As soon as the duke saw me, he began to chat and show off.
“Other baronets can’t even request a private audience with me. I’m allowing you, Fabio, to meet with me specially. You understand that, right?”
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Someone ignorant would think it’s not a big deal to just meet with a person.
However, the workings of the world aren’t that simple.
Just having a judge or prosecutor’s business card in my wallet dramatically reduces the chances of being falsely accused by corrupt cops.
Even if one commits a crime, those in the know would often look for mitigating circumstances to lessen the punishment.
Let alone, in the Toscana Empire, just having connections with the duke grants me a sort of immunity.
Ordinary infractions would likely be overlooked by the guards.
If the duke personally intervenes, unless I killed someone in plain sight, even if I committed murder, I could potentially be exonerated.
Of course, engaging in such antics would lead to terrifying consequences, and I wouldn’t want to commit sins that are unbecoming of a person.
‘I should think of this as a safety net.’
This is why, when you look closely, the privilege of being able to hold a sudden private meeting in half a day is truly significant.
“I apologize for bothering you, Your Grace.”
“Don’t worry about it; we’re on friendly terms. Thanks to you, our faction has managed to significantly put Sforza the Duke in his place recently.”
I had heard that the Pereira family was quite friendly with Duke Sforza.
However, I also heard that the Pereira family had lost all their military contracts, which caused their status among the merchants to drop considerably.
Due to their involvement in military supply corruption, their reputation was in the gutter.
It’s likely that the mud has splattered on the Duke they are affiliated with as well.
‘Their financial situation must be suffering too.’
“The young men in our faction—no, with someone like you, you’re practically a senior in my faction already. Once you marry and become the head of a proper noble family, I’ll even seat you in the uppermost position as a baronet.”
Whether in Europe or Joseon, until you get married, you won’t be treated as an adult even if you are quite old.
On the other hand, if you marry and have children, even if you’re just in your late teens, you’d be treated as an adult everywhere, at least in pretense.
Moreover, in a meeting of the Visconti Duke's faction, contribution to the faction takes precedence over rank.
However, generally, that contribution is proportional to rank. If I’m at the uppermost position...
‘I’ll be sitting next to counts or influential viscounts eyeing the count’s seat.’
“That’s too much praise.”
“I assume you’ve come to see me in a hurry because there’s a crisis? Speak up; the problems faced by the members of my faction are as good as my own.”
The medieval era—or rather, our Albanian continent—functions in a manner similar to organized crime.
If I were to compare it to the Yakuza, the duke is the boss, and as a baronet, I’m a regular member of the organization.
If an organization member is in danger, it’s the boss’s job to pick up a sword and rally other executives to trample over the threat.
“Actually, as of today, the spice guild bastards have cut off the sugar supply to Café Medici.”
At those words, the duke's face stiffened.
“What a bunch of trashy lowlifes! You didn’t directly infringe on their profits, did you? They’re picking a fight just because they’re growing in size? That’s utterly infuriating.”
Among the guilds in Florence, only the blacksmith guild has the justification to openly attack me.
They lost all steel production to me and Duke Visconti, so their livelihoods have been stripped away.
‘Of course, the duke had set me up to make them puppets of the Visconti family.’
Moreover, even if there is a justifiable reason for hitting someone, if one ends up in a fight, they could still end up in jail for assault.
Besides, the spice guild has no reason to fight me...
‘It’s akin to blind violence.’
“Well, if another merchant in our faction faced such an issue, it would be a bit upsetting, but we’re somewhat close, aren’t we?”
I created a new forging technique, reaping massive profits, and the duke succeeded in completely monopolizing the steel that forms the backbone of this country’s military.
“Moreover, the spice guild is not like other guilds; if a few merchants stop supplying goods, that guild comes to an end, doesn’t it? So, if Baron Medici dares to touch his younger brother, I’ll make sure he won’t be able to stay still.”
The duke clenched his teeth.
“I’m sorry for speaking ill of the former Baron Medici in your presence, but he should have properly raised that brat! That idiot Albert can’t even support his brother and can’t control the spice guild either. How can the Medici family operate well like that?”
Our father was particularly fond of his family compared to other nobles.
Is this how that affection manifests?
“If the sugar supply to Café Medici is cut off, it will deal a significant blow to you. I’ll be issuing a stern warning to the spice guild. Additionally, I’ll need to have a deeper conversation with that Albert brat.”
While I could meet the duke without much burden, the Visconti Duke is like a heavenly angel to my baronet brother.
Just the duke clearing his throat would send chills down my spine.
If he personally berated him, it would surely create a mental trauma.
‘It would feel like a lowly captain being scolded by a divisional or even corps commander.’
Moreover, once the fact that the corps commander has scolded him spreads, it would lead to a trickle-down effect, starting from the division commander down to further scolding.
Honestly, it would be great if the duke could do this for me, but that would politically make me indebted to him.
Furthermore, given that he mentioned “marriage,” it seems he intends to bind me to his family as a slave tied to a golden chain through a political marriage.
“I can handle the fight with the spice guild. Unless the baron has gone mad, I doubt he’d instruct anyone to harass his brother.”
When I asked him not to interfere, the duke's expression shifted slightly, as if disappointed.
