I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 331: One Ghost, Labor Standards Act (9)

What is the best way to win in a competition against someone?

Most people would probably answer like this:

"By putting in more effort than the other person, getting a better education, having superior abilities, and seizing opportunities."

That answer is certainly true.

However, there are limits to effort.

A typical example is in the entertainment industry, where if you don't have talent, you can't make a living.

In that world, the difference between the elite and the third-rate is often as thin as a sheet of paper, and the value of a person can vary by thousands of times.

This is true not just in entertainment but in business competition, and also among those who pass professional exams.

For people in the top 1% of society, it’s hard to surpass someone else simply through "effort."

Yet, if you lose in competition, you lose your livelihood—so what should you do?

The answer is well known to politicians, who use it every day.

"Undermine others or falsely accuse them."

By "undermining," I don’t mean just spreading rumors; I’m talking about launching direct attacks, both visible and invisible.

As a merchant and a politician of a nation, I must not hesitate when the time comes to engage in dirty deeds, right?

"Fabio, no, Count."

"Do whatever you like."

I’ve seen Bruno’s skill with words and his ability to captivate the workers firsthand. He speaks well and has the power to gather people.

But our positions are different.

If I don't lend him a hand, once he gets out of here, he’ll end up stuffed into an oak barrel, floating in the sea, while I can easily find someone else to replace him.

The difference between the superior and the subordinate is clear.

This might take a while...

"Guard, bring me a chair. My legs are aching from standing so long."

"Yes, sir!"

The guard immediately brought a chair and even wiped it down with a cloth.

It seems he really doesn’t want to make me angry.

"What will I be doing?"

Alright, we’re halfway there.

You know, when people are cornered, they often don't know if the thing in front of them is poison or something they can eat, but they’ll grab it anyway, right?

When you're drowning, you grab onto even a straw.

I signaled for the guards to leave, and they withdrew.

Now, only Bruno and I remained.

"You’ll be working to liberate the oppressed people in foreign lands."

"You mean people from countries other than the Toscana Empire?"

"Think about it, the Toscana Empire is now a country where even serfs can live decently, isn’t it? And as of yesterday, His Majesty has even enacted a law to guarantee a humane life for workers like you."

Bruno’s eyes widened, and he raised his voice.

"Is that really true?"

"Why would I lie to you? From now on, employers can’t make workers work more than 10 hours a day or 60 hours a week. Additionally, if they provide meals and housing, they can’t charge more than 70 ducats a month for rent. Doesn’t that sound pretty good?"

"Good? We’re finally going to be able to live like humans..."

Tears fell from Bruno’s eyes.

Having worked 13 hours a day, six days a week, living on food worse than slop, now, if all those injustices are resolved...

I would be moved to tears too.

"His Majesty has already made sure that even the people can live like humans. So why would we need to liberate the people of this empire?"

"You're right, Count. The reason people like me and others rose up was to live like humans. There's no need to stir up unrest now. Trying to do so would be wrong."

"It’s good to hear that you understand."

Our country, Korea, is one of the most accomplished nations in the world.

It’s the only country to successfully rise from being a destitute nation that even the poorest in Africa could sympathize with to a developed nation.

Even the nationalists can’t deny how great this achievement is.

But, while this has to do with the tenacity and sweat of Koreans, from a political perspective...

‘Western countries had to prevent Korea from becoming communist.’

And communism is easiest to infiltrate and accept in the poorest nations.

If you don’t quite understand this, think of it this way: when I see a man with a pretty girlfriend, it twists my insides.

Why is that guy dating such a pretty woman and going to a motel on Christmas?

It boils my blood.

Now, if you switch the object of jealousy from "pretty women" to "rich people," it’s easy to understand.

That’s why Western countries, especially the United States, gave Korea tremendous aid.

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During the 1950s and 1960s, much of the food came from American rice and flour.

Knowing this history, I too am doing my best to make my country wealthy to avoid falling under the rule of communist blood-red demons.

"But what about other countries? They still collect 60% in taxes from serfs, and urban workers are eating food that even pigs wouldn’t touch."

"Is that so?"

"In the Toscana Empire, His Majesty is trying to bear the suffering of the people together, but foreign rulers think of their subjects as mere livestock."

"Livestock."

"They see them as no more than cows or horses. I’ve even heard that when a serf dies, they collect a cow or a horse as death tax. While alive, they treat them like cattle, and after they die, they collect livestock instead of meat. How miserable is that?"

A high-ranking official from the Ministry of Education once said that the people are like dogs and pigs.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

Politicians and the high-ranking officials must think the same way.

The idea that discriminating against people based on social class is bad has only started to be accepted in the last 200 years.

On the other hand, the history of class-based discrimination has lasted thousands of years.

Even now, this happens, so it’s more surprising if someone in a medieval fantasy world doesn’t think this way.

"Anyway, if you leave like this, you’re already a dead man. Duke Sforza has no intention of letting those who led the uprising live."

"...I see."

"So, think of yourself as dead, take my hand, and I’ll make you a leader in the liberation of workers and serfs everywhere."

"Alright. I’ll do it, but if I take your hand..."

If you’ve completed the quest, it’s natural to get a reward.

Anyone who doesn’t follow such simple rules isn’t even human.

"From this moment, you’ll be my vassal."

A vassal, in other words, a noble.

"I pledge my loyalty."

"Good, then let’s change your name. From now on... the man called Bruno is dead as soon as he leaves this prison."

It’s more advantageous for my future plans to give him a completely new identity.

So, it’s better to erase his old name.

Since he’s just a worker who was practically kicked out of the city and has no family, it doesn’t matter.

"From now on, you’ll be called Karl, Karl Marx."

"Marx? What’s the meaning behind that name?"

It’s the name of the Red War Demon who colored Europe and the world.

"He will be the one to bring light to the workers and serfs of all nations."

Ah, this is something most people don’t know.

The welfare system we enjoy, like the four major insurances, owes a lot to Marx’s contributions.

After seeing the German workers turn into rabid communists, the Iron Chancellor, fearing it would turn into a communist paradise, created the welfare system to keep the German Empire safe from ruin.

"One week from now, you’ll be released from prison. After that, I’ll teach you what you need to know. And when you’re ready, you’ll be at the forefront of liberating foreign workers and serfs."

As other countries fall into chaos, the Toscana Empire will become relatively wealthier.

In other words, it’ll be easier to win in competition.

How could I not do this?

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"Good job, my lord."

"Good job? By the way, did you manage to persuade the others?"

"We’ve succeeded in convincing all those who directly led the uprising. As soon as they are released, they will become ‘non-existent’ in the Empire’s records."

If it gets out that I’m spreading communism in other countries, it would be extremely troublesome.

So, I’ll make sure such people don’t exist in the Empire’s records. That way, even if things go south, I can easily deny everything.

"Where do you plan to send them?"

"I was thinking of sending them to the Holy Empire, but it might be better to send them to the Kingdom of Lyon."

"That’s a wise decision. The Kingdom of Lyon is already facing a lot of unrest, so their incitement will work well there."

Spreading communism to other countries while keeping our hands clean.

How wonderful.

It’s so good that I feel like I could fly just thinking about it.

"Before that, make sure to educate them well."

Sebastian grinned.

"Once they’ve received this training, they’ll become the worst agitators in our continent."