So, I¡¯ll just have to say,

    ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll take full responsibility. I believe we¡¯ll be able to handle whatever I bring in.¡±

    The current textile manufacturing technology here is at a medieval to early modern level, while I¡¯ve introduced early Industrial Revolution methods.

    ¡°Whoever controls textiles will eventually dominate the market. So let¡¯s move quickly.¡±

    This isn¡¯t an exaggeration.

    One of the reasons the British could dominate the world was because they mass-produced and sold textiles during the Industrial Revolution, using the profits to make weapons and more.

 Chapter 52

    In medieval times, long-distance travel was often a battle against boredom, with no TV or smartphones to pass the time.

    But I, at least, didn¡¯t have a chance to get bored right now.

    Not because of any mishaps, mind you.

    ¡°Chloe, young master is going to Guillaume City this time to buy materials for textile production. But why go all the way there?¡±

    Chloe hesitated before answering cautiously,

    ¡°The Kingdom of Lyon has fiefs like the County of Flanders and the Barony of Amore, which are specialized in wool and cotton production. He could probably source higher-quality raw materials there.¡±

    ¡°Still, considering the transportation costs, wouldn¡¯t it be cheaper to buy domestically?¡±

    ¡°Young master plans to smuggle them. Which means it¡¯s better if fewer people in the Toscana Empire know about it. Even if the raw materials cost a bit more, it¡¯s better to buy them from Guillaume City.¡±

    The wool and cotton produced in the Toscana Empire are of decent quality.

    Our mountainous terrain makes it hard to graze sheep in large numbers, so we can¡¯t have massive farms with thousands of sheep.

    The annual production is a bit low, that¡¯s all.

    And eventually, people will discover I¡¯m running a textile factory, so...

    When that happens, I¡¯ll buy a fair amount of domestic wool and cotton to process and sell as textiles.

    Of course, I¡¯ll only purchase enough to align with the normal production rates of this world.

    If I were to produce an endless supply of textiles, Duke Visconti and His Majesty might ask me to share the technology, which could spark an Industrial Revolution.

    In other words, I wouldn¡¯t be able to keep all the profits for myself.

    It¡¯s best to eat alone to fully enjoy the meal, after all.

    Cris patted Chloe on the shoulder, praising her,

    ¡°You¡¯ve been studying hard, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°I want to be helpful to the young master, so I¡¯m working hard. I hope that one day, like you, Cris, I can...¡±

    At that, Chloe¡¯s face flushed red like an apple.

    Cris just chuckled as she watched her.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never been in love, but our young master here is quite popular with women. Even the maids at the estate have their eyes on him, and I¡¯ve heard noble ladies do too...¡±

    ¡°But still.¡±

    ¡°It might be good to gather a bit of courage. Ah, there¡¯s the young master now.¡±

    Chloe, still blushing, quickly lowered her head.

    ¡°Cris, I appreciate you teaching Chloe various things, but please, don¡¯t tease her too much.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s just too cute not to.¡±

    I almost agreed with her right then.

    Chloe is undeniably adorable.

    Then Cris leaned close to my ear and whispered softly,

    ¡°You know that girl loves you, don¡¯t you? Perhaps you could reward her a bit more.¡±

    I can¡¯t help but smile whenever I look at Chloe.

    Sometimes, while working, she blushes or goes to great lengths to look pretty in front of me.

    It¡¯s not like I¡¯m so oblivious that I can¡¯t recognize these signs.

    ¡°I think it would be wonderful if you and Chloe were to become closer.¡±

    Then she added,

    ¡°After all...¡±

    But I couldn¡¯t hear the rest of her sentence.

    Suddenly, a loud bell rang from the ship, followed by a shout announcing our arrival.

    ¡°We¡¯re nearing Guillaume City! Prepare for docking! It¡¯s time to show young master Fabio just what our Blue Merchant Fleet is capable of!¡±

    ¡°Thanks to you, Guillaume City has seen tremendous growth. Merchants from all over the country are at my doorstep, begging to sell seaweed! Hahaha!¡±

    The mayor¡¯s influence here is practically at the level of a baronet, and the power of these great merchants is so strong that even most viscounts dare not challenge them.

    I doubt any merchants would be groveling in front of him, but...

    ¡®He¡¯s exaggerating quite a bit.¡¯

    It¡¯s a good sign that commerce is booming to the point where he can make such statements, so it¡¯s no harm to me.

    ¡°Commerce is thriving so much that we¡¯re planning to establish not five but seven commercial districts in our city.¡±

    Seven commercial districts¡ªmeaning seven markets will be set up in this city.

    In Joseon, ginseng once accounted for 10% of national tax revenue, and in France, sugar sales brought in 30% of state income.

    I never thought seaweed would take on a similar role here.

    All this is possible because I hold exclusive rights to seaweed production.

    It¡¯s always best to keep everything to oneself.

    ¡°Tax revenues are expected to double next year. With the population influx, I can hardly leave the office on time anymore.¡±

    Government employees hate overtime as much as the French hate British cooking.

    Yet here he was, laughing as though he was enjoying his extra workload.

    ¡°Well, since the city has grown so much during my tenure, Viscount Guillaume has promised to grant me a baronetcy within two years. Now, the position of mayor of Guillaume City can only be held by nobles ranked baronet or higher.¡±

    Most mayors are selected from knights among the nobility.

    The mayor of a large city, comparable to a metropolitan city, is chosen from among the barons, while important city mayors are selected from baronets.

    This means Guillaume City now ranks among the important cities in the entire Kingdom of Lyon.

    For a mayor with such accomplishments...

    ¡°I¡¯ve got about ten years left in public office. I might end up as a bureau director in the Department of Commercial Law. If I¡¯m lucky, I might even step into the world of hereditary nobility. It¡¯s all thanks to you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor, Mayor.¡±

    ¡°Now, what brings you here this time?¡±

    I got straight to the point.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to present you with an excellent opportunity.¡±

    I sounded like a merchant selling snake oil, but the mayor¡¯s eyes sparkled as though he¡¯d believe me if I said I could turn sand into rice.

    Everything is going according to plan.

 Chapter 53

    Anyone who¡¯s amassed 9.9 billion will do whatever it takes to reach 10 billion.

    And just because someone reaches that milestone doesn¡¯t mean their greed vanishes. They¡¯ll then aim to become a billionaire with assets in the trillions.

    My outstanding¡ªno, VIP¡ªclient, the mayor, was similarly captivated by the better opportunities lying before him.

    ¡°If it were anyone else making such claims, I might have doubted them. But Fabio, if you said you could extract gold from sand, I¡¯d believe you. So, what is this excellent opportunity you¡¯re offering?¡±

    ¡°I want to import a large quantity of wool and cotton through Guillaume City.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to know just how much you plan to purchase.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m looking to acquire enough to produce 5,000 bolts of woolen cloth and 15,000 bolts of cotton fabric. Eventually, I plan to triple that quantity.¡±

    To a 21st-century Korean, this might not seem like an enormous amount.

    A single employee in a company might handle a clothing order of much larger scale.

    But that¡¯s because, after industrialization, technology advanced so much. For a single trading company here, handling this volume is quite substantial.

    ¡®If I were only acting as a broker, it might be a different story.¡¯

    ¡°Are you planning to sell these raw materials to the Toscana Empire?¡±

    That would make sense on the surface.

    But I¡¯m not some great merchant; there¡¯s little profit to be gained from middleman trading, so why bother?

    No, I plan to process all that wool and cotton into fabric and sell it myself.@@@@

    The mayor¡¯s eyes widened at my words.

    ¡°Processing wool and cotton into cloth would indeed bring in a lot of money. But are you sure you can handle it? It takes a lot of manpower to produce textiles.¡±

    While Mayor Guillaume isn¡¯t a completely trustworthy ally,

    he¡¯s reliable enough in most situations.

    I can¡¯t share all the secrets of my domain, but I can reveal some of them.

    In fact, if I don¡¯t share anything, he¡¯d never trust me, so I must divulge a bit.

    Lowering my voice like I was secretly sharing insider trading information, I said,

    ¡°This is something only you should know, Mayor.¡±

    The atmosphere became one of receiving privileged information, and the mayor¡¯s focus sharpened, as if he were about to fire lasers from his eyes.

    ¡°Though it¡¯s a bit embarrassing to admit, I¡¯m probably more merchant than noble. As I managed my village, I learned a thing or two.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°I discovered that even villages without specialty goods can generate more tax revenue by having serfs work in weaving rather than farming alone. From my calculations, it seems the profit margin increases by about 20%.¡±

    Now, this calculation assumes I¡¯m not using any of the innovations I¡¯ve introduced, like the flying shuttle or spinning machines.

    With the advanced machinery only I¡¯m using in my domain, the profit margin would be at least tenfold.

    And as we gain proficiency with these machines, the profitability will increase even further.

    ¡®Still, a 20% tax increase is nothing to scoff at.¡¯

    The mayor swallowed hard.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be getting a domain soon myself. I should consider running it like you.¡±

    Wine is always nice, but since I¡¯m here, I should also pitch coffee.

    ¡°Wine sounds good, but first, try this.¡±

    ¡°You brought tea?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s coffee. A drink enjoyed by the heathens, but it sharpens the mind and is said to be a potent tonic.¡±

    At the mention of it being a heathen drink, the mayor¡¯s brow furrowed.

    But upon hearing it¡¯s good for vitality, a smile crept onto his face.

    ¡°Even His Majesty the Emperor of the Toscana Empire drank this and claimed he¡¯d father a child in his old age. Ahem.¡±

    The mayor urged me to produce the drink, eager to try it.

    ¡°Your seaweed soup cured my long-standing impotence. If you recommend it, I¡¯ll drink whatever the infidels do.¡±

    He looked as though he¡¯d throw a fit if I delayed any longer.

    I¡¯d better brew it quickly before he becomes impatient.

    I took out my portable coffee-making set.

    After grinding pre-roasted beans, I poured hot water over them, filling the office with the rich aroma of coffee.

    ¡°This smells great. It¡¯s bitter, but smooth on the way down. I like it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°I feel wide awake, as if my mind has cleared. And somehow, I feel invigorated.¡±

    That¡¯s the caffeine kicking in.

    Medieval Europeans mistook this energy boost as enhanced vitality, believing coffee to be one of the best aphrodisiacs alongside chocolate.

    ¡°Well, forget the wine. I¡¯m going to see my wife right away.¡±

    Seeking his wife immediately after drinking this? He¡¯s surprisingly devoted.

    ¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit tired myself. I think I¡¯ll rest.¡±

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s meet again tomorrow.¡±

    With that, the mayor quickly left his office, almost bouncing with confidence.

    That spring in his step must mean he¡¯s feeling rather self-assured.

    After all, men in their 40s often gauge their confidence by their physical prowess.

    ¡°Shall I wrap things up here and head back?¡±

    It¡¯s time to plan my next move.

 Chapter 54

    When I first received Viscount Visconti''s land grant, the village of Vio was nothing more than a backwater.

    Now, it''s so developed that I can hardly imagine its once barren and dilapidated state.

    There''s a harbor large enough for medium and large ships, inns for sailors, and rows of sturdy but humble houses.

    "It''s really come a long way."

    Though I''ve focused mainly on constructing the port, and the village lacks the sophistication of a true city,

    at this point, I can at least claim to be a lord of a port town with some confidence.

    ¡®In this era, a settlement with just a thousand people counts as a city.¡¯

    As I was inspecting the harbor and some of the ships, the village chief hurried over with the villagers following behind.

    "My lord! You¡¯ve returned?"

    In most domains, when the lord visits, the expenses for entertainment fall heavily on the villagers, who secretly wish he¡¯d leave.

    They may smile outwardly, but inside, they¡¯re likely counting down the minutes until his departure.

    But the chief¡¯s smile wasn¡¯t feigned; it was entirely genuine.

    ¡®He¡¯s truly glad to see me.¡¯@@@@

    "Yes, I¡¯ve returned."

    "Was the trip to Guillaume City tiring? We¡¯ve cleaned the manor thoroughly for you, my lord."

    Though he calls it a manor, it¡¯s smaller than my home in Florence.

    Even though land is cheap here, I opted for a modest residence.

    I won¡¯t be staying here long, and I didn¡¯t want to burden the villagers with unnecessary work.

    ¡®No need for a grand manor to assert my authority.¡¯

    "I didn¡¯t do any hard labor on the ship. The captain and crew took care of everything."

    "Even so, my lord, we¡¯d love to treat you to some dishes we¡¯ve prepared with great care."

    I eat meals prepared by chefs in Florence who could easily work in a five-star hotel, so what they¡¯ve cooked is likely less impressive by comparison.

    But I can¡¯t turn down their heartfelt gesture.

    ¡®If the chief forced it from the villagers, that¡¯d be one thing, but...¡¯

    Seeing the villagers¡¯ wide smiles, refusing would only disappoint them.

    "Alright, I¡¯d be happy to try it. And today, to celebrate Vio Village''s development, I¡¯ll hold a grand festival. We¡¯ll roast cattle and pigs and prepare an abundance of dishes. I¡¯ll cover all the costs."

    In a world with little entertainment and scarce resources, who doesn¡¯t love a festival?

    The chief cheered when I mentioned I¡¯d bear the expenses.

    "Thank you, my lord!"

    "Prepare everything generously. It would reflect poorly on my authority if you were stingy with the festivities."

    Hearing my jest, the chief turned to the villagers and spoke earnestly.

    Watching them rejoice, I started eating the dishes before me.

    Being in a port town, there were a lot of seafood dishes, which suited my tastes just fine.

    ¡®It¡¯s hard to find fresh seafood in Florence.¡¯

    Among the various foods, one dish caught my eye in particular.

    "Is this abalone?"

    Abalone isn¡¯t commonly eaten on this continent, so I didn¡¯t expect to see it unless I specifically requested it.

    When I expressed curiosity, a villager nearby responded.

    "Sometimes we catch abalone while harvesting seaweed. Since we have enough food now, we usually don¡¯t eat them. But Jack here said they¡¯re a delicacy when grilled with butter, so we thought you might like to try it, my lord."

    "Well, I¡¯ll give it a try."

    Grilled abalone with butter is the kind of dish even seafood skeptics can¡¯t resist.

    It¡¯s almost impossible for it to taste bad.

    "This is delicious."

    "We¡¯re glad you enjoy it, my lord."

    "Are you considering farming it?"

    "Yes, the village chief suggested we try cultivating it like clams."

    Dried abalone makes an excellent broth.

    While Westerners might not be fond of abalone,

    if I popularize it and start a trend of using it in stews, it could become quite lucrative.

    "Increase the scale of the farming; I¡¯ll provide unlimited funding. Give Jack two gold coins as a reward and five to the chief."

    That¡¯s the equivalent of an annual salary for a corporate employee, but they¡¯ve earned it.

    They¡¯ve taken initiative and achieved results without being prompted.

    "In our domain, good work will always be rewarded. So keep up the effort."

    With that, I continued to enjoy the abalone steak.

    It¡¯ll take a few years to establish proper farming techniques, but it¡¯s a good start.

    I ate to my heart¡¯s content, enjoying every dish prepared by the villagers.

    After the feast, I headed towards Bergello, a bit further from Vio Village.

    "My lord, this truly is an age of revolution!"

    Sebastian, who I¡¯d stationed at Bergello to oversee the factory work, came running over with excitement.

    It¡¯s rare to see Sebastian so animated.

    If he¡¯s this excited, then the machines from the early industrial revolution must be making a significant impact.

    "What¡¯s got you so worked up?"

    "In all my years, I¡¯ve never seen wool or cotton fabric produced so quickly. It¡¯s like magic!"

    The industrial revolution was indeed like magic in its transformative power.

    Historical records mention:

    ¡®After the industrial revolution, humanity felt economic growth firsthand for the first time.¡¯

    "Let¡¯s go take a look."

 Chapter 55

    The first thing that caught my eye was the sight of hundreds of people weaving fabric on looms.

    "Don''t rush, match your pace to the shuttle''s movement! If the threads get tangled, you''ll have to start over!"

    With each click, the warp and weft interlocked, forming fabric.

    Weaving cloth is something you can see in any rural village, but

    the key difference here was the speed¡ªthe shuttle moved back and forth much faster than if it were being operated by hand.

    Cloe was visibly amazed by what she was seeing, her excitement resembling that of a child discovering a new toy.

    "My lord, this is incredible! Just by clicking with their feet and hands, they''re making fabric! I can hardly believe my eyes!"

    Christina covered her mouth with her hand, eyes wide with wonder.

    "If this technology spreads, it could turn the world upside down. I understand now why you''d want to keep it secret."

    Indeed, after the invention of the shuttle loom, the world did change dramatically.

    Clothes, once a necessity and a luxury due to the difficulty of production, suddenly became more accessible.

    With the efficiency of modern looms, production increased fourfold, threatening the livelihoods of English textile workers and merchants.

    Sebastian, though not the inventor, looked pleased and proudly explained.

    "Christina, these workers have only been using this machine for less than ten days. Even so, each worker is producing up to four bolts of cloth daily. You, of all people, should know how impressive that is."

    People often misunderstand the nature of medieval fabrics.

    Cloth like cotton, linen, and hemp, though common among the peasantry, required immense labor to produce.

    The cost of clothing, once on the market, could easily be two-thirds to seventy percent labor costs alone.

    ''If we could reduce those labor costs to a quarter of the original...''

    "Without considering raw material costs, we could sell it at a quarter of the price and still profit."

    "Exactly. But this isn¡¯t the only wonder the lord has created, is it? Come along, I need to show you the ginning and spinning machines."

    Sebastian led me to where the cotton gin and spinning jenny were in operation.

    Unlike the shuttle loom, which required intricate design, these two machines were relatively simple in function.

    The gin worked by having women and older folks feed cotton bolls into the machine, turning a crank that neatly separated the seeds from the cotton.

    On Earth, before this invention, slaves were forced to pick out seeds by hand¡ªa grueling task made easy here.

    "I may have made it, but this truly is revolutionary."

    Beside it, a spinning jenny with eight connected spindles was transforming cotton and wool into thread.

    Operated by a simple foot pedal, it ran much faster than the hand-turned spindles used previously.

    Sebastian, voice alight with excitement, explained further.

    Cloe, unable to follow our conversation, genuinely congratulated Sebastian.

    "Congratulations, Head Steward!"

    "Haha, thank you, Cloe. I never thought I''d live to see the day I''d become a noble."

    While my head steward technically enjoys privileges akin to a knight, there¡¯s a big difference between that and formal nobility.

    Christina congratulated Sebastian and then turned to offer me some advice.

    "Since the seaweed you¡¯re exporting to Guillaume City is tax-exempt, why not bundle some of this fabric as seaweed packaging? That way, you could avoid duties on the textiles as well."

    It¡¯s not unheard of for precious items to be wrapped in fine cloth for transport in this empire.

    Seaweed is a precious herb, after all.

    "It¡¯s too much fabric, though. It won¡¯t all fit as packaging."

    "If Guillaume''s city treasury and viscount agree, we could avoid the textile tax. Offer them half the duty savings as political contributions."

    Political contributions, or bribes, are always well-received.

    "Viscount Guillaume has aspirations of becoming a life peer, so he¡¯s spreading money around at the capital. He could certainly use the funds."

    "But even if I keep the city quiet, what about the viscount?"

    "He stands to gain more from under-the-table funds than from the tax revenue. He¡¯ll have greater discretion to spend the money as he sees fit."

    Politicians always need slush funds, especially when single-handedly pushing controversial policies.

    "Yes, a little persuasion could save us half the textile tax costs."

    Giving away half as bribes allows for steady tax ¡®savings¡¯ while avoiding detection.

    ¡®This tax avoidance could save us a thousand gold coins annually.¡¯

    "Alright, the factory inspection is complete, so it''s time to begin our first major transaction."

    For smooth transactions and tax efficiency, I need to be hands-on once again.

    Since there¡¯s nothing to handle specifically, I should be able to return quickly this time.

    "Sebastian, since I¡¯m pleased with the inspection, organize a banquet and bonuses for the workers tomorrow."

    "Understood, my lord."

    That night, I dined with the factory overseers, discussing business plans.

    From our conversations, it was clear things were running smoothly.

    A week later, I arrived back in Guillaume City.

    "There it is, the port of Guillaume City!"@@@@

 Chapter 56

    As soon as I disembarked at Guillaume City''s port, Mayor Guillaume was there to greet me with an unguarded smile.

    "I expected that after buying up so much cotton and wool, you wouldn''t be back for months. I didn''t think you''d return in less than a fortnight. Is something going on?"

    I bantered back, "Does there have to be a reason for us to meet, Mayor? Don¡¯t be so distant."

    "Enough with the jokes. Even though we''re close, your domain is still a two-day journey by ship. It can''t be easy for you to travel here."

    "I''ve produced some wool and cotton fabrics, so I came to sell them¡ªand to see you, of course."

    "Fabrics are always welcome here. And you as well, naturally."

    After a bit of small talk, we moved to a spot out of the way of the workers unloading the cargo. There, we continued our conversation, wandering into various topics.

    He spoke about his grandchildren and his efforts to lobby for a position among the life peers. He even talked about things usually reserved for family gatherings, like my marital prospects and the joy children bring. While this casual chatting is pleasant, it can also be exhausting.

    "A man should marry young. Sure, sometimes I can¡¯t stand the sight of my wife, but just watching my kids and grandkids grow gives me the strength to carry on."

    "Is that so? Well, I haven¡¯t married yet, so I wouldn¡¯t know."

    "A man like you could have noble ladies lining up. Don¡¯t worry too much about personality; focus on family and looks. Women hide their true selves well. You can never really know someone¡¯s character from a few conversations."

    There''s an old saying: "You can know the depths of a river, but not the depths of a person." While it¡¯s true that human nature is hard to fathom, choosing a future wife solely based on family and appearance is...

    Still, he has a point. Nobles¡¯ marriages are generally based on conditions, with a few formal conversations instead of lengthy courtships.

    ¡®Personality isn¡¯t even something you¡¯d get to know, anyway.¡¯

    Just as I was hoping for a change of subject, the mayor finally brought it up.

    "Speaking of which, I don''t see any cotton fabrics. What happened to them?"

    "I packed them with the seaweed in the boxes," I replied.

    He frowned. "Those boxes look pretty heavy, so you¡¯re just trying to dodge the duties, aren¡¯t you? I must say, that¡¯s disappointing."

    He caught on to my little scheme right away. Admittedly, bringing over a thousand large crates to hold a couple of hundred kilograms of seaweed was suspiciously excessive.

    "Come now, Mayor. You know we¡¯re in this together. I wouldn¡¯t cheat you. I have a proposition that benefits us both."

    The mayor¡¯s curiosity was piqued, as I knew it would be.

    "In Guillaume, wool and cotton fabrics normally carry a 30% duty. You''ve graciously reduced it to 15% for me."

    "Indeed. You don¡¯t know how much trouble it took to lower that rate for you."

    The tension between the Lyon Kingdom and the Granada Kingdom made war seem imminent. Weapon prices were already climbing, and if war broke out, they¡¯d surge by at least 40%.

    ¡®Anyone holding weapons then would have a goldmine on their hands.¡¯

    As he headed toward the market, something caught his eye.

    ¡°Cotton and wool fabrics on sale?¡± he murmured.

    Cotton and wool are stable commodities, always in demand for clothing. If you bought them at the right price, they were as good as gold. Naturally, he checked the price tags.

    ¡°Six silvers and fifty coppers per bolt for cotton fabric? That¡¯s incredibly cheap. Even the lowest market prices are at least six silvers and twenty coppers.¡±

    The prices here were lower than what you¡¯d typically pay at a production factory.

    ¡°Excuse me, is this price correct?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not in the business of false advertising. It¡¯s six silvers and fifty coppers per bolt, or sixty silvers for ten.¡±

    This was slightly below what he¡¯d pay at the factory, meaning he¡¯d make a profit on resale.

    ¡®If I sell in Montpellier, I can make a silver per bolt. That¡¯s a 20% profit margin¡ªnot bad at all.¡¯

    ¡°How many bolts do you have?¡±

    ¡°We have one hundred twenty bolts of cotton and about eighty bolts of wool.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a manager with the Amore Guild. I¡¯ll take the lot. Give me an hour.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, sir!¡±

    As they finished talking, other merchants began to crowd around, lured by the attractively low prices.

    ¡°Damn it, he got here first.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to find somewhere else!¡±

    Andre? quickly realized that some "madman" was dumping fabrics at astonishingly low prices.

    ¡®Whoever it is, they¡¯re selling at absurdly kind prices. Let¡¯s take advantage of it while we can.¡¯

    Following his orders, Amore Guild¡¯s men scattered to buy as much fabric as possible.

    Just as I¡¯d predicted.

    And as I watched the frenzy, I turned to Cloe to discuss some more serious matters.

 Chapter 57

    "At this rate, I¡¯ll be buried under paperwork. How did all these documents pile up?"

    After managing affairs back in my domain, I returned to find an impressive stack of paperwork on my desk¡ªalmost as tall as I am. I¡¯d never felt the urge to escape reality more than at that moment since being thrust into this world.

    ¡®But if I escape, I¡¯d be leaving Chloe behind too. So, I buckled down and got through it.¡¯

    Though I managed to conquer the mountain of papers, I swore I¡¯d never endure such a grueling workload again.

    "I need to promote Antonio, who has been managing the first branch of Cafe? Medici since its opening, to oversee coffee distribution across all our locations. If I keep trying to handle everything myself, I¡¯ll work myself to death."

    There''s a certain madman back in my world who likes to send shiba inu memes into space and insists that people should work a hundred hours a week. But if you keep that pace, you¡¯d end up with a heart condition or stroke in no time.

    Besides, the point of working hard is to live well, not to make work the sole purpose of life.

    "I need a break. Maybe chatting with Chloe will clear my mind."

    Seeing her get all puppy-like and playful when I ruffle her hair makes life worth living. Without her, I¡¯d probably be suffering migraines like some ancient general.

    Lost in these thoughts, I opened my door to find Chloe waiting for me.

    "Welcome back, Master."

    "You wouldn¡¯t believe how much paperwork I had to get through."

    "Shall I offer you a lap pillow?"

    "Please."

    Chloe sat on the bed and patted her thighs, inviting me to rest my head there. The moment I laid down, I could feel the exhaustion melting away.

    "Do you enjoy my lap pillow that much, Master?"@@@@

    What kind of man wouldn¡¯t enjoy a lap pillow from a beautiful young woman? Even if a man only found attraction in other men, I bet he¡¯d still find this comforting.

    "If I could, I¡¯d take the whole day off tomorrow just to stay like this with you."

    "I¡¯d be happy to do that, Master, even if it¡¯s just for today."

    "Every time I touched myself, I imagined it was your hand instead. And that only made my heart ache more..."

    Chloe gently lifted my head from her lap. We locked eyes, and I saw the tears brimming in hers. I could see the fear, the hope, and the desire not to let go. Every emotion was laid bare.

    "Please, Master, make me yours."

    Only a fool would ask, "Are you sure you want someone like me?" That¡¯s just a stupid question.

    "I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t say anything sooner."

    I reached up, brushing her hair and stroking her cheek. She smiled, and although her eyes were still glistening with tears, relief was evident.

    "Master, please accept me."

    Instead of answering, I leaned in and kissed her. She began to undress, revealing a delicate negligee beneath her maid outfit.

    She blushed deeply, looking away as she stammered, "I saved up my wages to buy this. I wanted to look my best for you. I heard that the first time can be painful, so I even drank two cups of coffee to stay awake."

    Coffee might be a stimulant, but it certainly doesn¡¯t work as an anesthetic. She took my hand, placing it on her chest, and whispered.

    "Please make me yours, Master, until the night ends."

    That night, I finally crossed the threshold into adulthood. The next morning, when I saw her sleeping, I couldn¡¯t resist pulling her close again. By the time I was done, I was in no state to get any work done.

    Sebastian, ever the mindful butler, had prepared a restorative meal for me, filled with aphrodisiacs like eel, oysters, almonds, and garlic in a seaweed soup.

    "Master, you have a guest waiting."

    I clicked my tongue. "Who is it, Sebastian? I¡¯ve got enough work to catch up on."

    "It¡¯s Baron Ducat, commander of the First Division of the Toscan Empire."

    So, it seemed the Emperor had finally come through with that promised chance to earn military merit. I¡¯d suspected I might be drawn into some kind of service, but the First Division¡ªthe very one that Pereira had profited from?

    "I have no idea what they want, but it can''t be good. Damn it."

    The Emperor never gave me an easy job. Here¡¯s hoping he twists his back while training one day and has to rest in bed for a week.

 Chapter 58

    "In both the Toscan Empire and back in the Korean military, a division commander is a person of immense authority. A person who could move mountains with a single command."

    As I internally grumbled, I stood to attention and saluted Baron Ducat with military precision.

    ¡°Fabio de Medici, second son of the House of Medici, reporting.¡±

    He looked at me with an approving gleam. ¡°It¡¯s rare to see such a spark in a young man¡¯s eyes! Ha ha ha, I like it!¡±

    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±

    ¡°You remind me of myself when I first commissioned¡ªfull of that unbreakable military spirit.¡±

    It¡¯s true that historically, nobles have been revered for their military service, and being a soldier is one of the most respected professions for a noble. But as someone who served in the Korean military in the 21st century, I have to admit it¡¯s strange hearing such praise.

    ¡°Sit down. We have much to discuss,¡± he said, indicating a chair.

    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±

    I sat, and Chloe promptly served coffee and refreshments. Baron Ducat downed his coffee in one gulp and grinned.

    ¡°This coffee is good stuff. It¡¯s great for staying awake on watch duty or keeping up stamina in other, more... enjoyable pursuits.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the compliment.¡±

    ¡°Even though it¡¯s costly, I make sure all my officers have a cup before they take night watch. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve ever done guard duty, but staying awake with nothing to do is exhausting.¡±

    I¡¯ve done my fair share of guard duty¡ªtwo hours at a stretch, and it was grueling. And there were plenty of sleepless nights spent on overnight watch duty.@@@@

    Baron Ducat suddenly shifted the mood to a more serious tone.

    I have a decent grasp of what¡¯s needed to train musket-wielding soldiers, from physical conditioning to rigorous drills. Though I lack the expertise for detailed military reform, working with Baron Ducat, I could fill in the gaps needed to make the Toscan Empire¡¯s army a force to be reckoned with.

    "Then let¡¯s begin our work together. You¡¯ll accompany me to the First Division¡¯s headquarters in three days. Once there, you¡¯ll receive your uniform, rank insignia, and officer¡¯s sword.¡±

    Unlike the Korean military, where only generals wield swords, here even majors can carry one.

    After settling in at the division headquarters with Chloe and Christina, I buried myself in paperwork. As logistics officer, my job wasn¡¯t to handle strategies or administrative tasks. I was there to ensure no one was profiting from corruption and to cut expenses wherever possible. This also meant I was exempt from the other officers¡¯ training drills.

    ¡°So, I¡¯m basically a civilian worker with a military rank.¡±

    Still, the experience could be invaluable for my future. Earning military merit would likely grant me a baronetcy, elevating my noble status.

    As I finished reviewing some documents, there was a knock at the door.

    ¡°Raffaello D¡¯Navi from the Benaldi Trading Company, requesting permission to enter.¡±

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    The man entered and bowed politely. He didn¡¯t immediately offer a gift, which suggested he knew bribery wouldn¡¯t work on me.

    ¡°Representing the Benaldi Trading Company, it¡¯s an honor to meet you, Major Fabio de Medici.¡±

    ¡°Please, call me ¡®Sir,¡¯ not ¡®Major.¡¯ This rank is temporary, after all.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Sir.¡±

    After a bit of pleasantries, I set down a pile of procurement documents from their company on my desk.

    ¡°Let¡¯s be frank. I understand that padding the prices a bit is the norm, but isn¡¯t this a bit excessive? We should have a serious talk about this.¡±

    If he didn¡¯t want to cooperate, then he could expect a military trial for defrauding the army.

 Chapter 59

    Just like in 21st-century Korea, when any product goes through the hands of middlemen, the price skyrockets. A cabbage that costs 500 won at the farm can magically cost 5,000 won after passing through three middlemen. A similar phenomenon occurs on a larger scale in the Toscano Empire¡ªa medieval fantasy world.

    Especially when "military supplies" are involved, the process becomes so intense that even a Buddha would lose his patience.

    ¡°We¡¯re just trying to make a living here. Even if we sell at this price, we hardly have anything left after paying our porters,¡± Rafaello, the merchant in front of me, was saying, in the same way a market vendor might.

    ¡°Aigo, there¡¯s hardly any profit selling at this price! I¡¯m just breaking even, I swear.¡± People may feel good thinking they got a deal, but in reality, even if merchants make slightly less profit, they never sell at a loss. It was clear Rafaello was using the same tactic here.

    I needed to remind him that there was no need for pretenses between us. If he realizes that, he wouldn¡¯t dare try this kind of petty talk among other merchants.

    ¡°There¡¯s no rat or eavesdropping pigeon here¡ªjust you and me. And I don¡¯t plan to nitpick about the times you¡¯ve overcharged us before.¡± If I were an ambitious officer driven by a sense of duty, it might be different. But as someone trying to rise as a merchant, I have no reason to recklessly make an enemy of the empire¡¯s merchant guilds.

    ¡°Let¡¯s lower it to eighty-five pennies. At that rate, you¡¯re still charging 1.7 times the market price.¡±

    Rafaello¡¯s expression showed he was caught in a dilemma, torn between not wanting to anger his superior and knowing he couldn¡¯t push his luck any further.

    ¡°Eight silver coins and fifty pennies¡ªthat¡¯s as low as I¡¯ll go. And reduce the prices of the other goods by fifteen percent too.¡±

    Reluctantly, he nodded.

    After Rafaello hurried out to sign the adjusted contract, I brought it to the brigade commander, Baron Ducat. He grinned as I presented the results. ¡°Impressive. How did you manage to cut the price by fifteen percent?¡±

    ¡°It was simple. I just found evidence that Benaldi¡¯s merchant was inflating costs, and we adjusted from there.¡± I knew it was best to make the most of any task given by the Emperor. After all, when you produce results, it pays off in promotions and bonuses.

    And, as expected, it wasn¡¯t long before the soldiers began to praise the new logistics officer, Fabio de Medici.@@@@

 Chapter 60

    The Toscano Empire''s First Division was, as usual, undergoing intense training. Leo, a mere sergeant, found himself unable to resist the grueling pace and was just trying to survive.

    ¡°Ninety-nine! One hundred! Ugh!¡±

    He was practicing thrusting with a six-meter-long spear, repeating the motion over a hundred times with exact precision. By now, his limbs ached, and all he could think about was eating and resting. However, he doubted his meal would be anything better than the usual rotten herring or rock-hard bread. He felt defeated by the circumstances that forced him, a low-born man, into a life of military drudgery.

    As Leo considered his miserable state, the squad leader called out, ¡°Alright, training¡¯s over! It¡¯s time for chow! Form up in four columns!¡±

    Despite the promise of food, the soldiers knew better than to get their hopes up. They slowly assembled, accustomed to the poor-quality meals, but the squad leader¡¯s next words caught their attention.

    ¡°The Pereira Trading Company, which has been serving us rotten meals, has been replaced by a new supplier. I¡¯ve heard the new logistics officer has put a lot of effort into improving our meals, so we should get something decent today.¡±

    Hearing this, Leo and the other soldiers quickened their pace, hope finally stirring within them.

    As they made their way to the mess hall, Leo¡¯s comrades speculated. ¡°Sergeant Leo, do you think we¡¯ll really get something good this time?¡±

    The effects of improved meals and the simple donut were immediate and immense. Morale soared, and the soldiers threw themselves into their training with renewed vigor. During a routine inspection, Leo encountered Fabio, the logistics officer himself, and snapped to attention.

    ¡°Sir! Sergeant Leo, reporting!¡±

    Fabio, unlike most officers, acknowledged the salute with respect. ¡°At ease, Sergeant. How¡¯s service treating you?¡±

    ¡°Much better now, thanks to you, sir. My squad and I are grateful for the meals.¡±

    But Fabio corrected him. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken, Sergeant. It¡¯s His Majesty who¡¯s responsible for your well-being. I¡¯m just his tool, carrying out orders.¡±

    Leo¡¯s eyes widened with surprise as Fabio emphasized loyalty to the Emperor, downplaying his own role. It was a masterful way of cultivating loyalty without overshadowing the Emperor¡¯s authority.

    Fabio nodded to Leo, acknowledging his hard work. ¡°Thank you for your service and dedication, Sergeant. Carry on.¡±

    After that encounter, word spread quickly throughout the First Division, and it wasn¡¯t long before soldiers could be heard shouting praises to the Emperor during drills. Fabio¡¯s influence was undeniable, and morale reached new heights in the division.

 Chapter 61

    Here¡¯s the translation for Chapter 61:

    Baron Ducat was having a conversation with the Emperor in the office.

    ¡°I will soon be waging war against the Duchy of Milania. I would like to place the 1st Division under your command at the forefront. What do you think?¡±

    The Emperor had mentioned this to the Baron almost three times so far.

    Ducat wasn''t a fool; he understood and remembered everything with just one directive. However, the repeated emphasis indicated how crucial this matter was.

    Thus, the Baron responded with a strict military posture, ¡°I will do my utmost to meet Your Majesty''s expectations!¡±

    ¡°I have high hopes for you and the 1st Division.¡±

    ¡°I will keep that in mind.¡±

    None of the Emperor''s words were empty.

    However, the expectations weren¡¯t solely focused on the 1st Division.

    The Emperor held hopes for all units scheduled to participate in the upcoming war.

    Baron Ducat was well aware of this fact.

    ¡®The 1st Division will make the greatest contribution in the next war.¡¯

    When the war broke out, achieving the most significant merit to gain the Emperor''s favor was his only goal at the moment.

    The Emperor smirked and emptied his teacup of coffee.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the current status of the important 1st Division? During the time Count Gonellio was in charge, it was plagued by military supply corruption, and the training must have been a mess.¡±

    Most officers in the Toscana Empire were of noble birth, and it was quite rare to find anyone of common birth in the higher echelons, especially above the rank of Colonel.

    In the case of Generals, even if someone was a Baron, they were mostly retired at the rank of Major General due to their lineage.

    Though Ducat had a difficult time being promoted to division commander, the 1st Division was partially ruined by Count Gonellio, allowing the Emperor to promote him to that position with his power.

    The military was an organization where one could rise from commoner to lower nobility through merit, and from lower nobility to Baron with enough achievement.

    It was indeed the most flexible organization regarding social status.

    ¡°When I took office, the condition was at its worst. The soldiers had no will to fight, and more than half of the weapons and armor in the arsenal were in unusable condition.¡±

    Upon hearing this, the Emperor rubbed his forehead.

    If he hadn¡¯t discovered the corruption in military supplies and dismissed Count Gonellio from his position before the war, he would have likely seen one division offered up as a tribute to the Milanians.

    ¡®I must impose further penalties on the Gonellio family in some form.¡¯

    ¡°However, the military unit has now returned to normal condition. In fact, it has become even more elite.¡±

    ¡°Is that beyond what I expected? What happened?¡±

    The Emperor had dispatched Baron Ducat as the commander of the 1st Division less than a month ago.

    Transforming a division that had been ruined by corruption and an incompetent predecessor to a normal state in such a short time was virtually impossible.

    Thus, the Emperor had only hoped that Ducat would find the unit¡¯s ailments and make gradual improvements.

    ¡®To surpass normal recovery and achieve elite status is unbelievable.¡¯

    Baron Ducat handed a thick report to the Emperor.

    ¡°As soon as I took office, I immediately eliminated several incompetent commanders and staff, and I sternly warned the remaining subordinates. Consequently, those who were slacking began to dedicate themselves desperately to their duties.¡±

    ¡°Incompetent people are unnecessary in the military. It was a good thing to drive out the freeloaders. It''s quite commendable that you made those who remained work desperately.¡±

    ¡°While the previous commander did negatively impact the unit, fortunately, the detrimental effects were not that severe. By getting the staff and unit commanders to commit to their work, most of the issues were improved.¡±

    Upon hearing the Baron¡¯s report, the Emperor raised his evaluation of him.

    ¡®It seems we can place the 1st Division at the forefront after all.¡¯

    ¡°However, the most remarkable thing is the military logistics officer, Fabio de Medici.¡±

    ¡°Fabio, that fellow is certainly a remarkable character. Has he made any contributions in the military?¡±

    Baron Ducat pointed to the report.

    ¡°As noted in the report, without Fabio¡¯s contributions, it would have taken at least half a year to rebuild the 1st Division.¡±

    The Emperor tilted his head upon hearing this.

    With age comes experience, and he believed Fabio might stand out in other fields.

    ¡°Once they hear this news, I doubt they will show their faces for a while, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°I hope Fabio will firmly establish himself in the military.¡±

    Though the Emperor said that, he well understood that it was realistically impossible.

    If it were a noble of the law aristocracy, it might be feasible, but binding an independent noble with a territory and an emerging supernova like Fabio to the military would surely stir trouble with the Duke of Visconti.

    ¡°A great talent has emerged in our Empire. And we must reward him generously, though I¡¯m not quite sure what to give.¡±

    With that, the Emperor took the sword sheathed at his waist.

    ¡°Take this, Baron Ducat.¡±

    Ducat was left speechless upon hearing those words.

    ¡°Your abilities are commendable, but I hold this in high regard. The fact that you openly acknowledged your subordinate¡¯s contributions, despite potentially diminishing your own, shows that you are free from jealousy.¡±

    The Emperor grinned widely.

    ¡°We call this the mark of a great commander. I shall use you wisely.¡±

    With those words, the Emperor formally bestowed the sword upon the Baron.

    The division commander, who had been away for several days, returned.

    As soon as he came back, he called me into his office.

    Upon entering, I immediately reported that I had completed the last task requested by the Emperor.

    ¡°Due to the tricks played by the Pereira Guild, the 5,000 spears, 1,200 swords, and 2,000 pieces of padded armor in the arsenal are currently unusable in actual combat. Therefore, to repay Your Majesty for appointing such a fellow as a lieutenant, I decided to use my personal funds to exchange all the defective items for new ones.¡±

    This mission was practically a bonus stage.

    It was merely about spending a surplus of money to purchase a title.

    Of course, it felt too wasteful to do just that, so I also took significant actions regarding military supplies.

    ¡°Here is the contract. It states that the specified quantity will be delivered by the Alpedo Guild in two months.¡±

    As expected, the fabric used for the padded armor was made from materials secretly produced in the village of Bio, and the steel was purchased at a discounted rate from the duke¡¯s steel mill.

    ¡®Thanks to that, I managed to cut the effective production costs in half.¡¯

    Baron Ducat looked at me with a somewhat regretful expression.

    ¡°To be honest, I felt uneasy when I heard that you would start as a lieutenant without any military achievements.¡±

    Even if parachuting is standard, military officers typically start as second lieutenants unless they are royalty.

    So who would be pleased to hear about starting as a lieutenant?

    ¡°However, now that I know your abilities, I would gladly replace our logistics chief with you if I could. I believe the Emperor would be pleased if you expressed your desire to remain in the military. What do you think?¡±

    ... Am I crazy enough to be driven into a stake? What does this guy think of me?

    ¡°I have a territory and guild to be responsible for, so that would be difficult.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a pity, but I genuinely mean it. You are always welcome to return.¡±

    No matter how rosy a military life starting as a lieutenant may seem, I wouldn''t become a professional soldier.

    ¡°The Emperor has greatly acknowledged your contributions. Congratulations, Baron Medici. You need to attend the investiture ceremony, so make sure to go to the palace within a week.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. It was an honor for me to serve under the division commander as well.¡±

    Upon hearing that, I immediately turned to leave.

    Life here wasn¡¯t too hard, but I truly felt that managing the guild while living as a noble suited me better.

    As I hurried to leave, a loud salute rang out from behind.

    ¡°Loyalty!¡±

    To receive a respectful salute from someone of the rank of division commander was unexpected.

    This person truly is an exceptional individual.

    The officers serving under Division Commander Ducat are truly fortunate.

    ¡°Loyalty, thank you very much, Commander.¡±

    And then I moved towards the capital to attend the investiture ceremony.

 Chapter 62

    It is said that a beautiful woman cannot live long due to the jealousy of other women, and a genius becomes the target of hatred from ordinary people, leading to a short life.

    I have tried to avoid making enemies as much as possible, like the persona non grata Jeong Do-jeon, Oda Nobunaga, and Wallenstein from the Thirty Years'' War.

    ¡°Did you really manage to obtain the rank of Major Baron at such a young age?¡±

    ¡°I heard he got a staff position without any significant achievements?¡±

    ¡°What an arrogant brat, just a second son of a baron.¡±

    Among a flock of chickens, if I stand out like a crane, even if I try not to create enemies, people around me will become jealous and envious.

    From now on, it won¡¯t just be about threats to their livelihoods.

    There will also be trash who seek to be hostile simply because they dislike my success.

    It feels just like 21st-century Korea.

    There are employees with better looks than mine, subordinates with greater abilities, and colleagues with more money.

    Such individuals are scattered throughout the nation, always trying to bury those who excel in office politics.@@@@

    ¡®If I had solved the weapon and military supply issues solely with money, how much more would they be gnashing their teeth?¡¯

    But I have no intention of hesitating or lowering my head under such pressure.

    When I become the object of someone¡¯s jealousy without it being my fault, the best course of action is to face it boldly.

    I walked confidently towards the stage for the award ceremony.

    Was it said that shadows exist because of light?

    If there are people who envy me, there are also those who genuinely acknowledge my achievements.

    ¡°When I heard that a 21-year-old kid was a lieutenant, I thought the world was ending, but it turns out he is the real deal?¡±

    ¡°Whether it¡¯s at Cafe Medici or elsewhere, he seems to be capable of anything.¡±

    ¡°Is that what they call a genius bestowed by heaven?¡±

    Aside from the Duke of Visconti, my father, and the Emperor, more than half of my allies are also supporting me.

    So I shall continue on the path I believe in, with my head held high.

    Standing confidently on the platform, I received the gazes of dozens of nobles.

    ¡°His Majesty, Emperor Vitruvio of Toscana, has arrived. Please take your seats!¡±

    With those words, the sound of nobles sitting down echoed through the hall.

    I also knelt on one knee and bowed my head at the same time.

    It wasn''t long before the Emperor stood before me.

    ¡°Everyone, raise your heads.¡±

    When I looked up, the Emperor was smiling.

    It seemed he was quite satisfied with my achievements.

    If he were dissatisfied, even the kindest person would be quite angry, but I didn¡¯t think I needed to worry about that.

    ¡®Well, after all, what I¡¯ve done is far beyond mere achievements.¡¯

    ¡°The attendant will now read the accomplishments of Fabio de Medici.¡±

    The attendant summarized my achievements to the assembly.

    The provision of seaweed and maternity care facilities that reduced the number of dying mothers and infants, the distribution of coffee that allowed scholars and bureaucrats to focus on their work.

    I played a decisive role in rebuilding the 1st Division, exposing the Pereira Guild¡¯s misdeeds with righteous conduct.

    In response to that, I bowed my head even lower.

    Even with just the supply duties for the 1st Division that I optimized, the scale of the interests is equivalent to a small city, and to be given two? I can¡¯t help but feel grateful.

    Once the Emperor departed, everyone rose and withdrew.

    Both the Visconti and Sforza factions likely had much to say about the emergence of a new ace.

    Though the Duke of Visconti didn¡¯t directly encourage me...

    Honestly, just him bringing his followers here indicates he¡¯s paying a lot of attention to me within the faction.

    ¡®Now he¡¯s even encouraging me directly? This will only create more enemies within the faction...¡¯

    So there¡¯s no need to feel disappointed.

    I reaffirmed my title and status once more.

    ¡°Major Baron Medici.¡±

    Unlike when I was merely a knight, I can now operate as an independent noble.

    I feel like I¡¯ve risen faster than I anticipated.

    However, I don¡¯t think I will struggle to handle this position.

    I can certainly do better in the future than I have up to now.

    And now that my title has risen, I should distribute bonuses to the employees and servants of the Medici Guild and hold a family celebration.

    Lost in good thoughts on my way back, Albert, the current Baron Medici, approached me.

    ¡°Baron Medici, thank you so much for gracing this occasion.¡±

    ¡°How could this brother miss the moment his younger brother becomes a Major Baron?¡±

    Even if he wanted to kill me, he couldn¡¯t skip this event.

    If he didn¡¯t show up, he¡¯d be pointed at among the nobles as someone who doesn¡¯t even care for his own family.

    Albert clapped my shoulder with a smile.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve already built a staff career at that age and risen to the rank of Major Baron by your own efforts. I am truly proud of you.¡±

    They say people die when they do something they¡¯ve never done, so why is he suddenly acting like this?

    Did he get struck by lightning or something?

    ¡°Every time I attend a social event, your name comes up at least once, but now you¡¯ll hear praises about you until your ears bleed.¡±

    ¡°Why are you being so embarrassing?¡±

    Then Albert¡¯s expression suddenly changed.

    He spoke in a serious tone, low enough for only me to hear.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget humility. There¡¯s a saying that great success at a young age doesn¡¯t end well. As your brother, I advise you to take heed.¡±

    People really never change, do they?

    Still, I have no intention of being hostile toward you. Since I was born into the Medici family, I¡¯ll be sure to take care of interests and gifts...

    Just please don¡¯t be jealous of me.

    What a disgraceful act it would be to envy your younger brother.

    ¡°I will keep that in mind, brother.¡±

 Chapter 63

    Even if I twist the neck of a chicken, dawn will come.

    Whether my brother Albert, the Baron Medici, is jealous of me or not, I must continue to move forward.

    I need to digest the sudden assignment of the supply duties for two divisions from the Emperor.

    ¡°Young master, please have a cup of tea and take a little break.¡±

    Chloe placed a teacup on my desk and poured some black tea.

    A slightly sour yet rich aroma filled the room.

    Just the scent seems to ease my fatigue.

    ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll drink this and cool my head before getting back to work.¡±

    It reminded me of something a YouTuber said while I was living in Korea.

    ¡°If you want to earn a lot of money, then you have to work more. That¡¯s the only answer.¡±

    His tone was annoyingly paternalistic, and the content was akin to something a middle-aged manager would say.

    But that statement seems to hold some truth.

    To make a lot of money, in the end, you have to work like crazy.

    ¡®That¡¯s exactly how I am right now.¡¯

    Upon hearing my words, Chloe frowned and puffed out her cheeks.

    ¡°I always think the young master is amazing for being so dedicated to work, but if you keep working 13 to 14 hours a day like this, you¡¯ll wear yourself out. What will you do if you collapse while working?¡±

    ¡°Still, I need to finish the tasks piling up in front of me.¡±

    ¡°Both the butler and Kris said that the urgent tasks that need immediate attention are already completed.¡±

    In most noble families, a personal maid would not dare to nag her master.

    If she upsets her master, she risks being thrown out onto the street.

    Moreover, genuinely loving and caring maids are treated like ¡°stories from novels¡± among the nobles.

    However, it¡¯s clear, both objectively and subjectively, that Chloe cares about me.

    ¡®Especially in bed, she¡¯s very proactive, even trying to entice me again after we¡¯ve been intimate.¡¯

    With a smile that comes from the heart, she seems to be eager for more.

    ¡°I can endure the loneliness of not being loved by you lately because you¡¯re busy. But if you were to collapse or fall ill while working, it would break my heart.¡±

    Since the gracious Emperor bestowed upon me the supply rights for two divisions, I¡¯ve been working like this for almost two weeks.

    These days, even after drinking coffee, I feel like I might doze off in broad daylight, or I can feel a lack of energy when I wake up.

    If I keep overworking like this, I might end up in trouble.

    ¡°I¡¯ll drink this, do a little more work, and then take a good rest after lunch. That sounds good, right?¡±

    Chloe beamed at my words.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll give you a knee pillow or whatever you need. You just rest comfortably, young master.¡±

    ¡°Though you said to rest, are you trying to pamper me?¡±

    Kris pointed to herself.

    ¡°I asked them if they could accept me as their superior. If they were to join our guild, I would be their superior.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s certainly not easy to accept a woman as a superior.¡±

    In the 1990s in Korea, even if a woman was incredibly capable, it was considered normal for married women to be let go from their companies.

    Let alone in a country with a patriarchal society and a system of polygamy, having a woman as a superior would be seen as a repulsive notion.

    Some might genuinely feel nauseous at the thought.

    ¡®Even so, there¡¯s ample value in continuing to use Kris.¡¯

    Her abilities are in the top 0.1%, and she is more diligent than anyone.

    Additionally, the direction I pursue is a few centuries ahead of the conventional mindset.

    However, those who can¡¯t accept a woman as a superior likely won¡¯t just disagree with my values; will they even follow me?

    Upon hearing my words, Kris gracefully held her skirt with both hands and bowed her head.

    ¡°I am always grateful to you, young master, for providing me with the opportunity to demonstrate my abilities without worrying about others¡¯ objections. I want to repay you with everything I have.¡±

    A chill ran down my back at that moment, but it must just be my imagination.

    Glancing at Chloe¡¯s face, she wore a cold smile that seemed reminiscent of winter.

    ¡®Could it be that Kris... just like Chloe said?¡¯

    But such thoughts can wait for later.

    ¡°We have completed the hiring process following the procedures outlined. Is there anything concerning about this, Major Baron?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to give it a score of 120 out of 100. Indeed, our guild¡¯s treatment isn¡¯t inferior to others. We aren¡¯t solely hiring from merchant families like other guilds, so this level of expectation is reasonable.¡±

    In the Toscana Empire, unless you¡¯re a small hole-in-the-wall shop, hiring employees is typically done through connections.

    General citizens hoping to break through that barrier must rely on university ¡®professor recommendations.¡¯

    We¡¯ll hire anyone capable, even if they¡¯re a farmer named Antonio; it doesn¡¯t matter.

    ¡°I¡¯ve found all the methods to handle administrative tasks. However, with our guild¡¯s current capacity, it¡¯s impossible to carry out the supply duties for two divisions. Have you found alternatives?¡±

    Though I say I¡¯m competing with the merchants, my standing is infinitely weaker than theirs.

    ¡®I¡¯m like a tuna caught in a whale fight.¡¯

    So when the whales think one step ahead, I must think a million steps ahead.

    Yet, I¡¯ve always sought ways to survive.

    ¡°We need to break away from traditional guild management methods.¡±

    Saying that, I handed Kris a report I had organized over several days, drawing from the knowledge in my head.

    Kris read the title written on the cover.

    ¡°Comprehensive Trading Company?¡±

    To summarize it in one sentence, this could be described as a sophisticated colonial management approach developed in the late 20th century.

 Chapter 64

    Some people refer to a comprehensive trading company as a modernized East India Company.

    Like the East India Companies that actually managed colonies, Japan''s mega trading companies have openly created economic development zones (effectively colonies) in countries like the Philippines.

    They engage in intermediary trading, selling cheaply produced goods from the locals to developed countries, or peddling advanced technological products embedded with high-end techniques from developed countries at inflated prices in other nations.

    In short, they are the embodiment of greed, doing anything that can make money.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of that term. How does this comprehensive trading company operate?¡±

    ¡°We delegate production to other guilds or regions and simply sell the products they create.¡±

    Even in the Toscana Empire, which blends aspects of the medieval, Renaissance, and early modern eras, the concept of outsourcing production and handling sales isn¡¯t entirely foreign.

    However, most guilds that exceed a certain scale manage both production and sales themselves.

    This method maximizes profits in this era.

    ¡®While it may be difficult for guilds in large cities like Florence, merchant-level companies can acquire small city guilds and use them like their own factories.¡¯

    While guild masters and executives select their own members, those who make massive investments can impose unbreakable shackles on them.

    Seeing this concept emerge indicates that the lifespan of guilds in this era is nearing its end.

    Kris nodded as she listened to me.

    ¡°Even if we invest all our current capital, we cannot create a smithy or factory that can meet the supply demands in two months. So, it would be wise to choose to fill the orders even if it means giving up some profit for now.¡±

    As more middlemen get involved, the profits for sellers invariably decrease, and consumers have no choice but to pay higher prices.

    Thus, whether it¡¯s crops, machinery, or any other goods, buying directly from the producer is always cheaper.

    This law is a timeless truth.

    ¡®Though in Korea, there are times when buying from a large corporation can be cheaper than purchasing directly from a farmer.¡¯

    Just thinking logically, it makes sense.

    When sharing a pie, if it¡¯s divided between two people, each gets a larger share than if it¡¯s shared among three.

    ¡°Still, in the future, I believe it would be good to save up money to establish facilities for producing the items for military supply, then increase profits.¡±

    This is the conventional thought among merchants of this era.

    While I don¡¯t disagree with Kris¡¯s statement, wielding the weapons unique to a comprehensive trading company would be the most beneficial for me right now.

    ¡°Kris, why are you so fixated on the idea that we need to build a factory?¡±

    Upon hearing my words, Kris tilted her head.

    ¡°Because handling everything from production to distribution and sales allows us to maximize profits.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. But let¡¯s change our way of thinking here.¡±

    I clenched my fist and raised my index finger.

    ¡°Let¡¯s say the total amount of our transactions is 100, and we increase the profit margin from 30% to 40%. Would that be more profitable?¡±

    ¡°However, if we lower the selling price just because we buy cheaply, other trading companies, including the Benaldi Guild, will become dissatisfied. We need to maintain the current selling levels precisely.¡±

    By sticking to the basic formula of making money, we can avoid ruffling the feathers of other merchants; how great is that?

    ¡°I want to save on transportation costs as much as possible, so it would be good to persuade the guilds in the small towns near the military bases. What do you think, Kris?¡±

    Upon hearing my words, Kris¡¯s eyes sparkled.

    ¡°Young Master, you are truly remarkable. Indeed, while it¡¯s important to increase profit margins, if there¡¯s an opportunity to expand the market, it¡¯s best to do that first. With just a little organization of the details, we could implement this as our guild¡¯s policy right away.¡±

    ¡°Chloe told me to rest today, so I plan to have lunch and then take a good break. Do you think my absence will hinder the work?¡±

    ¡°The remaining tasks involve practical adjustments¡ªentertaining the guild masters of the small towns and finding suppliers. Aside from meetings with the guild masters, you won¡¯t have any direct duties, so you can take a few days off. The butler and administrative staff can handle the rest.¡±

    Since Kris isn¡¯t one to offer empty words, it seems I can genuinely afford to take a break now.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Not at all, and Young Master...¡±

    She hesitated for a moment before speaking.

    ¡°Actually, Antonio from Cafe Medici has released a new menu, and it¡¯s designed for couples. If you have the time, would you accompany me?¡±

    ... I knew that the authority for developing new menus lay with Antonio, but I never thought they¡¯d create a couple¡¯s menu in our Empire.

    ¡®But sales will soar.¡¯

    Young nobles will come to eat intimately with their wives, and then come back with their favored maids for a cozy experience.

    With so many people likely to repeat that, it would sell like hotcakes.

    ¡°I really like the parfait there. And aside from you, there¡¯s no man I¡¯m personally close to.¡±

    There¡¯s no reason not to go with her.

    ¡°Once I finalize the agreements with the guild masters and get things sorted out, I¡¯ll accompany you.¡±

    At that, a smile blossomed on Kris¡¯s face.

    ¡°Yes, Young Master.¡±

    Then I promised to spend the afternoon and the following day resting with Chloe and headed to my room.

    Chloe looked at me and said in a slightly pouty voice,

    ¡°It seems Kris is openly targeting you now. But the one who is most loved by you is me.¡±

    ¡°Since today, or rather tomorrow, I cleared my schedule, I¡¯ll love you to the point of making you sick of it.¡±

    Though Chloe is no longer a maiden, upon hearing my words, she lowered her head, perhaps out of embarrassment.

    With her face turning as red as a ripe apple, she whispered in a small voice.

    ¡°Please love me as much as you want, Young Master...¡±

    After my break, my weight dropped by 1 kg.

    With that, I boarded the carriage heading towards the city that would become the base for production outsourcing.

 Chapter 65

    The city of Perugia is similar in population to the city of Guillaume.

    There are about 10,000 citizens living in the city, with an additional 20,000 residents, bringing the total to 30,000.

    Even in densely populated Korea, a place with this many people would be considered a town, so the city itself feels bustling for a rural area.

    ¡°There are quite a few people here.¡±

    Though it¡¯s not a port city like Guillaume and doesn¡¯t really qualify as a hub for overland transport, this area has quite a broad plain and ample water for agricultural use.

    Thus, it¡¯s only natural that a city has formed here.

    Where there¡¯s a city, there¡¯s bound to be a guild that I¡¯m looking for.

    ¡°Major Baron, there¡¯s a small blacksmith shop over there.¡±

    Upon hearing that, I entered the shop to take a look inside.

    Inside, there seemed to be about three people: a blacksmith and an apprentice, but seeing them sitting and resting during work hours...

    ¡®It seems that the blacksmiths in this city aren¡¯t overwhelmed with work.¡¯

    In fact, guilds in such small towns generally produce goods only for local consumption, so other workshops likely face similar circumstances.

    Even if I throw some work their way, they wouldn¡¯t turn it down due to being overwhelmed.

    ¡°It looks like I¡¯ve come to the right place.¡±

    Chloe smiled as if it were her own achievement.

    ¡°That¡¯s great news.¡±

    ¡°I doubt that would have been the case, but if these blacksmiths were too busy to get by, I would have had to look elsewhere.¡±

    While it¡¯s unavoidable to earn money, the thought of traveling for days in a rickety carriage without any suspension is truly dreadful.

    ¡°I¡¯ve looked around enough, so now it¡¯s time to meet the blacksmith guild master. The bulk of military supply consists of weapons and armor.¡±

    Besides weapons, there are also armor, meat, grains, bread, cheese, and wine.

    However, the scale of transactions for weapons and armor far surpasses the rest combined.

    So, it makes sense to resolve matters with the blacksmith guild first.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hurry. We also need to find guilds to handle the supply for the other divisions.¡±

    As I entered the blacksmith guild, the guild master came running to greet me eagerly.

    That doesn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t wearing shoes, though...

    ¡°Oh my, is that you, Major Baron Medici? What brings someone of your stature to our humble guild?¡±

    The guild master and senior artisans may not be of noble blood, but socially, they are not much different from lower nobility.

    Thus, while they may lack the refined qualities of nobles, they are as well-informed about central affairs as any aristocrat.

    While artisans are rarely affected by changes at the center, when they are, the repercussions can be quite significant.

    I settled comfortably into my chair and spoke.

    ¡°The Emperor has ordered me to oversee military supplies for two divisions. However, with the financial capacity of our Medici guild, we cannot establish production facilities immediately to fulfill those supplies. Therefore, I need a reliable guild to produce the necessary items for us.¡±

    Outsourcing will naturally reduce the scale of profits I can make.

    However, it¡¯s a perfect opportunity to conduct business without incurring high initial costs, allowing for a form of octopus-style expansion.

    This is similar to how comprehensive trading companies operate in Japan, Korea, and other developed countries around the world.

    ¡®With an average operating profit margin of 0.5%, companies entrust projects worth 30 billion to even new hires.¡¯

    Of course, my profit margin will exceed 30%, but the principle remains the same.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to ask you to produce weapons, armor, and tools for the 1st Division. Is that something you can manage?¡±

    The guild master didn¡¯t immediately say it would be possible.

    Instead, he pondered deeply before responding.

    ¡°How much time can you give us?¡±

    ¡°A month, or rather, 40 days.¡±

    ¡°If we operate all the forges in our city, I believe we can manage it somehow. Afterward, we¡¯ll need to recruit more apprentices and artisans for stable production.¡±

    ¡°I also plan to make similar offers to other guilds. Supplying military goods isn¡¯t just about weapons and tools; it involves much more.¡±

    Upon hearing that, the guild master¡¯s eyes lit up.

    Seeing the smile on his face, it seemed he understood my intentions perfectly.

    Considering the effort behind the masterpiece he gifted me, he was likely eager for the opportunity.

    ¡®Let him inform the other guild masters of this great opportunity and extract a bit more than the value of the masterpiece.¡¯

    ¡°I will convey that well. If you don¡¯t visit personally, they will come to you.¡±

    ¡°Good, then let¡¯s proceed to the actual price negotiation. Given the bulk supply and the need for consistent supply levels, there shouldn¡¯t be a better deal for the blacksmiths than military supply, right?¡±

    The reason there¡¯s almost a 1.5 times difference in price between subscription plans for internet services is due to this principle.

    By promising regular purchases, they can afford to sell at a lower price since it¡¯s still profitable for them.

    Moreover, the time it takes to create and sell tools or weapons made by blacksmiths is often lengthy, aside from custom orders...

    ¡®A longer inventory time means a greater risk of not selling.¡¯

    Considering these comprehensive factors, they wouldn¡¯t suffer losses even if we significantly lowered the price.

    ¡°How much are you thinking of? Feel free to say what¡¯s on your mind.¡±

    Upon hearing that, the guild master¡¯s expression hardened a bit.

    However, as a merchant, I must maximize my profits.

    So, I need to establish a contract that is acceptable to us both but one that allows me to keep as much profit as possible.

    ¡°If our thoughts differ, we can narrow down the discrepancies through discussion.¡±

 Chapter 66

    From online games to large-scale transactions, the method of asking someone to state what they consider a reasonable price is widely used.

    On the surface, it seems like a considerate way to give the other party the opportunity to make the first proposal.

    It allows one to apply pressure under the guise of understanding the circumstances, which is why it''s commonly employed.

    "If I state the price first, the other party might say that''s difficult, but if I reverse the roles, the initiative shifts to me."

    After a long period of contemplation, the blacksmith guild master finally spoke.

    ¡°We will deliver our goods at about 30% lower than the prices we sell in this city.¡±

    Even a 30% reduction off the regular price would ensure we secure about 25% of the transaction amount as profit.

    To put it more vividly, you could say we''re capturing 25% of the economy of a small town.

    However, money is always better when there''s more of it, and we still have plenty of room for more reasonable discussions.

    I crossed my legs and stared into the eyes of the blacksmith guild master.

    ¡°Hmmm, just 30%? That¡¯s rather disappointing.¡±

    It¡¯s not good to show a gaze that conveys contempt or any negative feelings at times like this.

    The best approach is to give them a completely uninterested look.

    I have to make them feel as if there¡¯s no point in continuing the discussion under such conditions.

    After all, it¡¯s not me who¡¯s in a hurry; it''s them.

    Even when fishing, one often waits 3 to 5 hours with bait out to catch a big fish.

    If they can¡¯t afford to wait casually when making such a significant deal¡ªone that¡¯s incomparable to fishing¡ªthat''s just unqualified.

    A lengthy silence ensued between me and the guild master.

    I could see a bead or two of cold sweat start to trickle down his face.

    ¡°... 35%! Really! We absolutely cannot go any lower! If we reduce it further, we won¡¯t have anything left!¡±

    You should speak correctly, my friend.@@@@

    What you''re saying isn¡¯t that you have nothing left to spare; it means you don¡¯t want to concede beyond that because your greed keeps increasing.

    In the 21st century, perhaps, but in this era, guild exclusivity and collusion are fully applied to product transactions.

    Do you think I don''t know that the selling price to citizens is more than 100% above the production cost in profit?

    Our merchant group may not belong to the guild, but we¡¯re quite familiar with such transactions involving seaweed, steel, coffee, and more.

    ¡°It¡¯s getting late, so I¡¯ll take my leave now. I¡¯ll see you again when the opportunity arises.¡±

    I said this as I finished the tea in my cup.

    As I grasped the armrest to rise, the guild master merely stared at me with his mouth agape.

    I moved deliberately slowly, causing his mouth to hang open in sync with my movements.

    ¡°Ah, ahh.¡±

    The blacksmith guild in this city probably produces about 70% of the weapons, armor, and tools.

    ¡®The remaining 30% must be purchased from other merchants or guilds. Complete monopoly is impossible from the start.¡¯

    Regardless, even if they manage to collude properly, supplying 70% of the goods in this city should yield them some profit.

    However, that amount isn¡¯t likely to be large.

    The majority of the population, composed of farmers, only use cheap tools and equipment that don¡¯t cost much, and repairs are done at the village blacksmith.

    There are quite a few citizens, but for them, buying one or two swords for self-defense is the extent of their expenditures.

    The ones purchasing the most weapons would be the lord''s guards and local military, numbering only about 1,000, so the scale isn¡¯t that large.

    ¡®But to penetrate a transaction for a division of 8,000 men?¡¯

    The upper artisans, who were officials of the guild, knew the name Baron Medici, but most of the members were unfamiliar with a person famous only in the center.

    And frankly, they wouldn¡¯t need to know unless they climbed higher up the ladder.

    These artisans barely recognized the name of the emperor, let alone which families were dukes.

    ¡°Yesterday, Baron Medici visited us and entrusted us with the production of weapons, armor, and tools needed for supplying one division to our Perugia blacksmith guild.¡±

    Upon hearing this, everyone put down their beer mugs.

    They all recognized that it was a ¡®great event¡¯ that shouldn¡¯t be heard in a state of drunkenness.

    ¡°The selling price will be half of our Perugia city¡¯s standard price. However, the volume of sales will be five times the amount we sell in this city every year. This demand will be regularly guaranteed.¡±

    Simultaneously, all the artisans clenched their fists tightly.

    ¡®A golden opportunity to make money has arrived.¡¯

    ¡°We have secured an amount that is 2.5 times our annual sales. Of course, to meet that demand, we¡¯ll have to grab the impoverished people of the city by the neck and turn them into apprentices, treating them like dogs. But still, the money that will end up in your pockets will be significantly higher, right?¡±

    This is an undeniable truth.

    ¡°I will allocate production quotas for you. For the time being, don¡¯t even think about touching alcohol, or rather beer, and work yourselves to the bone. If you can¡¯t meet the delivery deadlines or quality standards, the deal will be cut.¡±

    At those words, the guild''s second-in-command, the deputy master, asked a question.

    ¡°Can we mix in scrap iron or pig iron with steel in a way that¡¯s not noticeable? We¡¯ve all been doing that to gradually increase our profits.¡±

    The guild master broke into a cold sweat.

    What kind of fool would do that and get caught by Baron Medici?

    ¡®From what I¡¯ve heard, he¡¯s known for being mercilessly thorough with those who break promises.¡¯

    There are rumors of a certain baron who received a bribe and didn¡¯t grant permission for a trading company establishment, only to suffer an ¡®unnatural death¡¯...

    What would happen if they produced ¡®deliberate defective products¡¯ due to a failure to manage their guild properly?

    No one could predict what that rabid dog might do.

    In the worst-case scenario, blacksmith guild members, including himself and the upper artisans, might find themselves out on the street.

    ¡°Our baron might tolerate being cheated discreetly, but don¡¯t think about trying to fool Baron Medici. It¡¯s just a feeling of mine, but when I mentioned that I would take only double the production cost, he seemed to have an expression that said he knew everything and was just playing along. No, it felt more like he was just pretending to be deceived.¡±

    At those words, the other artisans felt a shiver run down their spines.

    To guarantee their profits, the other party had already been deceived once.

    But if they attempted to deceive them again?

    ¡®They could genuinely die.¡¯

    The deputy master quickly flashed an awkward smile before seriously advising.

    ¡°There¡¯s no larger trading partner than Baron Medici. Don¡¯t think of cheating! Anyone caught deliberately producing defective goods will have their heads smashed by me with a hammer.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Deputy Master!¡±

    Then, they rushed out to the impoverished areas to hire (or rather, kidnap) workers.

    Although they hadn¡¯t physically trained, working as a blacksmith would make their upper and lower bodies quite sturdy.

    It is said that after twenty years in the forge, even a mediocre knight could be defeated purely by strength.

    So, when these artisans went in groups wielding hammers...

    ¡°Uagh, please spare me, Master Artisan!¡±

    ¡°Are we here to kill you? How long are you going to hide out in the slums?! You need to work hard and live well! Get married and everything! From today on, you¡¯re our blacksmith apprentice, so work like a dog!¡±

    ¡°What does that even mean?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re saying we¡¯ll make you a citizen (legal slave)!¡±

    The city guards turned a blind eye to the uproar.

    The mayor was informed, but he too overlooked the artisans'' noble intentions to rehabilitate the impoverished.

    Perhaps similar events were happening among various guilds?

    On that day, nearly half of the city¡¯s impoverished population diminished.

    A few weeks later, the guild masters received commendations from the baron, the lord of the city.

 Chapter 67

    Is it because I¡¯ve been so busy? Time has flown by so quickly.

    ¡°It feels like just yesterday that I became a baron, and yet a month has already passed.¡±

    During this time, I traveled to other cities besides Perugia to sign similar contracts and handle the remaining administrative tasks.

    Without exaggeration, there was so much to do that I was completely overwhelmed.

    Still, I managed to complete the preparations related to military supplies on time.

    Now, as long as the guild I subcontracted doesn¡¯t cause any issues, I won¡¯t have to struggle like this anymore.

    ¡°Sebastian said the sales and net profit would be calculated today. I wonder when the report will come in?¡±

    In response, Chloe replied, ¡°The butler is a man of his word, no matter how trivial the promise. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll deliver the report today, as promised. And are you in too much of a hurry, Young Master?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of all the urgent matters, but Chris and Sebastian still have practical reviews to complete. Yes, it¡¯s still only morning, so maybe I¡¯m being too impatient.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been working nonstop lately, so why not enjoy this moment of leisure and rest?¡±

    I tried to enjoy the little break, but a knock on the door interrupted me.

    As soon as the door opened, Chris appeared, holding a rather thick report.

    ¡°I¡¯ve just finished calculating the income we can gain from this military supply. We¡¯ve completed up to the third verification, so there shouldn¡¯t be any changes except for minor discrepancies.¡±

    ¡°Great job, Chris.¡±

    ¡°I was just doing what I needed to do, Baron.¡±

    Even though she said that, Chris smiled brightly upon hearing my praise.

    It¡¯s said that compliments can make even a whale dance.

    It seems Chris feels good about being recognized by me.

    Compliments cost nothing, so I should give them as much as I can.

    ¡°The calculation this time is for a month¡¯s worth of supplies to be delivered right away. I would have liked to calculate for a year, but...¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t go that far because you¡¯re unsure how the receiving division will react to our products, right? I understand completely.¡±

    When I had a productive conversation with the guild master in Perugia, I warned that if they mixed in defective goods as they did with other military supplies, we would face a ¡®sad situation.¡¯

    I also mentioned that while I knew they were hiding their profit margins, I was willing to play along.

    I kindly informed them that if they got caught slacking off, it would cost them their lives, so no subpar products would be delivered.

    ¡®The probability of the military staff being impressed and increasing the order volume is quite high.¡¯

    ¡°So, what is the expected income we can take from supplying a month¡¯s worth of goods?¡±

    ¡°The net profit will be 500 gold coins.¡±

    With the amount of money I earn, 500 gold coins may not seem much, but it¡¯s actually an enormous sum.

    That amount could support a household of four or even five serfs for an entire year if they saved.

    ¡®If that¡¯s just for one month, multiplying it by 12 for the annual revenue...¡¯

    ¡°If we continue to trade like this, we¡¯ll net 6,000 gold coins a year. That¡¯s enough to cover the annual tax revenue of a small barony.¡±

    The most important thing is that this is ¡®net income,¡¯ an amount after excluding labor costs, transportation fees, and the purchase price of goods necessary to maintain this trade.

    ¡°Thank you for your hard work. How about you take a break too, Chris? You haven¡¯t had much rest lately.¡±

    Ordinary workers work six days a week and rest on Sundays when they go to church.

    Including various holidays, they end up resting about a third of the year.

    However, we had to handle military supplies, so we worked without rest even on Sundays.

    ¡®Preventing people from attending church services is punished more severely than killing someone, so they let us attend services even amidst busyness...¡¯

    Everyone returned to work right after the service...

    I must have been making them work at the worst level imaginable.

    ¡°No. Instead of resting on holidays and Sundays, I¡¯ll give all employees a special three-day break. They can take turns off as long as it doesn¡¯t interfere with work. Next month¡¯s salary will be doubled, including bonuses.¡±

    Would she accept that she likes such things because she¡¯s a woman, or would she be surprised?

    I carefully served Chris¡¯s share on the front plate that the staff had sensibly brought out.

    ¡°It seems you come here often.¡±

    ¡°During the seasons with many fruits, like summer or autumn, if I have time, I come at least once every three days.¡±

    Feeling a bit embarrassed for loving sweets so much, she stammered slightly.

    ¡°If you mention this to Sebastian or Antonio, they would probably handle it as just a part of executive welfare.¡±

    ¡°For me, eating dessert here is a personal matter. And thanks to you, Young Master, for giving me a generous salary, I don¡¯t need to worry about my wallet being empty from just enjoying a parfait.¡±

    Chris¡¯s salary is two gold coins and five silver coins a month.

    Within our group¡¯s internal ranking system, Chris is considered a genuine executive, so her salary is relatively high.

    Adding bonuses, she would definitely be among the wealthy.

    ¡®Adding the Modina family¡¯s assets makes it even more so.¡¯

    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case. Other than that, do you have any new hobbies these days?¡±

    ¡°When work is a bit slow, I do embroidery at home. My father cherished the handkerchiefs I embroidered during his lifetime as if they were treasures.¡±

    Though I don¡¯t have a daughter, I think if Chloe were to gift me a hand-embroidered handkerchief, I would treasure it dearly.

    What if it were a handkerchief embroidered by my own daughter?

    I can imagine her bragging about it to her subordinates.

    ¡°And I keep receiving marriage proposals. Since I became an executive at the Medici group at a young age, sons from other merchant families and poor nobles try to connect with me. Sometimes, I spend an entire holiday just writing polite rejection letters.¡±

    ... I can empathize.

    Many people are trying to leverage me to overcome their financial difficulties since I¡¯m making a lot of money.

    ¡®Not long ago, I even received a proposal from a count¡¯s family that went bankrupt after investing in something strange a few years ago.¡¯

    Of course, I politely declined that offer through Duke Visconti.

    ¡°Others might say it¡¯s great to be popular, but it takes ages just to write those letters.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t wish to marry a fool who only looks at my wealth, but I also don¡¯t long for a husband who falls in love at first sight like a flower-brained young lady.¡±

    ¡°Really? Then what kind of person do you prefer?¡±

    Lately, I¡¯ve had a feeling that Chris harbors some serious affection for me.

    So if I casually ask something like this without any knowledge...

    ¡®Let¡¯s see if I can catch a bite, whether it¡¯s genuine or not.¡¯

    ¡°I like a man who tirelessly pursues his goals and can see farther than others. Also, it would be nice if he treats me as an equal, rather than thinking I should only think about my husband just because I¡¯m a woman.¡±

    ... In dramas, the dense protagonist would respond, ¡°Oh, really? Who is that?¡±

    But even I can understand this.

    ¡°I hope you can meet such a person.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Baron. So for now, I¡¯m focusing on refining myself. A virtuous wife is fitting for a good man.¡±

    That day, I finished the special parfait with Chris and returned to the mansion.

    I don¡¯t remember what it tasted like.

    However, Chloe seemed to know everything after hearing the whole story.

    ¡°Just as I thought?¡±

    And now that the military supply structure seems to have stabilized, I prepared for the next step in my octopus-like expansion.

    I need to first deal with the royalist nobles who have returned to their former positions...

    ¡®How do I cook them?¡¯

    After much contemplation, I managed to find a good answer.

 Chapter 68

    The noble faction can also be referred to as the radical royalists. The royalists are those who act in the interest of the emperor, so it¡¯s safe to say that all noble faction members would risk their lives for the emperor¡¯s benefit.

    Ah, but there¡¯s one thing I must clarify to avoid misunderstandings.

    They aren¡¯t loyal figures like General Yi Sun-sin or Zhuge Liang from history.

    The fundamental source of all the power held by the noble faction lies with the emperor, so strengthening the imperial authority directly correlates to their wealth and glory.

    ¡°Being able to grill the noble faction is almost equivalent to saying the emperor can be grilled as well.¡±

    Thus, the emperor generally trusts the noble faction members more than any other nobility.

    ¡®Not all noble faction members are royalists; some follow the noble faction leader, Duke Sforza.¡¯

    ¡°To kill a mounted knight, one must first kill the horse he rides.¡±

    This means that, regardless of the situation, especially when facing difficult challenges, one must proceed step by step.

    That way, the probability of achieving the goal increases.

    ¡°And when it comes to dealings with the merchant group, especially military supplies, we deal with the Ministry of Military Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, or the Ministry of Commerce.¡±

    Among those, the ones who would most likely favor me are those in the Ministry of Commerce.

    Even though I¡¯m quickly rising, requesting a private audience with the emperor could be seen as a crime, and the Minister of Commerce is too high-ranking for me to ask to meet.

    The vice-minister of commerce seems appropriate.

    ¡®Whether it¡¯s the vice-minister or the minister, they¡¯re both noble faction members, whether they be barons or earls.¡¯

    They, of course, can request an audience with the emperor, so if my words resonate with them, they will convey my sentiments effectively.

    ¡°Assuming I present a suitable gift, securing an audience with the vice-minister should be a piece of cake.¡±

    Convincing them is another matter, but I¡¯m confident.

    I plan to propose the ¡®strengthening of imperial authority,¡¯ something that those dependent on the emperor will love.

    ¡°Deliver this letter to Sebastian.¡±

    I had the servant pass a letter to Sebastian.

    I instructed him to slip a bribe of about 500 gold coins to the vice-minister of commerce and obtain an opportunity to meet.

    Naturally, as expected, the vice-minister of commerce stated that for the bribe of 500 gold coins, he would grant me the favor of taking some time to meet.

    It¡¯s amusing to call it a favor.

    Politely attending to the superior is also a way of respecting their authority.

    Conversely, ignoring them would be akin to throwing mud on their face.

    ¡®You think I wouldn¡¯t meet after providing both money and the emperor¡¯s authority?¡¯

    Yet, they still want to act pretentious; as a noble myself, I find such a mindset incomprehensible.

    Upon seeing me, the vice-minister of commerce immediately offered a cordial handshake.

    ¡°You¡¯re quite handsome and tall for a young man who has risen to baron at such a young age. I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to give you my granddaughter!¡±

    The reason why bribery in politics has been criminalized is partly because it is morally wrong.

    The main reason is that if bribery were legalized, all policies and public services would obviously be dictated by the amount of gifts given.

    ¡°While sharing the profits with more people may not benefit me directly, it would be advantageous for the emperor.¡±

    ¡°To think about the emperor first in business, your loyalty is truly commendable.¡±

    Although he said that, the eyes of the vice-minister of finance had already cooled down considerably.

    If I hadn¡¯t given him the 500 gold coins as a gift, he would probably have told me to leave immediately.

    ¡°But thinking about it differently, isn¡¯t that strange? How does the growth of guilds in smaller cities relate to the emperor and your benefits?¡±

    What I¡¯m about to say now is half a fabrication to conceal my true intentions.

    ¡°To speak frankly, it would be difficult for me to rise to a position of influence now. Because there are many guilds and merchants from large cities above me.¡±

    Groups that monopolize guilds and interests and do not allow for any competition hinder societal development.

    While it¡¯s better than communism, if the guilds openly collude to set ¡°prices¡± across all cities and prevent the influx of goods from other cities...

    Competition would cease to exist, allowing each guild to monopolize their respective markets.

    In a state of market monopoly, the seller becomes the winner rather than the buyer...

    ¡®There¡¯s no need for research or price reductions.¡¯

    Citizens of the city will purchase my goods anyway, and since there¡¯s no competition with the goods from other cities in terms of price competitiveness or quality, I can sell them carelessly.

    However, for new merchants like me, this creates a massive wall.

    ¡®It would be more profitable to trade cheaper goods from other cities on a larger scale.¡¯

    ¡°I also think the vice-minister of commerce is likely to be troubled by merchants who collude with the guilds. While our Medici group thoroughly inspects each item for military supplies, other merchant groups supply defective weapons and slightly subpar food items, don¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡°By giving up minor profits, I am directly showing the emperor and the vice-minister that the Medici group will not disturb the emperor. That¡¯s the profit I¡¯m seeking.¡±

    Upon hearing that, the vice-minister of commerce nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Are you saying you want to buy the emperor¡¯s trust with money?¡±

    Although he said that, a smile formed on the vice-minister¡¯s face.

    Yes, I¡¯m only demonstrating actions that benefit both the emperor and your royalists.

    I¡¯ve declared that I¡¯ll bow deeply to earn the emperor¡¯s trust.

    There¡¯s no way you wouldn¡¯t appreciate that.

    ¡°I intend to purchase trust by giving up money.¡±

    ¡°Hm, as expected, the Medici group is different. To value trust over money, that¡¯s commendable. But even so, this alone might be a bit difficult?¡±

    That¡¯s only natural, which is why I prepared for it.

    I have weapons that the emperor and you royalists will find irresistible.

    ¡°If we can nurture the guilds in smaller cities to compete with the guilds in larger cities, how much greater would the benefit be for the emperor and vice-minister?¡±

    Absolute monarchy.

    The starting point will be the sticky union of the powers held by the city and the emperor.

    Since this aligns with my interests as well, I will offer the emperor a system of absolute monarchy.

    In return, I want the military supplies.

 Chapter 69

    The vice-minister of justice must understand the advantages of competition.

    However, in our empire, there is no concept that pitting merchants against each other benefits consumers and politicians.

    In Korea, competition among businesses in the same industry is natural, but in this world, it¡¯s absurd for those engaged in the same trade to fight over profits.

    ¡®It¡¯s like Columbus''s egg.¡¯

    Once someone has thought of it, it seems easy, but before someone mentions it, no one dares to consider it.

    The vice-minister pretended to think deeply, making a sound as expected.

    ¡®It¡¯s a concept that has never existed until now, so it will be difficult to understand without a simple explanation.¡¯

    ¡°Think about when the director of the Ministry of Commerce is selected under the vice-minister. When the other divisions are competing for that position, you, the vice-minister, and the minister of commerce, along with other superiors, will do your best to present a good image.¡±

    These days, participation in gatherings tends to increase significantly during personnel announcement seasons.

    When that time comes, there are often people who volunteer for overtime or trips to remote locations.

    In the Toscana Empire, where bribery is essentially legal, all kinds of gifts must be exchanged.

    ¡®Top-quality wine, money, land, fine swords, ornate armor, horses.¡¯

    Even though I didn¡¯t explicitly say that gifts were exchanged, the vice-minister cleared his throat.

    ¡°Cough, cough. I don¡¯t do that, but as the announcement approaches, there certainly are shameless individuals who work especially hard. As a noble, one should, like me, be dedicated to their duties at all times.¡±

    It seems our vice-minister sends gifts regularly.

    Besides this request, I should support him now and then to encourage him in his government duties.

    ¡°Now think about when there¡¯s already a designated candidate for the director of the Ministry of Commerce, and no competition is taking place.¡±

    ¡°Shameless individuals wouldn¡¯t be dedicated to their work. And as for merchants, to be frank, they only care about the profits before their eyes and treat principles like scraps of paper. If there¡¯s no competition, their reason to pledge loyalty to the emperor, who guarantees their profits, diminishes.¡±

    To understand a concept that hasn¡¯t existed in the empire until now in such a short explanation is impressive.

    He must be sharp, as he has risen to the vice-minister of one of the core administrative departments.

    So, it¡¯s better if I don¡¯t directly continue this conversation...

    Perhaps I should wait until he speaks up, convincing himself that he has discovered it on his own.

    ¡®It¡¯s said that the things people come to understand on their own remain in their memory longer.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ve never thought of this as a problem before. But upon reflection, it seems the very existence of guilds competing for commerce hasn¡¯t benefited the merchants at all.¡±

    The vice-minister widened his eyes upon hearing my words.

    His face appeared slightly flushed, as if he was deeply impressed.

    He chewed on his lips a few times and cautiously asked, ¡°I apologize for saying this, but you, Baron Fabio de Medici, are closer to being a merchant than a noble, aren¡¯t you? Why then, do you challenge the established interests set by merchants?¡±

    Objectively speaking, there¡¯s a limit to breaking through the glass ceiling created by the guilds and merchants of large cities with only my strength.

    That¡¯s why, even though it would be clearly more profitable to sell at lower prices for military supplies, I¡¯m thinking of proceeding in this manner with the ¡°comprehensive trading company.¡±

    I¡¯m not directly challenging the industries where the merchants have monopolized everything.

    If I try to break through that glass ceiling¡ªor rather, a diamond ceiling¡ªusing only my strength, I might end up dead.

    ¡®Courage and recklessness may seem like a thin line, but the outcomes are worlds apart.¡¯

    ¡°However, I¡¯ll request that the emperor temporarily designate you as the first priority.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor, Vice-Minister.¡±

    I said that if I couldn¡¯t have it, then neither should anyone else.

    That way, it would leave the possibility for me to obtain it later.

    Then I presented a banknote to the vice-minister.

    ¡°This is a banknote worth 1,000 gold coins. The source of the funds is very clean. If you come to our merchant group, I¡¯ll exchange it for you.¡±

    ¡°...This is not how it should be.¡±

    Yet, he didn¡¯t refuse and accepted it as if he had no choice.

    ¡°Ahem, ahem. I¡¯ll convey your words well to the emperor.¡±

    With that, I left the meeting.

    If I want to achieve something big, I must start by impressing the other party...

    ¡®It¡¯s important to look at things with a longer perspective.¡¯

    Wherever there is light, shadows must inevitably exist.

    As the saying goes, even if they are of a lower rank than the merchants, the guild masters of Florence, who fall into the category mentioned by me, gathered.

    Among them, there wasn¡¯t a blacksmith guild master who had become a loyal dog of Duke Visconti...

    ¡°Fabio de Medici. Isn¡¯t that fellow acting a bit too recklessly?¡±

    The guild masters from various trades, including jewelers, butchers, chefs, millers, real estate agents, and more...

    Many guild masters nodded upon hearing those words.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to criticize him for handling military supplies with integrity. If we start a quarrel over that, the Duke Visconti or the emperor behind him wouldn¡¯t just sit idly by.¡±

    Although they didn¡¯t say it directly, the underlying meaning is clear.

    They don¡¯t want to provoke anyone if it won¡¯t directly harm them.

    ¡°However, that fellow has already tamed the guild masters of two smaller cities to his side. While the other merchants might still communicate with one another, do you think that young brat will want to have a conversation with us?¡±

    When people gather, they tend to speak ill of anyone not present, even if it¡¯s the king.

    Moreover, while each guild master here may not match Fabio¡¯s power, if dozens of guild masters join forces?

    They could exert tremendous political influence.

    The number of seats in the city council held by these guild masters represents one-third of the total council members.

    With the right distribution of bribes, they could impose various regulations.

    ¡®That Fabio fellow has a lot of greed; he might try to push us out.¡¯

    When dealing with potential troublemakers, you either uproot them or properly train them to make them submissive.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to draw swords immediately since he hasn¡¯t directly challenged us. However, we must give him a bruise. Is there anyone with a good idea?¡±

    Upon those words, the spice guild master, who ranks among the top five guild masters in Florence, stood up.

    ¡°I have a good idea...¡±

 Chapter 70

    The other guild masters are influenced by the merchants but maintain a certain degree of independence.

    Even if the merchants decide not to trade, it¡¯s still possible for them to somewhat develop their own supply chains or sales routes.

    However, the spice guild cannot avoid being controlled by the merchants.

    If the Medici baron¡¯s merchant group and the three families that monopolize the spice trade collaborate to cut off supplies, there won¡¯t be any sugar or pepper available.

    In short, their means of survival would be entirely cut off.

    Moreover, the current Medici baron secretly dislikes Fabio.

    ¡®If we show that young brat the bitter taste of reality, he might offer us cheaper pepper next time.¡¯

    ¡°I believe none of the masters here are unfamiliar with Cafe? Medici. I often go there to enjoy coffee and pastries.¡±

    Cafe? Medici is a trendy, small social venue.

    Although they aren¡¯t formal nobles, they wield noble-level power and must maintain a noble-like appearance due to their slightly inferior bloodline.

    They also experience feelings of inferiority toward the blue-blooded individuals who were born fortunate.

    ¡®They cannot fall behind nobles even in culture.¡¯

    That¡¯s why they generously sponsor all kinds of performances, plays, literature, and arts, even without much knowledge.

    Visiting Fabio¡¯s cafe? is a necessity for survival rather than just a matter of preference.

    ¡°Fabio is a major client of our spice guild. He purchases dozens of tons of sugar every month. I believe everyone knows the reason for that.¡±

    At Cafe? Medici, they never skimp on sugar when making desserts.

    They pour it in liberally to create cakes, cookies, tarts, and donuts.

    This is essential to impress nobles who enjoy sprinkling pepper on their wine or using pepper instead of flour for fried chicken.

    Moreover, in Florence, where lavish banquets are held daily, ¡°Fabio¡¯s desserts¡± are always a must-have.

    Thousands, even tens of thousands of servings of desserts are sold daily.

    While the nobles may not be aware, guild masters of this level are well-informed.

    ¡°Our spice guild plans to stop selling sugar to Baron Fabio de Medici from now on. I also intend to issue a command to the spice guilds in other cities.¡±

    Upon hearing this, the guild masters present applauded.

    This could strike a significant blow to Fabio while not provoking the emperor or Duke Visconti.

    Moreover, it would inevitably be a devastating blow...

    ¡®Merchants rely on trust and consistent sales; if the sugar supply is cut off, their dessert sales will also stop?¡¯

    Even if the sugar supply resumes later and they can restart business, they will find themselves in competition with other latecomers.

    They will never regain the absolute top position in the dessert market they currently hold.

    However, the most painful issue for Fabio will be...

    ¡°Merchants must uphold promises and transactions, no matter the reason. Otherwise, trust will be lost. Everyone here has likely experienced losses and wept in business because of that, right?¡±

    Even if it means incurring losses of hundreds, or even thousands, of gold coins, trust must be maintained.

    Only then can they eventually recoup their lost money, even if it takes some time.

    ¡®While money can be earned again, regaining lost trust takes much longer.¡¯

    ¡°If a young man loses trust, recovering from it won¡¯t be easy.¡±

    The guild masters present didn¡¯t believe that this alone would bring Fabio down.

    While there are young and capable merchants, the Baron de Medici is a monster entirely different from them in terms of capability.

    ¡®He can¡¯t possibly fall just because of this.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯d prefer it if you only spoiled me as much as possible, Young Master... If I see you looking at a cat and petting it with a loving smile, I think I¡¯ll feel jealous.¡±

    If only there were no guards around, I might have playfully pinched her cheeks in my room.

    Since there was no one else, but the presence of others made me hold back, which was a bit disappointing.

    However, seeing Chloe getting jealous over a kitten was more than enough.

    I could tease her with it when we returned to my room.

    While lost in happy thoughts, I noticed Chloe¡¯s face turning bright red as she clenched her fists.

    Did she make some sort of resolve?

    With her fists slightly clenched, she nodded her wrist.

    What I taught her was certainly not that, but it reminded me of the cat ear headbands worn by maids at maid cafe?s, who often meow adorably.

    ¡°I want you to spoil me as much as you do the cat, Young Master.¡±

    If there had been no guards around, I could have teased her more openly.

    But it was a bit unfortunate that I couldn¡¯t do so with others watching.

    Still, witnessing Chloe¡¯s jealousy over a kitten was satisfying enough.

    I could play around with her teasing when we returned to my room.

    Lost in that happy fantasy, I saw Chloe¡¯s face turn red as she balled her fists.

    ¡°Even though I¡¯m not a cat, I hope you¡¯ll spoil me like you do with a kitten. I¡¯ll try my best, even if it¡¯s a bit embarrassing.¡±

    I couldn''t possibly think of adopting a cat now.

    Really, why would I need to adopt a cat?

    Upon closer examination, it seemed that raising a cat would be an inefficient use of my time.

    Of course, I didn¡¯t change my mind just because of Chloe¡¯s cuteness.

    ¡®I¡¯m not that indecisive of a person.¡¯

    With that in mind, I quickened my pace.

    I should finish my work as soon as possible and relax today.

    Upon entering Cafe? Medici, Antonio greeted me warmly.

    ¡°Today, I¡¯ll specially serve you in that room over there.¡±

    Our cafe? has a room set apart from others.

    While the usage fee is quite high, it guarantees privacy for nobles to discuss confidential matters or engage in more passionate displays of affection with their lovers.

    ¡®Of course, that doesn¡¯t mean you can build a Great Wall in there.¡¯

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have an espresso.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±

    Antonio ordered an espresso, an Americano, and cookies from his subordinate.

    As soon as the ordered food came out and the door was locked, he spoke in a serious tone.

    ¡°The spice guild has stopped the sugar supply.¡±

    ...... I was planning to have some fun with Chloe and the kitten today. Who dares to mess with us?

    That insolent brat, really.

    _____________________________________________

    TL note:

    Thank you for following along with I Became A Black Merchant In Another World! Your engagement with the story is incredibly important, so please don¡¯t forget to like and comment. Your feedback not only supports the translation but also helps guide me in delivering the best experience possible.?

 Chapter 71

    The first thought that crossed my mind was the annoyance toward the guy who had poured cold water on someone trying to enjoy themselves.

    I wasn¡¯t some pervert driven by sexual pleasure, so I quickly sensed the seriousness of the situation.

    ¡°Since the report hasn¡¯t come in yet, I take it you just got notified?¡±

    Antonio lowered his head as if admitting his mistake.

    ¡°Yes, I was notified just two hours ago. So, I¡¯ve been running the store and business normally while trying to figure out how much sugar stock we have. I¡¯m also checking if I can buy sugar from the spice guilds in other cities.¡±

    The Florence guild acts as the head of the guilds in other cities.

    To be more precise, it¡¯s like the president of an association.

    Now that the spice guild master has directly imposed a sugar sales ban on us, it¡¯s only a matter of time before other guilds follow suit and tell us not to sell to them.

    ¡°Buying sugar from other cities is practically impossible. Just think about it; if Antonio were the spice guild master, would he make such a foolish mistake after drawing his sword?¡±

    ¡°...Still, I¡¯ll check just in case.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll contact Guillaume City and see if we can smuggle in as much sugar as we need.¡±

    Guillaume City has become quite prosperous and is noticeable even in the Lyon Kingdom.

    Of course, sugar sales would be thriving there.

    If I were to buy it all, the wealthy merchants of the Lyon Kingdom would gladly sell it to me.

    If sugar were a spice like pepper, cloves, or nutmeg that¡¯s only produced far away in India, I would have truly been out of luck.

    ¡®If that were the case, I might have had to bang my head against the spice guild master right away.¡¯

    ¡°And how much sugar do we have left in stock?¡±

    ¡°Since we use sugar in large quantities, we always stockpile a considerable amount when we buy. We should be able to last about a month.¡±

    Like other spices, sugar doesn¡¯t spoil.

    ¡°A month isn¡¯t too short, but it¡¯s not exactly a lot of breathing room either.¡±

    If I can rush to Guillaume City and bring in sugar through smuggling, I could extinguish the fire that¡¯s dropped at my feet.

    Even if I get hit with customs duties while buying from foreign spice guilds and merchants, I¡¯d have to pay several times the normal price.

    However, compared to the losses incurred from not being able to supply desserts if the sugar supply is cut off?

    ¡®I can¡¯t lose sight of the most important part due to a small profit.¡¯

    Even if I incur losses from sugar, I can make up for it somehow with seaweed or coffee.

    But if I fail to cover the problems arising from sugar and lose trust?

    That would leave a wound that can¡¯t be healed by seaweed or coffee.

    Antonio cautiously asked.

    ¡°Should we stop selling desserts to outsiders?¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t do that. That¡¯s exactly what that damn spice guild master wants. I¡¯ll find a way to smuggle in sugar, so keep normal operations running. No matter what, accept any unexpected large orders that come in.¡±

    If I were the guild master of the spice guild, I would probably place an unexpected large order just to screw us over...

    If we receive orders while we have no sugar stock, we¡¯d truly be in trouble.

    ¡®It would be like pouring chili powder and salt into a wound.¡¯

    And just then, I heard someone urgently knocking on the door.

    ¡°Baron Medici has an inferiority complex toward me. You know why the House of Farnese formed an alliance with the Medici family, right?¡±

    His eyes widened in realization.

    ¡°I think I misspoke. This issue must be addressed at our Medici family level. We shouldn¡¯t seek Baron Medici¡¯s help, but how about seeking advice from the former baron?¡±

    Seeking advice is tantamount to asking for help.

    And while my father is retired, he still holds far more power within the family than someone like ¡®Albert.¡¯

    ¡®He could probably do anything except for ousting the current baron, Albert.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that as a last resort. Where¡¯s Kris?¡±

    ¡°She was with me, but as soon as she heard about the urgent matter, she ordered our trading ship to prepare for departure.¡±

    I can¡¯t say this to Sebastian, but aside from being a long-time acquaintance who has seen me since childhood, Kris seems better.

    She anticipated that I would be heading out before I even revealed any problems.

    A sound came from outside the door.

    ¡°It¡¯s Christina Modina. May I come in?¡±

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    As soon as Kris entered, she reported to me.

    ¡°I¡¯ve ordered our ship, the Slough, and the Carac to prepare for departure. You should be able to set sail as soon as you arrive at the port.¡±

    It takes about three days to reach the nearest port from Florence.

    ¡®Preparing for the ship to set sail will also take about four days.¡¯

    Scraping off barnacles on the deck, loading food and water, and bringing back the crew we hired for our trading ship.

    ¡°Very well done. For now, I¡¯ll grant Sebastian full authority, so no matter how much it costs, go to Guillaume City and gather as much sugar as you can. It would be even better if you could fill the Carac to the brim.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±

    Sebastian didn¡¯t ask any more questions and walked out.

    But perhaps out of caution against any spies that might be inside?

    There was a hint of relaxation in his stride.

    ¡®As expected, I have good subordinates.¡¯

    ¡°If you¡¯re not going to Guillaume City yourself, are you planning to visit Alsini?¡±

    If I use the relationship of selling seaweed to him and buying coffee, he¡¯d surely give me as much sugar as I want.

    But then I¡¯d have to become a servant of the Alsini family.

    ¡°No, instead, I¡¯m thinking of taking this opportunity to secure land where we can cultivate sugar.¡±

    ¡°Where on earth could you possibly grow sugar...¡±

    There¡¯s exactly one place.

    A place where quite a few people live, not too far off, resembling a ¡®foreign country.¡¯

    No, to be more precise, it¡¯s the territory of a fanatic knight order that¡¯s crazy about the Deus religion.

    ¡°I need to meet Duke Visconti. Kris, you follow me.¡±

    And before half a day had passed, I was granted a private audience with the duke.

 Chapter 72

    As soon as the duke saw me, he began to chat and show off.

    ¡°Other baronets can¡¯t even request a private audience with me. I¡¯m allowing you, Fabio, to meet with me specially. You understand that, right?¡±

    Someone ignorant would think it¡¯s not a big deal to just meet with a person.

    However, the workings of the world aren¡¯t that simple.@@@@

    Just having a judge or prosecutor¡¯s business card in my wallet dramatically reduces the chances of being falsely accused by corrupt cops.

    Even if one commits a crime, those in the know would often look for mitigating circumstances to lessen the punishment.

    Let alone, in the Toscana Empire, just having connections with the duke grants me a sort of immunity.

    Ordinary infractions would likely be overlooked by the guards.

    If the duke personally intervenes, unless I killed someone in plain sight, even if I committed murder, I could potentially be exonerated.

    Of course, engaging in such antics would lead to terrifying consequences, and I wouldn¡¯t want to commit sins that are unbecoming of a person.

    ¡®I should think of this as a safety net.¡¯

    This is why, when you look closely, the privilege of being able to hold a sudden private meeting in half a day is truly significant.

    ¡°I apologize for bothering you, Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it; we¡¯re on friendly terms. Thanks to you, our faction has managed to significantly put Sforza the Duke in his place recently.¡±

    I had heard that the Pereira family was quite friendly with Duke Sforza.

    However, I also heard that the Pereira family had lost all their military contracts, which caused their status among the merchants to drop considerably.

    Due to their involvement in military supply corruption, their reputation was in the gutter.

    It¡¯s likely that the mud has splattered on the Duke they are affiliated with as well.

    ¡®Their financial situation must be suffering too.¡¯

    ¡°The young men in our faction¡ªno, with someone like you, you¡¯re practically a senior in my faction already. Once you marry and become the head of a proper noble family, I¡¯ll even seat you in the uppermost position as a baronet.¡±

    Whether in Europe or Joseon, until you get married, you won¡¯t be treated as an adult even if you are quite old.

    On the other hand, if you marry and have children, even if you¡¯re just in your late teens, you¡¯d be treated as an adult everywhere, at least in pretense.

    Moreover, in a meeting of the Visconti Duke''s faction, contribution to the faction takes precedence over rank.

    However, generally, that contribution is proportional to rank. If I¡¯m at the uppermost position...

    ¡®I¡¯ll be sitting next to counts or influential viscounts eyeing the count¡¯s seat.¡¯

    ¡°That¡¯s too much praise.¡±

    ¡°I assume you¡¯ve come to see me in a hurry because there¡¯s a crisis? Speak up; the problems faced by the members of my faction are as good as my own.¡±

    The medieval era¡ªor rather, our Albanian continent¡ªfunctions in a manner similar to organized crime.

    If I were to compare it to the Yakuza, the duke is the boss, and as a baronet, I¡¯m a regular member of the organization.

    If an organization member is in danger, it¡¯s the boss¡¯s job to pick up a sword and rally other executives to trample over the threat.

    ¡°Actually, as of today, the spice guild bastards have cut off the sugar supply to Cafe? Medici.¡±

    At those words, the duke''s face stiffened.

    ¡°What a bunch of trashy lowlifes! You didn¡¯t directly infringe on their profits, did you? They¡¯re picking a fight just because they¡¯re growing in size? That¡¯s utterly infuriating.¡±

    Among the guilds in Florence, only the blacksmith guild has the justification to openly attack me.

    They lost all steel production to me and Duke Visconti, so their livelihoods have been stripped away.

    ¡®Of course, the duke had set me up to make them puppets of the Visconti family.¡¯

    Moreover, even if there is a justifiable reason for hitting someone, if one ends up in a fight, they could still end up in jail for assault.

    Besides, the spice guild has no reason to fight me...

    ¡®It¡¯s akin to blind violence.¡¯

    ¡°Well, if another merchant in our faction faced such an issue, it would be a bit upsetting, but we¡¯re somewhat close, aren¡¯t we?¡±

    I created a new forging technique, reaping massive profits, and the duke succeeded in completely monopolizing the steel that forms the backbone of this country¡¯s military.

    ¡°I wish my granddaughter would find someone like you to marry.¡±

    ....... I must have misheard that.

    After Fabio left the office, Count Latina, the chancellor of the duke''s family, entered.

    ¡°It seems Your Grace has quite a fondness for Baron Medici.¡±

    Duke Visconti chuckled.

    ¡°Neither you nor I could have done half as much at that age. Yet that lad, Fabio, brings back the best results without a care, no matter how unreasonable tasks we throw at him.¡±

    ¡°I was certainly surprised when he created a new forging method. Analyzing the process of handling military supplies gave me chills.¡±

    Count Latina reminisced about Fabio¡¯s achievements.

    Improving soldiers'' meals and cutting costs by tackling all forms of corruption in military supplies is something a ¡®capable merchant¡¯ could do.

    However, to elevate the quality of meals several levels while not making enemies of the merchants reliant on military supply profits?

    ¡®That was absurd.¡¯

    He managed to maintain extremely high quality and low prices in handling ¡°military supplies for two divisions,¡± even while his faction was still small.

    It¡¯s not something an ordinary young noble could pull off.

    ¡®Especially creating the conditions for military supplies in just two months would have been a task that even seasoned nobles would have given up on.¡¯

    The duke chuckled.

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s difficult for people to always choose the righteous path, right? His Majesty¡¯s favor led the minister to propose the ¡®royal authority enhancement plan,¡¯ which was quite disappointing. I even considered calling him in for a stern reprimand.¡±

    Enhancing royal authority would diminish the standing of nobles like the duke.

    This is as natural as water flowing from high to low.

    ¡°However, I feel it was an unnecessary worry.¡±

    ¡°Why do you think so?¡±

    ¡°They say he¡¯s going to achieve the feat of expanding territory without lifting a finger. If another young man had said that, I might not believe it, but with Fabio, I can trust it.¡±

    People usually prove their trust through results.

    Fabio de Medici, though only 22 years old, has achieved enough to be considered a key player in any faction.

    He helped monopolize steel, granting control over the military, and dealt a serious blow to the financial lines of enemy factions.

    Completing military supplies and becoming the youngest major to be granted a lightning commission while begging to at least be made the division''s logistics officer.

    ¡°I should ask him about this later. If His Majesty grants absolute royal authority, what benefits would he offer me?¡±

    Count Latina nodded in agreement.

    ¡°I¡¯m also quite uncertain. Nevertheless, it¡¯s a shame.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I do have a granddaughter, but she¡¯s too young.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just how life is, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    The duke made a face opposite to the playful banter he was sharing.

    ¡°I wish we could tie him down a bit more firmly. How great would it be if Fabio could assist Alfred directly?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t young Duke Alfred quite capable?¡±

    Alfred de Visconti is indeed quite competent.

    But the better someone is, the more they can be valued.

    ¡°Count Latina, it¡¯s better to have more excellent individuals like you.¡±

    Then he spoke to his most trusted subordinate.

    ¡°If your son and Fabio support the capable Alfred, I¡¯m sure the Sforza faction won¡¯t be able to catch their breath. I look forward to that.¡±

    With that, the duke stood up from his seat.

    ¡°It¡¯s too precious to hand over to His Majesty.¡±

 Chapter 73

    Rabatt Island is one of the best places for ordinary serfs to live in the Albanian continent.

    Other serfs are required to either give 30% of their harvested grain (with an additional 20% for the managers¡¯ collection fees) or work unpaid labor for three days a week as ordered by the lord.

    In contrast, in this area, there are no mandatory unpaid labor requirements, and taxes are only 15%.

    Maybe that¡¯s why? The residents of Rabatt Island had a sheen of oil on their faces.

    ¡°Sir, this place is governed by the knights who have devoted everything to God, so it seems the administration is very fair. The villagers wear various kinds of clothing, but they all have a healthy shine on their faces.¡±@@@@

    No, the rulers of Rabatt Island are, in some sense, the worst of the worst.

    They believe that ¡°all crimes¡± are permissible against infidels.

    And since humans have an instinct to do anything for profit as long as it¡¯s not illegal or criminal, they act accordingly.

    ¡®Even the infamous Fugger family, known for usury, is astounded by their cruelty.¡¯

    However, I didn¡¯t want to burden cute Chloe with the harsh realities.

    ¡°Chloe, the reason the Deus knights collect very little tax here isn¡¯t just because they¡¯re virtuous.¡±

    ¡°Is that so, Kris?¡±

    Kris looked at me, winked lightly, and continued.

    ¡°Rabatt Island is on the front lines of the fight against infidels. While it may seem peaceful now, the Sultan of the Medina Sultanate often leads thousands of troops to invade.¡±

    ¡°To take this little island?¡±

    ¡°I mentioned on the boat earlier. The Deus knights are still waging war against the infidels. To be precise, they¡¯re still engaged in piracy.¡±

    These knights are considered the most experienced pirates on the continent, attacking only infidels.

    The knights rely on raiding the trade routes of nearby sultanates, like those in Tunick, to cover their various expenses.

    It¡¯s evident that maintaining hundreds or even thousands of knights comes with hefty costs.

    They pillage trade ships at sea and penetrate deep into the coast to raid infidel villages and engage in slave trade.

    I recall a slave trader once came to me, trying to sell me an infidel girl slave.

    ¡®Was it priced at 800 gold coins?¡¯

    This is how they earn enough money to keep the knights running.

    So, to the infidels, the Deus knights are probably 20 times more detestable than any pig from the north.

    ¡°Living in such a dangerous place is frightening, but if taxes were high, would the people even want to live here?¡±

    ¡°Serfs lack the freedom to choose where to live, but I too would be scared and wouldn¡¯t want to live in such a place.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why the Deus knights only collect extremely low taxes from the residents living here. They have to choose a prosperous life over the fear of being killed by infidels at any moment.¡±

    Chloe nodded at this explanation.

    ¡°Being anxious about when the enemy might invade is scarier than starving...¡±

    Kris affectionately patted Chloe¡¯s head, treating her like a younger sister.

    ¡°Moreover, even though the maintenance costs of the knights are entirely covered by plundering infidels, the knights also need to eat and drink, right? Someone must provide those things.¡±

    ¡°When you explained why military supply was important, you said the same thing.¡±

    Though I had never participated in a war, I had heard from military supply merchants that a mercenary band of over 300 people typically has over 300 suppliers accompanying them.

    The Deus knights must have taken some sort of vow, like the ¡®Oath of Purity,¡¯ but anyone who could uphold it strictly would have entered a secluded monastery.

    Given that, how would they satisfy their carnal desires? It¡¯s pointless to even mention it.

    ¡®Go ahead and reject the representative of the duke; it will only make things difficult for you.¡¯

    ¡°Holy! I apologize!¡±

    Those who worship only Deus seem to salute with a phrase of holiness; truly, they¡¯re steeped in fanaticism.

    With my status as a representative, I should be able to meet the commander soon...

    But to show them how close I want to be with them, there should be ¡®gifts¡¯ exchanged.

    The Bible says that gifts (bribes) create friendships and help one escape difficulties.

    Since Deus also said that offering gifts is the will of the gods, I should follow suit, right?

    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard serving in a place like this. Seeing the crest on the pommel of your sword, you must be a second or third son of a noble family. I am as well.¡±

    With that, I handed the knight 10 gold coins.

    Though it¡¯s too much money to give to a mere sentry, when he receives such a sum, a portion of it will be passed on to this knight¡¯s superior.

    Then the superior will testify to the higher-ups that Baron Medici¡¯s baronet is eager to befriend us.

    ¡®Taking care of these small details is part of diplomacy and business.¡¯

    ¡°Thank you! I¡¯ll buy a drink and some snacks to relieve my troubles with this! Sir Bennett, please inform the commander that the representative of Duke Visconti has arrived!¡±

    Upon hearing that, the knight called Bennett ran off as fast as his feet could carry him.

    ¡®Indeed, money is the best. It can even summon spirits!¡¯

    With that amount, you could buy dozens of barrels of alcohol.

    Since he¡¯s learned his place, it seems he¡¯s instinctively hiding the fact that he received such a large sum.

    ¡°But is the treatment of the Medici baron family a bit lacking?¡±

    At that remark, the sentry cautiously replied.

    ¡°Since we¡¯re dealing with a family that trades with infidels, our commander doesn¡¯t need to openly oppose them, but it¡¯s hard for him to hold them in high regard.¡±

    Well, the profits from spice trading also end up benefiting the infidels.

    ¡°Of course, Baron, you are the exception. Who would think poorly of someone who understands the struggles of lowly knights like us and shows such consideration and faith?¡±

    Are these guys really a fanatic pirate group?

    Why are they acting so humane?

    Just then, the knight named Bennett rushed over, the sound of his iron armor clanging as he hurried.

    ¡°The commander has granted you an audience!¡±

    Without delay, I moved my steps toward where the commander was.

    The commander greeted me with an expression that held a hint of hostility.

    ¡°What is the reason for your visit here, Sir?¡±

    Not even addressing me as a baronet shows how much they despise the Medici baron family.

    In contrast, others usually treat those affiliated with the ¡®Medici baron family¡¯ almost like they would a viscount.

    These folks seem to prioritize their religious beliefs over those social ties, don¡¯t they?

    ¡®Calling me a sir instead is their subtle way of showing their distaste for the Medici baron family.¡¯

    ¡°Do you not need funding to continue the crusade? We¡¯re here to assist.¡±

    It seems that as long as you¡¯re not an enemy of their family, money can absolve almost any grievance.

    You¡¯ll find yourself in that same situation too.

 Chapter 74

    In the end, human life inevitably revolves around money.

    In wealthy families, even if tuition fees are not insignificant, family lives don¡¯t get shaken by it.

    However, in poor families, the burden of university tuition can lead the entire family into tears and chaos, ruining their lives.

    Even here, in a knight order where devotion is exceptionally strong, the situation is likely no different.

    ¡®Even those who fought for independence often gave up due to livelihood issues.¡¯

    Yet these individuals are not only focused on ideals; fighting infidels makes money all the more important.

    ¡°Are you saying you want to make a donation? We would welcome contributions.¡±

    They occasionally set sail to the sea and rob infidel merchant ships that have done no wrong, and if they want a thrill, they pillage towns along the Sultanate¡¯s coast like Vikings.

    However, ethical standards differ with the times; nonetheless, they are recognized by the pope as a ¡°sacred knight order,¡± a ¡°model of faith,¡± and ¡°the mace fulfilling the will of God.¡±

    It¡¯s a proper act of devotion to donate to those worthy of respect among the Deus followers.@@@@

    ¡°If I need to go abroad, I¡¯ll testify to Your Grace¡¯s faithfulness. I¡¯ll also hold mass, albeit briefly, every month.¡±

    As I had expected, these guys must be in dire need of funds.

    When money is plentiful, they wouldn¡¯t offer such benefits for a donation.

    But now they¡¯re providing such VIP services at a heavily discounted price.

    It¡¯s enough to bring tears of gratitude to my eyes.

    ¡°I intend to make a donation, but more importantly, I came to discuss business.¡±

    Upon hearing my words, the commander tilted his head in confusion.

    ¡°There¡¯s not much in terms of local specialties on our island. The best we have is a good catch of fish, but is that anything remarkable?¡±

    Had this been the territory of the Medici baron family, smuggling with the infidels (miracles like the managers turning a blind eye) would likely have been done quite openly.

    Then various spices, mercury, precious metals, and infidel artworks would have flocked here.

    They would have made a fortune selling those, much like Singapore or Taiwan, which survive solely on their geographic conditions.

    ¡®I know it¡¯s profitable, but their beliefs prevent them from doing that.¡¯

    ¡°This place has a climate well-suited for growing sugarcane.¡±

    As soon as the commander heard the word ¡°sugarcane,¡± he looked like he was about to grab me by the collar.

    He slammed his hand on the desk and stood up.

    ¡°It¡¯s true that our Deus knights are short on funds! But are you suggesting we grow sugarcane, which the infidels cultivate? Are you trying to insult us? That Visconti duke must be out of his mind!¡±

    If I weren¡¯t the duke¡¯s representative, I¡¯d have been killed for sure.

    But then again, I¡¯ve nearly died more than once.

    If I were scared off by threats, I wouldn¡¯t be able to pull this off.

    When facing someone who takes a hardline stance, you must use strong words.

    ¡°Why do you have such a narrow view, Commander?¡±

    ¡°Are you insulting me right now?!¡±

    In the noble world, the word ¡°insult¡± implies that the person is interpreting it in such a way.

    ¡®It means I¡¯ll kill you; even if I can¡¯t now, I can¡¯t live under the same sky as you.¡¯

    ¡°Of course, your taxes would only consist of symbolic items to be paid annually.¡±

    This is feasible due to the various symbolisms this knight order holds.

    To the emperor, the Deus knights voluntarily walked in as vassals, and because of their presence, the Toscana Empire¡¯s territorial waters are not threatened by infidel pirates.

    ¡®All the infidels trying to cross into our empire are dealt with by the Deus knights.¡¯

    Additionally, they are those who have received the title of guardians of faith from the pope.

    If it became known that the most devout among them are serving as loyal subjects to their lord, it would reflect positively on our emperor.

    ¡®A ruler deemed noble enough by those living for faith.¡¯

    Considering that, even a complete waiver of duties would be welcomed with cheers by the emperor.

    ¡°...... While it¡¯s positive, even I, as commander, cannot decide on this easily. I am the commander of this order, not its lord.¡±

    This knight order operates similarly to a parliamentary system.

    Decisions are made through discussions with leaders such as the grand marshal, general, and abbots under the commander''s authority.

    ¡®Except when it comes to war or plundering.¡¯

    ¡°However, everyone will welcome this proposal. Though our knights came this far for faith, we cannot overlook financial issues.¡±

    Even among church pastors, there are many who dual-task as faithful little church ministers.

    During the week, they work in skilled jobs at construction sites and gather the congregation to minister on weekends.

    Originally, it¡¯s frowned upon for ministers to dual-task due to ¡°various issues,¡± but since they can¡¯t starve while ministering, the congregation reluctantly allows it.

    Financial issues are that dire.

    Let alone a knight order formed by secular individuals aiming to make a living.

    ¡°Where are you currently staying?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m lodging at an inn called ¡®Footprints of the Wind.¡¯¡±

    ¡°That place is not bad, but we cannot let someone of your stature stay there. I will offer you a guest room within the fortress walls of our order.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Then he casually said something shocking.

    ¡°Oh, you must be quite spirited at your age. I¡¯ll prepare something nice for you. Since they¡¯re infidels, it¡¯s okay to treat them a bit roughly.¡±

    He just twisted his words, but he was essentially saying he¡¯d give me an infidel sex slave, which is hard to find elsewhere.

    It¡¯s fortunate that I decided not to bring Chloe and Kris along.

    I need to sternly command those two not to wander around the fortress until we return.

    ¡®I should block contact with my servants as well.¡¯

    Even I find the suggestion shocking, so for those two girls, it would be provocatively suggestive in a negative direction.

    ¡°My maid will get jealous. She¡¯s the type to get jealous even if I say I¡¯ll just keep a cat.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen a young nobleman value his maid so much.¡±

    The commander clicked his tongue in disappointment.

    ¡°Receiving gifts is a matter of taste, and if a maid is so dear to you, I can¡¯t force you to change your mind. If your feelings ever change, just let me know.¡±

    While I adapt to everything else, I have no intention of giving up my basic sense of human rights.

    ¡°Thank you, Your Grace.¡±

 Chapter 75

    Naturally, the Deus knights accepted my proposal.

    With just a slight bow of the head, I was promising them tremendous benefits, and a poor knight order had no reason to refuse.

    ¡°Indeed, money is everything.¡±

    There are certainly things in this world that cannot be achieved with money.

    You can¡¯t buy someone¡¯s love with money, nor can you bring the dead back to life.

    But you can purchase means and methods to gain love, and you can take living people to the hospital to keep them from dying.

    ¡®There are hardly any happy people without money.¡¯

    After waiting for a moment, the duke entered the room, chuckling heartily.

    ¡°You¡¯re truly remarkable! You¡¯ve actually made that Rhodos knight order a vassal of our empire!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve merely received the price for giving them what they wanted.¡±

    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s that easy to accurately assess what they desire and then figure out how to fulfill it? Stop being humble and strut around a bit.¡±

    The duke patted me on the shoulder.

    His face was beaming with smiles, and his shoulders were raised proudly.

    ¡°I received a general idea from the letter you sent, but I¡¯d like to hear it directly. How exactly did you do it?¡±

    ¡°I will explain in detail. First, as soon as the spice guild imposed a sugar sales ban on Cafe? Medici, I purchased sugar from abroad. I ordered the butler to secure the necessary amount at any cost, even if it was three times the cost price.¡±

    ¡°Sugar is generally expensive. If you buy it at such high prices, won¡¯t there be nothing left?¡±

    The largest portion of the cost for the desserts sold at Cafe? Medici comes from sugar.@@@@

    Moreover, we don¡¯t hold back when adding sugar; we pour it in generously.

    If I pay three times the usual purchase price, I¡¯d essentially be running a business at a loss.

    It¡¯s not just empty talk when traders in the market lament their losses; with each sale, money flows out of my pocket.

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t I just say I have no choice but to stop selling because of the spice guild¡¯s tyranny?¡±

    Unlike me, the spice guild has a rather poor social image.

    So if I complain about their price gouging, everyone would surely curse them.

    I could gain sympathy and understanding.

    But what if it shifts to a transactional level?

    ¡®To be frank, it¡¯s unacceptable to miss an important trade except for family funerals.¡¯

    There¡¯s even a story about a certain CEO of a major company in South Korea who postponed attending his eldest son¡¯s funeral just to make a deal with foreign investors, emphasizing the importance of ¡®trust.¡¯

    If the business of Cafe? Medici were merely shaken by the spice guild scoundrels...

    ¡®It would undoubtedly affect other business sectors as well.¡¯

    ¡°The nobles and merchants would understand such human factors fully. However, I doubted that they would trust someone who wavers under such a minor threat. Therefore, I wanted to show them that I wouldn¡¯t waver even at a loss.¡±

    ¡°Excellent.¡±

    ¡°Let me continue. Given that such an issue has arisen, I sought a fundamental solution, suspecting I would face similar troubles in the future. While contemplating, I obtained information that the island occupied by the Deus knights is suitable for sugarcane cultivation.¡±

    Even in Europe, places like Sicily and Rhodes can grow sugarcane.

    For some reason, in this world, with its geological similarities to Earth, I asked the infidels, and received reports that sugarcane could indeed be cultivated.

    ¡°So, when I looked into the financial situation of the Deus knights, it was appallingly dire. If I could solve that issue for them, they would undoubtedly accept all of my proposals.¡±

    ¡°When faced with problems, one must look broadly. Only then can solutions be found.¡±

    Not every problem in this world can be solved by looking broadly.

    The duke might be fine, but the people around him would likely become envious.

    If they are consumed by jealousy, they could influence the duke and the emperor to change their views of me.

    ¡®In simpler terms, it could lead to my death.¡¯

    Thus, there¡¯s a saying in Joseon.

    A young man, regardless of how skilled he is, can¡¯t live peacefully if he becomes a public servant at a young age due to jealousy.

    ¡°Your Grace, as long as you know my intentions, that¡¯s enough for me. Therefore, I need no rewards. I only require sugar from there.¡±

    It¡¯s time to step back for greater success.

    The duke seemed touched by my sincerity and pulled me into a tight embrace, unable to contain his emotions.

    ¡°When others have the opportunity to elevate their title, they desperately scramble to do so, yet you have given up your chance for me. In my lifetime, no, as long as our family endures, I shall never forget your loyalty.¡±

    The duke¡¯s favor, and moreover, the emperor¡¯s evaluation, which will catch wind of this.

    If I can secure just these two, I will be satisfied for now.

    The duke continued to praise my loyalty and sincerity for quite some time.

    ¡°You aren¡¯t married yet, are you?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ve been too busy with work.¡±

    ¡°Marriage can wait. Unlike women, it¡¯s fine for men to marry in their 30s.¡±

    In the Toscana Empire, noble daughters over 22 find it almost impossible to marry normally.

    They become labeled as spinsters.

    While men are relatively freer here, reaching 25 can lead to ridicule, let alone 30...

    ¡°Alfred just finished his service as a general yesterday and is now coming to Florence. I¡¯ll introduce you to him personally. He¡¯s the pillar of our family.¡±

    ...... Even if he is the heir to the duke¡¯s family, if he¡¯s incompetent, he¡¯ll only rotate in ceremonial positions from the rank of major onward, receiving his ¡®star¡¯ for just half a second at the time of retirement.

    ¡®The young duke is probably in his early 40s.¡¯

    Even with the power of being the duke¡¯s heir, if his promotion is almost a decade faster than others, he must be quite competent.

    ¡°It seems it¡¯s about time to start seriously training him to be the successor.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°While he is capable, his perspective is somewhat narrow. I think it¡¯d be beneficial to broaden his view, so I¡¯d like to ask for your help later. Would that be alright?¡±

    To put it plainly, he¡¯s suggesting that I might take on the role of mentor to the young duke, even if just temporarily.

    ¡®Though I can¡¯t be a formal mentor due to age.¡¯

    It¡¯s a great honor to be entrusted with such a position, especially considering my age.

    ¡°It would be an honor, Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°And what do you plan to do about the spice guild scoundrels? If you wish, I can wipe them out, even down to their distant relatives.¡±

    That might be interesting, but I feel like I¡¯d rather handle that myself for more enjoyment.

    ¡°I have a method in mind.¡±

    I briefly explained that method.

    The duke laughed heartily upon hearing my words.

    ¡°You¡¯re truly relentless. The spice guild scoundrels will surely taste blood.¡±

    ¡°It would be an honor. I will take my leave now.¡±

    ¡°Return comfortably.¡±

    And with that, I set out to bury the spice guild scoundrels.

 Chapter 76

    The day after meeting the Duke, I found myself at the High Court.

    Just as judges and prosecutors are the most respected public servants in Korea and the United States, the judges in our Toscana Empire hold the most power.

    Among the judges with the greatest authority, the High Court is particularly well-known.

    "It''s like an institution that combines the Supreme Court, some powers of the National Assembly, and the National Tax Service."

    ¡°I came to see Baron Mancini. Could you pass on a message?¡±

    The junior official at the High Court responded to my request.

    ¡°Baron Mancini? Ah, you mean Judge Mancini? He¡¯s quite busy with official duties. You¡¯ll need to inform him a few days in advance to meet him. I can help you schedule an appointment, though.¡±

    From his appearance, he looked like just a lowly clerk at the High Court.

    If he didn¡¯t give me a gift, he wouldn¡¯t even pass along my desire to meet Baron Mancini.

    I really felt the High Court was on a completely different level compared to other administrative institutions in the empire.

    Even officials from powerful institutions like the Commercial Law Division would generally bow and scrape to someone of noble rank like a baron.

    ¡°If I say that I¡¯m the Fabio de Medici, who reported the misconduct of the Pereira Guild, he¡¯ll come running out barefoot.¡±

    Thanks to exposing the Pereira Guild¡¯s corruption, Baron Mancini was swiftly promoted to ¡°judge.¡±

    In terms of the imperial civil service hierarchy, that¡¯s a level two position; however, in some ceremonies, he received treatment equivalent to that of a vice-minister as a ¡°Chief Judge of the High Court.¡±

    The clerk, realizing he had treated a benefactor poorly, was ready to kneel in apology.

    Asking for a gift wasn''t particularly insulting, so I stopped him appropriately.

    ¡°I''ll let it slide this time, but don¡¯t let it happen again.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Baron! I truly appreciate it!¡±

    I then knocked on the office door.

    ¡°This is Fabio de Medici, and I¡¯d like to meet Judge Mancini. Please pass on my message.¡±

    While it was nice to call it the judge''s office, there were likely judges bustling around inside.

    Even if the subordinate staff were indifferent, the judges themselves were esteemed individuals, so it was proper for me to speak respectfully.

    After a little while, the door opened, and Baron Mancini welcomed me with a smile.

    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s you? No, wait, it''s Baron Medici, isn¡¯t it? You seem a bit taller than three months ago!¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°You''ve grown taller and become more handsome. Come on in for now. Hey, bring out two cups of coffee and some sugar! Since it¡¯s an important guest, make sure to brew coffee with those beans I cherish!¡±

    As a Chief Judge of the High Court, he was someone even hereditary viscounts wouldn¡¯t dare to treat casually.

    If he were to be captured as a criminal, he could become the ¡°grim reaper.¡±

    Seeing such an esteemed figure greet me with such warmth, all eyes around us focused on me.@@@@

    ¡°I heard Baron Medici is young, but is he really that young?¡±

    ¡°Other than not being married, he seems flawless.¡±

    ¡°I wonder if I can make some connections through my relationship with the Chief Judge.¡±

    To sell the state¡¯s most important function to civilians for money, the person who devised this system is truly a piece of human trash.

    If he were in heaven, he should be thrown into Satan''s maw.

    Baron Mancini sighed.

    ¡°You know, there are so many people vying for the position of tax collector that even High Court judges can¡¯t just easily appoint their relatives. It¡¯s not that I doubt your abilities, but if this gets out, the head judge of the Florence High Court will likely dismiss me!¡±

    The head judge of the Florence High Court is the chief of the High Court judges overseeing all the High Courts in the country.

    It¡¯s a position that can only be held by someone with a title of at least count among judicial nobles or the head of a count family favored by the king.

    A position just after the prime minister, wielding almost equal power to a duke.

    In front of such a person, a Chief Judge is as insignificant as a candle in the wind.

    ¡°You don¡¯t doubt my abilities, do you? Do you think I¡¯m acting without a plan?¡±

    I presented the certificate stamped with the Visconti Duke''s seal to the Baron.

    ¡°This time, the Duke will take full responsibility.¡±

    Baron Mancini appeared shocked, as if he had never seen a vow of responsibility from the Duke before.

    If someone were to ask how powerful that vow is?

    ¡°It¡¯s like a guarantee for a business deal.¡±

    ¡°This is a guarantee. And, Judge Mancini...¡±

    I whispered in Mancini¡¯s ear.

    ¡°To be honest, with the title of judicial noble baron, isn¡¯t it hard to rise higher? But if the Duke supports you, you can aim for the head of the High Court in another city.¡±

    The head of the High Court means wielding the power of prosecution and judiciary in another city, deciding who to kill and who to save, while making a fortune.

    ¡°You should aim to be a Chief Judge for three to four years and start climbing up slowly. I should do the same.¡±

    Honestly, I¡¯m not particularly inconvenienced by my current status.

    Just by walking around casually, I could attract a truckload of men trying to get my phone number from a beautiful woman.

    If I play my cards right, I could have such beauties as my flowers in both hands.

    Money? Unlike other nobles, I have no debts, so I have no problem living.

    But living without dreams of climbing higher in this era is incredibly boring.

    Especially without computers or TVs.

    ¡°His Majesty wishes to strengthen the royal authority. Don¡¯t you want to become a tool to achieve that purpose?¡±

    The Duke''s guarantee and trust in me.

    As these two situations combined, Baron Mancini made a big decision.

    ¡°The current auction for the tax collector position in the spice guild starts at four thousand gold coins. If you pay seven or eight thousand coins in advance, I¡¯ll kneel and beg the head judge to give you that position. But don¡¯t forget me.¡±

    There¡¯s an old saying.

    ¡°If you want to go far, go with friends.¡±

    Yes, Baron Mancini, let¡¯s enjoy our time together for a long time.

    And the spice guild leader, who interrupted my plans with Chloe for some cat play, you won¡¯t die comfortably.

 Chapter 77

    The mind of the one who created the tax collector system must be like nuclear waste¡ªworse than some pig living in the north.

    The intention behind the system might seem somewhat good at first glance.

    ¡°If you outsource tax collection, the government has less work to handle, and it saves on expenses, right?¡±

    They created it with this intention, but it''s an even dumber act than leaving fish with a cat.

    Think about it: if you spend a billion won to buy a position for collecting taxes, you¡¯d at least need to collect twenty billion to make a profit.

    The amount paid for a tax collector position is generally equal to the total amount of taxes that are collected, meaning the people end up paying twice as much; it inflates taxes.

    Seeing nobles claiming they have no money while this happens makes me want to open their heads and see what¡¯s inside.

    ¡°Kris, no matter how many times I think about it, the judicial noble who created the tax collector system is definitely a moron. Don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°While I don¡¯t have any particular alternatives, I agree. Only the tax collectors benefit from such a system.¡±

    Of course, I¡¯m currently one of those tax collectors.

    The system itself being rotten is as obvious as the sky being blue.

    You have to call it out when it deserves to be criticized.

    ¡°Still, thanks to this rotten system, I might be able to show the spice guild a pain worse than death.¡±

    Right now, behind me are countless people assisting with the duties of the tax collectors.

    Judge Andante from the High Court, who can both prosecute and pass sentences, several administrative officers and clerks from the High Court, more than twenty soldiers, and Captain Tisia of the guard, along with an administrative officer who specializes in administrative law.

    With this kind of lineup, I feel no envy towards teams that conduct searches on large corporations.

    Citizens and nobles watching this crowd whispered to each other.

    ¡°Looks like there¡¯s going to be a big scene today.¡±

    ¡°From that flag, it seems to be Baron Medici. Who dared to touch him?¡±

    ¡°I heard that the spice guild issued a ban on selling sugar to Cafe? Medici.¡±

    Clearly, people who appeared to be idling began to follow us from a distance.

    Judge Andante approached me and spoke.

    ¡°Hm, it¡¯s a bit uncomfortable with this crowd gathering around us.¡±

    Even though we¡¯re going to do something good, having many eyes on us can be a bit uncomfortable.

    However, this crowd can only help us.

    ¡°Reputation can only be built when many people see you, right? Why not take this opportunity to create an impression as a righteous judge punishing the evil spice guild?¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be nice?¡±

    I decided to impart some wisdom for living life to this judge.

    ¡°Why do you think Judge Mancini¡¯s promotion speed is unusually faster than that of his peers? He¡¯s competent, but isn¡¯t it because he¡¯s achieved notable accomplishments?¡±

    If I tread a bit wrongly here, it could backfire.

    However, so far, what I said wouldn¡¯t raise any red flags for Mancini.

    I laid the foundation by calling him competent and adding that he was lucky.

    It seems our Judge Andante, upon hearing my words, gained deep enlightenment.

    ¡°I, Albert de Andante, can never forgive injustice! I shall deliver a hammer of justice to the wicked spice guild!¡±

    The citizens cheered upon hearing that.

    It¡¯s not that they think he¡¯s righteous; they¡¯re just happy that someone with money will crush the spice guild, applauding his words.

    Such evaluations can later transform into a title of ¡°righteous judge.¡±

    ¡°By the name of the head judge of the Florence High Court, I grant Fabio de Medici the authority to collect taxes from the spice guild. Should it be necessary for official duties, you are permitted to access all financial records and documents within the guild. Enrico de Peperone, Count of the Florence High Court.¡±

    As I finished reading, the leader of the spice guild plopped down to the floor in shock.

    His face turned pale to the point of turning blue, his mouth moving without any words coming out.

    Surprised to the point that he can¡¯t speak, I see?

    The judge Andante behind me grinned and added.

    ¡°In the name of Judge Albert de Andante of the High Court¡¯s Criminal Division 5, I hereby declare the Florence spice guild to be under lockdown. The merchants and servants of the guild will be temporarily detained for investigation. Due to concerns of evidence manipulation and destruction, we will take all goods, documents, and properties you own under our custody for the time being. Clerks, hurry and seize everything that might serve as evidence!¡±

    At that command, various books and potential evidence were packed into wooden boxes one by one.

    The soldiers carried them on carts, and with each departure, the expressions of the guild merchants twisted like Munch¡¯s The Scream.

    ¡°Every merchant and servant of yours will be moved to the Florence High Court¡¯s prison, where an investigation will be conducted without torture. However, if you conceal any facts...¡±

    The judge took out a torture device stained with bright red blood.

    ¡°Be careful, as we might have to have a chat with these friends; take them all away!¡±

    Well, in a world where the presumption of innocence applies, we can¡¯t conduct a search just because those guys look suspicious.

    But here, there is no presumption of innocence, so it¡¯s possible.

    Ah, it¡¯s not like I stormed in here without a plan for this search.

    In this world, there are no companies that can be shaken down without dust coming out except for some pharmaceutical companies in Korea.

    Let alone the spice guild, if I shake them down, they¡¯ll surely only produce dust.

    The hidden crimes accumulated from bribing and entertaining inspectors sent to do jobs like tax collectors would come pouring out.

    And after weeks of reviewing the documents...

    ¡°Wow, Judge Andante, are you getting promoted?¡±

    Upon hearing my words, Judge Andante chuckled.

    The collective of judges from the High Court has a rather ambiguous hierarchy.

    I don¡¯t know the system exactly, but roughly it¡¯s judges, chief judges, court presidents, High Court justices, and the president of the Florence High Court, among others.

    However, if the hierarchy is so vague, it makes management difficult.

    Thus, while not specified in imperial law, such ranks do exist under each chief judge in practice.

    Chief judges, associate judges, formal judges, and provisional judges, etc.

    This time, Andante is being promoted to associate judge.

    ¡°Judge Mancini promised that when he got promoted, he would appoint me as the chief judge of the High Court he goes to.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Congratulations!¡±

    ¡°This is all thanks to you. I will repay this favor one day.¡±

    With that, Andante handed me documents regarding not just the evidence of tax evasion and accounting fraud I had reviewed, but other documents as well.

    ¡°Wow, these guys were not playing around. They were trading with infidels and even selling fellow Deus believers into slavery, committing all sorts of atrocities.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Truly garbage.¡±

    ¡°I plan to pin the crimes on only the individuals you decided to deal with, so handle it well. And make sure to secure both the principal and profit. I must be off now.¡±

    ¡°Have a drink before you leave; it¡¯s too unfortunate.¡±

    At that remark, Andante smiled.

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve been in a mutual understanding with the daughter of the Tornia baron family, but until now, I was opposed due to my family¡¯s status. Thanks to you today, I¡¯m finally going to make an introduction, so I must hurry.¡±

    ... So he¡¯s a bachelor too.

    And I pondered how to approach the criminal evidence provided by the High Court.

 Chapter 78

    If I had my way, I would want to completely uproot the spice guild.

    I have the position of tax collector, the full cooperation of Chief Judge Mancini from the High Court, and the absolute support of the Duke of Visconti.

    ¡°If I really wanted to, I could truly eliminate the spice guild.¡±

    However, I have no intention of doing so.

    Just as I wouldn¡¯t murder the incompetent and constantly dismissive chief I can deal with, I also wouldn¡¯t kill the guild outright.

    The consequences would be too much for me to handle.

    ¡°It¡¯s not easy, is it? Right, Sebastian?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing easy in this world.¡±

    That¡¯s true.

    There¡¯s not a single easy way to make money.

    Especially making a lot of money is even harder.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it said that those who make 3 to 4 hundred a month still have weekends, but once you hit 500, weekends gradually disappear?¡±

    Let alone, my income is at a level that can¡¯t even be compared to 500.

    ¡°It would be nice to cut off the spice guild¡¯s breath, but I guess I shouldn¡¯t? Sebastian.¡±

    Sebastian nodded at my words.

    ¡°The spice guild is intertwined with four major families, including the Medici family. This time, you have the moral high ground, so they won¡¯t protest or become hostile even if you take a somewhat brutal approach. But if you go too far...¡±

    I know without being told.

    Although Albert, the Baron Medici, and I are brothers, he¡¯ll leave me alone due to his nature.

    The other three major families will probably scream, ¡°This is our chance! Kill him!¡± and come to trample me.

    So it¡¯s important to deal with them appropriately.

    ¡°While I can¡¯t eliminate the spice guild, taking off an arm or a leg should be safe.¡±

    In fact, making them suffer lifelong wounds is often more painful for the opponent than simply eliminating them.

    The real targets for my revenge are the guild master of the spice guild and the high-ranking members.

    ¡°I know that too. This time, I have no intention of uprooting the spice guild itself.¡±

    I don¡¯t plan to show mercy for the innocent employees working in the guild.

    This is war, and there are no innocents in war.

    ¡°Aiming weapons and shooting at civilians is one thing, but accepting unavoidable deaths is a reality we must bear.¡±

    ¡°Only the guild master and the executives of the spice guild.¡±

    I mimicked cutting my throat with my finger.

    ¡°If they disappear, then that¡¯s that. I need to show them what happens if they touch me.¡±

    A friend from my teaching days once told me this.

    A victim of school bullying should never use mild methods to escape violence.

    ¡°If you resist poorly, bullies will only harass you more, and that can lead to unfortunate choices. So if you can¡¯t stand such injustices, it¡¯s better to use a firm approach. Don¡¯t believe that telling a teacher like me will solve everything.¡±

    It¡¯s not that teachers in our country are incompetent or don¡¯t care about students; they can¡¯t solve problems.

    Those who find joy in bullying don¡¯t listen until they realize their heads can be broken.

    That¡¯s why I was told to file complaints with the prosecutor''s office rather than the police, or to confront violence with violence.

    My current situation is just like that.

    ¡°From the documents I¡¯ve reviewed so far, these guys are pretty dirty, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    I¡¯m not a herald of justice, but seeing filthy deeds makes my stomach churn.

    ¡°Since they¡¯ve been caught in my sights, they should pay for their sins.¡±

    I have no intention of burning myself for justice, but I fully support catching those who touched me while also righting the wrongs of the innocent.

    What¡¯s wrong with doing one more good deed while I¡¯m at it?

    ¡°Let¡¯s head to the High Court prison. And I want to take Kris along, so can you call him?¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood. He should be at the mansion, so please wait a moment.¡±

    Well, even if the High Court wields immense power, they can¡¯t just torture people without justification.

    ¡°Murder, serial murder, treason, conspiracy to commit treason, attempted murder of the Emperor or royalty.¡±

    Only if it reaches this level will torture be immediately executed.

    For all other crimes, torture won¡¯t occur until evidence is apparent.

    ¡°The resolve of iron; it¡¯s a very nice phrase.¡±

    It sounds as meaningful as some trivial saying from a shabby village.

    What do I mean?

    It¡¯s as credible as the promise made by comrades from basic training to meet again when they graduate.

    ¡°Of course, the chances of those comrades meeting again disappear as soon as they enter their assigned units.¡±

    I placed an incredibly thick copy of the crime list in front of him.

    ¡°Looking at you, it seems you sold Toscana¡¯s serfs to infidels supplying spice. The men were sold as galley slaves, and the women were sold to harems, nobles, and merchants. The books show it¡¯s not just one or two instances.¡±

    In the Albanian continent, kidnapping infidels to sell them as sex slaves is an entirely legal and encouraged business.

    Moreover, selling serfs who couldn¡¯t repay their debts to other nobles or merchants isn¡¯t encouraged but is also a business no one would criticize.

    ¡°In times of famine, that¡¯s why young girls are sold every year, just like Chloe.¡±

    However, selling those who believe in Deus to infidels is treated as a crime equivalent to treason in our empire.

    ¡°I¡¯ll let go of just two executives from the Florence spice guild without charges, excluding the guild master. So, you¡¯d better not disappoint me.¡±

    Cold sweat began to trickle down the face of the executive in front of me.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask again: do you have anything you want to confess?¡±

    ¡°Please, let me confess!¡±

    ¡°See? Among such scoundrels, loyalty and whatnot are worthless!¡±

    With that, the executive¡¯s facade broke down, and he was clearly terrified.

    ¡°Please, I¡¯ll tell you everything! Just spare me!¡±

    I leaned closer, maintaining an intimidating presence.

    ¡°Very well. Start talking. What¡¯s the spice guild¡¯s relationship with the infidels? Who are the main players involved?¡±

    He took a deep breath, clearly weighing his options before speaking.

    ¡°W-We have been working with the Eastern trade guilds, trading spices for a profit while selling our serfs as labor. The guild master made deals with their leaders for more substantial shipments. Their names...¡±

    I narrowed my eyes at him, urging him to continue.

    ¡°Just say it! If you think this is a game, you¡¯ll regret it!¡±

    ¡°R-Right! The main contact is a man named Rasel, who leads the Eastern trade guild. He¡¯s been the one coordinating everything for us!¡±

    ¡°Rasel, huh? What else?¡±

    ¡°He has connections to the underground markets in the capital as well. He can get us anything we need¡ªgoods, weapons, even...¡±

    ¡°Even what?¡±

    ¡°Even slaves. It¡¯s all part of the deal. He helps us get rid of those we don¡¯t want, and we provide him with resources.¡±

    His hands trembled as he spoke, fear evident in his eyes.

    ¡°Where can I find this Rasel?¡±

    ¡°Rasel usually meets at the old warehouse by the docks in the evening. That¡¯s where all the deals go down.¡±

    I nodded, processing this information. It was clear that the spice guild had deep connections, but they had also left themselves vulnerable by their greed.

    ¡°Good. I¡¯ll make sure this information is put to use. But know this: if you¡¯re lying, I¡¯ll make sure your fate is far worse than what you currently face.¡±

    He nodded vigorously, clearly understanding the gravity of the situation.

    ¡°Now, let¡¯s talk about your guild''s finances. Show me the records of your dealings with the Eastern trade guilds. Every transaction, every name¡ªeverything.¡±

    He hurriedly pulled out documents from the nearby table, hands shaking as he laid them out before me.

    ¡°This is everything! Just please don¡¯t hurt me!¡±

    I glanced over the documents, noting the names and transactions that could lead to uncovering more about their corrupt activities.

    ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll review these carefully. If what you¡¯ve said checks out, you may yet find mercy.¡±

    As I studied the records, I felt a sense of purpose building within me. This was just the beginning, and the spice guild¡¯s days were numbered.

 Chapter 79

    There¡¯s a concept called the prisoner¡¯s dilemma.

    It involves two criminals locked up and pressured to confess.

    If one confesses while the other remains silent, the silent one bears the full brunt of the other¡¯s sentence.

    If neither confesses, the crimes remain unproven, resulting in a very light punishment. If both confess, they are equally punished¡ªa classic dilemma.

    Theoretically, the best outcome is for both to remain silent, but in reality, similar situations often lead to both confessing.

    Why? Because, like the executive in front of me, they cannot trust one another.

    ¡°Be specific.¡±

    The executive, a director of our spice guild, continued speaking as if he had a motor in his mouth.

    ¡°As you know, Baron Medici, spice trade involves dealing with infidels, particularly those from powerful merchant families, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Although he referred to them as powerful merchant families, the Alchini family, who supply us goods, is the family of a major city¡¯s governor.

    To be precise, the daughter of the Alchini family has become a concubine of the governor.

    Since they¡¯ve established a relationship with a high-ranking official, they can essentially be regarded as nobles.

    ¡°In short, even if they are infidels, they cannot be underestimated.¡±

    ¡°Thus, we must carefully cater to their high-ranking officials. Otherwise, we never know when the trade might stop.¡±

    Typically, the buyer holds the upper hand, while the seller is at a disadvantage.

    However, the spice trade is virtually monopolized by the Alchini family, and purchasing it guarantees a profit.

    Thus, the Alchini family becomes the dominant party in the transaction.

    While they can simply refuse to sell, those merchant families who buy spices risk losing both credit and money if their trade is interrupted.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I was so distressed when the sugar trade was cut off.¡±

    ¡°Just as we favor infidel sex slaves with brown skin, they highly prefer beauties with white skin. Thus, every time we trade, we deliver a predetermined number of women.¡±

    I hadn¡¯t engaged in such dealings myself when trading.

    Nonetheless, it seems I was able to build a good relationship with the Alchini family, perhaps because they sent a direct male from the Medici family.

    Or maybe it was because they saw my potential and made concessions.

    ¡°It¡¯s truly a filthy and dreadful world.¡±

    While human rights don¡¯t exist on the Albanian continent, isn¡¯t this a bit too much?

    ¡°Of course, when we trade spices, exchanging sex slaves doesn¡¯t happen often. However, if we skip it consistently, they become reluctant.¡±@@@@

    ¡°Is it because it¡¯s a profitable trade that we¡¯re skipping it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, exactly. While buying serf women and poor girls from Toscana costs us money for food, housing, and education, the profits can be nearly 30 times what we spend. Conversely, when we sell sultanic sex slaves, we also make that kind of profit.¡±

    I now realize why the commander of the Deus Knights wanted to give me such gifts.

    Nobles take pride in showcasing rare items, and among them, displaying an Arab beauty dressed in a maid outfit to guests is something they do to boast.

    Even if it¡¯s not a steed like the one Lu? Bu rode or Excalibur-level treasures, it still allows them to show off their valuable possessions.

    ¡°On top of fulfilling their conquest desires through practical use? The pleasures must be beyond imagination.¡±

    Due to memories from before my reincarnation, I feel disgusted emotionally, but rationally, I understand why these transactions must occur.

    ¡°How fascinating. Truly fascinating. This is a top-tier crime organization in the empire.¡±

    Applause naturally followed.

    This is no empty compliment.

    Even the Yakuza, triads, and the Mafia would learn a thing or two from these guys.

    Is that why people say one must learn from the old to understand the new?

    From the very beginning, I had no intention of sparing the spice guild executives and the guild master who touched me, but I can now eliminate them without hesitation.

    ¡°Very well.¡±

    The executive immediately bowed his head and began to plead.

    ¡°I have a bear-like wife and a rabbit-like child. Please! Please protect my life and wealth! If you spare me, I¡¯ll leave this country!¡±

    ...No, you¡¯re going to die.

    But it wouldn¡¯t hurt to extract more useful information from him.

    Moreover, there¡¯s something particularly pathetic about a person who thinks they might survive only to later realize they¡¯re doomed.

    ¡°I assume you¡¯ve prepared for a huge blow to my guild, so you should have been ready.¡±

    ¡°Here¡¯s some paper, a pen, and ink. Write down everything that comes to mind. I won¡¯t be removing your handcuffs.¡±

    The key now is to give them a false hope.

    Offering them a ¡®lifeline¡¯ they think they can hold onto, only to cut it off later is the best form of revenge.

    As I left the room, I casually mentioned that I¡¯d be investigating the prisoners in the other room, including the guild master.

    At the same time, the door closed behind me.

    As I moved further from that room, Andante asked.

    ¡°Since Judge Mancini and the Duke are backing you, a few of them could probably be acquitted. Isn¡¯t that pushing it too far? No matter how important this investigation is...¡±

    I shook my head.

    ¡°Once a person thinks they¡¯re already dead, they¡¯ll surely die; they tend to abandon hope and try to uphold their loyalty. They think it¡¯s the only way to protect their families.¡±

    Upon hearing my words, Judge Andante¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°But there¡¯s no one in this world who wants to die. So if you throw them a glimmer of hope of survival, they¡¯ll betray their comrades just to live. Especially those filthy ones.¡±

    During investigations, the police are granted various powers.

    They have the right to pressure individuals by stating that if they don¡¯t confess now, their sentences will be increased.

    Even if it slightly contravenes the law, they possess the right to employ ¡®white lies¡¯ for the sake of progressing the investigation.

    It¡¯s their job to navigate the investigation in the right direction, but in some police departments, these powers are misused to bury lives.

    ¡°This is relatively common.¡±

    That¡¯s why legal firms always advise that if you have to undergo a police investigation, you should hire a lawyer first.

    Even if it costs a fortune, it¡¯s infinitely better than having your life ruined because of a bad response.

    As for me, I¡¯m lying to those who genuinely deserve to die, so I have no qualms about it.

    ¡°You truly are a despicable creature.¡±

 Chapter 80

    In dramas and movies, even the villains seem to have a sense of loyalty.

    However, the reason such villains appear is that there are no genuinely evil characters in real life; they are artificially created because they look cool.

    The executives of the spice guild didn¡¯t show a single impressive quality that met my expectations.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m fine with this; it¡¯s easier for me since they¡¯ve been spilling their secrets.¡±

    I saw Judge Andante reassess the information I had gathered, and Mancini sighed heavily.

    ¡°I knew these merchants were base creatures obsessed with making money, but this has gone far beyond the pale. How can they sell fellow believers of Deus, dressed in human skins, to infidels? How? How?!¡±

    Chief Judge Mancini slammed his hands down on the desk before him.

    ¡°Are you telling me they can sell the faithful of our empire to infidels?!¡±

    Before that, it¡¯s a bigger issue that they lent money knowing the serfs would never be able to repay it, turning entire villages into slaves to be sold.

    Just as when in Rome, one must follow Roman laws, in terms of common sense in the Toscana Empire, the villagers had voluntarily borrowed money, and in return, the women became sex slaves, and the men were sold as galley slaves¡ªthis was seen as a ¡®free choice¡¯ like being inducted.

    It¡¯s far worse than when instructors in training camps ask, ¡°Did you get dragged in?¡±

    ¡°In this case, selling precious citizens to infidels is the main issue.¡±

    ¡°Calm down, Chief Judge.¡±

    ¡°Can this be calmed? Those poor souls will now be oppressed by infidels and forced to worship their false gods.¡±

    No, the real issue for those people isn¡¯t worshiping another god instead of Deus, but that their lives have been ruined by the spice guild.

    ¡°How do we recover spilled water? What¡¯s important now is to bring down the hammer of justice on those scoundrels. Isn¡¯t it your chance to be an agent of justice?¡±

    Upon hearing my words, Mancini smiled.

    His ambition for promotion was evident; it seems he would do anything to become the Chief Judge.

    ¡°That kind of person can indeed be of help to me.¡±

    After showing a wicked smile, he turned his head and cleared his throat, seemingly embarrassed by his excitement.

    ¡°Ahem, I was so taken aback that I displayed such a foul demeanor.¡±

    ¡°I completely understand. I felt the same rage when I heard the confession of those facts.¡±

    ¡°The despicable act of selling our empire''s women to infidels is utterly unforgivable. And naturally, the merchants leading the spice trade will be implicated.¡±

    Mancini began to spit out his words.

    ¡°The merchants are obstacles to imperial authority. So why don¡¯t we take this opportunity to weaken them? What do you think about completely uprooting the spice guild and taking it all for yourself? You could gain enormous benefits.¡±

    You want me to wipe out the spice guild and then take it all?

    Honestly, if I were to ask the Emperor for permission, he might grant it. However, the merchants would undoubtedly come after me with swords.

    ¡°If I boast about winning the lottery in a poor neighborhood, I¡¯d soon end up as a corpse.¡±

    I too would meet a gruesome end at the hands of an unidentified assassin.

    Even when I stretch out on my bed, I¡¯m careful about where I do it...

    ¡°If I take down the spice guild and the merchants, I could also reach the Chief Judge position.¡±

    Even if that doesn¡¯t happen, at the very least, they¡¯ll signal to maintain good relations in the future.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll handle this case up to this point.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a wise decision. How long do you think the sentences will be?¡±

    Mancini began tapping his fingers on the desk in front of me.

    After pondering for a moment, he spoke.

    ¡°Most of the matters can be handled at my level as a Chief Judge. Frankly, using my power to cover up a murder charge is easy.¡±

    Regular judges don¡¯t have the authority to prosecute.

    However, High Court judges possess prosecutorial and judicial powers, allowing them to perform such feats.

    ¡°But this case is too large. I¡¯ll likely have to escalate it to the High Court Chief Justice or the Chief Justice himself; thus, I can¡¯t be certain about the exact outcomes...¡±

    Mancini lowered his voice deliberately.

    ¡°The guild master, of course, along with the entire executive board¡¯s families, will be wiped out. If it involves a religious trial, the main offenders will face burning, and the rest will be beheaded. Even without a religious trial, they¡¯ll find it hard to avoid beheading.¡±

    So, even the families of those involved would face death.

    Well, I don¡¯t feel any sympathy for them.

    After all, those guys were the ones who cut off my sugar supply and tormented me; they¡¯d undoubtedly come after Chloe later on.

    How do I know? This industry is like that.

    ¡°They take down their rivals without any negotiations or considerations for their opponents.¡±

    That¡¯s how you can have it all.

    ¡°Is that so? I understand.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the best outcome for both of us. And there are plenty of crimes committed by the spice guild, aren¡¯t there? I¡¯ve instructed the clerks of the High Court and other officials to focus solely on documenting the crimes and associated evidence.¡±

    That¡¯s a strange measure upon reflection.

    To secure physical evidence regarding tax evasion and slave trading, they¡¯d need to seize valuable items like money or goods in warehouses.

    It wouldn¡¯t make sense not to touch any of that.

    ¡°Are they expecting to just pick up the goods in their warehouses as they please?¡±

    Furthermore, they would probably launder the origins of various properties through record manipulation, swallowing up the profits for themselves.

    I admire the clear-cut give-and-take relationship.

    ¡°Thinking about it, I haven¡¯t yet conducted the punitive tax collection. I¡¯ll make sure to hurry with that.¡±

    We understand each other without having to say anything.

    ¡°Then hurry along.¡±

    After having a productive conversation with the Chief Judge, I quickly left the room.

    While it would be nice to profit from the assets held by the spice guild, there was something more pressing at hand.

    ¡°Damn that Albert; he clearly watched the spice guild¡¯s ruckus, knowing I¡¯d be in trouble.¡±

 Chapter 81

    Across both the East and the West, it is said that family is a bond bestowed by the heavens.

    They are the ones who share the happiest moments of my life and stand by me during the saddest ones.

    However, when issues like power, feelings of inferiority toward each other, differences in status, and wealth become entangled, it can quickly turn family members into those who cannot coexist under the same sky.

    ¡°Just like Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.¡±

    ¡°Although my relationship with Albert isn¡¯t one of irreconcilable enemies, to be honest, it¡¯s not exactly good either.¡±

    I have never caused Albert any disadvantages.

    If I truly wanted to, I could easily ask Duke Visconti or the Emperor right now to obtain the title of Baron Medici.

    But in the long run, it wouldn¡¯t be good for me, and besides, I didn¡¯t want to take away my brother¡¯s title, as we share the same blood.

    Moreover, without him realizing, I¡¯m in a position where I¡¯m providing the Medici family with unreciprocated goodwill and benefits.

    ¡°He¡¯s just blinded by jealousy and envy, treating me as an enemy.¡±

    The dumbest thing in this world is trying to befriend someone who cannot be my friend.

    No matter how much money I give him or how endlessly I pour my heart out, he will either see me as a pushover or harbor even more animosity toward me.

    It¡¯s said that there¡¯s no tree that doesn¡¯t fall after ten attempts at seduction, but I¡¯d be handcuffed in the process.

    ¡°Is Baron Medici inside right now?¡±

    At that, a servant of the mansion politely responded.@@@@

    ¡°He is currently focused on his duties.¡±

    ¡°Please tell him that my brother urgently wants to speak with him and that he should spare a little time.¡±

    When making such a request to another family, it¡¯s customary to offer a few silver coins as a gesture.

    It¡¯s not because I want to throw money around.

    It¡¯s because servants, who have not received gifts, sometimes slip in a bit of nonsense, which could lead to trouble.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need to do that since I¡¯m Albert¡¯s brother.¡±

    ¡°Please wait a moment, Baron.¡±

    Before long, the butler came and respectfully led me to Albert¡¯s office.

    The moment Albert saw me, he welcomed me very warmly.

    ¡°Oh, Fabio. It¡¯s so nice to see you like this.¡±

    Although Albert is the Baron of the Medici family, a significant part of his power relies on being close to me.

    Well, if I dig around a bit, there would be several pieces of evidence for that.

    ¡°My brother¡¯s wife is the biggest proof.¡±

    So, in front of others, he has no choice but to act friendly with me.

    ¡°Thank you for the warm welcome, Baron.¡±

    ¡°Haha, you can call me ¡®brother.¡¯¡±

    He babbled some nonsense about how little the age difference is and how I should call him ¡®brother¡¯ in a casual setting.

    Even though he¡¯d benefit directly or indirectly if I did well.

    If my brother were a judge or a prosecutor, the chances of facing injustice during police investigations would vanish. If he were a doctor, he could enter the emergency room even without being gravely ill, surpassing dying patients.

    Also, if he were a corporate executive or the head of a company, he could secretly receive job recommendations for family members.

    ¡°But this guy only felt jealousy even when he experienced things that could help him?¡±

    What can you expect from a person who cannot even distinguish between right and wrong due to jealousy and envy?

    Albert firmly grasped my hand.

    ¡°Thank you for understanding me even though you must have gone through tough times, Fabio. It seems like family is all you can rely on.¡±

    No, if I had to trust you, I might as well believe that Koreans would live off pickled radishes instead of kimchi.

    Am I crazy enough to trust you, Albert?

    Hah, I¡¯ve endured so far, but I guess I don¡¯t need to hold back any longer.

    No, if we can¡¯t be friendly, then...

    ¡°Baron, I have something I want to discuss privately, so could you please dismiss all the servants and attendants around us for a moment?¡±

    ¡°There are only you and me in this office; what is there to worry about?¡±

    The talk I¡¯m about to have is a threat, that¡¯s why.

    Until now, I¡¯ve only given to you and have never received anything in return.

    Well, even for my father¡¯s sake, I was planning to let it slide as long as I could take something away.

    To be honest, if I give you anything, you should at least firmly grasp the reins of the guild master of the Spice Guild, who you can control.

    ¡°Who said that? When you are chastising a middle manager, do it where subordinates can¡¯t see.¡±

    Honestly, what happens to Albert de Medici is irrelevant.

    But I don¡¯t want to drive a nail into my father¡¯s heart, who tried to raise me with love as much as possible, considering me a noble among the aristocrats of this era and this country.

    If rumors of conflict between me and Albert spread, it would also bring disadvantages to me.

    It would be best to eliminate any ears that could overhear us.

    ¡°Please dismiss them. This is a warning I¡¯m giving you as the Baron Medici.¡±

    The fact that I specifically mentioned the title of Baron means that the statement I¡¯m about to make will be made solely in the public domain and not in the personal domain.

    Upon realizing that, Albert immediately stood up and sent all the servants outside.

    After about five minutes, I crossed my legs and sat down.

    No matter how much the other person is my brother, I cannot have a relaxed attitude in front of a Baron who holds a higher title than mine.

    ¡°It¡¯s similar to how the head of the Pereira Guild used honorifics with me.¡±

    Of course, I¡¯m not doing this shamelessly without thinking.

    ¡°Today, I want to talk openly about the feelings I¡¯ve kept inside. Although our families have separated, aren¡¯t we still brothers sharing the same surname and family name? If there are misunderstandings, they must be resolved.¡±

    Misunderstandings, yes, there is one misunderstanding between us.

    ¡°Baron Medici, do you know whose merit it is that you¡¯re sitting in that seat right now?¡±

    I may have a lower title, but I won¡¯t lose to you, you foolish man.

 Chapter 82

    Upon hearing my words, Albert bit his teeth tightly and trembled with anger.

    His face had turned as red as a heated chunk of metal, indicating he was seriously upset.

    It¡¯s only natural for anyone to react that way.

    What person in this world could hear ¡°You are in that position because of all my efforts¡± from a subordinate, or even a younger brother, and laugh it off?

    ¡°You are denying the authority and existence of the one above you.¡±

    That¡¯s a terrible, no, an incredibly harsh statement.

    ¡°Fabio! Have you truly gone insane?!¡±

    The one acting crazy isn¡¯t me; it¡¯s you.

    You, as a brother, are not only allowing your younger brother to be treated poorly but are also complicit in it.@@@@

    ¡°If I let this slide here, Albert will see me as a joke for the rest of his life.¡±

    Maybe in the past, but I have nothing to bow down to him for now, apart from his title.

    When considering my relationships with the Emperor, dukes, and the Supreme Court, my abilities, potential for future growth, military career, reputation, and more,

    when weighing all these factors, it¡¯s fair to say I stand above Albert.

    Knowing this, Duke Visconti proposed to grant me the title of Baron based on my accomplishment of getting the Deus Knights to defect to my side.

    ¡°Let¡¯s speak frankly, Baron. Do you really think you achieved your current position solely through your abilities?¡±

    I have directly assisted him, and I¡¯ve also provided a ton of indirect benefits.

    If I were to detail each and every one, it would be quite a chore...

    But what can I do? If I don¡¯t calmly point them out one by one, he¡¯ll whine that he doesn¡¯t know.

    ¡°First of all, becoming Baron Medici isn¡¯t due to me. You¡¯re the eldest son of the Medici family, so you succeeded to your current position through the line of succession.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Albert¡¯s brow furrowed deeply.

    When evaluating the capabilities of the person in front of me coldly,

    he isn¡¯t as glaringly competent as I am, but considering his age, he¡¯s relatively capable among nobles.

    Usually, nobles receive thorough education and inherit titles at around 40, but he¡¯s handling duties at the same level as men in their 40s in his mid-20s.

    ¡°It¡¯s like a high school student keeping up with a master¡¯s program.¡±

    However, while other nobles see me as someone practically implementing a general¡¯s shortcuts, he doesn¡¯t stand a chance.

    Still, the only reason he could inherit the title of Baron Medici was that he was born before me; that¡¯s all.

    ¡°Let¡¯s examine other factors one by one. Although the Medici family isn¡¯t particularly thriving compared to other baronies, is it a family with enough power to take in a countess from the Farnese family as a legitimate wife?¡±

    It¡¯s certainly a lighter matter to send down a daughter compared to marrying off a son (successor).

    Thus, even without my involvement, it might have been possible for him to accept the daughter of the count, who was receiving cold treatment.

    ¡°The problem is that the Farnese family is a legitimate powerhouse.¡±

    Moreover, there was only one daughter of the legitimate wife in the Farnese family, making her value significantly higher than daughters from other noble families.

    Honestly, my father wouldn¡¯t have even dreamed of such a marriage proposal.

    After being struck with the facts, Albert couldn¡¯t muster a rebuttal.

    ¡°His Excellency Count Farnese openly stated at the wedding that he wanted to get closer to me in front of everyone. This alone shows that while the count didn¡¯t solely proceed with the marriage based on me, it¡¯s clear to anyone that I held considerable weight in the decision.¡±

    At those words, cold sweat trickled down Albert¡¯s forehead.

    ¡°In just two years, I¡¯ve grown this much. But what have you done for the Medici family over the past two years? Surely you don¡¯t think your duty is just to sit and warm the chair?¡±

    I found a great saying in the Bible.

    ¡°¡®You must either be hot or cold; those who are lukewarm will be spewed out of my mouth.¡¯¡±

    This is a skill needed for navigating life.

    If you¡¯re going to support someone, do so with all your guts; if you¡¯re going to oppose them, treat them as if you¡¯re ready to cut them with a knife.

    ¡°I don¡¯t particularly intend to oppose Albert.¡±

    Right now, it¡¯s about showing how formidable I am to reduce the chances of conflict.

    There¡¯s a saying that civilized people are less courteous than barbarians because they don¡¯t get their heads split open for being discourteous.

    This applies well even in international relations.

    ¡°If you possess nuclear weapons, even a superpower won¡¯t dare to strike recklessly.¡±

    If Albert realizes that I¡¯m no longer a being he can treat carelessly, he¡¯ll start to behave.

    I¡¯m not even expecting reconciliation.

    ¡°I told you to know yourself. I hope you understand your current position. If possible, I hope we can get along well from now on.¡±

    With that, I turned my back.

    After Fabio left, Albert clenched his fist so tightly that it began to bleed.

    It wasn¡¯t just anger that he had been told such things by his younger brother, but also...

    ¡°... Why can¡¯t my reason refute his words? What the hell is this?!¡±

    Objectively speaking, that¡¯s true.

    What if he were to die?

    Fabio would either succeed him or some other relative would take over.

    If his father were to return, they would quickly fill the void.

    But could anyone truly replace Fabio?

    ¡°No one can replace that brat.¡±

    Even more, that irreplaceable brat is growing at an astonishing pace.

    ¡°... What if that brat aims to oust me?¡±

    Fabio didn¡¯t explicitly say it.

    However, Albert¡¯s intellect, which was somewhat superior among nobles, immediately provided the answer.

    The Duke Visconti and the Emperor would easily ¡°retire¡± him.

    As this thought crossed his mind, Albert¡¯s body began to tremble.

    He shivered like someone chased out into the winter naked, but it wasn¡¯t due to the cold.

    It was purely from the fear and pressure of facing Fabio in front of him.

    ¡°... That¡¯s a monster.¡±

    However, his mind¡ªclouded by jealousy and envy¡ªcould not provide the best answer.

    At this moment, Fabio was calculating what he could appropriately take from the Spice Guild.

 Chapter 83

    As soon as I returned home, it was not Chloe who welcomed me, but Kris.

    Usually, Chloe would come out to greet me, so something must have happened.

    ¡°Is something wrong with Chloe? Is she sick or something?¡±

    Thinking about it, Kris isn¡¯t a servant or a maid in our house, so how would she know?

    I could just ask the butler here.

    However, contrary to my expectations, Kris answered right away.

    ¡°I heard that the Baron was coming and went out to greet him when I happened to run into you. She told me there are many things she needs to report, so I should wait in my room.¡±

    One of Kris¡¯s arms was filled with a large stack of documents, hardened like iron.

    ¡°We have completed the inventory of the Spice Guild¡¯s assets, including the real estate, properties, and goods that we might be able to take.¡±

    There¡¯s one clear reason why people are trying to buy up the position of tax collectors.

    To profit, regardless of whether they collect more taxes than the money they spent to buy the position or extort assets.

    For me, revenge and a warning to Albert are more important than that...

    But money is inherently better the more you have, so I should gather every last coin I can.

    ¡°Plus, I¡¯ve finished all my tasks.¡±

    ¡°Good work, Kris.¡±

    Upon closer inspection, I noticed dark circles under Kris¡¯s eyes, and her complexion seemed a bit dull.

    I had given her a break after the sugar sales ban was lifted.

