NOVEL NEXT Chapter 72
The duke, seeing me, immediately started to play the fool and flaunted his authority.
“Other young barons can’t even request a private audience with me. But since you’re Fabio, I’m making an exception to meet with you. You’re aware of that, right?”
Someone who knows nothing would probably think, “What’s the big deal about meeting someone?”
But the workings of the world are not that simple.
Just having a business card from a judge or a prosecutor in my wallet drastically reduces the chances of being falsely accused by corrupt cops.
Even if I commit a crime, the police or others investigating me will scramble to find mitigating circumstances just because of my connections.
Especially in the Toscan Empire, just having a connection with a duke grants me a form of immunity.
As long as I’m not openly killing someone, the guards will probably turn a blind eye to quite a bit of wrongdoing.
If the duke himself steps in, even if I’ve committed murder, I might walk free without charges, as long as it’s not too overt.
Of course, engaging in such behavior would come back to bite me in the end, and I wouldn’t want to commit sins that one should not as a human.
“I should only think of it as a safety net.”
This is why, upon closer inspection, having a sudden private audience within half a day is a privilege.
“I apologize for bothering you, Your Grace.”
“It’s fine, since we know each other. Thanks to you, our faction has managed to properly put Duke Sforza in his place recently!”
I’ve heard that the Pereira Guild has some connection with Duke Sforza.
However, they’ve reportedly fallen from grace due to losing all military supplies.
Because of corruption related to military supplies, their reputation has hit rock bottom.
The muck surely splattered onto Duke Sforza, whom they are associated with.
“Their financial situation must be tough, too.”
“You young ones in our faction, well, if you’re as capable as you are, then you’re practically already an elder in our faction. Once you get married and become the head of a proper noble family, I’ll make sure to elevate you to a superior position, even if you’re still a young baron.”
In both Europe and Joseon, no one treats you like a proper adult until after you marry, even if you age a lot before.
In contrast, even if someone is younger, just by getting married and having children, they’re treated like an adult once they hit their late teens.
In a Visconti duke faction meeting, contribution to the faction takes precedence over titles.
However, generally, that contribution is proportional to title, so if I’m at the top…
“I’ll have earls and those aspiring to earldoms sitting next to me.”
“That’s too flattering.”
“You rushed to see me because something must be wrong, right? Go ahead and speak, problems faced by members of my faction are practically my problems too.”
In the medieval times, or rather our Albania Continent, things run similarly to how gangs operate.
If I liken it to the Yakuza, the duke is the boss, and I, as a young baron, am originally just a regular member.
When a member is in danger, the boss takes a sword and rounds up other executives to stomp the threat out—that’s a prerequisite for organized crime.
“The truth is, the Spice Guild has cut off sugar supplies to Cafe Medici starting today.”
Hearing that, the duke’s face stiffened.
“What kind of trashy, lowly merchants would pick a fight with you, knowing you haven’t directly interfered with their profits? That’s exceedingly bothersome.”
Among the guilds in Florence, the only ones with a justification to attack me outright is the Blacksmith Guild.
They’ve lost all control over steel production to me and Duke Visconti, completely wiped out their livelihood.
“Of course, the duke had me turn them into puppets of the Visconti family.”
Besides, even with a justified reason to hit someone, if I hit, I still must face charges of assault.
Moreover, the Spice Guild doesn’t even have a reason to fight me…
“That’s no different from random violence.”
“Well, if another merchant in our faction faced such treatment, it would be disappointing. But you and I are somewhat close, right?”
I developed a new seasonal technology to reap significant profits, and the duke successfully monopolized the steel that is the foundation of the country’s army.
“And unlike other guilds, isn’t the Spice Guild one that collapses if some merchants stop their supply? So if the Medici Baron even shows a hint of annoyance toward them, they wouldn’t just sit quietly.”
The duke clenched his teeth.
“I’m sorry for cursing the former Medici baron in your presence, but that man really should have raised his children properly! That Albert idiot couldn’t even help his brother, and he can’t even control the Spice Guild. How can the Medici baron family operate well?”
Our father was especially fond of his family compared to other nobles.
Is this the result of that?
“If the sugar supply to Cafe Medici is cut off, it’ll deal a heavy blow to you. I’ll sternly warn the Spice Guild and also need to have a serious word with that Albert fellow.”
While I can meet the duke without much pressure, Duke Visconti is a heavenly presence for an average baron like my brother.
Even if the duke just clears his throat, I’d feel chills down my spine.
If he were to come after me directly, it would surely create a mental trauma.
“Would it feel like a mere captain getting scolded by a division commander, or rather, a legion commander?”
Moreover, the fact that the legion commander personally scolded me would spread, adding an extra package of being grilled starting from the division commander.
Honestly, it would be nice if the duke could take care of this for me. However, that would mean I owe him politically.
Plus, if he’s bringing up ‘marriage’ explicitly here…
He must be trying to turn me into a slave bound by the golden chains of a political marriage!
“I can handle the fight with the Spice Guild myself. The baron can’t possibly be so crazy as to order harassment of his own brother, can he?”
As I asked him not to intervene, a hint of disappointment crossed the duke’s face.
