Chapter 9
Duke Visconti smiled at the man in front of him.
"Archbishop of Florence, is that true? Did Fabio really dominate Christian in the church trial?"
The Archbishop nodded in affirmation upon hearing those words.
"When I heard the news that the trial had begun, I arrived a little late trying to make it look like I was hurrying to stop this unjust trial. But when I arrived at the courtroom, I heard a young man's voice passionately arguing from outside the door."
"So that was Fabio."
"Yes, from what I heard."
The Archbishop relayed all the information he had gathered to the Duke without missing a single detail.
At first, the Duke laughed heartily, thinking that despite his life being in danger, this madman still refused to beg and insisted on negotiating proudly.
If such a confident and rational fellow were to join his ranks, he would surely be helpful in defeating the Sforza ducal family.
However, as the story continued, the smile gradually disappeared from the Duke's face.
It wasn't because he was so narrow-minded as to be jealous of his subordinate's competence.
It was because Fabio de Medici's actions in this trial were surprisingly unrealistic.
"So you're saying that Fabio dominated Christian in the church court?"
The Duke let out a hollow laugh.
"You don't seem like the type to lie about such things. It's hard to believe. Is it really true?"
"I saw it with my own eyes. Fabio had already swayed all the public opinion among the spectators, and the Assistant Bishop couldn't find any fault with him."
What Fabio had done appeared like this to the Archbishop and the Duke:
A knight who had received harsh training to become a knight since childhood.
Moreover, it was like a 10-year-old child fighting with a tree branch against a powerful, renowned knight in full armor on horseback, and winning.
In a normal case, the child would lose 1 million times out of 1 million fights.
What Fabio had done was achieve victory in an impossible fight without even attempting to run away.
"When I was his age, I was only worried about how to lift a maid's skirt. But this fellow has written a legend at just 20 years old. It makes my own sons look pathetic."
The Duke slumped his shoulders.
While Fabio's success was beneficial for the ducal family as a whole, it made his own children look lacking...
As a father, it made him feel a bit uncomfortable.
Seeing the mood turn gloomy, the Archbishop made a clumsy joke.
"To speak of your youthful days in front of me, a clergyman. You've committed the sin of lust, so you'll need to make a confession."
Normally, the Duke would have said something like:
'Doesn't hearing confession result in a lot of donations? Can you make it a bit cheaper?'
However, the Duke wasn't in the mood for that.
"I don't feel like it right now. Are the rumors spreading well?"
"Of course. I've ordered this story to be spread and preached, with some embellishments, not only in Florence Cathedral but throughout Tuscany."
The Deus Church had an administrative system like that of an army.
Thanks to this, it was possible to set 'sermon topics and content' and send them to priests in other cities and villages to spread.
"Since Duke Sforza didn't directly intervene, we couldn't mention him in the sermon content, but everyone except commoners and serfs would know, wouldn't they? Who suffered greatly in this incident, that is."
Influential nobles rooted in local areas are quite well-versed in central political affairs.
Because if they back the wrong side, they could lose political power and even their wealth.
So when such stories spread, they naturally come to know the inside story.
"For a brief moment, that Fabio fellow will be treated as a hero in the empire."
"That's right."
"The taverns in Florence must be booming. They have Fabio as a topic to discuss, and they can freely curse corrupt clergy."
"As I was passing by, I saw that those who came as spectators were already spreading rumors around. They were saying that God couldn't stand Christian's injustice and worked through Fabio."
The Archbishop felt good just thinking about using that public opinion.
The fact that Christian committed injustice meant that even those higher up had a responsibility for not preventing such evil acts.
Moreover, if the word spreads that God Himself judged this sin, even though he didn't start the rumor himself?
He could send all the higher-ups packing to their rooms based on moral responsibility.
'If we can insert our people into the bishop positions...'
Could he ascend to the position of cardinal before long?
"You'll soon become a cardinal. From then on, I won't be able to speak comfortably to you. I'll start speaking more respectfully from now on."
"How can you say such disappointing things when I owe you so much, Your Grace?"
