I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 418: Teresa and Fabio (3)

When a person has too much, jealousy is inevitable.

So sometimes, one must show a human side, pretending to suffer or make mistakes, to avoid drawing too much attention. At times, one must also be able to let go of what they have.

Therefore, I decided to make a grand gesture and donate to the donation collection window.

“The royal consort of the Emperor, the wealthiest man in the Empire.”

And soon, a man who would soon become a Count.

“I came to make a donation for the Empire. Where should I go?”

As I appeared, the actions of the public servant in charge became a little stiff.

Since the marriage between Teresa and me had not yet been officially announced, it was only known to the Emperor and me.

When someone of a noble rank, especially a Count or above, appears in a lower-level government office, it doesn’t cause the usual emergency.

“Are you not Lord Rothschild? You can directly hand over your donation to Secretary Lafayette in the back. But may I ask how much you are donating?”

“What does that matter?”

“The person handling it will change depending on the amount.”

The Emperor had planned to make the incident of me and Teresa being caught sharing a kiss during a nighttime walk happen immediately after the donation.

So, I had to contribute a substantial amount as a form of penance beforehand.

To the outside world, this would make it seem like Rothschild had hit rock bottom.

“Two million gold coins.”

The public servant blinked in surprise.

Those nearby dropped their papers or covered their mouths in disbelief.

No one would have thought that I, even as wealthy as I was, would donate two million gold coins in one go.

“Who in the Empire could even donate two million gold coins at once?”

“Did I hear that wrong? Did you mean 200,000 gold coins?”

“Two million gold coins.”

Hearing this twice, the public servant bowed his head to me and hurriedly ran toward his superior.

Soon, the highest-ranking official here ran out in a hurry.

“Lord Rothschild, good day. I am Olio de Scorpio, Director of the War Finance Bureau. You said you are donating two million gold coins. Is this true?”

This was an enormous sum, just slightly less than the total taxes collected from the entire Visconti Duchy.

Even though I was very wealthy, it was hard to believe that I would donate such a large sum all at once.

In Korea, the wealthiest person’s personal assets might be the equivalent of a year’s budget for a single city.

So when I say that my personal wealth is the equivalent of the budget of a metropolitan area plus one province, it’s not hard to understand why no one believes it.

“The Rothschild family and the business can easily handle that amount. Even the commoners are shouting that they owe their current prosperity to His Majesty. I would be ignorant if I didn’t know this duty. The Empire exists, and because of that, I am here.”

“Your words are correct.”

“Even though I am fond of money to the point of hearing rumors that I’d sell my soul for a single gold coin, I have never forgotten the minimum duty one must maintain as a person.”

Suddenly, the mood became warm.

Since the class system still existed and the officials directly experienced the Emperor’s great deeds, the power of ‘patriotic acts’ was overwhelming.

Do patriotic acts twice, and you might as well die, really.

“I understand. Then, how many war bonds would you like to purchase?”

I wasn’t completely without desire to expand my domain.

But as the future consort of the Emperor, and having long been seen as the golden goblin among the nobles of the Empire, I had to tread carefully.

Of course, the Sforza Duke and his faction, who had underestimated me, were now economically subjugated by the Rothschild family.

However, if I gave them a reason, the nobility from the Sforza and Visconti factions might join forces, and things could get out of hand.

“Sometimes, it’s better to lose in order to win.”

And I had no interest in taking over the imperial territories—my goal was to conquer the entire New World.

Of course, many would complain about this, but I could think about that when the time came.

“No matter how much I may wish to donate, after giving two million gold coins, I will have no money left. After this, I won’t even have enough to buy war bonds.”

“Are you saying you’re giving up on purchasing war bonds?”

“I have already achieved more wealth, honor, and success in the Toscani Empire than I could have imagined.”

Even if I hadn’t married Teresa, I wouldn’t have bought war bonds in the first place.

While I could have earned tremendous profit from them...