“I’d like to offer a small gift this time, Your Grace.”
“Even in a bind, you’re still preparing to give me gifts first? You’re really something else.”
“It’s by your favor that I’ve been able to come this far, so even if my allegiance has transferred to His Majesty, I mustn’t forget my roots.”
The duke chuckled at my words.
“I’ll smuggle in sugar if I have to. And using this opportunity, I wish to secure land for sugarcane cultivation.”
“Isn’t there no place to cultivate sugarcane except for Medina Sultanate territory? I hope you don’t intend to start a war?”
I asked the duke and fetched a map from his office.
“Here, this is Rabat Island, taken from the infidels of the Sultanate, right? I was told by the infidel merchants I trade coffee with that this place has the best climate conditions for cultivating sugarcane.”
“But that land belongs to the Deus Knights, doesn’t it?”
The Deus Knights, while being called a knighthood, are more like a notorious pirate gang renowned for kidnapping and selling infidels into slavery.
“Adding religious fanaticism to that, they say it’s impossible to conquer even with a large army.”
“Those zealots are still human. Without money, food, and weapons, they won’t be able to teach the infidels the teachings of Deus. And they always suffer from a lack of funds.”
Rabat Island relies heavily on plundering, contributing 95% towards its GDP.
In some ways, it’s a place like Somalia, where it’s impossible for conditions to be decent.
“I plan to open up a livelihood for them in exchange for cultivating sugarcane and pledging loyalty to His Majesty. Then, Your Grace, you’ll gain the achievement of expanding your territory without shedding a drop of blood, while I can independently secure the sugar needed for operating Cafe Medici.”
The duke stared at me, momentarily frozen.
“Just granting me proxy rights would suffice, Your Grace. The rest I can handle myself.”
I can fulfill what they desire.
So this deal is 99% likely to succeed.
The duke opened his desk and handed me a ring.
A silver seal ring bearing the insignia of the duke’s lineage.
This symbolizes my proxy authority.
“Even in a crisis, you’re looking for ways to help me. This is quite absurd.”
“It’s only natural for me to do so.”
“Now let’s see how you do. Young Baron Medici, you haven’t betrayed my trust before, so I believe in you again this time.”
“Thank you, I must go now, as there’s urgency.”
As I spoke and tried to leave the office, the duke wore a curious smile.
“I hope my granddaughter ends up with a person just like you.”
……. I must have heard wrong?
After Fabio left the office, the duke’s chancellor, Count Latina, entered.
“It seems Your Grace particularly cares for young Baron Medici.”
Duke Visconti chuckled.
“You and I, we couldn’t accomplish even a fraction of what he’s done at that age. Yet, that rascal Fabio, even when his hand is full with us throwing impossible tasks at him, only brings back the best outcomes.”
“I was indeed amazed when he developed the new steel formula, but when I delved into the military supply process, it sent chills down my spine.”
Count Latina reminisced about Fabio’s achievements.
Catching various corrupt practices in military supplies to improve soldiers’ meals and cut costs is something a ‘capable merchant’ could pull off.
However, raising the quality of meals while cutting costs, without antagonizing the merchants deeply tied to the military supply interests?
“That was nonsense.”
Then, managing two divisions’ military supplies at such high quality while maintaining low prices, all from a young noble?
“Especially getting them ready for military supply within just two months was a task a seasoned noble would abandon.”
The duke chuckled.
“Of course, it’s hard for a person always to choose the right path, isn’t it? I felt terribly dismayed when His Majesty suggested the ‘strengthening of imperial power’ to me.”
Raising the imperial power reduces the standing of nobles like the duke.
It’s like water flowing from the top to the bottom.
“But I felt that it was an unnecessary worry.”
“Why do you think that?”
“They say he will allow his achievements to expand territories without spilling a drop of blood. I wouldn’t believe such words from another young man, but I can trust Fabio.”
People prove their trustworthiness through achievements.
Fabio de Medici, though just 22 years old, has established feats worthy to be considered a senior member within a faction.
He monopolized steel production, giving him the ability to influence the military and dealt a serious blow to the enemy faction’s funding.
By fulfilling all military supplies, he was granted the youngest appointment as a major, making generals beg to at least allow him to be an army quartermaster.
“I will need to ask later. If His Majesty grants absolute power, what benefits would he provide me?”
Count Latina chimed in.
“I have no clear guess either. But it’s truly disappointing.”
“What’s that?”
“I do have a granddaughter, but she’s too young.”
“Isn’t that how life is?”
The duke, despite jesting earlier, wore a contrasting expression.
“I’d be grateful if we could secure our lineage more firmly. How wonderful it would be if Fabio personally assisted that Alfred fellow!”
“The young duke is exceedingly competent, isn’t he?”
Alfred de Visconti is indeed quite capable.
But the more outstanding someone is, the better.
“Count Latina, possessing more capable individuals is always better.”
And to his most trusted subordinate, he expressed his thoughts.
“If your son and Fabio support Alfred in becoming Duke Visconti, the Sforza faction wouldn’t even be able to take a breath. I’m looking forward to that.”
With that, the duke rose from his seat.
“It’s too valuable to pass on to His Majesty.”