"Thank you for saying that. When you become a cardinal, I'll treat your poor nephews well."
Poor illegitimate children, legally nephews but actually the Archbishop's children.
"I'm overwhelmed with gratitude."
"Well then, let's quickly spread rumors to make Sforza eat crow. And let's make Fabio a hero. For our promotion and benefit."
And so, Fabio's name spread throughout Tuscany in just a moment, albeit briefly.
**
The day after the trial ended, the Duke summoned me.
Was it because I had brought him more benefits than he had thought?
This time too, tea bestowed by the imperial family was served.
And an even better chair than the one I sat on last time.
"You're more impressive than I thought. I'm truly envious of your father."
"Your praise is more than I deserve, Your Grace."
Excessive humility can sound like mocking the other person.
Moreover, in any era or country, if you pretend to be humble, people will arbitrarily undervalue you.
So when it's time to be confident, you should accept it confidently.
"No, your father must be having a stomachache. Having such an outstanding child like you, yet having to choose the eldest son as the heir."
At first glance, it sounds like he's praising me.
However, there must be a reason for someone of the Duke's stature to belittle his vassal in front of me.
'Later, he'll try to persuade me by saying he'll make me Baron Medici.'
Even if such words leak out, it won't cause political damage to the Duke.
Anyone can see that I, who consistently show exceptional performance, am more excellent than my ordinary baron brother, at least in terms of ability.
However, from my perspective, those words are extremely troublesome.
"Please don't say such things, even as a joke. The patriarchal order of the family is absolute."
The Duke looked at me with a bitter smile.
"As expected, you don't take the bait. When I use this ploy on the second sons of Sforza's vassal families, ten out of ten either fall into contemplation or bite immediately."
If they showed even a hint of contemplation or bit immediately, the Duke would leak that fact to the enemy vassal family.
Then, within that family, they would purge the second sons who considered a coup.
After the purge, they would start looking for internal enemies within the family, leading to internal strife, or in the worst case, self-destruct and have their territory confiscated.
Well, the Duke probably had no intention of ruining me like that.
If he did such a thing, he wouldn't be able to build the ironworks that could produce unlimited steel, and if he treated his allied vassal families in such a way, he would have no allies left.
Therefore, considering all the circumstances, those words were probably sincere.
While causing internal division to ruin a vassal family would be a path to self-destruction, replacing the head of a vassal family with proper justification is something that can be done if one is prepared to bear the burden.
"I'm not trying to do anything bad to you or the Medici family."
Even if I can't trust you personally, I trust the situation around you and your survival instinct.
So I hope you can rest assured.
"Originally, I was going to end it by getting you out of the church trial and providing the money needed to build this ironworks. But it seems that won't be enough."
The Duke handed me a certificate.
"When you finish this conversation with me and hand this to the head butler, he will exchange it for 500 gold coins. This is separate from the investment funds, so use it personally as you wish."
500 gold coins, exaggerating a bit, would have a perceived value of about 2 billion won.
It's too much to casually give such a large sum as a reward for verbally taking down a bishop.
He probably just thinks he can train me with money.
Who does he think he can move with money like a slave?
But unfortunately, I'm the one risking my life and putting on all sorts of shows to make money.
I need to make money to enjoy the noble life, luxury, and beautiful women that I can indulge in after being possessed in this other world.
In that sense, the Duke who casually gives out large sums is the best employer.
Damn, I might fall for him.
"Thank you."
"I have high expectations. If you succeed, I'll give you a great reward. And don't forget."
"What is it?"
The Duke gestured to me.
As I approached, he whispered in a voice so low that no one else could hear.
"I think you're more valuable than Albert. What's so great about being born earlier?"
He's a good employer who gives a lot of money, but this gentleman is really scary.
Even if I were to forcibly succeed the Medici baronetcy by retiring Albert, I know that I'd become a slave who'd have to stab my neck if the Duke, who's only a baron in title, told me to die.
No, was the Duke trying to make me a slave for the eternal glory of his family?
It's truly unbelievable.