Chapter 168 ·Count of Mediolanum (3)

To ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍be honest, the destruction of the Northern Free City Alliance on the Apennine Peninsula was unexpected.

Each ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍free city was almost wealthier and more powerful than a typical duchy, and while small individually, they were a force that even the Emperor of the Holy Empire could not ignore when united.

Yet, ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍to be subjugated in such a short time by a force of only fifteen thousand?

Even ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍if they failed to unite due to the trickery of the Holy See, this was truly a massive shock.

Thanks ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍to that, this issue became the hottest potato in the continent's political circles in an instant.

“Khahahaha! ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍As expected of my brother. Is he not something else? Shatien is a warrior among warriors who roamed the battlefield with me. I expected the day would come when he would make a name for himself, but... this is absolutely incredible!”

Like the conqueror of the north, Viscount Ragnarsson.

No, like him who had now become the Margrave of Rostingia, there were those who purely celebrated while mentioning their friendship with Shatien.

On the other hand,

“Shatien.... That young friend who received his knighthood from me has done something quite big, has he not? Hahaha. The Emperor must be feeling quite sick to his stomach. If he loses the Apennine Peninsula, he will not be able to stop the defection of the southern part of the empire, will he? Now is the time. Send an envoy to the King who is still hesitating. Now is the perfect opportunity to contend for hegemony over the continent!”

Like the Margrave of Bellua, there were ambitious men who saw opportunity within the wavering authority of the Holy Empire's Emperor.

Certainly, such habits were exactly what the Holy See taught people not to do, and considering the honor of nobles, there were more than a few disgraceful points, but this case was a bit different.

-The Emperor is collapsing!

-Now is the chance. The perfect opportunity to defeat the oppressor!

The seed called resentment that the Emperor of the Holy Empire had sown all this time.

-Brothers. How long will you look away from the families that died out due to fabricated evidence?

-It is not just the nobles who were wronged! It is the same for our merchant groups. If you are willing to draw your swords, our merchant group will gladly provide the funds.

It had begun to germinate.

Authority created by force and coercion is bound to be challenged once that power wavers. Now, the Emperor of the Holy Empire was in a position to receive back the karma he had sown.

Of course, the Emperor of the Holy Empire was not so blind that he did not realize that leaving this atmosphere alone would soon mean the failure of his family's imperial succession.

“What happened to the knights and the court mage dispatched to the Apennine Peninsula?”

“Fortunately, it is said they succeeded in escaping on the condition of handing over the Doge. They fled by detouring to the southeastern region, so news should arrive from the Eastern Elector soon.”

“I don't care about the other knights, but Libetraum must be brought to the court alive at all costs. Do you understand? Dispatch an escort unit to the southern region to protect him.”

“Understood.”

The court mage Libetraum, who handled the mysteries of lightning, was an essential existence. Even more so if the front lines were spread out in all directions like they were now.

The value of a mage who knew how to use powerful offensive magic was worth more than a thousand soldiers.

Once he settled that part, the Emperor asked again.

“Is it certain that the north and the Kingdom of Ellang have joined hands?”

“Yes. It is said that envoys have been going back and forth continuously recently. Meetings between high ranking nobles are becoming frequent, and especially since the Margrave of Bellua is mediating between the Margrave of Rostingia and the King of Ellang, the alliance will likely proceed as planned.”

“Ughhh.”

Individually, they were inferior to the Emperor of the Holy Empire who possessed vast direct territories. But once united, the story changed. The fiefs the Emperor had to defend were too wide and his soldiers were far too few. It was surely getting to the point where it was overwhelming to deal with them alone.

The Emperor of the Holy Empire, who was lost in thought for a moment, eventually twitched the corners of his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

“Send an envoy to the Kingdom of Aragon. Tell them let us marry their daughter to my son. Say that as a dowry, I will recognize the succession rights to the County of Sicelia.”

“Huh?! H-However, that fief is....”

“If the Holy See expands its influence in the Apennine Peninsula anyway, it is a fief that will be difficult to defend properly. It is more profitable to delegate those succession rights to the King of Aragon and keep the Holy See in check from the south. Besides, a fief is just a fief.... Can I not just take it back whenever I want? Surely the King of Aragon will not live longer than my son?”

“Ah! That is true. Your Imperial Majesty. Hehehe.”

Expanding fiefs was not only possible through war. Marriage and succession.

Vast fiefs could be created through these as well.

Marry and rule!

And this was exactly the method the family of the Holy Empire's Emperor had focused on to grow their power for nearly 200 years.

“Then the Holy See side is roughly settled.... As for the north, I should call the Order of the Black Rain again. Was there not a strange peasant organization there? Di... Di....”

“It is Dithmarschen, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“Right. Tell them it is time to pay back the price they have owed. If we move them along with the Order of the Black Rain, the Margrave of Rostingia will have no choice.”

The Kingdom of Aragon in the south, the Order of the Black Rain and Dithmarschen in the north.

