I Became A Black Merchant In Another World Chapter 107

Sebastian spoke with a grave expression.

"Baron, the other noble families have begun to keep a close eye on us."

Knight, Baronet—titles that, honestly, anyone could buy if they had enough money.

However, buying such titles made you a bureaucrat noble—a re servant of the Emperor, so wealthy rchants rarely took such positions.

But with the title of Baron, one could independently participate in the nobles' battlefield with certain rights and obligations.

"In other words, it ans that my enemies are now showing their hostility openly."

I’m not yet sure what kind of sches they’re plotting against .

But just like how earning more money naturally increases the taxes I pay, this level of scrutiny is to be expected.

There’s no reason to get angry or feel annoyed about it.

All I have to do is keep smiling and deal with them cleverly.

At tis like this, it’s crucial to remain calm and assess the situation carefully.

“What exactly is the form of this scrutiny?”

"The majority is slander at the balls. They say soone so young couldn’t achieve such success without making a deal with a demon, or that you're an illegitimate child of the Visconti Duke placed with the dici family... mostly just nonsense."

The rumors are unfounded and baseless gossip that finds its way to the news.

Actors, idols, and celebrities entangled in such rumors often ignore them.

If they showed any sign of hurt, anti-fans would start ridiculing them for being sensitive.

Most reasonable people hear these rumors and let them pass without a second thought.

Especially among the nobles—who are educated far beyond the standards of ordinary people—they wouldn’t genuinely believe such nonsense.

"The problem is, if these rumors continue to circulate, my reputation will genuinely suffer."

"There's also talk that your affection for Chloe is unmanly, or that you’re a disgrace for allowing your servants too much freedom."

In our empire, the ideal "manly" noble is soone like this:

He has nurous concubines, sires many illegitimate children, and flaunts his vigor, appearing capable and impressive.

I’m hardly one to criticize, given that I'll likely end up taking Kris, Chloe, and even a Duke’s daughter I haven't even t as wives.

"Still, throwing oneself at concubines purely out of lust feels wrong, doesn’t it?"

And treating my servants well is simply insurance for my own safety.

"Sebastian, it seems ridiculous, doesn’t it?"

“Yes, it does.”

However, this is how the nobles fight their “elegant” battles (though anyone could see there’s nothing elegant about it).

They tear down a person's social reputation without spilling a drop of blood, making it seem peaceful.

"It’s better than nobles actually waging wars that would lead to bloodshed."

If they did, a civil war would break out.

“At least there hasn’t been an attempt to attack our rchant guild or lawsuits over trivial matters... yet.”

“But who knows when soone might attempt sothing like that?”

There are always signs before sothing big happens.

Unlike exams that hinge on a single mont, successful business ventures often feel like they just keep going without end.

It’s exhausting, but at the sa ti, it’s rewarding.

On the other hand, when things are destined to fail, there are telltale signs, like a constant feeling that nothing will work and a plumting sense of self-worth.

The fact that I’m facing this level of hostility now ans that trouble might be looming.

"Should I start hiring people to handle the shadier side of things?"

Sebastian cautiously suggested.

"Baron Rothschild, perhaps it’s ti to consider employing a thieves' guild, or rather, an information guild, like other families do."

An information guild—the thieves—aren’t without their uses.

They can spread people through the slums, approach financially struggling mbers of rival factions with bribes they can’t refuse, and gather rumors circulating in the streets.

Through this, I can roughly gauge what’s happening in places I can’t personally monitor.

Predicting the future is up to , but—

"It’s often more work cultivating the ingredients for a recipe than actually cooking it."

"Alright, let’s hire an information guild."

These guys may sotis commit petty cris in the slums, extorting money, but that’s just their nature.

It’s like how a company wouldn’t answer for an employee’s swindling in their private ti.

No matter what problems they cause, we’ll just make use of their skills.

"A wise decision. I have a guild in mind that might be worth considering."

"I’ll hire them, but who are they exactly?"

Sebastian began explaining each detail about them.

"They’re a relatively clean information guild. Most of them are just thieves in the guise of an information guild."

Information guilds are like the Yakuza, the Mafia, or the Triads—a group of thugs and political enforcers.

They collect money in exchange for information and cover up petty cris committed by their mbers in the slums.

"They also assassinate people if nobles demand it."

They’re more malicious than most gangsters.

“They avoid human trafficking and slavery but will enslave families who fail to repay their debts.”

Selling soone as a salt mine slave for missing a small paynt is inhumane.

But in the Toscana Empire, even the most virtuous institutions, like the church, sell families into slavery for unpaid debts.

This is considered a reasonable and justified collection thod in our empire.

"At least they don’t kidnap innocent people for slavery."

“Is it common to find a guild like that?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are they so ‘clean’? The guilds I know…”

They’re more vile than the Mongolian invaders who plundered and pillaged.

This guild seems to keep to a ‘minimum line of decency,’ as if they haven’t entirely abandoned their humanity.

“Though they may be people, they are murderers and criminals.”

“Most of the guild’s mbers co from impoverished backgrounds. The guild master is rumored to be a fallen noble’s descendant.”

So, with a bit of discipline—or, shall we say, education—they might be rehabilitated.

"I’ll need to visit them tonight. Prepare things, and let Chloe and Kris know."

When a male noble says he’s going out for the night, it usually ans he’s seeing soone he can’t even call a concubine or planning to spend the night with a courtesan.

But I haven’t yet crossed that line with Kris.

"I showed her with Chloe, but didn’t have the chance because of the Ifriqiya expedition."

It’s not like we could make much noise on a ship.

So, apart from Chloe, I haven’t been with any other woman.

And I don’t intend to follow other nobles’ chaotic lifestyles.

"Understood."

“This alley here is the territory of the information guild ‘Black Mist.’”

Information guilds typically have “territories.”

Whether or not guild mbers and their families live there, it’s a secure area where assassinations are rare.

Outside their territory, a guild mber never knows when sothing might happen.

Inside, as I expected, nurous guild mbers were diligently focused on their tasks.

So were sharpening weapons, while others discussed which request to handle next.

At this point, it’s customary for them to draw their weapons and question a suspicious outsider like .

But they seed to be expecting , carrying on without any concern.

"Strange. By now, soone should be confronting with a weapon."

“I’ve inford them you’d be coming tonight. They may not know which family you belong to, but they wouldn’t dare draw weapons against a Baron.”

There are over 150 baronies just in Florence alone—around 300 across the entire Toscana Empire.

“A Baron is like a hereditary congressman, right?”

Not long after, a man who appeared to be the guild master approached.

Before exchanging pleasantries, I got straight to the point.

"Are you the master of the Black Mist? Let ask directly: do you enjoy this life?"