    But right after that, she must have lost sleep organizing the entire inventory of the Spice Guild¡¯s vast assets and figuring out what we could take.

    I¡¯ve also been working hard, not just dumping work on my employees.

    ¡°Lately, Chloe has been so busy that she seems to be feeling very lonely.¡±

    ¡°You have also worked hard, Baron.¡±

    ¡°Thanks. Now, please go ahead and report.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Kris immediately began explaining with a summary of the report.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start with the properties in Florence. The Spice Guild headquarters, a warehouse covering 250,000 pyeong in the suburbs, five carts with iron wheels, 900 wagons, 1,000 pack horses, and 600 cattle. There are also 18,000 gold coins, 60 tons of pepper, 0.5 tons of saffron, 2 tons of cloves, and 1 ton each of nutmeg and mace. I¡¯ve omitted the details of other artworks and jewels, which are in the report.¡±

    So they¡¯ve got 18,000 gold coins and a stash of various spices that large?

    And why on earth does the warehouse need to be 250,000 pyeong?

    I¡¯ve been saving a lot of money lately, and in terms of income, I thought I was not inferior to most merchants.

    But those who have amassed wealth over centuries are on a whole different level.

    ¡°The Emperor would be surprised to see their asset list.¡±

    It¡¯s not that he would be shocked that the Spice Guild is wealthier than him, but rather that they¡¯re managing such vast assets under the name of the ¡°Florence Spice Guild.¡±

    ¡°Besides that, here¡¯s the asset list of the Florence Spice Guild distributed across the country. They have mansions in major cities, including Latina and Visconti...¡±

    ¡°It seems there¡¯s no one among the nobles in the provinces who hasn¡¯t heard of Cafe? Medici and the Medici hospital. Desserts imitating those from Cafe? Medici are popping up in local banquets, and the local nobles have been trying to admit their wives into the Medici hospital for months.¡±

    After over a year of anxious waiting, everyone must be rushing in.

    ¡°If Cafe? Medici in Florence aims for the best of the best, it would be good to target a diverse clientele in other cities.¡±

    Over 60% of nobles above the rank of baron in the Toscana Empire live in Florence.

    So while aiming for the best is fine, if we target only the ¡°very high-ranking individuals¡± in other cities, we¡¯ll run into deficits.

    ¡°We should maintain the same quality of service but lower the high end by one level and the low end by about four levels. The Medici hospital should do the same.¡±

    By lowering the low end to that extent, the price will drop to a level where general artisans or merchants in the city can afford it if they put their minds to it.

    And by lowering the high end by just one level compared to the capital, it¡¯s inevitable that well-off nobles will have to come to Florence even if prices are several times higher...

    ¡°This way, we can maintain and expand the market¡¯s premium value at the same time.¡±

    ¡°To do that, it would definitely be cheaper to utilize mansions in major cities. I understand. But why the merchant ships?¡±

    At that question, I smiled broadly.

    ¡°This is really confidential, so you¡¯re the only one who knows.¡±

    Typically, when I say ¡°you¡¯re the only one who knows,¡± secrets tend to leak, but Kris isn¡¯t a woman who¡¯s light on her tongue to begin with.

    I had even verified her trustworthiness by attaching a high-ranking assassin from the Information Guild, and they said there was no chance of leaking confidential information.

    ¡°All other privacy-related matters have been burned away.¡±

    Then, I whispered the secret in a very low voice.

    Upon hearing it, Kris¡¯s eyes widened, and she covered her mouth.

    ¡°Just how far can you see, Baron?¡±

    Living in a world progressing toward globalization, I have a very broad perspective.

    ¡°A little broader than you think.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, Baron...¡±

    Her voice was so quiet I couldn¡¯t hear it.

    ¡°I also want to take a break today, so is that all the urgent matters?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Baron.¡±

    ¡°Then Kris can also clock out now, and send the other employees home too.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Even after hearing I could leave, Kris didn¡¯t turn back.

    Does she have more to say?

    ¡°Chloe is preparing something special for you. Please go in quickly.¡±

    ... Thinking about it, that damn guild master made my cat playtime go to waste, didn¡¯t he?

    And she said she was preparing something.

    With a light step, I dashed into my room.

 Chapter 84

    As I was about to open the door and step inside, I heard Chloe¡¯s voice coming from outside.

    Curious about what was going on, I strained to listen.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s it. Good job. Now let¡¯s jump!¡±

    Next, I heard the sound of a kitten mewing.

    My heart raced even before I opened the door.

    Just imagining Chloe playing with a kitten made my heart flutter¡ªno, it made it race quite a bit.

    It might seem trivial, but when delicious things come together, they become even more delightful.

    When cute things meet cute things, it creates a scene that¡¯s dozens of times cuter and more heartwarming.

    I gently opened the door, trying not to let Chloe notice me.

    Once I entered the room, I wouldn¡¯t be able to take this scene in.

    As I expected, Chloe was in her pajamas, playing with a kitten.

    In one hand, she held a toy that looked like someone made it for a hunting game, and the kitten was eagerly chasing after it.

    ¡°Good, good, that¡¯s right. Well done.¡±

    Deliberately allowing the kitten to catch the toy, Chloe gently tickled its chin and petted its head.

    She looked very pleased, as if she were studying something.

    ¡°So, kittens make these sounds when you scratch their chins...¡±

    Is she studying this because I said I wanted to try cat play?

    I was so impressed that I wanted to praise her right then and there.

    I felt like I had seen enough and could slowly step inside.

    ¡°Chloe, I¡¯m back.¡±

    Upon seeing me, Chloe quickly hugged the kitten.

    It seemed she instinctively wanted to hide it, but it was all too obvious.

    As cute as it was, it was good to see.

    ¡°When I said I wanted to raise a kitten last time, you said no, but now you¡¯re already so close. What happened?¡±

    Even if Chloe expressed a desire to raise a kitten, I wouldn¡¯t oppose it.

    During busy times, she could just leave it to the other servants, and given her past emotional wounds, cuddling a kitten might help her heal.

    ¡°She still struggles to talk to men, except for me and Sebastian.¡±

    That said, she also doesn¡¯t easily approach women either.

    According to the head maid, unless it¡¯s a close maid, she only shares the necessary work-related conversations.

    For now, I just wanted to tease her a little.

    Her reactions were just too cute.

    ¡°Is that why you wanted to act cute like a kitten to get my attention instead? But when I thought about it, I realized I didn¡¯t know how the kitten would react.¡±

    Usually, when guys play cat play, they hope for just one thing.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to receive all the love I¡¯ve missed out on from you today. Meow.¡±

    Then she gently placed her upper body on my legs.

    I felt her weight, but it wasn¡¯t heavy; it felt comfortable.

    Chloe began acting cute like a kitten exposing her belly to her owner.

    ¡°Please treat me like the kitten you¡¯re raising, and shower me with affection, meow.¡±

    I didn¡¯t dislike this situation, but it was truly a dilemma.

    It felt like being starved for days and then coming to a five-star hotel buffet.

    I hesitated over what to eat, unsure of how to touch her.

    As if she could read my mind, Chloe slightly lifted her chin, wanting to be touched.

    When I gently tickled her chin like a cat, she purred.

    ¡°Meow, meow.¡±

    After making a few cat sounds, Chloe began rubbing her face against my hand.

    She wore a satisfied expression, as if she had everything she wanted.

    ¡°Do you like it that much?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m happy to feel loved by you, meow...¡±

    I slowly began to lower my hand according to my desires.

    From her collarbone down to her belly.

    Usually, she¡¯d have a look that said she didn¡¯t want me to touch her belly because she was slightly embarrassed by it.

    ¡°That¡¯s what makes it cute.¡±

    It¡¯s like how guys find girls with small chests cute when they¡¯re self-conscious about it.

    Her belly felt slightly soft and warm.

    The sensation was very different from her chest and butt, and it felt good to touch a part that seemed off-limits.

    After a few strokes, I found myself unconsciously petting her continuously.

    Chloe grabbed my hand and moved it away.

    Then she tightly wrapped her arms around me and whispered.

    ¡°My lord, when a kitten exposes its belly, it means it wants to play. I didn¡¯t know at first, but I learned that from playing with Nero, meow.¡±

    Men are incredibly simple creatures.

    Even if a girl can¡¯t cook for them, if she works hard to make them a meal, it tastes better than anything made by a top chef.

    Even if she clumsily does something, it feels like she¡¯s given everything.

    I¡¯m the same way.

    ¡°Given how much you¡¯ve studied kittens...¡±

    Then she pulled my hand toward her chest.

    ¡°Please play with me until I¡¯m exhausted, meow.¡±

    The next day, I called in sick and was summoned by the Emperor, who wanted to hear a detailed story about this in three days.

 Chapter 85

    As a mere baron, I found myself face to face with the Emperor as soon as I entered the palace.

    Considering that ordinary barons often wait several hours even when they have an appointment to meet the Emperor,

    ¡°Some loyal nobles must be so grateful for His Majesty¡¯s imperial grace that they would collapse from it.¡±

    But that¡¯s their story; I don¡¯t see the Emperor as anything more than a hereditary ruler of a nation, so I wouldn¡¯t shed tears of admiration for him.

    ¡°Baron Fabio de Medici, I come bearing your command, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Feel free to raise your head. No, please, sit comfortably.¡±

    The Emperor gestured for a servant to bring forth a chair for me to sit on.

    It¡¯s customary to refuse the goodwill of a high-ranking individual twice before accepting it on the third invitation.

    However, it would also be problematic not to accept when someone has brought something directly for me.

    Thus, I sat up straight at a 90-degree angle.

    ¡°If I truly sat comfortably after you said to, I would be committing the sin of disrespect, which is common sense in this world.¡±

    If you take that too literally in an interview, you¡¯d be immediately disqualified. If you visit your future father-in-law and take his words of ¡°make yourself comfortable¡± to heart, you¡¯ll hear him say, ¡°This marriage is off!¡±

    ¡°I apologize for calling you here when you must be very busy without a moment to rest.¡±

    ¡°When His Majesty calls, it is a noble¡¯s duty to crawl over even if it takes everything. Please do not take it back.¡±

    ¡°Your loyalty is commendable and would serve as a good example to many nobles. I hold such traits in high regard.¡±@@@@

    ¡°I am overwhelmed by your words, Your Majesty.¡±

    My physical state isn¡¯t too good right now.

    It¡¯s not just from overworking for a long time, but also because I played with a powerful and adorable creature named Chloe right after my workload ended.

    Sebastian joked that I might end up in a hospital if I continued like this, and Chloe had gotten a bit scolded by the head maid, so that says it all.

    ¡°In this era, hospitals are ominous places where no amount of money will guarantee you a glance unless you¡¯re seriously ill.¡±

    Still, this situation may work in my favor.

    The Emperor, even feeling exhausted, must have no choice but to accept my genuine loyalty without suspicion.

    ¡°I too, when I was young, burned my body with the determination to take on tasks, much like Baron Fabio. But if a person does not know how to appropriately rest their mind and body and instead recklessly exhausts themselves, they will eventually suffer greatly.¡±

    A certain corporate chairman once said this.

    ¡°Those who claim they succeed by working only four hours a day are all liars! One must sleep well to work well!¡±

    So that chairman made sure to get a full eight hours of sleep every day, even while handling mountains of work.

    Moreover, he valued family highly, and not only that, he even diligently pursued affairs on top of that.

    Upon hearing that, I cut out the unnecessary parts I shouldn¡¯t mention and focused on those the Emperor would find favorable while relaying my story.

    High-ranking individuals always want ¡°concise and accurate reports,¡± but

    ¡°I¡¯m going to see everything about you. So, spill it all.¡±

    This is what they want to hear, so I should oblige.

    Then, I slowly wrapped up my speech in a slightly relaxed tone.

    ¡°I successfully punished only the guild master of the Spice Guild and his executives with strict measures, while subtly sending the rest of the merchants a coded message that ¡®while they could be held accountable for their crimes, they won¡¯t be pursued.¡¯ Therefore, I think this is the best course of action I could take in this situation.¡±

    After listening to my words, the Emperor clapped his hands.

    It wasn¡¯t a dry clap but rather one filled with admiration.

    If it were a grade, it would be an A. Considering he invested several hours to hear my story, I¡¯d say it¡¯s an A+.

    ¡°I understand why Baron Ducat has asked me to seriously consider making you the chief logistics officer of the first division.¡±

    The position of chief logistics officer, strictly speaking, is a position created for those noble individuals who would be promoted to colonel before they retire.

    But holding that position would officially grant me the rank of colonel.

    ¡°A colonel in his early twenties? That would be something.¡±

    Even during the Korean War, there were actual colonels in their mid to late twenties and brigadiers in their thirties, but... our Toscana Empire¡¯s army isn¡¯t in the dire circumstances that the Korean army faced during the war.

    ¡°You know, when I forced you to take the logistics officer position, there were many rumors circulating, but now even those who opposed that decision are praising your capabilities as His Majesty¡¯s wise choice.¡±

    So, with the merits of that time, if I were to grant you a promotion, I believe you wouldn¡¯t disappoint me.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to join the army.¡±

    I¡¯ve already had enough of being a major; I¡¯m hoping they won¡¯t turn it into a ¡°conqueror of colonels¡± with the ¡°conqueror of majors¡± stuck in the corner of a wardrobe.

    ¡°If that¡¯s what you wish, I can arrange it.¡±

    ¡°I read in a book that helped me find seaweed that if you achieve too much success at a young age, you might not end well. I fear I won¡¯t be able to handle Your Majesty¡¯s grace.¡±

    It¡¯s generally polite to add ¡°as someone insufficient¡± to your words.

    However, if you praise yourself for hours and then say you¡¯re lacking, you¡¯ll likely be met with skepticism about where you learned that manner.

    ¡°Honestly, I expected that you would ask for help with the recent malfeasance of the Spice Guild from me or Duke Visconti, but I¡¯m truly surprised you managed to resolve it solely with your own strength. If it were up to me, I would have liked to reward you for your remarkable achievement, but I believe you¡¯ve already claimed everything you could as a tax collector. The formal recognition of the Deus Knights¡¯ loyalty is credited solely to Duke Visconti, so I can¡¯t personally give you anything.¡±

    The Emperor looked at me and asked,

    ¡°What do you want?¡±

    Right now, I want only one thing.

    ¡°I want a broader sea, a world beyond the ocean.¡±

 Chapter 86

    Upon hearing the word "sea," the emperor displayed a look of considerable bewilderment.

    He must have truly thought that what I had done was commendable and intended to generously provide a "form of reward that leaves no trace."

    What I requested was the concept of a "world beyond the sea," which he could not comprehend.

    "Beyond the sea... when you say ''beyond the sea,'' are you referring to the two stone pillars at Gibraltar?"

    I had heard that such legends existed in ancient Greek mythology.

    Hercules set up two stone pillars at the entrance of the Strait of Gibraltar and proclaimed:

    ¡®This is the end of the world. (non plus ultra)¡¯

    And thus, countless Europeans endured the tyranny of the wicked Venetians and the Ottoman Empire, which conspired to dominate trade in spices like pepper for hundreds of years.

    They believed that venturing beyond would surely lead to death.

    But what was the reality? The ones who ventured out first ended up dominating the world for a time.

    Given that I know all the formulas for success, I can''t hesitate.@@@@

    We, too, must venture into that far-off universe beyond the sky, or rather, beyond the sea, right?

    "Yes, Your Majesty. The world beyond the sea as I envision it lies outside of Gibraltar."

    The emperor chuckled upon hearing my words.

    "How absurd. However, mentioning ''beyond the sea'' while rejecting the reward I offer must indicate you have something in mind?"

    Nothing in this world comes for free.

    To be precise, if I receive something without providing direct or indirect benefits to the other party, it could lead to my destruction.

    Violating that principle could result in becoming a victim of a proposal where the money brought by fraudsters leads to painful lessons, like being lured into investments in hotels or office buildings that promise monthly returns of a million won with only a small investment.

    The emperor gained immense honor from my achievements, but I transferred that right and merit to Duke Visconti.

    Thus, the one who must pay the price is the Duke, not the emperor.

    "Receiving something from the emperor instead of the duke is akin to saying I want to consume what is given for free."

    "There are two reasons. First, to advance the empire''s commerce, we must move beyond this narrow lake."

    The terrain of this Albanian continent is strikingly similar to that of Europe.

    What that means is, if we remain confined to the Mediterranean, we will meet the same fate as Venice.

    "After the Age of Exploration began, the decline in Mediterranean trade weakened the national power significantly."

    "The trade in the Mediterranean, the lake of the Albanian continent, is firmly held by the pagans and a few merchants. No, to be precise, the pagans dominate everything."

    "I don''t feel good about it, but I admit it. We want to believe that we are conducting fair trade with the pagans and merchants. In reality, we have no choice but to be led by their whims."

    They don''t import anything particularly special from our empire.

    Steel, perhaps some unique items or artworks from the Albanian continent.

    They purchase such things, but their absence wouldn''t cause them significant trouble.

    "In particular, the gold from West Africa was quite remarkable."

    The emperor''s eyes sparkled with interest.

    "If we understand the pagans'' trade routes, we can determine roughly which direction and how far to go to the sea. And we could purchase large quantities of gold as well. The location isn¡¯t too far either."

    Honestly, returning to Indica would be quite challenging, even with all the knowledge of the future at my disposal.

    Unless unexpected fortune follows, it may be hard for me to sail to India in my lifetime.

    "If the terrain of the Earth I know matches the terrain of this world, the story would be different."

    But the likelihood of that is low.

    Currently, the island of Rabat, which should be located where Malta, a small island in southern Italy, is situated, is remarkably as large as Geoje Island.

    "There must be a treasure beyond that sea, untouched by any hands."

    To put it more accurately, it would be better described as "vast economic interests."

    However, saying "treasure" would resonate much more with the emperor.

    Moreover, humans are creatures that would burn their lives like straw to satisfy their desires.

    I need to start scratching those desires gently.

    "What the emperor desires is singular: a strong imperial authority."

    "Power, after all, does not come from anything but money, right? With money, you can feed, clothe, house, and make hundreds of thousands of soldiers fight. When persuading nobles, in the end, money is necessary."

    The emperor couldn''t possibly be unaware of this.

    If one couldn''t understand such a basic principle, they wouldn''t be an emperor but a person lacking in intellect.

    "God has left everything beyond the sea. While the other lords of the Albanian continent struggle over the trivial benefits before them, seize the world as quickly as you can. Why remain bound to this small part of the Albanian continent?"

    The emperor chuckled upon hearing my words.

    For the first time, he burst into hearty laughter before me.

    He seemed genuinely amused.

    "You¡¯re mad, insane. How dare a mere baron provoke me like this. If my late father were alive, upon hearing this, he would have clutched his neck. If you, my dear, felt offended by this story, would your neck have survived?"

    Having observed your tendencies and the current needs, I was confident that such a thing would never happen.

    How firm was your faith to engage in such madness?

    "I was as certain as that water flows from high to low."

    "A person can step forward, knowing they may die. We call that courage. I merely wished to show Your Majesty ''a bit of courage'' to demonstrate my loyalty."

    "...Very well, but allowing and supporting an unlikely business is impossible for me."

    The emperor looked directly into my eyes and spoke.

    "Go prove that there is a sea beyond the Strait of Gibraltar and that there is new land. Also, verify that gold trade is possible."

    "Yes, Your Majesty."

    "If you fulfill this command, I will entrust you with the management of this vast sea."

 Chapter 87

    In this world, unexpected events always occur as casually as having a meal.

    I was reminded of this truth once again by the person in front of me.

    What could possibly bring him to our home at this hour, leisurely enjoying cake and coffee?

    Before entering the reception room and formally greeting him, I asked the butler once more to confirm the identity of the visitor.

    I felt I could guess who it was, but I needed to mentally prepare myself before meeting him.

    "Is that person over there really His Grace, Duke Visconti?"

    "Yes, that is correct."

    "Have you inquired as to why he is here?"

    "He mentioned that he was free and wanted to see you, Baron."

    A person of his standing¡ªan heir to a duke¡¯s family¡ªwouldn''t visit another noble''s residence out of boredom, no matter how much free time he had.

    Even if not every step of the duke''s movements carried political significance...

    "Visiting another noble''s estate privately would surely attract attention."

    So, such a sudden visit must surely have a reason behind it.

    "Understood. Tell Chloe to bring the finest tea leaves and pastries."

    In fact, having the butler fetch them would be the most convenient method.

    However, when a high-ranking person comes, the implicit etiquette among nobles dictates that the "legitimate wife" should serve tea and pastries with the utmost courtesy.

    Since I currently didn''t have a legitimate wife, it made sense to bring Chloe, the closest person to me.

    "There are already rumors circulating in high society that I cherish Chloe more than I should."

    Some fools even spread absurd rumors that I would bequeath the Medici baroncy to the firstborn child I would have with Chloe.

    I promptly entered the reception room.

    "It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace."

    The duke reached out his hand as soon as he saw me.

    "It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you as well. You must have been surprised by my sudden visit, right?"

    Thanks to his unexpected arrival, I felt as if I had been struck by lightning while walking down the street.

    Consequently, I had to delegate the tasks I needed to handle today to Sebastian.

    However, managing one¡¯s expression is a virtue in social interactions, so I bowed my head as if very apologetic.

    "I am truly honored, Your Grace."

    "I told your butler, but since retiring from the military, I feel like I''m going to die from boredom. So I came to see the famous Fabio, who has been praised repeatedly by my father."

    The duke scrutinized my face, physique, and stature with a suspicious smile.

    Having a man look at me like that made me quite uneasy.

    "I know there are no feelings of love or emotion that transcend gender, but why does that smile send chills down my spine?"

    "I like you."

    "Thank you."

    For some reason, I felt incredibly uneasy.

    It was an indescribable atmosphere that felt more unsettling than the fear and caution I felt when discussing money or facing a high-ranking individual.

    As I was pondering this unfamiliar emotion in my life, a knock came from outside the door.

    "It¡¯s Chloe. I¡¯ve brought the refreshments and tea for His Grace and Baron, may I enter?"

    "Come in."

    If someone saw it, they might think I had used a brainwashing app.

    Here, with no smartphones, perhaps they¡¯d think a witch cast a spell?

    The duke pulled a letter stamped with the duke family''s seal from his pocket.

    "Read it; it¡¯s directly from my father. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s written in it, so I would appreciate it if you could let me know the contents."

    I promptly opened the letter with a letter-opening dagger, adhering to etiquette.

    [Dear Baron Medici, I was truly surprised to hear that you are seeking gold trade routes in the western Ifriqiya continent. Well, you have astonished me more than once or twice already.]

    The ironworks, seaweed, the defection of the Deus Knights, dismantling the spice guild, etc...

    For ordinary people, accomplishing even one of these would be difficult, yet I had achieved all these significant accomplishments in just two years.

    Honestly, it would be strange if I wasn''t surprised.

    [When I mentioned this to Count Latina, they said that no matter how capable you are, it would be difficult to establish trade routes in the Ifriqiya continent. However, I believe you can successfully plant our Toscana Empire''s flag there.]

    No, while it is true that the essence of the Age of Exploration was colonial expansion.

    What power do I have to conquer the western Ifriqiya continent?

    Thus, I could interpret this as merely a way of expressing how much he believed in me.

    [I feel sorry for imposing a troublesome task on someone who is about to undertake a difficult journey, but I would like you to take Alfred along. He has studied hard and improved to a certain extent, but perhaps because he has only served in the military at a young age, his perspective is narrow. So, I hope this opportunity broadens his horizons. -Duke Visconti-]

    This is absurd; why must I take the duke''s son along to broaden his horizons?

    I can only do business, after all.

    Once I neatly folded the letter and set it down, the duke immediately asked.

    "What did it say?"

    "I don¡¯t think I need to persuade you. The duke requested that you take his son along."

    Hearing this, the duke grinned.

    "Father really understands my feelings well."

    I know he intends to strengthen my political standing, but isn¡¯t this going a bit too far?

    At this rate, I might just die of a heart attack.

    "When do I need to prepare?"

    "I will depart in a week. I can guarantee your safety, but this journey will not be as comfortable as those other nobles'' travels."

    While Albert did this, heirs of noble families go on a "Grand Tour" around the continent to broaden their connections and knowledge.

    They ensure that the young masters can sleep comfortably by bringing along massive beds, bathrooms, and various furnishings, right?

    "Did I lose 5% of the family¡¯s financial income when Albert went on his trip?"

    "I also haven''t fought a single war while rising to the rank of division commander. As long as you don''t let me starve, I will forgive everything."

    "Understood; I will do my best."

    Even if I say that, I¡¯ll have to modify a cabin on a ship into a suite.

    I can¡¯t let it be too shabby.

    "I¡¯ve never been to the pagans¡¯ land myself, so this should be quite fun."

    Having the experience of bringing the duke¡¯s son to the land of pagans would be like having the title of "Duke¡¯s Tutor."

    Because my assigned role is to be a temporary tutor.

    "It¡¯s my job to share all the knowledge about the travel destination and broaden his perspective."

    I still can¡¯t understand why a 22-year-old is doing this for someone in their early 40s.

    Then, I headed straight for the large city of Nador in the northeastern part of the Ifriqiya continent with the duke¡¯s son.

 Chapter 88

    The Medina continent and the Ifriqiya continent both practice the same faith of Madbahhism.

    However, just as Islamic practices can differ based on whether they are in Islamic fundamentalist states or liberal Islamic ones, the territories governed by the Alchini family exhibit a completely different appearance.

    The duke beside me looked around with an expression of astonishment.

    "I thought that under Madbahhism, women weren¡¯t allowed outside, but it seems a bit different here. They cover their noses and mouths with veils, yet everyone is wandering about freely."

    "Even among those who believe in Deus, interpretations of doctrine and lifestyles vary, don¡¯t they? Naturally, there will be differences based on the continent."

    In Cairo, the stronghold of the Alchini family, women could never go outside alone.@@@@

    They could only go out in the company of men such as their husbands, brothers, or fathers, completely wrapped in cloth covering their faces and bodies.

    Yet here, as long as the nose and mouth are covered, they enjoy complete freedom to go out.

    "Very interesting."

    "Thank you for your kind words."

    "But it¡¯s a bit strange. I heard that people from the Ifriqiya continent have black skin, large eyes, and lots of curly hair..."

    The duke looked around with a puzzled expression.

    "Here, I only see people with brown skin and sharp features. They look just like the pagan slaves we have in our family."

    "The pagans who migrated here because of religious issues do not mix with the native Ifriqiya people. While there are many pagan sex slaves in the Albanian continent, it¡¯s rare to see any mixed-blood children of pagan sex slaves."

    It¡¯s not that mixed-blood children aren¡¯t born, nor are they all killed as soon as they are born.

    However, such individuals are generally handled quietly so as not to attract attention.

    "They¡¯re not killed but instead forced to live in the backwoods, thus making them invisible."

    They likely employ similar methods here.

    "Oh, I see. Very interesting. So where is the person we are looking for?"

    "The person we are going to see is the governor of this region."

    "The governor, what position does that hold in our Toscana Empire?"

    "It¡¯s similar to a duke in this region. Since the guide has stopped to talk to the guards, it seems we are at the governor''s palace."

    In China, a governor might feel like the head of a local municipality, but in the Medina Sultanate, it¡¯s like a warlord who controls extensive military, administrative, and judicial powers over a large area.

    Moreover, this place is quite far from the capital.

    "It¡¯s practically a monarch of an independent state, isn¡¯t it?"

    "Your Grace, Baron. The guards are asking for a gift. How much do you intend to give?"

    Upon hearing the guide''s words, the duke took out gold coins instead of silver and handed them over.

    Not just one, but five coins.

    Giving such a large bribe to a mere guard seemed like madness, but bribes generally work their way up from the bottom.

    "Perhaps only half a gold coin will actually reach the guard?"

    I have lived in a world far more advanced technologically, culturally, and socially than this one.

    Even if I can¡¯t use my abilities to replicate something like a "steam engine" as commonly seen in reincarnation novels with a few taps of a hammer.

    I can see what they cannot and utilize common knowledge they are unable to accept.

    "Seeing a little further than others is power."

    Those who are called chaebols have all succeeded through a broader perspective.

    "I like it. So, Duke, what brings you all the way to this distant Nador?"

    "I have come to observe what this baron from Toscana is planning."

    The governor¡¯s gaze shifted toward me.

    "I want to buy gold from Nador."

    "Our Nador, or rather, this area I govern has no gold mines. So what do you mean by gold from Nador?"

    I already knew this much.

    The Nador region, which is practically the governor''s territory, has neither gold mines nor even a hint of placer gold.

    However, it¡¯s not that Nador itself lacks gold; the areas where he trades with others are filled with gold mines.

    "Gold is not found in Nador, but the Alchini family has said this."

    In fact, I hadn¡¯t heard it from the Alchini family, but that doesn¡¯t matter.

    If pressed, I could simply slip away.

    "No, then some fellow might be pretending to be from the Alchini family to me."

    "One-third of the Sultanate¡¯s gold comes from Nador, they say. Furthermore, many merchants here constantly purchase black slaves and gold from the Ifriqiya continent."

    The nations that first ventured into the Age of Exploration were Spain and Portugal.

    These two nations made a fortune from the gold and slave trade in West Africa.

    It¡¯s reasonable to say this led to the American Civil War.

    However, I have no intention of diving into the slave trade.

    "Slavery is inhumane and inefficient in production."

    While I can¡¯t stop others from jumping into it.

    Well, the governor of Nador and other merchants are likely quite engaged in it.

    Though slavery may be inefficient, selling slaves can be lucrative.

    The governor looked at me without saying anything, simply tapping his fingers on the table in front of him.

    "Your Grace, and I am aware of everything."

    "What do you mean?"

    "You need weapons and armor, don¡¯t you? Furthermore, you could use more guns, gunpowder, and ammunition, right?"

 Chapter 89

    The governor of Nador''s eyes widened when I mentioned war.

    "Our sultanate is not engaged in any wars. So why would you need weapons?"

    There¡¯s no South Korean man who doesn¡¯t know why the South Korean military stockpiles a massive amount of weapons, to the point where the Ministry of National Defense is referred to as the Ministry of Armaments.

    It''s to prepare for the unpredictable outbreak of war.

    Thus, the more weapons one has, as long as the budget allows, the better.

    "And it provides the added benefits of maintaining order and strengthening the power base, a triple win."

    The problem is that it consumes an exorbitant amount of money.

    "Indeed, Your Excellency, you are not waging war against the nation. However, aren¡¯t there various conflicts occurring everywhere? Particularly against the tribes of western Ifriqiya."

    Politely stated as conflicts, but in strict terms, they are wars of conquest.@@@@

    This is a medieval-style M&A to expand the power of Nador, a quasi-independent state, and acquire more wealth and slaves.

    And I have heard that our governor is currently in a rather difficult situation.

    By using the promise of freedom as bait, they can enlist black slaves to meet the required number of soldiers, but they¡¯re reportedly only given makeshift weapons like spears due to a lack of proper arms.

    The tribes also use iron weapons, so it wouldn¡¯t be easy.

    "Besides, they are just nomads without horses."

    "Your Excellency, let¡¯s have an honest conversation."

    "I believe I¡¯m already having a sufficiently sincere conversation with you."

    If he¡¯s in a very disadvantageous situation but doesn¡¯t honestly confess it, then that isn¡¯t a sincere conversation, is it?

    Well, even if we are family, he wouldn¡¯t lay all his cards on the table during political negotiations...

    A good negotiation involves getting the other party to reveal all their cards while concealing your own until the end, right?

    I don¡¯t know who said it, but that seems to be quite a good saying.

    "Both His Grace the Duke and I are very tight-lipped. Moreover, Toscana Empire and Nador are a week away by sea, so I don¡¯t plan to mobilize imperial troops to attack Nador."

    When persuading a wary counterpart, the most important thing is to convey that I am not a dangerous presence.

    No matter how favorable the terms I bring, would anyone trust a murderer or a fraudster?

    At the very least, I need to instill the perception that I¡¯m not a bad person.

    "We merely want to buy gold at a lower price and sell it at a higher price in other countries, including the Kingdom of Lyon. The more money, the better."

    A good way to cultivate the perception that I¡¯m not a bad person is to establish common ground with the other party.

    In late Joseon, a Western man visited a village where the local magistrate was highly suspicious of him.

    They believed that he would squeeze people¡¯s pupils to draw black lines when painting and that he was a ghost who could kill without hesitation.

    However, once they set the table and saw him eat properly, their suspicions were alleviated.

    "If he¡¯s a ghost, he should be eating chopsticks, bowls, and tableware, but since he eats rice, they believed he was human."

    In the same psychological vein, I revealed my honest desires.

    "Even if we believe in different gods, under the love of money, we can unite, can¡¯t we?"

    I smiled while looking into the governor¡¯s eyes with a gentle gaze.

    Fifty tons of gunpowder is enough to fire about 60,000 shots.

    To those accustomed to firing dozens of shots during training, this may seem like a small amount.

    However, in the wars of this era, if a soldier fires more than five shots, it¡¯s considered a fierce battle, and if they fire more than seven, it¡¯s regarded as a disastrous war.

    If we fire 30 shots from 2,000 rifles, it would lead to an immense amount of bloodshed.

    "Can you keep that promise?"

    "His Grace the Duke here will guarantee it."

    The duke nodded upon hearing my words.

    "This young man rose to the rank of baron solely by his own power at the age of 22. I will vouch for him."

    "...... Very well, then. I will prepare the gold, so just bring the goods. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

    With that, the governor promptly left his seat.

    The duke then led me to a secluded spot where only the two of us were present.

    His face bore a rather deep frown.

    Yet his voice, when he asked, remained very calm.

    "Even so, selling weapons to pagans... Isn¡¯t that tantamount to doing good deeds for them to earn money? Do you still consider yourself a follower of Deus?"

    Honestly, I don¡¯t care whether one believes in Deus, another religion, or even Buddha.

    However, to the people of this era, faith is akin to breathing, so it¡¯s understandable to feel averse to aiding pagans.

    "I must clarify any misunderstandings right away."

    "When did I ever say I¡¯d do only good deeds for the pagans, Your Grace? I have my reasons."

    "What reasons might those be?"

    While this sounds like something a villainous nation would say, if one wants to make as much money as possible during wartime...

    "With this, we will secure a base in the Ifriqiya continent. Using this base to explore the surrounding geography, we can find ''coastal cities located in western Ifriqiya continent.'' If we disguise our flags as something other than the ''Medici family'' or the ''Visconti duke family'' and sail directly to that coastal city, would we be caught?"

    In this era, I¡¯m grateful there¡¯s no technology akin to radar.

    As long as we don¡¯t make a ruckus when we enter the port, there¡¯s no way smuggling will be detected.

    So, landing in the coastal villages of western Ifriqiya and exchanging gold and various resources for gunpowder and flintlock rifles would be the end of it.

    If the governor says something, I could just respond, "Ah, it seems those other nations are doing that."

    What could he do about it?

    If we don¡¯t sell flintlock rifles to them, the tribes will unite and drive you out with their rifles.

    "The likelihood of being caught is low."

    "If we can incite the primitive tribes and pagans who do not believe in Deus to fight each other, we can earn money while also weakening the pagans¡¯ power."

    The duke looked at me, seemingly incredulous.

    "That¡¯s why my father told me to learn from you. Baron, your strategies are indeed remarkable."

    "It is an honor, Your Grace."

    "Take care of the hospitality and return. I will report this positively to my father."

 Chapter 90

    Duke Alfred de Visconti immediately went to see his father upon returning to Florence.

    ¡°I¡¯m back, Father.¡±

    ¡°Welcome back. Did you have a good trip?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I learned and saw a lot. It was nothing compared to the Grand Tour that other nobles take. At my age, I didn''t even feel like going.¡±

    The Grand Tour is a worldwide journey that prominent nobles or wealthy merchants often take at least once.

    As Alfred did, they travel with a tutor to various places, seeing and learning about many things firsthand.

    They also attend numerous social gatherings in those countries, building connections with influential figures abroad while enjoying all sorts of cultural experiences.

    It¡¯s an incredibly costly journey, but the knowledge gained is equally valuable.

    ¡°Art, culture, history¡ªthese are things that any noble should know.¡±

    When everyone is aware of the same knowledge or information, its value tends to diminish.

    However, the journey that Fabio took for just about a month...

    ¡°My health is fine, so I was going to send you on a trip as a celebration for finishing your military service.¡±

    It¡¯s a trip that every noble should experience at least once, and it promises a delightful experience.

    Often, nobles return with several beautiful women after starting their journey alone, and it¡¯s an opportunity to indulge in the luxuries available only to the nobility for nearly a year.

    Heirs from noble families, in fact, remember this time as the happiest period of their lives, so the duke had intended to send Alfred on such a journey.

    When that plan fell through, the duke felt a tinge of regret.

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to save money, but I feel a bit disappointed.¡±

    ¡°There aren¡¯t many chances to see the outside world. You¡¯ve been buried in studies and work at your age; it wouldn¡¯t hurt to have some fun.¡±

    ¡°Having fun is good, but I think it would be more beneficial to learn from the actions of Baron Medici.¡±

    ¡°Why the change of heart?¡±

    Alfred, the duke''s son, had initially felt some discontent when his father instructed him to learn from Fabio.

    It seemed strange to learn from someone so much younger, after all.

    Of course, he couldn''t openly dispute his father¡¯s order without a reasonable basis, so he naturally complied.

    He never showed any discontent in front of Fabio.

    ¡°Commoners can express their emotions as they please, but we must sometimes hide our feelings even if we are met with mud on our faces.¡±

    That¡¯s the essence of politics and governance.

    ¡°First of all, after asking a few questions of the maid that the baron cherishes, I found that his character seems exceptional. Seeing how much he values his maid and receives sincere love from her makes me feel favorable toward him.¡±

    ¡°Fabio is quite peculiar, to say the least.¡±

    ¡°However, more than that, the baron¡¯s abilities were far more appealing.¡±

    ¡°What aspects?¡±

    The duke''s son recalled Fabio''s demeanor in Nador.

    ¡°He curiously showed no signs of hostility or displeasure when looking at the heathens. Anyone who sees those heathens, who are essentially beasts dressed in human skin, would likely feel repulsion.¡±

    In reality, Fabio does not feel any disgust when looking at the heathens.

    He merely thinks of them as people from a different culture.

    However, that is something unimaginable by the common standards of the Albanian continent.

    ¡°If he did this with those who believe in the Deus religion, even Satan would applaud.¡±

    However, since it¡¯s aimed at heathens, it¡¯s acceptable.

    ¡°And since there¡¯s a risk of being caught later, he suggested that the ships going to sell goods to the tribes of Ifriqiya should ¡®change flags.¡¯ He said they could just play dumb.¡±

    The duke clapped his hands without thinking.

    Seeing Fabio pulling such a trick on heathens made him feel quite pleased as a believer of the Deus religion.

    ¡°Making money and screwing over the heathens is a twofold success.¡±

    ¡°Can such wisdom truly be gained from the Grand Tour?¡±

    ¡°I went on the Grand Tour 40 years ago, but they didn¡¯t teach me this.¡±

    The duke raised his assessment of Fabio even higher.

    ¡°I must find some way to bind him to our family.¡±

    ¡°What if the emperor were to take Fabio away?¡±

    It seemed like he would make the nobles into beggars without any hesitation.

    ¡°Then could I give Erica to that fellow?¡±

    Alfred smiled upon hearing that.

    ¡°At first, I was a bit hesitant when I heard you intended to give Erica to a mere baron. But from a father¡¯s perspective, it seems it would be more of a loss for Fabio than for Erica. Once he receives the title of baron, I should hurry to arrange a marriage.¡±

    To make the daughter born from the duke¡¯s lawful wife his wife, he would need to become a count.

    A baron is merely the ¡°minimum legal requirement¡±; in reality, it¡¯s something unattainable.

    It¡¯s about as meaningless as the idea that all people are equal before Deus.

    Of course, that statement wouldn¡¯t be refuted by anyone.

    ¡°But I do have one concern, Father.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Becoming a baron is something one could achieve depending on effort, but beyond that, it¡¯s different, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    For a common ¡°noble¡± to earn a baron title by their own strength, it requires tremendous military merit.

    By the conventional means, one must show incredible military achievements and abilities over 30 to 40 years to be promoted to ¡°general.¡±

    Or one must capture the supreme commander in a war involving tens of thousands of troops.

    You need to achieve tremendous feats to climb up the ranks.

    ¡°I would be delighted to have Fabio as a son-in-law, but will Erica end up becoming an old maid?¡±

    However, the duke burst into laughter at his son¡¯s question.

    ¡°It was Fabio who incorporated Rabatt Island into the empire''s territory. He rejected the title of baron for that achievement.¡±

    ¡°Is he really someone like us?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but let me explain it to you in a way you can understand.¡±

    The duke chuckled and asked,

    ¡°If one of your subordinates is a battalion commander, and that fellow is extraordinarily exceptional, easily crushing the enemy¡¯s legion with just one battalion, would you dismiss him?¡±

    ¡°If I have such a subordinate, I would bind him to me by any means. If I entrusted my division to him, I could just sleep and still get promoted.¡±

    An excellent subordinate is a threat.

    However, if you can secure their heart, it¡¯s best to keep them by your side.

    ¡°As long as Baron Medici is helpful to us, that¡¯s all that matters. What else is there to question? Besides, Erica has five more years until she comes of age, so why worry?¡±

    At that moment, Fabio felt an unexplained chill.

 Chapter 91

    Nothing on Earth can kill people as quickly and efficiently as gunpowder.

    If someone brings this up, those unfamiliar with warfare might retort that you could endlessly stab or cut someone with a spear or sword.

    But this isn¡¯t Japan; the sharpness and durability of weapons like spears and swords used in real battles are only on the level of a ¡°kitchen knife,¡± and after stabbing two or three people, the blade is rendered dull.

    ¡°Even a masterpiece known as a ¡®legendary sword¡¯ can barely handle five people.¡±

    Moreover, unless one has learned hand-to-hand combat to a certain degree, it¡¯s not easy to kill someone with a sword.

    Even attempting murder with a kitchen knife made using 21st-century metallurgy often results in failing to kill with just one stab, requiring dozens of thrusts instead.

    ¡°However, obtaining gunpowder in this era isn¡¯t an easy task.¡±

    In the 21st century, a single bullet costs less than 300 won, but in this age, the price of firing one bullet is equivalent to a serf''s daily wage.

    The lead bullet costs 10% of the total, while the gunpowder used amounts to less than 8 grams, yet it takes up a whopping 90% of the cost...

    ¡°That just shows how incredibly valuable it is.¡±

    Thus, the governor of Nador asks me to sell him some gunpowder and matchlocks because of this.

    As I was lost in thought, a knock came at the door.

    ¡°It¡¯s Kris; may I come in?¡±

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    I hadn¡¯t scheduled a meeting with Kris today, and I had assigned the task of securing gunpowder supplies to Sebastian.

    Considering the importance of the task, I expected he would come in person.

    ¡°Although Kris is almost like family...¡±

    We¡¯re not directly blood-related, after all.

    Kris entered with a huge stack of documents.

    ¡°The steward is too busy overseeing the Medici trading company¡¯s operations to come here, so he handed me the report and instructed me to present it in his stead.¡±

    Sebastian must be quite overwhelmed managing the affairs after I returned.

    ¡°First of all, I have secured all 2,000 matchlocks you promised to supply to the governor of Nador. Furthermore, I paid about 1.5 times the market price for 20 tons of gunpowder, but we successfully secured the entire amount.¡±

    I had thought it would be acceptable to secure that quantity just within this winter.

    What kind of trick did Sebastian pull to acquire such a large quantity of gunpowder and matchlocks two months ahead of my expectations?

    I¡¯ll have to ask him to report on what magic he performed later.

    First, I need to get my tired body moving with some financial therapy.

    ¡°Not paying people and overworking them is an act of villainy on the level of Hitler.¡±

    ¡°I should reward Sebastian for his hard work.¡±

    I heard recently that Sebastian¡¯s son is getting married in a month, so I should give him a mansion in Florence, considering all his efforts.

    Since I essentially obtained it for free by taking down the spice guild, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem to give one away.

    ¡°What will you do?¡±

    Fortunately, gunpowder can be mass-produced if one wishes.

    Ideally, I¡¯d like to monopolize gunpowder manufacturing, but if I attempted something like that, I¡¯d truly be in danger.

    ¡°No matter how much of an emperor he is, he would cut me open if I tried to monopolize advanced gunpowder manufacturing technology alone.¡±

    ¡°I guess I have no choice but to produce gunpowder.¡±

    ¡°I believe we can sufficiently manufacture gunpowder by utilizing our trading company¡¯s connections and artisans...¡±

    The problem is that the process of producing gunpowder in the Toscana Empire is quite barbaric.

    Noble mansions are invaded every ten years to gather dust piled on ceilings or corners and salty-tasting dirt around bathrooms.

    Commoners live through the daily grind of invading every possible area to find ¡°soil that can be processed into gunpowder,¡± making it a norm.

    To survive while doing this, one must possess power greater than that of a ¡°count.¡±

    For a mere baron like me to engage in such acts?

    ¡°That¡¯s a surefire way to get beaten and die.¡±

    ¡°Kris, that¡¯s not the kind of method you¡¯re thinking of.¡±

    Surprisingly, with a very simple shift in perspective, anyone can find a solution, but I¡¯ll use an approach that no one typically employs to escape this crisis.

    ¡°Gunpowder is originally cultivated like growing mold, right?¡±

    This obvious principle has been applicable to humanity for hundreds of years until Professor Haber developed the magical process of nitrogen fixation.

    I should take advantage of that.

    ¡°It¡¯s a method that¡¯s more certain while also not inconveniencing anyone.¡±

    However, to attempt this immediately, I would need to take a public office again.

    Perhaps I could directly ask the emperor.

    If I present a way to increase gunpowder production, he would welcome me with open arms.

    ¡°I might have to start working at the Florence city hall for a while.¡±

    To secure a large amount of manure, which is the primary ingredient for gunpowder, it¡¯s fastest and most reliable to assume a position of authority and push through.

    ¡°What on earth are you thinking, Baron?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking of a way to produce gunpowder in abundance. It¡¯s not precise, but it¡¯ll certainly be much more efficient than the current method of digging up dirt from toilets and walls.¡±

    If I use this method, I¡¯m certain I can secure at least several times more gunpowder than what I¡¯m currently obtaining, and I could do it with far greater efficiency.

    ¡°Moreover, it might greatly reduce the chances of diseases.¡±

    Florence isn¡¯t as unsanitary as those dismal medieval cities we often envision, but to be honest, the sanitary conditions aren¡¯t particularly good either.

    And I wrote a very simple but clear letter to the emperor.

    [After analyzing the principles of gunpowder production, I believe it can be made from feces and urine. Thus, I would like to conduct an experiment; the costs will be fully covered by the gods, so I just need a little assistance.]

    The next day, I was able to receive a temporary position in Florence from the emperor. It seems that the emperor is more serious about war and gunpowder than I thought.

 Chapter 92

    In the Toscana Empire, being a noble is akin to being a retired civil servant.

    When someone of high rank, such as the emperor, duke, marquess, or count, ¡°appoints¡± you, you can become a parachute hire at any time.

    ¡°The emperor oversees the entire empire, while nobles below dukes can only appoint within their direct jurisdiction.¡±

    Thus, my sudden appointment did not surprise or face any rejection from the city hall staff...

    Yet, this kind of occurrence is not common in our empire, so my subordinate officials looked at me with puzzled expressions.

    ¡°I am Baron Fabio de Medici, appointed as the temporary director of public safety and the head of gunpowder production starting today. From this point forward, you will all be members of both the public safety and gunpowder production departments, based on your original affiliations.¡±

    Everyone looked dumbfounded by the abrupt reshuffle order.

    Well, considering it wasn¡¯t even a time for reshuffling, it¡¯s understandable they¡¯d be flabbergasted to be assigned to departments that didn¡¯t even exist until now.

    However, they seemed to know that I was favored by the emperor, so there was no sign of despair on their faces.

    ¡°In any era, being transferred to a department that didn¡¯t even exist before isn¡¯t generally a good thing.¡±

    Of course, a department that¡¯s suddenly created under the strong will of a high-ranking individual could be seen as an opportunity for promotion.

    ¡°Gunpowder production was originally under the Ministry of Military Affairs, and there is a higher organization, the Public Safety Bureau, responsible for urban security. So, it¡¯s reasonable to question why a separate, independent agency has been established. Allow me to explain everything one by one.¡±

    Given my position, I could practically command the officials here.

    The emperor¡¯s favor, the duke¡¯s favor, the position I aim for as a merchant leader, and the resolution of military procurement issues and supply problems.

    With just a little bit of leverage on these significant issues, I could easily ask for ¡°cooperation¡± from the department heads while it sounds like ¡°orders¡± coming from my rank.

    However, I choose not to do so because explaining to people why they are doing a task is more efficient.

    ¡°First and foremost, the reason I¡¯m in charge of gunpowder production is to test a new manufacturing method for gunpowder.¡±

    At this, a man serving as the assistant to the head of the department asked,

    ¡°Does this mean we will also oversee the collection of dirt from around the toilets, walls, and ceilings?¡±

    The people here are equivalent to government officials above the 5th grade in Korea.

    Based on their social status, it wouldn¡¯t be unreasonable to refer to a doctor who claims a net salary of ten million won as ¡°a mere doctor.¡±

    Gathering such individuals and saying we¡¯re going to collect excrement could elicit protests.

    ¡°If I were a count, I¡¯d likely face similar protests.¡±

    ¡°You only need to organize the documents. You have plenty of subordinates under you, right?¡±

    I¡¯ll send the subordinates below them to supervise on-site, and the task of collecting excrement won¡¯t fall on soldiers but rather on others.

    ¡°It¡¯s one thing to be dragged into the army, but making them collect excrement for a meager salary crosses the line.¡±

    ¡°Upon reviewing the production methods for gunpowder, I found that the soil used as a raw material can only be collected from areas rich in excrement and urine. Therefore, I pondered that the true raw material for gunpowder is not actually the soil, but excrement and urine.¡±

    The raw material for gunpowder is potassium nitrate.

    And potassium nitrate is most abundantly found in excrement and urine.

    It took humanity a staggering 400 years to realize this after starting to use gunpowder.

    Unless someone has a certain degree of social standing, it¡¯s standard for even the innocent to end up with broken limbs.

    Getting imprisoned on charges of obstructing imperial orders?

    You¡¯ll be forced to drink mushroom soup straight from the pot.

    ¡°And lastly, I¡¯d like to give a warning that you¡¯ll not be able to complain about this to anyone else.¡±

    ¡°First, let¡¯s focus on gathering personnel to collect excrement and urine; prepare to head to the slums. We¡¯ll do it properly, so bring about two companies from the Florence garrison. Have the officers come dressed in their uniforms.¡±

    In fact, I only need to borrow about a platoon, but ¡®providing jobs for the poor¡¯ is seen as a good deed by the standards of this era.

    And to achieve success, it¡¯s better to carry out good deeds in a way that everyone can see.

    Playing a trumpet and dressing in fine clothing is the proper decorum.

    That way, we¡¯ll have a good reputation.

    ¡°Just the assistant head will remain for a while; everyone else, prepare to go out.¡±

    I waved for the remaining assistant head to come over.

    Upon closer inspection, he appeared to be five to seven years older than me.

    It seems he, like me, was either a second son of a baronial family or the first son of a baron with a legal robe, starting his career in public service.

    If he¡¯s the head of a baronial family with a legal robe, he would typically reach my position or possibly even a deputy director with just average work performance. If he¡¯s the second son of a baron, my position might be his limit.

    ¡°He must be very eager for promotion.¡±

    ¡°Assistant head, I¡¯ll be direct. Do you wish to be promoted?¡±

    ¡°Yes, indeed.¡±

    There wouldn¡¯t be a single person in our empire who doesn¡¯t want to be promoted.

    Just becoming a non-commissioned officer from a mere soldier significantly improves the quality of life and treatment for serfs, and bureaucrats receive far better treatment with just a single rank increase.

    ¡°As you know, I¡¯m only serving as a temporary head. So, when this work is completed, I will step down. However, what will happen to this organization once gunpowder production stabilizes?¡±

    It goes without saying: it will grow.

    Currently, it¡¯s the Gunpowder Production Division, but later it will likely expand into the Gunpowder Production Bureau.

    ¡°Even if someone else occupies the director¡¯s position, the job will only run smoothly if someone who fully grasps the operations heads the department. If the organization expands to a national level, there should be about four or five head positions... unless the mayor of Florence is a fool, you¡¯ll undoubtedly...¡±

    I intentionally paused.

    ¡°Your promotion to head is guaranteed. At your age to be a head, if you perform well, you¡¯ll surely rise to the position of director.¡±

    From the position of director, one is considered a ¡®key bureaucrat¡¯ within the empire.

    That¡¯s the pinnacle of success.

    ¡°Let¡¯s make sure to work well together. And if there are any complaints, it¡¯s your job to handle them.¡±

    With that, I placed a substantial amount of money in his hand.

    ¡°After overseeing the subordinates, give a little to those who perform well as incentives. That way, you¡¯ll also be promoted. Now, go.¡±@@@@

 Chapter 93

    Sometimes, it¡¯s better to be unemployed than to work in a place where you¡¯re not treated as a person.

    For instance, there are jobs with a pre-tax starting salary of 2,060,000 won, where you work every other Saturday or every three weeks until 8 or 9 PM, with a maximum salary of less than 2,500,000 won after ten years of service.

    For someone in urgent need of making a living, such a job might seem like a blessing.

    After all, it¡¯s not a crime, and by working, they can live under a roof and avoid starvation.

    Moreover, the poor of this era would do anything to get something to eat, including pickpocketing, stealing, extorting, using violence, or even murder.

    ¡°Even forcing someone into a job like this is a humanitarian measure.¡±

    Lost in such thoughts, I soon arrived in the slums.

    The assistant head shouted in a loud, piercing voice that could hurt my ears.

    ¡°His Majesty has granted you filthy poor people a chance to live as humans! Therefore, you must take advantage of His Majesty''s grace and be reborn immediately!¡±

    The common folk of this era, especially the impoverished, tremble at the mere mention of the ¡°grace of the state.¡±

    This is because, under the guise of reformation, they are often subjected to long hours of grueling labor, earning nothing more than a bowl of thin oatmeal in return.

    It¡¯s common for them to be conscripted into the army, essentially turned into cannon fodder.

    Thus, the poor have learned to make use of the wisdom of survival they¡¯ve gained through life.

    ¡°Damn it, run! If I get caught, I¡¯ll be dragged off to battle!¡±

    Even if it¡¯s called cleaning, it¡¯s not as if the empire is holding a ¡°massacre¡± in the process.

    They are simply given the opportunity to voluntarily enlist in the army and are made to toil until they¡¯re exhausted.

    The chances of returning alive are slim, and since military service is an obligation of the citizens, even surviving a discharge results in nothing more than a few silver coins.

    Feeling that being caught would lead to a bad end, they chose to flee.

    Even those poor souls who haven¡¯t grasped the emperor''s love began to escape.

    ¡°Ugh, I knew tonight would be unlucky!¡±

    ¡°If I get caught, I¡¯ll die! I really will!¡±

    ¡°Which idiot touched someone important and got caught?!¡±

    Seeing this, Captain Marine, who had followed us, wore a suspicious smile and said,

    ¡°Is it really right for me to request that you ensure my performance evaluation goes well if we catch those scoundrels?¡±

    Captain Marine is also someone whose promotion has been slow compared to his status, age, and performance evaluations, so I thought he would take my request earnestly.

    Perhaps blinded by the prospect of promotion, he was licking his lips.

    Marine, by the way, means ¡°marine,¡± and upon closer inspection, he seemed unusually tanned.

    He¡¯s truly an ideal candidate for gathering people to voluntarily enlist, improve hygiene in Florence, and boost gunpowder production.

    The soldiers behind him were also wearing suspicious smiles.

    ¡°Captain, you know you said you¡¯d treat us to dinner if we catch those rascals?¡±

    ¡°Will we be treated to beef?¡±

    ¡°That depends on how much you can satisfy Baron Medici over there.¡±

    For some reason, I feel like I need to buy them all red eight-pointed hats.

    Even if I don''t care about other companies, I need to maintain a good relationship with Marine¡¯s company.

    ¡°Just bring back 200, no, 400 people. Don¡¯t kill anyone or break any bones in the process.¡±

    ¡°Our soldiers will handle everything neatly. Please wait just a moment.¡±

    Given how they struck him, they must be masters of beatings.

    If Fabio had seen this, he might have seriously considered hiring a few of them as his personal guards after their discharge.

    One soldier lifted Leo¡¯s chin and taunted him.

    ¡°Why did you run away and make things difficult? It would¡¯ve been much better to enlist voluntarily!¡±

    To Leo, the phrase ¡°voluntary enlistment¡± sounded like this:

    ¡°Go die in battle on your own accord when the emperor orders you to!¡±

    Though these soldiers might be in a better position than him, they are mere serfs, likely to be trampled as well.

    However, having been hardened by the violence and murder of the slums, Leo wisely kept his mouth shut.

    If he had spoken up, he could have faced a tragic end.

    ¡°Um, excuse me, soldiers. What¡¯s going to happen to me now? Am I really going to be dragged off to the battlefield and die like a dog?¡±

    Though Leo claimed that serfs and the poor are equally exploited, there is a vast difference between the two.

    The poor, who lack even a household registration and are essentially considered ¡°less than human,¡± can be kidnapped and killed by nobles for fun without anyone caring.

    As long as no other noble or someone steps on their tail, of course.

    Conversely, if a serf gets murdered, the guards or the soldiers from the estate would show a reluctance to investigate while they would still do some minimal investigation, and the church might even take their side.

    There¡¯s a significant difference between those who are not considered people and those who are seen as the lowest of society...

    The soldiers, who came from serf backgrounds, laughed at Leo, the poor man.

    ¡°You won¡¯t be dragged off to the battlefield. Instead, you¡¯ll be tasked with cleaning up the city¡¯s waste. It¡¯s a lowly job, but they¡¯ll provide you food and a place to live.¡±

    Leo couldn¡¯t believe those words.

    Was the country actually going to do something for them?

    He had spent his life getting exploited by the country and suffering under the whims of noble lords.

    ¡°Am I really going to escape this damn life in the slums?¡±

    ¡°And to think it¡¯s simply cleaning up the filth of the poor. Isn¡¯t it just a form of cleaning when His Majesty kills the dirty poor on the battlefield? I learned while serving in the Florence garrison that 70% of all crimes happening in the city arise because of you poor people. You may not have been caught, but how can we know if you¡¯ve killed someone, pickpocketed, or raped a woman?¡±

    According to imperial law, the penalties for the poor are extremely harsh.

    If they meet the wrong judge, it¡¯s not uncommon for someone to be sentenced to death for stealing a single loaf of bread.

    And the reason behind such judgments is simple.

    As the socially weak, the poor must turn to any form of crime to survive; thus, when they¡¯re caught, it¡¯s assumed they¡¯ve accumulated crimes.

    ¡°So be thankful that, through His Majesty''s grace, you¡¯re able to do this lowly job that pays you food. Will you still refuse His Majesty''s grace?¡±

    Even the job of cleaning up excrement is better than petty theft.

    ¡°No! I¡¯ll go with you!¡±

    With that, Leo, covered in bruises except for his face, forced a smile as he followed the soldiers.

    That day, more than 400 men received what could be called salvation.

 Chapter 94

    The head of the department cautiously spoke up.

    ¡°Director of Public Safety, it seems we are lacking more personnel than you anticipated. With 400 people, it¡¯s only possible to manage the waste from Florence up to a certain limit.¡±

    The official population of Florence is 200,000, but this only accounts for ¡®middle-class men and above.¡¯

    Therefore, if you include commoners and the poor, it¡¯s roughly about 700,000.

    In a place where there is no concept of working hours, if we rotate a six-day workweek of 14 hours, we could theoretically manage all the waste in Florence somehow...

    ¡°But we can¡¯t even cover the personnel needed for actual gunpowder production.¡±

    I was aware of that when I gathered only 400 people.

    It¡¯s simply a dirty and degrading job to deal with waste, so it would suffice to have the poor volunteer for the task as a form of social welfare.

    To extract saltpeter from the waste requires a year of fermentation; would the impoverished want to do such work?

    It¡¯s more effective to gather criminals or those on the verge of death for this task.

    ¡°No matter how much the poor are considered potential criminals who can¡¯t live without committing crimes, would they be willing to work all day long smelling the stench of rotting feces?¡±

    Of course, if you pay them well, they might not refuse.

    Even if I offered them half of Kris''s salary, the poor would gratefully stir through heaps of excrement, right?

    ¡°People who used to earn 300,000 won a month would work like dogs if you deducted taxes and paid them 7 to 8 million won.¡±

    ¡°If you pay them a lot, it could be resolved. But why do the poor deserve such generous compensation? It¡¯s a waste of taxes.¡±

    ¡°The poor only demand from the empire; they are scum who kill and rob among themselves as a daily routine. Even if you forcibly make them work for the state, there¡¯s no need to pay them much.¡±

    ¡°And how many death row inmates or criminals do we have in our empire?¡±

    The best way to prevent crime is to make the conditions in which criminals serve their sentences ¡°harsh.¡±

    Lawyers and others would oppose this, but in this world, in every developed country, the ¡®prison¡¯ is the most comfortable place for repeat offenders.

    What if we threw these scum into a ¡®prison worse than death¡¯?

    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to visit the Director of Public Safety.¡±

    It would be a good deed to give every criminal a chance at rehabilitation too.

    The Director of Public Safety holds a higher rank than I do.

    However, an aristocrat at the level of a director usually knows how to assess his ¡°actual position in society.¡±

    He did not look down on me just because my rank was lower than his.

    ¡°Why has the newly appointed Director of Public Safety come to see me? Did you come to borrow soldiers for maintaining security under imperial command? I can lend you as many as you need.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t come to borrow troops; I wanted to take some prisoners.¡±

    The Director of Public Safety frowned deeply.

    From his perspective, just offering to lend his subordinates to me is a significant favor.

    I agreed with that thought and had given him about three gold coins last time in exchange for his cooperation when I borrowed soldiers.

    But what would happen if I asked to take the prisoners under his direct jurisdiction?

    ¡°Generally, I heard that they end up serving life sentences instead.¡±

    ¡°Those who commit light and petty crimes don¡¯t need to be executed, so they should atone through harsh and grueling labor for several years. Those who commit serious crimes will pay for their sins for a lifetime.¡±

    Even though I¡¯m the one establishing these facilities, producing gunpowder through waste fermentation is undoubtedly a terrible thing.

    The resulting gunpowder is valuable, but the quality of life for the workers is at rock bottom.

    Just thinking about the stench of the waste that is being fermented and that I must mix it myself is unbearable.

    ¡°Those who say that prisoners'' rights are unnecessary would probably change their minds if they saw this work.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s compassion and righteous desire to cherish the people¡¯s taxes can be widely known.¡±

    At those words, the Director of Public Safety¡¯s eyes widened.

    Yes, let¡¯s slightly flip the causality around in the report.

    While I was contemplating recruiting personnel to do the dreadful task of mixing and fermenting waste, you, Director of Public Safety, provided this solution.

    And all of this stems from loyalty to His Majesty.

    ¡°For me, once I secure the supply of gunpowder for sale to Ifriqiya and Nador, that¡¯s all that matters.¡±

    Moreover, just by mastering the gunpowder production method and improving hygiene to reduce diseases, I would have accomplished far more than an individual could possibly deserve.

    ¡°One must share and live. Otherwise, you will get stabbed in the back.¡±

    The wise Director of Public Safety, upon hearing my words, gripped my hand tightly.

    ¡°Let¡¯s keep those who should be executed right away out and have those middle criminals with some mitigating circumstances serve their time for life. We can release the minor offenders after a few years. That way, we can efficiently utilize the wicked prisoners.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re saving lives, saving money, and doing good for the country.¡±

    The Director of Public Safety suddenly stood up.

    ¡°But is it really okay for me to receive such a great credit? I feel too guilty about this.¡±

    ¡°We need to help each other. And about Judge Mancini.¡±

    It¡¯s a secret that I¡¯m acting on imperial orders.

    However, thanks to the fact that I transferred the credit for making a righteous accusation to Mancini, I was promoted to the position of chief judge several years ahead of my peers.

    The Director of Public Safety held my hand tightly.

    He looked like he might cry any moment.

    ¡°Honestly, I thought my public service career would end here, but thanks to you, I see a path to rise further. If we succeed in gunpowder production this time, you will be the benefactor of our Chelo Jun family.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Then I will first go and research how to apply this in practice.¡±

    And the Director of Public Safety began to run, forgetting all about his dignity.

    Seeing him act this way puts my mind at ease.

    Now, once the prisoners are gathered, I need to inspect the stone quarry site I have set aside near Florence.

    I must teach them everything I know to prevent any issues from arising.

 Chapter 95

    I can understand why the place for making gunpowder is generally located in the countryside.

    The smell of urine and feces mixed together during fermentation is so overpowering it feels like my nose is going to twist.

    It''s almost at the level of a biochemical weapon¡¯s odor.

    ¡°Ugh, the smell. I think I¡¯m going to die. Help me...¡±

    As I instinctively brought my hand to my mouth, a soldier standing guard naturally brought over a bucket.

    ¡°You can vomit into this.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t possibly throw up here, considering my noble status, but my nose is practically screaming.

    At least it¡¯s better than throwing up on the ground.

    Once I emptied my stomach, I felt a bit better.

    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t eaten this morning, I would¡¯ve been in serious trouble.¡±

    The other servant next to me vomited almost twice as much as I did.

    ¡°What an embarrassing sight.¡±@@@@

    ¡°The smell is so awful that even we who have been working here for a month sometimes end up throwing up.¡±

    We gave plenty of warnings to the soldiers who volunteered for this duty, and we¡¯re paying them very generously.

    Even the lowest-ranking soldier earns four gold coins a year, and seasoned craftsmen earn even more.

    We also promised to issue a recommendation letter in my name when they apply to become non-commissioned officers after their service, so I thought that would be enough.

    ¡°I need to raise their salaries a bit more.¡±

    I could imagine them trying to cut wages once this is all over, but I will protect these friends'' salaries, even if I have to discuss it with His Majesty.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot. Here¡¯s a small reward from me.¡±

    I handed them two silver coins.

    While it¡¯s quite a lot for two soldiers, that money would just be spent on a squad dinner anyway.

    To properly feed about 30 soldiers with meat and drink, that amount would suffice.

    Serving in the military must be hard work, so I need to ensure they¡¯re compensated well.

    ¡°Loyalty, thank you! Director of Public Safety!¡±

    As I entered, the stench intensified even more.

    Before my eyes lay a vast field of stone and excrement.

    Seeing a massive heap of waste measuring 2 meters wide, 5 meters long, and 1.5 meters high filled my vision, making my head spin.

    Considering they even put a roof over it to protect it from the rain, it¡¯s really hard to describe.

    ¡°Did they say you can get about 2 to 4 kilograms of gunpowder from a ton of waste?¡±

    It feels like such a small yield...

    But compared to the time when they dug up soil like in mining and only managed to get 500 to 800 grams from a ton of soil, this is a revolution.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see any white crystals that look like chunks of saltpeter yet.¡±

    In Korea, they referred to it as ¡°mocho,¡± and when those crystals appear, it means it¡¯s time to start extracting the saltpeter.

    Originally, these need to be fermented for a year, but wishing to see saltpeter crystals after just a month is a bit unreasonable.

    Having spent a long time here, I finally began to adjust to the smell, and I could finally start to see my surroundings.

    The prisoners were working with expressions that looked like they were going to die.

    No, I must not lose in political battles against the nobles.

    ¡°As long as I don¡¯t commit treason, I won¡¯t have to toil like that...¡±

    As I continued to patrol, the supervisor hurried over from across the area.

    ¡°Baron! If you¡¯ve arrived, you should come inside immediately. Why on earth are you in such a smelly place...¡±

    When I heard those words, I felt a moment of displeasure.

    It¡¯s not good for the chief supervisor to belittle the site.

    However, that thought was quickly dismissed.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it strange to get accustomed to this smell? It seems you¡¯re quite persistent despite the stench. You seem to visit the site often.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it an important task entrusted to this old man, who retired three years ago? Naturally, I must give it my all.¡±

    ¡°Although the smell is strong, I need to see how things are running. Let¡¯s talk while we head to the office.¡±

    Upon hearing my words, the supervisor continued smoothly.

    ¡°For the first week, we focused on creating the saltpeter beds on one day and using soldiers to eliminate the prisoners¡¯ will to escape on another. Given the stench, the dirtiness, and the difficulty of the task without pay, it¡¯s understandable why they would feel that way...¡±

    I appreciate that he sees the employees here as people rather than just prisoners.

    ¡°However, these are those paying for their crimes, so we¡¯ve disciplined those trying to escape by beating them as an example. Not a single person is attempting to flee now.¡±

    It feels like there¡¯s a bit left unsaid here, but I¡¯m sure the term ¡®collective responsibility¡¯ is attached to it.

    If one person tries to escape, they are beaten severely enough that death would be preferable, or even if there¡¯s an attempt to escape, they are assigned tremendous labor as punishment.

    ¡°I can¡¯t say anything against trying to prevent prisoners from escaping.¡±

    ¡°And although it hasn¡¯t even been a month yet, this method is bound to succeed.¡±

    ¡°How can you be so sure?¡±

    The supervisor smiled widely.

    ¡°The gunpowder craftsmen can taste the soil and know how much gunpowder can be produced. I tasted it, and it was quite excellent.¡±

    It seems this is a common practice around the world, as it was in Korea.

    ¡°If we ferment it for a year, we can get six times the output compared to the traditional methods. Considering the labor of digging for soil has been eliminated... I believe we can yield around ten times as much.¡±

    Even if the gunpowder production increases tenfold, it doesn¡¯t mean our military power will drastically strengthen.

    However, the capacity to conduct warfare increases, raising the chances of victory in battles.

    ¡°It¡¯s like a marathon; it¡¯s not about who runs the fastest but about who can maintain their pace.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite impressive.¡±

    Now that the work at the saltpeter beds has been organized, I can leave the rest of the practical matters to the Director of Public Safety.

    From now on, I only need to show up once a week.

    All that¡¯s left is to wait for about a year.

    ¡°If we succeed in production after a year, I will welcome you as an official retainer of our Baron family.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Then, I spent several hours discussing with the supervisor.

    After a year passed and the results came in, I declared in front of all the generals and numerous nobles gathered in Florence:

    ¡°From now on, the empire will no longer have to worry about gunpowder.¡±

    After I spoke, the conference room erupted into a frenzy.

 Chapter 96

    Even in the Toscana Empire, and all the way to the Sultanate ruled by those infidels,

    everyone within the commonly known world is suffering from a chronic shortage of gunpowder.

    How desperate is the gunpowder situation that even the dirt diggers are scraping up "dirt with excrement components" from the noble estates?

    Thus, when the voice of someone denying the common sense they had breathed all their lives was heard, protests erupted among those gathered here.

    "I won''t deny that you''re an exceptional talent, Baron. But do you think you''re some kind of god?"

    "When I was the military logistics commander, it was a miracle if I managed to increase gunpowder production by 5%. And you expect us to believe we won''t have to worry about gunpowder?"

    "What nonsense is this coming from such a young lad?"

    To be honest, what I was proposing was completely absurd.

    It was so ridiculous that it was akin to a student who scored a 9 on their college entrance exam claiming they studied so hard for a month that they got into Seoul National University¡¯s medical school.

    So when I suggested this method, I had greatly reduced the expected production targets when presenting it to the Emperor.

    "I said it could go as high as 1.4 times if things went well."

    If I had honestly stated that the current production was almost ten times higher,

    I would have most likely been diagnosed with overwork-induced delusions and forced to rest for a month.

    But now, I had proven my results in Florence, right?

    Thus, I decided to push harder.

    "Seven times the current production."

    Upon hearing the word ''seven times,'' several older nobles clutched their necks and gaped in disbelief.

    It seemed absurd that nobles and numerous former generals adorned with stars would be subjected to such nonsense.

    "If I use the new method I devised, I can reliably obtain more than seven times the current gunpowder annually."

    As everyone sat in stunned silence,

    the Emperor, who already knew all the details, smiled softly.

    His gaze was like that of a farmer looking at a prized cow.

    Was it just my imagination?

    "You''ve produced an incredible amount of gunpowder."

    The Minister of Military Affairs replied cautiously with a trembling voice.

    "Your Majesty, before Baron Medici''s intervention, it was difficult to produce even 10 tons of gunpowder annually in Florence and its surrounding areas. In years with lower production, we couldn''t even secure 6 tons."

    The generals and legal nobles gathered here covered their mouths with their hands.

    Those who were late to cover their mouths gaped in disbelief like madmen.

    Some were drooling like foolish children, but no one dared to laugh at that.

    "But the fact that we secured 70 tons just from the city of Florence without causing significant inconvenience to the populace means that if this system is applied to other cities,

    it would mean we could increase the amount of gunpowder produced in the empire to seven times the current amount."

    Each time I mentioned ''seven times,'' the eyes of the Minister of Military Affairs sparkled.

    "Having more gunpowder doesn''t guarantee victory in war, but it means we can fight longer than the enemy. Just this alone places us in a significantly advantageous position in the war."

    "Are you saying we can fight much more favorably than the enemy? If so, does that mean even the Milanese Grand Duchy and those damned bastards...?"

    "Having more gunpowder doesn''t guarantee victory. However, the odds of winning will increase significantly. And with an abundance of gunpowder, our empire will no longer be able to be ignored by anyone."

    Hearing the Minister of Military Affairs'' confident words, the Emperor sprang to his feet.

    Even though I had sent the report in advance and he already knew the contents, it seemed he was still pleased to hear it again.

    ¡®It must feel like looking at a fully stocked bank account.¡¯

    If the happiest moment in life is when the account is full,

    then afterward, just looking at the account makes the worries disappear, and the heart feels at ease.

    Even I sometimes feel relieved when I look at my personal property list deep in my study during tough times.

    "Baron, do you have more to say?"

    In this situation, the proper response would be to say that it''s all thanks to His Majesty.

    But I should also mention the other positive effects that arose from collecting excrement in Florence, right?

    ¡®Like a wealthy CEO licking the lid of a yogurt...¡¯

    I should take advantage of every opportunity available.

    "Although it wasn''t my intention, it seems the frequency of citizens getting sick has decreased since we cleaned up the excrement in Florence."

    The Emperor looked puzzled by my words, which deviated from the usual responses.

    "I didn''t survey all the citizens of Florence, but when I asked a sample of 1,000 people, they reported that the frequency of minor illnesses like colds has decreased compared to last year."

    To conduct a meaningful survey, variables must be thoroughly controlled.

    The year when 1,000 people were surveyed should be based on a time when the excrement was not cleaned, and next year should be based on a time when the excrement was cleaned for scientific statistics.

    ¡®Is such a scientific method really necessary?¡¯

    People aren''t getting sick right now.

    In a world where nobles can die any day from waterborne diseases, my words would sound very appealing to them.

    "Additionally, I tried using the leftovers from gunpowder production as fertilizer for my vegetable garden, and the effects were quite good.

    It would also be beneficial to give some to the peasants who farm nearby."

    Just making gunpowder from the collected excrement would already be a huge success.

    But if we can also use the leftovers as fertilizer, that would be even better, right?

    The Emperor beamed at my words.

    "Indeed, Baron. To think you wouldn¡¯t waste even the residues from making gunpowder."

    "All of this is possible because Your Majesty has believed in me and even established the position of Director of Public Safety and Gunpowder Production to support me."

    In "The Prince," it was said,

    "If you are to be hostile, be completely so; if you are to side with someone, risk your life to become a true ally. Half-heartedness leads only to death."

    When flattering, it¡¯s common sense to give it your all.

    "Thanks to the increased production of gunpowder, the empire''s strength has significantly improved compared to before.

    Though Fabio¡¯s achievements may not have been made on the battlefield, I believe I should properly elevate his rank. What do you all think?"

    If you have any sense, keeping your mouth shut would be wise.

    I expected everyone to nod silently, but...

    One clueless fool opened his mouth to oppose.

    "Your Majesty! Baron Medici is not even married yet! How can he already be a baron?! If he were to inherit his father''s title, that would be one thing, but this is unacceptable!"

    It seemed like nonsense, yet it was indeed a valid argument.

    But Emperor, why are you laughing?

    And Duke Visconti, why does it look like your mouth is about to rip?

    For some reason, this is how I feel right now.

    What is this? It¡¯s scary.

 Chapter 97

    The one opposing my baron promotion boldly continued to speak.

    "A man must marry and establish a family to become an adult. However, Baron Medici is still unmarried, isn''t he? Until now, his numerous accomplishments might have warranted a title even for a child."

    It might sound ridiculous, but in pre-modern societies, no matter how old a man was, if he remained unmarried, he wasn''t considered an adult in the village.

    During village meetings, a married 15-year-old could participate, but a 30-year-old unmarried man could not.

    This was because one had to take responsibility for a household to be legally and morally regarded as an adult.

    "The responsibilities of a baron and a baronet differ."

    The most straightforward difference comes into play when a war breaks out, and enemies invade their territory.

    Baronets must gather soldiers and respond to summonses from nobles of the baron rank or higher when war occurs.

    On the other hand, barons might need to summon all available soldiers in their region to fight.

    They have to take on the role of commander.

    ''Additionally, the weight of the obligations differs.''

    "Your Majesty, I do not intend to belittle the accomplishments of Baronets. However, it seems that marriage should take precedence."

    Looking closely at the person speaking those words...

    He was a legal noble belonging to the Sforza Duke faction.

    He was attempting to maintain the balance of power against the Visconti Duke''s influence and prevent the scales from tipping.

    It takes some skill to oppose the Emperor while not inciting his anger.

    I couldn''t help but wonder if he was practicing on a wooden horse every day at home.

    ''But why on earth is the Emperor smiling?''

    "The Minister of Justice makes a valid point. Though Baron Medici''s achievements are significant, we cannot disregard the traditions that have been passed down through generations."

    Why does the Minister of Justice look so pleased even after opposing?

    And perhaps it''s just my imagination, but it seems the Emperor is licking his lips while looking at me.

    I need to see a doctor after this matter is settled; I need sufficient rest.

    I should refrain from any vigorous exercise at night.

    ''Chloe might dislike it, but I need to live a long life.''

    "Very well, overseeing noble marriages is also my duty. I shall select a suitable noble lady for marriage, and after the wedding ceremony, I will grant him the title. Yes, while rewarding accomplishments is important, adhering to precedents is crucial as well."

    Upon hearing this, the Minister of Justice clenched his fist and looked pleased.

    That guy seems intent on postponing the title grant while discussing it with the duke.

    Although becoming a baron is a bit delayed, there''s nothing I can do about it.

    I hope they can limit their jealousy to a reasonable level.

    As one rises in rank, the number of envious people inevitably increases.

    "I will postpone the grant of the title for now."

    Although the Emperor said this, I could clearly foresee what would happen next.

    The Minister of Justice would report directly to Duke Sforza.

    Upon hearing this, the duke would likely say that while marriage is fine, it would be wise to refrain from elevating the Medici family to the rank of baron out of consideration for their dignity.

    Then, the Visconti Duke and the Sforza Duke would end up in a verbal dispute...

    ¡®Things might get dragged out indefinitely.¡¯

    As the discussions began to settle, the Visconti Duke spoke up.

    "I also resonate with what the Minister of Justice said. As stated, titles come with responsibilities, and to bear those responsibilities, one must naturally become an ''adult.''"

    "Alfred also mentioned that considering Fabio''s character and abilities, he would find it suitable to give his daughter to him. Therefore, how about granting Fabio a title and holding the wedding ceremony as soon as possible?"

    Upon hearing this, the Emperor nodded.

    "Let it be so. But are you really okay with this, duke? After all, Fabio is only a baron."

    "In just three years, he has risen from the second son of a baron to formally receiving the title of baron. When evaluating a person, one should look at their potential, not their status or wealth, right?"

    What kind of democracy are these nobles spouting?

    "If that is the duke''s intention, then I shall accept it. I will grant the title of baron to Fabio de Medici. Moreover, his title ceremony will be held after his marriage to the Visconti Duke''s granddaughter, Erica de Visconti."

    The Emperor let out a deep sigh and declared the meeting closed.

    I couldn''t accept this absurd situation.

    When I sent the small duke Alfred to my side for the journey to Nador, it was only strange.

    What on earth is happening here?

    I wished for success, but is this the monkey''s paw of the gods?

    Are they really sending a duke''s daughter to a mere baron?

    It was only written in the imperial law that it was possible; it''s an unprecedented situation.

    The duke continued to pat my shoulder, which felt like it had lost its soul.

    "Are you so happy that you''re out of your mind? I called for over five minutes, but there was no response."

    "I apologize, Your Grace."

    The duke spent nearly an hour lavishing praise on how much he cherished me.

    However, my dazed mind couldn''t process what he was saying at all.

    It seemed the duke himself didn''t expect me to take the praise meaningfully...

    ''Perhaps he knows I''m out of my mind and is keeping an eye on those around him.''

    Finally, he whispered,

    "Our granddaughter is prettier than your maid. This is just an objective fact."

    No one in this world dislikes money or beautiful women.

    Perhaps that¡¯s why my senses suddenly returned.

    "Last year, when Alfred took Erica to the Kingdom of Lyon, the second prince reportedly proposed to her on the spot."

    ...This matter could potentially lead to diplomatic issues.

    If the second prince would go that far, how incredibly beautiful must he be?

 Chapter 98

    The afternoon following the rumors about me becoming a baron, my father rushed over, out of breath.

    As soon as he saw me, he hugged me tightly, almost to the point of suffocation.

    ¡°Fabio! I can''t believe you¡¯re actually a baron! I just can''t accept this!¡±

    When I announced that I would become a merchant, he was so serious and stern, it honestly takes some getting used to seeing him like this.

    However, unlike other nobles, he had always tried his best to care for me since I was young.

    ¡®He only knew how to be strict with his children, like fathers of old.¡¯

    He probably felt the need to take drastic measures at times.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this all thanks to Deus¡¯s blessing and His Majesty¡¯s grace, as well as your father¡¯s teachings?¡±

    ¡°What have I taught you? It¡¯s all your ability.¡±

    I can genuinely say that my current success is entirely the result of my own efforts.

    However, when I first decided to open the cafe?, the funding I received and the reason various hostile forces couldn''t act recklessly against me were all because my father handled things out of sight.

    That¡¯s why I¡¯m spreading resources within the Medici baron family.

    ¡®One cannot sever the ties of heaven, and I''ve gained much thanks to my father.¡¯

    ¡°And to think you¡¯re getting married to the granddaughter of Duke Visconti? I was quite worried because your marriage was delayed. I was afraid that if it dragged on to next year, I would have to step in and play matchmaker myself.¡±

    In noble families, the head of the family usually decides the marriages of all legitimate offspring.

    Since I received the title of viscount, I became independent, so my father respected that and hadn¡¯t said anything until now.

    However, once a woman goes past 24, she¡¯s practically on the verge of being an old maid, and men start getting labeled as old bachelors, making them subjects of gossip.

    ¡®It¡¯s only natural for him to want to intervene; who would like to hear that their beloved son is being called an old bachelor?¡¯

    But seeing how things have unfolded, if my father starts matchmaking, I¡¯m worried he might receive a ¡°gentle warning¡± from the suspicious people sent by the duke.

    While they might speak kindly, their advice will probably suggest that if he doesn''t heed their words, he¡¯ll end up eating pasta through his nose next time.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been too busy to think about marriage, but Your Grace has gone above and beyond for me.¡±

    ¡°Fabio, you will do well.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Father.¡±

    After a very brief exchange, my father stood up.

    ¡°If I could, I¡¯d love to chat more, but there are nobles flocking to see me and Albert, so I must take my leave.¡±

    Even though I¡¯m legally independent from the Medici baron family,

    the blood ties remain.

    So, if my father becomes friendly with Albert, it¡¯s like he believes that indirectly he can become closer to me.

    Just as he was about to leave, my father sighed.

    ¡°Fabio.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Father?¡±

    ¡°Your brother is infinitely lacking compared to you. In ten or twenty years, you will likely be a viscount or count, but your brother will remain a baron.¡±

    From a distance, it may not seem that difficult for a noble to maintain their family lineage.

    However, as all chairpersons of companies experience, safeguarding a family until passing it on to the next generation is as precarious and exhausting as walking on thin ice.

    In social gatherings, even if you don¡¯t go bankrupt from making the wrong connections, it¡¯s not uncommon to be ostracized and see your family pushed to the brink.

    According to etiquette, it would be rude for her to sit down before I permitted it, but our relationship isn¡¯t so distant that we need to worry about such formalities.

    In fact, rumors in the social circles say that people are curious about when the two of us will start dating.

    I often take Kris and Chloe to Cafe? Medici for desserts like parfaits, enjoying our time together.

    ¡®Thanks to that, rumors circulate that Kris and I have a more than friendly relationship.¡¯

    ¡°To begin with, I sincerely congratulate you on your promotion to baron. I believed you would achieve greatness, but I never imagined you would reach the title of baron solely through your efforts at the age of 23. I honestly couldn¡¯t have imagined it.¡±

    Even for exceptional individuals, it usually takes nearly a lifetime of effort to raise their title.

    However, I have ascended from a mere ¡°noble young master¡± to a knight, a viscount, and now a baron through hard work, surpassing the typical speed.

    ¡°Furthermore, a marriage with the daughter of the duke? When I heard the news, I doubted my ears and wondered if I had misheard it multiple times. Congratulations again.¡±

    Kris congratulated me with a posture that was entirely proper according to etiquette.

    Those who don¡¯t know her well might believe she¡¯s sincerely congratulating me...

    ¡®Objectively speaking, she¡¯s trying to suppress any jealousy because she feels she has no right to be envious.¡¯

    If it were Chloe, upon hearing this news, she would likely squeeze me like a rag.

    She would probably say something like,

    ¡®While I¡¯m happy that my young master is succeeding, I am the one who is most loved by you. And I will continue to be.¡¯

    Then she¡¯d insist on having my child before the official mistress arrives.

    As a senior executive of the Medici trading company, she is usually very skilled at controlling her emotions, but if you look closely, you can see that she¡¯s biting her lips tightly.

    ¡°So what¡¯s the important matter you came for?¡±

    Kris took a breath and replied.

    ¡°The Viole viscount family has proposed marriage to me.¡±

    ¡°Now that I¡¯ve become a baron, all sorts of people are approaching me about marriage, making things quite troublesome.¡±

    ¡°They are nobility by law, but because the previous viscount committed great wrongs, they are practically left with just the title. They are viscounts, but their living standards are equivalent to that of ordinary artisans.¡±

    I can tell without needing to be told.

    These folks are thinking of leveraging the Modina family¡¯s wealth and connections to rebuild their own family.

    And even though there are rumors in the social circles that Kris and I are dating...

    ¡®Everyone who knows the reality understands that we are just on friendly terms.¡¯

    That¡¯s what the ¡°friends with benefits¡± relationship is like.

    ¡°...I, too, am starting to think about marriage, just like you, Baron. I¡¯ve just turned 20 today.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

    ¡°So, I won¡¯t hide it any longer; I don¡¯t want to become an old maid.¡±

    Kris took a deep breath as she said this.

    ¡°I find it disgusting to think about being with a man who only wants my wealth and connections, and who doesn¡¯t love me, nor do I love him. The thought of losing my purity and raising that man¡¯s child makes me feel nauseous.¡±

    Just imagining it is indeed quite repulsive.

    ¡°I was a bit hesitant about falling for someone that Chloe likes. But now, I plan to be honest with my feelings.¡±

    Kris looked at me with a determined gaze and said,

    ¡°I love you, Baron.¡±

 Chapter 99

    Kris¡¯s declaration wasn¡¯t something entirely strange or surprising.

    From the beginning, Kris and I had done things that anyone would see as dates multiple times at Cafe? Medici.

    I had heard her say dozens of times that a man like me was her ideal type.

    However, I had been cautious about making any moves on Kris, fearing it might distance her from Chloe.

    ¡®Chloe and Kris were practically like sisters.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t that I was being awkward about it.

    So I voiced my honest feelings.

    ¡°I like you too, Kris.¡±

    Even if I had a stroke of bad luck and almost hit someone while walking, as long as I didn¡¯t actually hit anyone, I could somehow get by without incident.

    However, if a pedestrian suddenly jumps into a crosswalk-less street while jaywalking and I hit them, I would be the guilty party.

    Making a woman confess to a man isn¡¯t a crime.

    But still,

    ¡®As a man, I felt like I had done something terribly wrong.¡¯

    To wash away this complex emotion, I decided to respond to Kris¡¯s confession with tenfold appreciation.

    ¡°Honestly, from the first time I saw you, I was intrigued. The will to risk everything to avenge your parents and family. The way you are recognized by everyone for your abilities despite being a woman. I found all of that really admirable.¡±

    Upon hearing my words, Kris covered her mouth with her hands.

    She had confessed first, yet she reacted this way with just a little bit of encouragement.

    If the employees under Kris saw this scene, they would probably faint in shock.

    ¡®When working, Kris seems like a woman who wouldn¡¯t bleed even if pricked.¡¯

    ¡°Other young nobles might prefer beautiful dolls they can control as they wish, but I¡¯m different.¡±

    In the context of our empire, or rather the continent, that was quite an unusual taste.

    Nobles would probably think something like:

    ¡®This perverted guy prefers an adult woman with AAA-cup breasts and a height of around 148 cm.¡¯

    Considering that most people prefer women around 160 to 170 cm tall with large breasts, this was indeed a very absurd preference.

    ¡°A woman who lives earnestly with her convictions is my ideal type.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite unique,¡± Kris responded.

    As she said that, I placed my hand under Kris¡¯s chin.

    She didn¡¯t reject my touch.

    Though her face was as flushed as a ripe apple, her eyes fluttered about.

    ¡°And if she¡¯s pretty, that¡¯s even better.¡±

    Then I asked the most important question at this moment.

    ¡°Have you talked to Chloe about this?¡±

    No matter how much I cared for and considered Chloe, strictly speaking, I didn¡¯t need to involve her in the matter of expanding my women.

    That was common sense in this world.

    ¡®Some people even think it¡¯s fine to have a concubine as long as she bears the heir.¡¯@@@@

    With political interests entangled, it¡¯s understandable that there wouldn¡¯t be much difference for a concubine.

    Yet, just as much, the despair of having to marry men who would not respect her simply because of her noble status was also overwhelming.

    It was despairing and incredibly disgusting.

    Just thinking about it made her feel nauseous.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want that.¡±

    It was a very short phrase, but it was filled with emotions beyond what could be imagined.

    Chloe wiped Kris¡¯s tears with the handkerchief she had and said,

    ¡°...Honestly, I want to monopolize the baron forever. Sometimes, I think I wish he would quit his work altogether.¡±

    Of course, Chloe had never said anything like that before.

    She was terrified that if she voiced such thoughts to Fabio, she would be disliked...

    ¡®The young master looks happy when he¡¯s pursuing his goals.¡¯

    ¡°However, wanting to monopolize the young master is my selfishness. Although he has his own circumstances, women will inevitably swarm around such a wonderful man. Just like I have become addicted to him.¡±

    Upon hearing those words, Kris began to cry even more.

    ¡°Even if the young master decides to take on other women, I couldn¡¯t oppose it. But I would be happy if it were you, Kris.¡±

    To Chloe, who had almost no family, Kris was like an older sister.

    If they were to become a real family, then despite being younger, she would become a capable younger sister.

    Then Chloe lowered her voice and whispered into Kris¡¯s ear.

    ¡°Being able to be spoiled by the young master every day is wonderful, but he has such a high libido that I find it difficult to handle it alone. If he¡¯s not busy with work, he¡¯d want to do it at least 3 or 4 times a day, and when he¡¯s really into it, it can go over 7 times.¡±

    Bringing up such a topic was equivalent to Chloe declaring that she would accept Kris into Fabio¡¯s harem.

    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have ventured into such intimate conversations.

    But Kris was more shocked by that astounding number than anything else.

    ¡®He¡¯s impressive even at night...¡¯

    ¡°If he¡¯s not busy with work, he says we should do it first thing in the morning after waking up. I like feeling that I¡¯m loved by the young master all the time, but my body can¡¯t take it.¡±

    In that moment, Kris felt blood rush to her face.

    Just hearing slightly more risque? talk made her feel like she might start bleeding from her nose.

    ¡°The young master surely likes you, Kris, I mean, you. It will surely work out.¡±

    Previously, no matter how close their relationship had been, the wall of status forced Chloe to use honorifics.

    However, now they were family, bonded through Fabio.

    They had reached a position where they no longer needed to worry about such things.

    ¡°I understand, sister.¡±

    And then Chloe quietly embraced Kris.

    At that moment, Fabio was with the duke, listening to tales of the duke¡¯s granddaughter, missing out on this scene.

    Kris continued speaking clearly.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already gotten permission from sister.¡±

    Then, hesitating, she continued,

    ¡°...I heard that the baron is resting tomorrow, so may I join in? I¡¯ve already put in for vacation.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll also be pulled in and out of things in a few days, so sure. Let¡¯s leave behind any worries and concerns and rest for now.¡±

 Chapter 100

    Chloe seemed more lively than usual, perhaps because she was excited about Kris being around, and she started talking to me more.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve finally learned how to do bookkeeping well enough to manage a simple ledger. But I still don¡¯t really understand things like commercial law or tax law.¡±

    I was holding back my words for the sake of my pride, but honestly, I didn¡¯t know much about commercial law or tax law either.

    I only knew, as a matter of custom, how much tax is applied to selling goods and how to present gifts.

    ¡°How did you study, Kris?¡±

    At that, Kris, who had been too awkward to speak up since becoming part of our family, answered me.

    ¡°There¡¯s no shortcut to studying, sister. You just have to memorize everything by writing it down.¡±

    ¡°But there¡¯s so much to memorize! Things like customary law, case law, actual applications... How can I memorize all of that?¡±

    When preparing for a civil service exam, memorizing only what comes out in the ''exam questions'' would probably be sufficient unless I was taking an important test myself.

    However, in this world, there are no past exam question books or textbooks, making it difficult to even acquire the original law codes.

    ¡®Just like Chloe said, how am I supposed to memorize all that?¡¯

    Even if I manage to graduate, universities that grant qualifications like administrative officers or lawyers require passing exams, and I can¡¯t...

    No, those places are where students memorize every single word of the textbooks, so that might be possible after all.

    In any case, someone like me would never be able to do it.

    ¡°Sister, it¡¯s not like you and I are going to become lawyers or accountants. Why do we need to memorize all that? We just need to focus on the practical applications. Even among the employees in our merchant guild, no one has memorized the entirety of commercial law, including me.¡±

    Understanding customary law and case law is the role of lawyers or accountants.

    When things get complicated, you can simply give a proper gift to Judge Andante and ask for a reasonable discussion, and most of the time, it gets resolved.

    Chloe looked at Kris with an expression that seemed to say the world was cruel.

    ¡°Then have I been wasting my time studying for nothing all this while?¡±

    ¡°...... Yes, exactly. That¡¯s why the Baron said that if there¡¯s something you don¡¯t know, ask a tutor or someone else. Working hard without direction only leads to wasted effort.¡±

    While there might be no shortcuts to studying, there are plenty of ways to study efficiently.

    Just like when learning swordsmanship, training for a year on my own in a haphazard manner would yield less skill than learning properly from a good teacher for a month.

    ¡°Well, now that I know that I shouldn¡¯t do it that way, I¡¯ll be able to do better next time, sister.¡±

    Kris reached out her hand and patted Chloe on the head.

    A smile spread across Chloe¡¯s face.

    Even Kris, who had been struggling to adapt to this new environment until just a moment ago, seemed to have relaxed.

    ¡°The teacher also said that if I learn just a bit of commercial law, I¡¯ll be able to help out with simple tasks under the young master. So I¡¯m going to study harder.¡±

    When I first told Chloe that it was okay to study, I thought it would be enough to learn just the letters, but I never imagined she would carry her studies this far.

    It¡¯s an unexpected development, but it¡¯s a good one.

    ¡®Chloe studying is for my sake, right?¡¯

    Then Chloe quietly started eating the snacks in front of her.

    It was cute to see her nibbling on snacks with her hands back in the day, but now, perhaps because she¡¯s learned etiquette, she eats cookies in a refined and elegant manner, like a squirrel with an acorn.

    Chloe picked up a few cookies and leaned closer to me with half of one still in her mouth.

    I could tell what she intended without her saying anything.

    I gently pulled her shoulder, brushed my lips against hers, and took a bite of the cookie.

    Chloe had been extremely shy the first time I did this, but now she looked at me with eyes that seemed to ask for more.

    ¡°Please feed me this time, young master.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just Chloe and me in this room.

    However, it wasn¡¯t like there were any ¡®men¡¯ here.

    Based on Chloe¡¯s request, this time, I put a cookie in my mouth and approached her.

    Unlike me, Chloe gently leaned in, bringing her upper body close enough to touch mine.

    Feeling Chloe¡¯s chest brush against me through her clothes, I realized...

    ¡®She isn¡¯t wearing any underwear.¡¯

    ¡°Thank you, young master. And look over there.¡±

    When I turned my gaze, I saw Kris blushing bright red like an apple.

    Upon hearing that, Kris covered her face with her hands as if she was embarrassed.

    But she made a hole between her fingers and was still watching everything.

    ¡°...... I¡¯ll show you what it means to be a role model as an older sister.¡±

    Kris probably thought she would pass through the door of adulthood today.

    But due to her own embarrassment, she still hadn¡¯t crossed over.

    However, she was looking at Chloe and me with envy.

    The next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, instead of speaking to me, Chloe whispered in Kris¡¯s ear.

    Deliberately loud enough for me to hear.

    ¡°Kris will soon be unable to live without the young master, just like me.¡±

    ... I¡¯m happy that the atmosphere is harmonious, but can I really survive this?

    And from this day forward, I began physical training by inviting a former soldier during my remaining time.

    After a few days off, which the duke arranged for me, I went to greet the ¡®father-in-law.¡¯

    Until last time, as a mere baron, I felt a bit less revered by the servants.

    This time, however, they treated me with utmost respect, just as they would a member of the duke¡¯s family.

    ¡°Your Grace, it¡¯s an honor to meet you.¡±

    The duke laughed when he saw me.

    ¡°If my grandson-in-law acts so awkwardly, I¡¯ll be quite disappointed.¡±

    ¡°The closer we are, the more we should observe the proper etiquette, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. Indeed, our Medici baron is polite and does nothing poorly.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor.¡±

    ¡°People around me are saying I¡¯m foolish for marrying off my granddaughter to a baron, but what kind of relationship do you and I have? If I hear such nonsense, I¡¯ll grab the neck of whoever says that and beat them up.¡±

    The most important point in what he said was that.

    ¡®No matter what the other nobles say, I trust you. We are partners.¡¯

    ... No, I never intended to be this kind of partner.

    But if I protested, I¡¯d come to understand deeply that pasta can be eaten with both mouth and nose.

    If I want to live long, I must keep my mouth shut.

    And they say she¡¯s beautiful, right?

    ¡°The wedding will take about a year to prepare since it involves much coordination with the royal family, including renting out the Florence Cathedral.¡±

    ... Even the duke¡¯s family has to consult with the royal family for marrying off their granddaughter.

    ¡°By the way, did you rest well?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I had a good rest. And now it seems I have to go ¡®poison¡¯ that pagan governor...¡±

    ¡°I was hoping to show you my granddaughter¡¯s face this week, but that¡¯s quite unfortunate.¡±

    The duke waved his hand at my words.

    ¡°Make sure to come back as soon as you can. Don¡¯t get hurt, and Alfred said something to you.¡±

    ¡°What did he say?¡±

    The duke chuckled.

    ¡°He said he¡¯d enlist you if you made Erica cry.¡±

    ... No, please not the military.

    ¡°He said he¡¯d make you the commander of the cavalry, or rather, a knight order (which is essentially a medium cavalry unit).¡±

    Among the various units in the empire, that was the place with the most brutal training.

    ¡°How could I ever make my lady cry?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not a lady; she¡¯s your wife. It seems my grandson-in-law is a complete novice when it comes to married life.¡±

    ¡°Haha, do I look like someone who would make my wife cry?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. Oh, and on your way back, think about a new family name. There have been complaints that ¡®Baron Medici¡¯ is very inconvenient because there are two families with that name at the heraldry office.¡±

    With that, I left as if I were fleeing to Nador.

 Chapter 101

    Our governor, Nakdoru, welcomed me very warmly.

    ¡°Haha, among those who believe in the Deus faith, we should be wary of everyone, but you and the Visconti family are exceptions. Although we may believe in different gods, aren¡¯t we still allies who care for each other?¡±

    That¡¯s just how life works.

    When it¡¯s sweet, we swallow it, and when it¡¯s bitter, we spit it out.

    Today¡¯s ally can easily become tomorrow¡¯s enemy, depending on profit and loss, to the point where it¡¯s not even surprising.

    However, no matter how wicked a scammer might be, the moment ¡®self-interest¡¯ and ¡®the other party¡¯s interest¡¯ align, they won¡¯t pull a scam.

    Why? Because if they stab you in the back, they¡¯ll lose the benefits they currently enjoy.

    Governor Nakdoru and I are currently bound by the gunpowder trade, so as long as it benefits both of us, we¡¯ll stick together until the end.

    ¡°I pray for the blessings of the gods to be with you, Governor.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll gladly accept that. By the way, what brings you here this time?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you need more gunpowder and matchlocks? We¡¯ll be sure to serve you well this time.¡±

    The wars happening in the Toscana Empire are generally predictable to some extent.

    When waging war against other Deus followers, they must issue a ¡®declaration of war¡¯ in advance.

    About 200 years ago, they even agreed on the battlefield and timing to conduct battles like knights, although they don¡¯t do that nowadays.

    The materials consumed don¡¯t significantly deviate from what the Ministry of Military Affairs and the temporary War Ministry (an organization created when war breaks out) have proposed.

    So if you suddenly show up and ask to buy more, the nations on the Albanian continent can¡¯t help but ponder...

    ¡®But Governor Nakdoru is engaged in constant warfare with dozens, if not hundreds, of tribes.¡¯

    Moreover, since the frequency of battles is so high, no amount of gunpowder is ever enough.

    ¡°Indeed, things like gunpowder and matchlocks are never enough. But doesn¡¯t the Toscana Empire also constantly face a shortage of gunpowder?¡±

    Until last year, there had been a chronic gunpowder shortage crisis.

    But nowadays, they are overflowing with gunpowder, begging to sell it.

    ¡®Except for the nations on the Albanian continent.¡¯

    ¡°Actually, after beginning trade with you, Governor, we¡¯ve significantly increased our gunpowder production scale. So now we can provide a larger quantity.¡±

    When it comes to selling goods, the most important thing is not to give the other party the impression that you¡¯re taking advantage of them.

    That¡¯s why traditional market vendors always say things like, ¡°Oh, if I sell at this price, I won¡¯t make anything,¡± and even big business tycoons will say, ¡°Your company is struggling.¡±

    Why do they insist on such lies and complaints?

    If the other party feels like they¡¯re being taken advantage of, it¡¯s obvious that the ladies buying from traditional market vendors will try to haggle for a lower price.

    Big business tycoons know that if they don¡¯t act like they¡¯re struggling, employees will request higher bonuses, which would cut into profits.

    If I start saying something like, ¡°I¡¯ve recently produced gunpowder at a rate seven times higher,¡± that guy would definitely start talking about ¡®Thanos.¡¯

    ¡®Gotta deceive them just enough.¡¯

    ¡°Also, can you win a war with just gunpowder? Money is necessary too. Just how desperate is it that a certain sage from our continent once said, ¡®To win a war, you need money, more money, and even more money?¡¯¡±

    I can¡¯t remember who said it, but that¡¯s a saying attributed to a great figure of the Holy Roman Empire.

    If they¡¯re trading with the indigenous pagan tribes of blacks, they¡¯re like the trash trading with North Korea in our country.

    There¡¯s bound to be someone who would sell their organization for a huge amount of money among a group of trash.

    If someone would sell their own country, wouldn¡¯t they sell their organization too?

    While I was comfortably resting, leaving all the tedious tasks to my subordinates...

    Finally, the opportunity I had been waiting for arrived.

    ¡°Baron, a senior member of the Akbar Trading Company wishes to see you urgently.¡±

    As I expected, among those doing bad things, there was indeed a rotten one who exceeded the level of common decency.

    If there had been such a traitor in our merchant guild, I would have granted them the mercy of being sunk in the middle of the sea right away.

    ¡®The enemy of my enemy is my ally.¡¯

    A person who betrayed an organization as toxic as radioactive waste must be a good person.

    It¡¯s the same logic that while the Communist Party is bad, someone who abandons the Communist Party and surrenders becomes our ally.

    ¡°Make sure to thoroughly inspect if they¡¯re bringing any weapons and let them in.¡±

    Still, I can¡¯t completely rule out the probability that this guy is an assassin.

    Even if there are fanatic assassin organizations in this world like the Assassin¡¯s Creed, I should still be cautious.

    Before long, a man who looked like a skin-headed version of Lee Wan-yong came in.

    I don¡¯t want to discriminate against people based on appearance, but if someone like that came to interview at our guild, I would definitely reject them without a second thought.

    He had the kind of face that looked like he would sell his own family.

    ¡®Just looking at him, I can¡¯t even imagine what he¡¯d sell out.¡¯

    ¡°Hello, Baron Medici. I¡¯m Abdullah, an executive of the Akbar Trading Company.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. Seeing someone as distinguished as you makes me feel good.¡±

    In truth, I didn¡¯t feel very good, but what¡¯s social life?

    Even if I¡¯m uncomfortable, I should be smiling when dealing with people.

    ¡°By the way, are you really going to give me 3,000 gold coins?¡±

    Seeing him start off with the money talk, my trust level rises a bit.

    Yeah, these traitors don¡¯t lie when they¡¯re betraying their allies.

    When they¡¯re driven by greed for money, they don¡¯t lie either.

    When these two things come together, their trustworthiness goes up to par with a loyal subject.

    ¡°Is that all you¡¯d give me? If it helps, I could give you double that.¡±

    Once I start selling gunpowder to Ifriqiya, I could raise the price to three or four times what it is now.

    But if I save on initial investment costs, I¡¯d be a fool.

    Abdullah took out what looked like a ¡®book¡¯ containing first-class secrets from within his clothes.

    ¡°This is a map depicting the geography of the northwest and west of Ifriqiya. It¡¯s also our trade route.¡±

 Chapter 102

    Upon first seeing the map, I couldn''t help but doubt my own eyes.

    So many cities have been built in western Ifriqiya?

    ¡°If there are so many cities, it seems odd that there wouldn¡¯t be several nations on the western side of Ifriqiya.¡±

    The map didn¡¯t specify the population of each city.

    However, the existence of so many cities naturally implies that there is someone at their center.

    It could be seen as evidence of their ruler existing.

    ¡®It¡¯s as certain as a Korean liking kimchi.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that if we go outside the area we trade in and head south, there¡¯s a country called ¡®Mali.¡¯ However, within the area we trade, there are no nations, not even city-states. There are only large tribes forming a tribal confederation.¡±

    Humanity has created large communities called nations since the Bronze Age.

    It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that the DNA of human beings is strongly imprinted with an obsession for nationhood...

    So why is there no nation here?

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that instead of farming like us, they all engage in livestock farming. They are a nomadic people.¡±

    As soon as I heard this, everything fell into place.

    Nomadic tribes do not settle in one specific location; they move around as a tribe, raising livestock.

    Farming allows people to settle where there is sufficient water and arable land, but when a group of nomads grows beyond a certain size, they cannot secure enough grass for their livestock.

    For this reason, the necessity for a ¡®nation¡¯ is very low.

    However, they are still human beings, so it¡¯s essential for them to buy grains through merchants like Abdullah or to exchange necessary items between tribes.

    Based on everyone¡¯s needs, markets are created to serve as hubs for rest and barter, eventually developing into cities.

    ¡®I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if a nation formed here without my involvement...¡¯

    Are there no exceptional leaders nearby who could unite the various tribes?

    Well, from my perspective, it¡¯s good that there¡¯s no nation in western Ifriqiya.@@@@

    That way, I can exploit the wisdom of the British Empire¡¯s ¡°divide and rule¡± to extract extreme profits.

    ¡°Very interesting. Do you have any more information? Even trivial things are fine.¡±

    Upon hearing my words, Abdullah took on a gesture that clearly showed he was deep in thought.

    It¡¯s a universal truth that first-rate, or rather shrewd, merchants do not express their desire for more money verbally when they find themselves in a favorable situation.

    If he weren''t a traitor, I¡¯d want to use someone as capable as him as an executive in our trading group.

    Still, I can offer him as much money as he needs.

    At least until I¡¯ve extracted all the information he possesses.

    ¡°Generally, nomadic tribes engage in livestock farming because they have no choice due to the barrenness of their living areas. They lead a wandering life.¡±

    If you visit places like Mongolia, you can understand why the Mongolian and Jurchen tribes raided Joseon and Ming Dynasty so ruthlessly.

    Because all my instincts tell me so.

    ¡®He¡¯s not simply blinded by money; he¡¯s definitely being chased by something.¡¯

    I can¡¯t stake my wrist on that being wrong, but I can stake two thousand gold coins on it.

    ¡°I¡¯m about to start trading with the folks in western Ifriqiya. Just bringing gunpowder won¡¯t sustain the trade.¡±

    If trading were that easy, Vasco da Gama wouldn¡¯t have executed advanced trade (threatening with cannons) from the start.

    Also, history shows that the early Indian trade was ultimately about ¡®who could threaten with a sword.¡¯

    ¡°I need your help, as you know the language and culture. If you do well, we¡¯ll treat you as before in our trading group. Honestly, I can see it just by looking at you. They¡¯re plotting to kill you in our group right now, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    At my words, Abdullah broke into a cold sweat.

    ¡°After receiving the three thousand gold coins, I¡¯ll likely plan to defect with my family.¡±

    That was already too obvious from the moment he arrived here.

    There¡¯s a world of difference between just defecting after receiving money and attempting to flee with a huge sum due to ¡®major corruption¡¯ within the trading group.

    ¡°There¡¯s also a way to extract information from you and then hand you over.¡±

    At that, Abdullah quickly knelt and begged.

    ¡°There are employees under me who are in the same boat as I am. They naturally have a deep understanding of the language and culture of the local tribes...¡±

    Begging for his life might not be effective, so he¡¯s desperately trying to appeal to his usefulness. He truly seems like a potential traitor.

    After all, who said it?

    ¡®Even the most competent traitor cannot succeed. If Lee Wan-yong had been incompetent, could he have sold out the nation?¡¯

    For now, I should let him live, as he¡¯s helpful.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you the money later. Please prove your worth. Now go.¡±

    As soon as I dismissed Abdullah, Kris walked in.

    ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve obtained a surprisingly useful piece of trash.¡±

    Honestly, if he weren¡¯t a traitor, I¡¯d want to bind him to our trading group for life and use him as a slave.

    ¡°I did a bit of background checking on Abdullah, and unsurprisingly, he was involved in various things like embezzlement and human trafficking.¡± ¡°Human trafficking? He¡¯s likely been involved in selling slaves from the Sultanate, who believe in the Mahabad religion.¡± ¡°That¡¯s something everyone does, but since he¡¯s also involved in embezzlement, it seems he was framed.¡±

    As I expected, he had quite a few ¡®crimes.¡¯

    Well, since he¡¯s that kind of person, I feel little guilt about disposing of him.

    ¡°What are your plans going forward? Are you heading to western Ifriqiya?¡± To be honest, I intended to gather information and send other explorers this time...

    ¡®If I have a map this accurate...¡¯

    ¡°The map I acquired has the coastline drawn, and there¡¯s a rather large tribe nearby. I¡¯ll replenish supplies in the Granada Kingdom and head out immediately.¡±

    I need to initiate the trade and gradually expand my information network.

    And in about a month, we would encounter the tribes of western Ifriqiya for the first time.

 Chapter 103

    Regardless of whether it''s African tribes or nomadic tribes in Central Asia, nomads tend to be generous by nature.

    When a stranger visits, they roast plenty of meat and serve drinks, treating them with utmost hospitality.

    In some tribes, they even allow their wives to share the sleeping quarters to ensure the guest is comfortable.

    The reason for this isn''t that these people are inherently kind and simple; rather, it''s because an external guest is a valuable source of information, and they treat them accordingly.

    ¡°Come any closer, and I¡¯ll kill you!¡±

    At the same time, an arrow fell at a considerable distance from us.

    It¡¯s obvious they aren¡¯t lacking in archery skills; this is akin to a military warning shot, signaling a final warning.

    ¡®Even if words don¡¯t reach, arrows and bullets do.¡¯

    Chloe asked me, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that these tribes are kind to guests from outside?¡±

    In this world, there are always exceptions.

    And let¡¯s consider the reasons behind this strange situation.

    Thinking it over, nomadic tribes usually have herds of animals that far exceed the number of tribe members.

    Right now, they have only a few hundred animals here.

    Unless a plague has struck, it¡¯s likely that the governor of Nador has been conducting aggressive wars of invasion, forcing them to flee from their original homes in a hurry.

    ¡®It¡¯s like a business going bankrupt.¡¯

    ¡°Right now, these people probably don¡¯t have the luxury to welcome guests from outside.¡±

    From a distance, it¡¯s hard to see clearly, but this tribe must be facing starvation or a crisis of similar severity.

    If we¡ªaround 150 of us¡ªwere to attack in such a dangerous situation...

    ¡®If we had that intention, we could turn the entire tribe into slaves.¡¯

    Of course, I have no intention of doing so unless they openly initiate an attack.

    ¡°Abdullah, let them know we have no intention to fight.¡±

    Just because I say we don¡¯t want to fight doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯ll lower their guard.

    However, at the very least, they shouldn¡¯t shoot an arrow at my throat while we¡¯re trying to talk.

    ¡°Understood, my lord.¡±

    Abdullah hurried off after hearing my words.

    ¡°There¡¯s really no need to run, but he¡¯s putting in a lot of effort to win my favor, isn¡¯t he?¡±

    After waiting for a while, Abdullah returned with the local Ifriqiyan tribesmen.

    With skin as dark as charcoal, they were remarkably tall with long limbs.

    Even though they were famished due to the current food shortage, their imposing presence was undeniable.

    What must they usually look like?

    Perhaps they resembled Usain Bolt, packed with compressed muscle in their prime.

    Abdullah hurriedly introduced the man before me.

    To be more precise, they maintain absolute accuracy regarding trivial matters to build credibility.

    Then, at the most critical moment, they strike hard.

    This dubious wisdom is skillfully utilized by those who borrow money and disappear.

    They start by borrowing small amounts like 1,000, 10,000, or 100,000 won, then vanish after borrowing tens of millions.

    ¡°We cannot peacefully coexist with heathens, those who believe in other gods. While we have stopped fighting for now, we do not know when those wicked raiders might target us.¡±

    Not a single lie is mixed in here.

    The Toscana Empire is officially in a state of constant war with the heathens, and they could attack us at any time.

    Ah, of course, some merchants engage in spice trade and buy all sorts of slaves.

    Among the nobles, having a ¡®heathen sex slave¡¯ is quite a point of pride, and while I have close ties to the Alchini family and Governor Nador...

    That¡¯s merely an ¡®unspoken truth.¡¯

    ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, but those wicked people of Nador shoot at us while we remain idle, abducting our tribesmen to sell as slaves. They keep trying to push us out of our homes.¡±

    The fastest way to bond with someone is to gossip about a ¡®common enemy.¡¯

    ¡°Though we¡¯ve just met, we share the same enemy. We should get along, right?¡± ¡°That is true.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to meet your chief and discuss things in more detail; is that alright?¡±

    The warrior chief readily accepted.

    ¡°A friend is someone who fights alongside you against the same enemy. Baron Pierre and his companions, follow me; I will lead you to the chief.¡±

    The warrior chief took us into their village.

    ¡°Stay close. If you stray too far, the angry tribesmen may kill you.¡±

    The state of the village was as horrific as I had imagined.

    While no one was starving to death, their faces and limbs were gaunt and emaciated.

    Instead of vibrancy, their expressions reflected only worry and concern.

    The livestock that should typically be visible in such a tribal settlement was sparse.

    ¡®The tent over there is likely filled with wounded individuals, dying.¡¯

    And those around us were watching with hostile gazes.

    ¡°Chloe, Kris. Do not act alone under any circumstances.¡±

    Both nodded at my warning.

    Before long, the warrior chief took us into a tent decorated with gold.

    Inside was an old man adorned with all sorts of golden ornaments, seemingly to display his authority.

    ¡®That must be the chief.¡¯

    ¡°I present to you the chief of the Motswana tribe. I am Pierre, a small chief from the vast tribe of the Granada Kingdom.¡±

    The chief looked down at me and said, ¡°You called us because you share a common enemy and wish to trade. So, what do you bring?¡±

    I signaled my porters to open one of the chests they had brought on the wagon.

    ¡°I¡¯ve brought weapons used by those wicked raiders. I wish to buy gold with this.¡±

 Chapter 104

    The chief''s gaze was fixed on the contents of the chest.

    Tears were streaming down his face.

    ¡°Is this cursed weapon that has killed nearly a thousand of our warriors, a silver-shining barrel with a wooden body?¡±

    Instead of answering his question verbally, I nodded my head.

    The chief gestured for the warriors, including the warrior chief, to gather around.

    They, too, began to examine the guns in the chest, shedding tears.

    Some of the more sensitive men even cried out loudly.

    When I asked Abdullah what they were saying, he replied, ¡°There are so many people speaking at once that I can¡¯t make it all out, but from what I¡¯ve gathered, they are saying that this horrific weapon that shot and killed their comrades has now come into their possession. Some are grieving, while others are expressing joy that they will no longer be the ones suffering unilaterally.¡±

    In survival situations like wilderness survival, bows and arrows are much more useful than matchlocks.

    They make little noise and have a much shorter reload time.

    The effective range of arrows is over three times that of matchlocks.

    However, matchlocks changed the course of history because, to exaggerate slightly, anyone could use them, and each shot had tremendous power.

    ¡®If it¡¯s not made of steel armor, it will pierce right through.¡¯

    Moreover, steel armor costs more than the living expenses of twenty peasant households for a year.

    For lower noble families, it¡¯s considered their ¡®first asset,¡¯ handed down through generations.

    After the excitement among the chief and the others settled, we could continue our discussion.

    ¡°I¡¯ve shown an unseemly side.¡± ¡°No, it is an honor that you are pleased with this.¡±

    If they¡¯re this happy, I can raise the price a bit more.

    It was worth the effort to come this far.

    ¡°Let me ask one more thing. With this, can I pierce this armor as well?¡±

    At the chief''s signal, armor that seemed to have belonged to a soldier under the governor of Nador was brought out.

    It was a typical Sultanate-style plate armor made of chains and iron plates.

    ¡°They use soldiers clad in such iron armor to kill us, plunder, and abduct us into slavery. We try to fight back somehow, but... our arrows cannot penetrate their armor.¡±

    One common misconception we have is that crossbow bolts can pierce plate armor.

    In reality, it¡¯s not just difficult; it¡¯s nearly impossible for crossbow bolts to even make a dent.

    Let alone with a bow, which has a lower draw weight than a crossbow.

    ¡®Unless the arrow somehow fits into a gap in the armor.¡¯

    That¡¯s why armored knights could dominate the battlefield before the advent of gunpowder.

    But what happens when you combine heavy ¡®lead projectiles¡¯ with the tremendous kinetic energy generated by an explosion?@@@@

    Ordinary armor would be pierced without question.

    ¡°I will demonstrate its power directly.¡±

    When selling goods, it¡¯s customary to offer samples and demonstrations.

    Such effort is necessary to convince customers to make a purchase; that¡¯s why customer satisfaction services exist in any company.

    Even though the Botswana tribe is a nomadic people and a bit primitive, they are still our guests, and it¡¯s courteous to present them in such a way that they might faint from joy.

    ¡°Gather all the tribe members. I will show you personally.¡±

    Of course, in our Albanian continent, gold holds great value...

    ¡®But I didn¡¯t come all the way here to settle for just this.¡¯

    ¡°Hmm, however, we could offer a special discount.¡±

    ¡°How would you discount it?¡±

    ¡°If you let the other tribes know that we are selling guns, I¡¯ll give them to you for about 18 grams of gold. Additionally, for every gun you buy from other tribes based on your introduction, I¡¯ll give you 2 grams of gold.¡±

    What I created is known in technical terms as a multi-level marketing structure.

    It¡¯s a term a bit unfamiliar in the Albanian continent, or rather, this world.

    But its effectiveness is off the charts, maybe even 100,000 points.

    Just by giving an ¡®introduction¡¯ to others, they could receive a 10% discount on the ¡®matchlocks¡¯ and bullets, which are valuable yet clear indicators of power?

    Moreover, with an additional 10% incentive coming in, how could anyone refuse that?

    ¡°But if we hand over matchlocks to other tribes, they will grow stronger. What will happen if they gain strength and turn their weapons against us?¡±

    Well, it means a continuous state of struggle. In lofty terms, it would be a state of conflict against all.

    But aren¡¯t you currently in no position to leisurely consider what might happen in the future?

    ¡°Though I feel awkward saying this as an outsider, can you truly defeat those wicked Nador people in your current state? They are trying desperately to kill Chief Motswana and capture your tribesmen as slaves. Hence, you¡¯re losing your livestock and gradually being pushed out of your homeland.¡±

    Of course, I share some responsibility for how things have turned out.

    If I hadn¡¯t sold weapons, the Botswana tribespeople wouldn¡¯t be dying.

    I just didn¡¯t shoot the bullets myself.

    ¡°If you get pushed back another step, you¡¯ll have no choice but to die. Of course, other tribes are likely in a similar situation.¡±

    The region of Nador, or rather, Governor Nador, is essentially like the ¡®king of an independent nation.¡¯

    That means he possesses power, wealth, and military strength that are appropriate for that title.

    A single tribe¡¯s strength cannot withstand that.

    ¡°No matter how strong a lion is, it cannot recklessly charge at a herd of buffalo. It will either be trampled or gored to death.¡±

    In Africa, there¡¯s a reason herbivores move in massive herds.

    If they stray from the group, they die; if they band together, they survive.

    ¡°And Chief Botswana, if you manage to unite everyone and fend off those Nador folk, how will the other tribes view you?¡±

    The principles for forming tribes, cities, and nations are fundamentally the same.

    I don¡¯t serve someone because I want to; I pay taxes and serve because I never know when something might happen if I don¡¯t.

    ¡°As long as the Nador folk remain, they will seek to rely on ¡®Chief Botswana.¡¯¡± ¡°Is it similar to being revered as a chief by everyone?¡±

    As expected of a chief, he was very astute.

    ¡°I am just the chief of a very small tribe; in our terms, I¡¯m a baron. The king of the Granada Kingdom is a great chieftain who leads many small chiefs.¡±

    ¡°Great chieftain, or king... I am a king...¡±

    ¡°I will assist you, chief.¡±

    Instead of replying to my words, the chief vigorously nodded his head.

    ¡°Then how long will it take to consult with the other tribes?¡± ¡°It will take about a week. Please wait during that time.¡±

    With that, the chief led several warriors and departed.

 Chapter 105

    Chief Malik of the Botswana tribe was facing the chiefs of allied tribes.

    Before the aggressive invasions of Nador, they had often exchanged goods, gone to markets together, and traded with Nador¡¯s merchants.

    Because they frequently collaborated, they would greet each other like friends in such gatherings.

    ¡®Everyone seems to be stressed due to the Nador folks.¡¯

    Looking around, I noticed that several chiefs from tribes they had previously been close with were missing.

    They must have been raided and enslaved by the Nador people.

    After a lengthy silence, one chief asked in an irritated tone.

    ¡°Why have you called us here? Surely you aren¡¯t just calling us to suggest that we join hands and fight against those wicked Nador people.¡±

    Everyone here would agree that the allied tribes must unite to drive out the Nador folks.

    Thus, last time, twelve tribes, including the Botswana tribe, banded together to confront Nador''s 7,000-strong army.

    Numerically, the allied tribes had the advantage, but faced with the durability of matchlocks and iron armor, they suffered a miserable defeat.

    Malik and everyone present had not forgotten that fact.

    ¡®There¡¯s no chance of winning against those monstrous beings in a direct confrontation.¡¯

    ¡°Frankly speaking, fighting those demons head-on is futile. So, please refrain from making foolish statements about needing to unite and fight again.¡±

    At his words, the atmosphere in the room became even more somber.

    Everyone had agreed to form the alliance and fight, so no one could point fingers at anyone else.

    However, a defeat is a defeat, and the hundreds of warriors slaughtered in the barrage of matchlocks would never return.

    Among them, only Malik stood tall, exuding confidence.

    ¡°Before I bring up what I want to discuss, let me show you this first.¡±

    Malik opened a wooden box that he had brought in.

    The chiefs gasped in shock at what they saw.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the gun used by the demons?¡± ¡°Where did you get this? The Nador merchants said they wouldn¡¯t sell anything like this.¡± ¡°Even for gold, they said they wouldn¡¯t sell it...¡±

    No matter how obsessed the Nador merchants were with making money, they all believed in the Mahabad religion.

    While they might trade with heathens, they had never sold their key strategic weapon, matchlocks, to the indigenous tribes of western Ifriqiya, who were their adversaries and considered heretics.

    Malik proudly held the matchlock in his hands.

    ¡°The chief of the Granada Kingdom, a very large tribe, has offered to sell us these. He said he would sell as many as we want.¡±

    Everyone was in disbelief.

    While they were incredibly grateful for being offered such a precious and powerful weapon, they couldn¡¯t help but wonder why they would sell matchlocks to them.

    The chiefs, who believed that there must always be a reason for something given for free, felt even more wary.

    ¡°This is ridiculous. Why would they offer to sell us such a powerful weapon?¡± ¡°I heard that the Granada Kingdom had fierce wars with those wicked people until just decades ago.¡±

    Honestly, Malik didn¡¯t have a clear understanding of who the Granada Kingdom was.

    By the way, it¡¯s been over the promised week, and it¡¯s about to reach ten days¡ªwhy hasn¡¯t the Botswana chief come?

    Could something have happened?

    If problems arise, I would have to find another tribe and head south along the coast.

    No, given the food situation, I should return to Toscana via the Granada Kingdom.

    As I pondered the preparations for the future, the Botswana chief approached me, bringing along several other chiefs.

    ¡°Sorry for being late. But these guys have all decided to buy thousands of matchlocks, so please understand.¡±

    Matchlocks surprisingly have good liquidity.

    This is because they are difficult to make; in this era, matchlocks aren¡¯t produced in standardized factories, leading to frequent ¡®breakdowns.¡¯

    To exaggerate slightly, the Albanian continent is in a state of constant war, where demand exceeds supply.

    So, if they didn¡¯t sell here, I had planned to wait a while and then supply them to another division.

    ¡®Could it be that all of them are selling out?¡¯

    ¡°How many do you all intend to buy?¡± ¡°Altogether, 3,000. They say if they test the effectiveness later and find it good, they will buy more.¡±

    3,000 matchlocks, which translates to about 60 kilograms of gold.

    Though 60 kilograms of gold may seem small, converting it to gold coins would exceed 15,000.

    The cost of 3,000 matchlocks, bullets, and gunpowder is around 5,000 gold coins, so this time, I would gain 10,000 gold coins.

    ¡®If I sell the lion skins or ivory received as part of the payment to the nobles, the profit margin will skyrocket, right?¡¯

    Considering that this is the early stage of trade and the market is small...

    If I happen to discover a new continent here, wouldn¡¯t I be able to easily dominate the merchants?

    ¡°I will sell them all. And as promised, I will return 1.2 kilograms of gold.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary. Thanks to you, it seems I can become a king.¡±

    ¡°Are you planning to go to war?¡±

    Chief Botswana smiled at me.

    ¡°If I succeed in driving away the Nador folks, I¡¯ll need to draw more people under my wing. If they refuse to join me...¡±

    What we often misunderstand about the Black trade is that Europeans allegedly exploited Black people unilaterally.

    However, if we delve into the truth, it was widely accepted that, in the early days of the Age of Exploration, trade involved Black chieftains wielding matchlocks to conquer other tribes and sell slaves...

    Could it turn out that way here as well?

    ¡°I wish you the best; that way, I can also expand my business.¡±

    After concluding the deal, I immediately headed back home.

    On the way back, I thought of a surname to symbolize the path I must take and my determination for the future.

    Well, in fact, it was derived from a certain family¡¯s surname...

    But it aligns with the direction I must aim for now.

    ¡°Baron Medici would be nice, but Baron Rothschild also sounds good.¡±

 Chapter 106

    As soon as I returned home, I requested an audience with the Emperor.

    In principle, any noble above the rank of baron can ask for an audience with the Emperor, but in practice, that''s just a matter of law written on paper.

    If you blindly believe that and act on it, you might receive a scolding accompanied by clear and loud criticism from a count.

    ¡®It¡¯s similar to how very few executives in large companies get to meet the chairman personally.¡¯

    Let alone requesting a one-on-one meeting is like trying to mix soy sauce with pickled crab for dinner.

    ¡°Baron Medici, His Majesty has granted permission for your audience.¡±

    However, I had gained special favor from the Emperor, so I was able to receive his approval without issue.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    After expressing my gratitude, I followed the attendant¡¯s guidance directly to where the Emperor was waiting.

    The Emperor greeted me while sipping black tea in his office.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a few months since you became a baron. I see you¡¯ve been to the continent of Ifriqiya; your face is quite tanned.¡±

    ¡°Still, I was able to achieve accomplishments worthy of pride to report to Your Majesty.¡±

    Successfully opening trade routes was already a significant achievement.

    Once established, whether another merchant or I sharpened our swords to venture forth, we would reap substantial profits next time.

    The expansion of trade would mean the empire¡¯s power would greatly flourish, so there was no reason for the Emperor to dislike it.

    ¡®But ten thousand gold coins for the first expedition?¡¯

    That could be called a miracle by divine standards.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hear about it.¡±

    I conveyed every piece of information based solely on facts without leaving anything out.

    With each of my words, the Emperor¡¯s mouth gradually opened wider in surprise.

    ¡°I can¡¯t understand how you came up with such an evil, no, astonishing idea. I can grasp the notion of selling gunpowder to the governor of Nador and selling matchlocks and gunpowder to the indigenous tribes of Ifriqiya to escalate the scale of the war.¡±

    I had already discussed the idea of selling weapons to both sides of the conflict with Duke Visconti beforehand.

    Since the Emperor was already aware of this, there was no need to elaborate further.

    ¡°There are two things I don¡¯t understand: why did you encourage them to unite? If they establish their own nation, wouldn¡¯t that put us at a disadvantage when we want to conquer them later?¡±

    The continent of Ifriqiya isn¡¯t such bad land for farming, so they could probably grow wheat to some extent if they worked hard enough.

    However, if they were going to struggle like that, it might be better to introduce their farming methods, which rely on three-crop rotation, rather than suffering.

    Why? Because the agricultural productivity there didn¡¯t seem promising.

    ¡®If the yield of wheat per unit area harvested in Toscana is 100, it might only be around 30-40 there.¡¯

    Unless that place is like the ¡®open land¡¯ that Pizarro or Corte?s thrived in South America, the value of risking resistance from the indigenous tribes for cultivation isn¡¯t high...

    ¡°By using that as a base, venturing into the wider sea would be beneficial in the long run. Right now, we¡¯ve only extended our reach to the west of Ifriqiya, and yet we¡¯ve gained such great profits. What will happen in the future?¡±

    Currently, they were too pressed for resources to buy anything other than matchlocks, gunpowder, and bullets.

    ¡°So let¡¯s chain them with gunpowder and matchlocks, naturally binding them under the influence of the Toscana Empire.¡±

    ¡°I think it would be better for them to support us willingly rather than forcing them to spend money. Alright, then let me ask one last question.¡±

    ¡°Please, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Why did you refer to it as belonging to the Granada Kingdom? I understand the intent to avoid war, but I wonder if you have other thoughts as well.¡±

    That¡¯s a plan to avoid shedding even a drop of blood from our Toscana Empire.

    I pondered how to explain this in a way the Emperor could easily grasp.

    ¡°Your Majesty, the Granada Kingdom is a potential enemy of our Empire. Both the Sultanate and the governor of Nador are considered adversaries as they follow the heathen faith.¡±

    This was also the reason I sold surplus gunpowder to Nador.

    It was based on the Eastern wisdom of ¡®attack those closest to you while maintaining friendly relations with distant states.¡¯

    Nador, being far away, posed no immediate threat to us, so selling to them was feasible...

    ¡®But when we expand beyond western Ifriqiya to the ocean, they might become an obstacle.¡¯

    Therefore, it¡¯s crucial to provoke either war or conflict with the Granada Kingdom beforehand to prevent them from thinking of hindering us.

    ¡°If those two start fighting, the Toscana Empire will naturally find itself out of suspicion. They will believe the other is the villain.¡±

    When people become excited or face dramatic situations, their perspective narrows dramatically.

    The same goes for war and diplomacy.

    Moreover, these fellows think of each other as more than capable of causing trouble.

    Even without tangible evidence, they will fight each other based on instinctive suspicion.

    ¡°We must delay the Granada Kingdom¡¯s advance to the ocean by at least a day longer.¡±

    Specifically, until the Medici, or rather, the Rothschild Company is established in western Ifriqiya.

    That way, I can consume most of the profits from Ifriqiya.

    ¡®Although I will have to cut a significant portion for the Emperor, Duke, and other merchants...¡¯

    I must strive to ensure I can keep half for myself.

    ¡°That directly translates to the Empire¡¯s benefit.¡±

    The Emperor widened his eyes upon hearing my words.

    ¡°Without occupying the land, you would bind them with chains, making potential enemies and heathens fight each other. Truly magnificent. Alright, then, let me ask one last question. What will you change your family name to?¡±

    Every merchant must approach trade with the determination of going into battle, and they should engage in business with that mindset.

    In the process, blood may flow from the enemy, and my blood may flow as well.

    ¡°Red Shield, Rothschild.¡±

    ¡°Then step inside, Baron Rothschild.¡±

    And after Fabio left, the Emperor felt a chill run down his arm.

    ¡°It¡¯s truly fortunate that Baron Medici, or rather Rothschild, was born into our Empire...¡±@@@@

 Chapter 107

    Sebastian spoke with a grave expression.

    "Baron, the other noble families have begun to keep a close eye on us."

    Knight, Baronet¡ªtitles that, honestly, anyone could buy if they had enough money.

    However, buying such titles made you a bureaucrat noble¡ªa mere servant of the Emperor, so wealthy merchants rarely took such positions.

    But with the title of Baron, one could independently participate in the nobles'' battlefield with certain rights and obligations.

    "In other words, it means that my enemies are now showing their hostility openly."

    I¡¯m not yet sure what kind of schemes they¡¯re plotting against me.

    But just like how earning more money naturally increases the taxes I pay, this level of scrutiny is to be expected.

    There¡¯s no reason to get angry or feel annoyed about it.

    All I have to do is keep smiling and deal with them cleverly.

    At times like this, it¡¯s crucial to remain calm and assess the situation carefully.

    ¡°What exactly is the form of this scrutiny?¡±

    "The majority is slander at the balls. They say someone so young couldn¡¯t achieve such success without making a deal with a demon, or that you''re an illegitimate child of the Visconti Duke placed with the Medici family... mostly just nonsense."

    The rumors are unfounded and baseless gossip that finds its way to the news.

    Actors, idols, and celebrities entangled in such rumors often ignore them.

    If they showed any sign of hurt, anti-fans would start ridiculing them for being sensitive.

    Most reasonable people hear these rumors and let them pass without a second thought.

    Especially among the nobles¡ªwho are educated far beyond the standards of ordinary people¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t genuinely believe such nonsense.

    "The problem is, if these rumors continue to circulate, my reputation will genuinely suffer."

    "There''s also talk that your affection for Chloe is unmanly, or that you¡¯re a disgrace for allowing your servants too much freedom."

    In our empire, the ideal "manly" noble is someone like this:

    He has numerous concubines, sires many illegitimate children, and flaunts his vigor, appearing capable and impressive.

    I¡¯m hardly one to criticize, given that I''ll likely end up taking Kris, Chloe, and even a Duke¡¯s daughter I haven''t even met as wives.

    "Still, throwing oneself at concubines purely out of lust feels wrong, doesn¡¯t it?"

    And treating my servants well is simply insurance for my own safety.

    "Sebastian, it seems ridiculous, doesn¡¯t it?"

    ¡°Yes, it does.¡±

    However, this is how the nobles fight their ¡°elegant¡± battles (though anyone could see there¡¯s nothing elegant about it).

    They tear down a person''s social reputation without spilling a drop of blood, making it seem peaceful.

    "It¡¯s better than nobles actually waging wars that would lead to bloodshed."

    If they did, a civil war would break out.

    ¡°Is it common to find a guild like that?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Then why are they so ¡®clean¡¯? The guilds I know...¡±

    They¡¯re more vile than the Mongolian invaders who plundered and pillaged.

    This guild seems to keep to a ¡®minimum line of decency,¡¯ as if they haven¡¯t entirely abandoned their humanity.

    ¡°Though they may be people, they are murderers and criminals.¡±

    ¡°Most of the guild¡¯s members come from impoverished backgrounds. The guild master is rumored to be a fallen noble¡¯s descendant.¡±

    So, with a bit of discipline¡ªor, shall we say, education¡ªthey might be rehabilitated.

    "I¡¯ll need to visit them tonight. Prepare things, and let Chloe and Kris know."

    When a male noble says he¡¯s going out for the night, it usually means he¡¯s seeing someone he can¡¯t even call a concubine or planning to spend the night with a courtesan.

    But I haven¡¯t yet crossed that line with Kris.

    "I showed her with Chloe, but didn¡¯t have the chance because of the Ifriqiya expedition."

    It¡¯s not like we could make much noise on a ship.

    So, apart from Chloe, I haven¡¯t been with any other woman.

    And I don¡¯t intend to follow other nobles¡¯ chaotic lifestyles.

    "Understood."

    ¡°This alley here is the territory of the information guild ¡®Black Mist.¡¯¡±

    Information guilds typically have ¡°territories.¡±

    Whether or not guild members and their families live there, it¡¯s a secure area where assassinations are rare.

    Outside their territory, a guild member never knows when something might happen.

    Inside, as I expected, numerous guild members were diligently focused on their tasks.

    Some were sharpening weapons, while others discussed which request to handle next.

    At this point, it¡¯s customary for them to draw their weapons and question a suspicious outsider like me.

    But they seemed to be expecting me, carrying on without any concern.

    "Strange. By now, someone should be confronting me with a weapon."

    ¡°I¡¯ve informed them you¡¯d be coming tonight. They may not know which family you belong to, but they wouldn¡¯t dare draw weapons against a Baron.¡±

    There are over 150 baronies just in Florence alone¡ªaround 300 across the entire Toscana Empire.

    ¡°A Baron is like a hereditary congressman, right?¡±

    Not long after, a man who appeared to be the guild master approached.

    Before exchanging pleasantries, I got straight to the point.

    "Are you the master of the Black Mist? Let me ask directly: do you enjoy this life?"

 Chapter 108

    Although he wasn¡¯t a full guild master with an official title, or even a council member, a master was still a master.

    Thus, in this slum where the dark money flows, he likely lived a life that rivaled that of a noble.

    But humans are creatures that rarely find contentment in their circumstances. And someone who rose to the title of guild master in a slum likely had an overwhelming desire to climb even higher.

    Could he really refuse the chance to live better?

    ¡®If I¡¯m right, he won¡¯t be able to.¡¯

    ¡°Shall I put it more frankly? How much longer do you intend to live as a big fish in a small pond here in the slums? Though, I suppose it¡¯s not the worst life.¡±

    I deliberately paused, sizing up the man before me.

    Even among beggars, there¡¯s a noticeable difference between those who once thrived and retain a certain dignity in their speech and demeanor, and those who were born into squalor, whose lowly nature is plainly evident.

    Like how a pointed object will inevitably pierce through the fabric when placed in a pocket, the distinction is apparent.

    Although he was the guild master and the ruler of this alley, wearing fine clothing fit for nobles, he wasn¡¯t decked out in gaudy gold, silver, or an excess of jewels typical of many upstarts.

    It was obvious he cared about cleanliness and his appearance, just as Sebastian had suggested¡ªan indicator that he was indeed the descendant of a fallen noble.

    ¡®And not just any fallen noble, but one who fell fairly recently.¡¯

    So, perhaps a subtle jab using the words that noble-borns like him can¡¯t stand to hear?

    ¡°You must still feel sick at the thought of artisans and lowly soldiers once daring to mock you, treating you like dirt without so much as looking you in the eye.¡±

    People can grow oddly indifferent to scorn if they¡¯ve faced it their entire lives.

    But for someone who once lived in wealth, even the slightest disrespect is enough to make their blood boil.

    The man before me glared in response to my taunt.

    Had he not known I was a baron, he might have drawn his sword to threaten me.

    ¡°I¡¯ll offer you a way out of that cursed, despised position.¡±

    I lowered the hood of the robe I¡¯d been wearing.

    In an era without the internet or photographs, showing one¡¯s face didn¡¯t exactly guarantee instant recognition.

    Still, I ought to let the man know who I was.

    Even if most faces weren¡¯t widely known, the name of the Rothschild family was enough to surpass many count households.

    ¡®After all, for a young master to ascend to the title of baron within just a few years could be considered almost mythic.¡¯

    If I were to rise to the title of count, it would be deemed a legendary feat on par with the tales of Dangun during my lifetime.

    ¡°I am Fabio de Rothschild, Baron of the Rothschild family.¡±

    It¡¯s only been three days since I officially adopted the Rothschild name.

    The office of our trading company still bore the name ¡°Medici Trading¡± on its sign.

    Thus, most people still think of me as the ¡°Medici Baron.¡±

    Naturally, information guilds and those deeply involved in intelligence likely knew the truth.

    It saved me the trouble of speaking in circles.

    ¡°Gathering information through rumors isn¡¯t entirely useless, but the quality and quantity can be lacking.¡±

    The greatest losses to companies, military, and state entities often come from insiders.

    When an insider sells classified information to a competitor or another country, the economic damage can be in the billions.

    For instance, selling semiconductor technology to China would be catastrophic.

    Though my country has also caused others harm by extracting certain technologies through espionage...

    Nonetheless, planting reliable people as moles would be immensely beneficial.

    By detecting hints of betrayal within, we could respond with countermeasures.

    ¡°Then why not train trusted individuals and embed them within various organizations from the start?¡±

    The guild master couldn¡¯t hide his astonishment.

    In this era, espionage primarily involves gathering rumors through paid informants or bribing the greedy for insider information.

    But training operatives from scratch and embedding them within organizations to leak continuous intel?

    That¡¯s a revolutionary concept, far ahead of its time.

    ¡°It¡¯d be possible to place countless spies within organizations, extracting bits of information while also feeding false information to confuse adversaries.¡±

    In World War II, the Normandy landing operation used such deception.

    The Allies went to extraordinary lengths to make Nazi Germany believe the real invasion would be at Calais, not Normandy.

    They set up balloon tanks near Dover and even had Patton inspect the area.

    They transmitted misleading radio signals to misdirect German forces.

    Even British officials struggled to believe the success of the Normandy landing due to this extensive deception.

    We could similarly mislead others by planting false information.

    ¡®Although I¡¯m no intelligence expert, I could still attempt some form of deception...¡¯

    They wouldn¡¯t know what hit them if they fell for my makeshift plans.

    ¡°We¡¯ll train guild members to take on roles as apprentices, servants to noble families, and staff in various companies. They¡¯ll be compensated generously beyond their regular wages, with a substantial bonus saved for their eventual retirement.¡±

    This bonus would be put into a ¡°savings plan,¡± paid out when they leave the field or retire.

    Or, part of it would go toward supporting their families within my territory.

    ¡®Spending too lavishly would raise suspicion, after all.¡¯

    ¡°So, will you take up the offer and change your fortunes, or will you refuse?¡±

    If they refuse, my acquaintances¡ªCaptain Marin and his guards¡ªwill handle their ¡°voluntary enlistment¡± the next day.

    Of course, where they end up enlisting, even I wouldn¡¯t know.

    ¡°We accept.¡±

    ¡°Good. Then, follow me. The rest of the guild members should prepare to leave here. Wrap everything up in a week. From now on, you serve the Rothschild household.¡±

 Chapter 109

    We successfully integrated a relatively disciplined information guild into our ranks.

    However, they are still from the slums, and trusting these would-be criminals without caution is challenging.

    People¡¯s perspectives and mindsets can change based on their environment. Now that they¡¯re in stable positions as my family¡¯s vassals, some of their criminal tendencies should have lessened.

    ¡°But it¡¯s still not enough.¡±

    Ideas, mindsets, and habits, once ingrained, aren¡¯t easily uprooted. There¡¯s a reason people say you can¡¯t ¡°fix¡± a person.

    ¡°So, after setting up the guild, I made sure they each became heads of their own families by arranging marriages for them. I wonder if they¡¯re enjoying their blissful new lives with their wives now.¡±

    It¡¯s not a guarantee, but it¡¯s common for those once living recklessly to change when they have a spouse or a child on the way.

    They¡¯ll dye their gold hair back to black, and struggle to get a job, be it in a small business or a trade, with all they¡¯ve got.

    I¡¯ve given them food, a modest home, and a reason to stay grounded. Anyone with a glimmer of hope for reform should turn their life around and put in effort.

    If they can¡¯t straighten out despite all this, well, then I¡¯ll have to step in and shape them myself.

    ¡°Let their morals remain filthy if need be, but loyalty is non-negotiable.¡±

    As I pondered, there was a knock at the door.

    "Sir, the man Captain Marina recommended has arrived. Shall I let him in?"

    "Yes, send him in."

    The office door opened immediately at my signal.

    The man who entered wore a lieutenant¡¯s uniform, adorned with every honor available to soldiers and non-commissioned officers.

    Unlike most lieutenants, however, he was a grizzled old man with hair and beard entirely white.

    "Lieutenant Lupo Giorgio, reporting as recommended by Captain Marina to meet Baron Rothschild."

    By Korean military standards, such a thing would be unheard of.

    Why would a man well past his fifties be a mere lieutenant? But in the neighboring country¡¯s Self-Defense Forces, for instance, a soldier can rise through the ranks as ¡°Third Warrant Officer,¡± similar to a lieutenant.

    In Toscana¡¯s Imperial Army, an enlisted soldier or a non-commissioned officer can be promoted to ¡°lieutenant¡± with outstanding merit, thus rising in status.

    Only the top 1%, or perhaps the top 0.1%, of non-commissioned officers are as skilled as he is, evidenced by the sheer number of medals on his dress uniform.

    ¡°Take a seat.¡±

    Lieutenant Lupo followed my instructions and sat down. His precise movements reflected the discipline typical of a retired soldier.

    The last I heard, he had served until recently, and to the slum-dwellers he once handled, he was probably as fearsome as a legendary marine.

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to have someone of your skill guard me.¡±@@@@

    "Many men more qualified than myself hope to serve as your guards, so I can only be grateful you chose an old man like me."

    I intend to keep the establishment of this intelligence branch a secret, even from the Emperor.

    So, I made sure they enjoyed more stability than they ever had in their lives over the course of a week.

    I arranged marriages, provided housing, kept them well-fed, and gave them allowances.

    It would be harder to list the things I haven¡¯t given them.

    Given that I¡¯ve provided them with these things, loyalty should take root deeply.

    I gave hope to people who had been scraping the bottom of the barrel.

    ¡°What¡¯s the best way to reform their way of thinking?¡±

    In truth, non-commissioned officers of this era are merely tools for the officers.

    So, they haven¡¯t been trained to think proactively...

    But a talent in the top 0.1% might be different.

    Surely, he didn¡¯t reach his position by sheer effort alone.

    ¡°Rigorous physical training in the mornings and afternoons would be effective. And before dinner, they should receive loyalty training directed toward the Rothschild family.¡±

    ¡°Why do you think that approach would work?¡±

    Without hesitation, Lupo answered.

    ¡°Intense physical training isn¡¯t solely about enhancing a soldier¡¯s fighting capability. It¡¯s about pushing them beyond their limits to develop resilience. And have these thieves ever strained themselves to the point of bleeding?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯d have had no reason to push themselves that hard.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s precisely why they need to train beyond their limits, fostering tenacity and transforming their character.¡±

    Athletes are known for their indomitable spirit.

    Some figure skaters practice spins so intensely that they twist their organs; basketball players will run even with broken legs during crucial games.

    Exercise seems like a fitting method to foster resilience.

    ¡°When a person is utterly exhausted, intrusive thoughts fade away. At that point, if we speak of their wretched lives as slum dwellers versus the hopeful future under your grace, it will resonate deeply.¡±

    Conscripts might scoff at this, but if they chose this path willingly and are compensated...

    Their loyalty would likely soar.

    ¡°Finally, every night, they should write letters to their wives. When times were hard, even I found strength thinking of my wife and children. These men, too, will grow more loyal to you, knowing their families are thriving thanks to you.¡±

    ...Is this really a top 0.1% non-commissioned officer?

    I should reward Captain Marina handsomely for the recommendation.

    I handed Lupo the red, octagonal hat hanging from my coat rack¡ªa hat reminiscent of a Marine drill instructor¡¯s.

    ¡°Carry out your plan as you see fit. If you can make men out of those scoundrels, I¡¯ll see to it you¡¯re richly rewarded.¡±

    In a neighborhood on the outskirts of Florence, the cries of former information guild members rang out.

    It wasn¡¯t the shrieks of murder, but the sound of growth and training.

 Chapter 110

    Roberto, now a member of the Rothschild family¡¯s intelligence division, once part of a mere information guild, was pushing himself to his limits, his strength wrung out like a rag.

    ¡°Ugh... Nineteen!¡± he groaned, struggling to complete exercise number eight, lying on his back with arms stretched out, only his lower body moving.

    After all the extreme drills they had been through, calling this part a ¡°cool down¡± made him question if his instructor was even human.

    But he knew that any complaint would earn him a swift correction from the dreaded ¡°discipline rod,¡± meted out with what they called ¡°the love of tough teaching.¡±

    ¡®Please, just don¡¯t make us hear that cursed last chant...¡¯@@@@

    ¡°....¡±

    Fortunately, this time the dreaded chant didn¡¯t come.

    Roberto thanked the heavens that, at least today, no idiot had done something to trigger it.

    ¡°All, on your feet!¡±

    The trainees rose, covered in dirt, from their positions.

    Roberto was grateful to see that the brutal day¡¯s training had come to an end.

    Though he¡¯d still be rolling around tomorrow like a pig in a mud pit, he decided to block that dreadful thought from his mind for now.

    ¡°You have fifteen minutes to wash up, change, and gather in front of the mess hall.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    Without a word of complaint, Roberto and his fellow soldiers, future agents of the Rothschild family, sprinted off to clean up.

    They had no energy left to even talk, and with time short, they had to rinse themselves, wipe off with a cloth, and change quickly.

    With their minds so focused on the routine, they had no space for thoughts of family or anything else.

    ¡®If I¡¯m late to assembly, I¡¯ll be doing calisthenics for at least an hour.¡¯

    They rushed to wash up and barely made it in time.

    ¡°At this rate, we¡¯ll be dead before we even start the real work.¡±

    The instructors led Roberto and the others to the mess hall as soon as they arrived.

    Despite the harsh training, smiles appeared on the faces of the trainees¡ªat least the food here was excellent.

    Roberto could already feel his mouth watering.

    ¡°Take your trays and plates, line up in two lines, and collect your meal. If anyone starts eating before being seated like that idiot the other day, that person will spend a ¡®hot night¡¯ with me after the meal.¡±

    By ¡°hot night,¡± he didn¡¯t mean anything improper. It simply meant that while others enjoyed rest and wrote letters to their families, the unlucky one would be doing grueling exercises out in the moonlight.

    Just thinking about it gave him chills.

    ¡®The first week, they had us rolling around at night for all kinds of infractions...¡¯

    Coming from the slums, where order and discipline were nonexistent, they had scoffed at rules like ¡°don¡¯t make noise.¡±

    They hadn¡¯t started riots for booze and money as they used to, but they had ignored instructions to keep quiet.

    For their trouble, Lupo and the other instructors had assigned them intense drills under the moonlight.

    A few fools had even tried to protest but were swiftly subdued by Lupo, who, despite his age, had them pinned in seconds.

    They were then pushed to their limits¡ªright to the edge.

    ¡°They were driven nearly to death.¡±

    If anyone seemed like they might collapse, the instructor would pull them out for a break; anyone who could be pushed further would be given the choice to either face the ¡°discipline rod¡± or keep running.

    Reflecting on this, Roberto sat down instinctively.

    Then Lupo, the head instructor, called out loudly.

    ¡°This meal was made possible by the Rothschild family¡¯s resources, so eat every bit with gratitude!¡±

    Though Roberto had lived as a commoner, he knew about the Medici Hospital.

    ¡®Even nobles have to wait in line there.¡¯

    And now a midwife from that hospital would assist with the birth?

    Roberto, who had only known life in the slums, could hardly comprehend it.

    ¡°After the birth, a maid will regularly assist with chores and provide nourishment until she recovers.¡±

    These maids weren¡¯t like noble housemaids but widows from nearby.

    ¡°They¡¯ll even provide seaweed, good for her health. She¡¯ll be in good hands, even better than if you were there yourself.¡±

    ¡°Thank you!¡±

    Lupo laughed, lightly tapping him on the head.

    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the Baron¡¯s grace, not mine. Looks like you still need more ¡®loyalty training.¡¯¡±

    ¡°My apologies!¡±

    ¡°And does apologizing end your training?¡±

    ¡°No, sir!¡±

    Though it was typically said in chastisement, both were genuinely happy, laughing together.

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on you during today¡¯s loyalty training, so do your best.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    ¡°Alright, if everyone¡¯s done eating, prepare for the loyalty session immediately.¡±

    Sebastian approached, carrying a report on the expenses for the agents.

    ¡°Baron, are you certain it¡¯s worth spending so much on these men?¡±

    The guild had brought in 80 people, with annual maintenance costs amounting to over two gold coins per head¡ªa considerable sum for ordinary employees.

    ¡°Sebastian, loyalty can indeed be bought with money.¡±

    If you demand overtime while paying someone pennies, you¡¯re a villain. But if you double their wages in exchange for a bit of overtime, do you think they¡¯ll see you as a villain?

    It¡¯s tough during the work itself, but people will feel compensated.

    ¡®After all, many professionals sacrifice their weekends for jobs they hold onto for life.¡¯

    And our agents are bringing in information worth far more than a couple of gold coins.

    When the Rothschild family nearly collapsed, they received news about the Battle of Waterloo ¡°days¡± earlier than others.

    They invested everything they had, spread false rumors about Napoleon¡¯s victory, and bought up British bonds that had crashed.

    A few days later, when the true news came through, they sold the bonds, raising the family from ruin to wealth as a hereditary barony.

    Information is priceless.

    ¡°To make money, you mustn¡¯t skimp on investment. Spend when buying goods, spend to satisfy customers, and treat those involved well enough to make them feel they¡¯d die for you.¡±

    Of course, when a company¡¯s struggling, labor costs are often the first to be cut.

    But we¡¯re in a phase of growth.

    ¡°The training¡¯s complete, and the agents are in the field, but we¡¯ve already had one detained.¡±

    Though I had the Duke and the Emperor¡¯s favor, my current standing was similar to a rising young congressman from the ruling party.

    As my influence grew, the Spo?rza Ducal family, the opposition, found themselves increasingly marginalized.

    ¡®It¡¯s natural that they¡¯re trying to contain me.¡¯

    ¡°Bring Kris in as well. It¡¯s time to stir things up properly.¡±

 Chapter 111

    Sebastian immediately summoned Kris from my room and asked, "What exactly have you uncovered?"

    "Well, it hasn''t surfaced yet, but Baron Olbia from the Spo?rza Duke''s faction is preparing a little scheme."

    Politicians are, in essence, warriors living in an endless battle. There''s even a saying that anyone wanting to become a politician must have a naturally twisted personality. Journalists hover, hoping for one to slip up, and politicians from the same party, if in different factions, often go after each other outside of election season.

    In our Toscana Empire, where an absolute monarchy reigns, we''re far removed from democracy. But regardless of era or ideology, human nature remains unchanged. Even with the Emperor and the Duke''s favor, I''d naturally have rivals targeting me.

    ¡®They left me alone when I was a mere baronet, but now that I¡¯m on the same stage, the knives are drawn.¡¯

    They¡¯re trying to crush me early, fearing I might take a share of their influence.

    ¡°They plan to spread rumors that my coffee trade with the Arsenio family indicates questionable faith, portraying me as an evil person who¡¯d collaborate with heretics for profit.¡±

    The very fact that I reincarnated here defies scientific explanation. While I don''t disbelieve in Deus, I don''t think that simply believing in Deus saves everyone, or that even the most depraved get heaven simply by faith.

    Here, voicing any doubt about Deus brands you as a heretic, with consequences as dire as execution, akin to a North Korean citizen questioning their "Juche" ideology.

    ¡®Not that my position is weak enough to face execution for a mere suspicion about my faith.¡¯

    The problem is that such accusations could force me to pay a large atonement to the church, maybe half my known wealth. Restoring political influence afterward could take a year or two.

    Whoever said nobles fight gracefully?

    ¡°They say Baron Olbia couldn¡¯t do it alone and plans to bribe a canon law scholar from the Florence Cathedral to bolster his case.¡±

    Unable to offer money, he promised to make the canon law scholar¡¯s nephew (an illegitimate son) a knight within our vassal ranks. At this rate, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the Deus Church starts selling indulgences soon¡ªthat would be beyond what I can handle.

    Hearing this ridiculous scheme, Kris asked, "But can we trust this information? Our agents within the Rothschild family are only in lowly guilds, merchant associations, and the lower echelons of noble households."

    It¡¯s true. Barely a month has passed since we embedded them; infiltrating core positions would take decades.

    ¡®But the wider your field of view, the easier it is to spot weaknesses.¡¯

    ¡°You¡¯re right; our agents are mainly low-level staff and servants. But they¡¯re far more reliable than mere rumor-mongering thieves, and they gather much more information.¡±

    They say that, in large corporations, anyone planning to leak technology or secrets worth billions or trillions in damages would need to be at least a department manager. Ideally, it would be an executive-level position. But once inside, one can observe who¡¯s strapped for cash, who has an unchecked greed.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t he rise to baron within just three years after coming of age? You can¡¯t understand him with common logic. Most nobles are relatively ordinary folk, after all...¡±

    Here, ¡°ordinary¡± is a subjective standard.

    It¡¯s similar to gathering a group of Nobel laureates and seeing how even they might stand apart from minds like Einstein or von Neumann. They say von Neumann solved problems that stumped other geniuses on the Manhattan Project in a mere two hours.

    By noble standards, I might seem relatively ordinary.

    But as Newton said, I stand on the shoulders of giants, those true geniuses who left their lessons and knowledge in ink and blood, allowing me to climb to this point.

    ¡°It¡¯s just the conclusion of thinking things through more than most.¡±

    Kris and Sebastian spoke in unison.

    ¡°They say geniuses don¡¯t really understand the thoughts of ordinary people...¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯re undervaluing yourself, Baron.¡±

    Not that these two are average themselves.

    Still, there¡¯s no time for these thoughts, so I decided to steer the conversation in a different direction.

    ¡°I already have a countermeasure prepared.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the plan? Are you going to intervene personally?¡±

    Good nobles don¡¯t sully their hands even if they know their opponents are plotting against them.

    Likewise, I don¡¯t plan on directly dealing with the little scheme Baron Olbia¡¯s trying to pull.

    The key is to leave no trace of my involvement whatsoever.

    ¡®Even the Duke and the Emperor won¡¯t catch on.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m planning to fight fairly¡ªwith propaganda and fabrication.¡±

    Just as I made the Sultanate and the Kingdom of Granada clash, perhaps it¡¯s only fair to stir up discord within their faction and let them tear each other apart.

 Chapter 112

    Rothschild Baron Household¡¯s Low-Ranking Spy: Roberto@@@@

    Currently, he worked as a servant in the household of Baron Olbia¡ªa mere stableman, only slightly above the status of a serf. Roberto, skilled in deception from his days with the intelligence guild, easily blended into any role. Nobles seldom bothered with background checks for mere stable hands, allowing Roberto to fully integrate into this family.

    ¡°Hah, what a ridiculous bunch. They¡¯re the type you¡¯d want to smash over the head with a hammer, and it still wouldn¡¯t be enough,¡± he muttered, fueling the curiosity of the lower-ranked servants around him, who lived for moments of gossip, drinking, and idle chatter.

    The most senior of the stable hands, Faber, raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did someone mess with your wife or something?¡±

    Roberto smirked internally, feeling that they were taking the bait. But he remembered the guild¡¯s wise saying: One must always be cautious when things appear to be going well. After all, Deus punishes those who grow too arrogant when fortune smiles on them.

    ¡°If that were the case, I would¡¯ve sent his teeth flying with this iron fist.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like you could take on a knight in armor!¡±

    ¡°Please, Faber, don¡¯t exaggerate.¡±

    Those of noble birth often scorned the slums, seeing them as despicable. Yet, just as a veteran warrior from hell could emerge as a hero, surviving the slums required keen social skills. Without the ability to talk, flatter, and play along, one couldn¡¯t survive in that brutal environment, where misplaced words could lead to disaster.

    Roberto, who had endured such a place, naturally adapted, using his wit and social tactics. In just three days, he was already a fixture among the stable hands, even if he was the youngest in rank.

    ¡°You know, the servants of Baron Sicia have been mocking our lord¡¯s taste in clothing, calling it ¡®provincial,¡¯¡± Roberto shared.

    Faber and the other stable hands clenched their teeth.

    ¡°Those mongrels dare to insult our baron?¡±

    ¡°Sure, he¡¯s frugal and not the most stylish noble, but still.¡±

    ¡°Hell, is their baron that much better?¡±

    Outwardly, it appeared that these stable hands were riled up out of loyalty to Baron Olbia. Yet, their pay was barely above that of urban poor, and they survived by skimming funds wherever they could without drawing attention. Small thefts, like selling premium hay at inflated rates or substituting feed grains for lower-quality stock, helped them scrape by.

    Of course, a butler overlooked these minor pilferages. For the servants, loyalty was a shallow notion; they just didn¡¯t appreciate outsiders ridiculing their baron. It was akin to family members who might privately mock each other but would stand together against an outsider¡¯s insult.

    Roberto, sensing the brewing anger, gave an inward thumbs-up. Now a real fight will begin, he thought, satisfied.

    True to his expectations, the rumor reached Baron Olbia¡¯s ears.

    ¡°Damn it! They said I dress like a slob?¡± He fumed, the rumor inflating as it spread.

    The crucial detail remained: Baron Sicia mocked him.

    ¡°Is this true, head butler?¡±

    Though aware that rumors are just that, nobles knew well that they rose and fell by gossip.

    ¡°This slander can¡¯t be ignored,¡± Olbia grumbled. Though it was a servant¡¯s whisper, he knew such rumors could still harm him.

    ¡°Wise decision,¡± the butler agreed. ¡°Perhaps let Roberto handle both stable work and rumor gathering discreetly.¡±

    Unknowingly, Olbia had assigned Roberto to gather intelligence for the Rothschilds.

    ¡°Also, perhaps a direct confrontation with Baron Sicia is warranted. He¡¯s technically a rival, even if they share the same faction.¡±

    They had different patron counts, keeping the nobles at odds. Meanwhile, Fabio, a favored and powerful duke¡¯s man, had transcended such petty affiliations.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll confront him at the ball. And have a new suit made; bring in the best tailor, retired from the royal service if needed.¡±

    Thus, Baron Olbia unknowingly danced to Fabio¡¯s tune, while the expenses started to drain his coffers.

    Yet, the hidden hand behind all this was far from satisfied.

 Chapter 113

    The term "shadow plot" is defined in the dictionary as a "dark curtain" or a "sinister scheme concealed from view." In other words, it implies handling things in secrecy, as if aiming for the perfect crime¡ªwhere only the effect, like a death, is noticeable.

    "Of course, none of the real-life shadow masterminds have ever wrapped things up so cleanly," I said, tapping my fingers on the desk.@@@@

    The mistakes they made could serve as reminders for me before and during any operation. The key lies in how they concealed the sins that lurked beneath those rare slip-ups.

    After pondering for what felt like half an hour, I concluded with one answer: ¡°The best approach is to keep orders short and precise, while planning even the reactions of those who receive them.¡±

    This concept, though hard to grasp, is akin to this: when an elderly couple feels neglected by their children, they may start saying things like, "It¡¯d be best if I just died of old age."

    Yet, underlying those words is a plea: I feel so lonely. Please pay me some attention. Without explicit instructions, the children understand the message and bring grandchildren and fine food to visit their parents. The elderly parents, without directly asking, receive the care they desire.

    ¡°For the retainers of other factions whose debts I hold...¡±

    My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on my office door.

    ¡°It¡¯s Kris. May I enter?¡±

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    Kris stepped in and handed me a stack of documents.

    ¡°As you¡¯re aware, Baron Olbia and Baron Sicia are currently locked in a rivalry. Initially, Baron Olbia¡¯s only move was to wear a gown made by a retired royal tailor at a ball, but...¡±

    The danger in noble rivalries is that they snowball uncontrollably. It¡¯s like when internet cafe?s begin slashing prices to attract students, starting at 700 won per hour, then cutting to 500, 400, and so on.

    Initially, such cuts might help to outdraw competitors. But soon enough, they realize that their revenue is plummeting. Ideally, they¡¯d settle on a fair rate, but competition outside of school is brutal, turning into a game of ¡°you die, I survive.¡± In extreme cases, cafe?s might even start offering free food¡ªramen, hot dogs, even burgers at discounted costs.

    Kris hesitated before replying.

    ¡°You¡¯ve already preempted the political blow they were preparing.¡±

    ¡°The minimal objective was achieved long ago. Taking down Baron Sicia from the Sforza faction is just an added benefit.¡±

    In life, preventive measures are essential¡ªlike vaccination. Though it costs money, no one considers it wasteful since it reduces the chance of major illness. While it¡¯s impossible to preempt all life¡¯s problems, addressing immediate threats is worthwhile.

    ¡°Besides, Baron Sicia is from an opposing faction. Striking him down would be favorable.¡±

    ¡°Kris, if an opportunity to profit is right before you, would you stop now?¡±

    ¡°Unless there¡¯s significant risk, I¡¯d seize it. More money is always better.¡±

    As a baron, living comfortably, I¡¯d have no financial worries if I stopped here. My official wife is the granddaughter of the Visconti Duke, so while my wealth isn¡¯t boundless, I can spend freely without depleting it.

    But if I settle, my rivals will surpass me, coming for me with drawn swords to fill their own coffers.

    ¡°We haven¡¯t fully tapped into our intelligence network¡¯s potential yet. Although we¡¯ve cornered them, they haven¡¯t made their last moves.¡±

    Their ¡°ace in the hole¡± was likely the debt-encumbered retainers of various noble families. Injecting disinformation could spark a ¡°political war¡± or even dismantle a house from within.

    Just as the U.S. dropped Little Boy and Fat Man¡ªprimarily to force Japan¡¯s surrender, but also to test the bombs¡¯ true potential.

    ¡°Recently, I covered part of the interest owed by Baron Olbia¡¯s financial steward. That¡¯s how we got advanced warning of Olbia¡¯s schemes.¡±

    The information gained from that steward in exchange for financial relief was indeed rewarding. Having cleared a difficult quest, I deserved my reward.

    ¡°Forge a letter under the seal of the Trialle Merchant Guild. Send it to request a meeting; if he doesn¡¯t show, threaten to demand repayment.¡±

    The next day, I met with Baron Olbia¡¯s financial steward in a secluded inn.

 Chapter 114

    My first encounter with the financial steward of the Olbia barony was quite the spectacle.

    As soon as he saw me, he clapped his hands over his mouth and staggered back.

    ¡°L-Lord Fabio de Medici?¡± he exclaimed.

    I had to stifle a sigh. I¡¯m not Medici, I¡¯m Rothschild. Perhaps the recent update to my family name hadn¡¯t yet reached everyone. It had only been a week, after all. For a vassal, mistaking a noble¡¯s name could be a death sentence depending on the situation.

    Still, I¡¯m a generous man. I¡¯d let it slide this time.

    ¡°It¡¯s true that I changed my family name just a week ago, but it¡¯s unacceptable to confuse it. I am Baron Rothschild¡ªFabio de Rothschild, First of my House.¡±

    He stammered, ¡°As the steward, I was here for a meeting with the president of the Trialle Merchant Guild regarding essential supplies for the Olbia barony. Why are you here, my lord?¡±

    It was a flawless cover. The steward meeting with a guild president to discuss budget matters is as natural as drinking beer instead of water. But for those who knew the backstory, it was laughable.

    Did he really think I didn¡¯t know about his debt struggles caused by excessive ¡°upkeep expenses¡±?

    I casually waved a copy of his debt bond, and his face drained of color.

    ¡°How is that in your possession, my lord? That¡¯s the bond I received when I borrowed from the Trialle Merchant Guild...¡±

    All it took was a wave of that bond, and he looked like he¡¯d seen a ghost. I hadn¡¯t even drawn a sword, yet the effect was far more chilling.

    ¡°What¡¯s important,¡± I said, ¡°is that I extended a favor to you, Lucio.¡±

    Humans naturally fear the incomprehensible. Just as people tremble watching footage of the deep sea or the vast cosmos, the unknown terrifies. Now imagine a monster who could end your life showing inexplicable kindness.

    I wanted to give this fellow some time to reflect on my generosity.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been under pressure to ¡®retire¡¯ for half a year, haven¡¯t you, Lucio? And because the Trialle Guild sensed you were of declining value, they asked you to increase your repayments. I heard you even had to sell a family heirloom to keep up.¡±

    ¡°H-how do you know all this?¡± he stuttered.

    Thanks to Roberto¡¯s intelligence-gathering from within your very household. He¡¯d brought back all sorts of information¡ªfrom the baron¡¯s scandalous affairs to his childish hobbies. I had specialists verify the truth, so I now held high-value information.

    ¡°No need for me to explain that. After all, you wouldn¡¯t reveal your hand in a game of poker. What matters is this.¡± I paused, giving him a sly grin.@@@@

    ¡°Oh, and take this,¡± I said, tossing a pouch of twenty gold coins at his feet.

    It was a generous amount, but if you threaten someone with a knife, then shower them with gold, they¡¯ll swear loyalty on the spot. Greedy beasts are best controlled with money.

    ¡°Open it on your way out. You may go now.¡±

    Leaving the inn, Lucio struggled to catch his breath. He¡¯d come expecting a meeting with the Trialle Guild, only to encounter one of the fastest-rising nobles of our time. It felt as if he¡¯d been struck by lightning in his sleep.

    ¡°I¡¯d heard he was a monster for becoming a baron at such a young age, but this... this is no mere monster. He¡¯s practically a Leviathan. My lord Olbia wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t that Baron Olbia was incompetent¡ªjust that his opponent was incomparable. Remembering the meeting alone left Lucio sweating profusely.

    He¡¯d driven Lucio to the edge with natural ease, leaving the impression that any defiance could send Lucio and his family to the gallows.

    ¡°A madman who can see everything in the palm of his hand.¡±

    Lucio¡¯s own master, Baron Olbia, hadn¡¯t even noticed his financial troubles¡ªhe¡¯d managed to hide them so far. But this man had discovered it all so easily.

    This is beyond human.

    To Fabio, it was just a matter of piecing together information to reel in his prize¡ªa simple enough task.

    ¡°I¡¯d love to strike back at that fiend, but...¡± Lucio glanced at the pouch in his hand.

