Duke Alfred de Visconti immediately went to see his father upon returning to Florence.
“I’m back, Father.”
“Welcome back. Did you have a good trip?”
“Yes, I learned and saw a lot. It was nothing compared to the Grand Tour that other nobles take. At my age, I didn't even feel like going.”
The Grand Tour is a worldwide journey that prominent nobles or wealthy merchants often take at least once.
As Alfred did, they travel with a tutor to various places, seeing and learning about many things firsthand.
They also attend numerous social gatherings in those countries, building connections with influential figures abroad while enjoying all sorts of cultural experiences.
It’s an incredibly costly journey, but the knowledge gained is equally valuable.
“Art, culture, history—these are things that any noble should know.”
When everyone is aware of the same knowledge or information, its value tends to diminish.
However, the journey that Fabio took for just about a month...
“My health is fine, so I was going to send you on a trip as a celebration for finishing your military service.”
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It’s a trip that every noble should experience at least once, and it promises a delightful experience.
Often, nobles return with several beautiful women after starting their journey alone, and it’s an opportunity to indulge in the luxuries available only to the nobility for nearly a year.
Heirs from noble families, in fact, remember this time as the happiest period of their lives, so the duke had intended to send Alfred on such a journey.
When that plan fell through, the duke felt a tinge of regret.
“It’s nice to save money, but I feel a bit disappointed.”
“There aren’t many chances to see the outside world. You’ve been buried in studies and work at your age; it wouldn’t hurt to have some fun.”
“Having fun is good, but I think it would be more beneficial to learn from the actions of Baron Medici.”
“Why the change of heart?”
Alfred, the duke's son, had initially felt some discontent when his father instructed him to learn from Fabio.
It seemed strange to learn from someone so much younger, after all.
Of course, he couldn't openly dispute his father’s order without a reasonable basis, so he naturally complied.
He never showed any discontent in front of Fabio.
“Commoners can express their emotions as they please, but we must sometimes hide our feelings even if we are met with mud on our faces.”
That’s the essence of politics and governance.
“First of all, after asking a few questions of the maid that the baron cherishes, I found that his character seems exceptional. Seeing how much he values his maid and receives sincere love from her makes me feel favorable toward him.”
“Fabio is quite peculiar, to say the least.”
“However, more than that, the baron’s abilities were far more appealing.”
“What aspects?”
The duke's son recalled Fabio's demeanor in Nador.
“He curiously showed no signs of hostility or displeasure when looking at the heathens. Anyone who sees those heathens, who are essentially beasts dressed in human skin, would likely feel repulsion.”
In reality, Fabio does not feel any disgust when looking at the heathens.
He merely thinks of them as people from a different culture.
However, that is something unimaginable by the common standards of the Albanian continent.
It is as absurd as electing an emperor by vote, a notion that would astonish Satan and move demons to tears.
Thus, the duke's son speculated, “He’s a man capable of completely hiding even immense displeasure if it serves his interests or goals.”
A noble's education entails the ability to maintain a smile even when meeting someone they find repulsive, making their opponent believe that they are an ally.
It’s advantageous to remove their doubts and create an opportunity to stab them in the back later.
Moreover, humans tend to judge others based on “appearances.”
If someone appears kind on the surface, most people are bound to drop their suspicions and offer goodwill.
That’s why, rather unexpectedly, nobles tend to donate to the poor instead of getting angry when they bump into filthy beggars near cathedrals.
“If acting saintly is a noble’s education, we can say that Fabio has already perfected it.”
The duke was astonished by these words.
“Truly, that fellow is monstrous. To not show any signs of displeasure even when seeing heathens.”
“Not only that, but he also displayed the behavior of adhering to their etiquette. He followed their customs while never stepping away from his own beliefs.”
“Fabio argued with the bishop face to face two years ago and didn’t budge an inch. He probably would have made a great theologian.”
This time, Duke Visconti felt surprised inside.
Heathens are ultimately “potential enemies.” Did he go to such lengths just to disarm their wariness?
Calculating whether each action aligns with proper conduct?
“Truly, it would be a shame to hand him over to His Majesty.”
“However, the most impressive thing was the negotiation with the governor.”
