Chapter 41
Late at night, Sebastian's voice was heard.
"Young master, it seems His Highness the Second Prince has sent someone."
If it were a message from an ordinary noble, I would have said to check it in the morning unless it was very urgent.
Some chairman also said that people need to sleep well to work well.
No matter how busy, securing sleep time is essential, but…
"I'll change clothes first and come down. Serve our guest the best tea, no, coffee in our house."
The Second Prince, no, the Emperor using the Second Prince like a burner phone, wouldn't have sent an incompetent person.
Therefore, the person down there must be at least a close associate of the Emperor's close associate.
In company terms, he would be a noble with at least a director title in a large corporation.
"Treat him as politely as possible and prepare about 150g of coffee beans wrapped up."
When meeting high-ranking people, it's proper etiquette to deliver an appropriate gift (bribe).
If you don't follow this, you'll be branded as an ill-mannered bastard and might be deleted from this world at any time.
I immediately changed clothes and went downstairs.
I hope that the unofficial envoy brings some good news.
**
The person who came as an envoy was wearing clothes that clearly showed "I am a noble person".
The appearance of drinking coffee in a dignified posture while wearing precious clothes.
Is this what a real noble looks like?
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. I am Fabio de Medici."
The unofficial envoy put down his coffee and smiled faintly.
"I lost track of time eating cake and drinking coffee with a subtle yet deep aroma. And it's my fault for coming suddenly, not yours."
"Thank you for saying so."
"I'm late with introductions. I am Antonio de Alegrone, chamberlain of His Highness the Second Prince."
As far as I know, I heard the Alegrone family is one of the more powerful baron families.
However, as the prince's chamberlain, his actual power is above an ordinary baron.
The fact that such a person came directly means the Emperor has acknowledged my value to some extent, right?
"The reason I came like this today is to deliver His Highness the Second Prince's order."
Hearing those words, I straightened my posture.
Antonio lowered his voice and spoke with a cautious air.
"The Pereira Trading Company is selling steel to the Grand Duchy of Liguria."
Currently, the Tuscan Empire is not at war with other countries.
However, there are potential enemy countries.
According to the principle of befriending distant states while attacking the nearby ones, countries like the Grand Duchy of Millania and the Grand Duchy of Liguria that share borders with us.
Right now, there's no fighting because the balance between our Tuscan Empire and them is just right.
But we might fight at any time...
Selling strategic materials like steel to such guys? They've got some nerve.
"The Pereira Trading Company is now selling steel at prices 2-3 times higher than our empire's market price. It's a vile act that only those without, no, those without roots would do."
Even the head of our Medici family, who owns a huge trading company, opposed when I said I wanted to become a merchant, asking why I would do such a lowly job.
It's natural for Alegrone to click his tongue at merchants being lowly.
Even in 21st century Korea, there are many out-of-touch people who unconditionally say that sanitation workers, construction workers, and technicians who receive more money than ordinary office workers are lower than office jobs.
But since I'm a merchant in front of him, he probably said "those without roots" to be considerate of me to some extent.
Both he and I are second sons of baron families, young masters from noble families with solid roots.
"I don't intend to say anything about rootless guys pursuing profit. All they've learned is to rub their palms like flies trying to make money."
That gentleman, as the Second Prince's chamberlain, is performing the role of the Emperor's microphone.
In other words, Alegrone using such strong words means the Emperor is that angry about the actions of those Pereira guys.
'Surely he doesn't intend to order me to bury those guys?'
"However, it's hard to tolerate actions that strengthen potential enemy countries. Therefore, I'd like you to give them an appropriate punishment."
That's exactly the kind of words I hate most as someone receiving orders.
'Figure it out, do it well, precisely, cleanly and sensibly.'
Such instructions don't define the scope of how I should respond, and if things go wrong, it means I should take all the blame.
No matter how much a subordinate's merit is the superior's merit, and the superior's fault is the subordinate's fault, this is a bit much.
Even if my evaluation goes down a bit, I need to get precise instructions.
Otherwise, I'll be the only one taking the blame.
"How far does His Highness want me to go?"
"I clearly said to take care of it yourself, didn't I?"
Alegrone shrugged his right shoulder.
He looked at me while slightly curling the corners of his mouth.
