The national dictionary defines “black幕” as a black curtain or a hidden, insidious background.
According to the meaning derived from the term, it means that matters must be handled secretly without anyone knowing.
A perfect crime, or more directly speaking, it implies that one should only observe the phenomenon of a person being killed without seeing the details.
“Of course, the humans labeled as ‘black幕’ in reality didn’t always end things so neatly.”
I tapped the desk with my finger.
The mistakes they made are things I can use to check before or while I’m causing trouble.
What’s important is how they concealed the sins lurking beneath the very few mistakes they made from the world.
I contemplated for about 30 minutes and arrived at only one conclusion.
“Should I keep instructions brief and to the point, and plan to manipulate the other party to read and accept that intention?”
Even after saying it, it’s hard to comprehend, but for example, this would be like when elderly grandparents suddenly say something like, ‘I guess I should die soon since my kids aren’t paying attention to me.’
However, that statement carries an underlying intent.
‘I’m so sad, please pay more attention.’
The children hear that and come to visit with their children, bringing precious food.
Even without any explicit instructions in verbal expression, communication happens, and the elderly couple can receive filial piety without ‘directly demanding’ it.
“To the vassals of the other factions holding my bonds…”
While I was muttering to myself and organizing my thoughts, I heard a knock on my office door.
“It’s Chris, may I come in?”
“Come in.”
As soon as Chris entered, she handed me a bundle of documents.
“As you know, Baron, currently, Baron Olbia and Baron Sisia are in a power struggle. Initially, it was simply that Baron Olbia attended a ball in a ceremonial robe made by a craftsman who used to work for the royal family…”
The scary thing about a power struggle, especially among nobles, is that it leads to an endless cycle of absurdity.
It’s like students in an internet café starting at 700 won to attract kids, and later reducing it to 500, 400 won, and so on.
At first, you can definitely see the effect of reducing fees lowering the competitor’s customer count.
However, they will have no choice but to witness their own sales plummeting like a roller coaster.
If someone can think rationally, they should both agree and stop at a reasonable point, but…
Once you graduate, competition becomes a matter of ‘you must die, and I must live first,’ and in that logic, they end up even providing free food, the core of the café’s sales.
Free ramen, discounts on hotbars or hamburgers—it all leads customers to win, but the two owners must go bankrupt.
“There’s a reason big companies collude.”
It seems the power struggle between Baron Olbia and Baron Sisia will flow along similar lines.
“Since rumors spilled from Roberto’s ear to Baron Sisia, walking around in clothing of lesser quality only reveals their lack of discernment. Therefore, Baron Sisia went as far as to bring a craftsman who worked for the royal family into his household to create even more extravagant robes.”
The competition between café owners is about survival.
It’s something that can be understood rationally.
However, the competition of dignity among nobles takes place in a realm that cannot be grasped by rationality or common sense.
Even as a baron, I honestly don’t understand it!
If one only scrutinizes clothing, no one would make a fuss over spending a bit more on a ceremonial robe for the ball while trying to keep other clothing expenses to a minimum.
Of course, if someone lacks skills yet walks around dressed poorly every day, they only earn more reasons to be ridiculed.
One should make efforts to manage their territory and look modest in affordable clothes to be seen as a capable person.
“But these folks can’t stand it when someone with a similar rank dresses more flamboyantly than themselves.”
Sometimes it’s just incomprehensible.
“As a result, the Sisia and Olbia factions are increasingly raising their expenditures, fully aware they cannot fall behind one another. On a small scale, this involves giving cakes from Cafe Medici weekly to not only the attendants but also to the servants, while on a larger scale, they are hosting balls at least once every two weeks, throwing lavish feasts for barons, leading to severe overconsumption. If this continues, both families will face massive financial distress.”
Both of them are probably thinking deep down:
“Please, please stop! We’ll all die like this!”
However, just like the one who cries first loses in fights among kids, the one who bows their head loses in battles of honor between nobles.
To make an apology first means to declare that I am at fault, also claiming ones that are utterly nonsensical and paying the price for those claims.
Those two families will probably end up bankrupt, not even knowing who is behind it.
“Those two families won’t dare oppose you, Baron, for several years. They’ll be too busy dealing with the fallout from their excessive spending.”
Honestly, it’s nice that things are rolling along this way.
But Baron Olbia tried to pin the label of ‘lack of faith’ on me for selling coffee without even bothering me!
A lack of faith isn’t a crime punishable by death.
If I am accused of that, I will have a hell of a time cleaning up the aftermath.
“Still, they’ll be unable to handle it, and their other assets besides the territory will dwindle by half.”
But just letting them self-destruct through overconsumption won’t do.
I need to deliver a more decisive blow.
They won’t even know who struck them down, and while they might regret trying to mess with our family after being hit, I don’t need to brag about having taken revenge on someone who tried to make a fool out of me.
Just knowing is enough.
“I think this isn’t enough. I need to give them a more direct hit.”
Chris hesitated a bit before responding.
“We have already successfully intercepted the political attack the opponent was preparing.”
“The minimum goal was achieved a long time ago. Additionally, we dealt a critical blow to Baron Sisia, who belongs to the Duke Sforza faction, so it’s a double win.”
We are all required to get vaccinated throughout our lives.
Even though it costs money.
However, there’s no one in this world who complains about spending money on vaccines.
Everyone understands how important it is to reduce the probability of serious illness to near zero.
Of course, it’s impossible to prevent every problem we may face in life beforehand.
However, at least it’s wise to prepare in advance for what we can immediately address.
“The Sisia family is an enemy faction anyway, so it’s beneficial to step on them.”
“Chris, there’s a golden opportunity to make money right before your eyes. Are you just going to stop after earning as much as you have?”
“If it doesn’t involve a massive risk, then it’s essential to take advantage. The more money, the better!”
At my level, I can live comfortably as a baron without worrying about money at all.
My mistress is the granddaughter of Duke Visconti, and though I can’t say we have money to the point of it rotting away, I can express I will hardly feel the need to worry even if I spend as I please.
Yet if I am complacent and live like this, my competitors will soon surpass me.
“And they will come at me wielding swords, all just to line their pockets.”
“Right now, we haven’t fully gauged the capabilities of the spy network held by the Rothschild Baron Clan. While we’ve managed to corner them into a corner, they haven’t yet revealed their trump cards.”
Their trump card, that’s right—their vassals bound by debts in noble families.
Inserting misinformation to start a ‘political war,’ or blowing up the family from the inside, and more.
“Why did America create nuclear weapons and drop Little Boy and Fat Man?”
While 95% aimed to force Japan, the core of the Axis powers, to surrender, the remaining 5% was to witness the real-world effectiveness of nuclear weapons.
“The treasurer of Baron Olbia is having a hard time with finances lately, so I paid a part of the interest on the money he borrowed from the trading company.”
“Thanks to that, we were able to gather intelligence in advance that Baron Olbia is using wicked schemes.”
The information I received in exchange for keeping the treasurer’s lifeline was honestly quite sweet.
Given that I completed difficult QUESTs, I suppose it’s time for a REWARD.
“Create a forged seal for Trialle trading company, write a document stating I would like to meet, and send it over. If they don’t show, claim the debt.”
The next day, I met with the treasurer of Baron Olbia at a secluded inn.
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