    He¡¯ll pay handsomely for secrets, and promises my family¡¯s safety...

    Lucio knew he¡¯d been corrupted. Once tainted, there was no going back. To betray Baron Rothschild was death. To disobey even slightly would mean death.

    But to comply, with the promise of wealth?

    ¡°Forgive me, my lord, but I must survive,¡± he muttered.

    Then, he turned to scrutinize his house¡¯s ledgers. He wasn¡¯t reducing expenditures; rather, he was searching for fatal flaws.

    All of Lucio¡¯s neatly organized vulnerabilities would soon end up in Fabio¡¯s hands.

    Quietly, so that no one outside the stage would ever notice.

 Chapter 115

    "Why does Baron Olbia keep provoking me? I can''t understand why he¡¯s putting himself through all this trouble. Don¡¯t you agree, Chloe?" I asked.

    Seated at the small desk beside me, Chloe paused her writing and answered, ¡°It seems he doesn¡¯t realize that nothing good ever comes from crossing you, young master. You never unsheathe your sword without a reason.¡±

    It would be foolish to reveal family secrets to a mere maid, especially given the secrecy required in the life of a ¡°shadow player.¡± But Chloe and Kris were exceptions. Chloe, after all, wasn¡¯t just anyone¡ªshe was intensely devoted to me. Our newly appointed information officer, Rossi, had even gone through all Chloe and Kris¡¯s backgrounds meticulously, reporting that the chance of betrayal from either was non-existent.

    In Chloe¡¯s case, her loyalty was so ardent that I sometimes thought her reason for living was simply to admire me. The risk of her breaching security was likely lower than the odds of being struck by lightning, followed by a car crash on the way to the hospital. Worrying about a leak from her was foolish.

    ¡°If they¡¯ve dared to target me, then they should be prepared to face the consequences. For the sake of protecting you, Kris, and our family.¡±

    Even if their actions had not yet succeeded, an attempted plot was more than enough justification for a lesson¡ªto prevent further threats. After all, some corrective ¡°education¡± was always warranted, especially when it came to those who tried to commit acts of terrorism.

    "So, I dug into Baron Olbia''s weaknesses. There are more than a few, and I¡¯d love to expose them myself, but it wouldn¡¯t be feasible.¡±

    Speaking candidly to Chloe was like pouring my thoughts out to myself, and she responded with a complete understanding of my intentions.

    ¡°If you personally took action without suffering a direct injury, you¡¯d risk punishment, wouldn¡¯t you? Plus, if they question how you obtained the information, critics would slander you as a sneaky rat, eavesdropping on other houses.¡±

    This was why education mattered. When I¡¯d first taken her in, she hadn¡¯t even been able to write her own name, yet here she was, grasping and analyzing the nature of noble society. The higher ranks of the Toscana Empire had a strong tendency to view the low-born as inherently lacking in ability. But, that was purely due to unequal access to education.

    I should take Chloe and Kris on a little outing in three days, I thought, deciding they deserved a reward.

    "You¡¯ve been studying hard," I said, patting her head. Chloe¡¯s smile was like that of someone who¡¯d just received the world.

    ¡°So, what do you think I¡¯ll do next?¡±

    ¡°The head butler once mentioned that in such cases, it¡¯s best to send an anonymous tip to a trusted judge at the High Court.¡±

    Hiring someone to send an anonymous tip made tracking impossible in this era. And knowing a judge was a useful resource, not unlike building connections in the courts. No one would know it was from me, of course.@@@@

    And if my contacts ascended the ranks, it¡¯d raise my chances of leniency in any criminal trials. A win-win situation.

    ¡°That¡¯s the safest and most straightforward option. You¡¯ve really been studying.¡±

    Then, I contacted our spies, instructing them to spread the rumor from a ¡°suitable location.¡±

    Deputy Judge Al Dante of the High Court

    Ambition was everything to him. In the High Court, all judges were bent on achieving recognition, so his drive wasn¡¯t unusual.

    His wife had started experiencing morning sickness recently, hadn¡¯t she? Unlike other nobles of similar rank, they¡¯d married purely out of love, and he cherished her deeply.

    ¡°Lord Rothschild did promise to secure a spot for her at Medici Hospital during childbirth, but... As a husband, I want to provide her with the finest care during her recovery.¡±

    Of course, he couldn¡¯t be by her side, but he hoped she¡¯d regain her health quickly and embrace the joy of holding their child.

    ¡°I¡¯ll work harder today,¡± he resolved.

    Serving Baron Rothschild was as valuable as serving an earl, if not more. His talents, the emperor¡¯s and duke¡¯s favor, even his marriage to the granddaughter of a duke¡¯s official wife¡ªLord Rothschild was bound to reach the rank of earl.

    With such support, a lifelong effort might, just might, lead to elevation within the High Court.

    As a father, he wished to pass down a better title and standing to his beloved child.

    Just as he steeled himself to give his all, he overheard the investigators gossiping.

    Debating whether to scold them, he overheard, ¡°Did you hear? The servants of Baron Olbia are living lavishly these days. They¡¯re apparently getting those expensive Cafe? Medici cakes.¡±

    Al Dante perked up, subtly listening to the chatter.

    Years of experience in the judiciary whispered to him, This could shake down a bounty of information.

    "And I heard their stable hands are even wearing armor and carrying swords," one of the investigators added.

    Al Dante took hold of the speaker.

    ¡°Tell me more. In detail.¡±

 Chapter 116

    In the High Court, investigators and judges worked in cooperation, yet the divide between them was as stark as that between officers and soldiers. Judges issued orders, often scolding the investigators for their perceived inadequacies. For an investigator to see a judge suddenly show interest in their casual chatter was unusual.

    Damn, if I¡¯d known, I would¡¯ve kept my mouth shut and pretended to be out investigating.

    But what¡¯s said cannot be unsaid. Whatever happens, happens.

    ¡°Baron Olbia¡¯s household has been spending suspicious amounts of money recently,¡± the investigator remarked, omitting the unspoken implication: Judging by the circumstances, they¡¯re likely involved in criminal activities.

    Though the advanced investigation tactics in the Toscana Empire allowed suspects to be detained and interrogated with little evidence, arresting a noble¡ªespecially a baron¡ªwithout concrete proof would cost the investigator his job. In the worst cases, such a judge could face prison for ¡°insulting a noble.¡±

    Being a judge of the ¡°robe nobility¡± with no possessions beyond his office, Al Dante knew he had to tread carefully.

    ¡°This seems premature,¡± he said, ¡°even if it¡¯s just idle talk among colleagues. For a High Court investigator to doubt Baron Olbia over such trivial suspicions... let¡¯s see.¡±

    Judges and royal officials of the High Court, despite being ¡°robe nobles,¡± were expected to memorize legal texts and reference materials due to limited access to printed books. Thus, judges were often regarded as walking legal encyclopedias.

    The investigator felt cold sweat trickling down his neck. If I don¡¯t satisfy Deputy Judge Al Dante, I¡¯m dead.

    Not physically, of course, but the reprimands from him and his superiors would descend relentlessly.@@@@

    ¡°The offense of insulting a noble, Article 12, Clause 4 of Imperial Criminal Code,¡± Al Dante began, ¡°though Clause 5, Addendum 1 does provide leniency for High Court staff, stripping titles is mandatory.¡±

    Although High Court investigators had less authority than judges, they still wielded enough power for minor nobles to offer ¡°gifts¡± to maintain amicable relations. Losing their title meant losing any protections, making them easy targets for revenge.

    Yet Al Dante had no desire to apply such strict standards to his subordinate. Doing so would make him the equivalent of a ¡°whistleblower,¡± a role sure to earn lifelong disdain. If there¡¯s nothing substantial, I¡¯ll simply give a stern warning and end it.

    Of course, this ¡°stern warning¡± would leave the investigator wishing he¡¯d never spoken, but Al Dante would avoid further trouble.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been an investigator here for five years, and I wouldn¡¯t make baseless claims. There¡¯s something off about how Baron Olbia¡¯s household is spending money.¡±

    Typically, when a judge issued such a warning, investigators would back down immediately to avoid charges of insolence. But this investigator, instead of apologizing, insisted he wasn¡¯t lying.

    On top of that, seizing evidence of tax evasion or embezzlement meant that 5-10% of recovered funds traditionally went to those leading the investigation. A win-win situation.

    ¡°Suspicious indeed. Start an investigation and see how it pans out. There¡¯s no one without dirt; let¡¯s see how long he can withstand it.¡±

    Al Dante promptly borrowed investigators and soldiers, seizing every document in sight.

    Among the documents were records detailing Baron Olbia¡¯s various misdeeds, organized so neatly it was as if someone had intended them to be found. But everyone simply felt lucky.

    After all, who would be mad enough to arrange their household¡¯s crimes in such an orderly fashion?

    Following the High Court¡¯s raid, Baron Olbia¡¯s household descended into chaos. His key vassals¡ªstewards, military officers, and intelligence agents¡ªformed factions, each blaming the other.

    With Chief Judge Mancini, who had been rising in prominence with his ¡°no mercy, no sanctuaries¡± policy, overseeing the investigation, Baron Olbia felt his hair thinning from the stress.

    ¡°This is hopeless. Utterly hopeless. Who in the world could have done this to us?¡±

    Until now, the Olbia family had led an unremarkable life. Their extravagance had increased, but it was hardly enough to justify a High Court raid.

    Baron Olbia suspected someone had sold internal information to initiate the charges, but no matter how closely he monitored his vassals, he couldn¡¯t find a single suspicious trait.

    Without any clear suspect, the Olbia barony¡¯s inner council meeting was filled with accusations and bitter exchanges.

    ¡°It was you, the steward, who sold out our family, wasn¡¯t it? How else would the High Court come to investigate?¡±

    ¡°Preposterous! Didn¡¯t the military officer need money for his son¡¯s wedding? I¡¯d say he¡¯s the one who sold us out!¡±

    ¡°Intelligence agent, what were you doing? How did this happen?¡±

    The Olbia family could only brace for the impact of the High Court¡¯s verdict, knowing it would be a massive blow. Worse still, they had no idea who to retaliate against.

    With internal divisions crippling the household, any response seemed impossible.

    ...Baron Olbia could only hold back his tears.

    But to survive, he had to bear every humiliation and disgrace. In the end, a noble must shoulder responsibility.

 Chapter 117

    Baron Olbia burst through the doors with a loud slam, making his entrance as dramatic as possible.

    ¡°What on earth are you all doing? Aren¡¯t you ashamed to call yourselves knights?!¡±@@@@

    None of the council members had served in the military, but they were all heirs of families sworn to the Olbia household, trained from youth in the knightly virtues. Though they hadn¡¯t spent years as pages in another noble house, they¡¯d learned horsemanship, how to fight in armor, and how to speak respectfully to ladies at balls. Each of them had been knighted by Baron Olbia himself.

    None dared to retort. The baron was in the right, and opposing him would be a death wish.

    ¡°Sit down, everyone. Take a moment to calm yourselves and have some tea.¡±

    Clenching his teeth, Baron Olbia struggled to keep his composure. In a situation this tense, a reckless choice could plunge his entire household into deeper chaos. If, by the smallest chance, this tension erupted into outright conflict among his vassals, there would be no turning back.

    If a civil dispute broke out within his domain, the Emperor would waste no time seizing control.

    I have to resolve this crisis, no matter what.

    ¡°Are we all a bit calmer now?¡± he asked.

    Though the anger still simmered within them, the vassals knew they had to wait and listen. Otherwise, they¡¯d become easy targets for the already frustrated pack of wolves around them. One by one, they nodded in reluctant agreement.

    ¡°No one is to blame for this situation. No rat betrayed us, nor was there any slip-up in intelligence that exposed us.¡±

    Despite his own words, the baron could not fully conceal his frustration. His hands clenched tightly, enough for his knuckles to turn white.

    Seeing his restrained fury, his vassals could only hold back their own tempers.

    ¡°Some unknown scoundrel outmaneuvered us, and we were simply on the losing end. Therefore, I¡¯ll hold no one¡ªleast of all our intelligence officer¡ªaccountable.¡±

    Inside, Baron Olbia felt his pride and resolve twist bitterly. Hunting down a traitor within the family without a single lead would only amplify the family¡¯s internal strife. I have to endure this.

    With that, he turned, leaving a trail of tears on the floor behind him, cursing the unknown enemy in his heart.

    But from the perspective of his unseen adversary, this outcome was natural. Cutting off one¡¯s limbs before going for the kill was simply self-defense.

    Kris briefed me on the final outcome in a concise report.

    ¡°Baron Olbia declared he would return to his estate shortly after the High Court¡¯s investigation began.¡±

    For nobles like me, living in Florence was about more than luxury. Residing here meant more power and opportunities to amass wealth. That¡¯s why half-barons, barons, and viscounts alike flocked to Florence despite having estates elsewhere, much like moving to the capital for better job prospects.

    And yet he¡¯s leaving for the countryside?

    Essentially, he¡¯s begging for mercy, hoping to survive by sacrificing all his privileges and entitlements.

    ¡°Pity I couldn¡¯t be the one to cut his throat,¡± I said with a tinge of regret.

    ¡°Still, neither Baron Olbia nor anyone else has any inkling that the Rothschild family was involved. Isn¡¯t it too much to ask for more?¡± Kris replied.

    She was right; wanting more would just be greedy.

    ¡°You¡¯re absolutely correct.¡±

    ¡°And now that everything is settled...¡±

    Before she could finish, someone interrupted us.

    ¡°The Duke is here. He says he¡¯d like to see his handsome son-in-law.¡±

    I guess our relationship was close enough now that he no longer bothered pretending there was any official business behind his visit.

    ¡°I¡¯ll head to the drawing room.¡±

    Time to see if the duke has noticed any of our moves.

 Chapter 118

    As soon as the Duke saw me, he pulled me into a tight embrace.

    "My son-in-law! You¡¯re looking as impressive as ever. You¡¯ve grown even more distinguished in just a few months!"

    We were in my estate, after all, but was it really necessary for him to put on this kind of display in front of all the servants? I silently prayed he would keep it short, but he showed no sign of stopping, singing my praises as enthusiastically as ever.

    "Before I chose you as my son-in-law, I used to worry day and night that some scoundrel would come along and snatch away my dear Erika. But giving her to you? Not a regret in the world! Sure, the fact that you''re a baron might be a minor inconvenience, but who cares about that between us?"

    ¡°I¡¯m deeply honored by such generous praise,¡± I replied, maintaining my composure.

    He and the Visconti Duke must have said some variation of this over a hundred times by now. Not an exaggeration¡ªI¡¯d counted, and this was the 102nd instance. I understood they liked me, but why all the dramatics? Given their high status, there wasn¡¯t much I could say.

    So this is why they say if you¡¯re frustrated, you should aim higher.

    The servants, having prepared coffee and refreshments, left us alone. The moment they exited, the Duke¡¯s expression shifted. He still smiled, but now it held a serious undertone. The exaggerated show of affection had been more than just fondness; there had been a calculated purpose behind it.

    "You must¡¯ve been a bit surprised by the hug,¡± he said. ¡°But there¡¯s a reason I had to do that."

    I already had a good idea why. To send a legitimate daughter from the Duchess to marry a mere baron in a ¡°mixed marriage¡± was a scandal. The Visconti Duke¡¯s faction was likely against it, and this display was meant to make it seem as though he were pressuring me into the marriage. Without this, I¡¯d probably be facing all sorts of ¡°resentment¡± and ¡°jealousy¡± from the faction.

    Though if that were the case, I¡¯d simply handle them like the Olbia family.@@@@

    Avoiding conflicts is always preferable, though, so I played along, pretending not to understand.

    ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡±

    The Duke chuckled, clearly amused. ¡°Trying to feign ignorance? I know full well that you¡¯ve already guessed, Fabio.¡±

    So he wasn¡¯t going to let me off even after I played along. It was a bit disappointing.

    ¡°It seems there¡¯s been significant opposition.¡±

    He clicked his tongue in annoyance. ¡°Pitiful fools who can¡¯t handle seeing a young man rise above them. If only they¡¯d acknowledge it and work with you, everyone would benefit.¡±

    To respond with anything about my own ¡°lowly status¡± would be idiotic; it would come off as dismissive of the Duke¡¯s and the Visconti¡¯s goodwill. But agreeing outright would imply I was slighting the nobles in their faction. According to the wisdom of diplomacy, I kept quiet, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

    ¡°Sure, their families have served us for generations, but when it comes down to personal accomplishments, you outshine them all. If they had any sense, they¡¯d swallow their pride and acknowledge it.¡±

    ¡°Colonel Ducat, an old comrade of mine from our days in the same division, mentioned that you should be placed in the general staff headquarters,¡± he chuckled.

    I only borrowed a few strategic insights from an old, deeply suspicious nation, but here in Albania, it¡¯s regarded as a marvel that would leave even Zhuge Liang awestruck.

    ¡°Then again, you¡¯d be a disaster if you ever became chief of staff¡ªAlbania would be left in a bloody mess.¡±

    Thinking about it, I did have a few cards I could play to set the continent ablaze if I wanted to. The most potent one would probably be indulgences.

    ¡°You seem to have a few ideas brewing, but I won¡¯t ask. Speaking of which, have you heard the latest?¡±

    ¡°Which news would that be?¡±

    ¡°I heard the Olbia family is suddenly departing Florence. Apparently, they¡¯re fleeing after a major scandal.¡±

    That was all my doing, of course, though I¡¯d be keeping that from both the Emperor and the Duke. Announcing it would only draw unwanted attention.

    ¡°Is that so? Even though they oppose our faction, it¡¯s still rather strange.¡±

    The Duke chuckled at my response. ¡°Right? Even my father found it puzzling, though he was pleased.¡±

    ¡°An odd turn of events.¡±

    ¡°Who do you think might be behind it?¡±

    I was, naturally. And I¡¯d made sure to scatter plenty of false leads.

    ¡°Baron Olbia¡¯s extravagance probably served as the perfect bait for an enterprising High Court investigator, and Al Dante and Chief Judge Mancini deserve credit for figuring it out.¡±

    The Duke looked thoroughly satisfied with my explanation, as though a mystery had finally been solved.

    ¡°That makes sense. By the way, are you free tomorrow?¡±

    I¡¯d planned to take Chloe and Kris out for a break, but since it was the Duke, canceling was the right choice.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m available.¡±

    ¡°Then come by my residence. I¡¯ll have you meet Erika.¡±

    ... Someone, please save me.

 Chapter 119

    Visconti Duke stamped the final document he needed to handle today.

    At another time, he might have enjoyed the thought of how to relax now that his work was done, perhaps with a pleasant sense of satisfaction. But not today.

    Alfred sighed, his heart weighed down.

    ¡°When I married off my sons, I only felt the stress a week before the wedding, and even then, it wasn''t this troubling. Now, with Erica about to leave, I don¡¯t know why I feel so uneasy. It¡¯s not even the real wedding yet¡ªjust the formalities for finalizing the marriage.¡±

    In noble families, it¡¯s often the daughters who receive the greater affection over sons. Sons are raised harshly, trained to become heads of the household and survive in this harsh world. But daughters? They only need to fill the role of a lady of the house, so they¡¯re not held to as strict standards.

    Strictly speaking, they don¡¯t even need to fully manage the household. If a lady can''t handle the duties of running an estate, she can entrust it to the head steward and leave household matters to the head maid. As long as she bears children, avoids jealousy toward concubines, and dutifully attends social events, she¡¯s fulfilling her minimum role. Of course, doing just the bare minimum might earn her a status not far from invisible within the family.

    ¡®As long as our duke¡¯s family remains well-respected, who would dare look down on Erica?¡¯ he thought, smirking.

    After all, he had never raised Erica to be more than a pretty face that symbolized their family. Yet here he was, having all kinds of needless thoughts as the time to send her off approached.

    ¡°Technically, as a noble, marrying off my sons was much more significant than sending Erica away. But perhaps, as her father, I can¡¯t help but feel this way.¡±

    With that, the duke muttered to himself, and then he retrieved a bottle of wine from the shelf in his study.

    He poured himself a drink and started sipping alone. It was an extraordinarily expensive wine, yet all he could taste was bitterness, unable even to savor its aroma or subtle acidity.

    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be the one to say this as a duke, but marriage is indeed a wretched affair for women.¡±

    Alfred himself had taken a wife from the Duchy of Bourgogne in the Kingdom of Lyon through an arranged marriage. Before the wedding, he had looked forward to meeting a beautiful woman. But when they finally met, her looks fell short of his expectations. Add to that her strong-willed personality and the fact that they struggled to communicate¡ªit had been rocky from the start of their married life. He¡¯d eventually found comfort with other women, leaving his wife to her own devices.

    ¡°Still, that Fabio... he¡¯ll treat his wife well, if only to avoid any trouble with me,¡± he mused.

    Not that he would punish his son-in-law for every marital squabble¡ªcouples were bound to have disagreements. But if he ever needed a reminder of his place, a stint in the knight¡¯s order should set him straight and teach him the value of his wife.

    Amid these idle thoughts, he heard his daughter¡¯s voice from outside.

    ¡°Father, may I come in? There¡¯s something I wish to discuss.¡±

    Gradually, she found herself becoming curious about Fabio, just as her father, Alfred, had when he first met him.

    ¡°And this is a closely guarded family secret, but you¡¯re practically the lady of the Rothschild family now, so it¡¯s only fair you know,¡± he continued.

    They hadn¡¯t yet officially married, so she couldn¡¯t technically be called the lady of the house. But unless something drastic happened to either Fabio or Erica, this marriage was practically certain. Thus, the duke deemed it appropriate to share some Rothschild family secrets with her.

    ¡°Fabio was the one who proposed the special steel forge our family uses. Back when he was just the second son of the Medici barony, he unexpectedly approached your grandfather and suggested a way to replicate steel with this method.¡±

    As a result, the Visconti family became renowned throughout the Toscana Empire¡ªor even the entire continent of Albania¡ªfor producing the finest steel.

    ¡°And you¡¯re aware of the war that recently stirred the social circles¡ªthe one between the Kingdom of Granada and the Sultanate?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Father.¡±

    ¡°Fabio orchestrated that as well. He sold gunpowder and muskets to the governor of Nador and the western tribes of Ifriqiya, stoking the flames of war. To top it off, he framed the Kingdom of Granada as the source of the gunpowder.¡±

    A noble¡¯s primary wife, as the household¡¯s true mistress, was expected to have a keen political sense. That way, she could advise her husband on which families to align with or cut ties from.

    Her knowledge informed her that Fabio had achieved such schemes without being discovered.

    ¡°For nobles of your age, simply obeying their parents¡¯ orders is often seen as competent. But this man? He accomplishes feats that not even your grandfather and I could achieve.¡±

    Hearing this, Erica¡¯s heart pounded. Of course, she wasn¡¯t falling in love merely from hearing of his accomplishments and character. But if she were to marry, she¡¯d rather be by the side of a capable man than suffer the frustrations of an incompetent one.

    ¡®What kind of person must he be?¡¯

    ¡°Your grandfather¡¯s first order to me after my discharge was to observe Fabio closely.¡±

    The duke rose from his seat and gently patted his daughter¡¯s head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what impression you¡¯ll have of him, but I believe I¡¯ve found you the best match possible. Although there¡¯s still over half a year until the wedding, meet him and judge for yourself.¡±

    The following day, Fabio set out, thoroughly prepared, to meet Erica.

 Chapter 120

    Could it be because this visit was as formal as an engagement ceremony?

    The Visconti Duke¡¯s mansion was lavishly decorated, almost like a festival, if one could exaggerate a bit. Trees pruned in the shape of the Rothschild barony¡¯s and the Visconti ducal family¡¯s crests lined the entrance, and knights in ceremonial attire were stationed throughout the estate. The atmosphere was almost like a military parade preparing for the arrival of a commanding officer.

    The Duke beside me, in contrast to my astonishment, seemed incredibly pleased.

    ¡°I thought it would take another three or four years before you could officially become part of our family, but here you are, already rising to the rank of baron. My congratulations to you, truly.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor, Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°But it was purely your achievements that earned you this title, so there¡¯s no need to thank me. If anything, I should be thanking you for everything you¡¯ve given to me.¡±

    With the push to naturalize the Deus Order¡¯s knights, the Visconti Duke¡¯s political influence now slightly surpassed that of the Sforza Duke. To put it plainly, the Visconti faction, once akin to an opposition group, now held nearly the same power as the ruling party.@@@@

    I¡¯d achieved something none of his other retainers could accomplish, so of course, they would begrudge my success.

    ¡°You even turned down a chance at a barony out of loyalty to me once. Giving away a granddaughter for such a loyal man seems a small price to pay. So don¡¯t let anyone¡¯s words get to you.¡±

    As he said, at gatherings, I might overhear whispers behind my back, calling me a jumped-up nobody. But such things are only natural when one is successful. I¡¯d learned not to let idle gossip unsettle my position, knowing that such rumors only bothered those desperate to cling to their ranks.

    Of course, if enough rumors pile up, they could lead to defamation, and I¡¯d rather not end up dragged down like Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

    ¡®That¡¯s precisely why I created a secret intelligence agency,¡¯ I thought to myself.

    ¡°Thank you. By the way, what kind of person is Erica?¡±

    The Duke¡¯s expression turned intrigued.

    ¡°In arranged marriages, the woman¡¯s appearance, status, and family are all that typically matter. But you¡¯re rather unique.¡±

    Certainly, status and family matter, and beauty is a bonus. But marriage doesn¡¯t end like a fairy tale with ¡°happily ever after.¡± Even if it¡¯s a union I didn¡¯t exactly wish for, I must still try to find happiness beyond that moment. After all, marriage shouldn¡¯t become a tombstone marking the end of my life.

    ¡°Erica has always had a knack for seeking out new things. She¡¯s interested in romance, like other noble ladies, and she enjoys the desserts you created. In other ways, she¡¯s much like the other girls.¡±

    ¡°I see. Then I should think of something unique, something Erica might enjoy.¡±

    The Duke¡¯s smile deepened, changing from the appreciative look of a boss toward a competent subordinate to a warm, grandfatherly smile.

    ¡°If a man is to marry, he ought to make his wife happy. It¡¯s written in the scriptures, after all¡ªthat two become one.¡±

    ¡°It seems I won¡¯t need to worry about Erica, then. I¡¯ll leave her in your care.¡±

    The Duke patted my shoulder and led me to the room where his granddaughter waited.

    ¡°I enjoy conversing with friends or cooking.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a unique hobby, isn¡¯t it? A noble who cooks.¡±

    Since possessing Fabio¡¯s body, I¡¯d lived as the second son of a baron¡¯s family. Unlike my elder brother Albert, I had no need to become a skilled knight, so I only practiced swordsmanship and horseback riding at the minimum level. And, surprisingly, cooking and conversation weren¡¯t hobbies considered ¡®unmanly.¡¯

    In fact, being good at cooking could even raise one¡¯s reputation on a hunting trip.

    ¡°There¡¯s no law against nobles cooking. It¡¯s quite useful during hunts, you know.¡±

    ¡°Even Grandfather roasts the game he catches himself on hunts.¡±

    In ancient times, roasting meat and distributing it was a symbol of the chief¡¯s authority. Though that tradition has faded, even today, it¡¯s seen as appropriate for a noble to personally roast and share their catch during a hunt.

    ¡®Young nobles these days often let their knights handle it, though.¡¯

    ¡°So, what kind of dishes do you make?¡±

    ¡°Sandwiches and soups for picnics. I tried baking bread once, but that was tougher than I expected.¡±

    I¡¯d tried baking a baguette from scratch once, spending an entire day on the dough, and it nearly wore me out.

    ¡°You¡¯re more serious about it than I thought.¡±

    ¡°For me, it¡¯s a better hobby than wielding a sword or collecting weapons.¡±

    ¡°Honestly, horseback riding, hunting, and swordsmanship aren¡¯t things I know much about. If you¡¯d been interested in those, I¡¯d have struggled to carry on this conversation.¡±

    I too felt out of place at noble gatherings, where others would proudly show off their swords like excited collectors.

    ¡®Wow, this steel is from the Visconti duchy! You can strike it against rocks without breaking!¡¯

    To me, that¡¯s all it sounded like.

    ¡°So, I have no friends.¡±

    Without shared interests, even nobles struggle to make friends. Erica chuckled at this.

    ¡°Then, I suppose I¡¯ll get to spend more time with you. And, if you ever have the chance, would you make a special dish just for me?¡±

    I¡¯m sure Erica would be pleased with a proper sandwich. But her request sparked an idea in my mind, a unique way to prepare dishes that would captivate the nobility of this world.

    And so, after spending my allotted time with Erica, I returned home, eager to prepare for this new business opportunity.

 Chapter 121

    The top chefs of this era, when they put in all their skills, often create food that doesn¡¯t taste good.

    It sounds strange, given that people at the peak of any field possess abilities beyond the understanding of ordinary people, and yet the food they meticulously prepare is often unpalatable. But the truth is, the food they serve at banquets or balls is not made with taste in mind.

    Instead, they lavishly pour pepper into wine, and use color-enhancing spices until the dishes look like painted canvases¡ªall to flaunt their wealth. Naturally, chefs for noble families end up focusing on ¡°presentation¡± rather than flavor, crafting food that looks impressive but tastes bland.

    ¡®My cakes were popular because they were both beautiful and delicious.¡¯

    Even if they had a lot of sugar, it was far less off-putting than pepper or other strong spices.

    ¡°Chloe, do you think the food that nobles and the wealthy eat tastes good?¡±

    Chloe shook her head in response.

    ¡°The dishes served at banquets are honestly awful. They¡¯re so loaded with spices like pepper and nutmeg that it would be better if they just left them out.¡±

    When ordinary people get a chance to enjoy a high-end buffet, they might even skip dinner the night before to prepare. It¡¯s an opportunity to feast on expensive food¡ªnobles are no exception. Nobles eat relatively modest food compared to what¡¯s served at balls, where everything is gilded and spiced extravagantly.

    ¡®But here, it¡¯s the opposite.¡¯

    At balls, which last for hours, nobles eat a lot at home beforehand so they can avoid the heavily spiced dishes as much as possible.

    ¡°Kris explained that nobles offer such dishes at events to showcase their wealth, but I don¡¯t really understand why they would make expensive food taste so awful.¡±

    Chloe might be living in luxury with me now, but just three years ago, she was facing the possibility of being sold into slavery from a poor rural area. For her, seeing expensive meats ruined by excessive spices is far from impressive.

    And to me, it feels like a waste of good food.

    ¡°Kris, what if we made it possible for the city¡¯s middle class or merchants to occasionally enjoy noble food? Do you think nobles would still want to cover their dishes in spices just to flaunt their wealth?¡±

    ¡°They wouldn¡¯t. Nobles aren¡¯t fools; they wouldn¡¯t keep splurging on spices if commoners could access similar food. Currently, the dishes served at these banquets exist solely to showcase ¡®wealth beyond comparison with the lower classes.¡¯¡±

    In essence, if middle-class ¡°commoners,¡± by noble standards, could even once a year dine on dishes similar to theirs, there¡¯d be no reason to serve food so saturated with spices. Not only is it unpleasant, but it would also lose its value as a status symbol.

    ¡°Think about it this way: for just one silver coin, anyone can experience being the star of a noble banquet.¡±

    At this, both Kris and Chloe¡¯s eyes gleamed.

    ¡°Spectacular food, beautiful music, and tasteful furniture¡ªa night in the heart of the noble life they¡¯ve only dreamed of.¡±

    It¡¯s the same in any era or place. Once people have their basic needs met, they start seeking luxury. Fine dining, once the craze in omakase and hotel buffet trends, fulfilled a desire for luxury for the wealthy.

    ¡®Luxury gives people a sense of elegance, even if only temporarily.¡¯

    In a world with a strict social hierarchy and blatant discrimination, the desire to experience what nobles do¡ªthe curiosity to see what it¡¯s like to live their life¡ªis all the stronger. To satisfy this desire by eating the same food would be the pinnacle of luxury for them, something they would easily get addicted to.

    Just like those who go to five-star hotel buffets once will inevitably return if there¡¯s no major impediment.

    As Kris mulled this over, he nodded in agreement.

    ¡°It seems the Baron¡¯s proposal has merit. If people could experience the luxury of noble life once a year, I¡¯m sure many would flock to try it. But we¡¯d need someone to design the table manners, the furnishings, and the menu to replicate that noble feel, as well as a skilled chef...¡±

    ¡°High-level professionals aren¡¯t easy to find.¡±

    I could probably arrange a talented chef through the chef¡¯s guild with some persuasion (not with threats). But finding someone who could simplify etiquette while retaining a sense of dignity...

    ¡®Only a longtime servant who has worked for the nobility could manage that.¡¯

    And most of them wouldn¡¯t want to take on this kind of job.

    But I had my own methods.

    ¡°Use our agents to find a chef and someone to design the course. I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡±

    A few days later, I was ready to meet with the person waiting in my drawing room, equipped with the tools necessary for persuasion (no torture devices involved).

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to have you visit my humble estate.¡±

 Chapter 122

    The elderly man before me grinned at me.

    "Well, a promising young man like yourself has asked for the help of an old man like me. I¡¯ve taken time out of my very busy schedule just for you."

    No, you retired last year, and now all you do is sit in a rocking chair at home, sipping tea. I know that, which is exactly why I invited you here.

    As expected, courtiers¡ªespecially those who¡¯ve worked in the imperial palace¡ªare known for their pretentiousness, and this man was no exception. The rumors couldn¡¯t have been more accurate.

    ¡®The higher one serves, the more they indulge in pretense.¡¯

    Right now, I need his help, so I have to play along. Besides, this man holds a distinguished position.

    ¡°Please forgive my rudeness in asking for your time so urgently, Head Steward.¡±

    A nobleman by title, specifically Baron de Conte, and the former Head Steward of the palace¡ªequivalent to a high-ranking official. He¡¯s not quite like the eunuchs who wielded absolute power in the late Han Dynasty, but he¡¯s still a significant figure.

    ¡®Still, a former head steward is like a former deputy minister in our empire.¡¯

    He nodded, as if he understood my situation well.

    ¡°I understand, preparing for the wedding with Lady Erica must be no small feat.¡±

    Had it been under normal circumstances, I¡¯d be frantically busy with wedding preparations, even if it didn¡¯t quite break my back. A single misstep in the etiquette of a marriage to a family of higher status could lead to severe political repercussions.

    ¡®Albert nearly emptied the family treasury when he married the Countess of Farnese¡¯s daughter.¡¯

    But the Duke had assured me that his family would handle all the arrangements, asking only that I show up when called and follow their lead. Otherwise, I¡¯d have entrusted business matters to Kris and Sebastian and devoted myself entirely to wedding preparations.

    ¡°But don¡¯t worry. Who am I? I¡¯m Matteo de Conte, His Majesty¡¯s third head steward. Who knows etiquette better than I?¡±

    Nobles spend their lives studying etiquette and incorporating it into their daily routines. But etiquette can be subjective¡ªit¡¯s often flexible and open to interpretation. For major events like weddings, successions, and funerals, they often invite ¡°etiquette experts¡± as advisors.

    ¡®This also happens to be a significant income stream for ceremonial nobles.¡¯

    Not that it mattered for me at this point.@@@@

    ¡°The reason I called you here, Head Steward, isn¡¯t actually for that.¡±

    Baron de Conte frowned, looking puzzled. He was probably wondering what could be more important than a wedding with a duke¡¯s daughter.

    ¡°I want to create a restaurant where commoners can experience the food and atmosphere of noble banquets.¡±

    He furrowed his brows, tapping his knee with his fingers. He¡¯d assumed I¡¯d invited him to request help with the grand affair of a wedding, only to find out it was a frivolous scheme to let lowly commoners taste noble food.

    ¡®If we expand the restaurant to other cities besides Florence, I¡¯d recoup this in no time.¡¯

    Initially, I¡¯d operate it as a restaurant, but later, I could add catering services for exclusive banquets and even offer full buyout options.

    Conte¡¯s brow twitched slightly.

    ¡°You¡¯re trying to buy me with money?¡±

    If he truly hated money, he could simply storm out. But his body told the truth: not even thirty seconds had passed since he¡¯d started to leave, yet now he was sitting down again, knees instinctively bending.

    It¡¯s a universal truth: if things aren¡¯t going well, you might just need more cash.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll even cover all the costs for your grandson¡¯s wedding. Just send the invoice my way.¡±

    Ceremonial barons, unlike landed barons, often held simple ceremonies¡ªsimply because they couldn¡¯t afford otherwise. Even so, a family heir¡¯s wedding could easily cost a thousand gold coins.

    Hearing this, Conte grew pensive, clearly torn between pride and financial gain. I chose not to rush him and let him take his time to deliberate.

    ¡°...Are you serious?¡±

    His tone had changed, a sure sign he was leaning in my favor.

    ¡°You know our family¡¯s wealth is well-known.¡±

    If we include the unofficial earnings, we¡¯re practically in the league of high-ranking merchants. Of course, some parts are understated, which affects our valuation.

    ¡°In fact, I have four grandsons, and they could use some direction in life...¡±

    Securing jobs for his grandsons would only strengthen our alliance.

    ¡°The Medici Trading Company will soon have open positions. If they apply, I¡¯ll ensure they¡¯re placed appropriately.¡±

    Of course, they wouldn¡¯t be given responsibilities right away¡ªthey¡¯d go through rigorous training for a few years before taking on real roles.

    ¡°And as for payment... isn¡¯t it customary to pay once the deal is finalized?¡±

    Conte grabbed my hand tightly.

    ¡°You think a man who served as the third head steward can¡¯t handle something this simple? I¡¯ll ensure everything is flawless, so no other nobles can even think of criticizing the etiquette.¡±

    See? Money makes everything possible.

    And soon enough, I opened ¡°Rothschild Restaurant¡± in Florence.

 Chapter 123

    Three hours before opening, the Rothschild Restaurant was buzzing with activity.

    However, thanks to Baron Conte¡¯s thorough training and guidance, there was no chaos or noise. All staff members were quietly focused on their tasks, their footsteps barely audible.

    "How on earth did he train them like this?" I muttered in curiosity.

    As if hearing my question, Baron Conte approached me.

    ¡°I decided to go all out. I trained the employees with the idea that this establishment pays several times more than other places, as a reward for loyalty and diligence, and I taught them strictly,¡± he explained.

    In Confucianism, loyalty is an obligation that a vassal owes to his lord without question. On the continent of Albania, however, loyalty is about repaying the lord for the wealth, honor, or land granted to the servant.

    ¡®As an etiquette expert, he taught them in true noble fashion.¡¯

    ¡°I trained them as if they were servants in a noble household. That way, they can provide ¡®noble-like¡¯ service to those who come here,¡± he continued, puffing out his chest.

    ¡°And I paid close attention to the restaurant''s interior. The floor is made from oil-treated wood, and the walls are painted white to give a sense of refinement. We¡¯ve also hung landscape paintings by various artists.¡±@@@@

    Floors, which rarely draw attention, don¡¯t need to be particularly fancy as long as they¡¯re not plain dirt. But walls, on the other hand, are highly visible, so we hung paintings and painted them white to give a distinctly noble atmosphere.

    ¡°The tables are black-painted wood, the chairs are brown with red cushions, and the cutlery is made from silver-plated steel.¡±

    Since there¡¯s no porcelain here, all the expensive tableware is made from metal. In the imperial palace, pure gold utensils are abundant.

    ¡°To fully replicate a noble banquet hall, I¡¯d have needed to leave a central space for dancing. But considering the status and etiquette of our guests, none of them will be dancing. Instead, we placed musicians in the center so they¡¯re visible from any seat.¡±

    In the center of the room were musicians with a small piano, cello, violin, viola, and flute.

    ¡°We¡¯ll teach the guests a few simple etiquette rules as they enter and expect them to maintain decorum.¡±

    Like me, nobles never speak during meals. Talking while eating is considered an affront to God, who blessed them with such fine ingredients. With the addition of some simple etiquette, guests would surely feel like nobles themselves.

    ¡°By following these manners and dining on noble food, they¡¯ll feel like aristocrats.¡±

    ¡°Precisely.¡±

    Then Baron Conte cleared his throat.

    ¡°Ahem, ahem.¡±

    Clearly, he had quite a few expenses to cover for his grandson''s wedding.

    ¡°When you enter, a staff member will provide a brief explanation of basic etiquette.¡±

    Lucas reminded his children to stay quiet. They were young, so he wasn¡¯t sure they¡¯d listen, but he had to try.

    Upon entering, Lucas and his family were struck by the elegance of the atmosphere. An orchestra played beautiful music from the center, while a rich, earthy aroma filled the room. The white walls and black furniture created an environment that truly felt like a noble¡¯s banquet hall.

    ¡°Please, take your seats.¡±

    As they sat, a server explained the etiquette in simple terms.

    ¡°When eating bread, use your left hand to pick it up. For other dishes, use a knife in your right hand and a fork in your left. Otherwise, you may use your spoon or fork with your right hand.¡±

    It was simple but essential etiquette that all nobles followed. Unlike middle- and upper-middle-class people, who tended to lift their bowls when eating soup or used spoons liberally, observing just this much helped bridge the gap.

    ¡°Now, here is a pre-meal drink, a light Latina Mountain wine. Since it¡¯s mild, even the young ones may try a small amount. Savor it slowly to enjoy the aroma and taste.¡±

    Following this advice, Lucas took a slow sip. It had a deep grape aroma, a slight bitterness, and a notable sharpness. His children wrinkled their noses briefly but drank without complaint.

    ¡°For the next courses, the young ones will be served grape juice. Please enjoy your meal.¡±

    An array of dazzling dishes was then presented to Lucas and his family. A thick stew, a flambe?ed dragon (a decorative centerpiece), and a variety of fish dishes arrived in succession. However, despite the focus on ¡°color¡± and ¡°luxury,¡± the food was not particularly enjoyable.

    ¡°For the next course, we have sirloin seasoned generously with pepper, thyme, and saffron. Please enjoy it with the provided bread and soup.¡±

    To maintain the grandeur of noble cuisine, each guest was served a massive portion of over 500 grams. Everyone eagerly took a bite, but the overpowering spices masked any trace of the beef flavor.

    ¡®It looks stunning, but the taste... not so much.¡¯

    Despite the toned-down seasoning to accommodate non-noble palates, it was barely palatable. Still, they ate it¡ªafter all, it was noble cuisine.

    Afterward, dessert arrived.

    ¡°A strawberry shortcake with fresh cream.¡±

    Lucas and his family devoured it quickly, hoping to wash away the heavy taste of the previous courses.

    As they left, Lucas commented with a sigh, ¡°It feels nice to pretend to be a noble...¡±

    Honestly, he¡¯d likely return if given another opportunity¡ªnot for the taste, though. In the hierarchical society of the Toscana Empire, it was all about appearances. Showing that he could afford such luxuries was reason enough.

    ¡°Ah, nobles... always eating food that¡¯s fancy but flavorless. Why do they waste their money like this?¡±

    The food, even with reduced seasoning, could have been quite enjoyable, as could the other dishes. And everyone who dined there seemed to share the same sentiment, a sentiment that eventually reached the ears of the nobles themselves.

 Chapter 124

    A trend was circulating among nobles who were a bit distant from Fabio, though calling it a trend was somewhat generous¡ªit was more like backbiting.

    "The Baron of Rothschild, that man is as vulgar as they come."

    Since the opening of Rothschild Restaurant, Fabio had become a popular subject of noble conversation, akin to ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Taker player insane?¡± but, of course, in a tone drenched in disdain and jealousy.

    ¡°Baron Ajaccio, you¡¯re absolutely right. The young man reached adulthood less than three years ago, earned himself a baron title with some mediocre talent, and now he¡¯s vulgar beyond measure.¡±

    Baron Ajaccio aimed his flattery at the highest-ranking member of this gathering, Viscount Franco.

    ¡°You called him vulgar even back when he was merely a sub-baron, sir. His family started as merchants, after all, and he seems to think like one. He wants commoners to taste the delicacies we reserve for noble banquets¡ªwhat a vulgar notion. He¡¯s a bundle of greed, completely obsessed with money.¡±

    The words were venomous, laced with meaning that was practically a curse. To nobles, merchants were, at best, a necessary evil, akin to the unsavory figures in the slums¡¯ information guilds. The implication that Fabio, a baron, could be classed with such people was a blow that would make Fabio throw down the proverbial white glove for a duel if he had heard.

    Viscount Franco gently rebuked Ajaccio.

    ¡°Ahem, young people these days are far too hot-headed. Try to calm yourself.¡±

    ¡°Forgive me, Viscount. But as a noble, I find it unbearable to watch Rothschild¡¯s vulgar antics.¡±

    They all knew why he was truly upset. Anyone could rise to the sub-baron level with enough talent, but advancing to a baron was different; it required extraordinary military service. And yet, Rothschild had ascended to that rank in just three short years.

    ¡°If he¡¯s risen so easily, why am I still stuck here?¡±

    Such thoughts simmered within them. Of course, nobles who prized honor and decorum would never voice such petty desires aloud.

    ¡°However, I must say, that restaurant the Rothschild opened bothers me deeply. Allowing the common rabble to eat what we serve at our banquets has filled the entire empire with decadence. Deus teaches us restraint.¡±

    Ironically, the nobles themselves were draped in rare jewels and fine silks, yet they viewed their indulgences as noble acts, upholding their family honor. In their eyes, commoner luxuries were vulgar, while noble extravagance was virtuous. Thus, they felt no guilt in disparaging Fabio.

    While it might not be a political blow, I¡¯d have to jump through hoops to prove my piety. Bribes to gain access to ¡°prayer rooms¡± (complete with female company and guards keeping onlookers away), or perhaps an act of contrition, publicly pledging never to repeat the offense, and likely a substantial ¡°penance¡± in donations.

    If I¡¯d encouraged people to rack up debt, I¡¯d deserve prison, but fining me over luxury food sold at a restaurant? Ridiculous.

    ¡°Should I start selling indulgences?¡±

    With the rampant corruption these days, introducing an indulgence system might just be amusing. Besides, with my background in Western history, I know the essence of doctrines that could oppose the Deus Church.

    The wisdom of the British Empire may soon have to come into play, though I¡¯m not strong enough yet to make that move.

    ¡°I heard the Deus Church is short on funds these days. They¡¯re likely eager to milk some from me.¡±

    Other nobles would struggle to recover after a squeeze like that, but for them, I was like lettuce¡ªconstantly sprouting up anew. And if they trampled on me, Duke Sforza would surely pay a hefty donation on my behalf.

    ¡°No matter. My intention was never to spread the overly opulent food that nobles eat.¡±

    ¡°How will you counteract it?¡±

    If indulgent food for both nobles and commoners was the problem, then simplifying yet enhancing the luxury would be the answer.

    ¡°We¡¯ll create food that¡¯s incredibly delicious yet modestly luxurious. Also, find truffle hunters in regions where truffles are cultivated and secure land to raise geese.¡±

    I may not be a culinary expert, but the trend I¡¯m about to launch will lean heavily toward French cuisine. I¡¯ll monopolize fine ingredients that aren¡¯t quite popular yet¡ªlike truffles¡ªand make a fortune.

    ¡°If we¡¯re changing trends, let¡¯s show the Archbishop of Florence this: Which is closer to God¡¯s will¡ªa dish smothered in spices or one that honors the natural flavor of God¡¯s creation?¡±

    Since ¡°moderation¡± is a virtue according to the Deus scriptures, the natural flavor should be more in line with divine intent.

    ¡°If a trend isn¡¯t profitable, just change the trend.¡±

    It was time to spread the nouvelle cuisine across the empire. Once the concept was finalized, I sought an audience with the emperor under the pretext of presenting a ¡°remedy.¡±

 Chapter 125

    In the East, there¡¯s a concept called yakshikdongwon, meaning ¡°food is medicine.¡± While the Toscana Empire doesn¡¯t have a direct equivalent, its people believe in health theories based on the Four Elements.

    "How can it make sense that birds are the healthiest to eat, followed by meat, while vegetables and fruit are at the very bottom?"

    As soon as I was in the Emperor''s presence, he greeted me with a laugh.

    ¡°Baron Rothschild, well, how goes the wedding preparations? No trouble, I hope?¡±

    Honestly, I didn¡¯t have much to worry about since the Duke was handling most of the arrangements. He mentioned that about a week before the ceremony, I¡¯d have a lot on my plate. But until then, it would be smooth sailing. Of course, I couldn¡¯t just say, ¡°The Duke¡¯s doing all the work, so I have nothing to worry about.¡±

    ¡°Thanks to Your Majesty¡¯s wise guidance, things are proceeding well enough,¡± I replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I¡¯ll be attending the wedding myself, so do let the Duke know.¡±

    For a moment, I was in disbelief.

    The Emperor himself at my wedding?

    It¡¯s not unheard of for the Emperor to attend the wedding of Duke Visconti¡¯s granddaughter, but her husband is merely a baron. Under ordinary circumstances, he wouldn¡¯t come.

    ¡°The Duke of Visconti is a loyal subject and founding patron of the Empire, and you are a pillar on whom the Empire rests. It would be stranger if I didn¡¯t attend such a celebration of these two houses. Don¡¯t you agree?¡±

    There wasn¡¯t a flaw in the Emperor¡¯s reasoning. But his involvement was bound to put both the Duke and me under extreme pressure, as if a village mayor were suddenly tasked with hosting the president.

    With the Emperor¡¯s attendance, Duke Sforza would certainly have to come, dragging the counts from his faction along, followed by all the viscounts and barons¡ªa parade of the empire¡¯s elite.

    Frankly, I wanted to beg him not to attend.

    ¡°It is an honor beyond what someone as lowly as myself deserves, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°I need to show the others how highly I regard you. Visconti may have made the first move, but there¡¯s no one else who can fulfill my ambitions as well as you can.¡±

    The Emperor had once spoken of his desire for absolute monarchy. Though I¡¯m only a rising noble now and lack the power to restructure the hierarchy to his liking, I plan to realign things in his favor when I climb higher. It¡¯s not to backstab the Duke of Visconti, of course. I¡¯d simply divide the spoils from the guild and allocate them appropriately between the Duke and the Emperor. This way, the Emperor gains his absolute monarchy, and the Duke becomes the Empire¡¯s most esteemed noble.

    ¡°But back to the matter at hand¡ªyou said you¡¯d bring me medicine. So where is it?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t bring any specific medicine, Your Majesty. Rather, I offer food that will be good for your health if consumed regularly. It¡¯s better than most restorative medicines.¡±

    After some time, the court chef brought out a simplified course starting with a salad.

    ¡°This salad is made with thinly sliced lettuce and shallots, topped with a vinegar-based dressing.¡±

    The Emperor looked at me skeptically.

    ¡°Must I really eat such lowly vegetables?¡±

    Honestly, if I had my way, he¡¯d eat vegetables at every meal, especially at his age. But of course, I had to be diplomatic.

    ¡°A balanced meal according to the Four Elements is the most delicious and healthy option. And didn¡¯t the physician approve?¡±

    Even the most powerful individuals tend to humble themselves before doctors because everyone wants to live a long, healthy life.

    ¡°If you want to live well, heed your doctor¡¯s advice.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve never disappointed me, so I¡¯ll trust you.¡±

    The Emperor hesitantly picked up a forkful of salad, but his body seemed to crave it¡ªsoon, he was asking for another helping.

    ¡®With this change, maybe he¡¯ll live a little longer.¡¯

    ¡°...Who would¡¯ve thought a simple salad with vinegar could taste this good.¡±

    No, that¡¯s your body craving the vitamins from the vegetables.

    ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s the earth¡¯s energy your body needs, Your Majesty.¡±

    One after another, dishes prepared with balanced ingredients were brought out, each chosen to meet the Emperor¡¯s nutritional needs. He ate not only the salad but also finished every other dish.

    Satisfied, the Emperor smiled at his physician.

    ¡°Would it be advisable to continue eating like this? I used to feel bloated and uncomfortable after meals, which I thought was just a part of aging. But with Baron Rothschild¡¯s food, I feel much lighter.¡±

    The physician cautiously replied, ¡°While it diverges slightly from the Four Humors and Four Elements theories, Baron Rothschild¡¯s diet emphasizes the balance of nature and is, therefore, not without merit.¡±

    The Emperor grinned.

    ¡°I hear there have been unpleasant rumors about your new restaurant. Is this meal your answer to that problem?¡±

 Chapter 126

    "Yes, Your Majesty."

    In truth, I had anticipated that unpleasant rumors might circulate.

    Why would nobles go to the trouble of presenting such expensive, gaudy food¡ªoften tasteless, too¡ªin their banquets?@@@@

    It¡¯s all to show that they are on a different level from the common rabble right there in the banquet hall.

    But what if all those painstaking efforts were dismissed by the lowly commoners?

    People would sneer, saying, "So, the nobles are so rich they can afford to eat this tasteless junk, huh? Nobles really aren¡¯t anything special after all."

    Of course, hearing something like that would set their insides churning.

    If I were only a mere baron, the Sforza faction would have probably bribed a clergyman by now to charge me with the ¡°sin of promoting gluttony.¡±

    It wouldn¡¯t be a legal punishment, but I would be forced to pay a hefty atonement as ¡°compensation¡± for my ¡°ethical failings.¡±

    The difference between a strategy, where all risks are calculated, and a suicide mission, where no risks are considered, is crucial.

    "I¡¯m not in this to die a dog¡¯s death."

    ¡°These young folks nowadays, can¡¯t even follow the advice of their fathers. But you, you¡¯re as meticulous as they come. So, I take it this was all part of an elaborate plan?¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    The Emperor¡¯s grin was so confident, it was as if he would bet his hand on his hunch being right.

    And since there was no harm in being caught, I decided it was safe to confess.

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. Everything was planned by me.¡±

    ¡°Of course, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d make such a sloppy mistake that would give the clergy an excuse to nitpick. It seems I won my wager with the Grand Chamberlain.¡±

    Behind us, the Grand Chamberlain sighed.

    ¡°Congratulations, Your Majesty. Since you¡¯ve won our wager, I¡¯ll deliver the finest bottle from my wine cellar by tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a pity you couldn¡¯t get your hands on my wine.¡±

    ¡°Surely I¡¯m disappointed about missing out on the Imperial Reserve.¡±

    In Joseon, the Grand Chamberlain would be akin to a chief eunuch who remains close to the king at all times. Though this Grand Chamberlain naturally shares a rapport with the Emperor, their relationship appears closer than with other court servants.

    I¡¯ll need to be a bit more generous with my gifts to him in the future.

    In our empire, being skilled at giving gifts and currying favor isn¡¯t seen as sycophancy but as a basic skill.

    Ignoring this law of the land would almost certainly doom one¡¯s life and family.

    Of course, if I were a living natural disaster like Admiral Yi Sun-shin, I might get away with it.

    But, no matter how much I think about it, there¡¯s no way I could compare myself to a figure like the Admiral.

    So, I¡¯ll follow all the customs that everyone else diligently observes.

    ¡°In terms of faith, the Archbishop advised me that accentuating the natural taste of ingredients, rather than masking it with extravagant spices, is more favorable.¡±

    The Emperor nodded at my words.

    ¡°So, wouldn¡¯t it be better to widely promote this new cuisine (nouvelle cuisine) instead of the current banquet food, filled with spices and artificial colors?¡±

    My late father, the former Baron Medici, once said that in his youth, nobles were seen as ideal if they were either burly muscle-bound types or noticeably overweight.

    The reasoning was that the macho types resembled knights and looked dashing, while being fat symbolized a wealthy domain that the lord himself demonstrated with his body.

    Seeing a plump lord, the serfs would think the estate must be prosperous, while a macho lord gave them the comfort that, in wartime, he¡¯d slice through enemy necks without a second thought.

    Of course, times have changed, and nobles no longer force themselves to gain weight.

    However, the habit of flaunting wealth through luxurious and often tasteless food has persisted as a form of showing off ¡°luxury¡± and ¡°wealth.¡±

    ¡°I can certainly still stomach the meats and heavily spiced foods that nobles enjoy, but, Your Majesty, most nobles, including yourself, are of a certain age, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    By the time people hit their thirties, they can hardly handle the rich foods and alcohol they enjoyed in their twenties without feeling as if they¡¯re about to die.

    Most nobles inheriting titles are in their mid-thirties to forties.

    Is this kind of greasy, salty, heavily spiced banquet food really good for their health?

    ¡°They probably think they¡¯re fine since they¡¯ve always eaten this way.¡±

    In reality, it¡¯s likely quite bad for their health and leaves them feeling bloated.

    ¡°When I was young, I didn¡¯t even know what it was like to feel bloated. But after passing forty, meals gradually became more challenging,¡± the Emperor admitted.

    ¡°Deus uses the human body as his temple. This means that the human body is a masterpiece crafted by the divine. So, if we feel discomfort, it may mean that the meal isn¡¯t what the divine intended for us.¡±

    Aside from a few organs, like the liver, which don¡¯t cause immediate pain, the body gives signals like discomfort when something is wrong.

    And humans are most beautiful when they¡¯re healthy.

    Just look at Chloe. Even though she isn¡¯t unrecognizable, she¡¯s become so much prettier that one might blink in surprise seeing her now compared to her rural days.

    ¡°So, wouldn¡¯t it be fitting for Your Majesty to lead by example and enjoy this cuisine, which embodies modesty, purity, and is beneficial to the body? Naturally, you could test it for a few days to see if it truly benefits your health.¡±

    I¡¯ve heard that, as people age, there are only two true joys left in life.

    One is the joy of good food, and the other is watching one¡¯s children grow up well.

    For the Emperor, there¡¯s also the pleasure of wealth and power.

    And with the likely decline in certain urges, he must be finding even greater pleasure in fine dining.

    It¡¯s an offer he can¡¯t refuse.

    ¡°Simplicity, taste, and this cuisine are far better than the extravagance of current banquet fare.¡±

    ¡°Your words are far too generous, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Now, I suppose those criticizing you behind your back will be left speechless. If I personally test the dishes you prescribed and find them beneficial, I¡¯ll have them served at the next banquet.¡±

    And then, I immediately went to find Erica.

 Chapter 127

    "In the Toscana Empire, 95% of noble marriages are arranged with no regard for love or affection. But oddly enough, showing care for one¡¯s wife (or fiance?e) greatly enhances one¡¯s social standing.

    Maintaining a good relationship with Erica not only boosts my reputation but also strengthens my alliance with my greatest supporter, Duke Visconti.

    ¡®If trouble arises at home, it can have significant political repercussions.¡¯

    And if I become politically isolated, my business would be finished. Those ¡®one-bite¡¯ hyenas¡ªeager to tear off just a piece¡ªare circling, waiting for any weakness.

    ¡°Lady Erica will arrive shortly, Baron Rothschild.¡±

    Hearing that, I straightened my attire.

    ¡°Baron, thank you for coming to see me despite your busy schedule.¡±

    ¡°I came because I wanted to see you, Erica. And I also brought a gift.¡±

    Erica smiled at my words without a trace of pretense.

    Born into a ducal family, she surely never had to worry about money.

    ¡®But who doesn¡¯t love gifts?¡¯

    ¡°What sort of gift did you bring?¡±

    ¡°Do you remember when you asked me to create a dish of my own the last time we met?¡±

    ¡°I remember, Baron.¡±

    If she hadn¡¯t said those words, I might not have thought to introduce nouvelle cuisine to our empire, beginning with Rothschild¡¯s restaurant.

    Without Erica, perhaps the nobles¡ªand I¡ªwould still be eating visually appealing but flavorless dishes, smothered in spices, at balls and banquets without ever realizing how misguided that was.

    ¡°After hearing that, I created a new cuisine, nouvelle cuisine. While contemplating what a dish that truly reflects me might look like, the idea came naturally.¡±

    ¡°My grandfather and father told me that Baron Rothschild was an extremely rational and logical person, but it seems you also have a romantic side.¡±

    If one lives too coldly, they start to lose their humanity, becoming mechanical.

    Just like a butcher Stalin or other rational psychopaths who saw people only as numbers.

    Even now, spreading fire in Ifriqiya and Nador is a dangerous endeavor. If I lose my humanity further...

    ¡®I could turn into a monster who massacres thousands for my power, claiming, ¡°It¡¯s all due to the Jews¡¯ vile slander!¡±¡¯

    If I¡¯m not careful, I¡¯ll inevitably become a monster.

    But, beyond all that, the most important thing is...

    Living in a harsh, cold world without love is simply too much to bear.

    ¡®I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d become without Chloe and Kris.¡¯

    Erica looked up at me, resting her elbows on the table and gazing into my face with a smile.

    ¡°When I asked you to make a dish of your own, I honestly didn¡¯t have high expectations. I thought you¡¯d make something simple, like stew or bread, since you mentioned cooking as a hobby.¡±

    Even I have to admit, I may have overdone it with this whole venture.

    Creating an original dish is difficult even for chefs who¡¯ve devoted their lives to cooking.

    And changing the paradigm of cuisine?

    Such an achievement would leave a mark not only on culinary history but world history.

    She looked as though she wanted to say something, but no words escaped her lips.

    It must have hit home.

    ¡°The life of a noble is like that, isn¡¯t it? Sometimes for profit, sometimes out of resentment, and sometimes to survive, they deceive allies, friends, and family. We always have to be on guard, unsure if someone might stab us in the back.¡±

    That¡¯s why, after becoming a baron, I secretly trained spies capable of modern espionage under the Emperor¡¯s and Duke Visconti¡¯s noses.

    And during my junior baron days, I only performed acts that pleased the Emperor and Duke to earn my place.

    But now, I¡¯m fighting to build my own faction.

    ¡®I must survive at all costs.¡¯

    ¡°So, nobles are always solitary. But I don¡¯t want to live that way. I¡¯d like to have someone I can trust completely, no matter what.¡±

    I carefully took out the ring box I¡¯d brought.

    Erica¡¯s gaze naturally focused on the box.

    ¡°Even though our relationship was arranged by the duke, even if it wasn¡¯t born out of true love...¡±

    I once read an interesting passage while preparing for an English test.

    In India, all marriages are arranged, yet their divorce rate is half of that in America, and their satisfaction in marriage is higher.

    Of course, India is known for its harsh treatment of women, so the statistics may be questionable...

    But the conclusion was striking: that even arranged marriages can turn into love if both parties strive for happiness.

    ¡®Though I never imagined I¡¯d end up in an arranged marriage.¡¯

    ¡°If we cherish and care for each other, we can be happy, like the prince and princess in a fairytale.¡±

    I gently pulled Erica¡¯s left hand toward me and slid the ring onto her ring finger.

    ¡°Will you be my princess, Erica?¡±

    A tear rolled down Erica¡¯s cheek.

    Even as she cried, a smile blossomed on her lips.

    ¡°Yes, my prince.¡±

    Considering the atmosphere, it feels like I should probably kiss her here.

    But if I did, the duke would probably laugh it off and send me off to the knights, saying he¡¯ll make a ¡®man¡¯ out of me.

    I¡¯d likely end up in Baron Ducat¡¯s regiment, where the knights would greet me with teary eyes, thrilled to drill me in daily horseback training in 20-kilogram plate armor.

    Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes from sheer joy.

    ¡®No, thank you. I don¡¯t want that torture. I want to live.¡¯

    Then Erica motioned for me to leave.

    ¡°It¡¯s late, so please, you should go.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t tell the time without a clock, but the sun was still shining brightly.

    Seems she still isn¡¯t ready to show me her bashful side.

    ¡°All right, I¡¯ll come again soon.¡±

 Chapter 128

    After Fabio left, Erica gently placed both hands over her chest.

    It was because of her heart, which was beating unusually fast.

    Her heart pounded so strongly it almost hurt, yet, at the same time, she felt comforted and happy.@@@@

    She carefully murmured the name of the person responsible for these feelings.

    ¡°Baron Rothschild... No, Fabio...¡±

    Just saying his name made her heart race even faster.

    ¡®What if he had kissed me when he proposed? I would¡¯ve been so embarrassed.¡¯

    Apart from the formal dances at balls, Erica had never even held hands with a man before, so imagining anything beyond that felt too thrilling.

    ¡°If we keep growing closer like this, and eventually marry, will I become Baron Rothschild¡¯s woman?¡±

    Just a few hours ago, Erica hadn¡¯t felt any particularly strong emotions toward Fabio.

    She simply saw him as someone distinct from other noblemen, someone respectful and easy to deal with since he didn¡¯t act inappropriately around her.

    But now, even thinking about him made her heart ache with longing. She wanted to see him, to feel cherished by him.

    ¡°Is this why poets call love an illness?¡±

    While Erica was lost in her thoughts, her nanny entered the room.

    Seeing Erica¡¯s flushed face and the ring on her finger, the nanny could guess what had happened.

    ¡®It seems our young lady has fallen in love.¡¯

    ¡°How was your meeting with Baron Rothschild today, my lady?¡±

    Erica was too absorbed in her thoughts to even hear her.

    Her first experience of love felt more potent than any drug.

    The nanny clucked her tongue inwardly.

    It wasn¡¯t that she thought poorly of Erica but rather because Baron Rothschild had managed to enchant her young lady so thoroughly.

    Still, as Erica¡¯s nanny, it was her duty to report to Duke Visconti on the progress of Erica¡¯s relationship with Fabio...

    ¡°My lady.¡±

    When the nanny addressed her seriously, Erica finally came to her senses.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry, nanny.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all right, my lady. So, how did your meeting with Baron Rothschild go?¡±

    Erica carefully touched the ring on her left ring finger, as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

    ¡°It was nice... I could feel how much he cherishes me.¡±

    ¡°What specifically made you feel that way?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s so much I want to say... First, unlike other young noblemen, Baron Rothschild isn¡¯t arrogant, nor is he obsequious.¡±

    As a duke¡¯s daughter, Erica had met hundreds of young noblemen.

    Their behavior could generally be divided into two patterns.

    Those of equal or higher status would flatter her with empty words but looked down on her in subtle ways.

    If she thought about it with a bit of cynicism, it boiled down to, ¡°Who are you to refuse a dance with me?¡±

    Depending on the person, some even showed a desire to somehow possess her.

    Meanwhile, those of lower status busied themselves with flattery, trying to elevate her esteem for them in a bid to raise their own social standing or satisfy their baser desires.

    ¡®Honestly, both kinds are rather disgusting.¡¯

    But Baron Rothschild was different.

    ¡°Even though he¡¯s much lower in status than me, he¡¯s always confident and shows no ulterior motives. He doesn¡¯t see marriage with me as a means to elevate his family or to gain the duke¡¯s vast wealth. He seems to have none of those thoughts.¡±

    ¡°Well, the Rothschild family is financially secure, unlike most noble houses. Perhaps that explains why he has no need for greed.¡±

    Even Duke Visconti and the Emperor didn¡¯t know exactly how much income Fabio generated.

    But from what little income was visible, he already earned far more than what one would expect for ¡°just a baron.¡±

    As someone who had seen wealth herself, the Visconti family¡¯s nanny Libra was slightly envious.

    ¡°Young Duke, I brought you a snack. This is...¡±

    Young Duke Alfred set his work aside upon hearing this.

    ¡°No need for words, just bring it here.¡±

    When he saw the treats, however, he frowned.

    ¡°Why do these pastries look like this? Who made them?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°Why are they so misshapen? Who baked these?¡±

    The butler decided to come clean.

    ¡°They were baked by Lady Erica herself.¡±

    Young Duke Alfred suddenly felt a bit sheepish.

    His sweet daughter had taken the time to bake for her hard-working father. Who cared if they were misshapen?

    Even if they had a slightly burnt taste, they were filled with his daughter¡¯s love.

    Alfred quickly changed his tone and made a show of forgetting his previous complaints.

    ¡°Ahem, let¡¯s pretend I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±

    Knowing full well that such cover-ups never came free, he casually handed the butler a few silver coins.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear a thing. These were baked personally by Lady Erica.¡±

    ¡°So, they¡¯re pastries baked by my dear Erica.¡±

    Maybe she had learned a few things from the patissiers nearby?

    They weren¡¯t too sweet, had a slightly bitter taste, and were actually quite nice.

    ¡°The shape may be a bit rough, but the taste is wonderful. It feels like just yesterday she was toddling around...¡±

    Just because nobles are often too busy to give their children attention doesn¡¯t mean they don¡¯t love them.

    They simply lack the skill to express it well.

    ¡°She thought of her father and baked these.¡±

    The butler broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this.

    These were actually baked for Baron Rothschild, and Erica had asked him to pass on a sample to her father.

    ¡°Um, Your Grace, Lady Erica made these pastries for Baron Rothschild.¡±

    Duke Alfred froze.

    ¡°She wanted you to try the best of them before giving them to the Baron.¡±

    Still, he didn¡¯t mind.

    After all, he had gotten to taste his daughter¡¯s baking.

    But the thought that these weren¡¯t ¡°baked for father¡± gradually turned into...

    A desire to ¡°properly train the scoundrel who stole his daughter¡¯s heart.¡±

    ¡®Fabio looks rather weak, probably because he hasn¡¯t undergone knight training.¡¯

    Shouldn¡¯t he be sent to the knights¡¯ division for training?

    He needed to stay healthy and live a long life with Erica.

    In Alfred¡¯s mind, this was all just the warm-hearted intentions of a father concerned for his daughter and future son-in-law.

    ¡°...Our son-in-law looks rather weak. Perhaps he should...¡±

    But Alfred dismissed the idea.

    Sending Fabio to train with the knights might be good for his health, but it would sadden Erica.

    Besides, the arranged marriage had been his and his father¡¯s idea, and if Erica was happy, there was no reason to interfere.

    ¡°Butler, prepare some fine wine and snacks for tonight. I¡¯ll be drinking alone.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡±

    That night, Duke Alfred finished an entire bottle of wine by himself.

    Fabio, meanwhile, suffered a bout of sleep paralysis that night.

 Chapter 129

    "My arranged marriage (romance) with Erica is going smoothly, and the Rothschild family is thriving at a swift pace, as if it¡¯s sailing with the wind at its back.

    From the outside, it might seem like our family has nothing to worry about.

    But everyone has their own worries, after all.

    ¡°Sebastian, we¡¯re in big trouble. The family finances are on the brink of collapse.¡±

    Sebastian¡¯s jaw dropped at my words, his face quickly twisting into a look of horror as he asked, ¡°Baron, are you feeling unwell? Our family¡¯s finances are flourishing, not so much that we have money pouring out of our coffers, but we¡¯re certainly well off enough not to worry about money.¡±

    Sebastian¡¯s words were accurate; our family¡¯s financial situation was indeed very healthy.

    Unlike other nobles, we don¡¯t need to borrow from merchants. In fact, we have so much money coming in that we struggle to find enough hidden storage rooms each year to stash it all.

    If I wanted, I could even buy a small neighboring barony with cash on the spot.

    Given all that, it¡¯s only natural for him to think I¡¯ve lost my mind if I say our finances are in jeopardy.

    ¡°There¡¯s no family with finances as robust as ours except for Baron Fugger¡¯s.¡±

    Baron Fugger¡ªhis family name alone is suspiciously wealthy and close with the Jews.

    In fact, he¡¯s as hated across the Albanian continent as a heretic, the ¡®Judaya¡¯ himself.

    The truth is, his family bought their barony title about a century ago by lending money to the third Emperor for his war efforts. They¡¯ve been doing well ever since, running banks and money-lending businesses.

    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for his Jewish heritage and money-lending, he¡¯d probably be a count by now...¡±

    In other words, he¡¯s loathed just as much as any heretic, yet he¡¯s held onto his baron title without joining any faction.

    ¡°If you¡¯re not ill, would you care to explain why you¡¯re saying this to me, Baron?¡±

    ¡°The Emperor announced he¡¯ll be attending my wedding.¡±

    Sebastian¡¯s face lit up as if he¡¯d just won the world.

    Why he¡¯s so delighted that the Emperor is attending my wedding instead of his own, I can only guess.

    Then again, the Emperor¡¯s presence at our family¡¯s wedding means Sebastian, as the head retainer of the Rothschild family, will also gain influence.

    And, of course, the gifts given by benevolent, generous people will multiply in quantity and quality.

    But soon after, Sebastian began to sway slightly, holding the back of his neck with one hand.

    As expected of Sebastian¡ªhe understood the complexity of the situation without me needing to explain.

    ¡°Having His Majesty attend a mere baron¡¯s wedding is an unparalleled honor. But if he comes, Duke Sforza and various counts will also attend, meaning we¡¯ll have to significantly scale up the ceremony.¡±

    In short, my current situation is like having the President show up at a battalion¡¯s event.

    When the President arrives, the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Staff, and other high-ranking officials come along in droves, bringing a parade of generals and senior officers.

    The battalion commander¡¯s feelings in such a situation must be like mine right now.

    ¡°We have a treasury in Ifriqiya and Nador, don¡¯t we?¡±

    A flintlock pistol worth two to three silver coins sells for a gold coin in Nador and four in Ifriqiya¡ªa veritable miracle.

    Though I haven¡¯t mastered the Philosopher¡¯s Stone, it feels like gold is duplicating itself.

    Isn¡¯t this alchemy?

    ¡°And we should start educating the Botswanans in Ifriqiya about the concept of a ¡®nation¡¯ and even establish some villages.¡±

    To create a village, we¡¯ll need to gather people.

    Using conscription, we can relocate the poor and unemployed to the colonies, where they¡¯ll become ¡°founding fathers.¡±

    If we establish ports for ships to dock and supply fresh water and food...

    ¡®We¡¯ll be able to sail into wider seas.¡¯

    Additionally, we can indirectly govern those tied to gunpowder without getting our hands dirty in colonial rule.

    ¡°An insightful idea, Baron.¡±

    ¡°And as for the sugarcane leftovers I told you to save after extracting the juice¡ªare they being kept properly?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but may I ask what you plan to do with the residue from sugar production? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to boil it down further for more sugar?¡±

    Though cheaper than spices like pepper, cloves, and nutmeg, sugar is a valuable commodity affordable only to the middle class.

    So, it¡¯s only natural for him to question why I want to use molasses for something else.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to turn it into liquor. A strong one at that.¡±

    Rum. Or, to be more precise, rum.

    One of the defining symbols of the Age of Exploration and a potent distilled spirit.

    ¡°Where do you plan to sell it?¡±

    Strong liquor sells well anywhere, really.

    It doesn¡¯t spoil easily, gets people intoxicated quickly, and has a unique flavor and aroma.

    But the most profitable market for such a strong drink is in regions with lower levels of civilization.

    In history, the triangular trade linking Africa, South America, and Europe was fueled by rum, distilled from sugarcane leftovers.

    To those unfamiliar with brewing, rum was practically intoxicating.

    ¡®I¡¯m merely selling them a luxury item.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ll sell it alongside flintlock pistols in Ifriqiya. At first, I¡¯ll give it away for free, and later, I¡¯ll sell it at a high price. So make preparations.¡±

    Before departing, I called Kris to my room.

 Chapter 130

    Chris entered my room visibly tense, her nerves evident in the way she looked around.

    ¡°P-Please... be gentle with me, Baron,¡± she said, her voice shaking.

    Under normal circumstances, that¡¯s something one would say in the bedroom, not immediately upon entering. Clearly, her nervousness was clouding her judgment.

    Some nobles with unusual tastes might find a woman trembling with such innocence alluring, rushing straight into things. But I had no intention of being so hasty. I preferred when both partners could enjoy themselves.

    ¡°Chris, we¡¯re not starting right now. Take a deep breath and try to relax first,¡± I said calmly.

    ¡°Yes, Baron,¡± she replied, taking in a deep breath and exhaling slowly.

    The movement made her chest rise and fall in a way that unintentionally drew my gaze.

    If it had been Chloe, she¡¯d have noticed my glance, crossed her arms, and lifted her chest teasingly.

    After a few deep breaths, Chris looked at me, her cheeks flushed like a ripe apple.

    ¡°I thought I¡¯d prepared myself for this for days, but being here with you, I¡¯m suddenly so nervous,¡± she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.

    Some would take this as a cue to suggest postponing, but that¡¯s the sort of thing only someone with no tact at all would say.

    Instead, I reached for a magical ¡°potion¡± to help her relax.

    ¡°Would you like a drink, Chris?¡±

    I offered her a glass of sweet grape wine, potent yet pleasant to the taste.

    ¡°Thank you, Baron.¡±

    I once heard that atmosphere is the most important part of a first experience.

    It felt a bit funny to be recalling something I¡¯d heard, especially since my own first time with Chloe was an entirely different experience. She¡¯d practically devoured me with her passion.

    Given that, I¡¯d had to rely on the wisdom of scholars on the internet to approach this more naturally.

    The first step was to ease her nerves with some light conversation.

    ¡°I heard you went to a cafe? with Chloe on Wednesday?¡±

    ¡°Yes, we had a chestnut parfait. The chestnuts were sweet, and there was plenty of whipped cream. It was delicious.¡±

    ¡°Really? I thought Chloe didn¡¯t like that sort of thing. She never orders it when she¡¯s with me.¡±

    Most noble families have to pay to enjoy a parfait like the one served at Cafe? Rothschild, but our family can indulge in such treats every day.

    After all, it¡¯s my business, so I know all the recipes.

    Chris lowered her voice, smiling shyly.

    ¡°Chloe said the Baron isn¡¯t particularly fond of sweets, so she didn¡¯t want to make you uncomfortable by offering you a taste.¡±

    It had only been about a month and a half since I¡¯d changed my family name.

    Given that Rabat Island was somewhat remote, it wasn¡¯t surprising that he hadn¡¯t heard about the change.

    ¡°Please call me Baron Rothschild now. I changed it to avoid confusion with my brother¡¯s family name.¡±

    ¡°Baron Rothschild, the Red Shield. A fine name. Though I think ¡®Golden Shield¡¯ would suit you better.¡±

    What an oddly morbid suggestion.

    That¡¯s as absurd as eating raw crab with dried persimmons in Joseon. Just because I enjoy making money doesn¡¯t mean I want such an outlandish title.

    ¡°People already say I¡¯m too much of a materialist. Imagine what they¡¯d think if I went by Golden Shield!¡±

    ¡°True, true.¡±

    ¡°By the way, did you prepare what I requested?¡±

    ¡°You mean the strong liquor? We¡¯ve got about 300 tons ready. I never thought you could make such a potent drink from sugarcane.¡±

    His emphasis on its strength suggested it turned out just as I¡¯d hoped.

    ¡®In less civilized nations, strong liquor is as precious as gold.¡¯

    Although it¡¯s less addictive than opium, it can still create a dependency where one cannot live without alcohol.

    Much like the Russians, who, during prohibition, would distill disinfectants or industrial alcohol into liquor.

    ¡°Thank you. Here is the payment we agreed upon: 1,500 gold coins. Please verify it.¡±

    The knight commander chuckled as he glanced at the receipt I handed him.

    ¡°I trust you wouldn¡¯t cheat me. Thanks to you, our order has never been better. With this influx of funds, our ranks have tripled, and we¡¯ve been able to capture far more pirates.¡±

    Who would¡¯ve thought that raiding villages and enslaving their people under the guise of religion would be something to boast about?

    I¡¯m clearly not fully in sync with the medieval mindset yet.

    ¡°That¡¯s great to hear.¡±

    ¡°Today¡¯s a good day; care to join me for a drink? I¡¯ve got some strong stuff we confiscated from the pirates.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯d be glad to.¡±

    After enduring a night with the booze-loving warriors, I set off for Botswana.

    The place where the Botswana tribe once lived had changed quite a bit.

    ¡°With more people gathering here, it¡¯s starting to look like a small settlement.¡±

    It was reassuring to see everything unfolding just as I¡¯d planned.

 Chapter 131

    The first time I came here, the village of the Botswana tribe looked like an African refugee camp. The homes were made of clay, just sturdy enough for basic shelter, and the people wandering around looked gaunt, with skin stretched tight over their bones. They had barely any livestock, making me question if they were even true pletely different from when we last visited,¡± I remarked.

    Chloe nodded, agreeing. ¡°Yes, there¡¯s a lot more livestock around, and the villagers look much healthier and happier.¡±

    Livestock like cows, pigs, and sheep don¡¯t multiply as quickly as rabbits, so the population hadn¡¯t exploded in just a few months. But the increase was noticeable, a sign that they were on a path to prosperity if things continued as they were.

    Soon, the Botswana tribal chief practically rushed over, reaching out to shake my hand the moment he saw me.

    ¡°Welcome, Baron Pierre! It¡¯s good to see you!¡±

    The alias Pierre was necessary to obscure Tuscany¡¯s involvement in the conflict I¡¯d instigated between the Kingdom of Granada and the governor of Nador.

    The traditional greeting here would typically involve spitting on the ground near the other¡¯s feet, but extending a handshake instead was a testament to Abdullah¡¯s efforts as my planted ¡°loyal traitor.¡± He grinned at me as if eager to boast about his accomplishments.

    ¡®Maybe I¡¯ll reduce his remaining years of service here from five to four. If a traitor is useful, there¡¯s no need to discard them.¡¯

    ¡°Good to see you too, Chief,¡± I responded.

    ¡°Why so formal? We¡¯re both chiefs in our own right, so just call me Malik,¡± he insisted.

    Since I¡¯m a landholding noble, unlike those without estates who live off imperial pensions and gifts, it¡¯s not technically wrong for him to call me a chief too.

    ¡°Alright, Chief Malik.¡±

    ¡°So, how have you been, Pierre?¡± he asked with a warm smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m getting married this year. I have a fiance?e,¡± I replied.

    While the Botswana didn¡¯t ride horses and shoot arrows like the Mongols, they displayed the same mindset.

    ¡°We positioned groups of twenty to forty warriors around them, hurling spears and shooting arrows from afar. We¡¯d retreat quickly, causing minimal losses each time,¡± he explained.

    The Mongols did this on horseback, but the Botswana had managed the same tactics on foot¡ªa testament to their skill.

    After three or four rounds, even a large army couldn¡¯t maintain its formation. Some soldiers would inevitably break ranks.

    ¡°At that point, we¡¯d unleash a volley of musket fire, felling hundreds in one go, and then swoop in for the kill.¡±

    It was the exact same strategy used to hunt wild animals¡ªanger and exhaust them until they collapsed from sheer fatigue.

    Malik shrugged, chuckling softly. ¡°Of course, we couldn¡¯t have managed without the muskets you provided. Without them, we couldn¡¯t have delivered such a decisive blow once they were disorganized.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad the muskets served you well.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve reclaimed a lot of lost territory, but there¡¯s a shortage of muskets and gunpowder.¡±

    The governor of Nador could field a hundred thousand soldiers if needed, though such an extreme measure would bankrupt him.

    ¡°I¡¯ve brought eight times the quantity this time, with muskets, gunpowder, and bullets, all at the same price as before.¡±

    Small gains would cost me the bigger picture. We already made several times the manufacturing cost on each sale to the Botswana, so there was no point in raising prices and jeopardizing the deal.

    ¡°By the way, could you gather the other chiefs of the allied tribes? I think it¡¯s time to elect a Grand Chief.¡±

    I¡¯d appoint him as the inaugural Grand Chief, taking only a reasonable cut of the profits.

    ¡®More lenient than the British Empire, for sure.¡¯

 Chapter 132

    As I took my place at the tribal alliance gathering, I was met with a passionate welcome.

    ¡°Who is this pale-skinned man, anyway?¡± ¡°Could he be a spy sent by those Nador bastards?¡±

    It was a perilous situation that could quickly escalate, with the crowd looking ready to draw their swords at any moment.

    Malik, the chief of the Botswana Tribe, stepped in to calm them down.

    ¡°This man here is Baron Pierre, the one who sells us muskets and gunpowder. He¡¯s on our side.¡±

    As soon as they heard he was one of their own, everyone lowered their swords.

    It was clear that if they thought I wasn¡¯t an ally, they wouldn¡¯t hesitate to stab me on the spot.

    Their wild, nomadic roots showed in their barbaric ways.

    Well, eventually, they¡¯ll come to understand my true intentions.

    ¡°Malik, since you¡¯re the one speaking, I¡¯ll believe you. But isn¡¯t he still not one of us? It¡¯s hard to accept someone who¡¯s not a child of the Great Plains joining our tribal alliance meeting.¡±

    When discussing matters or debating, this is the key point:

    Respecting the other¡¯s words while steadfastly advancing your own opinion with the resolve of an ox¡¯s horn.@@@@

    It¡¯s not as easy as it sounds to uphold my convictions without clashing head-on with others.

    It¡¯s crucial to accept only what I can while gently guiding the conversation to steer the other party toward my viewpoint.

    ¡°Indeed, I am an outsider, born in a foreign land with different customs. It¡¯s natural for you to find it difficult to trust someone as suspicious as me.¡±

    Being born somewhere else might not seem like a big deal, but...

    The chiefs of this tribal alliance were currently at war with the Nador forces.

    If a strange outsider suddenly appeared amidst such a life-or-death struggle, suspicion of espionage was only natural.

    However, with a slight shift in perspective, this situation could actually work in my favor.

    ¡®They say gossiping is the fastest way to bond with strangers, right?¡¯

    ¡°However, my homeland, the Kingdom of Granada, is hostile to the Sultanate, the same Nador forces you are fighting.¡±

    Hearing that I shared a common enemy with them, they all perked up.

    The atmosphere, which had been charged with a sharp hostility moments ago, softened slightly.

    It seems that the notion of being allies in a shared struggle resonates universally.

    After all, even the Soviet Union and the United States put aside their ideological differences to fight Nazi Germany, didn¡¯t they?

    In the U.S., there were daily leaflets claiming, ¡°The Soviet Union is a comrade fighting for freedom!¡±

    The eldest of the chiefs, seemingly convinced, nodded in agreement with my words.

    ¡°So, you didn¡¯t sell us gunpowder and muskets just to make a profit?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±

    Aside from mentioning my affiliation with the Kingdom of Granada, I hadn¡¯t lied even once.

    ¡°I possess valuable information on the Nador forces. But if you cannot trust me, I suppose I¡¯ll have no choice but to leave.¡±

    The most important skill when pretending to abandon negotiations is exaggerating each preliminary move to flip the table.

    As a well-trained Baron Fabio de Rothschild, I got up and turned my back at 0.8 times my normal speed.

    ¡®Will they really let me go without stopping me?¡¯

    At that moment, the chief of the Zulu Tribe grabbed my wrist firmly.

    ¡°I sincerely apologize for doubting you as an outsider. Please forgive us for failing to recognize the sacrifice you made to fight those vile Nador forces on our behalf.¡±

    With the Zulu chief bowing his head, the others followed suit.

    See, you really can¡¯t do without me.

    ¡°Please, refrain from doubting me in the future.¡±

    ¡°We pledge by our ancestors.¡±

    ¡°Good. Then let me start by briefly explaining the situation with the Nador forces.¡±

    There was no need to tell them details about the Nador governor¡¯s wealth, his religion, or his habits.

    What mattered was how many troops he could mobilize and his overall military strength.

    ¡°To begin with, the good news is that the Sultan, whom the Nador governor serves, cannot spare forces to support him all the way here. This means we only have to deal with the Nador governor.¡±

    If the Sultan could afford to send his central army to Nador, the governor wouldn¡¯t dare overreach and try to seize the western Ifriqiya on his own.

    ¡°However, even the Nador governor alone can muster over 200,000 soldiers, and his domain has a population of over 5 million, including slaves, citizens, and warriors.¡±

    If he did mobilize those 200,000 troops, it¡¯d be like the short-lived Sui Dynasty after Eulji Mundeok annihilated their forces¡ªchaos would ensue.

    But the key is that he has the potential to deploy that kind of force, much like a nuclear missile that could be launched.

    ¡°Two hundred thousand... Our combined tribal warriors don¡¯t even total six thousand.¡±

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s challenging for them to mobilize such numbers at once. However, what matters is that they can do so if they decide to.¡±

    The atmosphere sank sharply.

    ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean there¡¯s no way to stand against them.¡±

    Both Malik and the surrounding chiefs were hanging on my every word.

    I intentionally delayed, waiting until they grew even more desperate.

    After ten, fifteen minutes... The chiefs began urging me to speak.

    If I had my way, I¡¯d make them wait a day, but that would likely get me stabbed.

    ¡°What is this method?¡±

    ¡°Please, tell us!¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t doubt you anymore!¡±

    With a sly grin, I finally spoke the words that would transform these people into a golden goose for decades, if not centuries.

    ¡°Form a nation. Unite everyone¡ªevery tribe, not just those gathered here. Only by coming together can we survive.¡±

 Chapter 133

    If you had diligently paid attention in middle and high school history classes, you''d know how critical "state formation" and "centralization" are¡ªpractically drilled into our heads.

    Of course, textbooks generally only go so far as to say that once centralization takes hold and royal authority strengthens, everything falls into place nicely.

    But if we dig a bit deeper, centralization and state formation are fundamentally connected to the presence of an "external threat."@@@@

    As wars grow larger in scale, the power of a mere tribal chief or local lord becomes insufficient to manage them...

    "Uniting around a king becomes the most efficient way to protect one¡¯s assets."

    The tribes here are in a prime position for state formation...

    Normally, suggesting such an idea would get you pelted with stones, but they were taking my proposal quite seriously, wearing grave expressions.

    ¡°So, we really need to establish a nation and fight them together?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true that just a few tribes banding together has its limits.¡±

    The conversation was flowing exactly in the direction I wanted.

    All I had to do was wait patiently until the rice was fully cooked.

    Adding more words now would be like opening the lid on a pot of rice just before it¡¯s done cooking because you''re too hungry to wait.

    After a decent amount of time had passed, one of the chiefs asked me,

    ¡°I agree that we must unite and create a nation. However, there are two things that concern me.¡±

    Until now, all the chiefs had spoken to me in informal language.

    Not that I was offended, but hearing a respectful tone instead gave me a greater sense of acknowledgment.

    ¡®Respect means they¡¯re beginning to see me as an authority among them.¡¯

    ¡°If we create a nation, should we also establish a king?¡±

    From my perspective, having a single king at the center makes things easier.

    If Malik, the chief of the Botswana Tribe, were crowned king, I¡¯d only have to lean on him to reap benefits for the foreseeable future.

    However, even the tastiest food can give you indigestion if you eat too much at once.

    Achieving a goal requires taking slow, measured steps.

    ¡°Having a king to unite around is a good idea, but more important is to move as one, centered around a ¡®figurehead.¡¯ Like when you hunt, and everyone follows the chief¡¯s command.¡±

    Even animals like wolves, buffaloes, and elephants form groups.

    And every group has a leader.

    Even mindless beasts instinctively understand that while grouping is important, survival requires someone to give orders.

    ¡°So, why not appoint the most capable among you as the ¡®grand chief¡¯¡ªsomeone whose command everyone can follow in building this nation?¡±

    The concept of a king originates from selecting the most powerful of the tribal chiefs.

    ¡®Farming yields more food than you could ever get from nomadic life.¡¯

    Some chiefs were about to object, but I cut them off before they could speak.

    ¡°I¡¯ve brought about 500 people skilled in agriculture, along with tools to help with farming. Would that be sufficient?¡±

    On the Albanian continent, human life¡ªparticularly the life of the low-born¡ªwas worth less than the gravel on the roads.

    There, one could be hanged for stealing a loaf of bread, or an entire family could be enslaved for failing to pay taxes.

    So I¡¯d snatched up petty criminals from various places, including Florence, and ¡°employed¡± (with a little coercion) some of the slum dwellers who knew how to farm.

    It¡¯s far better for petty criminals and slum dwellers to play the role of agricultural technicians in this colony than to rot where they are.

    ¡®If they adapt well here, they might even be treated as lower-ranking officials.¡¯

    Malik clapped his hands in delight at my words.

    ¡°Thank you for going to such lengths, my friend. No, my brother.¡±

    Among the chiefs here, Malik held the greatest influence.

    Without him, the tribal alliance wouldn¡¯t have obtained muskets and would¡¯ve been wiped out.

    Though not a formally educated noble, he used his experience to sway the mood in his favor.

    ¡°Keeping tradition is good. But what good is tradition if we¡¯re all dead? How would we face our ancestors then? So, for survival, let¡¯s accept this.¡±

    Malik held his musket high as he spoke.

    ¡°To protect myself, my family, friends like brothers, and our tribe... Surely those with the courage to fight for their lives aren¡¯t afraid of leaving tradition behind.¡±

    The chiefs grumbled their agreement.

    ¡°Enough with this nonsense!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s better to abandon tradition than to let the tribe perish!¡±

    Having received the response I wanted, I concluded.

    ¡°Then I will do my utmost to teach you farming and other valuable skills¡ªto defeat Nador.¡±

    If the Nador governor learned of this deception, he might just faint from the shock.

    But the crucial thing is, he has no way of finding out about my machinations.

    Besides muskets and gunpowder, the very lifelines of these tribes...

    ¡°I also brought some of the potent spirits of the Kingdom of Granada. This is a fitting drink for a momentous occasion¡ªplease, enjoy. I¡¯ve brought enough for everyone here to drink to their heart¡¯s content.¡±

    ...Though cheaper to produce than other distilled spirits,

    it¡¯s almost as addictive as a narcotic.

    ¡®At least it¡¯s not opium, so it should be fine.¡¯

 Chapter 134

    The rum I brought was a white rum with an extremely short aging period.

    Rum, by its nature, is a liquor distilled from molasses left over after extracting sugar from sugarcane.

    Unaged rum, with its high alcohol content, is one of the cheapest strong liquors available.

    Considering the current level of technology, even diluted green-bottle soju would count as a premium drink here.

    ¡®I can make it, but making it wouldn''t really bring much profit.¡¯

    Despite that, the rum instantly captivated the chiefs.

    ¡°This is completely different from the liquor we know. It¡¯s not murky or sticky¡ªit¡¯s as clear as water!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s got a clean scent, but it¡¯s sharp and strong.¡±

    While commenting on its spiciness and potency, the chiefs eagerly emptied their large cups of the liquor.

    From their conversation, it seemed they were used to drinking low-alcohol cloudy rice wine that ferments quickly and easily.

    Faced with a liquor over 40% alcohol content, they didn¡¯t stand a chance.

    As I expected, the chiefs got drunk after just one cup.

    Their flushed faces signaled that it was time to wrap things up.

    ¡°Haha, this stuff is amazing! After one drink, I feel like I could take on a hundred Nador bastards by myself!¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ve lived this long without drinking something this good¡ªI feel like I¡¯ve wasted half my life!¡±

    Judging by their increasingly incoherent speech, it seemed the gathering would soon descend into chaos.

    As long as their antics didn¡¯t affect me directly, this was a great sign¡ªrum sales would skyrocket.

    At this rate, I could raise the price from 10 grams of gold for 20 liters to 12 grams.

    Since the production cost was next to nothing¡ªmade from sugarcane leftovers¡ªit was practically free.

    Processing it to raise the alcohol content turned the waste into gold.

    Isn¡¯t this basically the philosopher¡¯s stone?

    ¡®Paracelsus, father of alchemy, are you watching from the grave?¡¯

    While I basked in the scent of money, Malik came over and threw his arm around my shoulder.

    ¡°Haha! Let me tell you, I took down those Nador bastards like an elephant smashing its prey! Just me, throwing spears, shooting arrows, and even firing muskets against thousands of soldiers!¡±@@@@

    I needed to make a quick exit after instructing my men to keep supplying the rum.

    If I didn¡¯t leave now, I¡¯d be stuck listening to endless repetitions of the chiefs¡¯ ¡°greatest moments in life¡± stories.

    And frankly, listening to their drunken tales wouldn¡¯t fatten my wallet. Even if they paid me to stay, I wouldn¡¯t endure the booze-fueled ramblings of old men reeking of alcohol.

    Besides, Chloe and Kris were waiting for me back at the lodging provided by the chief.

    ¡®Being stuck on the ship this whole time left me pent up, anyway.¡¯

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve had too much to drink. I¡¯ll be heading back now.¡±

    With that excuse, I swiftly made my retreat.

    They say there¡¯s no paradise for those who run, but escaping from drunken uncles only to arrive at my lodging was pure heaven.

    The next day, the refugees I had brought immediately began teaching the tribespeople how to farm.

    ¡°It¡¯s a relief that things are going as planned, Kris,¡± I remarked.

    Kris responded with a faint smile and a nod.

    ¡°I thought there¡¯d be significant conflict at first due to differences in language and religion, but it seems my worries were unfounded.¡±

    ¡°This tribal alliance can¡¯t survive without me, and the chiefs know that well.¡±

    Without my timely supply of gunpowder, the Nador forces would sweep through and annihilate them.

    ¡°My direct connection to them equates to influence within the tribal alliance. For example, Malik was elected as the first grand chief today.¡±

    Malik wasn¡¯t chosen because he was exceptional.

    It was thanks to his association with me and the muskets I supplied, which enabled the alliance¡¯s survival.

    ¡°And these refugees are all under my command.¡±

    Kris nodded in admiration.

    ¡°The more refugees you bring, the closer your ties with the tribes will grow. And the method is marriage.¡±

    ¡°The refugees are healthy men, and the tribespeople won¡¯t mind marrying them, even if they look a bit different.¡±

    This will naturally establish the refugees¡¯ influence here.

    The more intelligent ones could rise to positions akin to nobility, as I mentioned.

    ¡°And this isn¡¯t the end.¡±

    Just then, Abdullah came running toward me.

    ¡°Did you collect the payment?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Baron! I received 120 kilograms of gold in goods!¡±

    That¡¯s about 30,000 gold coins when exchanged, with a profit margin exceeding 80%.

    I¡¯d just made 24,000 gold coins.

    ¡°Did they ask for anything else? There must¡¯ve been requests for more rum.¡±

    Though I had left Abdullah in charge of collecting the payment, I wasn¡¯t careless about it.

    ¡®Gold is practically worthless here, serving only as jewelry and holding little monetary value.¡¯

    Even if Abdullah tried to embezzle it, he¡¯d gain nothing but risk his life.

    Moreover, I already knew exactly how much was due.

    ¡°Yes, they asked for three times the amount of rum and twice as many muskets and gunpowder.¡±

    From what I heard, the war with the Nador forces had entered a lull.

    Their request for more weapons likely indicated plans to expand their influence, even through conflict with other tribes.

    ¡°Good. As expected.¡±

    Once I established a proper port city here, I¡¯d effectively become the de facto ruler of this colony.

    Without investing a single coin, I¡¯d let the colony expand itself.

    This was pure fortune.

    ¡°Abdullah, I appoint you as the interim governor of this port city.¡±

    Abdullah had no choice but to obey me.

    Among the people I could leave here, he was the most capable.

    ¡°Thank you, Baron, thank you so much!¡±

    Good. You¡¯re sharp enough to realize you¡¯re safe for now.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be heading back now. I trust you to handle things.¡±

    After Fabio returned, Malik, now the grand chief, wasted no time taking action.

 Chapter 135

    Malik, the first grand chief of the tribal alliance, addressed the other chiefs with authority.

    ¡°Before we decide on our future direction, we must first name our alliance.¡±

    Until now, the term ¡°tribal alliance¡± had sufficed.

    They gathered as little as once a year, or at most four to five times, to discuss boundaries or offer minor mutual aid during crises.

    But now, as their survival depended on one another, it was time to formalize their group with a name.

    ¡°To survive, we need a nation.¡±

    ¡°Each of you, write down your suggestions for the name. The one with the most votes will be chosen.¡±

    The name chosen from among the suggestions was "Masai", meaning "people."

    It was a name that Fabio would¡¯ve approved of, praising its democratic spirit.

    ¡°From now on, we are the people of the Masai Union. I, Malik, am the chief of the Botswana Tribe and the grand chief of the Masai Union.¡±

    The naming of the nation wasn¡¯t a matter of great concern to the chiefs, so Malik quickly moved to the next topic.

    ¡°Let us now discuss our next steps. Chief of the Zulu Tribe, would you like to speak first?¡±

    As grand chief, Malik was essentially a king over all the tribes.

    However, the Masai Union was still just an alliance; the grand chief¡¯s authority was confined to wartime.

    ¡®It¡¯ll be a long time before he can rule over them like a true king.¡¯

    Not that Malik minded¡ªhis thoughts harbored no discontent.

    If Baron Pierre, or rather Fabio, hadn¡¯t intervened, his tribe would¡¯ve already been enslaved by the Nador forces.

    Now, he was on a journey to establish dominion over them for generations to come.

    ¡°As Pierre suggested, we must expand the Masai¡¯s territory and bring more people under our influence. We need more muskets, more gunpowder, and more rum, which means acquiring more gold. Without it, we¡¯ll be devoured by the lion that is Nador.¡±

    Their unity under the name Masai was solely for survival.

    Thus, no one present voiced any objection to Malik¡¯s words.

    ¡°And let us speak plainly.¡±

    The Zulu chief lifted his rum-filled glass for all to see.

    ¡°How much longer must we live as mere tribal chiefs? Don¡¯t you wish to be like Baron Pierre, leading hundreds across vast seas and becoming wealthy?¡±

    There¡¯s no one in this world who doesn¡¯t want to be rich.

    Naturally, the other chiefs listened intently.

    ¡°To survive, to become wealthy, and to keep drinking this delicious rum, I believe we must expand our power. In doing so, we could all become grand chiefs, each with several tribes under our rule.¡±

    Among those who rise to the rank of chief, there isn¡¯t a single one who doesn¡¯t crave power.

    They had fought tooth and nail since their youth to reach this position.

    ¡°What does the grand chief think?¡±

    ¡°I agree wholeheartedly,¡± Malik replied, grinning.

    And then he shared an idea not taught to him by Fabio, but one born of his own scheming nature.

    ¡°However, instead of integrating an entire tribe under our control, it would be better to split them into smaller groups. Those who surrender peacefully will farm, while those who resist will mine gold.¡±

    In West Ifriqiya¡¯s tribal culture, hunting and fighting were considered honorable activities.

    Thus, giving weapons to subjugated tribes was seen as excessively generous.

    ¡°Die here, or join us.¡±

    ¡°What kind of choice is¡ª¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t decide quickly, I¡¯ll take it to mean you¡¯d prefer to die.¡±

    At Malik¡¯s signal, drums thundered, and Masai warriors raised their muskets skyward.

    The crack of gunfire followed, filling the air with acrid smoke and flames.

    The Lima chief trembled at the display.

    Even without understanding muskets, anyone would quake at the sight of sticks that spat fire like lightning.

    But the Lima chief, having learned firsthand from Nador forces how devastating muskets could be, knew better than anyone:

    ¡®We can¡¯t win against them.¡¯

    ¡°I surrender.¡±

    ¡°Welcome to the fold. From now on, your tribe is part of the Masai Union.¡±

    That day, the Lima Tribe vanished into history.

    The Masai Union was steadily expanding its reach.

    Meanwhile, back in Florence, Fabio was summoned by Duke Visconti.

    The Duke grabbed my shoulders the moment he saw me.

    ¡°As you know, His Majesty has decided to dramatically scale up your wedding, and it¡¯s driving me mad. I¡¯ve pulled together every bit of the family¡¯s budget, but it¡¯s still not enough.¡±

    Even though I¡¯m his grandson-in-law, isn¡¯t he sharing a bit too much?

    Having married the Duke¡¯s granddaughter, I¡¯m bound to his faction and incapable of betrayal, yet this was still shocking.

    ¡°Selling off artworks and jewelry has only gotten us so far. Combining all available funds, we¡¯ve managed to gather about 40,000 gold coins.¡±

    Forty thousand gold coins¡ªtwice what I¡¯d made in Ifriqiya¡ªmight seem like the Duke¡¯s family was poor.

    But that would be a grave misunderstanding.

    No matter how extravagant, nobles never spend their entire treasury on a wedding unless it¡¯s for the heir or the young head of the house.

    ¡®They¡¯re clearly staying within reasonable limits.¡¯

    The Duke¡¯s contribution, including sales of artworks, probably amounted to just 10% of their total finances.

    Some money would also be borrowed from merchants, but with an annual budget of 400,000 gold coins, they could manage.

    ¡°How much have you prepared?¡±

    ¡°Since the engagement, I¡¯ve saved 20,000 gold coins, and I earned another 15,000 from Ifriqiya.¡±

    In truth, I¡¯d earned closer to 20,000 but set aside a portion as seed money for future ventures.

    ¡°You¡¯ve gathered ten times the usual budget for a baron¡¯s wedding. Excellent. Get to work immediately. I¡¯ve entrusted Baron Conte, your restaurant advisor, to handle the preparations. You¡¯ll learn the etiquette under his guidance.¡±

    I answered with the resolve of a soldier heading to war.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The Duke nodded and added:

    ¡°His Majesty will attend the wedding, as will that Sforza bastard. You cannot afford to show any weakness. This is war.¡±

    A political war without gunfire.

    Ha, being a noble is exhausting.

 Chapter 136

    ¡°It¡¯s already your wedding day, Baron,¡± Sebastian said, his tone brimming with amusement.

    I couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh of mixed emotions.

    Marrying Erika wasn¡¯t the issue¡ªI was happy about that.

    She had the kind of beauty people would believe if you called her an idol, a graceful figure, and a warmth that felt as if she could generously fill a home with children.

    On top of that, despite being a duke¡¯s daughter, she never lorded her status over me. Instead, she treated me with respect, addressing me with formalities as her husband.

    ¡®Even though, with her status, she could treat me however she pleased, and I wouldn¡¯t be able to do a thing about it.¡¯

    Honestly, even though it was a political marriage, getting to wed someone this perfect felt like a blessing. I ought to bow toward Duke Visconti¡¯s direction at least two, if not three, times a day.

    ¡°Baron, why are you staring at me like that?¡± Erika asked softly.

    ¡°It feels like a dream to be marrying someone as beautiful as you,¡± I replied sincerely.

    Erika¡¯s cheeks flushed a deep crimson, her lips trembling slightly as she bit down on them.

    Turning her gaze away, she muttered under her breath, ¡°That¡¯s not fair... catching me off guard like this when I¡¯m not prepared.¡±

    After proposing to Erika, our relationship had blossomed rapidly.

    Before the proposal, there had been a hint of mutual fondness between us. But now, Erika¡¯s affection for me was undeniable.@@@@

    The day after I returned, she even visited our estate to bake me cookies.

    Though the moment was perfect, her younger brother, the Viscount¡¯s son, had to ruin it by whispering in my ear, ¡°They¡¯re good, right? You¡¯d better enjoy them¡ªErika baked them with all her heart just for you.¡±

    The memory sent a shiver down my spine.

    ¡°Erika, why don¡¯t you stop calling me ¡®Baron¡¯? You¡¯ve done so until now because of etiquette, but from now on, I¡¯d like you to call me something more familiar¡ªsomething like ¡®dear.¡¯¡±

    Among noble families, it was customary for husbands to speak informally to their wives, regardless of age or rank, while wives spoke formally to their husbands.

    This practice stemmed from the doctrines of the Deus Church: ¡°Women must serve their husbands.¡±

    Still, as a couple planning to rely on each other equally, I didn¡¯t want the way we addressed each other to create unnecessary distance.

    ¡®This might be a bit much for Erika to adjust to right away, so I¡¯ll take it slow.¡¯

    Despite how far we¡¯d come, we hadn¡¯t even held hands yet, so even asking her to call me ¡°dear¡± felt like a big step.

    Erika fidgeted, avoiding my gaze. Finally, she murmured, ¡°...Dear.¡±

    Her head dropped immediately after.

    Compared to how things progressed with Kris and Chloe, this felt slow as molasses.

    ¡®But this kind of tender love has its charm too.¡¯

    Without waiting for permission, I took Erika¡¯s hand firmly in mine.

    Thank Deus that times had changed, and now all that was required was a kiss.

    ¡°Erika, I love you,¡± I said, cupping her face and leaning in.

    While I was confident in this moment, having kissed and embraced other women before, Erika was utterly overwhelmed.

    Her entire face turned red, her body rigid.

    Yet, she didn¡¯t push me away or resist.

    Instead, she shyly wrapped her arms around me, barely touching me as if afraid she might overstep.

    ¡°I love you too, dear,¡± she whispered.

    With that, the highlight of the ceremony concluded.

    The reception began immediately, but before anything else, I approached the Emperor.

    Protocol dictated that I should greet Duke Visconti and my parents first, but with the Emperor present, he took precedence.

    ¡°Congratulations, Baron Rothschild. You¡¯re a true noble now,¡± the Emperor said, offering a faint smile.

    ¡°All thanks to your grace, Your Majesty.¡±

    He beckoned me closer with a subtle gesture, then sighed and whispered, ¡°I must apologize for the delay in formally granting you land to accompany your title. A barony without land¡ªit¡¯s embarrassing.¡±

    I had no complaints. Despite political resistance, the Emperor had elevated me to a baron within three or four years¡ªa remarkable favor.

    ¡°You have my eternal gratitude, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°This is a debt I owe you,¡± the Emperor declared.

    ...So this was his way of reminding me that he planned to work me to the bone later.

    And with Erika only fifteen, I couldn¡¯t even use children as an excuse to avoid his demands.

    ¡®What¡¯s he planning to make me do?¡¯

    Given the timing, a declaration of war against the Grand Duchy of Milania wouldn¡¯t be surprising.

    The thought sent a chill down my spine.

    The Emperor then spoke loudly for all to hear:

    ¡°On this occasion, I formally grant Baron Rothschild his title and lands.¡±

    In the presence of all the nobles gathered in Florence, this was a monumental honor.

    Somewhere among the crowd, my father was likely swelling with pride, ready to extol the Emperor and weep tears of joy.

    Erika would patiently endure his gushing, proving herself a perfect wife.

    Yes, this was a day of triumph¡ªfor both our marriage and my future.

 Chapter 137

    As the Emperor officially declared, ¡°I grant Baron de Rothschild dominion over the lands surrounding the Rothschild Baronetcy, which shall henceforth be renamed the Barony of Rothschild,¡± the gathered nobles responded with polite applause.

    The decision was practical. When the Emperor elevated someone to nobility, it was customary to grant them lucrative lands to ensure financial stability. Nobles had no means of income outside their estates, and the Emperor¡¯s gesture reflected both generosity and prudence.

    In my case, however, it was clear this grant served a different purpose. The Emperor was not bestowing a gold mine or a prestigious vineyard but rather granting me lands that would make it easier to expand my ventures without threatening the crown¡¯s interests.

    ¡®Not that I¡¯m complaining. I already have my colonial operations quietly growing in Southern Ifriqiya.¡¯

    I bowed deeply, expressing my gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°May you continue to be the sword and shield of our empire,¡± the Emperor intoned. ¡°A shield drenched in red, if necessary.¡±

    A chilling remark for a wedding day, but in the Tuscan Empire, such statements were the highest compliment to a noble¡¯s duty.

    The Emperor gestured, and a ceremonial sword, beautifully adorned with gold filigree, was brought forward. It wasn¡¯t studded with gems but was clearly crafted for display, not combat. The Imperial crest was engraved on the hilt¡ªa symbol of the Emperor¡¯s favor.

    ¡°This blade is yours, Baron. Lead bravely and stand at the forefront of our Empire¡¯s prosperity and honor.¡±

    ¡®Not an invitation to literal combat,¡¯ I reassured myself. The Emperor knew I wasn¡¯t a soldier. Instead, this was a command to support the Empire¡¯s ambitions through trade, diplomacy, and subterfuge¡ªmuch as I¡¯d done in Granada and the Sultanate.

    ¡°It is an honor beyond words. I pledge my life to serve your will,¡± I replied, bowing again.

    After the Emperor departed, I finally met with Duke Visconti and my parents.

    The Duke smiled wryly. ¡°I thought your talents were limited to making money, but it seems you have a knack for charming women too. Take good care of Erika.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°And what a beautiful wife you¡¯ve secured for yourself. I envy you. It makes me wish I had a son as capable as you. A brilliant heir would make life so much less daunting, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    The compliment was hollow, dripping with condescension.

    Sforza¡¯s tone reminded me of the British nobles of old, whose flattery was often more poisonous than outright insult. His words veiled a subtle challenge, a reminder that he was watching me closely.

    ¡°I¡¯m honored by your words, Duke Sforza,¡± I said smoothly. ¡°But perhaps the brevity of marital bliss stems not from love itself but from those who focus too much on fleeting pleasures.¡±

    Sforza¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver, but I caught the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth.

    ¡°Well, it seems you¡¯re not one to follow the beaten path,¡± he remarked.

    ¡°I strive to distinguish myself, Your Grace. Many young nobles content themselves with conformity, but I aim to stand apart.¡±

    By the end of the exhausting day, I finally returned home, eager to rest before enduring the Visconti mansion¡¯s lengthy banquet the following evening.

    As we approached the estate, Erika turned to me, her voice tentative. ¡°Would it be alright if I spent tonight alone? I¡¯d like to speak with the others.¡±

    Her request was understandable. With a formal wife now in the picture, the dynamic in my household would inevitably shift.

    Had it been another noblewoman, I might have worried about potential hostility toward Kris and Chloe, but Erika wasn¡¯t like that.

    ¡®Still, I¡¯ll leave a maid outside the door, just in case.¡¯

    ¡°Of course,¡± I agreed.

 Chapter 138

    Erika de Visconti, now the Baroness of Rothschild.

    The reason she requested a meeting with Kris and Chloe was to establish order within the household.

    ¡°My mother always said this: no matter which family you marry into, if the head wife cannot maintain proper order, the family will eventually collapse.¡±

    Of course, even if the head wife maintains order, it doesn¡¯t erase the insidious envy and jealousy between women.

    For nobles, the level of love and favor they receive directly affects their standing and the wealth and power they can enjoy.

    Because of this, women brought in as concubines for their beauty¡ªor those desperate to become concubines¡ªthrow their entire beings into serving the nobleman. This reality doesn¡¯t change.

    However, if the head wife holds her ground, these fights remain trivial, only scratching the surface without affecting the family''s foundation.

    ¡®But even then, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to stop those fights from crossing the line.¡¯

    Even Erika¡¯s mother often drank calming tea to cope with the Duke of Visconti¡¯s affairs with other women.

    ¡°At least in the Rothschild family, I¡¯m fortunate that there¡¯s no tension or power struggle between the women.¡±

    In other noble families, concubines often squabble endlessly, but in the Rothschild household, Kris and Chloe frequently went out together.

    It felt more like a mature younger sister taking care of her older sister.

    Erika couldn¡¯t help but be a little curious about how things really were.

    When Erika entered the drawing room, she noticed Chloe and Kris sitting very close together¡ªso close their shoulders almost touched.

    ¡®It seems like the rumors were right. They are very close.¡¯

    The two stood up immediately upon noticing Erika, but she stopped them with a hand gesture.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a formal gathering; there¡¯s no need to stand up. Just sit comfortably.¡±

    Erika knew full well that even though she genuinely meant for them to relax, they wouldn¡¯t be able to feel at ease.

    Furthermore, it was commonplace for head wives blinded by jealousy to oppress concubines over petty reasons.

    ¡®It¡¯s no wonder they¡¯re uneasy.¡¯

    ¡°I am Erika, formerly the Lady of the Visconti family and now the Baroness of Rothschild.¡±

    Erika spoke confidently, befitting a duke¡¯s daughter.@@@@

    ¡°I hope we can get along well moving forward. Regardless of our positions, we¡¯re all wives of the Baron of Rothschild, aren¡¯t we?¡±

    Hearing this, Chloe and Kris tensed up even more.

    Though neither of them was born into a noble family, they knew enough to understand this much:

    ¡®Head wives despise concubines who steal their husband¡¯s love and attention.¡¯

    While it¡¯s said that once a head wife reaches her forties or fifties and loses interest in physical relationships, she might even cherish the younger concubines as tools to control her husband...

    Erika was only fifteen.

    On top of that, they had heard through the grapevine that, unlike most arranged marriages, Erika truly loved Fabio.

    Kris, having listened to Erika¡¯s words, visibly relaxed her guard.

    Even if Erika wasn¡¯t being entirely honest, the mere fact that she laid bare so much of her thoughts meant one thing:

    ¡®She doesn¡¯t intend to suppress us.¡¯

    ¡°Why is the Baron so important to you?¡±

    ¡°As a noble, you may enjoy many privileges, but you lose the ability to trust anyone. Even my father and grandfather, despite getting along, wouldn¡¯t hesitate to turn on each other if power dynamics shifted.¡±

    Erika continued, sharing her truth.

    ¡°But the Baron said he trusted me unconditionally. Unlike other men consumed by lust, he sees me for who I truly am. He¡¯s the only person I can love and who loves me without any strings attached.¡±

    Lowering her head slightly, Erika made a gesture unbecoming of a duke¡¯s daughter and Baroness, but¡ª

    ¡®To gain true loyalty, one must forfeit their authority.¡¯

    Erika made her choice: to gain Fabio¡¯s love, she would enlist the help of these two.

    And she was prepared to do whatever it took.

    ¡°Please, support me. Help me earn the Baron¡¯s love, just as you two have.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Madam.¡±

    What Erika didn¡¯t share with them was her small dream:

    To create a family she could trust, one that included them.

    She couldn¡¯t monopolize Fabio, but she wanted to be part of this bond that felt like a family.

    ¡®Wanting something I¡¯ve never had before¡ªwhat a greedy wish.¡¯

    ¡°Finally, it¡¯s over.¡±

    The wedding was exhausting.

    The costs weren¡¯t the problem, but who holds a three-day wedding in Florence with a five-day reception?

    Not to mention the ceremony in the Rothschild Barony dragged on for over ten days.

    ¡°I wanted something simple, but this was beyond my control.¡±

    ¡°Now I¡¯m free, free at last.¡±

    Well, until work starts again tomorrow. But at least I can sleep with Chloe and Kris at night.

    With my wife being just fifteen, I¡¯m stuck in a state of celibacy...

    ¡°If I have to go through another wedding, I¡¯m not human.¡±

    Just as I was relishing this thought, there was a knock at the door, and in walked the last person I wanted to see.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯re a proper noble, it¡¯s time to prove your bravery and loyalty to the Empire!¡±

    What have I done to deserve this torment?

    Ah, right. I¡¯ve done plenty.

 Chapter 139

    If you receive something, it¡¯s only natural that you must work proportionally for it.

    That¡¯s why, when the Emperor gives me an order, I usually comply.

    Of course, I¡¯m not a machine¡ªI¡¯m a modern individual with free will. So, in the process of completing said tasks, I might use tactics like "expense processing" or "falsifying records with average market rates."

    Sometimes, I even conceal revenue entirely to reduce taxes.

    Still, by the standards of the Emperor and the Dukes, who are clueless about what happens on the ground, I¡¯m providing reasonable prices with maximum service.

    I pocket a bit more cash for myself, while they save money compared to hiring someone else. Everyone wins.

    Isn¡¯t this the spirit of love and peace, a pursuit of happiness for all?

    The Baron Ducat, dressed in ceremonial military attire, tapped me on the shoulder.

    ¡°Are you feeling unwell? When I was your age, I didn¡¯t even catch a cold. See? That¡¯s why men need military service to stay healthy.¡±

    What nonsense are you spouting, Baron Ducat?

    If I wanted exercise, it¡¯d be far better to take Kris and Chloe for nightly "workouts" than running drills in the military.

    Add a well-balanced diet with protein, carbs, and fat, and you¡¯ve got perfection.

    ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine physically. It¡¯s just that after the wedding, my body is fine, but my mind feels exhausted...¡±

    ¡°Well, that makes sense. After my wedding, when I returned to my military duties, the battalion commander gave me a week off from all duties, including night watch.¡±

    If the weddings I knew were like sprinting 100 meters, a wedding in the Tuscan Empire felt like running four consecutive marathons.

    Other nobles probably suffered similar mental exhaustion after their weddings.

    I¡¯ve thought this countless times: If I ever have to go through a wedding twice, I¡¯m not human.

    ¡°That aside, congratulations on your marriage, Baron Rothschild. Here, this is my gift to you.¡±

    Baron Ducat handed me a pistol.

    The grip was covered in peculiar liquid stains.

    ¡®Judging by the wear, he must have cracked quite a few enemy skulls with this thing.¡¯

    I¡¯ve never been to war, but officers and knights usually charge in with their lances, fire a pistol shot, and then¡ª

    After firing, they draw their swords, and in chaotic close combat where even swords break¡ª

    They use the weighted grip of their pistols to bash enemies¡¯ heads in.

    For an officer and a noble, such a weapon is a symbol of honor and bloody combat, often passed down as a family heirloom.

    ¡°When I was a captain, we went to war against those wicked northerners from the Empire above. With this, I smashed the heads of three soldiers. Even after all that use, it¡¯s still in perfect condition and fully functional.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s alright to give me such a valuable item?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s your wedding gift. What¡¯s mine is yours. After all, what kind of relationship do we have?¡±

    A standard superior-subordinate relationship, isn¡¯t it?

    ¡°I will carry out His Majesty¡¯s commands.¡±

    ¡°As you may have guessed, your assignment is with the 1st Division, specifically the logistics staff.¡±

    Logistics staff? Does this mean I¡¯ll handle supplies again and get my military achievements on a silver platter?

    Logistics is one of the toughest roles in the military, but for me, it¡¯s relatively easy.

    I might not be skilled with a sword, but I know how to plan transport routes and manage goods, like in my trading company.

    If I set my mind to it, I can manage.

    ¡°The logistics staff¡¯s chief is a retiring colonel. Do you understand what this means?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡±

    ¡°Well, no one can know everything, can they?¡± Baron Ducat smirked and pointed at me.

    ¡°It¡¯s a bit sad, but the abundance of staff officers in the Tuscan Army is simply to provide more positions for officers. Thus, except for personnel or operations roles, staff officers rarely get promoted to general.¡±

    Whether in the military or any organization, those nearing retirement often hold significant sway.

    Just as a senior high schooler after exams feels free to skip classes and eat snacks during lectures, retiring colonels live unshackled lives.

    ¡°Since the logistics chief is retiring after this war, most of his authority is effectively handed down to you.¡±

    ¡°So, I¡¯ll be fully in charge of the 1st Division¡¯s logistics and supplies?¡±

    ¡°Precisely.¡±

    Baron Ducat grinned at me.

    ¡°Of course, His Majesty has arranged capable people to assist you in case you can¡¯t handle it. While you¡¯re highly capable, it¡¯s too risky to entrust such critical tasks without backup.¡±

    While it stung to hear he accounted for my potential failure, I couldn¡¯t argue.

    The lives of thousands, even tens of thousands, depended on logistics.

    ¡®In a way, this arrangement works out for the best.¡¯

    I could leverage my knowledge from this era to outperform expectations.

    ¡°I understand everything.¡±

    ¡°Good. Then do your best to meet His Majesty¡¯s expectations.¡±

    With those words, the Baron rose and left.

    Once alone, I pondered my next steps.

    The logistics aspect seemed manageable, especially with capable subordinates to consult.

    ¡°What¡¯s the best way to rake in as much money as possible?¡±

    Throughout history, wartime logistics has been a goldmine.

    I should get a piece of that pie too.@@@@

 Chapter 140

    Sitting in the division commander¡¯s office, waiting for Baron Ducat, I tapped my fingers on my knee.

    ¡°Seems like things are getting busy now that war is about to break out.¡±

    For the poor and ordinary people, war is a catastrophe.

    But for the privileged class, war is the best opportunity to make money.

    After all, even the two world wars, which cost trillions in national defense budgets, ultimately cemented the U.S. as the dominant power.

    For someone like me, aiming for success, this was an opportunity I couldn¡¯t afford to miss, no matter the cost.

    ¡°I can¡¯t just settle for logistics work for the division.¡±

    Of course, I¡¯m not dismissing the scale of managing 8,000 soldiers in combat or the thousands of additional workers who join during wartime.

    Even just feeding those nearly ten thousand people bread costs dozens of gold coins a day.

    But if you want to get rich, you must be as obsessed with money as a certain hobbit was with the One Ring or as miserly as Nolbu saving every grain of rice.

    ¡°If I introduce advanced systems that don¡¯t exist in the Empire and prove they can reduce costs...¡±

    The Rothschild Trading Company might secure the logistics contracts for several divisions.

    We could even sell our know-how to other trading companies.

    ¡®With operations as large as military supply chains, there¡¯s no way to hide what I¡¯m doing, so I might as well make it public.¡¯

    What I¡¯m planning isn¡¯t exactly groundbreaking; most ideas turn out to be simpler than expected once implemented.

    That¡¯s why it¡¯s better to sell the system before anyone gets the chance to copy it for free.

    That way, I can earn money and curry favor with the Emperor and nobles at the same time.

    While I was sorting through my thoughts, the door opened, and Baron Ducat walked in.

    Even though I¡¯ve never served in the military, this is a military setting, and I¡¯m a uniformed officer.

    When in Rome, do as the Romans do.@@@@

    I immediately stood up and saluted with perfect form.

    ¡°Loyalty!¡±

    ¡°Loyalty. At ease.¡±

    The Baron gave me a satisfied smile as he looked me over.

    ¡°You look like a proper young officer in uniform. Very impressive.¡±

    It¡¯s said that compliments can make even a whale dance, but if someone gets too giddy over a few words of praise, they¡¯ll often pay a steep price.

    Like those soldiers nearing discharge, being showered with compliments from their sly superiors, who offer them drinks, reminisce with misty eyes, and say things like:

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s tough finding a job out there these days. Why not stay here? You¡¯re a natural ace; you¡¯d excel even as a sergeant.¡±

    He claimed soldiers could fight on grass alone if they had strong mental fortitude and loyalty to the emperor.

    Of course, being of Allied descent, he feasted on meat and indulged in luxuries, but still.

    Even the most incompetent officers understand the importance of feeding their troops.

    ¡®Starving soldiers die, after all.¡¯

    ¡°However, the quality of the soldiers¡¯ meals will decline. Beer and liquor will be in short supply, and fresh meat will become a dream. Transporting those is expensive and nonessential for survival.¡±

    Many soldiers don¡¯t realize that governments strive to provide the best meals possible for them.

    Of course, a chunk of the budget always gets siphoned off under the guise of ¡°rebates¡± for generals and commanders, but¡ª

    ¡®Food is often the only source of joy in military life.¡¯

    This becomes even more crucial during war.

    ¡°Marching to their deaths while eating only hardtack, water, and pickled herring will sap their fighting spirit. Even if it strains the budget, soldiers need good food to maintain morale.¡±

    In the Tuscan Empire, soldiers cheer enthusiastically when served something as simple as grilled pork belly.

    Imagine their delight if I threw in donuts as a weekly dessert.

    Though food alone won¡¯t make them adore me,

    At the very least, it will reflect the Emperor and high-ranking officials¡¯ care for the soldiers, reducing complaints and boosting morale.

    ¡°This plan will cost my family¡¯s entire fortune, but it will wreck the Grand Duchy¡¯s war preparations. In exchange, I ask the Empire to purchase the grain I procure for the military.¡±

    If I buy up all the grain from the County of Pergamo, it could cover nearly half the expeditionary army¡¯s needs.

    ¡°Of course, as a noble of the Empire, I¡¯ll set aside personal greed and serve with loyalty. I¡¯ll supply the grain at half the price of what the camp followers would charge.¡±

    Supplying food to the military typically yields four times the market price.

    Camp followers, factoring in hazard pay, charge at least 10 to 50 times the market rate.

    In a relatively safe border region like this, the price might inflate to 15 times the base cost.

    ¡®If I can secure profits at 7.5 times the cost with guaranteed demand, it¡¯s a total win.¡¯

    ¡°Hmm...¡±

    ¡°Considering the effort of procurement and transportation, this leaves little profit for me.¡±

    Of course, the sheer scale ensures substantial gains despite the low margin.

    But that¡¯s a secret between me, the Emperor, and the Baron.

    ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll formally request approval from the Ministry of War.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

 Chapter 141

    There is a universal truth in all criminal law:

    As long as the police and prosecutors don¡¯t catch you, it¡¯s not a crime.

    Strictly speaking, both the criminal and the victim may know what happened.

    But if the crime isn¡¯t discovered under criminal law, there¡¯s no investigation, no indictment, and therefore no punishment.

    ¡®Sure, the Empire¡¯s interests are important, but I need to take care of my interests first.¡¯

    Confucius once said, ¡°Cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world.¡±

    In other words, it aligns perfectly with my philosophy: earn a big payday first, then support my family, and lastly throw a little to the nation. That way, peace reigns.

    ¡°So, I can go ahead and take a bite out of the Grand Duchy of Milania before the war begins, right?¡±

    Sebastian replied with an incredulous look.

    ¡°It¡¯s getting to the point where I feel sorry for the Grand Duchy. They¡¯re going to get blindsided long before the war even officially starts¡ªjust like Granada did.¡±

    From the information I¡¯ve gathered as I expanded my trading company, I¡¯ve heard that the Kingdom of Granada is in a dire situation.

    Though no full-scale ¡°war¡± involving tens of thousands of soldiers has yet broken out...

    The Nador forces have unleashed pirates across the Mediterranean, executing an all-out pillaging campaign. As a result, Granada¡¯s merchant fleet has been effectively blocked from the Mediterranean.

    In retaliation, Granada has done the same to Nador¡¯s fleets, leading to mutual stagnation.

    ¡®Even if trade isn¡¯t a major part of the economy in this era, GDP must have dropped by about 7-8%.¡¯

    On top of that, if you factor in the costs of mobilizing military forces, everyone must be struggling to make ends meet.

    Thanks to that, it seems I¡¯ll have an easier time taking over the western part of Ifriqiya.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Everyone lives like this.¡±

    The only difference is that I¡¯m using a bit of ¡°advanced British wisdom,¡± while the others are doing similar things in more primitive ways.

    For instance, when a Tuscan merchant ship tries to trade with an island nation across the Mediterranean, ¡°totally not Granada-affiliated¡± pirate ships with suspiciously heavy artillery might show up to loot them.

    Or, if an Imperial merchant is traveling with insufficient guards, ¡°bandits¡± disguised as knights might rob them.

    Some might even demand exorbitant toll fees for completely unreasonable reasons.

    ¡®At this point, they¡¯re not politicians but nationwide thugs.¡¯

    This is just unsophisticated medieval predation. I simply refine it and return the favor in a more elegant manner.

    Sebastian seemed to agree with my explanation.

    ¡°That¡¯s true enough.¡±

    Not long after, our carriage came to a halt.

    ¡°This is the marketplace in the city of Pergamo, sir,¡± the coachman announced.

    Upon hearing him, we immediately disembarked.

    I handed the coachman a pouch containing a few silver coins and began observing my surroundings.

    ¡°It¡¯s so calm, you¡¯d never think a war was on the horizon.¡±

    The Imperial Ministry of Military Affairs and Ministry of War are planning for a large-scale battle against the Grand Duchy of Milania in the County of Pergamo.

    In other words, somewhere within this territory, tens of thousands of soldiers will clash.

    The baker glanced around, looking as if he was about to call other members of the Bakers¡¯ Guild over.

    Even nobles can¡¯t get away with everything, especially when attempting to steal trade secrets.

    In this case, the guards or other authorities would likely side with the guild.

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll make it worth your while.¡±

    I placed a gold coin on the counter.

    The baker¡¯s expression softened slightly.

    ¡°...But this is guild business. How could I possibly tell you?¡±

    I already knew how the guild would handle this. They¡¯d raid rural villages for stored flour, buy it off the peasants cheaply, and resell it at inflated prices while blaming bandits.

    Even knowing this, I came here to confirm whether they¡¯ve already exhausted the peasants¡¯ reserves¡ªor if they still have resources left.

    ¡°If it¡¯s a guild secret, then so be it.¡±

    If I couldn¡¯t extract information from him, I¡¯d simply find someone else.

    As I reached for the coin, I carefully observed his reaction.

    If he looked regretful, I could push a little further. If he turned his head away, he wouldn¡¯t budge.

    Sure enough, he eyed the gold coin with visible longing.

    ¡®He¡¯d sell out the guild¡¯s secrets for a few more coins.¡¯

    ¡°I was willing to offer three gold coins for an honest answer.¡±

    ¡°Three? Truly?¡±

    Adding a bit of a lie helps make your story convincing.

    ¡°I¡¯m the head of the Lyndon Trading Company. We¡¯re based far from here, so you wouldn¡¯t know us. I¡¯m just gathering information to make a profit.¡±

    If I mentioned being a noble of the Tuscan Empire, he¡¯d clam up.

    ¡®The psychological resistance to selling out secrets is much lower when it¡¯s to a foreigner rather than a fellow countryman.¡¯

    I added two more gold coins to the counter.

    The baker pulled out paper and a pencil, writing something down meticulously.

    Perhaps he wanted to ensure no one nearby could overhear.

    Not a bad idea.

    ¡®Not that I intend to leak this information, anyway.¡¯

    [It seems the Bakers¡¯ Guild hasn¡¯t yet started buying up flour from nearby villages. We plan to purchase it ourselves to resolve the immediate shortage.]

    Now all I need to do is buy up the remaining grain in the County and sell it to the Tuscan Empire¡¯s army for a hefty profit.

    ¡®While I rake in my profits, the Grand Duchy¡¯s military will lose its mind over the food shortage.¡¯

    ¡°Thank you. Here are your three gold coins. One piece of advice, though.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t flaunt your newfound wealth. It¡¯ll only attract suspicion.¡±

    Leaving those words behind, I set out to sweep up the remaining grain in the surrounding rural villages.

 Chapter 142

    The most important rule when hoarding goods is simple: buy cheap and sell high.

    It¡¯s an obvious principle that even a first-grader would understand, but actually putting it into practice is incredibly difficult.

    It¡¯s like saying, ¡°If you study hard, you can get into Seoul National University.¡±

    ¡®Both making money through hoarding and getting into Seoul National are hard.¡¯

    Hoarding for profit often goes wrong with just a slight misstep in timing, forcing you to sell stockpiled goods at half price¡ªor worse, a third of the cost.

    But just as you can¡¯t catch a tiger without entering its den, to make money, you must be diligent about the fundamentals.

    Even if it means deceiving others, you have to buy cheap.

    As I reviewed my plan to deceive them one final time, the village chief entered the hut where I was waiting.

    ¡°Greetings, merchant sir.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the warm welcome, Chief.¡±

    The chief was technically a freeman in name, but a city-dwelling merchant like me held higher status than the representative of serfs standing before me.

    Even while disguised as a mere merchant, I outranked the village chief.

    But, honestly, social status doesn¡¯t put food on the table, does it?

    There was no need to flaunt my rank in a remote place like this, where no one was watching.

    Feigning politeness to put the other party at ease and gain an advantage in negotiations was far more beneficial.

    The chief relaxed a little, likely appreciating my courteous attitude.

    ¡°You can speak freely, sir.¡±

    ¡°Well, you are my esteemed guest, Chief, and a freeman at that. I should show respect to an elder.¡±

    Until a customer acts out, treat them like royalty.

    But once they cause trouble, they¡¯re no longer a customer but a nuisance, and it¡¯s only right to educate them with a good beating.

    This mindset is essential for doing business.

    Even now that I¡¯ve achieved some success, I must never forget this principle.

    ¡°So, what brings you here today?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m here to purchase the food supplies remaining in your village.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re willing to pay a fair price, we¡¯d be happy to sell. What specifically are you looking to buy, and in what quantities?¡±

    ¡°Flour, barley flour, sausages, salted meat, cheese¡ªanything that can be preserved for a long time. Oh, and livestock as well. I¡¯d like to buy as much as possible.¡±@@@@

    Even in a world where transportation has advanced to the point of trucks and airlifts, the principle remains: procure supplies locally whenever possible, except for weapons.

    Even if it¡¯s slightly more expensive than buying domestically.

    ¡®Transportation costs and time are no joke.¡¯

    In a world without trucks or planes, it¡¯s even more pronounced.

    For instance, a pig that costs 10 silver coins in a rural village 50 kilometers away might cost 17 silver coins in a nearby city¡ªa 70% markup.

    Sure, some of that is price gouging, but the poor state of transportation also makes transport costs high.

    Feigning desperation, I intensified my gaze, grabbed the chief¡¯s hand, and pleaded earnestly.

    ¡°What about 1.3 times? I¡¯ll pay 30% more. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±

    A smile bloomed on the chief¡¯s face.

    If he had any idea what was going on, he might have demanded at least 50% above market price.

    But even artisans and merchants, who receive news faster than serfs, wouldn¡¯t know the war was imminent unless they were high-ranking officials.

    How could a mere village chief guess that a war was about to break out?

    ¡°With that, I can sell you 20% more than what I originally offered. Any more, and no matter how much you pay, it would be impossible. Otherwise, we might truly starve during the winter.¡±

    It was easy to see what he was planning: use the money to buy more food or livestock from nearby villages, ensuring a comfortable winter and perhaps some savings.

    But that hope wouldn¡¯t come true.

    I had already sent people to sweep up all the surplus food in every village within this county.

    ¡®Even if we can¡¯t buy it all, there won¡¯t be much surplus left in this county.¡¯

    Still, for these people, selling to me was far better than having their food requisitioned.

    That¡¯s not just rationalization¡ªit¡¯s the truth.

    When requisitioning starts, the Grand Duchy¡¯s military will strip every village of surplus food and pay them less than 5% of its value, all while spouting nonsense about noble duty.

    If they¡¯re going to go hungry anyway, they¡¯re better off saving money for next year.

    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll calculate the payment right away. I brought gold and silver coins, so I can pay you on the spot.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much. But may I ask something?¡±

    ¡°Of course, go ahead.¡±

    The chief cautiously asked,

    ¡°Why are you buying food at such a high price? Did something happen?¡±

    Even if serfs aren¡¯t educated, it¡¯s not as if they¡¯re born stupid.

    They may not know much, but they¡¯d surely recognize the signs of impending disaster passed down through generations.

    ¡®Stockpiling food is always a precursor to war.¡¯

    Trying to concoct some other reason would only make me seem more suspicious.

    ¡°Have you ever seen a merchant reveal all their trade secrets? That would only hurt me.¡±

    With that, I concluded the deal in this village.

    Determined to spend my family¡¯s entire fortune if necessary, I began purchasing all the food I could from the serfs in this county and made my way back.

    Meanwhile, the logistics command of the Grand Duchy of Milania, which had been quietly stockpiling supplies, was thrown into chaos and panic over the unexpected situation.

    ¡°Who the hell is the bastard who cleaned out even the food reserves of the serfs in Pergamo?!¡±

 Chapter 143

    Milania Grand Duchy¡¯s Quartermaster General, Lieutenant General Progamo.

    He was furious that the plan he had painstakingly devised overnight had gone up in smoke.

    His anger boiled over to the point where he abandoned refined language and began spewing rough, direct words.

    ¡°Are you all out of your minds?! Just because we don¡¯t fight directly on the front lines, did you leave your brains at home?!¡±

    In any military, officers rarely, if ever, openly insult one another.@@@@

    Even a five-star general reprimanding a lieutenant would typically use reasoned, logical arguments rather than resorting to physical actions like kicking someone¡¯s shins with a boot or tapping their head with a cap.

    On the surface, this respect reflects the honor of nobility, but practically,

    Insulting someone¡¯s honor could lead to a duel¡ªan enjoyable but dangerous event where:

    Avoiding it brands you a coward,Losing results in death or severe injury,Winning destroys your reputation since only a disgraceful leader would provoke a subordinate into demanding satisfaction.

    All nobles fear metaphorical pitchforks, which explains the customary respect.

    But when a subordinate¡¯s gross incompetence or mistake threatens to derail an entire war plan?

    That¡¯s when you forgo such concerns, as Progamo did now.

    ¡°Shut the doors! Get every person in this room out of here!¡±

    This was the bare minimum respect left for the honor of his staff.

    Once that was done, Progamo slammed his fist onto the desk.

    But after exhaling deeply, he calmed himself and spoke in a measured tone.

    ¡°Look, I understand. Living as a noble on just your state salary or the taxes from your fief isn¡¯t easy. Let¡¯s be honest, is there anyone here who hasn¡¯t accepted donations from merchants?¡±

    Merchants and nobles are essentially two sides of the same coin.

    Nobles receive funding¡ªdisguised as ¡°donations¡±¡ªfrom merchants, and merchants receive judicial protection from nobles.

    Consequently, prominent merchants often enjoy privileges in criminal cases rivaling those of titled nobility.

    For instance, a merchant under investigation for murder, with all evidence pointing to guilt, might find that:

    Investigators suddenly ¡°lose¡± the evidence, orA righteous whistleblower winds up ¡°floating peacefully in the sea.¡±

    This symbiosis enriches nobles as they ascend titles and offices, often resulting in marriages between noble families and merchant elites.

    ¡°But telling them to hoard the peasants¡¯ food supplies before the war? That might¡¯ve been a step too far... If anyone here leaked this, speak up now. Confess, and I¡¯ll handle it discreetly.¡±

    No one offering forgiveness for a confession ever truly forgives. Progamo¡¯s bluff was more about avoiding the hassle of finding the culprit himself.

    ¡°Quartermaster General.¡±

    ¡°What is it, Colonel Bari?¡±

    ¡°I completely understand your anger about the year-long supply plan falling apart. But let¡¯s think this through logically. Would even the greediest merchants in our country go this far, blatantly sabotaging a war effort of this scale?¡±

    Progamo¡¯s mind raced with the usual budget-consuming suspects: firearms, swords, spears, and gunpowder.

    But without weapons, the army couldn¡¯t fight.

    The inevitable target for cuts was clear.

    ¡®This will hurt morale, but there¡¯s no other way.¡¯

    ¡°Cut beer, wine, meat, sausages, and cheese rations as much as possible. If necessary, they can survive on just salted herring and hardtack.¡±

    Even peasants accustomed to hardship would grow resentful eating only salted herring and hardtack every day.

    Neither food was inedible, but they were the least desirable options¡ªakin to the unappealing dishes soldiers begrudgingly ate because hunger left no alternative.

    The soldiers wouldn¡¯t starve, but their spirits would plummet.

    The Quartermaster General knew this well, but the constraints were insurmountable.

    ¡®There¡¯s a limit to raising taxes or reallocating other budgets.¡¯

    ¡°Understood, sir.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s still not enough, start collecting donations from the nobles. Damn it all.¡±

    Progamo rose from his seat, grinding his teeth.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make those Toscan bastards pay for this, no matter what.¡±

    Meanwhile, Fabio was calmly preparing his next move.

    ¡°Those Milania Grand Duchy fools must be pulling their hair out by now.¡±

    Every organization¡ªespecially bureaucracies and armies¡ªprides itself on efficient budget use.

    That¡¯s commendable, but without contingency funds, unexpected crises become insurmountable.

    ¡°Their soldiers¡¯ meals are going to be pitiful; I can already picture it.¡±

    Salted herring and cheap hardtack would be their staples.

    Making soldiers eat such meals while expecting them to fight? It would be maddening.

    ¡°If their soldiers are eating poorly, we must ensure ours eat well.¡±

    This alone could influence the outcome of the war.

    ¡°We¡¯ll prepare meals so good, it¡¯ll be an experience they never forget.¡±

    For soldiers, food is everything. It¡¯s their heaven and morale.

    And Fabio planned to make sure his soldiers felt like gods.

 Chapter 144

    The concept of "sustainable development" often gets thrown around.

    It may sound as absurd as a ghost peeling candy, considering that development accelerates environmental destruction and global warming.

    To put it more bluntly, it¡¯s about squeezing nature for as long as possible while only damaging it just enough to avoid total collapse.

    It¡¯s not unlike how small businesses sometimes give employees every other Saturday off or toss in a spam gift set for the holidays.

    ¡°Cornering the market to monopolize profits also needs to be sustainable. Let¡¯s face it¡ªlife rarely changes from a single windfall. Don¡¯t you think so, Chris?¡±

    The Tuscany Empire has no lotteries or stock markets.

    If you want to earn money, the fastest way is by steadily growing a business or engaging in honest trade. But even that doesn¡¯t mean small investments will turn your life around overnight.

    ¡°Yes, indeed. My father always said to steer clear of those who gamble on quick, easy wins. They¡¯re bound to fail.¡±

    People, organizations, and even nations that bet everything on a single gamble always end up losing it all.

    Take Japan, for example¡ªthe self-proclaimed Greater Japan Empire.

    They tried to seize Southeast Asia from Britain and the United States, deploying large-scale forces using bicycles. Neither Britain nor the U.S. expected such a tactic, so Japan managed an initial counterattack with surprising speed.

    But their success went to their heads. Obsessed with the "decisive fleet battle" doctrine, they bet their entire navy on a single gamble at Midway and Guadalcanal¡ªand lost everything.

    ¡°But won¡¯t other generals oppose us monopolizing the supply market? Do you have a plan for that?¡±@@@@

    ¡°I just have to make them think that my monopoly benefits them more than anyone else.¡±

    Even elementary schoolers know monopolies are bad.

    But in the military supply market, especially with current demand¡ªor even after this war ends, when weapons and ammunition may be less relevant¡ªfood is the one thing I need to monopolize completely.

    To do that, I have to shatter even the most obvious truth¡ª¡°Monopolies are bad¡±¡ªthat even those who grumble about bus fares know by heart.

    ¡®That¡¯s the only way I can control the food supply for the military.¡¯

    ¡°The method is always simple: I just need to create the illusion that I¡¯m unlike other merchants. That I care more about the country than profits.¡±

    I may not have the hypnosis skills of Won Gyun, who could trick even a king into choosing subpar commanders over geniuses like Yi Sun-sin or Gwon Yul.

    But I do have the ability to make high-ranking officials believe whatever suits my goals.

    I can¡¯t create something out of nothing, but I can make a $100 investment look like $1,000.

    That much, at least, is well within my reach.

    While others collude and cut corners to invest $50, I¡¯ll invest $100, giving soldiers a reason to favor me over them.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I came all the way to this Chef Guild.¡±

    As I opened the guild doors, I was immediately granted an audience with the Guild Master.

    Power truly makes anything possible, doesn¡¯t it?

    Hearing this, the Guild Master nodded.

    ¡°Indeed, there are limits to how tasty food can be at a certain price point. To go beyond that, you¡¯d inevitably have to spend more. And if you¡¯re running a business, you can¡¯t afford to fixate on taste to the point of losing money.¡±

    ¡°Chefs cook to make a living, after all.¡±

    ¡°I understand your intentions. But will chefs from well-regarded inns or restaurants even want to join the military?¡±

    Even in Tuscany¡¯s medieval fantasy military, doctors receive decent treatment.

    But among technical roles, only doctors are truly respected.

    Cooks, meanwhile, are treated as glorified laborers.

    ¡°Hire only chefs with over ten years of experience and proven skills. Cap it at 500 nationwide.¡±

    In any era, running a food business is tough.

    Here, the competition isn¡¯t cutthroat, so if your food is passable, you can at least scrape by.

    ¡®The problem is, that¡¯s all they can do¡ªbarely scrape by.¡¯

    Chefs with over a decade of experience, those skilled enough to qualify as masters in other guilds, tend to avoid independence.

    ¡°Offer a salary of two silver coins per month, plus a referral fee of 20 gold coins to the guild. That should be enough to attract experienced chefs who aren¡¯t keen on going independent.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s sufficient. But we¡¯re also struggling to recruit chefs...¡±

    Well, they are a sizable organization.

    Offering 20 gold coins a month wouldn¡¯t move them.

    ¡°Call it a referral fee, but really, it¡¯s payment for the guild to vouch for their skills. As for qualified chefs...¡±

    The money I¡¯m spending now will later serve as proof of my sacrifice and patriotism when I pitch my monopoly to the Emperor or the Minister of War.

    For that, I need to go beyond conventional spending limits.

    ¡°Five hundred gold coins.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll pay it all upfront.¡±

    I pulled out a check and wrote ¡°500 gold coins¡± on it.

    ¡°Bring it to the Rothschild estate, and you¡¯ll get your gold.¡±

    The Guild Master carefully accepted the check.

    It wasn¡¯t enough to sway the entire guild, but it was far from a trivial amount.

    ¡°And if this works out, we can discuss even bigger projects in the future.¡±

    Leaving that door open for future collaboration, I headed off to report to the 1st.

 Chapter 145

    As soon as I reported for duty, I went straight to see the logistics chief of staff.

    The division¡¯s logistics chief of staff¡ªa man who seemed to have no tasks left to occupy his twilight years in service.

    Under normal circumstances, as long as he showed up for morning roll call, no one would interfere with him for the rest of the day. But with war looming, even he wasn¡¯t spared from drowning in paperwork.

    ¡°War in my final days of service? Dammit, not even a chance to earn a commendation! I¡¯m livid!¡±

    A soldier nearing the end of his service is the type to get furious even if morning roll call is held outdoors.

    Imagine the fury of a soon-to-retire colonel, stuck in a dead-end role after 30 years in service, with no hope of promotion. Needless to say, you shouldn¡¯t mess with someone this angry¡ªthey might actually bite.

    ¡°Loyalty, Chief of Staff. I¡¯ve come to speak with you on an important matter.¡±

    He looked up at me and let out a long sigh.

    ¡°What brings our new logistics officer here? You¡¯re not officially assigned tasks yet, so you shouldn¡¯t have much to do.¡±

    Technically, I was a logistics officer assigned to the 1st Division, but I hadn¡¯t officially assumed full responsibilities yet.

    This meant I had no paperwork to handle and no mandatory attendance at regular work hours. My position was the ultimate cushy job¡ªyou only needed to show up if you wanted to. My visit wasn¡¯t exactly a welcome sight.

    ¡°You¡¯re not planning to dump new tasks on me, are you?¡±

    It¡¯s an age-old rule to ensure maximum freedom and rest for personnel nearing retirement, whether it¡¯s a soon-to-discharge private, a senior sergeant, or even a junior officer.

    Even though this logistics chief was a soon-to-retire colonel, the principle remained the same.

    Giving tasks to someone in their final days of service? That¡¯s a surefire way to get badmouthed for years.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. I¡¯ve only come with a small favor to ask.¡±

    At my words, the chief of staff furrowed his brow and bit his lower lip slightly.

    A ¡°small favor¡± from someone with access to the Emperor¡¯s authority and resources? He probably assumed it was practically an order and that his workload was about to increase.

    I had no choice but to rely on the age-old wisdom that money solves most problems.

    I casually placed a pouch filled with dried seaweed on the table.

    ¡°This is a small token of appreciation for all your tireless work for the nation. Please, accept it.¡±

    The absurdity of this approach was undeniable. Forcing soldiers to eat this for months on end during war was cruel.

    But for the colonel, focusing on cost-efficiency rather than humanitarian concerns was the way to persuade him.

    ¡°Preparing meals for an entire battalion at once saves firewood compared to splitting the task among squads.¡±

    Firewood might seem trivial, but gathering it for thousands of soldiers was no small task.

    Before building a campsite, soldiers might spend one or two hours just collecting enough wood.

    The chief of staff, being a logistics officer, understood this burden well.

    ¡°And cooking at the battalion level allows for better meals even in the field.¡±

    Smaller units made tastier food, but transporting extra cooking equipment during marches made centralized cooking more practical.

    ¡°I¡¯ve compiled a report comparing the morale and training efficiency before and after improving our division¡¯s rations. Reviewing it will prove this plan¡¯s validity.¡±

    The chief nodded thoughtfully.

    ¡°Indeed, even if most soldiers are lowly peasants, they¡¯re still human. They¡¯d want good food.¡±

    He was almost convinced.

    ¡°Of course, soldiers alone can¡¯t prepare high-quality meals. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve already arranged to recruit skilled chefs from inns, supervised by master-level professionals. A battalion needs only five cooks, with chefs overseeing them.¡±

    The chefs would each earn two silver coins monthly, but this was a necessary investment for my long-term monopoly on military food supplies.

    ¡°Using a slightly larger team than civilian laborers isn¡¯t a bad idea. I may be retiring soon, but I won¡¯t stand in the way of a capable young officer.¡±

    The colonel¡¯s pretense of bearing all burdens for the sake of a junior officer was amusing, especially after taking a gold coin¡¯s worth of seaweed as a bribe.

    Still, he was my superior, so I handed him an official document.

    The order detailed my initiative to improve rations and credited the logistics chief as the architect of the plan, leaving room for refinement.

    While the Emperor and other high-ranking officials might not fully believe it, the logistics chief would oversee its implementation as the official in charge.

    This would serve his interests post-retirement, especially since brigadier general status came with far better perks than that of a colonel.

    With the system for dedicated cooks established in the division and soon adopted elsewhere, deployment orders finally arrived.

    It was time to start making real money.

 Chapter 146

    Without radar, communication interception, surveillance satellites, or long-range strike weapons like missiles, it felt as though the march of the 1st Division of the Tuscany Imperial Army was just an extended stroll.

    Of course, for the soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and junior officers trudging along in armor and carrying weapons nearby, it must have been sheer torture.

    But as a senior officer, comfortably riding a horse, I couldn¡¯t help but feel relaxed.

    Now, however, it felt like all the energy I saved during the march was being drained in this meeting.

    ¡°General, our supply staff has successfully extended the enemy''s supply lines. I suggest we request the Supreme Commander to deploy cavalry and strike their supply convoys.¡±

    ¡°The enemy isn¡¯t stupid enough to ignore the importance of their supply lines.¡±

    ¡°In that case, Colonel, do you have a better plan?¡±

    Had I graduated from Korea¡¯s Army Academy or even completed ROTC properly, I might have had plenty to contribute here.

    Even though my real combat experience wouldn¡¯t hold a candle to these seasoned field-grade officers, strategies based on military history and the hard-earned lessons of countless soldiers would surely have been helpful.

    However, I was just someone who majored in Western History. My knowledge of military tactics was practically nonexistent.@@@@

    And when you know nothing, keeping quiet is usually your safest bet.

    I was already juggling the roles of noble and merchant, drawing all sorts of insults behind my back and unintentionally making political enemies. For someone who wasn¡¯t even a soldier to speak up here? That would be tantamount to suicide.

    ¡°They say pretty people die young, right?¡±

    So, I simply sat there, giving the impression of attentively listening to everyone¡¯s opinions without siding with anyone.

    Baron Ducat lightly tapped the table and spoke.

    ¡°Understanding the enemy supply route, the attached escorts, and their defensive measures is, of course, important. If we can pinpoint weak spots, we should strike. I¡¯ll authorize a light cavalry unit for reconnaissance. Major Forne, take 20 light cavalrymen and scout the area now. Avoid engagement with the enemy unless it¡¯s purely for self-defense.¡±

    Major Forne, who was seated at the far end of the table, briskly got up and left.

    In this era, nobles¡ªor more accurately, officers¡ªoften saw war as an exciting opportunity for advancement.

    Maybe he was one of those types.

    ¡°Until the First World War, war did have a certain romantic allure.¡±

    Especially during the era of line infantry, where phrases like ¡°After you, my good man¡± and ¡°No, after you¡± were often exchanged, and soldiers genuinely offered their enemies the honor of the first strike.

    Back then, there were even rules against targeting high-ranking officers when shooting. Hence, officers deliberately wore flashy uniforms to stand out.

    ¡°Quartermaster, is there any issue with our 1st Division¡¯s food transport?¡±

    ¡°From the reports I¡¯ve received, everything seems fine so far.¡±

    My job was to establish and maintain supply lines, but the actual transportation of food fell under the jurisdiction of the military¡¯s logistics command, which oversaw all provisions for the imperial forces.

    However, if those fools in logistics screwed up and supplies were cut off, it would ultimately be my responsibility. I had to stay vigilant.

    ¡°Good to hear there are no issues.¡±

    ¡°However, I anticipate difficulties for both enemy and allied forces in securing provisions locally. With that in mind, I plan to request additional rations of preserved food.¡±

    Long-lasting foods like salted meat, hardtack, and flour were not particularly favored by soldiers.

    One of the sergeants among the group chimed in.

    ¡°Back in my day, we¡¯d call it heaven if we had salted meat, half-spoiled vegetables, and hardtack stew. You guys have it good thanks to His Majesty. Not that I mind. Just don¡¯t expect me to buy you a beer.¡±

    With that, the sergeant took some soldiers to fetch beer.

    I¡¯d heard that rank differences didn¡¯t always prevent such camaraderie between non-commissioned officers and soldiers, but seeing it firsthand was a new experience.

    ¡°If food can maintain morale like this, I¡¯ll have a monopoly on military catering after the war.¡±

    As I watched the others with satisfaction, someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind.

    Instinctively, I reached for my sword¡¯s hilt.

    ¡°It¡¯s me, the division commander.¡±

    Of course. We were barely at the edge of the Pergamo County. It was unlikely there¡¯d be assassins or spies already.

    ¡°My apologies, General.¡±

    Baron Ducat chuckled at my response.

    ¡°I was the one sneaking up on you. No need to apologize. That aside, you didn¡¯t say much during the meeting. Were you holding back because of the other officers?¡±

    It was partly because I had nothing to say, but mostly because, as the Baron suggested, I was gauging the reactions of the other officers.

    ¡°Unlike me, the other officers worked their way up from second lieutenant. They¡¯ve climbed the ranks step by step, haven¡¯t they?¡±

    In the Tuscany Empire and across the continent of Albania, there weren¡¯t any military academies for training officers.

    Noble officers were typically self-taught through books and trained in horseback riding and combat.

    This lack of standardized education made geniuses in pre-modern wars stand out even more prominently.

    ¡°Without a baseline education, the average ability of officers is much lower compared to modern times.¡±

    ¡°As the second son of a baronial family, I never received formal military training. If I don¡¯t want to flaunt my ignorance, it¡¯s best to stay quiet.¡±

    ¡°Not all officers are competent, you know. Even if someone has a high rank, it doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re capable. But in this empire, while you might rise to a field-grade rank easily enough, earning stars takes more than just connections.¡±

    At least we didn¡¯t have systems where ranks could be bought.

    A nation where you could become a general just by having enough time and money? That¡¯s hardly a country at all.

    ¡°And surely, you must have some ideas. Just say whatever comes to mind.¡±

    ¡°Why me?¡±

    ¡°After what you did to disrupt the enemy logistics, I figured you might bring luck to our division. Even if you told me to lead knights in a charge against musket-armed infantry, I wouldn¡¯t complain. Just share your thoughts.¡±

    ...It wasn¡¯t that I didn¡¯t have any ideas.

    In truth, what I had in mind wasn¡¯t based on military science but on the inherent instincts of war and human nature.

    ¡°I do have something in mind, but please, just hear me out.¡±

 Chapter 147

    ¡°If it were up to me, I would spread rumors to the Grand Duchy¡¯s forces that our army is eating well and living abundantly.¡±

    Baron Ducat nodded in agreement at my suggestion.

    ¡°Hearing that their situation is dire while the enemy is feasting would undoubtedly infuriate their soldiers. The commanders, too, would start to think this war is already lost.¡±

    Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox, was a renowned general. Even while his forces were subsisting on things like turnip bread, turnip butter, and potato steaks, he managed to win repeated victories against the Americans.

    Yet, when he discovered a piece of homemade chocolate cake in the backpack of a fallen American soldier, he reportedly sighed and declared the war as good as over.

    Whether or not the story is true is up for debate.

    ¡°Still, the principle holds¡ªlogistics determine the outcome of wars in any era.¡±

    ¡°When you face enemy forces whose morale has already plummeted, victory comes easily. War isn¡¯t about who fights better, but who can endure longer.¡±

    In stories like Romance of the Three Kingdoms, battles often feature ambushes, traps, or fire attacks¡ªsensational tactics that capture the imagination.

    To the uninformed, it might seem like war is always about coming up with clever tricks to win.

    But if you examine a hundred real wars from history, regardless of their scale, and pick one at random, you¡¯d find that victories won through ¡°unpredictable strategies¡± amount to maybe 5%¡ªlikely not even 2¨C3%.

    Wars are won by those who act according to sound principles.

    If you live like the Japanese army, believing your enemies are fools and that you can triumph with some ¡°special¡± plan, even if you¡¯re armed with Earth¡¯s mightiest forces, you might end up losing to an African militia.

    ¡°The reason the U.S. military is so strong is precisely because it¡¯s the most pragmatic.¡±

    In the Tuscany Empire, and indeed in this era, the most sensible battle tactic was to line up and fire muskets at the enemy repeatedly.

    Victory was determined by an absurd standard: whoever suppressed their fear of death longer would inevitably win.

    ¡°This could be implemented right away. Once we join the Supreme Commander in a few days, I¡¯ll bring it up immediately.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯m not done yet. Please hear me out a little longer.¡±

    When proposing a plan in military matters, you can¡¯t afford to do things halfway.

    Either keep your mouth shut entirely, or suggest something so compelling that others are impressed.

    There¡¯s no middle ground¡ªhalf-measures are worthless.

    Consider the age of imperialism: the only nations that survived by playing the neutrality game were Thailand and Switzerland.

    ¡°And Thailand still lost half its territory.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your next point?¡±

    ¡°Why should we fight the enemy honorably in the first place? Striking at their weaknesses and forcing a quick defeat is enough.¡±

    A hundred years ago, when firearms were crude contraptions that involved loading lead bullets into bronze barrels, war was supposedly conducted with a sense of honor.

    Scouts weren¡¯t even necessary. Instead, commanders would send polite letters to the enemy¡¯s headquarters asking, ¡°Here¡¯s where we are¡ªwhere are you?¡±

    And the enemy would reply, sometimes even sending local delicacies as gifts.

    Some commanders, brimming with romantic ideals, would personally charge into enemy infantry with their lances.

    ¡°That¡¯s why they focus on looting during war. Stealing four enemy muskets can buy them a cow. A noble¡¯s sword or a knight¡¯s armor can change their fortunes entirely.¡±

    While modern wars are often seen as benefiting only the elite, with the common folk serving as cannon fodder, pre-modern wars were slightly more equitable.

    For the elite, wars were a means to gain honor, land, and political power. For the common soldier, they were a chance to loot and make a living.

    Of course, this only mattered if they survived. Until the war¡¯s outcome was certain, most detested and avoided it.

    The elite rarely faced mortal danger, but soldiers were sent to die on the frontlines.

    ¡°If we spread rumors of our abundance and display how well-fed we are while feigning defeat...¡±

    Baron Ducat interrupted, finishing my thought.

    ¡°While the officers might recognize it as a trap, already demoralized soldiers will succumb to greed, breaking their lines. That would make it much easier for us to win.¡±

    Even without formal training in military science, I understood the basic principles of this era¡¯s tactics.

    The fiercest fighting occurs before formations collapse. The real slaughter happens during the rout, after victory is decided.

    ¡°Once their lines break, it¡¯s a one-sided massacre.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll propose this strategy directly to the Supreme Commander. I¡¯ll even credit it to you. With this plan, I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll work, and you¡¯ll be the top contributor!¡±

    I shook my head at that.

    The idea of taking credit for this didn¡¯t sit well with me. Baron Ducat¡¯s enthusiasm for my suggestion was surprising, almost disconcerting.

    ¡°Though, as his subordinate, some credit would naturally reflect on me...¡±

    Still, there was no point in making enemies in the military.

    ¡°I don¡¯t lack ambition, but I¡¯d prefer if you claimed this plan as your own, General.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re asking me to steal your credit?¡±

    Had our relationship been any less cordial, he might have grabbed me by the collar.

    This sort of integrity likely explains why the Emperor appointed him despite his lower station.

    ¡°I already have too many enemies. Even Duke Sforza seems to view me with suspicion.¡±

    Baron Ducat, though loyal and honest, wasn¡¯t ignorant of politics.

    If he were, he¡¯d never have risen to command as a mere baron.

    ¡°...¡±

    He patted me on the shoulder.

    ¡°You must have it tough, rising so quickly at such a young age. If you ever need help¡ªmilitary or otherwise¡ªjust call on me. I¡¯ll help, no strings attached.¡±

    A week later, the entire expeditionary force of the Tuscany Empire assembled.

    After the ceremonial introductions preceding the Supreme Commander¡¯s meeting, Baron Ducat cautiously proposed his plan.

    ¡°I have a stratagem to present.¡±

 Chapter 148

    The mention of a "secret strategy" made the Supreme Commander, Marquis Ragusa, narrow his eyes with interest.

    ¡°A secret strategy, you say? Speak freely. As long as it¡¯s not complete nonsense, I won¡¯t hold it against you.¡±

    Usually, when high-ranking individuals say something like that, it¡¯s little more than empty words. You can think of it as akin to the top student claiming they¡¯ve been playing games all through exam week, or a senior at work telling you, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll work overtime while you leave on time.¡±

    Baron Ducat, who had survived countless trials to earn the two stars on his shoulders, felt the tension tighten further.

    Under normal circumstances, it¡¯s only fair to forgive the first suggestion unless it¡¯s utterly ridiculous, but he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little resentful.

    Still, it was far too late to turn back now.

    ¡°Rothschild¡¯s plan will definitely work.¡±@@@@

    Baron Ducat confidently laid out the strategy.

    ¡°How about staging a direct battle, feigning defeat, and then ambushing the enemy when they mistakenly think they¡¯ve won?¡±

    Marquis Ragusa thought the idea wasn¡¯t half bad.

    Though it wasn¡¯t a frequently used tactic, it was human nature to let one¡¯s guard down when convinced of victory.

    Striking during that moment of complacency could lead to an easier victory.

    Better yet, if fortune favored them, the enemy, drunk on their supposed success, might break formation and charge headlong into a pursuit...

    ¡°It¡¯s a bit risky, but if it succeeds, it could be quite effective.¡±

    Having been born into a marquisate and subjected to grueling training rivaling that of a grand northern duchy in fantasy empires, Marquis Ragusa had amassed considerable frontline experience before inheriting his title.

    Even with his practical understanding of warfare, the plan seemed solid enough to merit a passing grade.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a bad idea. But isn¡¯t it a bit of a gamble? The enemy officers and commanders aren¡¯t idiots¡ªthey might see through the ruse.¡±

    Feigning defeat was undoubtedly a dangerous tactic. If the retreat looked too orderly, the enemy might counter the ambush with devastating results.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it matters much if they see through it.¡±

    Marquis Ragusa, the Supreme Commander, was stunned at those words.

    If the enemy discerned the ruse, their counterattack could almost certainly spell defeat. What kind of reasoning could justify saying it wouldn¡¯t matter?

    For a moment, he wondered if Baron Ducat was ill or otherwise unfit for duty.

    ¡°Even if their commanders realize it¡¯s a ruse, I believe their soldiers won¡¯t obey orders, rendering their efforts futile.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying that even if the officers figure it out, their soldiers won¡¯t follow commands? That sounds utterly absurd. What makes you think so?¡±

    Baron Ducat knew very well that once you¡¯re at the point of no return, pressing forward is often the best option.

    ¡°Admitting doubt now would only result in humiliation.¡±

    ¡°Before I answer, may I explain the specifics of the strategy?¡±

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°First, I propose leaking information about our superior supply situation. The enemy is currently subsisting on salted herring and hardtack because of their extended supply lines. Hearing that our soldiers are eating delicious meals would inevitably sap their morale.¡±

    Lucio lightly smacked the head of the private who dared to ask.

    The private wanted to protest¡ªhow was he supposed to know what story Lucio meant?¡ªbut in this army, which lacked any concept of a ¡°modern barracks¡± or reforms against abuse, a senior soldier was as good as a god.

    So the private swallowed his frustration and responded in a way he thought would please Lucio.

    ¡°No idea, Corporal. Tell us.¡±

    Puffing out his chest with pride, Lucio declared, ¡°This is something I heard from Sergeant Matteo in the next platoon. The Tuscany bastards? Even their lowest grunts are eating like kings.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s gotta be a lie. Their army can¡¯t be all that different from ours,¡± the private replied skeptically.

    Before Fabio¡¯s intervention, there had indeed been little difference between the meals of the Tuscany Imperial Army and the Grand Duchy¡¯s forces.

    Lucio didn¡¯t fault the private for his reasonable skepticism.

    ¡°I thought it was bullshit too. But the scouts came back saying they¡¯re eating meals you¡¯d have to pay for at an inn¡ªthree times a day!¡±

    ¡°Unbelievable...¡±

    The Grand Duchy¡¯s command wasn¡¯t entirely incompetent.

    They scraped together what little remained of the supply budget to distribute fresh meat and beer, but the amounts were laughably inadequate.

    It had been over a week since the troops had last seen beer, which was usually provided daily in peacetime.

    ¡°As for meat, I can¡¯t even remember the last time I had any.¡±

    The soldiers were losing their minds, subsisting on salted herring, hardtack, beans, and flour.

    Even their quartermasters had started grumbling about the situation, claiming it was untenable.

    The soldiers tried to downplay their despair with grumbles and jokes, but their morale was rotting from the inside out.

    If they were at least fed decently, it might feel like they were heading into a fight they could win.

    But with rations like this? Logic or no logic, it just felt like they were going to lose.

    ¡°Damn it...¡±

    Lucio tried to shake off the negativity.

    Being conscripted was bad enough. Dying here, without even having slept with the childhood sweetheart he¡¯d promised to marry, felt utterly unfair.

    Forcing a laugh, he said, ¡°Hey, if we win this war, we can loot a few enemy muskets and buy a cow. Steal a knight¡¯s armor, and we¡¯ll hit the jackpot! If they¡¯re so rich, that just means there¡¯s more for us to take, right?¡±

    Deep down, Lucio wasn¡¯t all that confident in victory.

    Still, he prayed.

    ¡°God, let me get rich and go home to marry Maria. I swear I¡¯ll donate to the church regularly.¡±

    Time passed quickly, and soon the Tuscany Imperial Army and the Grand Duchy of Milania¡¯s forces were face-to-face in battle formation.

    As the division¡¯s quartermaster, Fabio remained stationed in the rear, observing the unfolding events.

 Chapter 149

    ¡°So, here we are, preparing a meal in the middle of battle while even the division commander is out leading the frontlines. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a rather peculiar strategy, Colonel Rothschild?¡±

    To put it bluntly, unless the stalemate between our forces and the enemy dragged on for a long time, requiring consistent meal distribution, cooking during a battle that had just begun twenty minutes ago was pure madness.

    How could anyone calmly prepare food while the tide of battle could shift at any moment?

    ¡°I heard this strategy was devised by our division commander. What a brilliant idea it is.¡±

    The proposal to fake defeat in a skirmish, retreat, and counterattack when the enemy¡¯s lines collapse? That was my idea.

    But if word got out that I excel in devising strategies and leading operations, I¡¯d attract even more enemies...

    To ensure that didn¡¯t happen, I resolved to keep this fact a secret, even from the emperor and dukes.

    Unless Erica, Chris, or Chloe explicitly asked, only Baron Ducat and I would know the truth.

    ¡°And to have the soldiers deliberately let the smell of food waft toward the starving enemy troops¡ªwhat an ingenious move by the Marquis. Still, I¡¯m not entirely sure it¡¯ll work.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t we already confirm this with our scouts? The state of their rations is utterly pitiful.¡±

    The soldiers of the Grand Duchy of Milania were surviving on nothing more than salted herring and hardtack.

    It wouldn¡¯t be inaccurate to say they were eating spoiled rice mixed with bits of seafood or meat paste.@@@@

    While their logistics command wasn¡¯t entirely incompetent and tried to provide proper meals when possible...

    ¡°Serving one ordinary meal a week? Well...¡±

    If I were one of their soldiers, my first thought would¡¯ve been figuring out the safest and most reliable way to desert.

    ¡°That¡¯s true, but it still feels risky. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s too daring a plan? I might be old and cynical, but you¡¯re sharp enough to know¡ªwill this work, or will we lose?¡±

    Over the past few months, I had grown closer to the quartermaster general through various interactions.

    He saw me as a valuable lifeline for his career advancement, while I saw him as someone who could help me secure both honor and tangible benefits.

    Though we weren¡¯t close enough to bathe together, we¡¯d developed the kind of camaraderie where, during a drinking party, he might jokingly insist I call him ¡°big brother.¡±

    It was likely this familiarity that emboldened him to ask me such questions.

    ¡°Still, the fewer people who know the truth, the better.¡±

    ¡°If I knew the answer to that, wouldn¡¯t I already be hailed as a genius tactician, climbing the ranks effortlessly? Let¡¯s just trust that our imperial forces know what they¡¯re doing.¡±

    Had I majored in Western military history or graduated from a military academy, I might have aimed to become a war hero rather than a merchant.

    With the knowledge I had¡ªthings unheard of in this world¡ªI could view war with a broader perspective than even the most accomplished strategists from other nations.

    ¡°After all, I see the world from the shoulders of giants.¡±

    But my qualifications amounted to no more than a master¡¯s degree in Western history.

