I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 286: Colmar Peasant Revolt (9)

“I'm back, my lord.”

“Did you handle everything well?”

Sebastian puffed out his chest and replied proudly.

“Myself, along with the vassals of the Rothschild family, have sent all those who gave the order to incite the rebellion to Deus.”

Christians say that when someone dies, they return to God’s embrace.

On the Albanian continent, where Deus is worshiped, the expression “they’ve gone to Deus” is often used when someone dies.

Now, those men were dead and could no longer testify that the large-scale rebellion in the Holy Empire’s border region was the work of the Rothschild family.

No, even Raphael and the others only knew that the “Samuel of the Holy Empire” had incited it, so the exact mastermind behind it would never be revealed.

Still, in this world, there’s always a 0.01% chance that something insane might happen.

It’s always wise to stay vigilant and prepare for the worst-case scenario, so I took care of it thoroughly.

“Now, we can just wait for the Lyon Kingdom and the Holy Empire to handle the aftermath.”

Right now, we were like arsonists who had successfully set fire to someone else’s house, destroyed the evidence, and fled.

Once the fire was set, there was no need to stick around and watch it burn—there was nothing good in doing that.

Staying at the scene for too long, or returning to check how much damage was caused, could lead to getting caught.

‘Knowing when to strike and when to retreat is truly beautiful, isn’t it?’

“You don’t have to worry about the aftermath.”

“Really?”

“I went and checked briefly, and the Marquis of Orléans is ruthlessly crushing the rebels with an army of 65,000. They’re not taking any prisoners, killing everyone without mercy, even letting deserters go.”

“Massacre, huh? That’s a cruel thing to do. I understand why, but still.”

In the medieval era, punishments were much harsher than today.

Stealing a loaf of bread (about 400g) could get you hanged; insulting a noble could result in beheading; and hitting someone could mean losing your hand.

These were things unimaginable by 21st-century standards, where even prisoners now claim human rights.

However, harsh punishments were very effective at maintaining law and order.

If you were caught stealing, a swift execution made sure that no one would dare do it again.

Moreover, when it comes to stopping rebellions,

‘It’s far more efficient to just kill them all and instill fear rather than show kindness.’

“The Holy Empire will use the brutality of this incident as a pretext to declare war.”

There’s no country that declares war without a reason.

On the Albanian continent, we always start a war with a justification.

A noble family might claim they are reclaiming land lost 300 years ago from a baron who was the cousin of the king’s father-in-law.

Or, if there’s a famine, they might say it was caused by a local witch who cursed the crops, which serves as a perfect pretext.

“It seems everything is going according to your plan, my lord. However, Raphael and the others were such a waste. They were actually pretty capable individuals.”

Sebastian’s words contained no sympathy for them.

It was more of a merchant-like regret, as though lamenting that useful people were disposed of too quickly.

I sympathized with that sentiment.

Though Raphael and his men had the minimum knowledge needed to start a rebellion and the right environment was set up for them,

it wasn’t easy for peasants to take control of the entire border region.

“Sure, they could have been useful if they were properly utilized. But, for someone like that, there’s no need to take unnecessary risks.”

If Raphael had been a charismatic leader, like a vegetarian with a suspicious mustache, I wouldn’t have wiped him out.

That vegetarian, even though the situation in Germany at the time was “worst,” could quickly charm people just by giving a few speeches at the local tavern.

After starting the rebellion, he would be treated like a patriot, having his sentence reduced to the legal minimum by a judge.

And eventually, with his ability to talk, he managed to rise to the position of President and Chancellor at the same time.

If someone like that existed, I’d never discard them.

“My lord, I agree with your thoughts. However, our Rothschild firm and family are seriously lacking in talent.”

“Take the accounting students.”

Sebastian tilted his head.

“There are busy times for the firm and family, right?”

“Yes, the busiest time is from harvest season to Christmas.”

Peasants are busiest during planting and harvest seasons, and after harvest, from now until Christmas, is the time when they have the most free time in the year.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

And like in any era, holidays are a peak time, when finances are plentiful and people have time to relax.

“Well, that’s when the university students have their winter break.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Honestly, what else do university students have to do during their break? They either go back home or stay in the dorms drinking and chasing women. The ones with a bit of status or money just flirt with girls and spend time in relationships. When there are no classes, they waste their time partying. What kind of immoral behavior is that?”

Right now, I’m living a successful life, with three wives, and no idol could compare.

So, I’m not, by any means, trying to make the accounting graduate students suffer because I didn’t get to date during my own student years.

I’m offering them a chance to develop professional skills during their break.

“This is an opportunity for the students to gain practical experience, not waste their break.”

Sebastian looked like he wanted to say something but nodded in agreement instead.

“I understand.”

“Make sure the accounting students are paid 80% of the salary regular employees get, and don’t skimp on the benefits either.”

I can’t ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ tolerate university students wasting their break without studying, but what I can’t accept even more is not paying them properly after making them work.

‘That was hard enough back in grad school.’

I was fooled by a professor’s promise to waive my tuition fees, but I ended up working from 9 AM to 8-9 PM, with some days not even getting out of school to shower.

Even on holidays, I had to rush to meet the professor, collect wedding gifts at his daughter’s wedding, or escort his youngest son to school on rainy days.

It was a hellish life.

I will never treat my students that way.

“Also, we need to let them know that our family is the one that will offer them the best opportunities after graduation...”

Most universities are run to generate ‘profits’ using tuition and research funds.

But Rothschild University wasn’t established for profit or research purposes.

It was created solely to serve the interests of our family by exploiting the graduates.

‘We can even force them to work for us after graduation...’

But forcing people to do things always triggers their natural instinct to refuse.

“Let’s rent out the restaurant for a day and throw a banquet just for them. Every time they complete a successful internship during their break, we’ll hold one.”

“Isn’t that too much?”

Rothschild’s restaurant is not just an ordinary hotel restaurant.

It’s the best restaurant in the empire, with three Michelin stars.

Even nobles line up to request a reservation for their banquets.

We’re going to rent it out just for university students’ internship dinners?

There probably isn’t any other university in the world that would treat their students this way.

“It will raise the prestige of our university.”

My name is now skyrocketing in the Toscana Empire.

If the Rothschild family were a stock, we’d be seeing daily limits hit, or waking up to the stock price having surged 3-4 times.

And I’m giving these university students such lavish treatment?

‘Perhaps the heirs of noble families will want to come to our university?’

At this point, our university could become the must-attend school for all noble families, like in an academy novel.

“Raising the prestige of the university will also strengthen my political power.”

“...It’s true that among next year’s incoming students, there are second or third sons of high-ranking noble families who are planning to apply. If we further raise the university’s prestige, it might turn into a social hub of sorts.”

“Exactly.”

Oh, and thinking about it now, I haven’t really used the newspaper yet.

“Sebastian, how’s the newspaper doing these days?”