I could simply stick a straw in the backs of the noblemen who were busy rebuilding their territories.

During the Gold Rush, the people who made the most money weren’t the ones who found the gold mines, but the ones who followed around selling things like jeans.

The Rothschild business should dominate construction, transportation, and various goods sales.

“Understood. How should I receive the two million gold coins?”

“You ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ may pick it up at the Rothschild headquarters in Florence in one week.”

“Understood, my lord. And if there’s anything you need...”

“Our business here is finished. Thank you for your hard work.”

Next month, the newspaper published a story about my donation of two million gold coins.

The news of Lord Rothschild donating two million gold coins was widely spread along with the announcement of his marriage to Princess Teresa.

The official reason was that, in a moment of youthful passion, Lord Rothschild confessed to Teresa after falling in love at first sight, and they had a playful kiss, which was overheard by a maid.

Of course, the nobility didn’t believe this.

The nobles from the Visconti faction were no different.

“Your Majesty, even though Lord Rothschild has done the most for the Empire of any living noble, is this not crossing a line?”

“To think Lady Erika is involved while the princess is marrying...”

“I fear this may make you seem somewhat disregarded.”

Had it been any other time, Duke Visconti would have shouted like a scholar from Joseon.

“Stop! Suspecting Fabio means suspecting me, Visconti Duke! Losing trust in him spells disaster!” freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

But with the disastrous event of Fabio marrying the princess, even the Duke found it difficult to openly support Fabio.

“Do you really think Fabio is foolish enough to act before Princess Teresa?”

At the Duke’s words, everyone in the room fell silent.

“Lord Rothschild, my grandson-in-law, is an extremely wise man. Not once has a stock he’s touched failed, nor a business he’s invested in been anything but a massive success. Do you think a man like that would act recklessly because of some woman?”

“...Your Majesty is correct, but won’t Lady Erika’s standing be compromised?”

“No.”

Duke Visconti, though feeling a little twisted inside, hadn’t lost his sense of reason.

This wasn’t because his granddaughter’s family was able to clear their debts with Lord Rothschild’s business dealings.

It was solely because of his personal trust and goodwill toward Fabio.

“Just because Princess Teresa married him doesn’t mean Lady Erika loses her position. The child born of Erika and Fabio will inherit the Rothschild family, and that principle won’t change.”

“Indeed.”

“And let’s not forget, this is part of His Majesty’s strategy to ensure that Lord Rothschild never betrays the state. Fabio is caught up in this. No matter how many schemes he devises, like luring King Agarie of the Kingdom of Lyon into a trap, he’s still human. He can be deceived.”

“Lord Rothschild is quite human after all.”

The Duke smiled slyly for the last time.

“And Fabio’s donation of two million gold coins and giving up on purchasing war bonds means he won’t interfere with the rights of the nobility in the Holy Empire.”

Duke Visconti didn’t feel an ounce of patriotism or loyalty toward the Empire in Fabio’s actions.

Considering the average nobility’s level of loyalty to the state, his was particularly low.

So, for a man like Fabio to donate two million gold coins purely out of “patriotism”?

Even the Duke thought that was ridiculous.

“Fabio came to see me,”

The nobles all perked up at hearing the investment tips from Lord Rothschild.

Anyone who followed the example of Baron Florin would undoubtedly succeed.

“If you follow Baron Florin’s lead, you’ll succeed. He even told me, had it not been for marrying the princess, he would’ve invested every available cent of his family’s fortune.”

Fabio’s pursuit and distribution of profits always remained within the family.

Therefore, the Duke didn’t know about the New World.

Erika, too, didn’t leak anything regarding the New World or the like for her dear husband.

Thus, Fabio was simply recommending war bonds, the biggest profit available, outside of the New World.

“Don’t doubt Fabio. He’s always been on our side.”

And meanwhile, the Sforza faction also couldn’t say much about Fabio’s marriage.

If Fabio uttered any unpleasant words, their entire faction would be wiped out.