    That¡¯s why I became a merchant, not an officer.

    ¡°...Fair enough.¡±

    As I was chatting with the quartermaster general, a non-commissioned officer came running in, panting.

    Endlessly repeating such scenes, face-to-face with the enemy, while suffering extreme mental exhaustion from inadequate meals, had eroded the soldiers¡¯ sanity.

    ¡°Kill them all! Leave none alive!¡±

    As Lucio was about to lose himself in a frenzy, his platoon leader shouted.

    ¡°Corporal Lucio! If you leave the formation, I¡¯ll kill you myself before you get to loot anything!¡±

    The platoon leader waved his sword threateningly, making it clear that disobedience would be met with immediate execution.

    Lucio had no choice but to fall back in line.

    ¡°If I get killed while looting, I won¡¯t even get to marry Maria...¡±

    As they ran, Lucio managed to catch up with a slower soldier.

    Consumed by the madness of war, he instinctively drew his dagger and stabbed the man in the neck.

    Then he took the soldier¡¯s sword¡ªa cheap one, but worth some money if sold.

    ¡°War... this isn¡¯t so bad after all.¡±

    When it wasn¡¯t clear who would win or lose, war had been unbearable. But now, being on the offensive, Lucio found a strange enjoyment in it.

    ¡°If only my luck holds...¡±

    Just as he began to feel the need for a breather, the most delicious aroma he had ever smelled filled his nostrils.

    Lucio had heard rumors that the Tuscany soldiers ate exceptionally well. The scent made his mouth water in anticipation of a good meal.

    Some soldiers immediately rushed toward the cooking pots.

    ¡°Did those Tuscany bastards really think they¡¯d already won?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve had a decent meal!¡±

    Though Lucio wanted to join them, his greed got the better of him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll grab a sword from one of the officers first.¡±

    An officer¡¯s sword would fetch a high price, especially one belonging to a field-grade officer or higher, which could change a peasant like Lucio¡¯s life forever.

    Driven by the desire to provide a lavish life for his fiance?e, he suppressed his hunger and continued forward.

    In the distance, several officers drew their swords, shouting,

    ¡°It¡¯s a trap! A trap, you fools!¡±

    But the soldiers, overwhelmed by the twin desires for food and loot, paid no heed.

    That is, until the moment countless muskets were trained on them.

    ¡°Fire! Kill every last one of them!¡±

    And with that command, Lucio heard no more from this world.

    The battle ended in victory for those who manipulated the enemy¡¯s desires.

 Chapter 150

    The war ended in victory for our side, and I began playing the role of the "crazy shopkeeper."

    What do I mean by that? Imagine a shop owner on the verge of bankruptcy selling clothes, shoes, and bags at absurdly low prices.

    The day after cleaning up the battlefield, I spent my own money to provide unlimited meat and alcohol to the entire army.

    ¡°My wallet feels much lighter after throwing a feast for 50,000 people, but...¡±

    This was also an investment for the future.

    ¡°Right now, appearances matter. Unlike other merchants, I prioritize justice over profit and show that I¡¯m willing to sacrifice my entire fortune for the nation in times of crisis.¡±

    Marketing an image might not work well here.@@@@

    Whether peasants, commoners, citizens, or nobles, they only care about buying better, cheaper goods¡ªor if expensive, high-quality luxury items.

    Nobody cares about "fair trade" or products made by socially responsible companies.

    But I¡¯m both a noble and a merchant.

    Even though I don¡¯t plan to enter central politics or aim for a position like Minister of Finance, what if the surrounding nobles saw me as dishonorable?

    Duke Sforza would seize the chance to use his faction¡¯s power to crush me.

    Rather than shedding bitter tears and scrambling to survive when that happens, it¡¯s better to build up my honor now and prevent it altogether...

    Showing my dedication to the country also makes it easier to do business with the emperor or neutral nobles.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I want to be a good merchant; I just need to.¡±

    Still, as I looked around, I couldn¡¯t help but feel good, even if it wasn¡¯t related to my own profits.

    Perhaps it was the shared satisfaction of victory, the relief of surviving, or the contentment of having looted enough to secure some wealth.

    Everyone¡¯s faces were full of smiles, enjoying the moment.

    ¡°Sergeant, have a drink!¡±

    ¡°You too, drink up!¡±

    From soldiers to officers, everyone except those on duty or standing guard was undoubtedly drunk.

    Well, the cooks making all this food must be exhausted...

    But they didn¡¯t fight and risk their lives on the frontlines, so I¡¯d say they need to suck it up and endure.

    ¡°It¡¯s a relief we won. If we¡¯d lost, ugh...¡±

    Strictly speaking, the outcome of this war wouldn¡¯t have directly affected me much.

    The emperor and the supreme commander had already purchased the grain I¡¯d stockpiled in Pergamo County at a solid price, securing me massive profits.

    Not to mention the money I made from the various services I provided during the army¡¯s march.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I make 1.5 times what I¡¯d earn selling liquor in West Iphricia?¡±

    I¡¯d already made enough, and since my baronial family hadn¡¯t invested a dime in this war, there was no risk of loss.

    After laughing a bit more, the marquis turned to Baron Ducat.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to have a chat with this amusing young man. Leave us for a moment, Baron Ducat.¡±

    Baron Ducat gave a sharp salute and promptly left.

    Even with his own stars on his shoulders, he couldn¡¯t help but tense up before a superior with more stars.

    Once Ducat left, the marquis shrugged at me.

    ¡°Most officers your age think they¡¯re amazing if they can tell the difference between what they can and can¡¯t do. Even among the brightest lieutenants and captains brought into the staff office, most of them can¡¯t manage even that.¡±

    In this world, unless they were royalty seeking military experience, most men my age were still second lieutenants¡ªor captains if they were particularly talented and lucky enough to achieve significant merits.

    In that sense, his comparison made sense, as he was setting the bar against those elites most likely to wear stars one day.

    ¡°But you¡¯re different. You don¡¯t just understand your limits¡ªyou¡¯ve gone as far as improving the quality of food for soldiers while cutting costs. Thanks to you, our morale has soared while the enemy¡¯s morale hit rock bottom.¡±

    Feigning humility would backfire in this situation.

    So instead, I chose neither to confirm nor deny his praise, saying nothing at all.

    ¡°When His Majesty temporarily assigned you the rank of major, I protested. And when he officially appointed you as quartermaster for this war, I was going to protest again.¡±

    The marquis let out a long sigh, as if he were exasperated.

    ¡°But once again, you proved His Majesty right and this old fool wrong by achieving exceptional results.¡±

    Did he suspect that I had given Baron Ducat the idea for the recent operation?

    Even if he had, it wouldn¡¯t immediately harm me, but it could lead to unwanted enemies within the military.

    ¡°The operation Baron Ducat proposed succeeded because you improved our soldiers¡¯ rations and extended the enemy¡¯s supply lines, burdening them greatly.¡±

    Fortunately, it seemed he hadn¡¯t caught on that I¡¯d given the idea to the baron.

    Baron Ducat might be honest, but he wasn¡¯t the type to betray a confidence I explicitly asked him to keep.

    Besides, it wouldn¡¯t make sense for a mere ¡°young merchant¡± to come up with such an effective strategy, so naturally, I¡¯d be overlooked as a suspect.

    ¡°On top of that, you provided unlimited beef, pork, and chicken for the entire army for a day. While everyone¡¯s happy, I¡¯m genuinely concerned.¡±

    ¡°As long as they¡¯re happy, that¡¯s all that matters.¡±

    ¡°Still, isn¡¯t this kind of generosity causing you to take a loss?¡±

    I studied his expression carefully.

    The marquis, seemingly taken in by my act, appeared genuinely concerned as he looked at me.

    To be clear, I¡¯d never once taken a loss in business.

    While others took 70¨C80% profit margins, I settled for 50%.

    Even so, while most military contractors would deliver goods worth only 20% of the payment received, I provided 50%¡ª2.5 times more than the norm.

    Naturally, that kind of generosity left a much stronger impression.

    Now, what should I say to adequately deceive the marquis?

 Chapter 151

    "I''m a noble, but I''m also a merchant. Naturally, I''d never do business at a loss."

    Street vendors in traditional markets might tell customers, "I''m selling at a loss, so take it for cheap," to appeal to housewives.

    But even at larger neighborhood supermarkets, they might use phrases like "shock discounts" or "special offers," but they never outright claim to sell at a loss.

    "Indeed, there''s no way Baron Rothschild would recklessly take on military supplies at a loss."

    A merchant must never engage in business at a loss under any circumstances.

    While it might seem like just losing money in the short term, it also means losing trust in the long term.

    Of course, there are exceptions¡ªsometimes you have to honor contracts even if you know you''ll lose money.

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 Chapter 152

    The war with the external enemy was over, and the Toscan Empire''s army returned home.

    Even the cooks, who had spent the war at the rear preparing meals, acted as if they were war heroes, basking in the joy of their return.

    Meanwhile, Marquis Ragusa, the commander-in-chief of the war, found himself busier now than during the war itself.

    But both the gift-givers and Marquis Ragusa knew the truth¡ªthese were bribes thinly veiled as petitions.

    Rejecting these requests risked souring relations with nobles, which could lead to political traps. Yet accepting them meant succumbing to corruption.

    In the end, the best strategy was to accept the gifts, evaluate contributions fairly, and then insist it was all handled properly.@@@@

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 Chapter 153

    All businesses must strive for sustainability.@@@@

    Monopolies, too, require long-term strategies to ensure they remain profitable for generations. Naturally, having secured a monopoly on military food supplies, I must ensure that it remains intact, ideally until the empire itself collapses.

    The odds of a major crisis happening if I took a break now were close to zero. The military supply contracts, if maintained at their current level, would guarantee that all food-related operations for the next ten years remain under the Rothschild family. The resulting enormous profits, after minimal taxes, would be safely stored in our family vault.

    However, money¡ªor more specifically, opportunities to make money¡ªalways comes with timing.

    2,500 muskets3,000 swords400 usable garments5,000 damaged garments200 full sets of plate armor400 helmets300 breastplates

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 Chapter 154

    When I returned home, the first to greet me was Erika.

    ¡°Welcome back, my lord, and congratulations on your victory,¡± she said with a graceful yet adorable curtsey, holding the sides of her skirt and bowing her head slightly.

    ''Riding a horse was the hardest part,¡¯ I thought.

    Horse riding looks simple¡ªjust sitting on a saddle¡ªbut unlike the steady ride of a car, a horse¡¯s movements jostle you up, down, and side-to-side. While stirrups help with balance, sitting in the saddle for extended periods requires absorbing the impact with your entire body. It turned out to be an unexpectedly rigorous workout.@@@@

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 Chapter 155

    The Count of Piedmont agreed to meet me, though he looked slightly bewildered.@@@@

    Considering that we¡¯d had no personal interactions beyond being in the same faction under Duke Visconti, it wasn¡¯t surprising. To suddenly request a meeting to discuss an important business matter might understandably catch him off guard. At the same time, rejecting a direct request from the son-in-law of Duke Visconti wasn¡¯t exactly an easy option either.

    ¡°This is a small gift from me. Please, take a look.¡±

    The Count opened the pouch I handed him, his eyes widening in surprise.

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 Chapter 156

    Even though I had informed them in advance about my arrival, the reception felt over the top. Why did the estate steward himself come to greet me as soon as I arrived at the Count¡¯s manor?

    "Greetings, my lord. I am Baronet Garte, the steward managing the Count of Piedmont''s estate. It is an honor to have you travel all the way from Florence to visit us," he said, bowing respectfully.

    ¡®Well, this is the Count¡¯s initiative, not mine, so I won¡¯t complain.¡¯

    "I¡¯ll be sure to send my thanks to the Count when I return to Florence," I said.@@@@

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 Chapter 157

    Even if the construction company specializes in civil engineering, it¡¯s rare for the chairman or president to personally visit the site. They are often buried in work, logging six-day workweeks with endless overtime, unaware of how unusual their schedules are. Moreover, when high-ranking individuals do visit a site, it often creates more problems than it solves.@@@@

    It¡¯s like having a division commander living in the same barracks as a squad or platoon¡ªnobody would enjoy it. Still, despite knowing this, I chose to stay on-site and oversee the project personally.

    At that moment, the on-site supervisor raised his voice.

    "Safety first!"

    The workers, mostly hired serfs and craftsmen, echoed back loudly.

    "Good! Good! Good!"

    "Alright, get to your assigned positions! Work as much as the Baron has paid you for!"

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 Chapter 158

    If you want to make a lot of money, you must invest as aggressively as possible.

    However, aggressive investment is a completely different matter from throwing money around recklessly.

    To put it bluntly, if my grades are bottom-tier, no amount of college applications will get me into Seoul National University.

    ¡°Baron Siena, I¡¯ve come today to offer you a proposal that will be highly beneficial and advantageous for you.¡±

    Whether it actually helps them or not is a matter for later.

    I mean, if I sell someone a kitchen knife and some bad person uses it to commit a crime, that¡¯s hardly my fault, is it?

    ¡°So, what kind of proposal brings you here, Baron?¡±

    If we were part of opposing factions in a state of cold war, I could understand his wariness.

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 Chapter 159

    No one in this world dislikes chicken.@@@@

    Even the devout followers of Deus and heretics, who would kill each other on sight, can''t seem to get enough of chicken.

    ¡°Mateo, want to grab some chicken?¡±

    The blacksmith Mateo shook his head at the suggestion¡ªnot because he didn¡¯t like chicken.

    Men in the Toscano Empire¡¯s middle class often had the same advice for boys who didn¡¯t like studying:

    ¡°Get into university, and women will line up for you.¡±

    Back in the day, when feeding oneself and one¡¯s family was more important than love, graduating from a prestigious university really did mean women would flock to you.

    Even an ugly man who became a professional or joined a major company after graduating from a top university could reasonably marry an A+ woman if not an S-tier beauty.

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 Chapter 160

    A crisis can sometimes be a turning point in life for those who are prepared.

    For instance, when a pandemic struck, causing middle-class and working-class Americans to dive into the Hudson River en masse in despair, billionaires doubled their fortunes. Similarly, during the IMF crisis, those who foresaw the signs and hoarded cash to buy up real estate ended up sitting on mountains of wealth.

    ¡°A crisis is a blessing for some,¡± they say.

    But some fools, acting on their own whims, have disrupted my plans and spread a plague.

    And I can''t miss the opportunity to turn this to my advantage.

    No, perhaps this is my chance to send all those bastards to meet Deus himself¡ªit would be the proper way of the Jianghu.

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 Chapter 161

    Despite the abruptness of my visit, the Bishop of Pisa did not outright refuse me.

    ¡°Baron Rothschild, is it not? What brings the young hero to such a distant place?¡±

    In any era or country, requesting an unexpected meeting is considered a significant breach of etiquette. While I wasn¡¯t outright turned away, the polite greeting I received could very well have been an indirect way of saying, ¡°Hurry up and leave.¡±

    Even the wisest king declared that if his subjects wanted his favor, they should first present gifts. It¡¯s an eternal truth, after all.

    ¡°I¡¯ve come to ask a favor, Bishop.¡±

    I swiftly placed a leather pouch filled with dozens of gold coins into his hand.

    As expected of a high-ranking clergyman accustomed to handling money, he recognized the weight of gold instantly. A smile spread across his face.

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 Chapter 162

    ¡°Where is the mayor of Pisa?¡±@@@@

    As I hurried to enter the town hall, the guards crossed their spears in an X shape to block my way.

    ¡°Halt! Identify yourself!¡±

    ¡°I am Baron Rothschild, and this is the Bishop of Pisa. We¡¯ve come urgently to discuss a matter regarding the plague! Open the gates!¡±

    In a crisis where every second counts, letting in outsiders who might disrupt the work of officials could lead to utter chaos.

    However, the Bishop of Pisa had a different opinion. He looked ready to grab one of the guards by the collar and snapped at them sharply.

    ¡°So you¡¯re calling me an outsider?¡±

    ¡°N-no, sir, but due to administrative¡ª¡±

    ¡°Administrative? Are you, a mere guard, lecturing me on administrative procedures? Pisa¡¯s town hall must be a remarkable place if even the guards can teach bishops about governance. Who is your direct superior?¡±

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 Chapter 163

    As soon as I was granted full authority over plague control, I rushed to the scene.@@@@

    If I were one of those clueless nobles, running around without a plan would only cause trouble.

    But seeing the chaos here, I couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°Good thing I got involved.¡±

    Meanwhile, plague doctors, wearing their iconic beak-shaped masks, were creating their own commotion.

    ¡°He¡¯s suffering from persistent diarrhea¡ªclearly a sign of the plague. In such cases, we must use Saint Vickery¡¯s chicken cure.¡±

    With that, they placed a freshly cleaned chicken near the patient.

    How to prepare oral rehydration solutions.Proper methods for isolating the sick.Guidelines for distributing food.Instructions on boiling water to make it safe for consumption.

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 Chapter 164

    The majority of deaths caused by waterborne illnesses result from dehydration due to severe diarrhea.

    By focusing on hydration and implementing strict quarantine measures, Pisa was able to conclude the epidemic with relatively minimal losses, considering the nature of such outbreaks.

    ¡°Thank you! Truly, Baron, thank you! My family will never forget this debt¡ªnot even if we fall to ruin!¡±@@@@

    ¡°I simply did what was necessary. There¡¯s no need to thank me so profusely.¡±

    That¡¯s what I said, but let¡¯s be real, Mayor¡ªyou should probably bow in my direction three times a day before bed.

    After all, I just saved your political and social career without asking for anything in return.

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 Chapter 165

    Erica let out a soft chuckle, puffing out her chest with pride.@@@@

    Although she was wearing loose pajamas, they did little to conceal her ample figure, which only made her appear all the more alluring.

    However, in the Tuscan Empire, the consensus generally leans toward preferring something more substantial¡ªand I can¡¯t deny that I¡¯m part of that majority.

    Erica folded her arms, pressing them together to accentuate her chest further. As she moved her arms slightly, my gaze naturally followed their rhythm.

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 Chapter 166

    "Your Majesty, it is a great joy to see you in robust health today," I began, bowing deeply.

    The emperor chuckled softly at my words. "Hearing such a sentiment from the man who battled the epidemic in Pisa''s county has a peculiar charm. Baron Rothschild, are you well yourself?"

    The emperor burst into laughter, clutching his sides. "Baron, we both know you''re not exactly a devout follower of Deus. Save the act; it won''t work on me."

    In Pisa, such words would have moved people to tears, swearing by my piety. Erica, Chris, and Chloe might echo that sentiment too, claiming I was a virtuous and devout believer. Even so, I doubted Chloe''s conscience would allow her to label me as particularly religious.

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 Chapter 167

    The emperor''s face flushed a deep red, his expression breaking into a broad grin.

    Every ruler in this world¡ªincluding myself¡ªwould never refuse an opportunity to tighten their grip on power. To climb higher, there are even those willing to risk their lives.@@@@

    ¡®And that includes emperors, even if there''s no position higher than theirs.¡¯

    But now the emperor would crush that fearsome plague entirely?

    ¡°To eradicate this plague, however, I¡¯ll need substantial help from Your Majesty,¡± I said.

    ¡°Be specific.¡±

    ¡°There are two primary reasons why plagues arise: people not washing themselves, and the consumption of contaminated food and water.¡±

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 Chapter 168

    I had been given a new title.@@@@

    Director of Hygiene at the Ministry of Health and Disease Control¡ªa title that exudes prestige just by the sound of it.

    And while the role of ¡°Director of Hygiene¡± might seem limited in scope, in reality, I held the true authority, if not complete control, over the Disease Control Department. The nominal head of the department was little more than a rubber stamp.

    But with a title and power like mine, the treatment I received had completely changed.

    Is this why Baron Mancini is bending over backward to become the Chief Justice of the High Court?

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. I¡¯ve heard that Viscount Ostia is in good health.¡±

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 Chapter 169

    The first place I visited again was the largest restaurant in Pisa City.@@@@

    Being directly operated by the master of Pisa City''s Culinary Guild, the restaurant was massive, bustling with an incredible number of patrons.

    A place like this was akin to a well-fattened cow or pig¡ªplenty of meat to savor.

    Ah, I was already salivating at the thought.

    To preserve the psychological peace of these good citizens, I took immediate action.

    ¡°We¡¯re here to conduct a hygiene inspection of this establishment. Please continue enjoying your meals.¡±

    With hygiene inspections causing an uproar throughout the city recently, most people understood that this likely didn¡¯t concern them directly.

    As such, the citizens of Ostia cautiously resumed their meals, though with a faint sense of wariness.

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 Chapter 170

    In every era and every nation, there exists at least one idiom expressing the unpredictability of life.

    This universal acknowledgment across different cultures and histories serves as proof that all humanity deeply resonates with the truth that life is inherently uncertain.

    Duke Sforza, at the age of 72, once again grasped this reality all too painfully today.

    The insult alone bordered on treason. Had there been any pretext, he would have acted immediately, perhaps orchestrating a tax audit and search of the Rothschild barony, or leveraging his connections with influential archbishops of the Church of Deus to accuse him of heresy.

    He could have rallied the nobles of his faction to file lawsuits accusing the baron of misconduct and causing havoc.

    Any of these actions, if successful, would have confined the young upstart to his estate for the next five years. And if all three hit their mark, he would either live out his days as a recluse or face a complete stripping of his title.

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 Chapter 171

    The arrival of an unwelcome guest.@@@@

    If it were up to me, I would scatter some salt and chase him out.

    But, doing such a thing would undoubtedly tarnish my honor and reputation, which are just as important as my life in the eyes of any noble.

    Damn it, even if the large churches are utterly corrupt, they don¡¯t usually go this far to harass the faithful. I just can¡¯t understand why he¡¯s being so persistent, especially in this area.

    ¡°Call Erica and have her bring some tea.¡±

    Even though I don¡¯t want to see this man, he is the Archbishop. It¡¯s best to act as politely as possible, at least outwardly, to avoid any issues.

    With a heavy heart, I headed to the drawing room where the Archbishop was waiting.

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 Chapter 172

    When the Papal States were at their peak power on Earth.

    At that time, they had a fairly large territory centered around central Italy.

    However, the Papal States on the Albanian continent, based on the holy city of Shakoshi, only control around 2-3 counties.

    Well, judging their power simply by their territory would be a mistake.@@@@

    The Pope, under the pretense of pitying these children, treats them like ¡®the Pope¡¯s sons and daughters¡¯ and arranges strategic marriages for them, turning them into core members of noble families, regardless of gender.

    The Pope¡¯s fatherly love is so intense that the true high-ranking nobles of our continent would likely go mad trying to compete for it.

    If you reject the Pope¡¯s familial favor, he will doubt your faith and engage in all kinds of petty acts until his death.

    But if you don¡¯t refuse, you¡¯ll have to give away family lands or high-ranking positions.

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 Chapter 173

    It¡¯s better that as few people as possible know about my visit to the Papal States.

    No one will file a lawsuit or impeach me for visiting the Papal States. However, if people hear where I¡¯ve been, they¡¯ll surely start suspecting that something¡¯s up and wonder what kind of trouble is brewing.

    It¡¯s unbelievable¡ªeveryone seems to have instincts sharper than a ghost¡¯s.@@@@

    In the Papal States, especially in the holy city of Shakoshi, it¡¯s relatively easy to see a bishop.

    To be precise, they are ¡®bishop-level clergy,¡¯ which is slightly different from bishops from other dioceses, but such small distinctions don¡¯t need to be overly scrutinized.

    ¡®After all, they wield the same level of power as bishops.¡¯

    ¡°But before meeting with His Excellency, may I ask you something?¡±

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 Chapter 174

    ¡°I have a way to solve the church¡¯s budget shortage. Let¡¯s hear it.¡±

    ¡°How about selling Bibles?¡±

    The Cardinal tilted his head after hearing my suggestion.

    ¡°A Bible is, after all, a craft and a piece of art. But how could we make a large profit by selling Bibles?¡±

    ¡°What if we printed Bibles as if stamping them out of a mold? To put it more simply, we can create a giant stamp with the Bible¡¯s text on it and print it onto paper.¡±

    ¡°This is something I never thought of. Please, continue.¡±

    One common misconception we have due to the Catholic Church¡¯s history during the Reformation is that the clergy feared people reading the Bible. They supposedly claimed that if the Bible wasn¡¯t written in Latin, it was ¡°heresy,¡± and even banned printing and distributing the Bible.

    However, in reality, the Catholic Church never claimed that the Bible had to be in Latin to be valid, nor did they ever ban printing the Bible for distribution.@@@@

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 Chapter 175

    After wrapping up my schedule in the holy city, I went straight to an orphanage.

    It¡¯s not like I¡¯m here to heal or volunteer with some altruistic mission, playing the part of a good Samaritan.@@@@

    I came to meet someone who could be the most important key in my plans.

    ¡°This is the opposite of the typical orphanage I know.¡±

    ¡®But here, I can smell a human presence.¡¯

    The building being used as the orphanage is run-down, but it¡¯s clear that care has been taken to maintain it. The children¡¯s expressions are bright.

    Their nutritional status also seems relatively good.

    As I briefly surveyed the area, a young child cautiously approached me.

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 Chapter 176

    The Duke Visconti stared at me for a moment before continuing.

    ¡°Let¡¯s put that aside for now. So, why did you go to the Papal States? Was it really because of that Archbishop Urban?¡±

    The story about me being extorted for 20,000 gold coins in a thank-offering (extortion) from Archbishop Urban had only been shared with Erica, Chloe, and Kris.

    ¡°The Florence defense force sent word to me that Archbishop Urban came here. I had them follow him, and it seems he stopped by your place.¡±

    At his level, it¡¯s likely the Duke has his own people in the higher ranks of the defense force.

    So it wouldn¡¯t have been hard for him to use the defense force like his own hands and feet to monitor things.

    The world of power is truly astonishing the more you understand it.

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 Chapter 177

    There¡¯s almost nothing more entertaining in this world than watching a neighbor¡¯s love quarrel or a fire across the river.

    It doesn¡¯t affect me, but I can watch others fall into the abyss in real-time.

    In a place like the Albanian continent, where entertainment is scarce, this kind of spectacle could be enough to spark a small festival when a criminal is sentenced to death.

    Of course, even if the war ends, both countries will still buy weapons to prepare for any future conflict...

    But they won¡¯t buy in large quantities at the high prices they once did.

    You can sell a bottle of water for 10 million won to someone dying of thirst in the desert, but in a normal place, no one will pay more than 2,000 won for a bottle of water.

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 Chapter 178

    The tavern inside was far more chaotic than I had expected.

    There were fools blowing their horns with cheap liquor, and others singing songs that I couldn¡¯t even understand, drunkenly leaning on each other.

    In the corners of the room, there were several people vomiting and others fighting.@@@@

    I suppressed the urge to rub under my nose.

    Despite wearing ragged clothes, the nobles, like myself, with swords by their sides, were mingling with the common city folk.

    Though the lowest-tier nobles here, the ¡°lesser knights,¡± had no land or pensions and were essentially fallen nobility, it was still interesting to see them, regardless of status, all playing together without regard for hierarchy.

    ¡°Let your men outside come in. It¡¯s on me today, so tell them to eat and drink their fill.¡±

    There was a reason I had brought my entourage to such a tavern.

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 Chapter 179

    Hitting a machine might fix it, but hitting a person? There¡¯s really not much of a difference.

    As such, the beggars conscripted into the navy through the British Empire-style press gangs were successfully transformed into sailors¡ªor rather, reborn¡ªwithin just a few days.

    ¡°Hey, focus! Didn¡¯t I teach you to use every ounce of your strength when pulling the ropes? Do I need to make you spit out seaweed from your nose?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡±

    The one being yelled at just now, though, had recently joined and rapidly gained status, like skipping several steps to become a sergeant.

    ¡®Yesterday, I was at the bottom of the crew, and today, I¡¯m a low-ranking officer?¡¯

    It¡¯s the kind of story that feels like something out of a novel, and I understand why he¡¯s venting his frustrations.

    ¡°Ha, this is the sea. A ship! On this ship, any mistake you make, you¡¯ll have to take full responsibility for it yourself. Got it?!¡±

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 Chapter 180

    The village of the Botswana tribe, the central tribe of the tribal union.

    As soon as I arrived here, I immediately met with the tribal chief, Malik.

    Malik, upon seeing me, approached and embraced me warmly.

    ¡°My brother, it¡¯s been a long journey. Are you feeling well? No illnesses or injuries?¡±@@@@

    Eskimos, for instance, must burp when they are served a meal, or in some countries, they bake sardines into pie dough and eat it.

    In a world full of customs that are hard to understand by normal standards...

    The concept of becoming a full adult upon marriage exists everywhere.

    ¡°Congratulations on becoming an adult. How is life with your wife?¡±

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 Chapter 181

    The Toscanian Empire and the concept of a new religion¡ªtwo shocking ideas.@@@@

    Malik¡¯s expression contorted greatly upon hearing this startling revelation.

    He furrowed his brow into a frown and sighed deeply before looking at me and speaking.

    ¡°Explain it to me in a way that I can understand.¡±

    ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°The main reason I came here was to bring about the fall of Governor Nador. He¡¯s an enemy of our Toscanian Empire.¡±

    The enemy of my enemy is my ally.

    This principle was proven during World War II, when communists and capitalists, despite their vast differences, fought together against common enemies.

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 Chapter 182

    Malik gathered the other members of the Maasai Union.@@@@

    ¡°I apologize for calling you all together so suddenly. However, this is such an important matter that I had no choice but to urgently request your presence.¡±

    Upon hearing the mention of an important issue, tension crept onto the faces of the tribal chiefs of the Union.

    Fifteen victories in fifteen battles, with the size of each tribe expanding more than twice what it had been before the union.

    Their power, wealth, and status were now unimaginable compared to before.

    The more wars they fought, the more wealth they accumulated, which led to an addiction to war.

    It was like a nationwide gambling addiction, akin to the great Empire of Japan, where land and power were acquired through aggressive means.

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 Chapter 183

    When I returned to the mansion, the first person to greet me was Chris.

    "Welcome back, Baron. I hope your trip was not too exhausting."@@@@

    "Thank you for coming to greet me. By the way, where are Chloe and Erika?"

    "Lady Chloe is taking a bath, and Lady Erika is at her family¡¯s home. She said she¡¯ll be back by tomorrow afternoon. Should I send someone to fetch her?"

    "Anything happen while I was away?"

    "Nothing major, but the Commercial Affairs Bureau granted you the authority to establish a Poultry Farm Guild."

    The authority to establish a Poultry Farm Guild.

    The power contained in this authority was far greater than I had anticipated.

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 Chapter 184

    As soon as I arrived, the civil servants at the Commercial Affairs Bureau immediately recognized me and approached.

    "Baron Rothschild, thank you so much for making the effort to come all the way here."@@@@

    When I created the guild last time, my noble status had ensured that the officials gave me some preferential treatment. However, this time, as soon as I arrived, the official didn¡¯t rush out to greet me personally, nor did they call me ¡°Baron Rothschild¡± before introducing themselves. They didn¡¯t bow excessively either.

    ¡®How did they recognize me? I didn¡¯t even inform them I was coming.¡¯

    As a noble, I¡¯ve just recently been elevated to Baron, so my territory is small. But because I¡¯m the son-in-law of Duke Visconti, my political importance is relatively high.

    Given all this, it seems the Commercial Affairs Bureau sees me as a VIP.

    ¡®Considering even a low-ranking civil servant at the Bureau reacts like this, there¡¯s no need to doubt it.¡¯

    ¡°I came to discuss something regarding the Guild Management Department and the establishment of the Poultry Farm Guild. Could you pass my message along?¡±

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 Chapter 185

    In front of the Rothschild trading house, a fairly large queue had already formed from early in the morning.

    The line consisted of attendants sent by the heads of numerous noble families. Perhaps because of the high-ranking aides of very important people gathered here, it had turned into a sort of political scene.

    ¡°Hm-hm, I¡¯m here under the orders of Count Palma. Would you mind stepping aside?¡±

    ¡°Why are you making a fuss? The Count isn¡¯t even here, so what¡¯s with the show-off?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a big shot, a real big shot.¡±

    Among them, some of the more action-oriented citizens secretly withdrew all the money from their homes, away from their wives.

    It was a historically significant moment that proved the existence of those men who, in any era, would throw their entire fortune into gambling or investment.

    ¡°Baron Rothschild is going to make it big! I¡¯m betting everything¡ªexcept my wife and daughter!¡±

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 Chapter 186

    In the Piazza of Florence, some people were cheering wildly as if they had lost their minds.

    ¡°The Baron Rothschild is the Apostle of God, and the stock is the grace bestowed by the Lord!¡±

    If Fabio had seen this, he would have thought it was as absurd as a bunch of terrorists shouting "Allahu Akbar" while launching RPG-7 missiles. But for the people here, they were simply expressing their deep gratitude in a rather extreme form.

    It was sincere praise, spoken without any pretense or deceit.

    Anyone who didn¡¯t praise it would have been a fool.

    Of course, depending on the business performance, the dividend might decrease, or the stocks might be delisted.

    ¡®But Baron Rothschild will never fail.¡¯

    And of course, Baron Rothschild did not miss out on this flow.

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 Chapter 187

    Interfering with someone else¡¯s business, especially that of those in power, is madness.

    People in high positions always live with a sense of superiority.

    How annoying would it be if you pointed out their mistakes?@@@@

    However, even though I had pointed out that the imperial finances were in danger, the Emperor didn¡¯t immediately show anger when he saw me.

    ¡°When the value of buildings and land plummets, there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡±

    Even though I don¡¯t have the ability to look into parallel worlds with magic...

    This is practically an already determined future.

    It¡¯s like how, in quantum mechanics, the King Yeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty would have been observed dead when placed in the chest after being stabbed.

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 Chapter 188

    Someone else¡¯s misfortune is my happiness.

    It¡¯s the kind of thing only human trash would say, but it is also a truth that runs through the entire history of the world.

    Take the Age of Exploration, for example. Spain and Portugal fought each other with their invincible fleets, causing chaos, and in the end, they destroyed themselves.

    Then, the Netherlands quickly set up the East India Company, followed by England taking over.

    Ambushes were considered cowardly, so they would instead select knights to fight one-on-one in honorable duels before the war.

    If I told someone from that era about surprise attacks being allowed in modern warfare?

    Would they be able to accept the change in common sense?

    ¡®Of course, they wouldn¡¯t believe it.¡¯

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 Chapter 189

    ¡°No matter what era or world you find yourself in, people generally think the same. Whether it¡¯s people who went bankrupt from speculating on stocks or real estate, or those who lost everything in the Toscanian Empire.¡±@@@@

    I¡¯m not trying to make excuses, but unlike Yi Wan-yong, I won¡¯t sell out my own country or betray my nation¡¯s interests.

    For someone like me, living in Korea, the worst insult you can throw at someone is to call them "a traitor like Yi Wan-yong."

    Making money by destroying your own country and selling it out is not something I would do.

    Even though the slave trade was a lucrative business that could have lasted for 200 years, I didn¡¯t want to increase the number of victims like Chloe, who suffered from human trafficking.

    The profit wasn¡¯t worth it, so I gave it up.

    ¡°Of course, I didn¡¯t directly intervene. But I didn¡¯t warn them to stay away.¡±

    Even if I had warned the public, the outcome would have been the same.

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 Chapter 190

    There is a saying, "Even an ox horn should be pulled out when the iron is hot."

    It¡¯s good advice, saying that when you¡¯ve made a decision, don¡¯t procrastinate¡ªstart right away.

    Following the wisdom of our ancestors, I decided that the time had come and immediately began preparing to take action.@@@@

    ¡°Chris, have the guards Captain Marine sent arrived yet?¡±

    ¡°Go to the office now, send everyone home, and tell them to rest well today. If we get an avalanche of investment requests, they will have to work more than 4 hours a day for the next few weeks, so let them rest while they can.¡±

    Since this is a time without electricity or computers, at least we can sleep 4 hours a day.

    If there was just one incandescent bulb and people were a little more accustomed to working at night...

    There would probably be an influx of investment and inquiries that would force us to work 4 hours of sleep every day.

    ¡°If we¡¯re like a crazy company forcing its employees to work seven days a week, we should at least pay them well during times like this.¡±

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 Chapter 191

    There¡¯s a fact that people often forget.

    It¡¯s that the ones at the forefront of imperialism are often missionaries.

    Because missionaries have religious convictions that allow them to endure extreme conditions, they¡¯ve received high-level education since childhood, and they possess wisdom and knowledge acquisition skills.@@@@

    And they use all of that to conduct espionage while pretending to be harmless.

    Even after establishing a trade route, it¡¯s common for 15 to 50 out of 100 sailors to die during the journey due to the dangers.

    ¡°The fleet getting wiped out is also quite common.¡±

    That¡¯s why there are missionaries from the Jesuit order who set sail for overseas missions, ready to die at any moment as martyrs.

    ¡°If I work with overly pious people, it¡¯ll be hard for me to get what I want.¡±

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 Chapter 192

    ¡°What exactly does it mean to be at the vanguard of exploration?¡±

    In any organization, incompetent bosses tend to give vague orders and then tell their subordinates to figure out the rest on their own.

    Because the orders are unclear, they leave their subordinates in a contradictory situation where they can¡¯t do this or that.@@@@

    ¡°Your job will be to gather all the information related to the mission, learn and organize the local language and culture,¡± I explained.

    The British Empire, which is famous for its ability to colonize, still faced difficulties because of a lack of understanding and information about the local cultures.

    Minor problems early in the conquest can be forgiven, but the use of pig or beef fat to make the paper that covered cartridges, which triggered the Sepoy Rebellion, was truly an ignorant mistake.

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 Chapter 193

    "If I can''t have it, make sure my competition can''t have it either."

    This principle is one of the truths that applies not only to the history of warfare but also to international relations and trade.@@@@

    The reasoning behind it is very simple.

    If I can¡¯t have something, and my opponent can¡¯t have it either, then neither of us gains anything.

    ¡°I¡¯ve invested quite a lot in my son-in-law. As a shareholder, I must support the merchant I¡¯ve invested in. Honestly, if you fail, I¡¯ll go bankrupt, too. Bankruptcy.¡±

    The population of the Visconti Duchy alone is over a million, and aside from that, the wealth in real estate and other assets is so vast that it¡¯s hard to measure.

    Though it¡¯s unlikely that I¡¯d go bankrupt from a single investment...

    ¡®Given the amount I¡¯ve invested, I must make sure it succeeds.¡¯

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 Chapter 194

    The place where the Botswana tribe once lived had now transformed into something resembling a city.

    The mud houses were haphazardly clustered together, and the livestock, which used to be tied near the houses, now had separate stables built on the outskirts of the village.

    Some people were even wearing clothes just like those worn in the Toscanian Empire...

    ¡°It looks really good.¡±@@@@

    ¡°Chief Malik, how have you been all this time?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t we just see each other two and a half months ago? I¡¯ve been doing well. By the way, does this outfit look good on me?¡±

    Malik was wearing an aristocratic ceremonial outfit, something typically worn for special occasions.

    It was a very rare and precious piece of clothing, the kind a count would wear.

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 Chapter 195

    ¡°Tell me the specifics.¡±

    ¡°This is the content of the treaty we are about to sign.¡±@@@@

    I pulled out two documents¡ªone written in the script used by the Botswana tribe and others, and the other in Toscanian Empire¡¯s language¡ªand showed them to Malik.

    ¡°The Maasai Confederation and the Toscanian Empire will strengthen mutual goodwill and deepen their camaraderie.¡±

    ¡®He must have understood the implied meaning of not stabbing each other in the back.¡¯

    ¡°The Maasai Confederation can impose customs duties on goods exported from the Toscanian Empire. However, for specific items agreed upon by both the Toscanian Empire and the Maasai Confederation, customs duties can be exempted.¡±

    In treaties like the Treaty of Ganghwa or other unequal treaties, powerful imperialist nations unilaterally set and imposed customs duties.

    They would often prevent customs duties on essential raw materials or items sold domestically, a rather vicious tactic.

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 Chapter 196

    After passing on the great imperialist lesson of "conquer and pay it back" to the Maasai Confederation, I went to meet Ulfric, who was overseeing the development of the trade route to Soros City.@@@@

    Ulfric, like a proper United Kingdom man, was eating a sandwich with fresh cucumbers and bread.

    "Baron Rothschild, welcome."

    He handed the sandwich he was holding to his subordinate and quickly wiped his mouth.

    Yes, he could eat a cucumber sandwich.

    However, I would never agree to have a meal with him at my house, no matter what.

    Cucumber sandwiches or sardine pies are as harmful as a rotten religion.

    "Finish eating what you were having. I can¡¯t interrupt someone else¡¯s meal just because you didn¡¯t give me a heads-up."

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 Chapter 197

    There¡¯s a saying that music is the only drug allowed by the country.

    However, that¡¯s just something middle schoolers, intoxicated by music, say in order to look cool and boast.@@@@

    The true legal drug allowed by the country is stocks.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been holding out for a year, and suddenly the stock price jumps 2-3 times¡ªthat¡¯s not uncommon.¡±

    And even though you have to endure all sorts of harassment from your boss and put up with customers demanding refunds for ridiculous reasons,

    With stocks, all you need to do is invest your money and watch it multiply by itself.

    ¡°So, there were people who went so far as to pull out loans and invest, ready to sell their souls.¡±

    Most investments that are made by draining everything, even the soul, typically end with stock prices falling, leaving nothing behind.

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 Chapter 198

    In Florence Square, a wild celebration must be taking place right now.

    The ones who invested in my Ifriqiya trade stocks must be addicted to the drug that is stocks.@@@@

    The stock addicts, the ones who are in the final stages, will surely become the fertilizer for the flower of the Toscanian Empire¡¯s economic development.

    But right now, that¡¯s not what matters.

    Among my three wives, Chloe¡¯s affection for me is undoubtedly the strongest.

    Not only me, but even Erika and Chris agree that if I were to tragically die in some accident, Chloe would probably fall ill from the heartbreak and die.

    ¡®I was the one she loved, and I was the reason she wanted to live, right?¡¯

    If we¡¯re talking about the weight of love, she¡¯s probably more yandere, or even more extreme than that?

    Chloe gently touched her lower belly as she spoke.

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 Chapter 199

    In the Middle Ages, guilds played a dual role, like the two sides of a coin.

    After the Frankish kingdom dissolved, a hellish world where looting, murder, robbery, and rape were commonplace.@@@@

    In such a horrific society, people banded together in groups to preserve and pass on skills, achieving some progress.

    After the wars ended, guilds played a significant role in stabilizing and growing society and the economy.

    They claim that guilds, in their effort to protect their own interests, have become addicted to overpricing, merely charging excessively to maintain their control.

    Everyone wants to fix this system, but...

    Those who don¡¯t know any system other than the guilds fail to find another way and eventually give up.

    There are those who don¡¯t give up, though, and try to come up with ways to replace the guilds.

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 Chapter 200

    The rumors were already spreading far and wide, like words without legs traveling more than a thousand miles.

    The rumors spread by Baron Rothschild had reached the Pisa Blacksmith Guild as well.

    ¡°Damn Florence bastards. What? Are they saying we¡¯re inferior in skills to them?¡±@@@@

    ¡°Did they boil their sense of reason with stew or something?¡±

    There was no need to stir things up with the neighboring guild.

    But the master of the Pisa Blacksmith Guild, Gildo, was no longer able to retain his rational mind after hearing these rumors.

    ¡°I heard one of the senior craftsmen from the Florence Blacksmith Guild said that the Pisa craftsmen are so incompetent, they would only be apprentices in the Florence Guild.¡±

    Most craftsmen endure a pitiful apprenticeship for about ten years, restraining their youthful desires and romantic distractions, grinding away like dogs in order to eventually become masters.

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 Chapter 201

    "Scatter the enemy and unite your forces."

    This is one of the principles that must be followed to achieve victory in war.@@@@

    No, not just in war, but also in politics, business, and so on.

    In fact, I heard that a thoughtless loan shark¡¯s rookie employee said something similar when visiting a debtor''s home.

    But I have no such intentions whatsoever.

    ¡®Chris, I can handle one Chloe, but just thinking about two, soon to be three... is overwhelming.¡¯

    And if it becomes four? From that day forward, my death would be guaranteed a spot as the most honorable of all¡ªa death by suicide.

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 Chapter 202

    "Abolishing the guild system is like telling Gildo to burn his own table, or rather, his entire fortune."

    Any sane person would naturally feel resistance to such a suggestion.@@@@

    ¡°What? What did you just say?¡±

    ¡°You heard me correctly. I want you to advise His Majesty the Emperor to abolish the guild system.¡±

    Now, let me try to guess why he¡¯s so unsettled.

    Before I could begin my reasoning, however, Gildo himself answered a question I hadn¡¯t even asked.

    ¡°If I were to advise His Majesty to abolish the guild system, all the guild masters across the country would come after me and try to kill me.¡±

    Economics and power are as precious as life itself.

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 Chapter 203

    The imperial parliament is not exactly a system that fits well with a country aiming for absolute monarchy.

    Perhaps because of this, the Imperial Parliament only convenes once a year in most cases.

    The topics usually discussed are major matters, such as amendments to the empire''s constitution.

    However, in the case of disasters like a declaration of war or a large-scale emergency, an urgent convocation order is sometimes issued.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be nervous just because it¡¯s an emergency session. From what I¡¯ve heard, the issue this time isn¡¯t about a major earthquake or a full-scale war against the Milanians.¡±

    I know what¡¯s being discussed in this session.

    To be more precise, a guild master requested the abolition of the guild system, and the emperor is undoubtedly cheering and raising both hands in approval.

    Previously, it was difficult to propose the abolition of the guild system, as it wouldn¡¯t hold up as a legitimate argument if it was initiated by the emperor or the nobility.

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 Chapter 204

    The guild masters of the carpenters from all over the empire had gathered.@@@@

    They wore expressions that looked as if they were ready to take up arms and kill enemies at any moment.

    No, they were in a state where they would have no qualms about killing one or two people if it meant protecting the interests they had upheld for generations.

    Tischler, the master of the Torino Carpentry Guild, had the same mindset as them.

    The Florence Guild master represents all the guilds in the region, but in reality, he is just a representative. His actual standing is essentially equal to the others, and it¡¯s impossible for him to interfere with other guilds.

    Even though he¡¯s a representative, he still has to use respectful language.

    ¡°Thanks to the guilds that have been passed down from our ancestors to us, the empire has been able to progress. We¡¯ve blocked the decline of ancient techniques and continuously developed them.¡±

    Overall, this wasn¡¯t entirely incorrect.

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 Chapter 205

    Adam Smith said that the division of labor is the greatest force driving economic development.

    According to the famous pin factory story...

    If one craftsman can make 10 pins in a day, then if 10 craftsmen are gathered and a thorough division of labor is implemented, they can produce up to 48,000 pins.

    To be honest, that was an exaggeration to emphasize the effects of division of labor.

    But it was the division of labor that succeeded in increasing production efficiency.

    And over time, various machines were invented.

    ¡°Even without the steam engine, it would still be like an Industrial Revolution.¡±

    As I approached the factory, black smoke from burning coal rose from the chimney.

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 Chapter 206

    It¡¯s been almost a year since the Kingdom of Lyon and the Holy Empire went to war.

    Unlike modern wars, where battles last for years and all a nation¡¯s resources are thrown into the conflict, wars on the medieval continent of Albania usually end within 2¨C3 months, or at most six months.

    The battles generally involve a large-scale clash that decides the outcome with a single victory or defeat.@@@@

    But the Holy Empire was a coalition force, and there were likely constant disagreements between the commander of the papal army and the high-ranking officials of the Holy Empire.

    The Kingdom of Lyon, with the advantage of defense and unified command, was bound to have the upper hand in the battle.

    ¡°If you have any information about the progress of the war, read it in detail.¡±

    ¡°Initially, the Holy Empire¡¯s army and the mercenaries hired by the Papacy pushed the Kingdom of Lyon¡¯s forces back little by little. The coalition forces, emboldened by their progress, rushed to secure a decisive victory.¡±

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 Chapter 207

    One philosopher once described the Holy Roman Empire as a country that was neither holy, Roman, nor an empire.

    However, the Holy Empire of the era I live in is a great power that can rightfully be called an empire.

    With a population of a whopping 60 million, the government¡¯s budget alone is several times larger than that of the Tuscan Empire.@@@@

    Though I¡¯m not a billionaire, with enough money given to the stonemasons and gardeners in the Tuscan Empire, I could easily build several such estates in Florence.

    Sebastian smiled at me and spoke at length.

    "When I came to Vienna 10 years ago, the city was already this magnificent. Now, it¡¯s quiet because it¡¯s outside the nobles¡¯ active hours, but in 3 to 4 hours, when the bureaucrats finish their work and the social gatherings start..."

    Sebastian looked around with a nostalgic gaze.

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 Chapter 208

    In novels, newspapers, movies, and dramas, everything must start with something provocative to attract people¡¯s attention.

    If it isn¡¯t stimulating, people won¡¯t even bother to listen to the story.

    Why? It¡¯s not that they¡¯re too busy, but because their interest fades instantly.

    In internet slang, it¡¯s because they¡¯re lacking dopamine.

    Provocative stories are irresistible.

    The thief leader in front of me tilted his index finger and smirked.

    Does this mean he won¡¯t give the information until he gets paid?

    Clever little thing, I liked him.@@@@

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 Chapter 209

    The Red Sunset Tavern, where many of the common folk of Vitelzbach gathered.

    In front of it, a man was holding a newspaper and loudly reading the contents for everyone to hear.@@@@

    ¡°Listen up! It¡¯s been reported that a horrific serial murder occurred in the Vitelzbach Barony, where a son killed his parents and siblings! Who would commit such a vile crime?!¡±

    ¡°Did you hear that? What kind of twisted son would do such a thing?¡±

    ¡°Like a heathen! He kills his own parents? You must listen to your parents as if they were the words of Deus himself!¡±

    Compared to the frenzied and extreme filial piety found in Joseon, where sometimes widowed daughters-in-law were encouraged by their father-in-laws to commit suicide (referred to as natural deaths), the culture on this continent was a little softer.

    However, this world still placed great emphasis on patriarchy and filial duty.

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 Chapter 210

    The Emperor accepted my unexpected request for an audience.

    ¡°Are you the Baron Rothschild? You look much younger than I imagined.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°It would be great if we had young, wise nobles like you in our Holy Empire. I¡¯ve never been envious of other kings, but looking at you, I sometimes find myself envying the Emperor of Tuscany.¡±@@@@

    Outwardly, I¡¯m known as the man of coffee and seaweed from foreign lands.

    The Emperor said this and licked his lips.

    It seemed like the Emperor was trying to make a joke, perhaps a royal joke.

    But instead of being funny or absurd, it sent a slight chill down my spine.

    ¡®Was he really thinking of making me disappear (kidnap me or force me into military service)?¡¯

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 Chapter 211

    When you look at the rich folks, there¡¯s one thing in common.

    When someone hands them something saying it¡¯s free, they get furious as if they¡¯re going to smash the person¡¯s head, or they show extreme rejection.

    You might wonder why they hate receiving something without paying for it.

    But if you shift your perspective just a little, it will make perfect sense.@@@@

    ¡°What exactly is this printing technology?¡±

    ¡°To put it simply, it¡¯s a technology that allows you to print books like stamps.¡±

    From woodblock printing, metal movable type, Gutenberg¡¯s printing press, all the way to the laser printers we use today.

    The fundamental principle of printing has remained unchanged, where letters and images are stamped onto paper.

    The only thing that¡¯s changed over time is the speed at which it¡¯s done.

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 Chapter 212

    There is a law that applies universally to families, companies, and nations.@@@@

    When there¡¯s enough money, people get along well and don¡¯t fight, but when money becomes scarce, conflicts are almost certain to arise.

    This is a well-established law, proven by statistics and history.

    To a devout Deus follower, this fight would be so ugly that in 0.1 seconds, they¡¯d be questioning their faith, and in 10 minutes, they¡¯d abandon it altogether.

    However, the people involved in this fight couldn¡¯t stop.

    This was a war.

    ¡®We need to pin the blame on one person and bury that bastard.¡¯

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 Chapter 213

    "I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m out here with you, just the two of us. It feels like a dream."

    Isn¡¯t that something usually said by couples just starting out in a relationship? You know, those couples who feel a thrill just from holding hands, their hearts racing?@@@@

    We¡¯ve done everything, including kissing, and even got pregnant.

    And here she is, all happy just because we¡¯re on a simple date in the city.

    ¡°The baby in my belly will definitely be happy, too.¡±

    For about a week, let¡¯s really take a break and not do anything except sign papers.

    Our Rothschild family is not a small business that can¡¯t run without a CEO. I¡¯ve grown the business enough that it can run even without me.

    If I only work and neglect my family, I¡¯ll regret it so much later.

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 Chapter 214

    Father Stefano erupted in anger the moment he saw me.

    ¡°No, the Pope must have lost his mind. There¡¯s no way he could commit such a crime unless he¡¯s completely lost it!¡±

    I don¡¯t agree with that statement.

    If he had truly lost his mind, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to think of selling indulgences so boldly.

    This was something that had been issued long before Martin Luther¡¯s 95 Theses, but as he said, these were taxes to gather extra funds for the Church.

    The poor are too busy worrying about their daily bread.

    The priests, who had thrown their conscience over the Jordan River, would sell these indulgences to the rich, saying, "If you buy this, your parents will reach heaven faster."

    Now, they¡¯re pulling from everyone, from the poor to the rich, like catching mice.@@@@

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 Chapter 215

    ¡°May the peace of God be with you. Alchini, how have you been?¡±

    As soon as Alchini saw me, he clasped his hands together and responded.

    ¡°Thanks to you, sir, no, Lord Baron, I¡¯ve been doing quite well. The coffee sales have been quite profitable.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that business is going well.¡±

    ¡®My effort was important, but the timing made it perfect for me to strike.¡¯

    ¡°Thank you for your compliments, Alchini. By the way, I¡¯d like to buy some beautiful flowers, do you have any recommendations?¡±

    When he heard the word ¡°flowers,¡± Alchini tilted his head in confusion.

    After all, flowers aren¡¯t typically a profitable business.

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 Chapter 216

    "May God''s peace be with you. Alchini, how have you been?"

    Alchini immediately took my hand as soon as he saw me and responded warmly.

    "My lord, thanks to you, I¡¯ve been doing very well. The coffee sales are going quite well."

    "I¡¯m glad to hear the business is doing well."

    ¡®My effort was part of it, but the times were just right for it.¡¯

    "Thank you for the praise, Alchini. By the way, I was hoping to buy some beautiful flowers. Do you have any good options?"

    At the mention of flowers, Alchini tilted his head in curiosity.

    Flowers, in general, aren¡¯t typically a lucrative business.@@@@

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 Chapter 217

    "If you have money, you can even command ghosts."

    This is an extremely common and universally accepted piece of knowledge, so much so that similar sayings exist wherever you go in the world.

    Even the notoriously hard-to-enter Harvard University will allow you to ''legally'' enroll if you donate billions in cash.

    In America, if you spend an immense amount of money, a lawyer might even create a new mental illness called ''rich person''s syndrome'' to help get you off the hook with a judge.

    Medieval citizenship can be broadly divided into three types: serfs, citizens who can live in cities, and nobles.

    Among these, becoming a noble is almost impossible for someone like me, a foreigner, no matter how much money I pour into it, and gaining serf status is also unexpectedly difficult.

    To become a noble, you need to bribe someone of higher rank, such as a baron or above.

    As for becoming a serf, you need to have your name added to the baptismal list at a village church, and for that, I¡¯d have to go all the way to a village, negotiate ''appropriately'' with the local priest.

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 Chapter 218

    As Fabio had predicted, the tulips quickly took over the trend in the Holy Empire.

    At first, it was thanks to the advertisements claiming that tulips suited beautiful women, which led the noble young ladies to start purchasing them.

    Noble families, who believed that failing to follow the trend meant certain doom, began buying hundreds, even thousands, of tulips, decorating entire corners of their gardens with them.

    Seeing the nobles do this, ordinary citizens also began buying dozens of tulips at a time...

    Then, as if to show how badly he was burning inside, he gulped down the black tea placed in front of him.

    "I wish I could do something about it, but the tulips themselves are expensive, and the rare tulips, well, they¡¯re worth whatever people are willing to pay... no, even if I offer a high price, it¡¯s still hard to obtain them."

    Though rare tulips were indeed hard to come by, Fabio had prepared for this situation in advance.

    He had crossbred only tulips infected with the Mosaic virus and had stockpiled thousands of them in Guillaume City. Furthermore, he had bred them to produce bulb seeds that were highly likely to bloom into Mosaic tulips, which were then sold mixed in with the gacha draws.

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 Chapter 219

    The realization that tulips were just flowers shook the capital of the Holy Empire, Vienna.

    ¡°No matter how beautiful tulips are, they¡¯re just flowers! They have no value beyond that!¡±

    Much like how a pirate¡¯s execution, with the claim that all the world¡¯s treasures were left behind, drove other pirates to the seas, the realization that tulips were nothing more than mere flowers was the catalyst that brought people back to their senses.

    The tulip in the pot was nothing more than a plain, single-colored flower, but the shock it caused was enough to send those gathered around into a frenzy.

    The crowd in the plaza gazed up at the sky with hollow eyes, sighing and wailing in despair, as though their parents had just passed away.

    ¡°I spent all my wealth on this and it¡¯s just a flower?¡±

    ¡°Dammit, we¡¯re all ruined! Mathilda! Maria! Joseph! I¡¯m sorry, Dad!!¡±

    ¡°This can¡¯t, it can¡¯t be happening!¡±

    It was as if the coin investors who had invested all their wealth in LuNa Coin only to be left with nothing when the CEO disappeared were now the same people who realized that investing everything into tulips had only left them with flower petals.

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 Chapter 220

    The tulip coin scam, or rather the legitimate business venture (since it¡¯s not illegal), was a success, and the Rothschild family¡¯s foreign exchange warriors had returned.

    "Luca Orsini, at the behest of the baron, has returned after delivering a small gift to the Holy Empire."

    The recipient of that gift might not have thought much of it, but I can¡¯t stand bad behavior like rejecting someone¡¯s goodwill.

    If you give someone something with a sincere heart, they should accept it with gratitude.@@@@

    To make money during a bubble economy, where the value of goods is extremely overestimated, the most reliable and profitable method is to short-sell when the value of a particular item peaks.

    Of course, it¡¯s not an easy task.

    If a beginner tries it, there''s a 99% chance they¡¯ll end up diving into the Han River and going through some alternate-world gacha instead.

    ¡®Strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t exactly short-selling.¡¯

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 Chapter 221

    I made a huge amount of money from the tulip scam, but I can''t just sit here and enjoy the comforts of life.

    My own ambitions drive me to grow even more; I have a strong desire to advance further rather than remain in my current position. But I also have to rise higher to avoid falling into the clutches of those wicked people who seek to devour the Rothschild baronial family and seize its fortune.@@@@

    To survive, for my family, I cannot stop my actions in the Great Empire. How cruel the gods are.

    But objectively speaking, it seems entirely possible.

    "Sebastian, is it alright to come in?"

    "Come in."

    As soon as Sebastian saw me, he immediately handed over the documents.

    "There''s no significant issue with the Rothschild trading house or the estate, but there are frequent problems related to stocks here and there. And they''re quite large in scale."

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 Chapter 222

    The position of a corporate chairman depends on the company they lead.

    If it''s a small company, the position might be settled at the level of a large corporation''s executive, but if it''s the chairman of a large corporation, they may receive the same level of respect as ministers at national evee also varies drastically depending on which company¡¯s chairman you are.

    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting me an audience despite the sudden request.¡±

    Upon hearing my thanks, the Emperor smugly responded.

    ¡°Though I am busy, I am not foolish enough to ignore the counsel of a wise man like the Baron.¡±

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 Chapter 223

    ¡°Indeed, I agree with the Baron¡¯s suggestion that a new profession should be created to prevent those who commit fraud with stocks.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°However, do you really think it¡¯s necessary to create a university to train them?¡±

    In the Tuscany Empire, or rather, anywhere on the Albanian continent, a university degree is treated like a passed civil service exam.

    Of course, the level of study required at medieval universities is not comparable to passing any exam.@@@@

    ¡®From the Emperor¡¯s perspective, he must be worried about the class system.¡¯

    ¡°As long as the stock system continues, the scale of money moving through stocks will only grow, much larger than it is now.¡±

    One of the major factors supporting the Age of Discovery and the Industrial Revolution was the stock system.

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 Chapter 224

    The value of medieval universities depended heavily on securing excellent professors.

    In today¡¯s society, where there is an abundance of candidates with doctoral degrees, securing exceptional professors does not always directly correlate with the university¡¯s level.

    Even prestigious universities like the University of Bologna and the University of Paris, often regarded as medieval Harvards, had periods when they lacked competent professors, especially outside theology and law.

    "Back in the medieval era, a university with many good professors was considered prestigious, right?"

    The voice of the coachman broke my thoughts.

    "We''ve arrived, Baron. This is the Conto family''s mansion."

    "Wait here for a moment. It¡¯s cold, so feel free to stay in the carriage and avoid the wind. I¡¯ll light the stove inside to warm it up."

    In other families, even in the coldest of winters, the coachmen wouldn¡¯t be offered such a luxury. They¡¯d be told to wait outside, regardless.

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 Chapter 225

    "Are you doing this for the money?"

    If someone like your boss or acquaintance says such a thing, there''s a 99% chance that person is a bloodsucker, worse than a dog, trying to suck your life dry.

    They always throw around words like "passion pay," "unpaid overtime," and "weekend and holiday work" with no hesitation.@@@@

    The business I¡¯m running also needs to be something I can continue to profit from 10, 100 years down the line.

    Otherwise, the latecomers will dare to surpass me.

    Though, from a market or national perspective, that may be seen as healthy competition, from my point of view, it would only result in my life being at risk.

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 Chapter 226

    Ollio, who had arrived at the Rothschild Barony, went straight to the university for the interview.

    He believed the simple promise that if he had the will, he could enter the accounting and technical departments even without any prior knowledge.@@@@

    If Fabio had seen this, he would have laughed until his stomach hurt.

    Ollio had expected everyone to present themselves with dignity, as knowledgeable individuals, but the scene before him was the complete opposite.

    Groups of two or three people were talking in crude language.

    "Even though it''s a newly established university, since His Majesty granted the establishment permit, graduating here should allow us to work as bureaucrats, right?"

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 Chapter 227

    There¡¯s no human being in this world whose past doesn''t leave behind a single trace.

    Even historians who delve into the theory of the legendary general Won Gyun end up becoming fans of Admiral Yi Sun-sin once they dig deep enough. While there are exceptional cases, such as the great independence fighter who sold bean sprouts, most people, when their past is investigated, will have dirt fall out as soon as you shake them.

    ¡°Even if you casually go to any noble house and conduct an audit, someone''s going to end up dead from shock or bad luck.¡±

    Ideally, I would target my political rivals¡ªthose under the Duke of Sforza.

    But if I start auditing my political enemies, everyone will question the credibility of the audit.

    If I audit a rival faction or a family I¡¯m personally hostile to...

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be an attempt to fabricate facts and twist them?¡±

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 Chapter 228

    The Duke chuckled lightly after listening to me.

    "Among the nobles, there¡¯s no one who wouldn¡¯t want to gain absolute loyalty from their subordinates."

    East and West, two cultures that hardly share anything in common except for the fact that they are both human. But even between these two, there is one ideology that transcends.

    "This is where the difference between the West and the East starts."

    My thoughts wandered for a moment, but the important thing is that for a ruler to maintain power, there is only one key element.

    Gaining the loyalty of subordinates.

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 Chapter 229

    After Fabio returned home, the Duke had finished his external duties and came back to the Visconti estate.

    "Welcome back, Alfred."

    No matter the era, the nobility always faces the constraint of arranged marriages. They might pay a fortune to indulge in a private affair, but in the end, it¡¯s the contractual, often politically motivated marriage that matters.

    This is because their unions can have enormous economic effects, equivalent to deals involving billions or even trillions of gold coins. When thousands or tens of thousands of lives are at stake, a romance outside the arrangement could lead to catastrophic economic losses.

    The situation with Count Farnese''s son and Count Pisa¡¯s daughter could have caused a similar upheaval, so it wasn''t surprising that Alfred, the heir to the Visconti Duke faction, took charge.

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 Chapter 230

    When I arrived at the Visconti estate, a stunning sight unfolded before me.

    The nobles of the estate, all of them, seemed to be waiting for my visit.

    Yet, now that I, her son-in-law, had arrived, they were lavishing me with such excessive protocol.

    As expected, my earlier warning about the "audit of the accounts" had already made them bend over backward without me even having to ask.

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 Chapter 231

    In modern society, even high-ranking public officials, or mid-level government employees, are required to submit their financial statements.@@@@

    The reason for this is to monitor whether they have taken bribes and committed acts that go against the national interest.

    ¡®A person whose total assets were 100 million suddenly has 1 billion?¡¯

    However, with accounting books, any form of corruption leaves traces.

    ¡°Baron, after reviewing the spending records of the Visconti Duke¡¯s estate, it¡¯s no surprise, we¡¯ve found indications of embezzlement using various methods.¡±

    We often hear news of politicians or businessmen embezzling large sums, but in reality, embezzlement is a crime that is much closer to us than we think.

    Embezzling billions is one thing, but when you break it down, even stealing a single pen or a roll of toilet paper from a company is technically embezzlement.

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 Chapter 232

    The finance minister, sweating profusely, retorted in an agitated voice.

    ¡°Yes, I did embezzle funds. But my family, the Cotina and Junnamak families, have served the Visconti Duke¡¯s family for 250 years. So why would I betray His Grace? Please stop with these unfounded accusations.¡±

    It¡¯s not like I¡¯m a thief with guilt creeping up on me, sweating while denying it. At moments like this, if you calmly say "I didn¡¯t do it," without flinching, it¡¯s much more convincing than if you act anxious.

    While I appreciate his frankness, I can¡¯t help but think, ¡®Isn¡¯t this a bit too sloppy?¡¯

    Our family staff would voluntarily deal with those who betray the Baron¡¯s grace by stuffing them into a barrel and tossing them out.

    But, of course, this is a matter exclusive to the Rothschild family.

    I can accept that much.

    ¡°So please, don¡¯t accuse me falsely.¡±@@@@

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 Chapter 233

    The Duke of Visconti greeted me warmly.

    "You''ve had a long journey. How was the financial situation of the Visconti Estate?"

    The Duke said this with a slight smirk, as if he was mocking me.

    He probably thinks that I¡¯ve caught a lot of the corrupt officials using the most advanced cleaning tools, like a super vacuum cleaner.@@@@

    When the Duke heard that about 20% of the taxes had been embezzled, he maintained a calm expression.

    It seemed like he had expected something like this.

    In fact, he probably suspected that his subordinates were embezzling exactly this much.

    ''The salaries of the officials and administrators are unreasonably low.''

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 Chapter 234

    If one out of every hundred people is addicted to drugs, then simply punishing drug addicts severely could help reduce drug addiction.

    If someone is caught trafficking drugs, they¡¯re executed; if they¡¯re caught using, they get 20 years in prison.

    But, aside from those who are addicted to the point that they can''t live without it, who would voluntarily touch drugs?@@@@

    At this point, drug addiction has spread beyond a few outliers, almost like an epidemic.

    We need to find the cause of the epidemic and eliminate it.

    The widespread corruption in the Visconti family is similar to this situation.

    ¡°We can¡¯t eliminate all the corruption.¡±

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 Chapter 235

    "Baron Rothschild, the Parneze Count family has sent 1,000 gold coins as a reward for the accounting audit you conducted for them."@@@@

    "I already received a huge sum just for starting the audit, and now they¡¯re giving me a separate reward. It seems like our accounting audit really impressed them."

    Even though the budget handled by the Parneze Count family is large, the investigation into corruption is typically finished in about two weeks.

    "Of the 1,000 gold coins, 300 should be given as an additional bonus to the accountants who audited the Parneze Count family. Give them a 3-day vacation as well."

    "Yes, understood."

    "And handle the rewards from other families the same way. 30% of the reward should be given to the auditors involved as bonuses."

    Right now, the accountants working for us aren¡¯t lacking in money.

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 Chapter 236

    I had known that this would eventually happen someday.@@@@

    I had prepared myself countless times in my mind, but when I heard that Chloe¡¯s labor had started, my head went blank, and I had no idea what to do.

    ¡°Baron, please take a deep breath and calm yourself.¡±

    I followed those words and took a deep breath.

    It¡¯s generally useless to yell at an inexperienced subordinate to get the job done faster.

    In fact, often after being severely scolded, their performance drops, and work slows down.

    Would the midwives helping Chloe with the birth be any different?

    If I were glaring from the next room like I might start shouting at any moment, they could become intimidated without even realizing it.

    ¡°There¡¯s no urgent problem right now. The rest of the tasks will be handled by me, so Baron, please hurry back to the mansion.¡±

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 Chapter 237

    In this world, it¡¯s very common to try to save a little money and end up losing a fortune.

    There are stories of building owners who didn¡¯t want to pay for fire insurance, thinking a few thousand a month was a waste, only to have their buildings burn down and end up bankrupt because they didn¡¯t get a single coin of compensation.

    Or people who refuse necessary vaccinations because they¡¯re too cheap to pay for them, only to later contract serious diseases and end up with astronomical medical bills, even losing their lives.

    There are countless people who¡¯ve ruined their fates by trying to save the money needed for proper preparation.

    The Rothschild Baron¡¯s imperialistic ¡°gift¡± (which causes disaster when received) would be recognized, and they¡¯d do everything in their power to remove me from this world.

    Much like the way the British ruined their own cuisine.

    ¡®Did the British start eating Korean food because they understood the concept of taste in food?¡¯

    Their own food was merely something to consume for nutrition, while Korean food considers the eater¡¯s taste buds as well.

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 Chapter 238

    Every group has its traitors.

    If someone sells out their country, they become a traitor like Lee Wan-yong, and if they sell out a company, they become an industrial spy.

    For the person who¡¯s being betrayed, there¡¯s nothing worse in the world than that.

    But for the betrayer and the people who partner with them, there¡¯s an enormous profit to be made.@@@@

    The law of the jungle, or rather, the careless ones go first.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Kris?¡±

    Kris, who had brought the report in place of Sebastian, gave a subtle smile and nodded.

    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate for them, but they brought it upon themselves.¡±

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 Chapter 239

    Before the Industrial Revolution, the standard for the middle class was this:@@@@

    Could the entire family make or buy new clothes at least once a year?

    It''s a hard concept to understand for modern people who buy at least a few sets of clothes a year, but in the days before spinning wheels and weaving machines, creating a single piece of clothing required immense labor, and as a result, the price of clothes inevitably increased.

    So, whether it was wool or cotton, simply turning them into clothes resulted in huge added value.

    I could make clothes at least 10 times faster than others, and reduce the labor cost that makes up the bulk of the price of clothes to under 10%.

    ¡®For the price of one piece of clothing that others sell, we could sell about 4 to 5 pieces.¡¯

    ¡°This too is British wisdom. After all, the British Empire is right about everything except food, right?¡±

    We¡¯ve all heard of the East India Company, but we often don¡¯t know exactly what they sold to make a profit.

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 Chapter 240

    As the saying goes, "Rome wasn''t built in a day."

    The city of Avito, which had barely started to be built, had no buildings erected yet.

    The workers'' accommodations were nothing more than hastily set-up tents on a barren land, and everywhere, weeds and stones scattered around.

    Thinking about building a city in such a place made me feel somewhat overwhelmed.

    Take the example of the honorary Martian, the Harvard dropout obsessed with computers.

    Those folks are praised as wise because their ventures succeeded, but if they failed...

    The honorary Martian would be a fool who worked 100 hours a week with no results, and the Harvard dropout would be a disgrace for wasting his life.

    If this new city project fails, the nobility, merchants, and serfs of the Tuscany Empire will laugh at me.

    ¡®In life, the only place where the process matters, to put it extremely, is in court.¡¯

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 Chapter 241

    I heard this story on a Japanese website.

    There was a man whose abilities were clearly average, but he rose to the position of director.@@@@

    On the day he retired, he allegedly said this:

    ¡°The reason I made it this far was because I passed on as many mistakes as possible to my subordinates.¡±

    While I was lost in thought, Sebastian, sitting next to me in the carriage, spoke up.

    ¡°What are you thinking so deeply about?¡±

    ¡°I was thinking about where to sell the fabric made in the factory.¡±

    Worrying about whether the fabric would sell or not is honestly the most pointless worry in the world.

    We¡¯re selling a product that is ridiculously short in supply compared to demand, at about half of the original price.

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 Chapter 242

    In The Prince, it is said:

    The moment a ruler is seen as an easy target, his subordinates will stick a knife in his back.

    On the other hand, if a ruler remains a figure of fear, he will remain safe.

    This lesson has been applied to every ruler, and will undoubtedly continue to be applied.

    ¡°And what does that have to do with getting revenge on the Holy Empire?¡±

    Saying we would get revenge on the Holy Empire and then suggesting we sell fabric at low prices is a completely out-of-the-blue statement.

    It¡¯s like saying, "Let¡¯s go for lunch" but then responding, "I have plans with my mom for dinner."

    Still, despite giving such a ridiculous response, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs did not protest.

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 Chapter 243

    Giovanni Marchesi, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Tuscany Empire, was sitting in a carriage, his face pale as he sweated coldly.

    "Lord Rothschild, that bastard is no human! He''s a devil disguised in human skin. How can anyone be so wicked?"

    As the heir to the Marchesi Count family, a noble family known for their legal background, Giovanni had devoted nearly 30 years of his life as a diplomat for the Empire since he was 20. He had done things that he could proudly speak of to anyone, as well as covert operations that he could never, ever speak of publicly.@@@@

    When Giovanni first heard this, he was deeply impressed.

    Some had said that Lord Rothschild attended church during the day and drank with Satan at night, but at least he felt there was loyalty to the Empire and the Imperial family at the core of it all.

    So, if the conversation had ended there, Giovanni, as a member of the legal nobility and a supporter of the Imperial family, would have naturally thought:

    "Lord Rothschild may be cunning, but it''s all for the country, right?"

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 Chapter 244

    The road to death is paved with good intentions.

    I was deeply impressed when I first heard this saying.

    As the saying goes, all the swindlers in this world speak only sweet words, as if their mouths are coated with honey.

    Therefore, I have never personally been involved in such scams in my life.

    The tulip mania was a case where people made huge sums of money by buying and selling rare tulips, and many people voluntarily invested all their wealth into it.

    In stocks, those who bought shares from Rothschild''s firm became wealthy.

    These days, there¡¯s a baron I meet at balls who calls me "brother," and he made a fortune by mortgaging part of his land and taking an interest-free loan.

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 Chapter 245

    Peter, a farmer living in a rural village in the Ahiternach Baronage, came to sell woolen and cotton fabrics to a merchant in the nearby town, just like he had done last year.

    The merchant, arrogantly clicking his abacus, calculated the figures and said:@@@@

    "Let¡¯s see, 400 pieces of cotton fabric and 100 pieces of woolen fabric. If we calculate at today¡¯s prices, I can offer you about 90 gold coins."

    Of course, if it came to that, Peter would sell his daughter to save his family, but...

    Even though he was a poor serf, selling his own child to the debt collectors was the absolute last resort.

    Therefore, Peter, representing the entire village, protested.

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 Chapter 246

    The people being manipulated rarely even realize they''re being manipulated.

    It¡¯s only after the manipulation is over that they realize they were being controlled like puppets.

    As the saying goes, people who fall victim to scams often don¡¯t realize that they¡¯ve been "designed" for the scam until it¡¯s too late.@@@@

    Of course, the best scammers are those who can make the victim not even realize they¡¯ve been scammed until it¡¯s already too late, and then they run away without leaving a trace.

    The high-ranking individuals will naturally come to the reasonable conclusion that it was the work of the Kingdom of Lyon.

    "The Kingdom of Lyon will try to deny it no matter what. This time, they¡¯ll claim that they have nothing to do with it. But the Holy Empire won¡¯t believe that. They¡¯d sooner believe that crabs walk forward than accept that."

    Even if doubts arise in their minds, without proof, if the Kingdom of Lyon continues to deny involvement, they might begin to believe them, especially if their excuses sound reasonable.

    Even if there¡¯s a strange feeling, they¡¯ll have to accept it and move on.

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 Chapter 247

    The good things and the bad things¡ªboth tend to explode all at once, much like a volcano erupting.

    There are many stories of people who suddenly start to succeed in their businesses or become financially stable after having children or getting married.

    On the other hand, many people face sudden losses, such as losing their wife to illness or being unexpectedly fired from their jobs, pushing them into a corner.

    Anyone who has even the slightest experience in this line of work would know this basic rule.

    However, the fact that this messenger is telling me how hard they worked shows that he¡¯s a rookie at this. But in this case, given the secrecy involved, it must mean someone directly working at the pearl farm came to deliver the news personally.

    "Take a deep breath and calm down. Then speak slowly."

    The messenger listened to my words, took a deep breath, and then continued.

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 Chapter 248

    There are certain things that must be followed in order to survive natural disasters such as fires, earthquakes, and tsunamis.@@@@

    The most important thing is to maintain your composure even in the midst of chaos.

    You might ask, how can anyone remain calm in a situation where dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of people might soon perish?

    But just like how one can survive entering a tiger''s den as long as they keep their wits about them, if you can think rationally even in horrific situations, your chances of survival increase significantly.

    Even though I¡¯m thinking of giving up because this situation seems completely unsolvable, on the outside, I must act as if it doesn¡¯t bother me.

    As a leader, I must provide my subordinates with the confidence that following me will lead them through this crisis.

    How I perform this role will determine whether the army, the company, or even the country survives.

    As the head of the Rothschild Barony family, I also need to give hope to my companions here that we can overcome this problem.

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 Chapter 249

    "Baron, they won¡¯t open their mouths at all."

    Criminal organizations like the Yakuza, Triads, and Mafia are famous for their strict adherence to loyalty despite being criminals.

    Even when committing murder, blackmail, or fraud, they claim they¡¯re different from lowly thugs, and they never betray their own comrades.

    In return, the boss of the organization takes responsibility for the family of those imprisoned, and when they¡¯re released, they are given a lump sum¡ªsometimes thousands, or even millions of dollars.@@@@

    If this interrogation ends here, we won¡¯t be able to punish those who dared to touch my territory and massacre my people.

    No matter what method it takes, they have to open their mouths.

    ¡®Pirates and criminals, yet they have the loyalty and ruthlessness of a true scum, so much so that it¡¯s infuriating.¡¯

    Anyone hearing about this might think we''re the villains in this situation, fighting for a noble cause while they give their lives and families for the greater good.

    "It seems their silence is due to fear?"

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 Chapter 250

    "Baron, they won''t open their mouths at all."

    Criminal organizations like the Yakuza, Triads, and Mafia are famous for their strict adherence to loyalty, despite being made up of criminals.

    Even when committing murder, blackmail, or fraud, they claim they¡¯re different from lowly thugs, refusing to betray their comrades even if it costs them their lives.

    In return, the bosses of these organizations take responsibility for the families of those imprisoned, and when they¡¯re released, they are given a lump sum¡ªsometimes thousands or even millions of dollars.

    If this interrogation ends here, we won¡¯t be able to punish those who dared to touch my territory and massacre my people.

    No matter what method it takes, they have to open their mouths.

    ¡®Pirates and criminals, yet they have the loyalty and ruthlessness of a true scum, so much so that it¡¯s infuriating.¡¯

    Anyone hearing about this might think we''re the villains in this situation, fighting for a noble cause while they give their lives and families for the greater good.

    "It seems their silence is due to fear?"@@@@

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 Chapter 251

    There was a disgraceful law called "family immunity" (?????????????).

    In simple terms, it was a law that allowed family members to commit fraud, embezzlement, or theft without facing legal punishment.

    Until it was abolished, even if a family member used my property recklessly and acted as if nothing had happened, I couldn¡¯t take legal action against them.

    In a society where the head of a peasant family could sell his own daughter as a slave or to a brothel to solve financial problems without facing any punishment.

    A world where one must always obey the eldest brother or the head of the household, and disobedience is not tolerated.

    Being in such a high position in this country''s class-based pyramid, I couldn''t defy this law.

    Unless the bastard laid a hand on my wife or openly sabotaged my lands.

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 Chapter 252

    ¡°Albert handed over all the information about the seaweed farm and the village of Biot to Vicomte Guillaume of the Kingdom of Lyon.¡±

    As soon as my father heard that, his eyes widened and he covered his mouth with both hands.

    When I first heard this information, I doubted my eyes and ears.

    Even then, I didn¡¯t have any personal feelings about Albert, but I never thought he would sell the secrets about his brother¡¯s estate to a foreign country.

    ¡°According to the testimonies of the survivors, they were all subjected to terrible torture. Even among the survivors, those in relatively good condition had one or two fingers crushed or cut off, and those in severe cases had both eyes gouged out or their legs crushed with iron hammers... It was so horrible that it was hard to open one¡¯s eyes and see.¡±

    Just thinking about it makes my teeth grind and my fists clench.

    Because the people of my domain who worked diligently at the seaweed farm because that bastard Albert sold the secrets.

    They had to suffer indescribable pain.@@@@

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 Chapter 253

    Baron Medici, Albert muttered while biting his thumbnail.

    ¡°Fabio, that rotten bastard probably didn¡¯t realize that I sold the information.¡±@@@@

    Albert considered every means he could use, every possibility he could think of.

    If he passed on information about the village of Bio to a noble within the Tuscan Empire, there was a high chance that his tail would be stepped on, so he passed the information on to Vicomte Guillaume of the Kingdom of Lyon.

    A national traitor who gave a foreign noble the opportunity to intervene in the Tuscan Empire for his own purposes.

    A foolish noble who didn''t even know how much power he had.

    Albert had three elements that would be impossible to solve even if he had just one, but he knew it well.

    This was not enough to bring down the Rothschild Baron family with their vast wealth and influence.

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 Chapter 254

    A few times, no, perhaps dozens of times, I had thought about this.

    If there were ever an opportunity to eliminate that bastard Albert, who constantly caused trouble for our family and tried to trip up my younger sibling, I would gladly swing my sword without hesitation.

    In novels, dramas, and movies, characters often make such resolutions, but when it comes time to kill, they hesitate. That¡¯s a common trope, but...

    ¡°It¡¯s thrilling and feels good, doesn¡¯t it? Just thinking that I can finally rid the world of that bastard, I feel like all my worries have disappeared.¡±

    Sebastian, who was standing beside me, sighed as he listened to my words.

    ¡°Once you¡¯ve made up your mind, you never hold back, Baron.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t change people, Sebastian.¡±

    There¡¯s an old saying that goes, "You don¡¯t raise a beast with black hair."

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 Chapter 255

    Even a condemned prisoner is given a cigarette before they are executed, as a matter of etiquette.

    Since there are no cigarettes in the Tuscany Empire, I thought I might at least offer him a glass of fine wine.

    It wasn¡¯t out of any consideration for him, but rather just to stir his insides a bit.

    It was highly effective, given the money I spent on it.

    ¡®Father has long since declared he would revoke this bastard''s barony.¡¯

    What does it matter how much he barks? Who would listen to him?

    ¡°Do you still not understand how things are going, brother? Do you really think I¡¯m such a foolish, ignorant idiot who doesn¡¯t know even the basics?¡±

    When people are backed into a corner, they tend to start running their ¡°happy circuits.¡±@@@@

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 Chapter 256

    Albert''s funeral was held in a lavish manner.

    Noble families from various houses came to pay their respects, and he was laid to rest in the same burial grounds as the past heads of the Medici Barony.

    Considering the things he had done, burying him in a heap of manure would have been too kind...

    ¡®Officially, though, he died of acute heart failure.¡¯

    People spread rumors about me, calling me a devil who has spread the wisdom of the British Empire and the East India Company across the world.

    They even spread the absurd tale that I¡¯m a demon without any human emotions...

    I don¡¯t understand who would say such things about me, a person who¡¯s very human.

    Did I kill innocent civilians or, to cover trade deficits, sell opium while calling myself a crusader of justice?

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 Chapter 257

    "I don''t plan on being petty and doing something like assassination."@@@@

    "Sometimes, it might be necessary to quietly kill from behind, but using such despicable methods is the kind of thing only third-rate people do."

    "This time, the Count Guillaume, who raided Bi?o Village with the help of the thieves'' guild, ended up getting caught."

    "If they hadn¡¯t been caught, it wouldn¡¯t have been a crime and wouldn¡¯t have caused any problems."

    "We must prevent total war for the benefit of our family, no matter what it takes."

    ''No, to begin with, the Tuscany Empire doesn¡¯t have the capacity to wage a total war on the Albanian continent.''

    "To conduct a total war, we would need something like an organized staff headquarters, at the level of Prussia''s system."

    "The Tuscany Empire doesn¡¯t even have a steam engine."

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 Chapter 258

    To modern people, newspapers made of paper are merely a means of delivering information that one might find in places like Tapsigol Park or senior citizen¡¯s centers.

    However, before the advent of the internet, TV, radio, and computers, all significant events in history were communicated through this medium.

    If I borrow a bit of wisdom from the British Empire and some forbidden knowledge from the Nazis...

    To exaggerate slightly, this was the only medium through which information could be conveyed.

    As expected of an emperor, he immediately fixated on something that might help strengthen imperial power.

    "I can convey my words to all the citizens of the Empire. It sounds like an attractive idea."

    Why do nobles in the Tuscany Empire have absolute influence over their lands?

    It may seem a little inappropriate to bring this up during a conversation about newspapers, but...

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 Chapter 259

    In the early evening, as people finished their work and either headed home or gathered with colleagues for a drink, loud cries echoed throughout the streets of Florence.

    "Newspapers! Newspapers!"

    The citizens of Florence stopped in their tracks upon hearing the new term "newspaper."@@@@

    "This is called a newspaper. It¡¯s a book printed every 1st of the month, containing interesting events from around the country, incidents involving nobles, and messages from His Majesty the Emperor to us."

    "As I live and breathe, all sorts of things happen. I never thought the Emperor would speak directly to people like us. It¡¯s not for sale, right?"

    Fabio, who was responsible for distributing the newspapers, had started with the goal of giving every person one copy each month.

    However, reality wasn¡¯t as simple as it sounded.

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 Chapter 260

    Though I¡¯m not a soldier, studying history and learning about various wars has made me realize one thing.

    In war, the outcome is often determined not by a single battle but by who¡¯s prepared before the fighting even starts.

    What¡¯s truly important is the preparation made in advance.

    Given that, the East India Company¡¯s army even included sons of Indian nobility as soldiers.

    "But over something as trivial as ammunition...¡±

    England would ultimately fail in its attempt to make India a permanent colony.

    "Isn¡¯t that right, Mayor?"

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 Chapter 261

    The ball hosted by Mayor Guillaume had far more attendees than I had expected.@@@@

    Given the circumstances, where I needed to minimize variables, this unexpected turn of events was somewhat disconcerting.

    But when I consider whether this situation is good or bad, I can say that, despite the unforeseen development, it worked out well for me.

    This means that the prominent figures in Guillaume City are all on my side, and among them, there are many I can absolutely trust.

    Well, even though these words are laced with flattery, they clearly carry a hidden message: they¡¯ll easily drop Count Guillaume and invest their souls into Rothschild Barony as soon as they get the chance.

    Such words could only come from someone who doesn¡¯t just follow me, but wholeheartedly supports me.

    Mayor Guillaume is really good at this.

    One of the guests, clearly trying to impress, presented an extravagant bottle of wine.

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 Chapter 262

    The information controls the war.

    When the Normandy landings took place, the Allied forces successfully deceived the Nazi German command by leaking information about landing in the Pas-de-Calais region, and even as they lost Normandy, the Nazis were still convinced the invasion would happen there.

    Admiral Yi Sun-sin was also deceived by the false information spread by the spy Yoshira, leading King Seonjo to misinterpret the situation during the Japanese invasions of Korea.

    The most famous example of this is the cunning tactic employed by Huang Gai during the Battle of Red Cliffs, where he staged an entire performance, enduring torture at the age of over 80, just to deceive Cao Cao.

    ¡°While it¡¯s essential to focus on gathering information, it¡¯s also courteous to spread disinformation, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Even in simple games, like those where a player denies the existence of another¡¯s mother while she is still alive, strategies are used to outwit opponents at all costs.

    In war, where no such concept as "cheating" applies, I must use every evil method at my disposal to win.@@@@

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 Chapter 263

    The Marquis of the Kingdom of Lyon and the Kingdom''s Army General, Gaston de Orle?ans, declared the opening.@@@@

    "We have gathered intelligence that the Holy Empire is preparing for war," he said.

    Transporting such massive quantities of goods secretly would be impossible, even with all the technology available at the time.

    It would take hundreds, if not close to a thousand men, and hundreds of horses to transport the supplies, which would be impossible to hide unless they were flying through the air.

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 Chapter 264

    Not long after the declaration of war, an unexpected guest arrived at my home.

    Typically, when someone shows up uninvited, it¡¯s either Duke Visconti coming to visit his granddaughter or Baron Mancini asking for help with securing a court position. But today, the visitor was none other than my former superior, Baron Ducat.

    "Well, General. What brings you here today? I¡¯m sure the military is busy with all the preparations for war, so you must be overwhelmed," I asked.@@@@

    I knew I needed to approach the situation seriously.

    "Though I¡¯m a baron of the Empire, I am, after all, a civilian. Is it even appropriate for someone like me to discuss the Empire¡¯s war strategy?" I asked.

    "You were the one who devised the strategy for the war with the Duchy of Milania, weren¡¯t you? I¡¯m simply repeating what you said," Baron Ducat replied.

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 Chapter 265

    As soon as the day broke, General Ducat reported this matter to the Emperor.

    The Emperor, upon hearing that Fabio had volunteered to go into the battlefield for the Empire, called the general to the Imperial Palace to learn the details.

    "Is it true that Baron Rothschild volunteered to go to the battlefield without being ordered to?" the Emperor asked.@@@@

    However, when it comes time to actually give up their lives, they often leave the honor of sacrificing themselves to someone else.

    It¡¯s not a matter of whether the elder or younger brother should go first.

    "...... Honestly, this is unexpected. I never thought that Fabio..."

    The Emperor, who was certain that Fabio would never betray him, had a deep confidence that Fabio would remain loyal.

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 Chapter 266

    Mayor Louis Baudelaire¡¯s heart began to pound wildly as if it were out of control.

    He had never felt his heart beat so furiously, not even when he had his first experience with his wife or when he narrowly escaped death.

    It was that tense.

    He felt cold sweat forming on his face, and his expression became strangely contorted due to his inability to control it.

    ¡°I appreciate the commander''s kindness. However, I am fine, in good health.¡±

    As Louis himself said, there was nothing physically wrong with him.

    However, his mind was in turmoil because he had received the order from Baron Rothschild to eliminate the commanders of the support troops sent by the Lyon Kingdom.

    The tension that came with the knowledge that the operation had to succeed, and the fear that not only he but also his relatives could be killed if it failed, were all showing on his face.

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 Chapter 267

    Mayor Louis Baudelaire ran toward me, his face beaming with excitement.@@@@

    ¡°Baron Rothschild, Baron, we¡¯ve done it!¡±

    However, his words lacked the details of how and why this had happened.

    With just what he said, it was impossible to tell exactly what he meant...

    This was also common in the case of coups.

    When you manage to sway the commander of a division, you can mobilize the full strength of that division, but sometimes battalion commanders or regimental commanders refuse to follow orders.

    This could complicate things if you had a division commander on your side, but the lower-level commanders refused to comply.

    Although Louis and his immediate subordinates were on our side, it would still be more accurate to say that we hadn¡¯t yet fully seized control of the entire city.

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 Chapter 268

    There¡¯s a famous saying among married men:

    "Forgiveness is easier than permission."

    Many men who buy high-end PCs, PlayStations, or Nintendo Switches without their wives knowing often live by this logic.

    ¡°The Kingdom of Lyon and the Toscana Empire were supposed to be on the brink of war, weren''t they? So why is Baron Rothschild here? Isn¡¯t it dangerous for you?¡±

    Some questioned why I was here.

    ¡°Baron, the Kingdom of Lyon has stationed a large number of troops in Guillaume City. It¡¯s dangerous for you to stay here!¡±

    Those who had gained significant economic benefits from me urged me to leave quickly.

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 Chapter 269

    Not long after taking control of Guillaume City, the main army of the Toscana Empire arrived at the city.

    Leading the vanguard was Baron Ducat.@@@@

    He entered the city with an army of 20,000 soldiers.

    ¡°I never thought... never imagined you¡¯d take Guillaume City without shedding a single drop of blood. Truly, Baron, have you considered taking a military commission? I could ask His Majesty to appoint you starting now.¡±

    ¡°And if you seek success, now is the opportunity.¡±

    Currently, the area around the Count of Guillaume¡¯s domain was essentially abandoned.

    ¡°I understand. Then I wish you good fortune.¡±

    My official role in this war was now over.

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 Chapter 270

    The general of the war, Ragusa, patted my shoulder and laughed.

    ¡°No matter what anyone says, you¡¯re the number one contributor to this war. You did really well!¡±@@@@

    At this moment, there were many other high-ranking individuals present, including General Ragusa.

    But the supreme commander spoke as though he didn¡¯t know any of this and laughed jovially.

    ¡°By the way, Guillaume the Baron, isn¡¯t the King of the Kingdom of Lyon a rather short-sighted individual? Even in our Toscana Empire, I, who only guard a remote corner, can¡¯t touch you because I¡¯m scared of what might happen if I do!¡±

    General Ragusa glanced around, his words carrying an air of caution and warning toward those around us.

    ¡°When we get scammed by conmen and lose money, when you think about it, it¡¯s really our own fault in the end,¡± he continued.

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 Chapter 271

    They say that when you speak of a tiger, it will come.

    After I had taken a small revenge on the Kingdom of Lyon, I did start thinking about the New World. But I never imagined that I would hear from him this quickly.

    ¡°We¡¯ve received an urgent message from Erikson, who was focused on developing sea routes in Soros, Maasai Confederation.¡±@@@@

    It wouldn¡¯t be strange for a ship or two to sink.

    If I¡¯m to put it kindly, it¡¯s a noble sacrifice for the progress of the age. If I¡¯m to put it negatively, it¡¯s a bunch of money-driven fools risking their lives for profit.

    ¡°Erikson said that this letter must be delivered directly to you, and that you should not open it before receiving it. Though he¡¯s a peculiar guy, eating cucumbers in sandwiches and sticking sardines in pies, I¡¯m sure he wouldn¡¯t joke with something like this... it must be one of two things.¡±

    Either it¡¯s incredible news, or it¡¯s the kind of news that will break my heart.

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 Chapter 272

    Every war in this world has something in common.

    ¡®I did nothing wrong, and the ones at fault are those bastards! We are just innocent victims!¡¯

    From ancient times to modern day, this truth has never once changed.

    Nazi Germany claimed that the reason the German Empire lost in World War I wasn¡¯t because the German army underestimated their own capabilities and kept provoking fights all over, leading to concentrated attacks by the Allied forces, resulting in their downfall.

    Those who wage war always see themselves as innocent victims and always blame others.

    ¡°The Kingdom of Lyon, those damned fools. They still haven¡¯t admitted their fault even in the peace agreement?¡±

    I had heard about this last night, but honestly, it was absurd.

    I had ordered Sebastian to send Orsini to pour a huge amount of gold into Lyon to touch the market a little, then go to sleep in a good mood.

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 Chapter 273

    Ants cannot defeat the big players.

    If anyone has even dipped a toe into the stock market or cryptocurrency market, they¡¯ve likely heard this phrase hundreds of times.

    When the big players sell coins, the price of the coin plummets like crazy, and when the big players buy stocks, the stock price hits its limit up in an instant.@@@@

    ¡°Read the intentions of the big players!¡±

    When we think of doing something good, charitable activities or volunteer work are usually the first things that come to mind.

    During election seasons, or when some major disaster occurs, politicians go and donate, help out at the scene, and pretend to be warm-hearted.

    However, the nobles here don¡¯t even need to flatter citizens to win votes.

    ¡®They¡¯re probably thinking of something other than charity work or volunteering.¡¯

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 Chapter 274

    Lyon Kingdom, the mayor of Colmar, Ordo.

    He swallowed his saliva, facing the biggest deal of his life.

    "...Are you truly offering us such a proposal?"

    Orsini, who had come here on Fabio¡¯s orders, nodded and answered.

    Even when he sold cotton and wool at a cheap price and ruined the economy of the Lyon Kingdom on the border of the Holy Empire, he hadn¡¯t exactly committed fraud.

    "I am doing this merchant work because I want to get rich by making money. And if I ever deceive someone and lose their trust, I¡¯ll never have the chance to make money again. So, I can¡¯t just deceive my customers for short-term gain."

    The mayor nodded unconsciously as he listened to those words.

    At the same time, he lowered the level of his caution toward the man in front of him.

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 Chapter 275

    In a rural village near Colmar, Pierre, a serf who had been rooted there for generations, felt like his life had become a living hell lately.

    "Back then, I felt like I had the world in my hands."

    Pierre had successfully managed to acquire a suit of armor worn by the knights of the Holy Empire during the last war.

    Thanks to that, he had dreamed of becoming a free farmer, buying cattle, a house, and land after the war ended, feeling his heart race at the thought.

    Pierre and his family were left worrying whether they would starve to death after the war ended.

    "Still, when I sold the armor, it felt good..."

    Although he sold it for half the price, he managed to get three gold coins for it.

    With that money, he thought he could just barely survive this year, buying cattle, a house, and land to live a better life than before.

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 Chapter 276

    As soon as I returned to the mansion, Sebastian greeted me.

    "Welcome back, my lord."

    "Thank you. Have the supplies and manpower for Erikson been arranged?"@@@@

    "The food includes wheat 500 tons, barley 200 tons, which were some of the investments made by Duke Visconti¡¯s faction. I¡¯ve also sent 500 matchlock guns, 1,000 spears, 400 sets of breastplates, and 400 helmets."

    700 tons of food sounds like a lot, but...

    Once ground into flour, its weight is reduced by nearly half.

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 Chapter 278

    Under Fabio''s orders, this time Sebastian personally headed to the Lyon Kingdom.

    Sending him, the second-in-command of the Rothschild family, meant that the task was of great importance.

    Sebastian reflected on the weight of the responsibility placed on him and turned to ask a nearby servant.

    ¡®Even a massive wall can crumble from a single ant hole.¡¯

    "I am Samuel of the Holy Empire. You all are from the Holy Empire too."

    "I apologize, Samuel."

    "A single minor mistake could derail our plans. Always keep that in mind."

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 Chapter 279

    Raphael was stunned.

    Until just moments ago, he had been at home, lamenting his fate with friends who shared his frustrations, cursing the inequality of the world. But then, a man dressed in what appeared to be an expensive suit walked into the room.

    "Who are you to come here and visit someone as insignificant as me? Did Mayor Colmar send you to kill me?"

    If a rebellion had actually broken out, it might have been a different matter, but before such an event happens, the leader of a rebellion should never be killed.

    If that happened, the leader would be martyred, and the people following them would be enraged, quickly turning into an organized rebel force.

    Raphael understood this principle, which is why he was being so bold.

    "Civilians, serfs, and so on. Even a modest estimate would put the number of people supporting you in the hundreds, maybe even thousands. If you can hold out for just a month, Count Colmar will have no choice but to seat you on the city council. By then, you¡¯ll have become the symbol of the angry masses."

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 Chapter 280

    ¡°Sebastian, I told you before that you could rest a few more days since you¡¯ve been on a long trip. Aren¡¯t you pushing yourself too much?¡±

    Sebastian was already 50 years old.

    In Korea, he would still be at the age where he works swiftly to support his family, but in the Toscana Empire, it¡¯s the age when people are either preparing for retirement or already handing over their positions to their sons.

    If those of us in higher positions don¡¯t rest, our subordinates or staff would feel pressured and wouldn¡¯t be able to rest either. And if Sebastian collapses from overwork, we won¡¯t be able to handle it.

    ¡®At least he¡¯s only insisting on finishing the report. It¡¯s hard to criticize him for that.¡¯

    ¡°Then just finish the report and rest. Unless it¡¯s really urgent, it can be done tomorrow or even the day after.¡±@@@@

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 Chapter 281

    Raphael gathered his comrades and spoke with a determined expression.@@@@

    ¡°It¡¯s time.¡±

    Although he didn¡¯t specify exactly what he meant, none of those present asked about the task ahead. There was no need to ask.

    ¡®We are not alone.¡¯

    ¡°Long live Deus! We¡¯ve won!¡±

    ¡°There were others thinking just like us!¡±

    Raphael gave them time to settle their emotions before continuing.

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 Chapter 282

    I am not an expert in defense or warfare.@@@@

    I can''t emphasize this enough, so I¡¯ll say it again: I¡¯m not a professional soldier, nor am I a high-ranking officer or a general.

    So, I would prefer not to be asked questions about war...

    In the military, even a private can be hard to look at, but in front of a sergeant, they¡¯re nothing more than a worm. In front of a division commander, they¡¯re just useless scraps that melt with a glance.

    No matter how high my rank as a baron, no matter how much wealth I have...

    If the Emperor gives an order, no matter how much I dislike it, I must carry it out.

    ¡®If I don¡¯t obey, he¡¯ll tear me apart.¡¯

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 Chapter 283

    Human nature is like that.

    When someone else is in pain, instead of empathizing, most people wonder how they can exploit the other person¡¯s weaknesses to gain something from it.

    Even more despicable humans are too busy slandering others with their weaknesses.

    Especially politicians, those who hold the highest positions human beings can reach.

    On the flip side, it¡¯s obvious how vile those who survive the dirtiest mud fights to reach those positions must be.

    ¡°The Emperor of the Holy Empire has been experiencing several major failures lately.¡±

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 Chapter 284

    While Fabio was scheming his wicked plans,

    the rebellion that Raphael had started in the Lyon Kingdom began to be seriously discussed.

    When the King of Lyon Kingdom, Bernard de Valois, confirmed that all the necessary attendees had gathered for the national council meeting, he bellowed loudly.

    ¡°Damn it, what have Count Colmar and the other nobles been doing all this time? Did they collect taxes from the commoners only to spend the money on drinking and whoring around?!¡±@@@@

    ¡°If only they had fought back, I wouldn¡¯t have been so frustrated.¡±

    He had heard that several of his territories were swiftly occupied by the Toscana Empire without even firing a single shot. To think that he had surrendered without even trying to resist made it unbearable.

    ¡°How did the management of the territories go, that there¡¯s a rebellion breaking out in all the border regions of the Holy Empire?! Can someone please tell me? Why is this happening?! I¡¯m truly, truly curious about this.¡±

    At that, the ministers, great nobles, and high-ranking generals present all kept silent and waited quietly.

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 Chapter 285

    The one who woke Raphael from his despair was his comrades, who were making a fuss as though they had seen the end of the world.

    ¡°Captain, captain, we¡¯re all going to die like this!¡± ¡°How can we, mere peasants, defeat the Marquis of Orle?ans¡¯ great army?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we just give up and run away now?¡±@@@@

    Raphael himself was in shock, facing the situation that had suddenly arrived... but when the others started talking as if everything was lost, his instincts to survive kicked in, and he snapped out of it.

    ¡®If I can just hold out until Samuel arrives, I¡¯ll be a noble too.¡¯

    Raphael immediately took control of the situation.

    ¡°Everyone shut up!¡±

    At the strong words of the leader who had brought these peasants this far, even those who had been in disarray now turned their ears toward Raphael.

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 Chapter 286

    ¡°I''m back, my lord.¡±

    ¡°Did you handle everything well?¡±@@@@

    Sebastian puffed out his chest and replied proudly.

    Still, in this world, there¡¯s always a 0.01% chance that something insane might happen.

    It¡¯s always wise to stay vigilant and prepare for the worst-case scenario, so I took care of it thoroughly.

    ¡°Now, we can just wait for the Lyon Kingdom and the Holy Empire to handle the aftermath.¡±

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 Chapter 287

    ¡°The demand for increased circulation is coming from all over the Empire.¡±@@@@

    Unlike modern society, which is on the brink of bursting with entertainment options, the Toscana Empire has almost no real sources of amusement.

    ¡°Pubs, inns, merchants, local notables, and rural nobles have all requested to buy a copy of the newspaper. Just yesterday, we received more than 200 letters.¡±

    ¡°Did anyone ask for it to be delivered earlier, even by a day?¡±

    That¡¯s the nature of information.

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 Chapter 288

    "A ruler who gains the people''s favor will never fall."

    This was proven by a Japanese daimyo named Oda Ujiharu.

    Even after losing all his lands in a battle with another daimyo, his retainers and the people fought in his place and reclaimed his lands multiple times.

    Even though he was constantly defeated in battle, his retainers would lock him up during wars, and farmers, who preferred to die rather than pay taxes to other daimyo, would burn all their wealth...

    "I already believe that through the newspapers you publish, we have gained their support, Count Rothschild. Do you think differently?"

    For a politician, public support is like money.

    Just like it''s better to have 10 billion in your bank account rather than 1 billion, a 70% approval rating is better than a 50% approval rating.

    ¡®Approval rating = power.¡¯

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 Chapter 289

    After Fabio left, another man entered the room where the Emperor was.

    The man spoke to the Emperor as if he were addressing a father, casually.

    ¡°I''ve been hearing a lot of rumors among the nobles that Your Majesty is showing too much favoritism toward Count Rothschild. This is being said not only by the faction of the Duke of Sforza, our rivals, but also by the faction of the Duke of Visconti.¡±

    ¡°Does the Crown Prince think that I am favoring Count Rothschild too much?¡±

    ¡°I highly value his abilities, but I believe he could become a courtier who will ruin the Empire in the future.¡±

    ¡°The Crown Prince is very wise. However, that¡¯s a half-truth and half-mistake.¡±

    ¡°... Are you saying that although he is talented, he will not become a courtier who will ruin the Empire?¡±

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 Chapter 290

    Surviving for a long time requires good social skills.@@@@

    No matter how talented someone is, if they go against this principle, they will not last long.

    Just like how Zhao Zilong, after seeing Cao Cao eat chicken rib bones, foolishly gave the order to retreat.

    According to the unspoken contract of society, we don¡¯t carry guns or knives, but...

    We have already stepped over countless people to get to where we are.

    ¡®Resources are limited, and even breathing can be seen as a competition.¡¯

    "Simply by living, a person inevitably makes enemies. But there¡¯s no need to go out of my way to create enemies. I shouldn¡¯t turn people into enemies who don¡¯t need to be enemies."

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 Chapter 291

    The people of Gotendorf Village hurried to the village church as if there was some sort of festival.

    Johannes, a local of the village, also moved with them toward the church.

    ¡°His Majesty the Emperor has been publishing a newspaper for us simple folk every month. Life has been so much better lately, don¡¯t you think, Andrea?¡±

    In modern terms, it felt like their dopamine levels were through the roof.

    ¡°His Majesty¡¯s grace reaching even the likes of us, people like us never could have imagined it before.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve become quite the patriot. Well, if you¡¯re so patriotic, why don¡¯t you go serve in the military again?¡±

    ¡°Serve again just because they feed well? If they make me a second lieutenant, maybe, but if they want me to start as a sergeant, I¡¯d rather die than do it.¡±

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 Chapter 292

    I never expected things to escalate this much.

    It¡¯s not that it¡¯s bad that things are going like this right now...@@@@

    But it seems that not everything goes the way I want it to.

    If only a few regions were experiencing this, I wouldn¡¯t have been so surprised.

    But the truth is, similar petitions are being submitted in every village across the country, and with the Emperor reducing taxes by 10%, he has become the representative of all serfs and the poor.

    So, if you asked whether things are going in the direction I intended...

    I¡¯d say my goal has been achieved, but it¡¯s just gone a bit too far.

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 Chapter 293

    In a world where even giving a meal worth more than 50,000 won to a public servant causes a scandal, it would be unimaginable.

    In the Toscana Empire, however, when meeting public servants, especially high-ranking ones, you must never come empty-handed.

    Otherwise, you¡¯ll be labeled as the worst kind of person.

    "I¡¯ve thought long and hard to prepare this small gift to please Count Sardinia. Did you like it?"

    "I do like it very much. At first, I was disappointed, but when I received it, I could tell it was filled with your sincere effort. It was refreshing."

    High-ranking individuals, especially members of parliament, receive an awful lot of gift sets.

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 Chapter 294

    No matter how much the times change or the world turns upside down, there are certain truths that never change.

    One of them is that politicians will always struggle to place their subordinates, their people, into key positions of power.

    It is the only way for them to enjoy wealth and power while suppressing their opponents to survive.

    ¡®Doctors always say that if you want to live healthily for a long time, you should at least have some hobby.¡¯

    ¡°You have a mountain of work ahead of you. Don¡¯t push yourself too hard.¡±

    Stero slapped his fist against his chest and said confidently.

    ¡°Being able to walk the path of the legal nobility, once just a simple merchant, is a favor I must repay to your lordship. I must live until at least 70, right? Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±@@@@

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 Chapter 295

    In the Ministry of Finance of the Toscana Empire, from the high-ranking officials to the lowly servant who brews coffee, everyone was working tirelessly, day and night.

    Nicolo Federico, the Director of Budget Review, was one of them.

    "When will the total tax collected from the serfs in the Imperial Direct Domain be ready? It''s already been over a month since the tax collection finished!"

    At Rothschild Enterprises, when work piles up quickly, all the staff, regardless of rank, sleep in the duty room with three-tier wooden beds and then get up to handle nearly 18 to 20 hours of hard work.

    Of course, even hearing such a story wouldn''t comfort Nicolo, as the pain from a paper cut on my finger is far worse than losing a whole finger.

    Nevertheless, Director Nicolo began to desperately try to escape from this hellish workload.

    "I¡¯ll get off work today, no matter what. It¡¯s already been a week of early mornings and late evenings."@@@@

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 Chapter 296

    Information rules over war.@@@@

    No, it enables us to predict and prepare for nearly every phenomenon occurring in our society.

    If a typhoon is approaching, and a satellite detects a swirling vortex in the middle of the Pacific, we can prepare and take action weeks in advance.

    In the traditional games of the Korean people, using a map hack can allow someone to beat players who are much better than they are.

    The butler answered my question.

    "I''ll go check downstairs."

    "Please. And while you''re down there, ask the cook to prepare some cheese and strong whiskey."

    "Cheese and strong whiskey?"

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 Chapter 297

    If you commit a crime, it¡¯s only natural that you must pay the price.

    So, the person who got caught trying to steal our family¡¯s secret production techniques for the munitions factory should, of course, face the appropriate consequences.

    In the proper world, the criminal should pay for their crime, and the victim should receive compensation and protection, right?

    "Our munitions factory is faster at producing goods compared to others. Naturally, our family¡¯s special techniques are applied here."

    ¡®Imposing an ideology based on irrefutable facts soon becomes a belief.¡¯

    And belief becomes the driving force behind achieving feats that surpass one¡¯s limits, sometimes even human limits.

    "The rat that tried to steal that, I¡¯d like to kill him on the spot if I could."

    But things in this world don¡¯t solve so easily.@@@@

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 Chapter 298

    Humans become unhappy due to comparison.

    To put it more strongly, unless one falls into extreme poverty, as long as comparisons are avoided, one can live a happy life.

    In fact, Bhutan, which was once ranked as the happiest country in the world, saw its happiness index plummet once SNS became widespread, as the people realized how poor they were.

    It¡¯s already scientifically proven that the more people use social media and compare themselves with others, the unhappier they become.

    The Donghak Peasant Movement, the Jacquerie, and even the French Revolution were all rooted in this context.

    Sebastian listened to my words and coldly laughed.

    "What are you thinking this time?"

    "I¡¯m thinking about burning the Holy Empire down. And, in the process, I¡¯ll burn away the corrupt followers of Deus as well."

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 Chapter 299

    In the village square, hundreds of people gathered, more than usual.

    A peddler had arrived, one who came every few weeks or, if unlucky, once a month.

    "Hey, hey! I''m not your everyday peddler! From hammers and saws to hoes and spades! Dried fruits, jewelry, I¡¯ve brought everything you might need!"

    Normally, when such a declaration is made in a rural village, people would rush to buy something. But in this village, no one eagerly stepped forward to ask for a saw, a hammer, or anything else.

    "...Wasn''t life alright just last year? I came here hoping for some business."

    "How can you, a merchant from the Holy Empire, be so out of touch with the news around here? Keep it up, and you¡¯ll starve to death yourself."

    The employee from Rothschild Trading, who was pretending to be a peddler from the Holy Empire, seemed oblivious as he responded.

    "A merchant can¡¯t know everything. If a person knew all there was to know, they¡¯d be a god, not a human."

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 Chapter 300

    "Thank you for your long journey, Father."

    "I¡¯m so happy that I can finally explain the theology I¡¯ve spent years researching to you, my lord. I¡¯ve come without feeling tired at all."

    Last time, when the Pope started selling indulgences, he looked like he wanted to crack open the heads of the priests right then and there.

    Father Stefano nodded, affirming my words.

    "Yes, now I can face the church of Deus, which has become nothing more than a servant of Satan, in an open and fair battle."

    "You¡¯ve worked hard."

    "Without your support, my lord, who saved me from the corrupt priests who tried to kill me and allowed me to study theology as I desired, none of this would have been possible."

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 Chapter 301

    "Famine always has its signs."

    There should be heavy rains in the summer, but if there¡¯s an unusual lack of rain, or the heat should be oppressive, yet it¡¯s only somewhat bearable¡ªthese are signs.

    Historically, people¡ªwhether in Joseon or anywhere across the world¡ªwould recognize the signs of famine and act quickly.

    They would plow their fields and plant sweet potatoes or potatoes, or they would shake oak trees and store acorns.

    Even a merchant, no matter how powerful, cannot ignore nobles higher than barons.

    No, if summoned, they should rush to your side as fast as they can.

    ¡®A merchant can lean on a baron, but if you lean too hard, you won¡¯t be able to deal with the consequences.¡¯

    So the guys running the defense contractors were probably quick to come when I called them.@@@@

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 Chapter 302

    The Bible has a passage that condemns those who buy up land during a famine, saying they are not human.

    It¡¯s a desperate situation, starving, and yet you sell your land cheaply to survive¡ªfarmers end up bankrupt later because of this.

    So, a good Deus believer shouldn¡¯t buy land or real estate during a famine or economic collapse.

    But... someone like me, less than saintly, should do the exact opposite of what that passage says.@@@@

    "Even if we can''t directly provoke the Tsardom of Rus and the Kingdom of Lyon, it''s clear they''re going to get involved in the war. But if we miss the right time to sell, we¡¯ll lose out big time, right?"

    People often think of the U.S. during the world wars, especially World War II, when they imagine an invincible superpower.

    They built an aircraft carrier every two weeks, drafted millions of soldiers, and even made ice cream ships for the troops just so they could deliver ice cream.

    They were known for their remarkable logistics, defying human understanding.

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 Chapter 303

    In the modern age, it''s common knowledge that the quality of goods is more important than simply the quantity that can be produced.

    This is because goods are plentiful, and there¡¯s no shortage of food, so everyone agrees on it.

    However, in more than 90%, or rather, more than 99% of human history, mass production was 100 times more important than quality.

    This is because the scarcity of resources was so extreme that, as long as it wasn''t completely unusable, people had to make do with what they had.

    ¡°Our printing press is already the largest producer of books in the Tuscan Empire, no, the entire Albanian continent. But increasing production by ten times? That¡¯s ridiculous.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s ridiculous is making the ridiculous become possible. Most things in this world can be solved if you just change your perspective a little.¡±

    Adam Smith said this.

    A factory that made 960 pins a day with ten people could increase its output to 48,000 pins a day just by introducing division of labor.

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 Chapter 304

    "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I, Archbishop Adolf von Nassau, will begin the Inquisition. Let the inquisitor loudly read the charges against this heretic."

    The inquisitor recited the charges in a clear voice, so that everyone present could hear.

    "The heretic Stefano Luther has defied the authority of the Holy See, denied purgatory, and claimed that indulgences are worthless scraps of paper. Are these charges true?"

    In the Toscana Empire, and even in the Holy Roman Empire, the inquisitors behaved in a similar manner.

    Thus, Archbishop von Nassau also intended to show leniency if Stefano showed regret, just as he had mentioned.

    "But the heretics are not I, but you!" Stefano declared. "Even if my body is burned to death, I will not bend my will."

    Archbishop von Nassau gave the command to begin the trial.

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 Chapter 305

    The concept of reincarnation in another world existed, so I thought that gods must exist as well.

    Once something that could logically happen occurs, there¡¯s no guarantee it won¡¯t happen again.

    "Once is hard, but twice is easier. Anything, really."@@@@

    However, this can only be described as the work of the gods.

    It was an argument that could not be lost, unless one decided to lose.

    Even the Archbishop of the Holy Roman Empire, despite his status, would not have executed a heretic without a trial, as such a hasty execution would lead to problems later. That¡¯s why the Inquisition would have taken place.

    "He must have been thoroughly questioned, like a dust storm under the Guldari Bridge on a rainy day."

    "And Father Stefano, without showing the slightest fear, went up to the pyre."

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 Chapter 306

    The concept of regime changes, world wars, and great depressions is close to a natural disaster rather than something that can be controlled by human talent.

    This is because these events occur when an unbelievable set of coincidences come together, at a time that no human can predict.

    The new teachings and miracles of Father Stefano will reach the Emperor, the nobles of the Holy Roman Empire, and the Deus Church in exactly that way.@@@@

    ¡®For us, this is a golden opportunity.¡¯

    No matter how urgent I felt, I should have explained each point so that the Emperor could understand.

    "I apologize, Your Majesty. I became so excited at the great news that I may have gotten carried away."

    "You are not the type to speak nonsense or exaggerate. So what is it?"

    "According to the information I received, a priest in the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, Vienna, directly criticized the Church¡¯s wrongdoings. He thoroughly outdebated Archbishop von Nassau, who was presiding over the Inquisition. Although the Archbishop sentenced him to be burned at the stake..."

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 Chapter 307

    The Emperor nodded as he listened to my words.

    He then gestured for the people present to leave.@@@@

    "Everyone, except for the chamberlain and the captain of the guard, please leave."

    "But Your Majesty, what if Lord Rothschild¡ª"

    Right now, within our Rothschild family, Chloe has directly breastfed Leo and raised him.

    However, in most noble families, it''s extremely rare for a favored concubine to directly nurse a child, let alone the wife of a knightly family with any sort of economic standing.

    That¡¯s because nursing a child is no ordinary task.

    If I¡¯m to exaggerate a bit, it¡¯s as difficult as being on call 24/7.

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 Chapter 308

    The Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Rudolf III, was unable to maintain his composure due to the current situation.

    All of this was because of one single priest.

    "Goddamn Stefano, that bastard! He deserves to be torn apart and have his innards ripped out!"@@@@

    Stefano Luther, with his life on the line, had pointed out the contradictions and corruption of the Deus Church.

    "This bastard is shaking the very foundation of the Empire! What do the electors think?"

    The remaining electors in the room nodded at the Emperor¡¯s words.

    Even though what Stefano Luther said was true, by attacking the Deus Church¡¯s integrity, the Empire was now on the brink of collapsing.

    What if a civil war broke out?

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 Chapter 309

    A Roman once answered that, in order to win a war, what is needed most is money¡ªmore money.

    With a lot of money, one can buy food to sustain the soldiers, purchase weapons, and even win the favor of the local people.

    "But war, you see, isn''t something that can be won with money alone. Isn''t that right, Sebastian?"@@@@

    Sebastian adjusted his monocle with his right hand and replied.

    If sanitation is neglected, the entire army could fall victim to disease and be annihilated. If morale is low, it¡¯s not uncommon for desertion rates to rise to over 10% before even seeing battle.

    Without food, soldiers will starve to death, and without weapons, there¡¯s no way to even attempt to fight the enemy.

    Thinking about this, I feel bad for the soldiers.

    The military, as an organization, seems surprisingly fragile, like a weak fish.

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 Chapter 310

    "Ten years, and they say even the landscape changes, but our territory has developed to the point where almost none of its old form remains."@@@@

    Abito, which was completely transformed into an industrial city centered around light industry, is one thing. But now, Tyrenia, the capital of the Rothschild barony, has grown into a proper city.

    Houses made from lime-coated bricks are everywhere, and the streets are full of people.

    Though some people wear slightly worn clothes, no one is walking around in rags or tattered clothing.

    "It¡¯s amazing how the population has exploded in less than three years."

    The population of Florence, the capital of the Toscana Empire, is around one million, and other major cities have populations exceeding 100,000.

    Compared to these giant cities, 15,000 might seem insignificant, but...

    In the medieval period, a village with only a thousand people was still considered a city.

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 Chapter 311

    Starting new things like farming methods or introducing new technologies, things that haven¡¯t been tried before, is not easy.

    There are conflicts with those who insist on sticking to traditional methods, negotiations with public institutions, and countless trial and errors.

    ¡®None of it is easy.¡¯

    And the most troublesome part of it all is convincing those who have been using the old methods for a long time to change.

    "Are you really saying that if we fail with the farming method you instructed, you will cover all the losses?"@@@@

    In modern society, due to the profit from crop fluctuations between good and bad harvests, some might even say that gambling is more reliable.

    For the peasants, who have to take risks every year, the full compensation for losses is like:

    ¡®It¡¯s like an investment where the principal is guaranteed.¡¯

    The village chiefs'' faces lit up with smiles.

    "If Your Lordship is going to go this far, how can we oppose it?"

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 Chapter 312

    Good things are most likely to cause trouble when consumed alone.

    That¡¯s why the world¡¯s richest people share opportunities to make money with their families and trusted colleagues.

    If I try to consume it all by myself, I¡¯ll burst from overeating. But if I share the profits with a trusted few, I can benefit for generations to come.

    Normally, the Duke would be eager to know what this good news is, but today, he seemed uninterested.

    He then gave me a suspicious smile.

    What is this? Has he figured out what I¡¯m up to?

    Damn it, if I get caught, it¡¯s dangerous. But at the same time, is it possible that the great deeds I¡¯m planning, which will ultimately benefit humanity, have already leaked out?@@@@

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 Chapter 313

    The Duke sighed as if he found it utterly ridiculous.

    There are hundreds, if not nearly a thousand, nobles across all of Toscana, and among them, there are all kinds of peculiar people.

    There¡¯s a Baron who says a woman¡¯s chest is ruined if it¡¯s over an A-cup, or that a woman isn¡¯t a woman if she¡¯s taller than 150 cm, a real Lolita-type fellow.

    Other people are too busy with politics, but there¡¯s one guy who locked himself in his territory and dedicated himself to carpentry, eventually proving his skills and earning the title of Honorary Guildmaster of the Carpenter¡¯s Guild...

    It¡¯s a shame that I can¡¯t even speak the truth, given that this is the reality.

    ¡°I just gained some insights by looking at the world from a slightly different perspective than others.¡±

    ¡°When I studied at the Toscana Empire¡¯s university, there was a crazy guy who could memorize everything just by skimming through books. He said something very similar to what you just said.¡±

    I didn¡¯t argue with that remark, nor did I agree with it.

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 Chapter 314

    The harvest was in full swing in the Rothschild estate¡¯s Mare village.

    Galeo, like the others, was focused on reaping the wheat with a large sickle.

    With his right hand gripping the lower part of the sickle¡¯s handle and his left hand slightly higher on the handle, he swung the sickle in a semicircular motion, using his arms and waist.@@@@

    Each time the sickle moved, the wheat fell in clumps.

    A fallow field for one year, a spring planting field, and a fall planting field.

    It was common knowledge that the land needed to be left fallow for one year every three years.

    ¡®If you don¡¯t leave the field fallow on time, your crops fail. That¡¯s common sense.¡¯

    When they were told to break this obvious truth, everyone was understandably anxious.

    Though farming seems like something anyone can do year after year, it¡¯s not that simple.

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 Chapter 315

    The Emperor greeted me with a somewhat uneasy smile.

    ¡°I apologize for calling you so suddenly.¡±@@@@

    ¡°If His Majesty calls, then it is the duty of a vassal to run like lightning from the westernmost tip of Iphrikia, is it not?¡±

    ¡°I wish all the nobles of the Empire had the same loyalty in their hearts as you do.¡±

    ¡®Soon, a red ghost will be roaming around the Toscana Empire.¡¯

    ¡°You flatter me, Your Majesty.¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s expression grew a bit more sour than before.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Rothschild estate has successfully tested a new farming method called ¡®crop rotation¡¯ and achieved great success.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that is correct.¡±

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 Chapter 316

    The Emperor had really given me quite the blow.

    People might envy me for becoming the Crown Prince''s mentor, thinking it means I¡¯m on the way to becoming a major power in the future.

    ¡®Isn¡¯t it easy to walk around with the boss¡¯s son?¡¯

    And I have to do all the work while at it.

    The reason for this was that educating the Crown Prince was considered the most honorable and noble task. The highest-ranking officials believed that the most important task, educating the heir, should not be neglected.

    Officials from the Crown Prince''s educational institution had plenty of privileges and perks.

    One could see it as valuing Crown Prince education, or alternatively, it could be seen as the king and officials grooming a future political partner.

    And now, the Emperor of the Toscana Empire has made me the Crown Prince¡¯s mentor and secret friend.

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 Chapter 317

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit of a harsh joke, Duke of Saxony.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no joke. But such things are not important.¡±

    Real cowards never go around saying they¡¯re scared.@@@@

    Think about it¡ªAlbion is a continent where the romance of knights is more respected than reason.

    Like General Taegong, waiting for the right time, knowing when to gather all his wealth and soul to make an investment.

    Don¡¯t even try to deceive yourself.

    It¡¯s like saying a goalkeeper is there, but the ball doesn¡¯t go in the goal.

    ¡°The famous Rothschild Baron, who¡¯s been making a name for himself in the Toscana Empire, surely didn¡¯t come here with nothing to do. What¡¯s the business? Did you come with an imperial command or something?¡±

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 Chapter 318

    Let¡¯s address this first.

    I have no intention of becoming a vassal to two lords.

    I¡¯m no freelancer who works for the Emperor of Toscana in the morning and for the Emperor of the Holy Empire in the afternoon. Is that even possible?

    ¡°You¡¯re quite greedy.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the compliment.¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t a compliment, it was sarcasm.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s greed to desire things beyond your reach, but it¡¯s ambition to pursue your dreams while knowing your limits. I¡¯m not a greedy man, I¡¯m a man full of ambition.¡±@@@@

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 Chapter 319

    After concluding the contract, I immediately got into the carriage with the Crown Prince.

    In public, I had to pretend to be the uncle and nephew, but in private, I had to return to the roles of the Crown Prince and his vassal.@@@@

    "I apologize for making you wait so long, Your Highness."

    He understood that when we travel together, I couldn¡¯t bring many attendants, and he would miss out on participating in social events of the Holy Empire.

    But he accepted it without protest and ate simple meals at inns with no complaints.

    "Other young lords usually insist on preparing and eating the finest food when they travel."

    Considering that it''s common to carry cooking equipment, and even beds and bathrooms, with them when they travel...

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 Chapter 320

    Mercenaries, except for those who led groups with names like Swiss mercenaries and Lanzknecht, can be considered to have moonlighted as thieves.

    Even the term "thief knight" emerged for those who, after being knighted, ended up with no job and became bandit leaders.

    The mercenaries who are 1,000,000 times less legitimate than knights don¡¯t even warrant further explanation.@@@@

    "Hey, buddy. Do you know who we are and why you''re looking for us?"

    Seems like you''re just trying to raise your asking price by bragging about yourself.

    Do you think I¡¯m stupid enough to fall for such petty tricks?

    "Seems like you¡¯ve come to the right place, then. Go get the boss."

    "Our boss is too busy to meet just anyone."

    There¡¯s no one more idle than a mercenary who rents out a few inns and waits around.

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 Chapter 321

    Not long after Fabio bought off the third-rate mercenary group, the lands of the Protestant lords, including the Saxon Electorate, were thrown into chaos.

    Those who followed the Saxon Elector, outraged, united in condemning the situation.

    "Saxon Elector! What in the world is going on here?"

    "Please, explain what happened!"@@@@

    But, as a leader, someone who would eventually become emperor, he could not outright ignore the complaints of those who would serve him in the future.

    The Saxon Elector took three deep breaths internally and calmed himself down.

    "Everyone, please calm down."

    "Can this even be calmed down?"

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 Chapter 322

    The Crown Prince returned to the imperial palace late at night and greeted the Emperor in a slightly tired voice.@@@@

    "I¡¯ve returned, Your Majesty."

    "You look tired. Well, it¡¯s only natural after such a long journey."

    If this were the 21st century, it would have taken only a few hours to travel from the Holy Empire to the Toscana Empire by plane.

    "You must have learned some good things."

    The Crown Prince recalled the good things Fabio had taught him.

    Selling goods to make money, then cutting off sales to starve the opponent¡ªsuch tactics.

    Hiring mercenaries to raid the Saxon Electorate, then denying any involvement while framing the Emperor of the Holy Empire for the raids.

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 Chapter 323

    This was a huge disaster.

    "Lord Rothschild, we¡¯ve come for the audit and tax investigation. We ask for your cooperation."

    Whether in the 21st century or the Toscana Empire, when it comes to tax investigations and audits, no one is safe.

    Well, in a democratic country, legal grounds might delay an investigation to some extent...

    "I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary for me to reveal that. Will you cooperate with the investigation?"

    The Accounting Inspection Bureau, which was part of the Ministry of Finance, did indeed have the authority to conduct audits and tax investigations.

    However, audits and corporate tax issues that affect the entire country were supposed to be handled by the Ministry of Commerce.

    Breaking this would mean...@@@@

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 Chapter 324

    When we think of communism, we usually think of nothing but the bad.

    It forces everyone into labor, exploits their produce, and the workers live in such miserable conditions that they don¡¯t just suffer from poverty, they starve to death...

    Meanwhile, some pig in the north lives a life of luxury, eating the most expensive food, living high and mighty.

    "A noble must learn from history. A wise noble learns not just from success, but from the failures of history."

    "Well said."

    "If you want to succeed in any field, first and foremost, you must learn not to fail."

    It¡¯s the same logic as learning how to study.

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 Chapter 325

    They say if you want to catch a tiger, you have to enter its den.

    So, I personally went to work in a factory that seemed like it could be the cradle of communism.

    From now on, I shouldn¡¯t even think about trying something I haven¡¯t done before.

    After working a day like this, I feel like I¡¯m about to drop dead.

    After working like this, it¡¯s more miraculous that I¡¯m still alive.

    No, after working like this, even I would want to pick up a spear and follow that red ghost, sending both you and me to the next world.

    ¡°Stop work! Stop work!¡±

    With that command, the workers, including myself, stopped working.

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 Chapter 326

    In a small factory in Ricossi, Bruno, who had worked himself to the bone, felt as though he might collapse, but despite the exhaustion, he had a sleepless night.

    "I really didn¡¯t get a wink of sleep."

    Normally, after over 13 hours of grueling labor, Bruno would fall into a deep sleep the moment his back hit the floor, but today was different.

    Today was the highly anticipated morning of April 14th, and as promised to his fellow workers, he had to take action.

    "What if you get fired here?"

    "I didn¡¯t say I¡¯m going to half-kill that bastard, did I? I didn¡¯t say we should burn the factory down. I just want to live like a human being. I¡¯m asking for a raise and for them to reduce our working hours. If those assholes are human too, they won¡¯t just kill us, right?"

    "Yeah, they¡¯re just some worthless bastards. What are they gonna do?"

    The Toscana Empire is a country based on a rigid class system.

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 Chapter 327

    The most fun thing in this world is watching a fire across the river.

    Because it doesn¡¯t affect me in any way, but I can directly observe other people¡¯s property burning in real-time.

    Moreover, I can sell expensive materials like wood and construction supplies to people whose houses have burned down at a high price.

    In the Toscana Empire, such movements should never happen again.

    If the empire¡¯s serfs and workers rise up to overthrow the ruling class, the worst-case scenario is that my wives and I would have our heads chopped off at the guillotine.

    "Your Excellency, have you heard the news?"

    "Are you talking about the riot that broke out in the territory of Duke Sforza and his faction?"@@@@

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 Chapter 329: One Ghost, Labor Standards Act (7)

    In school, democracy is often taught as a lofty and grand concept.

    They say that the pioneers of democracy were people who sacrificed their lives for the dream of ¡°everyone being respected and living a dignified life.¡±

    Well, that statement isn¡¯t entirely wrong.

    However, Abraham Lincoln, who actually abolished slavery, did so because it was in his best interest to free African Americans from slavery, not out of sheer altruism.

    And the bourgeoisie who led the French Revolution didn¡¯t do it out of sympathy for the poor commoners¡ªthey rose up because they were sick of the nobility¡¯s wealth and privileges, and took advantage of the famine to spark the revolution.

    That doesn¡¯t mean the value of democracy itself is diminished.

    But ultimately, democracy exists not for the ideals it champions, but because those in power saw it as more beneficial to their own interests when they weighed the pros and cons with autocracy.

    Duke Visconti¡¯s advocacy for workers¡¯ rights is simply because it aligns more with his interests now.

    ¡®It¡¯s a great opportunity to bury the Sforza Duke.¡¯

    Duke Visconti continued his remarks.

    "I don¡¯t see the recent riot as simply an issue in the Sforza Duchy and other territories. I believe this could easily happen in my own territory as well."

    "Seeing the misfortune of an opponent and considering your own situation first¡ªnow that¡¯s a model for the Empire¡¯s nobility."

    "Such praise is too much, Your Majesty."

    I found it deeply satisfying to watch the downfall of Duke Sforza, who had previously tried to target me with tax investigations and forced me to pay tithes and penances.

    Although there were no special effects like CGI or live-action battles...

    This scene, at this moment, is a million times more thrilling than any Hollywood blockbuster.

    The only regret I have is that we¡¯re in the Empire¡¯s parliament, so I can¡¯t enjoy popcorn and cola.

    If I could just have a beer, that would be even better.

    I know it¡¯s unreasonable to want more, but a drink with some snacks sounds really tempting right now.

    "The serfs work six days a week, about eight hours a day. In the winter, there is no farming, so they only work half the time and get to rest comfortably. Meanwhile, workers in the factories work six days a week, and often over 13 hours a day, Your Majesty."

    "Even the most diligent officials in the Ministry of Commerce and the Treasury work no more than 11 hours a day. How can anyone subject workers to such abuse?"

    "That¡¯s not all, Your Majesty. While they are paid one and a half silver coins a month, the factory owners exploit them very cleverly."

    By the way, I didn¡¯t tell the Emperor that I had set up this entire operation behind the scenes.

    No matter how much I support Duke Visconti, I didn¡¯t want to risk overplaying my hand with the Emperor.

    If I, being seen as a scheming noble, suddenly attempted to cover up Sforza¡¯s blunders, what would the Emperor think?

    He¡¯d probably think I¡¯m underestimating him.

    So, I only passed my plans to Duke Visconti.

    From the Emperor¡¯s perspective, as long as things go well for the Empire, he won¡¯t be disappointed if the Imperial power grows stronger.

    "I see, so how exactly are they exploiting the workers?"

    "The workers, being outsiders, are treated as outcasts in the city and struggle to rent homes. The factory owners take advantage of this by forcing them into dormitories that are worse than animal pens. Then, they charge them one and a half silver coins and forty copper coins in rent every month."

    "Is that true?"

    "From what I¡¯ve investigated, the workers are provided with two meals a day, but the quality is much worse than the porridge Your Majesty had last time. It¡¯s so bad that it¡¯s worse than animal feed. And the supervisors, while not using whips, treat the workers with clubs as though they were animals."

    Even in our country, up until the 1990s, it wasn¡¯t uncommon for workplace abuse to happen.

    When a boss came back home after being scolded by his wife, he would take out his frustration by scolding and even beating the employees, especially the juniors and newcomers.

    In medieval fantasy Tuscany, this kind of physical punishment isn¡¯t surprising...

    ¡®But exploiting workers while giving them poor pay and food? That¡¯s crossing a line.¡¯

    This was an atrocious act.

    "If they¡¯re forced to live in such terrible conditions, exploited with no hope, they had no choice but to resist in order to survive. Even though their actions went too far, perhaps we should show mercy, Your Majesty?"

    The Emperor couldn¡¯t refuse Duke Visconti¡¯s proposal.

    The reason the Emperor¡¯s power had grown so much stronger than before was precisely because he had embraced even the serfs.

    Abandoning workers, who are even more socially marginalized than serfs, would be inconsistent with his policies, undermining his power base.

    ¡®This is why the old guard, even though they know it¡¯s their fault, refuse to change anything.¡¯

    "Mercy is one thing, but do you have a specific plan?"

    "There''s no need to raise their wages further. However, the factory or company owners should provide decent meals and facilities in their dormitories so that workers can live like humans. The rent they charge should also be limited."

    "So, you¡¯re saying the workers must at least be allowed to live like human beings?"

    "Yes, that¡¯s right. They are Your Majesty¡¯s people too."

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    In modern society, people tend to have children only when they ~N§àv§Ölight~ are financially stable enough to provide for them.

    But this is a medieval fantasy world.

    As long as my wife and I don¡¯t starve to death, we will somehow get married and start a family.

    By having children, new laborers are provided, and consumption grows, fueling economic growth.

    "Workers are also citizens of the Empire, and it¡¯s truly a pity that they have no basic protections unlike serfs. Therefore, I suggest that we establish laws to ensure they at least receive some basic protection, as Duke Visconti proposed."

    "Thank you, Your Majesty."

    "Then, the workers acted out of desperation to survive, and the factory owners exploited the Empire¡¯s people. It seems only right to show them mercy."

    The mention of mercy turned Duke Sforza¡¯s face as white as a sheet.

    The fact that the rioters¡ªno, the workers who led the protest¡ªwould receive mercy meant that it was implicitly acknowledging that Sforza and his faction failed to manage the people of their own territory.

    This was essentially branding them as ineffective nobles.

    "No, Your Majesty. Even though the rioters were living in difficult circumstances, this was still an outright rebellion. According to Imperial law, they must be punished severely..."

    "I will not accept that."

    The Emperor immediately cut off Duke Sforza¡¯s words and continued speaking.

    "I will pardon those who did not harm anyone or destroy property outside their own factory. They acted only out of necessity to survive; how could we punish them?"

    "Your Majesty, please listen to me..."

    "But my mercy is only for this time. If such riots happen again, despite the laws that will now be enacted to ensure the workers¡¯ basic survival, then I will punish them severely according to the law."

    This riot¡ªno, this extreme protest¡ªwas the workers¡¯ desperate attempt to survive.

    It can be seen as a last-ditch effort for survival.

    After observing the workers'' conditions, I sensed that if things had continued as they were for another ten years, communism might have emerged.

    Therefore, although their methods were extreme, I think there¡¯s plenty of room for forgiveness.

    I was in danger of dying, so how could I worry about anyone else?

    "And Duke Sforza."

    Duke Sforza, his face full of tension, looked at the Emperor.

    "I am very disappointed in you, Duke. Your ancestors, especially the first Duke Sforza, were greatly trusted by His Majesty, and were given vast territories. But the way you¡¯ve handled things now is truly regrettable."

    "I apologize."

    A Duke, unless they openly commit treason, is unlikely to lose their land or title.

    A baron is akin to a hereditary parliamentarian, and a Duke is like a hereditary prime minister.

    Actually, the Toscana Empire has two families with the Duke title.

    Could they be compared to the hereditary left and right ministers?

    But, if I were to remove Duke Sforza¡¯s title from this one incident, it would be nearly impossible.

    "One must know how to manage their household before they can govern a nation. For the time being, it would be best for you to focus on managing your territories and leave politics alone."

    "I apologize, Your Majesty."

    "And Count Karara, Baron Quisano, Baron Bosina, and Baron Ancona."

    At the Emperor¡¯s call, the four of them stood up immediately.

    "You have mismanaged the factories you hold in your family name to such a degree that a riot occurred. How could you have handled your territories like this?"

    "I apologize, please grant us another chance..."

    "You will lose your titles."

    Without the overwhelming support of the serfs and the huge financial contributions from the merchant class, even the Emperor would not have been able to strip these noble families of their titles.

    They were likely spared with the promise of severe consequences.

    ¡®It seems they think they can handle this.¡¯

    "As of now, I revoke the rights of Count Karara, and Barons Quisano, Bosina, and Ancona to attend the Imperial Parliament, and they are hereby forbidden from calling themselves nobles. All assets, excluding personal or family property, will be seized by the state."

    This kind of action could only be taken in a country with absolute royal authority.

    Despite these harsh measures, the Emperor stood with great confidence.

    "This concludes the session."

 Chapter 330: One Ghost, Labor Standards Act (8)

    As soon as the meeting in the parliament ended, Count Salerno was deeply troubled.

    "Never did I think a day would come where I¡¯d have to make such a decision."

    When nobles talk about making decisions, it usually means giving an order to assassinate someone, or issuing a directive to politically destroy someone by spreading outrageous propaganda and lies.

    One might easily imagine such actions being those of beasts wearing human skins, not humans themselves.

    That assumption is mostly correct.

    In modern and contemporary world history, whenever something heinous occurred, you could usually trace it back to the land of fish and chips as the culprit, and that would mostly be right.

    However, the decision Count Salerno was about to make wasn¡¯t about immersing someone in a vat.

    "My heart is heavy, but there¡¯s no choice. I have to live, after all. Don¡¯t you agree?"

    One of his followers replied to him.

    "Loyalty and honor don¡¯t feed you, do they? Even loyalty passed down through generations can change with the situation."

    In Eastern cultures, loyalty is absolute, and it''s a given that a vassal cannot ask for any rewards in return.

    But in the Toscana Empire, loyalty moves with the situation.

    It¡¯s like reeds swaying in the wind.

    ¡®The era of Duke Sforza is over now.¡¯

    "You¡¯re right, we need to live too."

    Count Salerno and his group quickly met Duke Sforza in the parliament building.

    As soon as the Duke saw him, he sighed but managed to smile.

    "This has become difficult, Count."

    "Yes, Your Grace. Things have gotten really difficult. But cheer up, surely good days will come again, won¡¯t they?"

    "I wonder if good days will come while that Fabio bastard is still alive."

    Just thinking about it made the Duke''s heart heavy.

    Truthfully, the Duke didn¡¯t want to care about how successful Fabio was, but he knew that if he left it alone, the Visconti faction¡¯s influence would grow uncontrollably, and his own political standing would weaken further.

    Reluctantly, he knew he had to draw his sword and use it.

    ¡®That bastard doesn¡¯t even flinch.¡¯

    No, if he attacks to survive, Fabio would retaliate a hundredfold.

    "Your Grace, there¡¯s something I must tell you."

    "What is it?"

    "Our family, the Salerno family, and all the nobles here have supported Your Grace politically for generations."

    Duke Sforza felt his heart collapse.

    He had already been openly criticized by the Emperor in the parliament, and his political position had become unbearably narrow. Now, even his faction¡¯s key figures were deserting him.

    But the Duke didn¡¯t show his true feelings.

    In this situation, he had to put on a fac?ade, at least pretend to be strong, because if he didn¡¯t, he could lose even more.

    "I could never forget the Salerno family¡¯s loyalty and dedication."

    "But it seems that ends here. From today, we will follow Duke Visconti, not you."

    Had it been some baron or viscount, the Duke might have shouted at them and forced them to stop.

    Those were nobles, but they hadn''t formed significant political power, so he could have easily crushed them if he wanted.

    However, when the opponent is a count, no matter how powerful a Duke might be, it¡¯s not easy to simply crush them.

    The Duke had hundreds of barons and viscounts under him, but the count had at least ten or more of his own, making it a difficult battle of influence.

    Thus, the Duke had to put on a face of generosity, at least pretending to be gracious, even though he was seething inside.

    "Is this your final decision?"

    "Yes, Your Grace."

    "You¡¯re not changing the country, just changing the faction you support. How could I stop you?"

    "I¡¯m sorry."

    "No, no. You didn¡¯t betray me or sell my weaknesses, so there¡¯s nothing wrong with this. Do as you wish. I¡¯m truly grateful for everything up until now."

    Count Salerno bowed deeply, his last formal gesture before leaving.

    Even though he had now become an enemy politically, this was the last expression of respect for the favors he had received from the Duke¡¯s family for generations.

    The Duke sighed deeply as he watched Count Salerno leave.

    It was both frustrating and regretful that someone who had been so politically aligned with his family for generations was leaving.

    But the bigger issue was this:

    "Does he think that even the key figures of our faction will fall to Duke Visconti?"

    The situation where even those he trusted were turning their backs on him.

    It was like the image of his wife, who had been close to him until yesterday, now in the arms of a muscular black man, moaning and writhing. It was a situation he found unbearably bitter.

    Tears began to well up in the Duke¡¯s eyes.

    At seventy, there had been no time to cry unless a family member had passed.

    "The world really is cruel, cruel..."

    Duke Sforza returned to his chambers and drank an entire liter of strong alcohol by himself.

    That night, he was so drunk that he barely managed to fall asleep.

    This is what a revolution looks like.

    If it happens in our country, it¡¯s disastrous, but if it happens in another country (potential enemy or enemy nation), we must stand up and cheer, offering our support.

    What we need to watch out for is when "communism" is attached to it. Whether in our country or another, we should immediately suppress and eradicate it.

    I don''t need to repeat the absurd mistake the Americans made during World War II when they saved the Soviet Union to destroy Nazi Germany and ended up regretting it.

    "You¡¯re quite unique, my lord. Why would you want to meet someone like him?"

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    "Someone with a unique talent might be useful to have as a retainer. You never know when you might need them."

    During the Warring States period, a man named Meng Xiang accepted someone who could make the sound of a rooster crowing as a retainer.

    Others laughed at him for it, saying what kind of talent that was...

    But later, when Meng Xiang urgently needed to pass a checkpoint and dawn had not yet arrived, the retainer who could mimic a rooster crowing did so. The guards, thinking it was dawn, opened the gate, and Meng Xiang¡¯s life was saved.

    It¡¯s a tale of how seemingly useless skills can become useful in the right situation.

    How useful do you think the skill of inciting people to protest is?

    ¡®Goebbels didn¡¯t get famous for nothing.¡¯

    "If you think that way, my lord, I won¡¯t say more."

    "Judge Mansini, I¡¯m once again indebted to you."

    "Considering how you¡¯ve taken care of me, it¡¯s nothing. My lord, you even got my fourth son into the accounting department through special means."

    "I just made sure that the interviewers recognized a talented candidate. Honestly, letting someone like Matteo miss the opportunity to become an accountant would be a huge loss to the country."

    Though that¡¯s what I said, Matteo was actually not qualified to be in the accounting department.

    He should have gone to the preparatory course, but I used my influence to get him into the official accounting department.

    By 21st-century standards, this is outright academic fraud and would spark national outrage.

    ¡®In the Toscana Empire, even military promotions are solved with bribes, so what¡¯s the big deal?¡¯

    A joke, but in reality, there¡¯s even a case where an incompetent colonel was promoted by bribing ten thousand gold coins.

    In our Empire, where selling offices is illegal, no less.

    "Hmm, there¡¯s a guy named Bruno inside. He¡¯ll be pardoned later by the Emperor¡¯s grace, but the Duke asked me to have him half-dead while in prison. It¡¯s a bit hard to look at right now."

    "I¡¯ve seen everything in noble life, including the unpleasant parts."

    "If you say so, # N§àv§Ölight # my lord..."

    The fact that Duke Sforza secretly ordered that Bruno be half-killed while in prison means that, once Bruno is pardoned, he will likely be abducted by a "mysterious stranger" and thrown into a swamp to become food for beasts and insects.

    Without CCTV or advanced forensic technology, such things are possible.

    "Let¡¯s go in and talk slowly."

    With those words, Judge Mansini left.

    After walking a little further, I saw Bruno, just as Mansini had said, half-dead and shackled to a cross.

    His eyes were still very much alive.

    As soon as he saw me, Bruno couldn¡¯t hide his shock.

    "No, you¡¯re Fabio, right? Why are you wearing such expensive clothes?! What are you doing here?"

    "My name is indeed Fabio. But I¡¯m not the second or third son of a peasant family like you. I am the head of the Rothschild family, Count Fabio de Rothschild."

    Bruno, even after hearing that, still seemed stunned.

    "And you, thanks to the Emperor¡¯s grace, will be pardoned in a week, but you won¡¯t make it back to your homeland alive."

    "Why would I die if I¡¯m pardoned?"

    "The assassins sent by Duke Sforza will kill you."

    Bruno¡¯s life is worth less than a single gold coin.

    So from the Duke¡¯s perspective, it doesn¡¯t matter whether he lives or dies.

    But Bruno, along with the other leaders of the labor movement, had caused a lot of trouble for the Duke...

    ¡®This is probably just for some revenge.¡¯

    "I swear on the honor of the Rothschild family that you will likely face the most horrific torture in the world, begging for death, and only then, after all the suffering, will you die."

    At these words, Bruno¡¯s pupils began to tremble.

    "If you don¡¯t want to die, take my hand."

    It¡¯s either dying painfully without meaning or trying something, anything.

    No one would choose to die in such a situation.

    And I will awaken him as the Red Communist War Demon.

    He seems to have some potential.

 Chapter 331: One Ghost, Labor Standards Act (9)

    What is the best way to win in a competition against someone?

    Most people would probably answer like this:

    "By putting in more effort than the other person, getting a better education, having superior abilities, and seizing opportunities."

    That answer is certainly true.

    However, there are limits to effort.

    A typical example is in the entertainment industry, where if you don''t have talent, you can''t make a living.

    In that world, the difference between the elite and the third-rate is often as thin as a sheet of paper, and the value of a person can vary by thousands of times.

    This is true not just in entertainment but in business competition, and also among those who pass professional exams.

    For people in the top 1% of society, it¡¯s hard to surpass someone else simply through "effort."

    Yet, if you lose in competition, you lose your livelihood¡ªso what should you do?

    The answer is well known to politicians, who use it every day.

    "Undermine others or falsely accuse them."

    By "undermining," I don¡¯t mean just spreading rumors; I¡¯m talking about launching direct attacks, both visible and invisible.

    As a merchant and a politician of a nation, I must not hesitate when the time comes to engage in dirty deeds, right?

    "Fabio, no, Count."

    "Do whatever you like."

    I¡¯ve seen Bruno¡¯s skill with words and his ability to captivate the workers firsthand. He speaks well and has the power to gather people.

    But our positions are different.

    If I don''t lend him a hand, once he gets out of here, he¡¯ll end up stuffed into an oak barrel, floating in the sea, while I can easily find someone else to replace him.

    The difference between the superior and the subordinate is clear.

    This might take a while...

    "Guard, bring me a chair. My legs are aching from standing so long."

    "Yes, sir!"

    The guard immediately brought a chair and even wiped it down with a cloth.

    It seems he really doesn¡¯t want to make me angry.

    "What will I be doing?"

    Alright, we¡¯re halfway there.

    You know, when people are cornered, they often don''t know if the thing in front of them is poison or something they can eat, but they¡¯ll grab it anyway, right?

    When you''re drowning, you grab onto even a straw.

    I signaled for the guards to leave, and they withdrew.

    Now, only Bruno and I remained.

    "You¡¯ll be working to liberate the oppressed people in foreign lands."

    "You mean people from countries other than the Toscana Empire?"

    "Think about it, the Toscana Empire is now a country where even serfs can live decently, isn¡¯t it? And as of yesterday, His Majesty has even enacted a law to guarantee a humane life for workers like you."

    Bruno¡¯s eyes widened, and he raised his voice.

    "Is that really true?"

    "Why would I lie to you? From now on, employers can¡¯t make workers work more than 10 hours a day or 60 hours a week. Additionally, if they provide meals and housing, they can¡¯t charge more than 70 ducats a month for rent. Doesn¡¯t that sound pretty good?"

    "Good? We¡¯re finally going to be able to live like humans..."

    Tears fell from Bruno¡¯s eyes.

    Having worked 13 hours a day, six days a week, living on food worse than slop, now, if all those injustices are resolved...

    I would be moved to tears too.

    "His Majesty has already made sure that even the people can live like humans. So why would we need to liberate the people of this empire?"

    "You''re right, Count. The reason people like me and others rose up was to live like humans. There''s no need to stir up unrest now. Trying to do so would be wrong."

    "It¡¯s good to hear that you understand."

    Our country, Korea, is one of the most accomplished nations in the world.

    It¡¯s the only country to successfully rise from being a destitute nation that even the poorest in Africa could sympathize with to a developed nation.

    Even the nationalists can¡¯t deny how great this achievement is.

    But, while this has to do with the tenacity and sweat of Koreans, from a political perspective...

    ¡®Western countries had to prevent Korea from becoming communist.¡¯

    And communism is easiest to infiltrate and accept in the poorest nations.

    If you don¡¯t quite understand this, think of it this way: when I see a man with a pretty girlfriend, it twists my insides.

    Why is that guy dating such a pretty woman and going to a motel on Christmas?

    It boils my blood.

    Now, if you switch the object of jealousy from "pretty women" to "rich people," it¡¯s easy to understand.

    That¡¯s why Western countries, especially the United States, gave Korea tremendous aid.

    During the 1950s and 1960s, much of the food came from American rice and flour.

    Knowing this history, I too am doing my best to make my country wealthy to avoid falling under the rule of communist blood-red demons.

    "But what about other countries? They still collect 60% in taxes from serfs, and urban workers are eating food that even pigs wouldn¡¯t touch."

    "Is that so?"

    "In the Toscana Empire, His Majesty is trying to bear the suffering of the people together, but foreign rulers think of their subjects as mere livestock."

    "Livestock."

    "They see them as no more than cows or horses. I¡¯ve even heard that when a serf dies, they collect a cow or a horse as death tax. While alive, they treat them like cattle, and after they die, they collect livestock instead of meat. How miserable is that?"

    A high-ranking official from the Ministry of Education once said that the people are like dogs and pigs.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    Politicians and the high-ranking officials must think the same way.

    The idea that discriminating against people based on social class is bad has only started to be accepted in the last 200 years.

    On the other hand, the history of class-based discrimination has lasted thousands of years.

    Even now, this happens, so it¡¯s more surprising if someone in a medieval fantasy world doesn¡¯t think this way.

    "Anyway, if you leave like this, you¡¯re already a dead man. Duke Sforza has no intention of letting those who led the uprising live."

    "...I see."

    "So, think of yourself as dead, take my hand, and I¡¯ll make you a leader in the liberation of workers and serfs everywhere."

    "Alright. I¡¯ll do it, but if I take your hand..."

    If you¡¯ve completed the quest, it¡¯s natural to get a reward.

    Anyone who doesn¡¯t follow such simple rules isn¡¯t even human.

    "From this moment, you¡¯ll be my vassal."

    A vassal, in other words, a noble.

    "I pledge my loyalty."

    "Good, then let¡¯s change your name. From now on... the man called Bruno is dead as soon as he leaves this prison."

    It¡¯s more advantageous for my future plans to give him a completely new identity.

    So, it¡¯s better to erase his old name.

    Since he¡¯s just a worker who was practically kicked out of the city and has no family, it doesn¡¯t matter.

    "From now on, you¡¯ll be called Karl, Karl Marx."

    "Marx? What¡¯s the meaning behind that name?"

    It¡¯s the name of the Red War Demon who colored Europe and the world.

    "He will be the one to bring light to the workers and serfs of all nations."

    Ah, this is something most people don¡¯t know.

    The welfare system we enjoy, like the four major insurances, owes a lot to Marx¡¯s contributions.

    After seeing the German workers turn into rabid communists, the Iron Chancellor, fearing it would turn into a communist paradise, created the welfare system to keep the German Empire safe from ruin.

    "One week from now, you¡¯ll be released from prison. After that, I¡¯ll teach you what you need to know. And when you¡¯re ready, you¡¯ll be at the forefront of liberating foreign workers and serfs."

    As other countries fall into chaos, the Toscana Empire will become relatively wealthier.

    In other words, it¡¯ll be easier to win in competition.

    How could I not do this?

    ¡®Of course ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) I have to.¡¯

    "Good job, my lord."

    "Good job? By the way, did you manage to persuade the others?"

    "We¡¯ve succeeded in convincing all those who directly led the uprising. As soon as they are released, they will become ¡®non-existent¡¯ in the Empire¡¯s records."

    If it gets out that I¡¯m spreading communism in other countries, it would be extremely troublesome.

    So, I¡¯ll make sure such people don¡¯t exist in the Empire¡¯s records. That way, even if things go south, I can easily deny everything.

    "Where do you plan to send them?"

    "I was thinking of sending them to the Holy Empire, but it might be better to send them to the Kingdom of Lyon."

    "That¡¯s a wise decision. The Kingdom of Lyon is already facing a lot of unrest, so their incitement will work well there."

    Spreading communism to other countries while keeping our hands clean.

    How wonderful.

    It¡¯s so good that I feel like I could fly just thinking about it.

    "Before that, make sure to educate them well."

    Sebastian grinned.

    "Once they¡¯ve received this training, they¡¯ll become the worst agitators in our continent."

 Chapter 332: Iéˆ¥æª’l be a mess (1)

    Bruno, or rather Karl Marx, was doing something he had never done in his life¡ªstudying.

    The words of a teacher, difficult to understand, and the book with content that made one doubt the character of Fabio de Rothschild as a person, filled the pages.

    All kinds of complicated knowledge that he had to learn by using his mind rather than his body...

    ¡®I would rather be farming.¡¯

    Whether he thought about it or not, Fabio¡¯s lecture continued.

    "People, surprisingly, can endure poverty and hunger quite well. It would be more accurate to say that even when placed in such a harsh environment, they don''t immediately think of starting a rebellion."

    Karl could only nod at these words.

    He had lived in poverty from his childhood until he left home as an adult, and his younger brother had nearly starved to death for lack of food. Yet, at that time, he didn¡¯t blame the lord or the nobles. He just accepted it as his fate.

    ¡®But how does the Count know what we think so thoroughly?¡¯

    It seemed very strange when considered logically.

    Fabio de Rothschild, born the second son of the Medici baron family, must have never once had to worry about food in his entire life.

    Yet, he understood things he had never experienced as if they were his own.

    As he thought further, a chill ran down Karl¡¯s arm.

    "However, when one compares oneself to another man in the same situation, the story changes completely. From that point on, even if they are not starving, dissatisfaction and anger build up very quickly. You must use this to plant the seeds of anger in the hearts of peasants and workers."

    Fabio wrote "Comparison, Anger, Uprising" on the board.

    "When you were working in the factory, what ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) motivated you to lead the protests? Yes, Karl. Tell us."

    "Compared to living as a serf, working in the factory was incredibly difficult and miserable."

    "Could you explain specifically?"

    "When I lived as a serf, if there wasn¡¯t a famine, we could at least manage to get by. But when I joined the factory, I had to work for 13 hours a day without rest. The food was like the porridge you eat during a severe famine, and it was all we had every day. I felt like I¡¯d rather die than live like this. I wanted to smash everything."

    "That¡¯s right. You should never forget that anger, that emotion from that time."

    After saying this, Fabio wrote on the board:

    [The miserable lives of workers and serfs are all because of capitalists, merchants, nobles, and kings.]

    "Anger is like fire¡ªif it doesn¡¯t have something to burn, it will easily die down. Your job is to find the target for that burning anger. Everything you will learn from now on is an extension of this idea, so make sure you memorize everything I¡¯ve said today."

    With that, Fabio finished his lecture and left.

    Karl, having finished taking notes, stood up immediately.

    Finally, it was time for a break after the painful class.

    He eagerly looked forward to returning to his accommodation provided by Fabio¡ªhe was about to get some rest.

    "Finally, it¡¯s over. Ha. Karl, don¡¯t you feel like your head¡¯s about to crack?"

    "Feels like I''ve been hit with a rock."

    "Studying something I¡¯ve never done in my life, I feel like I¡¯m going to die."

    "Still, we¡¯ve got to push through. We¡¯re not in the same position as before, are we?"

    Fabio had been putting careful effort into fully incorporating the leaders of the protest into his side.

    If left alone, these men would likely betray him, so he quickly arranged for them to marry young, beautiful wives as soon as they entered.

    Those who had lived alone, some until their mid-twenties, others until their early forties, cried genuine tears of gratitude for the match, considering it the best form of welfare in a world where marriage was the greatest task in life.

    "One thing that bothers me is that after the education, we have to go to the Kingdom of Lyon. It feels a bit off."

    "Haven¡¯t you heard what our informant seniors said? The Count will make sure your wife isn¡¯t uncomfortable being alone."

    "Well, that¡¯s true."

    "And us, being the nobody we are, would we ever have touched a woman like her if it weren¡¯t for the Count?"

    Karl couldn¡¯t help but nod at those words.

    She wasn¡¯t stunning enough to make his head spin, but she was cute enough that anyone would call her beautiful.

    Back when he lived in the village, girls like her were almost always married off to some aging craftsman or became the mistress of a rich family.

    Marriage was the one opportunity in life to change one¡¯s fate.

    "We¡¯ll finish this job well, and then we can live happily with our wives," Karl said.

    "You''re right," came the reply.

    "But I¡¯m more worried about the speech test tomorrow. If I fail, I¡¯ll have to study all night, and then the joy of the honeymoon will disappear."

    "Idiot."

    "You¡¯re a priest now. Maybe you¡¯ll even work miracles."

    "I told you to study until the afternoon on the weekend, you fool."

    Karl trusted Fabio.

    If he did well in this mission, he¡¯d rise even further.

    "Study hard, too. For us, people like us, this opportunity may never come again."

    Returning to his accommodation, Karl immediately embraced his wife.

    No matter how difficult and painful the studying was, seeing his wife¡¯s face made everything feel like it was washed away.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to study hard again tomorrow.¡¯

    "Hello, Maria."

    "Did you study well?"

    "I only thought of you, Maria, and worked hard."

    Maria didn¡¯t ask what he learned, nor did she even seem curious about it.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    Because before she married him and came here, she had been strictly warned not to inquire about what her husband was learning.

    ¡®Being too curious could ruin everything for me.¡¯

    "What¡¯s for dinner tonight?"

    "Tos?kano bread with ribollita, and vongole pasta."

    "Sounds delicious."

    Whether it was when Karl lived as a serf or worked as a laborer in the city...

    The only food he could afford was some nameless, poorly made stew.

    But now, the food was made with plenty of flour, ribollita with meat, and pasta with clams.

    A meal that could only be enjoyed by the middle class or above.

    ¡®I live for the pleasure of looking at my wife and eating good food. Truly.¡¯

    "It¡¯s delicious. Thank you."

    "Today, Michaela, who lived in a fishing village, taught me how to make it, so I¡¯m glad it turned out well."

    "Was she the one you said you just got close to a few days ago?"

    "Yes."

    "I didn¡¯t expect her to be from a fishing village. I guess she knows a lot about fish dishes."

    "She said the only problem is that it¡¯s hard to get fresh fish here."

    "She¡¯s spoiled now, isn''t she?"

    Both Maria and Karl were deeply satisfied with their current life.

    At first, when they were told to marry a man they didn¡¯t know and a woman they had never seen, they were dumbfounded.

    But now, they lived in a better house than when they lived in the village, eating plenty of delicious food.

    They had a comfortable life and could live with a sense of ease in everything.

    Except for living with a stranger, it wasn¡¯t so bad.

    ¡®I never would have lived this comfortably if I hadn¡¯t married this person.¡¯

    And Maria knew that well.

    If things had gone another way, she might have ended up marrying into a poor family like her father¡¯s, or heading to the city alone, living a miserable life.

    Both had experienced or were preparing for the worst, and now they were content with their current situation.

    Although there was no love, there was a bond of loyalty in living together.

    "Back in the day, we could only eat food like this during festivals."

    "Yeah, I know."

    "I don¡¯t even know if we deserve to eat such delicious food every day."

    "Thanks to the Count, right? We should study hard and repay him."

    "...I¡¯ll study a little more after dinner."

    Someone once said:

    A married man has three times the economic effect compared to a single man.

    In other words, it meant that a man becomes three times stronger and works harder when he¡¯s married.

    Karl also strengthened his resolve in that way.

    "Don¡¯t overdo it."

    "It¡¯s all thanks to the Count that we live like this, and I need to work harder for you."

    As soon as Karl finished his meal, he started writing the notes Fabio had handed out on a small blackboard, memorizing them all.

    This was the only way to repay the favor...

    And this was the only way to maintain a peaceful life with his wife.

    Meanwhile, Fabio called the person who would lead the next agitation operation to his office.

    "Orsini, long time no see."

    "Yes, indeed."

    "I¡¯m about to entrust you with a very important task."

 Chapter 333: Iéˆ¥æª’l be a mess (2)

    ¡°I have to make the Kingdom of Lyon fall into the abyss of ruin.¡±

    Orsini blinked after hearing my words.

    But soon he regained his composure and asked again.

    ¡°How can I do this specifically?¡±

    That¡¯s why career positions are good.

    If I had brought other guys here and asked them the same question, they would have reacted like this.

    ¡®Me doing something like that? How?¡¯

    Ruining a country is usually difficult, no, to be honest, it¡¯s harder than breaking a rock in half by hitting it with an egg...

    Even if you react like that, it¡¯s not a waste, since you¡¯ve done it once, you won¡¯t be suspicious when I tell you to do something.

    That¡¯s why your first experience is the most important.

    ¡°Before I tell you how, let¡¯s talk about the goal you have to achieve by doing this.¡±

    ¡°Goal first?¡± ¡°Usually, it would be common to explain the process through which you have to achieve this goal, but this time it¡¯s a little special.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°What you have to do this time is to put a hook in the mouths of the Kingdom of Lyon and make them participate in the civil war of the Holy Empire.¡±

    Orsini froze for a moment after hearing my words.

    His body was frozen like a stone, and he was just blinking.

    He couldn¡¯t help but be surprised when he was given a task he had never thought of.

    ¡°What is the most important thing we need to succeed as merchants?¡±

    Most self-help books and business management books say this.

    Discover your own strengths and maximize them to differentiate yourself.

    That¡¯s not wrong.

    However, in medieval fantasy, or even before the 20th century, if you believed and followed that advice, you would have been able to open an office in Pangyo or Gwanggyo before...

    It was the perfect thing to do to fall into the Han River and be reincarnated into another world.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t have capital, you have to find someone to invest capital, and if you don¡¯t have a business partner, you have to find a business partner. However, our Rothschild upper echelon already has a huge amount of capital and the credit and means to secure capital, and there are countless business partners to do business with.¡±

    ¡°There is a market in the Tuscan Empire, but sales in Ifriqiya are very good.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have the technology or facilities to produce our main products, weapons or alcohol, and the price of gold is much lower than the average price in the Albanian continent. We are simultaneously making a profit from sales and the difference in the price of gold. And we also have income from gold mines that we secretly purchased from the Masai Union.¡±

    If I were to spend money without worrying about inflation, I could hire over 100,000 mercenaries on my own.

    Of course, if I did that, it would obviously collapse the Tuscan Empire economy as well as foreign economies, so I wouldn¡¯t do it.

    It¡¯s like a fish living in a lake poisoning the lake water.

    If a fish rots the water it lives in, it¡¯s a good chance for it to die.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to grow on its own anymore. So we have to create a market. And the new market we open up will be the ¡®entire Holy Empire.¡¯¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, but I want to add the Kingdom of Lyon to that. If we drag them into the civil war, we can sell that much more weapons.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a disaster, no, it¡¯s a fair point.¡±

    I think I just heard you say it¡¯s a disaster, but that¡¯s how business is.

    It¡¯s about making money by exploiting other people¡¯s misfortune.

    In our neighboring country, Japan, there was a great disaster called the Meireki Fire around the 17th century, where 100,000 people were burned to death, and at that time, lumber merchants made unprecedented sales.

    We should also learn from the wicked wisdom of the Japanese.

    ¡°But let¡¯s think about it logically. In the current situation, is it really necessary for the Kingdom of Lyon to actively participate in the Holy Empire¡¯s civil war?¡± ¡°If they knew how to think, they would join the war when the war between the Protestant faction and the Catholic faction is almost over. When hunting animals, it would be easier to deal with two tired lions than two healthy lions.¡±

    ¡°Yes, because everyone else can think the way we do. They will make common sense judgments.¡±

    This is a common mistake made by self-employed business owners and new business owners.

    This is the disease of thinking that only I can think of something.

    The reality is that, cruelly enough, if I can think of something, 99.5% of the time, everyone else can think of it too.

    That¡¯s why, even in war, even if generals with similar abilities fight, the winner is determined, and if you go to the patent office, you¡¯ll see that all the inventions I conceived of are already patented.

    ¡®Reality is so cruel.¡¯

    However, if you change your perspective, it means that my thoughts are similar to others¡¯ thoughts, so if you prepare something to match that, the average will go up...

    ¡°So we have to make it so that they can¡¯t make common sense judgments. So that they have no choice but to choose war.¡±

    We call great generals like Admiral Yi Sun-sin and Napoleon like this.

    A general who achieved a great victory in war despite having fewer troops than the enemy.

    It¡¯s not wrong, but Napoleon responded like this after hearing that.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡®I just concentrated my small number of troops as much as possible and attacked the enemy¡¯s dispersed units, and suppressed them with a momentary advantage in numbers.¡¯

    Admiral Yi Sun-sin deliberately set up a situation where the enemy had no choice but to enter a disadvantageous place, and concentrated his troops to suppress them by taking advantage of all kinds of strategic and tactical advantages.

    Even though I¡¯m not a general, I have to learn this lesson well.

    ¡°The first thing you have to do is to take those who are currently being educated and go to the Kingdom of Lyon, and then incite a rebellion there.¡±

    ¡°...... A rebellion?¡±

    ¡°A very organized and planned rebellion.¡±

    Why was the Donghak Peasant Revolution successful before the Japanese military intervened?

    It was because Jeon Bong-jun, the leader of the peasant army, learned how to systematically operate the organization while operating under the instructions of Heungseon Daewongun.

    ¡°Jeon Bong-jun personally hated Heungseon Daewongun.¡±

    In any case, the wisdom and knowledge provided by Heungseon Daewongun gave the peasant army the driving force and strength to defeat the government troops.

    Orsini will play that role.

    ¡°The 62 revolutionaries I have recruited this time will immediately approach the serfs and workers as soon as they are dispatched to the Kingdom of Lyon. And as they gradually become closer to them, they will infiltrate the organization.¡± ¡°The most discontented are the ones most likely to join the rebellion. We should go to the most difficult place in the Kingdom of Lyon.¡±

    ¡°Make a city near the border of the Holy Empire your base.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Communism can only thrive where the poor live.

    Because it¡¯s a place where it¡¯s hard to make a living because of poverty, and the working conditions are extremely harsh.

    Because they want to kill all the presidents, CEOs, and nobles and create a paradise for workers.

    If they¡¯re making a decent living, they won¡¯t risk their lives to overturn it, even if they¡¯re not satisfied with their current life.

    ¡°Make a city near the border of the Holy Empire your base, and tell the peasants only the truth at first. That even serfs in the Tuscan Empire can eat bread every day.¡±

    ¡°A lie only seems plausible when it¡¯s hidden in the truth.¡± ¡°And the workers of the Tuscan Empire only work 10 hours a day and are guaranteed a decent life. Why should we have to live in such misery?¡±

    ¡°I understand, but.¡±

    Orsini hesitated for a moment and then asked me back.

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t the serfs or ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) workers report us?¡±

    ¡°Let the accused run away immediately.¡±

    There is a saying in prosecutorial investigations of murders, drug cartels, etc., that

    ¡®If we catch just one guy, the investigation will go smoothly from then on.¡¯

    Likewise, if we catch one member of the organization, we could end up being caught from there.

    Besides, they are our vassals, so we have to protect them as much as we can.

