Naturally, the Deus knights accepted my proposal.

    With just a slight bow of the head, I was promising them tremendous benefits, and a poor knight order had no reason to refuse.

    “Indeed, money is everything.”

    There are certainly things in this world that cannot be achieved with money.

    You can’t buy someone’s love with money, nor can you bring the dead back to life.

    But you can purchase means and methods to gain love, and you can take living people to the hospital to keep them from dying.

    ‘There are hardly any happy people without money.’

    After waiting for a moment, the duke entered the room, chuckling heartily.

    “You’re truly remarkable! You’ve actually made that Rhodos knight order a vassal of our empire!”

    “I’ve merely received the price for giving them what they wanted.”

    “Do you think it’s that easy to accurately assess what they desire and then figure out how to fulfill it? Stop being humble and strut around a bit.”

    The duke patted me on the shoulder.

    His face was beaming with smiles, and his shoulders were raised proudly.

    “I received a general idea from the letter you sent, but I’d like to hear it directly. How exactly did you do it?”

    “I will explain in detail. First, as soon as the spice guild imposed a sugar sales ban on Cafe? Medici, I purchased sugar from abroad. I ordered the butler to secure the necessary amount at any cost, even if it was three times the cost price.”

    “Sugar is generally expensive. If you buy it at such high prices, won’t there be nothing left?”

    The largest portion of the cost for the desserts sold at Cafe? Medici comes from sugar.@@@@

    Moreover, we don’t hold back when adding sugar; we pour it in generously.

    If I pay three times the usual purchase price, I’d essentially be running a business at a loss.

    It’s not just empty talk when traders in the market lament their losses; with each sale, money flows out of my pocket.

    “Couldn’t I just say I have no choice but to stop selling because of the spice guild’s tyranny?”

    Unlike me, the spice guild has a rather poor social image.

    So if I complain about their price gouging, everyone would surely curse them.

    I could gain sympathy and understanding.

    But what if it shifts to a transactional level?

    ‘To be frank, it’s unacceptable to miss an important trade except for family funerals.’

    There’s even a story about a certain CEO of a major company in South Korea who postponed attending his eldest son’s funeral just to make a deal with foreign investors, emphasizing the importance of ‘trust.’

    If the business of Cafe? Medici were merely shaken by the spice guild scoundrels...

    ‘It would undoubtedly affect other business sectors as well.’

    “The nobles and merchants would understand such human factors fully. However, I doubted that they would trust someone who wavers under such a minor threat. Therefore, I wanted to show them that I wouldn’t waver even at a loss.”

    “Excellent.”

    “Let me continue. Given that such an issue has arisen, I sought a fundamental solution, suspecting I would face similar troubles in the future. While contemplating, I obtained information that the island occupied by the Deus knights is suitable for sugarcane cultivation.”

    Even in Europe, places like Sicily and Rhodes can grow sugarcane.

    For some reason, in this world, with its geological similarities to Earth, I asked the infidels, and received reports that sugarcane could indeed be cultivated.

    “So, when I looked into the financial situation of the Deus knights, it was appallingly dire. If I could solve that issue for them, they would undoubtedly accept all of my proposals.”

    “When faced with problems, one must look broadly. Only then can solutions be found.”

    Not every problem in this world can be solved by looking broadly.

    The duke might be fine, but the people around him would likely become envious.

    If they are consumed by jealousy, they could influence the duke and the emperor to change their views of me.

    ‘In simpler terms, it could lead to my death.’

    Thus, there’s a saying in Joseon.

    A young man, regardless of how skilled he is, can’t live peacefully if he becomes a public servant at a young age due to jealousy.

    “Your Grace, as long as you know my intentions, that’s enough for me. Therefore, I need no rewards. I only require sugar from there.”

    It’s time to step back for greater success.

    The duke seemed touched by my sincerity and pulled me into a tight embrace, unable to contain his emotions.

    “When others have the opportunity to elevate their title, they desperately scramble to do so, yet you have given up your chance for me. In my lifetime, no, as long as our family endures, I shall never forget your loyalty.”

    The duke’s favor, and moreover, the emperor’s evaluation, which will catch wind of this.

    If I can secure just these two, I will be satisfied for now.

    The duke continued to praise my loyalty and sincerity for quite some time.

    “You aren’t married yet, are you?”

    “No, I’ve been too busy with work.”

    “Marriage can wait. Unlike women, it’s fine for men to marry in their 30s.”

    In the Toscana Empire, noble daughters over 22 find it almost impossible to marry normally.

    They become labeled as spinsters.

    While men are relatively freer here, reaching 25 can lead to ridicule, let alone 30...

    “Alfred just finished his service as a general yesterday and is now coming to Florence. I’ll introduce you to him personally. He’s the pillar of our family.”

    ...... Even if he is the heir to the duke’s family, if he’s incompetent, he’ll only rotate in ceremonial positions from the rank of major onward, receiving his ‘star’ for just half a second at the time of retirement.

    ‘The young duke is probably in his early 40s.’

    Even with the power of being the duke’s heir, if his promotion is almost a decade faster than others, he must be quite competent.

    “It seems it’s about time to start seriously training him to be the successor.”

    “Yes.”

    “While he is capable, his perspective is somewhat narrow. I think it’d be beneficial to broaden his view, so I’d like to ask for your help later. Would that be alright?”

    To put it plainly, he’s suggesting that I might take on the role of mentor to the young duke, even if just temporarily.

    ‘Though I can’t be a formal mentor due to age.’

    It’s a great honor to be entrusted with such a position, especially considering my age.

    “It would be an honor, Your Grace.”

    “And what do you plan to do about the spice guild scoundrels? If you wish, I can wipe them out, even down to their distant relatives.”

    That might be interesting, but I feel like I’d rather handle that myself for more enjoyment.

    “I have a method in mind.”

    I briefly explained that method.

    The duke laughed heartily upon hearing my words.

    “You’re truly relentless. The spice guild scoundrels will surely taste blood.”

    “It would be an honor. I will take my leave now.”

    “Return comfortably.”

    And with that, I set out to bury the spice guild scoundrels.