I Became A Black Merchant In Another World

Duke Ducat was having a conversation with the Emperor in the office.

dramatic music

“The Empire will soon go to war with the Duchy of Milania. I want to place the First Division, which you command, at the forefront. How does that sound?”

The Emperor had brought this up to the Duke almost three times already.

Ducat wasn’t an idiot; he understood and remembered with just one order, but the repetition emphasized its importance.

Thus, the Duke replied with a rigid posture, “I will do my utmost to meet Your Majesty’s expectations!”

“I have high hopes for you and the First Division.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Everything the Emperor said was sincere.

However, those expectations weren’t solely placed on the First Division. The Emperor had hopes for all the units expected to participate in the upcoming war.

Duke Ducat knew this fact well.

‘The First Division will achieve the greatest achievements in the next war.’

His only goal right now was to earn the Emperor’s favor by accomplishing the most in the war.

The Emperor chuckled and emptied his teacup containing coffee.

gulp

“So, what’s the current status of the important First Division? Back when Count Gonelio was the commander, it was a mess with supply corruption and no proper training.”

Most officers in the Toscan Empire came from noble backgrounds, and it was challenging to find anyone not born into nobility once you reached the rank of major or higher.

When it came to generals, even a Duke could often find themselves demoted to a brigadier general due to their status.

It was difficult for Duke Ducat to rise to the position of division commander, but thanks to the Emperor’s influence, he was able to promote Gonelio, who had partially wrecked the First Division.

The military was an organization where commoners could rise to lower nobility through merit, and lower nobles could ascend to the rank of young baron or baron by proving their worth.

Thus, it was the most flexible organization in terms of status.

“When I took command, the situation was disastrous. The soldiers had no will to fight, and more than half of the weapons and armor in the armory were unusable.”

The Emperor rubbed his forehead upon hearing that.

If he hadn’t discovered the supply corruption before the war and dismissed Count Gonelio from his post, he would have been watching a division fall to the Milanians.

‘Those Gonelio house punks need to face some repercussions in some way.’

“However, the military unit’s condition has been restored properly now. No, they have even become elite.”

“More than I expected? What happened?”

It had been less than a month since the Emperor dispatched Ducat as the commander of the First Division.

Transforming a division that had been damaged by supply corruption and an incompetent predecessor into a normal state in such a short period was practically impossible.

Thus, the Emperor had only expected Ducat to identify and slowly improve the unit’s issues.

‘Surpassing normal restoration and achieving an elite state is unbelievable.’

Duke Ducat handed a thick report to the Emperor.

“Immediately upon assuming my position, I cleaned out several incompetent commanders and staff and sternly warned the remaining subordinates. Those who were slacking off began to serve diligently.”

“Incompetent people are unnecessary in the military. Chasing out the freeloaders was a good job. Making the remaining folks work desperately is impressive.”

“While the previous commander did have a negative impact on the unit, fortunately, the adverse effects weren’t that severe. Thus, when I got the remaining commanders and staff to work diligently, most of the issues were resolved.”

The Emperor’s evaluation of Ducat rose.

‘It seems I can really place the First Division at the forefront.’

“However, the most remarkable part is the quartermaster, Fabio de Medici.”

“Fabio? That lad is indeed quite the character. Has he been active in the military?”

Ducat pointed to the report. “It’s written here, but without Fabio’s efforts, it would have taken at least six months to rebuild the First Division.”

The Emperor tilted his head upon hearing that.

As he aged and gained experience, he recognized that Fabio had talent and potential in other areas, but he initially thought that a mere 21-year-old would have many deficiencies in other fields, given his genius in commerce.

Yet, for the division commander to say that one subordinate’s contribution was even greater than his own…

‘If supply issues could just be normalized and weapons and armor could be upgraded out of pocket, I would have pushed for the title of young baron.’

“Fabio negotiated with the new director of the Benaldi Association responsible for supplies upon his arrival and managed to reduce the unit cost of all goods by 15%. It wasn’t just a price drop; the quality improved too.”

“Lowering the price while improving quality?”

“Yes, indeed. Particularly, the soldiers’ meals have noticeably improved. While other units’ meals were no different from what serfs would eat, the First Division’s meals are of what poor urban citizens would consume.”

Even poor citizens meant they were at least part of the middle class in the Toscan Empire.

Thus, what used to be a meager meal now became food that the middle class would consider acceptable…

“His shrewdness is no joke! No, I bet he fiercely slashed into the ill-gotten gains of the supply dealers for your sake. He’s taking quite a risk.”

In reality, Fabio was not truly risking anything; he had built a somewhat friendly relationship with the Benaldi Association.

However, to an outsider like the Emperor or Duke Ducat, it appeared as though he had bulldozed the wicked supply merchants’ schemes and improved the menu.

The visible results were too different, even more so.

“Additionally, he has been providing the soldiers with one donut per week from Cafe Medici’s staff. While a single donut doesn’t cost much, multiplied by eight thousand…”

No matter how cheap a product, purchasing in bulk raised the price significantly.

Sweet treats like donuts were inherently on the pricey side.

“Fabio claims he hasn’t suffered any losses thanks to negotiating with the Benaldi Association’s director.”

“I doubt Fabio would lie, so he probably hasn’t lost anything. However, it seems he has completely given up his profits for the soldiers.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

To manipulate the Emperor, one must naturally possess military knowledge.

Only then could one have the minimal capability to command the empire’s army.

‘Feeding soldiers well is the way to win wars.’