    ¡°I will continue the story. If the workers¡¯ anger reaches a certain point, we will induce a riot. At first, it will be a protest, and then someone¡¯s sudden accident will cause a little violence.¡± ¡°Things are getting bigger like a snowball.¡±

    ¡°What should we do next when things get bigger?¡±

    ¡°Lies.¡±

    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s solve the conspiracy theory that Baron 00 is leading the army down to kill us.¡±

    The principle of an organized riot is simpler than you think.

    Someone instigates it, mixes in lies to increase the scale, and makes the protesters fight by telling them lies.

    ¡°Then the area will burn down. Set fire to several places like this.¡±

    ¡°Okay, but after that...¡±

    Oh, you don¡¯t have to tell me that now.

    ¡°Once the burning is over, I¡¯ll tell you the next plan. And if this goes well, I¡¯ll do it myself.

    ¡°I will report your exploits to His Majesty.¡±

    ¡°I will obey your command, Viscount.¡±

    ¡°This is an opportunity to revive a fallen family.¡±

 Chapter 334: Iéˆ¥æª’l be a mess (3)

    A building in the town of Nance, Lyon Kingdom.

    Inside, Orsini and Fabio''s agitators, along with other conspirators, were plotting and scheming.

    What they were discussing was the welfare improvement of the workers and serfs in the Lyon Kingdom.

    They absolutely had no intention of spreading the spirit of revolution or the bloodstained spear spirit to the Lyon Kingdom.

    If such a thing were to happen, it would be an unfortunate result of some random coincidence.

    "Is everyone spreading our boss''s pure and clear truths well?"

    "Yes, Director. Out of the 62 of us, 50 have successfully infiltrated the surrounding areas. 30 of them have been accepted as workers in the local factories, and 20 are now part of the farming community. The remaining people have disguised themselves as peddlers to establish contact with the other 50 and you, Director, or to build good relationships with the high-ranking officials."

    "You''ll be better at agitating the workers and serfs than I am, so I''ll just receive reports and give general instructions."

    Orsini had served Fabio for quite a long time.

    And he had done his best to follow his lord''s example.

    He was certain that if he could become like Fabio, he would soon rise to a position where he could restore his family.

    In just 6 years, he had risen from the second son of a mere baron to a count.

    It was a level of success that even legendary war heroes would struggle to achieve.

    ¡®It was all thanks to achievements that no one could dispute.¡¯

    Born into a merchant family, he had never been educated to live as a merchant, yet he had the ruthlessness to sell even human souls for a single page of a fairy tale.

    Although he had never been trained as a leader in a noble family, he now ruled over everyone.

    As if he were a perfect leader drawn in a picture.

    ¡®The count believes in you all.¡¯

    ¡°The count believes in you. ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) That¡¯s why he¡¯s allowed you, who were once mere serfs, to take wives, provided good meals, and paid generous wages.¡±

    ¡°For the count, I would follow to the death.¡±

    Fabio himself knew that it was an extravagant treatment for serfs who had achieved nothing.

    In Korea, it would be like calling in people who earned 1.5 million won a month, marrying them off, building them nice apartments, and then offering a salary of 6 million won after taxes.

    Although their families were held hostage, before that, the only way for Marx and the others to repay their favor was one.

    They would have to devote their lives, even to the point of death, to serve the count.

    ¡°I am the same. And the count believes in you. That¡¯s why he will only give you the necessary tasks to follow his directives.¡±

    ¡°We will repay that trust.¡±

    ¡°I heard you¡¯re disguising yourselves as merchants to make contact with the nobles. What exactly do you plan to do?¡±

    ¡°The nobles and officials in Lyon Kingdom see the serfs and workers as tools that can be squeezed dry. So, we¡¯re planning to worsen the working conditions and encourage them to extract more profits from it.¡±

    "An excellent idea."

    Serfs and workers are not machines.

    Machines work until their engines burn out, and parts are damaged, operated by someone.

    But humans, if made to work until they''re about to break, will inevitably explode in dissatisfaction.

    To survive, humans will kill their oppressors before them.

    ¡°Do as you wish.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Friedrich Engels, now working under the name Fabian Russel.

    ¡°Thank you for meeting with someone as insignificant as me, Minister of Finance.¡±

    "There is nothing more important than meeting an outstanding merchant like you and solving the problem."

    Engels handed the Finance Minister a suspiciously shaped box filled with biscuits.

    Thinking it was just biscuits, the Finance Minister was disappointed, but upon feeling the heavy weight, his face brightened.

    ¡°Merchants are usually all about money and lack manners, but you, you¡¯re different. Your attitude towards nobles is well-polished.¡±

    ¡°You''re too kind.¡±

    "Well, this time, did you come here to ask something from me?"

    "Rather than asking for something, I contacted you after seeing something unfortunate while inspecting the fief."

    "Unfortunate, huh? What do you mean by that?"

    Engels sighed and lowered his gaze.

    It was just an act, but perhaps it was the precision of his posture and expression?

    Anyone could see that it seemed full of regret.

    ¡°The serfs and workers are living too comfortably.¡±

    ¡°Too comfortably?¡±

    ¡°Well, as a merchant myself, that¡¯s secondary, but you, Minister of Finance, are working day and night for the city and the fief, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    In truth, the Finance Minister was not working that hard.

    Thanks to his subordinates handling the miscellaneous paperwork, the actual documents he had to approve came to only 5 or 6 a day.

    Of course, each document weighed hundreds of gold coins, sometimes even 1,000 coins, so reviewing one document took at least an hour...

    But in reality, his working hours were only around 5-6 hours a day.

    The rest was spent either entertaining high-ranking officials, being entertained, or chatting with city council members or other officials.

    But people, when they start studying, tend to include time spent tapping their phones at their desk as study time.

    By the standards of their species, the Finance Minister''s working hours were about 14 hours a day.

    ¡°Workers only work 13 hours a day. If we just increase their work time by one hour, production in Nance City will greatly improve.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve worked 14 hours, and while it¡¯s tough at first, you get used to it later.¡±

    Entertaining high-ranking officials might be considered work, but being entertained by someone was definitely not.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    You could eat expensive food and drink without spending your own money, and a pretty woman would be brought to you to keep your side warm.

    If the mood was right, you could just leave work early.

    And chatting with others over a cup of tea was not work; it was just relaxing...

    ¡®But all of this counts as part of the job.¡¯

    ¡°Let¡¯s increase the working hours by just one hour.¡±

    ¡°The factory managers in Nance are already complaining a lot. The workers cost a lot, but the productivity is not enough, and they¡¯re in the red.¡±

    Engels thought inwardly that it was disgusting.

    He, too, served Count Rothschild and was now planning to plunge the lives of other workers and serfs into hell.

    But he had once been a worker himself.

    ¡®Do the factory managers not have a heart?¡¯

    "Just an extra hour of work won¡¯t kill them."

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell the factory managers that it¡¯s okay to increase the workers¡¯ hours by an hour. They¡¯ll be pleased.¡±

    "But the more urgent issue is the serfs."

    ¡°Serfs... Serfs.¡±

    Among the nobles of the Lyon Kingdom, there wasn¡¯t a single one who didn¡¯t care about the serfs.

    Because 80%, no, almost 90% of the kingdom¡¯s population are serfs.

    Most of the taxes come from the serfs, so if you don¡¯t care about them, you¡¯re disqualified as a noble.

    ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, the serfs only work about 8-9 hours a day. Can they really pay taxes and feed their families by working that little?¡±

    "But the customary laws...¡±

    The reason the workers work 13 hours while the serfs only work 8-9 hours is due to the customary laws set by the church and the nobles.

    Serfs can only be made to work 8 hours a day, and they are legally guaranteed the right to inherit land for farming.

    This rule is applied like a constitution on the Albanian continent.

    Therefore, nobles cannot make serfs work more than 8-9 hours a day.

    If they tried, the village priest in the church would immediately report it to the nearby city or metropolitan cathedral...

    ¡®These guys are crossing the line.¡¯

    The message would be sent, and the church would threaten the lord by saying, ¡°Are you heretics? You¡¯re violating the customary laws set by Deus.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s the church monitoring the customary laws these days?¡±

    Hearing that, the Finance Minister slapped his knee.

    Even if they wanted to enforce the customary laws, the church''s authority had long since collapsed.

    "Let¡¯s have them work about 12 hours a day. The first 8 hours will be for farming, as usual, and the next 4 hours will be for land reclamation or something.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a genius.¡±

    If they reclaimed land, the harvest would increase.

    If the harvest increased, more taxes could be collected.

    This meant the Finance Minister would become richer.

    ¡°Let¡¯s implement this right away.¡±

    And so, the working hours in Nance Baron¡¯s domain were significantly increased by Engels.

    All of this was Fabio''s grace.

 Chapter 335: Iéˆ¥æª’l be a mess (4)

    The ignorant are brave because they have nothing to fear since they know nothing.

    It¡¯s like a poor, unfortunate high school student thinking military training is no big deal.

    Of course, once they actually enlist and undergo training, they¡¯d rather die, but when they don¡¯t know, they¡¯re fearless.

    "Did you say the working hours of the workers and serfs in Nance Baron¡¯s domain have been drastically increased?"

    "Yes, my lord. The workers now work nearly 90 hours a week, and the serfs work close to 80 hours a week."

    "This is a damn disaster."

    Even in the Toscana Empire, where the system of corve?e labor is being implemented, there¡¯s a trend of increasing the working hours of serfs.

    When you hear ¡°increased working hours,¡± your instinct as a human being would probably make you think of something like ¡®red-hot chili pepper¡¯¡ªit¡¯s the natural reaction.

    But in the great Toscana Empire, led by His Majesty the Emperor, there is no room for such wicked things like communism.

    The increased working hours were not because the nobles threatened to kill everyone unless they worked more, but because they had the desire to farm more and feed their families well, so it¡¯s fine.

    ¡®It¡¯s just like working two jobs to earn more money.¡¯

    Raising working hours without increasing the salary?

    That¡¯s something no decent person should do.

    "Still, it should have a short-term effect, right? After all, farming or production is simply a matter of putting in more labor."

    "In the short term, yes, in the short term."

    Of course, I was the one who initiated that situation.

    However, looking at the intelligence level of those who blindly believed and accepted it, honestly, I can¡¯t help but laugh.

    Do they not know how to treat livestock?

    Cows and horses need to be fed regularly, cleaned, and given appropriate rest so they can work again the next day.

    But these idiots are treating people as if they were machines.

    It¡¯s not a place with human rights ideologies, so you might just mock the way they treat people, but...

    ¡®How can they treat people like that?¡¯

    "Sebastian, do you know why we don¡¯t make cows and horses pull carts for more than 10 hours a day?"

    "Because they might collapse and die from exhaustion after pulling a heavy cart all day, sir?"

    "Yet those idiots are treating people worse than oxen pulling carts. It¡¯s like they¡¯ve all been shot in the head. People don¡¯t die that easily, but they¡¯re much more fragile than cows and horses."

    Sebastian broke out in a cold sweat for a moment.

    Is he not feeling well? Well, considering his age, it wouldn¡¯t be strange for him to have some aches and pains.

    While receiving my concerned gaze, Sebastian wiped the cold sweat from his face with a handkerchief.

    "Are you feeling ill? Sebastian, you¡¯re not getting any younger, so don¡¯t push yourself too hard. What will you do if you collapse?"

    "My lord, you¡¯ve already reduced my working hours to 40 hours a week as a consideration for me, haven¡¯t you? If I cut down on work any further, I¡¯d get bored and probably die faster. I¡¯ve seen my friends, and when they retire and have nothing to do, they die quickly."

    When people get older and retire, if they do ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) nothing, they age quickly.

    It¡¯s not that their bodies age fast, but their minds do.

    That¡¯s why people who study social welfare often beg elderly people to do something, anything.

    Go to church, join a club, or if their spouse has passed away, start a new relationship, anything to keep them busy.

    ¡®It wouldn¡¯t hurt to keep working if I still can.¡¯

    "Why not take in a new woman like Duke Visconti does?"

    "I already have my wife, and that¡¯s more than enough. I¡¯m in good health, and the only remaining purpose of my life is to continue watching over you, my lord. So, please, continue what you were saying."

    Duke Visconti should really take a lesson from Sebastian.

    In a world where polygamy is considered a virtue, I can¡¯t really judge, but...

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    Wanting to take a cousin, who¡¯s essentially a sixth cousin, as a concubine and then falsifying the family register, or asking Arsini and me to get him a pagan concubine with detailed appearance specifications? Isn¡¯t that a bit much?

    And then, writing over 5,000 words of instructions for Erica to keep it a secret? What am I supposed to do with that?

    "At first, increasing the work will boost efficiency. But eventually, a person¡¯s stamina, or more precisely, their mental strength, will wear out. They¡¯ll start going mad."

    Humans have a self-awareness that allows them to think and make judgments.

    But when this self-awareness is placed in a harsh environment, it wears away.

    To be more precise, the survival instinct, which is above the self, will force the ¡®self¡¯ in pain to wear down until the person is just a living shell.

    But even a worn-out self doesn''t want to just sit around and die...

    "A person on the verge of losing their mind will do whatever they can to eliminate the cause of their suffering. And I will lead them to choose ''the uprising of the serfs and workers'' as their final option."

    "I truly feel sorry for those who oppose you, my lord."

    "Do you?"

    "My lord, your schemes are something ordinary people couldn¡¯t possibly think of. And if they can¡¯t think of them, it means they won¡¯t be able to find a way to counter them either."

    The reason humanity was able to launch a space shuttle wasn¡¯t just due to technological advancements, but fundamentally...

    It¡¯s because humans have been imagining flying into space for thousands of years.

    That fantasy became the foundation, allowing scientists to work and create something.

    On the other hand, what if I don¡¯t even know what trick I¡¯ll pull next?

    Just like how humanity once believed bathing would make them sick and die, and lived without hygiene management, spreading disease among all ranks.

    They had no idea and had to suffer the consequences.

    Why did the French at Elang Vital fall so quickly in 6 weeks?

    Because Germany, who thought they would just keep throwing straight punches, suddenly landed a hook and shattered their jaw, forcing them to make a ''reverse charge.''

    "But settling for this would be too soon."

    "Are you planning to start a fire across the kingdom?"

    "Of course. For me, Sebastian, and all of our interests. Why do you think we¡¯re doing this? Everyone just wants to live well."

    The "everyone" I¡¯m talking about here includes only ''us.''

    In other words, it doesn¡¯t really matter what happens to the others.

    "Besides me, Sebastian, and a very few others, nobody knows how terrifying excessive labor can be. In fact, with the increase in working hours in Nance, when people see the productivity rising, they might start thinking that ''overwork'' equals money."

    "While the increase in production is an obvious indicator, the growing discontent among the workers remains unseen."

    "Let¡¯s feed the nobles of Lyon Kingdom with fake information. Let them believe that increasing the workers¡¯ and serfs¡¯ working hours will increase the tax revenue."

    Until the early 1900s, tobacco was considered a very beneficial product and even a medicine worldwide.

    In New York¡¯s famous hospitals, they would prescribe tobacco to 6-year-old children, claiming it would relieve worries.

    Although King Jeongjo had lost his integrity, he still loved the people and sought to take care of them in the spirit of King Sejong, even seriously considering increasing tobacco production to allow everyone, from 80-year-olds to 3-year-olds, to smoke as much as they wanted.

    The reason they could do such things was because they didn¡¯t know how harmful tobacco was.

    Just like how, decades ago, we didn¡¯t know asbestos was carcinogenic and used it widely.

    ¡®If you don¡¯t know, you suffer.¡¯

    "After roughly investigating the increase in production from Nance¡¯s factories and farms, send it to the Lyon Kingdom¡¯s nobles. Then they¡¯ll take care of the rest."

    There is no noble without greed.

    They¡¯re all greedy, and they¡¯re holding on to their positions because of it.

    I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll gladly accept my proposal, believing it to be the right thing.

    Humans are wise, but also foolish.

    In Lyon Kingdom, Count Marseille received a very interesting report.

    "Are you telling me that production in Nance has increased by 10%, and food production by 50%?"

    Any noble would be tempted by this report.

    After all, who would refuse the opportunity to collect more taxes?

    "Increasing the working hours of the serfs by about half and pushing the factory workers harder led to this economic effect..."

    The count¡¯s eyes gleamed.

    "This must be implemented."

    For the Kingdom of Lyon and his own wealth and prosperity.

 Chapter 336: Iéˆ¥æª’l be a mess (5)

    The rural areas around Nance City were heavily impacted by the reform that drastically increased working hours.

    Work had to be done 1.5 times more, but the amount the farmers could take home had not increased compared to before.

    As a result, their bodies were exhausted, to the point where they felt they could collapse at any moment, and their lives were only getting worse and more miserable every day.

    The serfs in the village of Renault were no exception to this phenomenon.

    "This is going to kill us. What the hell ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Read more on our source) are we doing?"

    "Shut up, Isaac. If you have time to complain, just work... work..."

    "No, Arthur. Don¡¯t you think this situation is awful? I feel like setting this place on fire right now."

    Isaac, a young serf from Renault, kept spouting radical words, much like the agitators Fabio had sent.

    However, these thoughts were not instilled by the likes of Karl Marx, who had been sent here.

    After working 12 hours a day, from 5 AM to 6 PM, his anger had naturally settled in his heart as he was ground down by the relentless labor.

    ¡®How is it possible that I¡¯ve lost the desire to even chat while doing hard farm work?¡¯

    In the past, while working the fields, it was traditional to gossip about the village chief, the fools who did stupid things, or even the nobles themselves...

    But now, with both his body and mind at their limit, even casual conversation had become a chore.

    Of course, even though he had grown tired of it, he couldn¡¯t completely stop himself from talking, because without even that, it felt like he would go mad.

    "This is a damn country, really."

    "Well, what can we do? The high-ranking ones can¡¯t stand seeing us just sitting around and eating."

    "Deus, please, take us out of this hell."

    "Deus doesn¡¯t listen to prayers from serfs like us, Isaac. Stop making useless prayers and just get your hands moving."

    When they only worked 8 hours a day, though they didn¡¯t have much food, they didn¡¯t feel the need to give up on everything and throw in the towel.

    But now, after being ground down by the labor, their bodies were unhealthy, and their spirits were slowly wearing out.

    At that moment, Isaac heard the priest''s encouraging words.

    "Brothers, cheer up! Deus will never let your hardship and effort go to waste! You will definitely be rewarded!"

    Isaac wanted to kill the priest.

    It was hard enough working to the point of exhaustion, and what kind of reward is he talking about?

    Before any reward could come, Isaac felt like he would die at any moment.

    "Deus said that man can only reap from the land through hard labor. So, we must sweat more and work harder, and in doing so, we will harvest more than before. Just a little more effort, brothers."

    The priest¡¯s shouting was because the nobles, more specifically the high-ranking officials in the fief, had ordered him to do so.

    Friedrich Engels had advised the Finance Minister on how to increase the efficiency of serfs and workers, and the nobles, deeply impressed by his advice, thought:

    ¡®Ah, if we work the serfs harder, taxes will multiply!¡¯

    But without even giving the serfs the slightest motivation, they ordered the priests to say these kinds of things to encourage them to work harder.

    Though the nobles thought they were doing a good thing, from the perspective of the people working, it was pure nonsense.

    "That priest doesn¡¯t even do farm work and is spouting this nonsense."

    "By the way, I heard there¡¯s a kid at the village orphanage who looks a lot like the priest..."

    "Can priests even have children?"

    "Now that you mention it, Emma became a nun about 8 months ago. Could it be because she had the priest''s child?"

    "That poor Liam, who was in love with Emma, must be heartbroken."

    "That guy¡¯s leaving for the city next week, looking for a new love."

    Isaac, exhausted physically and mentally worn out, was releasing his anger through gossip, just to survive.

    If someone would just push him a little further, give him a goal, any kind of goal, he might have the courage to stand up, but for now, he didn¡¯t have the strength to rise.

    Then, the church bell rang.

    It was the bell signaling the end of the day¡¯s farming work.

    Normally, they would cheer, celebrating the end of their toil, but Isaac, holding his farming tools, began trudging away.

    It was time to go out and clear the wasteland.

    "I want to die... what the hell is this?"

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    If they could expand the village¡¯s fields by clearing wasteland, their lives would get a little better.

    No, it would improve visibly.

    Even though 70% of their taxes would be taken, by expanding the fields, they would still get more food.

    "We still have to live. As long as we live, there¡¯s something to do."

    When the serfs of the village gathered together, the village chief sighed and gave them new orders.

    "Lord Bailiff has ordered us to clear this field within the next month."

    Everyone muttered curses under their breath.

    Clear this vast, rocky land in a month?

    It was utter nonsense.

    But the words of those in power were absolute. No one knew what would happen if they didn¡¯t follow orders.

    They wouldn¡¯t be executed at the guillotine, but the probability of suffering something so terrible that death would seem better was very high.

    "So, from now on, you all have to plow this field for 6 hours a day. Otherwise, it won¡¯t get done."

    "Does this even make sense? We¡¯re all going to die doing this."

    "Do you think I want to say this? I don¡¯t want to either."

    "Chief, but... the Bailiff says the officials above are pressuring him, so what am I supposed to do?"

    Tears were falling from the chief¡¯s eyes.

    "Do you think I like working with you all, at 60 years old? My body aches to the point I feel like I¡¯m dying! But orders are orders. If we don¡¯t follow them, we¡¯re all dead! I¡¯ll record what you¡¯ve done today and come back to help. Just work hard and do your best."

    Hearing this, everyone grabbed their farming tools and began working hard to clear the land.

    They picked stones, cleared the gravel, and plowed the earth with their hoes.

    On the side, they began digging the necessary irrigation channels.

    After working for over 8 hours, they were all nearly dead, but now they were told to clear more land.

    ¡®Is this what hell is like?¡¯

    Among the people trapped in this labor hell, Karl Marx, one of Fabio¡¯s agitators, spoke up.

    "Ha, no matter how much we clear, it¡¯s all for nothing."

    "...What do you mean by that?"

    "I heard from a peddler that if we increase the crops we harvest by clearing the land, they¡¯re going to raise the taxes even more."

    Isaac and the others were stunned.

    What they were doing now was already miserable.

    But now they realized that no matter how much they worked, things wouldn¡¯t get any better.

    Their anger turned toward Friedrich, who had told them this shocking truth (or fake news).

    "Stop talking nonsense! No way would the high-ranking officials raise the taxes here!"

    Karl grinned as he saw their anger.

    Everything was going according to plan.

    ¡®Once the complaints build up, I told you they¡¯d all get angry when I told them a believable lie.¡¯

    And getting angry was a way to escape from the painful truth, as Fabio had taught.

    The Rothschild Count, who had promoted a mere serf like him and treated him lavishly...

    Karl, whose throat was almost choked with the Count¡¯s warm affection, calmly continued speaking, unaffected by their anger.

    "Think about it. If the Baron or the other nobles truly cared about us, would they have just increased our working hours without any solutions?"

    "Well... but... still, the Baron cares about us..."

    "From the nobles¡¯ perspective, we¡¯re just talking cattle. When they need soldiers for war, they draft us as adults, and after that, we¡¯re just used as farm labor. To be blunt, what has the lord done for us? When a famine threatens, he gives us a little food and saves the village, but that¡¯s it."

    If public sentiment hadn¡¯t been so bad, Karl would probably have been beaten to death for saying such things.

    Who would dare speak ill of our lord?

    But no one here could rebut his words.

    Not being able to refute meant they agreed with him.

    "If we keep going like this, aren¡¯t we all going to die?"

    Isaac, who had the most complaints, agreed with that statement.

    "Yeah, if we keep going like this, it really feels like we¡¯ll die..."

    "Let¡¯s go visit the Bailiff after mass on Sunday. Let¡¯s tell him we can¡¯t live like this."

    Everyone here agreed to that.

    And as soon as Sunday came, they all went to visit the Bailiff.

 Chapter 337: Iéˆ¥æª’l be a mess (6)

    The serfs of Renault Village gathered in a group and made their way to the Bailiff¡¯s house.

    They set up camp in front of his house and shouted loudly.

    "Bailiff, we¡¯re all going to die at this rate! Please, save us!"

    "Working 12 hours a day is too cruel!"

    "Isn¡¯t it written in the customary law that serfs should not be made to work more than 8 hours a day?"

    Isaac and the other serfs believed that the Bailiff would listen to them.

    Even during times of severe famine, they had honestly petitioned the Bailiff and other officials, explaining their circumstances.

    The higher-ups had adjusted their burdens reasonably, reducing taxes by half or even a quarter during famine, or cutting down the mandatory work hours if they were too much, offering a small amount of money in compensation.

    Had these kinds of cases not existed, the serfs wouldn¡¯t have expected anything at all.

    ¡®If we plead earnestly, surely Bailiff will listen to us.¡¯

    And among them, Karl began speaking so eloquently that he hardly seemed like a mere serf.

    "Bailiff Torez, please listen to our humble plea as suffering serfs."

    If the other serfs were not emotionally charged, they might have felt some discomfort seeing Karl speak so fluently.

    But in the heat of their frustration, no one suspected Karl¡¯s outstanding oratory skills.

    From this point on, the "rebellion" led by Karl was sailing smoothly, just as planned.

    "We are serfs, but we are not slaves or livestock. We are people united under Deus. But the Baron is treating us as if we are animals, or worse. Think about it, cows and horses aren¡¯t made to work more than 8 hours a day. Even if they work 8 hours, they are given rest after every hour of labor!"

    This wasn¡¯t actually meant for the Bailiff.

    The real audience for Karl¡¯s words were the serfs surrounding him.

    He wanted them to realize that their situation was worse than that of livestock, and without resistance, accept this cruel manipulation.

    "Bailiff, is it really a sin to want to live like a human? We don¡¯t ask for much. We only want to work 8 hours a day and live a life where we can rest."

    The other serfs echoed in agreement.

    "13-hour working days are too long!"

    "We just want to live like humans!"

    The fact that everyone was following his words made Karl¡¯s heart race.

    Before meeting Fabio, he was just another common serf in the Toscana Empire, someone who would have been trampled underfoot.

    But after meeting Fabio, Karl¡¯s life had changed 180 degrees.

    Though he was still at the bottom, he had entered the nobility¡¯s ranks and was about to become a father with a beautiful wife.

    But more than that, he was elated by the fact that he could now incite people with nothing but his words.

    ¡®Is this power? Is this strength?¡¯

    "And I heard that once we clear more land and start farming it, the food we harvest will increase, and they¡¯re going to raise the taxes. Is that really true?"

    Now Karl began mixing baseless incitement into his speech.

    Using cowardly facts was not considered an appropriate method of incitement in Fabio¡¯s style, so Karl decided to proceed with a mix of legitimate agitation and falsehoods.

    Doing things correctly according to the elite¡¯s methods¡ªthat¡¯s what he aimed for.

    Thus, he continued his speech with 95% truth and 5% fatal lies.

    More than a hundred serf men gathered, and the Bailiff himself came to address the emergency.

    Bailiff Torez scolded them immediately upon seeing the situation.

    "You lot! If you want to make your demands known, you should have sent the village chief here, not gathered and caused this ruckus! Do you think you can threaten me, Michael Torez, who was appointed by Baron Nassau to represent his authority?"

    The shouting from Karl¡¯s protestors died down suddenly in response to the scolding from the higher-up.

    "If you don¡¯t want to be branded as rebels, then only a representative should come forward quietly and deliver your demands to me."

    Though the village chief was present, the villagers chose Karl as their representative.

    They thought he spoke so well that he must be the one to address their concerns.

    "I am the representative of this protest."

    "What a fool. Fine, what do you want?"

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    "We are not livestock or slaves. Please return our working hours to 8 hours a day."

    "That¡¯s not acceptable."

    Torez was not a nobleman, but he held a very high position among the officials.

    He could command multiple village chiefs, and under his command were thirty soldiers, much like a police force.

    However, in comparison to the Baron, he was in a very low position.

    If the Baron told him to die, he wouldn¡¯t be pretending to die, he¡¯d have to die.

    A mere public servant begging the Baron to reduce working hours?

    ¡®I¡¯ll probably get fired from my position as Bailiff.¡¯

    If he was removed from his position, he and his family would just be another regional figure, with only a little more money than a common free citizen.

    Therefore, there was no way he could accept Karl¡¯s demand.

    "The order to increase the working hours to 13 hours came from the Baron. And what you¡¯re doing now is defying his orders. That¡¯s the same as disrespecting the Baron¡¯s authority and inciting insurrection."

    Torez drew the sword he carried at his waist, which was for showing off his noble status.

    He raised the sword to the sky, and behind him, the local defense force aimed their spears at the protestors.

    "I, Michael Torez, who has been ordered to carry out my rights and duties as Bailiff under the legitimate authority of Baron Nance, command you to stop."

    Torez might not have acted so harshly if the protestors had come with a demand unrelated to reducing working hours.

    He knew that suppressing them too harshly would only lead to a drop in public sentiment, and if that happened, he would likely be sacrificed by the Baron and executed.

    But now, it was a situation where the serfs were rebelling against an order that had already been given by the Baron.

    He acted based on self-preservation, thinking and moving in his own interest.

    "The order to increase working hours to 13 hours is the Baron¡¯s command. Anyone who disobeys is a traitor and a rebel. If you don¡¯t want to die horribly, turn back now and go back to your work. This is my final warning to you."

    If Torez had been a bit more competent, he might have pretended to listen to the protestors, then report to the Baron, saying the protestors were planning a rebellion.

    Then, the Baron would have acknowledged his avoidance of unnecessary troop usage, possibly keeping him in his position or even promoting him.

    But the reality was different. Above Torez, there was the Communist demon, Karl Marx.

    "Did you hear that, everyone? The Baron has commanded us to live like animals, working ourselves to death for him! But tell me, have we made any unreasonable demands?"

    "We just want to live like humans!"

    "Whether we die here or there, it doesn¡¯t matter, does it?"

    "Right!"

    "Let¡¯s turn this whole thing upside down, damn it!"

    In a moment of madness, Karl kicked the Bailiff Torez right in the groin.

    Torez, feeling the worst pain a man could endure, collapsed to the ground, rolling in agony.

    Losing his rational judgment due to the excruciating pain, Torez immediately gave his next command.

    "AAAH! Kill them all! Kill every single one of these rebel bastards! Leave not a single one alive!"

    With the order to massacre given, the soldiers of the local defense force aimed their spears at the protestors.

    An older sergeant, commanding nearly thirty soldiers, gave his orders.

    "Crush these rebels who¡¯ve trampled on the Baron¡¯s authority!"

    The battle began, and the serfs, led by Isaac, fought with farming tools against the armed soldiers, but Karl seized the opportunity to quickly flee.

    ¡®Fabio told me¡ªafter inciting the rebellion, make sure to escape first.¡¯

    Following that advice, Karl swiftly escaped, sticking to the planned escape route.

    The one who started the fire was running for his life, while the villagers were already locked in a fierce battle with the local defense ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) forces.

    Casualties started to emerge from both sides, but the regular soldiers, who were better trained, managed to take less damage.

    In the end, the rebels were executed on the spot...

    And Karl Marx, true to his role as the bloody Communist demon, began to unleash his revolutionary power.

    "Bailiff Torez massacred the protestors who only asked to live like humans! Does that make any sense?!"

    And at that moment, a ''revolutionary organization'' began to form in the Baron¡¯s domain.

    Fabio, in turn, began preparing to move according to the plan.

 Chapter 338: Iéˆ¥æª’l be a mess (7)

    The revolution cannot topple a nation just by forming a revolutionary organization.

    To take over an entire country through a communist revolution, you must either pull the majority of workers and soldiers to your side, or infiltrate the leadership with spies, as North Vietnam did with South Vietnam. This way, when the time comes, you can prepare to turn the entire country red.

    ¡®A revolutionary organization alone cannot conquer the Baron¡¯s territory.¡¯

    But as with any endeavor, even if the journey is long, you have to take it step by step to reach the destination.

    We need to form a revolutionary organization and expand our influence if we are to turn the Kingdom of Lyon red.

    Ah, of course, a communist state would be of no benefit to me.

    I have no intention of going that far, not even a tiny bit, to be honest.

    ¡°Your Excellency the Minister of Commerce, what urgent matter do you need me for today?¡±

    The Minister of Commerce sighed and looked at me.

    ¡°I know it¡¯s not something I should bring up with you, someone who is neither a bureaucrat nor a legal noble, but I urgently needed your wisdom, so I asked you to come.¡±

    ¡°As a noble of the Empire, if I can be of any help to Your Excellency, I should come immediately without hesitation.¡±

    ¡°You truly are a model noble of the Empire.¡±

    ¡°It is an honor.¡±

    ¡°Actually, there was an incident in the Lyon Kingdom''s Nans Baron Territory. The rioters killed the Nans Baron¡¯s Bailiff, and the local guards slaughtered the rioters.¡±

    An incompetent person would either flinch or make a suspicious smile upon hearing about the crime they instigated.

    They wouldn¡¯t realize that such obvious reactions would lead to their downfall.

    In cartoons, movies, novels, and even in real life, such foolish reactions often end up with the person getting caught.

    Such trivial actions give away the weak spots of second-rate villains.

    Someone like me, operating in the shadows, wouldn¡¯t be so easily shaken by such things.

    ¡®To truly throw me off balance, bring me something like Chloe''s chest suddenly shrinking to an A-cup. That would throw me off balance for sure.¡¯

    Then, no matter how calm I am, I wouldn¡¯t be able to maintain my composure.

    ¡°That incident indeed occurred.¡±

    The Minister of Commerce showed a look of surprise as he continued.

    ¡°The Imperial Direct Domain, as well as factories and trading companies in other territories, have been quite concerned about this incident. Aren¡¯t you worried at all?¡±

    Our trading companies and factories have no room for communism to infiltrate.

    Our territories, like our trading companies and factories, won¡¯t allow communism to spread either.

    Even the bloodthirsty Stalin and the Communist Demon King Marx wouldn¡¯t dare spread communism in the Rothschild territory.

    Our territory has wages more than double compared to others, so would people even entertain the idea of a rebellion here?

    ¡°There¡¯s no way the workers in our territory would revolt, right? Same goes for our trading companies and factories.¡±

    ¡°Certainly, that has nothing to do with you.¡±

    ¡°Moreover, this revolt has nothing to do with our Empire either.¡±

    Upon hearing that, the Minister of Commerce¡¯s face relaxed immediately.

    Having witnessed sabotage actions by workers in territories like the Sforza Duchy, and having taken the responsibility for cleaning up the mess, the Minister had suffered immensely.

    No wonder he was worried it might happen again.

    But since I said this revolt had nothing to do with our Empire, he was relieved.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Lyon Kingdom is treating the peasants and workers worse than livestock. They¡¯re making them work over 13 hours a day.¡±

    ¡°I was shocked when I heard that too. While we¡¯ve had workers working 13 hours before, I just brushed it off. But to make the peasants work like that... Deus, my God.¡±

    During the Industrial Revolution, workers were made to work up to 14 or even 15 hours a day.

    What¡¯s more surprising is how they thought they wouldn¡¯t die from that.

    Why was it possible to make people work these long hours? Because there were no regulations or traditions to stop it.

    ¡®Even during the Industrial Revolution, peasants worked only 8¨C9 hours a day.¡¯

    The reason for that was the traditions that had been passed down since the Middle Ages, which guaranteed them basic rights.

    If a country, whether it¡¯s the Toscana Empire, the Lyon Kingdom, or any other nation following the Deus religion, breaks these long-established traditions, it¡¯s as bad as a government forcing everyone to mix mint chocolate sauce into all the kimchi in South Korea.

    ¡°Worker revolts are like plagues. Once they start spreading, they spread as fast as the Black Death.¡±

    Communism spreads more easily than any plague.

    Why? Because it takes root in people¡¯s negative emotions¡ªinferiority, anger, envy, ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) jealousy¡ªtowards capitalists.

    ¡®There¡¯s no person who doesn¡¯t have those emotions.¡¯

    If a cousin buys land, they might treat me to beef. If a friend becomes a professional, I might boast about it at a drinking party.

    What is human nature?

    People always want to belittle others when they see someone succeeding, to bring them down.

    Even if I¡¯m not like that, I¡¯m sure there¡¯s always someone around me who is.

    That¡¯s why, after turning 20, even if I worked at a big corporation, people advised me to lie and say I was working at a small business to maintain friendships.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    Because my friends might get jealous and break off the relationship, or worse, they might try to mess with me out of jealousy.

    A thought system based on these emotions is powerful, right?

    ¡°However, in our Empire, under the great leadership of His Majesty the Emperor, nobles, merchants, artisans, peasants, and workers alike are enjoying prosperity like never before. It¡¯s a peaceful state.¡±

    ¡°Your loyalty is truly remarkable.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m merely stating the facts.¡±

    ¡°......¡±

    Well, why does he look at me as if I¡¯m some traitor like Lee Wan-yong or Park Je-sun, people who sold out their country?

    I¡¯m merely acting for the benefit of the Toscana Empire (mostly my own benefit).

    And I¡¯m following the high ethical standards of the British Empire.

    The interests of my country come first, so I¡¯ve made sure that potential competitors who could challenge our interests are kept in check, even sowing religious reforms to stop them from ever threatening us.

    I¡¯ve spread a mild form of communism in the Lyon Kingdom to ensure they can never surpass us, and I plan to make other countries into colonies as quickly as possible.

    Why does this minister see me like that?

    Honestly, someone like me should be praised by politicians of other countries as a model to follow, not seen as some demon from hell.

    Sigh, I should take out my frustrations by injecting a bit more red into the Lyon Kingdom.

    ¡°The worker revolts are the last resistance that comes from feelings of being exploited when they have nothing left to protect. It¡¯s like a desperate charge by an army cornered by the enemy.¡±

    ¡°A final charge, the thought of it is terrifying.¡±

    A unit that decides to make a final charge is likely to be wiped out.

    However, those who charge, prepared to die, are incredibly powerful.

    In a world without assault rifles or machine guns, if 500 men make a final charge, they might kill 2,000 or 3,000 of the enemy.

    If they¡¯re lucky, they might even defeat an army of 20,000.

    The Minister, being a legal noble, probably understands this from his military experience.

    ¡°But a final charge only works when there¡¯s no other way to survive, right? And right now, the peasants and workers in the Toscana Empire are living better than they ever have, so why would they do something as crazy as a final charge?¡±

    ¡°Indeed, as you said, this revolt won¡¯t affect our country.¡±

    ¡°I think it would be best to use this opportunity to emphasize loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor.¡±

    Human nature is more base than noble.

    Even if I¡¯m a billionaire, I¡¯d still feel frustrated and angry when I see someone with a thousand times more money than me.

    Clergy might emphasize shedding this filthy nature, but politicians should not.

    They should use this nature to solidify their support base and focus on advancing the country.

    ¡°Let¡¯s publish an article highlighting the miserable reality of the workers and peasants in the Lyon Kingdom, showing how happy it is to live in the Toscana Empire, under the great leadership of His Majesty the Emperor.¡±

    In South Korea, commoners earn more than professionals like doctors or lawyers in Southeast Asian countries.

    So when they visit Southeast Asia, they feel like they¡¯re wealthy¡ªno, they can live as rich people there.

    Some tourists even enjoy indulging in this reality, savoring it.

    ¡®My role is to accept instincts and channel them in a positive direction.¡¯

    ¡°And I plan to write an article stating that exploiting workers leads to inciting revolts...¡±

    No matter what anyone says, the Ministry of Commerce is essentially mine.

    Ninety percent of the staff in the Ministry are under my influence.

    So if I create something like a ¡®labor inspectorate¡¯ or a similar department...

    I could legally mess with other competitors, right?

 Chapter 339: Iéˆ¥æª’l be a mess (8)

    Establishing absolute monarchy requires the most important support: the people''s approval.

    You might think that in an autocracy, the concept of approval ratings doesn¡¯t apply, but if you shift your perspective slightly...

    If a king does whatever he wants without regard for the nobles, they¡¯ll protest, saying, ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to share in this? This is immoral.¡±

    Most rulers, upon hearing such complaints, would compromise and say, ¡°Let¡¯s make an agreement and end it here,¡± and negotiate.

    However, a ruler who enjoys absolute support from the people can reject such proposals immediately, saying, ¡°Screw you. Do you think I care? If you don¡¯t like it, the people will smash your heads in.¡±

    ¡®This is why our Emperor can do whatever he wants.¡¯

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this inciting a rebellion? Isn¡¯t that too extreme?¡±

    ¡°The words may be extreme, but they¡¯re not wrong, are they? And, Your Majesty, the labor laws you set don¡¯t just favor the weak. They are not unreasonable or biased toward the common people, as the nobles or merchants may think.¡±

    In a medieval fantasy world, it¡¯s hard to gauge the value of money.

    But, practically speaking, the wages paid to workers are barely equivalent to 2,000 or 2,300 won.

    In terms of 1980s pricing, 2,300 won per hour would be extremely high, but for the 2020s, that barely amounts to a monthly salary of 500,000 won.

    Making someone work more than 240 hours a month without even paying that is crossing the line.

    Even considering that the average standard of living in this medieval fantasy world is low, this is still unacceptable.

    ¡°Well, even if you pay that much, it¡¯s only a little more than half of what a peasant family earns in a year. Plus, the city prices are high,¡±

    ¡°Even so, if they were paid any less, the workers wouldn¡¯t be able to live like humans.¡±

    If they¡¯re paid a little over 1.5 silver coins per month, they¡¯d have to donate one whole silver coin to the dormitory that barely provides them with the basics.

    The remaining half silver coin is for leisure or marriage funds, but even then, it¡¯s barely enough.

    If they¡¯re paid less than that, they won¡¯t be able to live like human beings at all.

    ¡°That¡¯s the reason for the revolt in the Lyon Kingdom. People couldn¡¯t live decently, so they wanted to tear down this world.¡±

    The Minister of Commerce looked at me, perplexed.

    ¡°No matter how well-versed you are in trade compared to the merchants, you seem to be quite familiar with the common folk¡¯s struggles. How is it that you can understand the lives of the common people so well?¡±

    ¡°My concubine¡ªwell, to be precise, my son and the heir to the Medici Baron family, Leo de Medici''s mother¡ªChloe, is from a peasant background. Since my concubine is from a peasant family, I never feel like their struggles are someone else''s business.¡±

    In fact, to keep running my business steadily, I have to be fully aware of the lives of the common folk.

    In my past life, I was just a commoner who happened to be born in a developed country in the 21st century, but...

    ¡®No need to go into details and explain this¡ªit would only make me look crazy.¡¯

    If I tried to explain this, people would think I¡¯m out of my mind.

    ¡°Ensuring that peasants and workers receive their basic rights is the Emperor¡¯s wish and dream,¡±

    The Emperor never said such a thing.

    However, the image of the Emperor I¡¯ve portrayed in the Imperial newspapers is one of a person who lies awake at night worrying about his people.

    It¡¯s like how King Sejong of Joseon created the 28 new characters out of concern for the people¡ªour Emperor is depicted as a person who cannot sleep because he cares so much for the common folk.

    So, when we say it¡¯s for the people, and it¡¯s the Emperor¡¯s will, 99.5% of people will believe it¡¯s ¡°the Emperor¡¯s recognized will.¡±

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    Someone might call me a sycophant, but I¡¯m not a sycophant¡ªI¡¯m a loyal subject.

    I simply fulfill the Emperor¡¯s desires, collecting commissions in the process.

    ¡°However, the Emperor is so busy with state affairs that he cannot personally care for all the people. What we need is someone who can look after the peasants and workers on His Majesty¡¯s behalf.¡±

    ¡°Nobles keep bureaucrats and officials for such reasons.¡±

    ¡°Please place the Emperor¡¯s eyes in every part of the kingdom.¡±

    ¡°How should we operate this?¡±

    In my ideal scenario, I¡¯d want to set up a ¡°Labor Monitoring Provincial Office¡± across the kingdom and have people sent there to monitor, but...

    If I did that, there¡¯s a high chance ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) that the labor monitoring system itself would lose its meaning due to ¡°collusion between politics and business.¡±

    Furthermore, setting up local offices would almost certainly lead to selecting people with connections to the localities.

    People with no competence being appointed as inspectors just because of their connections.

    That¡¯s something I cannot allow.

    This isn¡¯t just because I want to appoint people under my influence as labor inspectors.

    I¡¯m confident that, as someone with a conscience far superior to the United Kingdom and the six-state baguette republic, I can say this.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to set up provincial offices across the country under the Ministry of Commerce, similar to how corporate taxes are collected, and station labor monitors in each region. However, if labor inspectors are stationed in each region, merchants will likely bribe them. In that case, it would be better not to have them at all.¡±

    ¡°Certainly, collecting taxes from merchants could work if you give them a part of what¡¯s collected as a reward and supervise each other. However, if labor inspectors are bribed, they will regularly take bribes, turning a blind eye to violations of labor laws, and there would be no way for the Emperor to check.¡±

    ¡°Then we can punish violators according to the type of violation detected through monitoring.¡±

    Labor inspectors are like the grim reapers for employers.

    If a labor inspector demands the payment of back wages from an employer, the employer must pay quickly and also submit an apology letter and a report on improvements.

    If things are severe, the inspector can request an arrest warrant and have the employer arrested.

    Additionally, if there¡¯s a risk of industrial accidents, the inspector can shut down the factory entirely.

    ¡°If wages aren¡¯t paid properly, the inspector can demand immediate payment. For those who exploit workers severely, the inspector can investigate and file charges in court for a ¡®death sentence.¡¯ If a factory is abusing workers or if there¡¯s chronic exploitation, it may be best to confiscate the factory.¡±

    ¡°For those who violate the Emperor¡¯s orders and exploit workers and peasants, this seems like an appropriate punishment.¡±

    Honestly, not even paying the minimum wage of 2,300 won and exploiting people is something that should be strictly punished.

    ¡°However, in cases where a factory is struggling and there is no choice but to delay wages or overwork, it would be prudent to show some leniency, depending on the situation.¡±

    In Korea, some convenience store owners work 13¨C15 hours a day and still earn less than part-time workers who work 14 hours a week.

    These people have no resources to pay night shifts or extra wages, and they might be in such dire financial straits that they could be facing life-threatening situations...

    In such cases, while it¡¯s wrong to delay wages or overwork, some leniency can be shown.

    ¡°And I think it¡¯s best for the Ministry of Commerce to assign inspectors, chosen based on merit, to oversee this.¡±

    ¡°The idea is that merchants and factory owners will comply with labor laws out of fear of inspectors arriving unexpectedly. It¡¯s quite a clever idea.¡±

    ¡°Inspectors should be given medals bearing the imperial seal and the authority to mobilize officials and civil servants. This way, they can oversee and investigate corrupt employers and officials who exploit peasants.¡±

    If we send inspectors without any connection to the local areas, corrupt employers or officials will be caught off guard, like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.

    Moreover, the inspectors will be free from threats to their safety since they have no local connections...

    ¡®Once they¡¯re in, we¡¯ll catch everyone we can.¡¯

    And if they¡¯re appointed by someone with influence in the Ministry of Commerce, we¡¯ll have an opportunity to deal with people who have no connections to me.

    ¡°Good idea. I will make sure to pass this advice directly to His Majesty. But...¡±

    ¡°Is there something you wish to say?¡±

    The Minister of Commerce quietly stared at me.

    If I speak directly, it would seem like he¡¯s taking credit for my ideas, but if I pass it off to him, it seems like a concession. Is he planning to take my spot as Prime Minister?

    ¡®Well, there¡¯s no need to be petty over something like this.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ve merely reviewed the draft you¡¯ve prepared, Your Excellency, and made a very small suggestion.¡±

    The Minister of Commerce firmly grasped my hand.

    ¡°I won¡¯t forget your generous heart! If I ever become Prime Minister, I will be sure to take care of you first.¡±

    Not long after, the labor inspector system was officially implemented in the Toscana Empire.

 Chapter 340: Iéˆ¥æª’l be a mess (9)

    Where there is light, there is always shadow, just as there are those who do not benefit from the laws, even if they exist.

    For Matteo, who worked in a factory in Florence, Toscana Empire, the light of the labor laws never reached him.

    ¡°Damn it! You¡¯re as slow as a slug! Do you think you can finish everything before the deadline at this rate?¡±

    The supervisor whipped through the air.

    The whip¡¯s crack, surpassing the speed of sound, hit Matteo and the other workers¡¯ ears with a loud ¡°bang, bang.¡±

    Now, as they were barely moving, the whip wouldn¡¯t land on Matteo¡¯s back.

    But the moment they slackened off even a little, the whip would strike them hard.

    Matteo, who worked over 13 hours a day¡ªno, often more than 15¡ªwas exhausted, his body on the brink of collapse. It would be normal for him to yearn for a short break, but...

    He had no choice but to push himself to the limit to avoid the whip.

    ¡®If I don¡¯t work myself to death, I¡¯ll end up bruised by the whip...¡¯

    That day, the supervisor, in a bad mood, called over a worker standing next to Matteo.

    ¡°Andrea! You slow bastard!¡±

    With that, the whip descended on Andrea.

    Whipping indiscriminately at the arms, legs, and torso¡ªthe parts that wouldn¡¯t kill¡ªleaving Andrea gasping in pain.

    ¡°Ah, sorry! Ugh, please don¡¯t! Have mercy!¡±

    ¡°You think I want to whip you? This is all your laziness! You brought this upon yourself!¡±

    ¡°Sorry, ugh, I¡¯ll do better, ugh!¡±

    Matteo and the other workers had experienced the whip before.

    A single strike would be followed by beating until the upper and lower body were drenched in blood.

    It was a sadistic technique that didn¡¯t hinder work too much, even though the workers were beaten to a pulp.

    Matteo thought to himself:

    ¡®The Emperor said the labor laws would protect workers like us...¡¯

    But no matter how strong the light of the labor laws was, what use was it if you couldn¡¯t even be in the light?

    No matter how much the Emperor said he cared for them, it wouldn¡¯t change this hellish reality.

    If they quit the factory, they would either starve to death or end up in the slums.

    Some had already ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Read more on our source) turned to crime to survive, but Matteo couldn¡¯t bring himself to kill others.

    He feared being exploited here until the day he died, but he also feared taking another¡¯s life.

    ¡®Deus, please save us.¡¯

    ¡°Lazy, worthless bastard! You can¡¯t do anything but eat and crap!¡±

    Despite his prayers, the vicious supervisor slowly approached Matteo.

    Matteo¡¯s hands trembled, his thoughts were clouded with fear.

    ¡®Please save me, I don¡¯t want to live like this anymore.¡¯

    But in his helplessness, overwhelmed by fear, he couldn¡¯t resist...

    Then, from outside, the sound of someone hammering at the door was heard, and the door was broken down as soldiers rushed in.

    ¡°Labor Inspector Decimus Salasino here! Everyone, stop!¡±

    The factory supervisor, realizing the unexpected visitor was someone higher than him, began to show respect, moral awareness, and courtesy.

    In an era where, whether in the East or West, survival depended on manners, there was no way to survive without them.

    ¡°Labor Inspector, what business brings you here?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve come with His Majesty the Emperor¡¯s decree to care for the suffering workers, who toil in harsh conditions.¡±

    Decimus looked around carefully.

    In an age where steam engines existed and there were large machines, he would have checked the machines first, but in an era without power engines, there was no need to inspect the machines.

    Even if they were broken, ¡®accidents¡¯ were unlikely to happen under normal circumstances.

    Thus, he inspected the workers¡¯ faces, their expressions, and their overall condition.

    ¡°...You all don¡¯t seem happy. It looks like you¡¯ve been overworked for a long time.¡±

    Upon hearing this, the supervisor shook his head vigorously.

    ¡°No, this factory guarantees the workers a humane life according to the labor laws.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem to be the case.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, ask the workers themselves.¡±

    Whether in 21st-century Korea or in the medieval fantasy world of the Toscana Empire, it was the same.

    Whenever a labor inspector came to monitor, the response was always a denial, claiming they followed the labor laws and were a good company.

    Labor Inspector Decimus surveyed the area, asking the workers, ¡°Are you really being treated humanely?¡±

    Terrified, the workers all nodded in agreement, but Matteo was the only one to speak out.

    ¡°No! Absolutely not! We¡¯re being treated worse than livestock!¡±

    To Matteo and the other workers, the Emperor was someone they could rely on in this hellish world¡ªhe was the only one who could protect them, the highest power who cared for them.

    They trusted those sent by the Emperor.

    Fabio may have wanted to increase imperial power, but paradoxically, it was through these efforts that the power and authority of the nobles and bureaucrats had been solidified.

    ¡°Inspector, the person collapsed next to me is Peter. He was beaten to death for not being able to work properly.¡±

    ¡°Is that true?¡±

    ¡°Why would we lie to His Majesty¡¯s representative? It¡¯s all true.¡±

    ¡°You despicable people.¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t all, either. We worked 14, 15 hours a day and were paid only one silver coin a month. Even if we worked ourselves to the bone, if we did something the supervisor didn¡¯t like, we were whipped...¡±

    Matteo ripped off his shirt to reveal his back.

    His back was covered in whip marks.

    ¡°...Did the others receive the same treatment?¡±

    ¡°Yes, we were beaten for being slow.¡±

    Matteo, despite being an adult, burst into tears and sobbed uncontrollably.

    ¡°We just want to live like humans. What did we do wrong to deserve being overworked for 14 or 15 hours a day and exploited in a place worse than a pigsty? This can¡¯t be the Emperor¡¯s will... Didn¡¯t the newspapers say that His Majesty cares for us, who are lower than dust?¡±

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. The Emperor always thinks of you.¡±

    In reality, the Emperor was only thinking about how he failed to make Fabio a noble of the royal family, so he could be exploited for life. Or how he was still thinking about making Fabio an official of the royal family to dedicate himself eternally to the Toscana Empire...

    Officially, however, the Emperor was a ruler who always thought of his people, much like King Sejong, who created the Korean alphabet for his people.

    According to the image created by Fabio, the Emperor was a wise king who cared for his people as much as Sejong the Great.

    ¡°So I¡¯ve come to free you.¡±

    At those words, Matteo and the workers burst into tears of joy.

    Meanwhile, the inspector¡¯s expression hardened.

    ¡°I can tell how much you¡¯ve exploited the workers just by the way they treat me. And still, you dare deceive His Majesty¡¯s representative.¡±

    The Labor Inspector, in fact, was just a 5th-class official.

    In the 21st century, most officials would be around the 7th grade or lower, but here he was a 5th-grade bureaucrat.

    He was the bottom tier of the bureaucracy, and if he had said he was the Emperor¡¯s representative when holding another position, his superiors would have corrected him on proper etiquette.

    But the Labor Inspector was an official who could officially call himself "the Emperor¡¯s representative."

    ¡°Behave like the Emperor¡¯s representative, and your performance evaluations will improve.¡±

    ¡°Soldiers, immediately shut down this factory and summon an accountant to go through all the factory¡¯s books!¡±

    ¡°Please forgive us!¡±

    ¡°Shut up. How dare you defy the Emperor¡¯s orders and exploit workers!¡±

    The Labor Inspector presented a badge bearing the Emperor¡¯s insignia and issued his orders.

    ¡°Labor Inspector here! Immediately shut down this factory, and temporarily revoke the factory owner¡¯s property rights. Furthermore, during the shutdown, the workers will be paid from the factory owner¡¯s assets.¡±

    Matteo burst into tears upon hearing this.

    He couldn¡¯t believe that, thanks to the Emperor, he could escape this hellish environment, and the Emperor¡¯s grace had reached him.

    ¡°Long live the Emperor!¡±

    Though they were overjoyed, the deep sadness in their hearts prevented them from cheering too loudly.

    However, gradually, their voices grew louder.

    ¡°Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!¡±

    Had the Emperor been here to witness this touching scene, he would have lavished them with endless beef and wine, for it was a sight to behold.

    Decimus urged the scribe next to him to write it down quickly.

    ¡°Write it down, you fool. I want a promotion.¡±

    The scribe quickly began jotting down the notes.

    And a few months later, after the inspection and trial, the factory manager and supervisor were executed by beheading in Florence Square for violating the labor laws.

    This news was also relayed to those involved in the Communist, or rather the Lyon Kingdom¡¯s normalization (Shin Changseop-style) project, including Orsini.

 Chapter 341: Iéˆ¥æª’l be a mess (10)

    The headquarters of a trading company in the Nance Barony of the Lyon Kingdom.

    At this place, Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx were casually having a conversation while drinking beer.

    "Engels, don¡¯t you miss your wife?"

    "How could I not miss her, you bastard? But what can we do? We can¡¯t go back until we finish the tasks that the Guild Master assigned to us or until we get the recall order."

    The "Guild Master" mentioned here was, of course, Fabio.

    Aside from that, they were talking about things that could easily get them executed for treason in the Lyon Kingdom, but neither of them seemed to care much about their surroundings.

    This place, outwardly a trading company, was actually the revolutionary headquarters with only the loyal retainers of the Rothschild family as its members.

    Security was tightly maintained here, and being overly tense would just be a waste of mental energy.

    "You¡¯re still lucky, Marx."

    "What''s that supposed to mean?"

    "You got your wife pregnant just three days before you came here. When she¡¯s about to give birth, you¡¯ll be ordered to return and spend time with her, cuddling up with her. Damn it."

    "Should I send you a bundle of seaweed?"

    "Eat shit, you bastard."

    When Marx and Engels first met, there was an instant feeling that they would get along well. After working together and having personal conversations, their bond became even stronger.

    It was as if fate itself had conspired to make them friends.

    "Have you heard the news?"

    "They appointed an inspector to supervise the implementation of the Labor Standards Act. When I heard that, my heart ached."

    Both of them had been born as peasants and had been exploited as laborers, so they knew the pain firsthand.

    Although they had now managed to secure a place in the noble world, even if it was at the very bottom, the memories and pains of those days hadn¡¯t been forgotten.

    The moment they forgot those memories, they would lose their value as agitators.

    "That¡¯s true, but we also gained a rank as retainers. Isn¡¯t that something?"

    "Is that so?"

    "I¡¯m not lying about it."

    "It¡¯s because I¡¯m happy, you bastard. We¡¯re team leaders now."

    "Sounds pretty high up."

    "Above us is Orsini, the president, and under him are the vice president, directors, managers, assistant managers, and then us. We¡¯re on the same level as the probationary officer for the barony."

    "That¡¯s an absurd promotion."

    Before, as retainers of the Rothschild family, they had been treated as low-ranking knights, barely managing to hold a small fiefdom. But now, they could proudly walk around declaring they were nobles, puffing out their chests.

    "Starting this month, our salaries have gone up. It increased from 4 silver coins a month to 1 and a half gold coins, and we also get a fixed bonus of 400%, with performance bonuses separately."

    "This is a bit overwhelming."

    "Orsini said we achieved the biggest results. The other guys who got the same training are just assistant managers or deputy managers. Our salaries have gone up significantly, so when we go back after work, I¡¯ll be getting more women."

    "You perverted bastard, don¡¯t you ever think about your wife?"

    "Look at you, a devoted husband. Setting that aside, how¡¯s the small organization forming these days?"

    After a bailiff from the Nance Barony was killed, Orsini gave Marx and the other agitators an order.

    The peasants in the village had asked the bailiff to reduce their working hours, but the bailiff had refused their request and massacred the protestors. That was the rumor they were told to spread.

    As a result, throughout Lyon Kingdom, there were many people who were dissatisfied but had no outlet for their anger. These people naturally became agitated and formed a group.

    "Absolutely top-notch. When it was announced that the emperor himself sent labor inspectors to comfort the workers, everyone was crying, making a scene."

    "If I were in their position, I would have cried too."

    "I¡¯ve linked all the factories, trading companies, and serfs in Nance through a contact network. I¡¯ve also selected those who¡¯ll act as low-level managers. We haven¡¯t been able to completely dominate other areas like Nance, but it¡¯ll only take 1-2 years to fully control the northern regions of Lyon Kingdom."

    Engels was internally amazed by his friend¡¯s ability to incite agitation.

    While Engels himself had been spreading "incorrect knowledge" to the higher-ups, Marx had already gathered all the peasants and workers in Nance.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    "What¡¯s our master really doing?"

    This version of Karl Marx didn¡¯t obsess over women like the real Marx did. He didn¡¯t beg Engels for money, nor did he touch his maid to get her pregnant.

    But his character was quite similar to the Marx Fabio knew.

    If necessary, he was a person who would use and discard anyone, even if they had no relation to him.

    This was one of the most important qualities for using the martial arts that only Communist Celestials could use.

    "Our savior."

    "That¡¯s true."

    "And I got a new order for both you and me."

    As soon as Engels heard the word "order," he perked up his ears.

    "I¡¯ve been ordered to start a large-scale uprising in the northern part of Lyon Kingdom, and you¡¯re supposed to persuade the higher-ups to crush this protest with force."

    "If we wait a bit, we could take over Lyon Kingdom in one go."

    "This order came directly from Sebastian. According to the letter from the housemaster, causing the complete downfall of Lyon Kingdom would only benefit the Toscana Empire, not the baron."

    If Lyon Kingdom fell, the United Kingdom, known for its awful food, and the Toscana Empire and Granada Kingdom would divide it among themselves.

    In this process, there would be practically no space left for the Rothschild Baron to benefit from.

    So, Fabio had no intention of destroying Lyon Kingdom.

    He just wanted to create a situation where the nobles of Lyon Kingdom would be forced to send their army to the Holy Empire, just like Mepo¡¯s bonds.

    "Master is truly a terrifying person."

    Muttering that, the two of them set off to do their respective tasks.

    Karl Marx carefully spoke.

    "Thank you for gathering here, comrades."

    At the word "comrades," the atmosphere turned solemn.

    In this gathering, whenever "comrades" was mentioned, it usually meant something important was being said.

    The leaders of the revolutionary organization, or rather, the workers'' organization in the northern part of Lyon Kingdom, nodded in agreement.

    "As you all know, in the Toscana Empire, the emperor personally steps out to solve the issues of peasants and workers. Our king doesn¡¯t do that. Why do you think that is?"

    Among this group of peasants and workers, most of whom were illiterate, a logical argument was unlikely to arise.

    So, Marx paused and continued.

    "In the Toscana Empire, the workers rose up with hammers and sickles. The workers destroyed the factories and beat up the inspectors. As a result, the emperor took notice of them."

    This was all part of Fabio¡¯s plan.

    The emperor had already succeeded in winning the favor of the people by reducing taxes on the peasants, and he knew that improving the terrible working conditions of the laborers would earn him even more support.

    He was merely doing what he knew was effective, but... he had already become a revered ruler among the people.

    However, this is how it sounded to those who didn¡¯t know the truth.

    "If we, who have been trampled our whole lives, manage to squirm like worms, then..."

    After that, they believed the world would change.

    Like the workers and peasants in the Toscana Empire, they believed they could live like humans.

    Fabio must have seen them as drug addicts, intoxicated by false hope.

    And in this world, countless people had died because they were drunk on such false hope.

    "We can do it too."

    Marx began actively using the agitator skills he learned from Fabio.

    "We are just peasants and workers. In the eyes of the higher-ups, we are no better than insects, less than grasshoppers! But don¡¯t you see? When grasshoppers swarm, they become a natural disaster that no one can handle!"

    Everyone could relate to that.

    There was no one living here who didn¡¯t know the threat of a locust swarm.

    "We must unite and make our voices heard. Just ask for a little reduction in work hours, just a slight raise in wages! Let¡¯s show that we are loyal subjects of His Majesty the King!"

    Everyone cheered at those words.

    With confident voices and eyes filled with certainty, and an attitude as if they were ready to face ¡ï Novelight ¡ï life and death together.

    They felt that if they followed this man, they would grasp a new hope.

    "Raise your hammers and sickles. Let¡¯s unite our strength. Then our dreams will come true."

    Marx raised his fist toward the sky and declared.

    "I do it for everyone, and everyone does it for me!"

    One month later, large-scale destruction occurred in the northern Lyon Kingdom.

    And though scattered, other regions also experienced acts of destruction.

    Using the information gap, Fabio¡¯s agitators had spread rumors that discrimination had been abolished, and those who believed it followed suit.

    The high-ranking officials of Lyon Kingdom made the mistake of suppressing it with force...

    And everything was being manipulated by Fabio.

 Chapter 342: Modernized Colonial System (1)

    This was the statement made by the Japanese Prime Minister when the Korean War broke out.

    "Now Japan is saved!"

    When the Vietnam War broke out, South Korea reacted similarly to Japan during the Korean War.

    The thought was that if we participated in this war, South Korea could survive, which is why we decided to send troops.

    As a Korean, I concluded this after witnessing both events.

    ¡°Foreign wars make money!¡±

    Thanks to this lesson, I am now one of the wealthiest people in the Toscana Empire, preparing thoroughly to make even more money.

    ¡°Hmmm, let¡¯s see. How much debt did our baron owe? Sebastian.¡±

    ¡°7,000 gold coins. The interest alone is 2,450 gold coins per year. He¡¯s been overdue for 2 years now.¡±

    ¡°Then, with interest, he owes 9,900 gold coins. And what about our Lord Padonabo?¡±

    ¡°He borrowed 5,000 gold coins, and the interest alone is 1,750 coins. So, the total debt is 6,750 gold coins.¡±

    The nobles who had gathered here informed me of how much they owed, then looked at me.

    I¡¯m just a mere merchant.

    These people, despite owing money, would likely be angry and curse me, even though they had no means to repay the debt.

    They would say something like, ¡°We¡¯re not refusing to pay, just give us some more time,¡± or ¡°You¡¯re just a merchant, what right do you have to threaten us? We¡¯ll protect you if you just wait a bit longer.¡±

    But I was no ordinary merchant. I was also a noble and a powerful figure, having been asked by the Crown Prince to join the royal family.

    ¡°You¡¯ve borrowed a lot. How do you plan to repay all this?¡±

    I deliberately sighed as I looked at them.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to say this for the sake of your honor, but you all have been determined, by the Rothschild Trading Company¡¯s strict assessment, to be unable to repay your principal debt.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Our family is still intact, why can¡¯t we repay?¡±

    When people¡¯s weaknesses are attacked, they get angry first.

    If you call a rich person a beggar, they won¡¯t get angry, they won¡¯t even care if you say they don¡¯t look popular with women.

    But if you call a poor person a beggar or tell someone who¡¯s never held a woman¡¯s hand that they look unpopular, a fight will break out.

    The nobles here were angry because they knew how serious the problem of not being able to repay their debts was...

    ¡°Lord Padonabo.¡±

    ¡°I hope you¡¯re going to take that back.¡±

    ¡°Do you think I would talk nonsense about money matters? Me?¡±

    ¡°Just because it¡¯s you, doesn¡¯t mean you always make the right judgment.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not omnipotent, but...¡±

    There¡¯s no such thing as a perfect person in this world.

    Anyone who thinks they¡¯re perfect is, without exception, mentally ill.

    In fact, humans should grow by acknowledging their imperfections and maximizing their strengths.

    If you try to be perfect and focus only on trivial details, you¡¯ll go crazy.

    ¡°Why does it matter if I¡¯m perfect?¡±

    ¡°Can you prove my judgment is wrong?¡±

    Lord Padonabo¡¯s face turned pale.

    A nobody like me acting tough.

    ¡°Repay half of the principal and interest within a year, then I¡¯ll believe you.¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s... If you can wait two or three years...¡±

    ¡°Then, would you be willing to sell part of your territory to repay the debt?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯d rather not...¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want that, then what do you plan to do? As it¡¯s written in the Bible, the borrower becomes the lender¡¯s slave.¡±

    I deliberately emphasized the word ¡°slave.¡±

    At that, the nobles present shuddered.

    ¡°Still, I have no intention of turning you into slaves. I¡¯m just suggesting a more refined contract.¡±

    ¡°A refined contract, you say?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a bad deal for you. If you agree to this contract with me, I¡¯ll forgive all your debts.¡±

    It¡¯s not that I¡¯m offering such generous terms because I have money pouring out.

    No, money doesn¡¯t exactly overflow.

    It¡¯s made of gold, silver, and copper, so how could it rot? It may rust, but it won¡¯t rot.

    There was a person among Meng Shangjun¡¯s followers in the Warring States period who did something similar.

    I don¡¯t recall his name, but when Meng Shangjun was sent to collect a debt from someone, this fool would reduce or forgive the debt as he pleased.

    Meng Shangjun wanted to kill him, but when he tried, this man said:

    ¡°Those beggars won¡¯t be able to repay the money anyway. If you generously forgive their debts, your reputation will rise, and you¡¯ll be able to receive help later.¡±

    Meng Shangjun, unable to collect the money, cursed and gave up on everything.

    This man later survived thanks to the people of that town.

    I don¡¯t necessarily want to break ties with nobles who can¡¯t repay their debts.

    I¡¯m offering a contract that benefits both sides, forgiving their debts and showing generosity.

    Ah, of course, the contract is not exactly the most equal imperialistic kind from the late 19th century.

    The people who get duped will be grateful for my generosity, and it¡¯ll be a beautiful sight.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡°The Holy Empire is currently in a civil war. This will lead to a massive demand for weapons, as well as food that can be preserved for a long time, like salted fish and dry bread, and armor. Many resources will be sold.¡±

    No noble in the Toscana Empire is unaware of this.

    Even the old-school Confucian aristocrats from Joseon have this level of common sense, and our nobles are not ignorant in # N§àv§Ölight # this regard.

    Anyone who doesn¡¯t know this shouldn¡¯t be in politics.

    Someone this ignorant would believe that a bowl of instant noodles costs 5,000 won and a bus ride costs 3,000 won.

    And in the 2020s, they might even say that 880,000 won is enough for a four-person family to survive and live comfortably.

    ¡°Our Rothschild company plans to create facilities capable of mass-producing military supplies for the war effort. Please exempt us from the land tax and any taxes related to the factory construction.¡±

    ¡°Are you crazy?¡±

    Why would I be crazy? I¡¯m perfectly sane.

    I¡¯m sane enough to gather the poor, like you, and build a ¡®factory,¡¯ threatening you outright to get the land and tax exemptions.

    Do you think it¡¯s easy to pick who to threaten and who not to?

    This is why people who owe money shouldn¡¯t go around.

    ¡°If you refuse my generous offer because you can¡¯t repay, then I guess it can¡¯t be helped.¡±

    In the Toscana Empire, it¡¯s not uncommon for merchants to buy noble status with money.

    If they can¡¯t repay the debt they owe, they can either face a lawsuit and lose everything, or they can quietly pass on their noble title.

    After a rational discussion like this, low-ranking noble families, and sometimes even barons, may pass on their titles.

    More often, they simply give up the rights to the land and taxes.

    But I¡¯m not just some merchant. I¡¯m a noble.

    Merchants do sometimes seize land and titles from nobles who owe money, so why can¡¯t I do the same?

    ¡°If Chris has a son, I might buy a title like this.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re making an enemy of me. Anyone who tries to cheat me out of money is my enemy. And they all end up in a bad place.¡±

    The people here don¡¯t know that I took 20,000 gold coins from Archbishop Urban and started the ¡®Thirty Years War¡¯ with the Holy Empire.

    They wouldn¡¯t know about the riots in the Sforza Duke¡¯s territory, either.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you think my only weapon is an accountant.¡±

    I¡¯ll send an accountant, then a labor inspector, and accuse those people of violating labor laws. Then I¡¯ll stop all industries in their territories.

    By using the power of large corporations to suppress local economies, I can quickly devour entire regions.

    That¡¯s why I destroyed the guild.

    It was tough back in the day with the guild system, but now I can set up stores freely, as long as I get a permit from the Ministry of Commerce or the commercial courts.

    In medieval terms, it¡¯s a bad thing, but in the 21st century, this is simply a legal market expansion policy.

    The market expansion policies of the 21st century, more advanced than the British Empire, are truly magnificent.

    From now on, I¡¯ll need to use more wisdom from the 20th and 21st centuries.

    ¡°Sign here. If you don¡¯t, life will become very difficult for you.¡±

    Thus, I signed a treaty that allowed me to create military factories and other related facilities, obtaining land and tax exemptions.

    And, as promised, I forgave all their debts and even gave them generous compensation.

 Chapter 343: Modernized Colonial System (2)

    "A person alone is weak, but when everyone joins forces, they become strong."

    Humans can never live alone, and it¡¯s a fact that if you accept the idea that no one can live alone, you will inevitably face destruction.

    Therefore, having obtained ¡®factory land¡¯ and ¡®tax exemptions¡¯ from the nobles who owed me money, I gathered a few trusted people to secure it.

    "How¡¯s everyone doing these days?"

    "Thanks to the Holy Empire buying weapons at extremely high prices, we¡¯ve become very wealthy. Thanks to you, my lord, if things go well, I might even buy a knight¡¯s title."

    "If you want to buy one, contact me. I¡¯ll get you a special discount."

    "I didn¡¯t know it was possible to buy a title! I didn¡¯t even think of that."

    In the Joseon Dynasty, there was a practice of selling fake government appointments or fake civil service exams for money.

    It¡¯s a bit peculiar that it was a ¡®government appointment¡¯ and not a noble title, but in Joseon, whether you were a commoner or a lowborn, if you passed the exam or were appointed to a position, you became a noble immediately.

    Technically, once you became a noble, your descendants were legally guaranteed nobility for four generations.

    However, in the Toscana Empire, a knightly title above baron can be bought for money, and you¡¯re made a noble, with no fief, salary, or obligations.

    "A fine merchant like you shouldn¡¯t remain a mere commoner. Oh, and it¡¯s a shame that all the people here are mere commoners. If you¡¯re thinking about it, contact me."

    Paying for a knightly title doesn¡¯t damage my honor.

    So, whenever there¡¯s an opportunity to make money, I have to take it.

    Why would a person with 99 bags of rice target the person with just one bag?

    "I gathered you here today not for nothing. I called you here to do something good together."

    Trusting people, whether in business or anything else, is difficult at first, but the second time is easier.

    They¡¯re already the ones who made huge profits by selling weapons to the Holy Empire, running factories as I had suggested. They¡¯ve already succeeded, so they¡¯re expecting success again.

    "What good thing are you talking about?"

    "The nobles I lent money to said they couldn¡¯t repay it. So, I forgave the debt in exchange for some rights."

    As soon as they heard the word ¡®rights,¡¯ everyone perked up.

    Such cute people, they didn¡¯t even ask what rights, and already, they were thinking about how to make money.

    I love how loyal they are to their desires.

    Honestly, people like Father Stefano, who act purely based on faith and conscience, are unpredictable... But those who move for money are much easier to handle.

    "Money can control even ghosts, that¡¯s no empty saying."

    "One right is the ability to obtain free land for setting up a factory or trading company, and the other is the complete exemption from corporate taxes and other taxes."

    Getting free land for a factory is by no means a small benefit.

    Buying land to build a factory requires a lot of money.

    But the biggest benefit is this:

    Being legally exempt from corporate taxes and other taxes.

    A 20% corporate tax on gross revenue? Not having to pay that?

    ¡®This is the best.¡¯

    "Certainly, it¡¯s a great right. But there¡¯s something that concerns me."

    "What¡¯s bothering you?"

    "The rights to obtain free land and the tax exemptions belong exclusively to the Rothschild family, Fabio de Rothschild, doesn¡¯t it? It has nothing to do with us."

    A sharp observation.

    As it¡¯s written in the contracts made with the nobles, this agreement applies only to me, and upon my death, the same rights will be passed on to my heirs.

    From a general perspective, this contract doesn¡¯t concern them.

    However, let¡¯s change the way we think about it.

    ¡®As long as I¡¯m the owner, it¡¯s fine.¡¯

    If I am the nominal owner, those benefits would still apply.

    "Ah, you¡¯re talking nonsense, only half of it is true. Can¡¯t I just put the title under my name?"

    Business owners often reduce taxes by setting up ¡®figurehead owners.¡¯

    They pass property and business ownership to their children¡¯s names to spread out the taxable amounts, like property taxes, income taxes, corporate taxes.

    In illegal activities, a figurehead owner is set up to take the money and avoid punishment.

    ¡®The legendary drug lord, the house fraudster, once caught at Seoul Station, this is what happens.¡¯

    It¡¯s like me being the figurehead owner for them.

    Of course, I will demand something in return, like making them exempt from taxes and giving them the land for free.

    "That¡¯s one way to do it, but I think the Empire¡¯s accountants might catch on."

    "If all of you buy shares in the factory I build, all problems will be solved. You¡¯ll manage and run it yourselves."

    Selling weapons to the Holy Empire can¡¯t last forever¡ª10, 20 years, it won¡¯t last that long.

    I only intend to drag the war on for about 3 to 5 years.

    So, if I build too many factories ~N§àv§Ölight~ and try to keep all the profits from selling weapons to myself, I might end up not recovering the investments I made in the factories.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡®The risk should be shared.¡¯

    And since I¡¯m limited in capital, I¡¯ll team up with those who hold power in the Empire, like factory owners and armor manufacturers.

    It¡¯s better to share some of the profits from selling weapons.

    And once the economic development zone is set up, there will be more opportunities than just weapons.

    "This is an incredibly generous proposal, but... the terms will be the same as before, right?"

    "I¡¯ll handle the sales. I¡¯ll take a small commission, of course."

    "Sounds good, we¡¯ll invest all the available funds into this."

    When we formed the cartel, no, the trust last time, there was quite a bit of opposition.

    But this time, the ones who tasted money immediately signed the agreement.

    "My lord, the owners of the weapon and armor factories have invested 200,000 gold coins as initial capital."

    "Those guys really pulled out every last coin they had."

    "My lord, there¡¯s nothing you do that doesn¡¯t succeed."

    Well, if the chance of success is 100%, it¡¯s legal to invest even if you¡¯re in debt.

    But there¡¯s still money left.

    However, I shouldn¡¯t think too much about this.

    Just invest and win, that¡¯s it, right?

    Some people even use leverage, but if you follow them, you¡¯ll ruin your life.

    "Baron Florin comes to mind. He really..."

    "If he knew about this investment, he¡¯d probably have mortgaged his entire estate."

    It¡¯s not critical information, but the money you can borrow by mortgaging an estate is usually about 20 years¡¯ worth of total tax revenue from that estate.

    Investing all of it and gaining profit? You could become a sudden millionaire.

    Of course, such risky investments are not for everyone...

    Ah, Baron Florin would definitely do that.

    "Have the factory sites been selected?"

    "Yes, we¡¯ve selected a total of 13 sites."

    "You¡¯re sure no one will notice?"

    "Of course not!"

    "Don¡¯t get caught."

    We have no need to hide the fact that we obtained the rights to do business on land without paying taxes.

    Did I threaten the nobles with guns and knives?

    I just gave them a little warning that they might suffer some unpleasant consequences if they don¡¯t repay their debts and obtained the right to operate without paying taxes.

    They must have gone to Deus Cathedral to pray for my longevity by now, but...

    Right, they wouldn¡¯t thank me for forgiving their debts.

    It feels too devilish to accept gratitude for that.

    So, I¡¯ll live with a clear conscience.

    "If anyone finds out I¡¯m buying property in that area, someone else will try to cash in."

    "If you make an investment in that area, other merchants will surely smell the money."

    Money-making information is something I keep to myself.

    If I can¡¯t profit from it, I¡¯ll share with my family, relatives, and closest friends.

    The fewer people who know, the more money it makes.

    "So, before anyone else knows, we need to buy the land around the factory site."

    The only thing I¡¯m receiving for free is the ¡®factory land.¡¯

    As soon as rumors spread that I¡¯m building large factories, the landowners around will scramble to raise the price.

    "We¡¯ll buy the land around the factory, build houses, and create a city."

    The initial investment costs will be astronomical.

    But once the city is established, the returns will be far greater than the investment.

    "...In fact, I¡¯ll make it my territory."

 Chapter 344: Modernized Colonial System (3)

    "Such a perfect piece of land for building a factory."

    It¡¯s only a day''s carriage ride to the nearby big city, and there¡¯s a huge river nearby, making it easy to secure both drinking water and water for the factory¡¯s operations.

    While making weapons and armor requires a lot of coal, that can be solved through water transport.

    It¡¯s truly pathetic that such prime land has been left ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) undeveloped, just lying there abandoned.

    If they had developed a new city and sold it, they would have paid off all their debts and still had plenty left over.

    "All they can do is play politics, yet they can''t even recognize such good land. Don''t you think so, Sebastian?"

    "Thanks to those noblemen, who know nothing except politics, our family has a lot to gain in the Toscana Empire, doesn''t it?"

    "True enough. When is the landowner supposed to show up?"

    "It seems it¡¯s about time."

    "We set a meeting for 3 p.m., but he¡¯s running late."

    Muttering to myself, I took out the pocket watch I had received from the Department of Technology and checked the time in the pocket of my coat.

    It was now 3:20 p.m., about 20 minutes past the appointed time.

    Nobles and merchants usually have a large clock at home, whether for practical or showy purposes.

    But without a portable watch, it¡¯s not uncommon for someone to be late if you agree to meet at 3 and they arrive at 4.

    ¡®It¡¯s not exactly rude, though.¡¯

    The person waiting often considers it normal.

    Sebastian, eyeing my pocket watch, spoke up.

    "That''s a very convenient and useful item. And it looks great."

    "Right?"

    "The body of the watch is made of pure silver, and the family crest is engraved in gold. It¡¯s truly impressive. If you ever sell these custom-made at Rothschild, they¡¯ll likely sell out in no time."

    Women are naturally accustomed to decorating themselves with earrings, rings, necklaces, brooches, and the like, but men don¡¯t typically adorn themselves so lavishly.

    It¡¯s considered dishonorable for men to dress with such extravagance.

    However, nobles who live off pretension and luxury will decorate themselves as long as they can find a "reasonable reason" for it, whether it¡¯s visible or not.

    They decorate their robes with gold thread or use buttons made of ivory, and wear the finest silk for their neckties.

    ¡®The cost of a Duke¡¯s ceremonial outfit exceeds 300 gold coins, doesn¡¯t it?¡¯

    But now, an extremely practical silver watch appears?

    "Nobles, merchants, artisans, and citizens with a little extra money will flock to buy it. You can check the time, but above all, it looks stylish."

    "I should probably pre-order one for my family. I think it¡¯ll be a long wait if I don¡¯t reserve it now."

    "You don¡¯t need to worry about that. I already instructed them to make sure yours and your family¡¯s pieces are top-quality during the prototype production. They should arrive at the estate within the week."

    "Thank you, my lord."

    "It¡¯s our family¡¯s motto. Those who contribute will always be rewarded accordingly."

    No matter how much times change, a watch is still considered a luxury.

    Even during World War II, wristwatches worn by officers were considered a luxury item, with gem-encrusted designs worthy of being regarded as a form of jewelry and spoils of war.

    Moreover, in a medieval fantasy world, a pocket watch is akin to a technological revolution, comparable to a supercomputer.

    Made from pure silver and adorned with gold, the price of such a piece would skyrocket.

    ¡®For the one I¡¯m giving to Sebastian, it¡¯s worth millions of gold coins each.¡¯

    "Once you receive it, be sure to show it off to the people around you. That¡¯s how trends spread."

    "I will, my lord."

    Nobles can¡¯t stand seeing something someone else has, that they themselves don¡¯t possess.

    But now, Sebastian carries around such a stylish and impressive pocket watch?

    Immediately, Duke Visconti will probably send me a letter saying something like:

    "Fabio, I¡¯ve given you my granddaughter and politically supported you, but why haven¡¯t you given me something so good? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not asking for it for free."

    "I¡¯ll give you the money you ask for, but send it to me at least one day ahead of that damn Duke Sforza or His Majesty."

    And then, after seeing the pocket watch, I¡¯ll meet with the emperor, showing him this very watch!

    "Wow, this pocket watch is amazing! I can tell the time without needing a giant, unnecessarily heavy grandfather clock!"

    I¡¯d bet a house on it, knowing that he¡¯d brag like that.

    As we were chatting and waiting, the landowner came running breathlessly.

    "My lord, I truly apologize! I thought I was hurrying, but I¡¯ve kept you waiting like this!"

    I could scold him for making me wait, but then again, scolding him wouldn''t lower the land price.

    It¡¯s better not to make a fuss.

    In fact, showing some mercy here could earn me some goodwill.

    "Even with a watch, it¡¯s not easy to always keep track of time, is it? Now then, let¡¯s start the negotiations."

    "Thank you, my lord."

    "So, you own all the land around here, correct? What price are you asking for?"

    "Though it¡¯s vacant land, it¡¯s still quite valuable. You should offer at least 5,000 gold coins, no, 10,000 gold coins."

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    I could push for a better price, but it would only be a matter of time before he¡¯d give in.

    After all, it¡¯s better for him to sell to me and make money than to just hold onto this inherited, unused land.

    Even though Toscana doesn¡¯t have inheritance taxes or property taxes, land that¡¯s difficult to develop becomes a burden.

    Someone with a massive amount of capital like me could invest and turn it into a city, but...

    Without capital, no matter how lucky you are, you won¡¯t become rich in this world.

    "I¡¯ll pay 10,000 gold coins immediately. Take this promissory note to Rothschild, and it will be exchangeable anywhere in the empire."

    "Thank you, my lord."

    "Thanks for selling the land to me."

    "But what are you planning to use this land for?"

    There¡¯s an old saying that you should invest in land without your wife knowing.

    Well, not really, but it¡¯s like how restaurant owners often say, "Only I know the secret recipe."

    If I say I¡¯m developing a new city, people might spread it around everywhere.

    A secret should only be known by the person who holds it; once shared, it¡¯s no longer a secret.

    "I¡¯m thinking of building a poultry farm."

    "A poultry farm, you say?"

    "As you know, raising chickens is quite profitable, right?"

    "Yes, that¡¯s true."

    The best way to hide a secret from someone trying to pry it out is surprisingly simple.

    Just tell them a convincing lie.

    And, in the Toscana Empire, from the emperor down to the lowest peasants, things like butcher shops and slaughterhouses are thriving.

    ¡®Even the poorest factory workers in Toscana will be able to afford at least one chicken a month.¡¯

    Even the poorest factory workers in Toscana, that is.

    "Back in the day, even if you sold chickens, only the middle-class citizens would buy them, and the peasants or poor workers would only drink chicken broth. But now, look at the situation. With more food and more wealth, even rural taverns serve chicken dishes in abundance."

    Soon, I¡¯ll be able to make fried chicken accessible to the common people by adding cottonseed oil.

    It¡¯s tough right now to extract oil with solvents, so I can¡¯t open a restaurant that only sells fried chicken...

    But if I figure out how to extract cottonseed oil or canola oil, I¡¯ll be able to create a chicken franchise all over Toscana.

    "If every citizen of Toscana could eat one chicken a week, let¡¯s see... over 30 million chickens would be needed annually. Actually, considering the consumption by the military and nobility, it would be even more."

    "Indeed."

    "But the number of chickens currently raised in Toscana is even less than that. What do you think we should do about that?"

    "We should build a poultry farm and create a facility to maximize the production of eggs and chickens."

    I have no intention of passing the most important secret to that man.

    But still, it¡¯s true that I gained from buying the land at a slightly lower price than I expected, so giving him some useful information is reasonable.

    The demand for chickens will be so high that a couple of competitors won¡¯t hurt me.

    "If you build a poultry farm with 10,000 gold coins, you¡¯ll make a decent income. The returns will be considerable, so it¡¯d be wise to save up and purchase a noble title."

    "Thank you."

    "Then, I¡¯ll be on my way."

    With that, I immediately started discussing city development with Sebastian, then returned to Florence.

    Upon returning to Florence, I immediately continued exploring ways to make more money.

    I decided to make a small use of the "new city development" policy.

 Chapter 345: Modernized Colonial System (4)

    The people of the Toscana Empire are very well aware that real estate is a great way to make money.

    Urban areas and fertile lands have only appreciated in value over time, and everyone¡ªwhether nobles or merchants¡ªhas made a nice profit from it.

    This is also why I created stocks and moved the wealth from real estate into the stock market, causing property prices to plummet and thereby stabilizing the real estate market.

    Even now, real estate transactions are still a pretty solid way to make money.

    "Sebastian, is the promotion going well?"

    "It was a bit slow at first, but now word of mouth has spread, and many merchants and nobles are eyeing it. The staff in charge of promotions are even being hounded by people asking when the products will be available."

    "Glad to hear things are going well."

    "At first, I was worried whether we could sell the amount we had planned since no one was showing interest. But looking back now, it seems that was an unnecessary worry."

    Although Sebastian said that, what I had started was honestly a scheme that would have failed in the context of a medieval fantasy world.

    In the late 20th and early 21st centuries in Korea, with well-developed transportation and the tendency for all wealth to funnel into real estate, it''s considered common sense that a well-executed new city development could generate huge profits in a short time.

    But in the medieval era, with no transportation other than horses, carriages, or walking, how could anyone make a fortune from a new city development in such a short period?

    ''This is a project that should take at least several decades.''

    Developing a city artificially, where a noble family must pour in massive amounts of money, is something that can only realistically happen with decades of effort.

    And in nine out of ten attempts, you¡¯d fail due to issues like getting the right shops, factories, jobs for the citizens, recruiting people to live there, and investing capital.

    Trying to shorten that process to just 3 to 5 years is almost an impossible feat.

    "If anyone other than me tried something like this, they would probably be left on the street. But since it¡¯s my business, people are willing to invest because they know it¡¯s mine."

    "My lord, you¡¯ve already become the mark of success. Anything you touch seems to yield ten, a hundred times the profit."

    "Flattery won¡¯t get you any extra stock, just like last time when you didn¡¯t get any extra for investing in Abito."

    "I¡¯m not good at flattery, my lord."

    "You¡¯re not completely against it, though."

    "Well, my lord is a merchant, so I need to know how to offer a little flattery, just so I don¡¯t get criticized when I go somewhere."

    Looking at Sebastian these days, he reminds me of an executive who¡¯s given up on getting promoted.

    There¡¯s no higher position for him, but instead of sucking up to me, he¡¯s been pushing ahead with his work while keeping to his own principles.

    ¡®It¡¯s actually a good thing.¡¯

    If a low-ranking employee refuses or acts on their own contrary to the CEO¡¯s instructions, it almost always ends in failure.

    But when an executive tells the CEO something isn¡¯t right, it can be really beneficial for the company.

    No matter how great I am, I¡¯m not perfect and I¡¯m not a god.

    "The residential and commercial districts should all be sold out once the presentations are done. However, I do have one concern. Once these areas are sold, won¡¯t the actual ownership of the newly created city pass over to the buyers?"

    "Not at all."

    "Really?"

    "The industries that will form the base of the new city are weapon, armor, and military supplies factories. This city will run on the consumption of the workers who will work at these factories."

    A city made up of men who are good at washing dishes and where the suicide rate among middle-aged men is the highest in the nation serves as the most typical example.

    The giant semiconductor plant and memory factory of Ohseong Electronics are located in that city.

    Naturally, various affiliated companies have set up shop around the area, and restaurants and small businesses like kids¡¯ cafes and karaoke bars have sprung up to cater to the workers and their families.

    Since employees of large companies spend all their salaries within the city, property prices are high, and the cost of living is also high.

    The city I¡¯m planning to build will feel just like that.

    "Truly, my lord, you are remarkable."

    "Also, since it¡¯s a new city, there won¡¯t be any nobles with roots in the city. I can make the factory managers local nobles and take control of the city council. I¡¯ll even be able to appoint the mayor I want."

    It¡¯s like how some people live their entire lives with the goal of going to Mars.

    That person also moved his business to the countryside, created a city, and was planning to elect a mayor through a democratic vote (though it¡¯s a coincidence that only one candidate is running for mayor).

    We¡¯re planning to do the same.

    This way, the land the new city controls will essentially be my domain.

    "And making money by selling weapons and military supplies is a one-time business. Looking to hold onto all the land in multiple cities with that kind of quick-profit business doesn¡¯t make financial sense."

    Abito, when I die ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) or, rather, after I¡¯m dead, will be known as the most prosperous city in the empire, even to my grandchild¡¯s generation.

    Because clothes are still expensive, and whatever is made sells out fast¡ªit¡¯s a product that never stops being in demand.

    "If it''s a business that only makes money for a short while, you¡¯d better sell fast and get out."

    "That¡¯s a wise way of thinking."

    "I¡¯m telling my employees not to invest in the new city. While land prices may rise during the war with the Holy Empire, once the war ends, land prices will plummet."

    "I understand."

    "And this time, Sebastian, you¡¯ll handle the presentation."

    I would have liked to handle the presentation myself and sell the inventory, but...

    Most of the people attending this presentation would be a bit beneath me in rank to deal with personally.

    So, sending Sebastian out is the right move.

    "Leave it to me."

    A week later, the presentation was officially held at one of the estates I owned.

    "Thank you for coming this far, everyone. I am Sebastian Maserati, the steward of the Rothschild family."

    The room became very noisy.

    Given that this was a massive project driven by the Rothschild family, I had expected Fabio to pay close attention to it, but...

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    No one expected that the clear number two in the family would come out to handle the investment presentation himself.

    Sebastian deliberately took out his pocket watch and checked the time.

    "The current time is 2:15 p.m. Let¡¯s begin the presentation as scheduled."

    "Wait, wait, is that... a watch you¡¯re holding?"

    "Yes, it is."

    At those words, the atmosphere became quite distracted.

    A body made of silver with a gold engraving and modest jewels inlaid, all topped off with the ability to check the time?

    This was the must-have item that anyone with money, whether a noble or merchant, had to buy.

    "It¡¯s not too heavy, and you can check the time anytime, so it¡¯s very efficient. Starting next week, Rothschild stores across the nation will begin pre-order sales. Please look forward to it. Now, let¡¯s begin the presentation."

    Sebastian handed out pamphlets that had been printed in advance.

    Without the printing press, it would have been impossible to hand out pamphlets at such an expensive product sales presentation...

    But Fabio, who runs a large printing business, had artisans working overtime, giving them insane amounts of extra pay, just to print these.

    The result was these pamphlets.

    "My lord, it seems you are truly serious about this business."

    "...I¡¯d risk all my wealth to invest in it."

    "Rothschild¡¯s name can be trusted."

    Fabio¡¯s sincerity moved the hearts of many people.

    The attendees had originally come intending to invest no matter what, but seeing the effort that went into handing out the pamphlets made them realize that Fabio had put real thought into it.

    ¡®This will definitely succeed.¡¯

    Then, suddenly, an unexpected person barged in.

    Sebastian was about to give orders to his staff to throw the intruder out, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it.

    "I am Baron Florin."

    Sebastian, acting as Fabio¡¯s representative, couldn¡¯t chase out a baron himself.

    "Are you really the baron?"

    "Do I need to show you the sword His Majesty personally gave me when he ascended to the throne to prove it?"

    "...No, that won¡¯t be necessary."

    "I came here to invest, so give me a seat."

    The staff hurriedly rushed to bring a chair.

    Once Baron Florin sat down, the room buzzed with whispers.

    "Is the Heart of the Beast here?"

    "I¡¯ve heard that even merchants seek his advice on stock investments..."

    "Could it be?"

    "Not once, but twice, he invested using his entire domain as collateral and made huge profits."

    At first, Baron Florin was treated like a crazy man by both nobles and merchants.

    But after succeeding twice, he had become a deity of investment.

    One time was luck; two times was skill.

    Baron Florin said nothing in response to anyone¡¯s comments.

    He simply smiled.

    "Now, let¡¯s begin the presentation."

 Chapter 346: Modernized Colonial System (5)

    "As you all know, creating a city from scratch is no easy task. There are issues with capital, administration, and development. But the main reason why most new city developments fail is that it¡¯s difficult to provide proper jobs for the people who will live there."

    The Roman Empire was a master of city development.

    When they went to war, they fought, and during peacetime, they did more digging and civil engineering work than anything the 21st-century Korean army could even dream of.

    Starting from their time as recruits, after nearly 20 years of military service, they were experienced enough to become site managers at any construction project.

    Using that experience, many of Europe¡¯s well-known cities, such as Paris and London, were built by Romans, but it was the Roman legions stationed there that helped maintain those cities.

    Similarly, many cities in the Toscana Empire were built using the same principle.

    "But the new city being developed by the Rothschild family has already solved all those problems."

    "How did you solve such a complex issue?"

    "My lord, you¡¯re aware that the weapons and armor factories set to open in the new city will employ more than 2,000 workers. If you include their families, at least 6,000 to 7,000 people will settle in the city."

    In the 21st century, if you have good access to Seoul, it¡¯s easy to throw up a stake on some vacant land and declare, "This is a new city," and the new city development project will go ahead smoothly.

    For the past 20 or 30 years, people who became wealthy overnight from real estate redevelopment in places like Pangyo, Gwacheon, Bundang, and Gangnam are everywhere.

    With a car, you can get to Seoul in an hour, an hour and a half, so everyone chooses to live in new cities, which are cheaper than Seoul.

    But in the Empire, where people travel by carriage, it¡¯s impossible for people to live in a city unless there are good jobs available.

    That¡¯s why countless city developments have failed up to # N§àv§Ölight # now.

    "You don¡¯t need to worry about the capital issue, and the legal issues will be smoothly resolved through close cooperation between our Rothschild family, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Finance, and the local nobility. This project is being carried out with the full honor of the Rothschild family."

    "Is that really the case?"

    "Do you not trust the word of the steward?"

    "No, it¡¯s not that..."

    "If you wish, I can show you an oath sealed with the Rothschild family¡¯s seal and notarized by the High Court. My lord would never play games with money."

    "Creating a new city has failed so many times that I was just worried for no reason. The Rothschild family wouldn¡¯t do something foolish. I deeply apologize."

    "If you continue to doubt, I¡¯ll have to formally protest as the steward of the family, but I will let it slide this time. After all, it¡¯s a place where a lot of money is involved, so it¡¯s understandable that your words got a bit harsh. I don¡¯t think you meant to insult our family."

    It was an odd situation where the person receiving the investment was treating the investor like this.

    But no one questioned this bizarre scenario.

    They couldn¡¯t say anything because the Rothschild family had confidently promised that they¡¯d taken care of all the measures, putting their honor on the line.

    "For a worker¡¯s house, it will be five gold coins, and for other housing, please consult with our staff."

    "Isn¡¯t that a bit too expensive? A worker¡¯s house in Florence costs only six or seven gold coins!"

    "My lord set the price."

    "Although it¡¯s a city with guaranteed success, this is too expensive!"

    Merchants and various noble family representatives began to protest.

    It was understandable because selling a worker¡¯s house for five gold coins was crossing the line.

    Setting new city housing prices to match those of other major cities was an unreasonable act.

    ¡®My lord said it, right? Start with an offer of five, and then settle for four.¡¯

    Sebastian, pretending to be swayed by their protests, tried to lower the price...

    "Five gold coins? That¡¯s incredibly cheap."

    At those words, all the investors¡¯ attention was immediately focused on the speaker.

    Someone had spoken out of turn and ruined the mood, but the atmosphere quickly shifted when they saw who had spoken.

    It was none other than Baron Florin.

    "Merchants don¡¯t even know the half of it. How pathetic. What use do the Empire¡¯s merchants have, when they¡¯re so ignorant compared to me?"

    The merchants and the attendants couldn¡¯t hide their astonishment.

    Had Fabio Rothschild himself said such a thing, the merchants would have been shaking in frustration and cursing him over drinks at home.

    But to hear such words from a noble like Baron Florin?

    Baron Florin was a genius of investment, having twice succeeded in investments that involved using his entire domain as collateral.

    Before his first success, he was treated like a fool by both nobles and merchants.

    But after succeeding twice, he had become a god of investment.

    Once was luck; twice was skill.

    Baron Florin didn¡¯t respond to any of the murmurs.

    He simply smiled.

    "Laborers working in weapons and armor factories will earn at least one and a half silver coins a month. With that, taking sixty copper coins for rent wouldn¡¯t be an issue, right?"

    One of the merchants nodded and agreed.

    "Yes, if you want, you could even get seventy copper coins."

    "Let¡¯s keep it clean and settle for sixty copper coins. That way, wouldn¡¯t it make seven silver coins and twenty copper coins in rent every year? In seven years, you¡¯ll recover the principal. Isn¡¯t that better than most stocks?"

    The merchants gasped in understanding.

    Even when receiving stock dividends, it often takes years to recover the principal, but here, with an investment in Rothschild¡¯s real estate, you could recover the principal in just seven years?

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    It only took a little thinking to realize this was an opportunity of a lifetime.

    There¡¯s an old saying that real estate never depreciates.

    After a little contemplation, they realized that saying was true.

    Of course, there was the small incident a few years ago when Fabio created stocks and real estate prices plummeted by half across the nation.

    But that was just a one-time accident, and real estate had always been king.

    Indeed, the heart of a beast, who had even used his entire fortune and domain as collateral to make a huge investment success.

    ¡®That man never fails.¡¯

    With that thought in mind, the merchants and noble family attendants resolved to join in the crazy investment.

    If he succeeded twice, why wouldn¡¯t he succeed a third time?

    "Steward, can I get a loan?"

    Sebastian tilted his head at the question.

    "Excuse me?"

    "I asked if I could get a loan."

    "I¡¯m sure you said loan, but did I misunderstand?"

    "Nobles don¡¯t speak nonsense."

    "...How much loan do you plan to take for your investment?"

    "How much of the current inventory is left?"

    "50,000 gold coins worth."

    "Good, I¡¯ll pay 20,000 gold coins in cash within the week. The rest, I¡¯ll use my domain as collateral. Please sell it however you like."

    Sebastian was stunned.

    Not only was it absurd that one person had bought 50,000 gold coins worth of inventory, but what was even more shocking was that Baron Florin was immediately offering his domain as collateral for 30,000 gold coins worth?

    "The collateral will be based on 20 years'' worth of total tax income from the domain."

    "Yes, that sounds good."

    "Bring the contract."

    Baron Florin immediately signed the contract brought to him by the staff.

    "If you have any other investment opportunities, let me know."

    "Yes, of course."

    With that, Baron Florin whistled and left, igniting the flames in everyone¡¯s hearts.

    "Think about it carefully. Even if the price were doubled, you¡¯d still get back the principal in 15 years. If you continue to inherit it, how much money would it generate? You should buy it now, while the opportunity is here. Merchants who don¡¯t want to make money, for heaven¡¯s sake."

    The merchants, hearing those words, gained a deep understanding.

    Even buying real estate at a higher price than the market value would result in a guaranteed profit in the long run.

    Real estate, with benefits comparable to a regular deposit yielding 14% interest annually, was an absurdly good deal.

    ¡®Real estate is divine grace!¡¯

    "I¡¯ll have to thank Lord Rothschild for giving me this opportunity to make money. I¡¯ll send plenty of our region¡¯s special products as a token of gratitude."

    With that, Baron Florin left the room.

    "Steward, when will the next batch be released?"

    "We¡¯re in a hurry! Please release the next batch soon!"

    Sebastian, though visibly flustered, showed no signs of it.

    He simply smiled at them and said, "The batch Baron Florin bought makes up 15% of the total housing. There¡¯s still 85% left."

    "85% is still available?"

    "And the remaining stock will be sold here again next Tuesday. I¡¯ll see you then."

    With that, Sebastian sighed deeply.

    Though the situation was going better than expected, it was still a bit overwhelming.

    "This is turning out to be a lot more profitable than I thought..."

 Chapter 347: Modernized Colonial System (6)

    ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯ll go in.¡±

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    The door opened and Chris appeared.

    Chris naturally approached me and smiled.

    ¡°The butler couldn¡¯t come today, so I came.¡±

    ¡°There must be a lot of people looking for Sebastian.¡±

    ¡°The nobles smelled money and are clamoring for Sebastian to pay more, so please reduce the quantity. It must be really hard for you to refuse.¡±

    ¡°Even so, nothing will come out.¡±

    If I were running an apartment cooperative or something, I would have increased the quantity first because there was a lot of demand.

    In any case, I would just make a quick buck and then close the cooperative and run away.

    It¡¯s more profitable to move ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) in a direction that makes as much money as possible at once.

    ¡®But I¡¯m a noble, right?¡¯

    If I put my name on it and manage it myself, I¡¯ll do it carelessly to make more money, and then something will happen.

    The family¡¯s honor would dive into the Han River at that moment.

    So who would ask me to sell an unplanned quantity just to see the small profit right in front of me?

    ¡°Baron Florin invested 50,000 gold coins by using his own land as collateral because he thought that 5 gold coins per house was too cheap. Now, the merchant industry is blowing an investment frenzy, saying that since the ¡®Heart of the Beast¡¯ has moved, this new city development plan will definitely succeed.¡±

    ¡°Normally, if you keep doing that, you¡¯ll ruin your life.¡±

    ¡°Since you¡¯ve succeeded three times, Deus must be helping you.¡±

    ¡°If he wasn¡¯t a real baron, I would have brought him to our family.¡±

    No one knows whether Baron Florin has a keen eye or not.

    However, there is one thing that is very clear.

    Whether it¡¯s the bar exam, administrative exam, or civil service exam, whether you guess and answer all the questions correctly or solve them all correctly, you will pass with the same 100 points.

    Looking at the way that human being invests, it¡¯s clear that he does it with the intuition of an animal, but he¡¯s successful no matter what he does.

    If he brought him to our family and had him pick stocks that would make money, he would create enormous value.

    Chris said as he handed me the report.

    ¡°The sales of the residential and commercial complexes being developed this time have all been completed successfully. We were able to earn a total of 405,284 coins, exceeding the initial expected sales of 240,000 gold coins by 165,284 coins.¡±

    ¡°The sales were higher than I expected.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you surprised, Your Majesty?¡±

    ¡°...... I thought this would happen since speculation got heated up.¡±

    The factory site was given to me for free by kind customers, so excluding that, the price of the land I purchased is only worth 10,000 gold coins.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    However, since it was a new city project that I was personally promoting, I expected that there would be many people who wanted to buy new city houses and commercial buildings at a cheap price.

    So I tried to be satisfied with just 24 times the land price without going overboard, but thanks to Baron Florin, I ended up making a profit of close to 40.5 times.

    At this point, it''s a new city coin, a coin.

    They say that whenever a certain Martian enthusiast posted a coin with a Shiba Inu on it, the price of the coin skyrocketed.

    Baron Florin showed up and invested his soul to make it work just like that.

    "And now, rumors are starting to spread that real estate is undervalued, so real estate values ??are rising all over the country, including Florence."

    "Since I introduced the stock system, real estate prices have fallen too much at once. So I thought the prices would go up. I never thought it would go up like this."

    Baron Florin, what kind of person are you?

    If you have 1 million gold coins, you might not know, but you can move the economy of the Tuscan Empire with 50,000 gold coins.

    ¡°This is ridiculous.¡±

    ¡°The executives of the trading company keep suggesting that we invest more aggressively in real estate. What are you going to do?¡±

    ¡°Real estate is profitable, and expanding the chicken farm is profitable, too. But the real money is in the military industry. There is no need to be obsessed with things like real estate.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s time to be selective and focused.¡±

    ¡°If you are blind and greedy, you will only end up bursting your own stomach.¡±

    The most important thing in social life is not to make enemies.

    More precisely, it would be not to make more enemies than necessary.

    In fact, the best thing would be not to make enemies at all, but the world is competitive to begin with, so you make enemies just by breathing and living.

    At work, managers, assistant managers, and section chiefs may hate you for no reason and try to bury you in society, and if you rise above a certain level, you may have to bury other competitors through internal politics or something.

    If you work at a large company, you have to make unreasonable demands on subcontractors to generate profits for the company.

    ¡®You¡¯re trash to some, but you¡¯re friends and family to others.¡¯

    That¡¯s just how life is.

    So I have to increase the number of people who will stand on my side as much as possible to prevent unexpected stabs in the back or a baseball bat in the back of the head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even look at the real estate side.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    ¡°And this is a gift from me to you, Chris.¡±

    I handed her the transfer contract.

    ¡°I gave Leo the Baron Medici, and I¡¯ll give my child, Erica, the Viscounty of Rothschild. I don¡¯t know how things will turn out later. The factory that will be the core business of the new city, I will give the ownership of that factory to my future children.¡±

    Sometimes older people forget to properly distribute their assets while they are alive.

    They think that since they left a will, their children will ¡®take care of it¡¯, but if there is one villain among their children, it will be like a lawsuit between a conglomerate family with a knife to get even a penny more.

    I killed that bastard Albert, and I have no regrets about that, but...

    How sad it would be if my children fought each other because of me.

    Chris covered his mouth with his hand.

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    It is a shame that we do not have children yet, but both Chris and I are old enough to have children.

    ¡°The new city I am creating cannot function without a factory. So if I just keep my position as the factory president, it will not be difficult for me to become the mayor of the city.¡±

    The biggest reason why merchants cannot become mayors of cities is because of the shackles of status.

    In theory, a city councilor or a city mayor can be anyone regardless of social status, but even in a modern country in the 21st century, it¡¯s hard for ordinary people to become members of the National Assembly...

    Even if you become a city councilor, the land is usually inherited by the local nobles, and the mayor position goes to the one with the best luck and ability among them.

    However, the child born between Chris and me holds the real power over the life and death of the city, and is clearly of noble blood.

    ¡®Mayor for life is possible.¡¯

    A mayor for life who dominates the administrative authority and the city¡¯s economy.

    This also seems like a dark story.

    ¡°Now, if Chris and I have a child, we can rebuild the Belladora family.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Viscount. But there¡¯s a very serious problem.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡±

    Chris whispered in my ear, letting out a slightly dirty breath.

    ¡°There¡¯s no child between you, Viscount. Chloe has Leo.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have any plans today?¡± ¡°Your Majesty and I don¡¯t have anything to do right now.¡±

    That¡¯s right.

    But is it okay to do this in broad daylight on a weekday?

    ¡°We need a child to truly rebuild the Belladora family. This is also a major task for the Rothschild family. It¡¯s about creating a trustworthy vassal who will protect the family.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but I don¡¯t think we need to rush.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll be easier if we do everything quickly.¡±

    Chris opened the door to my office and called the maid nearby.

    ¡°Try to tidy up the bedroom.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty will need a lot of energy at night. Tell the chef to prepare a meal of seafood and meat dishes that are good for stamina, including oysters.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Prepare a similar meal for Erica and Chloe. Your Majesty is full of energy.¡±

    Are there any important plans for tomorrow?

    After the maid left, Chris took a small box out of his clothes and took out its contents.

    Inside was a chocolate bar.

    Chris put it in his mouth and closed the distance between us.

    And we enjoyed a sticky and thick kiss until the chocolate completely melted in his mouth.

    ¡°How was my kiss?¡±

    ¡°It was active and sweet. But it was too tantalizing?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t be satisfied with this.¡±

    Chris started unbuttoning the front of his shirt, one by one, from his neck to his chest.

    Just enough to show his sternum.

    Then he gently stroked his lower abdomen and said,

    ¡°Your Majesty, please eat me as much as you want.¡±

 Chapter 348: Imperialism led by Fabio (1)

    Even before King Injo, the greatest dance choreographer of Joseon, ascended to the throne.

    To the Jurchen, Joseon was walking death itself.

    King Sejong, who was a warm man to his people but a cold psychopathic murderer to the Jurchen, massacred the barbarians with Choi Yun-deok, the Jurchen massacrer, as the vanguard.

    The exchange rate was as much as 1 Joseon soldier to 40 Jurchen.

    For every death of one Joseon soldier, 40 Jurchens were annihilated.

    The tactic that King Sejong used to make them not fight was ¡®I-I-Je-I¡¯, making the barbarians fight each other.

    As the successor to the enlightened king¡¯s spirit and wisdom, I naturally carry the national mission of dividing the barbarians (all countries other than ours).

    In the process, I will gain a lot of money and power, but let¡¯s move on because that is the natural price for patriotism.

    It is a world where patriots are rewarded and traitors are punished.

    ¡°How are you, Your Majesty?¡±

    The Emperor stared at my chest for a long time.

    If I keep doing this, I¡¯ll get a hole in my right chest.

    Of course, it¡¯s not because that gentleman is homosexual and feels sexual desire toward me.

    It must be an unspoken pressure to hand over the Rothschild pocket watch that a few nobles, including Sebastian and the Duke of Visconti, wear.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t been at peace. Do you know why?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Your Majesty. However, I have prepared a small gift to comfort Your Majesty¡¯s wounded heart a ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) little. Please accept the gift and feel better.¡±

    One of the servants brought the ebony box to the Emperor.

    A smile appeared on the Emperor¡¯s face as he checked the contents.

    ¡°It is suitable to show off my dignity.¡±

    While other watches are made of silver, crafted of gold, and decorated with jewels, the pocket watch used by the emperor is a gold watch made of pure gold.

    A top-quality piece that is designed to look flashy but not cheap, with precious jewels such as rubies, sapphires, and diamonds on a gold watch.

    A single piece of that is a money-eating monster that costs more than a year¡¯s worth of taxes for a small barony.

    ¡°I have already presented it to Your Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince.¡±

    ¡°I have never doubted your sincere loyalty to the empire and the imperial family, not even in my dreams. Do not forget that I think of you as my son.¡±

    ¡°Your words are too generous. I will do my best to repay even a millionth of Your Majesty¡¯s unbearable grace before I die.¡±

    ¡°...... Hmm, if you wish, I can grant you the title of count. Think about it carefully.¡±

    That title is bait, no, a mine.

    Ask that out of the blue because you want to earn more money, enjoy more power, and enjoy more fame.

    The Emperor will surely say this.

    Ah, your achievements are deep enough to cover the sky and fill the sea, but it¡¯s too bad that I can¡¯t make you a count due to the opposition of other nobles.

    However, if you take the princess, you will become a member of the imperial family, so I can grant you the title of count under that pretext. Alright, let¡¯s just go.

    My family will have to live with a princess.

    ¡®Was there a pretty woman among the imperial princesses?¡¯

    If she was prettier than Erica, I would have hesitated for half a second, but I have no intention of becoming the Emperor¡¯s slave.

    If I take that route wrong, in about 10 years I will probably be living a life where I am a prime minister during the day and a princess at night.

    ¡°I think my current status is too much.¡± ¡°You can be a little greedy.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so envious.¡±

    You¡¯re such a terrible emperor, you want to make me a count and then a prime minister to make me the emperor.

    That won¡¯t happen, but make it so that people can¡¯t even resign.

    I¡¯ll never die alone.

    If your son becomes emperor, I¡¯ll propose all sorts of policies and do a lot of things to make him die from overwork.

    And although it¡¯s not enough to kill him, I¡¯ll make a mistake that will force him to retire from the prime minister position.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking into the diplomatic and political landscape of the continent, and I think there will be a major upheaval in the Kingdom of Lyon.¡±

    ¡°I think so too. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is sending diplomats, civil servants, and spies to monitor the situation.¡±

    Most of what I know, others also know.

    So knowing a lot doesn¡¯t make you a genius.

    If you want to be a genius, you just need to know everything that everyone else knows, and have just one new piece of knowledge from that.

    ¡°In the Kingdom of Lyon, workers and serfs are rioting. The royal family, nobles, and merchants of the Kingdom of Lyon are suppressing the riots very harshly, but they are facing a backlash.¡±

    ¡°I heard that the rioters sometimes won against large-scale troops, and many local nobles and officers were beheaded. Oh my god...¡±

    This is the result of my light agitation by releasing Marx and other communist demons.

    A fierce popular uprising reminiscent of the French Revolution.

    The barbarians of the Kingdom of Lyon were divided into the nobles and the lowly, and they fought to the death.

    I planned it, but it turned out really well.

    However, from the perspective of the nobles, that is something unimaginable.

    Are these common people, who were like earthworms that could only squirm no matter how much they were trampled, coming together to overthrow the vested interests?

    To the nobles of the medieval fantasy world, that would seem like the same madness as making kimchi with mangoes and eating cabbage pickled in sugar as dessert.

    ¡®Mango kimchi?¡¯

    The emperor placed his hand on his forehead and sighed so hard that the ground collapsed.

    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t taken your advice and taken care of the workers and serfs, wouldn¡¯t that have happened?¡±

    I neither confirmed nor denied that question.

    If I denied, I would be lying, and if I confirmed, I would be criticizing the emperor for being incompetent because he neglected such a situation.

    There¡¯s a reason why they say silence is golden and eloquence is silver.

    If you don¡¯t say anything, you won¡¯t get caught up in any unfavorable situations.

    ¡°Hold your peace, Your Majesty. The enemy''s misfortune is an opportunity for the Tuscan Empire."

    "You have a knack for saying such terrible things so casually."

    "Politics and business are both wars. If a general goes to war and does not take advantage of the enemy''s misfortune, he will lose, and if he does, he will win. For the prosperity of the Tuscan Empire and the glory of the imperial family, please put aside your human conscience, Your Majesty."

    "You are the first to tell me to give up being human, Your Majesty."

    Twenty-first century politicians, who are a million times softer than the Middle Ages when human gangsters and legal yakuza knights ruled, leave their consciences at home when they go to work in the National Assembly.

    If it benefits them politically, they devote themselves to the people, and if it doesn''t, they chew others out, saying "Alpan?o" regardless of whether they die or not.

    If they can''t do that, they can''t take even one step on the path to becoming a politician.

    No, even CEOs of large corporations, mid-sized companies, or even small and medium-sized companies of a certain size often leave their consciences at home when they go to work.

    The CEOs who are called shitty companies are equipped with the ¡®conscience detachment function¡¯ that qualifies them to stand on stage, but they fail because they do not have other essential features such as ¡®employee welfare¡¯, ¡®acting nice¡¯, and ¡®predicting the future¡¯.

    All the politicians and businessmen in the world are doing the same, so I am the only one living with a conscience?

    Then, even if you live without any shame as an individual, you can see that you have failed to make money by becoming successful.

    ¡°Advice is bitter.¡±

    The emperor snickered after hearing my words.

    ¡°You are right, even though what you say is bitter. Starting a war, maintaining imperial power, and prospering an empire all require someone to be sacrificed in the end. I do not personally swing my sword and kill people, but those who sided with me because of my choices met a miserable end. The guys who stripped me of my title last time were like that.¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s words are right. And Your Majesty¡¯s choice has made the empire prosperous and saved more people. The people of the empire have never enjoyed peace and prosperity before, and they all sing Your Majesty¡¯s praises, and the nobles cannot even dare to step on Your Majesty¡¯s shadow.¡±

    How to manipulate the emperor as I wish.

    That¡¯s not something grand.

    I just have to act like a traitor.

    No, in fact, the line between a traitor and a loyal subject is as thin as a sheet of paper.

    If it helps the country, it¡¯s loyal, and if it doesn¡¯t help the country, it¡¯s a traitor.

    ¡®The direction I pursue is unconditionally helpful to the country.¡¯

    Because I aim to be the richest person in the strongest country.

    ¡°And now it¡¯s time to choose.¡±

    ¡°Choice.¡±

    ¡°Put the Kingdom of Lyon into the pit of hell. That¡¯s for the national interest of the empire.¡±

    The emperor snickered after hearing my words.

    He laughed.

    ¡°Tell me what you think.¡±

 Chapter 349: Imperialism led by Fabio (2)

    ¡°There are two ways to make the Tuscan Empire the strongest nation on the Albanian continent.¡±

    ¡°Not one, but two... Very interesting.¡±

    ¡°One is to increase the capabilities of the Tuscan Empire. Increase food production through the private farming method, increase the spending power of the serfs who make up the majority of the population, and make the empire¡¯s economy run actively, and use the increased taxes due to economic development to develop the country.¡±

    Since ancient Babylon, or rather, since the time when humans first developed civilization, monarchs have aimed for what I have said, regardless of era and region, even though the terms used are different.

    The problem is that improving agricultural methods to increase food production can ruin the entire region or country if it fails once, so even the most nobles or monarchs have not tried it.

    However, I know very well the secret to success that people have learned through thousands of years of bloody and tearful failures...

    Since I just have to apply the formula that has already succeeded, it is easy.

    ¡®I guess I¡¯ve advanced history by 100 years?¡¯

    ¡°Another way is to ruin neighboring countries. It¡¯s an extreme story, but if we massacre all the soldiers of neighboring countries and leave only 100 soldiers in the enemy country...¡±

    ¡°Our empire would be invincible even if it only had 1,000 soldiers.¡±

    The place where this is most noticeable is in developing countries.

    In Korea, a monthly salary of 2 million won is considered low, but in countries like the Philippines or Vietnam, it¡¯s very common for me to earn more than the local doctor.

    That¡¯s why good politicians often play small pranks on other countries when it¡¯s hard to develop their own country.

    If we make all potential enemies underdeveloped, we can become a superpower without having to develop our own country.

    Yes, the reason why the top students in the school or the unlucky ones who are good at studying say, ¡°I play all day and sleep well¡± during exam periods or in normal times is because of this instinct.

    ¡°The Holy Empire is currently suffering from a civil war and its national power is greatly depleted. It would be good to involve the Kingdom of Lyon, the United Kingdom, the Kingdom of Granada, and even the northern barbarians and the Sultanate in this war.¡±

    ¡°Killing one enemy soldier without losing a life is the same as gaining one soldier for your own army. On the other hand, killing enemy soldiers by making them fight each other is like gaining two soldiers at once.¡±

    ¡°If you make the Kingdom of Lyon and the Holy Empire fight, it will be a little closer to an ideal situation.¡±

    ¡°Is there ? N§àv§Öl?g?t ? (Official version) a way to make them participate in the Holy Empire¡¯s civil war right away?¡±

    If you raise a problem, you should be able to come up with a solution to it.

    That¡¯s how you can gain recognition from people.

    Of course, you came up with a really amazing method.

    ¡°Make an alliance with the Kingdom of Lyon.¡±

    ¡°Make an alliance with the Kingdom of Lyon. If you do that, they will have no choice but to participate in the civil war of the Holy Empire?¡±

    ¡°The King of the Kingdom of Lyon is already cornered. If things continue this way, the country will perish, and he will be beheaded.¡±

    In fact, no matter how twisted things get, the King¡¯s head will never fall from the guillotine.

    Unless such exploitation has been going on for decades or centuries, and the people, as well as the nobles, are burning with an indomitable will to cut off the King¡¯s head...

    A regular army that is functioning properly will never be defeated by the people.

    However, it is not a bad thing to add a little lie to get my point across.

    ¡®A white lie.¡¯

    ¡°The King of Lyon needs a way to divert the anger of the workers and serfs if he wants to avoid being dragged to the guillotine. Otherwise, he will die.¡±

    When we usually talk about witch hunts, we often mistakenly think that they were most prevalent during the uncivilized Middle Ages.

    That is a ridiculous claim, a ridiculous claim.

    The period when witch hunts were most active and passionate was the late 16th century and early 17th century.

    It was the time when the Renaissance and the Reformation, which heralded the beginning of the Age of Reason, were in full swing.

    ¡®Didn¡¯t there have been famines during that time due to the cold?¡¯

    Because of that, people had nothing to eat and had a hard time living, and they wanted to stab the high-ranking officials with spears to death...

    The high-ranking officials gave them something to curse at and vent their anger on in order to survive.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡°So you are saying that the King of Lyon had no choice but to wage war in order to survive. It is extremely inhumane and dishonorable, but anyone would have made that choice in that situation.¡± ¡°Yes, humans are creatures who feel more pain and regret when a drop of blood falls on their fingers than when someone else dies.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think the Bible defines original sin for humans for nothing.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s human nature. What can we do? We have to accept it and live with it.¡±

    There is one thing that people who fail their entire lives have in common.

    It is that they cannot look at themselves objectively.

    If I don¡¯t know the alphabet, what¡¯s the point of studying TOEIC workbooks for 1,000 hours?

    I have to study the alphabet step by step for 1,000 hours to get a TOEIC score.

    The same goes for human nature and social systems.

    We have to acknowledge that humans are evil and objectively inform people that those who violate others¡¯ rights will inevitably ruin their fate in order to maintain public order.

    If we don¡¯t punish bad people and unconditionally forgive them, society will collapse.

    ¡°After forming an alliance, I will persuade the King of the Kingdom of Lyon. Please send me as a special envoy.¡±

    A cornered person is easy to deceive.

    That¡¯s why swindlers seek out the poor rather than the rich, and cult leaders only seek out people who are in bad situations.

    The King of Lyon is hanging on his neck right now, so wouldn¡¯t he come over if I told him a little lie?

    ¡°I will allow it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡±

    A long-term business trip to the Kingdom of Lyon.

    I haven¡¯t been there since conquering Guillaume City.

    How would things have changed after Marx and the others played a small trick?

    **

    After Fabio left, the Emperor sighed deeply.

    He was half relieved, half worried.

    The reason he was relieved was because Fabio was on his side, and the reason he was worried was because he wondered how many evil demons were twisting around in his head.

    ¡®The king is killed by a mob, not a noble?¡¯

    It¡¯s not that such a thing is impossible.

    However, it¡¯s just that he was very unlucky on the battlefield and died from a stray bullet fired by a common soldier.

    It was beyond common sense for serfs and laborers to personally drag the king down from the throne and kill him.

    It was as impossible as, or even more impossible than, a human being going to the moon.

    ¡°Count Rothschild spoke as if it were so obvious.¡±

    As if he had seen the future where such a thing would happen.

    If someone else had said such a thing with confidence, he would have thought he had taken the wrong medicine and gone crazy.

    But since the speaker was the speaker, the emperor could not dismiss his words as the nonsense of a madman.

    He had a strong feeling that he had predicted something that could happen, no matter when.

    ¡°...... If only I could put a leash on him.¡±

    If he were to marry the princess and make her a member of the royal family, he would never betray the empire no matter what, given his personality that cherishes his family so much.

    He might betray the emperor depending on how the situation changes.

    And yet, the emperor did not even think about purging him.

    No, he could not.

    ¡°Count Rothschild is already a man who can see the path and drive other countries into hell. If he goes to another country, the Tuscan Empire will become hell.¡±

    So the emperor continued to ponder.

    How could he keep Fabio on his side?

    At the same time, how could he conquer a more powerful imperial power than now, not only the Tuscan Empire but also the entire Albanian continent?

    ¡®Fabio, that guy, is like a famous horse.¡¯

    A man who would kick and trample on an unworthy master.

    After much thought, the emperor realized.

    ¡°There is no other way than to become an emperor respected by all the people. The crown prince should be the same.¡±

    The path was not that complicated.

    To understand the lives of the people a little more, to listen to their words a little more, and to protect those who allowed him to be in this position.

    Other monarchs were narrow-minded and did not know how important it was to look after the people, but the emperor knew very well.

    ¡®My power comes from the people.¡¯

    As he gained the support of the people, the emperor could strip the nobles of their titles with just a small excuse.

    No one could complain even if the emperor took all the land they had.

    ¡°I am not a good emperor. I like power, I like wealth and honor, and like silver is honest in his desires.¡±

    To capture all of them, the Emperor chose.

    ¡°It is not enough to be the Emperor of the nobles. I must become a monarch who is truly respected by all people and praised by all people.¡±

    With determination, the Emperor wrote a royal edict appointing Fabio as a special envoy to the Kingdom of Lyon.

 Chapter 350: Imperialism led by Fabio (3)

    His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Lyon welcomed me with great hospitality.

    I was at a loss for words, having been greeted with such praise from the very first meeting.

    ¡°Count Rothschild, how dare you come before me, of all people? How shameless.¡±

    Even though this is a medieval fantasy world, it¡¯s not like the author, the king, would criticize me like that without thinking.

    The Tuscan Empire and the Kingdom of Lyon are still in a state of animosity from the last war.

    ¡®It¡¯s like the Soviet Union and the United States.¡¯

    In such a situation, I, a war hero of the Tuscan Empire who seized territory for free with an incredibly vicious strategy, showed up. Don¡¯t shower me with such praise.

    Since the culture of chivalry still remains, the king will be branded as a coward.

    ¡®A cowardly king.¡¯

    This is a modifier that seems like the perfect excuse for a rebellion.

    ¡°The Tuscan Empire is not like a knight, but rather tries to win wars by using tricks instead of confronting them head-on. It¡¯s obvious what kind of people the imperial nobles are.¡±

    A coward, someone who schemes or schemes.

    If nobles in the Tuscan Empire talk like this, you never know when a white glove will fly in the other person¡¯s face and a duel will break out.

    However, if you get angry with others when they get angry, you¡¯re third-rate, if you hold on, you¡¯re second-rate, and if you handle it humorously, you¡¯re first-rate.

    ¡°As Your Majesty said, I¡¯m a coward. Unlike other nobles, I¡¯ve never fought as an officer with a gun ¡ã? N o v e l i g h t ?¡ã in the army, and I¡¯ve never killed an enemy with a sword.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good to be honest. That¡¯s enough for me.¡±

    Every Korean man plays games to protect his parents.

    It¡¯s a fierce journey to protect my parents, so all sorts of novel curses come out, and psychological and political warfare often breaks out.

    Even though I was reincarnated into another world, my soul is Korean, so I can¡¯t just sit back and let it happen.

    ¡°But if you¡¯re a soldier, it might be different, but if you¡¯re a commander, shouldn¡¯t you aim to win while minimizing sacrifices as much as possible? That¡¯s why I went into war with a plan, prepared to throw my personal honor and my family¡¯s honor into the mud.¡±

    We learn in advance from middle school and high school that results are everything.

    It doesn¡¯t matter whether I study 10 hours a day or 14 hours a day.

    People are divided into honest and insincere based on what rank they rank in their school, what rank they rank in the country, and which university they go to.

    ¡®Most people who say that the process is important are lies.¡¯

    ¡°As a result, the Tuscan Empire achieved a great victory. There were only 184 casualties. And I risked my life for the sake of the Empire¡¯s national interest, went into Guillaume City alone, and persuaded Mayor Guillaume. Even if it meant dying, I would protect the lives of tens of thousands of Your Majesty¡¯s soldiers.¡±

    ¡°......¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, I am very fearful. But it is not because I care about my life, but because I am afraid of losing Your Majesty¡¯s soldiers. So if the Empire orders me to sacrifice my life, I will jump into the fire with a straw bag. I am sure others will think the same way.¡±

    ¡°You are really good at talking. It is like putting honey on your lips.¡±

    Asking about your parents when someone asks about your parents is third-rate.

    When a first-rate person curses at their parents, they admit that they were taught poorly.

    And then they attack you in return.

    If you say things like, ¡°How on earth did your parents teach you to say such things,¡± and even praise your parents, the other person¡¯s blood pressure goes up.

    I just used a similar way of speaking.

    ¡°His Majesty the Emperor of the Tuscan Empire wishes for the Kingdom of Lyon and the Tuscan Empire to formally ally.¡±

    The King of the Kingdom of Lyon pointed at me and laughed a little too exaggeratedly.

    ¡°We have not forgotten that you used a cowardly strategy to occupy the city of Guillaume and the surrounding areas, and brutally killed the soldiers. Even now, you are gnashing your teeth every day, seeking revenge, so how could you possibly ally with us?¡±

    ¡°His Majesty believes that if the Kingdom of Lyon and the Empire join hands, both countries will prosper greatly.¡±

    ¡°How shameless.¡±

    The more you oppose, the more you hear that they are actually very interested.

    You may wonder what this means.

    You can tell just by looking at the elders, especially the grandparents at home.

    If you go to the homes of those who always say that they should die when they are old, you will find strange health supplements like carp juice and black goat juice.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    It¡¯s common to have all kinds of strange foods that are supposedly good for your health in your house.

    ¡®If you just tease him a little more, he¡¯ll fall for it.¡¯

    And you¡¯re the one who¡¯s shameless, not me, you idiot.

    ¡°As His Majesty¡¯s special envoy, I¡¯m putting aside all personal feelings and discussing the interests of both countries.¡±

    ¡°Putting aside all personal feelings? That¡¯s ridiculous.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Viscount Guillaume attack my territory, the village of Biot? I still can¡¯t forget that.¡±

    ¡°That was Viscount Guillaume¡¯s arbitrary action. When I found out about it, I beheaded him after the war and confiscated all his property.¡±

    If you hadn¡¯t ordered it, who would have invaded our territory and plundered our village?

    But for now, let¡¯s put aside our personal feelings for a moment for a greater cause.

    The grudge of burning down the village of Bio was somewhat repaid by releasing the Communist Heavenly Horse, and to plunge the Kingdom of Lyon into the pit of war...

    ¡®I¡¯ll just have to endure it a little longer.¡¯

    Let¡¯s just wait until the bite comes loudly, like fishing.

    ¡°Even if it¡¯s arbitrary, he committed such an atrocity while still being Your Majesty¡¯s vassal. So doesn¡¯t Your Majesty bear some responsibility? However, I have put aside all personal grudges for the greater good. So Your Majesty, please listen to Your Majesty¡¯s suggestions just a little.¡±

    The reason I¡¯m suppressing my emotions right now is to gain more momentum.

    In any case, it¡¯s true that I¡¯m suppressing my emotions, right?

    ¡°The Emperor of the Holy Empire cowardly sent spies to the Tuscan Empire and the Kingdom of Lyon to carry out various operations. The Empire even discovered that spies sent by the Holy Empire were trying to kill imperial nobles.¡± ¡°That little rat emperor has crossed the line. Trying to assassinate a noble from a country that is not even at war? Aren¡¯t they authors who are less honorable than pagans?¡±

    ¡°They are truly evil.¡±

    Of course, this is obvious, but this is all a lie.

    If the Holy Empire Emperor had a mind, he would have spread his spies all over the Albanian continent to gather information, and sometimes even attempt sabotage or theft of secrets and technology.

    However, that gentleman has not yet sent assassins to assassinate the nobles of the empire.

    No, he may have sent them, but he has not caught the culprit.

    Therefore, this is a lie I made up.

    However, it will soon become the truth.

    ¡°The councilor behind me is holding the records of the investigation and interrogation in our empire.¡±

    I made a gesture, and the councilor handed the documents to the King of Lyon.

    ¡°I will review them later.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡±

    That document is an SS-grade counterfeit document that I made in collusion with the Ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs with the Emperor¡¯s approval.

    Even a luxury goods appraisal expert can often tell the difference between S-grade counterfeit goods, but it¡¯s not easy to tell the difference between SS-grade and S-grade.

    ¡®We won¡¯t know until we go to the Holy Empire, meet with the officials there, and compare information.¡¯

    ¡°The authors who participated in the espionage were executed by wheeling a week before I was dispatched here by His Majesty¡¯s strict order, and their heads were beheaded in the square.¡±

    There are many people in the Tuscan Empire who have committed crimes that anyone can see are worthy of death.

    Among those people, I selected those who absolutely must not be killed kindly, including serial killers who kill people for fun, vicious bandits, and others.

    The chosen ones were even framed for those crimes and killed.

    I recycled the lives of those who were a nuisance to others and made them useful even before they died, so they must be grateful to me in hell.

    ¡°This is a serious problem.¡±

    ¡°And they all say that they planted a traitor in the Kingdom of Lyon. I don¡¯t know who it is, but they say that he incited civil unrest in the Kingdom of Lyon.¡±

    All of my communist demigods, including Marx and Engels, have long since returned home.

    So there¡¯s no way to catch them.

    In short, the Kingdom of Lyon must now go around catching criminals who don¡¯t even exist.

    ¡°Hmm, I understand what you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯ll discuss it with my ministers and give you an answer.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Get some rest.¡±

    ¡°Did you send it here?¡±

    And that night, the King of the Kingdom of Lyon came to visit me secretly.

    ¡°There must be a reason why the Emperor of the Empire sent you. Tell me honestly. Why on earth did he send you?

 Chapter 351: Imperialism led by Fabio (4)

    "Your Majesty seems to have a hard time trusting people," I noted, recognizing the skepticism that shadowed his expression.

    "If it were not so, you wouldn''t ask me again why I was sent here," I continued, trying to ease the tension. "For a politician, distrust is almost an occupational hazard."

    I felt a bit of pity for the man before me, and decided to elaborate with a bit more empathy. "As I mentioned in the audience chamber today, His Majesty of Toscana wishes to set aside past grievances and form an alliance with you. The idea is to join forces to bring down the malevolent Holy Empire."

    "Is there no hidden meaning behind your words?" the king inquired suspiciously.

    "Would I dare deceive Your Majesty?" I responded earnestly.

    "Very well, I''ll trust your sincerity," he conceded.

    "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty."

    I often tell white lies (concealing information, hiding criminal facts) even to our Emperor.

    Some might question how I can do this without feeling guilty.

    But sometimes, dark maneuvers are necessary for the advancement of the Empire and the protection of our family.

    Whether it''s reporting the misdeeds of those who overstep their bounds against the Rothschild family interests (with a slight bit of forgery involved) to labor inspectors, accountants, and the Supreme Court to ensure legal retribution, or spreading a slightly embellished truth to set the stage for a rival''s downfall.

    Elsewhere, I might engage in petty pranks on traders by manipulating stock values or unleashing a "revolution" of workers and peasants with my red demons of communism.

    "My sincerity is to bring shock and awe to you," I thought with a sly grin.

    "Very well, I understand the intention to form an alliance against the Holy Empire. But first, explain why we should align with your empire," the king demanded.

    There¡¯s a saying that nobles would rather die than till the fields themselves.

    While it''s just a saying, and many fallen nobles have turned to manual labor in desperate times, the high and mighty often don¡¯t easily show when they¡¯re cornered.

    "But he is cornered," I thought. I didn''t need to persuade him further; just a straight fact would do.

    "Your Majesty, if things continue as they are, you might well find your neck on the chopping block."

    That would be enough logic for him, making him desperate enough to forget his pride and seek a sustainable future.

    "Indeed, the Holy Empire is currently split into factions, waging civil war among themselves. This will undoubtedly weaken them further," I explained.

    "That makes sense," he acknowledged.

    "When a potential enemy is weakened, striking then will yield vast territories with minimal effort. And such opportunities are rare, perhaps once in a hundred, even a thousand years. It would be a pity to miss this," I persuaded.

    "Are you suggesting we split the Holy Empire between us?" he asked pointedly.

    "Yes, exactly."

    Ah, you won¡¯t get a single piece of the Holy Empire¡¯s territory.

    I plan to employ the diplomatic finesse of the Great British Empire, and you, knowing nothing, will just be playing into our hands.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    But sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

    "An enticing proposition indeed. I¡¯ll take it upon myself to persuade my council," he declared.

    That phrase, in the diplomatic speak of a medieval fantasy realm, meant "I''ll do as you ask."

    But if he agrees to that, wouldn¡¯t he just end up playing the same long game as us?

    And if things go south, he¡¯ll be doing us a favor at his own expense.

    If we''re going to die, might as well be the only one profiting from it.

    "And I must offer one piece of advice, Your Majesty. Please consider it as coming personally from me, Jasper Rothschild, and not as a formal envoy."

    "What would that be?"

    "The anger of the populace is far more frightening than you might imagine. At present, it''s merely small revolts here and there, but what if a leader were to rise among them?"

    The king''s face paled.

    Seeing him tremble not from a threat but from fear was somewhat amusing¡ªnot because I enjoy seeing fear, but because when fear limits someone¡¯s thoughts, you can easily exploit them for a hefty profit.

    "There''s a smell of money here," I thought.

    "How dare you threaten me? Do you wish to die?" he blustered.

    If he''s telling me to stand down, then I should give him a chance to strike, right?

    But what I¡¯ve learned here is that those who boast about taking lives rarely have the courage to actually do so.

    "Try and kill me if you think you can. But are you truly prepared to deal with the consequences? If I die, the Emperor of Toscana would likely declare a war to avenge a martyr, his loyal servant."

    I locked eyes with him, my smile confident.

    "The soldiers of Toscana love me dearly because I¡¯ve improved the quality of their daily meals and instilled pride in their service."

    In Korea, even if you serve soldiers steaks and five-star buffet every day, it doesn''t guarantee their undying loyalty.

    But for Toscana''s soldiers, who live in abject poverty and constant fear of famine, someone who treats them well is revered.

    "If I were killed, they would likely fight in a frenzied rage."

    "Can you handle a full-scale war provoked by such a situation? If so, go ahead and kill me."

    "......"

    "And I¡¯m here offering a way out for both of us. You and I should be allies, not enemies."

    "...... What do you want?"

    "Didn''t the Holy Empire send spies? And those spies would have tried to bribe your nobles."

    Just like in South Vietnam during the capitalist era, or under King Gojong of Joseon, who was enamored with cars.

    The downfall ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) of a nation often starts with its corrupted elite.

    "And those bribed nobles would have pushed for harsher labor conditions to line their own pockets, deceiving you and your officials. Are they not vile?"

    "If there are spies from the Holy Empire, that would be the case."

    "We can''t directly investigate as allies, so why don¡¯t you find these traitors yourself? Cleanse them and their underlings all at once."

    What I''m really saying is: pick a noble you dislike, blame him and his associates for treason, and play the victim.

    "Seeing justice served, the people will direct their rage towards the Holy Empire. Then, you can unleash your righteous fury on them."

    I grinned, "If you gain the people¡¯s support, you could secure immense royal authority. Please, lead the Kingdom of Lyon to prosperity. The Toscana Empire will assist by supplying weapons, armor, and military supplies at reasonable prices."

    Your war will fail. I¡¯ll make sure of it.

    And the aftermath may be hard to handle, but that''s fine.

    It¡¯s not our problem, nor is it mine.

 Chapter 352: Imperialism led by Fabio (5)

    King Louis de Lyon of the Kingdom of Lyon couldn''t sleep after his conversation with Fabio.

    It was because Fabio''s words never left his mind.

    The idea of ??joining hands with the Tuscan Empire to attack the Holy Empire was good.

    However, his arrogant words and actions that if he didn''t go to war with the Holy Empire right away, he would be killed by the angry people.

    When he threatened to kill him, he boldly confronted him, saying that if he killed him, the Kingdom of Lyon would fall, and even mocked himself as the king.

    ''How dare a mere viscount dare to play with me...''

    Louis gritted his teeth.

    The attention of the ministers gathered in the conference room was drawn to his reaction.

    "Your Majesty, is there anything wrong with you?"

    "Call the court physician right now!"

    "They are the ones who requested an alliance, Your Majesty. If you are not well, you can postpone your work."

    Louis laughed at the hypocrisy of the ministers.

    My dear, I have personally witnessed the evil nature of the Count Rothschild, the schemes that even the great devil of hell would applaud and admire, and the political power to control foreign countries in his own hands...

    ''They don''t know the Count Rothschild.''

    I even felt a little envious of them.

    I was worried about the Count Rothschild''s actions and worried about what he would do in the future, so I couldn''t sleep.

    These noblemen, who were of a title higher than a count, came back from a leisurely sleep.

    "I am healthy, so you don''t have to worry."

    "You don''t look so happy..."

    "The Count Rothschild, who came as the Emperor''s special envoy, gave me a list of spies suspected of being in collusion with the Holy Empire."

    Fabio never gave Louis a list of spies.

    In fact, Fabio also had the urge to create a ¡®fake spy list¡¯ and purge the loyalists and capable nobles of the Kingdom of Lyon...

    But he had no idea that the King of the Kingdom of Lyon would believe it even if he tried.

    So he didn¡¯t bother to create a list of spies, and only told Louis that there was a ¡®spy.¡¯

    It was Fabio¡¯s consideration that Louis would kill anyone he wanted as a ¡®red.¡¯

    Since the Kingdom of Lyon would be completely crushed by the Holy Empire and the Tuscan Empire anyway, it felt like he was giving the death row inmate a Last Supper.

    The prime minister, who was the representative of the ministers, cautiously asked Louis.

    ¡°Are there any spies among you?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The ministers were bewildered.

    First of all, there was no one here who had colluded with the Holy Empire to sell state secrets or tried to throw the government into chaos.

    So everyone thought this way.

    ¡®First of all, it can¡¯t be me. Could it be that author?¡¯

    Looking up at the sky, no one here had any shame in this matter...

    Louis pointed with his finger at the innocent person who would die.

    ¡°The Duke of Conde?.¡±

    The Duke of Conde?, who was pointed out, was so dumbfounded that he couldn¡¯t even utter a word.

    He kept opening and closing his mouth to complain that he was wronged, and it was so funny.

    However, Louis, the King of our Kingdom of Lyon, sighed after pointing out the innocent man and continued speaking.

    ¡°The Duke is my fifth cousin, so we are very close by bloodline, and the Duke of Conde?¡¯s family has been a great pillar that has supported our Kingdom of Lyon for five generations. So, I didn¡¯t want to believe this either. Although we have different political stances, I believed that our love for our country is the same.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, you misunderstand me! I had a slightly different political stance from your Majesty, but I had no intention of betraying the country. All of this was for the sake of the Kingdom of Lyon...¡±

    In fact, Louis knew very well.

    Although the Duke of Conde? was a bit greedy and a leader of the noble faction who always contradicted his claims...

    ¡®He is not a person who would betray our kingdom.¡¯

    And there was no evidence of actual betrayal, let alone a suspicion.

    However, the fact that he was innocent and innocent was not very important to Louis.

    ¡°The information provided by the Tuscan Empire may be false. However, treason is a very serious matter, especially in this situation.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, this is a conspiracy by the Tuscan Empire! They are trying to destroy the Kingdom of Lyon by purging me.¡±

    It was entirely Louis¡¯s will to purge the Duke of Conde?.

    In any case, a scapegoat was needed, and other ministers could be persuaded quickly by simply mentioning the ¡®need for a scapegoat¡¯...

    It was entirely in the king¡¯s interest to purge the duke, one of the restraints that restricted his royal authority.

    ¡°According to the words of the criminals interrogated in the Tuscan Empire, the king received an order from the Holy Emperor to increase the working hours of serfs and laborers and worsen their treatment. It may be absurd, but the people¡¯s uprising has already reached a level that threatens the existence of the nation...¡±

    Louis was extremely happy that he was able to completely eradicate one of his biggest enemies thanks to Fabio.

    He even wanted to give Fabio a medal when he returned.

    ¡®I should give him a medal to commend him for his efforts in the alliance with the envoy.¡¯

    ¡°This is no different from treason.¡±

    The moment he heard the word treason, the Duke of Conde? was completely speechless.

    The rebellion of the people that is now sweeping across the Kingdom of Lyon, to suppress it, you need to mobilize a large army to crush it or...

    You need a great enemy who will be the target of the arrows of the boiling anger of the people.

    After receiving a brief warning from Fabio, Louis decided to purge the Duke of Conde? and his group all at once.

    If Fabio later learned the whole story of this incident, he would have commented like this.

    ¡®He realized the wisdom of the witch trials of the Dark Ages (a foolish act of blaming others to prevent a riot) himself.¡¯

    ¡°Have the Duke treated with respect and investigate.¡±

    With those words, the Duke of Conde? was dragged out of the conference room.

    Then Louis looked at the ministers and sighed.

    ¡°I think this rebellion of workers and serfs was instigated by the Holy Empire. So if we catch the culprit and punish him, the rioters will calm down and return to being good citizens. And if you ease the labor conditions just a little bit more than before and attack the Holy Empire, the kingdom will all move as one, from me to the serfs.¡±

    The nobles understood Louis¡¯s meaning.

    Those who remain here will not be killed as ¡®criminals¡¯.

    So if you give the Duke of Conde? as prey, you will be able to continue to enjoy the vested rights you have enjoyed so far.

    Let¡¯s vent the public¡¯s discontent that has erupted through the war with the Holy Empire.

    If it were any other time, all the nobles, including the prime minister, would have protested with one voice in unison about the arrest of the Duke of Conde?.

    ¡®If the riots become more intense, it will be difficult for us to be safe.¡¯

    The prime minister of the Kingdom of Lyon nodded on behalf of everyone.

    ¡°We will follow your Majesty¡¯s opinion.¡±

    The others agreed.

    On this day, King Louis of the Kingdom of Lyon purged the Duke of Conde? with his own hands.

    And he was dragged into the war with the Holy Empire while caught on Fabio''s fishing hook.

    **

    While Fabio was negotiating practical matters regarding an alliance with the Kingdom of Lyon.

    In Marseille, the capital of the Kingdom of Lyon, the Duke of Conde? and his wife and children were beheaded.

    Under the beheaded heads, the herald read the contents of the official document he was holding in his hand in a loud voice to the people.

    "Louis de Lyon, the rightful King of the Kingdom of Lyon, announces to the people: You must immediately return to your respective workplaces and rural areas and engage in your livelihoods. I declare it once more: Return to your livelihoods."

    It was a bloody proclamation that made it seem like someone would be killed right away if they didn''t listen, but the content that followed was a little different from what I expected.

    "The people who have been beheaded here are the former Duke of our kingdom, the traitor, and his family. They have enjoyed wealth and honor for generations thanks to their ancestors, but they have the audacity to seek the throne and attempt a rebellion by colluding with the Holy Empire.¡±

    The people in the square were shaken by the word rebellion.

    Naturally, there were also workers and peasant rebels hiding among these people.

    ¡°They blinded me and asked me to force you to work hard and put you in even worse conditions. And when your justified anger boiled over, they tried to usurp the throne by using it. So, I punished them and established justice in the kingdom.¡±

    It was nonsense that would make Fabio laugh out loud.

    No, Fabio was already laughing out loud in his room in the palace of the Kingdom of Lyon, imagining the contents of the official document.

    However, those who heard it actually believed it.

    ¡®Yes, His Majesty the King is not bad after all! The only bad one is the Duke of Conde?.

    King Louis de Lyon of the Kingdom of Lyon couldn''t sleep after his conversation with Fabio.

    It was because Fabio''s words never left his mind.

    The idea of ??joining hands with the Tuscan Empire to attack the Holy Empire was good.

    However, his arrogant words and actions that if he didn''t go to war with the Holy Empire right away, he would be killed by the angry people.

    When he threatened to kill him, he boldly confronted him, saying that if he killed him, the Kingdom of Lyon would fall, and even mocked himself as the king.

    ''How dare a mere viscount dare to play with me...''

    Louis gritted his teeth.

    The attention of the ministers gathered in the conference room was drawn to his reaction.

    "Your Majesty, is there anything wrong with you?"

    "Call the court physician right now!"

    "They are the ones who requested an alliance, Your Majesty. If you are not well, you can postpone your work."

    Louis laughed at the hypocrisy of the ministers.

    My dear, I have personally witnessed the evil nature of the Count Rothschild, the schemes that even the great devil of hell would applaud and admire, and the political power to control foreign countries in his own hands...

    ''They don''t know the Count Rothschild.''

    I even felt a little envious of them.

    I was worried about the Count Rothschild''s actions and worried about what he would do in the future, so I couldn''t sleep.

    These noblemen, who were of a title higher than a count, came back from a leisurely sleep.

    "I am healthy, so you don''t have to worry."

    "You don''t look so happy..."

    "The Count Rothschild, who came as the Emperor''s special envoy, gave me a list of spies suspected of being in collusion with the Holy Empire."

    Fabio never gave Louis a list of ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) spies.

    In fact, Fabio also had the urge to create a ¡®fake spy list¡¯ and purge the loyalists and capable nobles of the Kingdom of Lyon...

    But he had no idea that the King of the Kingdom of Lyon would believe it even if he tried.

    So he didn¡¯t bother to create a list of spies, and only told Louis that there was a ¡®spy.¡¯

    It was Fabio¡¯s consideration that Louis would kill anyone he wanted as a ¡®red.¡¯

    Since the Kingdom of Lyon would be completely crushed by the Holy Empire and the Tuscan Empire anyway, it felt like he was giving the death row inmate a Last Supper.

    The prime minister, who was the representative of the ministers, cautiously asked Louis.

    ¡°Are there any spies among you?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The ministers were bewildered.

    First of all, there was no one here who had colluded with the Holy Empire to sell state secrets or tried to throw the government into chaos.

    So everyone thought this way.

    ¡®First of all, it can¡¯t be me. Could it be that author?¡¯

    Looking up at the sky, no one here had any shame in this matter...

    Louis pointed with his finger at the innocent person who would die.

    ¡°The Duke of Conde?.¡±

    The Duke of Conde?, who was pointed out, was so dumbfounded that he couldn¡¯t even utter a word.

    He kept opening and closing his mouth to complain that he was wronged, and it was so funny.

    However, Louis, the King of our Kingdom of Lyon, sighed after pointing out the innocent man and continued speaking.

    ¡°The Duke is my fifth cousin, so we are very close by bloodline, and the Duke of Conde?¡¯s family has been a great pillar that has supported our Kingdom of Lyon for five generations. So, I didn¡¯t want to believe this either. Although we have different political stances, I believed that our love for our country is the same.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, you misunderstand me! I had a slightly different political stance from your Majesty, but I had no intention of betraying the country. All of this was for the sake of the Kingdom of Lyon...¡±

    In fact, Louis knew very well.

    Although the Duke of Conde? was a bit greedy and a leader of the noble faction who always contradicted his claims...

    ¡®He is not a person who would betray our kingdom.¡¯

    And there was no evidence of actual betrayal, let alone a suspicion.

    However, the fact that he was innocent and innocent was not very important to Louis.

    ¡°The information provided by the Tuscan Empire may be false. However, treason is a very serious matter, especially in this situation.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, this is a conspiracy by the Tuscan Empire! They are trying to destroy the Kingdom of Lyon by purging me.¡±

    It was entirely Louis¡¯s will to purge the Duke of Conde?.

    In any case, a scapegoat was needed, and other ministers could be persuaded quickly by simply mentioning the ¡®need for a scapegoat¡¯...

    It was entirely in the king¡¯s interest to purge the duke, one of the restraints that restricted his royal authority.

    ¡°According to the words of the criminals interrogated in the Tuscan Empire, the king received an order from the Holy Emperor to increase the working hours of serfs and laborers and worsen their treatment. It may be absurd, but the people¡¯s uprising has already reached a level that threatens the existence of the nation...¡±

    Louis was extremely happy that he was able to completely eradicate one of his biggest enemies thanks to Fabio.

    He even wanted to give Fabio a medal when he returned.

    ¡®I should give him a medal to commend him for his efforts in the alliance with the envoy.¡¯

    ¡°This is no different from treason.¡±

    The moment he heard the word treason, the Duke of Conde? was completely speechless.

    The rebellion of the people that is now sweeping across the Kingdom of Lyon, to suppress it, you need to mobilize a large army to crush it or...

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    You need a great enemy who will be the target of the arrows of the boiling anger of the people.

    After receiving a brief warning from Fabio, Louis decided to purge the Duke of Conde? and his group all at once.

    If Fabio later learned the whole story of this incident, he would have commented like this.

    ¡®He realized the wisdom of the witch trials of the Dark Ages (a foolish act of blaming others to prevent a riot) himself.¡¯

    ¡°Have the Duke treated with respect and investigate.¡±

    With those words, the Duke of Conde? was dragged out of the conference room.

    Then Louis looked at the ministers and sighed.

    ¡°I think this rebellion of workers and serfs was instigated by the Holy Empire. So if we catch the culprit and punish him, the rioters will calm down and return to being good citizens. And if you ease the labor conditions just a little bit more than before and attack the Holy Empire, the kingdom will all move as one, from me to the serfs.¡±

    The nobles understood Louis¡¯s meaning.

    Those who remain here will not be killed as ¡®criminals¡¯.

    So if you give the Duke of Conde? as prey, you will be able to continue to enjoy the vested rights you have enjoyed so far.

    Let¡¯s vent the public¡¯s discontent that has erupted through the war with the Holy Empire.

    If it were any other time, all the nobles, including the prime minister, would have protested with one voice in unison about the arrest of the Duke of Conde?.

    ¡®If the riots become more intense, it will be difficult for us to be safe.¡¯

    The prime minister of the Kingdom of Lyon nodded on behalf of everyone.

    ¡°We will follow your Majesty¡¯s opinion.¡±

    The others agreed.

    On this day, King Louis of the Kingdom of Lyon purged the Duke of Conde? with his own hands.

    And he was dragged into the war with the Holy Empire while caught on Fabio''s fishing hook.

    While Fabio was negotiating practical matters regarding an alliance with the Kingdom of Lyon.

    In Marseille, the capital of the Kingdom of Lyon, the Duke of Conde? and his wife and children were beheaded.

    Under the beheaded heads, the herald read the contents of the official document he was holding in his hand in a loud voice to the people.

    "Louis de Lyon, the rightful King of the Kingdom of Lyon, announces to the people: You must immediately return to your respective workplaces and rural areas and engage in your livelihoods. I declare it once more: Return to your livelihoods."

    It was a bloody proclamation that made it seem like someone would be killed right away if they didn''t listen, but the content that followed was a little different from what I expected.

    "The people who have been beheaded here are the former Duke of our kingdom, the traitor, and his family. They have enjoyed wealth and honor for generations thanks to their ancestors, but they have the audacity to seek the throne and attempt a rebellion by colluding with the Holy Empire.¡±

    The people in the square were shaken by the word rebellion.

    Naturally, there were also workers and peasant rebels hiding among these people.

    ¡°They blinded me and asked me to force you to work hard and put you in even worse conditions. And when your justified anger boiled over, they tried to usurp the throne by using it. So, I punished them and established justice in the kingdom.¡±

    It was nonsense that would make Fabio laugh out loud.

    No, Fabio was already laughing out loud in his room in the palace of the Kingdom of Lyon, imagining the contents of the official document.

    However, those who heard it actually believed it.

    ¡®Yes, His Majesty the King is not bad after all! The only bad one is the Duke of Conde?, It was!¡¯

    It may seem like an absurd reasoning process to 21st century people, but in a world where most people didn¡¯t even graduate from elementary school and there was no concept of democracy, it was natural to think that way.

    Jeon Bong-jun of the Donghak Peasant Revolution didn¡¯t curse Gojong even once.

    Even right before he died.

    He only cursed corrupt officials and the Andong Kim clan.

    It was a matter of life, but it was because he sincerely thought that way.

    ¡°So, you go back to your work. Working conditions will return to how they were before, or will improve a little more than before. And I will soon strike the evil Holy Empire with the hammer of justice, so I hope you will fight with me.¡±

    And on that day, the protesters of the Kingdom of Lyon voluntarily disbanded.

    They couldn¡¯t kill the king, but when they came forward and vented their anger, the duke¡¯s head was cut off, and the previous evil practices were eliminated, so there was no reason to fight anymore.

    Fabio would have been watching this situation from behind and laughing, but...

    No one thought he was the mastermind behind all this.

 Chapter 353: Imperialism led by Fabio (6)

    It seems His Majesty, the King of the Kingdom of Lyon, was very pleased with my counsel.

    Otherwise, there would be no way to explain the current situation.

    "I hereby award the Legion of Honor Grand Officer medal to Fabio de Rothschild, Baron of Rothschild, for proposing an alliance between the Kingdom of Lyon and the Toscana Empire, thus improving relations between the two nations and striving for mutual development."

    As these words were spoken, the Grand Chancellor carefully came up to the throne with the medal set, a sash, and the ceremonial sword that is usually bestowed as a set.

    The King, having received the set, personally pinned the medal on my attire.

    Is this a privilege only afforded to national war heroes or those in the military with at least three stars?

    "Your Majesty, I am profoundly grateful." "What have you got to be grateful for? Thanks to you, I''ve gotten rid of two major headaches."

    Duke Conde?, who had been playing the role of opposition in the Kingdom of Lyon, was thrown to the angry populace as fodder for biting, tearing, and tasting.

    Just as the country falls and everyone # N§àv§Ölight # from the king to the ministers and even the common soldiers can be killed, those following Duke Conde? also fell.

    Barons under Duke Conde?, influential nobles were either wiped out with their families for treason or hanged themselves.

    The merchants and traders close to him, accused of causing riots by exploiting their workers, had all their properties confiscated and were sentenced to life in penal labor.

    It''s a typical act of a country where the instinct to drag down those riding in a Ferrari to make them walk is alive.

    They all dropped dead like flies.

    ''It''s none of my business.''

    "Duke Conde?''s territories and vast wealth have come into existence. The royal authority has also strengthened." "Your Majesty, I am at a loss for words to match your praise."

    If there were no eyes here, I would be rolling on the floor laughing right now.

    Gave them a little money and blatantly pushed them to death.

    The one falling off the cliff is thanking me and even giving me a medal.

    Being stupid should indeed be a crime.

    Especially when a politician is stupid, it''s as bad as being a pro-Japanese traitorous nationalist.

    ''Like that bastard Injo.''

    "I would love to bestow upon you the highest order and have you under my command. How about it? If you defect now, I will grant you a county and make you a count."

    The King of the Kingdom of Lyon doesn''t know, but his nation will soon be utterly ruined.

    It might seem fine to dive into a war with the Holy Empire...

    But once they do, they''ll be sucked into an endless mire of war and end up pouring all their nation''s capabilities into it until they become extremely impoverished.

    Just as most domestic troubles stem from poverty, most of the negative phenomena in a country come from economic issues.

    ''Can they handle everything once they throw everything into the war?''

    A ''revolution'' that makes the current riots look like child''s play will occur.

    If it doesn''t happen, I''ll make sure it does.

    "I have no intention of leaving the Toscana Empire." "That''s unfortunate."

    That gentleman probably didn''t think I would actually come over.

    Just touching the food you can''t eat, that must be his sentiment.

    Lastly, the King bestowed a sword upon me, saying,

    "I hope you continue to do your best for the friendship between the Kingdom of Lyon and the Toscana Empire, Baron Rothschild." "Yes, Your Majesty."

    Well, I''m not sure if that''s possible.

    If the Kingdom of Lyon becomes a vassal state to the Toscana Empire, we''ll inevitably get along.

    Because then we''d be one body.

    We call this an eastern military alliance, and if the relationship becomes even tighter, we call it a ''colony.''

    "I pray for the everlasting prosperity of the Kingdom of Lyon, Your Majesty."

    They''ll never truly prosper.

    That would be against my interests.

    I''m sorry, but it can''t be helped.

    Everything is a competition, and if you do well, I can''t be happy.

    And then I returned straight to the Toscana Empire.

    I would have liked to stop by the United Kingdom during the Thirty Years'' War to bait the Russians with the glory of the Roman Empire, but...

    ''It''s not yet time.''

    We must wait until the fruit is fully ripe.

    Only then will it be beautifully sweet.

    Unknown to Fabio, in the Demon Headquarters of Hell.

    There, the demons were busily reporting their deeds from the human world today.

    Successful temptations leading humans to kill their families and steal their properties, or failing to restrain hideous sexual desires, causing a father to rape his daughter.

    Truly devilish actions were continuously reported and scored.

    Barbatos, overseeing the demons'' performance reviews, nodded in satisfaction at the demonic acts of the demons.

    "These young ones are doing quite a demonic job."

    Leading humans to corruption and chaos in the world is a command from Satan, the overlord of the great demons, and what God entrusted to them.

    Although occasionally surpassed by some humans'' mysterious creativity and wickedness...

    Lately, the young demons had committed many atrocious deeds that Barbatos could not even have imagined in his youth.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    "One demon made a mother believe her daughter was stealing her husband''s love, tempting her to poison her daughter''s food and kill her. Another made a man fall in love with his friend''s wife and then grow tired of her after acquiring her."

    Truly devilish atrocities.

    By the standards of hell, where earthly ethics are completely reversed, this would be enough to brag about in a textbook corner saying, ''Such demons exist!''

    "In my time, the worst we did was drop humans into the toilet while they defecated, or make siblings fall in love with each other."

    Such petty demonic actions were highly rated back when the standards of demons were low.

    Compared to those times, Satan and the demons have advanced significantly, and it''s purely joyful...

    Barbatos felt 2%, no, 80% was still lacking.

    All because of a human called Fabio.

    "What is Fabio up to now?"

    Fabio, Baron Rothschild, was a living demon himself, showcasing new wicked deeds every year, if not every day.

    Indeed, even the archdemon himself would applaud the wicked deeds he concocted.

    Not touching straightforward atrocities like murder or rape, but deceiving humans into killing and being killed by the hundreds of thousands in wars and corruption.

    ''Except for that guy Fabio, he''s the real deal.''

    The archdemon didn''t say it out loud, but when he split the Deus Church in half and delivered the worst war to the Holy Empire...

    Barbatos also clocked out on time that day, went home, and cried his eyes out with his fist in his mouth.

    To think he would wage a war that could kill over ten million out of a population exceeding sixty million, all because they swindled him out of 20,000 gold coins.

    Ashamed that he couldn''t come up with such a brilliant strategy as a demon, and grateful to be alive to witness such a monumental moment in history.

    As Barbatos was pondering about Fabio, a demon rushed in and exclaimed,

    "Lord Fabio has done it again!"

    Using honorifics for a mere human, something unimaginable under normal circumstances, like a marine not doing chores, or a private calling a corporal ''sir'' in front of a sergeant ¨C it''s just not done.

    But no one in this room found such a trivial nitpick strange.

    After all, they were dealing with a human who could invent sins worthy of demons'' admiration in politics and corruption, cleansing his rivals.

    "Lord Fabio has tricked the King of Lyon into pushing his entire kingdom into a civil war within the Holy Empire. The King of Lyon is praising him and awarding him medals, completely unaware that his country is being ruined."

    The other demons were moved by Fabio''s demonic act.

    To push an entire nation into hell and receive sincere thanks while plotting revenge.

    "Milk-colored Fabio! We love you, Fabio!" "Even our lord Satan must be moved by this news." "To wreak such havoc in the human world... Indeed, he breathes like a great demon, Dauscher."

    Some demons even began to worship Fabio impulsively.

    "Indeed, all demons must be reborn through the spirit of Fabio. To push anyone who even slightly opposes him into war..."

    In the midst of this chaos, the reporting demon added one more thing.

    "Lord Fabio believes he has acted righteously."

    Archdemon Barbatos was moved by these words.

    Ordinary people might be tormented by guilt if they pushed another nation into war, hesitant about such a deed.

    But to act for the nation, for one''s own benefit, and feel no guilt whatsoever.

    ''Like a living textbook for demons.''

    Barbatos naturally stood up from his seat.

    And then, with a few tears, he clapped his hands.

    "Among all the archdemons in hell, none have executed or even conceived of such wicked deeds. But our Lord Fabio thinks of new evils every day. He must be habitually worshipped and respected."

    Then, he used his powers to create a framed portrait.

    And he hung it on the wall.

    A place of honor among the beautiful demons of hell.

    "Lord Fabio is not yet deceased and is young, but he is undoubtedly qualified to be an archdemon. I will recommend him for this position by my authority. You all should strive to catch up to him."

 Chapter 354: Enlightenment (1)

    The day after I returned to the country, I was summoned straight to the estate of Duke Visconti.

    I thought the Duke would ask me again to bring his great-grandson into his arms, but the one who called me was someone unexpected.

    It was my father-in-law, Alfred de Visconti.

    Why on earth did he summon me? Had something happened to the ducal family?

    "How have you been, father-in-law?"

    At first glance, my father-in-law seemed full of worries and concerns.

    His complexion was somewhat pale, there were dark circles under his eyes, and he even appeared slightly gaunt.

    As far as I knew, the ducal family was facing no misfortunes, only good tidings.

    Could it be that the Duke had fallen seriously ill?

    A few years ago, he manipulated the family register to marry a sixth cousin, and I had heard that recently he had impregnated a woman of Erika''s age...

    ''Perhaps it''s his time, given his age.''

    "There is prosperity and continuous flourishing in our family, but there is one concern that does not leave my heart." "Is it a personal concern?" "Yes, and you are the only one I can confide in. It''s a concern I cannot discuss with anyone else." "If necessary, I am willing to employ even the dirtiest methods."

    In a 21st-century modern state, it''s common sense to cut ties with a father-in-law involved in criminal trials or financial liabilities, no matter how much I am his son-in-law.

    However, in the medieval fantasy realm of the Toscana Empire, apart from treason and insolvency, I must support my father-in-law even if it leads to my own bankruptcy.

    Otherwise, I would be branded the worst of ingrates and would not survive unscathed.

    And these gentlemen did protect me even when I was just a baronet.

    Duke Sforza, that bastard, would certainly have had me hanged.

    ''I owe him, after all.''

    My father-in-law tilted the teapot to pour tea into the cups.

    However, upon closer inspection of the cup, the liquid inside was extremely clear and had a strong alcohol smell.

    It was rum, which our family exclusively marketed.

    "That''s not it. I just have something personal I want to discuss with you. Think of it as an old man''s drunken ramblings, and listen if you will." "I''m all ears."

    After downing the liquor in his teacup in one go, my father-in-law looked at me and said,

    "I am genuinely envious of you. It¡¯s not a joke about old men clinging to a young son-in-law, envying his vigor. Deep down, I truly admire you."

    I was about to retort that his words were too much.

    However, the expression on my father-in-law¡¯s face was too serious for such a rebuttal.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    "I still vividly remember how you, then a mere baronet, orchestrated a civil war between the Governor of Nador and the Kingdom of Granada without borrowing anyone''s power, using the flow of the times and human ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) desires to pit them against each other. That''s when my eyes were opened." "What enlightenment did you gain?" "That humans are ultimately driven by desire. The one who understands and maneuvers this perfectly is the most powerful." "You thought so?" "Honor, glory, all such things are ultimately tools to satisfy ¡®desire¡¯. Managing my domain and handling factions as you advised, our family quickly became stronger. Since then, I''ve been determined to make you part of my family by any means."

    The worst kind of people in this world are those who pretend to be uninterested in money.

    People who say honor is more important than money or that they live for their beliefs.

    Among those who espouse such values, there are hardly any who are not hypocrites.

    This is also why Admiral Yi Sun-sin is revered.

    He fervently advocated for loyalty to Joseon, infinite gratitude towards King Seonjo who recognized his capabilities despite the deeply corrupted societal norms (involving bribery), and love for the people.

    Unlike other hypocrites, he lived and died for these values alone.

    However, neither I nor my father-in-law are people of such noble character.

    We are ordinary people who like beauty, money, and power.

    Being honest about one¡¯s desires might seem ugly and dirty...

    But those who deny it turn into monsters, while those who acknowledge it and strive to direct their desires towards better ends advance the world.

    ''Human history progresses and revolves around greed.''

    "And you have continued to grow. Now, you are so strong that you can throw an entire country into the abyss of hell. I think you are tens of thousands of times more incredible and frightening than Duke Sforza."

    I neither confirmed nor denied his words.

    Whatever response I gave would only be detrimental to me.

    Sometimes, or rather, often in life, one encounters such situations.

    Like being caught agreeing to office gossip and later being marked by a manager or mentor, making work life difficult to the point of resigning and complicating one¡¯s life.

    Or opposing the gossip and then becoming an enemy to the gossipers, ruining one¡¯s reputation among superiors and getting kicked out of the company.

    ''That¡¯s why they say not to say anything when you find yourself amidst gossip.''

    "But I feel that I haven''t grown at all since then. I feel incredibly insignificant." My father-in-law took another sip of his drink.

    "I envy you. I want to be like you. But I am not you, and so I cannot become someone like you. If I cannot accept this fact, I will become even uglier in the future. Wrapped up in jealousy, endlessly doubting you, because that is the original sin that Satan has planted in humans."

    Humans grow through comparison but also ruin themselves through it.

    People who boast on social media about luxury bags, overseas trips, expensive meals, golf, etc., are comparing themselves to an imagined standard of others.

    And they continually feel depressed for not being as happy as them.

    Because no matter how hard they try, they can''t live like others, they lose the reason to try, and they even give up on saving for the future.

    ''What¡¯s the use in living hard anyway?''

    Often, even high-ranking individuals fail this way.

    "I¡¯ve thought long and hard, and there¡¯s only one way to escape such thoughts." "What is it?" "Continuously developing myself. Among all the people I know, you are the most outstanding and wise. That¡¯s why I am jealous and envious of you. So, tell me, what should I do to become a better noble than I am now?"

    There¡¯s one characteristic common to respected sovereigns like King Sejong and Frederick the Great.

    They stabilized the livelihoods of their people.

    Of course, Frederick almost ruined his country during the Seven Years'' War, but if not for the miracle of Brandenburg, where the Russian Tsar, a Frederick Otaku, conceded ''stolen territories'' and ''other necessary territories for Prussia'' all at once...

    He would have been remembered not as Frederick the Great but as a potato-eating, homosexual pervert, the eternal traitor of history.

    But after all, he distributed potatoes to improve the peasants'' diet and won the war.

    "Just continue doing what Your Highness is doing." "Should I continue to look after the people?" "Yes, that is the fundamental duty of a knight. People naturally respect and follow those who adhere best to their ''foundations''. Of course, it¡¯s not right to lose the essence by being too fixated on the form of the foundation."

    The essence of an army is to crush the enemy and protect the nation.

