Sebastian spoke with a grave expression.
"Baron, the other noble families have begun to keep a close eye on us."
Knight, Baronet—titles that, honestly, anyone could buy if they had enough money.
However, buying such titles made you a bureaucrat noble—a mere servant of the Emperor, so wealthy merchants rarely took such positions.
But with the title of Baron, one could independently participate in the nobles' battlefield with certain rights and obligations.
"In other words, it means that my enemies are now showing their hostility openly."
I’m not yet sure what kind of schemes they’re plotting against me.
But just like how earning more money naturally increases the taxes I pay, this level of scrutiny is to be expected.
There’s no reason to get angry or feel annoyed about it.
All I have to do is keep smiling and deal with them cleverly.
At times like this, it’s crucial to remain calm and assess the situation carefully.
“What exactly is the form of this scrutiny?”
"The majority is slander at the balls. They say someone so young couldn’t achieve such success without making a deal with a demon, or that you're an illegitimate child of the Visconti Duke placed with the Medici family... mostly just nonsense."
The rumors are unfounded and baseless gossip that finds its way to the news.
Actors, idols, and celebrities entangled in such rumors often ignore them.
If they showed any sign of hurt, anti-fans would start ridiculing them for being sensitive.
Most reasonable people hear these rumors and let them pass without a second thought.
Especially among the nobles—who are educated far beyond the standards of ordinary people—they wouldn’t genuinely believe such nonsense.
"The problem is, if these rumors continue to circulate, my reputation will genuinely suffer."
"There's also talk that your affection for Chloe is unmanly, or that you’re a disgrace for allowing your servants too much freedom."
In our empire, the ideal "manly" noble is someone like this:
He has numerous concubines, sires many illegitimate children, and flaunts his vigor, appearing capable and impressive.
I’m hardly one to criticize, given that I'll likely end up taking Kris, Chloe, and even a Duke’s daughter I haven't even met as wives.
"Still, throwing oneself at concubines purely out of lust feels wrong, doesn’t it?"
And treating my servants well is simply insurance for my own safety.
"Sebastian, it seems ridiculous, doesn’t it?"
“Yes, it does.”
However, this is how the nobles fight their “elegant” battles (though anyone could see there’s nothing elegant about it).
They tear down a person's social reputation without spilling a drop of blood, making it seem peaceful.
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"It’s better than nobles actually waging wars that would lead to bloodshed."
If they did, a civil war would break out.
“At least there hasn’t been an attempt to attack our merchant guild or lawsuits over trivial matters... yet.”
“But who knows when someone might attempt something like that?”
There are always signs before something big happens.
Unlike exams that hinge on a single moment, successful business ventures often feel like they just keep going without end.
It’s exhausting, but at the same time, it’s rewarding.
On the other hand, when things are destined to fail, there are telltale signs, like a constant feeling that nothing will work and a plummeting sense of self-worth.
The fact that I’m facing this level of hostility now means that trouble might be looming.
"Should I start hiring people to handle the shadier side of things?"
Sebastian cautiously suggested.
"Baron Rothschild, perhaps it’s time to consider employing a thieves' guild, or rather, an information guild, like other families do."
An information guild—the thieves—aren’t without their uses.
They can spread people through the slums, approach financially struggling members of rival factions with bribes they can’t refuse, and gather rumors circulating in the streets.
Through this, I can roughly gauge what’s happening in places I can’t personally monitor.
Predicting the future is up to me, but—
"It’s often more work cultivating the ingredients for a recipe than actually cooking it."
"Alright, let’s hire an information guild."
These guys may sometimes commit petty crimes in the slums, extorting money, but that’s just their nature.
It’s like how a company wouldn’t answer for an employee’s swindling in their private time.
No matter what problems they cause, we’ll just make use of their skills.
"A wise decision. I have a guild in mind that might be worth considering."
"I’ll hire them, but who are they exactly?"
Sebastian began explaining each detail about them.
"They’re a relatively clean information guild. Most of them are just thieves in the guise of an information guild."
Information guilds are like the Yakuza, the Mafia, or the Triads—a group of thugs and political enforcers.
They collect money in exchange for information and cover up petty crimes committed by their members in the slums.
"They also assassinate people if nobles demand it."
They’re more malicious than most gangsters.
“They avoid human trafficking and slavery but will enslave families who fail to repay their debts.”
Selling someone as a salt mine slave for missing a small payment is inhumane.
But in the Toscana Empire, even the most virtuous institutions, like the church, sell families into slavery for unpaid debts.
This is considered a reasonable and justified collection method in our empire.
"At least they don’t kidnap innocent people for slavery."
“Is it common to find a guild like that?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are they so ‘clean’? The guilds I know...”
They’re more vile than the Mongolian invaders who plundered and pillaged.
This guild seems to keep to a ‘minimum line of decency,’ as if they haven’t entirely abandoned their humanity.
“Though they may be people, they are murderers and criminals.”
“Most of the guild’s members come from impoverished backgrounds. The guild master is rumored to be a fallen noble’s descendant.”
So, with a bit of discipline—or, shall we say, education—they might be rehabilitated.
"I’ll need to visit them tonight. Prepare things, and let Chloe and Kris know."
When a male noble says he’s going out for the night, it usually means he’s seeing someone he can’t even call a concubine or planning to spend the night with a courtesan.
But I haven’t yet crossed that line with Kris.
"I showed her with Chloe, but didn’t have the chance because of the Ifriqiya expedition."
It’s not like we could make much noise on a ship.
So, apart from Chloe, I haven’t been with any other woman.
And I don’t intend to follow other nobles’ chaotic lifestyles.
"Understood."
“This alley here is the territory of the information guild ‘Black Mist.’”
Information guilds typically have “territories.”
Whether or not guild members and their families live there, it’s a secure area where assassinations are rare.
Outside their territory, a guild member never knows when something might happen.
Inside, as I expected, numerous guild members were diligently focused on their tasks.
Some were sharpening weapons, while others discussed which request to handle next.
At this point, it’s customary for them to draw their weapons and question a suspicious outsider like me.
But they seemed to be expecting me, carrying on without any concern.
"Strange. By now, someone should be confronting me with a weapon."
“I’ve informed them you’d be coming tonight. They may not know which family you belong to, but they wouldn’t dare draw weapons against a Baron.”
There are over 150 baronies just in Florence alone—around 300 across the entire Toscana Empire.
“A Baron is like a hereditary congressman, right?”
Not long after, a man who appeared to be the guild master approached.
Before exchanging pleasantries, I got straight to the point.
"Are you the master of the Black Mist? Let me ask directly: do you enjoy this life?"