Chapter 76. Righteous Tax Farmer (1)

The day after meeting the Duke, I visited the High Court.

Just as judges and prosecutors are the most influential among civil servants in any country, whether Korea or America, in our Tuscan Empire too, judges have the strongest power.

Among the judges with the greatest power, the High Court is well-known.

'It's like an institution combining the Supreme Court, some National Assembly powers, and the National Tax Service.'

"I came to see Baron Mancini, could you relay the message?"

Hearing my words, a low-ranking official working at the High Court asked:

"Baron Mancini, ah. You want to see Chief Justice Mancini? He's such a busy person with public affairs, you need to tell us a few days in advance to meet him. So I could help you make an appointment..."

Judging by his appearance, he looked like nothing more than a clerk nobody of the High Court.

He's saying he won't even relay the message that I want to meet Baron Mancini unless I give him a gift, to me, a viscount.

Wow, I really feel the difference in class between the High Court and other imperial administrative agencies.

Even civil servants of influential agencies like the Commercial Law Department basically bow to high-ranking people like viscounts.

"If you say Viscount Fabio de Medici who reported the Pereira Trading Company's corruption wants to see him, he'll come running barefoot."

Thanks to reporting the Pereira Trading Company's corruption, Baron Mancini was instantly promoted to 'Chief Justice'.

In imperial civil service ranks, it's level 2, but in some protocols, he receives treatment equivalent to a vice minister as 'High Court Chief Justice'.

Realizing the sin of treating such a person's benefactor carelessly, the clerk tried to kneel.

I stopped him moderately since receiving gifts isn't any special insult.

"Just relay the message."

"It seems Chief Justice Mancini's schedule just opened up. I'll guide you right away."

The clerk guided me sincerely while sweating cold sweat.

"This is the Chief Justice's office."

"Thank you. You can go now."

However, the clerk didn't leave his spot and carefully said to me:

"I committed a great act of rudeness. So how should I apologize..."

I know well that civil servants' salaries here are terribly low.

In the Albania continent, without much exaggeration, even a 9th grade civil servant has higher status than a doctor in South Korea.

Converted to Korean money, you need to receive over 10 million won to maintain your social face.

But these guys' pay is half the salary of low-ranking craftsmen working in the city.

'They have to work while making up the rest with bribes.'

It's not like he directly harmed me, and this much happens routinely.

Forgiving such minor rudeness would be good for my reputation too.

"I'll just forgive you, so don't do it next time."

"Thank you, Viscount! Thank you so much!"

Then I immediately knocked on the office door.

"This is Viscount Fabio de Medici. I'd like to see Chief Justice Mancini, please relay the message."

It's called the chief's office, but inside that office, High Court judges will be swarming.

Even if lower employees don't know, each judge is a high-ranking person, so it's right for me to use honorifics.

After a little time passed, the door opened and Baron Mancini welcomed me with a smile.

"Oh, you? No, isn't it Viscount Medici? Wow, you seem to have grown taller compared to three months ago?"

"Is that so?"

"You've become more handsome and dashing. Well, come inside first. Hey, bring two cups of coffee with sugar here! It's an important guest, so brew coffee with those beans I cherish!"

As Chief Justice of the High Court, exaggerating a bit, even hereditary viscounts can't treat him carelessly.

A being who can become a 'grim reaper' if you're caught as a criminal.

With such a high-ranking person welcoming me so happily, all surrounding gazes focused on me.

"I heard Viscount Medici was young, but to think he was this young."

"He has no flaws except not being married."

"Should I try to make a connection using his relationship with the Chief Justice?"

Usually, High Court judges at this level have no need to approach first and say pleading words to mere viscounts.

Because they have absolute power guaranteed by the Emperor.

'With prosecution rights, indictment rights, and judicial rights all in hand, they can even execute someone quickly after catching them.'

They don't usually do such things because it becomes troublesome if caught.

The important thing is that, just like having nuclear weapons makes others tense, these guys have legal power to do that.

Entering Baron Mancini's private room, two cups of coffee were placed.

"Whew, so what brings you here?"

"The spice guild bastards have imposed a sugar sales ban on Cafe Medici."

Hearing my story, the Baron exploded in anger.

"Like other guild masters, but those spice bastards are trash who even deal with infidels, I was grinding my teeth at them. They dare touch you? This is no different from provoking me!"

Both of us, no, other high-ranking people all know this story.