    To do this, soldiers'' fitness must be improved, and training must be emphasized.

    Some generals focus on the essence, leading their training personally, playing hard when it''s time to play and focusing intensely during training, transforming their units into elite forces.

    On the other hand, a certain star-rank general, aiming to make all soldiers first-class warriors, obsessively focused on the form of ''first-class warriors'' and turned his division into a sickbay.

    The difference between these two examples is just one.

    Did they obsess over the form of the foundation or focus on the underlying essence?

    "Excluding the first Baron Medici, who was a merchant, why do you think all the ancestors of the current noble families became noble?" "Because they were the first to protect the people in their regions. Their descendants inherited that duty." "Return to your roots. Directly look after and protect the serfs, and ensure that traders can freely engage in commerce." "Should I return to the basics? Is there a specific method?"

    Surprisingly, there is.

    A very clear method.

    "Lead the way in enlightening the people from their ignorance."

 Chapter 355: Enlightenment (2)

    Knowledge is power, and ignorance is a crime.

    Even if the judicial system in the medieval fantasy Toscana Empire is a mess, they do not kill someone simply for being ignorant.

    However, if one is ignorant, there is no way to appeal even if something unjust happens.

    In fact, one might not even realize they''ve been wronged.

    "What''s the connection between waking them from ignorance and becoming a great noble? Can you explain it in detail?" "Isn''t it the nature of people? They can''t know how precious what they have is or how valuable the one who grants it is until they learn it from someone." "Indeed, as you say. If I hadn¡¯t learned how precious honor is from my father, I would never have understood its value."

    People living in advanced countries often don''t even know the concept of "dying from hunger."

    They may understand the dictionary meaning, but they can''t comprehend how terrifying and dreadful it is to die from hunger, or the lengths one will go to in order to avoid it.

    I was one of those ignorant people.

    ¡®After studying history in university, my views completely changed.¡¯

    Once hunger strikes, a person can lose their reason and, in their suffering, might start a witch hunt looking for someone to blame.

    In Korea, Japan, China, and Europe, it was common for heads of families to sell their children into slavery to avoid starvation.

    Even more shockingly, until before the industrial revolution, around 1-2% of Europe¡¯s population died from hunger every year...

    After learning these things, ironically, I became more patriotic.

    No matter how bad the military is or how much I want to tear apart the officers who are our enemies, once I understood that, living in a country where I don¡¯t have to worry about starving to death or suffering from hunger, I realized how big of a privilege that is. That¡¯s when I started to love my country.

    ¡®But the military still hasn¡¯t gotten any better.¡¯

    "The serfs and workers living in the Visconti Duchy are the same. Unless you, my father-in-law, teach them directly about how great Duke Visconti is and how immense His Majesty the Emperor¡¯s grace is, they will never understand the weight of that grace and those ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Read more on our source) achievements." "Indeed, after you published the newspaper and shared His Majesty''s achievements and his care for the people, the loyalty of the people increased significantly. My friends in the military say that soldiers are also putting in a lot of effort in their training these days." "If you wake them from ignorance and show them the value of the happiness they enjoy, perhaps a little exaggeration, but..."

    Just as I developed patriotism after studying history and going to the military, the people of this era will likely be the same.

    If they realize how great what they are enjoying right now is...

    ¡®A habitual worship might start?¡¯

    "Do you remember the story where Deus fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish?" "Who doesn¡¯t know that? Even the serfs must have heard it a few times from the priests'' sermons." "Then, you must know the rest of the story."

    In this era, the Bible of Deus is the pinnacle of culture among the nobility.

    It holds a similar position to the Four Books and Five Classics of Joseon.

    The difference is that in Joseon, if you wanted to be an official, you had to memorize the Four Books and Five Classics.

    But in the Toscana Empire, knowing just the basic contents of the Bible is enough to become a bureaucrat.

    Because of this, most of the nobility only knows the essential parts of the Bible...

    "Those who witnessed the miracle of feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish wanted to crown Deus as king. Looking at it more broadly, the word of mouth spread throughout Jerusalem, and when Deus entered, everyone revered Him as king." "They must have thought that by making Deus king, they¡¯d never have to starve." "We¡¯ve never starved, but hunger is terrifying. Just like how nobles go into a battlefield with bullets flying, risking their lives for honor, the serfs will jump into a battlefield or a fiery pit if it means avoiding hunger." "...Did Chloe tell you this?" "I¡¯ve known this for a long time. To be a merchant, you must be able to read people¡¯s desires. If you don¡¯t understand the plight of the serfs, who make up the majority of Toscana, you won¡¯t be able to make money." "So that¡¯s why the people in your domain support you so strongly..."

    I understand their plight very well.

    That¡¯s why I lower taxes, use my administrative network to ensure they don¡¯t suffer injustices, and if a poor, lowly person faces unfair treatment, I help them directly.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    When the Kingdom of Lyon pillaged the village of Vio, I started a war, executed Guillaume the Baron in front of their eyes...

    ¡®I¡¯m definitely siding with them as much as possible.¡¯

    Of course, I¡¯m doing this so that my children can continue to be noble for generations to come.

    "And in the Bible, the people of Judah, despite knowing Deus¡¯ miracles, suddenly called Him worse than the world¡¯s worst murderer. Do you know about that story?" "Yes."

    The Bible describes this.

    Jesus and two of the worst criminals.

    Meaning, among a group of serial killers, rapists, and plunderers, the people were asked to choose one to save.

    The person who led this vote believed that the good man Jesus would be set free, even though he said some strange things...

    ¡®Surprisingly, the worst criminal was set free.¡¯

    The reason was absurd.

    However, once you understand it, it actually makes a lot of sense.

    "The reason is quite simple. The people believed that when Deus entered Jerusalem, they would be completely freed from hunger, but Deus did not fulfill that wish. They were overwhelmed by betrayal."

    My father-in-law¡¯s eyes opened so wide that I thought they might pop out.

    Then, he let out a huge sigh, clearly feeling disbelief.

    "Is that true?" "Surprisingly, yes. And for the people, hunger is a crucial issue. After buying Chloe in my first domain, the village of Vio, I learned how terrifying hunger is. It was truly horrific."

    During the Thirty Years'' War, the Imjin War, and other pre-modern wars, the most agonizing thing for people was not the war itself.

    It was the food shortage caused by the war.

    When there¡¯s no food, everyone suffers and dies from hunger, and those pushed to the edge eventually resort to eating people.

    At first, they eat the bodies of the dead, then they start eating other living humans, and in the end, they even cook and eat their own children.

    History records it.

    "Who freed them from that hunger?" "His Majesty the Emperor, of course. And the nobles of our Toscana Empire as well."

    "Tell them that. And also tell the people of Toscana about the situation in foreign lands. It will have ten times the effect."

    Humans are truly wicked beings.

    I¡¯m at a level where, compared to the real evil ones, I¡¯m just a novice, so it¡¯s difficult to express how cruel humans can be.

    One of them is that when they feel superior to others, they find happiness.

    Those who post hateful comments online, belittle the poor unnecessarily, and insult people with lower academic backgrounds or jobs, they find solace in seeing themselves as better than those ¡®fools.¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s the ugly nature of humans.¡¯

    That strange man with the crescent-shaped mustache once said, "Even so, I love you, my foolish son!" and tried to embrace everyone.

    Even the ugly nature can serve the public good if used properly.

    "When the neighboring country is suffering from hunger, but our Toscana Empire does not need to face such a thing thanks to our great Emperor and enlightened nobles, the serfs will start to love their country."

    In fact, there are rare cases where people who go on tours to Southeast Asia suddenly become patriotic toward Korea for similar reasons.

    "Then, protect the merchants. They are currently being taxed with corporate tax, and they are not safe from the tyranny of the nobles, officials, and bureaucrats. If you protect them, the merchants will willingly serve you as their lord, just as you did." "Just like you?" "Yes."

    I honestly can¡¯t say there¡¯s anyone more talented than me.

    To be honest, following my example is going to be difficult.

    My father-in-law¡¯s face no longer held the signs of concern.

    It seemed he had set his goal.

    "...Alright. Then, I¡¯ll start by thinking about how to educate the serfs and workers right away."

    ...Everything is going according to plan.

 Chapter 356: Enlightenment (3)

    Visconti''s young Duke, Alfred, was lost in a happy dilemma.

    If he were to compare his current state of mind, it would be akin to having one billion won in his bank account but being unable to decide how to spend it, seriously contemplating the best way to use it.

    ¡°How much should I educate the common people?¡±

    No matter how much education he provided, if he followed the direction Fabio instructed...

    He would undoubtedly earn the sincere respect of all the serfs and laborers, and his power would become immeasurably stronger than it was now.

    Previously, he had to watch his back around the other nobles, but now, just as the emperor could strip titles with the slightest pretext, Alfred was no longer bound by their influence.

    ¡®Duke Sforza also reduced someone to a country bumpkin with just a few words.¡¯

    Although he had not been born an emperor, and thus could not wield such authority, at least within his own territory, he would be able to control everything as he wished.

    ¡°But I can¡¯t just stop here and be satisfied.¡±

    Power, honor, lust, money... these were things one could never be satisfied with by taking just one bite.

    There might be people who had never tasted these things, but once they did, they would continuously crave them.

    To obtain them, a person would even sell their soul to the devil.

    Alfred naturally wanted even a little more honor, even a little more power.

    ¡°How should I teach them to earn their absolute support? Simply teaching them that it was I, Fabio¡¯s man, who gave them prosperity might not be enough.¡±

    Alfred fell into deep thought.

    What else could he teach them that would make them like him even more? Moreover, how could he naturally instill the legitimacy of his rule into them?

    ¡°What¡¯s the best way?¡±

    Alfred recalled his time in the army when he thought about how to approach the common people.

    When he was appointed as a squad leader at the suggestion of his father, the Duke of Visconti, although he wasn¡¯t mingling with the serfs due to his status as the heir to the Visconti family...

    He remembered, from deep in his memory, the conversations he occasionally had with the non-commissioned officers, where they mentioned the serfs.

    ¡®The soldiers often struggle because they can¡¯t read or write.¡¯

    Struggling meant being in a difficult situation.

    Being in a difficult situation meant that if someone solved the problem, they would be extremely grateful.

    ¡°I can teach them to read and write through the priests in the village.¡±

    His military experiences proved valuable here as well.

    He had participated in many actual battles during his military service.

    He had served as a company commander in the frontline units, as a battalion commander in a division participating in wars, as a staff officer in the rear, and even as a division commander...

    ¡®They always highlighted favorable stories, and hid any unfavorable ones.¡¯

    The army of the country Fabio had lived in during his previous life also operated in the same way.

    Although they boasted about raising soldiers¡¯ salaries, things like tasteless rationed meals or poor dining conditions were always disguised in the media as ¡°a little better than before.¡±

    Problems like military abuse, assault, or crimes were generally handled with little fanfare.

    This had been the same, from ancient times to the 21st century.

    Even in the medieval fantasy Toscana Empire, things were no different.

    ¡°If I teach the common people history, about how great our Visconti family is, and how much we care for them, they¡¯ll believe it without a second thought if I teach them even a little bit.¡±

    If Fabio had heard this, he would have clapped and said that his father-in-law had grasped one of the extreme sides of enlightenment.

    Only telling good stories about the leader to make them respect and strengthen loyalty¡ªthat was his plan.

    ¡®I think it¡¯s a pretty good method, even if I say so myself.¡¯

    ¡°The children¡¯s minds are soft, so the village priests can teach them first. Then, if the children pass on that knowledge to the adults, they¡¯ll believe it without doubt. If it¡¯s too extreme, the adults will be suspicious, so I¡¯ll need to mix in a bit of fabrication.¡±

    Well, his grandfather supposedly loved the people so much that he spent all his money on the serfs, leaving just enough for the nobility to maintain their dignity.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    He planned to omit any mention of how the Visconti Dukes had spent sleepless nights thinking only of the people, even to the point of being self-sacrificial during times of famine.

    Such tales were as believable as claiming that sand turns to flour [N O V E L I G H T] when rolled on it or that pine cones turn into grenades when touched.

    So, he would adjust the narrative to say that his grandfather occasionally went on stealth missions to punish bad nobles, or that he recognized the poverty of the serfs and ate very simply during famines to contribute to relief efforts.

    ¡°The village priests and even the city clergy are probably struggling because donations are down, so if I promise them more donations if they teach as I want, things will go smoothly.¡±

    Being forced to play the role of a noble''s lapdog was torture for the clergy...

    But even scholars, if starved for three days, would climb over a wall.

    Besides, considering that the priests of the Deus Church were already heavily taxed due to the civil war in the Holy Empire, how happy would they be to accept ¡°unofficial donations¡±?

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll organize this and put it into action immediately.¡±

    Alfred also decided that he would report this to the emperor.

    There was no need to anger the emperor, who held absolute imperial authority, and to ensure the prosperity of his family, he needed to become closer to the emperor.

    Our father-in-law is quite an extraordinary man.

    I only suggested that we inform the serfs and laborers through mandatory education about the value of the happiness they currently enjoy.

    But my father-in-law, believing that was not enough, added everything.

    Teaching them to read and write, slightly beautified imperial history lessons, etc...

    A curriculum that could inject a ton of national pride into the uneducated empire¡¯s people.

    And then he used the priests¡¯ lack of money to hold them with ¡°unofficial donations.¡±

    For every one thing I suggested, he thought of ten more to add.

    Thanks to that, I am now being summoned by the emperor.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to call you so late, but young Visconti here had an interesting idea. I wanted to ask you before we reflect this in our policies.¡±

    At this point, asking about other ministers who were unaware would be a second-rate move.

    Because if I asked, the emperor would surely reply something like,

    ¡®Those fools wouldn¡¯t even be able to match 10% of what you¡¯ve done.¡¯

    If that statement were to be leaked by the ¡®servants pretending to respect secrecy¡¯...

    How would the ministers think of me?

    It¡¯s annoying when a person brags, but it¡¯s just as annoying when someone denies a compliment when it¡¯s clearly deserved.

    ¡°You flatter me, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°The young duke here says that the people of the empire don¡¯t know the value of the happiness they¡¯re enjoying right now. I agree with this statement. If we don¡¯t learn, we won¡¯t know. How great our parents¡¯ grace is, or how much Deus has blessed us, humble humans.¡±

    ¡°I agree with Your Majesty¡¯s words. Without education, we cannot know.¡±

    ¡°And so, he suggested that we teach the people about how much we, the emperors, do for them, and what the past emperors have done for them. He also said that since the world is changing, serfs should at least be taught how to read and write and perform basic arithmetic.¡±

    He had only mentioned a lucky idea, but already suggested basic education.

    If he¡¯d taken one more step, he would have advocated for elementary schools.

    Of course, he didn¡¯t go that far, but...

    Even the current suggestion is a proposal that is centuries ahead of its time.

    Providing basic education to all the people and eliminating illiteracy.

    ¡®The future of the Visconti family looks bright.¡¯

    The Visconti family¡¯s coin will definitely rise.

    ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°If Your Majesty seeks to strengthen your imperial authority, it is essential to educate the people. Right now, they are only praising Your Majesty because their basic living conditions have improved.¡±

    Human intelligence has always been the same, but in pre-modern times, most people didn¡¯t ask questions like, ¡®Why am I living? What is the purpose of my life?¡¯ because nobody taught them.

    Why? Because nobody taught them.

    I was born a serf, so I thought I would live and die as one.

    But with the advent of schools and the advancement of education, children of workers¡¯ families now learn ¡°Why are you alive? This is the goal of life.¡±

    People can now ask themselves, ¡°Why am I living?¡±

    ¡°If we teach them why they should be loyal, they will willingly offer their loyalty to Your Majesty. Forcing them to do it is one thing, but showing them why they should do it and then asking them makes all the difference in efficiency.¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s similar to proclaiming a just cause in war. That¡¯s why I think following my father-in-law¡¯s suggestion will benefit Your Majesty.¡±

    And this is also a preparation for war.

    We must never forget.

    The goal of compulsory education was not to make people more human...

    ¡°A soldier who knows how to read and write, and understands why he fights, is strong, Your Majesty.¡±

 Chapter 357: Enlightenment (4)

    War is hell.

    If there is a commander who denies this, then that person should never be given command.

    Anyone who doesn¡¯t even know such a basic concept is bound to look for romance on the battlefield, ultimately leading to the destruction of entire battalions, regiments, and divisions. They are nothing but garbage.

    Therefore, from the commander to the common soldier, those who participate in war are all walking into hell on their own two feet.

    Strangely enough, most officers and non-commissioned officers march into hell proudly, even the newly appointed lieutenants and sergeants.

    Do they have some kind of steel resolve that ordinary soldiers do not possess?

    ¡®Not at all.¡¯

    ¡°Your Majesty, have you ever thought about this? The likelihood of desertion among new lieutenants and sergeants is lower than that of ordinary soldiers.¡±

    ¡°... I¡¯ve never thought about it. I suppose I did not, and neither did the late Emperor, my father. Among the nobles, you¡¯re the only one to have seriously considered this.¡±

    The Pythagorean theorem, we know that it was discovered by Pythagoras.

    This is half right and half wrong.

    Because, long before Pythagoras was born, ancient Egypt, with its high-tech¡ªessentially like today¡¯s superpower¡ªwas already aware of and using the formula [A^2 + B^2 = C^2].

    However, Pythagoras relentlessly explored this obvious knowledge and, as a result, made great contributions to the development of mathematics.

    To make progress, one must constantly ponder and explore why something is the way it is.

    Even in the game where filial sons inquire about their parents'' well-being, if they want to escape the bronze level, they must analyze and improve on why they¡¯re stuck in bronze rather than blaming the team, just like moving up to silver.

    ¡°Their shoulders bear a heavy burden, and they are given a reason to fight. In contrast, soldiers often don¡¯t even know why they are fighting.¡±

    ¡°You always tend to view things from the perspective of the lowest position, no matter what you do.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because the wealth, power, and honor I enjoy now are all thanks to them.¡±

    ¡°Had it been me before, I would have thought such nonsense was unworthy of consideration.¡±

    Afterward, the emperor smiled faintly.

    ¡°Now, I completely agree with you. A knight¡¯s nobility and dignity come from fighting honorably for the people he must protect. Therefore, honor is fulfilling the duties he has to uphold. If I, who lead all the knights of the empire, do not care for the people, I would be a laughingstock for everyone. I still need to learn more.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, you are already a ruler greatly respected by the people.¡±

    ¡°In that case, I must strive to ensure that the crown prince, due to my achievements, is also respected by all. Not that I believe he is incompetent. When I was his age, I was far less capable.¡±

    ¡°The Toscana Empire will continue to prosper forever, Your Majesty.¡±

    The wealth and power I now enjoy are also thanks to the strength of the Toscana Empire.

    It is also the land where Leo and the others will live.

    Even though other countries are chaotic and disordered, Toscana must remain peaceful.

    For my own purposes, I can do anything.

    Ah, but I won¡¯t invoke the wisdom of the anti-Semites and bird-killers who called intellectuals reactionaries.

    ¡°Soldiers who have no reason to fight do not fight to win. They fight simply to return home safely. As a result, their morale is low, and they¡¯ll run away at the slightest disadvantage. Officers and non-commissioned officers, who have a reason to fight, will hold their military discipline high and fight until they die, even in the most adverse situations.¡±

    Soldiers should be respected just for serving.

    Do they receive high pay? That only matters during peaceful times without war.

    In times of war, who cares about high pay?

    Only when they are respected and their honor acknowledged by family, friends, and the nation can they suppress their fear and fight in the face of bullets, defending ¡®honor.¡¯

    It¡¯s not a coincidence that in the U.S., if a Medal of Honor recipient appears at an airport, people will spontaneously upgrade their ¡®economy class¡¯ ticket to first class.If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen

    Likewise, at places like the Super Bowl, when the game starts, they display the face of the Medal of Honor recipient on the giant screen, and the crowd claps [N O V E L I G H T] and cheers in sincere admiration.

    Moreover, anyone who insults or harms soldiers, police officers, or firefighters will be relentlessly pursued and punished, as the utmost respect must be shown to them.

    That¡¯s how they fulfill their duties and ensure their safety.

    ¡®Those who look down on soldiers must have rotten heads full of noodles.¡¯

    I don¡¯t need to say anything more; history spanning thousands of years proves it.

    ¡°Tell the soldiers why they must fight. You must place the burden of duty and honor on their shoulders.¡±

    ¡°Should I tell them what the young duke said to me?¡±

    ¡°Just that alone would be insufficient.¡±

    ¡°Then what more should I teach them?¡±

    ¡°Absolute loyalty to Your Majesty. Everything my father-in-law suggested is meant to give soldiers fighting in the army a motivation to offer absolute loyalty to Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Farmers, laborers, or even just ordinary soldiers who have served in the army will have loyalty to me planted in their hearts. Simply hearing this is intoxicating. It feels more thrilling than the first night, like being drunk without even drinking alcohol.¡±

    Powerful people are always intoxicated by power.

    I am, and the emperor surely is as well.

    ¡°In the upcoming war, reward those who distinguish themselves. After all, when we conquer the Holy Empire, noble titles will be available. You must present them with the goal that fighting for Your Majesty will make them nobles. If they die fighting for Your Majesty, they will be rewarded, and if they survive and achieve merit, they will certainly be rewarded. This belief will be the fuel that keeps the flame of absolute loyalty burning forever.¡±

    ¡°I will do so. I must do so.¡±

    ¡°And instill in them strong faith. Bind their loyalty and faith to Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Bind faith and loyalty together. How exactly should I do that?¡±

    Such arguments are circulating throughout the Toscana Empire, the Kingdom of Lyon, or even the Albanian continent.

    The king is appointed by the gods, so they must obey his authority.

    It controls the nobility, but honestly, it¡¯s not enough.

    If you look at it from that perspective, it¡¯s forced.

    For example, if an unpopular man were to approach the prettiest girl in the department and say that it¡¯s ordained by God that they should date and marry, people would send him straight to the psychiatric hospital.

    But if the most popular girl in town approached me and said it was ordained by God that we should date, I¡¯d think, ¡®Sounds tempting, as long as she¡¯s not some religious fanatic.¡¯

    ¡°Deus made Your Majesty the emperor of this empire. And Your Majesty has been given a very important mission by Him.¡±

    To brainwash the emperor¡ªwhat a schemer I am.

    No, I¡¯m a loyal subject like no other.

    People like ????? or ????????, great ministers of the past, would surely lament in the afterlife that they never had a loyal subject like me in Joseon.

    I¡¯ve saved the nation¡¯s finances, rescued the people from illiteracy, and risked my life in plague-stricken areas, saving hundreds of thousands of lives.

    ¡®There has never been a loyal subject like me.¡¯

    ¡°To release the burden of suffering from the people and give them freedom. To share their pain, shed tears with them, and embrace them with empathy. Your Majesty, who does all of this, is the apostle of God, fulfilling His will.¡±

    If the Pope heard this, he would be calling for the emperor¡¯s excommunication, causing a commotion.

    But what can the Pope do after suffering a religious reform?

    If he acts up, he¡¯ll only be trembling in fear, worried about losing his donations.

    ¡°Loyalty to Your Majesty, who fulfills God¡¯s will, is what Deus desires. Teach them how to read and write so that they can directly understand Your Majesty¡¯s teachings and what You wish to convey.¡±

    The emperor listened to my words, and a look of rapture spread across his face as tears began to flow.

    ¡°......¡±

    ¡°Soldiers who learn to read and write will understand and follow Your Majesty¡¯s will. Moreover, they¡¯ll even be able to carry out small-unit operations. Even simple ones.¡±

    Soldiers in pre-modern times couldn¡¯t read or write, and they were often very ignorant.

    When recruits were told to stop shooting their muskets when the enemy got close and charge with bayonets, they often didn¡¯t understand the strategy.

    So they were taught through strict discipline.

    ¡°Do you like it?¡±

    The emperor, hearing my words, tightly clasped both of my hands.

    ¡°I¡¯ll promote you to Major General by my authority. Do whatever you want! Go ahead, do whatever you like!¡±

    ... At my age, making it to reserve brigadier general (with the option to transition to active duty) is already an unprecedented promotion in the history of the empire.

    But Major General... am I crazy?

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t someone else do better? I¡¯m just a beginner with a little knowledge.¡±

    Saying that, I left the palace in a rush, leaving behind the emperor intoxicated by rapture.

 Chapter 358: Enlightenment (5)

    2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment, 9th Division, Tuscan Empire.

    New officers and NCOs were assigned here.

    Normally, there wouldn¡¯t be a grand introduction ceremony just because an officer or a few NCOs were transferred.

    Today, the battalion commander, unusually, gathered all the troops and gave a special introduction.

    A common private in this battalion, Mato, asked the squad leader.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on today, squad leader?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, you brat. If I knew, I¡¯d be an officer, not a squad leader, acting like a brat?¡±

    ¡°No, I just asked.¡±

    ¡°You brat. Hey, back in my day, a private brat couldn¡¯t even look the squad leader in the eye.¡±

    Of course, as is often the case when it comes to my time, when the squad leader was a private, he didn¡¯t even bother asking the squad leader questions.

    He didn¡¯t even look the squad leader in the eye.

    However, when a private becomes a sergeant, his private life seems like hell, and his current private life seems like heaven.

    So the squad leader truly believed that his military life was a million times harder than Mato''s.

    "Attention, battalion!"

    At those words, all the soldiers stood up straight and stood at attention.

    "As of today, military chaplains have been assigned to all units across the country. His Majesty the Emperor has assigned them to reside in each company to listen to your worries and hear your confessions. It is His Majesty''s grace that you can find comfort in your heart through your faith in Deus while carrying out your difficult military life."

    The soldiers, including Mato, were quite moved.

    His Majesty the Emperor thought of them and even sent a priest to hear your confessions.

    Even eating half-rotten rice in the military was completely normalized, and after being discharged from the military, they had to get jobs in factories or anywhere, and they were not exploited there, and they set the standards for their salaries and looked after them in detail.

    Even for those who lived as serfs, new farming methods such as the Sa-yun method and tax cuts made it possible for them to live like human beings, and that is all that is needed.

    ¡®The Emperor did everything.¡¯

    ¡°In addition, I will personally teach you how to read and write every Saturday and the grace of His Majesty the Emperor. From the right, the battalion chaplain, Lieutenant Marco Polo. The following are the chaplains assigned to the companies. Sergeant Cannavaro of the 1st Company, Sergeant Grosso of the 2nd Company, Sergeant Rusconi of the 3rd Company, and Sergeant Garneo of the 4th Company. After the battalion is disbanded, the chaplains will begin their education at the company level.¡±

    After hearing those words, the soldiers including Mato immediately disbanded.

    And everyone went to the parade ground to receive the teachings of the new chaplain.

    The parade ground was nothing but an empty space with a large blackboard set up there...

    Everyone felt good at the thought that they could learn how to read and write without paying.

    ¡°I am Sergeant Cannavaro, who will continue the company life with you from the 1st Company. Today, I will briefly explain the grace of His Majesty the Emperor and the mission he received from God.¡±

    Although the chaplain was a priest, those who received the rank of ¡®non-commissioned officer¡¯ were simply neighborhood priests or traveling missionaries who were gathered together.

    So they didn¡¯t know much about theology, but before coming here, they had memorized the basic physical training and the ¡®Divine Right of Kings¡¯ theological practical training version written by Fabio.

    ¡°His Majesty the Emperor is looking down on you. He introduced the Rothschild-developed private-sector system to the entire country and reduced taxes, giving serfs a little bit of hope for the future. He also prevented workers from being overworked.¡±

    In a modern country in the 21st century, if the president were to look down on the people, people would react by saying, ¡°What¡¯s that? Did he give them a bowl of medicine?¡±

    However, the soldiers here have always regarded the emperor as a representative of God.

    Furthermore, they have seen and experienced in real time that their lives have improved thanks to the emperor¡¯s grace.

    If I exaggerate a little, even in everyday life, just hearing the word ¡°emperor¡± makes you feel a surge of excitement.

    Furthermore, since it was said by a respected priest, it was easy for Mato to hear it.

    ¡°Your Majesty did such a thing because Deus ordered you to do so. You are to feed my sheep. In order to faithfully carry out that mission, His Majesty personally tasted the meals of the poor and stayed where the poor stayed. And he decided to comfort their sorrow.¡±

    The Emperor had never heard Deus¡¯ voice.

    Fabio took the Emperor to see for himself how the serfs lived, and warned him that if they were exploited in this environment, they would rebel.

    That¡¯s why he took measures such as lowering taxes and did his best to stabilize the people¡¯s livelihood.

    However, facts are not fun, and facts with a little fabrication are more fun.

    The ¡®teachings¡¯ that Fabio personally wrote and reviewed were slightly embellished, just like the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

    Among the soldiers who heard the interesting and catchy story, many began to have tears in their eyes.

    Private Mato was one of them.

    When he was young, or before he entered the army, his older sister and older brother died because they had nothing to eat.

    Four years ago, my father had to sell my fourth sister to a brothel because he was afraid that his family would starve to death.

    That was a normal thing in the empire until then.

    Not long ago, people who had played bad pranks, talked about their worries, and sometimes fought were being killed or sold. That was the daily life of the empire.

    However, His Majesty the Emperor reduced taxes at one point and widely spread the Sa-yun-jeop (a method of prostitution) to ease their suffering.

    When taxes were reduced, my mother and father cried, saying that if only taxes had been reduced a little faster, they wouldn¡¯t have lost these children.

    But now, they were grateful that they could draw hope instead of such a terrible daily life.

    ¡®It was all thanks to Your Majesty. And Your Majesty did it because Deus wanted it all.¡¯

    In his and everyone else¡¯s hearts, loyalty to the Emperor and devotion to Deus grew rapidly.

    ¡°But if you have received something, you should know how to repay it. Deus does not want you to be ungrateful.¡±

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    Mato also strongly agreed with those words.

    If you have received something, you should repay it.

    However, how can we repay His Majesty the favor and Deus¡¯s grace?

    ¡°Deus is using His Majesty as a tool to achieve his will. However, His Majesty is ultimately just a person. The officers, bureaucrats, and nobles are helping him, but that alone is not enough. You should help him. Do your best in training, fight with your life at stake in war, and work diligently and pay your taxes after you are discharged. Then Deus will give you strength and use you as a tool to protect your peaceful daily lives, just like now.¡±

    Mato vowed.

    If war breaks out someday, or even if it doesn¡¯t, he will repay the Emperor¡¯s favor in the future.

    The others had similar thoughts.

    ¡°Some may laugh at you and call you lowly soldiers. But that¡¯s wrong. You are already dedicated to His Majesty and Deus. Your positions are different from those of the officers and non-commissioned officers. So be proud. You can brag about it.¡±

    It was the first time the soldiers had heard such words.

    They had been teased as soldiers, but it turned out that they too could be proud of the work they had been given.

    It seemed meaningless to stand guard until late at night and work hard from morning to evening, training and working hard.

    It was all something to be proud of.

    It was a service and duty to the Emperor who protected and enriched them.

    ¡°We will end here for today. If you have any concerns, please come to confession.¡±

    After class, the soldiers returned to the barracks.

    **

    An uninvited guest came to Private Mato and his squad who ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) had returned to the barracks.

    ¡°Hey, squad leader.¡±

    ¡°Sergeant, go!¡±

    ¡°The platoon leader is having a company dinner, so if you have saved up your salary, please bring some. It¡¯s one silver coin per squad.¡±

    One silver coin is 20 days¡¯ wages for a worker in the city.

    It was a painful expense for soldiers who didn¡¯t even get paid much in the military.

    But this is the military, so if you have to criticize, you have to criticize.

    Otherwise, the platoon leader will find fault with everything or openly scold you, making your body and mind unsound.

    ¡°Understood!¡±

    Private Mato cursed inwardly upon hearing that.

    They said it was a company dinner, but seeing that each squad took out one silver coin, it was obvious that they were planning to throw it between the prostitute¡¯s legs.

    ¡®A bastard who is worse than a dog.¡¯

    But if you have to criticize, you have no choice.

    And at that moment, the passing military chaplain Cannavaro witnessed this scene.

    ¡°...... No, what are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Oh, priest. It¡¯s nothing. The platoon leader asked the soldiers to collect the dinner money.¡±

    ¡°Are you in your right mind, deputy platoon leader? The soldiers are also precious people who carry out His Majesty the Emperor¡¯s work. Do you think it would be good for them to be extorted?¡±

    ¡°No, but it was the platoon leader¡¯s order. And everyone does this much...¡±

    ¡°I will report you to the military court through the battalion chaplain.¡±

    The sergeant froze at those words.

    Extorting a little money from soldiers is something that everyone does, but the military court?

    ¡°...... What is that...¡±

    ¡°Treating His Majesty the Emperor¡¯s soldiers carelessly is an insult to His Majesty the Emperor. Disciplining soldiers who do not follow orders during training or neglect their duties according to due process. We cannot interfere with the punishment of those who have shown insignificant behavior. However, is it really for Your Majesty to extort money from soldiers?¡±

    ¡°Look, this guy.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good for me. Reporting such atrocities will help me get promoted.¡±

    Cannavaro returned the money to each soldier, including the squad leader.

    Mato shed tears as he received the money.

    In an army famous for its absurdity, there was a priest sent by His Majesty the Emperor who truly cared for him.

    His heart, which had been neglected his entire life, was filled with emotion.

    ¡°Others may ignore you, soldiers. However, Your Majesty cares for all of you. So do your best in your service.¡±

    And two weeks later, the sergeant who was the platoon leader and deputy platoon leader was dishonorably discharged.

    In a word, his life was ruined.

    In the legions throughout the empire, cheers of ¡°Long Live Your Majesty the Emperor¡± erupted.

 Chapter 359: Enlightenment (6)

    In one of the books discussing the duties of a monarch, it is written that:

    Those who are above should not reveal what they like or dislike.

    If they know what they like, the vassals will flatter the monarch with things he likes and flatter him.

    If they know what he dislikes, they will use it to belittle others.

    The Emperor may not know that, but he knows a similar principle, so he usually tries to keep his expressionless face as much as possible...

    But lately, he has been failing to control his expression.

    ¡°Your Majesty, how are you? I am very happy to see your bright expression.¡±

    ¡°Velok, Minister of Justice. Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. Could you allow me the honor of finding out what makes Your Majesty so happy?¡±

    ¡°Then I guess I can¡¯t help it.¡±

    The Emperor pretended to tell him reluctantly, without even hiding the smile on his face.

    ¡°I heard that the mere laborers, serfs, and soldiers are all grateful to me for giving them a little education. Masses are held all over the empire to pray for my longevity and the prosperity of the empire, and I heard that soldiers in the army are training more willingly.¡±

    ¡°Even the lowly commoners are praising your Majesty¡¯s virtues. The Tuscan Empire will prosper in the future.¡±

    In an absolute monarchy, a country ruled by a monarch who is praised by the people will enjoy peace and prosperity.

    On the other hand, a country ruled by a monarch who is criticized by the people like a soccer ball is like a time bomb that could collapse at any moment.

    Since the Tuscan Empire was the former, it was obvious to anyone that it would prosper in the future.

    ¡°It seems that I can¡¯t just like it. The burden on my shoulders must be really heavy.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty will be able to carry it all.¡±

    ¡°You are good at giving compliments. Okay, since you have been congratulated, I will give you a small gift. The Grand Chamberlain, send a bottle of wine to the house of Deputy Belloc.¡±

    ¡°I am very grateful, Your Majesty.¡±

    The Emperor spent a happy time receiving congratulations from the nobles of the robe and giving gifts to those who congratulated him.

    And then his daughter appeared before the Emperor.

    ¡°Teresa, isn¡¯t it time to practice ballroom dancing? Surely you didn¡¯t skip out?¡±

    Her maid answered on Teresa¡¯s behalf.

    ¡°That is not true, Your Majesty. The Countess of Ragusa, who teaches dancing to Her Majesty Teresa, said that she had nothing more to teach after finishing her lesson yesterday.¡±

    ¡°It must have been too easy for Teresa.¡±

    Teresa de Toscana, she was actually a girl who had been called a prodigy since birth.

    She showed her genius-like behavior by learning all four basic operations at the age of four, and by the age of seven, she was able to read books written in ancient languages ??that even adults find difficult.

    However, she was so smart that when she was only eight, she realized the ugliness and danger of politics without anyone teaching her.

    From then on, she lived as an extremely ordinary princess.

    If a woman, not even a man, showed too much brilliance, she could be hated by the emperor and her other siblings.

    She didn¡¯t know what would happen to her later.

    She was so outstanding, but it was a girlish choice to live while being loved by her family rather than fighting to the death in the cold political arena.

    That acting ended when Fabio incited the emperor to publish a newspaper and lower taxes, and she thought she didn¡¯t have to act anymore.

    ¡°Did you sleep well, Your Majesty?¡±

    ¡°This is a private place, so you can call me Abama.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Abba Mama. You look happy. Is that why you are?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you have become a monarch who is truly loved and respected by all the people of the empire. It still feels like a dream. Of course, because of that, the burden I have to bear has increased. It¡¯s all thanks to Viscount Rothschild.¡±

    Teresa was a very smart girl.

    If Fabio had seen her, he would have said that she was a genius who would achieve a truly historical achievement.

    She was so intelligent that he could tell.

    ¡®Viscount Rothschild made Abba Mama drink the poisoned chalice.¡¯

    If the poison had been to harm the Emperor or the Crown Prince, she would have taken action in her own way.

    The Emperor and the Crown Prince were more than capable of carrying that burden.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad that Abba Mama is happy.¡±

    ¡°What do you think, Teresa?¡±

    The political power of the Emperor and the Crown Prince had already become so strong that no one could touch them.

    Even the first emperor or the most powerful emperors did not have this much power.

    So the Emperor could freely ask for opinions on politics from his youngest daughter, who was not his successor.

    Teresa told a white lie.

    ¡°Your Majesty, you will have a hard time in the future. You will have to devote yourself to state affairs to shoulder the burden of a holy king. And as you are respected, your duties will become heavier...¡±

    The Emperor listened to her words and controlled his expression again.

    He was a little embarrassed that he had been so intoxicated by being respected and revered by all the people that he had not realized that his duties had become heavier.

    ¡®In order to enjoy greater power, there are also more things that you must protect.¡¯

    The Emperor, who came to his senses after coming out of his ecstasy, immediately stroked his daughter¡¯s cheek.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    Originally, he wanted to pat her head, but after hugging several women, he realized how annoying it was for a woman to have her hair done, so he restrained himself.

    ¡°Teresa is so wise. I learned a lot thanks to you.¡±

    ¡°No, it was the mother who enlightened me.¡±

    ¡°When I see you, sometimes I feel like I see the Countess Rothschild.¡±

    Teresa was very embarrassed by the emperor¡¯s words.

    She had lived quietly without causing any trouble, but now she resembles an evil man who destroys other countries and his enemies as if he were blowing up gunpowder.

    ¡°What do you mean by similar?¡±

    ¡°The Countess always gives me the advice I need. He magically solves my problems. Just like you did with Teresa just now.¡±

    Teresa had been interested in the Countess Rothschild for a long time.

    She liked the fact that he loved his wife so much, but what bothered her more was his insight.

    A person who always gives the best answer as if he had seen the future hundreds of years in the future, and sometimes even plans things out a few years in advance and executes them.

    And now he makes the emperor drink a poisoned chalice.

    And he has aspects similar to someone who has been called the incarnation of Satan and the Red Deus who descended to the present world by some people.

    ¡®He¡¯s not Abba Mama¡¯s enemy, but what does he really do?¡¯

    The aspects I¡¯ve seen so far are aspects of him, but in the end, they were all just rumors.

    I wanted to see him in person.

    I¡¯ve been afraid of rumors so far, so I haven¡¯t been able to go, but I¡¯m destined to end up in a political marriage with a ¡®strange man¡¯ anyway.

    He could go and see Erica, who used to be his maid and childhood friend.

    ¡°Abba Mama, can I meet you once?¡± ¡°You mean the Countess Rothschild?¡±

    The Emperor was honestly a little taken aback.

    But he didn¡¯t hate it.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to see my maid, Erica, while I¡¯m at it. I¡¯m curious about her married life, and I want to hear how she¡¯s doing these days.¡±

    ¡°As long as there are no rumors, there¡¯s no problem.¡±

    The Emperor said that, but he was planning something a little sinister.

    He¡¯s not the kind of person who would spread rumors about his own daughter, and he¡¯s not in a situation where he has to... He really has no intention of taking action himself, but...

    Just in case, just in case, just in case.

    If the Countess Rothschild likes his daughter, that is.

    ¡®We should create a suitable position in the Prime Minister¡¯s Office and have him take charge of enlightenment.¡¯

    Or, he could have her use her abilities in another department for a few years as punishment for seducing his daughter.

    ¡®Duke Visconti, you damned bastard. Are you the only one who calls yourself Fabio¡¯s father-in-law?¡¯

    ¡°Come visit me secretly on a day when you have free time.¡±

    And a few days later, Fabio was met with a truly unexpected uninvited guest.

    I¡¯m embarrassed, really embarrassed.

    My hands are shaking because I¡¯m so embarrassed.

    This isn¡¯t a ballroom, and even if it were, how can a man and a woman talk alone?

    In Korea, that wouldn¡¯t be a problem, but here, if you did that, it would immediately become a rumor that you were dating with marriage in mind.

    ¡®Love means marriage.¡¯

    I¡¯m really embarrassed, but even though I¡¯m just a mere disciple who dares to borrow the wisdom of the /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ East India Company and the British Empire, even so...

    Not so sloppy as to show surprise.

    So I was able to continue the conversation while hiding my weakness in front of the princess.

    What I heard next made me unable to hide my embarrassment.

    ¡°Teaching everyone how to read and write, isn¡¯t that too dangerous?¡±

    However, the British Empire taught us how to deal with this properly even in such cases.

    ¡°What¡¯s the problem with that?¡±

    The British Empire¡¯s secret, sticking out its duck feet.

 Chapter 360: Enlightenment (7)

    Everyone wants power, but ironically, the more power one gains, the more likely it is that one''s life is at risk.

    In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, every major purge would result in hundreds of officials, thousands of scholars involved, and tens of thousands of people, including their families, being massacred.

    In Joseon, whenever there were political purges like the Sa-hwa or Hwan-guk, dozens, or even hundreds, would die or be enslaved.

    In the Toscana Empire, if one noble loses power, a huge storm of repercussions follows.

    ¡®What about me?¡¯

    If we consider everything I¡¯ve done so far, if the emperor starts to suspect me...

    Not only I, but also Chloe, Chris, and Erica, would never meet a peaceful end.

    Therefore, I must never be suspected by the emperor.

    To survive, I must never show any signs of being affected by such false accusations.

    ¡°If the people all start to read books and gain knowledge, developing their own convictions, they will unite to overthrow the imperial family when a tyrant emerges.¡±

    This happened in the Kingdom of Lyon and the Holy Empire. The people there are pitiful. Having a tyrant as their ruler, they incited such revolts.

    Even in a feudal society, everyone knows and accepts this truth.

    If you oppress the common people too harshly, rebellions and uprisings will inevitably occur, leading to horrific events.

    So, statements like these pose no problem.

    If the people fear for the emperor¡¯s life, that would lead directly to the guillotine.

    ¡°I ask you in return, Your Majesty. What role do you play for the people of the Toscana Empire? Are you an oppressor who exploits them, or are you a ruler like a father, protecting them and guaranteeing their prosperity?¡±

    ¡°You are a benevolent ruler who cares for the people.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I believe both Your Majesty and the Crown Prince will be benevolent rulers. As someone who once acted as the prince''s mentor, I ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) can confidently say this. Your Majesty, there''s nothing more to say about you.¡±

    The emperor sent military chaplains to eliminate the military abuses, reduced taxes, and imposed labor restrictions, significantly improving the lives of the common people.

    With a little exaggeration, if the emperor were considered a god, his religious influence would be unchallenged among the serfs, laborers, and soldiers.

    In fact, they might even welcome it.

    If the visible leader is considered a god, it brings a sense of reassurance, especially since the actions of this ''god'' have directly transformed my life.

    Imagine if a CEO boosted company sales by 200% and raised the salaries of all employees by 300%.

    Even in the 21st century, if the CEO were to start a religion, many people would sincerely consider whether they should join.

    However, Princess Teresa did not back down here.

    ¡°Your Majesty might not have noticed, but there¡¯s a critical flaw in this.¡±

    ¡°What is it? I¡¯m not sure I understand.¡±

    ¡°You must know the impact of newspapers in solidifying Your Majesty¡¯s power.¡±

    ¡°I really don¡¯t know. How could I know everything?¡±

    Even if you know something, pretending you don¡¯t is the hallmark of the British Empire''s strategy.

    I¡¯m not lying to the emperor. All I¡¯ve done is selectively tell him the facts that work in his favor.

    So, if someone were to criticize the emperor in a newspaper, cleverly inciting rebellion, that¡¯s none of my business.

    If we break it down, the French Revolution was started by a bourgeoisie who wanted political power and wealth, spreading fake news like ¡°The emperor is bad, Marie Antoinette is a villain,¡± leading to a revolution.

    I know well the potential for abuse, but here, pretending ignorance is the best strategy.

    ¡®Even giving a hint that I know could make my position dangerous.¡¯

    ¡°You cannot touch His Majesty¡¯s position now. But what about the Crown Prince¡¯s? What if you secretly publish another newspaper and gradually distort the facts to diminish the imperial family¡¯s standing?¡±

    Princess Teresa slowly approached me.

    Since experiencing the supernatural phenomenon of reincarnation, I¡¯ve been in situations like this multiple times.

    And what is this woman doing?

    She¡¯s anticipating the French Revolution in a medieval fantasy world...?

    If Duke Sforza¡ªor rather, the emperor¡ªwere this smart... it would have been much harder for me.

    ¡°And if you recruit serfs, laborers, or eloquent intellectuals to incite revolution... I think it would be enough to turn the empire upside down. Don¡¯t you think so, Lord Rothschild?¡±

    ¡°Your Highness, it seems you have an interesting thought.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it something that could really happen?¡±

    ¡°It will never happen.¡±

    The history of humanity would side with Teresa¡¯s argument.

    But her idea was far too advanced for this time.

    Looking ahead by hundreds of years and always being right doesn¡¯t guarantee success.

    I once heard a story from a fool who majored in Korean history.

    King Sejong, who foresaw the future, attempted to introduce currency to revive the economy of Joseon.

    ¡°I don¡¯t agree with Your Highness¡¯s thoughts. It¡¯s a plausible hypothesis, but it¡¯s something that could never happen in reality.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡±

    ¡°Humans are not that foolish, Princess Teresa.¡±

    Actually, humans can be incredibly foolish.

    The massacre of the Jurchens, King Sejong, who independently created the Hangul script and revamped Joseon¡¯s music system in mere minutes¡ªhe may have been a great monarch who laid the foundations for 500 years of Joseon, but he wasn¡¯t perfect.

    He tried to introduce currency to boost the economy, but he failed to consider reality.

    He ordered severe punishments for people who didn¡¯t use the currency, even imposing death and confiscating their property, all in an attempt to establish a currency-based economy.

    But he left unchecked the phenomenon of the authorities not recognizing the currency, leading to a situation where no one trusted it.

    Even if they melted down eight nyang of copper to create coins, they could still re-melt it and turn it into copper again.

    He succeeded in creating a miraculous economic situation where the coin¡¯s value was equal to the weight of copper.

    The Confucian historians who wrote the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty didn¡¯t understand the market economy, but if an economist had observed the situation, they would have surely written:

    ¡®A ruler who caused an economic depression without even realizing it.¡¯

    ¡°People are just like dogs. Even a dog, who¡¯s a mere creature, serves the master who feeds it with its life. How could the people forget how Your Majesty protects and enriches them?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡°If others try to slander Your Majesty, the people will voluntarily drag them out and kill them. They repay favor with treachery.¡±

    In reality, people often act worse than dogs when it comes to profit.

    Lee Wan-yong, that bastard, was personally appointed by King Gojong because he was good at English, rising to a high ministerial position while other pro-Japanese figures became incredibly wealthy because of Gojong¡¯s generosity.

    Instead of repaying that kindness, he pressured Gojong to sign the Eulsa Treaty, saying he would die if he didn¡¯t.

    Corrupt officials, who would rather sell out the country than die for it.

    Human beings are indeed like that.

    ¡°And the people will sing songs of peace and prosperity with pure hearts. They will willingly leap into flames for Your Majesty¡¯s sake, even without anyone telling them.¡±

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    If I could, I¡¯d like to squash Princess Teresa entirely.

    But she¡¯s like the daughter of the company president.

    No good will come from making her cry, so I¡¯ll leave it at an appropriate level and let it go.

    ¡°I understand what Your Majesty is worried about. This was something I hadn¡¯t considered.¡±

    Princess Teresa tilted her head, slightly surprised.

    ¡°You¡¯re not bothered by what I, a woman, said, are you?¡±

    My family is a bit unusual in this regard; many families would be very offended if a woman spoke about political matters.

    Historically, a wife managed the household, while the men dealt with the estates and politics, with the roles clearly defined.

    Men often distanced themselves from their wives if they didn¡¯t like hearing what their wives had to say about matters.

    ¡®Frankly speaking, there are many who don¡¯t care if their wives are having an affair, as long as they don¡¯t get caught.¡¯

    But I don¡¯t feel uncomfortable hearing such words from a woman.

    ¡°There¡¯s an Eastern proverb that even a three-year-old child has something to teach us. How much more should I listen to the advice of the wise Princess Teresa?¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ¡°It was an honor to hear your advice, Your Highness. I will carefully review and consider the issues you raised today. And if you wish, I will keep our conversation private forever.¡±

    A noble family, especially a noblewoman of great intelligence, would never stay idle.

    They would quickly send her off somewhere to marry or, if the inheritance issue was serious, make sure she faced some unfortunate end.

    Even if the emperor¡¯s and the crown prince¡¯s positions were firmly secured, a woman who is too outstanding wouldn¡¯t be allowed to remain unmarried.

    Being unmarried in such a society, where women were treated as lesser, would be hard enough, but being rejected because one is too clever... how painful would that be?

    Upon reflecting on our conversation, I realized that Princess Teresa likely covered for me even though I had exposed a flaw.

    ¡°Please do so.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. Erica should have returned by now, so I hope you enjoy your conversation.¡±

    Princess Teresa went straight to find Erica.

    Erica was very cautious about the fact that the princess had met ¡°her husband¡± alone.

    ¡®Is she trying to seduce my husband?¡¯

    In the 21st century, this would sound ridiculous, but in the Toscana Empire, it was a valid concern.

    In a world where even a single date between a man and woman would be considered an engagement, holding hands would be seen as a marriage, the fear was understandable.

    Erica couldn¡¯t let her guard down.

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor that you personally came to check on me, Princess. I heard you had a long conversation with my husband.¡±

    Teresa smiled faintly.

    ¡°I came to see you, Erica, but since you weren¡¯t here, I happened to meet Lord Rothschild.¡±

    ¡°By chance, you say?¡±

    ¡°By chance. But after talking to him, I was quite envious. To meet such a considerate person.¡±

    Even though she complimented Fabio, Erica¡¯s wariness grew.

    Her gaze, her expression.

    It was clear she was interested in Fabio, even though it wasn¡¯t exactly the look of a girl in love.

    ¡°Lord Rothschild is a good person. He¡¯s always thoughtful and kind towards me. He even created a new dish, Nouvelle Cuisine, just for me and changed the trends of the empire.¡±

    ¡°How romantic, sister.¡±

    ¡°There are many women, besides me, who are close to Lord Rothschild. Unlike other families where wives and concubines fight, in our family, we live like real sisters. Next week, Lord Rothschild will come with us for a trip to a nearby hill.¡±

    Erica emphasized that there was no room for Teresa to intrude.

    ¡°May I come along, sister?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a family matter.¡±

    ¡°Then I suppose I can¡¯t. I¡¯ll visit you another time.¡±

    With those words, Teresa left the Rothschild estate.

    She didn¡¯t know, but a faint smile lingered on Teresa¡¯s face.

    Even she didn¡¯t fully understand the emotion she was feeling.

 Chapter 361: Enlightenment (8)

    An enlightened people in a country ruled by an enlightened monarch, it¡¯s such a sweet sound.

    As someone who once walked the path of a Western historian, I think I¡¯m leading the enlightenment that has rapidly developed Western capabilities.

    When South Korea made it to the semifinals of the World Cup, I felt even more moved.

    But there was one problem I hadn¡¯t seen...

    ¡°Sebastian.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Viscount.¡±

    ¡°You know that Her Majesty Teresa came here yesterday, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I don¡¯t know what Her Majesty and the Viscount had to say.¡±

    Thinking about that conversation back then, I still get goosebumps.

    It wasn¡¯t like I was in some kind of dire crisis, but her insight was beyond my understanding.

    ¡®If the Emperor had been as smart as Teresa, I would probably have died for treason by now.¡¯

    To be honest, I¡¯m not really greedy for the Emperor¡¯s position.

    I really do know.

    If I make up my mind and prepare for a few decades, there is a fairly high probability that I will become the emperor.

    Even if I don¡¯t intend to, it¡¯s not that important to the emperor.

    ¡°Her Highness Teresa suspects that I have unleashed an ideology and foundation that could overthrow the imperial family.¡±

    ¡°...... Where are there many loyal subjects like your Count?¡±

    ¡°No matter what you say, I won¡¯t get angry, so be honest. Sebastian and I are friends. We¡¯ve known each other for almost 30 years.¡±

    This is the correct way to behave when a high-ranking person tells you to be honest because you won¡¯t get angry.

    They¡¯re telling you to pretend to be honest and tell nice lies.

    So you should pretend to give advice that comes from the heart and talk about ¡®minor issues¡¯, but you should also mix it with flattery.

    When your girlfriend asks you to be honest and tell her if the clothes look good on you, you shouldn¡¯t say it directly even if the clothes don¡¯t look good on you.

    It''s like recommending other normal clothes and saying that''s good, but since you have a model body, wouldn''t those clothes suit you better?

    ''At least Sebastian and I don''t have that kind of relationship.''

    Sebastian gives me sincere advice without fail, and sometimes even says really hurtful things.

    "Your Majesty, put your hand on your conscience and think about how people will see you."

    "I was a bit harsh, wasn''t I?"

    While releasing the wisdom and forbidden knowledge contained in the British Empire''s practical know-how, he even released the Kingdom of Lyon, the Holy Empire, and even the Tuscan Empire...

    He released the Communist Heavenly Horse, or revealed secrets that caused the Coin Possession.

    He even released the Reformation in the Holy Empire for the benefit of the Empire (I''m also a noble of the Empire, so I mainly pursue my own interests) and dragged the Kingdom of Lyon into war by putting a hook in its mouth.

    What if it was a bald bastard who exterminates harmful birds with his fingers and has all kinds of venereal diseases, or Stalin, a human butcher who slaughtered humans instead of pigs?

    I am several times more conscientious than the people of the British Empire, and I know my sins well.

    Sebastian shook his head at me.

    ¡°I can fully understand why Your Highness has such doubts. Of course, the Viscount is more important to me than the Imperial Family or the Tuscan Empire... but Your Highness, the Imperial Family is naturally more important to you.¡±

    All the sins I have committed are for the prosperity of the Tuscan Empire.

    However, when a high-ranking person purges someone, their loyalty is not that important.

    In the West, where it is very rare to cut up your subjects for treason, it may be different, but in the East, especially in the Ming Dynasty, more than 10,000 meritorious officials were purged.

    Among the highest-ranking officials personally appointed by the chieftain, there is no one who has enjoyed longevity.

    ¡®What¡¯s scarier is that he knew that the officials were truly loyal to him.¡¯

    The Red Turban rebel leader who harassed Goryeo and Joseon.

    This is why the Chinese have ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) no foundation.

    ¡°I think it would be better to find a way to dispel your doubts. You never know how things in this world will turn out.¡±

    ¡°Sebastian, what do you think I should do?¡±

    ¡°For most problems, giving a small gift to His Majesty, who is busy with state affairs, would solve the problem. However, this problem right now does not seem to be something that can be solved with a small gesture of sincerity.¡±

    A small gift, a small gesture of sincerity.

    It refers to a box of apples containing ten thousand or fifty thousand won instead of apples.

    When an apartment is being built in a hurry and the permit is not issued, or the government is trying to collect unfair taxes (legal collection), or when I or my family are involved in an unjust criminal charge that is not on the ¡®news¡¯ or reported in the media.

    If I express my sincerity directly to the higher powers, the problem is usually solved.

    A permit that was not issued is issued in 3 days, excessive taxes are ¡®cut in half¡¯, or the sentence imposed by an evil judge is greatly reduced and the probability of being released on probation increases.

    The Tuscan Empire is full of human affection, so if I express my sincerity, misunderstandings are quickly resolved.

    ¡®It¡¯s written in the Bible, right? Where my treasure is, there is my heart.¡¯

    Yes, where my money is, there is my sincerity.

    The problem is that there are many things in the world that cannot be solved with sincerity alone.

    ¡°There are two main ways to solve this problem now. ¡°Either you gain the favor of Her Highness Princess Teresa or gain His Majesty¡¯s greater trust.¡±

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡°Gaining greater trust seems more appealing, but what method are you thinking of specifically?¡±

    Sebastian coughed a few times and answered cautiously.

    ¡°You should marry Her Highness Princess Teresa.¡±

    ¡°Do you think that makes sense?¡±

    If a mere noble dares to ask the Emperor for your daughter,

    there¡¯s a high chance that he¡¯ll be branded a blasphemous man and his life will be ruined.

    Well, unless he sexually harassed the princess, he¡¯ll probably be confined to his territory for a ¡®little while¡¯...

    ¡®Long-term confinement to his territory, are you crazy?¡¯

    His political influence will definitely drop.

    This time, Sebastian looked around and spoke cautiously.

    ¡°If it¡¯s not someone else¡¯s suggestion, but the Viscount¡¯s, His Majesty will be satisfied. Don''t you know, His Majesty wants to tie you to the Imperial Household?"

    Damn, there''s so much to be concerned about.

    The Emperor doesn''t even openly suggest that I become a ''Count'', and he''s even trying to chain me up and make me a slave to the Empire for life.

    That''s just a roundabout way of speaking for the high and mighty...

    The message he wants to convey is exactly what Sebastian said.

    Oh ho ho, our Fabio Jean. Fabio Jean volunteered (just like a Marine volunteers) to become the Imperial Chancellor, but he can''t because of his low status...

    What could be a greater tragedy than a talented person not being able to voluntarily dedicate himself (slave contract) to the Empire because of the limitations of his status?

    If you marry my daughter right now and give me a reason to give me the title of Count, and make me a Count quickly, all your problems will be solved.

    If he were the emperor, he would surely say that to make me seem like a real person and make me a body that would serve the empire forever.

    ¡°That really can¡¯t be done.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t like that, it would be better to bring a gift that Her Highness would like and dispel her suspicions.¡±

    ¡°If I visit Her Highness often, will there be a scandal? Her Majesty is not the type to stay still.¡±

    The punishment for sexual crimes, especially rape, is extremely high all over the world.

    It¡¯s so severe that some say it¡¯s no different from murder.

    Modern people take it for granted, but there is no law in this world that was created without a cause.

    This is especially true when it comes to laws that are common all over the world.

    The reason is that in every country, if a virgin lost her virginity, she was completely exterminated or received a similar punishment.

    Until the 1960s and 1970s, judges would release a raped woman on probation on the condition that the rapist marry the woman who committed the rape.

    At that time, the newspapers were full of praise for the judge''s wise action that saved the victim''s life, and everyone agreed with that.

    Is it any different from a medieval fantasy Tuscan empire?

    No, if there was even a rumor about the princess, he would try to pass it off by any trick, saying that no one else would take her if it weren''t for him.

    I can bet both of my hands on it.

    "Does that make sense?"

    "How can that be reality?"

    "No, if I think about it carefully, there is a way."

    Sebastian tilted his head.

    "What kind of way do you mean?"

    "We just have to completely eliminate any room for doubt. We just have to be even more fiercely loyal to His Majesty the Emperor."

    When Kim Il-sung took power, a high-ranking official was in danger of being purged because of his wife.

    When the communist official was dragged to court and faced death, he snatched the pistol from an armed gendarme and shot his wife in the head, killing her.

    And the North Korean version of a good story about psychopath Kim Il-sung reinstating the official after seeing his beautiful appearance and remarrying him to a 20-year-old beautiful nurse.

    I don''t plan on killing my wife to show my loyalty...

    ''If you use a worse method, you''ll get a pig.''

    "Gather all the young law students who graduated from college but couldn''t get a job. I''ll sponsor them."

 Chapter 362: Enlightenment (9)

    The essence of both Enlightenment and Feudalism is the same.

    The only difference is that Feudalism is about a ruler gaining power to enjoy it for generations, while Enlightenment is about the bourgeoisie gaining power for generations.

    They aim to replace faith with the knowledge they have built and sit in the seat of power themselves.

    ¡®Human nature does not change.¡¯

    That¡¯s why a sage once said:

    "There is nothing new under the sun."

    I stand boldly in front of those who graduated from law school but cannot find employment.

    ¡°I am Lord Rothschild. I called you because your ability is unquestionable, but because of your background, because your parents are poor, you have been overlooked. It feels like [N O V E L I G H T] your situation is not something foreign to me.¡±

    ¡°Are you really offering us an opportunity?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Antonio Gramsci.¡±

    A name that sounds like a philosopher.

    But instead of going to theology school, he graduated from law school and tried to become a judge or administrator¡ªpeople don''t always live according to their names.

    ¡°Alright, Gramsci. Let me share with you my shameful secret¡ªthough it¡¯s not really shameful at all... Let me explain why I feel a sense of kinship with you. Honestly, if I were you, I would be very suspicious if someone offered to help me without any reason.¡±

    A suspicious person claiming not to be suspicious only makes things worse.

    If I look strange, I might seem strange, but showing them that I¡¯m just like them is far more effective.

    Right now, I¡¯m different in status, but I¡¯m drawing commonalities to make them trust me.

    Why do politicians go to traditional markets and eat fish cakes or order pig¡¯s feet?

    ¡®It¡¯s to show the people: I¡¯m just like you.¡¯

    ¡°The majority of you who entered university probably come from noble or merchant families as second sons. Because your families aren¡¯t large enough, you couldn¡¯t use your father¡¯s connections to become administrators or judges in a territory. Gramsci, you¡¯re the same, right?¡±

    When I called Gramsci¡¯s name, he let out a long sigh.

    It¡¯s easy, so easy. I¡¯m manipulating their emotions right now.

    If these people were women, I feel like I could brainwash them into giving me both their bodies and minds.

    Fortunately, I don¡¯t have such bad habits or sexual fantasies, so I don¡¯t plan to do that.

    If that were my preference, I could just buy women with money and power.

    ¡°I was also born as the second son of the Medici Baron family. My father encouraged me to attend university when I turned 15. You must have gone to university for similar reasons.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°And there are certainly some among you who were born into peasant families, worked incredibly hard, and managed to obtain a degree. Raise your hands.¡±

    At those words, the students who were already marginalized even within their own peer group hesitated for a moment, looking at each other¡¯s faces.

    Then, they slowly raised their hands.

    ¡°My mistress, no, my first love, Chloe, was a peasant from the village of Bio. Because of that, I don¡¯t see peasants as strangers. I think it¡¯s truly remarkable that those who came from such poor circumstances fought so hard to get to where they are now.¡±

    In the Toscana Empire, there are no national scholarships, and university tuition is extremely expensive.

    It¡¯s so much more expensive than the already expensive American universities.

    The value in tangible terms would be about 50 million won per semester.

    Of course, if you succeed in graduating and getting a job, the starting salary after taxes would range from 2 to 3 million won, at a minimum.

    ¡®It¡¯s not easy.¡¯

    I personally helped the ones who raised their hands and shook their hands with them.

    In a place where those who were marginalized gathered, these people, once neglected, quickly became the objects of envy.

    ¡°I see you¡¯ve successfully graduated, so you must have had a noble sponsor. What¡¯s the name of that sponsor?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am Raphael. I was sponsored by the Tolone Baron family, who previously served as the mayor of Florence.¡±

    ¡°Tolone Baron, huh. That person was indeed a great individual. I once worked under him as the chief of security, gathering the waste from Florence and making gunpowder.¡±

    ¡°Is that really true?¡±

    ¡°Would I lie to you? I don¡¯t double-speak for noble¡¯s sake.¡±

    Then, I briefly spent time with those who had accomplished the impossible feat of graduating from university despite being born as peasants.

    When I went to the rural village where Chloe lived, I saw how they truly couldn¡¯t even dream of achieving something like this.

    I wanted to encourage the real winners among humanity.

    ¡°I digress a little. I think all of you here are valuable individuals. It¡¯s just that you lacked luck and connections.¡±

    The once lively atmosphere died instantly.

    It was a situation where even a god of wine would complain about the lack of enthusiasm.

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you how you can become officials of the Toscana Empire. If you do well, you could even get a noble title in the judicial system.¡±

    ¡°Is that really possible?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, you can leave right now.¡±

    ¡°No, no! For people like us to get the chance to become government administrators... I¡¯m so happy, I can¡¯t even believe it.¡±

    Even after graduating from university, the salary and treatment can vary greatly depending on where you get hired.

    If you become an official in the Toscana Empire¡¯s government, you will generally be promoted to the position of clerk. If luck is on your side, you may be granted a noble title as a knight when you retire.

    Though the knight title doesn¡¯t provide a pension, it¡¯s still far better than nothing.

    On the other hand, administrators of noble territories or cities hold the same title, but in terms of rank, they are like 7th-grade civil servants who eventually retire at 5th-grade.

    There¡¯s almost no chance for a commoner to rise in status to a noble.

    It¡¯s similar to how in a company, whether you get a job at a large corporation or a small one will determine whether your salary is at a department head level or minimum wage.

    ¡°What specifically do we need to do? If you command us, we¡¯ll do anything. We¡¯ll even lick the soles of your shoes!¡±

    A man licking my shoes? The thought of it alone makes me feel uncomfortable.

    I understand their situation, but that¡¯s a little much.

    ¡°Study the academic disciplines that justify His Majesty¡¯s rule and governance.¡±

    ¡°The academic disciplines that justify His Majesty¡¯s rule?¡±

    ¡°You must have learned theology, law, administration, rhetoric, and philosophy in university.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°Use everything you¡¯ve learned to justify His Majesty¡¯s rule.¡±

    Modern universities only require you to learn your major and some general education courses before submitting a thesis to graduate.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    However, medieval universities would require you to memorize knowledge equivalent to a master¡¯s level in your major, plus a bachelor¡¯s-level knowledge of philosophy, rhetoric, humanities, and theology to even attempt the graduation exams.

    If you passed the graduation exam?

    At that point, these people would easily pass civil service exams or law exams with that level of knowledge.

    That¡¯s the level of study they required for graduation.

    ¡°But just justifying His Majesty¡¯s rule...¡±

    Oh, oh... These students, even though they¡¯re university graduates, are refusing to blindly praise the ruler¡¯s power.

    That¡¯s the correct attitude for an intellectual.

    Why don¡¯t they realize what they urgently need right now?

    ¡°Are you going to be a public servant after graduating university? Since you¡¯ve got a university degree, you could apply right now and get a public office in Florence.¡±

    The country is large, but human nature is small enough to be comparable to the country of China.

    That country¡¯s job market is so bad that even those who graduate from prestigious medical schools are unable to find jobs as doctors and are competing for health teacher positions in other countries.

    Although Toscana Empire has its own social hierarchy, the job market isn¡¯t that tough...

    So becoming a public servant is almost guaranteed once you submit your application.

    Of course, passing the civil service exam and becoming a 9th-grade official is still a bit unrealistic, though.

    ¡°Is His Majesty¡¯s politics wrong? His Majesty has already made countless people prosperous, strengthened the nation, and implemented righteous policies. What¡¯s so difficult about adding a few words of praise? Is that against the scholar¡¯s conscience, Gramsci?¡±

    ¡°....... That¡¯s not it.¡±

    ¡°Then, simply study the academic fields that justify His Majesty¡¯s rule. And research how to realize those ideals.¡±

    If I do this, the emperor will certainly no longer doubt me.

    Sitting still, the royal power will increase vertically, and the nation¡¯s ideology will shift to ¡®absolute monarchy¡¯¡ªwhich ruler would refuse that?

    ¡°Raphael.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Lord Rothschild.¡±

    ¡°Are your parents and siblings alive?¡±

    ¡°Yes, they are.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t your family support you to attend university by trusting only you? Now that you¡¯ve graduated, it¡¯s time to show your family some respect, make them proud, and get married to a beautiful wife.¡±

    ¡°I do want that.¡±

    ¡°If you listen to me, everything you want will be yours.¡±

    I finished explaining and stood up to leave.

    ¡°Compile your research and send it to the imperial palace. His Majesty will read it.¡±

    Done. Now, I¡¯ve gained freedom from suspicion.

 Chapter 363: Enlightenment (10)

    The Emperor has been calling me more often lately. I swear he called me last week as well, but now he¡¯s summoning me again today. At this point, there will probably be rumors at the ball about me being a shadowy power behind the throne, the unseen mastermind behind the Empire¡¯s downfall without an official position.

    I¡¯m just offering the Emperor the advice he needs and looking out for my own interests.

    ¡®The more accomplished a person is, the more enemies they tend to have around them.¡¯

    Before he even started speaking, the Emperor was wearing a warm smile.

    ¡°Hmmm, Lord Rothschild.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been excessively flattering me lately, haven¡¯t you? Hmmm, to think you¡¯d even go so far as to create a philosophy for me. If this continues, I can¡¯t help but consider you family.¡±

    ¡°A dog would sacrifice its life for the master who feeds it. A person, far wiser than a dog, wouldn''t do the same for the lord who brought them to where they are? Your Majesty, may you enjoy all glory and honor. If you wish, I will eliminate any adversary standing in your way.¡±

    The Emperor momentarily choked up, tears welling up in his eyes.

    It¡¯s said that even a father, who would never cry in front of his family, will tear up when watching a moving movie once they¡¯ve passed the age of middle age... Perhaps the same was happening with him.

    On the other hand, perhaps the Emperor is genuinely pleased, as he now has the justification to enforce the absolute loyalty of the people, and even the nobles.

    I thought about it for a moment, but really, the Emperor will never doubt me again. No matter how much Princess Theresa accuses me of being a villain, I¡¯m sure the answer will be the same.

    Lord Rothschild gave the Emperor absolute monarchy, and there¡¯s no world where he betrays me!

    I am Lord Rothschild, and I, too, am Lord Rothschild! We are one. How could I doubt myself?

    ¡®The likelihood of being suspected is gone, disappeared into the far reaches of the universe.¡¯

    ¡°You look happy too, it seems.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s joy is my joy. But what exactly pleased you?¡±

    The Emperor took out a book titled "The Social Contract."

    When it reached the Emperor, it must have been in the form of a paper a week ago, but when did he turn it into a book?

    It even looks like it was printed.

    ¡°Right now, what I¡¯m teaching is the idea that reigning as Emperor is the will of God.¡±

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡°Your Majesty had the idea that you made the people prosperous by following Deus¡¯ will. Since you¡¯ve worked to benefit the world as Deus willed, you now have the justification to claim that defying you is akin to defying God¡¯s will.¡±

    In modern society, even if someone says that God approves of something, most people would ignore it.

    However, until the early 20th century, most people believed in God with almost blind faith.

    To put it in comparison, it¡¯s like people who attend large churches and go to Sunday services, Friday services, and even volunteer on Saturdays and Sundays.

    Even if the pastor drives a Maybach and sends his kids to Ivy League universities, these people would still believe and make sacrifices for their pastor. Some even sell their houses for donations.

    To this day, religion still holds this kind of authority.

    But once a person gets a slightly higher level of education, they don''t just accept what¡¯s told to them by religion.

    ¡°However, that alone would not have persuaded the nobles. So, scholars who could justify Your Majesty¡¯s kingship, who could logically prove it, were necessary. That way, we could eliminate any rational reasons for the nobles to oppose your rule.¡±

    ¡°Of course, that¡¯s exactly it. The argument they made was also very reasonable. They used a story from the Bible, where the people of Judah ask Deus for a king, claiming that the existence of a king was what the nobility and the people wanted. It matched perfectly with how knights became nobles.¡±

    The Emperor is referring to this.

    According to the Deus Bible, the original kingdom established by the people of Judah had no king.

    Instead, there was a leader, a judge, appointed by God, who served for life.

    However, those who felt that having only a judge was insufficient insisted on having a king, and eventually, they got one.

    ¡°The people who demanded a king offered women, paid taxes, and took on the obligation to serve as soldiers. In return, the king was obliged to protect their freedoms, rights, and safety.¡±

    ¡°Yes, indeed.¡±

    ¡°If I twist this a bit, the nobles¡¯ ancestors also agreed to give up certain rights in exchange for survival by entering into a contract with me. In return, I made them prosperous.¡±

    ¡°If you assert and support this theory, the nobles will not dare to oppose Your Majesty. You have a logical proof for both Deus'' will and Your Majesty¡¯s kingship. Who would dare question the Emperor¡¯s command? They may offer advice, but that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm... Hmmm...¡±

    The Emperor looked at me intently and gave a suspicious smile.

    Well, why is he looking at me like that?

    Even if I die as a lord, I¡¯ll never, ever be the Emperor¡¯s son-in-law.

    If the Emperor has a leash around my neck, living becomes difficult.

    ¡°The Crown Prince said something about you. He said you¡¯re the most grateful talent for being born in the Empire.¡±

    ¡°How can His Highness say such things when there are so many more talented people than me?¡±

    ¡°He argued strongly that if you hadn¡¯t been born in the Empire, it would have been a tragic situation for us. I deeply sympathize with that sentiment.¡±

    ¡°If a mere second son from a baron family could not have earned the Emperor¡¯s favor, would I have been able to come this far? Excalibur and famous swords didn¡¯t make history great; it was the greatness of the one wielding them that left the mark.¡±

    If Excalibur or the Green Dragon Crescent Blade had been in the hands of ordinary soldiers, they would have just been sharp weapons, nothing more.

    It was because King Arthur and Guan Yu wielded them that they became legendary.

    The Emperor gazed at me, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

    ¡°You¡¯re always so humble. Too humble.¡±

    ¡°Human beings must know their place in order to live long.¡±

    ¡°... Recently, young nobles have been dying after trying to imitate you. But here you are, so humble. If you continue like this, I might just want to make you the Prime Minister.¡±

    ... The Prime Minister of the Empire? If that was offered to me, even the Duke of Visconti would probably cheer and go for it.

    I¡¯d hand over the Duke¡¯s title to my father-in-law, become the Prime Minister, and then enjoy the power by overthrowing the Duke of Sforza.

    But the moment I ascend to that coveted position?

    It¡¯s fine for Fabio to do whatever he wants, but everyone around me will likely dislike me intensely.

    ¡°Well, of course, there are still some practical issues. The world is so cold and brutal. Talented people like you aren¡¯t even given the opportunity to show their abilities.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t even joke about how harsh the situation is.

    I¡¯ve probably reached my peak, so...

    Maybe I should just retreat to my domain for the next three years. Spend my days working, and my afternoons focusing on making heirs?

    That would make me free.

    That thought crossed my mind for a brief moment.

    ¡°So, what do you think should be done about them?¡±

    ¡°Should I speak of the ones who wrote ¡®The Social Contract¡¯? You should gather them as Your Majesty¡¯s subordinates.¡±

    ¡°Be more specific.¡±

    ¡°Give the scholars who are interested in research positions as royal scholars. For those who wish to display their abilities as administrators, offer them positions in the bureaucracy. And if you promote them faster than others, it will be excellent. Show them that even someone with a humble background can rise to success by serving Your Majesty. It would also be good to publish their stories in the newspapers and hire minstrels and theaters to promote it all over the country.¡±

    There¡¯s a reason why King Jeongjo used practical scholars like Jeong Yak-yong, Bak Je-ga, and Lee Deok-mu.

    They have no one to rely on other than the King, so they offer absolute loyalty, and other ministers also become more devoted to the King for the promise of greater power and wealth.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do that.¡±

    ¡°And find and promote the lower classes directly. Even if it¡¯s just 10 or 5 out of 100, give them a seat at the table. Share the power with those who hold blue blood. And shout for enlightenment; if you do that...¡±

    I quietly whispered the top-secret plan to the Emperor.

    ¡°Even the noble families ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) with blue blood will desperately flatter Your Majesty to survive.¡±

 Chapter 364: Enlightenment (11)

    When Fabio was selling the absolute monarchy to the Emperor.

    Erica gathered Chloe and Chris and had a secret conversation.

    ¡°A woman like a thieving cat has appeared, targeting our husband.¡±

    In other families, wives and concubines are rivals, or in fact enemies, so it is rare for them to talk face to face like this.

    In the Rothschild Viscounts¡¯ family, Erica, Chris, and Chloe are so close that they sometimes go out to play together.

    When Chloe gave birth to Leo, it was actually Erica, not Fabio, who was the happiest.

    It is only natural for women to be close to a man.

    ¡®I will never give my husband to a bitch who came in from outside.¡¯

    ¡°What kind of woman dares to target my master?¡±

    ¡°Her Highness Princess Teresa.¡±

    When Chloe heard the word princess, she was so surprised that she covered her mouth with her hand.

    It was because he never thought that someone of such high status would have his eyes on Fabio.

    However, on the other hand, it was understandable that the princess was interested, or rather, in love.

    People only saw Fabio as someone who had a lot of money and a great deal of power, but who did all kinds of evil things.

    He was a kind man who loved and cared for his family more than anyone else.

    On weekends, he would always play with Leo... and on weekdays, he would spend time with them after work.

    ¡°Do you think His Majesty noticed the charm of the master?¡±

    ¡°No way. He would never flirt with other women.¡±

    ¡°Erica, isn¡¯t that not necessarily the case? Because he treats everyone around him kindly. It¡¯s a fact that even among the maids working at our mansion, several of them have feelings for the Viscount, and everyone knows that except for the Viscount...¡±

    Fabio was insensitive.

    It wasn¡¯t insensitive to see through people¡¯s hearts.

    Because she had so much to do and had to look far away, she didn¡¯t have time to see what the maids or the young ladies around her thought of her.

    That¡¯s why she was incredibly insensitive to whether others fell in love with her or not.

    ¡°It¡¯s important to continue the family lineage, but... Fabio, it¡¯s also important to keep those thieving women from sticking to my husband.¡±

    ¡°But Erica. There¡¯s no guarantee that Her Highness the Princess is a bad person, right?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been Her Highness Teresa¡¯s maid for quite some time since I was little. No, to be more precise, we were her childhood friends. We were together from the moment we woke up in the morning until we went to bed. We went to balls together and picnics together.¡±

    Erica thought back to when she had seen Teresa de Toscana as a child, or even a few years ago.

    The men around Teresa were all older gentlemen, and no matter how handsome others said they were, they were all just blood-related older brothers or immature younger brothers, so it was hard to know what kind of men she liked...

    She was a girl who never wanted to let go once she had something, whether it was a doll, clothes, or anything else.

    She was very possessive.

    If Teresa tried to monopolize Fabio, it was obvious that we wouldn''t be able to be with Fabio that much longer.

    "She''s very possessive. And according to recent rumors, she''s very smart."

    Chris answered Chloe instead.

    "In order to monopolize the Viscount she likes, she could make him her captive?"

    "Teresa wouldn''t share her love. Then Chloe."

    "Yes."

    "I might not be able to accept your nagging as often as I do now."

    Everyone likes and thinks differently.

    Chloe''s favorite thing was Fabio, and her favorite thing was to listen to Fabio, who had been listening to her when she was little.

    Her life''s reward was to hug Fabio, who came to her with a slightly tired expression, and say, "Do you want to touch my chest?" and listen to him...

    "...... No. That''s absolutely not allowed."

    Erica looked at Chris this time.

    "According to what I''ve heard in social circles, Her Highness Teresa has the potential to be a very capable administrator."

    "I''ve been eyeing the position of housekeeper to replace Sebastian, who''s been suffering from overwork lately. If Her Highness Teresa takes that position."

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    "I''m not happy about Her Highness Teresa suddenly getting involved with the Viscount either. I''m the mistress of the family, my husband''s treasure."

    A new woman coming into her place?

    None of the three here wanted that.

    ¡°Erika, there¡¯s only one thing we can do. Don¡¯t even give your master a chance to think about other women. It may be a bit vulgar, but ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) I heard from another maid that the moment a man turns his eyes to another woman is when the number of times they make passionate love in bed decreases.¡±

    Chloe valued Fabio more than the luxurious life she was enjoying, power, ownership of the barony, etc.

    That¡¯s why she still lives as Fabio¡¯s maid, rather than a baroness with the right to inherit a noble family.

    She spends at least 4~6 hours a day with him.

    ¡°So when you¡¯re away from your wife, your eyes go elsewhere?¡±

    ¡°Yes. So I think I need to be a little more proactive.¡±

    And Chloe, at this moment, became a strategist no less than Zhuge Liang and unleashed her secret plan.

    When she opened her eyes in the bedroom, Erica said with a slightly sour expression.

    ¡°You, haven¡¯t you been working too much lately? Sebastian was worried too.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like I worked that much...¡±

    Laborers still work 60 hours a week, but nobles like me don¡¯t have to be buried in paperwork that much.

    That¡¯s why my working hours rarely exceed 40~50 hours a week.

    I heard that even the Duke of Visconti only works about 4 hours a day.

    This isn¡¯t particularly special.

    Even the Japanese shogun said he didn¡¯t work more than 2 hours a day unless there was something urgent.

    ¡°By noble standards, I¡¯m a workaholic.¡±

    ¡°I think I should rest today. Leo would be worried if he saw his father looking so tired.¡±

    If I had really been sick or looked tired, Erica would have called the family doctor first.

    Nobles have always enjoyed excessive medical benefits.

    Even if your stomach hurts a little, the doctor will come and give you medicine.

    ¡®I guess you¡¯re lonely.¡¯

    Then Chris and Chloe came into the room.

    ¡°The count has been so busy lately that he couldn¡¯t be with us, so he came himself. Let¡¯s have some tea and chat.¡±

    So, are you saying that I¡¯m living to work like crazy?

    I work hard to feed my wife and children.

    And living happily is the most important thing.

    Since we can¡¯t talk on the bed, I went to the chair and sat down.

    I just sat comfortably, but there were only two seats next to me.

    A catfight began between Erica, Chris, and Chloe, who were just pats on the back.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better if I sat next to you and rubbed your shoulders and helped you relax?¡±

    ¡°I want to sit next to you and see your side profile, Erica...¡±

    ¡°Me too, but can you give in this time?¡± ¡°Erika-sama, you were loved so much by the Viscount last night.¡±

    ¡°No matter how much you receive, love is never enough.¡±

    I heard that in other families, catfights are the norm, where you subtly criticize other women¡¯s weaknesses.

    That¡¯s why Duke Visconti said that he rarely goes on dates with two women...

    ¡®In our family, they just pat each other on the back.¡¯

    In the end, the three of them came near me and tried to pass the decision-making power to me.

    Erika naturally unbuttoned her buttons one by one, while Chris showed me the line from the nape of her neck to her collarbone.

    In this case, instead of asking who is better...

    How is this different from asking who is going to sleep with first?

    Normally, the three of them wouldn¡¯t be so proactive.

    ¡®Is this all because of that woman Teresa?¡¯

    As I was sighing, Chloe very carefully sat down on my lap.

    And in a way that made my face meet mine.

    ¡°...... Master, do you remember? In the past, when I often wanted to act cute to you, you would often scold me when I sat on your lap like this. Then, when I felt lonely, you would let me sit on your lap and pat my head.¡±

    This was almost 5 years ago, no, 6 years ago.

    ¡°At that time, even if you just patted my head, I felt like I had the whole world. Now, I¡¯m a little more greedy than before.¡±

    Karan Chris looked at Chloe and protested.

    ¡°Chloe, Sister!¡±

    ¡°Chloe got you.¡±

    Regardless, Chloe whispered in my ear quite naturally.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you become more greedy, Master? Punish the greedy maid.¡±

    ...... That day, I couldn¡¯t leave my room all day.

    And I received a letter about the New World investigation.

    [We discovered several valuable special products in the New World, and discovered the indigenous people.]

 Chapter 365: Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, New World (1)

    When we talk about the Age of Exploration, we usually only think of India.

    Well, the Age of Exploration itself ? N§àv§Öl?g?t ? (Official version) was about going to India to trade spices, or rather, to do kinpai, so it¡¯s not wrong to think that way.

    In fact, the real money was made by developing the West Indies and South America, developing silver and gold mines, and trading in specialty products.

    Not to mention South American grains and vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and pumpkins.

    ¡®Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn are gods.¡¯

    ¡°I thought it was just an empty land that I could make my own if I planted a flag on it in the worst case scenario... but who would have thought it would produce valuable specialty products?¡±

    I¡¯m also glad that there are indigenous people.

    If there are no people living there, it means that there is a high probability that it is an area where people cannot live...

    If there are people living there, it means that I can develop it and make it my colony, or my land.

    Even if people can live there, if there are no local specialties unique to the land, it¡¯s not easy to attract people and make a profit.

    There are even local specialties that can make money, so we have to develop them, right?

    [I can only have a very basic conversation with the natives, so I couldn¡¯t find out much about the tribe¡¯s politics, society, or surrounding circumstances. According to Gaviole, who can speak the language, there are several cities around here, and it seems like there are kings.]

    The presence of a king-like being means that the society has developed to some extent.

    Then, would it be difficult for me to conquer them?

    It wouldn¡¯t be bad to treat them like the Masai Union of Ifriqiya.

    [However, their level of technology is very low. They don¡¯t use wheels to move things, they don¡¯t use things like carriages, and they don¡¯t even have the technology to melt and process iron. However, even in a tribal village, you can often see very elaborate structures made by directly carving stones, and it was a bit surprising that even the mere tribesmen wore gold ornaments.]

    If you try to conquer them, you can conquer them.

    You may have bows and arrows, but those who fight with stone weapons or bronze swords can be taught a true education with just steel armor and a gun.

    The great conquerors Francisco Gonzalo and Hernan Cortes proved this by destroying empires with just a few hundred men.

    Oh, let''s leave out Gonzalo, he''s not great.

    And gold is common, isn''t that a complete golden scent?

    [Some of our sailors married these people... no, to be exact, their brains were dominated by their lower bodies, so they had no choice but to marry them. I wanted to behead him and hang his head on the mast, but our company''s policy is to prioritize relationships with locals, so we gave him 100 lashes with a whip and approved the marriage.]

    During the Age of Exploration, the sexual desires of sailors were a serious problem.

    If you don''t get a sense of how serious this was, this is a dirty story...

    I learned that it was not uncommon for cows and sheep to be loaded with fresh meat, and for the young ones with their brains in their lower bodies to engage in bestiality.

    Those who were caught were hanged, and the cows and sheep were ''slaughtered'' and eaten on the spot.

    Later, they falsely accused the bullied of bestiality and killed them, and ate their meat.

    Of course, because of that bestiality, I could have turned the Masai Federation into something similar to a Rothschild family colony...

    ''What a bunch of crazy bastards.''

    "They''re crazy, really." ¡°Is there anything bad written?¡±

    ¡°Are the authors of sailors really brainless? They pay them well and even let them get married after working as sailors for 3 years, but they still do that...¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, it would be easier if you just gave up. If you didn¡¯t have that kind of sexual desire, who would step forward and marry a pagan girl who doesn¡¯t speak English and doesn¡¯t believe in Deus to act as a bridge between our company and the natives?¡±

    Come to think of it, that¡¯s right.

    When we made an alliance with the Masai Union, when we promised to give those who were full of sexual desire a ¡®dark-skinned woman¡¯ to marry, they all cheered because they were horny.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    You guys are really crazy, please don¡¯t touch the daughter of a high-ranking member of the native tribe.

    The only way to deal with that is to carry a matchlock gun and deliver lead bullets to those guys.

    ¡°Have you read the story about the specialty?¡±

    After hearing that, I immediately came to my senses.

    Of course, conquering the natives or absorbing them into our side is important.

    But what¡¯s more important is whether or not we can make money by conquering that place.

    ¡®Just hearing that there are gold and silver mines, conquering a place that takes over a month to sail one way is a bit...¡¯

    [There, they use a parasitic bug that lives on cacti as a dye to dye their clothes red, and the dyed clothes are very beautiful. They call it cochineal.]

    I covered my mouth with my hand for a moment.

    Cochineal, in Korean, is a cochineal bug.

    If we sold clothes dyed with those guys in the Tuscan Empire, where there were no chemical dyes...?

    They would sell like hotcakes.

    Clothes dyed with beautiful foreign dyes are a means of showing off how wealthy you are.

    [In addition, there is a mysterious plant called tobacco that makes you feel better and relieves your worries just by burning it and inhaling its smoke. Plants like maize, patata, batata, mani, and chili grow...]

    Underneath that, there was a description of the plants called maize, patata, and batata.

    When I looked closely at the written content, I found that they were all crops like potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and peppers.

    In addition, there were several crops written, such as garlic and pumpkin.

    When looking at the characters of alternative history, it seems like a cliche? that when they find peppers and garlic, they immediately make kimchi and eat it...

    As a history student, this thought crossed my mind.

    ¡°Sebastian! The instructions I gave were to send me directly any new crops that could be preserved, if possible, without ¡®cooking¡¯ or ¡®processing¡¯ them. Of course, you brought crops like patata, batata, and mani, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they kept them in separate boxes in a warehouse where sunlight doesn¡¯t reach.¡±

    ¡°Bring them right now!¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand. But why are you in such a hurry...¡±

    It¡¯s hard to put this into words.

    Potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, peanuts.

    If we just had these four crops, we could triple the population we can support now.

    When the Qing dynasty first founded their country, their population was only about 60 to 80 million, but by the end of the Qing dynasty, it had grown to 300 million.

    At the center of this were peanuts, sweet potatoes, and potatoes.

    Historians have also emphasized that these crops played a huge role in the increase in China¡¯s population.

    ¡°New crops are always profitable. No, they can even change the world.¡±

    Sebastian sighed and ordered the butler outside.

    ¡°The count asked me to bring the newly imported crops. Don¡¯t cook them, just bring them raw. ¡°I¡¯ll give you 5 minutes.¡±

    ¡°...... It¡¯ll take 5 minutes even if you run all the way to the warehouse.¡±

    ¡°Make the impossible possible. The fate of the family is at stake.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, I understand!¡±

    The butler started running so fast that I thought he might die.

    And in exactly 5 minutes, he brought potatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers, corn, and pumpkins.

    I gave the sweaty butler a small daily bonus.

    ¡°You can leave work today.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Go home and rest.¡±

    The butler got a small bonus and a half-day off in return for running like crazy for 5 minutes.

    I guess he¡¯ll feel a lot better.

    Then I brushed off some of the dirt and took a bite of the crops.

    They weren¡¯t even cooked properly, and they weren¡¯t as highly bred as modern crops, so they didn¡¯t taste very good...

    A smile escaped my lips.

    ¡°Hehehe, this is it...¡±

    The ¡®semi-wild pepper¡¯ that was several times spicier than Korean peppers was spicier than Buldak sauce.

    But I couldn¡¯t help but laugh.

    ¡°Many of the crops that developed European and world history are from South America...¡±

    ¡°South America? Where is that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a new name for the New World. The beautiful land of the south.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ¡°Sebastian, please find a ship so I can go to the Masai Union right now.¡±

    ¡°Okay. But why now...¡±

    Try introducing potato, sweet potato, corn, and peanut farming to the Tuscan Empire right now.

    People might find fault with my discovery of the New World.

    That absolutely must not happen, no matter what.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to spread those crops to the Masai Union and increase the population of that region and the scale of trade.¡±

    And I declared my ambition.

    ¡°The South American continent is the exclusive territory of the Rothschild family. It will happen. Sebastian, I will give you a barony in about 10 to 20 years.¡±

 Chapter 366: Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, New World (2)

    The Masai Union, which I visited after a long time, was almost like it had never been before.

    I had the same thought when I visited last time, but now it had completely changed into a city, except for the castle walls.

    There was a market, and on the streets, vendors and even priests hired locally were walking by...

    This place, too, had become a great country with a different culture.

    ¡°Count Rothschild, why are you thinking so much?¡±

    ¡°I think the Masai Union has developed a lot compared to before. Just looking at it makes me feel full.¡±

    Malik, the chieftain of the Masai Union (soon to be promoted to king), snickered at my face.

    ¡°It¡¯s not even your business, so why are you so happy?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you and the chieftain friends?¡±

    ¡°Friend, so you¡¯re a friend without any flaws except for your excessive love of money. You¡¯re a friend as precious as family, or maybe even more precious than family.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it too much to say that you are more precious than your family?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you that our dying tribe has been revived like this. Of course, I¡¯m a little upset that you made us worship Deus instead of our ancestors. Other than that, I have no complaints.¡±

    If I hadn¡¯t chosen the Botswana tribe, not only Malik but also the tribesmen would have been sold into slavery or met a miserable end.

    I¡¯m glad that you know that.

    Ultimately, everything was done for my benefit, but if you have the bad thought that you can live well on your own without me...

    I might have had to help Nador to correct his wrong thoughts.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad that I got to see you after so many years, or before I die.¡±

    ¡°You should live a long life.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m already over 70 years old. And my body doesn¡¯t even accept alcohol these days. I guess it¡¯s time to die. ¡°I wanted to be a king before I die.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you already a king, even if the name is different?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. I should at least make a crown after you leave.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a wise idea.¡±

    Malik poured me a drink and said.

    ¡°Anyway, what brings you here this time?¡±

    ¡°I brought a crop that will help the Masai Alliance. It can quickly harvest about six times the amount of food that wheat can produce.¡±

    ¡°...... Six times? Does that make sense?¡±

    I also remember grabbing the back of my neck when I first saw the yield per unit area of ??potatoes.

    Based on farming in Korea, you can harvest four tons of wheat per hectare, but you can harvest a whopping 23 tons of potatoes planted in the spring.

    I thought that was magic.

    If you add the blessings of corn, sweet potatoes, and peanuts to that, the population could probably triple in 100 years?

    It¡¯s understandable that the gentleman would be surprised.

    Not being surprised is actually a mental illness.

    ¡°Have you seen me lying?¡±

    ¡°If someone else said that, I would have hit them on the head with a plate. I told them to stop talking nonsense.¡±

    ¡°Just try it. And there are other crops besides this. Peanuts, corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. These four crops are amazing.¡±

    ¡°Does it taste amazing?¡±

    ¡°They taste much worse than wheat. Instead, you can harvest a huge amount.¡±

    Potatoes that taste good when you dip them in salt, sweet potatoes that taste great when you eat them with kimchi, corn that tastes slightly sweet when you steam it and chew it, etc.

    Those crops were only available in the 20th century.

    Even the peasants complained that potatoes in the Middle Ages were so tasteless that they were like ¡°what on earth do you eat?¡± The sweet potatoes were sweet enough, but they were probably less sweet than the roasted chestnuts I¡¯m eating now.

    And when I tried them, they were really tasteless.

    ¡®But the yield per unit area is crazy, right? It¡¯s even really easy to grow, right?¡¯

    ¡°Try it.¡±

    After some time, the New World crops that had been cooked were placed in front of us.

    ¡°You can eat the potatoes with salt, and the rest as is.¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s try it.¡±

    Malik started eating the crops, including the potatoes and sweet potatoes.

    He seemed a little reluctant because I said they wouldn¡¯t taste good, but...

    He soon started eating them normally.

    ¡°They¡¯re not tasty, but they¡¯re edible. Of all the ones here, I think the sweet potatoes and peanuts are the best. The corn is edible, but I guess I¡¯ll have to roast this one over charcoal. It doesn¡¯t really suit my taste when I eat it steamed.¡± ¡°Sweet potatoes and corn will grow the best in the Masai Union.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Then instead of the wheat you¡¯re growing now, you should grow corn and sweet potatoes...¡±

    No, please don¡¯t do that. If you do that, all your farming will fail.

    In the 1950s, Kim Il-sung was possessed by the immortal great man he respected the most, Mao Zedong, the Chinese massacrer, and spouted out nonsense that all fields should be planted very densely with corn.

    As a result, the North Korean people enjoyed a worse living standard than during the Japanese colonial period, or rather, during the worst of the Japanese colonial periods, 1943-1945.

    Of course, according to North Korean logic, because of communism and the leader¡¯s warm love, even if they starved, they were full, and even if they didn¡¯t eat, their faces were covered in oil...

    Rather than believing that, I¡¯d rather believe that the Earth is flat.

    If we follow suit, the Masai Union will fail due to a food shortage.

    ¡°Corn is a crop that must be left idle for at least 2-3 years once planted. And the Masai Union is not in a bad food situation right now, so there is no need to plant only crops like sweet potatoes. Plant moderately. If you cover all the fields with sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes, you will not be able to handle it later.¡±

    ¡°If that is what you say, then we should do it.¡±

    ¡°It is enough to completely cover the fields with sweet potatoes and potatoes even after the wheat has been plowed away when there are signs of a bad harvest.¡±

    The crops that we commonly refer to as relief crops have the characteristic of being able to grow quickly and relatively easily compared to rice.

    As I said, if the crops fail, you need to be able to plant and eat them quickly.

    Are you thinking of eating such relief crops as your staple food?

    If you do that, you might end up like Ireland, the country of potatoes.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do that. But why are you giving us these crops without any compensation? If I were you, I would sell it for a huge sum of money, and I would never give it to anyone else.¡±

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    You have to eat well and live well to buy more weapons from us.

    Then more gold will come to me, and if I sell the gold and gather refugees from the war-ravaged Kingdom of Lyon or the Holy Empire and put them in the East Indica Company.

    Now I plan to mobilize them and diligently develop the New World.

    If I tell you all about it, our Uncle Malik might suspect me...

    ¡°The Chieftain and I are quite different in age, but I consider the Chieftain my most trusted friend and colleague. Although I don¡¯t live here, my subordinates and people have taken root in Soros.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°Luxuries, like gold and silver, are good for people to live with. However, you won¡¯t die without them. On the other hand, if you run out of food and water, you will definitely die. ¡°My people living in Soros, my friends who have been with me until now, the chieftain and his tribesmen, and the people of the Union are very precious to me.¡±

    Malik was quite moved by my words, and his eyes began to redden.

    If it were me, most people would believe it, but the majesty of the Tuscan Empire and other nobles wouldn¡¯t be so moved by such an obvious comment...

    I guess I¡¯m weak to emotions because I¡¯ve lived in a nomadic tribal state.

    Well, it¡¯s better for me to be mistaken like that, so let¡¯s just let them be mistaken.

    ¡°And this is another gift I¡¯m giving you. I can give you crops like potatoes for free, but I can¡¯t give you this for free from now on.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t we just give it to each other?¡±

    Malik and I are very close.

    We¡¯re not close on a personal level, but our economic interests match.

    I¡¯ve become incredibly wealthy thanks ~N§àv§Ölight~ to Malik.

    ¡®You can give it to me for free.¡¯

    ¡°There is a condition.¡±

    Malik was surprised to hear me say this.

    ¡°You give me things for free. The sun must rise in the west.¡±

    ¡°This cloak and cloth were dyed by me with a dye called cochineal that comes from a faraway foreign land. Not only in the Tuscan Empire, but also in the one you see here, there is no other clothing dyed with this dye.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really?¡±

    ¡°Wear this, and if anyone asks where you got it, just tell them that a foreign merchant gave it to you.¡±

    ¡°I will.¡±

    Then I handed Malik a gold-wrapped bear pipe.

    ¡°This is called tobacco. You put a leaf in it, burn it, and inhale the smoke.¡±

    ¡°What a strange thing.¡±

    Malik took a quick puff and smiled.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about my worries.

    ¡°It feels like everything is disappearing.¡±

    ¡°We will also provide this at a very cheap price. Take a puff of cigarette and a sip of rum and you will feel like you own the world.¡±

 Chapter 367: Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, New World (3)

    Chief Malik of the Botswani Tribe, the High Chief of the Maasai Confederation

    Malik met with numerous people every day¡ªchieftains overseeing multiple tribes under his command, warriors and officials under his authority, and merchants from the Toscani Empire.

    Of course, not just anyone could gain an audience with the High Chief. Only select merchants were granted such a privilege, and even then, it was not a daily occurrence.

    ¡°I am Antonio Louis Vuitton, the head of the Louis Vuitton Trading Company. Thank you for granting me the honor of this audience, Your Excellency.¡±

    ¡°You people treat me as if I were your emperor.¡±

    ¡°Are you not a king in your own right, Your Excellency?¡±

    ¡°I am not a king, but I suppose you could say it is something similar.¡±

    When speaking with Fabio, Malik laughed freely, joked about bringing their families together, and engaged in unreserved conversation.

    But that was because Malik genuinely considered Fabio a sworn brother, despite their considerable age difference. It was not because he was a naive or overly generous man.

    Thus, Malik did not greet Antonio with the same warm smile, affable tone, or playful remarks that he used with Fabio.

    "All Toscani merchants, except for Baron Rothschild, are snakes who will rob you blind the moment you show a weakness."

    This was a lie Fabio had spread to protect his business interests in the Maasai Confederation.

    But it was also a truth.

    Toscani merchants truly were men who would rob you blind with open eyes.

    ¡°To begin our discussion, I have brought a gift¡ªa fine sword from the Toscani Empire.¡±

    ¡°A sword, rather than gold or silver trinkets? That pleases me.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Excellency. Additionally, I wish to propose the sale of matchlock guns¡ª¡±

    ¡°Our Maasai Confederation only purchases firearms and gunpowder from Baron Rothschild. He is our brother and family¡ªan upstanding and devout man.¡±

    Antonio barely restrained the urge to slap his forehead or grab the back of his neck in frustration.

    He could accept that firearms were off-limits.

    But Rothschild was a devout man?

    True, he was someone who never broke a business deal.

    But if anyone so much as touched his business interests, he was the kind of madman who would retaliate with the most cunning and ruthless schemes imaginable.

    Every merchant in the Toscani Empire knew the story of how the Duke of Sforza had attempted to extract a large donation from Fabio, only to have his entire duchy ravaged by Fabio''s ruthless sanitation inspections.

    "The inspectors wore white gloves, and if they found even a speck of dust, they fined the establishment ten gold coins."

    There was even a legendary story about how, in order to keep restaurants from being shut down, owners had to secretly pay Fabio twenty gold coins as a bribe.

    ¡°If that is the case, would Your Excellency be interested in purchasing Toscani-made jewelry, clothing, swords, and armor?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, I will allow it. Our warriors need worthy rewards for their service. Sell the goods in the quantity that Chief Atau requests.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Excellency. But may I ask just one more question?¡±

    At that moment, a witty thought flashed through Malik¡¯s mind.

    The negotiations were complete, so perhaps now was a good time to lighten the mood with a joke.

    ¡°Haha, would one question be enough? I¡¯ll allow you to ask two.¡±

    Had Fabio been here, he would have sighed and thought, So he¡¯s officially old enough for dad jokes now.

    But just as jokes from a superior officer somehow became funnier when told in the office, Malik¡¯s humor, as a high chief, was automatically elevated to peak entertainment.

    The guards standing in the audience chamber had their faces frozen in stoic disbelief.

    But Antonio, reflexively covering his mouth, chuckled.

    ¡°Forgive me, Your Excellency. That was simply too amusing.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead and laugh.¡±

    Antonio laughed heartily, as if he were an actor performing in a play.

    ¡°Your Excellency, you have a gift for humor.¡±

    ¡°In the Maasai Confederation, wit and humor are marks of refinement.¡±

    The guards had already decided that once their shift ended, they would spread word of their chief¡¯s exceptional comedic genius.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡°I must say, Your Excellency, the cloak you wear is truly magnificent. That bold, noble red¡ªit suits the High Chief of the Maasai Confederation perfectly.¡±

    ¡°Ah, this? It was dyed using a rare pigment from a distant land.¡±

    ¡°Might I ask where such pigments are sold?¡±

    ¡°It was presented to me by the Cheroni tribe. They, too, refused to reveal where they obtained the dye.¡±

    Antonio¡¯s gaze lingered on the vibrant red cloak.

    If he could secure a supply of that dye, he could create a fortune by dyeing silk with it.

    Given the lower level of craftsmanship in the Maasai Confederation compared to Toscani artisans, it was certain that he could produce fabric that was even more brilliant and vivid.

    ¡°If I can get my hands on that dye, I¡¯ll be rich beyond my wildest dreams.¡±

    ¡°And now that I think about it, I nearly sent you away empty-handed. Bring the tobacco.¡±

    Malik took a pipe and began to smoke.

    No matter how much worry clouded his mind, a few puffs of this, and he felt like he could withstand anything.

    ¡°I can¡¯t even imagine life without tobacco anymore.¡±

    ¡°Here, try it. It clears away all your worries.¡±

    ¡°Then, if Your Excellency insists...¡±

    Antonio took the pipe and drew in a deep breath of smoke.

    Immediately, he started coughing violently.

    ¡°Cough, cough! What is this? Inhaling burnt smoke¡ªhave you lost your mind? This is madness¡ªcough!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s how it is at first. But don¡¯t you feel a little better now?¡±

    Even through his coughing fit, Antonio could feel it.

    His worries and stress seemed to melt away. His fatigue faded, replaced by an inexplicable sense of well-being.

    ¡°Hah... Hoo...¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve discovered the pleasure of tobacco.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Excellency. It¡¯s strangely soothing, like my burdens have lightened.¡±

    ¡°This is called tobacco. The first time I smoked it, I realized how incredible it was.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s quite remarkable. I feel refreshed, and it seems to ease my tension. It must be good for the body. Would it be possible to take some with me?¡±

    Antonio was certain.

    Just a few puffs erased one¡¯s worries. Smoking it looked undeniably refined.

    ¡°If I market this as an exotic remedy, it will sell like crazy.¡±

    ¡°What will you offer in exchange?¡±

    ¡°How about sugar? An equal weight in sugar¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hah! Did you leave your conscience back in the Toscani Empire?¡±

    ¡°A kilogram of sugar for a hundred grams of tobacco¡ª¡±

    ¡°Twenty grams of tobacco for a kilogram of sugar. I won¡¯t go lower. Do you think acquiring this from the Cheroni tribe is easy?¡±

    In truth, all of this tobacco came from Fabio.

    But since Fabio did not yet wish to be known as its supplier, Malik simply took a slight profit from the transactions.

    ¡°I have brought five tons of sugar. Please provide me with one hundred kilograms of tobacco.¡±

    ¡°Very well.¡±

    Antonio purchased one hundred kilograms of tobacco and took it back to the empire.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) empire¡¯s elites to become addicted.

    Toscani Imperial Palace

    The emperor sat in his chamber, smoking a pipe.

    ¡°This Antonio fellow... He¡¯s brought something marvelous. Tobacco¡ªit¡¯s expensive, but just one puff, and all my fatigue vanishes.¡±

    A headache from political stress?

    A single puff, and his mind cleared.

    Anxiety or loss of appetite?

    A puff, and he felt renewed.

    ¡°It even helps digestion. What a miraculous medicine. I must ensure my people smoke it as well.¡±

    In his efforts to counterbalance Fabio, the emperor had long since descended into indulgence.

    He had originally been an above-average ruler.

    But as he gained popularity and power, his perspective shifted.

    At first, he had become a wise ruler to consolidate his authority.

    Now, he simply enjoyed being a wise ruler.

    Like a child forced to eat spicy food by his mother, only to end up loving it himself.

    ¡°But this stuff is far too expensive. One pipeful costs a hundred grams of sugar or two silver coins. I smoke four or five times a day...¡±

    At first, when a merchant had presented this burning plant, he had thought the man insane.

    Now, that merchant deserved a hefty tax break and a royal reward.

    ¡°I should lower Louis Vuitton Trading Company¡¯s taxes... and grant them a reward.¡±

    The emperor sat back, praising his own wisdom.

    And thus, the demand for tobacco spread across the empire.

 Chapter 368: Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, New World (4)

    Many say that music is the only drug sanctioned by the state.

    But that¡¯s just the delusion of a pretentious adolescent who thinks they have a deep artistic soul and are different from the rest. There¡¯s a 99% chance that someone spouting such nonsense is in the midst of a full-blown teenage angst phase.

    In reality, the only state-sanctioned drugs are tobacco and alcohol.

    They¡¯re addictive, sure, but rarely to the extent that they completely ruin one¡¯s ability to function in daily life. Most cases result in nothing more than chronic dependence.

    Rather than banning them outright and dealing with the inevitable consequences, most governments simply tolerate them.

    "During Russia¡¯s Prohibition, people diluted hand sanitizer to make alcohol, didn¡¯t they?"

    ¡°As you may have already expected, my lord, cochineal and tobacco have taken the empire by storm. Nobles and merchants alike are sending people to the Maasai Confederation in search of a tribe they call the ¡®Cherokee,¡¯ believing them to be the source.¡±

    ¡°Are they looking for Prester John or something? They won¡¯t find anything.¡±

    ¡°With cochineal and tobacco in such short supply, they think that making contact with the Cherokee will make them rich beyond their dreams.¡±

    ¡°To an outsider, it must look like there¡¯s a gold mine over there. In reality, there¡¯s nothing at all.¡±

    ¡°The fools who fall for the deception deserve to be swindled. Ignorance is a crime in its own right. So why don¡¯t we sell them fake information on the Cherokee and, at the same time, sell them overpriced supplies necessary for their expeditions into Ifriqiya? They¡¯ll never find cochineal or tobacco anyway, and they¡¯ll all go bankrupt sooner or later. It¡¯s only fair that we put their wasted money to good use.¡±

    Sebastian is getting quite devious.

    I had only made a passing joke about the gold rush, yet he immediately recalled the tactics used by those who actually profited from it.

    Gold rushes never truly yielded gold for those who sought it.

    But the prospectors were so desperate that they recklessly bought supplies at exorbitant prices.

    Merchants made a fortune by marking up their goods fivefold, and while 99.9% of the miners ended up destitute, the ones selling them tools and provisions walked away as millionaires.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do it. Contact Ericsson in Soros and instruct him to sell the essential survival equipment and livestock at a ¡®reasonable¡¯ price.¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord. But what if their guides fail to locate the Cherokee tribe?¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. They¡¯re the ones choosing to go off and die on their own. It has nothing to do with us.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, my lord.¡±

    In Korea, if you sold a life jacket to someone intent on jumping into the Han River, you¡¯d end up in prison for aiding and abetting a suicide.

    But in the Toscani Empire? Selling a suicidal man a gun or a dagger wasn¡¯t considered a crime. Nor was it seen as an ethical issue.

    If someone was foolish enough to die because they fell for a fake lead, that was on them.

    Sebastian placed a stack of letters before me.

    ¡°These are requests from various nobles, including His Grace the Duke of Visconti and members of the Sforza faction, all pleading for information on the source of cochineal and tobacco. They assume that our family must be involved in the trade.¡±

    ¡°This is ridiculous. The Maasai Confederation is only exporting small amounts¡ªwhy are they coming to us?¡±

    Under normal circumstances, such a request would be utterly meaningless.

    But in this particular case, the actions of these tobacco and ¡®red fever¡¯ addicts were entirely justified.

    After all, both cochineal and tobacco were being carefully controlled by me.

    But here¡¯s the thing¡ª

    If I refuse to tell them where I¡¯m getting it from, what can they possibly do?

    Absolutely nothing. If they¡¯re so frustrated, they should have charted a route to the New World themselves.

    ¡°Knowledge is power.¡±

    ¡°The butler who delivered His Grace the Duke of Visconti¡¯s letter mentioned that the duke wants you to deliver cochineal and tobacco to him as soon as possible. It¡¯s not certain, but if you don¡¯t hand over the tobacco within a month... he might just come here himself.¡±

    ¡°This is madness. I already told them I don¡¯t know anything.¡±

    ¡°My lord, whenever something new and suspiciously lucrative hits the market in the empire, 99 times out of 100, it turns out to be something our family introduced.¡±

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡°...I can¡¯t even argue with that.¡±

    I had once sold seaweed as an aphrodisiac.

    I had scaled up the textile industry by thirtyfold using advanced weaving, spinning, and cotton-processing machines.

    I had set up large-scale poultry farms, cutting the empire¡¯s chicken prices in [N O V E L I G H T] half.

    Given all that, it was only natural for people to assume that I was behind this latest economic phenomenon.

    That was precisely why they were merely sending letters and assembling exploration parties instead of outright demanding that I disclose the source.

    I took the letter from the Duke of Visconti and began reading it.

    [To my dear Baron Rothschild, my grandson-in-law,

    Fabio, I recently came across a company called the Louis Vuitton Trading House, which introduced a dye called cochineal and a product called tobacco.

    I have spent a great deal of money acquiring some, but it¡¯s not nearly enough to meet my family¡¯s needs.

    Since you are the greatest merchant in the empire, I hope you can personally secure more for me.]

    At first glance, it seemed like a completely ordinary letter.

    But the handwriting and tone told me everything I needed to know.

    A noble of the duke¡¯s status rarely wrote his own letters¡ªhis secretaries handled all correspondence, which meant his handwriting was never consistent.

    Yet, this letter was unmistakably in his own hand.

    Moreover, the tone was unusually gentle.

    Even when the duke addressed me affectionately, his writing always carried the arrogance and dignity befitting a noble.

    This letter, however, read like a warm request from an old grandfather to his grandson-in-law.

    As the saying goes, when someone suddenly acts out of character, it means one of two things¡ªeither they¡¯re dying, or they desperately need a favor.

    [I¡¯m getting old, and these days, my only small joy comes from smoking tobacco. I¡¯d greatly appreciate any assistance you can provide.]

    The underlying threat was clear: If you don¡¯t help me, I will personally come and make a scene.

    Deus, have mercy.

    I knew tobacco addiction was hard to break, even harder than alcohol.

    But for a man as proud as the Duke of Visconti to go this far...

    ¡°The other nobles¡¯ letters must all be similar.¡±

    ¡°They are, my lord.¡±

    ¡°Sebastian, what do you think would happen if I publicly announced that I was monopolizing the tobacco and cochineal trade?¡±

    ¡°As long as we obscure the true source¡ªjust as we do when concealing the origins of our gold¡ªit should be manageable. If we stage some transactions in the Maasai Confederation and allow some gold to exchange hands, people will simply assume that a specialized tribe within the confederation is the supplier.¡±

    ¡°And if I keep the monopoly entirely to myself?¡±

    ¡°Everyone knows about the close ties between the Rothschild family and the Maasai Confederation. If we alone controlled the trade, there would be no immediate cause for suspicion. Of course, political and economic pressure on us might increase, but...¡±

    Sebastian grinned at me.

    ¡°My lord, you needn¡¯t dirty your hands with such trivial matters. If you allow it, I, Sebastian, will ensure that anyone who dares to challenge us regrets ever being born.¡±

    Some say revenge is meaningless.

    They¡¯re wrong.

    If you let yourself be trampled on without retaliating, people will take that as a sign of weakness and pile on even harder.

    Even in a workplace, once you¡¯re seen as a pushover, you¡¯ll end up doing all the grunt work while someone else steals the credit.

    And in politics?

    If I appear weak, I¡¯ll be on the guillotine in a matter of months, and my wives¡ªexcept for Erica¡ªwill be sold off to who knows where.

    ¡°We also need to introduce new food supplies¡ªespecially potatoes, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and corn. Those crops will be crucial to the empire¡¯s development.¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to host an extravagant banquet and serve dishes made from those ingredients.¡±

    First, I had to make the nobility associate these foods with luxury.

    ¡°Tell Baron Conte to have the chefs from Restaurant Rothschild prepare the finest cuisine. And let him know¡ªif he fails, he¡¯ll pay dearly for it.¡±

    I sincerely hoped he wouldn¡¯t mess this up.

 Chapter 369: Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, New World (5)

    The morning of the banquet, Baron Conte stiffly marched up to me in a near-perfect right-angle gait.

    It seemed he had been greatly shaken by the slight warning that failure this time could make his family''s survival a bit difficult.

    ¡°All the preparations for the banquet are complete, Viscount.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, Baron.¡±

    ¡°This is a banquet I have prepared with my utmost devotion. The only thing missing is the ? N§àv§Öl?g?t ? (Official version) imperial emblem as decoration. Aside from that, the formality is nearly identical to a banquet hosted by the imperial family.¡±

    ¡°There won¡¯t be any issues, will there?¡±

    Baron Conte shook his head.

    ¡°I still have the entire imperial etiquette handbook memorized¡ªdown to the exception clauses and legal loopholes. Even if this is taken to the High Court later, it will be ruled completely innocent. I made a very minor ¡®distinction.¡¯ Look here.¡±

    The baron showed me the upper and lower portions of the tablecloth.

    ¡°I embroidered the Rothschild family emblem in gold thread on the top, but if you look closely, there¡¯s no gold thread on the bottom.¡±

    ¡°This was done for the sake of etiquette, I assume?¡±

    ¡°Yes, precisely. And a person¡¯s gaze does not usually go to something they must lower their head to see. So, anyone seated at this table will be overwhelmed by your wealth and power, Viscount, as they behold items just as lavish as those used by the imperial family.¡±

    ¡°And if someone nitpicks about etiquette, we simply show them the bottom?¡±

    Baron Conte grinned instead of responding.

    This trick reminded me of something.

    When the Chinese emperor built the Forbidden City, he had to ensure the palace didn¡¯t have 10,000 rooms¡ªotherwise, it would be seen as rivalling the Jade Emperor. So, he built it with 9,999 rooms instead.

    ¡°Take a closer look at the other details as well.¡±

    Baron Conte then began meticulously showcasing the various furnishings and decorations, emphasizing just how much effort he had put into the preparations.

    ¡°And this banquet will be conducted in a buffet style.¡±

    ¡°A buffet, huh? That¡¯s not exactly in line with current trends. Imperial etiquette must have changed to serving courses since nouvelle cuisine became popular. Even if we¡¯ve planned this as a buffet from two weeks ago, I can¡¯t help but feel a little concerned.¡±

    The baron, who had seemed intimidated until just moments ago, suddenly spoke with great confidence.

    ¡°Trends are just that¡ªtrends. And who dictates trends? That would be you, Viscount. In the past, nobles held banquets by imitating imperial cuisine and etiquette... but now, even the imperial family is copying the dishes, etiquette, and furniture arrangements of Restaurant Rothschild.¡±

    ¡°I admit, I was surprised when I heard a few months ago that the imperial sous-chef had secretly trained at my restaurant for two months.¡±

    ¡°As someone who once served as the chief chamberlain, it feels odd for me to say this, but the current imperial etiquette, noble balls, and cultural standards are all shaped by the direction you choose to take. And since buffet-style dining has been used for outdoor balls in the past, no one will be able to find fault with it.¡±

    Baron Conte was an exceedingly greedy man.

    Despite only serving as a consultant for Restaurant Rothschild, he collected an annual salary of 700 gold coins¡ªand with bonuses, that sum exceeded 2,000 gold coins.

    Using that reputation, he also provided banquet consulting services to other noble families, raking in enormous profits.

    A master of political maneuvering who had climbed to the position of chief chamberlain, he occasionally got on my nerves, but he always managed to keep himself just beyond the reach of reprimand.

    When it comes to etiquette and culture, there¡¯s no one better.

    In any case, the man was worth every bit of his 2,000-gold salary.

    ¡°Besides, it¡¯s practically impossible to incorporate sweet potatoes, potatoes, peanuts, and corn into a strict course meal. This banquet is meant to showcase the various dishes that can be made using these crops, so a buffet is the only viable option.¡±

    ¡°That makes sense. There won¡¯t be any issues with the food, then?¡±

    ¡°I may not be a chef, but I dare say I am the empire¡¯s top-tier food critic. Every dish has been personally tasted, evaluated, and refined according to meticulously recorded recipes. There is no way the food will be anything less than exquisite.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll trust you on this, Baron.¡±

    Baron Conte grinned at me.

    ¡°You can put your full confidence in me.¡±

    Under normal circumstances, the host of a banquet is expected to personally greet every guest.

    The distribution of greetings must also be carefully balanced based on status, personal closeness, and political alignment.

    Praising a lower-status individual too much in front of others could make them the subject of gossip.

    But today, I left all guest reception duties to Sebastian.

    There was only one reason for that¡ªI had to personally escort the emperor.

    ¡°Your Majesty, I am honored by your presence at my humble estate¡¯s banquet.¡±

    ¡°Humble? Now that¡¯s quite the joke.¡±

    The emperor glanced around the venue before smirking.

    ¡°This is just as splendid as one of my banquets.¡±

    ¡°I paid particular attention to every detail in honor of Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°But why are there only men at this banquet? A gathering of just men... is not the most pleasant sight.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, this banquet is centered around smoking tobacco.¡±

    ¡°An interesting concept. From morning till night, guests converse in the central garden, and when they grow hungry, they simply help themselves to food. It feels somewhat similar to an old-fashioned ball, yet distinct. But what does that have to do with there being no women?¡±

    Tobacco is outright poison to women¡ªespecially those considering pregnancy.

    Beyond harming the mother¡¯s health, the risks of miscarriage and congenital disabilities skyrocket.

    And if noblewomen¡ªwhose duty is to carry on their family¡¯s lineage¡ªstart seeing an increase in birth defects, and they realize I am at the center of the tobacco trade?

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    Not even I would be able to avoid the guillotine.

    So, I needed to be the one leading the charge against that danger.

    ¡°When I purchased tobacco from the Maasai Confederation, I heard that among the Cherokee tribe, only men are allowed to smoke. They believe that if a woman smokes, she will bear a child with disabilities.¡±

    ¡°Fascinating.¡±

    ¡°Pregnant women are careful even with medicine, are they not? Tobacco has strong medicinal effects as well.¡±

    ¡°There is logic to what you say. And since you hold the credentials of a medical professor, your words carry even greater weight.¡±

    When a waterborne epidemic swept through Pisa, I predicted it in advance and personally worked on the ground to contain it.

    After that, the medical professors of the University of Toscana awarded me a doctorate and professor credentials.

    Of course, if I actually started teaching full-fledged university courses, I¡¯d be laughed at...

    But they did say I could personally lecture on hygiene and disease prevention.

    I¡¯d been wondering how to make use of that qualification¡ªturns out, this was the perfect opportunity.

    ¡°Women must never be allowed to smoke. If I issue this warning and they still choose to smoke, I will take absolutely no responsibility for any consequences their children face.¡±

    ¡°...... I will take this to heart.¡±

    ¡°I would also recommend not smoking in front of women whenever possible.¡±

    If tobacco becomes widely perceived as beneficial for women...

    Erika, Chris, Chloe¡ªall of them would start smoking just because it¡¯s trendy.

    And when the time comes for them to give birth, who knows what kind of disaster might unfold?

    I have no desire to take that kind of risk just to sell more tobacco.

    ¡°By the way, I came to this banquet because I heard you would be serving dishes made from newly cultivated crops from Ifriqiya. Which ones are the new creations?¡±

    ¡°The dishes in that separate section over there.¡±

    ¡°These are entirely unfamiliar dishes. But I must ask¡ªwhy go to the trouble of gathering nobles just to serve them these new crops? Are you trying to market these ingredients to them? If so, I would be greatly disappointed.¡±

    If I were the emperor, I¡¯d be furious too if I were being used as a marketing tool.

    ¡°This is a secret... something I am telling only Your Majesty. Even my father-in-law is unaware, so please keep it to yourself.¡±

    No one dislikes hearing a secret.

    ¡°If properly cultivated, potatoes, corn, peanuts, and sweet potatoes thrive even in barren land. If we plant them in areas unsuitable for traditional crop rotation, the empire¡¯s food security will greatly improve. However, the issue is... these are unfamiliar foods.¡±

    ¡°People hesitate to try foreign foods.¡±

    ¡°Which is why I believed that if Your Majesty, the imperial family, nobles, and wealthy merchants were seen enjoying these ingredients, the commoners would follow suit.¡±

    ¡°You are truly the empire¡¯s greatest patriot.¡±

    ¡°It is my honor.¡±

    At my gesture, a servant brought forth a plate of crispy fried potatoes.

    ¡°Dip this in the white sauce before eating.¡±

    The emperor took a bite¡ªthen exclaimed in delight.

    ¡°This is exceptionally delicious! Absolutely marvelous!¡±

 Chapter 370: Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, New World (6)

    The centerpiece of the banquet¡ªthe emperor himself¡ªwas completely enthralled, disregarding decorum and openly expressing his admiration.

    The instincts of the politically possessed noblemen naturally honed in on him.

    ¡°What could possibly make His Majesty praise something so much?¡±

    ¡°The place where Viscount Rothschild is standing seems to be where all the new crops brought from Ifriqiya are gathered...¡±

    ¡°How on earth did they prepare such an unfamiliar dish?¡±

    Even in the late 20th century, if a president merely visited a restaurant, had a meal, and casually commented that it was delicious, that establishment would instantly transform into a national hotspot.

    And in the Toscana Empire...?

    If rumors spread that the emperor had eaten a single pizza from a dingy roadside inn and given it his approval, that place would become a legendary restaurant across the entire empire.

    Even nobles living in remote provinces would consider it a mandatory stop whenever they visited the area.

    In terms of influence, it would be equivalent to a restaurant earning three Michelin stars.

    Now, with the emperor openly exclaiming in admiration before all these nobles, the impact of his actions needed no further explanation.

    From this banquet onward, for the foreseeable future, French fries and mayonnaise would be an essential dish at every noble gathering.

    ¡°Viscount, what exactly is this dish?¡±

    ¡°These are potatoes, fried in oil.¡±

    ¡°Then come, sit here and enjoy them with a hamburger and some beer.¡±

    It would have been even better if I had cola, but unfortunately, I lacked the means to produce carbonated water, so cola was out of the question.

    Still, the combination of beer, hamburgers, and fries worked surprisingly well.

    The emperor devoured the fries, the small hamburger, and the beer in no time.

    Despite his deeply ingrained sense of etiquette, which led him to use a fork and knife to neatly cut his fries and hamburger, his eating pace had noticeably quickened.

    For someone who had trained himself to eat with leisurely composure in all situations, the fact that he couldn¡¯t control his speed now spoke volumes.

    ¡°I never imagined food could be this delicious.¡±

    Leaning slightly toward him, I whispered just loud enough for only the emperor to hear.

    ¡°In two or three years, French fries and mayonnaise will be affordable enough for even serfs to enjoy without burden.¡±

    ¡°You mean to tell me that food fried in oil will become common? And eggs¡ªaren¡¯t they quite expensive? I find this hard to believe.¡±

    ¡°Peanuts are highly productive and yield a great deal of oil. In the Maasai Confederation, after peanut oil became widely available, even ordinary tribespeople were able to light their homes at night. As for eggs, poultry farms have been springing up across the empire, making them much easier to acquire. Compared to last year, the price of eggs has already dropped by half.¡±

    The great and benevolent savior of mankind, Fritz Haber, created chemical fertilizers and forever changed agriculture. Because of that, modern people don¡¯t even recognize the term soil depletion.

    Many assume that farming means planting crops in the same soil year after year without issue.

    That might be fine for rice, which consumes fewer nutrients from the soil, but if wheat were cultivated that way, the land would acidify and turn barren.

    That¡¯s precisely why wheat fields must always be followed by leguminous crops like soybeans or kidney beans.

    Until now, we used these beans in four-crop rotation farming, but peanuts are far more efficient.

    They produce a ton of oil, they store well when dried¡ªcompletely superior.

    And the high cost of eggs wasn¡¯t due to their intrinsic value but rather the difficulty of keeping them fresh. With large-scale poultry farms now operating across the empire, that issue was naturally resolved.

    Greater supply meant lower prices.

    ¡°Now, let¡¯s move on to dessert. Instead of using fresh cream, we¡¯ve used processed peanuts to create peanut butter for the cake, corn flour to make thin crepe-like tortillas, and sweet potatoes caramelized in sugar to create sweet potato mattang.¡±

    ¡°The fries were so good that I might be disappointed with everything else.¡±

    ¡°Please try them in this order: sweet potato mattang, then crepe, then peanut butter cake.¡±

    The emperor picked up his fork and sampled each dish in sequence.

    When he had eaten the burger and fries, he had shouted in delight, but this time, he seemed to have adapted¡ªhe didn¡¯t let out any loud exclamations.

    However, the way he silently focused on eating spoke volumes.

    That alone made him the best advertisement for the food.

    ¡°Viscount Rothschild, this is exquisite. Compared to these, even imperial cuisine looks unimpressive. Would you be willing to share the recipes?¡±

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    Considering that these were 21st-century junk food and dessert recipes, if they had lost to the Toscana Empire¡¯s cuisine, that would have been surprising. This outcome was only natural.

    ¡°Of course. I will ensure all the recipes are sent to the imperial kitchen.¡±

    ¡°My table shall be abundant for some time, then.¡±

    At first, the emperor had shown displeasure at being used as a promotional tool.

    But now, he didn¡¯t seem to mind at all.

    ¡°Did they meet Your Majesty¡¯s expectations?¡±

    ¡°My stomach is a bit full now. Let us step aside and enjoy a cigarette while we converse.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    As the emperor and I naturally withdrew from the banquet, the nobles immediately rushed toward the food the emperor had personally eaten¡ªsweet potato mattang, peanut butter cake, and more.

    And after tasting them, their reactions mirrored his.

    ¡°This is a masterpiece!¡±

    ¡°Deus magnus, I had no idea such delicious food existed!¡±

    ¡°Peanut butter¡ªthis is divine!¡±

    ¡°French fries! They pair so perfectly with beer. Fries with mayonnaise... I could eat an endless amount of this.¡±

    In Korea, these kinds of foods are typically favored by younger people, while older individuals tend to avoid them.

    But that¡¯s not because they don¡¯t like the taste¡ªrather, they dislike the heavy feeling in their stomach afterward.

    Yet these nobles...

    No matter how old they were, they had spent their entire lives eating rich, stimulating food.

    It¡¯s only natural they¡¯d go crazy over peanut butter and French fries.

    As the emperor led me to a secluded spot, he took a deep drag from his cigarette.

    ¡°This tobacco is truly excellent. Taking a puff, sipping strong liquor, and enjoying these roasted [N O V E L I G H T] peanuts with cheese¡ªthis is the pinnacle of luxury.¡±

    ¡°It is an honor, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Bring me more fries.¡±

    ¡°Too many fries are not good for your health.¡±

    The emperor sighed and looked at me.

    Then, he smirked.

    ¡°I shall ignore your advice. What are you waiting for? Bring me French fries and mayonnaise immediately.¡±

    That night, the emperor ate three full plates of fries.

    The next morning, I received word that his stomach was upset and he had eaten nothing but salad for breakfast.

    If I gave my medical advice and it wasn¡¯t followed, that was no longer my responsibility¡ªit was the patient¡¯s.

    And separately from that, the nobles of the empire began hounding the Rothschild Trading Company, demanding potatoes, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and corn.

    ¡°One silver coin for a kilogram of potatoes. The world is ending, isn¡¯t it, Sebastian?¡±

    A single silver coin was worth twenty days of a laborer¡¯s wages¡ªit was enough to buy 120 kilograms of milled wheat flour.

    Yet, despite the supply shortage, a kilogram of potatoes now cost one silver coin...

    What, are potatoes some kind of caviar?

    It was almost ridiculous.

    ¡°Many wish to buy, but only you, Viscount, have any to sell. This was bound to happen.¡±

    ¡°Peanuts, sweet potatoes, and corn are also skyrocketing in price. At this rate, next month it¡¯ll be half a kilogram of potatoes for a silver coin.¡±

    ¡°Entirely plausible, sir.¡±

    ¡°The world has truly gone mad.¡±

    Survival crops, meant to sustain people during famines, were now being sold as premium delicacies.

    Is this the power of trends?

    Now that I thought about it, when Sir Walter Raleigh first brought potatoes and tobacco to the British Empire, there had been a brief potato craze as well...

    So this is also thanks to the British Empire¡¯s legacy, huh?

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re selling at inflated prices. These fools insist on paying exorbitantly. That¡¯s not our fault, is it?¡±

    ¡°The ones being deceived are the real fools.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not even scamming them.¡±

    Selling something worth one silver coin for ten gold coins wasn¡¯t a scam¡ªit was just a contract.

    And if someone made a bad deal, that was their fault, not mine.

    ¡°Indeed, sir, we always deliver what we promise.¡±

    ¡°But, Sebastian, wouldn¡¯t it be rude not to take full advantage of these idiots who believe peanuts and corn are worth a fortune?¡±

    I, Fabio, am not a good man.

    I am a man who exploits the foolishness of others and rakes in money like a greedy miser.

    And there was one particular strategy perfectly suited for moments like this.

    Potato King, grant me your strength.

 Chapter 371: Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, New World (7)

    Frederick II, the self-proclaimed King of Prussia, also known as the ¡°Potato King.¡±

    The man dedicated his life to spreading potatoes among his people¡ªnot because he was a benevolent ruler like King Sejong, but because the Seven Years'' War had left his nation in dire straits.

    To keep his people from starving, he sought to make potatoes a staple food, despite the fact that at the time, they were considered mere animal fodder.

    His strategy for transforming a crop long dismissed as livestock feed into a staple of human consumption?

    Make it look valuable.

    ¡°Sebastian, plant potatoes, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and corn on the large plot of land we bought outside Florence. Then, launch a massive campaign branding them as the primary products of the Rothschild Trading Company. Spread rumors while you''re at it.¡±

    ¡°There is one concern, sir. Right now, sweet potatoes and potatoes are considered high-value foods. But in a year or two, won¡¯t they just be regarded as food for the poor?¡±

    Sebastian had a point.

    Potatoes and sweet potatoes were far too common.

    And anything that¡¯s too common inevitably loses its value.

    There was a time when flounder sashimi was just as expensive as wild grouper because it couldn¡¯t be farmed. But once flounder farming became widespread, it quickly became synonymous with cheap sashimi.

    But let¡¯s shift perspectives for a moment.

    If dishes made from potatoes and sweet potatoes were delicious, would they still be treated as food solely for the poor?

    In the past, these crops were regarded as famine food because they tasted absolutely awful. People only ate them to avoid starving to death.

    ¡°No matter how common a food becomes, if it¡¯s delicious, it won¡¯t be looked down upon, Sebastian. Think about it¡ªHis Majesty eats French fries by the plate at least once every three days. And for dessert? He has cake spread with peanut butter.¡±

    ¡°I have heard those rumors myself.¡±

    ¡°If the emperor himself adores potato-based dishes, do you really think potatoes will become the symbol of poverty? Especially since they taste good.¡±

    ¡°If they were bland, then yes, they would be considered peasant food. But if they are delicious, they won¡¯t be seen as low-class fare.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. If they tasted terrible, they would become a symbol of the lowest-class serfs and beggars.¡±

    Until World War II, lobster was seen as a food unfit even for beggars in the United States.

    When lobsters washed ashore, they were either used as fertilizer or fed to prisoners.

    And the reason?

    They tasted awful.

    Then, during World War II, a new cooking method was discovered that made lobster palatable¡ªand now, it¡¯s one of the most luxurious foods in the world.

    Had potatoes and sweet potatoes been both common and tasteless, they would have suffered the same fate.

    Which is exactly why I went out of my way to popularize delicious cooking methods for them.

    ¡°So right now, our priority is to make potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and peanuts appear valuable. We need to present them as high-end ingredients first¡ªthen reveal that they are, in fact, extremely easy to cultivate. Do you understand the key point here?¡±

    ¡°We must not tell any outright lies.¡±

    If you¡¯re struggling to grasp what that means, think about this:

    "If you invest in this stock, you could make a fortune!"

    Anyone who hears that and blindly invests is simply a fool. The person who pitched the investment may be called unscrupulous, but they certainly won¡¯t be legally labeled a fraud.

    ¡°The Rothschild family, under His Majesty¡¯s command, is cultivating potatoes and other crops as part of an initiative to improve the standard of living for serfs and strengthen the empire¡¯s economy. That is why they are our flagship products.¡±

    ¡°So all we need to do is spread the rumor that they are flagship products.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. And as for the farmland where these crops are grown¡ªpost extreme security around it.¡±

    No one buys a safe to store worthless junk.

    People buy safes to protect gold, silver, jewelry, or crucial contracts.

    So when people see elite soldiers guarding a field with unwavering vigilance, they¡¯ll naturally assume,

    "That must be something incredibly valuable!"

    The great Potato King, Frederick, once deployed his elite Giant Regiment to guard his potato fields by day¡ªthen deliberately left the fields unguarded at night.

    Our dear king, who may not have had the Marine Corps but certainly had their spirit, wanted his serfs and citizens to steal the potatoes for themselves.

    A potato eaten fresh from a farm theft, dripping with the sweat of hard labor, was bound to taste infinitely better than one simply handed out.

    And that¡¯s how he got his people to embrace potatoes.

    ¡°Ensure maximum security around the fields. If anyone attempts to steal, capture them. If capturing them is too difficult, kill them. Those captured will be charged with attempting to steal from House Rothschild.¡±

    If I¡¯m going to make money off of this, I can¡¯t afford to make the mistake of deliberately leaving the fields unguarded and allowing theft.

    That would shatter both our trading company¡¯s and our family¡¯s credibility.

    I simply needed to make it look expensive.

    ¡°Begin cultivation immediately. Spread grand rumors about it across the entire empire.¡±

    ¡°Viscount Rothschild, please, I beg you¡ªsell me some potatoes, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and corn! It would greatly benefit my territory¡¯s development.¡±

    By next year¡¯s harvest, nearly 99% of the bubble surrounding these New World crops would collapse.

    Just imagining selling them at exorbitant prices made my heart race.

    Right now, since they weren¡¯t being grown locally, they naturally commanded a high price.

    But even in the Toscana Empire, my selling price was...

    At least 100 times the price I paid when acquiring them via trade.

    At this rate, I needed to start shipping entire cargo holds filled with nothing but potatoes and sweet potatoes.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    If we were going to distribute them across the empire, we would need vast amounts of seed stock anyway¡ªand if I wanted to make a killing in a single stroke, this was my golden opportunity.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I already tell you? We barely have enough supply ourselves. His Majesty has been buying up vast quantities of potatoes and sweet potatoes, and on top of that, the other nobles are hounding us for shipments.¡±

    ¡°I understand that! Name your price¡ªI will pay anything.¡±

    ¡°How can I sell what I don¡¯t have? Even though I¡¯ve been called a ¡®merchant thug¡¯ at balls and banquets, I have never once broken my word. If a shipment was even a day late due to bandits, I compensated buyers with 50% of the invoice price. If the goods were completely lost, I paid 200% of the value. But if I were to accept an order for a product that doesn¡¯t exist yet, I¡¯d have to start by paying 50% compensation upfront.¡±

    ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you¡ªfind a way.¡±

    ¡°Hah, this is putting me in a very difficult position.¡±

    I was having trouble controlling my expression¡ªbecause I was simply too happy.

    Another foolish noble was about to hand me a pouch of gold in exchange for a single sack of potatoes.

    Just don¡¯t come crying to me later.

    It¡¯s not like I held a sword to your throat and forced you to buy them. I didn¡¯t lie or deceive you.

    All I did was post elite guards around my fields and turn these crops into the hottest culinary trend among the aristocracy.

    If you get fooled, that¡¯s entirely your own fault.

    Then, as now, in investment, if a company runs off with investors¡¯ money, the investors take the blame.

    Consider this a valuable life lesson.

    I sighed, pressing a hand to my forehead.

    ¡°50 kilograms of potatoes, 50 kilograms of sweet potatoes, 50 kilograms of corn, and 50 kilograms of peanuts. That¡¯s the absolute limit. Payment must be made in gold within one month.¡±

    The baron before me actually bowed in gratitude.

    ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to thank me for.¡±

    If anything, you should be cursing your own stupidity.

    Once he left, I turned to the window, my thoughts shifting to Baron Florin.

    How will that man navigate this crisis?

    Will his luck run out here, or will he survive?

    At the height of the New World crop investment frenzy, Baron Florin began receiving proposals from /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ all directions.

    ¡°This is the moment for a man with a beast¡¯s heart like yours to step forward.¡±

    Baron Florin shook his head.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already pledged 5% of my land as collateral for the new city development project under Viscount Rothschild. Where do you expect me to borrow more money from?¡±

    ¡°...That¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not investing. If I had that kind of money to spare, I¡¯d rather take on another mistress.¡±

    Baron Florin had come to a realization while observing Fabio.

    Fabio wasn¡¯t the only one who had the privilege of a free market.

    But true profits came from investments made before an industry became profitable.

    Once everyone was jumping into the same business, it was bound to fail.

    ¡°These idiots¡ªdoes anyone seriously think they¡¯ll profit from doing what everyone else is doing?¡±

    Fabio had already predicted a 99% price drop for potatoes.

    And Baron Florin?

    He was also certain that prices would plummet like a rock.

    ¡°Investment isn¡¯t something you discuss with others. Think about it¡ªif it succeeds, sure, we both benefit. But if I make the wrong move, what then? Will we stop being friends?¡±

    ¡°No, of course not.¡±

    ¡°Still, I¡¯ll give you one piece of advice just this once.¡±

    The nobleman in front of him had once served in the same battalion as Baron Florin.

    They had suffered under the same company commander together.

    ¡°Don¡¯t invest in an industry where every idiot is piling in. That¡¯s how you get yourself killed. Think¡ªhas Viscount Rothschild ever invested in a business that everyone was rushing into?¡±

    ¡°...No, he hasn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Then put that money into a poultry farm instead. And for God¡¯s sake, keep your hands off investments!¡±

    ¡°Wait a minute¡ªyou sold off part of your land for an investment! Why the hell can you invest, but I can¡¯t?¡±

    Baron Florin let out a chuckle.

    Then, using the same tone they had once used while being drilled into the ground by their company commander, he retorted,

    ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, become successful like me. You¡¯re upset, but you can¡¯t argue with me, can you?¡±

    ¡°Hah, fine! I¡¯ll back out of this investment.¡±

    ¡°There will come a day when you¡¯ll be crying with gratitude that I told you this. And don¡¯t tell your wife¡ªor your mistress¡ªthat I gave you this advice.¡±

    ¡°You know I keep my mouth shut.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the only reason I told you.¡±

    Not long after, Baron Florin¡¯s friend showed up at his estate, carrying two bottles of his finest wine.

    Why?

    Because Baron Florin had predicted the market collapse perfectly.

    Using all his spare funds, he had scooped up prime real estate at dirt-cheap prices, just as the New World crop bubble spectacularly burst.

 Chapter 372: Merchants Want to Become Politicians Too (1)

    Teresa responded with a bitter smile.

    "You can¡¯t even hide your worries in front of me."

    "Some worries are relieved just by sharing them. If it''s something I can listen to without causing harm, please tell me anything."

    "I must have raised a truly good daughter."

    The emperor looked at his daughter with satisfaction.

    Despite possessing the ability to learn quickly and perceive deeply, she did not use those skills to gain power.

    Instead, she had hidden them for years, pretending to be ordinary so as not to interfere with his or the crown prince''s authority.

    Now, with no more need to hide, she no longer acted like an ordinary girl but instead became the comforting presence of a dutiful daughter.

    "I must be truly blessed with my children."

    "Didn¡¯t Viscount Rothschild attempt to introduce new crops like potatoes? The nobles thought they would be profitable and bought them at absurdly high prices."

    "Yes, they did."

    "I almost got swept up in the craze myself and spent a fortune on potatoes, but you stopped me, didn¡¯t you? I still vividly remember your voice telling me that if both you and I rushed into this investment, we would suffer great losses."

    Fabio had also warned the emperor not to get involved in this speculation.

    However, Teresa¡¯s warning had come just slightly earlier.

    A mere hour ahead.

    But that single hour had significantly increased the emperor¡¯s trust in Teresa, allowing him to be the only one to survive the collapse of the market while everyone else suffered losses.

    "That was the natural course of events."

    "Are you saying that the finance minister, commerce minister, and trade minister I personally appointed are fools who couldn''t even see that natural outcome?"

    The emperor burst into laughter at his daughter''s flustered reaction.

    Normally, she was as composed and sharp as Fabio, but when it came to matters involving men, she reacted just like any other girl her age.

    "It¡¯s Fabio who¡¯s the odd one out."

    Even when he was subtly threatened that any misstep in social maneuvering could lead to "unfortunate consequences," he never wavered and continued to offer "loyal actions and advice."

    Because of that, the emperor came to trust Fabio completely.

    "It was Viscount Rothschild who designed and built the current imperial authority."

    "That¡¯s not what I meant."

    "What seems obvious to you is not always obvious to the general public. Never forget, people are often more foolish than you think."

    "Yes, Father."

    "And I worry that the nobles will raise taxes to cover their losses. The enactment of the Four Pillars Law, tax cuts, and labor standards law have improved the lives of serfs and workers, but... their lives are still far from easy."

    Teresa showed no visible reaction, but internally, she was quite surprised.

    Just a few years ago, this same emperor had treated the commoners like talking livestock.

    Not that he had ever abused them, but he believed feeding them was enough and always considered the aristocracy first when making decisions.

    Now, he had completely transformed, prioritizing the well-being of the commoners over the nobles.

    "Father, there is a way."

    A smile appeared on the emperor''s face.

    "We can ask Viscount Rothschild. Surely, he would know a way to solve this problem."

    "Indeed. Though young, Viscount Rothschild is incredibly intelligent. He will surely have a solution."

    Are you worried about the rise of the Granada Kingdom? Then just instigate a conflict with Governor Nadore and weaken their national power.

    Is the Kingdom of Lyon provoking the Empire?

    I already arranged for spies in advance, won the war before it even began, and set traps to drag them into another country¡¯s conflict.

    To the emperor, Fabio was a problem solver for everything.

    "Yes, that will work. Teresa, you truly are a blessing."

    "No, Father."

    "But I have one question."

    "What is it?"

    The emperor barely held back a grin that threatened to stretch to his ears.

    "What do you think of Viscount Rothschild?"

    "I find him extremely intriguing and entertaining."

    "I see. I thought you might have feelings for him."

    If Teresa had the slightest romantic interest in Fabio, she would have overreacted to that statement.

    And then, the emperor, with a sigh, would have "reluctantly" offered a solution that would make himself happy, make Teresa happy, and, of course, allow Fabio to "advance in life."

    But instead of being flustered, she simply smirked.

    "As the imperial princess, I cannot carelessly harbor feelings for a man, Father."

    "Of course."

    For noble sons and daughters, free love might seem romantic on the surface, but to their families, it was often a catastrophic disaster.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    There were even cases where noble families arranged engagements before their children were even born, with financial interests worth billions at stake.

    A romantic relationship jeopardizing such arrangements?

    The aftermath would be unimaginably difficult to manage.

    And if the person pursuing free love was an imperial princess, it could even shake the foundations of the nation itself.

    "It would be improper for me to send an official envoy, so I¡¯d like you to go in my stead once again. Can you help me?"

    "Yes, Father. Don''t worry."

    The emperor carefully observed Teresa¡¯s expression.

    Even though she was being given an additional burden, she showed no sign of displeasure.

    On the contrary, she seemed rather pleased.

    Seeing that smile gave the emperor an idea.

    A brilliant plan to tie Fabio, who had already taken a duchess as his official wife, to the imperial family.

    "If an accident happens... if I use the power of circumstance..."

    Of course, the emperor had no intention of revealing this plan ~N§àv§Ölight~ to anyone, but he felt tempted to steer things in that direction.

    Well, if his daughter truly disliked it, he wouldn''t force it...

    But if Teresa liked him, how could he, as a father, deny his daughter''s happiness?

    This was absolutely not about keeping Fabio shackled as the Empire¡¯s administrative workhorse for generations.

    It was pure, unconditional fatherly love.

    "Heh heh heh... This is wonderful."

    That night, the emperor enjoyed fried potatoes and beer while delighting in his amusing thoughts.

    By the next day, rumors spread throughout the palace that the emperor must have had an exceptionally good night.

    Teresa, carrying a secret imperial decree, was on her way to meet Viscount Rothschild.

    A faint smile graced her lips.

    Her chief lady-in-waiting didn¡¯t miss the noticeable expression.

    "Your Highness, are you truly that happy to meet Viscount Rothschild? Your face is beaming with joy."

    "Of course. The viscount is a rather unique person. It¡¯s always entertaining to meet him."

    "In what way, specifically?"

    "He always acts in ways I don¡¯t expect. Even when pressured, he doesn¡¯t show the slightest fear and sometimes turns the situation against me instead. And he is constantly introducing new systems and institutions to the Empire. It¡¯s like watching a kaleidoscope."

    "A kaleidoscope... Certainly, Viscount Rothschild is quite..."

    Teresa had described him as unique, but from the perspective of others, Viscount Rothschild was simply insane.

    Not the kind of madman who could be tamed with kindness but one who remained dangerously rational in his madness.

    If someone dared to provoke him even slightly, he would retaliate by breaking their leg¡ªand with a smile, snap one of their fingers as a bonus.

    And even those brutal punishments were carried out with cold calculation, ensuring that the victim would never be able to retaliate.

    To her lady-in-waiting, it was clear¡ª

    "She holds some favor toward the viscount."

    Of course, the lady-in-waiting didn¡¯t see any signs of romantic interest in Teresa just yet.

    But as the saying goes, there are no true friendships between men and women...

    Who knew when their relationship might change?

    "Besides, all other nobles see me as a tool to exploit. The young lords from count families are practically scheming in front of me, trying to establish a connection. And the men my age are only focused on flattering me for their own gain."

    The higher one¡¯s status, the less likely true love existed.

    Every noble and royal understood that.

    That was why they idealized romantic love, even while knowing it could destroy their families.

    "But Viscount Rothschild has no such intentions. And since he¡¯s already married to Erika, there won¡¯t be any scandals either."

    "That is true."

    "I just want us to remain good friends."

 Chapter 373: Merchants Want to Become Politicians Too (2)

    Lately, it felt like ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) unexpected visitors were showing up at my house far too often.

    Why in the world was Princess Teresa visiting not just once, but twice?

    Was my house some kind of secret gourmet spot that only the emperor and the imperial family knew about?

    "Your Highness, what brings you to my residence today?"

    If she said it was for personal reasons, I would signal the butler outside to suddenly announce an urgent matter that required my immediate departure.

    Leaving abruptly due to an "emergency" in front of royalty was indeed a breach of etiquette.

    But if rumors spread about me and an unmarried imperial princess, that would be a far bigger problem.

    An abrupt departure could be explained with a well-crafted excuse.

    But gossip? That could spiral into absurd rumors like me being the one who took the princess¡¯s first experience.

    "Either way, I''m dead. Better to choose the less painful death."

    "I came all the way to your estate to visit Erika, but Father told me that since I was already coming, I should secretly ask for your thoughts on a matter of concern."

    "I see, so that¡¯s the reason."

    "If I want to have a comfortable chat with my sister, I should take care of the urgent matters first, don¡¯t you think?"

    "When you have unfinished business looming over you, it¡¯s hard to truly relax. I agree with Your Highness."

    Princess Teresa claimed she was only here to talk with Erika.

    But that was just a front to avoid rumors.

    Even I could tell the real reason she came.

    She must enjoy talking to me, so she used the emperor¡¯s request as an excuse to come personally.

    "Is it because I''m the only one who understands someone who sees hundreds of years into the future?"

    People naturally crave recognition and understanding from others.

    That was why, in dramas and movies, characters in such situations often ended up falling in love.

    But reality wasn¡¯t so convenient.

    There was a reason Romeo and Juliet and all those forbidden noble romances in literature always ended in tragedy.

    There was absolutely no way anything would ever happen between me and the princess.

    "The nobles spent massive sums trying to cultivate crops like potatoes and sweet potatoes, only to suffer huge losses. Now, they are struggling with financial difficulties."

    "That is indeed unfortunate."

    Watching someone lose a fortune and fall into despair was a pitiful sight.

    But I didn¡¯t feel guilty about it in the slightest.

    It wasn¡¯t like I advertised that planting potatoes would make them rich.

    I didn¡¯t hold a sword to their throats and force them to buy at inflated prices.

    All I did was hire highly trained elite soldiers¡ªwho normally required a salary of six silver coins per month¡ªto guard the potato fields.

    They fooled themselves.

    "His Majesty is worried that these struggling nobles will try to raise taxes on the commoners. Is there any way to resolve their financial troubles without shifting the burden onto the people?"

    That was essentially asking me to solve a budget crisis without raising taxes¡ªlike telling someone to develop new technology without spending any money.

    Even I had no magic solution for that.

    If such a thing were possible, then whoever could do it wouldn''t be a person but a god.

    "But if the only condition is to avoid burdening the commoners..."

    There was a way.

    "Why not tax merchants the same way we tax corporations? They contribute far less in proportion to the wealth they accumulate."

    "They would resist if we simply imposed taxes on them."

    "Of course, we can¡¯t just take without offering something in return. That would be nothing more than coercion."

    When we think of watches, we think of Switzerland.

    That¡¯s because, in the 18th century, most skilled craftsmen in France were Huguenots¡ªProtestants.

    But the French emperor at the time was a staunch Catholic who persecuted the Huguenots, driving them to flee to Switzerland.

    That mass exodus of artisans formed the foundation of the Swiss watch industry we know today.

    If we strong-arm merchants with threats, what happens if they simply pack up and leave?

    Who would deal with the aftermath?

    "Duties should come with corresponding rights."

    In ancient Greece and Rome, citizenship required military service.

    Those who couldn¡¯t fight due to disabilities were not shamed, but they were never granted the same status as those who bore the burden of war.

    That was why military service was seen as both a privilege and an honor¡ªan esteemed duty that came with the rights of being a Roman citizen.

    "In the past, the heads of major guilds were granted seats in the city council. Though they were merchants, they operated essential industries for urban development, and nobles required their expertise."

    "But after the guild system was abolished, merchants could only participate in politics by becoming accountants or bureaucrats."

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    "The guild system was an obstacle to the Empire¡¯s growth, but the one unfortunate consequence was the loss of this tradition."

    Had that system remained intact, I could have placed merchants under my influence in the city councils.

    That would have allowed me to manipulate urban policies, anticipate large-scale construction projects, and secure massive profits by controlling the supply chain.

    Unfortunately, with the system gone, embedding my people into the councils had become more difficult.

    Which meant...

    "It¡¯s time to restore this beautiful tradition properly."

    "Are you suggesting we allow merchants to hold seats in the city councils¡ªor even in the imperial parliament?"

    "The imperial parliament is exclusive to the nobility. Is it necessary to introduce merchants there?"

    "Merchants should regain representation in city councils, as they once had. As for the imperial parliament, they could be granted advisory roles."

    "Would the imperial parliament benefit from merchant advisors?"

    Princess Teresa showed no resistance to the idea of new knowledge.

    Had I suggested this to the emperor, he would have probably responded with:

    "You want to let mere merchants advise the imperial parliament? That¡¯s absurd!"

    Of course, he wasn¡¯t completely unreasonable.

    If I reminded him that merchants were one of the empire¡¯s key pillars and that aside from myself, most nobles knew little about commerce, he would likely concede to accepting advisors.

    But Teresa didn¡¯t even object.

    She simply asked why it was necessary.

    "Previously, merchant taxation was arbitrary. However, today, nearly half of the Empire¡¯s tax revenue comes from artisans and merchants, who make up only 4% of the population. Their economic importance has skyrocketed. In a way, they already are half of the Empire."

    A nation''s strength is determined by its tax revenue.

    A country that collects 1 billion in taxes is not exactly ten times stronger than one that collects 100 million...

    But at the very least, it¡¯s probably five times stronger.

    "Yet the Empire¡¯s nobles¡ªand even His Majesty¡ªknow nothing about them. They see merchants as money-grubbing opportunists, but they don¡¯t understand how commerce truly works or how it should be managed."

    "That is true."

    "And ignorance is a crime. Imposing obligations on people without understanding them is no different."

    Between a corrupt but competent leader and an honest but incompetent one...

    If I were an employee, I¡¯d rather work under a corrupt but competent boss.

    Because even if he embezzled funds and spent company money on mistresses... at least he¡¯d ensure our salaries were paid on time.

    But an honest yet incompetent boss?

    He¡¯d run the company into the ground, and I¡¯d end up unemployed.

    "If the imperial parliament enacts misguided policies due to ignorance about commerce, it will destabilize the Empire. That is why the great merchants must serve as parliamentary advisors."

    "So, the top merchants in the Empire would serve as advisors to the imperial parliament, while influential city merchants would gain seats in local councils? In exchange for these privileges and titles, they would accept higher taxes?"

    "Precisely."

    If they were granted political influence in return, merchants wouldn¡¯t strongly resist taxation.

    "And giving merchants power would benefit His Majesty as well."

    Do you know what absolute monarchy was built upon?

    It was the careful balancing act of keeping nobles and merchants in check, ensuring neither gained too much influence.

    So yes, let¡¯s restore that balance properly.

 Chapter 374: Merchants Want to Become Politicians Too (3)

    There was a saying, whether in politics or business.

    "Set the board the way you want it to be."

    Of course, only those in high positions could do such a thing, but there was no more effective method.

    Even in the late Joseon Dynasty, the Gyeonghwa Sajok¡ªthe noble families of Seoul¡ªrigged the system to ensure they alone could benefit, completely overturning the Gwageo examination system.

    In the past, even commoners could earn an official position if they passed the exam and worked as an unpaid intern for ten years.

    But the nobility found it unacceptable that their own children struggled with the Gwageo, while some lowborn commoner could pass it and suddenly gain a title.

    So, they drastically increased both the number of exams and the number of those who passed¡ªwhile ensuring that unless a commoner ranked at the very top, they would never be granted a position.

    In some cases, three generations in a row had to pass the Gwageo before the family could finally gain an official post.

    Sure, passing the Gwageo still brought local respect and elevated status (at least a silver spoon¡¯s worth of privilege), but...

    Meanwhile, noble families could scrape by at the very bottom and still receive government appointments without issue.

    Joseon scholars used this strategy¡ªso why couldn¡¯t the emperor?

    "Of course, in this case, I''m the one setting the board."

    "Take a look at this for a moment."

    I pulled out a set of scales.

    "On the left, we have imperial authority. On the right, the power of the nobility. Right now, the scales are slightly tilted toward His Majesty."

    "It¡¯s just like the current empire. His Majesty has become strong enough to suppress the nobility, but not so much that he can push through reforms without any resistance."

    To be honest, considering that the emperor started as just the most powerful of the nobles and had managed to strengthen imperial power to this extent¡ªit was already impressive.

    But what kind of beings were humans?

    No matter how well you did yesterday, you had to do even better today.

    The emperor surely wanted to strengthen his authority further.

    "Now, let¡¯s adjust the board a little."

    I placed a small weight on the right side and a larger one on the left.

    This time, the scales tipped significantly in favor of the nobility.

    Teresa watched the demonstration with great interest.

    "With only nobles and merchants, power shifts drastically toward the aristocracy."

    "But notice¡ªHis Majesty, the largest weight of all, is not on the scale. By changing the board slightly, His Majesty now becomes an absolute ruler who can control power as he pleases."

    Teresa smirked and lightly tapped the scale with her finger.

    The weights shifted up and down with each movement of her hand.

    "It feels almost godlike, though I know such thoughts are irreverent."

    "To those on this scale, His Majesty is akin to a god. Their very survival depends on the movement of his fingertips."

    Power, at its core, was simply the ability to determine another¡¯s life and death¡ªto forcibly make someone do what they didn¡¯t want to do.

    Up until now, the emperor had been fighting against the nobility from within the same scale, engaging in direct political battles.

    Now, he would make the merchants and nobles fight each other instead.

    The winner would be determined by whoever the emperor chose to support.

    The loser? Crushed underfoot.

    "Nobles will want to maintain their power, while merchants, having tasted power for the first time, will become addicted and refuse to let go."

    There were many people in the world who had never tried drugs.

    But how many had tried them once and then willingly quit?

    Power was sweeter than sugar, more seductive than love, and more addictive than any narcotic...

    And humans were supposed to just quit? Impossible.

    Only those like Pastor Stefano¡ªwho, even when given money, refused to spend it on steak because he realized he could instead feed twenty starving people¡ªcould do such a thing.

    "But with just a small adjustment, both the nobles and merchants will end up begging His Majesty to grant them power."

    "Because they crave it, yet fear that losing it could mean their downfall?"

    "Yes, Your Highness."

    In Joseon, the ones who excelled at this tactic were King Seonjo and King Sukjong.

    They despised having to fight for power with their ministers, so they simply divided them in half and let them tear each other apart¡ªeven if it meant the country was constantly on the brink of chaos.

    But the current emperor?

    He was drunk on the idea that absolute monarchy ensures the stability of the people.

    So, any power he gained would be directed toward improving the lives of the commoners.

    "My precious citizens are starving! These damn nobles! In the name of love and justice, I will destroy you!"

    He was almost like King Sejong in that regard.

    But while King Sejong worked his ministers to death¡ªmen like Hwang Hui and Jo Malsaeng practically begged to be put out of their misery¡ªthe current emperor?

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    If someone harmed the people, he would simply kill them.

    "This has absolutely nothing to do with me trying to avoid being worked to death like Hwang Hui."

    It was a perfectly rational prediction that once my son with Erika grew up, I could naturally retire in peace.

    "But if we analyze this structure closely, there¡¯s a problem. Won¡¯t the merchants who become city council members be appointed by nobles, just like the other council members?"

    Teresa had a point.

    But rather than assuming she was wrong, it was better to consider her perspective.

    City council positions weren¡¯t chosen by popular vote.

    They rotated among the established elite families of each city.

    If merchants took those seats, of course the aristocracy would push back.

    They would see them as tools for strengthening noble authority¡ªwhat a waste.

    "Nothing comes for free. In exchange, merchant council members should be elected by the merchants of the city. After all, they are supposed to represent them."

    "And as long as they can¡¯t be dismissed without just cause, they will have to consider the opinions of their fellow merchants."

    "For now, start with these changes and gradually cultivate the merchant class. Over time, the country will only grow stronger."

    "But..."

    "Yes, Your Highness?"

    "What do you think of women like me, who are deeply interested in politics?"

    I believed that if a woman was just as capable¡ªor more capable¡ªthan a man, she should have equal opportunity.

    Gender was just a difference, not a determinant of competence.

    Denying someone due to difference was simply discrimination.

    Rejecting a Harvard-educated Black man as nothing more than a "walking cotton picker" would be a colossal loss.

    "A wise and capable wife is a husband¡¯s greatest blessing. If Erika weren¡¯t by my side... it would have been very difficult for me."

    "In that case¡ª"

    Before Teresa could finish her sentence, a knock sounded at the door.

    "Come in."

    Upon receiving permission, Chloe entered¡ªwearing her old maid uniform.

    "I came to properly serve Her Highness upon hearing of her visit."

    "I don¡¯t recall requesting tea."

    "I am your concubine and the mother of the next Baron Medici. Surely, you wouldn¡¯t refuse tea that I personally prepared?"

    In both Eastern and Western traditions, having one¡¯s wife or concubine personally serve a drink was among the highest forms of hospitality.

    And tea was no exception.

    Since I had already granted permission for her to enter, I couldn¡¯t exactly send her away now.

    "Refusing in this situation would just make me look like an idiot."

    "Lady Erika personally instructed me to ensure that Her Highness was well cared for."

    Erika must have sent Chloe with the best intentions.

    So why did I suddenly feel a chill down my spine?

    "Erika is always so considerate. She¡¯s looked after me so well since we were young. And this jam cookie¡ªI¡¯ve loved these since childhood. Tell her I¡¯m grateful."

    "I will be sure to pass along your thanks."

    "What is Erika¡¯s schedule today? She mentioned being busy, which is why Viscount Rothschild received me in her stead."

    Denying this would only make things worse.

    If rumors spread that I had a private relationship with ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) the princess?

    The emperor himself would show up at my door with a sword, demanding I take responsibility.

    Even if I did take responsibility, the consequences wouldn¡¯t be much better.

    "So this is what it feels like to be at someone else¡¯s mercy, huh?"

    "Lady Erika canceled her schedule and returned early upon hearing that Your Highness was coming."

    At those words, Teresa immediately rose to meet Erika.

    Chloe watched her leave¡ªthen turned to me, spreading her arms.

    When she used to feel uneasy, I would hug her to reassure her...

    As I did so, she pressed herself closer and whispered:

    "Master, you only need us, don¡¯t you?"

    "You¡¯re worrying over nothing."

    "Can I trust that?"

    "I never lie to you, Chloe."

 Chapter 375: Merchants Want to Become Politicians Too (4)

    In the 21st century, it''s rare for corporate executives to dive into politics.

    Except for a certain man whose entire life goal is colonizing Mars, or that bulldozer chairman famous for his "Did you even try?" motto¡ªthose are the exceptions.

    From a modern, rational perspective, no merchant would blindly jump into politics just because they were given voting rights.

    But the Middle Ages were different.

    If there was an opportunity to participate in politics, everyone wanted in.

    As the Viscount of Rothschild and the owner of the Rothschild Trading Company, I would naturally claim my place as an Imperial Parliament Advisor.

    "The good stays with us, the bad gets passed on to others."

    "Sebastian."

    "Yes, my lord."

    "How about I give you a present?"

    "What kind of present do you intend to give me?"

    I handed him a box sealed with the imperial insignia.

    Sebastian hesitated, unable to accept it right away.

    "My lord, why would you bestow such an honor upon someone like me...? What exactly is in this box?"

    "You¡¯ve worked hard supporting me all this time. Just take it. I won¡¯t deduct it from your bonus, so don¡¯t worry."

    "You know I don¡¯t work for the bonus, my lord."

    "That may be true for you, but not for everyone else."

    Many of the employees at the trading company would walk away without hesitation if their salaries were cut.

    Some might even jump ship for better offers elsewhere.

    "Loyalty doesn''t bind our company¡ªprofit does."

    Other nobles, and even merchants who owned trading companies, often claimed they were motivated by loyalty rather than money.

    But a company owner couldn''t afford such illusions.

    Otherwise, they¡¯d take one step too far and end up running a "family-like company."

    "I consider you family, Sebastian. When Leo grows older, you will be his mentor. In fact, you¡¯ll oversee the education of all the young men in our family. I¡¯ll ensure that no one in the household can challenge your status."

    "...My lord."

    "To those who serve with unwavering loyalty, reward them beyond measure."

    That was the Rothschild family motto.

    Sebastian had demonstrated such loyalty.

    So, I motioned toward the box.

    "Open it."

    Our house never engaged in passion pay¡ªnot even a hint of it.

    If anyone so much as uttered the words passion pay, I would personally hunt them down and destroy them.

    That strict principle was what allowed us to prosper.

    If even one of my co-conspirators had betrayed me, I wouldn¡¯t be standing here with my head intact.

    "I know exactly how it feels to be exploited."

    "...I shall open it."

    Sebastian gulped and lifted the lid.

    Inside was a high-quality parchment document.

    As he read it, tears welled up in his eyes.

    "...My lord. Do I truly deserve this? An appointment as an Imperial Parliament Advisor?"

    "I would¡¯ve taken the role myself to represent the Rothschild Trading Company, but an advisor cannot simultaneously serve as a parliamentary member."

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    It was like trying to be both a military commander and a city mayor¡ªimpossible.

    So I needed someone I trusted completely to represent the Rothschild Trading Company in my stead.

    "Since I''m a noble, stepping back isn''t an option."

    The correct approach to business was taking everything you could get¡ªso long as it didn''t kill you.

    The East India Company and the wise scholars of the British Empire had already proven that.

    "And as an advisor, you¡¯ll be granted a baronetcy¡ªthough only for your lifetime."

    This was something the nobles had strongly pushed for.

    They recognized the rising value of merchants and didn¡¯t object to appointing them as advisors to the Imperial Parliament.

    However, they refused to allow commoners to enter the Parliament as mere merchants.

    So, as a compromise, merchants appointed as advisors would ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) be granted baronet status.

    France had done something similar.

    They bestowed knighthood upon those who taught them swordsmanship¡ªalbeit only for a single generation.

    Likewise, the Swordmasters¡¯ Guild (which was more like a formal training institution than a fantasy warrior order) ensured that guild masters received noble treatment during their tenure.

    "But for you, Sebastian, I went a step further."

    "There are two documents inside, right?"

    "One is your official Imperial Parliament Advisor appointment. The other is a certificate, personally signed by His Majesty, granting you a baronetcy."

    "This means the Maserati family is now a fully recognized baronet house."

    "My lord..."

    "You¡¯ll be busy assisting me, so while you are technically

    His Majesty¡¯s vassal now... I¡¯ll be counting on you."

    Sebastian fell to both knees, pressing his forehead to the ground.

    "I shall never forget this grace¡ªnot even in death."

    "Then make sure to live a long time. At least until the Rothschild banner flies across the entire New World."

    I pulled him to his feet.

    "On a day like this, you wouldn¡¯t be able to concentrate on work anyway. Just go home early. Celebrate with your wife, boast to your kids¡ªwhatever you like."

    Men lived for the validation of their families.

    There was even statistical evidence that married men generated three times more economic value than single men.

    Sebastian was old enough that he could retire and spend his days doting on his grandchildren...

    But human nature didn¡¯t change so easily.

    "Thank you, my lord. However, there is one matter that slightly concerns me."

    "What is it?"

    "Do you truly believe that merchants will compete for these advisory and council positions?"

    Even governorships were worthless if the person offered the role wasn¡¯t interested.

    Most high-ranking merchants were already busy running their trading companies.

    Would they really want to take on additional responsibilities in politics?

    Didn¡¯t they care about work-life balance?

    But I was certain.

    "Oh, they''ll kill for it."

    Gallios Alios, chairman of the Gallios Alios Trading Company, was gathering all available funds to prepare for the city council election.

    "How much liquid capital do we have right now?"

    "Seven hundred gold coins."

    Fabio dealt with thousands¡ªsometimes tens of thousands¡ªof gold coins as if they were pocket change.

    But for a small trading company in a provincial city, even one hundred gold coins was a massive sum.

    With that much, one could buy a mansion in a small town.

    For a company based in Gallios, a city of 20,000 people, risking 700 gold coins was the equivalent of betting their entire right arm.

    "Raise it to one thousand."

    "It¡¯s possible, but it would strain next month¡¯s budget."

    "You idiot

    ! Do you even understand what happens if we lose this election?"

    Gallios Alios sighed deeply in frustration at his subordinate¡¯s ignorance.

    Previous city council elections were held among guild masters¡ªwho simply backed policies favoring their close associates.

    They didn¡¯t actively destroy merchants they didn¡¯t like.

    But this election was different.

    This time, powerful merchants themselves were the candidates.

    "If that Neapolitan bastard wins a council seat, do you have any idea what will happen to us?"

    It was obvious.

    He would wield every bit of political power to push disadvantageous policies against his competitors.

    Of course, if he openly abused his authority, other council members might vote him out.

    But there were endless ways to subtly harass rivals.

    Citing minor tax violations to impose fines.

    Refusing to overlook regulatory gray areas that were previously tolerated.

    Calling for random inspections at the most inconvenient times.

    Sure, Fabio had built a system where only Rothschild-affiliated merchants were exempt from such abuse...

    But no one else in the Empire knew that yet.

    "Think logically. Which trading company do you trust more¡ªone run by a council member, or a random merchant?"

    "...The one with political backing."

    "Exactly. Once I secure a seat, I¡¯ll recoup the election costs through increased sales alone. And if I push for favorable policies, who knows? I might even become a lord¡¯s official vassal someday."

    From merchant to noble.

    Just like how the Rothschild Viscount had risen from being the second son of a minor noble family to the pinnacle of commerce.

    "Prepare for the election. I will win¡ªby any means necessary. Start rallying the local merchants, hold policy meetings, buy food for the inns!"

    "Understood!"

    And thus, across the Empire, a bloodless but merciless war erupted over Imperial Parliament Advisor and city council seats.

    Fabio, of course, remained untouched by the chaos.

 Chapter 376: Merchants Want to Become Politicians Too (5)

    The newly appointed Imperial Parliament Advisors wasted no time in proposing a flurry of laws that catered to their own interests.

