“Haha, Fabio. You’re like the golden goose of the Visconti family.”

By the way he was addressing me, you’d think he wasn’t even remotely troubled by the 12 tons of steel that were stolen in transit.

The amount lost might seem like a large sum, but in comparison to the profits we’re making, it’s practically insignificant. But that some pest dared to tarnish the duke’s authority, and he’s still smiling?

It means he already has the situation under control.

“I’m honored,” I replied.

“You don’t try to distance yourself from it, do you?” he noted.

“Denying the consequences of my actions would be an insult to Your Grace’s dignity, wouldn’t it?”

The ironworks venture has benefitted more than just me.

The duke received 20% of the profits, plus he must’ve earned substantial political influence by currying favor with various nobles through steel.

“To think someone at your age could already appreciate the true value of their work. I guess exceptional people really are different. You have to be at least this capable to be able to put a bishop in his place at a church court. I don’t think I could ever best you with words.”

A vassal should never seem better than their lord.

It’s unwise to simply accept praise like, “Yes, that’s true,” even if it’s honest. It would come off as arrogant.

Even if I am more capable than the duke, I must always act as if I’m beneath him, or else I’ll be looked upon with suspicion.

“It was simply Deus guiding me, and Christian saying the wrong things, which allowed me to respond. I would never dare to match wits with Your Grace,” I replied.

The duke seemed to savor my words.

Not that I’m a beautiful woman, but still.

“That’s enough chit-chat. Butler, bring it here.”

The butler handed me a document, heavy with flowery language and oaths to the divine.

The longer and more ornate it was, the more weight it carried. But what mattered most was a single line of text:

“Of the total steel sales revenue of 124,217 pounds, 80%, or 99,373 pounds, will be paid out.”

“That’s nearly ten thousand gold coins.”

They say if you run a business or even handle finance, you’ll eventually have to manage eye-watering sums of money. But now that I’m holding such an amount in my hands, it’s surreal.

I’d seen cartoons where characters would get nosebleeds from massive profits, and now I kind of get it.

This is sexier than sex.

“You’re truly rich now. Soon, you could even be earning twice, maybe even three times as much.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

“It’s simply the result of a fair contract between us. No need for thanks. But aren’t you curious?”

“Curious about what?”

The duke gave me a devilish smile.

“About how I dealt with those blacksmith guild scum.”

Of course, I knew he’d already resolved it. He wouldn’t have called me in otherwise.

A man who manages hundreds of marquises, earls, viscounts, and barons doesn’t do anything without a plan.

“How did you do it?”

“The blacksmith guild hired bandits to raid our shipment. I had already sent an elite guard with it just in case...”

The duke ground his teeth as he spoke.

I could hear it clearly, as though it were happening right next to me.

“They must’ve thrown a lot of money around, hiring a band of bandits that included several knights. Otherwise, our guards wouldn’t have fallen so easily.”

Barons and viscounts have lands attached to their titles, but knight titles are mostly symbolic.

If you gathered a hundred knights at random, half would likely be unemployed.

The idealists may call them wandering knights, but in reality, they’re more like gambling addicts hoping for one big win.

Many aim to make it big by winning tournaments and securing a position with a noble family.

When that doesn’t work out, they grab their armor and join a band of bandits, often as leaders or officers.

“Bandits with ex-knights are practically mercenaries.”

In reality, there are many mercenary groups who play the role of bandits during peacetime and mercenaries during wartime.

Mercenary romanticism? None of that here in the Tosca Empire.

“With everything pointing to the Florence blacksmith guild, I warned the Duke of Sforza. I said if this continued, we’d end up drawing swords. Since then, there haven’t been any more attacks on our shipments. Problem half-solved.”

They’ve managed to lock the barn door after the horse has bolted.

“My inclination is to destroy the blacksmith guild, but trading steel without the guild or imperial sanction is illegal, isn’t it?”

A duke won’t be executed unless they commit treason. But they might suffer massive political and financial losses.

The risk of such losses is likely why the duke hasn’t gone directly after them, even though he knows exactly who’s responsible.

“That’s correct.”

“So, this is the best we can do for now.”

It’s true, the duke can’t just slice through the blacksmith guild.

But maybe we can go about things another way and still get revenge.

We can’t dismantle the whole guild, but we can certainly go after the noble behind it.

“Your Grace, would you like to strengthen your ties with the imperial family?”

“Obviously. Crushing the Sforza is going to require imperial favor.”

The reason Duke Visconti can’t directly attack the blacksmith guild is that doing so would incur the wrath of the emperor, leading to enormous political and financial losses.

But if we think about it differently…

In the end, as long as you placate the emperor, you can get away with anything.

In the 21st century, the rule of law is paramount, but in this medieval legal system, the highborn can kill whoever they want, as long as the judge pretends to care about justice.

“Offer to supply steel to the imperial family at a discounted rate—80% of the market price.”

“Wouldn’t you take a loss?”

For the duke, the political leverage gained from supplying the imperial family outweighs the income from steel.

He wouldn’t mind losing a bit if it increased his influence.

But I care more about profit than politics, so this would mean a significant loss for me.

“As Your Grace’s vassal, I can’t let my own interests prevent you from seizing an opportunity. It’s important to have a long-term vision.”

My declaration of loyalty still didn’t seem to fully satisfy him.

He’s spent a lifetime managing people with carrots and sticks.

I’d only known him a few months, so he’s likely unsure of my intentions. I can’t blame him.

“I want to live long and large. I want to enjoy wealth and luxury, not die a miserable death.”

For now, I’m delaying marriage to focus on building wealth and status.

It’s about the time that the nobility would start to label me an ‘old bachelor.’

“By offering the imperial family steel at a discounted rate, gain the right to trade steel without the blacksmith guild’s involvement.”

The duke didn’t look entirely pleased with my suggestion.

“If I go against the guild, the other guilds might unite and refuse to supply goods to our faction.”

For a noble to unilaterally crush a guild without cause would lead to a unified boycott, cutting off supplies.

It’d be a catastrophe.

“With the emperor’s blessing, no one can challenge you for destroying the guild that dared to plunder a noble’s convoy.”

With the justification on our side, there’s no risk of a united guild boycott.

“If you secure the right, the Florence blacksmith guild will be yours, and you could even raise prices for arms sold to the Sforza family.”

The Florence blacksmith guild is the head of all blacksmith guilds in the Tosca Empire.

While this isn’t enough to enforce absolute control, it’s enough to raise prices on steel products by 20% when selling to the Sforza.

Considering the volume they buy, they’ll feel the pain.

“I may lose a little profit, but I’m sure Your Grace will make up for it.”

At last, he smiled—a smile full of malicious intent.

“Then let’s do just that. And when this is all over, I’ll have another reward ready for you.”

“It will be my honor.”

“I trust you’ll handle the acquisition of the blacksmith guild smoothly.”