Our governor, Nakdoru, welcomed me very warmly.

    “Haha, among those who believe in the Deus faith, we should be wary of everyone, but you and the Visconti family are exceptions. Although we may believe in different gods, aren’t we still allies who care for each other?”

    That’s just how life works.

    When it’s sweet, we swallow it, and when it’s bitter, we spit it out.

    Today’s ally can easily become tomorrow’s enemy, depending on profit and loss, to the point where it’s not even surprising.

    However, no matter how wicked a scammer might be, the moment ‘self-interest’ and ‘the other party’s interest’ align, they won’t pull a scam.

    Why? Because if they stab you in the back, they’ll lose the benefits they currently enjoy.

    Governor Nakdoru and I are currently bound by the gunpowder trade, so as long as it benefits both of us, we’ll stick together until the end.

    “I pray for the blessings of the gods to be with you, Governor.”

    “I’ll gladly accept that. By the way, what brings you here this time?”

    “Don’t you need more gunpowder and matchlocks? We’ll be sure to serve you well this time.”

    The wars happening in the Toscana Empire are generally predictable to some extent.

    When waging war against other Deus followers, they must issue a ‘declaration of war’ in advance.

    About 200 years ago, they even agreed on the battlefield and timing to conduct battles like knights, although they don’t do that nowadays.

    The materials consumed don’t significantly deviate from what the Ministry of Military Affairs and the temporary War Ministry (an organization created when war breaks out) have proposed.

    So if you suddenly show up and ask to buy more, the nations on the Albanian continent can’t help but ponder...

    ‘But Governor Nakdoru is engaged in constant warfare with dozens, if not hundreds, of tribes.’

    Moreover, since the frequency of battles is so high, no amount of gunpowder is ever enough.

    “Indeed, things like gunpowder and matchlocks are never enough. But doesn’t the Toscana Empire also constantly face a shortage of gunpowder?”

    Until last year, there had been a chronic gunpowder shortage crisis.

    But nowadays, they are overflowing with gunpowder, begging to sell it.

    ‘Except for the nations on the Albanian continent.’

    “Actually, after beginning trade with you, Governor, we’ve significantly increased our gunpowder production scale. So now we can provide a larger quantity.”

    When it comes to selling goods, the most important thing is not to give the other party the impression that you’re taking advantage of them.

    That’s why traditional market vendors always say things like, “Oh, if I sell at this price, I won’t make anything,” and even big business tycoons will say, “Your company is struggling.”

    Why do they insist on such lies and complaints?

    If the other party feels like they’re being taken advantage of, it’s obvious that the ladies buying from traditional market vendors will try to haggle for a lower price.

    Big business tycoons know that if they don’t act like they’re struggling, employees will request higher bonuses, which would cut into profits.

    If I start saying something like, “I’ve recently produced gunpowder at a rate seven times higher,” that guy would definitely start talking about ‘Thanos.’

    ‘Gotta deceive them just enough.’

    “Also, can you win a war with just gunpowder? Money is necessary too. Just how desperate is it that a certain sage from our continent once said, ‘To win a war, you need money, more money, and even more money?’”

    I can’t remember who said it, but that’s a saying attributed to a great figure of the Holy Roman Empire.

    If they’re trading with the indigenous pagan tribes of blacks, they’re like the trash trading with North Korea in our country.

    There’s bound to be someone who would sell their organization for a huge amount of money among a group of trash.

    If someone would sell their own country, wouldn’t they sell their organization too?

    While I was comfortably resting, leaving all the tedious tasks to my subordinates...

    Finally, the opportunity I had been waiting for arrived.

    “Baron, a senior member of the Akbar Trading Company wishes to see you urgently.”

    As I expected, among those doing bad things, there was indeed a rotten one who exceeded the level of common decency.

    If there had been such a traitor in our merchant guild, I would have granted them the mercy of being sunk in the middle of the sea right away.

    ‘The enemy of my enemy is my ally.’

    A person who betrayed an organization as toxic as radioactive waste must be a good person.

    It’s the same logic that while the Communist Party is bad, someone who abandons the Communist Party and surrenders becomes our ally.

    “Make sure to thoroughly inspect if they’re bringing any weapons and let them in.”

    Still, I can’t completely rule out the probability that this guy is an assassin.

    Even if there are fanatic assassin organizations in this world like the Assassin’s Creed, I should still be cautious.

    Before long, a man who looked like a skin-headed version of Lee Wan-yong came in.

    I don’t want to discriminate against people based on appearance, but if someone like that came to interview at our guild, I would definitely reject them without a second thought.

    He had the kind of face that looked like he would sell his own family.

    ‘Just looking at him, I can’t even imagine what he’d sell out.’

    “Hello, Baron Medici. I’m Abdullah, an executive of the Akbar Trading Company.”

    “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Seeing someone as distinguished as you makes me feel good.”

    In truth, I didn’t feel very good, but what’s social life?

    Even if I’m uncomfortable, I should be smiling when dealing with people.

    “By the way, are you really going to give me 3,000 gold coins?”

    Seeing him start off with the money talk, my trust level rises a bit.

    Yeah, these traitors don’t lie when they’re betraying their allies.

    When they’re driven by greed for money, they don’t lie either.

    When these two things come together, their trustworthiness goes up to par with a loyal subject.

    “Is that all you’d give me? If it helps, I could give you double that.”

    Once I start selling gunpowder to Ifriqiya, I could raise the price to three or four times what it is now.

    But if I save on initial investment costs, I’d be a fool.

    Abdullah took out what looked like a ‘book’ containing first-class secrets from within his clothes.

    “This is a map depicting the geography of the northwest and west of Ifriqiya. It’s also our trade route.”