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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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In the Toscana Empire, the administrative process for establishing a trading company is incredibly simple.
Just fill out the required information on the application form.
Of course, you need to grease the wheels with bribes to ensure a smooth process.
In our empire, even the lowliest commoners have to pay death taxes and bribes to officials.
That’s the reality, so I have to accept it.
“Master Medici, Baron Raviole will see you now.”
In Korea, it would take weeks after submitting the application.
But in the Toscana Empire, with its less centralized and documented bureaucracy, background checks are swift.
With a small gift, the application should be approved quickly.
“I’ll go in.”
After knocking, I entered to find the Baron sitting in his chair, looking displeased.
Can’t he at least pretend to be happy while working?
It’s no different from office workers in 21st-century Korea.
“Have a seat. This might take a while.”
In our empire, establishing a trading company just requires submitting a form.
Why would it require a lengthy review? I have a bad feeling about this.
Baron Raviole scrutinized the document as if he were going to dissect every word.
“Hmm, the first line should read ‘by the will of the just Deus,’ not ‘by the will of the holy Deus.’ With such errors, I’m not sure I can…”
Even legal contracts in our empire must include praises to Deus or oaths sworn to him.
To nitpick over such a minor error in praising Deus…
He’s practically demanding a bribe.
Fine, I’ll give him what he wants.
I respectfully offered him a pouch filled with gold coins.
“This is a small token of my appreciation for your dedication to the empire.”
“You didn’t have to. Keep it.”
His claim that “you didn’t have to” is as credible as an elderly parent saying they’re ready to die.
In Korea, I’ve seen people who said they were ready to die five minutes ago diligently taking their health supplements.
Who doesn’t know that refusing to give a bribe means my application will be rejected?
“It’s a gift from my heart.”
The Baron opened the pouch and smiled with satisfaction.
“Well, such minor errors are common even among Imperial officials. I’ll overlook it.”
His tone changed as soon as he received the bribe.
“I’ve reviewed the document, and there are no major issues.”
“Thank you. So, will you approve my application?”
Raviole shook his head.
“But I can’t grant you permission to establish a trading company.”
Does he want more bribes?
This shameless scoundrel.
There are limits to greed.
And he’s part of Duke Visconti’s faction.
“I’d love to help a diligent and capable young man like you, but according to Imperial law, nobles are prohibited from owning trading companies.”
Even Duke Visconti owns a trading company, and so does Count Vauban, whom I’m indebted to.
Most nobles above Count own trading companies to handle their “family’s expenses and needs.”
Though the scale of these trading companies pales in comparison to the giant corporations that control the nation’s economy…
If those giant corporations are like Samsung and LG, the trading companies owned by Dukes are like mid-sized businesses.
“516 years ago, the great Emperor Giuseppe decreed that ‘nobles of the Toscana Empire shall not engage in trade or own trading companies,’ as recorded in the Imperial Law.”
I didn’t graduate from law school to become an official.
But most laws, except for very specific ones, have an expiration date of less than 100 years.
Is he resurrecting a mummy from its coffin?
Even though it’s generally unwise to confront a higher-ranking noble, he’s openly provoking me.
How can I avoid this? I have to confront him directly.
“Doesn’t Duke Visconti own a trading company?”
“My dear boy, you’re still young and naive. That’s a special case.”
“I don’t understand what’s so special about it.”
The Baron, seemingly unable to come up with an answer…
…rolled his eyes for almost a minute.
“That trading company is particularly close to His Grace, and the Imperial officials were persecuting merchants so severely that the ownership was transferred to His Grace in name only.”
This is absurd.
“It was an act of compassion to protect the commoners. But you’re trying to establish a trading company for profit. Are the two comparable?! I’d love to approve your application, but what can I do? It’s prohibited by Imperial law. Stop being unreasonable and go home.”
There’s no other way at this point.
And it’s not surprising that even within the same faction, there are those who oppose me.
Successful people inevitably attract envy, jealousy, and hostility.
Those around them see them as a potential threat to their own livelihoods.
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
“I apologize for not being able to help you.”
Help my ass. He’s screwing me over with a law that’s 500 years old and no longer relevant.
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As I left the Department of Commerce, Sebastian and Chloe greeted me.
“Young master, how did the trading company application go?”
“The Baron was nitpicking, using a 500-year-old law, Sebastian.”
Sebastian sighed and complained.
“You haven’t done anything wrong, young master. This is too much.”
It was indeed excessive to cite an obsolete law, something akin to Boston’s law requiring a doctor’s permission to bathe.
I’m frustrated and angry, but…
“There’s no need to be too upset. It also means I’ve become more influential.”
Even if I haven’t done anything wrong, the more powerful and successful I become, the more enemies I’ll make.
Those around me will see me as a potential threat to their livelihoods.
So, even if I face unreasonable obstacles, it’s better to think this way:
‘I’ve become this influential.’
“Indeed, you’re right.”
“And do you think I’m a pushover who’ll just take it?”
Being denied permission to establish a trading company is a trivial matter.
He didn’t threaten me or try to extort anything.
But in interpersonal relationships, especially in politics, overlooking minor issues can lead to significant losses.
In relationships, there are those who mistake kindness for entitlement.
And in politics, there are hyenas who think they can keep taking advantage of you if you don’t retaliate.
Such people are everywhere.
“And whoever is targeting me, the fact that they’re using a trivial matter like this to obstruct me suggests that someone is backing that Baron.”
Nobles with higher titles wouldn’t bother supporting a Baron to target me.
It wouldn’t benefit them.
‘I’m not at that level yet.’
Though I’m quickly rising in power, I’m still no match for those who own entire cities.
“Indeed, to go this far, they must be offering significant benefits.”
“First, we need to identify our enemy.”
Understanding the situation is paramount, regardless of the task.
I need to know my situation to make meaningful progress.
That’s why doctors always diagnose the patient’s illness first.
“I was planning to give bonuses and a company dinner to the trading company employees, but things didn’t go as planned, Sebastian.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“I’ll head to the back alleys with my guards. You and Chloe should go home.”
Even for Chloe, who lived as a serf, the back alleys of the Toscana Empire aren’t a pleasant sight.
People begging with missing limbs, the moans of prostitutes echoing from the alleyways…
And frequent brawls.
But as long as I don’t provoke anyone, I should be safe.
“Isn’t that too dangerous?”
“Look at my guards’ armor.”
I’m practically the lord of steel.
So, I provided my mercenaries with custom-made plate armor at one-third the market price.
My guards look like real knights.
And a trained knight in full armor can take on 20 ordinary men.
“…Have a safe trip.”
Slums, back alleys.
The place nobles go to for dirty work. I wonder what it’s like.
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