I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 264: Loyalist of the Empire (1)

Not long after the declaration of war, an unexpected guest arrived at my home.

Typically, when someone shows up uninvited, it’s either Duke Visconti coming to visit his granddaughter or Baron Mancini asking for help with securing a court position. But today, the visitor was none other than my former superior, Baron Ducat.

"Well, General. What brings you here today? I’m sure the military is busy with all the preparations for war, so you must be overwhelmed," I asked.

Under normal circumstances, Baron Ducat would have made a joke, teasing me about how I was out of military service now, and how a superior officer is always a superior officer, so I should at least offer some refreshments. But today, he sighed heavily and spoke without any trace of humor.

"I’ve come to seek your advice regarding this war."

Just like it’s common sense to look where you’re going to stretch your legs before lying down, people know when and how to joke. It’s like trying to crack a joke at a funeral—you’d never do it.

I knew I needed to approach the situation seriously.

"Though I’m a baron of the Empire, I am, after all, a civilian. Is it even appropriate for someone like me to discuss the Empire’s war strategy?" I asked.

"You were the one who devised the strategy for the war with the Duchy of Milania, weren’t you? I’m simply repeating what you said," Baron Ducat replied.

He then pointed to his epaulets.

There were two stars on them—no, three stars now, wasn’t it? He’d been promoted to a full colonel.

"One of those stars is practically a gift from you. If I were to go to the headquarters and make a confession, General Ragusa would probably appoint you as the staff officer. Being a staff officer at headquarters—now that’s quite an honorable position."

With my honorary rank recognized, I could live with Erika, Kris, and Chloe at the military residence. After all, I’d be a colonel.

But I felt a little fearful—once you’re stationed there, you’d probably never retire, becoming one of those generals who never leave.

"Please spare me."

"You’re really something, you know that? Most of the guys around me, if you offered them a staff officer position, they’d throw away their administrative positions and jump at the chance. There are so many, in fact, that we couldn’t even fit them all into a cart."

I, however, was just a baron, and if Erika's son inherited the title, I could retire immediately. But if I entered the army, I would still have to serve even after passing on the title.

I wasn’t addicted to land-grabbing games, so why should I continue to serve in the military?

My service ended when I reached sergeant; that was enough for me.

"Well, enough joking around. As you know, there is only one path for the Empire of Toscana to directly attack the Kingdom of Lyon," Baron Ducat continued.

"The route through the village of Bio, part of Rothschild's domain, which leads to Guillaume City," I replied.

The Empire of Toscana and the Holy Empire are connected by land, but the Kingdom of Lyon doesn’t share a direct border with them.

Thus, to reach the Kingdom of Lyon without crossing another country’s borders, they would have to resort to sea travel.

"Of course, they could try to land at other ports by sea. However, the only reliable route for maintaining a steady supply line would be the one through Bio village, connecting to Guillaume City," he explained.

In war, combat is considered the "highlight," like a dramatic scene in a story, but to succeed in those battles, maintaining supply lines is critical.

Without supplies, everything goes to waste.

"If the supply route becomes too extended, the risk of pirate or enemy navy attacks increases exponentially. And if the supply convoy is cut off... well, our army could starve to death," he said gravely.

In a world where concepts like the Geneva Conventions and human rights are valued, starvation might seem unimaginable. But if it came to that, the soldiers of the Empire of Toscana would quickly transform into "marines" without anyone needing to tell them.

They might not wear red berets and just underwear, but they’d manage to scavenge the food and livestock of the locals, with a quick "Kippai" move, ensuring their survival.

Once that started, it meant the intelligence of the entire army would degrade to that of marines.

It would be a disaster.

"I would like to avoid a massacre of civilians," I thought.

I was merely a student of history, learning from the mistakes of the British Empire or Nazi Germany, not a monster who instigates petty wars like the Opium War and blames everything on the Jews.

"So, I’ve come to you for advice on how to force the surrender of this port city, Guillaume," he said.

I had to suppress a smile that was threatening to rise. In truth, I had planned to volunteer to go to Guillaume City to recommend their surrender even without being asked. But now, the Colonel was directly requesting my help, offering me a chance to play the "patriot" role, risking my life in service to the Empire.

But thinking about it, this felt strange.

I was already a patriot.

So, let's correct that—I was a patriot who was given an opportunity to serve the country once again.

"It won’t be easy," I said.

Baron Ducat sighed deeply upon hearing my words.

Regardless, I began laying the groundwork for earning "honor" by emphasizing the great sacrifice it would take for me to go to Guillaume City and recommend their surrender.

Some might say I was just playing a rigged game, but at this moment, I felt no shame in it.

After all, recommending Guillaume’s surrender was the truth, and there was nothing wrong with a merchant exaggerating a little to increase the value of their goods.

‘Everyone is just trying to survive,’ I thought.

"I’m very close to Mayor Guillaume and the city council. The mayor even tried to offer me his granddaughter as a concubine," I added.

True fraudsters often work with facts—things like "if we develop here, there’s a huge profit to be made," or "someone tried to push for development here," are often true. But they’re still trying to sell land that’s as barren as the moon for the price of gold.

I wasn’t a fraudster, but as a merchant, I had to practice ‘crafty lies’ to raise the value of my goods.

‘I have no reason not to follow that method,’ I thought.

"However, Mayor Guillaume is very strict about separating personal and professional matters. Though our trade made him a fortune, he still taxes me without any discount," I continued.

This was true.

He had passed a special tariff law that only applied to me, so he could collect taxes based on it.

‘The special tariff law gives me a 75% discount on the regular tax rate.’

It’s a 75% bargain, and asking for more is just theft.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

To maintain a sustainable relationship, there has to be give and take.

Baron Ducat frowned and said, "It won’t be easy. It won’t be easy. But is there any method?"

"Offering wealth won’t be enough to sway him," I replied.

He was already on our side. The rest was just a matter of signing the oath of allegiance. But to receive the huge reward I’d be due for winning him over, I would have to make Mayor Guillaume seem like an exceptional loyalist.

Or rather, make him appear that way.

‘Convincing a loyalist looks more impressive than swaying ten treacherous ones,’ I thought.

"But there’s still a way. I’ve noticed that Duke Guillaume is a very suspicious man, and he will likely try to purge Mayor Guillaume and his subordinates," I said.

"... That despicable man would never leave the Mayor and his group alive if they’re within your reach. I can understand that," Ducat replied.

If I were Duke Guillaume, I would have done the same—trying to purge Mayor Guillaume by any means necessary.

If that bastard were a soldier, he would have sold state secrets to North Korea.

He was a traitor, but a very useful one to me.

"If others try to persuade him, he won’t listen. I’ll go and convince him myself. As an Imperial noble, I’ll risk my life for His Majesty the Emperor," I declared.

Hearing this, Baron Ducat grabbed my hand tightly, his eyes misty with emotion.

"Truly, it’s you. It’s truly you... I can’t even lift my head in front of you," he said.

"Please don’t do that, I feel guilty," I thought.