I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 393: Ponzi scheme (7)

The Duke of Sforza was cornered both economically and politically.

Politically, Duke Visconti, the young Duke, proposed mandatory education and somehow managed to elevate himself to the point where he could challenge the Emperor’s power. Visconti became one of the key figures in the establishment of labor laws.

As a result, the Visconti faction’s influence was soaring to new heights.

In the past, his own faction had been the largest among the nobility, but now it had become as pitiful as comparing a chicken to a pheasant.

"How would my ancestors view me now?"

Would they sigh in disappointment at seeing such a pathetic and incompetent man, or would they strike him with a cane, just as they did when he rashly took a noblewoman from a prestigious family as a concubine during his youth?

Would they simply look at him as they would a pile of trash, not even saying a word?

He couldn’t even guess what they would think.

This thought tormented the Duke.

He knew he was bound to be scorned, but the reality of just how thoroughly his honor had fallen was unimaginable. He had completely lost his status as a noble.

Economically, there was one man to blame.

"Rothschild, that damn bastard."

Fabio was a man who repaid even the smallest favor in full, and similarly, he returned every tiny grudge tenfold. He was a “good” (?), but dangerous human being.

Through Archbishop Urban, Fabio had the audacity to send a sanitation supervisor to his faction’s cities, forcibly overturning them and making him pay enormous construction fees. He even sent accountants to collect taxes, sometimes to the point of absurdity, and sent labor supervisors who seized entire factories and businesses.

The Duke of Sforza was battered by Fabio’s triple-pronged attack, suffering massive financial losses.

What was even more infuriating was that after these actions, there were no epidemics, taxes had risen somewhat, and there was no longer any fear of worker revolts.

‘In the ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) end, I’m doing all the work, and that bastard’s the one reaping the rewards.’

“Damn it, that bastard.”

The Duke lit a tobacco pipe and filled it with leaves.

As the rich scent of smoke filled his lungs, he felt a little more at ease.

“I really can’t quit this. No matter how full of worries I am, somehow, with this, I feel like I can endure a little longer.”

Once he smoked one, he was always tempted to light another, a habit much like the addictive feeling he had after his first experience with a woman.

As the Duke savored the pleasure of his cigarette, he heard a voice calling from outside the door.

“Your Grace, a representative from the Namhae Trading Company has arrived.”

“Bring them in right away.”

A smile appeared on the Duke’s face for the first time today.

Up until now, his life had been tangled due to the Rothschilds, Duke Visconti, and various other matters, but things would be different from now on.

“I am Kim Filbi, from the Namhae Trading Company. Thank you for granting me the honor of meeting Your Grace.”

“If it were any other company, I might not have been so courteous, but since you, young man, will one day surpass even the Rothschilds and become the Empire’s number one trading company, how could I not treat you well? I must foster our relationship from now on.”

“I will do my best to meet Your Grace’s expectations. It seems you already have some idea of what our company does, so I will skip the trivial details and go straight to the core of the matter.”

Filbi handed over a few contracts and a small, exquisitely crafted booklet to the Duke.

“Our Namhae Trading Company is the only one to have successfully established direct trade routes with the New World.”

“Not only ‘the only one,’ but you mean no one else except the Rothschilds, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right. We are also trying to identify the tribes with which the Rothschild Trading Company conducts business, but we haven’t had much success yet, which is proving difficult.”

“Don’t rush it. There isn’t really a major issue at the moment, is there?”

Filbi held back a smile inside.

They were essentially the Rothschild Trading Company, and the Rothschilds were essentially them.

But right now, the foolish Duke of Toscana genuinely believed that they were competing companies.

‘What an idiot.’

If he tried to deceive him, it seemed like they could strip him of not only his clothes but even the straw from his home’s bathroom.

“It’s easier to make money monopolizing cochineal and tobacco than having even one competitor.”

“You merchants are really something else. To move so thoroughly for just a little extra profit.”

