Sebastian made a serious face and cautiously said.
“Baron, other noble families have started to keep a closer watch on us.”
Knight, Young Baron—it’s enough of a title to live comfortably if you have the money.
However, if you buy it, you’ll become a legal nobility and effectively become a slave to the Emperor. That’s why wealthy merchants and the like don’t want to meddle with it.
But once you’re a Baron, you officially gain the duty and right to participate as an independent player on the battlefield of nobility.
“In other words, the enemies are clearly showing their hostility towards me.”
I still don’t know exactly what schemes they have in mind.
If I earn a lot of money, it’s only natural that my tax obligations will increase.
There’s no need to get unnecessarily angry or upset about that.
Just feed them some pumpkin candy from Ulleungdo while laughing, and it’ll be fine.
In times like this, one must remain calm and assess the situation.
“What specific forms of opposition are we facing?”
“The most prevalent seems to be the rumors about you at the ball. Considering your young age and such achievements, they’re saying you must have made a deal with the devil in exchange for your soul. Or that you’re the illegitimate child of Duke Visconti, entrusted to the Medici Baron Clan… It’s all nonsense.”
The news outlets are filled with ridiculous, unfounded gossip.
Most of the involved actors, idols, and celebrities usually ignore such nonsense when they hear it.
If they show any signs of being hurt by it, the anti-fans would go wild, questioning if they’re being pricked by it.
Most regular people would only hear such absurd rumors and let them in one ear and out the other.
Especially among nobles, who have been educated to a much higher standard than Koreans, it’s hard to believe they would take such things seriously.
“The problem is that if these rumors continue to circulate, my reputation will genuinely suffer.”
“Also, they’re saying that cherishing Chloe too much is unmanly, and that you’re a pathetic guy who lets servants crawl over you.”
This is how the so-called manly nobility works in our Empire.
Having several concubines and fathering numerous illegitimate children to flaunt their virility and capability.
I shouldn’t be the one to say this since I will eventually take Chris, Chloe, and even a Duke’s daughter whom I haven’t even seen yet as my wives.
“Still, isn’t it a bit excessive to depend all on lust and just go around increasing concubines?”
Treating servants well is also a form of insurance for my own safety.
“Sebastian, don’t you think that’s truly pathetic?”
“Yes, it is.”
Yet this is the elegant (as if anyone would think so) way of fighting among the nobles.
No one spills blood, they merely assassinate each other’s social reputation, so it all seems peaceful.
“Better than actually waging war among nobles and causing bloodshed.”
If that were to happen, civil war would break out immediately.
“Still, there has been no movement to attack our guild yet or to use any petty excuse to file a legal lawsuit for punishment. However…”
“It means you never know when someone might come out with such plans, right?”
Signs always appear before something significant happens.
In a test, everything is decided in one go, but those who succeed in business say there’s a feeling that the work continues endlessly as long as you keep going.
They say that even when tired, it feels rewarding.
On the other hand, failure tends to bring feelings of helplessness and declining self-esteem.
Me being slandered like this could indicate that I might soon go through something unpleasant…
“Should I start hiring people to handle shady business to prevent this?”
Sebastian cautiously suggested.
“What if the Rothschild Baron Clan also hired thieves—I mean, an Information Guild, like other clans?”
The Information Guild, those thieving bastards aren’t entirely useless.
They could spread the poor around, placing orders to bribe financially struggling members of opposing factions with offers they can’t refuse.
If they gather rumors floating around the streets, such as signs of potential war, financially valuable information, or bad stories circulating internally…
I could roughly know what’s happening beyond my sight.
Predicting the future from this would be my job, but…
“Growing the ingredients directly is often tougher than cooking with them.”
“Alright, let’s hire the Information Guild.”
Sure, those guys sometimes commit crimes against good citizens (nobles excluded) while living in slums, demanding money, but…
If a company employee scams in another field outside company work, there won’t be any repercussions for the company, right?
