I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 397: Money can even summon ghosts (1)

There is a saying: "Pull the ox's horn while it's still hot, and hurry to do good things, even if it's just for a day."

It's a saying I truly love.

The opportunities to make a large amount of money in life are very few, and the only way to increase the chances of seizing that opportunity is to start improving myself just one day earlier. There’s no other way.

If you wait until tomorrow to start dieting with a lazy mindset, you will never succeed. The same principle applies here. If you don’t approach the task with the mindset of starting today, nothing will be accomplished.

Just like how starting a diet with the thought "I’ll begin tomorrow" is a surefire way to fail.

"Sforza Duke, it seems that I’m visiting you in person today. I haven’t even lived for thirty years, but truly, how things unfold in life, only Deus knows."

"Indeed. I never imagined the second son of the Medici family would rise so high. If I had known this would happen, I should have killed you by any means necessary."

"Haha, your jokes are too much. It’s not exactly a pleasant thing to say."

A victor can be lenient with or kill the loser.

The defeated can do nothing except gnash their teeth in silence, unable to do anything about the victor.

So, if you're frustrated, then win.

"I’ve won, and that guy lost, right?"

And I’m a generous person, so whether the Sforza Duke wants to kill me or rip out my intestines, I don’t have the intention to start a bloody festival over it.

From the start, that guy dared to oppose me, and that alone gives me enough reason to draw my sword. I’ve already given him one more reason to die by doing so.

"I’ve heard some rumors. They say the faction you belong to, Duke Sforza, is having some financial difficulties."

"Are you here to mock me?"

I came here not to mock Duke Sforza, but to make him my puppet—or rather, to make him deeply sympathize with my political views. (Some civilians might call him a puppet.)

I didn’t come just to mock the guy.

I was just doing this on the side while I’m here.

The guy is quick to catch on.

He didn’t catch on to my most important intention, but at least he succeeded in figuring out my hidden one.

"Why would I mock you? I came here purely out of concern for you."

"Do you think I’m a fool? Just because I have some money, do you think the world is a joke?"

Well, it’s wrong to act like the world is a joke just because I have several trillions in assets.

If I act too boldly, I might find myself erased without a trace by the state.

However, the net profit from my trading company and estates, converted to modern values, is roughly in the hundreds of trillions per year, and when I add up the value of all my assets, it’s at least 2 to 3 quadrillion.

At this point, should I look down on a Duke who is on the brink of collapse?

But I’m a careful and wise person, so I won’t say, "You are foolish."

"How could I mock someone like you, with the rank of the only two Dukes in the Empire? But, even though we belong to different factions, I can’t help but shed tears at the sad situation you’re in."

"Thank you for your concern."

The person who said thank you was biting his lip so hard that a little blood came out.

Well, I’ll ignore such trivial matters.

The main course hasn’t even started yet, so what would I do if I got angry already?

"I’ve been gaining some fame among the merchants, and I heard that Duke Sforza and the nobles who support him are in a very difficult situation."

In fact, when I looked into it, I found out that the merchants, without me even asking, had assumed that Sforza was a sinking sun. They had pushed forward contracts with many toxic clauses, thinking they could take advantage of him.

The newly elected “Imperial Council Advisor,” Georgia, had inserted a clause stating that if the Duke couldn't pay his debts, they could seize one of his baronies.

If I hadn’t interfered, the Georgia family would’ve risen to the position of imperial nobility, following the Medici and Rothschild families.

And, after stabbing Sforza in the back, they would have rubbed their hands together with glee.

"I’ve heard that the interest you owe this year is 680,000 gold coins. And now, after making a bad investment with the Namhae Company, you’re in a situation where you can’t pay it back. As a result, you almost lost a huge amount of rights, including your direct mines, your logging rights, the rights to the Senoria River, and the long-term lease of the Fior plains."

Merchants, unlike politicians who live off honor, appearances, and saving face, are free from those concerns.

Pretending to be weak can be an advantage when making deals with nobility. It helps reduce suspicion and allows for more favorable terms.

Even in the 21st century, small business owners often act weak when dealing with large corporations.

When negotiating with politicians, executives, or members of large corporations, showing off a flashy car or expensive tastes isn’t an issue because they are already making that much money.

But when negotiating with managers, deputy managers, or even lower-level employees of large corporations, driving an expensive car can be seen as an attempt to show off, and it may hurt the deal.

Thus, small business owners often drive modest cars /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ when dealing with their own employees to avoid any jealousy, which can negatively affect their business dealings.

"Merchants may scream as if they’re about to die, but if they’re trading with someone like you, they have pure income that’s equivalent to about a year’s worth of tax revenue from a small barony. Would such people simply sit idly by while they’re cheated?"

"Thank you for your precious advice."

There are people in this world who, under the guise of giving advice, enjoy trampling on others.

For example, people who, on holidays, give unsolicited advice to their nieces or nephews, knowing full well they don’t want it.

"Which university will you go to? When will you get a job? Will that salary be enough for you? You need to marry soon, when are you having kids?" and so on.

They pretend to be concerned, but in reality, it’s usually something else entirely.

Strangely enough, those who stop at a single, kind word of advice don’t tend to be too harmful, but those who persist in pushing it are often the ones whose lives have gone awry.

In the military, there are those who excessively harass their subordinates, treating them like less than animals, all the while desperate not to miss their "last chance to be respected."

"Truly successful people just ask about family matters at a gathering and don’t say much at all."

I despise these types of people, so I’ll give practical help to the Sforza Duke—or rather, I’ve already given it.

The Duke won’t be able to refuse my help.

"Duke, even though we belong to different political factions, we are both nobles of the great Toscani Empire. Shouldn’t we help each other in times of need?"

"...? What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, let’s help each other. As Deus said, ‘Whatever you’ve done to the least of these, you’ve done it unto me.’ Although you are not the least, it’s obvious that you are in a difficult situation, so I should extend a hand. It is, after all, Deus’ will."

Before my rebirth, I didn’t believe in Deus or any gods, but now I do.

I’ve had experiences that science can’t explain, like reincarnation, and in Korea, I succeeded in making three beautiful women my own...

"I think Deus has helped me a little."

So, I occasionally donate some of my own money to help the poor.

Surely, Deus in Heaven must look favorably upon me for this, right?

"I’ve purchased all the debt you owe, Duke. In fact, I’ve even paid the debts from your faction."

Altogether, it amounted to about 8.5 million gold coins, but it wasn’t really difficult to manage.

Through the information I obtained from the public-interest reports provided by the good accountants I work with, I managed to persuade them for a 50% discount.

I paid it all off in a lump sum with money from the Lyon Kingdom.

And the Bible says this:

"The borrower is a slave to the lender; therefore, you should not incur any debt except the debt of love."

So, those bastards are now my slaves.

The Bible gives its approval.

"Duke, would you like to pay the 700,000 gold coins right now? In one lump sum?"

Upon hearing my words, Duke Sforza collapsed onto the floor.