I Became A Black Merchant In Another World Chapter 165

Erica let out a soft chuckle, puffing out her chest with pride.

Although she was wearing loose pajamas, they did little to conceal her ample figure, which only made her appear all the more alluring.

My gaze involuntarily fixed itself there—proof that humans are, after all, creatures of instinct.

“My nanny told before I got married that every man loves a well-endowed figure. Looks like you’re no exception,” she teased with a playful smile.

Of course, there are those who prefer a more petite fra. Historically, in Europe, smaller busts were once considered the pinnacle of beauty.

However, in the Tuscan Empire, the consensus generally leans toward preferring sothing more substantial—and I can’t deny that I’m part of that majority.

Erica folded her arms, pressing them together to accentuate her chest further. As she moved her arms slightly, my gaze naturally followed their rhythm.

“Chloe said you might like this. I guess she was right,” she added with a knowing smirk.

After her brief display of charm, Erica handed several reports.

“First, your quarantine asures played a huge role in reducing casualties from the epidemic. We haven’t received all the reports yet from the agents sent by the Rothschild barony, but I doubt the final numbers will deviate much.”

Waterborne diseases, once they break out, tend to run their course quickly.

They spread rapidly and, due to their high fatality rates, often burn out before reaching a wider area because the infected succumb before transmitting further.

“Remote regions likely haven’t reported back yet due to communication delays,” I mused.

“Since we have so ti now, can you walk through everything from the beginning?”

Erica nodded, scurrying off to fetch a chair like an eager child showing their parent a carefully drawn picture.

“First, I sent letters to young n from families allied with the Visconti duchy, especially those who were too young to hold administrative or military positions, as you instructed.”

“You sent them to both direct and cadet branches, right?”

“Yes, since the task didn’t require advanced knowledge—just enough understanding to follow your instructions. The main focus was recruiting enough personnel.”

While being the Duke of Visconti’s grandson-in-law grants influence, it’s not enough to compel major baronies or higher-ranking nobles to heed my requests.

Instead, I targeted cadet branch mbers—second or third sons who were desperate to secure positions to maintain their noble status.

Even though providing opportunities to the main branch would yield stronger alliances, offering positions to cadet branches still wins the gratitude of their families.

“Most of the applicants were from cadet branches. Young n from the main branches didn’t show much interest in joining,” Erica reported.

Second or third sons from cadet branches face bleak prospects without official titles or roles.

Though they wouldn’t starve, their standard of living would plumt to the point where even affluent rchants might look down on them.

For them, this was a lifeline. Betting their future on soone who rose to the rank of a duke’s grandson-in-law in just a few years must have seed worth it.

“I’d hoped for a stronger connection with the main branches, but this will do. What’s next?”

“For the recruits, I promised that outstanding performance in the quarantine efforts could earn them a place as retainers for the dici barony. Given our chronic manpower shortage, it’s a good opportunity to secure talented individuals.”

Filling positions is always possible by offering higher wages, but competency is harder to ensure.

“For now, I used the promise of future opportunities as motivation. While training them rigorously, I made sure they were well-fed and well-treated, so they worked hard, hoping to secure positions with our family.”

She explained how the recruits were tasked with delivering salt and sugar to areas with suspected outbreaks, dispatching them with a few cavalryn as soon as reports of an outbreak arose.

“Speed is crucial in dealing with epidemics,” Erica emphasized, lifting her chin slightly with a hand over her chest.

Following my instructions, the recruits approached local lords or their representatives, offering aid. While most were skeptical at first, seeing poor or holess individuals recover after taking the solution I devised quickly changed their minds.

“Once they witnessed the results, they began requesting supplies for themselves. So even tried to buy large amounts of the solution with gold or used their authority to demand more, but we distributed it as equitably as possible. Thanks to this, we managed to reduce fatalities to around 10% of the expected numbers.”

While I had personally reduced Pisa’s death toll to about 3%, sending others to handle distant regions naturally had its limitations.

“According to Chris, the total number of lives you saved is estimated to be between 300,000 and 350,000,” Erica concluded.

If the epidemic had reached the capital, threatening the imperial family and nobility, this could have secured a promotion to Viscount.

But without such a direct threat to the empire’s heart, my achievents would likely result in territorial rewards rather than an elevation in title.

Reaching out, I gently patted Erica’s head.

“Well done, Erica.”

“I only did my duty as your wife,” she replied with a soft smile.

Erica was just 15—a legal adult by our empire’s standards but still too young for public office or most responsibilities beyond dostic ones.

“You can lean on a bit more. You’ve done so well.”

I knew all too well how Chloe and Chris often sought my affection, acting like playful kittens, while Erica stood quietly by the door, watching with a mix of longing and envy.

While I pretended not to notice, I understood what she truly wanted.

Nobles, despite their material wealth, rarely experienced warm parental love, leaving many emotionally starved.

If no one else, I could at least provide that affection.

“...Really?” she whispered hesitantly.

Instead of replying, I patted my thigh.

After a brief mont of hesitation, Erica clenched her eyes shut and seated herself on my lap.

“You’ve done so well, Erica. Thanks to your efforts, countless lives were saved. I’m truly grateful.”

As I whispered those words and stroked her hair, her face turned as red as an apple, but she didn’t pull away from my touch.

Though I couldn’t see her expression, I was certain she was smiling.

That night, I spent hours showering Erica with praise and affection.

The next morning, an imperial envoy arrived with an urgent summons to the royal palace.

It’s finally ti to collect my reward.