Chapter 90. PLUS ULTRA (6)

As soon as he returned to Florence, the Petit Duke, Alfred de Visconti, went to meet his father.

"I'm back, Father."

"Welcome back. Did you have a good trip?"

"Yes, I saw and learned a lot. It was incomparable to the Grand Tours other nobles go on. Given my age, I didn't particularly feel like going."

The Grand Tour is a world tour that high-ranking members of well-off noble families or great merchant families, or equivalent merchant families, always take at least once.

Like Alfred did, they travel around various parts of the world with a tutor, seeing and learning many things firsthand.

It's a journey where they attend various social gatherings in those countries, building connections with high-ranking people abroad, and enjoying all sorts of cultural experiences.

Although it costs a huge amount of money, it's a journey where you learn a lot, but.

'Knowledge of art, culture, history - that's knowledge any noble would have.'

When "everyone" knows certain knowledge or information, its value decreases accordingly.

However, on the trip, no, journey that lasted just about a month with Fabio...

"I was going to send you as a celebration for retiring from the military, since my health is fine too."

For nobles, it's a trip they should take at least once anyway, and it's an enjoyable journey.

It's an opportunity where you can go alone (not counting servants and tutors) and come back with several beauties, becoming three or four people, and enjoy luxuries that only nobles can enjoy 24 hours a day for nearly a year.

It's a journey that heirs of noble families, no, all nobles recall as the happiest time of their lives, so he wanted to send him, but.

When that intention was thwarted, the Duke felt some regret.

'It's good that money is saved, but it feels somewhat disappointing.'

"There aren't many chances to look around the outside world. You've lived only buried in studies and work until that age, it would be good to play a bit too."

"Playing is good too, but I think seeing and learning from Viscount Medici's actions would be more helpful."

"Why did you change your mind?"

Alfred, the Petit Duke, honestly had some complaints at first when his father told him to learn from Fabio.

Because it felt awkward to learn from a kid more than 20 years younger.

Of course, he couldn't refute his father's orders without reasonable grounds, so he naturally followed them.

He didn't show any complaints in front of Fabio.

'Commoners can express their emotions as they please, but we must be able to hide our emotions even if mud hits our faces sometimes.'

Because that's politics and governance.

"First, when I asked the maid the Viscount cherishes a few questions, his character seemed different. Seeing how he cherishes his maid so much and receives sincere love, I felt favorable towards him."

"That Fabio is a bit unusual to that extent."

"But more than that, the Viscount's abilities were more attractive."

"In what way?"

The Petit Duke recalled Fabio's behavior in Nador.

"Strangely, he showed no hostility or unpleasant signs even when looking at infidels. Anyone would feel averse to seeing infidels who are like beasts wearing human skin."

In fact, Fabio feels no displeasure at all when looking at infidels.

He just thinks of them as people with different cultures.

But such a thing is impossible in the common sense of the Albania continent.

It's as nonsensical as electing a country's emperor by vote, an idea that would shock Satan and make demons shed tears in admiration.

So the Petit Duke speculated like this:

'A man who can completely hide even tremendous displeasure for his own interests and goals.'

A noble's quality is the ability to outwardly laugh and make the other person believe you're an ally, even when meeting someone you find disgusting.

Because it's advantageous to create room to stab them in the back after making them let their guard down like that.

Also, humans ultimately judge people by 'appearances'.

If outward appearances seem good, most people can't help but let down their guard and feel goodwill.

That's why nobles surprisingly laugh heartily and give alms even when bumping into dirty beggars near the cathedral.

'If acting like a good person is a noble's quality, Fabio can be considered already perfected.'

The Duke was surprised to hear this too.

"As expected, that guy is a monster. To not show any unpleasant signs even when seeing infidels."

"Not only that, he even showed the eccentricity of adapting to their etiquette. While adapting to their etiquette, he didn't stray even a single step from his faith."

"That Fabio is the guy who engaged in a theological debate head-on with a bishop two years ago and didn't back down even a single step. He probably would have become great if he became a theologian."

This time, Duke Visconti was inwardly surprised.

Infidels are ultimately 'potential enemies', but he goes that far to make them let their guard down?

Moreover, calculating whether each and every action fits with principles.

'As expected, it's a shame to hand him over to His Majesty.'