    As advisors, their role should have been limited to offering guidance when consulted by the Empire.

    But since there were no explicit guidelines defining whether they could propose legislation themselves, they seized the opportunity.

    Flipping through the stack of documents detailing their proposals and justifications, I let out a dry chuckle.

    "Well, well. These seasoned merchants are spouting absolute nonsense without even wetting their lips. Do they think the Imperial Parliament is a stock market?"

    "They must, considering how much they invested just to secure their positions as advisors. And let¡¯s not forget, most of them are ancient fossils who could drop dead any day now."

    "Desperate to make back their money before they keel over¡ªhow admirable. Truly, these merchants are as shrewd as they are shameless."

    "To think they¡¯re pulling off a scam against the Empire itself, all while making sure not to get caught... How utterly short-sighted."

    In a democracy, politicians could get away with making impossible campaign promises to their voters, knowing that the worst consequence was losing re-election.

    But in an absolute monarchy?

    ¡°An enraged Emperor will personally crush your skull.¡±

    In this regard, monarchies had a certain advantage over democracies.

    At least in an absolute monarchy, when a politician lied, they actually paid the price.

    "Lower hygiene inspection standards because poor innkeepers and restaurant owners are struggling? Adjust corporate taxes based on merchant income levels because otherwise, the economy will collapse?"

    "These explanations are outright distortions."

    Honestly, I had to applaud the audacity.

    They personally experienced how proper hygiene standards prevented waterborne diseases... yet now they wanted to lower the standards?

    And they were claiming progressive corporate taxation was discriminatory and destructive to the economy?

    If you make more money, you pay more taxes¡ªthat¡¯s just common sense.

    If they didn¡¯t like it, they should find a way to legally maximize deductions like I did.

    "Pathetic fools. I appreciate their attempt to leverage their positions for personal gain, but why do they only understand half of the game?"

    Sebastian smirked, nodding in agreement.

    "It is your duty, my lord, to provide them with proper enlightenment."

    "Indeed. A scholar¡¯s duty is to educate the ignorant and guide them from darkness."

    "And naturally, a small tuition fee is warranted, is it not?"

    "Sebastian, you truly understand me. You¡¯re the only one who does."

    Of course, I wouldn¡¯t demand anything extravagant.

    I was a generous and kind man.

    Far ¡ô N§àv§Öl?g?t ¡ô (Only on N§àv§Öl?g?t) more benevolent than some bald king who marched hundreds of thousands of troops against three hundred warriors just because he was salty.

    At the very least, I wouldn¡¯t execute people for resisting my policies¡ªI¡¯d just reeducate them to support my policies.

    "In all of the Empire, I¡¯m the only one who truly understands economic policy¡ªaside from these so-called advisors. But look at them. They''re just a bunch of scheming weasels."

    "So as His Majesty¡¯s loyal subject, it is my duty to restore order."

    "Some fools may try to label you a traitor, but I, Sebastian, know that your heart is filled only with loyalty to the Empire."

    "They say the path of righteousness is narrow and seldom walked. But with you by my side, Sebastian, I don¡¯t mind the solitude."

    Some might accuse me of tailoring every policy to benefit the Rothschild Trading Company.

    But that would be missing the bigger picture.

    The world judged people not by their intentions but by their results.

    And since the prosperity of the Rothschild Trading Company directly translated into the prosperity of the Toscana Empire...

    "Wouldn¡¯t it be fair to say that the Company¡¯s success is synonymous with national interest?"

    "Reject all proposals to lower hygiene standards and corporate taxes. Instead, push to eliminate tariffs on weapon exports entirely."

    "Yes, my lord."

    "And while we¡¯re at it, let¡¯s propose abolishing territorial toll taxes too."

    Territorial tolls were just another form of internal tariffs.

    Imagine having to pay a toll tax not just when entering Seoul or Busan, but also at every province in between.

    "Smooth logistics are essential for a thriving nation."

    We might not have steam engines yet, but we could at least fix this nonsense.

    For the first time since the establishment of the Imperial Parliament Advisory System, all advisors gathered in one place.

    Though their positions were technically non-hereditary, they were still granted lifelong baronetcies.

    One might expect them to dedicate their twilight years to selfless service for the Empire.

    But these were men who, even with ninety-nine bags of rice, would still steal another man''s single remaining grain¡ªand sell his starving family into slavery to profit from the debt.

    They had only one thought in mind: How can I sabotage my competitors while maximizing my own gains?

    "Forget the Empire. My interests come first."

    Sebastian, who considered himself not quite Admiral Yi Sun-sin but at least a loyal retainer of Fabio, had similar thoughts.

    "All of you are renowned merchants or honorable retirees. Yet, I am merely here as a representative of the Rothschild Trading Company."

    Formally speaking, he was correct.

    But in reality?

    Sebastian was not just an advisor¡ªhe was the Chief Steward of the Rothschild Viscountcy.

    Unlike these men, who held baronetcies only as long as they served as advisors, Sebastian¡¯s status was permanent.

    Moreover, the Rothschild Trading Company was personally endorsed by the Emperor, and Fabio was a wild card who would go to war over a slight insult.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    "He even launched an entire war against the Kingdom of Lyon just for raiding his estate..."

    If these men knew that Fabio had secretly orchestrated the mass slaughter of Lyon¡¯s troops in the Holy Empire¡¯s civil war just to cripple their kingdom...

    They might have suffered heart attacks on the spot.

    Luckily for them, they were blissfully unaware.

    "I trust I will be treated well."

    "Of course, Steward Sebastian. We would never dare to slight a representative of Lord Rothschild. Please, take the seat of honor."

    Within moments, Sebastian had seized control of the meeting¡ªall while acting humble.

    "Ahem. Before we begin, there¡¯s a matter I¡¯d like to address."

    "Yes?"

    "Advisor Generali, you proposed relaxing hygiene inspections, correct?"

    "Yes. The current standards are too strict. Many small inns and restaurants struggle to meet them because of the daily cleaning requirements..."

    "...Advisor Generali, I noticed that you own poultry farms and a large-scale meat distribution business."

    "And ever since the guild system was abolished, you¡¯ve expanded butchery operations across the Empire, correct?"

    "Ah, yes! Thanks to His Majesty¡¯s policies¡ª"

    "Your call to lower hygiene standards makes me concerned about the sanitary conditions of your facilities. Perhaps a thorough inspection is in order?"

    A bead of cold sweat dripped down Generali¡¯s forehead.

    The Rothschild Inspections Bureau was infamous.

    Their inspectors wore white gloves¡ªand if they found even a speck of dust, they would impose crippling fines and shut businesses down.

    "Damn it... My kitchens prioritize efficiency over cleanliness..."

    "I... I realize now that my proposal was ill-advised. I¡¯ll retract it immediately."

    "Good."

    "And I believe someone here suggested lowering corporate taxes?"

    The advisor in question visibly flinched.

    "If we lower corporate taxes, imperial and noble budgets will suffer. That means we¡¯ll have to raise taxes on the poor. Do you think His Majesty would be pleased?"

    Everyone knew the Emperor¡¯s love for his subjects was genuine.

    It wasn¡¯t just propaganda¡ªanyone who rose to the level of advisor could see that much.

    Pushing a policy that would burden the commoners?

    Technically, there wouldn¡¯t be any legal repercussions.

    But the Imperial Audit Bureau could find something¡ªsome minor tax violation¡ªand bury them.

    They wouldn¡¯t die physically¡ªbut they would be socially annihilated.

    "I... I see now that I was mistaken. I retract my proposal as well."

    Sebastian grinned.

    "Excellent. Now then, shall we begin the meeting?"

    And so, every proposal discussed that day was either beneficial to Fabio...

    Or at the very least, not an obstacle.

    A thoroughly democratic and perfectly fair process.

 Chapter 377: Merchants Want to Become Politicians Too (6)

    Some old-fashioned YouTuber once said:

    "If you want to survive in this world, you must endure and adapt to its injustices."

    Of course, when someone asked if that meant tolerating sexual harassment from a boss, he quickly clarified: "That¡¯s a crime. Report it."

    But the core of his statement remained true¡ªinjustice is inevitable.

    To succeed, you must endure it, adapt to it, and, better yet, exploit it.

    And in the Toscana Empire, collusion between politics and business was not a crime.

    It was simply another inevitable injustice in an unfair world.

    "And if I want to survive, I have no choice but to use it to my advantage."

    "Sebastian couldn¡¯t come himself?"

    "Yes, my lord. The Chief Steward is currently engaged in serious discussions with the advisors, so I was sent in his place."

    Beasts settle disputes by biting and goring each other.

    But humans¡ªtwo-legged beasts¡ªare different. They have language.

    By simply explaining their stance, they can reach agreements without shedding blood.

    And if someone refuses to listen?

    Well, a friendly reminder of the consequences tends to encourage cooperation.

    Sebastian was surely reminding certain advisors of what might happen if they didn¡¯t cooperate.

    So, of course, he couldn¡¯t personally be here.

    "I see. Before you report, let me ask¡ªhow have you been, Orsini?"

    "Thanks to you, my lord, I married into a fallen noble family, and the stocks you advised me to invest in have skyrocketed. I find myself wishing every day could be like today."

    There¡¯s a saying: "May every day be as good as Chuseok."

    In Joseon, Chuseok was the one day when even common farmers¡ªbarring a bad harvest¡ªcould feast on rice, meat, and oil-fried delicacies.

    A day so abundant that people wished every day could be like it.

    I understood the sentiment.

    But I refused to accept it.

    Why settle for a good today when you could strive for an even better tomorrow?

    "Satisfaction is good, but if you stop moving forward, you begin to decay. Why merely restore the Orsini family? Why not surpass its peak?"

    Dreaming big is important.

    That said, a bottom-rank student dreaming of beating the valedictorian just by copying their study methods?

    That was delusional.

    If you¡¯re at the bottom, you don¡¯t start with six-hour study sessions.

    You start with ten minutes a day, gradually increase your study time, and build a foundation.

    Jumping straight into extreme methods just leads to failure.

    "Thank you for opening my eyes, my lord."

    "Keep striving forward. The moment you stop, you start to decay."

    The greatest inventors and engineers in history were people who never stopped improving.

    Stone tools broke too easily, so they experimented with melting rocks¡ªwhich led to bronze.

    Then they raised the heat further, and iron was born.

    "Enough small talk. How are the Imperial Parliament Advisors'' proposals shaping up?"

    "The suggestions for weakening hygiene laws, lowering corporate taxes, and cutting wages are no longer on the table."

    Lowering corporate taxes was tempting, honestly.

    I wouldn¡¯t mind paying less, either.

    Even a 1% reduction would save me thousands of gold coins.

    But if that shortfall was covered by higher taxes on the poor?

    The urban economy would crumble, and rural markets would collapse.

    Long-term, it would be like eating your own flesh just to fill your stomach.

    "What¡¯s been proposed instead?"

    "Tax exemptions for raw materials used in weapons manufacturing, elimination of export tariffs on arms, removal of territorial tolls, and abolition of death taxes and prima nocta (a fabricated tax meant to extort newlyweds). Also, a requirement to register stock transactions above 100 gold coins with government offices."

    "The stock registration law is a loss for us... but a necessary one."

    There¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch.

    I wanted to control as much as possible, but taking everything for myself would only create more enemies.

    Especially when it came to shaping laws.

    So, I volunteered the stock registration law¡ªa policy against my own interests.

    This would make the Emperor think,

    "Ah, these advisors are quite fair-minded."

    And with that illusion, I could milk this system for years.

    "This means we¡¯ll be taxed on all our stock holdings."

    "That¡¯s a 10-20% tax on all investment income."

    "The Imperial treasury will be quite pleased."

    "Our family alone will pay tens of thousands of gold."

    Still, I¡¯d more than make up for it with the exemptions on weapons manufacturing.

    Just from legal exports to Lyon and the Holy Empire, our weapons cartel¡ªI mean, cooperative¡ªpaid over 250,000 gold in tariffs.

    And if we included smuggling?

    Half a million gold.

    Once my new arms production districts were fully operational, that number would double.

    "So yes... the weapons export tariff must go."

    "Meanwhile, our merchants in key cities are working hard on local regulations."

    Controlling the Imperial Parliament was important.

    But eliminating unnecessary taxes and regulations in cities where we operate?

    That was just as vital.

    If some drunk noble decided to shut down our warehouses, I¡¯d have no choice but to comply¡ªfor now.

    Of course, they would never know peace again...

    But avoiding bloodshed altogether was preferable.

    "That¡¯s why it was wise to support potential merchant-council candidates."

    "With our backing, those council members are practically our men now."

    "And the ones who refused our help?"

    Orsini smirked.

    "We''re handling them... through entirely legal means."

    No merchant was truly clean.

    Even in the 21st century, there were some honest officials.

    But in the Toscana Empire?

    Officials who refused bribes were removed as ¡®dangerously radical idealists¡¯.

    And merchants?

    "You think there exists a merchant with a spotless record?"

    "That¡¯s less believable than Yi Sun-sin winning with one ship against 133."

    ...Although, he actually did that.

    But I wasn¡¯t Yi Sun-sin.

    I was just a man borrowing the wisdom of the British Empire.

    If I tried to pull off something that reckless, I¡¯d die in thirty seconds.

    "We''ve secured tax exemptions for poultry farms supplying Florence and the capital, and we''re cutting taxes for cities producing war materials like iron, lead, and copper."

    Raw materials were one of the biggest expenses in arms production.

    Even a small reduction in costs meant huge profits.

    "Perfect. And the new towns?"

    "A law has passed to provide 1 silver coin to any poor resident who relocates."

    A single silver wasn¡¯t cheap, but from the perspective of city residents?

    The poor were a security risk.

    Studies showed that crime rates were inversely proportional to income.

    People with some wealth rarely turned to crime.

    But the destitute?

    They had nothing to lose.

    "So for just 1 silver per person, we¡¯re removing a major problem?"

    "It¡¯s a policy citizens and nobles alike will welcome with open arms."

    "Excellent. And the most important thing?"

    Orsini grinned.

    "A list of all the most lucrative business opportunities in key cities. If we invest accordingly, we¡¯ll make a fortune."

    "Orsini, you look positively wicked."

    "Thank you, my lord."

    "Keep up the good work."

    After all, the longer our family and company dominated...

    The longer the Empire prospered.

 Chapter 378: The Merchant of Death, Fabio (1)

    War is not a 3-minute curry.

    You put rice in the microwave with it and wait a few minutes, and the army moves, and the enemy soldiers and the friendly soldiers don''t start fighting like crazy.

    In a game, you only have to click a few times, but in reality, moving thousands of soldiers requires administrators to rack their brains and calculate for at least several months.

    It''s not uncommon for it to take over a month just to march one way to the enemy camp.

    ''The number of troops mobilized for the Holy Empire civil war is at least several hundred thousand.''

    So, just as water doesn''t boil if it''s not 100 degrees, I thought that the entire Holy Empire, the strongest country on the continent, would have to be ignited for a long time to be engulfed in a civil war, so I waited.

    "Your Majesty, I heard that the Elector of Wittenburg from the Protestant faction and the Emperor of the Holy Empire from the Deus faction fought."

    I jumped up from my seat without realizing it and cheered.

    ¡°We did it! Now the Tuscan Empire is alive!¡±

    The Tuscan Empire is not in a state of national weakness like Japan, which only prayed and prayed for the outbreak of the Korean War.

    Thanks to the Sa-yun method and New World crops, food production has increased like crazy, and the economy is growing rapidly, and the people¡¯s standard ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Read more on our source) of living has also improved significantly.

    The emperor¡¯s power is sky-high, and not only officers but also soldiers are ready to jump into danger at the emperor¡¯s command.

    So it¡¯s contradictory for me to shout, ¡°The empire is alive!¡±

    ¡®Salvation of weapons and other defense-related businesses will go crazy.¡¯

    Sebastian asked with a tired expression.

    ¡°Your Majesty, do you really like it that much?¡±

    ¡°Other people¡¯s misfortunes are opportunities for me.¡±

    Mencius said that a person without a sense of shame is a beast that is not worthy of being human.

    I also agree with that statement.

    Forcing others to do things they don¡¯t want to do, stubbornly pushing through even though they know it¡¯s wrong, and not being able to distinguish between good and bad are not human.

    ¡®But isn¡¯t it true that politicians have to give up being human?¡¯

    King Sejong, the great king of the nation, slaughtered all the Jurchen people in order to protect Joseon, or drove them out of their homes and sent them to their deaths.

    He established the four armies and six garrisons to open up the north, establishing the current borders of the Korean Peninsula.

    Looking at other foreign monarchs who revived their countries, there were many acts that left no trace of ¡®human conscience.¡¯

    ¡°That¡¯s true. However, I¡¯ve seen that side of you, Your Majesty, several times... I¡¯m having a hard time adjusting to it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take all the blame.¡± ¡°You, Viscount, only walk on the flowery path. Sebastian will take care of the difficult work.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s wrong. How can we walk on the flowery path?¡±

    I am a follower of the wisdom of imperialism, especially the British Empire, which bloomed the most splendid and beautiful flowers.

    Even though we couldn¡¯t make a steam engine, we laid the foundation for starting the industrial revolution right away if we had a steam engine.

    The Masai Union of Ifriqiya is being run like the Qing Dynasty, which lost all its interests to the Western powers.

    When we pioneer the New World, we will borrow the wisdom of Hernan Corte?s.

    ¡°The path we walk is soaked in the blood of others.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ¡°We harm others in order to survive and prosper. Let¡¯s see, who won the war?¡±

    ¡°It says that the Elector of Wittenburg won.¡±

    According to what I heard, if the number of people supporting Protestantism is 4, the number of people supporting the Emperor is about 6.

    The Emperor''s faction is said to be about 50% stronger... I never thought they would win.

    ''In the original 30 Years'' War, the Protestants were always defeated at the beginning of the war.''

    "The Protestant faction''s army was said to be 80,000, and the Emperor''s army was said to be 130,000. The two armies fought on the plains. I don''t know the details either."

    "It''s enough to know who won and who lost."

    The losing side can receive payment in other forms instead of money, and the winning side can receive treasures such as gold obtained through plunder and sell weapons.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    That''s how you make money by making each other consume power.

    If you make electronic products that don''t break down for too long, other consumers won''t need to buy new products, so sales won''t come in, and they''ll go bankrupt.

    Weapons are only useful if they are carefully stored in the armory.

    They are made to be used a lot, so they break down, and they are plundered in wars, so the number of weapons that can actually be used decreases significantly before new ones can be purchased.

    ¡®How the war goes depends on the circumstances of those who are fighting over there.¡¯

    ¡°We can sell more weapons to the Elector of Wittenburg and the Emperor in different ways. And if we sell the remaining flour and food, we can make money.¡±

    ¡°We can make a lot of money if we sell food and chickens to the Emperor. They are having a hard time producing food because their villages have been plundered and their fields have been burned. In a few months, new crops like potatoes and corn that were planted all over the country will be harvested. How about selling them?¡±

    The Holy Empire will soon, or perhaps even right now, be suffering from a huge food shortage.

    If they can eat it, they will eat weeds, grasshoppers, etc...

    Even if you sell them potatoes, they will eat them without any hesitation. If they are starving to death, how can they not eat anything?

    However, that is not a very good idea.

    ¡°Sebastian, what if those people plant potatoes and corn in the ground? The food shortage will be somewhat resolved. Then there will be no room for us to make money.¡±

    ¡°I was short-sighted.¡±

    ¡°We need to do business for a long time. And the longer the food shortage lasts, the more it benefits us.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, you are really far-sighted. After making money through business, you are even thinking about annexing the Holy Empire into the Tuscan Empire.¡±

    ¡°If you change your perspective, it¡¯s not such a difficult idea.¡±

    In pre-modern society, there were three main causes of the downfall of a country.

    Rebellion, food shortage (due to natural disaster or tyranny), invasion by foreign enemies.

    Usually, the most powerful of these is the famine, when people starve to death in large numbers.

    When such a situation occurs, rebellions occur, and external nomads (barbarians) come running to get food because they have a hard time making ends meet.

    ¡®Even if we somehow overcome other things, there is no answer to the food shortage.¡¯

    And the person who solves this problem ends up becoming the emperor.

    ¡°If His Majesty the Emperor¡¯s loyal Tuscan Imperial Army tramples the Holy Empire, instills fear, and gives them food to save them from hunger, the serfs of the Holy Empire will instantly change their loyalties. People are not animals, but a person¡¯s loyalty ultimately fluctuates depending on who holds their livelihood.¡±

    That¡¯s why independence activists are respected.

    The country of Joseon did absolutely nothing for them, but those who devoted themselves to the independence movement fought for Joseon¡¯s independence, not for Japan, which held their livelihood.

    A will that ordinary humans would not dare to imitate.

    However, most people do not have such will, so if we just feed them properly, they will definitely come over to the Tuscan Empire.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we, the Rothschild family, take as much of the profits as possible from the business of bringing them as imperial subjects and rebuilding the land that was once the territory of the Holy Empire? Of course, investing in the ¡®New World¡¯ would be a much more profitable business than real estate businesses such as territory reconstruction.¡±

    ¡°The Holy Empire doesn¡¯t have many resources, but... there is certainly circumstantial evidence that the New World is overflowing with gold and silver. There are also many rare trade goods such as cochineal.¡±

    ¡°The climate is good, so if we plant sugarcane, we will be able to obtain a lot of sugar. Sugar will become so common that it could even trip you up.¡±

    ¡°That precious sugar tripping you up? You¡¯re joking.¡±

    ¡°Just wait and see. I will create such a world someday.¡±

    During the absolute monarchy, France used sugar to make up 1/3 of its government budget, and in the British Empire, each citizen ate dozens of kilograms of sugar.

    I will definitely create such a world.

    ¡®Because all the sugar in the New World belongs to our family.¡¯

    How great, everyone in the empire consumes dozens of kilograms of sugar made by our family every year.

    There will be no shortage of money.

    And if you have spare time, you should also get involved in the Holy Empire reconstruction project and play real estate.

    The more money you have, the better. It is absolutely right to earn as much as possible without getting into trouble.

    ¡°Focus on selling weapons, food, and various military supplies to both the Emperor and the Elector of Wittenburg. Oh, and you know you have to hide which store you are selling the goods from?¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course.¡±

    The Rothschild Company deals with the Elector of Wittenburg.

    But my new paper company, Leo Trading Company, will deal with the Emperor.

    This way, we can get rid of him.

    While the two of us were talking, the butler i have been informed of the presence of a suspicious visitor.

    And the identity of the visitor was truly unexpected.

    ¡°Baron Platz, under the Elector of Wittenburg.¡±

    ¡°Count Rothschild.¡±

    ¡°Let me get straight to the point. Why on earth did you sell weapons and food not only to us but also to the Emperor?¡±

    See, I created a paper company for this purpose.

    ¡°What are you talking about? I have no idea.¡±

 Chapter 379: The Merchant of Death, Fabio (2)

    Baron Platz was furious at my brazen response.

    "You, Viscount Rothschild! Do you have a face made of iron? Our army has just secured victory at Breitenfeld thanks to Deus'' divine favor and the exceptional command of the Elector of Wittenberg, and while collecting the spoils, we found a massive cache of weapons manufactured in the Toscani Empire!"

    Being interrogated like this reminded me of something a friend once told me over drinks before he got arrested for his crimes.

    "If the police present you with clear evidence and demand a confession, just admit it¡ªat least you might get a lighter sentence.

    But if you committed a crime and they tell you they have all the evidence but never actually show anything concrete, deny everything to the bitter end.

    Because what they¡¯re trying to do is use your confession as their only real proof to lock you up."

    This was exactly that situation.

    Yeah, I sold weapons to both the Emperor and you Wittenberg bastards.

    Judging by how he¡¯s talking, though, he doesn¡¯t have any solid proof.

    "It seems you didn¡¯t hear me properly, so I¡¯ll answer again. What does that have to do with me?"

    "Viscount Rothschild! Didn¡¯t you swear allegiance to the Elector of Wittenberg if you managed to get through this situation unscathed? I am here as his representative, and I have every reason to suspect you!"

    So, he wanted to play a battle of wills?

    Pathetic.

    This attempt was amateurish at best.

    Raising your voice and showing anger only reveals your emotions. That, in turn, makes it easier for your opponent to manipulate you and find the weaknesses in your argument.

    That¡¯s exactly why those who pull the strings always smile, no matter the situation.

    By not showing any emotion, they leave no openings¡ªno room for their opponents to exploit.

    Even when cornered, acting relaxed can make your opponent hesitate, thinking, Does this bastard know something I don¡¯t?

    There¡¯s a reason some old-school power players say, "Never raise your voice. It makes you look weak."

    "Are you telling me that His Highness the Elector of Wittenberg is the kind of man who would suspect a vassal based on baseless accusations? It seems I have misjudged him."

    "You refuse to answer the accusations I present as his representative?"

    "I find it deeply offensive that I am being suspected without any clear evidence. So offensive, in fact, that I must repeat myself twice just to express my displeasure."

    "...You are utterly shameless."

    "Would it not be a far greater act of disloyalty to admit to crimes I have not committed?"

    Truthfully, I had committed plenty of crimes.

    Duke Sforza had the audacity to forcefully extract a ''donation'' of twenty thousand gold coins from me. And with the Papacy involved in that affair...

    I figured, why not take down the Holy Roman Empire''s financial backbone along with it and spark a Reformation while I was at it?

    So, I started a civil war.

    Oh, and let¡¯s not forget¡ªI was playing both sides as a double agent.

    But in every legal system, there¡¯s an unspoken rule: You only have to answer for what you get caught doing.

    If they don¡¯t catch you, it¡¯s not a crime.

    You fools have no authority to judge me.

    "Explain yourself."

    "Before that, allow me to address something first."

    "And what might that be?"

    Showing any sign of fear would make me an easy target.

    Conversely, if I maintained a confident posture, they wouldn¡¯t dare underestimate me.

    "I am a viscount and the lord of the Rothschild estate. That means my title is a rank higher than yours, Baron Platz. And yet, I have shown you respect and addressed you formally because you are my elder."

    "And what exactly are you getting at?"

    "You, however, are of lower rank than I. Even though I serve as a dual vassal, the Elector himself addresses me as ''Viscount.'' I suggest you remember your place and show the proper respect due to a superior noble. By speaking down to me, you insult not only me but also the Elector¡¯s authority."

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    In the military, a general with stars on his shoulders may seem like a god to soldiers inside the chain of command.

    But the moment he steps outside the military, his authority disappears.

    He¡¯s just another old man living off a generous pension.

    However, if a lowly private dares to speak to a general in a disrespectful manner while still in the army...

    Well, let¡¯s just say that private is in for a world of pain.

    At best, he¡¯ll be chewed out so badly he¡¯ll wish he were dead.

    At worst, he¡¯ll be court-martialed for insubordination and enjoy a free trip to military prison.

    That was exactly what I was implying here.

    "You are undermining the Elector of Wittenberg¡¯s authority. Are you trying to commit insubordination?"

    And by pretending to care about the Elector¡¯s honor, I was also reinforcing my supposed loyalty to him.

    Because in the end, whether I was a CEO or a vice president in his service didn¡¯t really matter¡ªhe was doomed either way.

    "I beg your forgiveness, Viscount."

    "I will not forget this insult. Now, let¡¯s proceed with the explanation."

    Taking a deep breath, I responded with confidence.

    "Firstly, while I appreciate the exaggerated reputation of being ''the greatest merchant of the Toscani Empire''... I do not have the power to control every single merchant within the empire."

    "Is that so?"

    "Think about it logically. The only people I can command at will are those directly employed by the Rothschild Trading Company. If some random merchants decide to get drunk during work hours or set fire to another town, I have no way of stopping them."

    "I have heard that His Majesty the Emperor of Toscani trusts you deeply. Couldn¡¯t you use imperial authority to put a stop to this?"

    Truthfully, if I wanted to, I could.

    With the Toscani navy and my private Rothschild fleet, I wouldn¡¯t be able to catch every smuggler, but I could easily wipe out half of them.

    And the moment those smugglers realized the empire was cracking down, they¡¯d stop selling goods to the Emperor.

    Which, incidentally, would be a problem, since I¡¯m the one orchestrating those sales in the first place.

    Why in the world would I sabotage my own business?

    "Would it make sense for a mere noble to overstep and seize control of the empire¡¯s military? I¡¯m not even an officer."

    "...That is true."

    "The merchants of the Toscani Empire are not fools. Of course, they would sell to the Holy Roman Empire¡¯s false emperor. After all, whether the money comes from him or the Elector, gold is gold."

    In every country, the illicit profits from crime, once restitution has been paid to the victims, all end up in the treasury as government funds.

    Because money itself is never guilty.

    It¡¯s the people holding the money who are to blame.

    "The same logic applies to the sale of weapons and provisions."

    "A most logical argument."

    "And, if I may, I must protest one thing most vehemently."

    I wasn¡¯t upset in the slightest.

    But right now, I needed to act like I was.

    Just like how modern politicians pretend to enjoy cheap street food during election season, I had to make it convincing.

    "I assume you are aware that the Kingdom of Lyon has now entered the war. In the Toscani Empire, there is growing sentiment to march on the Holy Roman Empire."

    "Is that true?"

    "What reason would I have to lie? To put it bluntly, another¡¯s misfortune is one¡¯s opportunity. Many in the empire see this as their chance to seize Holy Roman territory."

    This was no lie.

    Every noble in the Toscani Empire, from the Emperor himself down to the lowest baron, was simply waiting for the right moment to pounce.

    "Just stopping those people from acting rashly has been exhausting. Consider this: how much effort would a mere viscount have to expend to stop an entire empire from going to war?"

    "A most reasonable statement."

    People only {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} see what¡¯s in front of them.

    No one would believe that a viscount¡ªhowever influential¡ªcould restrain the empire¡¯s most powerful dukes and marquises.

    That¡¯s just common sense.

    "And one more thing."

    "What is it?"

    A third-rate traitor smiles after dispelling suspicion.

    A second-rate traitor looks sullen about it.

    But the best spy...

    "I understand the Elector¡¯s concerns. So I will let this go¡ªjust this once. But there will be no second time."

    ...is the one who plays the perfect loyalist.

 Chapter 380: The Merchant of Death, Fabio (3)

    The Elector of Wittenberg was listening to Baron Platz relay his impressions of Fabio''s attitude.

    "I believe Viscount Rothschild is someone we can trust."

    "And what makes you say that?"

    "I confronted him about the fact that weapons and supplies ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) were making their way to the Emperor''s side, and his explanation was highly reasonable."

    "Surely, you¡¯re not telling me to trust him simply because he reasoned his way out of it?"

    "There are several other reasons. But more importantly, he made a point of stating that while he is the owner of the largest trading company in the Toscani Empire, he cannot possibly control every merchant within it."

    Fabio knew that when lying, the best way to make people believe you was to do so boldly¡ªlike wearing a mask of iron, no, of diamond.

    And this approach worked astonishingly well.

    People who think within the boundaries of common sense will always reveal small cracks when they lie, no matter how skilled they are.

    Police officers, especially detectives, can often tell if a testimony is false just from tiny nervous habits.

    "But Viscount Rothschild showed no signs of unease whatsoever."

    And so, within the logic of a man who thought reasonably, Baron Platz concluded that Fabio had been telling the truth.

    "Indeed, Viscount Rothschild¡¯s argument is not just reasonable¡ªit is entirely sound. It is well known across the entire continent that he is immensely wealthy. But just as he himself pointed out, it would be impossible for a single man to control every weapon and piece of military supply being sold."

    "Then, what did the viscount claim to be doing on my behalf?"

    "He said he is currently working to prevent the Emperor and the nobles of the Toscani Empire from interfering in the civil war. He even pleaded with me, saying that it was an impossible burden for a mere viscount to hold back the entire nobility on his own."

    The Elector of Wittenberg fell into deep thought.

    Could he afford to trust Fabio? Or was trusting him a fatal mistake?

    His gut instinct told him to cast aside this slippery bastard, this two-faced vassal who drank honey from both cups.

    But truth be told, even his own electors and nobles¡ªthe ones under his direct command¡ªwere unpredictable. Who knew when they might betray him?

    "That Rothschild viscount... He is a double vassal, playing both sides."

    A man who takes two wives is called capable.

    A woman who takes two husbands is called promiscuous.

    A monarch having multiple vassals is natural and legal, but a vassal serving multiple lords is deeply offensive.

    "...The man is intolerable. If I had my way, I would cut him off this very instant."

    But casting him out so recklessly was a terrifying thought.

    Viscount Rothschild had already supplied him with 20,000 matchlock muskets, 10 tons of gunpowder, 10,000 swords, 40,000 pikes, and countless provisions¡ªall at a stable price below market rate.

    Meanwhile, the other merchants in his own territory were selling muskets for three silver coins yesterday, only to demand four silver coins today.

    And that was if they even had stock available.

    Foreign merchants? They made even the local ones look generous by comparison, overcharging at every turn.

    "If that Rothschild bastard disappears, my military supply chain crumbles."

    And as much as he hated to imagine it¡ªwhat if...

    What if that damned viscount started supplying weapons and provisions to the Emperor? Or worse, to the Kingdom of Lyon?

    His own forces would be starving for resources while the enemy grew stronger and crushed them under the weight of an abundant supply chain.

    "Did Viscount Rothschild say anything else? Even vague remarks will do¡ªtell me everything."

    "He said he serves Your Highness with absolute loyalty."

    "Even traitors say that before they¡¯re executed."

    "But the viscount¡¯s words were... different. This is what he said."

    Baron Platz recalled Fabio¡¯s statement¡ªone that was so audacious it almost sounded like true loyalty.

    "He said he was deeply offended by being suspected. And that although he is a dual vassal, Your Highness personally acknowledged his status as viscount¡ªso why was he being spoken down to by a mere baron? He even turned the accusation back on me, demanding if I was trying to insult Your Highness'' authority."

    "He said that to you, who went in my name?"

    "Yes, Your Highness. And since we have no real evidence of betrayal, treating him as a traitor without proof would be..."

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    Baron Platz attempted to make a rational argument in Fabio¡¯s defense.

    But the Elector of Wittenberg raised his hand, cutting him off.

    "Viscount Rothschild... Is he really that obsessed with the noble title I granted him?"

    "Yes, Your Highness. He also said that if he continued to be doubted, he would simply wash his hands of this and support the false emperor instead."

    "That man... He¡¯s less a human and more a wolf chasing the scent of money instead of blood."

    Yet, despite his words, the Elector of Wittenberg¡¯s lips curled into a smile.

    One problem had just been solved.

    For the first time in a while, he looked genuinely at ease.

    "There is no need to doubt him any further."

    "And why is that, Your Highness?"

    "Because Viscount Rothschild is an insatiable beast. He will do anything for profit. Who knows? Maybe he was even the mastermind behind the Tulip Scam that rocked the entire Holy Roman Empire."

    There was no solid evidence.

    But it was a reasonable suspicion.

    If anyone on the continent had the ability to pull off an elaborate fraud using tulips and then shrug it off with a casual "Well, I wasn¡¯t caught, so I¡¯m innocent," it would be Fabio.

    "That does sound like something he¡¯d do. I mean, how greedy must a man be to keep running a trading company personally despite being a viscount?"

    "And right now, he¡¯s clinging to the idea that when I become emperor, he will be rewarded generously. That¡¯s why he¡¯s so fixated on the title I gave him."

    This was universal.

    No matter the country, no matter the era¡ªthe benefits one received were directly tied to status.

    If Fabio earned military merits as a viscount, he could be elevated to an earl or even higher.

    But if he did the same as a mere commoner? At best, he¡¯d be granted a baronetcy¡ªor, if he was extraordinarily lucky, a barony.

    It was the same in any system.

    A senior executive closing a billion-dollar deal would receive far greater rewards and promotions than a fresh recruit pulling off the same feat.

    "Of course, he¡¯s invested in his recognized status¡ªhe¡¯s hoping I¡¯ll grant him an earldom in return for his loyalty."

    "Ah, that does make sense."

    "That Rothschild bastard... This is just how he operates. He doesn¡¯t want to risk losing his head over suspicion, so he¡¯s making it clear¡ªif I don¡¯t trust him, he¡¯ll simply sell himself to the highest bidder. Loyalty? Honor? He¡¯s got no use for those."

    And that...

    Was precisely why the Elector of Wittenberg could rest easy.

    As long as he kept feeding the beast, Fabio would never betray him.

    Just as his own wives, mistresses, and in-laws remained loyal¡ªnot out of love, but because they depended on him.

    "In the end, it¡¯s always about money."

    "I will send a personal letter of apology to Viscount Rothschild. And as a sign of trust, I¡¯ll increase his trading privileges. You are dismissed."

    As Baron Platz departed, a new figure entered¡ªPastor Stefano.

    He held no title, no official position, yet...

    His presence in the Elector¡¯s court was immense.

    He had the authority to request a private audience whenever he pleased.

    Because he was the living banner of the Protestant cause.

    And that, in itself, was power.

 Chapter 381: The Merchant of Death, Fabio (4)

    During World War I and World War II, the United States made a fortune by selling weapons.

    Back in 1929, when the Great Depression swept across the globe and the entire world feared economic collapse,

    the moment World War II broke out, the U.S. began selling military supplies, raking in wealth from across the globe and building the global dominance it now enjoys.

    If you want success, the first step is to copy and understand the methods of those who¡¯ve succeeded before you.

    "We must follow the truth of the Celestial Empire, greater even than the British Empire."

    No matter how brutal and wicked the British Empire was, it couldn''t hold a candle to the Celestial Empire.

    Because the Celestial Empire was a superior and overwhelming upgrade of the British model.

    According to its doctrine, the broader your marketplace, the greater the wealth you can accumulate.

    That¡¯s why the Grandmaster of Capitalism sold weapons and military supplies not only to neutral factions,

    but also to the Communist Sect, to the Blood Cult, and even dealt with the Demon Lord of the Communist Heaven if needed.

    It was that very capitalist spirit¡ªdealing with anyone if the profit was right¡ªthat made America the global superpower of the 21st century.

    I need to learn from that behavior as well.

    ¡°Is money from infidels any less money?¡±

    Which is why I decided to meet the Sultan personally to squeeze some cash from the infidels, too.

    "Your Majesty must be aware that the civil war in the Holy Empire is now fully ablaze and burning their empire to the ground."

    The Emperor responded with a beaming smile.

    "It¡¯s like having a rotten tooth finally pulled. Just thinking about the empire of that boar who used to swagger in front of me collapsing from within¡ªit¡¯s like being cured of a lifelong illness. The war¡¯s barely begun and they¡¯re already throwing around hundreds of thousands of troops. The Holy Empire might fall completely this time."

    The golden age of the Korean people was during the Goguryeo era.

    Especially when China was in chaos¡ªthe time of the Five Barbarians and Sixteen Kingdoms.

    Even though Goguryeo was strong, it couldn¡¯t wield its full strength because of ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) the fragmented Chinese powers.

    The Toscani Empire was in a similar position¡ªlike Goguryeo, constrained by a powerful neighbor, the Holy Empire.

    They weren¡¯t exactly shackled, but it wasn¡¯t easy to expand their influence with a looming superpower right next door.

    But what if that big brother next door is coughing blood and about to croak?

    Then you prepare to swipe all his property and real estate before the body goes cold.

    That¡¯s just good political etiquette.

    Western imperial powers even formalized this into a concept¡ªmost-favored-nation status.

    "Oh? The U.S. took a bite? Well then, we¡¯ll take a bite too."

    We, the Toscani Empire, shall inherit the wisdom of imperialism.

    "Your Majesty, as life is unpredictable, so is politics. We never know how the tides will turn."

    "A single human life is already hard to predict. How could anyone forecast the movement of politics, which involves millions? We can only do our best to ensure events unfold in our empire¡¯s favor."

    Politics never goes as people plan.

    Our glorious King Potato of Prussia nearly tanked the nation during the Seven Years¡¯ War¡ªa man who should have been doing pelvic thrusts instead of leading wars.

    But near the end of the war, a new tsar took the Russian throne¡ªa hardcore Frederick fanatic.

    The guy made peace with Prussia in a deal so generous it was basically ¡°Russia Has Lost Its Mind.¡±

    Thanks to that, King Potato earned legendary status in Germany, on par with King Sejong in Korea.

    Politics is unpredictable. Truly.

    A general in China once died not in battle, but from a meteorite hitting him on the way to war.

    "Success belongs to Deus. But striving to make success happen? That¡¯s humanity¡¯s job. And on that note, I have a plan to propose."

    "Your plans have always been sound, always producing the best results. What have you come up with this time?"

    "What if we bring the Sultanate into the conflict?"

    "The infidels? I understand the importance of winning this war, but to ally with them? I¡¯d rather kiss a dog on the lips. Deus above!"

    Yet, despite saying that, he didn¡¯t order me to leave.

    Nor did he tell me to stop talking. That alone told me everything.

    He was silently asking: Convince me. Give me a reason to listen.

    "Religion and politics are not the same. When they become one, you get disasters like the religious wars of old. Not always, but religion is ruled by emotion and spirit. Politics is governed by reason and logic."

    "That must be why Deus didn¡¯t appoint a cardinal in my place. If religion and politics were truly one, He would¡¯ve crowned a bishop as emperor."

    "Which is why what I¡¯m about to propose lies purely in the realm of politics."

    The moment you let religious sentiment guide political decisions, your nation is doomed.

    Let¡¯s be blunt: there are groups out there who sell women as sex slaves and claim they¡¯ll receive 48 virgins in paradise if they blow themselves up in jihad.

    But their leaders? They¡¯re shockingly rational.

    Strip away the ¡®Islamic extremist¡¯ label, and they think exactly like political strategists.

    That¡¯s why¡ªeven though I acknowledge that gods exist in this world¡ªI treat every matter through the lens of cold, hard logic.

    Now it was time to share that wisdom with the emperor.

    "When Toscani sets its sights on conquering the Holy Empire, the powers most likely to oppose us are:

    the Holy Empire itself, the Kingdom of Lyon, the Sultanate, the United Kingdom, the Tsardom, and the northern states."

    "Just hearing that list gives me a headache."

    "To fully absorb the Holy Empire¡¯s territory, we need to weaken those powers as much as possible."

    "If all our competitors band together, we¡¯re in trouble. So we need to break their strength in advance."

    I read once online that if a flat-chested woman wants to become busty, the most efficient method is to kill every woman with bigger boobs than her.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    That way, she¡¯d be the biggest by default.

    It¡¯s ridiculous¡ªbut it holds a key lesson.

    Eliminate your competitors, and you become number one without improving at all.

    Just like a flat-chested woman becomes busty by default with no surgery.

    "But if we bring in the Sultanate, the Protestant faction and the Holy Emperor might reconcile... No, that¡¯ll never happen. No matter how desperate things get, the Emperor won¡¯t shake hands with traitors. Hell, man landing on the moon is more realistic than that."

    "If we pit the Sultanate, the Kingdom of Lyon, the Protestants, and the Deus-worshipping Emperor against each other, other nations like the United Kingdom and the Tsardom will inevitably step in. No one wants to miss out on a well-known feast."

    Just like how word of a good restaurant causes a stampede, or how everyone rushes to start a business when one becomes trendy¡ª

    most of those copycats fail. Hard.

    "And there¡¯s one more benefit to bringing in the Sultanate."

    "Beyond making the Holy Empire too devastated to resist? What could be better than that?"

    "It gives us the chance to declare a holy war."

    Of course, the war would be staged and fabricated by us...

    But hey, a win is a win.

    Soldiers would much rather fight infidels who mock Deus than battle fellow believers.

    This was my thoughtful kindness to boost morale.

    "And it also gives us a chance to sell massive quantities of weapons and supplies to them."

    The Emperor clapped his hands in delight.

    "Utterly diabolical. Bringing in the infidels to get them slaughtered in a war against other nations, then declaring a holy war to wipe out every last one of them¡ªincluding their allies in the Holy Empire. No one but you could come up with such a scheme."

    "Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty. I¡¯ll continue to evolve and improve. This world is harsh¡ªI must sharpen my wits."

    "You don¡¯t need to be that humble."

    For a moment, the Emperor¡¯s face went pale.

    Was that my imagination?

    "Just trust me, Your Majesty."

    "I have always trusted you."

    The Emperor broke into a light sweat.

    Maybe he¡¯s not feeling well these days?

 Chapter 382: The Merchant of Death, Fabio (5)

    There is no such thing as unconditional in life.

    I really like this saying.

    Since there is no such thing as impossible, it is a saying that authors who ruin lives by forcing young people into passion pay and cutting the service period to 11 months, not giving retirement pay, and not giving career recognition would like.

    It is also a fact that there is no unconditional way to succeed in life, and no unconditional way to fail.

    There is no 100% guarantee that dragging the Sultan of the Mahbad Sultanate into war will succeed...

    ¡®We need to work to increase the probability of success.¡¯

    We need to work to increase the plan that has a 90% probability of success to 95%, no, 97%.

    ¡°Did you say Aziz?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Viscount.¡±

    ¡°Sebastian praised you a lot. I heard that you made a lot of money by selling the Sultanate¡¯s unique art, crafts, and clothes to neighboring countries, including the Tuscan Empire.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that is true.¡±

    If an incompetent person is confident, it is human nature to want to fire them right away.

    However, if a competent person is confident, it is also human nature to think that their salary should be raised.

    Although I have never personally ordered Aziz to do anything, I have heard that he is quite competent.

    ¡°Aziz, I will ask you directly. Can you abandon Allah? Can you join hands with me, who is trying to drive those who serve Allah against Allah¡¯s will into the pit of hell? If you can¡¯t, then you can refuse.¡±

    Even if I say I can¡¯t, I have no particular plans to do anything to Aziz.

    I haven¡¯t even said what I will do, and there is no reason to purge him for the sake of maintaining security.

    ¡®If you try to do something, you might end up in trouble.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ve been praying to Allah since I was little. Please save me and my family. But Allah, that son of a bitch, instead of answering my prayers, sold me and my younger brother to some son of a bitch who only wanted to see the backs of men. And my brother became a male prostitute and suffered all kinds of humiliating things until he went crazy. He ran away because he didn¡¯t want to be like that and was picked up by Sebastian.¡±

    ¡°It must have been hard. I bought Chloe when she was about to be sold.¡±

    ¡°Like Chloe, my brother and I didn¡¯t have good luck. And I want to get revenge on Allah for making my family miserable. I¡¯ll do anything for him, Viscount.¡±

    Aziz showed me his rosary and beads.

    ¡°I believe in Deus, whom Sebastian and the Viscount believe in. I am living now thanks to the grace of Deus, who allowed me to meet my wife, who loved me as a pagan born with brown skin, and who allowed me to enjoy my current happiness. Allah is my enemy.¡±

    ¡°Good. Then I will give you a chance to take revenge on Allah and also to rise in the world.¡±

    I handed Aziz a letter of appointment and a check.

    ¡°From now on, you will work directly for me at the Rothschild Company. At the same time, I will promote you from assistant manager to manager within the company.¡±

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡°Thank you, Viscount.¡±

    ¡°If you successfully complete this task and return, I will grant you a small mansion in Florence that I own. Oh, and of course, I will pay for the salaries of the servants who will maintain the mansion, so don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°It must be a very important task.¡±

    ¡°It is a matter of national importance.¡±

    Aziz showed no sign of joy at all, knowing that the task assigned to him was enormous.

    I really liked his cautious attitude.

    ¡°I will leave for the Sultanate in exactly two months. Before that, you must spread the heretical doctrine in the Sultanate.¡±

    ¡°Heretical doctrine?¡±

    ¡°Create a group that believes in the doctrine that Allah has handed the Holy Empire over to the Mahbad Sultanate.¡±

    ¡°Will it be possible in just two months?¡±

    Common sense tells us that it should not be possible.

    However, things are a little different now.

    The Holy Empire is now divided into two pieces, and the Kingdom of Lyon is invading, so its very existence is in danger.

    On top of that, the feelings between the two are at their worst since the Crusades.

    ¡®If we use their ill feelings, it¡¯s worth a try, right?¡¯

    Originally, cults were created through luck, social situations, and excellent rational analysis.

    ¡°Of course, the usual method won¡¯t do. So what you have to do is lure the poor imams.¡±

    ¡°Poor imams?¡±

    ¡°Not all priests belonging to the Deus Church are corrupt, depraved, and wealthy. Village priests eat well without skipping three meals, and priests in relatively large cities wear silk clothes and live in luxury. Moreover, imams can be anyone who is unemployed and can read.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. When I was a slave, the oldest man among the slaves served as imam and worshiped.¡±

    There is one very unique custom among Muslims and Mahbadists.

    In large cities and such, there are people who study their faith while working as imams full-time, like Catholic priests and Protestant pastors.

    In Mahbadists, even if you don¡¯t have professional training, you can act as an ¡®imam¡¯ if you are the highest ranking member of your group.

    So I heard that people who wrote a lot in the slums were living off of the job of imams.

    ¡°How many of those poor imams are truly devout?¡±

    ¡°Less than one in a hundred. If you don¡¯t have money, your faith will eventually fade.¡±

    ¡°We provide the imams with a huge amount of capital and give them provocative topics. We tell them that the Holy Empire is now divided in half and fighting a civil war, and that the Kingdom of Lyon is fighting because Allah has given the territory of the Holy Empire to the Sultanate of Mahbad.¡±

    Aziz opened his mouth wide after hearing my words.

    Why are you surprised? I still have a lot to say.

    If you are surprised, you will die of a heart attack.

    ¡°And this happened when Allah exercised His power, just like when Prophet Mahbad drove out the wicked and established the current Sultanate. Let¡¯s see, what should I add to make it sound plausible?¡±

    This kind of thing has to sound cool.

    It shouldn¡¯t be like the dark, western, sensibility that middle schoolers would like, but...

    A knight whose sacrifice and honor, duty, and loyalty for His Majesty the Emperor are rewards in themselves, a merchant who is looked down on by others but whose joy in life is to willingly spend his private money for the weak.

    Because it has to sound like something, like the righteous thief Hong Gil-dong.

    ¡°Just as Mahbad was chosen by Allah¡¯s will, the current Sultan has also been ¡®chosen by Allah¡¯, and all the nobles and commoners living in the Sultanate have the honor of joining that great expedition. If you participate in this battle and survive to the end, you will gain the land of the Holy Empire and become rich, and if you die, you will live forever in heaven where you will be invited by 72 virgins.¡±

    ¡°...... That is truly a great idea. If I had heard it when I was a slave, I would have wanted to take up the Shamshir and join the holy war right away.¡±

    ¡°If the Imams of the country said this, it would be quite funny. I think so.¡±

    ¡°Would Deus like it?¡±

    I am ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) not a priest, so I do not know.

    But I can clearly see this one thing.

    The country of those who believe in Allah, the enemy of Deus, will be a mess.

    ¡®Five minutes before the battle, no, it will be a battle.¡¯

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that. But one thing is certain. The Sultanate might fall. One thing that is unfortunate is that with the national power of the Tuscan Empire, it will be difficult to absorb the Sultanate into our territory even if it falls.¡±

    There is a bomb that I have prepared in advance in case the Sultanate fights too well in the Holy Empire.

    However, it is not the time to explode it now, so I should keep it sealed in my heart.

    ¡®It is polite to use a secret weapon at the most critical moment.¡¯

    ¡°Poor Imam, spread this teaching widely while providing food and money to the group they lead. Rumors are likely to spread in an instant, and this kind of pseudo-doctrine is very provocative, so people will like it.¡±

    In this era, the poor live miserably, in some ways, or rather in many ways, much better than slaves.

    Is there a teaching that can save their souls, that can even turn their lives around, being spread to them?

    That is absolutely, absolutely unacceptable.

    ¡®Because it would be like a drug.¡¯

    It is not for nothing that the saying that religion is the opium of the people is still circulated.

    ¡°By the time I arrive at the Sultanate¡¯s palace, I hope this false teaching will have spread to the capital.¡±

    And soon after, Aziz arrived at the Sultanate and went to see the imam of the slums.

    He threw him a small bag full of silver coins and asked,

    ¡°Do you have a moment?¡±

 Chapter 383: The Merchant of Death, Fabio (6)

    The imam of the slums accepted the pouch and checked its contents.

    Inside were twenty silver coins.

    That was enough to build a small house in the slums¡ªa downright fortune.

    ¡°If there¡¯s no time, then one must make time, mustn¡¯t one? What brings a noble person such as yourself to seek out someone as lowly as me?¡±

    ¡°You sweet-talk like your tongue¡¯s been dipped in honey the moment someone hands you a bit of money.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve given such a vast sum in donation to a lowly imam like me. Surely Allah will bless you greatly for it. And when you are blessed, you shall be exalted accordingly.¡±

    ¡°A blessing from Allah, huh? Fine. Then let¡¯s see if I can earn one. This isn¡¯t the sort of thing I¡¯d normally say in the middle of a crowded street, but I need your help.¡±

    The imam immediately stood and led Aziz into the prayer house he used as both home and gathering place.

    It was large enough to fit around fifty people if packed tightly.

    Once inside, and after the doors were closed, Aziz glanced around, then spoke cautiously.

    ¡°Imam, what is your name?¡±

    ¡°Nagi Ali.¡±

    ¡°Good, Nagi. I assume you already figured out, from the moment I handed you twenty silver coins without a word, that I¡¯ve come on behalf of someone very important.¡±

    ¡°Might you be able to tell me who that very important person is?¡±

    Aziz wanted to snap at Nagi for daring to ask something so bold after pocketing the money.

    But at the same time, it was a natural question¡ªhe was clearly being asked to do something important. Of course he¡¯d want to know who he was working for.

    ¡°But I can¡¯t mention Viscount Rothschild by name.¡±

    So Aziz decided to invoke Allah instead.

    ¡°I swear on the name of Allah¡ªI cannot reveal who they are. But if I were to offer just the tiniest of hints...¡±

    ¡°Yes, please...¡±

    Aziz pointed toward the ceiling and spoke with reverent quiet, almost in a whisper.

    ¡°A very high one. The exalted, glorious, and holy one.¡±

    ¡°I understand perfectly... heh heh.¡±

    Pointing upward and speaking of someone ¡°very high¡± was a common euphemism for either the sovereign or a deity.

    And when Aziz swore upon the name of Allah¡ªa name no good Sultanate man would ever invoke lightly¡ªthe implication was stronger than 50,000 words.

    Nagi was convinced this was the start of a golden chapter in his life.

    ¡°The Sultan himself is entrusting me with something important!¡±

    ¡°Do you know what the Crusades were?¡±

    ¡°Is there anyone in the Sultanate who doesn¡¯t know? The damned infidels who ought to be torn limb from limb.¡±

    ¡°Well, that very same Holy Empire that led the Crusades is now split in two, waging civil war. And the Kingdom of Lyon¡ªa fellow believer in their God¡ªhas sent a massive army to devour them.¡±

    ¡°Is... is that true?¡±

    ¡°Do you think someone who serves one so high would lie? Every word is truth.¡±

    Nagi was quietly delighted by what he heard.

    Sure, receiving a fat sum of money was great¡ªbut more than that, hearing that the vile infidels were killing each other in the name of divine retribution... That brought joy to his soul.

    Even if he was practically a con man wearing the imam¡¯s robe, he still believed in Allah.

    And hearing of heretics being torn apart felt... right.

    ¡°Allahu akbar. Thank you, Allah.¡±

    ¡°And now, I need you to spread this teaching.¡±

    ¡°What teaching ?N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t? would that be?¡±

    ¡°Tell them¡ªthe time of jihad has come.¡±

    Jihad¡ªthe sacred war to spread the faith of Mahbad.

    Even to a charlatan like Nagi, the word jihad made his heart pound.

    A holy war. A once-in-a-millennium chance to settle a score with the cursed infidels.

    ¡°Allah said: Those who die in jihad shall go to paradise, where they will live forever in bliss, tended to by seventy-two virgins. And those who survive will inherit the lands of the heretics and enjoy wealth and honor.¡±

    Even in the 21st century, there were still fools who destroyed their families believing in that promise.

    How much more so in a world where religion directly shaped people¡¯s everyday lives?

    ¡°Allah has split the unbelievers Himself¡ªHe has turned them upon one another, made them kill and die by each other¡¯s hand. Brave warriors, join the holy war that Allah has promised victory in!¡±

    And then, as if possessed by the spirit of the moment, Aziz raised his voice and delivered an impromptu sermon.

    ¡°Wealth, glory, power, and paradise itself! All of it has been left behind in the lands of the false Holy Empire. Seek, and you shall find! Knock, and it shall be opened to you! Allah, the most merciful Father, shall grant all of this to you!¡±

    ¡°Just hearing it... it sounds so beautiful.¡±

    ¡°Here. Ten more gold coins. Use it to gather as many of the poor as you can. Stir up the crowd. Get them crying out for holy war.¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course.¡±

    Nasir, a poor day laborer living in Jidda City of the Mahbad Sultanate¡ª

    Like every day, he dragged his feet, trudging toward the prayer house to hear the words of the imam he followed.

    Life was hell. Day after day of hardship. But the imam¡¯s teachings gave him comfort, however brief.

    ¡°Allahu akbar... please, save me...¡±

    The only escape from this poverty was death. If he didn¡¯t die, he¡¯d never escape.

    So the teachings of Imam Nagi¡ªwho preached hope beyond death¡ªwere sweet like honey to him.

    He greeted others in similar conditions as they arrived.

    Same routine, same struggle, same pain.

    ¡°May Allah be with you, my brothers in faith. Have you all been well?¡±

    Nagi greeted them with a grin and handed out food¡ªmatzah, an unleavened bread.

    Normally, the portions were small¡ªbarely enough for a single bite each. But today, there was enough for everyone to eat their fill.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡°Brothers, I may not be able to offer you meat for your bellies just yet, but let this matzah satisfy you tonight.¡±

    Nasir tore into it hungrily.

    He hadn¡¯t eaten to fullness in what felt like an eternity.

    He nearly gorged himself to sickness.

    ¡°Brother Nasir, slow down. Here, have some date wine to wash it down.¡±

    ¡°Thank you...¡±

    It wasn¡¯t the best combo¡ªdate wine and matzah¡ªbut who cared? They were full. That alone was enough to make them happy.

    Once everyone had eaten their fill, Imam Nagi stood and shouted:

    ¡°Allah has given us a chance!¡±

    At the word chance, Nasir and the others perked up.

    ¡°The Holy Empire, that wicked nation that tormented and massacred our ancestors a thousand years ago, has been struck by Allah¡¯s hammer¡ªsplit in half, and now they slaughter one another. And the Kingdom of Lyon, like a ravenous wolf, has set upon them. Do you know what this means?¡±

    Nasir had no idea.

    If he were smart enough to understand, he wouldn¡¯t be living like this at the bottom of society.

    But Nagi knew exactly the intellectual level of his audience, and so he explained slowly, gently¡ªlike to a child.

    ¡°Jihad! Allah Himself has punished them! Now is the time to take back the lands seized by those vile heretics! The time of the holy war is upon us!¡±

    ¡°Holy war...¡±

    ¡°Those who die in jihad will become martyrs. They shall dwell in Allah¡¯s palace, waited on forever by seventy-two virgins. Those who survive will be given land in the Holy Empire by the great Sultan himself. To all who live in darkness and despair¡ªAllah has given us light!¡±

    Nasir¡¯s heart thundered in his chest.

    If he was doomed to live in misery forever, wasn¡¯t it better to die in jihad?

    Die, and be rewarded with paradise?

    Live, and receive land?

    This kind of opportunity might never come again.

    The wicked ones are already killing each other...

    Surely, this was the plan of Allah Himself.

    ¡°Allah wills it!¡±

    And with that cry, Nasir and the others shouted in unison:

    ¡°Allah wills it!¡±

    ¡°Allah wills it, that you become His sword!¡±

    With the crowd fully riled up, Nagi gave his command:

    ¡°I will spend every coin I have to serve matzah and date wine every day. In return, you must bring others¡ªyour friends, your families, your neighbors. Tell them this: The time of jihad has come. Tell them it¡¯s a free meal if you have to.¡±

    Not long after that, the number of attendees at Imam Nagi¡¯s prayer house exploded beyond recognition.

    And Aziz, having spread the same message through other imams, ensured that the cry of jihad reached across the entire Sultanate.

    By the time Fabio arrived, not a single person in the Sultanate hadn¡¯t heard the call.

 Chapter 384: The Merchant of Death, Fabio (7)

    Religion truly is the opiate of the masses.

    The words of the great leader Chairman Mao, who exterminated sparrows with his finger and threw in tens of millions of Chinese lives for good measure, were right a hundred¡ªno, a thousand¡ªtimes over.

    It¡¯s barely been two months since I planted the seeds of this fake jihad cult...

    So how is it that even in Riyadh, the capital of the Mahbad Sultanate, I¡¯m already hearing cries of jihad echoing through the streets?

    ¡°The Great Allah has granted us permission for jihad! Brothers united under His name¡ªlet us pray together! May the Sultan hear Allah¡¯s voice and declare a holy war!¡±

    ¡°Jihad is an opportunity! Those who die in the holy war will be comforted in paradise by seventy-two virgins, and those who survive shall be granted the lands of the infidels¡ªand their people¡ªas slaves!¡±

    ¡°Do not miss this once-in-a-lifetime holy war!¡±

    Hundreds¡ªmaybe even close to a thousand¡ªhad gathered on the streets of the capital.

    In the Toscani Empire, if anyone organized an unauthorized rally like this without reporting it to the government, the guards would storm in, yelling, ¡°You treasonous bastard!¡± and drag the organizers away.

    But here, even with imams screaming for jihad and riling up the crowds, the Riyadh city guards were just standing around and watching¡ªno orders to disperse, no interference at all.

    ¡°Long live jihad! Long live Allah! Allah is great!¡±

    Hell, even the guards were shouting along.

    That''s how powerful this cult had become.

    The moment I arrived in the Sultanate, I turned to the officer escorting me¡ªhalf bodyguard, half spy¡ªand asked:

    ¡°Is it always this loud with the jihad chants in the capital?¡±

    ¡°Indeed. The so-called ¡®Holy Empire¡¯¡ªwhich dares claim holiness without even worshipping Allah¡ªhas been split in two by His power, and Allah has raised the Kingdom of Lyon to strike them. The people are hopeful that the Sultan will declare a holy war.¡±

    ¡°I may not serve Allah, but I do agree¡ªthe so-called Holy Empire is neither holy, nor an empire, nor does it have the pedigree of a proper ancient state. They called themselves holy, and thus deserve divine punishment.¡±

    ¡°Deus and Allah are one and the same. Perhaps Deus has finally taken the side of those who truly follow the gospel. What do you say¡ªmaybe it¡¯s time you believed in Allah?¡±

    You think I¡¯ve lost my mind?

    This version of Allah hasn¡¯t flown planes into oversized twin towers yet, nor has he blown up any news agencies...

    But followers of the one god always have something a little off about them.

    Besides, if I convert, I¡¯ll never be able to live in the Toscani Empire again.

    ¡°I¡¯m a noble of the Toscani Empire. I can¡¯t convert so easily.¡±

    ¡°Still, for an infidel, you speak quite reasonably. I believe we can cooperate for the greater good.¡±

    My Medici baronial family had built up trust over centuries by trading spices with the Al-Sini family of the Sultanate.

    I¡¯d approached them with maximum diplomacy.

    Hell, when they prayed five times a day, I even prayed to Deus at the same time¡ªjust in case.

    If I¡¯d prayed to Allah, it would be heresy. But Deus? That¡¯s just good local adaptation.

    ...Although, honestly, my followers cared more about me than any god, so even if I shouted ¡°Allahu Akbar,¡± they¡¯d probably just go with it.

    ¡°What do you think of this jihad, Sipahi?¡±

    Sipahi¡ªroughly equivalent to a knight.

    And if this man was assigned to escort a secret envoy from the Toscani Empire, then he had to be someone of considerable rank.

    He might not officially speak for the Sultan, but¡ª

    ¡ªhis views would likely reflect the noble class''s opinion on the matter.

    ¡°If this jihad means punishing those who defiled our lands under the name of the Crusades, I¡¯d ride at the front myself. The other Sipahi likely feel the same. That¡¯s why no one is stopping these imams gathering crowds in the streets.¡±

    ¡°I see. Then perhaps you and I will be able to work together.¡±

    ¡°Haha, I believe so. Didn¡¯t you say you hated the Holy Empire?¡±

    ¡°Those who share the same enemy often become friends.¡±

    ¡°Friends, yes, friends... In our Sultanate, when a friend or guest comes from afar, we always offer hospitality. After your audience with the Sultan, come visit my home. It won¡¯t be as grand as the Sultan¡¯s banquet, but I¡¯ll make sure your eyes roll back with pleasure.¡±

    Those who share an enemy may be friends.

    But do they know?

    Crimes like fraud, assault, even murder¡ªthose things happen most often between people who are close.

    And in politics, there¡¯s no such thing as a ¡°permanent alliance.¡±

    If the tides turn later, I¡¯ll make the right decision¡ªfor the Empire, of course.

    For now, I¡¯ll play the part of a friend. Hell, I¡¯ll even call him ¡°brother¡± if that¡¯s what he wants.

    ¡°I¡¯d best hurry and meet with the Sultan. Only then can I enjoy the banquet of my friend, the Sipahi.¡±

    The relationship between the Mahbad Sultanate and the Toscani Empire was akin to the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    Actually, worse¡ªbecause even without land battles, they still committed acts of piracy against each other at sea.

    So it was no surprise when the Sultan greeted me not with a welcome, but with a sneer.

    He didn¡¯t even greet me, really¡ªhe just ignored me with open disdain.

    ¡°The Emperor of Toscani wants to speak with me? What¡¯s this¡ªhas the sun started rising in the west, Chancellor?¡±

    ¡°I hear their Emperor is over seventy. Perhaps he¡¯s finally gone senile.¡±

    ¡°Still, I am a merciful Sultan, so I suppose I should at least hear them out.¡±

    ¡°The merchant from Toscani will surely weep with gratitude for the Sultan¡¯s generosity.¡±

    For the record, I¡¯m not just a merchant¡ªI¡¯m a royal envoy, hand-picked by the Emperor himself.

    But the only reason I got this far isn¡¯t because I¡¯m a noble.

    It¡¯s because I¡¯m from the Medici family, which has longstanding trade ties with the Sultanate.

    So I was granted an audience not because I¡¯m a diplomatic envoy, but because I¡¯m a merchant?

    Ridiculous¡ªbut what can you do?

    The desperate one always ends up footing the bill.

    They¡¯re playing this theater deliberately¡ªmaking it seem like they¡¯re doing me a favor just by listening, so that they can extract more in negotiations.

    ¡°Peace be upon you. I am Fabio de Rothschild, Viscount of the Toscani Empire, here under the direct mandate of His Majesty the Emperor.¡±

    ¡°Rothschild, you say.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Then let me ask you plainly, Viscount¡ªwhy does your Emperor seek an alliance with us? From your perspective, we¡¯re nothing but infidels. In your faith, infidels are two-legged beasts¡ªno, worse than beasts. Walking demons.¡±

    Cardinal Richelieu¡ªwho led Catholic France to victory in the Thirty Years¡¯ War, despite the Holy Roman Empire being a fellow Catholic state.

    A man of the cloth, one step below the Pope himself, yet he sided with Protestants for the sake of France¡¯s interests.

    ¡°I won¡¯t deny it.¡±

    The moment I said that, the Sultan¡¯s guards raised their spears and muskets in my direction.

    In Lyon, the king couldn¡¯t kill me even if he wanted to¡ªbut the Sultan?

    He could kill me right now and suffer no real consequences.

    The Toscani Empire has no official diplomatic ties with the Sultanate.

    Even if I die, trade won¡¯t stop. I¡¯d just be another corpse.

    This could go south real fast.

    But a professional smiles even in danger.

    Showing fear? That¡¯s just begging them to cut your throat.

    ¡°Still, Your Majesty, I humbly offer counsel: let us join hands¡ªfor profit.¡±

    ¡°For profit? And how do I trust you? Even those who claim to follow Allah have betrayed me. How can I trust one who follows a different god?¡±

    ¡°Trust not in people¡ªbut in the profit, ¡ï Novelight ¡ï prestige, and prosperity that lie before both Your Majesty and the Emperor of Toscani. People may betray. Money does not.¡±

    ¡°You are a most greedy man.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the highest compliment one can offer me.¡±

    Mock me all you want¡ªI don¡¯t care.

    Say whatever you like.

    In the end, I¡¯ll be the one laughing while you dance to the tune I composed¡ªright before your inevitable downfall.

    So sure, I¡¯ll let you talk. Smile, even.

    ¡°Your Majesty,¡±

    I looked the Sultan directly in the eyes.

    ¡°I want you to become the greatest Sultan in history. And the Toscani Empire will do everything in its power to make that happen.¡±

    ¡°So now you play the role of loyal subject?¡±

    ¡°Hardly. Why would I pretend?¡±

    A lie is only useful if the other party believes it.

    If they don¡¯t? It¡¯s worthless.

    ¡°Let us split the false Holy Empire in two... and devour them.¡±

 Chapter 385: The Merchant of Death, Fabio (8)

    Humans are the kind of beings who can shake hands with their mortal enemies for the sake of greater profit.

    Different ideologies, opposing goals, even completely divergent visions of the world¡ªit doesn''t matter.

    The power to join hands despite all that is what separates man from beast.

    Animals only see the enemy they want to kill.

    Humans? They can look their enemies in the eye and still figure out why they must cooperate, suppressing instinct for reason.

    ¡°To achieve greater dreams and greater profit, people sometimes join hands with their ¡ï Novelight ¡ï enemies. There is nothing shameful about that.

    What is shameful, I believe, is letting the chance slip by, failing to grasp it, and later pounding the ground in regret for missing the opportunity.¡±

    ¡°Hmph. Not an unreasonable argument.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, if I may be so bold¡ªI imagine even the Prophet himself must have joined hands with his enemies more than once in his mission to spread Allah¡¯s teachings.

    Were it not for that wisdom, the Sultanate would not exist as it does today.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re presumptuous¡ªbut not wrong.

    When the Prophet first rose up in the holy city of Mecca, he made peace with the city¡¯s chief, a man who worshipped Deus.

    Granted, the man later converted after witnessing the glory of Allah through the Prophet.¡±

    There¡¯s not a single successful ruler or politician in history who never shook hands with former enemies.

    That¡¯s what politics is¡ªbringing even your enemies into your camp.

    I didn¡¯t believe in Allah.

    But I knew a powerful ruler and religious leader like the Sultan had once made alliances with former foes.

    And I was right.

    Even more reassuring¡ªdespite me mentioning the Prophet, who to them is sacred beyond life itself,

    he didn¡¯t explode.

    He actually responded well.

    Almost there.

    ¡°Lower your weapons.¡±

    The spears and muskets pointed at me dropped.

    ¡°What is it the Emperor of Toscani wants?¡±

    ¡°To split the Holy Empire exactly in half¡ªand eat it. If the Holy Empire is divided into East and West, the Western half will become part of your realm.¡±

    For just a moment, the Sultan¡¯s expression shifted¡ªhis eyes narrowing like a rat¡¯s, a subtle smile creeping up his face.

    That smile¡ªrotten and calculating. He¡¯s thinking the exact same thing I am.

    Sure enough, his plan must be to devour the Western half first and stab us in the back afterward.

    Amazing, isn¡¯t it? How alike people can be?

    This is probably why the Deus-worshippers insist that all humans carry original sin and are bound for hell.

    ¡°The Toscani Empire would like to propose a deal.¡±

    ¡°What kind of deal?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll sell you whatever supplies you need¡ªfood, weapons, gunpowder, steel, armor¡ªall at quantities you request, and at prices slightly below market.¡±

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡°So even as allies, I don¡¯t get it for free?¡±

    ¡°Even brothers fight over a bean, Your Majesty. When it comes to money, better to settle everything cleanly to avoid future troubles.¡±

    ¡°Hah! The Al-Sini family described you as a devil who sold his soul to coin, and it seems they were absolutely right.

    But I like that spirit¡ªrefusing to lose even a single copper.¡±

    When people actually trust each other, they can afford to treat each other casually¡ªmaybe even give a free meal here and there.

    But if someone you just met starts feeding you for free?

    No sane person would see that and not think scam.

    On the other hand, if someone is meticulous with money?

    They might be a bastard¡ªbut at least you know they¡¯re not out to cheat you emotionally.

    That kind of person is trustworthy in business.

    ¡°On the Emperor¡¯s name, I swear¡ªwe will never deceive the Sultan.¡±

    We don¡¯t use those primitive scams like other merchants.

    Like sneaking a lead weight into the bottom of a wine barrel to make up for shorted volume...

    Or building musket barrels from soft iron instead of steel to save a few coins...

    Those tricks are so obvious they insult the intelligence of the person you¡¯re stealing from¡ªand more importantly, they insult the money.

    And that¡¯s just bad manners.

    ¡°A scam that goes undetected is just excellent business.¡±

    ¡°That all sounds very reasonable. But why should we trust you, of all people?¡±

    A ruler should always be suspicious.

    After all, the same loyal servant who bows at breakfast might try to skewer your neck with a fork by lunchtime.

    A king who¡¯s constantly betrayed learns to stop getting angry about it.

    That¡¯s just the standard.

    And rulers?

    They don''t trust people who pledge loyalty without reason.

    They trust those who chase profit¡ªbecause that''s the kind of human they''ve met the most in their life.

    ¡°Then let me speak plainly, with nothing to hide.¡±

    The Sultan gestured for me to go on.

    Of course, "nothing to hide" is a lie.

    It''s the same tone adults use when they say, ¡°I¡¯m saying this for your own good,¡±

    or when a manager says, ¡°I¡¯m fine with it, but other departments might have a problem.¡±

    They pretend to care about you¡ªwhen in reality, they¡¯re just setting you up.

    Still, people like the Sultan?

    They¡¯ll believe me.

    Because I speak the way their world has taught them people should.

    ¡°Even if the Toscani Empire uses its full strength, I doubt we could swallow more than half of the Holy Empire.

    So I thought: why not form an alliance with the Sultan and cleanly split the prey down the middle? That way, we both benefit.¡±

    ¡°Hmph. Brutally honest, aren¡¯t you? Did it never occur to you that I might be offended?¡±

    ¡°If I have offended, I ask your forgiveness.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the one who said to speak freely, and I don¡¯t take back my word.

    Besides... what you said makes sense. If you can only take half, it¡¯s smarter to fight only that half.¡±

    With a hearty laugh, the Sultan approached and held out his hand to lift me up.

    ¡°I accept the Emperor of Toscani¡¯s offer of alliance.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s put aside heavy talks for tonight. We have a guest from far away¡ªit¡¯s time for a banquet.

    And in honor of that guest, we shall bring out the strong wine.¡±

    Later that night, after Fabio had collapsed from rare drunkenness, the Chancellor met privately with the Sultan.

    ¡°Sultan... do you truly intend to trust that man Rothschild?¡±

    The Sultan smiled faintly at the question.

    Almost mockingly.

    ¡°Trust Viscount Rothschild? I¡¯d sooner believe a woman could become Sultan.¡±

    ¡°I agree. That man must not be trusted. Among the infidels, they say he¡¯s a devil in human skin.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. But his greed¡ªthat I can trust.

    Every man is full of desire.¡±

    ¡°Very true.¡±

    ¡°Today he eats barley matzah. Tomorrow, he¡¯ll want wheat.

    Today he beds a plain woman. Tomorrow, he¡¯ll chase one more beautiful.

    Even if he marries the most stunning woman on earth, he¡¯ll still eye a stranger on the street.

    That is the nature of man.

    Politics, to me, is all about how you use that desire.¡±

    He was right.

    It was a fundamental truth of history.

    Humans first learned to make fire not because of some divine enlightenment¡ªbut because they remembered how good roasted meat tasted the last time lightning struck a tree.

    Invention comes from dissatisfaction.

    And the Sultan understood that instinctively.

    ¡°As long as he¡¯s pursuing profit, he¡¯ll never betray us.

    Through this alliance with Toscani, we¡¯ll gain a decisive advantage in the holy war.¡±

    ¡°So we use him... until we can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Just like sugarcane¡ªyou toss it once the sweetness is gone.

    That man plans to use us to swallow half the Holy Empire. But¡ª¡±

    The Sultan ground his teeth once, hard.

    ¡°How dare that infidel think to use us? Let him try. In a few years, once the sweetness is gone, we¡¯ll drive the Toscani dogs out of the Holy Empire¡ªour new territory.¡±

    Then he reached for a white cloth, sliced his palm with a dagger, and wrote with his own blood in the script of the Mahbad Sultanate:

    ¡°Jihad. Praise Allah.¡±

    ¡°Prepare for jihad.

    We will be the ones who win in the end.¡±

 Chapter 386: The Merchant of Death, Fabio (9)

    There¡¯s one major trait that all those we commonly refer to as ¡°suckers¡± have in common.

    They¡¯re under the massive delusion that they¡¯re not suckers¡ªand that they¡¯re the ones in control of the game.

    The courageous ¡°I can do it!¡± attitude is admittedly admirable, but reality always turns out to be a steaming sewer.

    It¡¯s like how grown-ups used to say you¡¯d find love once you got into college.

    ¡°What kind of dead-frozen romance are they talking about in college, right, Sebastian?¡±

    Sebastian tilted his head at my words.

    ¡°Romance in college? Are you talking about sodomy? Deus, have mercy. I¡¯d rather see a heretic walk through the door.¡±

    ¡°No, I mean people finding romantic partners while attending university.¡±

    ¡°Ah. I thought some unspeakable tragedy had occurred where men in college were falling in love with each other.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s obviously not something that would ever happen. If some bastard ever got caught doing that kind of crap at our university, I¡¯d personally make sure he didn¡¯t walk away from it.¡±

    In the Toscani Empire¡ªor rather, anywhere on the Albanian continent¡ªonly men can attend university.

    No matter what happens, even if the sky flips upside down, women can¡¯t go.

    Because legally, university students are considered clergy during their enrollment (and aside from nuns, all clergy are male), and this era doesn¡¯t even entertain the idea of women in higher education.

    ¡®In this world, it¡¯d be as absurd as sending a man to the moon.¡¯

    ¡°You¡¯re speaking nonsense again. That joke wasn¡¯t funny.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a joke. I just happened to see some guy yesterday in a university gown chatting happily with a girl.¡±

    Seeing that reminded me how I never even got to hold a girl¡¯s hand all through college and grad school back in Korea.

    ¡°Anyway, how are the weapon sales looking?¡±

    ¡°Even with the newly established weapons factory in the new city running through the night, I¡¯m concerned we may not meet the delivery deadline.¡±

    ¡°Through the night? Don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re working the laborers over 10 hours a day.¡±

    There¡¯s no place in my world for some bastard who works people more than 12 hours a day and then pockets their wages.

    Those kinds of people eventually evolve into bushy-bearded communist demons.

    And if the number of blood-soaked cultists rises, even a capitalistic grandmaster like myself won¡¯t be able to keep them in check.

    The labor code was written in blood¡ªnot just the blood of workers, but of capitalists like me as well.

    ¡®One stab from a bamboo spear, one for you, one for me.¡¯

    The only ones who need to get impaled are my enemies and competitors.

    ¡°As demand has risen, more and more people are making workers do 12, even up to 14-hour shifts. A few of them have increased wages proportionally and now pay even the lowest staff three silver coins per month, but the majority have just increased hours without touching the pay.¡±

    ¡°If they¡¯re upping the hours and also paying more, that¡¯s one thing. But working them harder without paying more? That¡¯s not right. What are they gonna do when a riot breaks out?¡±

    ¡°We let the factories paying proper overtime off with a warning not to work people more than 12 hours a day. But for those not paying any overtime, we sent labor inspectors, confiscated the factories, and took appropriate legal action.¡±

    Working from 9 to 6 is hard enough.

    But these people clock in at 7 a.m. and finish at 5 p.m.

    Add two hours of overtime and it becomes 7 to 7.

    No matter how much you pay, asking someone to start at 5 in the morning and finish at 7 p.m.? That¡¯s unacceptable.

    Those who stretch working hours and still don¡¯t raise pay are evil bourgeois scum¡ªworse than the professors who torment grad students.

    ¡°Things have gotten so intense that some factories are now running 24/7 in shifts just to meet the overwhelming demand for weapons.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ve split them into three shifts.¡±

    And how do you even run a factory at night? It¡¯s because there¡¯s lighting.

    Without light, you can¡¯t see the machines to operate them.

    But we¡¯re out of lamp oil right now, aren¡¯t we?

    ¡°You need lighting to work. How are they managing that?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re using peanut oil for the lamps. I went to check myself¡ªit¡¯s surprisingly bright.¡±

    ¡°Humans really can make anything when they need to. I don¡¯t even know what to say.¡±

    ¡°The factories are running day and night, but I¡¯ve confirmed that wages are being paid correctly, and aside from making people work overnight, there don¡¯t seem to be other issues, so I left them be.¡±

    ¡°Workers doing night shifts¡ªfrom 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.¡ªshould be paid 1.5 times the daily wage. And don¡¯t make them work night shifts for more than fifteen days straight without a break, Sundays excluded.¡±

    It¡¯s nice to make money, but dying on the job makes it all pointless.

    People work hard every day to live well. They endure awful bosses who crush their dignity just to climb the ladder.

    But nobody works because they want to die doing it.

    ¡°So weapon demand is so high it¡¯s come to this. Must mean we¡¯re making serious money.¡±

    ¡°Firearms, gunpowder, swords, spears, military uniforms¡ªjust from the factories owned directly by the Rothschild Trading Company, we¡¯re bringing in 100,000 gold coins per month. Add in consignment sales from other factories, and it¡¯s about 250,000. The national tax accountants are scrambling, trying every trick to reduce taxes for our ¡®noble contribution to the empire,¡¯ but we still end up paying 50,000 a month.¡±

    ¡°Two hundred thousand gold coins in monthly revenue after tax. That¡¯s about the same as the imperial household¡¯s own tax revenue if you add in our family¡¯s capital power.¡±

    ¡°...Should we increase donations?¡±

    Profitable businessmen and celebrities often donate a lot.

    The news always says they do it out of pure kindness to help the poor, but I¡¯ve always doubted that.

    In the U.S., you can wipe your taxes clean with donations. Korea has decent deductions too.

    Go to any church, temple, or legal religious facility, and they¡¯ll give you donation receipts or offering records you can use to reduce taxes.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    It¡¯s basically: if the money¡¯s gonna get taken anyway, might as well gain some goodwill from it.

    But the Toscani Empire is a different beast.

    If I make too much money, the Emperor will start thinking, That bastard¡¯s suspicious. We should audit him.

    The accountants, sighing deeply, will say We¡¯re grateful to the Baron, but today we¡¯re gonna have to dig in a bit, and they¡¯ll start the tax massacre.

    So instead, I strike first¡ªreassure the Emperor, and reduce the outflow as much as I can in advance.

    This is the kind of wisdom shared by all entrepreneurs in the 21st century¡ªwhether in the British Empire or anywhere else.

    ¡°Donate 300,000 gold coins to the imperial household.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit excessive?¡±

    ¡°How much has real estate gone up in the new city?¡±

    ¡°Our family currently owns about 30% of it. Prices have risen by 80% since initial estimates. The accountants attached to our house predict they¡¯ll rise up to twofold.¡±

    When Baron Florin, who had mortgaged his fief, bought up all the initial stock I released, that batch only made up 5% of the new city¡¯s total property.

    Now the price has gone up 80% on six times that amount.

    ¡°All the land near the new city that¡¯s set for future development is ours too. If you factor that in, it¡¯s going to be a fortune. I¡¯ll just play the humble benefactor and say I¡¯m donating it all for the good of the empire.¡±

    ¡°A wise decision, my lord.¡±

    Getting taxed 300,000 gold coins is one thing. But donating 300,000? That changes the game.

    Bribery in the form of donation. And with that, I can whine to His Majesty for some new privileges.

    Gotta keep up those charitable (bribe) efforts, right?

    ¡°And what did you do with the factories in the new city that the labor inspectors confiscated?¡±

    ¡°I had the auctioned ones registered under the name of someone who doesn¡¯t legally exist.¡±

    ¡°So they¡¯re effectively mine. Use the profits from those factories to raise our company employees¡¯ salaries. Staff the managers from within our own trading company.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood. But even now, our staff¡¯s salaries aren¡¯t exactly low...¡±

    Our Rothschild Trading Company pays the highest wages in the Empire.

    At executive level, even without bonuses, one could buy a villa in the outskirts of Florence outright upon retirement.

    And the money I hand over is laundered cleanly, without skimming a single coin off the top, so people just assume we¡¯re generous payers.

    ¡°There are those weirdos who ?N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t? say loyalty is its own reward. That¡¯s only because they¡¯re weirdos. Loyalty should be bought with money.¡±

    To put it more precisely¡ª

    ¡°Treat others the way you want to be treated. I want these people to lay down their lives for our family. In return, they should be given treatment and pay that matches. Don¡¯t just throw them some words and call it even.¡±

 Chapter 387: Ponzi scheme (1)

    In international politics and diplomacy, the happiness of others often comes to me as misfortune.

    The more the Rothschild family and the Toscani Empire thrive, the more the Holy Roman Empire writhes in pain, the Kingdom of Lyon weakens, and the Sultanate withers away like an old tree slowly dying from a drug addiction.

    Some might ask if my conscience is ever bothered by these actions.

    ¡®This is the logic of statecraft.¡¯

    The destruction of other countries is the hope of the Toscani Empire.

    ¡°Is it okay to leave work early today?¡±

    As soon as I said that, I slapped my hand over my mouth.

    Whether in novels, dramas, or anime, or even in reality, whenever you say ¡°nothing seems to be happening today,¡± a bombshell of work always follows.

    It¡¯s like how if you drop a piece of bread, it¡¯ll always fall with the peanut butter or jam side down, or how my friend doesn¡¯t call attendance when there¡¯s a class cancellation, but the one time I take a ¡°voluntary day off,¡± the professor will definitely call attendance.

    I¡¯ve heard that¡¯s why firefighters, police officers, and medical professionals get scolded when they say something like that.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say such ominous things,¡± they get told.

    ¡°I should probably head home soon.¡±

    I need to shake off this bad premonition by heading to Erika, who¡¯ll grudgingly offer her knee for me to rest my head on, or maybe I¡¯ll go ask Chloe to pamper me with a long-overdue bath, or ask Chris, while dressed in a suit...

    But just as I was hurrying to adjust my clothes, Sebastian entered my room, his face stern, serious, and strict.

    Actually, his expression was no different from usual.

    It seemed like an early departure was out of the question, so it probably just looked that way.

    Damn it, if I hadn¡¯t made that ominous remark, I¡¯d be home resting peacefully by now.

    This is exactly why people say I¡¯m the source of disaster.

    Well, an on-time departure isn¡¯t so bad either.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on, Sebastian?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not anything too serious, but it seems that the Kingdom of Lyon has started issuing stocks. People¡¯s psychology makes them want to copy what others are doing well, but I didn¡¯t expect them to start mimicking us so soon.¡±

    Sebastian is an incredibly competent person.

    But he doesn¡¯t have the foresight like Princess Teresa, who seems able to predict events centuries ahead.

    If Teresa were here, she¡¯d probably say this with a very serious expression:

    ¡°The Kingdom of Lyon has started issuing stocks! If we leave it as it is, their national power could grow tremendously!¡±

    Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.

    How dare they issue stocks?

    ¡°Damn it, they¡¯re already learning about stocks?¡±

    ¡°My lord?¡±

    ¡°I was thinking of leaving early today, but it looks like that¡¯s not going to happen. A much more serious issue has arisen.¡±

    ¡°So what if they¡¯ve started issuing stocks?¡±

    ¡°This is a very serious problem.¡±

    If I don¡¯t take proper action, the Kingdom of Lyon¡¯s national power will grow exponentially.

    And won¡¯t that be a disaster for the Toscani Empire and the Rothschild family?

    ¡°Sebastian, what do you think is the biggest advantage of stocks?¡±

    ¡°Well, it makes it easier to gather money, doesn¡¯t it? Even poor people can raise startup funds if they have exceptional skills, a great eye for business, or game-changing ideas. All they need to do is convince people.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just a secondary benefit. The real advantage is that the capital held by the high-ranking individuals circulates rapidly through the system because of stocks.¡±

    In the 21st century, Earth produces enough food for every human to eat their fill.

    Yet, famine has never truly disappeared in human history since the dawn of time.

    It¡¯s not because the poor are lazy, obviously.

    Anyone who claims the poor live that way because they¡¯re lazy must have noodles for brains instead of a brain.

    In reality, the problem is that surplus food isn¡¯t properly distributed.

    And what about money? Does it work on a different principle?

    No, it works the same way.

    ¡®Europe developed thanks to the faster circulation of currency brought about by stocks.¡¯

    In the East, where the stock system didn¡¯t exist, the capital of the high-ranking individuals didn¡¯t circulate properly, so the fuel necessary for progress wasn¡¯t supplied in time.

    ¡°If my family and I each hoarded 10 tons of wheat, it would all rot away. But what if we leave just enough for ourselves, distribute the rest, and use workers to cultivate new land?¡±

    ¡°By next year, {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} we¡¯ll have 12 to 13 tons instead of 10. Your family will be richer, the workers will get food, and more people will benefit.¡±

    ¡°If this happens on a national scale, just like the Toscani Empire, it can achieve tremendous growth in a short period of time.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a good thing for the future enemy, the Kingdom of Lyon, to become stronger. As you said, we need to take some measures.¡±

    The way money circulates is what makes this so dangerous.

    Of course, some cultists might come to the conclusion that:

    ¡®Since the circulation of money is important, let¡¯s stab the rich with spears to redistribute it!¡¯

    At first, it might seem good, but as everyone becomes rich and money floods the market, inflation will skyrocket.

    Even if you receive 1 billion won, the improvement won¡¯t be as significant.

    Strangely enough, this is the reality.

    Zimbabwe once raised the denomination of its currency so high, issuing bills of 10 trillion or even 10 quadrillion, only for the currency to become worthless, barely even used as toilet paper.

    ¡°What if we cause a commotion somewhere? Even if the Kingdom of Lyon rushes to improve workers¡¯ rights, there will still be limits, and if they mobilize someone like Marx, they could easily incite one or two major riots.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like a bad idea.¡±

    Causing a riot in the Kingdom of Lyon won¡¯t delay the introduction of the beneficial stock system.

    So we need a more fundamental solution.

    I quietly folded my hands together and began thinking reverently, praying to Deus¡ªor, rather, to the wisdom of the US and the UK.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    ¡®If I were an employee of the East India Company, or if I were American...¡¯

    By following the wisdom of the most successful people in the world, I was sure I¡¯d find a solution.

    Newton himself once said that the reason he achieved great scholarly feats was because he stood on the shoulders of giants.

    As I continued pondering, I came to a realization.

    I had found the solution to all of this.

    ¡°Sebastian, how much money can our family mobilize?¡±

    ¡°Why are you asking that all of a sudden?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking of using it for a good cause. A very good cause, so you don¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    If you just listen to what I¡¯m saying, it sounds like the conversation between a bad husband, Fabio, who spends all the family money on gambling, and a wife, Sebastian, who¡¯s trying to stop him.

    But that¡¯s not the case.

    Sebastian didn¡¯t look disgusted. He was simply looking at me with genuine curiosity.

    Yes, I¡¯m talking about something good.

    ¡°How much can we mobilize? Roughly, around 1 million gold coins.¡±

    If another family could mobilize 1 million gold coins, the head of the house might cry with joy, proud of how powerful their family is.

    But for our family, 1 million gold coins is nothing.

    It¡¯s not pocket change, but we can still become stronger.

    ¡°Sebastian, not just the legal funds we can mobilize. How much can we raise right now? I¡¯m talking about selling everything the family owns, except for the trading company headquarters, branch buildings, and the Rothschild mansion.¡±

    Sebastian opened his eyes wide and asked back.

    ¡°What are you thinking?¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Kingdom of Lyon seem to be getting too bold? They¡¯re starting to act like they own the place.¡±

    In truth, they hadn¡¯t really done anything reckless.

    They had simply issued stocks to stimulate their economy and threaten the position of the Toscani Empire.

    How audacious can they be?

    The economic backbone of the Toscani Empire is me, and they dare challenge that?

    In a world without international law, if the wisdom of the United States and the UK is brought into play, I need to show them what will happen.

    ¡®Of course, no one can know I¡¯m behind it.¡¯

    It will be seen as the work of an enigmatic figure, but does that matter?

    The important thing is that those who challenge my hegemony will meet an inexplicable death.

    ¡°We can mobilize about 3.24 million gold coins. I know you said to sell real estate, but if we do that, we¡¯ll be caught. Unless the family is in danger, I¡¯m against withdrawing such a huge sum all of a sudden.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±

    That¡¯s enough money. A little exaggeration, and it¡¯s close to a small country¡¯s entire annual budget.

    With this much ammunition, we can run a scam against a country.

    ¡°Shall we have a little fun with our stocks?¡±

 Chapter 388: Ponzi scheme (2)

    Early medieval Europe, inheriting the traditions of Rome, was surprisingly clean.

    People, if not daily, still made efforts to bathe often, and public baths were built. In any case, they were quite diligent about hygiene.

    But everything changed after the Black Death struck.

    I don¡¯t know exactly why the Black Death happened, but because so many people gathered in public baths, the plague spread widely, and the chances of contracting the disease increased.

    The primitive people of the Middle Ages believed that being too clean made one more susceptible to illness.

    Ignorant people, when faced with bad outcomes, tend to make foolish mistakes.

    If I understand this, I should make use of it myself.

    ¡°Sebastian, people grow through experience, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord. I, too, have made countless mistakes in my life, and it is based on those experiences that I am who I am today.¡±

    ¡°Everyone¡¯s the same. When you make a mistake, something bad happens, and you learn from that suffering, avoiding the actions that lead to such mistakes. If you¡¯ve bitten into a lemon raw, you¡¯ve experienced the sourness, and if you¡¯ve eaten a chili raw, you know the pain of spiciness, and that¡¯s why you avoid doing it again.¡±

    ¡°But my lord, you eat the chili peppers from the New World quite well, don¡¯t you? Leo tried to imitate that, and kept coughing and drooling, and then Chloe...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bring up painful stories.¡±

    My body is of Toscani Empire descent, but the content is Korean.

    So sometimes, I crave kimchi and plain white rice.

    Until now, I couldn¡¯t make kimchi because there weren¡¯t any chilies, but recently, chilies have become available. I had one of the family chefs make various kinds of kimchi, like napa cabbage kimchi.

    I¡¯ve been eating it with lettuce wraps, stuffed with chili, thinly sliced garlic, and pork belly, and sometimes I even have it with rice.

    When Leo saw me do that, he tried to imitate it during a family outing and ended up chewing on raw chili...

    And that¡¯s when the incident happened.

    ¡®These chilies haven¡¯t been bred properly, so they¡¯re even hotter than Cheongyang chili...¡¯

    That day, for the first time, Chloe told me it might be better to sleep separately that night.

    If I ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Read more on our source) had encouraged him to eat it, I probably would have been told to sleep in a separate room for at least a week...?

    ¡°After that, Leo never ate raw chili again.¡±

    ¡°The Toscani Empire understands the usefulness of stocks, from the emperor down to the serfs. But the Kingdom of Lyon only knows that a few people benefit from stocks. What do you think would happen if we showed them the ¡®spiciest¡¯ side of stocks?¡±

    Sebastian shook his head.

    ¡°So, we¡¯re just going to play a little prank. My plan is this. They¡¯re selling cochineal and tobacco over there, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, they¡¯re selling a lot of them over there.¡±

    ¡°The official source is from somewhere in the Maasai Confederation in Afrikia. But what if we told them that the real source wasn¡¯t Afrikia, but an entirely new land? How would they react?¡±

    Tobacco, cochineal, and other goods from the New World are being sold at incredibly high prices.

    They pass through the Maasai Confederation (with clean sourcing) and then move through the Kingdom of Lyon before reaching the Toscani Empire.

    By the time they reach Lyon, the price is inflated by 100%.

    What could be bought for 2 gold coins in Florence costs double that in Lyon.

    But now, imagine there¡¯s a company that can bring it directly from the New World?

    ¡®The entire population of the Kingdom of Lyon would go wild.¡¯

    ¡°Usually, only novices or clumsy people get tricked like this. But when blinded by such huge profits, even the most gullible would fall for it. They¡¯ll all invest, thinking it¡¯s real. But the problem is... we actually need to secure the real cochineal and tobacco.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the problem with that? We¡¯ll just tell Ericsson to buy as much as he can. The indigenous people of the New World will go wild with nothing but iron farming tools and low-quality weapons.¡±

    ¡°Stone weapons, nobles only wear armor made of cloth and leather. They¡¯re truly primitive.¡±

    It¡¯s almost a waste to sell firearms to these people.

    The Maasai Confederation knows about firearms and can use them well, so selling them is easy, but the indigenous people of the New World can¡¯t even handle iron.

    Which means, to them, even iron-made weapons are high-tech.

    So, we need to offer them cochineal and tobacco in bulk, right?

    ¡°Let¡¯s bring it in in bulk and pretend we¡¯re buying it. If we¡¯re going to deceive them, we should do it right. If major shareholders in the stock start getting curious about how the company operates, we show them cochineal and tobacco and say, ¡®Our company has secured trade routes with the New World.¡¯¡±

    ¡°If they see it with their own eyes, they¡¯ll have no choice but to believe it.¡±

    ¡°And this is the most important part.¡±

    Actually showing them the route for securing cochineal and tobacco is just a prelude to the main event¡ªPonzi scheme.

    Yes, it¡¯s like those scam artists who borrow a small sum, like 50,000 or 100,000 won, pay it all back without fail, and build trust before running off with the big money.

    ¡®Life is about the big break.¡¯

    A scam needs to come in one decisive strike.

    ¡°Initially, we¡¯ll pay 200%, 300% returns on the invested money. Then, gradually, we¡¯ll reduce the payout, but we still need to release more money than was invested.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t we just deduct some of the principal and pay it as dividends?¡±

    That¡¯s how Ponzi¡¯s evil demon works¡ªpaying off a bit and running off with the money.

    But to pull off a big scam, you need high-risk, super-high returns.

    At first, we¡¯ll give a 200% return on the principal, and later, we¡¯ll pay back a significant portion of the investment for a while.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    This is how the moths to the flame will start putting up collateral for their estates and rushing in.

    Yes, just like Baron Florin, who has the heart of a beast.

    ¡®Of course, they lack the instincts of a beast, so they¡¯ll all end up drowning in the river.¡¯

    But for now, they¡¯ll be happy with their investments, so I¡¯ll just collect the tuition.

    ¡°We need to think of it as if we¡¯re collecting all the money in the Kingdom of Lyon. We can¡¯t miss out on the opportunity over just 3 million gold coins.¡±

    Sebastian wiped his sweat with his handkerchief.

    ¡°My lord, sometimes you show a daring, courageous spirit that goes beyond the bounds of ordinary men. Even someone like me can barely keep up.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m scared too. Do you know how terrifying it was when Leo ate the chili and caused a ruckus, and Chloe said she¡¯d sleep in a separate room? When Erika and Chris sided with Chloe, I was really, really scared.¡±

    When all three of my wives teamed up to pressure me, it was really, really, really terrifying.

    Well, it wasn¡¯t much of a pressure¡ªjust telling me to comfort Leo because he¡¯d eaten the chili wrong, but it was still terrifying.

    Sebastian sighed deeply.

    ¡°An ordinary person would find it more terrifying to recklessly invest all their assets than to argue with their wife.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t argue with that.¡±

    ¡°Next to someone as exceptional as you, my lord, I guess someone like me is necessary. If I weren¡¯t here, who would teach you that this isn¡¯t the norm?¡±

    Erika never demands normal common sense from me.

    Chris, being a merchant, accepts anything I say without question, and Chloe truly believes anything I say.

    I¡¯m not joking; if I told her that storks bring babies while they¡¯re sleeping, I think she¡¯d actually believe it...

    Sebastian is really the only one who gives me this kind of advice.

    ¡°After paying out dividends once, twice, three times, and four times, anyone in Lyon who doesn¡¯t invest with us will be seen as a fool.¡±

    ¡°If money is growing on its own, it would seem foolish not to take advantage of it.¡±

    ¡°When everyone believes that if they invest in my new company, they¡¯ll become incredibly rich.¡±

    A scam is like farming.

    You have to raise your hand, put in effort, and wait for the harvest.

    Until when? Until the rice turns golden.

    And once it¡¯s ripe, just grab the sickle and reap it.

    The best time to pull off the stock scam is when everyone believes that investing in my company will make them incredibly wealthy.

    ¡°Once it¡¯s ripe, we¡¯ll just swing the sickle and take it. If we run off with the money, so be it.¡±

    ¡°...I almost would have been fooled myself.¡±

    ¡°Best compliment ever. Now, what should we call the company, let¡¯s see...¡±

    No matter what you do, naming is important.

    A good name helps people¡¯s lives bloom, and scams succeed.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s call it Namhae Company.¡±

    ¡°Namhae Company?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a company heading south from the Maasai Confederation.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯d like to send you, Sebastian, as the head, but your face would probably be known.¡±

    Then, Sebastian immediately recommended someone for the role.

    ¡°Send Orsini. He has the capability to replace me at any time.¡±

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that.¡±

 Chapter 389: Ponzi scheme (3)

    Marseille, the largest trading port in the Kingdom of Lyon.

    Here, Orsini set up a fairly large merchant house.

    The merchant house was named after the South Sea Company, a company that had committed a great fraud against the government and the people before the British Empire became great, and had shaken the foundations of the British Empire.

    Orsini did not know the origin of the name, but he was twisting his whole body and working hard to commit the greatest fraud.

    He put aside his modest pride, and even the conscience and morality that a human being should naturally have.

    ¡°Oh, sir. How could it not work?¡±

    ¡°I said it couldn¡¯t work, that¡¯s right. You gave me a lot of gifts. I admit that. But how can I believe that cochineal, tobacco, and cacao came from a new land and not from the Masai Union? If you are a fraud, what can I do?¡±

    ¡°No, how can I be a fraud? Have you ever seen a fraud who looks so good?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you judge a person by his appearance?¡±

    Orsini begged the Montblanc manager, who was the most powerful figure in charge of Marseille¡¯s commerce, especially trade.

    For a merchant, pride is something that can be thrown away whenever necessary.

    He was a man fit for the Rothschild firm, who didn¡¯t hesitate to roll around in the mud when the time came.

    ¡°Please just go through the registration process so that I can trade stocks. Do you know how much money I¡¯ve given you so far?¡±

    ¡°Oh, if someone were to hear that, it would sound like you were asking me for something in return?¡±

    ¡°This is a business that I prepared by emptying out every last bit of my family¡¯s assets. Please help me just once, just once.¡±

    If he hadn¡¯t given a lot of money, Montblanc would have kicked Orsini out a long time ago.

    But Orsini paid him a lump sum of 300 gold coins.

    He received a large sum of money that could buy a decent house for a family in Marseille and then washed his mouth clean?

    If he did something bad like that, Montblanc''s political life could be in danger.

    "Ha, you really. It''s not easy for an outsider, a foreigner at that, to be qualified to issue stocks that guarantee trust in our city hall. Even if I push for it, it won''t be easy."

    "That''s why I''m asking you, the fair and upright manager."

    "Even if you guarantee trust, the investor is entirely responsible for investment failure. However, if you''re a fraud, my reputation will be tarnished."

    "Then what about this? Why don''t you come to our company building in person and check whether I really brought the goods from the New World or not?"

    Montblanc was dumbfounded.

    Cochineal and other rare items are rare, but how can you prove that they came from the New World just by looking at the warehouses that are full of them?

    You have to say something reasonable.

    ¡®Are you some crazy guy with a lot of money?¡¯

    ¡°Just think about it. Even the big merchants of the Kingdom of Lyon are having a hard time obtaining things like cochineal and tobacco. Even if the royal family nagged them, they could only offer about 20kg of tobacco, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a big merchant, I¡¯m just the owner of a small shop. If I had about 40kg of tobacco leaves... wouldn¡¯t that be enough to prove that there was a separate route to buy them without going through the Tuscan Empire?¡±

    Before hearing this, Mont Blanc thought he was crazy.

    But when he found out, the story was plausible.

    Besides, if you go once and find that there is a real shortage of stock, you can kick them out using that as an excuse, but what if there are lots of valuables like cigarettes piled up...?

    ''I should empty my entire fortune and invest.''

    In this kind of business, you have to invest as much money as possible in the beginning to make a lot of money.

    "That doesn''t seem like an unreasonable story."

    "Just come and see our warehouse once. And if you decide, there won''t be any big problems, right? Just come and I''ll take care of everything."

    "I''ll come and visit after work today."

    Until Mont Blanc arrived at the warehouse of Namhae Trading Company, he had no particular expectations.

    Not just any other items, but cochineal, which is literally as valuable as silver, and other items that are said to come from the hidden lands of the Masai Federation, which are worthless...

    How could they be piled up in a small store run by such a young man?

    If you think about it logically, it just doesn''t make sense.

    But common sense often breaks down, and Mont Blanc''s common sense judgment was revealed to be all wrong.

    "Is this box full of cochineal? That''s a lot... This should be worth 1,000 gold coins."

    "Haha, is this all there is? There are four more identical boxes."

    Mont Blanc felt his neck stiffen.

    Usually, this feeling happens when you''re so angry that your head is spinning, but right now, his heart was beating so fast that blood was rapidly flowing to his brain.

    "That''s ridiculous. There are five more boxes of this precious cochineal? Even the kings of the kingdom wouldn''t have been able to get their hands on this much?"

    Instead of answering, Orsini snickered.

    "Deus, my goodness. Do you really know where these guys come from?" ¡°I know. Is that all? We also have a network of dealers who can buy this from locals.¡±

    The Rothschild Company is currently receiving 20 gold coins worth of cochineal in exchange for one cheap iron sword.

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    Since one silver coin is worth 20 gold coins, it is a crazy business that makes a profit of more than 200 times.

    Of course, I couldn¡¯t guess that the Mont Blanc in front of me would make a profit of more than 200 times, but...

    What looks attractive to me looks attractive to others.

    Even though I couldn¡¯t tell how much profit I could make by selling cochineal, I had a strong feeling that it would be huge.

    ¡®There will definitely be a profit.¡¯

    Mont Blanc¡¯s heart was beating like a beast¡¯s right now.

    In terms of bravery, he was on a par with the Baron Florin of the neighboring country who invested in stocks using land as collateral.

    ¡°There are also about 100kg of cigarettes. Look here.¡±

    When he showed the cigarette box, Mont Blanc¡¯s eyes rolled back.

    Seeing that there were even precious cigarettes, it was obvious that he wasn¡¯t lying.

    He cursed his past self for hesitating to make this investment for several days.

    If he had invested a few days ago, he would have received the dividends a few days earlier.

    ¡®Idiot.¡¯

    However, he soon forgave himself.

    Since he had seized the opportunity even now, it was good.

    People naturally became more generous when they were about to make money.

    He thought that he would be able to have a very enjoyable defensive battle with his wife today.

    ¡°You must have cocoa and other precious things, right?¡± ¡°Yes, of course. They are so rare that they are impossible to sell in the Kingdom of Lyon, but they are everywhere in the places I deal with. I can¡¯t tell you the cost price because I have to make a living, but...¡±

    Orsini gestured to Montblanc.

    Montblanc quickly listened, forgetting all about his own dignity.

    As a nobleman, he was a man who lived and died for dignity in normal times, but...

    Money, or more precisely, a lot of money, was more important than life.

    ¡®Pride is something that you need to have money to protect.¡¯

    ¡°Right now, I want to triple the size of my business. But I don¡¯t have enough money, and if I continue like this, I will soon go bankrupt.¡±

    ¡°Why, a great merchant like you going bankrupt? This is a loss for the entire Marseilles!¡±

    ¡°But what can I do if I don¡¯t have money? If stock investments don¡¯t work out...¡±

    Montblanc held Orsini¡¯s hand tightly.

    ¡°If we don¡¯t have enough money, I¡¯ll pull out the pillars of our family to make up for it.¡±

    Orsini smiled at the thought that everything was going according to plan.

    ¡®The first button was sewn very well.¡¯

    ¡°Can you allow me to issue stocks?¡±

    ¡°That would be different. I want to ask you! Won¡¯t you issue stocks? I¡¯ll personally grab the mayor by the ~N§àv§Ölight~ collar and persuade him.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, thank you, manager.¡±

    ¡°In return, I¡¯ll really pull out the pillars of our family, so you can convert all of them into stocks.¡±

    ¡°Of course, I have to take special care of you, manager.¡±

    Manager Montblanc wrote down that promise in writing.

    Then he ran as fast as he could, rushing into the mayor¡¯s office.

    ¡°Mayor! Right now, right now! You have to issue stocks!¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I think the Namhae Trading Company knows the origin of things that are said to be produced only in the hidden lands of the Masai Union, including cochineal and tobacco.¡±

    ¡°...... Really?¡±

    The mayor repeated his question like a parrot after a while.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Would I lie about something like this?¡±

    The market immediately approved the stock issuance after hearing those words.

    As rumors breed rumors, countless investors rushed in like moths to a flame.

    Orsini just laughed at that.

 Chapter 390: Ponzi scheme (4)

    Orsini, observing the people gathered for the investment briefing, recalled Fabio¡¯s saying:

    ¡°Money has the power to turn people into moths to a flame.¡±

    The people here were exactly like that.

    They had no idea that Fabio was planning to execute a grand /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ scam, and yet, they were eagerly diving headfirst into the inferno, just wanting to make money.

    ¡°Good evening, I¡¯m Angelo Orsini.¡±

    At those words, the applause from the gathered crowd poured out.

    In a trading city, especially in Lyon, the best port city of the Kingdom of Lyon, the response to a mere foreign merchant was an overreaction...

    But no one here pointed out such trivial things.

    No, they didn¡¯t even have the mental capacity to do so.

    ¡®If you invest in that stock, your money will multiply.¡¯

    They¡¯d put in one gold coin and see it become two¡ªwho cares about the small details when they can see that miracle?

    ¡°Before we begin the investment briefing, I would like to sincerely thank the mayor and Manager Montblanc for arranging this event.¡±

    At those words, the nobles of Marseille, the prominent merchants of the Kingdom of Lyon who resided in Marseille, and all the attendees clapped and cheered.

    ¡°As you all know, our Namhae Company has identified where valuable commodities such as cochineal, cocoa, and tobacco, currently monopolized by the Toscani Empire, are being traded. We have established close relationships with the local tribes and have already built a trade network.¡±

    Namhae Company was, in fact, a subsidiary of the Rothschild family¡¯s business (a throwaway card for scams).

    So, his words were all true.

    No, even if he had lied from the start, no one could help but believe him when they saw the warehouse of cochineal and tobacco piled up in the Namhae Company.

    If they hadn¡¯t secured their own trade routes, it would be impossible for a mere foreign merchant to possess more of these rare goods than the top merchants in Lyon.

    ¡°However, our company currently has no capital and needs investments to continue with the next trade. Otherwise, we might go bankrupt in a month due to our inability to repay our debts.¡±

    At those words, a nobleman, driven by greed for money, shouted loudly.

    ¡°Bankruptcy? Forget about bankruptcy! How much? How much do you need?¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much for your concern. But we¡¯ll be accepting investments after the briefing, one person at a time. Since large sums are involved, it¡¯s better to be cautious.¡±

    There¡¯s a magical rule that applies to those who are involved in Fabio¡¯s little tricks at Rothschild Company, especially those who are familiar with him.

    Stack little truths like a forest, and hide just one lie inside.

    If you put a drop of poison into wine, it¡¯s impossible to tell whether it¡¯s poisoned or not, but after drinking it, the person will die.

    ¡®As my lord said, if you don¡¯t get caught, it¡¯s not a crime.¡¯

    ¡°Our Namhae Company is preparing a new plan. We will increase our fleet by four times, leading four caravels to conquer the native tribes and establish farms where we can produce cochineal, coffee, and tobacco.¡±

    ¡°Then we can securely obtain valuable goods like cochineal. The Toscani Empire always struggles to secure enough supply, after all.¡±

    ¡°If we exploit the local people like slaves, we can easily secure labor. By doing so, we¡¯ll be able to obtain four times as much cochineal, tobacco, and coffee more securely than we¡¯re getting now.¡±

    The minds of the people gathered here had already flown off to a land of fantasy.

    Four times the cochineal, four times the tobacco, four times the coffee.

    If they became shareholders in a company that monopolized these valuable goods distributed across the country, their invested money would quickly return as dividends...

    Stock dividends would be pouring in every year.

    Their financial situation would improve to a degree that could not even be compared to now.

    ¡®If you don¡¯t buy this, you¡¯re a fool.¡¯

    Everyone thought that way, but suddenly, someone stood up and raised an objection.

    ¡°I understand that Namhae Company has its own trade route and methods, but isn¡¯t there a serious problem?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°How are you planning to conquer the locals? And how will you maintain the supply chain? You can manage with bows, arrows, swords, and armor, but food will be a major issue!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a reasonable point.¡±

    Everyone was so focused on the immediate profits that, in the midst of it all, a rational critic emerged. Anyone who understands the concept of ¡®human indicators¡¯ would act like this.

    This is a rigged game, I¡¯m outta here!

    But only Fabio and Baron Florin understood the concept of ¡®human indicators¡¯ (the law that stocks people flock to end up failing).

    If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

    The ignorant people, despite the absurdity of the situation, thought:

    Why would the one who made this mess be the one to intervene?

    However, Orsini simply smiled and answered each question one by one.

    ¡°The civilization level of the locals is lower than that of the Maasai Confederation, who don¡¯t even have matchlocks. So, if we arm 500 trained mercenaries with guns, swords, and spears, we can easily win.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ¡°Also, the New World is suitable for farming. So, farming there is definitely possible. Therefore, food won¡¯t be a major hindrance for us. As for the weapons, our ships can supply them locally. As for gathering people, if we offer the poor a little money, we¡¯ll gather them quickly. If you¡¯d like, I can show you a report with specific solutions.¡±

    ¡°You have solutions for everything. Good, since you¡¯ve resolved my last concern, I¡¯ll gladly make a generous investment.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor.¡±

    The already heated atmosphere became even hotter.

    The question raised by the person who objected was something they would have asked Orsini two or three times after they regained their sanity.

    He answered the complicated questions smoothly, successfully proving that he had all the solutions.

    Now there was no reason to hesitate.

    Manager Montblanc grinned and looked at the group.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t invest now, who knows when the next opportunity will come? Mayor, I¡¯ve already invested our entire family fortune.¡±

    ¡°You have quite a lot of guts.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll see once you become a shareholder, but the Namhae Company warehouse is full of tobacco, cochineal, and cocoa. If you don¡¯t invest, you¡¯re losing out! Who knows when the next opportunity to invest will come?¡±

    Montblanc, who handles trade in Marseille, spoke with such authority that it sounded doubly, even quadruply convincing.

    In the end, even the mayor, with a grin, couldn¡¯t help but make a decision.

    ¡®You have to grab the chance to make money.¡¯

    You can¡¯t be a noble without money, and conversely, if you have money, you can live like a noble even without the title.

    ¡°I¡¯ll invest 10,000 gold coins.¡±

    At that, the surrounding crowd started murmuring.

    ¡°Is it really okay to invest that much?¡±

    ¡°No, but if we hit the jackpot this time...¡±

    ¡°Now¡¯s the best time, I¡¯m telling you.¡±

    Orsini looked at them and prepared to deliver the final blow.

    It wasn¡¯t the same trick as in convenience stores where they stick up signs saying "buy one, get one free" to make you buy something you didn¡¯t even want...

    It was a method Fabio had seen often in home shopping.

    ¡°Thanks to the investments from the mayor and Manager Montblanc, we¡¯ve gathered a massive amount of capital. With this momentum, even if we don¡¯t receive investments here today, we can definitely get investments elsewhere.¡±

    The thought that they might miss the opportunity to invest made the crowd on edge.

    I¡¯d be happy if others succeed and I make money, but what if others succeed and I can¡¯t?

    How painful would that be?

    When a cousin buys land and gives you a gift of hanwoo beef, you get jealous; it¡¯s human nature.

    Would you pass up a good opportunity and give it to someone else?

    ¡°The investment briefing in Marseille might be the last one. If the capital doesn¡¯t gather here, we can always go to the Toscani Empire or another city. After all, money is everywhere, right?¡±

    Humans are weak when told they won¡¯t be able to buy at this price again.

    So weak, that even things they didn¡¯t plan to buy end up being bought, especially when it¡¯s advertised that something originally worth 100,000 won is now 90% off and being sold for 20,000.

    ¡°Those who wish to invest, please fill out the investment amount and family name on the checks distributed by our employees. The cash will be collected by our staff in person.¡±

    At the words signaling the end, the people here truly made massive investments.

    Orsini had now cast the bait.

    That bait had burned Marseille to the ground.

 Chapter 391: Ponzi scheme (5)

    Orsini paid out a 150% dividend in the first year of the stock.

    As a result, all those who had invested by scraping together every bit of their soul in Marseille ended up sitting on a pile of money.

    One of them was the young noble, Fior E?claire, who had deeply rooted himself in the city.

    ¡°Hmph, owner.¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±

    Fior, clearly pointing at the most expensive-looking sword adorned with jewels in the shop, asked.

    ¡°How much is that sword?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a luxury item crafted by a blacksmith working at the royal court, so it¡¯s priced quite high. It will cost you 10 gold coins.¡±

    ¡°10 gold coins? Hmph... to think such a fine piece costs only 10 gold coins, what a bargain.¡±

    The blacksmith failed to manage his expression in that moment.

    No matter how noble the person was, 10 gold coins were not small money, and for such an expensive sword, the blacksmith had intended to initially ask for 10 gold coins but planned to offer a discount to around 6 or 7 coins.

    But to hear that the sword was cheap when it was already overpriced?

    ¡®Is this man out of his mind?¡¯

    Fior drew the sword, inspected it here and there, then sheathed it again.

    ¡°Owner, here¡¯s 10 gold coins.¡±

    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡±

    ¡°To sell such a fine sword at such a reasonable price... you¡¯re truly a good and conscientious merchant.¡±

    ¡°Such high praise is too much, I don¡¯t know what to say.¡±

    ¡°May you continue to do well in your business.¡±

    With that, Fior, after purchasing the sword, walked around whistling and smiling proudly.

    Lately, he had been smiling so much that even he thought he might appear a bit crazy, but honestly, there was no helping it.

    His uncle, Montblanc, had persuaded him to take out a loan on the family estate to invest in Namhae Company, and so he had gathered up every penny he had to invest...

    And it turned out to be a jackpot, with a 150% stock dividend payout.

    The loan from the estate was equivalent to 10 years of his family¡¯s income, so it felt like he had received a lump sum equal to 15 years of salary all at once.

    Next year, though it might not be as much, he would still receive a huge amount.

    And so, his sense of money was completely distorted.

    ¡°This is all thanks to Orsini. Truly, a man to be grateful for.¡±

    In his heart, he felt like lifting Orsini onto his shoulders, perhaps even letting him ride a horse.

    Then he went to a nearby cafe? to wait for his friend.

    As he looked around, he saw many others, like himself, who had suddenly become rich, wearing extravagant clothes, almost flaunting their wealth.

    It was a heartwarming sight.

    Fior, too, proudly displayed his new sword on the table, showing off his wealth.

    After a short wait, Fior¡¯s friend, Carte, appeared, dressed in strikingly fancy clothes unlike before.

    ¡°Did you buy that sword? It looks pretty nice.¡±

    ¡°I deliberately picked a good one. If I¡¯m to catch the eye of the young ladies, I have to have something like this, don¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re just fooling yourself. It¡¯s your face that¡¯s the problem.¡±

    ¡°You bastard. Are you really that handsome?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m better looking than you. And when it comes to picking up women, swords and stuff like that are useless, you know.¡±

    Carte opened a small jewelry box to show Fior the contents.

    ¡°Women like rings or necklaces, kid. I spent a lot of money on one to woo a lady this time, now that our family made a nice profit from the investments.¡±

    ¡°Ruby ring, huh? You managed to buy that.¡±

    ¡°Women who are obsessed with money will fall for it as soon as you give them something like this. Showing off a sword and acting tough has no effect at all.¡±

    Only then did Fior start feeling that buying the sword might have been a waste.

    It wasn¡¯t the money spent on the sword that bothered him, but the regret that if he was going to spend that much, he should have bought something like a ruby ring instead.

    ¡°Damn it.¡±

    ¡°You have to spend your money smartly, like I did. Go buy a ring now, you still have plenty of cash.¡±

    Although it hadn¡¯t directly affected the city of Marseille yet, the rapid increase in wealth among the nobles and the rich in this city meant that inflation could hit any time.

    Of course, before the inflation became too severe, the merchants, smelling the money, would start selling luxury items like ruby rings and convert the city¡¯s money into other goods to normalize prices.

    But right now, there were so many rich people who couldn¡¯t handle the overwhelming amount of money in the city.

    And then, a woman entered the cafe?, catching the attention of both of them.

    She had an appearance of 4.2 out of 5.

    Although arranged marriages were the norm in the Kingdom of Lyon, given her decent attire, she didn¡¯t seem to belong to the lowest of classes, and more than that, she was beautiful.

    ¡°Do you think she¡¯d come around if I gave her a ring?¡±

    ¡°You think so?¡±

    As the two continued their banter, the woman¡¯s boyfriend showed up.

    Even with all the money, neither of them had been able to engage in a proper romance.

    News of the bubble in Marseille had also reached Fabio.

    ¡°Orsini¡¯s really bold, huh?¡±

    So bold that, honestly, I feel like I¡¯m going to burn myself just watching.

    I told him, ¡°Do whatever you want, and even if you waste all 3 million gold coins, as long as you don¡¯t embezzle or deliberately squander them, you won¡¯t be punished...¡±

    ¡°Investing 150,000 gold coins, then paying out 175,000 in dividends at the next payout? Isn¡¯t this guy a straight-up con artist?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re doing ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Read more on our source) an excellent job executing my plan.¡±

    ¡°The way things are going so smoothly, it¡¯s honestly scary. The nobles and merchants of Marseille are all investing all the money they can muster right away. Next time we take investments, the entire wealth of Lyon will probably be pouring in.¡±

    According to the report from Orsini, the investments were received in just one day.

    No more, no less¡ªjust one day.

    So, based on my expectations, it should have been around 50,000 gold coins at most.

    Once again, human madness exceeded my imagination.

    Ugh, this is why they say that demons lose their jobs because of people.

    Of course, in my case, demons would likely consider me quite ordinary, so no demon would lose their job because of me...

    ¡®The wisdom of the British Empire, the forbidden vision of the cults¡ªeverything is so cliche?.¡¯

    ¡°One more time, then we stop?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? We won¡¯t stop until we¡¯ve squeezed the economy of the Kingdom of Lyon dry. By then, our wealth will probably double at least...¡±

    As the old saying goes, ¡°Never draw a sword recklessly.¡±

    Once you draw the sword, there¡¯s no turning back.

    ¡®But if you draw it once, you have to finish it¡ªwhether with a sword or anything else.¡¯

    So, I¡¯ve come up with the ¡®worst move¡¯ that can destroy the Kingdom of Lyon, but I¡¯m supposed to just stop after taking 3 million gold coins?

    At the very least, I should gift them with 10 million gold coins, or give the Kingdom of Lyon the world¡¯s first Great Depression.

    That¡¯s the right thing to do.

    Confucius also said that to stop halfway is worse than not starting at all, so I must do it properly.

    ¡°Sebastian, I¡¯m going to¡ª¡±

    I have no guilt about unleashing a great disaster on the Kingdom of Lyon.

    I¡¯m a noble of the Toscani Empire, the head of the Rothschild family, and the head of the trade guild.

    It¡¯s my duty to do whatever it takes for the benefit of the group I belong to.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever it takes for the Rothschild family. That¡¯s the weight I must bear.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m worried you¡¯re pushing yourself too hard.¡±

    ¡°As long as I have you, Sebastian, it¡¯s manageable.¡±

    If Sebastian hadn¡¯t taken care of Raphael, who instigated the rebellion in Colmar...

    If things had gone wrong, we could have gotten caught.

    If he hadn¡¯t taken on so many of the family¡¯s tasks, I might have been buried in paperwork by now.

    ¡°Tell Orsini this: use all 3 million gold coins if you must, but keep drawing in more people. Anyone who doesn¡¯t invest in Namhae Company should be treated like a fool. By the time we reach that point, Namhae Company will have more money than the total tax income of the Kingdom of Lyon.¡±

    Everyone wants to make money.

    You have to understand and accept that instinct in order to grow.

    ¡°When the entire Kingdom of Lyon relies on Namhae Company, we¡¯ll pull the money out. And then we¡¯ll escape to the New World with it.¡±

    ¡°It seems too risky to pull it straight into the Toscani Empire.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s very risky. If the tail gets caught, the whole plan will fall apart.¡±

    If the Toscani Empire pulls off a national-scale scam and brings down the Kingdom of Lyon...

    Who would accept that?

    It would be a war far worse than the Crusades.

    No matter how fiercely the Toscani Empire¡¯s army fights for His Majesty, the Kingdom of Lyon¡¯s army, who have lost all their money, won¡¯t be able to win.

    ¡°We¡¯ll secretly divert the money to the New World, and any ships that follow us, we¡¯ll shoot them down. Then, we¡¯ll deal with the aftermath... or do something even more fun.¡±

 Chapter 392: Ponzi scheme (6)

    I am the one who planned and led this Ponzi scheme.

    This is an irrefutable fact that the heavens, the earth, and I know.

    However, few people know that I am the one who led this terrible scam.

    Therefore, unless the heavens judge me, I will never pay the price in this life.

    ¡®Should I blame someone else?¡¯

    That way, people won¡¯t suspect me of being the culprit.

    ¡°Who should I blame for this bad guy?¡±

    ¡°Should I say it was the Kingdom of Granada, or the United Kingdom, or no. Then the Holy Empire...¡±

    I think that unless the King of the Kingdom of Lyon is a chicken, even if one of those three countries did something bad, they wouldn¡¯t believe it.

    The Holy Empire is already divided into two factions, and they are busy fighting each other to death, so they don¡¯t have the courage to think of or execute such an evil act as a Ponzi scheme.

    The Kingdom of Granada has not yet introduced the stock system and is related to the King of Lyon, so it would be right to skip over it.

    In the end, there was only one candidate left.

    ¡°The United Kingdom.¡±

    The vast and glorious British Empire, which was the world¡¯s largest company in terms of stock value and ruled over the most invested territory.

    Although the United Kingdom here will still need a long time to awaken like the British Empire.

    Judging by their actions, it seems that it is time to start throwing some punches here too.

    ¡®The king and the council of nobles are balanced like the British Empire?¡¯

    Pretty cool. If the power balance between the king and nobles is right, it would be a good environment for the country to develop.

    Right now, only our Tuscan Empire needs to develop, but they are trying to fly up too?

    I cannot forgive those who put cucumber and whipped cream between sandwiches.

    ¡°How can we turn this around on the United Kingdom? As with all things, doing it half-heartedly is worse than doing nothing.¡±

    I continued to ponder.

    How can we make them realize that they¡¯ve been scammed by a Ponzi scheme, and make them think that the person who put them in the pit of hell is a United Kingdom person?

    And soon I came to a conclusion.

    ¡°If our empire is to get out of the line of suspicion, we have to claim to the Kingdom of Lyon that we were scammed in the same way. To do that, we need a real victim.¡±

    Usually, when # N§àv§Ölight # you try this kind of trick, you end up creating a scene where I¡¯m the victim...

    But this method won¡¯t work well for me.

    I, who is said to have reached the sky in terms of money handling and business skills in the Tuscan Empire, or rather, the entire continent, am losing a huge amount of money in an investment?

    Then the King of Lyon, who is very suspicious, might suspect me.

    So I need a scapegoat who will die for me in the Tuscan Empire with tears in his eyes...

    "If I''m going to kill someone, I''d rather kill someone from my side than someone from my enemy''s side. For example, let''s see... The Duke of Sforza would be perfect. He''s very high-ranking and has a lot of wealth, so if he''s cheated by a swindler, all the attention will be on him."

    Someone once said,

    The life of one ally is more valuable than the lives of a hundred enemies.

    I agree with that.

    It''s not good to kill an enemy, but if you have to kill someone to survive, it''s much better to kill an enemy than an ally.

    "The days are long, so I have to find the right person right now."

    And I found the right person right away.

    **

    "It''s nice to see you, Kim Philby."

    Kim Philby, a fairly famous communist in England.

    A crazy author who came into contact with communism at a young age, abandoned his noble status, and jumped to the Soviet Union in search of a communist paradise.

    Among the communist demigods I recruited, he was the only one whose nationality was the United Kingdom, so I remembered him, and that¡¯s why I gave him that name.

    Who would have thought that the day would come when I would actually use a person from the United Kingdom?

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor, Viscount.¡±

    ¡°Relax. You can relax.¡±

    I know that even if I say this, you won¡¯t feel comfortable.

    But I should at least say this so that I don¡¯t feel bad, and it would be worse to just leave him alone without saying anything.

    ¡®Being in a high position means worrying about these kinds of problems.¡¯

    ¡°I called you this time because I wanted to ask you something very important.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to listen carefully.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a very desirable attitude. I like it.¡±

    After giving him a compliment, I got straight to the point.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get straight to the point. I¡¯ll have to fool Sforza.¡±

    ¡°Are you telling me to be the dagger that kills Duke Sforza?¡±

    Filby was taken aback by my words.

    Well, it¡¯s normal to feel taken aback when someone so high up suddenly calls you and orders you to fool him.

    ¡°There¡¯s no one better for the job than you. No one else can do it than you.¡±

    ¡°Is that true?¡±

    ¡°Do I look like I have so much free time as to be talking nonsense with you? I¡¯ve been looking through the records of the great men our firm is known for, and your background stands out among them. From what I¡¯ve heard, you¡¯re from the United Kingdom?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. You lived in the United Kingdom until you were 18, and then immigrated to Florence after your wife died of illness.¡±

    ¡°Good. Then, can I ask you again?¡±

    Philby nodded after hearing me.

    ¡°I can do anything for you, my lord.¡±

    ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll tell you what you have to do. You are now an employee of the South Sea Company. And the South Sea Company is the company that Orsini is currently running in the Kingdom of Lyon. It¡¯s a trading company that trades in things like cochineal, tobacco, and cocoa.¡±

    And I made a gesture with my hand that made something burst.

    ¡°The South Sea Company will invest a huge amount of money, and when the time is right, they will take the invested money and escape to the New World. Do you have any idea why?¡±

    ¡°If you enter the Tuscan Empire by another route, there is a high probability that you will be tracked down. So I guess you changed the route.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. But that alone won¡¯t be enough to completely fool the Kingdom of Lyon. So there have to be a lot of victims within the Tuscan Empire so that I can stick my feet out.¡±

    If there is no damage to the Tuscan Empire, everyone will be suspicious.

    No, those guys are bordering us, so why are they not damaged at all?

    Whenever I think like this, even if they are not completely caught, they have reached the point where they will be caught.

    ¡°The person chosen as the victim in the process is Duke Sforza. He is our family¡¯s enemy, so I plan to chew him out on this occasion.¡±

    I think that throwing an enemy into the pit of hell is not a praiseworthy action, but it is not a cursed action.

    ¡°Okay. Then how should I specifically persuade him?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t think about using complicated techniques or techniques. Just say that you are an employee of the South Sea Company and explain in detail how much income you have earned from the Kingdom of Lyon. And the reason we came here now is to join hands with His Majesty Sforza and say that we want to do something bigger, and that¡¯s the end of it.¡±

    Duke Sforza is just a moth to a flame.

    If that guy had been even a little smarter than a moth, he wouldn¡¯t have sent Archbishop Urban to me and extorted 20,000 gold coins as a tithe for no reason.

    ¡®But that actually happened?¡¯

    He took my precious money, so I believe God will forgive me if I treat him a little cruelly.

    ¡°Will that be enough to convince you?¡±

    ¡°The stocks issued by the South Sea Company, which is currently scheming in the Kingdom of Lyon, paid a whopping 150% dividend interest last time. And the products it handles are things like cochineal and tobacco, and it¡¯s even a monopoly. It¡¯s a strange company that can¡¯t make money.¡±

    Imagine that the only company in the world that can make semiconductors is the Oseong Group.

    In reality, that¡¯s not the case, but if that¡¯s the case, I should gather my soul and invest, right?

    ¡°You just have to explain this fact to the Duke of Sforza. Then he¡¯ll swarm you like a mosquito to a person.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one in this world who hates money. And if you have a clear track record of success, anyone would be fooled. I get it. But why on earth did you select me?¡±

    This guy is a member of the Communist Blood Cult.

    In other words, he is a very close ally of mine.

    So I guess I can tell you the true meaning of this operation.

    ¡°If we eat all of the money of the Kingdom of Lyon, wouldn¡¯t they be bloodshot and looking for the culprit? But if there are people among the high-ranking officials who can¡¯t get rid of the word ¡®United Kingdom¡¯ and the habit like you, what will others think?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty is truly amazing.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you must know that the United Kingdom is directly involved. The reason I selected you is a big one, but the most important thing is because I trust your ability and sincerity. You must succeed.¡±

 Chapter 393: Ponzi scheme (7)

    The Duke of Sforza was cornered both economically and politically.

    Politically, Duke Visconti, the young Duke, proposed mandatory education and somehow managed to elevate himself to the point where he could challenge the Emperor¡¯s power. Visconti became one of the key figures in the establishment of labor laws.

    As a result, the Visconti faction¡¯s influence was soaring to new heights.

    In the past, his own faction had been the largest among the nobility, but now it had become as pitiful as comparing a chicken to a pheasant.

    "How would my ancestors view me now?"

    Would they sigh in disappointment at seeing such a pathetic and incompetent man, or would they strike him with a cane, just as they did when he rashly took a noblewoman from a prestigious family as a concubine during his youth?

    Would they simply look at him as they would a pile of trash, not even saying a word?

    He couldn¡¯t even guess what they would think.

    This thought tormented the Duke.

    He knew he was bound to be scorned, but the reality of just how thoroughly his honor had fallen was unimaginable. He had completely lost his status as a noble.

    Economically, there was one man to blame.

    "Rothschild, that damn bastard."

    Fabio was a man who repaid even the smallest favor in full, and similarly, he returned every tiny grudge tenfold. He was a ¡°good¡± (?), but dangerous human being.

    Through Archbishop Urban, Fabio had the audacity to send a sanitation supervisor to his faction¡¯s cities, forcibly overturning them and making him pay enormous construction fees. He even sent accountants to collect taxes, sometimes to the point of absurdity, and sent labor supervisors who seized entire factories and businesses.

    The Duke of Sforza was battered by Fabio¡¯s triple-pronged attack, suffering massive financial losses.

    What was even more infuriating was that after these actions, there were no epidemics, taxes had risen somewhat, and there was no longer any fear of worker revolts.

    ¡®In the ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) end, I¡¯m doing all the work, and that bastard¡¯s the one reaping the rewards.¡¯

    ¡°Damn it, that bastard.¡±

    The Duke lit a tobacco pipe and filled it with leaves.

    As the rich scent of smoke filled his lungs, he felt a little more at ease.

    ¡°I really can¡¯t quit this. No matter how full of worries I am, somehow, with this, I feel like I can endure a little longer.¡±

    Once he smoked one, he was always tempted to light another, a habit much like the addictive feeling he had after his first experience with a woman.

    As the Duke savored the pleasure of his cigarette, he heard a voice calling from outside the door.

    ¡°Your Grace, a representative from the Namhae Trading Company has arrived.¡±

    ¡°Bring them in right away.¡±

    A smile appeared on the Duke¡¯s face for the first time today.

    Up until now, his life had been tangled due to the Rothschilds, Duke Visconti, and various other matters, but things would be different from now on.

    ¡°I am Kim Filbi, from the Namhae Trading Company. Thank you for granting me the honor of meeting Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°If it were any other company, I might not have been so courteous, but since you, young man, will one day surpass even the Rothschilds and become the Empire¡¯s number one trading company, how could I not treat you well? I must foster our relationship from now on.¡±

    ¡°I will do my best to meet Your Grace¡¯s expectations. It seems you already have some idea of what our company does, so I will skip the trivial details and go straight to the core of the matter.¡±

    Filbi handed over a few contracts and a small, exquisitely crafted booklet to the Duke.

    ¡°Our Namhae Trading Company is the only one to have successfully established direct trade routes with the New World.¡±

    ¡°Not only ¡®the only one,¡¯ but you mean no one else except the Rothschilds, correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. We are also trying to identify the tribes with which the Rothschild Trading Company conducts business, but we haven¡¯t had much success yet, which is proving difficult.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t rush it. There isn¡¯t really a major issue at the moment, is there?¡±

    Filbi held back a smile inside.

    They were essentially the Rothschild Trading Company, and the Rothschilds were essentially them.

    But right now, the foolish Duke of Toscana genuinely believed that they were competing companies.

    ¡®What an idiot.¡¯

    If he tried to deceive him, it seemed like they could strip him of not only his clothes but even the straw from his home¡¯s bathroom.

    ¡°It¡¯s easier to make money monopolizing cochineal and tobacco than having even one competitor.¡±

    ¡°You merchants are really something else. To move so thoroughly for just a little extra profit.¡±

    ¡°When you call us merchants, that¡¯s the highest compliment. I¡¯ll be sure to pass it on to the chairman.¡±

    The Duke didn¡¯t even pretend to be flattered by the compliment. Instead, he clicked his tongue inwardly as he watched Filbi eagerly accept it.

    These days, merchants had gotten so arrogant that they were completely oblivious to the world''s dangers, and they didn¡¯t even have the decency to refuse humbly.

    ¡®The world¡¯s gone to hell, really. The end is near.¡¯

    But on the other hand, he was somewhat reassured.

    He was so devoted, proud, and skilled that he at least seemed unlikely to waste his money.

    ¡°Our company¡¯s stock offers an annual dividend rate of 15%. When we achieve significant performance, we also provide performance dividends. Last time, we gave a 150% performance dividend...¡±

    ¡°Why are you hesitating?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a little hesitant to say something that isn¡¯t certain. If it were someone else, it might be different, but if I provide incorrect information to Your Grace, I¡¯ll be the one to bear the burden...¡±

    ¡°As long as you¡¯re not trying to deceive me, I don¡¯t mind. If it¡¯s uncertain, I assume it¡¯s a top secret, right?¡±

    Filbi subtly gestured around the room.

    This was his indirect way of implying that his head might be on the chopping block if any words slipped out.

    ¡°Everyone, please leave for a moment.¡±

    Only after the Duke¡¯s guards had left did Filbi cautiously speak.

    ¡°This time, the dividend rate will start at 170%. It may even go higher.¡±

    ¡°...That¡¯s nonsense.¡±

    ¡°Ha, I¡¯m really not sure if I should say this...¡±

    The Duke was convinced by Filbi¡¯s response.

    There was definitely some incredibly valuable information hidden behind this.

    ¡®He wouldn¡¯t just say it out loud.¡¯

    The Duke quickly pulled out a gold coin check worth 100 gold coins and handed it to Filbi.

    ¡°Buy yourself a meal with this.¡±

    ¡°We plan to lead an army of 1,000 soldiers to conquer the New World. Their technology is more primitive than the Maasai Confederation¡¯s, so with just 1,000 men, we can take a fairly large area. Specifically, we can conquer a good-sized territory, perhaps even a duke¡¯s domain.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Would I lie after accepting 100 gold coins as a meal payment? If we take 1,000 men and go to the New World and develop it like the Maasai Confederation did in Soros, we could make a fortune. I¡¯m selling my house, gathering my salary, and investing everything I can into this.¡±

    Filbi showed the Duke the stock trading certificate he had signed himself.

    It was worth a staggering 5,000 gold coins.

    For a mere trading company¡¯s director, it was far too much money to be investing.

    As soon as the Duke saw it, his suspicions melted away.

    An insider, a director no less, who was willing to invest his very soul into the business...

    ¡®This is definitely going to succeed.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ll invest 700,000 gold coins.¡±

    This was the amount left after subtracting what was needed to maintain his faction¡¯s image.

    Filbi took out the contract, a little disappointed.

    ¡°I understand, Your Grace. We¡¯ll receive the 700,000 gold coins. Please sign here, and our staff will come to collect the money tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°...Is 700,000 gold coins not enough?¡±

    Filbi expressed as much regret as was polite.

    ¡°This project requires a lot of money, Your Grace. Even with 700,000 gold coins, we¡¯ll still be a bit short. Otherwise, why would I, as a director of the company, have come all the way to the Toscana Empire?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve had a hard time.¡±

    Filbi was now ready to deliver the final blow.

    ¡°Given the situation, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll need to take a little investment from Duke Visconti as well. If we don¡¯t have enough money, we won¡¯t be able to do anything, New World or otherwise.¡±

    The Duke of Sforza couldn¡¯t stand the thought of Visconti doing well.

    If Fabio, the Rothschilds, had a child with Visconti¡¯s granddaughter, he might die of a heart attack.

    But giving such a good investment opportunity to that man?

    ¡°How much do you need?¡±

    ¡°At least 2 million gold coins. The more, the better.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s meet with my faction members first. Since I¡¯ve already invested 700,000 gold coins, I think I can make such a request.¡±

    Filbi inwardly cheered as he responded.

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    And those in the Duke¡¯s faction invested massive amounts of money in the Namhae Trading Company, which was driving the overwhelming economic growth of the Kingdom of Lyon.

    They dreamed of making a great fortune.

 Chapter 394: Ponzi scheme (8)

    Orsini had now moved his base from Marseille to the capital of the Kingdom of Lyon.

    It wasn''t due to any problem in Marseille, but because the high-ranking officials in the Kingdom of Lyon were eagerly seeking him out.

    ¡°I¡¯ll confirm one last time. Will Count Montmartre be investing 500,000 gold coins into our Namhae Company?¡±

    ¡°Indeed. If I had known your company would grow this much, I should have invested six months ago... that¡¯s my regret.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your kind words, Count.¡±

    ¡°Good things are good, and bad things are bad. Even though you¡¯re a merchant, your demeanor reflects nobility, and your abilities are impressive.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m flattered by such praise, Count.¡±

    Orsini smiled slyly as he looked at the fool who had just handed him 500,000 gold coins.

    The man had completely dropped his guard.

    With just a little more talking, it seemed like he could pull off an even bigger scam.

    But just like with food¡ªif you eat too much, you get indigestion¡ªif you try to scam too much, you''ll eventually get caught.

    ¡®For now, I¡¯ll stop here.¡¯

    ¡°You even show humility; I feel like I¡¯m looking at the heir of some noble family.¡±

    Orsini, in fact, was from the now-fallen Orsini junior baron family.

    And through his own efforts, he was managing to revive the family little by little.

    ¡°Sorry for keeping you for so long. Seeing a young man like you, diligent and capable, makes this old man ramble on. You must have a lot to do, so go on ahead.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Count. We will use the money you entrusted to us wisely and repay you with even greater profits.¡±

    Orsini gave a polite bow, then smiled slyly as he stepped out.

    He had successfully reeled in another fish today.

    Just as he was about to head back leisurely after his big score, a shabby-looking man approached him.

    For a moment, Orsini thought he was about to be attacked by some suspicious character, and he reached for his gun...

    ¡°Sir, would you like a puff of tobacco? It¡¯s tobacco that¡¯s been nurtured under plenty of sunlight.¡±

    That suspiciously odd phrase was a code used among members of the Rothschild family to meet secretly.

    After confirming the man¡¯s identity, Orsini put his gun back into his coat.

    ¡°...Did he send you?¡±

    ¡°No, not exactly. I¡¯ve come to deliver an urgent message from Marseille.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s ride in the carriage together. We¡¯re in a hurry.¡±

    As soon as they got in the carriage, Orsini spoke seriously.

    ¡°Is it bad news?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good news. However, depending on how you handle it, the outcome might change.¡±

    If it was either good news or bad news, just say it.

    Why would you say it''s good news but warn me that something bad might happen depending on how I handle it? Orsini couldn''t understand at all.

    But he was sure that the man didn''t come all the way from Marseille just to kill time.

    ¡®He must have important news.¡¯

    ¡°The investment funds have already reached 12 million gold coins. If you add the ones from the Sforza Duke faction, it totals 14.34 million gold coins.¡±

    ¡°14.34 million gold coins... With that money, I could establish a country.¡±

    ¡°If the timing is right, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible.¡±

    ¡°Lord Rothschild is someone who performs miracles, making money appear out of thin air. If someone told me that he had money, I¡¯d believe it, even if gold coins fell from the sky.¡±

    The Emperor of the Toscani Empire, along with Duke Visconti and others, thought Fabio Rothschild was just an incredibly rich man¡ªby all accounts, the richest individual in the empire, outside of the Emperor himself.

    But the reality was different.

    Fabio¡¯s network stretched far beyond the Toscani Empire, reaching into the Maasai Confederation in Ifriqiya and even the New World.

    When you add the wealth coming in from the Maasai Confederation and the New World, Fabio¡¯s annual income matched that of the royal family.

    ¡®If Lord Rothschild really drew his sword, I can¡¯t even imagine how ¡ï Novelight ¡ï much money would be spent.¡¯

    Considering that 80% or more of that money was spent on maintaining his estates and paying salaries, practically speaking, Fabio was wealthier than anyone could imagine.

    And now, adding 14.34 million gold coins on top of that?

    Orsini gave up trying to calculate.

    ¡°I just secured an investment. This brings the total to 14.84 million gold coins. I can¡¯t even grasp how much money that is. At this point, I¡¯m sure Lord Rothschild will soon tell us to pull back. Have there been any specific instructions?¡±

    ¡°Lord Rothschild has told me to do as you wish. If you want to draw more money in, you can expand further, or if you think it¡¯s time to stop, you can do that too.¡±

    ¡°I see. Alright, I¡¯ll think about it for a moment.¡±

    Orsini, though, had no idea what the financial situation in the Toscani Empire was really like.

    But one thing was certain¡ªthere hadn¡¯t been a time since the foundation of the Toscani Empire where so much money had been earned in such a short span of time.

    And he was sure that such an opportunity would never come again.

    ¡®This kind of chance only comes once.¡¯

    Thinking that, greed started to swell inside him.

    Though the 14.84 million gold coins weren¡¯t entirely his, knowing Fabio Rothschild¡¯s nature... some of that would certainly fall to him as a bonus.

    Even if he got just 1%, that would be 148,400 gold coins.

    With that amount of money, he could buy a weak baron family outright, arrange a political marriage with their daughter, and inherit the title.

    ¡°Really, what should I do with this...¡±

    Orsini lost himself in thought.

    He was torn between his own greed and the interests of Lord Rothschild, the one who trusted him with this significant task.

    ¡®If Lord Rothschild hadn¡¯t picked me, I¡¯d be just a clerk at some ordinary company.¡¯

    So, he prioritized Lord Rothschild¡¯s interests over his own.

    Just a little... no, a lot more.

    After about 20 minutes of contemplation, he finally reached a conclusion.

    ¡°...I¡¯ll report to Lord Rothschild. I¡¯ll tell him that we¡¯ll be withdrawing from business in one month.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll ride to Marseille tomorrow, quickly settle the money, and then you need to deliver my instructions to Marseille directly. As fast as you can.¡±

    ¡°Anything you say, sir.¡±

    To Orsini, this felt like a war.

    A siege by a million troops.

    If he could escape, it would be a guaranteed victory; if he failed, it would be a definite loss.

    ¡°When we gather 1,000 vagabonds, we¡¯ll make them soldiers in the name of conquering the New World, and train them in a public space where others can see. We need to create the impression that we¡¯re training real soldiers all over the Kingdom of Lyon.¡±

    ¡°Understood. But won¡¯t the Marseille market or other nobles be suspicious?¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem. They already know we¡¯re training 1,000 soldiers to lead the charge in the New World conquest. If we train them near the city, a little bribe will make everyone turn a blind eye.¡±

    If a guild trains 1,000 soldiers, the local lords won¡¯t just watch idly.

    If you lead 1,000 soldiers and try to decapitate the lord, it¡¯s a serious issue.

    ¡®Even if we don¡¯t kill the lord, we won¡¯t avoid a bloodbath.¡¯

    But Orsini had absolute trust from the King of the Kingdom of Lyon and many others, as he had received massive investments.

    He was confident that unless he outright betrayed them, everyone would let it slide.

    In fact, they would probably be pleased.

    They would believe that this fool really meant to conquer the New World and take credit for it.

    ¡°Have the 1,000 soldiers order armor, spears, and matchlocks from the Marseille factories, and pay extra for fast delivery.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re pretending to go to war, huh?¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡±

    If anyone tried to chase them down?

    Anyone who pursues them to the vast ocean would be sent to be with Deus.

    Once they¡¯re caught, they must be stopped from spreading the news.

    The dead would go to Deus¡¯s side and be at peace, so they wouldn¡¯t be lonely.

    ¡°Mobilize all our resources and make it look like we¡¯re going on the New World expedition.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±

    At that moment, the carriage stopped.

    Orsini immediately entered his office and looked for his cigarette.

    After taking a long drag, he exhaled and sighed.

    ¡°Deus, please let me succeed.¡±

    Exactly one month later, Orsini and his crew successfully escaped Marseille without raising suspicion.

 Chapter 395: Ponzi scheme (9)

    Louis de Lyon was in a great mood these days.

    It wasn¡¯t anything special; it was just that he had invested all of the surplus government budget that he could use personally into the Namhae Company.

    At first, the Minister of Finance had tried to stop him, saying it was absurd...

    "Your Majesty, are you in good health today? From the look on your face, it seems like you''re in an extremely good mood."

    "Is the Minister of Finance in good health?"

    "Your health is my peace of mind, Your Majesty. Seeing Your Majesty in good health reassures me."

    "You are truly the kingdom¡¯s greatest loyalist. I¡¯ll have the finest wine from the wine cellar presented to you later in honor of your loyalty."

    "The wine bestowed by the great investment genius, Your Majesty. If I drink this, I¡¯ll be able to make a fortune from stocks as well. I am deeply grateful, Your Majesty."

    Everything in life comes down to results, not how much effort you put in or whether the work you began was founded on noble principles.

    In reality, it might not happen this way, but if a student studies for 10 minutes a day and becomes the top student in their class, they are a diligent and righteous student.

    If a student studies for 10 hours a day but ends up at the bottom of the class, they are lazy, indolent, and pathetic.

    Talk about character or effort is all nonsense in the end.

    In that sense, King Louis de Lyon of the Lyon Kingdom became a genius investor thanks to his massive investment in the Namhae Company, reaping enormous profits.

    "Life is all about results."

    War, success, and everything else are just the same.

    "Since we''re already here, let''s go to the audience chamber together."

    "Yes, Your Majesty."

    "I¡¯ve heard that the Ministry of Finance has been busy because of the Namhae Syndicate. Are they managing?"

    "If it¡¯s due to natural disasters, poor harvests, and handling bad situations, then it¡¯s tough, but the growth of the Namhae Syndicate is growing pains that promote the kingdom¡¯s development, isn¡¯t it? If you want to grow tall, you have to endure the pain, of course."

    "There¡¯s a saying that if poverty comes through the window, love leaves through the door."

    It¡¯s often said that even couples who love each other will quickly divorce if money runs ? N§àv§ÖIight ? (Original source) out, such is the importance of money.

    Now, thanks to the Namhae Company, everyone in the Lyon Kingdom was experiencing unprecedented wealth accumulation at an unimaginable speed.

    The situation was so favorable that everyone began to be more generous and the atmosphere grew harmonious.

    The Minister of Finance and Louis, who had been distant before, had become much closer now, united by the Namhae Company.

    The two of them happily chatted about politics and recent family matters.

    At the court meeting, Louis immediately brought up the topic of the Namhae Company.

    "No matter how I think about it, I believe no single trading company should be allowed to monopolize the New World. But if we threaten them with swords, President Orsini will undoubtedly flee to protect his own interests. If that happens, the Lyon Kingdom will suffer irreversible losses."

    Right now, all of Lyon Kingdom¡¯s money had been poured into the Namhae Company.

    Louis had scraped together every available budget for investment, and even the ministers had deposited their money, which would give them 15% interest annually...

    Recently, with dividends offering 100% a year, where the principal remains the same but the interest equals the principal, they had piled their money into the Namhae Company stocks.

    Some, perhaps wanting to follow Baron Florin¡¯s lead, had even sold parts of their territories to invest in the stocks.

    "The Namhae Company is us, and we are the Namhae Company."

    To exaggerate a little, if the king tried to enact a policy that could harm the Namhae Company, everyone involved would almost feel a rebellious urge.

    "So, we should allocate a special budget from our kingdom to support them, and at the same time appoint them as governor so we can share the profits..."

    Just as they were eagerly drinking their "kimchi soup" in preparation, a messenger suddenly burst in.

    Without waiting for anyone to accuse him, the messenger delivered the worst possible news.

    "The Namhae Company in Marseille has disappeared overnight without a trace!"

    In most cases, no matter how big the merchant, if they went bankrupt, a messenger wouldn¡¯t rush in like it was a war.

    But when it was the Namhae Company, everything changed.

    Lyon Kingdom had literally bet their future and invested it all in that company.

    That¡¯s why the news of one company disappearing could be treated like a war.

    "Deus, have mercy."

    After someone¡¯s lament, the previously jovial atmosphere instantly turned chaotic.

    "What are we going to do now?"

    "Minister of Finance, do you have no countermeasures? I said, what are we going to do about this?"

    "Damn! That bastard Orsini!"

    The ministers gathered together, all united in cursing Orsini.

    Of course, Orsini, who was already on his way to the New World, would never hear these curses.

    He might itch a bit, but he wouldn¡¯t care.

    After all, they couldn¡¯t catch him.

    Louis grabbed the shoulder of the Minister of Finance, with a look as if he were about to grab him by the collar.

    But none of those present criticized the emperor¡¯s actions.

    "Minister of Finance, just tell us what we should do now! What the hell do we do!"

    The Minister of Finance himself was curious about that.

    What the hell could they do to escape this damn situation?

    But no matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn¡¯t come up with an answer.

    "We¡¯ve poured all our family¡¯s wealth into this."

    Right now, they were beyond broke, with nothing left.

    It was possible to turn one into a hundred, but right now, there wasn¡¯t a single coin left in the country, so what could they do?

    "I apologize, Your Majesty."

    With that, Louis issued his royal command as the king.

    "Ministers, stop everything else and come up with a solution! Hurry up, if we don¡¯t hurry, we¡¯re all dead! Damn!!"

    Paris, the capital of the Lyon Kingdom.

    Just a few days ago, the streets were full of people dressed in expensive clothes, and the market was bustling with rare goods.

    But now, all that seemed like a distant memory.

    In fact, it was in such a state of chaos that one could even call it lawless.

    The foolish Henri, who hadn¡¯t invested while everyone else was, pulled out his armor and looked around.

    Inside the market, the guards were seen confiscating food and other goods from the market vendors.

    "Do you know who we are? We¡¯re the Paris Guard! While we starve, you think you can keep trading calmly?"

    "But, guard sir. If you do this, we¡¯ll starve to death. Please, stop."

    "Shut your mouth! I¡¯ll seize all the flour, salted meat, and cheese here! If you don¡¯t shut up, I¡¯ll treat you as disobedient and deal with you under military law."

    There¡¯s no worse state than this.

    The guards were robbing food from the commoners in broad daylight.

    "At least if they were extorting money, I could curse them as corrupt bastards."

    But food? They were stealing food?

    This meant that the military was so poor that they could barely get enough supplies for themselves.

    Henri sighed deeply when he saw this.

    "Just a few days ago, even beggars in Paris were carrying silver coins. Is this really Paris? This isn¡¯t a war, what the hell is going on?"

    He had come out to buy food, but there was almost nothing to eat in the market.

    Even if there was a famine, Paris markets usually had low-quality flour and old cheese, but...

    While wandering around, Henri stumbled upon a shop selling groceries.

    Though they were only selling just enough for Henri¡¯s needs.

    "What is this place?"

    "How did you manage to get food in this chaos, shopkeeper?"

    "The Namhae Company, or whatever, had a big delivery right before they went bankrupt. That¡¯s why I¡¯m still hanging on."

    "Well, you were lucky."

    "Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Lucky? If I were lucky, would I be doing business as a merchant in Paris during this time? Every day, I¡¯m robbed of food by the guards and threatened by thugs, that¡¯s the reality."

    The shopkeeper sighed deeply.

    "Right now in Paris, aside from the higher-ups, it¡¯s almost impossible to buy food. All the trading companies dealing in food have gone bankrupt. I¡¯m selling this and then I¡¯m leaving."

    "Is that so..."

    "Just leave as well. Paris is hell right now."

    "But if I leave..."

    The shopkeeper didn¡¯t stop Henri.

    "Yeah. Thanks for buying. I¡¯m heading out to the outskirts of Paris today. Think it through."

    And on his way back, Henri crossed the Seine River.

    In the river, there were several bodies dressed in expensive clothes.

    He didn¡¯t know if they had been murdered or had committed suicide...

    "If I want to survive, I really have to escape."

    That day, Henri fled to the countryside with his family.

    But even the countryside was in very poor economic condition, much like Paris.

    At least, here, they didn¡¯t have to worry about starving to death.

 Chapter 396: Ponzi scheme (10)

    Fabio de Rothschild had long since transcended mere respect in Hell and had become an object of deep admiration.

    Especially Fabio''s many feats, which could be described as "touching," "based on real events," and "approximately the entire demon realm wept," had become legendary among demons.

    The demons, with reverence in their hearts, held up fans, placards, and various cheering sticks adorned with Fabio''s face, eagerly awaiting the announcement of his next dark deed.

    "Hey, Markus. Have you heard anything?"

    "If I knew, I''d already have passed the Satan exam and become a full-fledged demon."

    "Yeah, I was a fool to expect anything from you. What could a dumbass with a GPA barely over 2 points understand? Why not take this chance to enroll in Angel Academy and become an angel instead?"

    "You son of a bitch, speaking nicely now. You better follow me to the rooftop after this presentation."

    "Look at you, like a soft little punching bag, just like your parents. Do you think I¡¯d feel anything if you hit me?"

    While these two were muttering to each other, Dantalion, the dean of Satan University, appeared.

    The dean, a grand demon, personally stepping forward to announce the misdeeds of a mere human?

    In other words, this meant that the demons had achieved a feat so great it could make them grab the back of their necks in awe.

    "My God. Hey, brace yourself."

    "It seems like the 73rd Great Demon has achieved an incredible feat."

    Dantalion began his speech, addressing the tens of thousands of students of Satan University present.

    "Right now, you are all learning what it truly means to be evil in a time that will shine brightly in the history of demons. I am genuinely envious of you. Back in my day, the most ''evil'' thing we could do was prank in the bathroom and drop a weary human into a latrine to die, and we thought that was a ''revolutionary evil act.'' But these days, that¡¯s seen as kids'' play."

    Dantalion genuinely envied those who could study in an age where evil deeds were evolving daily.

    However, for the students, this was both a joyous and sorrowful moment.

    The joy was living through a moment in history, and the sorrow was that now, they had to memorize all of this newly emerging history.

    In the past, there were seven subjects for demon exams, but now with courses like "Fabio''s Philosophy" and "Rothschild Demonology," the amount of study had skyrocketed.

    Other subjects had already been defined, so memorization was easy, but the newly created subjects hadn''t been defined yet, so memorizing the textbooks was impossible.

    Even those who were planning to graduate with a bachelor¡¯s degree to become demons had to acquire knowledge equivalent to a master¡¯s level.

    Of course, among demons, the Master''s and Doctoral programs of Demonology had become so intense that some demons had gone mad from the overwhelming amount of study.

    For those demons, hearing that Dantalion was envious made Markus feel sick.

    "Why did Fabio start his great feats just before I could take the Satan exam?"

    "Fabio, for the sake of avenging a mere 20,000 gold coins, pulled the entire continent, even the Sultanate, into the Crusades again. The Holy Empire has turned into a living hell."

    Markus, along with the other demons, had their hearts stirred.

    How could a mere human come up with such vast and terrible deeds?

    Although it was frustrating that the amount of study had increased, it was impossible not to be moved by such a great act of evil.

    "And this time, he invented a new scam called the Ponzi Scheme. At first, he paid huge amounts to those who invested, making countless people entrust him with their money. Then, when the time was right, he ran off with the money. He pulled off this scam on a national scale, and now the economy of the Lyon Kingdom is in ruins."

    The demon, who was at the lowest level among the Great Demons but still held the rare title of Great Demon, began to cry, shedding tears.

    "The Lyon Kingdom has experienced no famine, but the whole nation is suffering from a food shortage, as if there were a famine. Opportunists have seized this moment, and the nobles, trying to maintain their wealth and power, have exploited the people more than ever, turning the kingdom into the worst possible state. And the Lyon Kingdom probably won¡¯t even realize that Fabio, a human, is the mastermind behind all this... Ah, I should feel ashamed as a demon for losing to a human like him. But strangely enough, I don¡¯t feel ashamed at all."

    Humans were supposed to be the ones to be corrupted by demons, seen as nothing more than fuel or livestock for Hell.

    But Fabio had surpassed those limits and had been recognized by demons as a Great Demon.

    And with those words, Satan, the King of Hell, also sympathized.

    "It¡¯s shameful for demons to lose to humans. But Fabio Rothschild, the Baron of Rothschild, has proven his worth long ago. I consider him my dear friend, even though he¡¯s taken the form of a human."

    "Satan..."

    Satan then casually grabbed a cheering stick from a demon next to him, which had Fabio¡¯s face on it.

    The demons, astonished by how naturally Satan did this, admired his act.

    "All of you, strive harder and become great demons like Fabio. Corrupt the earth, corrupt the world. Become stronger demons tomorrow than today, and stronger the day after tomorrow than tomorrow. That¡¯s all."

    As Satan¡¯s words of encouragement came to an end, the demons present were moved to tears.

    A mere human, without using any direct force, had pushed a whole nation to the brink of ruin through pure cunning.

    This was no longer a mere feat but a miracle.

    And for those with faith (in the mindset of demons), it was only natural to show reverence for this miracle.

    Satan didn¡¯t stop them.

    In fact, rather than stopping them, he quietly entered a secluded room, locking the door behind him.

    There, he placed his mouth in his fist and wept.

    "He¡¯s not a human. I am so fortunate to have been born in a world where I can see such a person..."

    At this moment, Fabio was coming up with an idea that would amaze the demons and make Heaven despise it.

    Although others might find this strange to hear...

    I have no intention of letting the Sforza Duke family and its faction go unpunished.

    Someone might respond to this thought of mine by saying, "But you¡¯re the one who summoned the Black Hell Dragon of Hell and cursed them to bring about the downfall of the Sforza family."

    I won¡¯t deny it, but I sincerely do not want the Sforza bastards to fall.

    "The Sforza Duke and his faction must live on."

    It''s not because I like them; there''s a reason behind it.

    First, imagine if half of the Empire, or rather, now a little over 40% of the nobility, suddenly collapses.

    Even if figures like our Emperor, who was brainwashed by the "Virtuous Monarch" training and ended up becoming a true virtuous ruler, or Visconti, who became a champion of enlightenment while preparing for mandatory education, step up...

    It would still take quite some time to stabilize the national chaos.

    Sudden shifts in power always bring chaos.

    If it were another time, I might have just let them collapse and satisfied myself by picking up the scraps.

    But logically, if given the choice between 10 billion won and 300 million won, which one would you choose?

    Of course, you''d pick the 10 billion.

    Taking advantage of the Sforza faction¡¯s downfall to acquire more territory or power, that¡¯s the same as giving up the 10 billion to settle for 300 million.

    "How often does one chase two rabbits and end up catching neither? You have to focus on just one."

    Does this mean I¡¯m going to let the Sforza Duke live without any cost?

    Absolutely not.

    It¡¯s as unthinkable as Chloe¡¯s chest shrinking from an A-cup overnight.

    I¡¯ll let them live, but they will pay the price.

    "There was once a beautiful institution in world history called a ''puppet state.'' Oh, wait, calling it a ''puppet state'' sounds bad... How about calling it a ''protectorate''?"

    A protectorate, meaning the Sforza Duke and his faction will become a faction under my protection.

    Of course, while a protectorate has some autonomy, they must entrust important rights like diplomacy and defense to the ''protecting state''...

    All the political power the Sforza Duke faction holds will become mine.

    If they refuse my protection, I¡¯ll solve it with a gentle method, like cracking ¡ï Novelight ¡ï open their heads.

    "This way, the balance of the Empire will be maintained, and I¡¯ll gain a duke and a faction who understand me well... it¡¯s a win-win."

    Alright, I¡¯ll do it right away.

 Chapter 397: Money can even summon ghosts (1)

    There is a saying: "Pull the ox''s horn while it''s still hot, and hurry to do good things, even if it''s just for a day."

    It''s a saying I truly love.

    The opportunities to make a large amount of money in life are very few, and the only way to increase the chances of seizing that opportunity is to start improving myself just one day earlier. There¡¯s no other way.

    If you wait until tomorrow to start dieting with a lazy mindset, you will never succeed. The same principle applies here. If you don¡¯t approach the task with the mindset of starting today, nothing will be accomplished.

    Just like how starting a diet with the thought "I¡¯ll begin tomorrow" is a surefire way to fail.

    "Sforza Duke, it seems that I¡¯m visiting you in person today. I haven¡¯t even lived for thirty years, but truly, how things unfold in life, only Deus knows."

    "Indeed. I never imagined the second son of the Medici family would rise so high. If I had known this would happen, I should have killed you by any means necessary."

    "Haha, your jokes are too much. It¡¯s not exactly a pleasant thing to say."

    A victor can be lenient with or kill the loser.

    The defeated can do nothing except gnash their teeth in silence, unable to do anything about the victor.

    So, if you''re frustrated, then win.

    "I¡¯ve won, and that guy lost, right?"

    And I¡¯m a generous person, so whether the Sforza Duke wants to kill me or rip out my intestines, I don¡¯t have the intention to start a bloody festival over it.

    From the start, that guy dared to oppose me, and that alone gives me enough reason to draw my sword. I¡¯ve already given him one more reason to die by doing so.

    "I¡¯ve heard some rumors. They say the faction you belong to, Duke Sforza, is having some financial difficulties."

    "Are you here to mock me?"

    I came here not to mock Duke Sforza, but to make him my puppet¡ªor rather, to make him deeply sympathize with my political views. (Some civilians might call him a puppet.)

    I didn¡¯t come just to mock the guy.

    I was just doing this on the side while I¡¯m here.

    The guy is quick to catch on.

    He didn¡¯t catch on to my most important intention, but at least he succeeded in figuring out my hidden one.

    "Why would I mock you? I came here purely out of concern for you."

    "Do you think I¡¯m a fool? Just because I have some money, do you think the world is a joke?"

    Well, it¡¯s wrong to act like the world is a joke just because I have several trillions in assets.

    If I act too boldly, I might find myself erased without a trace by the state.

    However, the net profit from my trading company and estates, converted to modern values, is roughly in the hundreds of trillions per year, and when I add up the value of all my assets, it¡¯s at least 2 to 3 quadrillion.

    At this point, should I look down on a Duke who is on the brink of collapse?

    But I¡¯m a careful and wise person, so I won¡¯t say, "You are foolish."

    "How could I mock someone like you, with the rank of the only two Dukes in the Empire? But, even though we belong to different factions, I can¡¯t help but shed tears at the sad situation you¡¯re in."

    "Thank you for your concern."

    The person who said thank you was biting his lip so hard that a little blood came out.

    Well, I¡¯ll ignore such trivial matters.

    The main course hasn¡¯t even started yet, so what would I do if I got angry already?

    "I¡¯ve been gaining some fame among the merchants, and I heard that Duke Sforza and the nobles who support him are in a very difficult situation."

    In fact, when I looked into it, I found out that the merchants, without me even asking, had assumed that Sforza was a sinking sun. They had pushed forward contracts with many toxic clauses, thinking they could take advantage of him.

    The newly elected ¡°Imperial Council Advisor,¡± Georgia, had inserted a clause stating that if the Duke couldn''t pay his debts, they could seize one of his baronies.

    If I hadn¡¯t interfered, the Georgia family would¡¯ve risen to the position of imperial nobility, following the Medici and Rothschild families.

    And, after stabbing Sforza in the back, they would have rubbed their hands together with glee.

    "I¡¯ve heard that the interest you owe this year is 680,000 gold coins. And now, after making a bad investment with the Namhae Company, you¡¯re in a situation where you can¡¯t pay it back. As a result, you almost lost a huge amount of rights, including your direct mines, your logging rights, the rights to the Senoria River, and the long-term lease of the Fior plains."

    Merchants, unlike politicians who live off honor, appearances, and saving face, are free from those concerns.

    Pretending to be weak can be an advantage when making deals with nobility. It helps reduce suspicion and allows for more favorable terms.

    Even in the 21st century, small business owners often act weak when dealing with large corporations.

    When negotiating with politicians, executives, or members of large corporations, showing off a flashy car or expensive tastes isn¡¯t an issue because they are already making that much money.

    But when negotiating with managers, deputy managers, or even lower-level employees of large corporations, driving an expensive car can be seen as an attempt to show off, and it may hurt the deal.

    Thus, small business owners often drive modest cars /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ when dealing with their own employees to avoid any jealousy, which can negatively affect their business dealings.

    "Merchants may scream as if they¡¯re about to die, but if they¡¯re trading with someone like you, they have pure income that¡¯s equivalent to about a year¡¯s worth of tax revenue from a small barony. Would such people simply sit idly by while they¡¯re cheated?"

    "Thank you for your precious advice."

    There are people in this world who, under the guise of giving advice, enjoy trampling on others.

    For example, people who, on holidays, give unsolicited advice to their nieces or nephews, knowing full well they don¡¯t want it.

    "Which university will you go to? When will you get a job? Will that salary be enough for you? You need to marry soon, when are you having kids?" and so on.

    They pretend to be concerned, but in reality, it¡¯s usually something else entirely.

    Strangely enough, those who stop at a single, kind word of advice don¡¯t tend to be too harmful, but those who persist in pushing it are often the ones whose lives have gone awry.

    In the military, there are those who excessively harass their subordinates, treating them like less than animals, all the while desperate not to miss their "last chance to be respected."

    "Truly successful people just ask about family matters at a gathering and don¡¯t say much at all."

    I despise these types of people, so I¡¯ll give practical help to the Sforza Duke¡ªor rather, I¡¯ve already given it.

    The Duke won¡¯t be able to refuse my help.

    "Duke, even though we belong to different political factions, we are both nobles of the great Toscani Empire. Shouldn¡¯t we help each other in times of need?"

    "...? What do you mean by that?"

    "I mean, let¡¯s help each other. As Deus said, ¡®Whatever you¡¯ve done to the least of these, you¡¯ve done it unto me.¡¯ Although you are not the least, it¡¯s obvious that you are in a difficult situation, so I should extend a hand. It is, after all, Deus¡¯ will."

    Before my rebirth, I didn¡¯t believe in Deus or any gods, but now I do.

    I¡¯ve had experiences that science can¡¯t explain, like reincarnation, and in Korea, I succeeded in making three beautiful women my own...

    "I think Deus has helped me a little."

    So, I occasionally donate some of my own money to help the poor.

    Surely, Deus in Heaven must look favorably upon me for this, right?

    "I¡¯ve purchased all the debt you owe, Duke. In fact, I¡¯ve even paid the debts from your faction."

    Altogether, it amounted to about 8.5 million gold coins, but it wasn¡¯t really difficult to manage.

    Through the information I obtained from the public-interest reports provided by the good accountants I work with, I managed to persuade them for a 50% discount.

    I paid it all off in a lump sum with money from the Lyon Kingdom.

    And the Bible says this:

    "The borrower is a slave to the lender; therefore, you should not incur any debt except the debt of love."

    So, those bastards are now my slaves.

    The Bible gives its approval.

    "Duke, would you like to pay the 700,000 gold coins right now? In one lump sum?"

