Chapter 47
When I stood up to him confidently, wrinkles formed between Pereira's brows.
"As an adult who has lived longer than you, young master, and as a great merchant, don't you understand that I'm especially considering you out of a desire to save a newly growing merchant?"
What a load of bull about consideration.
If I withdraw the lawsuit, Judge Mancini's investigation, which he's staking his promotion on, will lose its driving force, so you're thinking the punishment for this case will be reduced, aren't you?
Why are you dressing it up with pretty words about wanting to save a new sprout?
Even in 21st century Korea, when a newly rising supernova appears, high-ranking people or company chairmen first try to trample them.
Do you think it would be different here, or rather, don't you think I know it would be even worse?
There's a limit to looking down on people.
"Let me tell you coldly. You opposing me now is like a rabbit trying to fight a lion."
Seeing you pretend to care for me while calling for the withdrawal of the lawsuit, I understand this too.
That gentleman must have taken a huge political and economic hit.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have come personally to pretend to coax and persuade me like this.
"I won't deny it, Director Pereira."
Well, it's true that there's a huge difference in power between me and the Pereira Trading Company right now.
"But you don't think I've come this far at this age, in such a short time, just because of good luck, do you?"
If a beginner makes money from stock investment by chance just once, that's luck.
If it's repeated two or three times, it's not luck but skill.
Moreover, I haven't just made investments that work out by sheer luck, but have succeeded in business several times, so it can't be purely luck.
'I shouldn't become arrogant, but I'm quite skilled too.'
"His Majesty the Emperor is behind me."
Hearing those words, Pereira gritted his teeth.
However, he didn't refute it as nonsense.
As befitting someone in the ranks of great merchants, his mind must work well, and he must have made a rational judgment in his head instantly.
The conclusion he reached must be that my words are true.
"So that's why a youngster like me threw down the gauntlet to an empire's great merchant like the Pereira Trading Company. Otherwise, would I be crazy enough to fight with the Director? If I were such a stupid and simple person, I wouldn't have risen to my current position."
Pereira, unable to get angry anymore, now sighed as if dejected.
"His Majesty, why on earth..."
Seeing him act so wronged reminded me of what an acquaintance who was a prison guard once said.
'Criminals don't repent even if you put them in jail. Eight or nine out of ten just curse, saying the punishment from the country is too harsh for the crime they committed, which is only as big as their pinky finger.'
This guy just didn't go to prison, but he committed a crime that deserves more than having his head cut off, right?
"And this is a secret order from His Majesty."
Then I quietly presented the 'non-existent imperial edict' that Alegrone, who was an unofficial envoy, had given me.
I didn't hand it over for him to read.
It's more effective to threaten him by reciting the contents one by one myself.
"His Majesty knows that the Pereira Trading Company has smuggled large quantities of our empire's steel to potential enemy countries like the Grand Duchy of Millania and the Grand Duchy of Liguria."
"But we're not directly at war with them, are we?"
"If you had sold large quantities of steel to an enemy country we're at war with, you would naturally be tried under military law. Since that's not the case, isn't this trying to resolve things through gentlemanly dialogue?"
Even though this fantasy world lacks human rights awareness and is barbaric compared to 21st century Korea, it's common sense that someone who helped the enemy country should be killed.
Even in Korea, although it's never been applied under military law, if war breaks out, people who helped the enemy would probably be shot after a quick court-martial.
"We're just not at war with them now, but we might go to war with those guys in a few years, or maybe even within a year. Then the steel you exported would be used to slaughter our troops as powerful weapons and armor, wouldn't it?"
Pereira's face turned pale white hearing those words.
His hands are even trembling, is he going to wet himself at this rate?
"His Majesty is very uncomfortable with this."
This is my speculation, but the Emperor probably wants to give those Millania bastards a proper education (war).
So he's trying to tighten internal discipline.
He's probably trying to step on the Pereira Trading Company because they're acting in a way that helps potential enemies?
"That's why he gave me this secret order directly. And this is also His Majesty's mercy."
It's quite absurd to say this in front of someone who has suffered enormous losses, though not to an incalculable degree.
But this really is mercy.
Because if the Pereira Trading Company weren't part of the royalist faction, the Emperor might have uprooted them completely.
Isn't it a favor to tie someone who deserves execution to the execution frame, show them the executioner's sword dance, and then release them?
'If Pereira were innocent, it would be a different story.'
Honestly, this was too much even for greed for money.
To try to profit by selling large quantities of steel to potential enemy countries.
They should have just smuggled and sold to places like the Kingdom of Lyon or the Kingdom of Granada.
"If this issue had surfaced after war broke out with the two grand duchies, you might have been punished under military law, Director."
