I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 214: Agitation and Profit (9)

Father Stefano erupted in anger the moment he saw me.

“No, the Pope must have lost his mind. There’s no way he could commit such a crime unless he’s completely lost it!”

I don’t agree with that statement.

If he had truly lost his mind, he wouldn’t have been able to think of selling indulgences so boldly.

What the Pope gave up wasn’t his sanity or reason—it was his conscience, something all humans should have.

‘Of course, once you give up your conscience, you’re no longer sane.’

“Selling indulgences has been done by the Church before, though. But that was when a diocese was short on funds, and they sold them to those who could afford it!”

Indulgences, or as they are also called, indulgences for pardon.

This was something that had been issued long before Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, but as he said, these were taxes to gather extra funds for the Church.

The poor are too busy worrying about their daily bread.

The priests, who had thrown their conscience over the Jordan River, would sell these indulgences to the rich, saying, "If you buy this, your parents will reach heaven faster."

Now, they’re pulling from everyone, from the poor to the rich, like catching mice.

Father Stefano moved closer, as if he were going to shake me by the shoulders.

“Let’s calm down first. I wasn’t the one selling the indulgences, was I?”

The one who tried to destroy Deus was me.

But I can swear on my conscience that selling indulgences was entirely their choice. I didn’t intervene in any way.

“Though I’m not a clergyman, if you want to correct the Pope’s wrong teachings, you need to first find where it’s wrong.”

Father Stefano sighed deeply after hearing my words.

“I’m sorry. I think I got too worked up.”

Honestly, I was a bit taken aback when he burst into anger the moment he entered.

But to be fair, it’s not a bad thing that he couldn’t tolerate injustice so much.

In fact, it proves that when the time comes to raise the banner of the Reformation, he will be the kind of person who can tear apart the Holy Empire and the Vatican according to my plans.

There’s no reason for me to get upset because of his sudden outburst.

“Let’s have a cup of tea first. This is the black tea that Chloe made for you.”

“For the black tea made by your wife, I will gladly drink it.”

After silently finishing his tea, I asked.

“So, what brings you to see me?”

“Actually, I’m planning to leave the Rothschild Barony.”

I didn’t need to ask why. It was clear as day.

He must have decided he couldn’t stand watching the atrocity of selling indulgences anymore and thought about doing something to stop it, even if it meant burning himself out.

So, he’s planning to act and purify the Deus Church.

He may value his life, but to him, protecting others’ happiness and his beliefs and doing what’s right is a hundred times more important.

I’m a clergyman, so even if I don’t like religious people, I couldn’t possibly dislike someone like him.

“Is it because of the indulgences?”

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“Yes, that’s right. I’ve been tolerating the Church’s atrocities with my own eyes, but now I can’t stand it anymore. Even if I have to burn my life for Deus, I’m going to correct the wrongs.”

“It’s a truly beautiful resolve, but how do you plan to do it?”

“I’m not sure yet, but...”

Father Stefano declared with a voice full of determination.

“Someone needs to be there to warn about what’s wrong, don’t you think? If that happens, His Holiness might sense something.”

They’re people who’ve sold their conscience and faith for money.

Having exported a bit of ‘British Empire wisdom’ before, I know what such people are thinking.

Such people are well aware that what they’re doing is wrong.

But even though they know, they kill others to earn money and maintain power.

After repeating this process, they laugh and talk even while massacring civilians, living their lives thinking they’ve never been ashamed, even as they die.

In dramas and comics, villains repent and regret their actions.

But in reality, they cry crocodile tears, begging for their lives when they fall from grace.

‘People like that won’t repent just because they’re warned.’

At those words, I shook my head.

“I appreciate the intention behind the warning. But no matter how much you want to fight to protect the country, jumping into the battlefield without weapons is essentially suicide, isn’t it?”

If I were some boxing champion who could kill people with bare hands, it might be different.

Without weapons, jumping into a war is 100% certain death.

Why? Because without weapons, a person will lose even if they fight a dog, but with just a spear, they could theoretically kill a tiger or lion.

‘Armor is a matter of survival rate, so it’s not necessary.’

That’s why those in high positions in the military prefer to spend money on more soldiers with weapons rather than armor.

“They’re just selling indulgences. But if you want to oppose them, Father, you’ll need to bring dozens of papers and arguments. Otherwise, those selling indulgences will find even the smallest flaw in your words and label you a heretic.”

“I’m not afraid of being labeled a heretic and dying.”

Isn’t it obvious that someone who wants to fight against indulgences isn’t afraid of dying?

If it’s for his beliefs, he’d probably die laughing, even if he was nailed upside down to a cross.

Or like the Scottish man who was sentenced to a painful death, shouting “Freedom!” even as he died.

‘Salvation is achieved only through faith!’

It’s a noble faith, but at the very least, it must be ensured that such sacrifices don’t end in a senseless death.

If that man dies a senseless death, I won’t be able to recover the money I’ve lost.

“If you oppose them now, it will only end in a senseless death. At the very least, you should reconstruct your argument into a solid academic approach before you present it.”

Some may see me as the worst mastermind in the world.

But honestly, I’m not doing shady work.

If anything, I’m just a little ahead of the stock market, reading trends days or even months in advance, investing soulfully.

‘This alone can gather trillions in wealth...’

But that doesn’t mean I can control the flow of history and the changes in the world.

The Reformation can only be led because the society of the Albanian continent, the world, wants it.

‘Just as the full moon will eventually wane, the Church is now at its time to fade.’

“One academic approach.”

“I may not have received a divine revelation from Deus, and I’m certainly not a pious man, but I can see that Deus has entrusted you with a very important mission.”

In the 1960s and 1970s, older people always lived with the mantra that they were born with the ‘mission to strengthen the country.’

I never thought I would be saying this to someone directly.

But now, I can’t think of anything more fitting.

“Deus has given you the mission to tear down the rotten Deus Church. You’ve been entrusted with a huge task. Are you really going to be swayed by emotions and die a senseless death just to oppose the indulgences?”

If you die a senseless death, I won’t be able to tear apart the Holy Empire and feast on its scraps.

There’s so much at stake here—land deeds, various markets, all of it waiting to be seized during the war.

The Reformation must be used to root out all the rot and open up a new world.

The Renaissance, after all. The Renaissance.

Father Stefano lowered his head after hearing my words.

“I was short-sighted.”

“I will fully support the cost. If there are books you wish to read, just tell me, and I will support you with my own money.”

In the Albanian continent, book prices are around ten million won, at least.

A thick Bible costs more than 30 million.

‘Though the printed versions I’ve released have lowered the price to about 2 million per copy...’

Still, books are expensive luxury items.

Offering to provide them as much as you want is a pretty big favor.

Perhaps someday I’ll be mentioned in a book by this man as the ‘hidden hero of the Reformation.’

As someone who walked the path of history, I’m looking forward to it.

“Thank you, Baron.”

“Since you’re here, please rest and take it easy today.”

After sending Father Stefano off, I began preparing for the next wicked flower I was about to procure.

Yes, the tulips.