Why does a company president get to play the role of president?
There are many possible reasons.
They could have founded the company, inherited it, or climbed the ladder from the lowest ranks to secure control.
But when you get down to the core of it, there's only one real answer.
Whatever the reason, the subordinates are the ones who decide to uphold that person as president.
The technical term for this is a social contract.
“If there’s no one to hold up a treasurer from below, he’s just another washed-up old man in the back room.”
It does me no good, and I don’t even have the means, to meddle in the politics of a foreign country’s nobility.
I need to make all his subordinates my allies instead.
“Is the Head of Human Resources available?”
The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.
I knocked on the door, and an elderly man cautiously emerged.
Judging by the absence of an expensive suit, he must be a servant.
“The master is resting at the moment. Please come back later.”
“Let him know Fabio de Medici has come to see him.”
I pulled a silver coin from my wallet and slipped it into his hand.
A bribe should at least ensure that he’ll pass along the message that I’m here.
It wouldn’t be right to just take the money and stay quiet.
“The master says you may enter. Please, follow me inside.”
Inside, the Head of HR looked at me and gave a sly smile.
“Quite the handsome one, aren’t you? Sometimes, I can’t help but think heaven is unfair.”
Hearing that from someone who’s way past their prime doesn’t give me even a sliver of joy.
“Thank you so much for the compliment.”
“Seeing young folks like you gives me a bit of energy. But tell me, what brings you here at this late hour?”
“I came to seek your assistance.”
As soon as he heard the word ‘assistance,’ a smile crept onto his face.
The practice of paying a substantial sum in exchange for help has existed in every era, medieval or otherwise.
So he must have assumed I was here to hand over a hefty sum for his help.
But I’m not here to grovel.
“If a young man strays down the wrong path, it’s the duty and privilege of us elders to set him straight. Only then can we call ourselves respectable.”
The words sound polished and nice, but I can see right through his intentions.
He might as well hold his girlfriend’s hand and swear they’re only staying at the motel to sleep.
I’d probably believe that more.
“No, I’m actually here to assist you. Before you make a poor decision, that is.”
I smirked, raising one side of my mouth.
“You’re about to lose half your seaweed revenue, and yet you seem unfazed. Have you gone mad because of a problem too big for you to handle?”
The Head of HR frowned, clearly annoyed.
From the surface, it does look like I’m in a tough spot.
But the real situation is entirely different from what he thinks.
“Let’s speak more openly, shall we? Aren’t you just trying to tame me with this little act?”
These people aren’t like that quasi-baron who tried to screw me over with laws that didn’t actually exist.
But just like how a judge’s gender or political stance in a 21st-century courtroom can lead to drastically different sentences, even for the same crime...
These guys are interpreting and applying the law in the most unfavorable way for me.
Later, when backlash inevitably occurs, they’ll have the convenient excuse that they were simply ‘following the law,’ reducing their risk of reprisal.
At the same time, they’re hoping to demoralize me early on and turn me into a golden goose who’ll keep laying eggs for them.
“You’ve handled a bit of money at a young age, so I guess you’re as fearless as a three-year-old who isn’t afraid of lions.”
The weaker the dog, the louder it barks; people do the same when they’re afraid.
The HR chief glanced at me with a hint of apprehension.
“Yes, I may lack common sense when it comes to fear.”
Charging into battle recklessly is nothing more than admitting you’re a chicken.
But understanding your situation perfectly and stepping up to a formidable opponent with confidence—that’s courage.
And I’d rather be courageous than foolish.
“Thanks to me, hasn’t Guillaume become lively with all the merchants streaming in? Isn’t the market bustling because of my efforts?”
Guillaume may be a port city, but it isn’t that large.
Its population is just over twenty thousand, and it doesn’t have any special local products.
So while it’s always had traders passing through, that was about the extent of it.
‘Since it became the center of seaweed trade, the atmosphere has changed drastically.’
Now that Guillaume is the only port in the Kingdom of Lyon where nobles can buy the seaweed they crave, countless merchants have been flocking here.
The inns are packed beyond capacity, and traders bringing seaweed have been arriving with all sorts of goods.
“If someone like me were to leave because of your interference, would the citizens remain silent? I’m sure they’d have some complaints.”
Barons, viscounts, counts—these nobles aren’t elected officials, so they can do as they please without any issues.
Extremely speaking, as long as they aren’t stabbed by their peasants, their tenure is practically guaranteed.
But councilors and mayors like this need the support of the citizens or they’ll be ousted from office.
While citizens don’t vote directly, the power of these officials still ultimately depends on ‘public support.’
Losing that support would mean another noble in the city would quickly replace this HR chief’s spot on the council.
“Or should I let the merchants I work with know that they can’t trade here because of you? I think that would lead to some very interesting developments.”
Unless I’m driven to the edge, I have no intention of actually doing this.
Because that would be a mutually destructive move.
If I were to use this card, the opposition, including the treasurer, would likely be executed for denying the nobles of the Lyon Kingdom their beloved seaweed.
But I’d also be labeled a fool who can’t manage a simple trade with influential people, losing the essential trust that a merchant must have.
I’d end up a nobody in some remote village, living a simple life with Chloe.
Not that such a small existence would be bad, but I intend to go much higher.
“So let me make it clear: I have countless ways to get back at you.”
If buying off the HR chief and the other councilors fails?
Fine, then I’ll simply throw an enormous amount of money at the city officials.
They might start off by saying they won’t be swayed by money, but faced with an irresistible amount, their resolve will crumble.
The Head of HR just stared at me, saying nothing.
But he was visibly trembling, as if he had realized too late that he’d picked a fight with the wrong person.
“However, I think we could still have a good relationship.”
Color returned to the HR chief’s face.
“Is that so?”
“Just a bit of cooperation will suffice.”
“Whatever it takes. I’d even give you my daughter if you asked.”
This being the medieval era, fathers, whether noble or commoner, seem to regard their daughters as possessions.
Even the village chief of my Bío estate once offered me his daughter to secure his position as the head of the village.
Truly, this is a world where the concept of human rights—or any rights at all—is nonexistent.
“Aren’t there council meetings in a week? I’d like you to impeach the treasurer.”
The HR chief’s eyes shifted.
Then, he murmured hesitantly.
“Our two families have been allied for nearly 120 years. If I impeach him, what do you think would happen to me?”
If you don’t impeach him, what do you think would happen? You’ll be kicked out of your councilor position and fall into ruin.
“I’m giving you one last chance. Think carefully and make your choice.”
I looked him in the eye.
Then, I reached out and lightly tapped his brow with my finger.
“Are you going to lose everything because of a flimsy sense of loyalty? Or are you going to work with me?”
To help him make the right decision, I handed him a little something—a reminder of our potential partnership.
Not money, but a different kind of “friendly fee.”
“This is just a small part of the evidence of your misconduct that the administrative officials have collected. Again, I don’t necessarily need you, but if you become useless to me...”
I made a slicing motion across my throat with my finger.
“Some rather unfortunate events might occur.”
Finally, the Head of HR bowed his heavy head.
“If you spare me, I’ll crawl through the mud like a dog.”
“I always reward those who follow me well. So I believe we’ll get along just fine.”
And just like that, I succeeded in buying off all the councilors except for the treasurer, through a mix of intimidation and bribery.
Before long, the council meeting convened.