The entire region seemed to be getting settled. If so, only one remained.

“Who are the ones raising the banner of revolt most arrogantly right now?”

“It is likely the Count of Shatin. Since Mediolanum fell, their influence is becoming quite massive.”

“Is that so? To think that coward bastard dares to challenge me.... The one who used to flatter me so much back then to obtain a fief!”

The Emperor of the Holy Empire growled.

“Tell the Eastern Elector immediately. Tell him there is a delicious job for those troublesome barbarian tribes.”

That was it.

Normally, if such a situation arrived, it would be normal to try and reduce the number of antagonists through some kind of conciliatory action.

But the Emperor of the Holy Empire was different.

Strength against strength.

Rather, he was thinking of crushing them more powerfully with force.

A man who maintained power through blood.

Since he could not even think of other methods.

This was the method of rule the Emperor believed in. Unfortunately, it did not seem like a situation where that method of rule would work properly.

* * *

While the continent was fluctuating with each person's greed, Shatien was preparing more steadily than ever.

“Miles. Is the recruitment going properly?”

“Is there even a need to say. It seemed there was a whole house full of people who were ruined by being burned in the great fire this time. Everyone was applying at the word that they would be fed three proper meals a day, you know? I plan to fill the target number soon and start training them hard.”

“Oh boy....”

Well, the fire last time was a bit serious. It swept through the slums and residential areas of Mediolanum City, and over 20% of the area was completely burned down.

Thanks to that, the city of Mediolanum was very active economically with an untimely restoration project.

As buildings were put up everywhere for recovery, and various materials and endless labor demands arose accordingly, funds began to circulate in the city.

In addition, with this overwhelming victory, the free cities that had been lukewarmly standing by all bowed their heads and came to Mediolanum to start praising the new Count, so the money those envoys spent on eating and using as they came and went was enormous.

Of course, this did not necessarily only have a positive influence.

“Inflation is serious, young knight. No, young Count.”

“Huh?”

“Prices are soaring everywhere. Resources are low, and demand is increasing, so prices are naturally rising. If you don't take action quickly, the economy will be paralyzed. Especially the city's urban poor will not be able to hold out.”

Mage Agphiel, who inspected Mediolanum with master Joachim, warned so.

As a massive population flocked to the city and funds were released in a short time, the prices of goods were rising day by day. It would be fine if it were at least luxury goods, but the problem was that the prices of daily necessities, which would inevitably hit the urban poor hard as Mage Agphiel said, were rising.

“Is it that serious?”

“Yes. Furthermore, the merchants of the guilds are not releasing the goods they each hold. They mean there is no need to sell when prices are rising by the day.”

“Huh....”

Shatien was dumbfounded.

No matter how much greed for money they had, to think they would act like that.

“Normally, people's greed is endless. Even if that end is destruction. Whether it is the Emperor or the merchants of the guilds, they are eventually slaves to short sighted desires.”

Master Joachim said so with a smirk. Mage Agphiel also nodded as if he agreed with those words.

“Sigh. I suppose asking the guild merchants to release resources would be impossible, right?”

“Did you not already give them autonomy? If a problem arises, the autonomous committee must decide and move; even if you give direct orders, they will instead think you are interfering. Besides, that is strictly their property. No matter if one is a ruler, one cannot forcibly dispose of legitimate property.”

“If that is the case, I must first ask the Holy See and the Mercantile Association.”

“Hrmmmmm.... A request huh. Well, you might be able to stabilize prices temporarily, but it will literally be a stopgap measure, will it not?”

He might support them with resources once or twice, but he could not give them continuously, could he? The important thing was for merchants to voluntarily come here with resources.

“What if I permit free trade for merchants from each region, especially trade with nearby free cities and the free trade of the Mercantile Association led by Branch Manager Marhen?”

Shatien's words were right.

If free trade was achieved, the inflow of resources would increase and the prices of goods would be lowered. The problem was that free trade was not guaranteed in the cities of this era like people thought.

“Hehe. I don't think the merchants' and craftsmen's guilds will stay still, you know? They will likely oppose it since their monopoly status will take a hit, right?”

“Surely they wouldn't do that in a crisis situation like this? And I am not even intending to permit luxury goods where a lot of money remains, but only daily necessities like simple food.”

Right. Surely they wouldn't.

When the poor were angry at the increased prices and might explode if they were not careful.

“Hrmmmmm... well. What do you think, Sir? About your young disciple's truly benevolent and faithful thought?”

“It is thanks to him not having experienced yet how much human greed makes a person foolish. Sage. Hehehe.”

“…….”

And these views turned out to be exactly correct.

He thought surely they wouldn't....

“Your Excellency Count! The merchant guild has officially filed a claim on that matter with the autonomous committee! What shall we do?”

They really did it.

‘Just what on earth are they thinking?’

Shatien had the thought that they were truly incomprehensible.