I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 18: Territory reconstruction business (5)

“Baron Corona, have you heard of seaweed?”

In the social circles where keeping up with trends is crucial, there isn’t a noble unaware of seaweed.

Yet, the reason for asking such a question is simple.

In short, it’s a way of saying, “Hey, I heard your family is practically broke,” and making fun of them.

For the recipient, it not only scratches their pride but also subtly implies that their family is being looked down upon, causing a minor political blow.

The baron wanted to throw off his gloves in anger, but he suppressed it.

Challenging a duel over such a trivial matter would be a disgrace to his ancestors.

“Haha, how could a noble of the Tuscan Empire not know about seaweed? I’ve heard it’s very beneficial for new mothers.”

Baron Corona managed to respond with a polite smile.

But his opponent had no intention of letting him off that easily.

“Ah, so you know. Actually, I’ve recently managed to acquire a small amount myself.”

His opponent handed Baron Corona a lavish box.

Inside was about 100 grams of dried seaweed.

The contents were worth ten gold coins, or 100 pounds.

For a baron, that’s not a huge amount, but it’s not insignificant either.

“Our family, the Delle Barons, recently secured about two kilograms of it. I thought it would only be right to share some with Baron Corona, our close ally.”

The Delle Barons support Duke Visconti, while Baron Corona supports Duke Sforza—political rivals.

Giving precious seaweed to someone in that kind of relationship?

It’s no more than flaunting their wealth, saying, “We’re richer than your family.”

Moreover, since money equals power, it’s also a way of insinuating that they’re stronger.

One major reason seaweed became popular was precisely because it allowed for “legitimate mocking” of rival families.

Yet outwardly, it’s framed as gifting an expensive medicinal herb, so getting angry would be unseemly.

‘Refusing a gift would just make me look ungrateful.’

Baron Corona had no choice but to grit his teeth in frustration.

“Well then, I should be going. There are others I need to greet.”

The divide between those who had secured seaweed and those who hadn’t was stark.

Even though it was eating him up inside, Baron Corona couldn’t throw away the box containing 100 grams of seaweed.

“This is utterly humiliating.”

He hadn’t felt this way since he caught his beloved courtesan with another commoner.

“My family’s vassals won’t be able to show their faces.”

If this kind of mockery came from a count or even a viscount, he could attribute it to differences in status.

But for it to come from a fellow baron, especially a political rival?

The mere thought made him shudder.

His wife, who was also attending the banquet, began to grumble immediately.

“I don’t understand why we have to be looked down upon at this banquet just because we couldn’t get seaweed.”

Though the Tuscan Empire is a male-dominated society, the relationship between a nobleman and his wife is a symbol of an enduring alliance between two families.

So the role they each play is different, but their status is almost equal.

Baron Corona had to resist the urge to smack his wife.

“I apologize for my lack of power.”

“Earlier, I heard that Lady Dornar gave birth just ten days ago. She boasted about how quickly she recovered after eating seaweed soup.”

“...”

“Apparently, she also delivered her child at that Medici hospital that Fabio, the younger son, set up. They say there wasn’t any danger at all.”

She rubbed her belly lightly and looked at him.

It wasn’t a loving gaze.

“As a noblewoman, it’s my duty to bear children. But wouldn’t it be nice to do so as safely as possible?”

Childbirth may be a given, but it’s still terrifying.

Baron Corona understood that much.

“Hm, yes, I see your point.”

“So, can’t you pull some strings to get that seaweed and make sure I can use that Medici hospital when I give birth?”

“But the Medici family are our rivals...”

“And you’re fine with being out of style and looked down upon?”

It wasn’t just about falling out of style and being seen as uncouth.

What hurt most was that her honor, which she valued above her own life, was being disrespected for not keeping up with the trends.

“No matter how precious seaweed is, it’s got to be available on the black market. And as for that Medici hospital, I’ll bow my head to the Duke himself if I must to get you in there.”

Seaweed is merely a commodity, but a mother’s death could end an alliance.

And if that detestable wife were to die in childbirth?

If it happened in a hospital, that’s one thing. But if she died because he didn’t take her to a hospital? Her family would raise hell.

‘My father-in-law would use her death to pin a massive debt on us.’

That’s just how noble society works.

As soon as Baron Corona left the banquet, he yelled at his butler.

“Butler! Why haven’t we secured that damned seaweed yet?”

“Sir Fabio, under Duke Visconti’s protection, has monopolized the entire supply. You’re aware of that, sir.”

“You think I don’t know that?! Get it now!”

“To do that, you’ll have to bow to the Duke.”

“I can bow if it’s to send my wife to the hospital for childbirth. Even Duke Sforza would understand.”

In noble society, childbirth is both a blessing that strengthens alliances and a potential bomb that could destroy them if the mother dies.

So if he needs to owe Duke Visconti to prevent that disaster, even Sforza wouldn’t complain.

Childbirth is a matter of family survival.

“Secure at least one kilogram of seaweed from the black market, even if you have to pay triple. For our family’s honor and reputation! This is an emergency.”

This was the primary reason seaweed was selling so well.

While it was beneficial for new mothers, its true value lay in the fact that not having it meant disgrace in noble society.

“Yes, understood.”

“Once we have it, prepare for a banquet. I must get back at Delle for this humiliation.”

That day, Baron Corona paid triple the usual price to buy a kilogram of seaweed.

And he succeeded in securing a spot at Duke Visconti’s hospital for his wife, who was due to give birth in five months.

The Duke gained political influence, while Fabio profited from the seaweed sales in the black market.

“After all, playing on the nobles’ vanity is the best way to do business in the medieval era, isn’t it?”

The cake, seaweed, and postpartum care center I initially introduced were all novel items that appealed to noble vanity.

Thanks to that, nobles were now paying over four times the usual price for cakes packaged in boxes stamped with the Medici seal.

It had become a must-have for banquets.

Seaweed and postpartum care had become necessities that nobles would go into debt to acquire.

“I wonder how much money the seaweed and postpartum care centers will bring in.”

I had ordered Sebastian to hire suitable people, so the financial reports should be coming in soon.

Just then, I heard Sebastian’s voice outside the door.

“Young master, may I come in?”

A man with decades of experience as a butler hurried inside.

It seemed the results were promising.

“Come in.”

As expected, he wore a satisfied smile.

“Profits from seaweed sales and the Medici hospital have exceeded four thousand gold coins. All this in just one month.”

They say the top 1% control 50% of the world’s wealth in the 21st century.

In the Tuscan Empire, where wealth redistribution is even less common, this makes even more sense.

That’s why I focus on selling goods aimed at nobles.

‘This is more than I expected.’

Although the revenue is lower than when I first set up the ironworks, once seaweed saturates the entire Tuscan Empire, it’ll probably match those profits.

Unlike steel, which has consistent demand, seaweed and postpartum care will eventually lose their rarity, and sales will taper off.

“This is more than I expected.”

Sebastian looked at me with wide eyes.

Was he surprised that someone not yet twenty-one wasn’t fazed by such wealth?

But honestly, now isn’t the time to jump for joy.

‘I need to use this money to establish a merchant guild and solidify my foundation.’

My base of operations will naturally be my territory, the village of Bio.

“Prepare to invest all of this into the village and the merchant guild. Let’s make Bio Village grow.”

With significant funds, a foundational industry, and people, any place can develop rapidly.

Now it’s time to take that first step.

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