Chapter 19
In the Tuscan Empire, the administrative procedure required to establish a trading company was very simple.
It was over once you filled out the required information on the trading company establishment permit.
Of course, you had to apply some "oil" in the form of bribes to make things run smoothly.
Our empire was a country where even when you died, if you were of low status, you had to pay a death tax and bribes to the government office.
With reality being like this, you had to accept it.
"Young Master Medici, Viscount Raviole said you may enter."
In Korea, you would have to wait for weeks after submitting documents.
However, in the Tuscan Empire, thanks to less centralization and documentation, procedures like background checks were completed in an instant.
As soon as you submitted the documents, if you just gave a small gift, it would pass quickly.
"I'm coming in."
After knocking and entering, the director sitting in the chair had a slightly displeased expression.
Even if they're nobles, couldn't they have bright expressions when working?
This was no different from 21st century Korean office workers.
"It seems like this will take a while, so sit down."
In our empire, establishing a trading company ends with just submitting one document.
Yet he says he'll review it over a long time? Something felt off.
Viscount Raviole, who received the document, read it intently as if he was going to dissect each letter.
"Hmm, at the beginning of the document, it should say 'by the will of the righteous Deus' instead of 'by the will of the holy Deus'. With such a flaw, it's difficult to accept..."
Even when writing legal contracts in our empire, you must always include content praising Deus or swearing by Deus.
Still, to nitpick over such a minor error in praising Deus.
He's already demanding a bribe.
It's dirty and petty, but I'll give it a go.
I politely handed over a pouch containing gold coins.
"This is a small token of sincerity, hoping to be of some help to the Viscount who is devoted to the empire."
"You didn't have to give this. Keep it."
The credibility of saying you don't have to give it there is at the level of the lie of elderly parents saying they should die now that they're old.
From my experience living in Korea, people who said they should die five minutes ago were taking tonics.
Who do you think wouldn't know that if I really didn't give it, you absolutely wouldn't accept the trading company establishment report?
"This is my pure intention."
The Viscount opened the pouch and smiled with satisfaction.
"Well, even imperial officials commonly make this level of mistake, so let's overlook it."
As expected, his words change after receiving a bribe.
"Upon close inspection, I found no major issues with the document."
"Thank you, so will you issue the trading company establishment permit now?"
Raviole shook his head at my words.
"However, I cannot issue the trading company establishment permit."
Does he mean he wants more bribes?
Have I ever seen such trash who seems to have left their conscience at home when coming to work?
People should keep some boundaries.
Moreover, you're part of Duke Visconti's faction.
"I'm full of desire to help a diligent and capable young man like you. But according to imperial law, nobles cannot own their own trading companies."
Duke Visconti also had a trading company he effectively owned, and Count Beauvant, whom I was indebted to before, similarly has a trading company.
Nobles above the rank of count generally have trading companies to "meet the consumption and needs within the family".
Well, in the case of such trading companies, their scale didn't reach that of mega trading companies that control the national economy.
If mega trading companies were like large corporations like Samsung or LG, trading companies owned by dukes are like mid-sized companies.
"In fact, 516 years ago, His Majesty Emperor Giuseppe the Great wrote in the imperial code that 'Nobles of the Tuscan Empire should not engage in trade and should not own trading companies.'"
I didn't graduate from law school to become an official.
But even the laws there, except for very special ones, wouldn't have an expiration date of less than 100 years.
Was this bastard using some magic to revive a mummy in a coffin?
At this point, even though it's not good to fight with a noble of higher rank than me, when the other party is openly picking a fight with me.
How can I avoid this? I have to confront him directly.
"Doesn't His Grace Duke Visconti already own a trading company?"
"No, this friend. You must not know because you're still young. That's a special case."
"I don't understand what's so special about it."
The Viscount also seemed to have nothing come to mind after saying that.
He started rolling his eyeballs back and forth for nearly a minute.
"That trading company is exceptionally close to His Grace the Duke, and because the empire's evil officials persecute merchants too much, they had no choice but to set His Grace as the nominal owner."
I was so dumbfounded I couldn't speak.
"It's an action stemming from a warm heart wanting to protect the people. But aren't you trying to set up a trading company to make money? Is that the same as this?! I'd like to give permission, but it's prohibited by imperial law. What can I do? Stop being unreasonable and go back."
Given how things have turned out, there's no other way.
And honestly, it's likely that people opposing me will emerge even from the same faction in this way.
Originally, those who do well become the target of envy, jealousy, and hostility from those around them.
"Then I'll be taking my leave now."
"I'm sorry I couldn't help."
Help my foot, you fed me nonsense using a law from 500 years ago that's now obsolete.
**
As I left the Commercial Law Department office, Sebastian and Chloe came to greet me.
"Young master, did the trading company establishment procedure go well?"
"The Viscount nitpicked using a law from 500 years ago. Sebastian."
Sebastian sighed and complained.
"You probably didn't do anything particularly wrong, young master. It seems they went too far."
Using an obsolete law, like saying in Boston, USA, that you can't take a bath without a doctor's permission, was indeed going too far.
I feel like I'm going to burst with indignation.
"There's no need to feel too wronged. It also means I've grown that much in stature."
Even if I didn't do anything wrong, the stronger and better I become, the more enemies I'll inevitably have around me.
The people around will think I'll grow bigger and threaten their livelihoods.
So even if I received unreasonable interference, it's easier on the mind to think like this.
'I've become such an impressive person.'
"As you say."
"And do you think I'm some scarecrow who'll just take it?"
Being denied the trading company establishment permit is actually a very trivial matter.
It's not like they tried to take something from me directly with a knife.
However, when it comes to human relationships, especially political issues, sometimes letting one small issue slide can often lead to enormous losses.
In human relationships, there are trash-like people who mistake kindness for rights.
In political issues, there are hyenas who think they can keep taking advantage because I don't retaliate.
Such trash is everywhere.
"And although I don't know who's opposing me, seeing such nitpicking over a trivial issue like establishing a trading company. Wouldn't there be some backing supporting the Viscount somewhere?"
A noble with a title wouldn't support the Viscount.
Those high-ranking people wouldn't gain anything by messing with me.
'I'm not at that level yet.'
Although I'm rapidly rising, I still can't compare to high-ranking people like barons who own entire cities.
"Indeed, to go to such lengths to create hostility, they must be providing enough benefits."
"First, I need to clearly know who the enemy is."
Whatever you do, understanding the situation is most important.
You need to know your situation to make meaningful efforts.
That's why doctors in any era first diagnose what the patient's illness is, right?
"Originally, I was going to give bonuses to the trading company employees and treat them to a company dinner. But things went wrong, Sebastian."
"That's unfortunate."
"I'm going to the back alleys with my bodyguards here. You take Chloe and go back home."
Even for Chloe, who lived as a serf, the back alleys of the Tuscan Empire weren't a very pleasant place to see.
People begging with a limb cut off, the moans of low-class prostitutes mixed with flattery heard from every corner of the alley.
It's a place where knife fights break out when people got bored.
Well, those guys weren't without common sense, so I'll probably be safe as long as I didn't provoke them.
"Isn't that too dangerous?"
"Look at my bodyguards' armor and tell me."
I'm practically the ruler of steel.
So I specially provided my hired mercenaries with plate armor at 1/3 of the market price.
Therefore, all my bodyguards would look like real knights on the outside.
And a trained knight in heavy equipment can face 20 ordinary people alone.
"...... Have a safe trip."
Slums, back alleys.
It's a neighborhood nobles always visit when they want to do dirty work. I wonder what kind of place it will be.