Chapter 45
Sebastian asked in the carriage.
"Young master, are you really going to sue the Pereira Trading Company in court? Even if it's by His Majesty's order, this is too dangerous."
In any era or world, filing a lawsuit is seen as declaring war, saying "let's fight to the death" with the other party.
Suing the Pereira Trading Company would be like saying let's have an all-out war in roundabout terms.
If I fight head-on with the Pereira Trading Company, a giant in our empire's economy, I'll definitely lose ten out of ten, a hundred out of a hundred times.
"It is dangerous. But how can I take back what I've already done?"
The Pereira Trading Company and I have already crossed a river of no return.
So they'll surely try to gather information to kill me or try some tricks.
I can bet a million won, no, a thousand gold coins on this.
Because I'm confident I'll win no matter what.
"And if I disobey the secret order, not only I but the Medici baron family might have their title confiscated."
Since it's a secret order, the Emperor won't openly say he'll ruin our family because Fabio didn't attack the Pereira Trading Company after hearing my words.
However, if a high-ranking person wishes, reasons to strip titles will arise according to the principle of how crimes and evidence are created.
"Then couldn't you go meet the head of the Pereira Trading Company and use this as leverage to talk?"
It sounds like a good idea.
Rather than fighting a huge enemy head-on, using the opponent's weakness to resolve the issue through talk, how nice it sounds.
But isn't that thinking too naive?
"Peace might be maintained for a while after talking. But will the Pereira guys really want to keep me alive when I hold their fatal weakness? If it were me, I'd try to assassinate or do something when the Emperor's eyes are briefly away."
I've seen this kind of writing on the internet:
'If you kill everyone around so there's no one to testify that you killed, it's assassination.'
It's nonsense that would make active assassins or special agents faint if they heard it. But it's not completely off the mark.
If there's a risk of being reported, killing the person who might report cleanly removes the possibility of being dragged to court.
Because you can completely eliminate the risk of detection like an assassin who wiped out everyone around.
"So it's right to report the Pereira Trading Company now. We need to show them that I can deal an effective blow to secure our safety."
Bullies generally pick on easy targets, innocent people.
But what if that easy target can't hold back their anger anymore and tries to beat the bully to death, or at least persistently reports to the guidance counselor?
They realize that bullying someone can also harm themselves and stop bullying.
Of course, it's not because the bullies suddenly reformed, but because human instinct to avoid injury or disadvantage kicks in.
If I sue the Pereira Trading Company in court based on the evidence Christina gave and deal them a big blow, they won't look down on me at least.
If they learn that there's also the Emperor's tacit approval and secret order, they definitely won't think of messing with me carelessly.
Sebastian nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, even thieves and thugs on the street only bully weak people who they think can't harm them. And if that weak person draws a knife with killing intent, they generally stop."
"That's exactly the life wisdom we need to show."
"You're really amazing, young master. You're so calm even when facing a strong enemy. You don't show any signs of fear at all."
Honestly, I'm scared to fight against a huge enemy like Pereira.
However, I know that if I make even a small misjudgment while being consumed by fear, I'll lose everything.
I'm forcing myself to cool my head and fight to survive.
I'm doting on Chloe to relieve the stress from that, that's all.
The coachman's voice was heard from outside.
"We've arrived at Baron Mancini's mansion."
It seems the time to face off is approaching.
"Then I'll be going, Sebastian."
"Yes, take care."
And I got out of the carriage, carrying the pre-written lawsuit and organized evidence myself.
**
Of course, Baron Mancini didn't welcome me.
"What urgent business do you have to ask to see me at this hour? It's incredibly rude."
"I'm sorry. But it's too urgent and important."
"You're neither my vassal nor subordinate, and there's no relationship between us, so what important business could there possibly be?"
As he said, we really have no relationship at all.
It's more distant than a distant relative's in-law, so that says it all.
Nevertheless, instead of chasing me away, he looked at my waist or bag.
He probably means I should show proper financial sincerity if I came urgently?
'But now there's something more important than money.'
"I apologize, Judge Mancini. I've come to report a crime that's eating away at the empire."
In 21st century South Korea, prosecutors generally direct case investigations and indictments, while judges make rulings.