But what had previously hindered them was the greedy supply merchants who were pocketing absurd amounts of money.

They had taken it for granted up until now.

“The soldiers initially looked down on the 21-year-old lieutenant, but now they show him genuine respect, almost as if they were following a seasoned veteran.”

“Well, soldiers, or rather serfs, are all about their food, huh? It’s understandable.”

Ducat added an explanation.

“But Lieutenant Fabio insists he is merely a tool and claims that all the credit belongs to Your Majesty. Do not doubt his loyalty.”

Hearing that a 21-year-old kid was receiving the kind of respect due to a seasoned veteran was hardly music to a ruler’s ears.

Because it meant that if Fabio matured, he could potentially dominate the hearts of the soldiers.

The Emperor was not foolish enough to be jealous or resentful about such things.

‘Had he been addicted to fame and received that recognition, I would have had to teach him a severe lesson.’

“Thanks to that, our division has cultivated a strong loyalty towards Your Majesty and the Empire, to the point where even the most junior soldiers cheer ‘Long live the Emperor!’ every day.”

A huge grin spread across the Emperor’s face.

He had confirmed the capabilities and potential of the young man, Fabio de Medici.

While he might not distribute donuts to the entire army, he could at least improve the soldiers’ meals across the board.

‘To strengthen the army without spending more money is like a dream come true.’

“You and I both know that our original plan was to promote a young lord from a territory with merely 2,500 residents for showing extraordinary loyalty by ‘exchanging one division’s equipment’ to the title of young baron.”

However, Fabio still had not traded in his equipment.

Everyone knew it wasn’t because he was saving money.

“Yet, he deliberately postponed that. He didn’t want to appear as though he was buying a title with money. As a result, Fabio will prove to everyone that he has the ability to become a young baron.”

The Emperor’s smile widened with each word.

“When I first appointed that kid as a lieutenant, the nobles would gossip behind my back, claiming I was mistakenly favoring the second son of a mere baron family—like vicious dogs trying to bite me.”

Regardless of the Emperor’s authority over military ranks, appointing a 21-year-old young lord as a lieutenant was indeed overstepping the line.

“I wonder if those nobles will be hiding their faces for a while once they hear this news?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I hope Fabio plants himself firmly within the military.”

Though the Emperor said so, he well understood the harshness of reality.

If Fabio was a nobleman with a territory and an unrelated new star, the Duke Visconti would be up in arms.

“A good talent has emerged in our empire. Now I should reward him generously, but I’m not sure what to give.”

“And you are also far more capable than I imagined.”

With those words, the Emperor drew his sword, still sheathed, from his waist.

“Receive this, Duke Ducat.”

Ducat stood dumbfounded upon hearing that.

“Your abilities are certainly commendable, but I highly value this: your honesty in acknowledging a subordinate’s contributions even when your own might be understated. This lack of jealousy toward your subordinates is truly commendable.”

The Emperor grinned.

“We call this the quality of a commander. I will treasure you dearly.”

With that said, the Emperor formally bestowed the sword upon the Duke.

*

After several days of absence, the division commander returned.

As soon as he returned, he summoned me to his office.

Upon entering, I immediately reported that I had completed the final task assigned by the Emperor.

“Due to the manipulations of the Pereira Guild, the 5,000 spears, 1,200 swords, and 2,000 armor currently in the armory are unusable in actual combat. Therefore, to repay Your Majesty’s favor for appointing me as a lieutenant, I have decided to exchange all the defective goods for new ones at my own expense.”

This mission was practically akin to a bonus stage.

Spending an excess amount of money to buy a title was all it was.

Of course, I couldn’t help but make significant changes to military supplies to make it worthwhile.

“Here is the contract. It states that the specified quantities will be delivered by the Alpedo Association in two months.”

Naturally, the fabric used for the armor was produced clandestinely in Bio Village, and the steel was purchased at a discount from the Duke’s steel factory.

‘Thanks to that, I managed to match the price at half cost with only the production cost.’

Duke Ducat looked at me with a regretful expression.

“To be honest, when I heard you were coming in as a lieutenant without any military achievements, I felt a bit disappointed.”

Even with a paratrooper’s basics, beginning as a military officer was usually starting as a second lieutenant unless it was from royalty.

So who would be happy about hearing they would start as a lieutenant?

“However, now that I know your capabilities, I wish I could have our quartermaster removed and have you take that position instead. If Your Majesty knew you wanted to stay in the military, he would be pleased. What do you think?”

… Am I crazy enough to take root? What does this dude think I am?

“I have a territory and an association that I’m responsible for, so that would be difficult.”

“That’s a shame, but I’m sincere in my request: it would be great if you ever wanted to come back.”

Even if military life seemed like a flower path from lieutenant level, there was no way I’d become a professional soldier.

“Your Majesty has highly recognized your contributions. Congratulations, Young Baron Medici. You’ll need to come to the palace for the ceremony within a week.”

“Thank you. It has been an honor to serve under you, Commander.”

Upon hearing that, I promptly tried to leave, turning my back.

Life here wasn’t too hard, but I truly felt that managing the association as a noble suited me best.

As I hurried to leave, a resounding salute echoed from behind.

salute sound

“To Loyalty!”

I never expected to receive a salute of honor from someone as high-ranking as the division commander.

This person is truly one of a kind.

The officers serving under Duke Ducat were indeed fortunate officers.

“To Loyalty, I truly thank you, Commander.”

And thus, I moved to the capital to participate in the ceremony.

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