“I’d like to offer a small gift to Your Grace in this opportunity.”
“Even in a bind, you’re thinking of bringing me a gift? You’re truly something else.”
“I wouldn’t forget my roots, even if my position changes to that of a direct vassal of the emperor.”
The duke chuckled at my words.
“I’ll smuggle in sugar no matter what. And in this opportunity, I’d like to secure land suitable for growing sugarcane.”
“Isn’t there no place to grow sugarcane outside of the Medina Sultanate territory? You don’t intend to start a war, do you?”
I requested a map hanging in the duke’s office.
“Here, there’s Rabat Island, which was seized from the infidels of the Sultanate. When I inquired with the infidels who trade coffee, they said this place has ideal climatic conditions for cultivating sugarcane.”
“But that land belongs to the Deus Knights, doesn’t it?”
The Deus Knights, though called a knight order, behave like a notorious pirate group known for abducting and pillaging infidels to sell them as slaves.
‘Adding religious fanaticism to that means we can’t win even if we mobilize a massive army, right?’
“The fanatics are still people in the end. Without money, food, or weapons, they won’t be able to impart the teachings of Deus to the infidels. They are constantly struggling with financial issues.”
Rabat Island is like a country where 95% of its GDP is sourced from plunder.
In a sense, it’s similar to Somalia, where the living conditions are far from normal.
“I’m thinking of opening a way for them to make a living on the condition that they cultivate sugarcane and pledge loyalty to His Majesty. In that case, Your Grace would expand your territory without shedding a drop of blood, while I would secure the sugar necessary for operating Café Medici independently.”
The duke looked at me, momentarily taken aback.
“Just granting me the authority to act as your representative would be enough. The rest, I’ll handle myself.”
I can fulfill what they desire.
So, the transaction is 99% likely to succeed.
The duke opened his desk and handed me a ring.
It was made of silver and bore the crest of the duke’s family, serving as a token of representation.
“Even in a crisis, you’re looking for solutions to help me. This is truly ridiculous.”
“It’s only right for me to do so.”
“Let’s see if you can do as you wish. Since Baron Medici has never betrayed my trust, I’ll trust you this time as well.”
“Thank you. I need to rush, so I’ll take my leave now.”
Just as I was about to exit the office, the duke gave me a puzzled smile.
“I wish my granddaughter would find someone like you to marry.”
....... I must have misheard that.
After Fabio left the office, Count Latina, the chancellor of the duke's family, entered.
“It seems Your Grace has quite a fondness for Baron Medici.”
Duke Visconti chuckled.
“Neither you nor I could have done half as much at that age. Yet that lad, Fabio, brings back the best results without a care, no matter how unreasonable tasks we throw at him.”
“I was certainly surprised when he created a new forging method. Analyzing the process of handling military supplies gave me chills.”
Count Latina reminisced about Fabio’s achievements.
Improving soldiers' meals and cutting costs by tackling all forms of corruption in military supplies is something a ‘capable merchant’ could do.
However, to elevate the quality of meals several levels while not making enemies of the merchants reliant on military supply profits?
‘That was absurd.’
He managed to maintain extremely high quality and low prices in handling “military supplies for two divisions,” even while his faction was still small.
It’s not something an ordinary young noble could pull off.
‘Especially creating the conditions for military supplies in just two months would have been a task that even seasoned nobles would have given up on.’
The duke chuckled.
“Of course, it’s difficult for people to always choose the righteous path, right? His Majesty’s favor led the minister to propose the ‘royal authority enhancement plan,’ which was quite disappointing. I even considered calling him in for a stern reprimand.”
Enhancing royal authority would diminish the standing of nobles like the duke.
This is as natural as water flowing from high to low.
“However, I feel it was an unnecessary worry.”
“Why do you think so?”
“They say he’s going to achieve the feat of expanding territory without lifting a finger. If another young man had said that, I might not believe it, but with Fabio, I can trust it.”
People usually prove their trust through results.
Fabio de Medici, though only 22 years old, has achieved enough to be considered a key player in any faction.
He helped monopolize steel, granting control over the military, and dealt a serious blow to the financial lines of enemy factions.
Completing military supplies and becoming the youngest major to be granted a lightning commission while begging to at least be made the division's logistics officer.
“I should ask him about this later. If His Majesty grants absolute royal authority, what benefits would he offer me?”
Count Latina nodded in agreement.
“I’m also quite uncertain. Nevertheless, it’s a shame.”
“What do you mean?”
“I do have a granddaughter, but she’s too young.”
“That’s just how life is, isn’t it?”
The duke made a face opposite to the playful banter he was sharing.
“I wish we could tie him down a bit more firmly. How great would it be if Fabio could assist Alfred directly?”
“Isn’t young Duke Alfred quite capable?”
Alfred de Visconti is indeed quite competent.
But the better someone is, the more they can be valued.
“Count Latina, it’s better to have more excellent individuals like you.”
Then he spoke to his most trusted subordinate.
“If your son and Fabio support the capable Alfred, I’m sure the Sforza faction won’t be able to catch their breath. I look forward to that.”
With that, the duke stood up from his seat.
“It’s too precious to hand over to His Majesty.”