Baron Mancini might not have risen to High Court Chief Justice if things had gone normally.

Even if he rose, he would have had to fill 5 more years of service time to aim for it.

But by reporting the Pereira military supply case this time, he suddenly became a righteous judge and was fast-tracked to 'Chief Justice'.

'So how can he not be grateful to me?'

"Just now, that Judge Andante fellow under me was singing about wanting a promotion. I should have him thoroughly shake down those spice guild bastards to make some achievements."

It's not regrettable at all, but now those spice guild bastards are dead.

Even large corporations raise their hands and feet and get shaken down until dust flies on a rainy day when prosecutors and the National Tax Service join hands for 'tax investigation cum search and seizure'.

Sending out a High Court judge with both prosecutor and judge powers, moreover one desperate for promotion?

'They can prepare the funeral.'

But thinking carefully, that seems a bit too merciful.

Just a 'tax investigation' for those who tried to properly screw me over.

"Since I'm helping you, I'll come eat at your house sometime later. Prepare well."

I shook my head at those words.

"I'd like to move a bit myself instead of that Judge Andante."

"...... Are you thinking of becoming nobility of the robe? How do you intend to wield public power?"

If I say I'll become nobility of the robe, the Emperor would probably cry tears of joy.

Like King Sejong finding Jang Yeong-sil who he could use until the East Sea dries up and Mt. Baekdu wears away.

But while I don't mind using people, I don't want to be ground in a millstone.

"Please sell me one tax farmer position targeting the spice guild. It's about time for the auction to come up anyway, isn't it?"

The administrative system of the Albania continent is modernized in some aspects, but incredibly primitive in others.

The most representative is High Court judges holding both prosecution and judicial rights simultaneously.

'It's actually more surprising that the feudal system is still running.'

But the most primitive is the tax farmer system.

Selling the country's most important function to private individuals for money, the person who came up with this system is truly human trash.

If he's in heaven, he should be thrown into Satan's mouth.

Baron Mancini sighed.

"You know too, don't you? There are so many people aiming for tax farmer positions that even High Court judges find it hard to insert their relatives and friends carelessly. It's not that I don't trust your abilities, but if this gets caught, His Excellency the Florence High Court Chief Justice will dismiss me!"

The Florence High Court Chief Justice is the head of High Court judges overseeing high courts nationwide.

A key position that can't be held unless you have a count or higher title among nobility of the robe, or are the head of a count family favored by the king.

A monster with power second only to the chancellor and almost equal to a duke.

Before such a person, a chief justice is a pitiful existence like a candle in the wind.

"You don't distrust my abilities, do you? And do you think I'm doing this without any plans?"

I handed the Baron a certificate stamped with Duke Visconti's seal.

"His Grace the Duke takes responsibility for this matter."

The Baron's pupils shook as if seeing a pledge of full responsibility from the Duke for the first time.

If someone asks how powerful the effect of that pledge is.

'It's like giving a guarantee for business.'

"It's a letter of guarantee. And Chief Justice..."

I whispered in Mancini's ear.

"Honestly, it's hard to rise above with a baron title of nobility of the robe, isn't it? But if His Grace the Duke pushes you, you could aim for Chief Justice of other cities' High Courts."

The head of a High Court, in other words, you can wield prosecution and judicial rights in other cities, killing those who should be killed and saving those who should be saved, while making a fortune.

"You should start rising up after being Chief Justice for 3-4 years. Me too."

Honestly, even if I stay in my current position, there's nothing particularly uncomfortable about living.

I'm loved by a beauty who seems like a truckload of men would try to get her phone number just by walking around casually dressed.

If I do well, I could have such beauties as flowers on both hands.

Money? Unlike other nobles, I have no debts, so there's no problem living.

But this era is too boring to live without dreams of rising up.

Because there are no computers or TVs.

"His Majesty desires to strengthen royal authority. Don't you want to become a tool to achieve that purpose?"

The Duke's letter of guarantee, trust in me.

When these two situations combined, Baron Mancini made a big decision.

"The auction for the spice guild tax farmer position starts at 4,000 gold coins now. If you prepay just 8,000 coins, no, 7,000 coins, I'll give that position to you even if I have to kneel and beg His Excellency the Chief Justice. Just don't forget me."

There's an old saying:

'If you want to go far, go together with friends.'

Yes, Baron Mancini, let's work together for a long time.

And spice guild master who interfered with my cat play with Chloe, you bastard won't die comfortably.