"I am merely a tool of His Highness. If problems arise from interpreting orders on my own, I'll just be discarded, but I'm afraid mud might splash on His Highness."
I said that, but just try discarding me.
I'll immediately defect to the Kingdom of Lyon with the people in Bio village, Sebastian, and Chloe.
"Hmm, a very desirable attitude. Indeed, different from those rootless Pereira guys. This is why bloodline is important."
It's not because of good bloodline that people of high status are better than those of low status.
It's because they're placed in a situation where they can't help but be better due to a more comfortable environment and superior education.
'Still, it's not like I'm going to introduce democracy.'
So I just need to recruit outstanding talents regardless of status within the range I can.
When everyone else is considering status, if I alone don't, I can gather that many more talented people.
"His Highness just said to scare those Pereira guys. Don't let this issue surface unnecessarily."
"Is there an intention to protect the Pereira Trading Company?"
"The Pereira Trading Company has been part of the royalist faction from before."
I don't need to hear any more.
They're on the Emperor's side, and anyway, they didn't sell steel to an 'enemy country at war', so they'll let it slide this time.
"Just give them an appropriate warning. Enough to wake them up."
So he wants me to hit them hard on the back of the head without revealing the current smuggling?
Moreover, without revealing that I'm the one who did this.
His Majesty the Emperor is truly merciless.
Why is he trying to give such a difficult task to a young guy like me?
"If things go wrong, the imperial family will provide minimal protection."
He won't just suck the juice and discard me if I fail at an unreasonable task?
Instead, he's saying so prettily that he'll be a little disappointed if I fail.
"If you succeed, His Majesty will give you a very big opportunity. There's no reason for someone like you to be stuck at the bottom of nobility as a mere knight, is there?"
If I prove my ability, he'll throw me a viscount title and give me a chance to play a bigger role...
It's a very attractive story for me because I need to grow my weight class.
No, I can't refuse this to survive.
'If you won't be mine, then die!'
The Emperor wouldn't shout like that, but he'll try to kill me with similar logic.
"I accept the order."
"Your ambition reminds me of myself when I was young."
Sorry, but I'm dozens of times better looking than you...
It's a bit embarrassing to think this, but looking at your face, you'd never be able to date in Korea.
Alegrone patted my shoulder as he stood up.
"His Highness the Second Prince has high expectations for you. Please try not to disappoint him."
**
I said I'd teach those Pereira guys a lesson, but...
The Pereira Trading Company is among the ranks of great merchants even in the Tuscan Empire.
They just haven't bought a baron title because they're a bit unlucky.
"In terms of influence alone, they're no less than an ordinary baron. Even though they're just doing business."
They don't reveal all their abilities, but even from what's partially visible, you can guess their strength.
They run dozens of trading companies consisting of over dozens of people including guards, merchants, and porters.
They're guys who can survive by bribing high-ranking nobles with cash slaps even if they commit mistakes that might cost them their necks.
No matter how quickly my trading company is developing.
'I've just barely broken into the bottom of medium-sized enterprises, while they're a conglomerate group.'
Including the ironworks, I might be in the upper ranks of medium-sized enterprises, but since the production facilities and other assets and disposal rights are tied to the Duke. That's about it.
"So I need to be even more careful."
But just being careful doesn't solve everything.
"In the end, I need to find information that can deal a fatal blow to them without being caught, right? To do that, I have no choice but to get voluntary cooperation from the employees below."
Lower-level employees of the Pereira Trading Company might cooperate, but executives holding important information won't want to cooperate voluntarily.
They're executives and vassals of the Pereira family.
So it seems I might have to threaten them with a knife.
"Should I catch the smugglers directly?"
The most important thing here is this.
Just not getting caught.
Just as in 21st century Korea, even if I committed a crime, if it's not detected, a judge can't judge me.
In the Tuscan Empire too, if I have strong backing, I won't be punished for my crimes as long as I'm not caught.
And in my mind, the outstanding wisdom of a country full of hyenas that rapidly developed the whole world came to mind.
'What would the East India Company have done?'
They inherited all of England's wisdom and fought on the frontlines of the hyena country.
Those guys must surely have an innovative method that can be used in this situation.
After pondering like this, I came up with a wise method.
"Let's start by crushing those guys in this trading company who are committing illegal acts. If we beat them one by one, we'll find an answer."