    Upon hearing my words, Duke Sforza collapsed onto the floor.

 Chapter 398: Money can even summon ghosts (2)

    We often compare money to blood.

    Just as a person¡¯s body dies when blood stops circulating, because it is not supplied with oxygen, a company or a country cannot engage in economic activity and dies when money is not supplied.

    Therefore, when the national economy is at a standstill or is about to slow down, the government responds by increasing the money supply through quantitative easing, like transfusing blood to someone who is lacking blood.

    So, what would happen if a huge sum of 700,000 gold coins suddenly disappeared from the Sforza family?

    ¡°Are you planning to kill me?!¡±

    Although he inherited the ducal position through inheritance, I guess he didn¡¯t win the ducal position through poker or baduk.

    If 700,000 gold coins disappear from the Sforza family, the ducal family will die.

    Of course, unlike people who are certain to die if they lose 1 liter of blood at once, a family close to a hereditary corporation and local government does not stop functioning just because a lot of money disappears.

    But something worse than death would happen.

    Losing a few mines, some of the land, and all sorts of economic interests, or rather, if the Sforza family were to become my vassals, I would feel so sorry that I would want to kick the soles of my shoes.

    ¡®Will a disaster happen that would make Germany envious right after its defeat in World War I?¡¯

    ¡°Why should I kill you? I¡¯ll just pressure you to pay back 700,000 gold coins. What power would a mere viscount have to take aim at one of the only two ducal families in the empire? I want to live a long life. That way, I can live comfortably with my wives.¡±

    ¡°Fabio de Rothschild! Are you really going to play a joke with me?¡± ¡°If you point a knife at the Duke, you will be punished for blasphemy, but how can you apply blasphemy if you follow proper debt collection procedures according to imperial law? This is not a play on words, but a discussion of what is and is not permissible in the empire.¡±

    If you drive someone to suicide, you will be punished for instigating suicide.

    If you use your power to make a subordinate choose ¡®voluntary death,¡¯ you will be punished for murder by hierarchy, and if you continue to harass them and make them commit suicide, you may be punished for murder depending on the case.

    However, even if a loan shark legitimately auctions off all of the assets and forces the debtor into an environment where he or she has no choice but to die, he or she did not use ¡®violence¡¯ or ¡®swearing¡¯...

    The debtor commits suicide? Then the police will investigate, but he or she will usually be released as innocent.

    Needless to say, in the Tuscan Empire, where loan sharks are several times more lenient than 21st century Korea, The Duke of Sforza¡¯s expression changed to Munch¡¯s scream.

    He froze with his mouth wide open and his eyes wide open.

    Yes, I came here on purpose to see this kind of reaction.

    It¡¯s just a side effect of the original purpose, but it¡¯s really thrilling to see this kind of reaction.

    ¡°It would also be fun to completely destroy your political enemies and their faction.¡±

    The Duke of Sforza knelt down.

    In the Tuscan Empire, where even a duke, no, a baron, or even a knight would never kneel before the emperor, the duke would kneel before a mere viscount.

    I shouldn¡¯t have such bad and dirty thoughts, but...

    ¡®It¡¯s more humiliating than a bitch who is not a woman but a female, taking off all her clothes and doing a naked doggy.¡¯

    At that moment, as soon as that thought came to mind, I suddenly wanted to erase a part of my memory.

    If I could buy the moment I didn¡¯t think that with money, I¡¯d be willing to pay 50,000 gold coins.

    Ha, when I get home, I¡¯ll ask Erica to play that game just once so that I can overwrite this memory with a good one...

    ¡°Sal, just let me live! Please, just let me live! I¡¯ll do anything if you just let me live! If you ask me to give you all my daughters, I¡¯ll give you the countship if you ask me to give you the fiefdom, and if there¡¯s anything else you need, I¡¯ll give you anything... Please, please just let me live!¡±

    If I were a beginner, or a mastermind with a little lack of skill, I¡¯d probably tell him how to live by now.

    Having inherited the commercial know-how and wisdom of the British Empire, I¡¯m not satisfied with this.

    As a certain apple man once said,

    ¡®stay foolish, stay hungry.¡¯

    Yes, I¡¯m not satisfied with this.

    ¡°No, your Majesty. If I just collect the debt legally and formally file a complaint with the Imperial Diet and the High Court, it would be possible to make the Sforza Dukes a noble family of the robe. Why do I have to negotiate like that?¡±

    ¡°...... Save, save, please save...¡±

    The Duke¡¯s face turned pale.

    He almost looked like a corpse.

    That¡¯s right, people should be kind.

    If I had sent a sanitary inspector to save the territory from the plague, how could I have mobilized the church to extort money for a small fee?

    ¡°Oh, and after thinking about it carefully, the interest on the principal of the Sforza family¡¯s debt is 400,000 gold coins every year. I¡¯m sorry, but instead of collecting 700,000 gold coins in one go, it would be better to collect every single one of the interest coins without fail. And here, the unpaid interest is 1.2 million gold coins, so I¡¯ll add interest to that too. Then, let¡¯s see, you only need to pay about 1 million gold coins every year.¡±

    When a merchant lends money to a noble, it¡¯s actually close to offering money as a ¡®bribe.¡¯

    The market interest rate is 50%, but lending a noble a 10% loan is considered a private illegal gift in the 21st century.

    And they don¡¯t even collect that interest because they want to save face and all.

    When the family falls, they take all the money. When the family is healthy, they receive a moderate amount of benefits, and when they have a desire to rise in status or want to take a noble lady as their wife, they end it at the level of receiving a concubine''s daughter.

    But I don''t need to be concerned about the Duke of Sforza like that...

    I have the right to receive the full amount of money written on the documents for generations.

    "And let''s see, in accordance with Article 167, Paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of the Imperial Commercial Code, I will dispatch an accountant from the Rothschild Company to your family, the debtor, to investigate whether the debt can be repaid."

    "Are you trying to completely destroy our family?"

    "What problem could there ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) be with someone as upright and innocent as yours? Just undergo an investigation."

    By the way, there is no such thing as an upright noble.

    That has been proven scientifically, in physics, economics, and so on.

    There is a pastor named Stefano Luther in the Holy Empire, who could become a noble whenever he wanted, but who lives with integrity and innocence itself.

    He is a walking god-like miracle that Deus himself saved, so let¡¯s exclude him.

    I clapped my hands once.

    ¡°If it were normal, it would be like this, but isn¡¯t the situation outside the Tuscan Empire too chaotic right now? If Duke Sforza¡¯s family and faction are shaken in such a situation, the empire could be in danger. I will step back.¡±

    Now that the threats, no, gentlemanly conversation is over, let¡¯s get to the point.

    ¡°This is a contract. If you just write this, there will be no damage to the family.¡±

    ¡°Really?!¡±

    Duke Sforza read the contract with a big smile.

    Every time he read the contract, his pupils trembled and his hands trembled.

    That¡¯s probably because the contents written there are roughly like this.

    The current Viscount Rothschild and his legitimate successor can directly or indirectly advise the Sforza Dukes and their factions on debt repayment and financial soundness. If they do not accept this advice, the Rothschilds can demand debt repayment.

    2. Those belonging to the Sforza Dukes and their factions must receive advice and review from the Rothschilds before proposing bills or various administrative agendas to the Imperial Diet to determine whether they may have a negative economic impact on each family.

    3. The Sforza Dukes will not reject reasonable proposals from the Rothschilds (except in cases where they are directly detrimental to the family) and will respond to them as much as possible. This is the minimum they can do to fulfill their obligation to the Rothschilds for suspending compulsory collection and interest accrual on debts. 4. If a problem arises when the merchants licensed by the Rothschild Company and the Counts of Rothschild do business in an area under the influence of the Duke of Sforza, the decision will be made through an agreement between the representative dispatched by the Counts of Rothschild and the judge in charge of the area.

    5. This treaty will be valid until the debt is completely repaid, and if the Duke of Sforza violates the above treaty, the Counts of Rothschild will have the authority to prosecute him for default in the Imperial Court.

    6. In the name of the Almighty and All-Knowing Deus, the Counts of Rothschild and the Dukes of Sforza will observe this contract until the end of the world.

    This contract was created by appropriately squeezing together various unequal treaties that I remember.

    Unlike modern contracts, it includes the words human duty and Deus, but this is an appropriate modification to fit the times.

    Duke Visconti, who succeeded the Dukes of Sforza.

    Even Erica, the youngest daughter of the family, felt sorry for Sforza after seeing this.

    She must know very well how evil the contract is.

    Still, I believe she will understand since it is her retribution.

    ¡°Sign it. If you don¡¯t, I will begin collecting your debt.¡±

    Duke Sforza signed the contract while crying in front of me.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get along well from now on.¡±

 Chapter 399: Money can even summon ghosts (3)

    If you have a Benz, it is only natural to drive it.

    If you have made a great deal for the eternal prosperity of the Duke of Sforza and our Rothschild family (of course, only from my perspective), you should use it.

    Otherwise, it is all a loss, a loss.

    Therefore, Duke Sforza, who has become my puppet, is currently proposing a policy in the Imperial Diet that is difficult for Nana or Duke Visconti to advocate, but is helpful.

    ¡°Your Majesty the Great Emperor, I am truly sorry to inform you, but the clergy of the Tuscan Empire are currently eating away at the Empire.¡±

    It is said that the status of the Deus cult has fallen because the clergy of the Deus cult have been selling indulgences and doing all sorts of bad things to extort money from the saints...

    In the Tuscan Empire, the Deus cult is still an area that cannot be touched carelessly.

    This is because not only the Emperor, but also all the nobles here, and even the entire nation, believe in the Deus cult.

    Even though it has lost its prestige, it is an ideology that everyone agrees on, so if you touch it wrong, you will be beaten to death.

    ¡®The Sforza shield is sweet.¡¯

    ¡°How can the clergy be eating away at the empire?¡±

    A smile formed on the emperor¡¯s face.

    ¡°The clergy not only regularly collect tithes from the people of the land, but these days, they are even selling indulgences. And in order to sell even one more indulgence, they are even instilling in the serfs an exaggerated fear of purgatory, and some innocent serfs are said to have fallen into deep debt to buy indulgences.¡±

    ¡°Deus, my goodness, are those bastards really human?¡±

    ¡°They even set quotas for various cities and force them to buy indulgences. It would be nice if they used the money collected that way for good purposes, but most of the money collected is used to build cathedrals, allow the clergy to indulge in extravagance, or send money to the Vatican.¡±

    There is no one who does not know that the Holy Empire is burning because of the religious wars caused by indulgences.

    So, a person with common sense would think this way.

    Since the neighboring country is burning because of indulgences, we should not sell indulgences.

    But reality is always more filthy than we think, so everyone thinks this way and lives.

    ¡®If we do a little less than this, we can continue to exploit!¡¯

    The clergy keep repeating ~N§àv§Ölight~ the same thing in the Tuscan Empire or the Kingdom of Lyon with that beautiful thought.

    ¡°Deus, how can this happen? Is there no solution?¡±

    While the Emperor was thinking about how to normalize the clergy who dared to harass his small and precious people, a Viscount sitting next to me asked cautiously.

    ¡°Did Viscount Rothschild, the Duke of Sforza, take some kind of drug? Why is he taking the people¡¯s side so much?¡±

    I made a slightly equal treaty, so I cast a spell that would have no choice but to grant my request.

    However, the Tuscan Empire still has the system of heresy trials.

    If it is revealed that he used magic, no country will be safe.

    So I should properly stick my neck out.

    ¡°......According to what I heard, His Majesty the Duke of Sforza invested a lot of money in the South Sea Company. He must have been upset thinking about the tithe and the purchase of indulgences on top of that.¡±

    ¡°How much did he have to be ripped off to do that?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But isn¡¯t it your own fault? No one threatened you with a knife to invest there.¡±

    ¡°Investment is the result of an individual¡¯s choice. I thought about investing there, but I didn¡¯t put in money because I felt bad for some reason. Oh, it¡¯s horrible just thinking about it.¡±

    ¡°I know it¡¯s okay for me to say this, but you should make investments with a plan.¡±

    When private moneylenders advertise, they often say that investments are planned and loans are planned.

    But the people who say that are bad, but the words themselves are not wrong.

    If you invest with a plan, you will make a profit, but if you buy random stocks without thinking and lose all your principal, who will take responsibility?

    Even though I set a small ¡®trap¡¯, those people came running and killed me.

    I am a bad person who committed fraud, but those who rushed there because they were greedy for money are also guilty.

    ¡°In that sense, can you recommend me one stock?¡±

    ¡°Will it be okay for me to do it bare-handed?¡±

    ¡°Please think about the affection between us.¡±

    ¡°Invest in coal sold by Lismond Trading Company. If you invest about 1,000 gold coins there, you will get about 100 gold coins every month.¡±

    In the past, there were many people in the Visconti Duke¡¯s faction who disliked or were wary of me.

    But these days, I sometimes give stock advice by reading the stock market (actually, it''s my own plan), and the accuracy rate is over 95%...

    Everyone comes to me for advice like this.

    After the parliament ends today, the Duke of Visconti will probably come and ask me to open a stock reading room. Should I just tell him to go see Baron Florin?

    The conversation between the Duke of Sforza and the Emperor continued.

    "Hmm, the clergy are causing problems, so in order to control them, we need to have the power to appoint people?"

    "400 years ago, the Holy Empire Emperor Frederick I noticed this problem and tried to take back the clergy''s power to appoint people. He eventually backed down after yielding to pressure from the church. However, the power of the church then and now is as different as heaven and earth. If Your Majesty makes the decision, it won''t be too difficult to bring back the power to appoint clergy in the Tuscan Empire."

    As in any company, those who handle money and those who handle personnel are the strongest.

    Because being able to decide who gets promoted is a huge power.

    ¡®I¡¯ll promote you, so hand over the 00 project results to me.¡¯

    Of course, in reality, the head of the personnel department can¡¯t do that...

    In the Tuscan Empire, if the emperor has the power to appoint clergy, he can collect a portion of the tithes and add them to the imperial treasury.

    ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll order the Ministry of Justice to draft a draft.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll close the meeting with this. Once the draft is drafted, we¡¯ll convene the parliament again to review it.¡±

    At that, all the nobles gathered in the parliament dispersed.

    Instead of talking to his other associates, Duke Visconti came straight to me.

    Why is he acting like that when he knows that every single action he makes in this place has meaning...

    If someone sees me, they¡¯ll think I¡¯m the real power behind the throne of this ducal family.

    ¡°Count Rothschild.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Did Sforza take some medicine today? Or did he eat something wrong? Can you guess why he¡¯s suddenly talking about returning the appointment of clergy to Your Majesty?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve looked into his cash flow, and it seems he¡¯s deeply involved in the South Sea Company investment of the Kingdom of Lyon. He must have suffered a considerable loss there.¡±

    700,000 gold coins disappeared, so it¡¯s definitely not a small loss.

    On top of that, I even bought all the bonds and told him, ¡®If you don¡¯t listen to me, I¡¯ll make you mysterious.¡¯

    He can¡¯t help but be out of his mind.

    If he can keep his mind straight after going through that, he¡¯s not a human being, he¡¯s a monster, a monster.

    ¡°The Duke of Sforza is also pitiful. Think about it logically. Is there a land somewhere in the world that no one has ever visited? And if someone discovered such a place first, and if there are valuables like cochineal all over the place, why would they invest in it?¡±

    I flinched for a moment.

    I thought that the Duke had probably noticed that I was pioneering the New World through the Dou Indica Company.

    ¡®No, if he had really noticed, he would have asked me to eat with him.¡¯

    I was so surprised that goosebumps appeared on my left arm.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Your Majesty push Duke Sforza into a corner? That¡¯s why his judgment has become dull. When people are cornered, they tend to say nothing.¡±

    ¡°...... It¡¯s scary when you say that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m on Your Majesty¡¯s side, Duke Visconti.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fortunate that your legal wife is Erica. Now, if you just give me a great-grandchild, I¡¯ll have no more wishes.¡±

    ¡°You should live a long time.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve already lived long enough, and thanks to a great granddaughter and son-in-law like you, the Visconti family has prospered to an unprecedented degree. I have no regrets.¡±

    The Duke smiled as if he was satisfied.

    ¡°By the way, would you oppose or support giving Your Majesty the right to appoint clergy?¡±

    ¡°If that bill passes, the Imperial Diet will give Duke Sforza a small subsidy. But if the right to appoint clergy goes to Your Majesty and prevents those bastards from making a fuss over indulgences... that would be more beneficial.¡±

    Duke Visconti nodded after hearing my words.

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s why Sforza started rubbing his palms when he saw Your Majesty. He looks like a bastard without a backbone.¡±

 Chapter 400: Money can even summon ghosts (4)

    The ideal relationship between politics and religion is one where they generally don¡¯t interfere with each other.

    It¡¯s fine if, for example, the government opposes an issue that anyone would find angering, such as starting an unreasonable war or repressing workers, regardless of political ideology.

    But once religion starts involving itself in political beliefs and intervening in matters of state, it inevitably becomes corrupted.

    However, the reality is always harsh, and the world is often in a miserable state.

    ¡°Lord Rothschild, what do you think?¡±

    ¡°What are you referring to?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s about Duke Sforza¡¯s proposal for the emperor to take control of the clergy¡¯s appointment rights. I must say, I do like his suggestion. But I¡¯m still concerned about one thing.¡±

    ¡°Are you worried about the opposition from the Deus Church?¡±

    When religion and politics become completely intertwined, a hybrid theocracy is born.

    To put it simply, it¡¯s the kind of nation where your school teacher could also be the pastor, and the mayor might also be a pastor.

    Though no nation on the Albanian continent, including the Toscani Empire, has reached such a complete merger between politics and religion...

    Right now, religious figures are playing the role of low-level civil servants at the bottom, all the way up to forcing policies they want on the people in the name of God.

    With that kind of power, religious figures demand donations, including tithes, from politicians in exchange for their support.

    ¡®This is like a money-hungry thug, not a religious figure.¡¯

    In the 21st century, this seems absurd, but in the medieval fantasy world of the Toscani Empire, this is considered normal.

    But common sense must gradually evolve with the times.

    ¡°If you had asked His Majesty the same question five years ago, I would have answered that we must never break ties with the Deus Church.¡±

    At my words, the emperor smiled.

    ¡°Five years ago, our empire and the Toscani Empire were worlds apart. Does that mean, then, that now I can freely exercise the right to appoint and dismiss clergy without any issues?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. With vast amounts of money and newspapers to control public opinion, controlling corrupt and degenerate clergy isn¡¯t all that difficult.¡±

    The reason why clergy had such great influence in medieval Europe is simple.

    In a feudal society, the king couldn¡¯t appoint anyone he wanted to be baron or count.

    However, bishops and higher clergy were appointed by the pope. If they didn¡¯t listen to the church, their lives could be taken at any moment (compared to the life of a feudal lord), and to rise higher, one had to listen to the papacy very carefully.

    This meant that the church¡¯s influence, even in the smallest rural village, could dominate public opinion.

    But now? It¡¯s the emperor¡¯s newspapers that control public opinion.

    ¡°In fact, if not now, it would never happen.¡±

    I am someone who firmly supports the separation of church and state.

    However, in the current Toscani Empire, the separation of church and state is practically impossible.

    The alternative is to act as if the emperor is a wise ruler, and give him the power to appoint and dismiss clergy. In doing so, he will be able to crush the wicked and corrupt elements of society.

    ¡®If the Toscani Empire prospers, I¡¯ll be able to become even richer.¡¯

    The top 100 richest people in Korea are incredibly wealthy, but the top 100 richest people in the U.S. have wealth that dwarfs that.

    Even further, the richest person in America is the richest person in the world.

    If I want to become rich, I need to make the Toscani Empire like America, right?

    If I make it a good country, Leo will be able to live comfortably.

    ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯ve seen just one true, sincere clergyman in my life. On the other hand, that means that all the other clergy are either pretending to be virtuous or have already become corrupt.¡±

    According to a letter from Pastor Stefano, the Prince of Wittenberg has been repeatedly begging him to become a clerical lord.

    ¡®He said he¡¯d give money, women, honor¡ªhell, he¡¯ll give everything!¡¯

    But Pastor Stefano refused, saying he was just a humble servant of Deus and had no use for such things, and he didn¡¯t want to become corrupt.

    He sent me a letter lamenting how wonderful it would be if there were only noblemen like me.

    Reading that letter, for the first time in my life, I felt deeply guilty.

    But if other clergy had said the same thing, I wouldn¡¯t have felt any guilt. I would have ordered them to investigate that person.

    After finding their flaws, I would have kindly stripped them of their garments.

    ¡°One true and devout clergyman...¡±

    ¡°On the other hand, what I¡¯m saying is that 99.9% of the clergy I¡¯ve seen have lost their original integrity. You can use the media to appeal to the people.¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re suggesting we break down each clergyman¡¯s justification for remaining in their position.¡±

    ¡°Yes, because the authority of clergy is like a lump of lead plated in gold.¡±

    There are many corrupt clergy in this world.

    Whether they are pastors, priests, or monks, once they choose that path, they should give up everything for the deity they believe in and serve.

    But some of these Christian pastors, to be precise, some of these rotten people, their actions are ridiculous.

    These so-called pastors wear expensive suits worth tens of thousands of dollars, drive foreign cars, live in very nice apartments with their families, and receive tens of thousands of dollars every month for their children¡¯s university tuition, study abroad fees, and retirement funds.

    And yet, they claim to have served God their entire lives. When I see people like this...

    ¡®Would it be legal to just knock some sense into their heads?¡¯

    People # N§àv§Ölight # in this world are smart enough to call these clergy ¡°pastors¡± and ¡°heretics,¡± but those playing the faith game in Christianity don¡¯t understand the essence. They only see the gold-plated exterior and hurriedly defend the pastors.

    Jesus told his disciples to carry only a staff and their clothes, and the founders of other religions said similar things.

    ¡®Even here, I¡¯ll make those people pretend to live sincerely, at least.¡¯

    ¡°Anyway, Your Majesty, I don¡¯t think there are any bishops or abbots who aren¡¯t corrupt. Whether it¡¯s women, money, or power, if you dig into their pasts, there¡¯s bound to be something.¡±

    ¡°So, even if they¡¯re all corrupt, you¡¯re suggesting we promote those who follow my policies, and expose the corruption of the others through the press?¡±

    ¡°Yes, exactly. At first, the church will incite the people, claiming that the emperor is oppressing us, but once we reveal the corruption of the clergy... Their opinion will turn in your favor.¡±

    There¡¯s no one in this world who likes corrupt clergy.

    Especially the poor who rely on religion because life is tough.

    ¡°If we do this, it won¡¯t be difficult for you to exercise the right to appoint and dismiss clergy. However, there¡¯s a possibility that the papacy will protest. What do you think about that?¡±

    ¡°What authority does the papacy even have now? Those guys are barely surviving on the donations sent from all over. No one will listen to them if they protest.¡±

    Even if the Kingdom of Lyon¡¯s economy has collapsed, the king and nobles have become one body and are moving forward like this.

    ¡®If we lose this war against the Holy Empire, we¡¯re done for...¡¯

    So we¡¯ve been spreading false information that we are winning the war against the Holy Empire, and the papacy, which was the foundation of church power, has long since fallen apart.

    Other countries are too busy with their own wars to bother with us.

    Where is there a pious monarch who will protest in response to the papacy?

    ¡°If the clergy unite to protest against you, things might get a little troublesome.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, don¡¯t you want to conquer the Holy Empire and become the sole emperor of the continent?¡±

    At my sudden question, the emperor looked flustered.

    ¡°That¡¯s true, but that doesn¡¯t seem like an appropriate response to your concerns.¡±

    ¡°To do that, we need to unite them. To put it simply, we need to make them speak with one voice in support of your war.¡±

    While it might seem contradictory to say that the clergy are less influential, we must still acknowledge their importance in this matter.

    To conquer a country the size of the Holy Empire, we must engage in a total war.

    Religion, politics, media, and public opinion must all work together to ensure our victory.

    ¡®Religion may be influenced by politics, but it hasn¡¯t lost all its power yet.¡¯

    ¡°Leave it to me. I¡¯ll make them kneel before Your Majesty voluntarily.¡±

    Then, I subtly hinted to the emperor how he could use money and public opinion.

    He seemed quite pleased with it.

 Chapter 401: Money can even summon ghosts (5)

    A month after Fabio and the Emperor had their secret meeting, the Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops of the Toscani Empire gathered at the Florence Cathedral.

    While everyone silently sipped their coffee and sighed, the Cardinal cautiously spoke up.

    "How do you all feel about the imperial decree, where His Majesty intends to exercise the power of appointing clergy? Speak honestly, without holding back."

    At those words, Archbishop Apia suddenly jumped to his feet and protested.

    "Even though the Deous Church''s position is no longer what it once was due to the war in the Holy Empire, this is a disgrace! Did not Deous leave the worldly affairs to the secular, and entrust the service to Him to us, the descendants of the apostles?"

    Had they truly adhered to these words, Fabio would not have needed to challenge the Deous Church.

    However, they had continuously interfered in secular matters, always adding that ¡°Deous desires this¡± or ¡°Deous disapproves of that.¡±

    They never once adhered to the principle that worldly matters should be left to the secular and that the service of Deous should be left to those who serve Him.

    But, as is often the nature of humans, they interpreted everything to their advantage.

    They thought they had done nothing wrong.

    "What''s wrong with clergy marrying, having concubines, and enjoying wealth and power?"

    Other clergymen agreed with this statement.

    "I also agree with Archbishop Apia. The Emperor is trying to make us his puppets by taking advantage of the weakened authority of the Holy See."

    "If we don''t strongly oppose this, the Toscani Empire will become like the Protestant Union, where heretical Protestants have taken root."

    "We must protest to Duke Sforza! He started this problem, so he must finish it!"

    That¡¯s how power struggles work.

    Once you grasp a hold of it, you fight with everything, even risking your life, but once you lose it, it slips away like water through your fingers.

    The second sons and third sons of noble families, or those from wealthy merchant families who were not nobles, had entered theological colleges and climbed their way up through fierce competition, often resorting to deceitful tactics to eliminate their rivals.

    They had risked their lives to gain this power, but now they were expected to let it go?

    "Rather, I¡¯d rather die."

    With the support of other clergymen, Archbishop Apia pushed forward his argument even more forcefully.

    "We cannot just sit idly by! Let¡¯s submit a declaration opposing the decree here and now, and have all the bishops, including His Eminence the Cardinal, sign it. Then, let¡¯s spread it throughout the country using the printing press created by Count Rothschild."

    "Isn¡¯t that a bit too extreme?"

    "The Emperor is the one who has crossed the line, not us! Just as we have sworn loyalty to His Majesty, His Majesty must ensure that our authority and autonomy are also protected. And frankly speaking, has our Deous Church done anything truly wrong?"

    The wrongs they had committed were too numerous to count, even with all fingers and toes.

    They had sold indulgences, ruining the lives of unsuspecting commoners, and placed a huge financial burden on the cities.

    The clergy, who should have been providing emotional stability and social welfare through religion, were indulging only in pleasures.

    Yet they still did not believe they had done anything wrong.

    "Clergy have been doing the same thing for ages, haven¡¯t they?"

    If others hadn¡¯t done such things, they might have considered it, but they had always done so in the past, so why would it be wrong now?

    The Cardinal understood his words but had no intention of agreeing to them.

    "Still, our position is different now."

    "That may be true, but as Deous¡¯s clergy, don¡¯t we have to fight against injustice?"

    "If the Holy See was # N§àv§Ölight # backing us, that might be a different story, but not now. So, compromise. Surely the Emperor doesn¡¯t truly want to control the appointments of all clergy in the empire?"

    "Are you saying that the Emperor used the strategy of initially coming on strong to get what he wants?"

    "Yes. Think about it¡ªno matter how strong the imperial power is, do you really think the Emperor could just expel us?"

    Logically speaking, it seemed impossible.

    Deous Church controlled the thoughts of the entire population; if anyone tried to uproot it, no one would remain silent.

    "Regarding indulgences, we might have sold a bit too many. Let¡¯s reduce that. Let¡¯s compromise on that."

    Archbishop Apia and the others agreed with that suggestion.

    "Then we¡¯ll submit a declaration firmly opposing the Emperor''s involvement in appointments, and have all of us sign it. Your Eminence, please present a reasonable compromise at an appropriate time."

    "Do you covet my position, Archbishop Apia?"

    At those words, Archbishop Apia grinned and left with the others.

    Seeing that reaction, the Cardinal realized that, as a moderate, he had become a half puppet in this situation...

    "I should probably send a letter to Count Rothschild. I have a feeling he might cause some trouble."

    The Cardinal had known Fabio ever since he was a second son from the Medici family.

    The skill with which he had buried a theological doctorate holder during the heresy trial...

    And the wicked deeds and business tactics he used to create something from nothing, which no one else could imagine.

    "I¡¯m sure he¡¯s involved in this."

    "Unexpected things always happen in life."

    The Cardinal, preparing for the worst, sent Fabio a letter reporting the current situation.

    **

    "When you were the Archbishop of Florence, you had a close relationship with Duke Visconti. I never thought you¡¯d share something like this with me."

    Wherever you go in this world, whistleblowers are never welcomed.

    To be more precise, they are completely ostracized from society.

    It''s as if someone who has committed murder or a serious crime.

    "What they¡¯ve done is all for the greater good, but the reality is that it¡¯s a mess."

    At the company, they pressure you to leave in front of your face, and if you try to apply for a job elsewhere, rumors spread, making it almost impossible to even get a job in a different industry.

    So, banks offer up to 2 billion, and large corporations offer over 20 billion in one-time payments for whistleblowers.

    By the way, in Rothschild¡¯s company and family, internal whistleblowers never know when they might become deep-sea residents without their knowledge...

    They give huge sums of money to those who expose serious corruption and completely wash away their identities.

    They clean you up so thoroughly that you can¡¯t even find a trace, ensuring there¡¯s no retaliation.

    Of course, they do make sure to let it slip that the friend who did something good received gold coins, around 3,000, and left to find happiness.

    So, the Cardinal never thought he would end up being a whistleblower.

    "These guys think they¡¯ve transcended. They¡¯re acting like politicians trying to ruin their own wealth and status. Truly, they¡¯re something else."

    What these guys were doing was laughable.

    They were using a printing press to spread sermons criticizing the Emperor¡¯s actions nationwide, and they wanted to make sure that both the Emperor and the peasants would hear it.

    It was a good thing that the imperial power was so strong.

    If this happened in Lyon or another country, the Emperor would be attacked by the nobles and politically cornered.

    "They¡¯d be cornered and become nothing more than a stamp machine for five years."

    "I need to catch these guys and restore order. That way, when the time comes for war with the Holy Empire, we can unite the people. This is also a good opportunity to clean up the corrupt."

    If he could clear out just the bishops and manage them, the quality of the religion would drastically improve.

    When the top is clean, the bottom will naturally follow suit.

    So, how should I deal with these guys now?

    After thinking carefully, I rang the bell for my butler.

    The moment the bell rang, a butler hurriedly entered from outside.

    "Bring Sebastian."

    "Yes, sir."

    While the butler went to fetch Sebastian, I muttered a magical incantation that makes difficult tasks possible.

    "When things aren¡¯t going well, let¡¯s think about whether money is lacking. And if we put in more money, things usually get solved."

    The corruption committed by the clergy could probably be exposed by paying a huge sum and turning them into whistleblowers, one by one.

 Chapter 402: Money can even summon ghosts (6)

    In this world, things that are logically impossible often happen.

    There are humans who march forward with an army, crossing mountains that have no trails and are almost impossible to climb, or generals who think their country''s army is made up of herbivores, among other absurdities.

    And right now, in this very room, something was happening that, according to the common sense of the Toscani Empire, was completely impossible.

    "Are you Archbishop Apia?"

    Archbishop Apia pointed his finger angrily at the officer and soldiers of the Toscani Empire standing before him.

    "Do you truly have no sense? Do you even know where you are stepping right now? This is the temple, the body of Deous himself, the Apia Cathedral! How dare you defile this holy place with your filthy, dirt-covered feet? Aren¡¯t you afraid of divine retribution?!"

    Had the officer standing before him been just a lowly captain, that pressure might have worked.

    While religion is said to be independent of secular power, a bishop at this level holds as much power and influence as a count.

    However, the man standing before Archbishop Apia was no mere officer; he was a Colonel, one who was carrying out the Emperor''s direct orders.

    It was true that a bishop ranked higher than a colonel, but the officer in front of him was not someone who would prioritize a bishop¡¯s words over the Emperor¡¯s command.

    "Rest assured, Your Excellency. I¡¯ve already brushed off the dirt from my shoes. And I am simply carrying out the orders of His Majesty, the Emperor. Any further insults or accusations against me will be regarded as directed at His Majesty himself."

    "What exactly did I do wrong? I was only fulfilling my duties as a bishop, nothing more."

    "I am simply carrying out His Majesty¡¯s orders. Whether there is fault or not, that will be decided by the High Court judges."

    The colonel was not someone deeply devout.

    Even so, if the archbishop were truly being wrongfully arrested, the colonel might have tried to delay the arrest, trying to calm the situation by persuasion, giving the bishop time to explain his case.

    But he had no intention of sparing the bishop. He knew that touching Deous¡¯s servant might bring judgment upon him.

    ¡®The archbishop is truly despicable.¡¯

    But now, knowing the kind of man he was and the sins he had committed, the colonel felt no sympathy for him.

    "I¡¯ll now read the decree."

    The archbishop made a show of his dissatisfaction, but he still gave the proper respect to the decree.

    "After a thorough investigation, it has become clear that Archbishop Apia has ¡ã? N o v e l i g h t ?¡ã committed numerous crimes. He has used church funds to engage in usury, and when serfs could not repay their debts, he sold them into slavery, using the proceeds to send money to the Holy See. Furthermore, several whistleblowers have revealed that he ordered the murder of honest clergy members who threatened to expose his corruption. Additionally, although he took a vow of celibacy, he has maintained six mistresses and fathered seven illegitimate children with three of them."

    Upon hearing this, Archbishop Apia turned pale.

    The murder accusations were something he himself knew would be problematic if exposed, but the other allegations were things that other clergymen also commonly did.

    "Usurers charge 50% interest, but we only charge 45%. Isn''t that relatively fair?"

    Wasn¡¯t this more righteous than many others?

    And while having mistresses was a bit of a blemish, wasn''t it common for most clergymen to have ''regular'' visitors to brothels near the cathedral?

    It wasn¡¯t unusual for a priest to live with a woman (usually disguised as a nun or a church staff member) once his clerical position was secure.

    Even the most lowly priests would often disguise their lovers as ¡®nuns,¡¯ father children, and live well. Shouldn''t that be overlooked too?

    ¡®The Emperor really plans to kill us all.¡¯

    "Furthermore, clergymen are selling indulgences to the poor and foolish peasants, impoverishing them. While I have been tirelessly working to make them even a little more full and warmly clothed, how is it that Archbishop Apia, who claims to be their shepherd, is leading the charge in exploiting and tormenting the people? Can you truly call yourself a descendant of the apostles who devoted their lives¡ªand ultimately their lives themselves¡ªto serve Deous?"

    "...No, that''s..."

    "Deous himself drove out those who turned the temple into a marketplace, using a whip made of cords, and overturned their tables. I too must do the same."

    The Archbishop''s face went dark.

    Had he known it would come to this, perhaps he should have simply handed over the appointment rights to the Emperor, but...

    Once time passes, it never returns, and opportunities lost are never given a second chance.

    "I, by the decree of His Majesty, strip you, Archbishop Apia, of your position, and Nicola de Crescendo¡¯s clerical status is hereby revoked. You will be tried as a sinner and punished accordingly. Therefore, Nicola, you are to appear before the High Court and face your punishment."

    As soon as the decree was read, the colonel gestured with his hand.

    Immediately, several soldiers bound the Archbishop, or rather, Nicola.

    "Normally, when arresting a criminal, it¡¯s customary to beat them to ensure they cannot resist, but out of respect for the last formalities, I will simply bind you and take you along."

    "Wait! Wait just a moment!"

    "What is it that you wish to ask?"

    "What about the other clergymen? What happened to the bishops?"

    The colonel, looking at the already-bound Nicola, smirked.

    "Have they not all been arrested by now? Those without guilt are not bound and will retain their positions."

    Upon hearing this, Nicola, overwhelmed by despair, fainted on the spot.

    No matter how he thought about it, there seemed to be no way out for him.

    **

    When Nicola¡¯s declaration, as Archbishop Apia, had circulated throughout the Empire, there was a brief wave of support for him, with some claiming the Emperor had gone too far.

    After all, the church was considered sacred and untouchable. The thought of the Emperor meddling with the clergy¡¯s appointment rights seemed unthinkable.

    The analogy even went as far as comparing it to a father arbitrarily replacing members of his own household, which made the argument even more compelling.

    But that had now become nothing more than a ridiculous joke.

    "Political authority is guaranteed by the state and not easily toppled. But the authority of clergymen is ultimately based on how sincerely the people believe in their god. Isn¡¯t that right, Sebastian?"

    "Your Excellency, it is not uncommon for me to hear things I never imagined, but the words you have just spoken are so shocking that I can hardly accept them."

    "But isn¡¯t it true?"

    "Your Excellency¡¯s insight is often so unsettling that it frightens me. Before this incident, I too thought the belief in Deous and the authority of the clergy were as natural as breathing... but now, seeing the Emperor''s authority and the filthy deeds of those clergymen, I never imagined the authority of Deous''s church could crumble so quickly."

    Strictly speaking, the authority of Deous''s church hadn¡¯t collapsed.

    Deous¡¯s religion still remained the national faith and ideology of the Toscani Empire.

    But the clergy handling that ideology had lost the unlimited respect of the people.

    ¡®These clergy were selfish, so they got what they deserved.¡¯

    "Everything has its cracks if you look hard enough. Even the most impregnable fortress has weaknesses if you observe closely enough."

    "Your Excellency speaks the truth."

    "By the way, have you found any of those highly devout or highly educated, but low-ranking clergymen who couldn¡¯t rise through the ranks due to their humble birth?"

    "Yes, Your Excellency. We have already begun to find candidates to replace those dismissed."

    Strengthening the monarchy always involved promoting those of humble origins or those who were competent but had some issue with their background.

    Sometimes, they would even select loyal but incompetent individuals...

    Anyway, like how Jeong Yak-yong¡¯s father was appointed by King Jeongjo or how Admiral Yi Sun-sin, despite his lack of social skills, was appointed for his outstanding abilities...

    By the way, King Seonjo also appointed Won Gyun, not because he showed great abilities in the north, but because he was greedy and deeply entangled in corruption...

    ¡®Won Gyun hypnotized Seonjo into thinking he was a loyal subject.¡¯

    To win the war against the Holy Empire, the Emperor must have control over the clergy as well.

    So, it¡¯s better to promote those people and make sure they owe me.

    And of course, they will sell indulgences at a cheaper price in my territories.

    If anyone who has received a favor from me tries to betray me, I¡¯ll make them end up like the Kingdom of Lyon or the Holy Empire.

    "Just tell His Majesty directly. Say that the clergy will now be in your hands."

 Chapter 403: Money can even summon ghosts (7)

    Someone would call me this.

    The unseen power behind the Toscani Empire.

    Although being an unseen power could be treated similarly to a shadowy figure, someone in the background, it doesn¡¯t matter.

    ¡®I¡¯m doing both.¡¯

    I act as the Emperor''s advisor and troubleshooter while secretly setting loose the Communist Heavenly Demon to further the development of the Toscani Empire, all without anyone knowing.

    I¡¯ve worked hard for this country, both in front and behind the scenes.

    Therefore, the power and wealth I enjoy now are entirely justified.

    If I want even more, it will be legal.

    "Your Majesty, how does it feel now that you hold the Deous Church in your hands, something that has given previous emperors headaches throughout history?"

    The Emperor, acting like a third-rate villain, chuckled.

    "It¡¯s exhilarating! It feels so good! After delivering a righteous blow to those who dared only criticize and sell indulgences, I¡¯m loving this. Just last year, I thought my time was nearly up. But now, I feel like I could live another hundred years!"

    "I¡¯m glad to hear Your Majesty is pleased."

    "Your words sound like those of a sycophant."

    "Those who participate in undermining the Empire and only say what Your Majesty wishes to hear are sycophants, but a loyal servant like myself, who works tirelessly to help Your Majesty''s goals and the Empire¡¯s revival, can only be called a true servant, Your Majesty."

    The Emperor looked at me coldly for a moment.

    What? Why am I a sycophant?

    I¡¯ve done everything you wanted, everything the Empire needed.

    I¡¯ve set up plans for dealing with the plague, raised the living standards of the common people, turned the public sentiment toward you, helped win the war with the Kingdom of Lyon.

    I¡¯ve done everything. I¡¯m no traitor. Surely, this must count for something¡ªif not as a great patriot like Admiral Yi Sun-sin, at least somewhere near that level, right? It¡¯s hard to find a more loyal servant than me.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter how I get there, as long as the results are good.¡¯

    "Well, Count Rothschild, you truly are the greatest servant of the Empire. No one else has contributed as much to bringing me to this position as you, Fabio de Rothschild."

    "I will do my utmost to live up to such high expectations, Your Majesty."

    "Don¡¯t ask for more, just continue at the current pace. Or, if it¡¯s too hard, you can ease up a bit."

    The Emperor said ? N§àv§Ölight ? (Exclusive on N§àv§Ölight) this and then, suddenly sweating cold, shifted his gaze elsewhere.

    He quickly changed the topic.

    "Who would be a good candidate for the clergy appointments this time?"

    "Your Majesty, please appoint those with humble origins who have no one else to rely on, other than Your Majesty."

    "You¡¯re suggesting a compromise with the nobles? Perhaps about 30% should be from humble backgrounds, and the rest can be appointed based on the preferences of the nobles."

    In truth, I wanted to say that all clergy should come from humble origins, but only those with strong faith, theological knowledge, and good conduct.

    Those with skill and ability should hold the high positions.

    Promoting those born into nobility who are merely mediocre is an inefficient practice. It''s an insult to those who worked hard to climb the ranks.

    ¡®Ignoring loyalty is an unjust thing to do.¡¯

    However, ideals are lofty, and reality is cruel. At some point, compromise is the right course.

    "Yes, Your Majesty. Please select 30% of bishops and higher clergy from among the humble, outstanding individuals. This will make the humble-born bishops and those from noble backgrounds compete for Your Majesty¡¯s favor."

    "You¡¯re suggesting I should stir competition to see who can serve me best."

    Not all competition is right.

    If private companies were to compete in sectors like roads, railways, electricity, and water, the cost would become unsustainable.

    However, compared to monopolies, competition is usually better.

    ¡®The reason medicines are so expensive in hospitals is because of monopolies.¡¯

    When patents expire, anyone can make it, and the cost can drop significantly.

    The same applies to fruits and vegetables; if they were monopolized, the prices could rise drastically.

    The same goes for clergy.

    If there¡¯s competition, they¡¯ll be less corrupt, serve the faithful with more diligence, and act more honestly.

    "Then the religion will be under my control. But let me ask you one thing."

    "Yes, Your Majesty."

    "Count Rothschild, why are you so eager to give me such immense imperial power? You already have the power of a duke¡ªhonestly, even comparable to some great noble families. If you don¡¯t like Duke Visconti, why not just create a new faction?"

    At this, I had no intention of answering with a simple yes or no.

    If I said yes, it would imply I planned to betray Duke Visconti; if I said no, I would be lying to the Emperor.

    "No matter how much money I have, how could a mere count have the strength of a duke? Even if you highly regard me, it¡¯s more in line with the power of a count, at best."

    The Emperor shrugged and chuckled at my words.

    "I¡¯ll let that pass."

    Although it was my response, it was obviously just a clever excuse.

    But there was no harm in letting it slide.

    ¡®Honestly, it was a bit shameless.¡¯

    But in life, to get ahead, you often have to throw your conscience out the window and live cunningly.

    What can I do? I just let it flow naturally.

    "Considering your immense wealth, influence, and power as a noble, you no longer need to strengthen imperial power, do you? Honestly, at your level, you¡¯re already on par with the highest noble ranks, even without a title."

    The Emperor was right. The great nobles, those above the count rank, were akin to powerful city owners, similar to the governors of metropolitan areas in Korea.

    Of course, my wealth and influence go beyond that.

    ¡®I even gave Duke Sforza the unequal treaties of the British Empire.¡¯

    The way he delighted in that gift is still vivid in my memory.

    "Your Majesty¡¯s words make sense from a general perspective, but from a broader view, it¡¯s not entirely correct."

    "Are you saying I¡¯m wrong?"

    "You¡¯re mistaken in your view of my ambition, Your Majesty."

    When you lie, you must always mix in some truth.

    The more of a professional con artist you are, the more truth you add to your lies.

    Having studied the wisdom of the British Empire, the experience of the East India Company, and even the wicked deeds of Nazi Germany, mixing truth with lies is a piece of cake for me.

    It¡¯s not difficult to obscure the Emperor¡¯s eyes just a little...

    ¡®It¡¯s like taking candy from a baby.¡¯

    "Even the best merchants are judged by the level and treatment they receive. A merchant who is the best in Toscani may receive a title, but even the best merchant from a small town will only be able to achieve the position of a councilman."

    "That¡¯s true."

    "I am already the best merchant in the Toscani Empire. So, if I want to rise any further... the only way is to bring even more prosperity to the Toscani Empire."

    In Korea, even the richest conglomerates are just small fry in front of the heads of large multinational companies.

    Similarly, the richest person in Africa would be seen as just a friend who barely gets by in front of Korea''s richest.

    So, if I want to become even richer, I must help the country flourish.

    "If the Toscani Empire successfully conquers the Holy Empire, the dominance of the Albanian continent will shift to the Toscani Empire. Then, Your Majesty, you will enjoy unprecedented glory, and I will enjoy unprecedented wealth under your reign."

    Someone once said this:

    "A betrayer can always be trusted when they are betraying others."

    I really like this saying.

    Not because I like betrayers, but because I¡¯ve experienced it myself¡ªmerchants who are making money with me will never betray me.

    ¡®The Emperor is probably no different.¡¯

    "Your Majesty, to bring the Holy Empire to its knees, we must engage in total war."

    "You¡¯ve said before that this is a war where we must invest all the Empire¡¯s resources."

    "We must approach it with the resolve to fight to the death. The soldiers who follow you, we must give them faith to rid them of the fear of death, along with ample supplies of food and weapons. Only then will we have a fighting chance."

    Total war is a short-term strategy.

    If a nation invests resources over 5 or 10 years, it will crumble.

    "Your Majesty."

    I looked the Emperor in the eyes and smiled.

    "With both religion and the people¡¯s hearts in your hands, Your Majesty, you are the ruler closest to dominating the continent."

    Yes, Emperor, take the entire continent.

    I¡¯ll take the New World.

 Chapter 404: Money can even summon ghosts (8)

    On my way back from my audience with the Emperor, I met an unexpected guest.

    "Your Highness, It¡¯s been a long time. How are you?"

    Teresa smiled mischievously as soon as she saw me.

    "I haven¡¯t been feeling well lately."

    "Has something bad happened?"

    "I really enjoyed talking to you, ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) Viscount, but I haven¡¯t been able to talk to you lately because you¡¯ve been so busy."

    "You¡¯re being a bit too mischievous, Your Highness."

    No matter how much the times change, high-ranking people can never have free love.

    That¡¯s because if we make a mistake in free love and our son or daughter decides to marry some rascal, tens or hundreds of billions of won will evaporate into thin air on the spot.

    That¡¯s why in modern European countries, it¡¯s customary for a wife and husband to marry for political reasons, have an heir, and then ignore the ¡®love.¡¯

    I don¡¯t know what kind of absurd methods they¡¯ll use in the 21st century.

    As time progresses, the world becomes more bizarre, so it may have become a bit dirtier than in the modern era.

    In any case, it is absolutely, absolutely unacceptable that there is a rumor going around between me and the princess.

    ¡®Our family¡¯s fate could be in jeopardy, right?¡¯

    "Does it seem like a joke?"

    "It has to be a joke. Otherwise, we would both be in trouble."

    "I really enjoy talking to you, Your Highness. Other people, especially men, don¡¯t like women who are smarter than them. Some even find them disgusting, like maggots. Don¡¯t you know why, Your Highness?"

    "There is no man in this world who wants to be controlled by his wife."

    When I was in graduate school, a friend who majored in Korean history said that Shin Saimdang may have been a good mother by Joseon standards, but she wasn¡¯t a good wife.

    No, to be more specific, she wasn¡¯t a good wife.

    The reason was that she was too much better than her husband and lived tightly by him.

    So, even Song Si-yeol, who greatly admired Yulgok Yi I and Shinsaimdang, only said that Shinsaimdang was a great mother, and never mentioned that she was a good wife...

    The Tuscan Empire was no less than that, if not more.

    A wife who is of a higher status than her husband but is much wiser than her husband is honestly burdensome.

    ¡®How can it feel good to nag your wife about something?¡¯

    "That¡¯s why I just act like a slightly smarter woman in front of other people."

    "Is that so?"

    "I told you one of my secrets, so now tell me one of your secrets."

    "What are you trying to say that I¡¯m hiding?"

    "I think Abama¡¯s goal is to seize the hegemony of the Albanian continent, but I think you see a future that is even further away than that, so I¡¯m asking."

    Unless Teresa had some kind of psychic power, she probably wouldn¡¯t have noticed the existence of the New World.

    And if you speak so vaguely, you probably have no confidence at all.

    ¡®You can¡¯t just stick your neck out, right?¡¯

    "The territory called the Holy Empire will belong to His Majesty the Emperor. But what will happen to the real estate there?"

    "There will be no owner at all."

    "I plan to go ahead of the Tuscan Empire and grab some real estate. In addition to that, I also want to completely take over the trade hegemony in the North Sea. The Mediterranean is quite rich, but I¡¯ve heard that the interests in the North Sea are enormous."

    If there is oil in the 21st century, there is herring on the Albanian continent.

    To us, herring is a fish that we don¡¯t eat much, so some people think of it as food for large aquarium fish...

    Admiral Yi Sun-sin also mobilized his navy to catch herring to avoid food shortages, and the common people of Europe were able to consume a minimum amount of protein through herring.

    If I could completely take over the herring trade in the Albanian continent, I could make a lot of money.

    ¡®If the New World is the first priority, this would be second.¡¯

    "You are very greedy, my Count."

    "Appropriate greed advances humanity. Didn¡¯t St. Augustine also explore the gospel and, through his exploration, create the theological doctrines that have been handed down to this day?"

    "It is really fun to talk to you, my Count. I don¡¯t have to act in front of you."

    Teresa smiled at me.

    "I don¡¯t know what you are hiding, but I won¡¯t tell anyone that you are hiding something more. Your greed has always enriched the empire."

    I look at the world using knowledge born from the brainstorming of countless geniuses throughout history, and the wisdom of humanity.

    Teresa often sees the same places I do.

    ¡®Will there be anyone among my wives who truly understands me?¡¯

    Chris is like a capable secretary who relieves my discomfort, and Erica is a woman I can trust with small tasks such as taking care of the family¡¯s social activities and helping with managing the estate so that I can focus on big things.

    Chloe has always been my first love, giving me peace of mind, and preventing me from unfolding forbidden wisdom that goes beyond the path of humanity.

    I am truly a happy person with three wives like this...

    But there is no one who can perfectly understand and sympathize with a person¡¯s actions.

    Even if I tell Erica, Chris, and Chloe that I split the Holy Empire, their attitude toward me will not change.

    I wish there was a woman who could look at me from the same perspective and talk to me.

    In that sense, Teresa could be my friend.

    Maybe we could maintain a slightly closer relationship.

    ¡®My wife is the Duke¡¯s daughter anyway, so there¡¯s almost no chance of scandal.¡¯

    If I take Erica with me, there¡¯s no room for problems.

    Think about it logically, how can a man who takes his wife with him cheat on her in front of her?

    "The Masai Union has recently started growing coffee. The beans grown there have a good aroma, so I¡¯ll take some. It¡¯s coffee brewed with precious beans that even His Majesty has never tasted, so I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll taste good and smell good."

    "I¡¯ll think about a dessert that goes well with the strong coffee, Your Majesty."

    With those words, the two of us parted ways.

    **

    Immediately after parting ways with Fabio, Teresa felt her face get a little hotter.

    If she looked in the mirror now, her face would be as red as a ripe apple.

    "Honestly, I didn¡¯t fall in love with you at first sight, but..."

    Teresa had been interested in him since a few years ago, when the Viscount Rothschild came into the spotlight.

    Common knowledge, the political landscape that moved within the expected categories, the petty squabbles between the nobility and the royal family, etc...

    And even more boring than that, the petty gossip of women, the life of discussing how to be more loved by men at night, the romance that didn¡¯t even exist in reality.

    It was something completely new and different from these things.

    ¡®At first, it was just interest.¡¯

    If she had been very active in getting what she wanted like the other young ladies, she even thought that maybe it would have been herself, not Erica, who was by Fabio¡¯s side.

    Of course, she didn¡¯t want to make Erica cry, who was noticeably less politically minded or approached than the other maids around her...

    "There¡¯s no reason to use the power of the royal family to take away my sister¡¯s man."

    No, Teresa herself couldn¡¯t imagine what would happen if she took Erica away from Fabio.

    She would go against a man who sent accountants, labor inspectors, and health inspectors to the faction that was opposing her and beat her up with a reasonable excuse that she couldn¡¯t even refute?

    ¡®The Viscount would do anything for his woman.¡¯

    "Instead, you just need to approach him little by little."

    Teresa¡¯s extraordinary insight wasn¡¯t limited to simply seeing political things.

    It was also very helpful when it came to capturing people¡¯s hearts.

    So she thought that if she put in just a little more effort, she could capture the heart of the Viscount Rothschild.

    No, she really wanted to capture him.

    As I had said to him half-confessedly, in the end, there was no other man who would accept and understand her as she was, except Fabio.

    "Haven¡¯t you often said this to me...?"

    Even if a scandalous situation arose between the royal family and the Viscount Rothschild, I would embrace the Viscount who had devoted himself endlessly to the Tuscan Empire.

    That was the duty of a monarch.

    "...... It was approved by the Viscount."

    Teresa quietly licked her lips.

    To make a friend who would truly understand her her own.

 Chapter 405: Burden of the Empire (1)

    ¡°Your Majesty, a new report has arrived from Eriksson, who is exploring the New World. Would you like to read it?¡±

    ¡°Sebastian, just pick out the important parts and tell me. I have to write a letter to the Sultan myself.¡±

    High-ranking officials rarely write letters by hand.

    It¡¯s partly because they have a lot of work to do, but it¡¯s also because it takes a lot of time to rewrite the content that¡¯s already been decided in a ¡®fancy style.¡¯

    No matter how simple you try to write, you have to mix in all sorts of metaphors and useless literary expressions.

    However, a letter to the Sultan has to match their religious and cultural codes, and I¡¯m the only one who can do that, so what can I do? There¡¯s no other way, so I have to do it.

    ¡°According to Erikson¡¯s report, some of the sailors even had children with the local women. At first, they almost went to war with the local tribe they first encountered because of those troublemakers, but now, thanks to them, it¡¯s easier to form friendly relations with the locals.¡±

    ¡°Thank goodness. When I heard that they raped the local women, I thought they were going crazy.¡±

    ¡°You never know how life will turn out, but I never thought it would turn out this way.¡±

    He used a similar method when he was building friendly relations with the Masai Alliance.

    He paired the local women with the sexually hungry sailors and made them his family, and approached them as if we were their friends.

    ¡°At that time, it was mutually agreed upon.¡±

    However, the sailors that Erikson brought with him were so instinctively loyal that their brains were in their lower bodies.

    The women saw the matchlock guns and steel swords these guys had and thought this guy was okay, so they accepted him.

    Anyway, the problem with men is the bastards on their lower bodies, the problem.

    ¡°According to what I found out while talking to the local tribes, the tribe¡¯s village belongs to a huge nation called Yupanthi. I can¡¯t imagine how big it is, but they say that they mobilize over 100,000 troops for the wars that occur every year.¡±

    ¡°They wage war every year... Are they crazy about war?¡±

    And Sebastian began to vomit while reading the letter.

    ¡°...... Even if they are pagans, this seems a bit excessive. These guys wage war every year for the sun god, capture the defeated, sacrifice them, and eat the victims. These scumbags should never be allowed to live.¡±

    ¡°We have to purify them as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°It seems that Deus has given you the mission to purify this hellish place. How on earth can a human eat human flesh?¡±

    I don¡¯t really care whether you believe in Deus or Allah.

    Allah and Deus are actually the same god, but people are free to believe in whatever religion they want.

    As long as it doesn¡¯t harm others, you can believe in flying spaghetti.

    ¡®Isn¡¯t it similar to how British cuisine falls under the category of food?¡¯

    However, I can¡¯t just accept that killing people for religious reasons or committing barbaric acts like cannibalism is different from me.

    Those kinds of things are bad habits that shouldn¡¯t exist in this world.

    ¡°Let¡¯s wipe them out all at once later, Sebastian. And let¡¯s make it the territory of the Rothschild family to teach them the right lessons.¡±

    ¡°I agree with what the Viscount said.¡±

    ¡°Since the Kingdom of Lyon has been devastated, I¡¯ll recruit soldiers from the {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} Kingdom of Lyon and use them to conquer the New World.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you conscript soldiers in the Tuscan Empire?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too conspicuous. Even Your Majesty wouldn¡¯t tolerate me gathering private soldiers.¡±

    The least you can do is to do unacceptable things secretly.

    Of course, it¡¯s best not to do them.

    The enormous benefits of the New World are tempting me, so how can I resist?

    So I have to secretly gather private soldiers and build an army.

    ¡°After conquering the New World, I have to spread the Deus religion there. They believe in an uncivilized god like the sun god, so they¡¯ll do such crazy things.¡±

    ¡°Thanks to you, Viscount, the world will become a better place.¡±

    ¡°Choose trustworthy people from the Rothschild Corporation and the family, allocate a budget for conquering the New World, and have them draw up a plan based on the report submitted by Eriksson.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Viscount.¡±

    If I had my way, I would invade the New World today, break the heads of the crazy authors who enjoy human sacrifice, and make the New World the right way (a colony of the Rothschild family).

    Leading a large army and conquering somewhere is not that easy.

    Once you have the budget, it takes time to gather the necessary supplies and people.

    ¡®In war, the actual fighting with a sword is only for a moment.¡¯

    If you assume that the war lasts 365 days, you can think of it as spending nearly 250 days just preparing supplies, 114 days marching, and then only one day of fighting.

    ¡°Now that I have finished talking about the New World, what is the current status of the Holy Empire?¡±

    ¡°I heard that the Sultan¡¯s army, the expeditionary force sent from the Kingdom of Lyon, the army of the Protestant faction, and the army of the Emperor of the Holy Empire are all engaged in a fierce battle.¡±

    ¡°I planned this war from beginning to end, but it¡¯s really confusing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad it¡¯s not a civil war in the Tuscan Empire.¡±

    The reason why watching a fire across the river is fun is because there¡¯s no risk of the fire spreading to our house.

    What if there¡¯s a fire in the house next door?

    Would you think it¡¯s someone else¡¯s business and enjoy it?

    No, you have to do everything you can to put out the fire right away.

    If you can¡¯t put out that fire, your house will burn down first.

    ¡®Even though it¡¯s a civil war I started, it¡¯s fortunate that it¡¯s a war in another country.¡¯

    ¡°The Protestant faction is currently fighting the Deus faction army led by the Holy Empire Emperor, the Kingdom of Lyon army, and the Deus faction army led by the Emperor against the Sultan and the Protestant faction. And the Sultan¡¯s army is slowly driving out the Holy Empire Emperor.¡±

    ¡°The war is getting more and more intense, so it seems like it¡¯s getting close to our time to intervene.¡±

    In a game, it¡¯s the worst thing in the world to hit the last blow and run away to kill an enemy that everyone else has already killed.

    But in reality, you can win by ¡®finally striking¡¯ an enemy that others have killed?

    You can become a hero who achieved victory with minimal sacrifice and effort, rather than a bad and mean person.

    How many cases are there in which you failed to strike the last blow in a war and won against the enemy, and failed to achieve proper results?

    ¡®War is simple and mean.¡¯

    ¡°The clergy will now all move in unison according to His Majesty¡¯s orders, food production has increased, and the capacity to produce weapons and armor has also increased, so even if an all-out war is launched, the Tuscan Empire will not falter.¡±

    If there were railroads and various types of vehicle transportation in a country, the country would start to falter as soon as an all-out war was launched.

    However, in a world without railroads, even if the country mobilized all its available resources, it would be impossible to requisition enough supplies to uproot the country.

    If there was some kind of absurd famine, it would be different if the supplies to be sent were completely gone.

    ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s start with this plan...¡±

    I was about to open the secret drawer of my desk and take out a plan I had sealed.

    ¡°Your Majesty, a pastor from the Holy Empire is desperately asking to see you. Should I kick him out?¡±

    If it were normal, I would have just ordered him to be kicked out.

    But when I heard that he was from the Holy Empire... I thought it must have been Pastor Stefano who sent him.

    Even though the pastor is a very noble and faithful person who seems to be very closed off, he¡¯s not so stupid as to not know that it would be bad for both of us if it was known that we were communicating.

    ¡°Let him in.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    The pastor who came in was panting for breath in his completely tattered clothes.

    But he seemed more desperate than that.

    ¡°Why did you come to me so urgently?¡±

    The pastor shed a tear after hearing my words.

    Then he lowered his head.

    It must have been very bad news.

    ¡®Is Pastor Stephen dead?¡¯

    The Elector of Wittenburg is not stupid. He would never kill or let Pastor Stephen, who was the center of his power, die...

    ¡°Your Majesty, Pastor Stephen has been martyred.¡±

    As soon as I heard the word martyrdom, my head started spinning.

    Could it be that the idiot Elector of Wittenburg really abandoned the pastor?

    ¡°Did the Wittenburg guy kill the pastor? Or did the Holy Emperor?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not it. His Majesty the Wittenburger helped the pastor until the end.¡±

    And the pastor who came to see me in a hurry told me the truth about Pastor Stephen¡¯s death.

 Chapter 406: Burden of the Empire (2)

    While Fabio was pondering how to take over the New World and pass down wealth and honor to his family for generations, Pastor Stefano was following the Elector of Wittenburg in the army.

    As a priest, he wanted to help the soldiers under the Elector of Wittenburg find psychological stability through religion and pray together for their souls to be saved...

    ¡°Stop! Please stop! No matter how much they are the enemy, you must not kill or harm people indiscriminately!¡±

    Stefano shouted as he ran, forgetting that he was out of breath.

    He then blocked the soldiers who were trying to kill men and rape or sell women.

    Stopping the soldiers who were not receiving proper wages for a long time and were surviving by plundering and deviating (rape, murder, etc.) to some extent was no different from asking for my death.

    ¡®Even if I die, I must save at least one more person.¡¯

    Pastor Stefano had no qualms about giving up his life for others, whether he could die or not.

    No, he was ready to jump into the fire if he could save many people by dying.

    ¡°Although they believe in the Deus religion, which is full of rotten priests who sell indulgences, they are also people who serve the same Deus as you. They have the same skin color, the same eye color, and they cry when they are sad and laugh when they are happy! How can you kill or sell them just to make a little more money?¡±

    ¡°But, Pastor... We also have to eat to live.¡±

    ¡°Did I stop you from taking the food and money that you won in the war? Take it. But before you take it, leave at least a little food for these poor people. They are just like you, so you can¡¯t starve them to death just because you lost the war.¡±

    Even in a world where the concept of human rights is alive, the principle that soldiers who won a war leave the citizens of the losing side a minimum of property and do not kill or harass them at will is not well observed.

    The victors want to enjoy pleasure and a sense of conquest, and the law does not work at the time...

    This is because human barbarism is revealed as it is.

    Moreover, soldiers receive the compensation they receive while serving in the military as the right to commit indiscriminate atrocities after winning.

    In a world where most of the deficits are covered by selling poor serfs into slavery,

    Pastor Stefano''s actions of taking care of the defeated were bizarre.

    "Don''t do something that will shame Deus."

    As Stefano continued to persuade them, the soldiers who were about to sell the serfs into slavery sighed and left with only a little food and money.

    The serf families in the occupied areas who had survived felt relieved that they were alive and wept bitterly.

    That sight tore the heart of Pastor Stefano, who had a living conscience that Fabio acknowledged.

    ¡®Deus, why on earth are you giving me this ordeal?¡¯

    However, we must save as many people as possible...

    ¡°Look, look! You don¡¯t have time to feel relieved that you saved your lives thanks to me! Hurry up and pack as much food as you can and run away! If you don¡¯t run away now, you will die!¡±

    When Stefano urged them, the serf families began to run away in a hurry, forgetting to thank him.

    It was understandable that they would be upset that they had saved their lives but were not thanked...

    But to him, that didn¡¯t matter even a grain of dust.

    ¡®Please let me save at least one more person in this miserable war.¡¯

    And he went around the village, raiding the scenes of looting, rape, and murder, and urging them to stop the behavior immediately.

    ¡°Stop it! Deus said that whatever you did to the least of them, you did to Deus! Are you planning to rape Deus?¡±

    He bowed his head to those who were holding his family as slaves and laughing, asking for his captive family to be released, and he protected the weak from the blades of those who were trying to kill people for fun.

    While he was running around so busily that he didn¡¯t even know how many people he had saved, he heard a woman screaming somewhere.

    ¡°No! Stop it!¡±

    As soon as he heard it, he ran in an instant.

    His body moved faster than his rational judgment.

    When he arrived there, he saw several soldiers trying to rape the girls they had captured from the village.

    ¡°Stop it! Stop it now!¡±

    As he stopped them, one of the crowd came out and pushed Pastor Stefano.

    ¡°Are you crazy, sir? Our platoon leader and company commander pretend not to see it even when they have fun, so what are you lecturing me about? I¡¯m in a good mood today, so I¡¯ll just let it go. Get out of here.¡±

    That group must have had a lot of alcohol for the first time in a while, because their faces were as red as a boulder.

    Their bodies were staggering here and there, and they could smell alcohol every time they breathed.

    In a war zone, trying to stop a soldier like this would be like openly declaring that they want to kill me...

    Stefano didn¡¯t want to be embarrassed in front of Deus, even if he had to die.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a mother, older sister, younger sister, and wife waiting for you back home? The same goes for those here. Deus doesn¡¯t want you to commit a sin, so stop now.¡±

    ¡°Hey, sir, are you crazy?¡±

    ¡°Come to your senses and don¡¯t do anything you¡¯ll regret!¡±

    Stefano tried to say that this war was for the right belief in ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) Deus, for the salvation of the soul.

    But the words would not come out of his mouth.

    The Protestants and Deusists were fighting each other, slaughtering, pillaging, and oppressing countless civilians.

    The soldiers who were dragged here were forced to come because their mouths were hooked by the desires of the nobles.

    ¡®What use is faith to these people...¡¯

    ¡°Don¡¯t cross the line that you shouldn¡¯t cross as a human being for a moment of pleasure! The moment you cross that line, you will never be able to go back.¡±

    There was nothing wrong with what Stefano said.

    However, to those who had already lost one or two things that were precious to them as humans because of the war, those words sounded like nothing but a lie.

    If they had been sober and not drunk, they might have come to their senses realizing that it was Pastor Stefano who was saying those words.

    Those who were drunk and couldn''t control their emotions immediately reached for their knives.

    "You damn hypocrite!"

    As soon as one of them reached for his knives, the others followed suit.

    They were annoyed by Stefano''s request to take care of others in this situation, when they had left their families because of the war and were suffering greatly.

    "Does a pastor like you understand how low-level soldiers like us live?"

    "But if you do something you''ll regret..."

    "Shut up and run, you damn hypocrite who''s worse than a dog."

    Stefano did his best to fulfill his duty as a religious person.

    He threw away the wealth and honor that was within his reach like an old pair of shoes, and used his status, life, and everything else he could to save countless people.

    Although he could not count them himself, the number of people he saved directly and indirectly exceeded ten thousand.

    However, he also felt ashamed.

    Because the thought occurred to him just before he died that there might have been people he could not save because he did not put in enough effort.

    Even so, he wanted to save at least one more person before he died.

    ¡°Now, run away!¡±

    At the words to run away, the women Stefano had wrapped around hurriedly left the place.

    Stefano himself thought that even if he died here, he was fortunate that he could save at least one more person before he died, and that he would at least be a little less ashamed in front of Deus.

    And before he died, he pitied those who were killing him even as he was being stabbed and trampled.

    If only there had been no war, they would not have done such evil deeds...

    He gave his last will in a voice so small that it was hard to hear unless you listened carefully, filled with regret, sorrow, and pity.

    ¡°Deus, these people are so hurt by war that they may not even know that they are committing a sin. Please have mercy on them. I will forgive them as you have forgiven me.¡±

    With those words, Stefano died.

    As if by chance or inevitably, lightning struck the standard near the Elector of Wittenberg.

    ¡°The pastor protected the poor and the weak until the end and passed away.¡±

    There are very few people in this world who have a spirit of altruism and sacrifice that goes beyond common sense.

    They change the world for the better.

    The person who created the polio vaccine could have made hundreds of billions of dollars with the patent, but if he made money with it, he would have made children worse.

    He gave up his patent, saying he would save lives.

    As a result, billions of people were saved from polio.

    A Catholic priest risked his life to provide medical services in African civil war zones and saved countless people. When he was diagnosed with colon cancer, he prayed that he could help them one more day, saying that he would rather die from cancer than die because he had to help them more.

    His devotion opened up the possibility of saving countless people in the future by turning people who were born into a world divided into rebels and government forces and could have been killed and killed throughout their lives into doctors.

    Pastor Stefano was such a person.

    ¡®If only he had compromised a little, he would have enjoyed a life of wealth and honor.¡¯

    ¡®I feel complicated.¡¯

    I filled my pipe with tobacco leaves and lit it.

    Inhaling the spicy smoke should have relieved my heart, but today, the cigarette didn¡¯t taste good at all.

    But as an individual, I have second thoughts.

    Now, it seems that the Tuscan Empire must also start preparing to rise again.

 Chapter 407: Burden of the Empire (3)

    I have a mission of historical significance.

    To liberate the entire Albanian continent, not just the Toscani Empire, from the corrupt Deous Church and bring freedom to everyone.

    Furthermore, I must deliver the true faith and culture to those who have been offering human sacrifices in the New World, alongside a handful of lead.

    At first, this all began because of my own greed, but now it feels more like a duty to advance the world.

    "I simply wanted to make a lot of money, and that''s how I came this far."

    In the process, I had no qualms about staining my hands with blood, and sometimes, I had to pull out wisdom that was better left sealed deep in history.

    People in the future will undoubtedly condemn me for what I''ve done...

    But honestly, I have no regrets.

    I did my best, and at least I didn¡¯t commit any grotesque murders or tortures for my own pleasure.

    The world has developed over decades, maybe even close to a hundred years.

    "Pastor Stefano rejected wealth and power to save those oppressed by religion, but my path has been very different. I¡¯ve enjoyed all the wealth, taken multiple beautiful women, and amassed all kinds of power."

    Still, it¡¯s strange that I once helped such a man.

    Now, I can¡¯t even help him anymore, though.

    "Anyway, I¡¯ll take care of the trash who profit off religion and try to dominate others."

    I¡¯ll make a better world.

    The order of the advanced world will be led by the Toscani Empire.

    Now, I¡¯ll stop getting lost in thought here.

    "General Ducat, may I come in?"

    "Come in."

    General Ducat looked at me with surprise when I entered.

    "What? You¡¯re wearing military uniform without being told to? My goodness, Deous, have you finally decided to give up being a merchant and walk the path of a soldier?"

    "No, that''s not it..."

    "Ah, Marquis Ragusa will be happy if he hears this. Wait a moment, I¡¯ll call for a messenger to inform the Imperial General Staff and have them prepare a new post for you. Even though the Imperial Marshal is a bit of a blockhead, he¡¯ll gladly give you a position, especially for you."

    "Please, hear me out. I¡¯m not here to become an officer. I¡¯ve simply worn the uniform out of respect because I¡¯m visiting you, a general, at the staff headquarters."

    Even the man who showed up in a checkered shirt to present Apple¡¯s phone still wears a suit to a wedding.

    Though I have no intention of becoming a soldier, it¡¯s proper for someone with an honorary military rank like myself to wear a uniform when visiting the staff headquarters.

    At this, General Ducat suddenly looked disappointed.

    "I thought you had earned enough money and were now pursuing honor."

    "I¡¯m not suited for military life."

    "...You? That¡¯s quite the funny joke. If the others in the staff headquarters hear it, they¡¯ll probably be laughing their heads off."

    Most people choose to do what they¡¯re good at rather than what they want to do.

    But I was a successful merchant in the Toscani Empire, and when I was forced to serve in the military, I streamlined logistics thoroughly and even built an economic colony in Ifriqiya.

    If you have multiple skills, you should do the one you¡¯re best at.

    "I¡¯ve brought what the Toscani Empire¡¯s army needs most right now."

    "The Imperial Army already has enough supplies, and our logistics network is fine. The soldiers'' morale is sky-high. Our General Staff believes that we¡¯re well-equipped to crush those idiots from the Holy Empire."

    "War doesn¡¯t always follow common sense, does it?"

    "Well, war rarely goes according to common sense or logic."

    Humans are not gods, so we can¡¯t control every variable.

    Even in a game where five people just need to cooperate, if I make a mistake or someone starts sending waves of suicides, there¡¯s no solution.

    "Stockpiling food is all well and good, but if you store too much, it¡¯ll spoil. However, other resources¡ªgathering as much as possible is always beneficial. And what I¡¯ve brought is a weapon that will transform the Toscani army into a great crusade."

    I had already given the Emperor a bit of a spoiler.

    I told him we should bring the Sultanate in and destroy the Holy Empire, making it a mess and then retaking the land lost to the heathens.

    I hadn¡¯t said anything like this to anyone else, so it was no wonder General Ducat looked so shocked.

    General Ducat¡¯s face turned pale.

    "A crusade... You, of all people, are talking about it. If anyone else had said such a thing, I would¡¯ve thought they were just mimicking. But hearing it from you, Count Rothschild, I feel like you could actually create a real crusade, one that would surpass the ones 400 years ago."

    It¡¯s truly possible.

    There have been people who achieved this using nothing but brutality and nonsense, far inferior to religious beliefs and ideology.

    The Japanese army, believing that mental fortitude could defeat the Western powers, unsheathed their swords and charged machine gun positions during WWII, completely disregarding tactical sense.

    They trained officers for four years at military academies, and the soldiers were drilled with nationalistic fervor, beating them with "patriotism training sticks."

    So whether they were avoiding punishment or charging to honor the Emperor, they would charge without hesitation, even in the face of machine gun fire.

    But what happens if you mix religious fervor and ideological beliefs with that kind of mental fortitude?

    You create invincible infantry that, with just mental fortitude, could dominate a battlefield, where 500 men would defeat 10,000.

    "Right now, there is no soldier in the Imperial Army who dislikes His Majesty. It¡¯s not just a ''report with a bit of exaggeration''¡ªit¡¯s truly the case. When military chaplains speak of His Majesty¡¯s grace, the soldiers often end up in tears."

    "...I never imagined I¡¯d see such a sight. It¡¯s not even the officers, but regular soldiers who have such unwavering loyalty to His Majesty."

    "When it comes to morale and fighting will, the Toscani Empire¡¯s soldiers are better than those of other nations'' officers. This is a huge advantage."

    In the era of line infantry, the probability of hitting a target with a single bullet was extremely low.

    Some would say that if you fired 100 shots, only 5-8 would hit.

    ¡®If 50% of 100 shots hit, then the whole tactic wouldn¡¯t even make sense.¡¯

    But when properly aimed using matchlocks, the accuracy at the typical range of 50 [N O V E L I G H T] meters for line infantry is about 84%.

    It¡¯s hard to understand why the accuracy would differ so much, considering they are using the same weapons to kill. The reason, however, lies in the soldiers'' fighting will.

    Soldiers are people too, and they dislike killing.

    Even against heathens, the instinct remains

 Chapter 408: Burden of the Empire (4)

    Soldiers are those who die with pride and live with pride.

    Even those who belong to the most elite units often lose their will to fight and cannot resist the fear of death when their pride is hurt.

    On the other hand, if they have pride, they can become the strongest army, like the Joseon navy, which was a ragtag group except for Admiral Yi Sun-sin and the general who fought with them in the Battle of Myeongnyang.

    Knowing this fact, countries with a sound mind teach soldiers to respect them, or at least pretend to respect them.

    ¡°I want to emphasize to the soldiers of the Tuscan Empire the honorable duty they must fulfill as soldiers of the Empire, or rather as subjects of the Empire.¡±

    ¡°Subject? What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°It means subjects of His Majesty.¡±

    When I hear this, the phrase imperial subjects comes to mind, and my mood suddenly drops.

    I don¡¯t think there is a better word to instill loyalty to the Emperor in the minds of the people of the Tuscan Empire, or more precisely, the soldiers, than the word ¡°subject.¡±

    It¡¯s a word that gives them the pride that they, as a mere citizen, are serving the Emperor and playing a valuable role.

    Pride is free, but its effect is astronomically huge.

    ¡°I understand the word ¡°subject.¡± Then why do you make even a mere soldier have an honorable duty?¡±

    ¡°No one in this world wants to die in war. However, just as a father fights to protect his family in order to fulfill his duty as the head of the household, we should give the soldiers of the Tuscan Empire something they want to protect even if it means dying. I just thought that was honor.¡±

    A person who is determined to protect something is strong.

    According to one study, there was even a statistic that married men produce nearly three times more value on average than unmarried men.

    And that saying applies even if the person they are protecting is not necessarily their family.

    Those who fight to protect their honor and risk their lives sometimes end up defeating enemies that are dozens of times larger.

    ¡®During the Battle of Myeongnyang, General Yi Sun-sin fought a 1:133 battle, right?¡¯

    ¡°To be more precise, honor and pride. Humans are willing to choose death for these two things.¡±

    ¡°What makes you so sure?¡±

    ¡°Do you remember the last war we fought against the Kingdom of Lyon?¡±

    ¡°It was such an easy war. All we had to do was plant our flags on practically empty ground. I never thought I would see a war like that. The war itself was really easy. But I still can¡¯t forget their cowardly actions.¡±

    I took revenge on the Kingdom of Lyon in all sorts of ways.

    That war alone wasn¡¯t enough, so I also caused a communist uprising to drive them into chaos and fear.

    I also made it so that if they didn¡¯t participate in the civil war of the Holy Empire, their country would inevitably perish.

    And he even released Ponzi¡¯s forbidden knowledge and committed Ponzi fraud.

    ¡°...... My territory, or more precisely, the seaweed farm in Bio Village, the territory I was first granted, was plundered.¡±

    It¡¯s a story unrelated to what I was saying.

    However, Lieutenant General ?N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t? Ducat did not interrupt me.

    ¡°The seaweed farm technicians kidnapped there were tortured terribly by the Thieves¡¯ Guild, but not a single one of them talked about seaweed farming techniques. They said that if they died, it would all be over, but they would keep their promise and loyalty to me even though it was really over.¡±

    ¡°...... They were people who knew honor.¡±

    ¡°They said that the reason they were able to endure until the end despite the harsh torture and the certainty of death was because they had the pride of having me, the Viscount Rothschild, as their lord. That was their own sense of honor.¡±

    ¡°When I saw that, I was convinced. If I could instill honor and pride in the Tuscan Imperial Army, they would fight with the determination to die.¡±

    Even though I cannot bring the victims back to life, I am taking great care of their families.

    I promise that I will never turn a blind eye to those who sacrificed their lives for my family and my company.

    ¡°All the soldiers of the Tuscan Empire now respect and love His Majesty the Emperor. And I want to give them the honor of fighting for His Majesty the Emperor when they go out to fight in the Holy Empire.¡±

    ¡°This alone is enough to explain why they should be honored. What method do you plan to use?¡±

    ¡°We can teach this through the military chaplains.¡±

    The method I am about to use is a secret method that should not be used if the soldiers of the Tuscan Empire do not truly respect the Emperor.

    Military service is annoying, and now you want me to fight for His Majesty the Emperor and die while fighting in a war that I hate even more?

    Even I would seriously consider deserting.

    However, if there is infinite loyalty to the Emperor...

    ¡°Let me give you an example myself.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡±

    Then I cleared my throat for a moment and opened my mouth in a solemn voice.

    ¡°His Majesty the Great Emperor has been ordered by Deus to save you from poverty and keep you safe from external threats. He is concentrating on his government day and night, thinking only of you.¡±

    Even North Koreans, who have been brainwashed from childhood until death, are completely dumbfounded when they hear the level of worshipful comments made by piglets.

    They say they will bomb their leader in front of him, but behind his back, they say it¡¯s just the sound of fat crawling.

    However, in the Tuscan Empire, when the emperor says such things, everyone, regardless of age or gender, is truly moved.

    ¡®Because he actually saved us from poverty.¡¯

    What about the soldiers who go through a weekly, or even daily, training session with the military chaplain to reflect on the emperor¡¯s grace?

    If you chew on the grace that you can feel on your skin and see with your eyes and even repeatedly study it, wouldn¡¯t you naturally think that this is the truth?

    ¡°Your Majesty saved you from hunger, gave you abundance, and allowed you to dream of a better tomorrow than today. How will you repay this grace?¡±

    Lieutenant General Ducat swallowed hard after hearing me.

    You¡¯ve realized, but now is the real moment.

    ¡°I can¡¯t repay it.¡±

    There is only one grace in this world that cannot be repaid.

    It is the grace of your parents.

    Through the flow of those words, I subtly placed the emperor on the same level as my parents.

    In the West, it may sound like a new word, but in Eastern culture, there is a saying that ¡°the king and the teacher are like parents,¡± which means that the king and the teacher are like parents.

    For me, who was Korean in my past life, this is not a particularly unfamiliar concept.

    ¡°Soldiers of the Tuscan Empire, who have received the unpayable favor of His Majesty, I ask you. Will you be beasts who ignore His Majesty¡¯s favor and live? Or will you live as people who know how to repay the favor you have received? I will say it again. Didn¡¯t Deus save you from hell by dying on the cross, and didn¡¯t Your Majesty save you from starvation by working day and night on state affairs and sowing seeds with tears?¡±

    War is originally for madmen.

    I will emphasize this once again: there is not a single sane man on the battlefield.

    And in war, the maddest man wins.

    ¡®I will become a mess, no, a madness.¡¯

    ¡°Now is the time for you to fulfill his dream. Not as animals that throw away grace, but as people who know grace even if they die today, soldiers of the Imperial Army who swore. Rejoice and be glad. Today, you will have the opportunity to fight to fulfill His Majesty¡¯s dream. You will be able to lighten his burden even a little.¡±

    Humans are not moved by logic.

    Humans are ultimately beings moved by emotions.

    Logic is merely a means of deciding which way the flow of emotions will go.

    So in order to push people into war and win the battle against the enemy, you must ultimately move their hearts.

    People should naturally be grateful for what they have received, and you should appeal to their instincts to want to share the burden of the one they love.

    Yes, just like now.

    ¡°Brave soldiers of the Tuscan Empire, Your Majesty is dreaming now. He wants to drive out the corrupt Sultanate army and the Emperor of the Holy Empire, who has become a cult of the corrupt Deus. Just as Your Majesty embraced you, He wants to save those poor and pitiful people of the Holy Empire. Those who once starved and mourned like you but despaired of the reality where nothing changed. Are you willing to sacrifice your life for this dream of Your Majesty?¡±

    I took a final breath and finished.

    ¡°Fight while bearing the burden that you must bear as a subject of the Tuscan Empire. Then you will live in abundance and be embraced by Deus when you die.¡±

    When I finished speaking, Lieutenant General Ducat swallowed hard.

    He then looked at me with a slightly strange gaze and said.

    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing you¡¯re from the Tuscan Empire. If you were a soldier from the Kingdom of Lyon, you would have invaded us with an army of fanatics who would charge at us while getting shot at.¡±

 Chapter 409: Burden of the Empire (5)

    Propaganda is like a coin.

    On one side, there¡¯s the message that our country is great and wonderful, and on the other side, there should be criticism that the other countries are in a bad situation and struggling.

    If only one side is present, it won¡¯t even have one-millionth of its potential power.

    ¡®I¡¯ve told the people how great and wonderful the Toscani Empire is.¡¯

    But the people of the Toscani Empire still don¡¯t know what is happening in other countries.

    So, I have to show them.

    I need to show the people how unfortunate and miserable the other nations are.

    "Editor Hauzen, thanks to your hard work in publishing the newspaper, the people of the Toscani Empire have been enlightened despite their ignorance. His Majesty is also extremely pleased with the efforts of you and your journalists."

    "You''re too kind, my Lord. I¡¯ve just done my best at the job entrusted to me."

    "Doing your job well... It may seem simple, but most people fail to do even that. You''ve done excellently, and I''m pleased."

    When you buy meat from a butcher with money, you expect fresh meat. When you buy fruit, you expect delicious ¡ã? N o v e l i g h t ?¡ã apples.

    Paying for goods, whether they are good or bad, is the normal transaction.

    However, some butchers will try to get rid of slightly aged meat, and some fruit shops will sell grapes that clearly don¡¯t look fresh.

    If you visit a large market in China, you¡¯ll find plastic eggs and rice, things that only resemble their real counterparts.

    Just paying for fresh ingredients is becoming somewhat of an achievement nowadays.

    What the editor has done is the same.

    He followed my orders and delivered the desired results.

    Therefore, proper rewards must be given.

    ¡®In Korea, if you do a good job, you get more work.¡¯

    "I have an important task I would like to assign to you, Editor Hauzen, for your service to the Empire. It concerns the Empire¡¯s very survival and prosperity, but..."

    I paused dramatically, resting my hand on my forehead, and then said resolutely,

    "I want to entrust the future of the Empire to you, Editor Hauzen. Can you handle it?"

    "Of course. If you entrust it to me, I¡¯ll do anything for the Empire."

    "Good, I trust you, so I will personally assign the future of the Empire to you."

    Editor Hauzen¡¯s eyes sparkled when he heard this.

    He looked worried but also filled with more than just anticipation.

    ¡®It¡¯s also a skill to make your subordinate believe that the task you¡¯re assigning is critical.¡¯

    "I¡¯d like you to publish articles not only highlighting the happiness of the Toscani Empire¡¯s people but also focusing more on the misery of other nations. By doing so, I want to make the people of the Toscani Empire realize how fortunate they are."

    "I will carry out your orders, my Lord. But if you could tell me the reason behind this, it would help me execute your instructions even better. If possible, I would appreciate it."

    Some religious figures or philosophers tell me to love myself as I am.

    But most people living in reality can¡¯t do that.

    Because they are constantly comparing themselves to others.

    Mr. Kim from the other department is dating a woman five years younger than him, and my colleague, who is my same age, got a house as a gift from his rich parents.

    Hearing these things, I can¡¯t help but feel inferior¡ªwhy can¡¯t I live like them?

    On the other hand, I find comfort when I hear about someone worse off than I am.

    When I hear that my boss, with a broken personality, lost 30 million won in stocks, it cheers me up, even if it doesn''t directly benefit my life.

    That¡¯s human nature.

    And now, shouting "Long live His Majesty! Long live the Toscani Empire!" without utilizing that instinct is not wise.

    ¡®I should use every available tool, after all.¡¯

    "Humans are constantly comparing themselves to others," I said.

    "Yes, I too am always comparing myself to someone else."

    "It¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing. If you can guide comparisons in the right direction, it¡¯s a huge blessing."

    Many modern people tend to think that comparison and competition are bad.

    But through comparison, I might realize that I have a natural talent for mathematics, leading me to choose the path of studying math at university and contributing to the world.

    Or I might realize that I¡¯m good at football, and through dedication, become an excellent player.

    But if I didn¡¯t compare, I¡¯d never know what talents I have, and I¡¯d live an ordinary life.

    "The people of the Toscani Empire, especially the soldiers, are being brainwashed through the teachings of military chaplains and newspapers, unaware of how happy they truly are. But they don''t understand the extent of that happiness."

    The editor tilted his head and asked,

    "As far as I know, the soldiers shout ''Long live His Majesty!'' every day and show unwavering loyalty to the Empire. So, I find it strange that they don''t realize how happy they are."

    "But that¡¯s the reality. Just change the perspective a little. People call me the richest man in the Toscani Empire, but why do they call me that? Because they know roughly how other people are doing, and that¡¯s why I get that title and become an object of envy. The happiness and prosperity the people of the Toscani Empire enjoy should be the same. We need to make them realize they enjoy things others cannot."

    Humans can either become happy or miserable through comparison.

    For example, Bhutan was once ranked as the happiest country in the world. But once people started using social media and realized how poor their situation was, their happiness drastically dropped.

    When Koreans experience the medical system in the U.S. or the UK, they realize how great their own system is, and they become patriots.

    "I understand your words, my Lord."

    The editor paused, thought for a moment, and then continued.

    "So, you mean that we should show how lucky the soldiers of the Toscani Empire are to serve His Majesty, while also exposing the miserable situations in other countries. And we need to choose the most provocative examples, correct?"

    "Exactly. You understand quickly."

    "I¡¯ve heard that in the Kingdom of Lyon, some of the nobles raised the fees for the ''right to the first night'' (though it¡¯s just a name, in reality, it¡¯s a tax system) from 50 ducats to 5 silver coins. It''s not that they can''t get married without paying it, but I¡¯ve heard rumors that beautiful young women who can¡¯t afford it end up in the lord¡¯s bedroom."

    "...Is that true?"

    "It¡¯s from a reliable source. Also, the slave markets are seeing an increasing number of women from the Kingdom of Lyon. The Holy Empire isn¡¯t much better. Because of this, the price of female slaves has dropped drastically, and the slave traders are going crazy."

    Rome was once just a small city-state in the Etruscan kingdom.

    But when a single woman was taken from them, the Romans rose up, defeated the Etruscans, and won their independence.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t just because a woman was taken, but the fact remains that to civilized people, losing a woman was considered one of the greatest humiliations.

    Yet in the Toscani Empire, the Emperor and the nobles protect themselves, while in the Kingdom of Lyon, this is happening?

    ¡®By seeing others¡¯ misfortune, the people of the Toscani Empire will realize how truly fortunate they are.¡¯

    "And the Kingdom of Lyon and the Holy Empire, among other nations, have raised taxes to fund their participation in wars. Because of this, when winter ends, even without a famine, 3-4% of the villagers are expected to starve to death."

    I don¡¯t know everything about the Albanian continent.

    I can¡¯t know everything, and what matters to me is the direction in which nations are moving, not the trivial details.

    ¡®Trying to know and control everything would just overwhelm me.¡¯

    "This is a completely different situation from the Toscani Empire."

    "I¡¯ll publish these articles and spread them far and wide through bards, as you suggested."

    I¡¯m glad he understood so quickly.

    With this, I can spread the propaganda to all the soldiers of the Toscani Empire, or rather, to all the citizens.

    "Do as you see fit."

    And Fabio¡¯s propaganda quickly spread through the army.

 Chapter 410: Burden of the Empire (6)

    The biggest entertainment for soldiers in the Tuscan Imperial Army was reading newspapers after work on Saturdays.

    Even though reading newspapers was just reading one copy of the newspaper delivered to each platoon of about 30 people, it was actually a small festival that took place once a week because the kitchen provided beer and wine, and even provided plenty of snacks including bread.

    Sergeant Lucas, who was in the 5th Division of the Tuscan Imperial Army, also waited for the newspapers to arrive with his platoon members.

    ¡°When will the newspapers arrive? The food will get cold if we keep doing this.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the rush, Sergeant?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry? I¡¯m going crazy with hunger.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like the food is running out, just wait a little bit. Doesn¡¯t it taste better when you eat it when you¡¯re hungry?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve become a priest. Get discharged and become a priest. I¡¯ll come visit you once when you celebrate mass.¡± ¡°Can I expect some donations?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll bring some hard military biscuits that are not tasty at all.¡±

    The two of them and the rest of the platoon chatted with each other while waiting for the youngest to come with the newspaper.

    While waiting, the youngest finally came running out of breath with the newspaper.

    ¡°Private Mateo! Sorry for being late!¡±

    ¡°Read it quickly!¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand!¡±

    When Mateo opened the newspaper, all the chattering people became quiet.

    And they started to eat the food in front of them.

    ¡°On April 23, the embankment of the Baron Toleros collapsed, causing problems in the wheat farming. When His Majesty the Emperor heard the news, he immediately opened the imperial treasury and gave 100 gold coins as consolation money to those who suffered direct and indirect damages, and ordered Baron Toleros to rebuild the embankment.¡±

    As soon as they finished reading one article, the soldiers started to chatter.

    No one specifically taught us to read one article and talk about our impressions...

    It was hard to listen to the contents of the newspaper, which contained almost 20 articles, and remember only the impressive ones.

    In order to use the newspaper, which was the only fun entertainment in the military, as efficiently as possible, we had to chew, tear, and enjoy every article without missing a single one.

    ¡°As expected of His Majesty the Emperor. Before I enlisted, my fields were completely destroyed by a landslide, and I barely survived thanks to the support money Your Majesty sent me. He hasn¡¯t changed since then.¡±

    ¡°I told you we treated Your Majesty well?¡±

    ¡°I honestly can¡¯t believe that we had to worry about starving until just recently.¡± ¡°The chaplain¡¯s words are all right. Thanks to Your Majesty, we were drafted into the army, but now we eat properly, don¡¯t get ripped off, and don¡¯t get beaten up for ridiculous reasons.¡±

    The youngest of the platoon continued to read several articles.

    A story about a nobleman who cheated on two women and ended up getting stabbed and killed, a woman who committed adultery and tried to kill her husband in order to marry her lover, etc...

    Everyone started talking as these ridiculous articles poured out.

    Lucas¡¯s voice also grew louder.

    ¡°Wow, Your Majesty is so passionate, but why is the world so crazy? Back then, men cheating on each other and dying was okay, but I couldn¡¯t have imagined a woman killing her husband to marry someone she was having an affair with.¡±

    ¡°The sergeant and the youngest over there are only two years apart at best, so what are you talking about, like an old man?¡±

    ¡°Hey, I couldn¡¯t have imagined it back then.¡±

    As the atmosphere heated up with all sorts of articles being mentioned, there was an article that Fabio had added at the end.

    Mateo, the youngest of the platoon, carefully began to read the last article.

    ¡°The King of the Kingdom of Lyon blames all his mistakes on the Holy Empire and drives his people to death. And yet, he never admits his mistakes and only raises taxes.¡±

    The soldiers here, including Lucas, didn¡¯t know much about politics or difficulties.

    However, everyone perked up their ears when they heard that taxes were high.

    Excluding the Emperor, whether or not someone high in power dies, there wouldn¡¯t be much change in their lives right away, but raising taxes a little would make a big difference right away.

    Even though the Kingdom of Lyon wasn¡¯t their business, everyone was interested in it.

    ¡°The people¡¯s lives have become impoverished, but the most absurd thing is the right to the first night. The standard price for not offering the first night is about 50 copper coins, but in the Kingdom of Lyon, the cost of the first night is increased tenfold to 5 silver coins. And a man who cannot afford this must offer his wife¡¯s first night to the lord. So it is said that many lords of the Kingdom of Lyon enjoy pleasure by changing other people¡¯s women every day.¡±

    There is an unspoken rule not to get angry while reading the original article.

    Because if someone gets angry, the immersion is interrupted when others are listening.

    However, Sergeant Lucas cursed at that sound.

    ¡°Those bastards, you shouldn¡¯t even bother to rip their heads off and throw them in the shit bucket! You¡¯re charging them taxes that they can¡¯t even afford, and they¡¯re telling the lord to get drunk on their first night with their wives? Those bastards wouldn¡¯t eat food that was soaked in the shit bucket themselves, but they¡¯re forcing their subjects to do it. Is that what a human being does?¡±

    The other soldiers should have told them to shut up since they broke the unspoken rule.

    They didn¡¯t really criticize them because they all felt the same way.

    ¡°I know you¡¯re getting angry, but listen until the end and then curse. You have to listen to everything and criticize me, man.¡±

    ¡°Ha, I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Mateo took in the atmosphere a little and continued speaking.

    ¡°As a result, the serfs who could not afford the increased taxes sold their families to pay the money. When His Majesty heard this news, he was very saddened and said, ¡°Deus must have ordered their lord Louis to take care of the people of the Kingdom of Lyons, but why doesn¡¯t he take care of his people? And how can the Holy Empire allow parents to boil and eat their young children? Is this what Deus wants? My heart is complicated.¡±

    It was actually Fabio who set the table.

    However, no one in the Tuscan Empire knew that Fabio had planned a civil war in the Holy Empire.

    Even the nobles, including the emperor, only knew that Fabio had put a hook in the mouth of the already messy Kingdom of Lyons and pushed it into a war with the Holy Empire.

    Therefore, this is what it looked like to the soldiers, including Lucas.

    Our ? N§àv§Öl¦Éght ? (Read the full story) merciful Emperor takes pity not only on the people of the Empire, but also on others.

    ¡°I would also like to add a word. The Tuscan Empire is already the most beautiful country in the Albanian continent, if not the greatest. So wouldn¡¯t it be right to embrace them according to Your Majesty¡¯s will?¡±

    The newspaper reporter deliberately cut off the article here.

    And after the reading was over, there was an outpouring of intense reactions from the soldiers.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be great if the Holy Empire and the Kingdom of Lyon all became citizens of our empire?¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s still war. It¡¯s annoying if war breaks out.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty wants to embrace them.¡±

    Usually, when talking about war, the atmosphere should become very cold.

    However, even in a gathering of individual soldiers, if they were to accept war as a possibility rather than opposing it...

    If the military chaplains loudly called out Your Majesty¡¯s will, they could declare a ¡®holy war.¡¯

    Sergeant Lucas also became prepared to go to war after hearing the Emperor¡¯s heartfelt contribution.

    ¡°If someone has received something, shouldn¡¯t they be able to return it? If His Majesty the Emperor wants to embrace them, I will gladly go to the front lines and fight. Even though I cannot return everything I have received, I will never forget the gratitude I have received as a human being.¡±

    The soldiers of the Tuscan Empire spend 1-2 hours out of 24 hours a day being indoctrinated with how great His Majesty the Emperor¡¯s grace is.

    And that is not simply brainwashing, but a reality based on what they actually experience.

    Thanks to the Emperor, they eat well, live well, and thanks to the Emperor, they are discharged from the military and become factory workers, but they can get married and start a family.

    ¡®Would there have been any hope for us if His Majesty didn¡¯t exist?¡¯

    ¡°Your Majesty the Emperor wants it. If Your Majesty chooses war, I will gladly fight. And who knows? I might achieve great things in war and become successful.¡±

    Other soldiers agreed with him.

    ¡°If Your Majesty is going to be upset, why not just take up arms? What can we do?¡±

    This thought gradually spread throughout the Tuscan Empire¡¯s army.

    And when the chaplains¡¯ sermons were added, the Tuscan Empire¡¯s army became a crusader army burning with righteous anger.

 Chapter 411: Burden of the Empire (7)

    The army became a crusade, and even religions have long since merged.

    Now it seems like everything has been achieved.

    When I thought about it carefully, there was one thing I almost missed.

    I almost missed the opportunity to suck money by inserting a straw.

    I almost lost my original intention because I was so focused on developing the New World that I almost missed the most important thing.

    ¡®I should live harder from now on.¡¯

    I should devote myself more to utilizing my knowledge of England, America, Japan, Germany, and various other things.

    ¡°Thank you for accepting my sudden request to meet with you, Your Excellency the Minister of Finance.¡±

    ¡°I should make time for you. And I also wanted to ask you about war bonds. The war against the Holy Empire will soon begin in earnest, so shouldn¡¯t we issue bonds to raise funds?¡±

    Among the high-ranking officials of the Tuscan Empire, it is almost a certainty that war will break out.

    Accordingly, weapons and armor manufacturing plants are being built all over the country, and stocks in these fields are continuing to rise.

    ¡®The military industry is invincible.¡¯

    The military industry is not like Gangnam or Seoul apartments, and the bubble will burst someday.

    They really know one thing and don¡¯t know the other.

    Still, stocks are ultimately a zero-sum game, where you have to put money on the line to make money, so there have to be people who get fooled.

    And anyway, if they issue bonds, the stock price will definitely rise in the short term...

    It will be a golden opportunity for those who can see the timing and get out.

    ¡°Since it¡¯s war bonds, would it be better to use land as collateral? Or would it be better to use the compensation money from there as collateral? Feel free to tell me what you think.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t help but issue war bonds. The Tuscan Empire has become incomparably wealthier than before, and its budget has increased significantly, but war is a money-eating pig.¡±

    There is a saying that to win a war, you need money, money, and more money.

    As the saying goes, you have to pay your soldiers, feed them well, buy weapons, and build a logistics unit to transport them.

    There are honestly too many places where money can go.

    That¡¯s why, from ancient times to the present, even if you win a war and gain vast territories, it¡¯s very common for a country to fall into ruin or suffer a similar blow.

    ¡®After fighting a war, you become a debtor.¡¯

    The Tuscan Empire was not supposed to be able to avoid that situation.

    Now, thanks to my war bonds, the empire no longer has to become a debtor.

    But that doesn¡¯t mean you don¡¯t have to worry about what to use as collateral.

    ¡°But in any case, wouldn¡¯t it be better to minimize the issuance of war bonds? Bonds are something that must be given in the future anyway.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right. But we need to prepare now. If we prepare after the situation actually occurs, it will be too late.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, what you said is right. But what if we receive voluntary donations from the Empire before issuing the bonds?¡±

    ¡°Voluntary donations... If we receive donations, we can definitely reduce the issuance of war bonds a little.¡±

    It¡¯s better to have even 10 won less in debt.

    That¡¯s why you didn¡¯t show any particular resistance to my suggestion to receive donations.

    Well, it seems like you don¡¯t have high expectations for the method I¡¯ve come up with right now.

    I have my own ideas.

    ¡®Isn¡¯t a story essential for marketing?¡¯

    ¡°Instead of appeasing the nobles and asking them to donate money, we need to make them open their wallets and donate. I have a very good idea.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your idea?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough to create an atmosphere and situation where they have no choice but to pay?¡±

    When you go to the military, absurd and absurd things that would never work in society occur one after another.

    Things like tuna crackers prohibited for corporals and below, PX use prohibited, and cyber knowledge rooms prohibited.

    In fact, there is no problem with allowing privates to do those things, and they should not be prohibited...

    Given the atmosphere and characteristics of the military organization, it is normal to not follow such absurd and absurd things, but those who refuse to do them often end up being trash.

    The atmosphere around you tends to overwhelm common sense.

    ¡®If you set the stage properly, no matter if you are a noble or a merchant, you won¡¯t be able to endure it without donating?¡¯

    The Sardinian finance minister looked at me with an uneasy look.

    Do you think I would do something bad?

    I¡¯m just creating a situation where I have to pay?

    ¡°I¡¯m going to place red baskets and people in red clothes in the squares of each major city. And I¡¯m going to ask for donations while ringing bells.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s so great about that?¡±

    ¡°Anyone can do this. But the important thing is starting now.¡±

    Honestly, the red baskets and people in red clothes are not important at all.

    I just thought of the Salvation Army and came up with the idea.

    ¡°And shortly after the donations start, I¡¯m going to put in two people. One is a child who lost his parents at a young age and is saving up money to donate, and the other is a poor soldier who served in the war and was injured and is receiving a pension.¡±

    People often talk about being rational when having conversations.

    Reason can never overcome emotion.

    Because we¡¯re all human, and unless we¡¯re born psychopaths or emotionally devoid of feelings to the point where we don¡¯t care about our own pain...

    We¡¯re meant to move and act based on our emotions.

    It may be embarrassing to not be able to move logically, but...

    ''On the one hand, that''s natural.''

    "Those two are saving up their pocket money and donating it to the Tuscan Empire. Imagine, how honorable and noble this is."

    No matter how much the Tuscan Empire has developed, our empire still operates on the logic that I should spend more extravagance and do more good deeds than others.

    That''s why nobles often end up in debt.

    In such a country, do rich nobles and merchants save money while poor soldiers and children donate?

    ''Wow, trash. They''ll probably be called a total evil guild or something.''

    "And those two are saying this together. They''re in a difficult situation right now, but they''ve never forgotten Your Majesty''s kindness for even a moment. So they''re saying that they''ve helped out even a little. It would be more effective if they added that they saved money by skipping one or two meals."

    The count¡¯s expression was filled with shock when he heard those words.

    ¡°If such a poor child and a veteran were to lead the way in donations, then if there were an author who would only donate a small amount and leave it at that, that person would be completely buried in the aristocratic society. It would be the same for a merchant.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°The donations would pile up like a mountain.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t donate, or rather, if you donate little, you would become human garbage, so you would donate a lot in order to survive.¡±

    No one in the world disputes the fact that people who earn a lot of money have to pay more taxes, including income tax, than the poor.

    Even if there are cases where people feel it¡¯s unfair that the tax rate for the rich is higher than that of the poor.

    But if those two actors I mentioned were to spend almost everything they had...

    ¡®Even the nobles would have to pay 20% of what they could afford.¡¯

    And since money would be collected from all over the country, it would be a truly enormous amount of money.

    Just as if the entire nation paid a ten-thousand-won note, it would be a huge sum of money.

    At least the national budget, or maybe half of what I got from my petty fraud in the Kingdom of Lyon, could come in.

    I couldn''t just pass up the opportunity to eat money.

    When I realized this too late, it was really ridiculous.

    ''I thought I had lost my original intention.''

    "It''s fortunate that we don''t have to issue that many war bonds. Okay, then I will submit it to Your Majesty as you said."

    Covering the war expenses through donations is good for the Emperor, but not so good for me.

    I can''t embezzle that money.

    At least I should use some of that money efficiently.

    "And can''t our Rothschild firm manage that money? More precisely, give me the money and the proceeds from the bond sales."

    "Are you thinking of making money with this?"

    Of course I plan on making money.

    Of course, I have never touched the military service scandal, thinking back to the days when I had to mix rice with seafood bibim sauce...

    ¡®What I do is the cheapest and most certain way to end it.¡¯

    ¡°You don¡¯t trust me?¡±

 Chapter 413: Burden of the Empire (8)

    Who is the most loyal subject of the Tuscan Empire right now?

    If you look at objective indicators when you do a survey on that topic, I would be ranked first.

    He spread the method of private profiteering in the Tuscan Empire, doubled food production, and insisted on taxing merchants even though he was a merchant, thereby creating a corporate tax.

    He spread quarantine and hygiene to prevent the epidemics that always terrified the people of the Empire, and saved the workers from unscrupulous bosses.

    He even risked his life in the war against the Kingdom of Lyon, but he opened the gates of Guillaume City and made the Empire''s overwhelming victory possible.

    His contributions were so great that you could say they cover the sky.

    To doubt me like that is to confess that you don''t want to live.

    Even when Sforza was fine, he couldn''t dare say to me, "That bastard''s physiognomy is a traitor''s physiognomy!"

    His Excellency the Minister of Finance was hit by my counterattack-proof ultimate attack and broke into a cold sweat.

    ¡°Why would I doubt you? The bastard who doubts the loyalty of the Viscount Rothschild is a spy and a traitor.¡±

    ¡°Although I value self-interest in my personal life, I have never once sought self-interest when carrying out work for the Tuscan Empire. Look at the food the soldiers are eating now. Do you think there will be any net profit? In addition, the soldiers must be having a hard time serving, so they are given expensive, sugary snacks every three days to give them strength while eating something delicious. This is for the entire army.¡±

    ¡°...... Who doesn¡¯t know that? However, I just developed a ¡®bad habit¡¯ while performing my duties as the Minister of Finance of the Tuscan Empire. I will apologize to you.¡±

    If I had a bad feeling here, I could make the Minister of Finance cry.

    However, if you try to argue back to make me feel better, you will end up making unnecessary enemies.

    If it can be resolved amicably, it is human nature to do so like a snake climbing over a wall.

    ¡°I am glad that Your Majesty has added unnecessary worries.¡±

    Actually, it is not an unnecessary worry.

    If 1 million gold coins are raised, I will eat at least 300,000 of them.

    The military supply business that I am in charge of does not involve any unnecessary money-sucking such as efficient transportation structures, bribery, or corruption.

    And since all items are purchased in bulk in advance, the unit price is greatly reduced, and since most of the production facilities are located within the Rothschild Corporation, there is no middle distribution.

    Others would need 3 million gold coins to supply the level, but our company can supply it with only 1 million coins...

    People with common sense doubt that the Rothschild Company is not losing money by doing this, and they do not think that we are making a profit.

    ¡°But there is one problem.¡±

    ¡°What problem are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°No one in the Tuscan Empire would doubt your loyalty. However, doesn¡¯t it make sense to entrust the supply of the army to a single company and leave everything to them?¡±

    I can¡¯t refute this either.

    The Rothschild Company is running like a public enterprise of the Tuscan Empire.

    Of course, unlike actual public enterprises, there are minor differences in that there is an owner and the country makes money.

    And it is constantly receiving audits and management.

    Now, hundreds of thousands of troops must go on a campaign themselves.

    The cost of entry and the amount of goods distributed are so different from before that it wouldn¡¯t work as a single public enterprise system.

    ¡°Then how about creating a department called the Procurement Service under the Ministry of War that supplies all the necessary items for the military, and manages us directly?¡±

    ¡°Your company will take care of the actual work, and we will only provide various inspections and guidelines, including accounting audits. I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a bad idea.¡±

    If I hadn¡¯t had to go to the New World, I would have taken the position of the first Procurement Service Director.

    That would allow me to exploit more efficiently, or rather, to make appropriate profits.

    Our Rothschild family has absolutely no embezzlement or corruption, and their integrity would make even Prime Minister Hwang Hui cry...

    ¡®We don¡¯t take ill-gotten profits.¡¯

    Of course, they do double-booking or make-up their accounting books in order to distinguish between legitimate profits.

    ¡°And to be honest, our company is the best at handling money. It¡¯s the same when it comes to selling things.¡±

    ¡°I want to deny it, but it¡¯s a fact that I can¡¯t refute. The Minister of Finance once submitted a bill to Your Majesty to have new administrators train at your company for a year. What can I say? It¡¯s just a waste of time.¡±

    ¡°So please interfere with the minimum management. We can handle it well.¡±

    The Minister of Finance¡¯s expression crumpled.

    As I said, our Rothschild Company is the best in handling money and selling things in the Tuscan Empire, but...

    They probably don¡¯t want to admit that their own administrators (nobles) are less capable than a mere merchant.

    They can¡¯t help but feel bad when you openly ask them to interfere less, but...

    There¡¯s a way to solve this.

    ¡°By the way, I have a small gift for you...¡±

    ¡°I will gratefully accept the sincerity of preparing a gift for me, who is currently working for the country. However, ahem... ahem. I entrusted the military to your superiors because it was the most efficient choice, and it was absolutely not for personal gain.¡±

    ¡°I know, Your Majesty.¡±

    There is an old saying that when giving a bribe, if you don¡¯t tell them to get out right away, you are trying to coax them to give it to you.

    I didn¡¯t say it, but it seems true.

    Even if that gentleman says that, his left hand moves unconsciously without his right hand knowing.

    ¡°The body is really honest.¡±

    ¡°How great would it be if we could build a good relationship? This is a small gift that I brought with the sole intention of showing my sincerity.¡±

    I handed the finance minister a special-purpose pocket watch made by Rothschild Corporation and a check.

    The finance minister¡¯s eyes widened.

    It was so good that he even grabbed my hand and shook it.

    ¡°No, this is... I don¡¯t know who made it, but it doesn¡¯t seem like it¡¯s something you can get through normal means.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m voluntarily making this product to offer because I admire your loyalty and integrity. The craftsman who made your favorite pocket watch, the Imperial Black Eagle, is the one who made it. It¡¯s a one-of-a-kind item, but if you were to sell it, it would fetch 1,000 gold coins.¡±

    The finance minister in front of you is a nobleman of the robe, so he¡¯s a bit poorer than a typical count.

    However, if you¡¯re a count, 1,000 gold coins isn¡¯t a lot of money...

    ¡®If you add the fame and value of a completely limited edition, it¡¯s a different story.¡¯

    ¡°And I¡¯ve issued a check for 4,000 gold coins for you to use as funds for your official duties. If you submit it to the Rothschild Corporation, we¡¯ll exchange it for gold coins immediately.¡± ¡°If this guy keeps giving me things like this... I¡¯m going to be in trouble.¡±

    Seeing him take such good care of me even though he was in trouble, I think the Public Procurement Service will definitely interfere with us less.

    ¡°We should get along well from now on, right?¡±

    ¡°Haha, from today on, I¡¯ve decided to think of you as my nephew.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll treat you like the head of the household and serve you with utmost respect.¡±

    In this way, I¡¯ve acquired the right to manage all the war funds of the Tuscan Empire.

    Now, I just have to eat so that I don¡¯t stand out here.

    Oh, of course, I have to do my job properly and pretend not to have any selfish desires, and I have to make sure that I have a solid reputation.

    **

    If we¡¯re going to create the Public Procurement Service, we have to gather people.

    So I called in college students to gather people.

    I rented the Rothschild Restaurant and prepared a banquet, and I started giving a loud speech in the most visible spot.

    ¡°The Tuscan Empire is now preparing for an unprecedented war. This war is not for the national interest of the Empire, but to liberate the people of the Holy Empire from paganism and oppression.¡±

    If you make a long speech, it will be a mess.

    Even the Gallipoli man said that ? N§àv§Öl?§Ôht ? (Don¡¯t copy, read here) it would take 5 minutes.

    ¡°Starting tomorrow, you will work at the Rothschild Company handling military supplies. You will continue to live a hard life, working during the day and studying at night. Until the end of the war.¡±

    However, the college students who heard those words were not particularly shaken.

    You cute guys, it would be better to be thrown into hellish hard work without knowing what it is.

    ¡°Work and study while burning your whole body for the Tuscan Empire. That¡¯s all. Then enjoy today¡¯s banquet.¡±

    Just as pigs are fed well before slaughter, let¡¯s feed college students well before operating them.

    That way, they won¡¯t feel guilty even if they are treated like graduate students.

 Chapter 414: Burden of the Empire (9)

    In the square of Florence, the capital of the Toscani Empire, a man stood before a red pot designed by Fabio, appealing to the citizens of Florence.

    ¡°His Majesty the Great Emperor desires to liberate those who suffer from hunger and war in the Holy Empire. We need your help! Please, help us just a little!¡±

    Upon hearing the request for help, people passing by began to gather in small groups.

    In another country, unless someone were forcibly collecting money, it would only be the rich from the upper or middle classes who would donate money in such a setting. But in the Toscani Empire, thanks to the newspaper Fabio had created, patriotism had already deeply rooted itself in the hearts of all the people.

    From nobles to lowly laborers, a variety of people lined up.

    ¡°Is it really true that the money will be used for the Toscani Empire?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you see the Toscani Empire¡¯s double-headed eagle on the pot?¡±

    ¡°The Emperor is truly unique. He doesn¡¯t force us to pay taxes, but asks us to voluntarily donate money.¡±

    ¡°Even though it¡¯s for the Empire, raising taxes would make life harder for the people. So His Majesty thought of this method, where he would only ask for donations that the people can afford.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, His Majesty always thinks about the people, even when he¡¯s awake or asleep.¡±

    Although the Emperor didn¡¯t think about the people every moment of every day, he did focus on them most of the time.

    At first, Fabio had suggested that the Emperor should show concern for the people in order to establish a strong monarchy, so the Emperor spent a day living in the house of a peasant.

    Later, following advice to lower taxes, the Emperor reduced taxes and published newspapers to inform everyone how much he was working for the commoners of the Toscani Empire.

    The more he helped them, the more he saw his royal authority grow in proportion, and the fact that the entire Empire was praising him made him intoxicated with pride.

    Before long, the Emperor¡¯s life became one devoted to the people, and helping them was both his hobby and purpose.

    And sometimes, he would visit shabby inns or taverns in Florence where citizens frequented, order fried potatoes, buy drinks for those around him, and ask them what they thought about the Emperor.

    Hearing drunk people praise the Emperor with slurred speech became his joy in life.

    As the donations continued, a figure appeared who caught the attention of the crowd.

    A man limping on crutches.

    In Florence, where people didn¡¯t look kindly on the disabled, it was normal for people to cast envious glances at him. However, no one here despised him.

    It wasn¡¯t ?N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t? because they treated the disabled well out of kindness...

    ¡°Did you get hurt in the battlefield?¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord. A bullet grazed a very unfortunate spot, and now I limp.¡±

    The limping soldier, following Fabio¡¯s instructions, took out a considerable amount of money (by commoner standards) and dropped it into the red-painted pot.

    ¡°Even if you receive a veteran¡¯s pension, wouldn¡¯t that be barely enough to support yourself and your family? How is it that you¡¯re donating so much money?¡±

    ¡°His Majesty must have struggled with many difficulties before saying he needed money. But there must be a reason why he said it. I should contribute what I can.¡±

    People, regardless of their social status, were deeply moved by his words.

    Here was a man who had devoted himself to the country but had become impoverished due to his injuries, still contributing all he could for the Empire.

    This was true chivalry.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to pass your story on to His Majesty. You might even make it into the newspaper.¡±

    This soldier was actually sent by Fabio, and he was scheduled to appear in the newspaper.

    However, the people of the Toscani Empire, living in an era without the concept of scripted propaganda, were deeply moved by what they saw.

    There were many people in the Toscani Empire who truly loved their nation.

    Patriotism started to spread, and the people began to believe that their Empire was truly great.

    Moved deeply, more and more people started donating money.

    As the donations continued, Fabio¡¯s carefully prepared highlight finally arrived.

    A cute girl, looking about 10 years old, wearing tattered clothes.

    ¡°I want to help His Majesty too!¡±

    The sight of such a young girl coming to donate caught the attention of not only those in line but also the citizens passing through the square.

    She clearly looked like a girl from the slums or an orphanage.

    To think such a poor girl was donating!

    To the people of the Toscani Empire, who lacked entertainment, this moment was both heartwarming and filled with a sense of humanity.

    The artists Fabio had stationed and street performers quickly set up and began to paint the scene.

    ¡°His Majesty would surely be pleased, but... I don¡¯t think we can accept this little lady¡¯s money.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°She must have worked hard to gather that money. If she donates it all at once, it might cause her trouble. His Majesty wouldn¡¯t want that.¡±

    The poor little girl wanted to donate everything she had for the Empire, but the person receiving the donation kindly refused, saying it couldn¡¯t be accepted.

    Some patriotic people even wiped away tears at the sight.

    But the child, having learned how to appeal to emotions from Fabio, didn¡¯t stop there.

    ¡°But Sister Director said... that the reason we don¡¯t go hungry, don¡¯t have to suffer in the cold, and don¡¯t have to worry about bad things happening is all thanks to His Majesty.¡±

    The little girl bowed her head and, with a voice slightly trembling with tears, continued.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen my mom or dad. But if they were alive, I believe they would say the same thing. That it¡¯s because His Majesty loves and cares for us that we can live like this.¡±

    If this were any other country, a little girl saying such things would have seemed suspicious.

    It would be hard to believe that an orphan, struggling to survive in an orphanage, could speak with such patriotism.

    However, in the Toscani Empire, where a poll would result in a 99.9% approval rating for the Emperor, no one felt any sense of incongruity from her words.

    Everyone thought similarly, though the degree of sentiment may have varied.

    ¡°I know that the money I brought isn¡¯t much for His Majesty. Even though I¡¯m not well off, I don¡¯t want to be an ungrateful scoundrel.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re making me ashamed of myself.¡±

    The government official collecting the donations had no idea about Fabio¡¯s little play.

    Thus, he genuinely felt ashamed.

    Here was a poor orphan girl, gathering all her meager earnings and asking for them to be used for the country. He, on the other hand, was donating only a single gold coin.

    It wasn¡¯t a small amount of money for someone of his low status...

    But seeing his purse filled with copper coins and iron coins (which were worth less than gold) made him feel utterly ashamed.

    ¡°His Majesty will surely be pleased with your heart...¡±

    And at that moment, everyone who had been in line vanished from their places.

    It wasn¡¯t that they were reluctant to donate; they had rushed home to find more money to contribute.

    This news wasn¡¯t welcomed by the nobles.

    Baron Florin, known as a genius investor and the "Beast¡¯s Heart," was watching the real estate market today, considering when he should sell in order to make the best investment.

    However, his happy plans were all shattered by the news of the donations.

    ¡°Damn it. A wounded soldier and an orphan girl both donated with all their hearts?¡±

    There was a story in the Bible about a widow who donated a single coin after three days of hunger.

    That story was now coming to life in the Toscani Empire.

    Now that such a story was printed in the newspaper, all the nobles and wealthy merchants in the country felt like they had a hook in their noses.

    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to donate 40,000 gold coins to keep up my face.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t that losing 40,000 gold coins would cause him to die.

    But if he had that money, he could aim for something much bigger in the future (such as war bonds).

    ¡°... Rothschild the Baron must have lost hundreds of thousands of gold coins by now, huh?¡±

    Thinking of someone losing more than him brought him some comfort.

    Just as he was pondering over his unexpected massive expenses and lighting a cigarette to clear his mind, a brilliant idea came to him.

    ¡°Why not mortgage all of the Florin estate to buy war bonds, and then sell off the real estate later to rebuild the estate? Then I could even become a Count!¡±

    Seeing the Emperor drain money from the nobles gave him a strong sense of confidence.

    And behind that Emperor was the Baron Rothschild, a man who was unofficially worshipped among merchants as a living saint.

    His investor¡¯s instinct was buzzing...

    ¡°Let¡¯s mortgage the entire estate right now! Our Florin family is betting our entire future on this war! Damn it, I¡¯ll even enlist myself!¡±

    At those words, the butler standing next to him stopped him.

    ¡°Are you feeling unwell, my lord?¡±

    Florin, adopting the pose that would remind anyone of a clown in Fabio¡¯s eyes, grinned and shouted.

    ¡°If things go wrong, we¡¯ll just fall. No big deal!¡±

 Chapter 415: Burden of the Empire (10)

    I try to rest on weekends, or rather, on Sundays.

    If you don''t rest properly even one day a week, you die.

    Also, the money I earn is for Erica, Chloe, and Chris to live happily. What''s the use of piling up money in the safe and dying without spending a single penny?

    So I was planning to go to mass today and give Leo a little brother...

    "Haha, these fries are really tasty. Don''t you think so, Viscount?"

    "I put some chili peppers in the mayonnaise, so they taste spicy and strong."

    "Jim often comes here to enjoy these fries and beer. You should definitely come visit later."

    "I''ll bring Erica later."

    My weekend was taken away by the evil emperor.

    I was going to go to mass on Sunday and spend my free time comfortably, but suddenly a servant from the palace came and gave me this message.

    ¡®Assey, welcome to voluntary weekend returns! Come to the tavern called Potato and Pig by 6pm!¡¯

    He didn¡¯t actually say that, but the result is what you see now.

    Why do you invite people to a place like this on the weekend?

    It¡¯s not that the French fries are bad, but if you were me, would you want to have a company dinner with your boss on the weekend?

    It¡¯s a shame that I can¡¯t criticize the Emperor right in front of me, Han.

    ¡°The schnitzel and aglio olio here are really great. I¡¯ve even ordered some for you, so eat as much as you want.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so touched, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°The schnitzel alone is as delicious as your restaurant, so you can have high expectations.¡±

    The Emperor, who seemed to only eat expensive food made by royal chefs his entire life, ate the side dishes eaten by the common people as if he were eating Michelin 3-star food.

    Judging from the reactions of the guards around him, they didn¡¯t seem particularly shocked...

    He must have really come here often and had a delicious meal.

    When I first told you that if you wanted to know the people, you had to know what the serfs were living like, and when I gave you the food that the serfs were eating, you frowned and ate it, right?

    No matter how cheap the French fries are, they are delicious food.

    Or maybe you acted like a saint and became a saint through and through, so you can enjoy the food of the common people.

    ¡®You have truly become a saintly king.¡¯

    ¡°I see you come here often, Your Majesty.¡±

    The emperor smiled warmly like a grandfather looking at his grandson after hearing my words.

    ¡°You come here once every ten days. The Grand Chamberlain criticized me for eating food that only the common people eat, saying that it is not good for my dignity. I said that. Will the country fall if the emperor eats food that the common people eat? Rather, if I give up my authority like this, the people will respect me more. What are you worried about?¡±

    ¡°You have become a regular.¡±

    ¡°This is all thanks to you. You showed me that the food that the common people eat is more delicious than you think. Master, is this schnitzel yet?¡±

    When the Emperor came out of the palace, he came in secret, but here, was it because I openly revealed that I was the Emperor?

    The owner here was frying schnitzel with a look that was tens of thousands of times more nervous than the soldiers who met the division commander in person.

    At this point, he looked a little pitiful.

    But unlike the Korean division commander, our Emperor is someone who is truly respected by all the people, so maybe that¡¯s why?

    The chef¡¯s face had a smile that he couldn¡¯t hide.

    ¡°Wait a minute, wait a minute! I¡¯ll serve you the best schnitzel in our restaurant.¡±

    ¡°Squeeze some lemon juice on the schnitzel. And give me a lot of special sauce and boiled potatoes.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, Your Majesty!¡±

    The Emperor smiled and dipped the French fries in the sauce while eating them.

    ¡°Is it because I want to hear the people¡¯s voices up close?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. When I¡¯m alone or sometimes with the captain of the guards, I can hear what the people think of me. The voices of those who are drunk and say everything they can¡¯t say are the public sentiment you emphasized so much, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    Some thoughtless company commanders and battalion commanders are trying to understand the soldiers¡¯ grievances by listening to their wishes or their inner voices...

    That¡¯s worse than not doing it at all.

    Let¡¯s say a clueless new recruit writes about barracks absurdities or bullying.

    Even if it actually happened, the person who reported it will see their treatment deteriorate dramatically from that day on.

    If they hadn¡¯t reported it, their treatment would have improved little by little as they were promoted in rank, but because they reported it, they¡¯re basically stuck with the privates who are washing mops until they¡¯re discharged.

    In more severe cases, they treat him like he doesn¡¯t exist in the military.

    ¡®So that¡¯s why it¡¯s just a system for show.¡¯

    Furthermore, the commoners, as human beings, naturally don¡¯t speak frankly in front of the emperor.

    In a tavern like this, nobles and the emperor are cursed, so it¡¯s easy to figure out the true sentiment of the people.

    ¡°All kinds of curses are coming and going. When the craftsmen gather, they say that the boss gives them overtime pay, but he¡¯s a son of a bitch who treats them too well, so he¡¯ll go to hell. When the civil servants gather, they say that the rookie administrators don¡¯t know how to do their jobs and are doing stupid things, so they¡¯ll probably die.¡±

    ¡°It seems like people live in similar places.¡±

    ¡°Do you gossip too?¡±

    If you say no, you¡¯ll be suspected, and if you honestly say that you do, you¡¯ll be called a crazy person.

    You should just let it go by saying that you¡¯ve only said things that can be laughed off.

    ¡°His Highness the Duke Visconti keeps asking me to show him his great-grandson, but I don¡¯t know what¡¯s so urgent about it, so I grumbled to Sebastian, our family¡¯s butler. Then Sebastian said, ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°He said that when the Visconti is in his {N?o?v?e?l?i?g?h?t} mid-thirties, he will be saying the same thing to Leo. And he said that he will understand his feelings only when he holds his grandson in his arms.¡±

    ¡°Yes, there is nothing more important than showing him your grandson. That is the best filial piety. Please give the former Baron Medici a successor soon.¡±

    No matter how much the times change, this kind of thing doesn¡¯t change.

    ¡°I counted the number of stories, but among all the gossip, there was no story of insulting me. Whenever I was mentioned, everyone only praised me, saying that I was proud, respected, and a great person.¡±

    ¡°Greetings, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you. You created the law of the four estates, saved the people from the plague, reduced the taxes imposed on the serfs, and told them through the newspapers how I served them. Thanks to you, I enjoy power, respect, and honor that none of my predecessors have ever enjoyed.¡±

    Before I intervened, the Emperor felt like the most powerful man among the nobles.

    But now, the Emperor has become a powerful ruler who can uproot even the Visconti Dukes if he wants to.

    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you. I trust you absolutely, even if the nobles slander you as a traitor and a traitor.¡±

    At the same time, the Emperor handed me a letter.

    A letter completely tainted with the sender¡¯s name.

    ¡°Can I read it?¡±

    ¡°You may.¡±

    [Your Majesty, the Viscount Rothschild has long since acquired enormous wealth and power that cannot be considered a mere viscount. And his wisdom and insight are already beyond anyone in the Tuscan Empire.]

    I frowned when I saw this.

    How dare you doubt me, the most loyal subject of the Tuscan Empire.

    Honestly, I could rival a war hero like Admiral Nelson of the Tuscan Empire, or even Yue Fei or Zhuge Liang.

    Unlike that bastard Zhuge Liang, I plan to successfully conquer the Holy Empire...

    ¡®There are so many authors who don¡¯t trust me.¡¯

    I would like to retaliate, but that handwriting is like that, and the sender is hidden, so I can¡¯t figure out who it is.

    [The Viscount Rothschild is a dangerous person for Your Majesty and the Empire to handle. [If you try to embrace someone you can''t handle, the empire may be shaken, so please subdue him as soon as possible and protect the peace of the empire.]

    The contents of the letter were roughly up to this point.

    As soon as I finished reading, the Emperor took the letter from me.

    "I''ve heard a lot of talk lately that you''re a traitor. I don''t believe it at all. Rather than believe that you''re a traitor, I''d rather believe in Allah."

    "...... Thank you for trusting me, Your Majesty."

    The Emperor burned the letter in front of me.

    "I will trust you even if the empire falls. However, the current situation could lead to bigger problems. So I have a radical proposal for you."

    ....... Something makes you feel uneasy?

    "Do you want to become a member of the imperial family?"

    As I said that, I dropped the French fries in my hand.

 Chapter 416: Teresa and Fabio (1)

    I knew that the Emperor loved me very much.

    No, if I didn''t know that, I''d be an idiot.

    However, there are such things as common sense and law in this world.

    Just as it is right to cut off the head of a man who raped a woman or make him unable to function as a man anymore, and it is right to make a man who killed someone pay with his life unless there is a justifiable reason...

    It is common sense that a noble lady of the Tuscan Empire, or especially a princess, should marry whomever he is married to as that man''s legal wife.

    I think I''m thinking too much, but this is as obvious as water falling from above.

    "Did I mishear, Your Majesty?"

    The Emperor laughed heartily at me.

    "Did the world''s greatest Count Rothschild go deaf at a young age? Why can''t he understand what people are saying? This is a big deal. Our Count will have to work for the Tuscan Empire for a long time to come."

    After saying that, the emperor looked at me and smacked his lips.

    I have never seen the master of Cheongbaekri cosplay, Hwang Hui, and King Sejong in person.

    Did King Sejong look at Hwang Hui with those eyes?

    No, I am a clean person who has not committed even the most common corruption.

    ¡®If I am not caught, I am innocent and not charged.¡¯

    There are mountains of absurdities in the world, but isn¡¯t this a bit much?

    ¡°I will say it again. Marry Teresa.¡±

    ¡°But Your Majesty, there is clearly something called the law of the royal family, isn¡¯t there?¡±

    ¡°The law of the royal family is important. But it is not as important as the relationship between you and me. What do such laws have to do with our close relationship?¡±

    Just hearing it makes my head spin.

    I know and heaven knows that the word close relationship is not the kind of horrible situation where the emperor sees my back and says, ¡°That¡¯s right!¡±

    However, keeping the rules is maintaining prestige, and in a royal family where it is common to throw away prestige while going into great debt for prestige?

    To push for my marriage with ¡ã? N o v e l i g h t ?¡ã Teresa?!

    ¡®The princess will end up under Erica.¡¯

    Since there is only one wife, no matter how much Teresa¡¯s status rises, it will only be to the level of the wife...

    ¡°But the nobles will rise up, won¡¯t they?¡±

    The emperor gestured to the host and emptied an entire 500ml glass of beer.

    After gulping it down, he spoke passionately with a slightly red face.

    ¡°So, those damn nobles, aside from the achievements of their ancestors, are you even halfway to following in their footsteps? Your achievements are so great that you could say you¡¯ve completely rebuilt the Tuscan Empire from scratch. Even if you were to award me the title of Duke right now, no one would object for any reason other than the law or social order! Isn¡¯t that right, Captain?¡±

    ¡°...... The rule of the Guard is not to interfere in politics.¡±

    ¡°That guy has always been like that since he became a Knight of the Guard. Whenever I asked him a question that was politically difficult to answer, he would always say, ¡°I don¡¯t know about that because I¡¯m a Knight of the Guard,¡± and get away with it. He¡¯s like my brother, and it¡¯s so frustrating.¡±

    The Captain of the Guard, who looked very troubled, sent me a signal for help.

    I want to save him, but I¡¯ve been through it too, so save me.

    ¡°That annoying and honest guy won¡¯t agree with me, it¡¯s so frustrating.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t your Excellency the Captain of the Guard doing his job as faithfully as possible?¡± ¡°Unlike the other servants, since I was the crown prince, that guy never opened his mouth about things that were disadvantageous to me. He is a friend who is always loyal to me. He is someone I can call a friend along with the grand chamberlain. When I retire, I will take that guy and the grand chamberlain and rest comfortably in my old age.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t save myself when I was cornered, but I saved you, the captain of the guard.

    If you forget this favor, I will audit that human¡¯s house... Ah, if you mess with that captain of the guard, His Majesty will audit our house.

    When I was lost in thought, His Majesty¡¯s words poured out endlessly, making me dizzy just hearing them.

    ¡°For you, I can sacrifice a little of the prestige of the royal family. And this is also for the benefit of the Rothschild family.¡±

    ¡°I am receiving an excessive favor and becoming the son-in-law of the royal family, so my title and the status of my family will rise.¡±

    Actually, I''m beating around the bush.

    The Emperor wouldn''t have said such a thing because he thought I didn''t know.

    If I become the son-in-law of the Imperial Family, no one will be able to say that I will betray him.

    ''Fabio betrays me? You little brat, you suspect our Imperial Family, I''ll kill you and send you to the side of the former Emperors. You will be judged by them.''

    That''s how I can leave it.

    "There are many people in the Empire who suspect you now. They are pathetic. They pretend to be for the Empire on the outside, but if you look inside, they are all full of inferiority complexes toward you. The letter I burned was sent directly to me by a nobleman belonging to the Visconti Dukes'' faction, not the Sforza Dukes'' faction. If you are wise, you know what I want to say, right?"

    "Are you saying that I need to establish a solid relationship with the Imperial Family in order to survive?"

    "That''s right. Do you honestly think I would feel at ease?"

    The Emperor placed his hand on his forehead and sighed deeply.

    ¡°Teresa is a child I cherish especially. For the sake of me and the imperial family, she has hidden how smart she is for a long time, and has always quietly performed her role behind the scenes. You, who has a brother named Baron Medici who has already died 20 years ago, must know very well how difficult it is for a genius to live while hiding his abilities.¡±

    ¡°I understand how you must have felt.¡±

    ¡°How do you think I must feel about sending such a child as your concubine?¡±

    Tears fell from the Emperor¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°It is sad, apart from the fact that I favor you. However, I cannot lose you, who has contributed and been loyal to the Empire, for the Empire, for the people who truly believe in me as their monarch.¡±

    The Emperor held my hand tightly.

    ¡°Teresa, isn¡¯t that child pretty? And that child is more gentle than anyone else, and very intelligent.¡±

    Blonde hair and green eyes, a child who catches the eye like Erica or Chloe, Mamma Pouch.

    If another man had taken Princess Teresa as his wife, he would have probably bowed down three times a day toward the Emperor, asking why he gave such a beautiful woman away for political marriage.

    When I think about how he could have caused me trouble, but instead approached me to be friendly...

    ¡®He¡¯s a decent person.¡¯

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t force you to marry Teresa. I don¡¯t know if it was someone else, but why would I force you to marry someone you don¡¯t want to?¡±

    On the outside, he looks like a man on his knees begging for his daughter.

    If you think about what he said before, isn¡¯t that a confident statement that he can¡¯t refuse?

    But now that I have a son named Leo, I can understand the Emperor¡¯s feelings.

    If I had a daughter and I thought of sending her to someone as a concubine...

    ¡®It¡¯s natural here, but I wouldn¡¯t feel so good.¡¯

    ¡°Can I discuss it with Erica and give you an answer?¡±

    ¡°Do whatever you want. No, I think it¡¯s better that way. It¡¯s better for the Viscountess and Teresa to get along rather than fight. Just like your family.¡±

    The harmony between our family members is quite famous even in the Empire.

    It¡¯s very rare for the first wife to personally hold and comfort the child of a concubine or read a storybook to her when she can¡¯t sleep.

    Even in the social gatherings where there¡¯s always a lack of things to talk about, our family story often comes up.

    ¡°Enough with the headaches. Let¡¯s eat schnitzel now.¡±

    As soon as the Emperor said that, freshly fried schnitzel came out.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think about walking back on foot today. Don¡¯t even think about refusing the wine that your father-in-law gives you.¡±

    On this day, I returned home lying down as the Emperor had predicted.

    The Emperor and the Captain of the Guard, dressed in ordinary grandfather clothes, came out of the store and had a conversation.

    ¡°Your Majesty, you look very happy.¡±

    ¡°You really had a hard time hiding the fact that your lips were splitting in front of that Fabio guy.¡±

    If you showed that you were happy and your lips were splitting, Fabio would find a way out of the trap he had set perfectly.

    That¡¯s why I had to act pitiful by deliberately giving my daughter as a concubine.

    ¡°I think Fabio¡¯s influence and ability have already surpassed that of the Duke¡¯s family.¡±

    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s that much?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know that you put a hook in that bastard Louis¡¯ mouth and drove 200,000 troops into the Holy Empire¡¯s civil war?¡± ¡°......¡±

    ¡°The organization called the Imperial Council Advisory Group is actually just Fabio¡¯s personal property. Furthermore, the accountants, sanitary inspectors, labor inspectors, etc... are all acting according to Fabio¡¯s orders. That''s right. And the people of the Rothschild counties will fight to the death if the Rothschild count rebels. The people of the village of Biot showed their extreme loyalty to the point of dying without saying a single word against Fabio, even when their limbs were torn off and their fingers were cut off like cheese. How many knights of the guard would show such loyalty?"

    The Emperor felt many things while observing Fabio from the side.

    At first, he thought he was just a great guy, and let him contribute to the empire.

    At some point, he became someone he couldn''t purge even if he tried.

    He was especially terrified by the fact that dozens of the people of the village of Biot were tortured so brutally that they didn''t say a word.

    It might have been different in a time without guns, but in a time with guns, a person who would die for their lord was a monster, if not the best.

    "Still, when I saw him risk his life for me when he surrendered Guillaume, I completely stopped doubting him. Besides that, his principle of action was always for Jim. Jim succeeded in creating such a powerful empire thanks to Fabio.¡±

    ¡°Do you think so?¡±

    ¡°You have a lot to say, but are you holding back?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°And Teresa seems to have a crush on Fabio too. They¡¯re so compatible, aren¡¯t they a match made in heaven?¡±

    The captain nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Now that Fabio has become a member of the imperial family, the Tuscan Empire will prosper endlessly. The war with the Holy Empire has already been won. So you should buy as many war bonds as you can, and follow the example of Baron Florin, who donated all his land and volunteered to join the army.¡±

    ¡°...... I will invest as much as I can, even if I¡¯m not like that crazy guy.¡±

    ¡°Yes, do that.¡±

    The Emperor smiled happily at the fact that he had taken care of his own people.

    ¡°But really, are you going to entrust a regiment to Baron Florin?¡±

    ¡°If you put someone who bought war bonds by collateralizing his own lands in the position of a company commander, the morale of the Imperial Army will drop.¡±

    The captain of the guard sighed.

    ¡°Deus, my God.¡±

    And the next morning, before Fabio could persuade Erica, Teresa made her move first.

 Chapter 417: Teresa and Fabio (2)

    Erica was greeted by an uninvited guest.

    ¡°Your Highness, why are you here today without even contacting me?¡±

    ¡°I have something to talk to you about. Could you spare me a moment?¡±

    Erica clicked her tongue inwardly.

    If the other person had been a countess or a marchioness, rather than a princess, she could have asked them to ¡®make an appointment¡¯ because she had a lot to do as the head of the Rothschild family.

    It would be ? N§àv§Öl?g?§ä ? (Continue reading) extremely rude to suddenly barge in without a prior engagement.

    The problem is that manners and common sense are always trampled in front of greater power.

    ¡®You¡¯ve been abusing your power like this lately, and it¡¯s a nuisance.¡¯

    ¡°Of course I should spare my time for Your Highness. Please wait a moment and I¡¯ll make you some tea.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sister. I¡¯m glad I can drink your tea after a long time.¡±

    Even if she was an uninvited guest and a thieving cat princess who seemed to be after her husband, the royal family was still the royal family.

    Erika herself made black tea to treat Fabio as sincerely as possible for the sake of his reputation.

    ¡°What are you here for today? Or did you come because you wanted to talk to me?¡±

    If she had come to talk about trivial things, Erica planned to chase Teresa away with the skills she had honed in high society to drive away nobles.

    However, her thoughts were completely shattered by Teresa¡¯s one word.

    ¡°I like Viscount Rothschild.¡±

    Erika froze when she heard that.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s exactly as I said. I like Viscount Rothschild. I want to spend the rest of my life with him, and I think I can trust him with everything.¡± ¡°...... But, Your Highness the Princess can¡¯t come in as a concubine of a mere viscount. And isn¡¯t saying this to me a huge nuisance to the royal family? I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear anything about today, so please go back now. And please don¡¯t come to our mansion for the time being.¡±

    Erica was so shocked that it was hard to express it in words.

    She honestly thought that it was inevitable that another woman would fall in love with the viscount Rothschild, her husband.

    He¡¯s handsome, kind, rich, and capable.

    It¡¯s strange not to fall in love with such an attractive man.

    That¡¯s why even when one of the maids seems to have a crush on Fabio, she just pretends not to see him and lets it go.

    If she commits an act, she¡¯ll be severely punished.

    But the princess, not a young lady from a noble family, comes to her and confesses her love?

    ¡®I have to be prepared to give up my status as a princess...¡¯

    The shock was so great that Erica¡¯s eyes turned yellow for a moment.

    Teresa waited until Erica calmed down a little before continuing her story.

    ¡°Just like my sister, I thought I would never fall in love with a man after being born as a princess. I would give my first experience to a man I didn¡¯t even love, give birth to his child, and live my life. If I¡¯m lucky, I hope that a man who falls in love with my looks will take care of me like a pet. That¡¯s Youngae¡¯s life.¡±

    All a young woman from a noble family can hope for is a man who is not too far behind in age, has a decent face, or has a good personality.

    When Erica first heard that she was going to marry Fabio, one of the things she was relieved about was that she wouldn¡¯t have to marry a man who was 20 years older than her.

    ¡°Then suddenly, the Viscount caught my eye. Rather than appearance or personality or anything like that, I was curious about what kind of person the most dark man in the empire was. So I met him once. Unlike other noble men, he talked to me as an equal.¡±

    Fabio, who still had his identity as a Korean and a little bit of conscience, simply approached women as equals to him without much thought.

    However, the Tuscan Empire is a world where men are strictly male-dominated.

    Even if she is a princess, her status is high because she is a member of the royal family, and no matter how smart she is, she rarely talks about politics or deep topics.

    Even if she does talk about household management.

    That was refreshing to Teresa.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I was interested. After meeting and talking a few more times, I realized that my life was so boring without him... When I met and talked to Erica, I started to think that I wanted to be her woman. She said that she had two concubines, but they were like sisters. And she often played with Leo or took care of him.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°You know, that¡¯s something that other families wouldn¡¯t even imagine. Being loved by your husband and living in harmony with your family.¡±

    In the Rothschild Viscounts¡¯ family, no one else thought that family should naturally be on good terms than Chloe, who was a serf.

    Even Chris of the Belladora family, who had been the director of the Pereira upper house for generations, saw with his own eyes the war of nerves between his concubine and his wife.

    These two, who were much higher in status, weren¡¯t even worth discussing.

    ¡°Because of that, I came to long for being loved by the Countess of Rothschild, and I wanted to be his woman. Even though I knew it was shameless.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fortunate that I don¡¯t love the Countess because he has a lot of money.¡±

    That was fortunate for Erica.

    Even among the maids, those who tried to do something to Fabio with pure hearts were sent away by Erica with severance pay...

    After being fired, the women who were after money were buried in the riverbed as unidentified corpses by Erica¡¯s order.

    Fabio didn¡¯t know this fact.

    Erica had also come to resemble the worst dark side of the empire, no, the continent.

    ¡®There¡¯s no need to fight Her Highness Teresa.¡¯

    ¡°Your Majesty gave permission, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sister.¡±

    Erica felt very frustrated.

    However, since the Emperor had given permission, and since Teresa¡¯s love seemed true, there was no way to stop her.

    And if you think about it calmly, Teresa joining will be a great benefit to the Visconti family.

    ¡®I should be able to take a step back for the Visconti.¡¯

    ¡°To be honest, I really don¡¯t like the Visconti having more women. I worry about the love I receive from the Visconti, and it could ruin our family relationship.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, Sister. The reason I love the Visconti is because I really like the Visconti himself, but I¡¯m also drawn to the fact that the Visconti¡¯s personality makes our family harmonious.¡±

    When Erica was in the Visconti Duke family, the only family she could trust was her father and grandfather.

    Ever since she was little, her other siblings had a tendency to covet their property and interests.

    For her, the concept of a harmonious family and a place of refuge was worth risking her life to protect.

    ¡°Then fine.¡±

    Teresa¡¯s face brightened at the fact that Erica had stopped talking.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to accept you, Teresa... but I think my love for the Viscount is real, and the more women who support the Viscount, the better. I haven¡¯t told anyone, but the Viscount is a very lonely person, and he needs to suppress his nature.¡±

    Fabio fell into this world and gradually turned dark while fighting numerous enemies including the Duke of Sforza.

    If Chloe, Erica, and Chris hadn¡¯t been there, the demons would have sought Deus, and Satan would have committed such atrocities that he would have thought he was a good angel...

    Thanks to those three, he didn¡¯t give up on humanity.

    Plus, Father Stefano, who was the external hard drive of his conscience, has died...

    ¡°The Viscount often falls into the abyss because he sees too much. Whenever that happens, we have to comfort him more often than we think.¡±

    When Erica heard the story of the massacre of the villagers of Bio, she thought of Fabio.

    She even had a hallucination of a ghost man with an impressive stick-shaped mustache standing behind Fabio.

    At that time, the three of them had been trying hard to comfort Fabio with their bodies.

    ¡®The Viscount was a bit scary back then...¡¯

    ¡°Please take care of me, Teresa.¡±

    On this day, Teresa officially joined the harem of the Viscount Rothschild.

    Erica suddenly called me, buried her head in my chest, and started acting cute.

    ¡°The Viscount smells really good.¡±

    It was usually Chloe who showed me this kind of affection, but Erica only occasionally reacted like this right after the act was over?

    When I felt a little uncomfortable, Erica hugged me tightly this time and said.

    ¡°I am so happy to be your wife. I am happy to be with Chloe and Chris. I don¡¯t mind if there is one more person.¡±

    Did Teresa come and go?

    No, that¡¯s not it.

    I don''t think Erica would have mentioned one more person.

    "But no matter how much I think about it, I feel a little sad about sharing love..."

    Erica turned around and said.

    "Please let me go. I will make proof of my love with you today. That way, I don''t think Teresa will be sad when she becomes your woman."

 Chapter 418: Teresa and Fabio (3)

    When a person has too much, jealousy is inevitable.

    So sometimes, one must show a human side, pretending to suffer or make mistakes, to avoid drawing too much attention. At times, one must also be able to let go of what they have.

    Therefore, I decided to make a grand gesture and donate to the donation collection window.

    ¡°The royal consort of the Emperor, the wealthiest man in the Empire.¡±

    And soon, a man who would soon become a Count.

    ¡°I came to make a donation for the Empire. Where should I go?¡±

    As I appeared, the actions of the public servant in charge became a little stiff.

    Since the marriage between Teresa and me had not yet been officially announced, it was only known to the Emperor and me.

    When someone of a noble rank, especially a Count or above, appears in a lower-level government office, it doesn¡¯t cause the usual emergency.

    ¡°Are you not Lord Rothschild? You can directly hand over your donation to Secretary Lafayette in the back. But may I ask how much you are donating?¡±

    ¡°What does that matter?¡±

    ¡°The person handling it will change depending on the amount.¡±

    The Emperor had planned to make the incident of me and Teresa being caught sharing a kiss during a nighttime walk happen immediately after the donation.

    So, I had to contribute a substantial amount as a form of penance beforehand.

    To the outside world, this would make it seem like Rothschild had hit rock bottom.

    ¡°Two million gold coins.¡±

    The public servant blinked in surprise.

    Those nearby dropped their papers or covered their mouths in disbelief.

    No one would have thought that I, even as wealthy as I was, would donate two million gold coins in one go.

    ¡°Who in the Empire could even donate two million gold coins at once?¡±

    ¡°Did I hear that wrong? Did you mean 200,000 gold coins?¡±

    ¡°Two million gold coins.¡±

    Hearing this twice, the public servant bowed his head to me and hurriedly ran toward his superior.

    Soon, the highest-ranking official here ran out in a hurry.

    ¡°Lord Rothschild, good day. I am Olio de Scorpio, Director of the War Finance Bureau. You said you are donating two million gold coins. Is this true?¡±

    This was an enormous sum, just slightly less than the total taxes collected from the entire Visconti Duchy.

    Even though I was very wealthy, it was hard to believe that I would donate such a large sum all at once.

    In Korea, the wealthiest person¡¯s personal assets might be the equivalent of a year¡¯s budget for a single city.

    So when I say that my personal wealth is the equivalent of the budget of a metropolitan area plus one province, it¡¯s not hard to understand why no one believes it.

    ¡°The Rothschild family and the business can easily handle that amount. Even the commoners are shouting that they owe their current prosperity to His Majesty. I would be ignorant if I didn¡¯t know this duty. The Empire exists, and because of that, I am here.¡±

    ¡°Your words are correct.¡±

    ¡°Even though I am fond of money to the point of hearing rumors that I¡¯d sell my soul for a single gold coin, I have never forgotten the minimum duty one must maintain as a person.¡±

    Suddenly, the mood became warm.

    Since the class system still existed and the officials directly experienced the Emperor¡¯s great deeds, the power of ¡®patriotic acts¡¯ was overwhelming.

    Do patriotic acts twice, and you might as well die, really.

    ¡°I understand. Then, how many war bonds would you like to purchase?¡±

    I wasn¡¯t completely without desire to expand my domain.

    But as the future consort of the Emperor, and having long been seen as the golden goblin among the nobles of the Empire, I had to tread carefully.

    Of course, the Sforza Duke and his faction, who had underestimated me, were now economically subjugated by the Rothschild family.

    However, if I gave them a reason, the nobility from the Sforza and Visconti factions might join forces, and things could get out of hand.

    ¡°Sometimes, it¡¯s better to lose in order to win.¡±

    And I had no interest in taking over the imperial territories¡ªmy goal was to conquer the entire New World.

    Of course, many would complain about this, but I could think about that when the time came.

    ¡°No matter how much I may wish to donate, after giving two million gold coins, I will have no money left. After this, I won¡¯t even have enough to buy war bonds.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re giving up on purchasing war bonds?¡±

    ¡°I have already achieved more wealth, honor, and success in the Toscani Empire than I could have imagined.¡±

    Even if I hadn¡¯t married Teresa, I wouldn¡¯t have bought war bonds in the first place.

    While I could have earned tremendous profit from them...

    I could simply stick a straw in the backs of the noblemen who were busy rebuilding their territories.

    During the Gold Rush, the people who made the most money weren¡¯t the ones who found the gold mines, but the ones who followed around selling things like jeans.

    The Rothschild business should dominate construction, transportation, and various goods sales.

    ¡°Understood. How should I receive the two million gold coins?¡±

    ¡°You ¡ï Novelight ¡ï may pick it up at the Rothschild headquarters in Florence in one week.¡±

    ¡°Understood, my lord. And if there¡¯s anything you need...¡±

    ¡°Our business here is finished. Thank you for your hard work.¡±

    Next month, the newspaper published a story about my donation of two million gold coins.

    The news of Lord Rothschild donating two million gold coins was widely spread along with the announcement of his marriage to Princess Teresa.

    The official reason was that, in a moment of youthful passion, Lord Rothschild confessed to Teresa after falling in love at first sight, and they had a playful kiss, which was overheard by a maid.

    Of course, the nobility didn¡¯t believe this.

    The nobles from the Visconti faction were no different.

    ¡°Your Majesty, even though Lord Rothschild has done the most for the Empire of any living noble, is this not crossing a line?¡±

    ¡°To think Lady Erika is involved while the princess is marrying...¡±

    ¡°I fear this may make you seem somewhat disregarded.¡±

    Had it been any other time, Duke Visconti would have shouted like a scholar from Joseon.

    ¡°Stop! Suspecting Fabio means suspecting me, Visconti Duke! Losing trust in him spells disaster!¡±

    But with the disastrous event of Fabio marrying the princess, even the Duke found it difficult to openly support Fabio.

    ¡°Do you really think Fabio is foolish enough to act before Princess Teresa?¡±

    At the Duke¡¯s words, everyone in the room fell silent.

    ¡°Lord Rothschild, my grandson-in-law, is an extremely wise man. Not once has a stock he¡¯s touched failed, nor a business he¡¯s invested in been anything but a massive success. Do you think a man like that would act recklessly because of some woman?¡±

    ¡°...Your Majesty is correct, but won¡¯t Lady Erika¡¯s standing be compromised?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Duke Visconti, though feeling a little twisted inside, hadn¡¯t lost his sense of reason.

    This wasn¡¯t because his granddaughter¡¯s family was able to clear their debts with Lord Rothschild¡¯s business dealings.

    It was solely because of his personal trust and goodwill toward Fabio.

    ¡°Just because Princess Teresa married him doesn¡¯t mean Lady Erika loses her position. The child born of Erika and Fabio will inherit the Rothschild family, and that principle won¡¯t change.¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡±

    ¡°And let¡¯s not forget, this is part of His Majesty¡¯s strategy to ensure that Lord Rothschild never betrays the state. Fabio is caught up in this. No matter how many schemes he devises, like luring King Agarie of the Kingdom of Lyon into a trap, he¡¯s still human. He can be deceived.¡±

    ¡°Lord Rothschild is quite human after all.¡±

    The Duke smiled slyly for the last time.

    ¡°And Fabio¡¯s donation of two million gold coins and giving up on purchasing war bonds means he won¡¯t interfere with the rights of the nobility in the Holy Empire.¡±

    Duke Visconti didn¡¯t feel an ounce of patriotism or loyalty toward the Empire in Fabio¡¯s actions.

    Considering the average nobility¡¯s level of loyalty to the state, his was particularly low.

    So, for a man like Fabio to donate two million gold coins purely out of ¡°patriotism¡±?

    Even the Duke thought that was ridiculous.

    ¡°Fabio came to see me,¡±

    The nobles all perked up at hearing the investment tips from Lord Rothschild.

    Anyone who followed the example of Baron Florin would undoubtedly succeed.

    ¡°If you follow Baron Florin¡¯s lead, you¡¯ll succeed. He even told me, had it not been for marrying the princess, he would¡¯ve invested every available cent of his family¡¯s fortune.¡±

    Fabio¡¯s pursuit and distribution of profits always remained within the family.

    Therefore, the Duke didn¡¯t know about the New World.

    Erika, too, didn¡¯t leak anything regarding the New World or the like for her dear husband.

    Thus, Fabio was simply recommending war bonds, the biggest profit available, outside of the New World.

    ¡°Don¡¯t doubt Fabio. He¡¯s always been on our side.¡±

    And meanwhile, the Sforza faction also couldn¡¯t say much about Fabio¡¯s marriage.

    If Fabio uttered any unpleasant words, their entire faction would be wiped out.

 Chapter 419: The Beginning of the Temple (1)

    It¡¯s important to develop the New World, but it¡¯s also crucial to manage the procurement office well.

    If the procurement office runs smoothly, the Toscani Empire can win the war against the Holy Empire, and our family will make tremendous profits.

    ¡®A business that determines the fate of the family, no, the future of the nation.¡¯

    ¡°Sebastian.¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±

    ¡°How much have we raised from the war bonds and donations in the Toscani Empire?¡±

    ¡°9,503,152 gold coins. It¡¯s indeed an enormous amount, but compared to what we earned from the investment scam in the Kingdom of Lyon, it¡¯s still lacking.¡±

    ¡°That was a truly incredible sum.¡±

    The Emperor and Duke Visconti will never know, but I pulled the foundation, no, the very pillar out from under the Kingdom of Lyon with a Ponzi scheme.

    The King of Lyon tried with all his might to save his country, or rather, to prevent the nation from facing an uncontrollable ¡®Revolution.¡¯

    But at best, his efforts served to delay the wrath of the war¡¯s madness from turning against him and his kingdom...

    ¡®It¡¯s not my problem.¡¯

    Dynasties change like this, and when the Lyon dynasty collapses, and a new one rises, as long as I avoid getting caught in another ¡®investment scam,¡¯ it¡¯ll be fine.

    In truth, I may just be an honest person who charged a bit too high a tuition fee.

    ¡°Thinking about it again, it¡¯s exhilarating. 14 million gold coins. I could buy a small country with that.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a pity there¡¯s no king willing to sell their country.¡±

    ¡°Well, I could buy the New World with that. The gold and silver buried there would easily be worth 14 million gold coins, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±

    This is something I vaguely learned while studying: during the time when Spain was simultaneously ruling the Holy Roman Empire and Spain/Portugal, the gold and silver brought from the New World surpassed the total gold and silver in Europe by over ten times.

    At first, the abundance of gold was good, but then inflation hit, and Spain¡¯s financial deficit caused the country to go down the path of ruin.

    I hope the New World here has gold and silver in such abundance.

    ¡°Enough small talk, Sebastian. There¡¯s something I need to ask you that I can only ask of you.¡±

    ¡°Please, speak, my lord.¡±

    ¡°When the Toscani Empire goes to war, I want you to personally oversee all the supplies for the war.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Sebastian¡¯s eyes widened.

    He looked around, seemingly in shock.

    ¡°You¡¯re not talking about someone else, but about me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be going to the New World. While the people of the Toscani Empire are consumed by war, I must go as quickly as possible.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re worried that if you secretly take money, it¡¯ll leave traces because of the scale of it... Am I right?¡±

    ¡°You guessed correctly, Sebastian. Right now, everyone¡¯s obsessed with war, so no one will be chasing after me if I go out and expand markets. But under normal circumstances, if I were to go out, they would follow me like moths to a flame, wouldn¡¯t they?¡±

    When I was running my Ponzi scheme, there were even people trying to follow me all the way to the New World.

    Of course, they were taken advantage of by Orsini and ended up facing unfortunate consequences...

    That incident almost exposed my scam and revealed the existence of the New World.

    Such risks nearly arose even in the Kingdom of Lyon, and there¡¯s no guarantee a similar event won¡¯t occur in the Toscani Empire.

    It¡¯s best to handle things while I can avoid people¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°From now on, Rothschild Company will act as the procurement office and will have the authority to manage all supplies for this war. When it comes to procuring weapons, we¡¯ll allow only those who offer the lowest price, by making competing factories bid for the supply.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll assign the work to those offering the lowest price, but we must thoroughly inspect companies that offer unreasonably low prices. If there¡¯s evidence of fraud...¡±

    ¡°Of course, we must deal with them harshly.¡±

    Military corruption leads directly to killing our own.

    If we contract with companies that supply spoiled food, food poisoning could spread and wipe out entire squads.

    If the guns are defective, a soldier could die when the barrel explodes just as he¡¯s about to fire the first shot.

    If the spears aren¡¯t made properly, they¡¯ll just leave shallow scratches on the enemy and break when used.

    ¡°The companies supplying the goods will have accountants and staff from our company inspect them regularly. There will definitely be some rotten individuals trying to deceive me.¡±

    Humans have a spirit of challenge.

    Thanks to that spirit, humanity has made progress, but there are sometimes people who misjudge reality and make foolish challenges.

    Some people start a restaurant thinking it will surely succeed, only to lose 3 million per month in losses, wiping out their retirement funds and ending up living off their children¡¯s earnings.

    Others recklessly destroy their family¡¯s fortune and then expect to lord over their children while living off them.

    Likewise, there will definitely be people trying to deceive me.

    As a wise person once said, among five people, one will always be trash.

    ¡°In addition, for those who win bids at auctions, we¡¯ll offer some of the secrets from the Rothschild factories, and those who deal honestly will receive various benefits.¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±

    ¡°The rest will be entirely up to you, Sebastian.¡±

    I trust Sebastian will handle everything else with his usual skill.

    ¡°By the way, Sebastian, you don¡¯t seem too worried.¡±

    Sebastian smiled slyly.

    ¡°You told me I could handle this, so what¡¯s there to worry about? My lord, you¡¯ve given me tough tasks before, but you¡¯ve never asked the impossible.¡±

    ¡°No, I think I¡¯ve given you some pretty difficult tasks.¡±

    ¡°Every one of them has been doable. This will go smoothly as well.¡±

    ¡°And beyond that, while I¡¯m in the New World, you¡¯ll need to help with supplies and financial support. Erika, Chris, Teresa, Chloe... oh, Chloe is only concerned with managing the mansion, so leave her out. Even if those three help, the only person I can truly rely on is you.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure this burden on me isn¡¯t too heavy?¡±

    ¡°You said you could do it.¡±

    Sebastian smiled at me again.

    ¡°Then, when you return from the New World, you must keep your promise.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a barony, whether it¡¯s in the Holy Empire or the New World.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a promise, my lord.¡±

    For some reason, Sebastian was acting unusually age-appropriate today.

    It was as though he were an old man, anxious about tomorrow despite being healthy today, like seniors who fear their health might deteriorate the next day.

    Thinking about it, Sebastian was already getting quite old.

    ¡°When this is over, you can retire and rest if you want.¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want that. I¡¯m still healthy, but I don¡¯t want to sit around in a corner and waste time on a young concubine¡¯s chest.¡±

    It may sound childish, but for some reason, I feel like this is something I need to do.

    ¡°Sebastian, I promise.¡±

    ¡°Does it need to be said?¡±

    I spoke, and with that, I hooked my pinky and made the promise with Sebastian.

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave the procurement office to you.¡±

    As soon as Fabio left, Sebastian felt a cough rise in his throat.

    He covered his mouth and coughed, and his palm was left with phlegm tinged with a bit of blood.

    ¡°... I only want to live another 20 years.¡±

    Since he was already beyond middle age and nearing old age, living another 20 years was unreasonable.

    But still, Sebastian wanted to live longer.

    ¡°I want to see Leo become an adult, and I also want to see the young lord who will succeed my lord become an adult.¡±

    In truth, Sebastian didn¡¯t consider success to be of much value anymore.

    His family¡¯s rank had already risen to a baronet, and their family vault was full of tremendous wealth.

    His sons were earning huge salaries as key vassals of the Rothschild family...

    ¡®I¡¯ve accomplished everything I need to.¡¯

    Thus, the most important thing to him now was Fabio.

    The young lord he had watched grow up, who had now become a true noble, even a dragon leading the Empire.

    Watching how far he would soar had become his greatest joy.

    ¡°People who say that when they grow old, their only pleasure is living in the countryside with a young concubine have empty heads. How wasteful is it for someone to live without doing anything?¡±

    Sebastian took the medicine given to him by his personal doctor.

    ¡°Did the doctor say I don¡¯t have much time left? Ridiculous.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t really a ridiculous thing, but he decided to laugh it off.

    And he swore, with his own will, to hold on until the very end.

    ¡°I¡¯ll protect this family until my lord returns. He trusted me with it.¡±

 Chapter 420: The Beginning of the Temple (2)

    The New World is for us, the Rothschilds, to eat up.

    There is an abundance of gold and silver there, and precious things like cochineal and coffee.

    Even sugar can be grown indefinitely there...

    ¡®If we just hold onto the New World, the Rothschilds will prosper infinitely.¡¯

    So I decided to tell my wives about my full-scale plan to conquer the New World.

    Since it is a family matter, everyone should participate.

    Erica asked while all the wives were gathered.

    ¡°You refused to buy war bonds and only donated. Are you planning to invest all that money in the New World?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Even if I could acquire the entire Holy Empire, I wouldn¡¯t give up the New World. It¡¯s more valuable than the Holy Empire.¡±

    ¡°Even if things like cochineal and coffee were produced there, those luxuries would be limited.¡±

    The Spaniards were stupid enough not to even think ¡ï Novelight ¡ï about growing expensive crops like sugar in the New World, which had almost unlimited demand.

    France, having learned from their foolish actions, once spent 1/3 of its government budget on sugar taxes.

    And there are likely to be other underground resources there.

    Like oil, oil, oil.

    Of course, even if you dig up oil now, there''s almost no use for it.

    If you leave a big oil company to your descendants in 300 years, your great-grandchildren will live well like Arab royalty.

    Even though I''ll probably be dead by then, I can do this much for my descendants.

    ¡°I agree with Erica. If we invest our family¡¯s money in this war bond, we will be able to obtain at least three counties. According to the staff stationed locally, the soldiers who were passionate about their faith at the beginning of the war are now exhausted from the long civil war and have lost the will to fight... They will be able to repel the imperial army if they come.¡±

    Chris¡¯s words are also true.

    Admiral Yi Sun-sin never went to a war that he could not win, except for the Battle of Myeongnyang.

    No, he went out knowing that he would win from the moment he set out.

    Thanks to this, Admiral Yi Sun-sin¡¯s navy fought several battles with an exchange rate of hundreds to one against the Japanese army.

    Whenever they fought, they achieved great victories.

    ¡®The US Naval Academy is talking about Admiral Yi Sun-sin quite a bit, isn¡¯t it?¡¯

    ¡°The great army of the Kingdom of Lyon, the great army brought by the Sultan, has succeeded in occupying a considerable amount of territory of the Holy Empire. However, it is said that the people¡¯s sentiment is not good, so it is difficult to maintain the territory, and they are experiencing considerable difficulties due to supply issues. This war is already a situation where the Empire¡¯s victory is certain. As a merchant, not investing in this war is missing a heavenly opportunity, Viscount.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t disagree with that either. I was the one who planned this war in the first place.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    I didn¡¯t tell Erica that I was planning the war.

    But now that I think it¡¯s okay to talk, I explained the general background and what happened.

    ¡°The size and potential of the New World is beyond the size of three counties. The profits that can be made by monopolizing luxury goods such as cochineal, coffee, and cacao are unfathomable... There is so much gold that even commoners can wear gold jewelry. Silver is also abundant.¡±

    ¡°Is it really that wealthy?¡±

    ¡°And the level of civilization of the people there is so low that they can¡¯t even melt iron. We can conquer it with just 20,000 elite troops, no more, no less.¡±

    I¡¯m not saying that I don¡¯t feel guilty when I see so much bloodshed in the process of conquering a country.

    However, it is the duty of civilized people to educate those crazy people who sacrifice human flesh as if it were nothing.

    We have to break the heads of the upper class and instill the concept in the minds of the people living there.

    ¡°And unlike the Holy Empire, there is no need to share with others... so it is quite possible for us to take over the entire continent.¡±

    People like Herna?n Corte?s, who received support from the country and formed an expedition, ended up destroying the empire themselves and not owning all of it.

    They lived a pitiful life, not even being governors for life...

    Since I have an abundance of capital, I can use the power of capital to develop that place on my own.

    I have more than enough means to persuade the locals.

    ¡®Let them see the taste of iron once, and let them go with strong armor and matchlock guns, and that¡¯s it.¡¯

    ¡°Then if we¡¯re going to invest the same amount of money, it would be better to invest in the New World.¡±

    Teresa countered my words.

    ¡°I completely agree with your words, Viscount, but there is a way for us to own a part of the Holy Empire without having to buy war bonds. Or, more precisely, a way to project influence.¡±

    ¡°What kind of method is that?¡±

    ¡°How about sending a group of people to incite them to surrender?¡±

    Oh, I didn¡¯t think of that.

    If we incite Karl Marx and other communist demons, we can simply make a few unpopular neighborhoods surrender to the Tuscan Empire.

    ¡®Do you know who you are? I mean His Majesty the Emperor of the Tuscan Empire!¡¯

    ¡®His Majesty the Emperor of the Tuscan Empire has promised you white bread made from wheat and meat stew!¡¯

    ¡®If you embrace His Majesty the Father, you will enjoy abundance, but if you fight His Majesty who wants to embrace you like a father, you will die a pitiful death!¡¯

    ¡°Since ancient times, when war broke out, if rebels occupied a certain area and voluntarily surrendered, they would be given a portion of that territory. If we showed the great power of the Tuscan Empire and encouraged them to surrender... there would be quite a few who would surrender.¡± ¡°Some of those who surrendered the entire region will be incorporated into the nobility of the Tuscan Empire. They will naturally support me, so my power will grow, right?¡±

    ¡°You will soon become a count, right? You should have some influence in the Imperial Diet.¡±

    The communist demons, including Marx, have already overturned the country several times.

    If you use that ability to incite, you can do anything.

    ¡°I think it would be better to send people to the battlefields of the Holy Empire in advance. Instead of sending agitators, we should send bards in advance to show them how nice the Tuscan Empire is to live in.¡±

    In a world without social media, it is really difficult to know about the situation in other countries.

    In a country ruled by pig-like guys for three generations, in South Korea, poor families barely survive by selling their children¡¯s corneas.

    Seoul is the city with the worst air pollution, and they teach that South Korea is a colony ruled by the United States, the vanguard of imperialist fascism.

    In that country, there are countless idiots who think this is real and live their lives.

    Is it different in the Holy Empire?

    The people there probably think that living in their own country or in the Tuscan Empire is the same.

    ¡®But what if there is hope that they can live well if they become citizens of the Tuscan Empire?¡¯

    ¡°And when the Tuscan Empire starts to win war after war, wouldn¡¯t we send people to start agitation?¡±

    ¡°If we do this, we can plant some of our forces in the Holy Empire territory.¡±

    Teresa puffed out her chest slightly.

    My gaze went to the object that was shaking slightly up and down.

    ¡°I¡¯m a Rothschild woman now. I¡¯ll do anything for my family.¡±

    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡±

    As I stroked Teresa''s head, Erica quietly looked at Teresa.

    Then she gave a faint smile.

    "Yeah, I wish I could have the Viscount''s child soon like I did."

    ......? Erica is having a child? This is the first time I''ve heard of it.

    "Is Erica pregnant?"

    "The family doctor said she''s pregnant. I don''t know if it''s a girl or a boy... but she''ll definitely be smart like the Viscount."

    At those words, Chris, Teresa, and Chloe stared at me.

    Then they looked at me as if something important was going on...

    ''Let''s run away.''

    If those three go wild, I can''t handle it either.

    It''s especially hard for Chloe.

    It''s not like I''m showing off my yandere tendencies when I''m with another woman, but in bed, she shows her obsession that squeezes out all my stamina to the limit.

    ¡°Oh, I have to go see that guy Marx. Let¡¯s talk about the important stuff later.¡±

    And I ran away in the 36th strategy.

    Some people might call me a coward, but running away is also a great tactic.

    Running away is embarrassing, but it helps.

    I¡¯m not low on stamina or energy, but I don¡¯t like being squeezed.

    Those four people looked at me as if they were annoyed at me as I ran away...

    ¡°You, call Marx right now! I have something very urgent to talk to you, so tell him to come right now.¡±