I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 212: Agitation and Profit (7)

There is a law that applies universally to families, companies, and nations.

When there’s enough money, people get along well and don’t fight, but when money becomes scarce, conflicts are almost certain to arise.

This is a well-established law, proven by statistics and history.

At the Vatican, it seemed like they were trying to prove why this is the truth, as they began fighting among themselves.

“Secretary of State, what on earth were you thinking when you drew up the budget? If this continues, we’ll be bankrupt! Bankrupt!”

“Stop talking like a heathen. This was a decision we all agreed on, wasn’t it?”

“In the end, it’s the chairperson of the Financial Council who signed off on it. Chairperson, come out and explain!”

To a devout Deus follower, this fight would be so ugly that in 0.1 seconds, they’d be questioning their faith, and in 10 minutes, they’d abandon it altogether.

However, the people involved in this fight couldn’t stop.

This was a war.

‘We need to pin the blame on one person and bury that bastard.’

Unlike the political fights of the secular world, there was no risk of someone losing their life here.

While there’s no immediate risk of death, there’s still the minor issue of living in painful and suffocating solitary training (or prison) until death.

“Our Financial Council can’t do anything but execute and audit the budget set by the Vatican. Do you think we’ve embezzled funds or something?”

Everyone was pointing fingers, blaming others, making sure to say, “It’s not my fault.”

In any era, politicians and high-ranking officials always take credit when things go well and shift the blame when things go wrong.

In the middle of this chaotic situation, Pope Johannes VIII stepped in to calm things down.

“Everyone, shut your mouths!”

The cardinals stopped fighting as soon as the Pope gave his order.

“Will this fighting change the fact that our Vatican lost the war? Will it improve our damn financial situation?”

The Pope knew full well that he was ultimately responsible for everything, and the cardinals here knew it too.

However, the Pope, sacrificing his dignity, acted as if he wouldn’t blame anyone.

This meant that the worst-case scenario of being locked up in a monastery was pretty much off the table.

He had escaped the threat of beheading...

At this point, everyone’s opinion came together as one.

‘We need to put out the fire on our feet first.’

They were as united as politicians when they raise their own salaries by a huge amount.

When the fire was on their feet, causing significant aftereffects, in such a situation, what’s the difference between enemies and allies?

“Secretary of State, how much is the Vatican’s financial deficit?”

“Four hundred thousand gold coins. Right now, we’re managing by opening the treasure vaults of past Popes, but this will run out in about two years.”

When a person gets sick or something major happens, they dip into their savings to survive.

That’s why older generations, who went through hard times, always insist on saving everything, even telling you to save toilet paper.

The Vatican had been hanging on this way, but the limit was only two years.

Once they crossed that limit, it was clear that Deus itself would be ruined.

“After our defeat in the war with the Kingdom of Lyon, we have to pay 800,000 gold coins in reparations. Furthermore, the taxes sent by the ecclesiastical vassals have decreased. We may not even survive for two years.”

While they were too busy blaming others, they hadn’t realized the gravity of the situation...

As soon as they felt the sense that the financial situation had already gone from bad to worse, no one dared to speak up.

The atmosphere felt as grim as if they were a group of criminals awaiting their death sentence.

“Holy Father, we urgently need measures to resolve this financial crisis.”

Pope Johannes sighed and slightly lowered his head.

“It is my foolishness that has brought the Church to this crisis. But how could I hold any of you cardinals accountable?”

Although he said this, the Pope himself was burning with frustration inside.

Honestly, just like the irreverent Emperor of the Holy Empire, he wanted to use this crisis to purge his opponents, but...

The reality was so dismal that there was no room to fight between factions.

Pope Johannes III, who had countless political snakes in his heart as he rose to the position of Pope...

‘If we start fighting here, Deus itself will collapse.’

The only reason they could indulge in luxuries and chase after their carnal desires was because the Church still existed.

If the Church disappeared, they would all be left out on the streets.

“Is there any way to raise additional funds?”

Someone cautiously spoke up.

“Perhaps you could temporarily halt the cathedral construction and secure the funds?”

Unlike other nobles and kings, the Vatican was an organization where financial deficits didn’t normally occur.

No matter what happened, tithes and other donations flowed in from all across the Albanian continent.

By regularly visiting the high-ranking officials, they could easily collect ‘special donations.’

However, this once abundant budget had been drained due to over-expansion, including the hiring of tens of thousands of mercenaries, procurement of supplies, and the cathedral construction...

From a logical perspective, halting the cathedral construction and waiting for the situation to improve would have been the right move.

But the Pope, who had no choice but to laugh like a fool, became furious when he heard that suggestion.

“Shut your damn mouth!”

He stood up from his seat and pointed at the person who made the suggestion.

“Do you know how the authority of the Deus Church is declining across the Albanian continent? When I was at the Trier Cathedral, secular lords and nobles used to empty their house safes and give us donations whenever we asked. When we said that living like this was a sin and that they’d go to hell, they trembled in fear!”

Memories are often idealized, and even though Johannes was once just a priest, the Church’s authority wasn’t as high as it is now.

Back then, nobles and kings were more inclined to follow the Church’s orders, even to the point of selling some of their territories to make donations.

‘These days, the nobles are trying to cut down on donations by making schemes.’

“Now, some nobles and scholars are even murmuring that the Church is too corrupt. Back in my day, we couldn’t have imagined such outrage. This is the end, the end!”

It’s true that the Deus Church’s clergy have wielded their power and authority as religious leaders, which has contributed to the world’s deterioration...

But neither the Pope nor the high-ranking officials here paid attention to such trivial matters.

Fabio, using the wisdom of the British Empire, would be shocked at the state of their consciences.

“In this situation, if we halt the cathedral construction, secular lords will start ignoring us, claiming that the Church has lost its authority and power. Can we handle the fallout from that? Can we?!”

The relationship between kings, nobles, and the Church is like that between retired parents and children who make money working.

To be exact, the human relationship has completely broken down, and they are now just grudgingly fulfilling their duty to support.

Once the influence—the inheritance—is lost, this relationship will deteriorate by 99%.

Just like how children leave their elderly parents abroad, or send them to inhumane nursing homes and wait for the death certificate.

If the Church loses its influence, it won’t receive tithes anymore, and it will wither and die.

And since the person who suggested this was part of the Pope’s opposition...

“Seems like you’re getting tired, huh? Step down from your cardinal position and go rest. Go pray in the monastery, meet Deus, and return to your original intentions.”

The Pope sent the person who made the conscientious suggestion into the gutter.

Even the Pope’s opposition couldn’t interfere with this action.

“Is there no way to fill the deficit?”

Someone spoke up to solve this situation.

“Your Holiness, why not issue indulgences?”

Indulgences are usually issued when a diocese faces a financial crisis, to raise funds to overcome the shortage.

They’re documents that allow one to avoid punishment in purgatory before entering heaven.

“Baron Rothschild taught us the printing technique, so we can print thousands, tens of thousands of indulgences. We can sell them by promoting that if people don’t buy them, they’ll suffer in hell. We’ll also tell the nobles that if they don’t buy them, they’ll lose face and their ancestors will suffer in purgatory.”

And the people who buy them will believe they’re helping their deceased relatives enter heaven quickly, which will be a win for them.

When the Pope thought of this, he couldn’t think of a better idea.

“Let’s issue indulgences in bulk and overcome the financial deficit.”

As soon as he said this, everyone in the room stood up and clapped.

Issuing indulgences to cover a financial deficit was something they’d done before.

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They were sure that this ‘magic’ would work again.