I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 198: Missionaries, Merchants, Age of Exploration (9)

In Florence Square, a wild celebration must be taking place right now.

The ones who invested in my Ifriqiya trade stocks must be addicted to the drug that is stocks.

The stock addicts, the ones who are in the final stages, will surely become the fertilizer for the flower of the Toscanian Empire’s economic development.

But right now, that’s not what matters.

"Chloe."

Chloe was sitting on my bed in my room, waiting for me.

“Did you come back?”

“I’m back. I’ve finished everything related to the Ifriqiya trade stocks.”

“I’m glad you’re not hurt. If you were hurt, I would have been really sad.”

Among my three wives, Chloe’s affection for me is undoubtedly the strongest.

Not only me, but even Erika and Chris agree that if I were to tragically die in some accident, Chloe would probably fall ill from the heartbreak and die.

‘I was the one she loved, and I was the reason she wanted to live, right?’

If we’re talking about the weight of love, she’s probably more yandere, or even more extreme than that?

Chloe gently touched her lower belly as she spoke.

“Not just me, but this child too.”

I had expected this since I heard it from Chris.

When Chloe says she has good news for me, I immediately thought of this.

‘She’s pregnant with my child.’

But when I actually heard it from her, the tears just started flowing like a broken faucet.

Chloe hugged me and gently patted my back to comfort me.

“Thank you for saving the young girl who almost got sold to the villagers, and giving me a new family. Until Deus takes my life, or even after I die, I will love only you, my master. I am only your woman.”

When I tried to embrace her tightly, someone stopped me.

It was Erika who stopped me.

She puffed out her cheeks, looking slightly offended, and said:

“You know, I’m here too. You should at least greet me and say you’re back.”

I was so moved by the news of my child that I didn’t even notice who was around.

They say when you focus on something specific, you can’t even notice what’s happening around you...

That’s exactly what I’m like right now.

No matter how joyful Chloe’s pregnancy is for me, I should’ve noticed that Erika was here.

“And even though Chloe’s still in the early stages of pregnancy, she’s pregnant. You need to be careful not to hug her too tightly or make her do any strenuous activities, or she might get hurt.”

Three months pregnant—this is a time where anything could happen.

Though she’s pregnant, it’s quite common for the mother to get injured or for the baby to be miscarried due to strenuous exercise.

Since there’s no ultrasound or modern medical equipment here, I have to be extra careful.

“Alright, I’ll be careful. And I’m back, Erika.”

“Welcome back.”

“Did everything go well with you?”

“Me? Well, during the day, I managed the household as the lady of the family and took care of Chloe’s condition.”

Erika puffed out her chest, as if she wanted me to praise her for her efforts.

She was born into a duke’s family and educated as a noble, but she’s still only 15, or now 16 years old.

At this age, she’s happy when an adult acknowledges her and praises her.

‘I guess I’ll have to praise her a lot instead of her parents.’

At times like this, she feels more like a daughter than a wife.

But that’s also cute.

“Alright, well done. The reason I can accomplish big things outside the house is because you’re holding down the fort. I’m really grateful.”

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“I just did what I had to do.”

The hardest thing in the world is doing what you’re supposed to do.

Just doing that alone would get you recognized as competent anywhere.

“That’s not as easy as it sounds. You did really well.”

Compliments can make even whales dance.

When you praise someone who does well, they’ll obviously do even better next time.

“Oh, the baby kicked my belly. Do you think the baby can sense that its father’s here? You should try touching it.”

Immediately, I put my ear to Chloe’s belly.

Maybe it’s because she’s only been pregnant for a short time?

Instead of feeling a strong kick, I could only feel a light tap.

Still, the thought that I was about to become a father in this world brought a smile to my face.

‘I’ll need to work harder to earn more money...’

With the money I have now, I can give my children most of what they want.

But I should leave a bit more for them. It’ll be better for them in the future.

