Chapter 49
Some time after completing the Emperor's secret task, I went to Florence Square, taking only Christina with me, not Chloe.
It's not that I wanted to date Christina instead of Chloe, but because I didn't want to show her the sight of someone's head being cut off.
"We will now execute the death sentence of Alfio Alfado!"
After this execution is over, we'll probably be able to have a serious conversation about what to do next.
Because Christina's thoughts will be sorted out too.
The task I've just performed is an unofficial mission that won't even be recorded.
It means that rewards in very clear forms like territory or titles can't be given.
I wonder what kind of reward they'll give that's not the kind nobles covet most.
The Emperor chuckled and said:
"What you've performed this time isn't an official mission. Neither the imperial family nor the empire has anything to do with the Pereira Trading Company accusation case. So it's impossible to bestow territory or titles."
Anyone who throws a tantrum asking for territory or titles in this situation without knowing that must have a problem with their intelligence.
I may not be a genius, but I'm not that stupid.
"Instead, I should give you a part of the assets of those Pereira guys that Judge Mancini is investigating... Let's see, what would be good?"
The Emperor quietly tapped his fingers on the desk in front of him.
After tapping his fingers a few times, he opened his mouth.
"Fabio, I hear you're building a port to turn your territory into a port city?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Since it's an unofficial matter, I can't give you territory or titles, but you've achieved merits, so I should give you something that will be helpful. I'll have to think for a moment."
It's already been a few months ago, but I brought shipwrights from Guillaume City, and started building a port by scraping together refugees and unemployed people from around...
By now, a small port where a few ships can be launched should be completed.
Also, the subjects I received from our brother Albert will soon come over.
When this matter is settled, I should manage the territory a bit.
No. Unlike other lords, the territory I manage is essentially like a production factory, so should I call it factory design?
"Ah yes, the Pereira Trading Company has many good large carracks. I'll generously bestow two of them, along with plenty of cannons and gunpowder."
The merchant ship I bought last time was a small merchant ship barely exceeding 100 tons displacement.
So I could buy it for a few hundred gold coins, but a large carrack exceeds 400 tons displacement and can be used as a warship if needed.
It costs at least 1,000 gold coins per ship, and if you load cannons, the price doubles.
'I've been bestowed with goods worth 4,000 gold coins.'
It's because the income I earn from the ironworks is so lucrative, but just considering this alone, I've made a really huge profit.
"And since you'll need to gather sailors and do other things to sail the ships, I'll additionally bestow 500 gold coins."
Both the Emperor and Duke Visconti always give me things so generously that it feels like they're giving more than necessary.
Giving a lot always means expecting a lot.
I should do my best to meet those expectations.
"And I'll bestow upon you a sword engraved with the imperial crest."
In dramas, we often see scenes where commanders-in-chief or knights who have achieved great merits receive precious swords.
Seeing such scenes, some people mistakenly think you can only receive a sword if you gain tremendous trust from your lord.
There are various types of sword bestowal.
Bestowing a sword close to supplies is just praise for fighting well, a sword engraved with the family crest means this guy is my vassal.
When representing the head of the family or showing unconditional trust, they bestow a precious sword engraved with the family crest, and so on.
The type of sword I received is the second one.
'It means this guy is protected by the Emperor, so don't touch him carelessly.'
"Wear it visibly near the Pereira mansion and go for a walk."
"I will obey your command."
If I go for a walk wearing this, Pereira's thoughts of messing with me will completely disappear.
People really have sense.
To go this far to protect his subordinate from potential harm.
When the Emperor shook the bell on the desk, a servant brought a precious sword with some silver decorations.
As soon as I saw it, I immediately knelt on one knee like during a knight's appointment ceremony.
"Receiving this means you are now my direct subordinate. You know well how valuable this is."
Even among barons of the same rank, your status differs depending on who your lord is.
A baron who is a direct vassal of the Emperor is higher in rank than a baron who is a vassal of a duke.