As long as we just use their capabilities, it doesn’t matter what trouble they cause.
“That’s a wise thought. I already have an Information Guild in mind; how about hiring them?”
“We’ll hire them, but what kind of guys are they?”
Upon hearing my question, Sebastian explained who these guys were one by one.
“They’re decent for an Information Guild. Usually, they’re called ‘Information Guild,’ but their actions are practically like robbers, right?”
The Information Guild is like a collection of yakuza, mafia, triads, and the scum who moonlight as political thugs.
They gather the information you want for payment, and when a hiring contract is established, nobles often turn a blind eye to small crimes occurring within the slums.
“However, if a noble demands it, they’re expected to kill people too.”
Anyway, their actions can make even thugs seem cute due to their nefariousness.
“They dabble in loan sharking, violence, and murder, but they don’t kidnap innocent people to sell them into slavery. They’ll make profits by selling those who can’t repay their debts along with their families into slavery.”
Selling someone who missed a payment as a salt mine slave on Angel Island is pretty inhumane too.
But in our Toscan Empire, even the church, which ideally belongs to the gentlest groups, is fine with selling off people who can’t repay their debts along with their families into slavery.
From our Empire’s perspective, that’s a reasonable and just collection method.
Of course, aside from the collection methods, our Empire is quite lacking in ethical concepts, but it’s still a crime.
“Is there such an Information Guild in this day and age?”
“Yes.”
“Though I don’t understand why they’re so decent. Usually, the Information Guild I know…”
Women would be raped and killed or sold into slavery, and men are simply killed or sold, just like the Mongolian savages.
These guys seem to have a ‘minimal line’ they established among themselves…
“Having a ‘minimal line’ means they haven’t completely forsaken their humanity.”
Of course, it doesn’t change the fact that they’re murderers and a crime syndicate.
“I hear that most of the members of that guild were the impoverished descendants of serfs. There’s also a rumor that the Guild Master is a scion of a fallen noble.”
So, it seems I could reform them with just a little discipline.
“I need to pay them a visit; prepare for me since I’ll be going tonight. Also, let Chloe and Chris know.”
Typically, when a male noble says he’ll be coming home late, it means he’s going to meet someone ambiguous he can’t bring as a concubine or spend the night with a courtesan.
However, I still haven’t crossed a line with Chris.
“I couldn’t because I had to leave for Ifriqiya business after showing Chloe.”
Since I can’t make loud sounds on the ship…
I’ve never had a relationship with anyone other than Chloe.
I have no intention of living chaotically like other nobles.
“Understood.”
“This alleyway is the domain controlled by the Information Guild, ‘Black Fog.'”
The Information Guild generally has ‘territories.’
Whether guild members or their families, they reside within their designated area.
Why? Because in their territory, you can sleep without the fear of being assassinated.
Conversely, if you step outside, you never know what might happen if you let your guard down for even a moment.
As I stepped inside, as expected, numerous guild members were immersed in their tasks.
Some were sharpening tools (weapons, including knives), and I could hear discussions about solving commissions.
Typically, this would be when a suspicious outsider arrives, so they’d point weapons at me in vigilance.
Yet the guild members seemed completely unfazed, going about their business as if they were expecting someone to come.
“This is strange. Normally, someone should be pointing a knife at me to ask why I’m here…”
“I’ve already informed them in advance that the Young Lord would visit at this hour. Although I don’t know which family’s Baron it is, no fool would draw a weapon against a Baron after being warned.”
There are over 150 Baron families just within Florence, meaning there are 150 Barons alone.
If we consider outside Florence, there are about 300 across the entire Toscan Empire…
“Being a Baron feels like having a hereditary seat in parliament or something.”
Soon after, a figure resembling the Guild Master appeared.
Before even greeting, he got straight to the point.
“Are you the Master of the Black Fog? Let me cut to the chase, do you enjoy this life?”
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