Inside the carriage, Sebastian asked, "Young Master, are you really going to sue the Pereira Trading Company? Even with the Emperor’s order, this is a very dangerous move."

    Suing someone is akin to a declaration of war—an open challenge. Suing the Pereira Trading Company is practically saying we’re going to war.

    Facing Pereira head-on would mean certain defeat for me, ten times out of ten, or a hundred times out of a hundred.

    "It is dangerous, but what''s done is done. There’s no going back now."

    Pereira and I have already crossed a line that cannot be undone. They will surely gather information on me, likely with the intent to eliminate me.

    I’d bet a thousand gold coins on it. I’m certain I can win.

    "Besides, if I disobey a direct order, not only will I lose everything, but the Medici Barony might also lose its title."

    It was a secret order, so the Emperor wouldn’t openly strip my title, but if he wants it gone, a crime and evidence will suddenly emerge against us.

    "In that case, can’t you leverage this information against Pereira, Young Master?"

    It sounds nice, sure. Talking things out rather than waging a costly battle—who wouldn''t prefer that?

    But that might be a bit nai?ve.

    "Maybe we could keep the peace for a while. But do you really think Pereira would let me live when I hold such a dangerous piece of information over them? If I were them, I’d wait for the Emperor to look the other way, then try to assassinate me."

    I once read something online: If you kill everyone around you, there won’t be anyone left to testify against you.

    It’s nonsense, of course, but there is a grain of truth in it. If someone is likely to expose you, killing them means you won’t face charges. It’s a surefire way to eliminate the threat entirely.

    "That’s why suing them is the best move right now. They need to know that I’m capable of dealing serious damage to them. Only then can I guarantee some level of safety."

    Bullies tend to go after those they see as weak and easy targets. But if that target snaps back or goes to the school administration, the bully often stops.

    It’s not that the bullies suddenly reform; they just don’t want to risk getting hurt or punished.

    If Pereira suffers a significant blow in court, they’ll no longer see me as a pushover. Once they realize the Emperor is behind this, they won’t dare lay a hand on me.

    Sebastian nodded in agreement. "You’re right. Even street thugs and petty thieves only pick on those who can’t fight back. And if their prey shows any intent to fight, they usually give up."

    "Exactly. That’s the tactic we need to employ."

    "Young Master, you truly are remarkable. You remain calm even when faced with formidable foes. You don’t seem afraid at all."

    I am scared of fighting a giant like Pereira. But I know that losing my cool could cost me everything. So, I force myself to stay composed to survive.

    And spending time with Chloe helps me relieve some of that stress.

    The driver’s voice broke through my thoughts. "We’ve arrived at the mansion of Baron Mancini."

    "Do you think I’d charge recklessly without a reason? This is all part of a larger plan."

    I pointed to the critical section of the lawsuit.

    "Pereira Trading Company has committed gross procurement fraud against the Empire’s military. I have gathered testimony and records from the last surviving member of the Modina family, who was once a Pereira executive."

    "They swapped out fresh pickled herring for rotten ones, used donkeys instead of packhorses, and skimped on armor materials? That’s deplorable, even for merchants."

    If he could empathize with my argument, it meant Baron Mancini was beginning to understand that my accusations were not entirely baseless.

    Convincing someone is always hardest at first, but now that he was on board, things would move quickly.

    "This fraud implicates the current mayor of Florence and a former division commander. No matter how many high-priced lawyers they hire or how many ministers they enlist, they’ll have a hard time escaping this unscathed."

    False accusations carry severe consequences in the Tuscan Empire.

    "If the allegations are solid, then why are you pursuing this? Pereira and you aren’t even competitors."

    At that, I pointed upwards.

    A silent gesture that spoke volumes.

    "...I see. For someone of your caliber. Alright then, I’ll take responsibility for this prosecution. You may go."

    Even just initiating prosecution would deal a substantial blow to Pereira.

    But I intended to be thorough. Striking them hard once would deter future threats.

    "The higher-ups are closely monitoring this. If you administer a heavy punishment, Judge Mancini, it could solidify your reputation as a courageous and fair judge willing to challenge the powerful."

    Baron Mancini swallowed hard.

    "With your nobility, aren’t you due for a promotion to Chief Judge of the High Court? A mere knight like me has no right to suggest it, but that’s the impression I get from those above."

    High-ranking noble judges without land, unlike me, rely heavily on bribes from merchants and other nobles.

    And the higher you go, the larger those bribes become—by a factor of ten.

    "Here’s our chance to prove our loyalty to the Emperor."

    Judge Mancini clasped my hand tightly.

    "Let’s work together from now on."

    A few days later, I learned that Judge Mancini had exposed Pereira Trading Company’s heinous crimes.

    The social circles were ablaze with the shocking news.