In other words, you could have lost your head.
And in 21st century trials, even if a death row inmate is executed, their property can be inherited by their family.
But in the Tuscan Empire, where punishment is believed to be best when it's fierce, it's basic to impose confiscation of all property along with the death sentence.
And for upper class and above, all family property is primarily tied to the 'head of the family', so...
It means the country can confiscate the trading company with reasonable grounds.
Well, you might think it doesn't make sense to judge something sold before the war based on when the war broke out. But that's the reality.
"His Majesty is merciful, so he doesn't want this matter to surface."
Pereira, who had come to our house just to kill me at first.
He's now in a position where he has no choice but to wear a dog collar, open his belly, and bark at my every word.
So he begged me like a dog.
"What on earth can I do to escape His Majesty's wrath?"
"Just don't sell steel to the Grand Duchy of Millania and the Grand Duchy of Liguria anymore."
The Emperor didn't ask me for anything else besides this.
There's no need to ask for anything else.
"And it should be enough if you simply accept the punishment you'll receive for the military supply corruption filed with the High Court this time."
This is the extent of the Emperor's demand for me to intimidate you.
Therefore, from now on, it's possible for me to exercise some discretion.
As long as it doesn't go against the Emperor's mood and orders.
Pereira pleaded with me.
"Isn't there any way for me to overcome this crisis?"
"You just need to accept the punishment obediently."
Military supply corruption, even on the smallest scale, is a crime that starts with at least cutting off an arm or leg when filed with the High Court and found guilty.
But you even fed rotten food to division soldiers?
This is really hopeless.
"Why are you so cold-hearted? If His Majesty intended to kill me, he would have charged me with the crime of smuggling steel too. The fact that he buried it shows he's being merciful to me, doesn't it?"
I deliberately stared at Pereira leisurely, as if letting rice soak.
Just looking at his eyes calmly is enough.
Honestly, continuously staring into a man's eyes is not a reward but rather uncomfortable for me unless I'm gay...
But if you want to make money and make a living, you have to be prepared for this. In return, I'm going to extort a lot.
"From what I hear, Alphad, the director of the Pereira Trading Company, acted independently out of greed, am I wrong?"
Just because I said it like that doesn't mean I really believe Pereira is innocent.
I'm just saying it in a roundabout way.
That if you purge one director for this case and beg sincerely, there won't be any more sword-wielding from the Emperor.
"Yes, this case was also something that Alphad bastard did without my knowledge. I will strictly control it."
If we stop here, there's no direct benefit I can gain.
Now comes the real main event, it's time to receive compensation for my work.
"But I don't think His Majesty and Judge Mancini will think that way. And it's hard for a mere low-ranking noble nobody with just a knight title to go and persuade them."
Just as in Korea, it's common sense to buy stamps to send letters, it's basic etiquette to give bribes if you want to deliver the right message to high-ranking people.
Moreover, since you're contacting distinguished people who are difficult to communicate with, you should give more commission.
"Please, I beg you."
"No, although I received His Majesty's order. Would His Majesty listen to the words of a mere knight nobody?"
He'll listen very well.
Because young people who successfully carry out difficult secret orders are generally favored by the Emperor.
Pereira knows that very well too.
"I'll give you a luxury mansion in Florence!"
He seems to know well that I have a lot of money.
He's not trying to make up for it with money.
'A luxury mansion in Florence would be worth about a thousand gold coins?'
Considering that in Florence, you can't just build a luxury mansion with money alone due to housing site issues... it's quite a good bribe.
However, I pretended to get up from my seat.
"Come again next time."
"Two luxury mansions! I'll give you two!"
"Try contacting His Majesty directly yourself."
There's no way he'll forget his grudge against me just because he's begging here now.
We can never be friends.
So if I'm going to extort now, I should do it very thoroughly.
"I don't need luxury mansions. Instead, give me the Friulano Winery owned by the Toscana Trading Company and the vineyards there."
The Friulano Winery is famous for producing premium wine ranked in the top ten in the Tuscan Empire.
In terms of value, it's naturally incomparable to one or two luxury mansions.
"That's a bit..."
Hearing those words, I shook my head.
"Then do you intend to let His Majesty continue to misunderstand?"
I can guarantee one thing for sure.
The Emperor doesn't intend to kill Pereira.
But what if I report that Pereira's repentance is insufficient, using my position of having received a secret order?
The righteous Judge Mancini of the High Court would execute justice to the point of cruelty.
To the extent that handing over the winery to me now would seem like nothing.
Tears dripped from Pereira's eyes.
He clenched his fists so tightly that blood was even slightly coming out of his hands.
"I'll give it to you, but please convey it well to His Majesty."
"Is there any doubt about that?"