A similar thing applies to South Korean civil servants, where if the rank is the same, central government officials are generally one rank higher than local government officials.
"There needs to be a reason to bestow this, but what complicated reason is needed to give just one sword? I'll just give it to you on the grounds of commending your merits for the excellent efficacy of coffee and seaweed. On the surface, that is."
"I will strive to live up to Your Majesty's expectations."
"Good, do just that much. Don't take it easy though."
The Emperor seems to have made a joke in his own way because he's in a good mood, but it's really not funny at all.
I'd rather find it funnier if almonds became diamonds when they die.
"Lastly, is there anything you wish for?"
In the military, they say you can freely write whatever you wish for in letters from the heart or wish fulfillment.
If you believe that as it is, the rest of your military life becomes a thorny path.
So there are times when you should just keep your mouth shut even if you have a wish.
Now that I've achieved great merit, they'll try to grant anything as long as I don't cross the line, even if I ask for more.
They might even like it, saying it's an opportunity to erase their debt of gratitude.
'And there's just one more thing I need to take care of.'
"There's a lady who helped me identify the misconduct of the Pereira Trading Company this time."
The Emperor tilted his head.
"A lady? Not a man? If she's from a noble family, or even a family that can make a living, she wouldn't have learned anything except how to please her husband. This is quite unusual."
In the 21st century, job restrictions due to gender have disappeared to the extent that women can become executives of large companies, high-ranking officials, and even astronauts.
But that's the story of Korea, and in the Albania continent, male superiority and female inferiority are very distinct.
In noble families, it's to the extent that there's nothing a woman can do except become a good wife.
Even in open-minded families, they only allow women to study at most.
There are always a very small number of exceptions among nobles, so there are 'female knights' and 'female lords', but that's as rare as a middle school graduate passing the bar exam.
This might feel a bit awkward, but what can we do when this is the reality?
"In the Modina family, which had served as directors of the Pereira Trading Company for generations, they taught commerce, saying that even women could become merchants. So she was able to read and understand accounting ledgers and leave evidence."
"Well, even that Pereira Trading Company head probably never thought a woman could write accounting ledgers. Usually, they don't teach such things."
"Thanks to that, I received great help."
If it weren't for Christina, I would probably still be struggling to find clues to attack Pereira.
She's someone I can't help but be grateful to.
"In the Pereira Trading Company, a man named Alfado framed the then head of the Modina family and killed him, and now that family's honor has fallen to the ground. Although restoring honor won't bring back the dead, it seems it would be some comfort to the heart of the lady who helped me. Please allow the restoration of their honor and property."
The Emperor looked straight into my eyes and asked:
"The merit you've achieved is honestly not something that can be ended by giving a few ships and one sword. If you wish for something bigger, I could bestow territory later by creating another pretext."
It's an attractive offer.
But I can't seize the profits my partner should get by being blinded by the territory in front of me.
"I can't ignore the wish of a comrade who joined forces with me just because she's a lady from a fallen family. I'll just gratefully accept Your Majesty's intention."
A very satisfied smile appeared on the Emperor's face.
To the extent that I could feel a bit of warmth.
"I'll grant that wish. As soon as Judge Mancini pronounces the verdict in the High Court, the honor and property of the Modina family will be fully restored."
The Emperor made an expression as if something was lacking and added:
"No, for your sake, I'll personally write a letter of condolence to Lady Modina. Also including content praising her father."
That Emperor is really a political devil to a terrible degree.
My request to restore the Modina family not only has the Emperor executing justice by judging the evil Pereira.
It also has a considerable portion of trying to implant an image of protecting and cherishing the weak.
But adding the Emperor's personal letter on top of that?
Rumors will spread throughout social circles that our Emperor even comforts a mere merchant family's lady, and his honor will rise sharply.
"You may withdraw now. And I'll soon give you an opportunity to achieve military merit, so rest comfortably."
Military merit... He probably won't assign me as a commander, so what kind of work is he thinking of giving me?