However, in the Tuscan Empire, on-site investigations are done by guards or soldiers belonging to territories, while indictments and rulings are made by judges.
It's really tremendous power when you think that holding indictment and judgment power can make even an innocent person a 'criminal'.
"If you want to report a crime, come when the court opens! What's this noise about knocking on doors at this late hour?"
"This isn't a simple matter."
Saying that, I handed Mancini the evidence and lawsuit I had prepared.
Baron Mancini's eyes widened as he read the first line of the lawsuit I handed over.
"You're going to report the Pereira Trading Company? Are you crazy?!"
"I'm in my right mind."
"These days, your name is spreading in social circles, and your trading company and territory are growing well, so you seem to not know how high the sky is. The Pereira Trading Company has power that even ordinary barons would envy. Given the chance, they could easily obtain a baron title like your family's founder and have more left over."
A knight's title is as easy to obtain as the 'honorary official title' that most upper-class people had in the late Joseon period, without exaggeration.
A baron title requires tremendous wealth, ability, and connections with powerful people to obtain...
But it corresponds to a title that can be obtained with just money if lucky, like how zaibatsu like Mitsubishi obtained baron titles even during the period when idiots claiming to be the Empire of Japan were in power.
'Of course, having a lot of money means you need to be at least the level of a major company chairman in Korea.'
Mancini slammed the desk after hearing my words.
"What good is there in fighting such a big shot? Do you live with your liver outside your body?!"
"Would I recklessly charge in if I were crazy? There's a reason for everything."
Saying that, I pointed with my finger to the most important part of the lawsuit.
"First, the Pereira Trading Company committed intolerable military supply corruption against the imperial army. And I have secured testimony and records written by the sole survivor of the Modina family, who was a director of the Pereira Trading Company."
"To replace the pickled herring for soldiers to eat with rotten ones. And equipment and pack horses used for transport, even donkeys? It's not something a human would do. Indeed, merchants are so base."
The fact that he's starting to sympathize with my words means Baron Mancini has acknowledged that what I'm reporting isn't completely far-fetched.
When persuading people, overcoming the first hurdle is the hardest.
If we've come this far, it's smooth sailing from here.
"The current mayor of Florence and a former division commander are involved in this corruption. No matter how good a lawyer they use or how much cooperation they get from various ministers, it will be difficult to get away with innocence."
The Tuscan Empire is surprisingly a country where false accusation laws are applied very strictly.
No, strictly speaking, if a noble or someone with equivalent influence like a merchant is falsely accused, the judge's head is cut off.
Of course, the head here means position, but sometimes it's separated in the physical sense.
"The charges are certain, but why on earth are you trying to make an issue of this? Aren't you and the Pereira Trading Company not competitors?"
Hearing those words, I quietly pointed to the sky.
A non-verbal communication method that can be understood without words.
"...... Well, for a talent like you. Alright, I'll take responsibility and indict this case. You can go now."
Honestly, even just being indicted will cause considerable damage to the Pereira family.
But since we're doing it, shouldn't we do it thoroughly?
We need to teach them a proper lesson when we can beat them once so they won't think of messing with us.
"This case is just not being directly intervened from above, but it's being taken as a very serious matter. Therefore, if you impose heavy punishment on the Pereira Trading Company in this lawsuit..."
I cut off my words at a tantalizing moment.
"Judge Mancini will gain a reputation as a righteous judge who doesn't bow to power and takes risks for the empire. Of course, those above will look favorably on it too."
Mancini gulped.
"As a nobility of the robe, isn't it about time you rose to senior judge of the high court? It's not for a mere knight like me to mention, but those above might see it that way."
Nobility of the robe, unlike territorial nobility like me, are high-ranking official nobles who only receive titles and pensions.
And since the pension they receive isn't enough to maintain their dignity, they naturally have to receive bribes from territorial nobility and merchants...
'I heard the amount of gifts received increases tenfold as you go up.'
"This is an opportunity for both of us to prove our loyalty to His Majesty."
Hearing those words, Mancini grasped my hand tightly.
"Let's get along well from now on."
And not long after, I was able to hear the news that the righteous Judge Mancini had exposed the evil deeds of the wicked Pereira Trading Company.
The social circles were ablaze with this unbelievable news.