The day after meeting the Duke, I found myself at the High Court.

    Just as judges and prosecutors are the most respected public servants in Korea and the United States, the judges in our Toscana Empire hold the most power.

    Among the judges with the greatest authority, the High Court is particularly well-known.

    "It''s like an institution that combines the Supreme Court, some powers of the National Assembly, and the National Tax Service."

    “I came to see Baron Mancini. Could you pass on a message?”

    The junior official at the High Court responded to my request.

    “Baron Mancini? Ah, you mean Judge Mancini? He’s quite busy with official duties. You’ll need to inform him a few days in advance to meet him. I can help you schedule an appointment, though.”

    From his appearance, he looked like just a lowly clerk at the High Court.

    If he didn’t give me a gift, he wouldn’t even pass along my desire to meet Baron Mancini.

    I really felt the High Court was on a completely different level compared to other administrative institutions in the empire.

    Even officials from powerful institutions like the Commercial Law Division would generally bow and scrape to someone of noble rank like a baron.

    “If I say that I’m the Fabio de Medici, who reported the misconduct of the Pereira Guild, he’ll come running out barefoot.”

    Thanks to exposing the Pereira Guild’s corruption, Baron Mancini was swiftly promoted to “judge.”

    In terms of the imperial civil service hierarchy, that’s a level two position; however, in some ceremonies, he received treatment equivalent to that of a vice-minister as a “Chief Judge of the High Court.”

    The clerk, realizing he had treated a benefactor poorly, was ready to kneel in apology.

    Asking for a gift wasn''t particularly insulting, so I stopped him appropriately.

    “I''ll let it slide this time, but don’t let it happen again.”

    “Thank you, Baron! I truly appreciate it!”

    I then knocked on the office door.

    “This is Fabio de Medici, and I’d like to meet Judge Mancini. Please pass on my message.”

    While it was nice to call it the judge''s office, there were likely judges bustling around inside.

    Even if the subordinate staff were indifferent, the judges themselves were esteemed individuals, so it was proper for me to speak respectfully.

    After a little while, the door opened, and Baron Mancini welcomed me with a smile.

    “Ah, it’s you? No, wait, it''s Baron Medici, isn’t it? You seem a bit taller than three months ago!”

    “Is that so?”

    “You''ve grown taller and become more handsome. Come on in for now. Hey, bring out two cups of coffee and some sugar! Since it’s an important guest, make sure to brew coffee with those beans I cherish!”

    As a Chief Judge of the High Court, he was someone even hereditary viscounts wouldn’t dare to treat casually.

    If he were to be captured as a criminal, he could become the “grim reaper.”

    Seeing such an esteemed figure greet me with such warmth, all eyes around us focused on me.@@@@

    “I heard Baron Medici is young, but is he really that young?”

    “Other than not being married, he seems flawless.”

    “I wonder if I can make some connections through my relationship with the Chief Judge.”

    To sell the state’s most important function to civilians for money, the person who devised this system is truly a piece of human trash.

    If he were in heaven, he should be thrown into Satan''s maw.

    Baron Mancini sighed.

    “You know, there are so many people vying for the position of tax collector that even High Court judges can’t just easily appoint their relatives. It’s not that I doubt your abilities, but if this gets out, the head judge of the Florence High Court will likely dismiss me!”

    The head judge of the Florence High Court is the chief of the High Court judges overseeing all the High Courts in the country.

    It’s a position that can only be held by someone with a title of at least count among judicial nobles or the head of a count family favored by the king.

    A position just after the prime minister, wielding almost equal power to a duke.

    In front of such a person, a Chief Judge is as insignificant as a candle in the wind.

    “You don’t doubt my abilities, do you? Do you think I’m acting without a plan?”

    I presented the certificate stamped with the Visconti Duke''s seal to the Baron.

    “This time, the Duke will take full responsibility.”

    Baron Mancini appeared shocked, as if he had never seen a vow of responsibility from the Duke before.

    If someone were to ask how powerful that vow is?

    “It’s like a guarantee for a business deal.”

    “This is a guarantee. And, Judge Mancini...”

    I whispered in Mancini’s ear.

    “To be honest, with the title of judicial noble baron, isn’t it hard to rise higher? But if the Duke supports you, you can aim for the head of the High Court in another city.”

    The head of the High Court means wielding the power of prosecution and judiciary in another city, deciding who to kill and who to save, while making a fortune.

    “You should aim to be a Chief Judge for three to four years and start climbing up slowly. I should do the same.”

    Honestly, I’m not particularly inconvenienced by my current status.

    Just by walking around casually, I could attract a truckload of men trying to get my phone number from a beautiful woman.

    If I play my cards right, I could have such beauties as my flowers in both hands.

    Money? Unlike other nobles, I have no debts, so I have no problem living.

    But living without dreams of climbing higher in this era is incredibly boring.

    Especially without computers or TVs.

    “His Majesty wishes to strengthen the royal authority. Don’t you want to become a tool to achieve that purpose?”

    The Duke''s guarantee and trust in me.

    As these two situations combined, Baron Mancini made a big decision.

    “The current auction for the tax collector position in the spice guild starts at four thousand gold coins. If you pay seven or eight thousand coins in advance, I’ll kneel and beg the head judge to give you that position. But don’t forget me.”

    There’s an old saying.

    “If you want to go far, go with friends.”

    Yes, Baron Mancini, let’s enjoy our time together for a long time.

    And the spice guild leader, who interrupted my plans with Chloe for some cat play, you won’t die comfortably.