"But the most amazing thing was the negotiation with the governor."

Duke Visconti pricked up his ears.

Because it was a story revealing the true nature of a 'talent' who should work like an ox pulling a plow or a horse pulling a carriage for his family in the future.

"Fabio knew all of Nador's circumstances inside out. And he handed over weapons to them."

It's an action that would draw harsh words if other nobles heard.

Selling weapons to infidels.

It's a more evil atrocity than feeding them surströmming fermented for a year.

But the Duke didn't get angry hearing those words.

'That Fabio must have had thoughts about everything.'

"2,000 matchlock guns, 20 tons of gunpowder. He said he'll increase the quantity in the future. So I kept quiet during the negotiation, but after it ended, I questioned him. I said even if you want to make money, is selling weapons to infidels something a person should do? Can you imagine how he answered?"

The Duke shook his head.

"I have no idea at all."

"He said it won't take long to pioneer sea routes to West Ifriqiya, so we can sell gunpowder and matchlock guns to Ifriqiya tribes too. He said we just need to sell them weapons and gunpowder, and buy gold."

Duke Visconti slapped his forehead.

The Ifriqiya tribes are infidels, and Nador city's soldiers are infidels too, so give them weapons and make them fight each other?

Isn't it a very efficient way to eliminate infidels without getting our hands dirty?

Of course, the Duke who heard this method inwardly surrendered completely, but…

'If he did this to people who believe in the same Deus religion, even Satan would give a standing ovation.'

But it's okay since it's targeting infidels.

"And he said we should do 'flag changing' for ships going to sell goods to Ifriqiya tribes since we could get caught. He said he'll play dumb after that."

The Duke unconsciously clapped his hands.

He felt very good as a Deus believer seeing such backstabbing against infidels.

'Making money and screwing over infidels, it's killing two birds with one stone.'

"Could we gain such wisdom from the Grand Tour?"

"I went on the Grand Tour 40 years ago too, but they didn't teach things like this."

The Duke raised his evaluation of Fabio even higher.

'We must tie him to our family by any means necessary.'

What if the Emperor takes Fabio away?

It seemed like he would freely wield that guy to make nobles penniless.

"So can we give Erica to that guy?"

Alfred grinned hearing those words.

"At first, when I heard Father say you'd give Erica to a mere viscount, I was a bit reluctant. But even looking with a father's eyes, Fabio seems more precious than Erica. As soon as he receives a 'baron title', we should marry them off even if it's rushed."

Originally, to take the daughter born to a ducal family's official wife as a wife, you need to be at least a count.

Baron is the 'legal minimum requirement', but it can't actually happen in reality.

It's roughly a meaningless statement like all people are equal before Deus.

Of course, that statement isn't denied by anyone, but.

"But there's one thing I'm worried about, Father."

"What is it?"

"Viscount is a title that can be received in one generation depending on effort, but isn't baron different?"

For a mere 'noble' to obtain a baron title by their own power, there's no answer other than achieving enormous military merits.

Even by general methods, you need to show tremendous military merits and abilities for 30-40 years to be promoted to 'general', or.

Achieve tremendous merits like capturing the commander-in-chief in a war mobilizing tens of thousands or more troops.

You can only rise by achieving such enormous merits.

'It's good to take Fabio as a son-in-law, but won't Erica become an old maid?'

But the Duke laughed heartily, holding his stomach at his son's question.

"It was Fabio who incorporated Rabat Island into imperial territory. I tried to make him a baron with that merit, but he refused."

"Is he really the same person as us?"

"I'm not sure about that, but I'll explain so you can understand easily."

The Duke grinned and asked:

"Let's say you have a regimental commander among your subordinates, and he's so amazingly excellent that he easily crushes enemy corps with just one regiment like eating soup. Would you drive that guy away?"

"If I had such a subordinate under me, I should tie him to me by any means necessary. If I entrust my division to that person, I could be promoted to field marshal even while just sleeping."

Subordinates more excellent than yourself become threats.

But if you just capture their hearts, it's unconditionally good to keep them by your side.

"It's enough if Viscount Medici is helpful to us. Why consider anything more? And why worry when there are 5 years left until Erica becomes an adult?"

And at this time, Fabio felt inexplicable chills.