“When you call us merchants, that’s the highest compliment. I’ll be sure to pass it on to the chairman.”

The Duke didn’t even pretend to be flattered by the compliment. Instead, he clicked his tongue inwardly as he watched Filbi eagerly accept it.

These days, merchants had gotten so arrogant that they were completely oblivious to the world's dangers, and they didn’t even have the decency to refuse humbly.

‘The world’s gone to hell, really. The end is near.’

But on the other hand, he was somewhat reassured.

He was so devoted, proud, and skilled that he at least seemed unlikely to waste his money.

“Our company’s stock offers an annual dividend rate of 15%. When we achieve significant performance, we also provide performance dividends. Last time, we gave a 150% performance dividend...”

“Why are you hesitating?”

“I’m a little hesitant to say something that isn’t certain. If it were someone else, it might be different, but if I provide incorrect information to Your Grace, I’ll be the one to bear the burden...”

“As long as you’re not trying to deceive me, I don’t mind. If it’s uncertain, I assume it’s a top secret, right?”

Filbi subtly gestured around the room.

This was his indirect way of implying that his head might be on the chopping block if any words slipped out.

“Everyone, please leave for a moment.”

Only after the Duke’s guards had left did Filbi cautiously speak.

“This time, the dividend rate will start at 170%. It may even go higher.”

“...That’s nonsense.”

“Ha, I’m really not sure if I should say this...”

The Duke was convinced by Filbi’s response.

There was definitely some incredibly valuable information hidden behind this.

‘He wouldn’t just say it out loud.’

The Duke quickly pulled out a gold coin check worth 100 gold coins and handed it to Filbi.

“Buy yourself a meal with this.”

“We plan to lead an army of 1,000 soldiers to conquer the New World. Their technology is more primitive than the Maasai Confederation’s, so with just 1,000 men, we can take a fairly large area. Specifically, we can conquer a good-sized territory, perhaps even a duke’s domain.”

“Really?”

“Would I lie after accepting 100 gold coins as a meal payment? If we take 1,000 men and go to the New World and develop it like the Maasai Confederation did in Soros, we could make a fortune. I’m selling my house, gathering my salary, and investing everything I can into this.”

Filbi showed the Duke the stock trading certificate he had signed himself.

It was worth a staggering 5,000 gold coins.

For a mere trading company’s director, it was far too much money to be investing.

As soon as the Duke saw it, his suspicions melted away.

An insider, a director no less, who was willing to invest his very soul into the business...

‘This is definitely going to succeed.’

“I’ll invest 700,000 gold coins.”

This was the amount left after subtracting what was needed to maintain his faction’s image.

Filbi took out the contract, a little disappointed.

“I understand, Your Grace. We’ll receive the 700,000 gold coins. Please sign here, and our staff will come to collect the money tomorrow.”

“...Is 700,000 gold coins not enough?”

Filbi expressed as much regret as was polite.

“This project requires a lot of money, Your Grace. Even with 700,000 gold coins, we’ll still be a bit short. Otherwise, why would I, as a director of the company, have come all the way to the Toscana Empire?”

“You’ve had a hard time.”

Filbi was now ready to deliver the final blow.

“Given the situation, I’m afraid we’ll need to take a little investment from Duke Visconti as well. If we don’t have enough money, we won’t be able to do anything, New World or otherwise.”

The Duke of Sforza couldn’t stand the thought of Visconti doing well.

If Fabio, the Rothschilds, had a child with Visconti’s granddaughter, he might die of a heart attack.

But giving such a good investment opportunity to that man?

“How much do you need?”

“At least 2 million gold coins. The more, the better.”

“Let’s meet with my faction members first. Since I’ve already invested 700,000 gold coins, I think I can make such a request.”

Filbi inwardly cheered as he responded.

“Of course.”

And those in the Duke’s faction invested massive amounts of money in the Namhae Trading Company, which was driving the overwhelming economic growth of the Kingdom of Lyon.

They dreamed of making a great fortune.