Duke Visconti perked up his ears.
This was a story that revealed the true potential of a “talent” who would soon have to toil for his family like an ox or a horse.
“Fabio was well aware of all the circumstances in Nador. And he handed them weapons.”
If other nobles had heard this, they would have unleashed a torrent of curses.
Selling weapons to heathens?
It would be a far more wicked act than fermenting surströmming for a year and then serving it.
However, the duke did not get angry upon hearing that.
“Fabio must have had a plan in mind.”
“Two thousand matchlocks and twenty tons of gunpowder. They say he plans to increase the quantity further. So I remained quiet during the negotiations, but after it concluded, I questioned him. No matter how much one wants to earn money, is it right to sell weapons to heathens? Can you imagine how he responded?”
The duke shook his head.
“I have no clue at all.”
“He said that it wouldn’t take long to develop a route to Ifriqiya, so he could sell the matchlocks and gunpowder to the tribes there. He mentioned that it would be sufficient to sell them weapons and gunpowder and buy gold from them.”
Duke Visconti slapped his forehead.
The tribes of Ifriqiya are also heathens, and the soldiers in the city of Nador are heathens, so he would have them fight each other after handing them weapons?
It’s a very efficient method of getting rid of heathens without laying a finger on them.
Of course, the duke raised his hands in surrender in his mind.
“If he did this with those who believe in the Deus religion, even Satan would applaud.”
However, since it’s aimed at heathens, it’s acceptable.
“And since there’s a risk of being caught later, he suggested that the ships going to sell goods to the tribes of Ifriqiya should ‘change flags.’ He said they could just play dumb.”
The duke clapped his hands without thinking.
Seeing Fabio pulling such a trick on heathens made him feel quite pleased as a believer of the Deus religion.
“Making money and screwing over the heathens is a twofold success.”
“Can such wisdom truly be gained from the Grand Tour?”
“I went on the Grand Tour 40 years ago, but they didn’t teach me this.”
The duke raised his assessment of Fabio even higher.
“I must find some way to bind him to our family.”
“What if the emperor were to take Fabio away?”
It seemed like he would make the nobles into beggars without any hesitation.
“Then could I give Erica to that fellow?”
Alfred smiled upon hearing that.
“At first, I was a bit hesitant when I heard you intended to give Erica to a mere baron. But from a father’s perspective, it seems it would be more of a loss for Fabio than for Erica. Once he receives the title of baron, I should hurry to arrange a marriage.”
To make the daughter born from the duke’s lawful wife his wife, he would need to become a count.
A baron is merely the “minimum legal requirement”; in reality, it’s something unattainable.
It’s about as meaningless as the idea that all people are equal before Deus.
Of course, that statement wouldn’t be refuted by anyone.
“But I do have one concern, Father.”
“What is it?”
“Becoming a baron is something one could achieve depending on effort, but beyond that, it’s different, isn’t it?”
For a common “noble” to earn a baron title by their own strength, it requires tremendous military merit.
By the conventional means, one must show incredible military achievements and abilities over 30 to 40 years to be promoted to “general.”
Or one must capture the supreme commander in a war involving tens of thousands of troops.
You need to achieve tremendous feats to climb up the ranks.
“I would be delighted to have Fabio as a son-in-law, but will Erica end up becoming an old maid?”
However, the duke burst into laughter at his son’s question.
“It was Fabio who incorporated Rabatt Island into the empire's territory. He rejected the title of baron for that achievement.”
“Is he really someone like us?”
“I’m not sure, but let me explain it to you in a way you can understand.”
The duke chuckled and asked,
“If one of your subordinates is a battalion commander, and that fellow is extraordinarily exceptional, easily crushing the enemy’s legion with just one battalion, would you dismiss him?”
“If I have such a subordinate, I would bind him to me by any means. If I entrusted my division to him, I could just sleep and still get promoted.”
An excellent subordinate is a threat.
However, if you can secure their heart, it’s best to keep them by your side.
“As long as Baron Medici is helpful to us, that’s all that matters. What else is there to question? Besides, Erica has five more years until she comes of age, so why worry?”
At that moment, Fabio felt an unexplained chill.