As I stood my ground confidently, wrinkles formed on Pereira’s brow.

    "As someone who has lived longer and as a merchant, I’m giving special consideration to a rising new trader like you. Don’t you understand that?"

    Consideration, my foot.

    He’s hoping that if I drop the charges, the investigation by Judge Mancini—who’s eager for a promotion—will lose momentum, which would reduce the penalties Pereira has to face. He’s sugarcoating his words as if he’s trying to nurture a young sapling.

    Even back in 21st-century Korea, when a new star began to rise, high-ranking officials and corporate leaders would try to stomp them down. Does he think it would be any different here, if not worse?

    There’s a limit to how much you can look down on someone.

    "Let me be blunt. Going up against me right now is like a rabbit challenging a lion," he said coldly.

    By trying to coax me into dropping the charges, he’s only revealing his desperation. He’s clearly suffered massive political and economic losses. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come here personally to sweet-talk me.

    "I won’t deny that, Master Pereira."

    Indeed, there is a huge power gap between me and Pereira Trading Company.

    "But surely, you don’t think I climbed this far in such a short time simply due to luck?"

    When a novice makes a profit from investing once, that might be luck. If they succeed multiple times, it’s skill. I’ve succeeded in business more than a few times. It’s not all luck.

    ‘While I shouldn’t get cocky, I must admit I have some skill,’ I thought.

    "I have His Majesty behind me," I stated calmly.

    Pereira clenched his teeth, but he didn’t argue. As someone who’s reached the rank of a great merchant, he’s quick-witted enough to process the implications. He must have realized that what I said was true.

    "That’s why I, a mere fledgling, dared to challenge a great merchant like you. Otherwise, why would I risk fighting you? If I were that stupid and simple-minded, I wouldn’t have reached this position."

    Pereira sighed, the fight draining from him, leaving only bitterness.

    "Why would His Majesty...?"

    Watching him play the victim reminded me of something a prison guard friend once told me: ‘Criminals rarely repent in prison. Nine times out of ten, they think the punishment is too harsh for their minor offense.’

    This guy may not be in prison, but he’s a criminal whose head wouldn’t be enough of a penalty for his sins.

    "And this," I said, pulling out the ''nonexistent edict'' that Allegro, the unofficial imperial emissary, had given me, "is a direct order from His Majesty."

    I didn’t hand it over for him to read. It was more effective to explain the contents as a veiled threat.

    "His Majesty is aware that Pereira Trading Company has been smuggling our Empire’s steel to potential enemy nations like the Grand Duchy of Milania and Liguria."

    "But we’re not at war with them," he replied, trying to deflect.

    "If you’d been selling steel to a nation we’re at war with, you’d be facing a court-martial. Since that’s not the case, I’m here to discuss this politely."

    Even in this medieval world, where human rights are scarce, it’s understood that those who aid the enemy deserve death. Even in Korea, aiding an enemy during wartime could mean a swift court-martial and execution.

    I leaned back and gazed at him, savoring the moment. Pereira deserved to be bled dry for his sins.

    "I hear that your board member, Alphard, acted on his own out of greed. Isn’t that correct?"

    My tone suggested that if he offered up a scapegoat, the Emperor’s wrath might be lessened.

    "Yes, Alphard did act independently. I will ensure stricter oversight."

    This was what I needed to secure my reward. The real negotiations began now.

    "But I doubt the Emperor or Judge Mancini will see it that way. After all, I’m just a lowly knight. What influence could I have?"

    If you want to send a message to someone high up, you need to pay a fee. Likewise, if you want to contact someone influential, you should be prepared to pay generously.

    "Please, I beg you," he said, close to desperation.

    "I may carry the Emperor’s order, but I’m just a humble knight. Why would His Majesty listen to me?"

    Of course, the Emperor will listen to me—he values young men who carry out difficult orders. Pereira knows this all too well.

    "I will give you a luxurious mansion in Florence!"

    I guess he knows that I’m wealthy and that offering me money alone wouldn’t work.

    "A luxury mansion in Florence is worth at least a thousand gold coins."

    Mansions aren’t just expensive; acquiring the land alone takes more than just money. It’s a decent bribe. But I pretended to get up.

    "Perhaps you should come back another time."

    "Two luxury mansions! I will give you two!"

    "Try communicating that directly to His Majesty."

    He won’t forget the resentment he feels toward me. We’ll never be friends, so I need to get as much as I can now.

    "I don’t need the mansions. Instead, give me the Friulano Winery and the vineyard owned by the Tuscan Trading Company."

    The Friulano Winery produces some of the finest wines in the Empire, and its value is beyond comparison with a couple of mansions.

    "That’s a bit..."

    I shook my head.

    "Do you want His Majesty to continue harboring his suspicions?"

    One thing I know for sure is that while the Emperor doesn’t intend to kill Pereira, if I report that Pereira hasn’t fully repented, Judge Mancini will ensure justice is brutally served.

    Pereira’s eyes filled with tears, and he clenched his fists so tightly that his hands bled.

    "I’ll do it. Just please, convey my sincerity to His Majesty."

    "As you wish."