I Became A Black Merchant In Another World

When it comes to gathering information in the medieval era, the first place that usually comes to mind is a tavern.

You walk into an inn or a bar, buy a round of drinks, and ask if anyone knows anything, and it’s a common scene to gather information like a game of tag.

Especially in taverns located in port cities, you can see pirates openly drinking away.

So, I decided to visit a tavern where those rascals frequent.

It’s a good idea to enter the tiger’s den if you want to catch a tiger…

After all, pirates usually don’t cause trouble in the city.

“Is there anyone here who knows about the brave souls who showed those Alisini bastards a spicy taste of their own medicine?”

I spoke loudly enough for everyone in the tavern to hear, but no one responded.

I came to a joint frequented by pirates, and this lack of response was starting to disappoint me.

I guess I need to grease their wheels a bit.

“Barkeep, serve a plate of roasted pig’s legs to the brave warriors of the sea gathered here.”

With that, I handed over three silver coins.

The barkeep didn’t have the sense to ask why I was getting chummy with these pirates.

He probably figured out I was here to gather information from them.

If he didn’t have that much sense, he shouldn’t be in business in this continent, let alone the Toscan Empire.

“Pour me some beer and wine as well. Make sure to tell them it’s on me.”

When spending money, you’ve got to do it generously to catch their interest.

Not long after, a man with a pistol at his hip approached me.

Looking at his outfit, he seemed to be a mix between a newly rich guy and a thug.

Is this fellow a higher-up in the pirate crew around here?

“I’m Andre, the captain of the Blue Flag Pirate Crew. If you don’t mind, may I share a little tale in return?”

Here comes the guy who says he just wants to tell a story, frantically rubbing his thumb and finger together.

Just look at that intense stare, like he’s peeking at a naked beauty.

He’s really drunk on power.

Guys like him must be throwing themselves into a pirate ship, raiding merchants just to survive.

“Thanks, I appreciate it. Hey, barkeep, bring me a bottle of 17-year whiskey along with some salami and cheese.”

In Korea, you can buy cheap wine or beer at a low price and drink it as much as you want.

But whiskey, which has to be distilled and aged, is insanely expensive.

Things aren’t much different here in the Toscan Empire.

Once the food was set down and a drink poured, Andre opened his mouth.

“What kind of story do you wish to hear?”

“I heard you all have provided the teachings of the Deus Church to merchant ships under the protection of Alisini.”

Though that isn’t written in the Bible of the Deus Church.

The Pope of Deus Church boldly stated in the doctrine:

“Heretics are unredeemed humans and followers of Satan. They are not the same as us.”

This essentially means it’s just fine to take down those devil-worshipping bastards.

Of course, no matter how much the Pope raves or the kings of Albania want to kill heretics, they can never overcome the Sultanate which boasts vast lands on Medina continent.

Therefore, outright war rarely breaks out, and diplomatically, they simply ignore each other…

But the sentiment of “killing heretics is legal” prevails in every country in the Albania continent.

“Isn’t it lawful to kill those Alisini bastards defiling our oceans? Those guys even sell our coastal folk into slavery.”

Not a single thing he said was wrong.

The merchant ships owned by the Alisini family do not engage in piracy.

But the Sultanate affiliated with the Alisini family does all sorts of dirty business.

They raid peacefully sailing merchant ships and fishing vessels, selling goods, and turning people into slaves.

An innocent civilian? According to the seasoned experts of the Stone Age deliveries, even the Alisini shipping group can’t claim innocence.

“That’s not incorrect.”

“Some other nobles say even so, piracy is still quite wrong.”

I’m not one to support killing and selling people into slavery either.

But considering spice trade, it’s essentially a kind of smuggling (a public trade done a bit blatantly) without moving armies.

While they’re killing each other and selling people into slavery, nobody really cared about who was good or bad.

“I’ve heard it’s said that evil must repay evil. If they feel wronged, then the Sultan’s folks should deal with their pirates.”

“It’s true that those heretics initiated it.”

“However, those Alisini are on my side. I hope you won’t indiscriminately meddle with them. Could you cooperate a bit?”

“That’s a tough ask with just empty words.”

Pirates who only engage in piracy against the Sultanate aren’t doing it for religious beliefs or for their country; they’re merely thieving because they’re broke.

So, if I simply hand over some money, they might reconsider their stance.

They’re trying to gain a living, so if you just give them the money they’re after, they don’t need to risk their lives fighting.

Furthermore, these guys are among the more scrupulous pirates, as…

They will only raid those designated as heretics by the Pope and won’t kill ordinary folk unless provoked.

“Kill a person, and if you only take out the enemy, you can become a hero.”

Of course, it’s not exemplary behavior for those who aren’t even soldiers to go around killing heretics just because they’ve lost their minds over money.

“I’m not just saying that casually.”

I subtly raised the pouch filled with gold coins.

At the same time, my guards stationed a bit away reached for their swords at their waists.

I’m not provoking them to fight here.

I’m merely giving a tiny warning in case these guys lose their heads over the money and try to kidnap or kill me.

“Open it.”

Andre’s eyes lit up at the sight of the gold coins.

He looked ready to drool.

“It appears to be all gold coins.”

“What do you think, would it be fake coins instead?”

One gold coin can buy you a serf’s number one prized possession: a cow.

They’re rare treasures, so counterfeiting them is also exceedingly common.

It’s only natural for Andre to be suspicious.

“How much would it take to buy your pirate crew?”

In certain comics, they depict pirates as romantic beings full of adventure, which misleads some.

But in truth, piracy is a difficult and sad life for sailors turned pirates because of hardships.

This organization, founded on rebellion, is somewhat democratic and equitable, but their lifestyle is pitiful.

They have to wait mindlessly at sea for a ship they can loot, and many of them die in vain while raiding.

After plundering, they distribute the spoils and drown in women and booze.

Fun at first, but thinking they’d live that way until retirement is gloomy.

“I just happened to be starting up a new port town. I need crew and a captain to escort trade ships; how about it?”

“You’re saying you want to recruit us? Without picking others?”

Well, it doesn’t have to be these guys alone.

But if they’re pirates with plenty of experience against heretics, then they would have a lot of battle experience.

If I could get them on my side and dismantle the pirate crew?

I could report to the Alisini that I have resolved their issue.

“Alisini asked you to get rid of yourselves. Yet even if Alisini is a friend of our Medici family, you’re still heretics. Why would we need to forcibly subjugate ‘good pirates’ who only plunder heretics?”

In truth, if I was confident in my current forces to deal with them, I would have already done it, and you’d all be slave laborers.

But I’m lenient because I don’t have enough strength right now.

“You must also be pirating out of hardship. And yet, you didn’t want to forsake your humanity by only plundering heretics.”

Back in the medieval and Renaissance periods, nominally, there were almost no European slaves.

Because it was deemed immoral to enslave those who believed in Catholicism.

Of course, they didn’t just not enslave them; It’s a delicate issue that they did.

“Under my territory, I have unmarried maidens who deserve the chance to marry and start families. Let them live as humans.”

Andre readily accepted my offer.

“We don’t want to pirate either. What must we do?”

“First, hand over your pirate flag. I will tell Alisini that we annihilated you all.”

And the next day, I hurriedly boarded a ship to meet the Alisini.

“Here’s the pirate flag of the Blue Flag Pirate Crew, along with the sword held by the captain himself. As per customs, we’ll take all the prisoners.”

I’ve brought the Blue Flag Pirate Crew under my command.

Now, I just need to extract the price for the subjugation from Alisini.

Isn’t this the right diplomatic move?

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