I should try a bit of a scam that will astonish the British Empire traders, and empty the pockets of the clueless nobles of our continent.

Maybe I should also push for a religious reform and leave a world where my children won’t be extorted by the corrupt priests like me.

“I hope the baby is born healthy.”

If I set up a solid foundation, even if my child lacks some abilities, it won’t be a problem for them.

As a father, I’ll burn away any obstacles in front of my child...

As I thought of such plans, Erika spoke up.

“Chloe should take extra care of her body since she’s pregnant. I heard from the midwife that the early stages are the most likely time for a miscarriage.”

Chloe’s in her early twenties, so there’s no issue with her giving birth.

However, in this world where medical technology hasn’t progressed, we can’t prevent the rare but dangerous variables.

‘Taking good care of her body is really important.’

“So I’ve reached out through my family connections, and I found someone who used to work as a royal physician...”

No, I don’t need that damn royal physician.

Physicians here are passionate about medicine, but they’re quacks.

If Chloe gets a little sick while giving birth, they’ll probably force some strange concoction on her, based on some outdated theory like the four humors.

“It’s better to have an experienced midwife who has delivered many babies than a royal physician. Physicians are great at treating diseases, but they’re not really fit for childbirth, right?”

I spread the concept that physicians are weak when it comes to childbirth after I opened the Medici Hospital for obstetrics, and now everyone knows that.

Even I, an ordinary person, can safely deliver a baby better than those royal physicians overseeing childbirth.

Naturally, common sense had to change.

‘I’ll start an obstetrics department at the university when I have time.’

Even in an era where medicine isn’t that advanced, I’m confident I could teach obstetrics and hygiene at a university.

The knowledge I have is a compilation of statistics accumulated over hundreds of years.

“I’ll have a noblewoman who’s delivered many children check on Chloe’s condition. Chloe and Chris are family, so we can’t let anything happen to her while giving birth.”

“That should never happen. Absolutely not.”

It’s just a rumor from Japan, but when Toyotomi Hideyoshi, that monkey, started the Imjin War,

At the time in Japan, it was considered a somewhat reasonable idea, and most of the daimyo went to war hoping for a big win.

In fact, they succeeded in occupying from Busan to Seoul in less than half a month...

It wasn’t exactly a wrong idea.

However, the fierce resistance from the Ming army and Joseon soldiers (including the military and civilian volunteers), and the blockade of supplies by General Yi Sun-sin,

After experiencing this, all the daimyo turned against the war and entered negotiations for a peace treaty...

‘After Hideyoshi’s son, Tsuru Matsumaru, died, the bald rat fell into dementia.’

Then came the war known as the Jeongyu War.

If one of my wives dies for some reason...

Honestly, I can’t guarantee that I wouldn’t commit horrific acts even in the British Empire.

For example, not providing food aid to the people who can only live on potatoes, selling those who are starving as slaves,

Or even running a Ponzi scheme targeting everyone from the rich to the common folk.

“And one day, I’ll have your child too.”

That’s how it’s going to be.

Erika is my legal wife.

“When I see Chloe happy, I wonder if I could ever be as happy as her. So when I become an adult, please let me have your child too. And before that...”

Chris, who was nearby, suddenly lit up with excitement.

Her eyes shone like a cat hunting its prey.

“If it’s for the family, wouldn’t two children be better than just one?”

That’s not entirely wrong, but it seems like just an excuse to try to squeeze me dry.

“Erika said this.”

“What did she say?”

“She said that having many concubines in noble families isn’t about showing off power, but that the head of the family couldn’t satisfy his own desires, so it happens.”

Even if you’re not very smart, you can guess what follows from that.

If sexual desires remain => more concubines are added, and if you squeeze those desires enough, the concubines will stop increasing.

Chris started undoing the buttons on her shirt one by one.

“I will serve you to the best of my ability.”

That day, I was able to win because Chloe had fallen for me.

And I immediately began to make preparations to create the weapons I needed to give to Malik.