I Became A Black Merchant In Another World Chapter 227

There’s no human being in this world whose past doesn't leave behind a single trace.

Even historians who delve into the theory of the legendary general Won Gyun end up becoming fans of Admiral Yi Sun-sin once they dig deep enough. While there are exceptional cases, such as the great independence fighter who sold bean sprouts, most people, when their past is investigated, will have dirt fall out as soon as you shake them.

“Even if you casually go to any noble house and conduct an audit, soone's going to end up dead from shock or bad luck.”

This is why there are so many companies that, despite having the capabilities to rise to the level of a large corporation, stay small by using various tricks.

Because they have too many skeletons in their closets that would be exposed in an audit.

Accounting clerks or financial officers take the risk of embezzling a little bit of the company’s money, choosing to avoid audits. It’s a common piece of wisdom: it’s more profitable to avoid audits than to risk being caught.

“Where should I start the audit?”

Ideally, I would target my political rivals—those under the Duke of Sforza.

But if I start auditing my political enemies, everyone will question the credibility of the audit.

If I audit a rival faction or a family I’m personally hostile to...

“Wouldn’t that be an attempt to fabricate facts and twist them?”

People will surely start raising doubts, and my credibility as an auditor would be lost in the eyes of the public.

“Like Zhuge Liang cutting off Ma Su’s head, it’s better to start with families or factions close to . That way, the focus will remain on the benefits for both sides.”

People’s mindset is the sa everywhere.

While everyone loves seeing their enemies fail, no one wants to see their allies suffer.

Even psychopaths would probably agree, except for a few extrely rare exceptions.

Therefore, I need to conduct an audit on soone within “our faction.”

“I can’t ask His Majesty for help.”

The Emperor would hand over even the books from Florence if I asked, but Florence is too entangled with legal aristocrats and nobles.

One wrong move with a sword and half, no, most of the nobility in the Empire would beco my enemies.

The scale of corruption is so massive that penalties may be reduced, but the information I gain from the audit will be all factual. Whatever wrongs are found, I’ll expose them, and after begging for forgiveness from the Emperor, I’d still likely be labeled a villain.

‘Everything will be blad on Baron Rothschild! People will call for to be burned alive!’

Why? Because, especially the higher-ups, even if I’ve done sothing minor, they will have a wicked desire to burn the one who exposes it.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t been showing proper filial piety to the Duke lately.”

Strictly speaking, the person I need to show filial piety to is Erica’s father, my father-in-law, the young duke.

But considering the dieval European mindset, where fathers and sons are considered one body, showing respect to the Duke is equivalent to showing respect to my father-in-law.

“I should go show filial piety to the Duke.”

If I start an audit on the Visconti family, the storm that would hit them would be unavoidable.

But a storm is a natural disaster, uncontrollable.

An audit, on the other hand, is a man-made disaster. The consequences might be storm-like, but it’s still sothing humans can control.

Depending on how it’s handled, this could even benefit the Duke.

Strike while the iron is hot. I’m going to ask the Duke for so ti and go pay my respects.

**

As soon as I entered, the Duke received with a slightly disappointed look.

"Hmm, haven’t you forgotten sothing important?"

No, I brought all sorts of foods good for energy, as well as so laundered money, and even so jewels from Ifriquiya. What else could be lacking?

‘He’s not trying to extort more money from , is he?’

Have I been neglecting my political duties towards the Duke?

“Please tell what I’m missing, and I’ll make it up imdiately.”

The Duke sighed and spoke.

“Why didn’t you bring Erica? In my old age, seeing my granddaughter’s face is my only joy. After finishing our business, I would like to ask how she’s doing with her husband.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You have the ability, but you sotis lack this human side of you. Well, if soone can do everything perfectly, they wouldn’t be human, would they? They’d be a god. So, I won’t lecture you this ti, but next ti, bring Erica.”

The Duke was already in his late 60s.

If we were in modern society, where the concept of a 60th birthday celebration has faded, he would have lived an extraordinarily long life.

Considering that most nobles die in their mid to late 50s, in the context of Tuscany, it was as if he had lived into his 80s.

‘He must be at the age where he wants to see his grandchild’s face often.’

“I’m trying to live long enough to see my great-grandchildren. That’s why I’ve quit night shifts and now only drink a little and avoid spicy food.”

Every elderly parent says this.

“We can’t die until we see our grandchildren. Even if the King of Hell cos, we’ll beat him and send him back!”

“I’ll make sure to take good care of Erica. If you make her cry, I’ll have you sent to the army.”

Despite all my shadowy dealings and the power I’ve gained as a baron, if the Duke decides it, I’ll have to accept a re-enlistnt without question.

"...Please spare ."

"Lieutenant Ducat is waiting for you. Take care of Erica. And show the grandchild soon."

"I understand."

It’s always the sa, no matter the era. Father-in-laws are all the sa when it cos to their grandchildren.

Even though the Duke is talking about great-grandchildren...

“I’ll contact Erica and have her co right away.”

Strictly speaking, it would be a servant from the Visconti family running to fetch her, but such small details don’t matter.

Once I had my servant fetch Erica, the Duke finally got to the main topic.

“I heard you have a gift for . What is it?”

“It’s nothing special. I’m sure you’ve heard that I’ve recently created the profession of accountants.”

The news that I had set up a university to train accountants had already spread throughout the entire Tuscany Empire.

Any noble who didn’t know about this would be a spy.

And I can understand why they’d find it strange.

It might look like sothing absurd, like setting up a departnt for squid psychology or citrus packing.

‘Of course, once accountants show their true value, this perception will flip 180 degrees.’

“It’s a job for inspecting ledgers and preventing fraud in stock trading or monitoring rchant accounts. It’s unusual, but it’s a necessary profession.”

Though I spoke with a calm voice, I could see a slight wrinkle in the Duke’s expression. He must have been burned by stock fraud at so point.

‘Even Newton lost most of his wealth in stocks, right?’

In an age where insider trading isn’t even illegal.

Maybe I should discreetly offer him a discount on so top-tier stocks that I’ve been preparing for special investnts.

“But this job of auditing ledgers seems too valuable just to prevent stock fraud. If we’re creating a new profession, we should use it for a variety of purposes.”

Accounting isn’t just about preventing fraud.

No, it’s about using it to deal with people who are disliked by the higher-ups—coolly, fun, and brutally if necessary.

A minor infraction could lead to hundreds of millions, even billions, in fines.

And the Tuscany Empire is just barbaric enough for this.

“Are you thinking of doing sothing with this accountant profession?”

I’m planning to clean up the noble discipline within the Visconti family’s faction.

I’ll play the role of a minor baron, a sort of military disciplinarian.

And then, so people will inevitably co running, shouting about how the social order has collapsed, about how things shouldn’t be like this.

I’ll be cornered, of course, but...

In such situations, you use the magic of efficiently winning all argunts.

‘Then, let them die.’

Ah, of course, I won’t say it so blatantly. I’ll just calmly review the financial records and ask:

‘Shall we start going through the corruption in the ledgers one by one, as per the law?’

That single phrase will end it all.

“Absolute monarchy is great, but don’t you also want the absolute loyalty of everyone in your faction, Duke?”