I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 270: Loyalist of the Empire (7)

The general of the war, Ragusa, patted my shoulder and laughed.

“No matter what anyone says, you’re the number one contributor to this war. You did really well!”

At this moment, there were many other high-ranking individuals present, including General Ragusa.

If this were a military setting, people would be making a big fuss, saying that a great catastrophe had struck, as though a falling star had taken out the entire sky.

In such a setting, they went beyond mere praise for a great achievement and called me the “number one contributor”—is this even possible?

For generals who straddle the line between soldiers and semi-politicians, it would be enough to make their stomachs churn.

“Some rookie, a civilian at that, has upended their own plate of food,” they’d think.

But the supreme commander spoke as though he didn’t know any of this and laughed jovially.

“By the way, Guillaume the Baron, isn’t the King of the Kingdom of Lyon a rather short-sighted individual? Even in our Toscana Empire, I, who only guard a remote corner, can’t touch you because I’m scared of what might happen if I do!”

General Ragusa glanced around, his words carrying an air of caution and warning toward those around us.

“When we get scammed by conmen and lose money, when you think about it, it’s really our own fault in the end,” he continued.

Throughout history, conmen have always existed, and they’ve never stopped trying to scam people.

No matter what anyone says, the worst of the bunch are the conmen.

But, when the head of a family or a company president is deceived by a conman and loses their wealth, it’s not the conman who faces the blame.

Even though the one scammed is innocent, if the head of the family gets tricked, causing the household to fall apart, or the company president’s scamming leads to bankruptcy, the one who suffered ends up paying the price.

The conman might be thrown into prison to work off his debt, but in the end, it’s the victim who suffers.

Let alone in a war, where ethics and morals are thrown to the wind!

Even the victorious nations of World War II had figures who committed war crimes, but in the end, it was only the high-ranking figures from the losing side, or the truly insane who had the bloodlust of madmen, who were punished.

“I’ll talk to Baron Rothschild for a bit about Guillaume City. Baron, I’ll go get some fresh air.”

General Ragusa took me out of the meeting room filled with stars.

A brief silence followed, and the general let out a sigh.

“Soldiers shouldn’t meddle in politics. But do you know what’s the most absurd part?”

It’s like the Roman Empire after the reign of the Five Emperors.

When the emperor died, the legion commanders all over the country would say, ‘From now on, I’m the emperor,’ and rise in rebellion.

And after rising up, they’d fight among themselves, leading to the deaths of countless innocent people.

So, since the time of the Babylonian era, one of the world’s oldest civilizations, there’s always been a measure in place to prevent soldiers from directly meddling in politics when the country is stable.

But...

‘When the country wavers even a little, soldiers would step in and overthrow it.’

“The same goes for me, and for other generals too. Those of us who’ve reached this level are all highly capable. And because of that, to get ahead, you have to create even a tiny difference.”

This happens in big corporations, mid-sized companies, and small businesses.

Unless you’re some genius flying off the charts, by the time you’re a manager or director, the difference in ability between people isn’t all that large.

People who have worked for decades for the company have reached their growth limits.

‘So, they turn to politics to make a difference.’

If I bring him down, my chances of promotion go up.

That’s how they can send their kids to college and pay off the mortgage on the apartment they bought with tons of debt.

The same goes for generals—success in the military, political success as a noble.

“I didn’t have to do that because I was born as the heir to a marquis family, but others, when they reach colonel, become politicians. It’s a sad and shameful story,” said General Ragusa, making a face as though he had lived a full life.

If I had brought some tobacco from the New World, I’d probably be smoking a cigar by now.

‘I hope I can find the New World soon...’

Ifrikia is not far from the Toscana Empire, so although I failed at trying to monopolize everything on my own...

If I manage to find the New World, it looks like I can handle it all by myself.

“You, as a noble of the Empire, only sought legitimate revenge against those who plundered the Empire’s national interests and territories. But in the end, looking at the results, you’ve become the Empire’s war hero. You’ve become a hero capable of overturning the meals of those colonels and major generals over there.”

Humans are not inherently good beings.

For their own interests, they’d do things like the British Empire did, selling opium to turn people into addicts, and when they banned that trade, they’d go to war over it.

Even when the people in their colonies were starving to death, they kept fueling the famine, hoping to make a big profit.

And when conscientious individuals tried to make declarations of conscience and admit their wrongdoings, they dismissed it as the laziness of the colonized people and silenced any opposition.

Then they’d tell themselves they were doing a righteous thing, wrapping it all up as the glory of God and the nation.

And here I am, a non-military person, becoming a war hero?

“I know you’re not someone who could’ve commissioned as an officer no matter what happens, but they wouldn’t think that.”

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“The greatest honor for a noble in the Empire is making military achievements and growing their family’s name.”

For civil servants, the most ideal career path is becoming a high court judge, then advancing to the position of Prime Minister.

But in Toscana Empire, where chivalry rules, becoming a war hero is considered one step above becoming the Empire’s Prime Minister.

‘Because it’s a way to increase both your title and territory.’

“That’s why I gave you a little warning. I told them, if they target you, they’ll end up like that.”

In this war, the Kingdom of Lyon lost 5% of its territory.

At first glance, this might seem small, but if you say it like that, the reality hits hard.

Fifteen noble families with titles higher than baron, the great landed nobles, lost their territories and completely collapsed.

Moreover, because of the war with the Holy Empire, they must have lost a considerable number of soldiers and resources...

‘It’s like hitting them with a hard slap, breaking their arm.’

“Thank you.”

“For someone like you, who greatly contributed to the national interests of the Toscana Empire, it’s only natural to do this much. You don’t need to thank me.”

The general handed me a new set of orders.

I froze for a moment when I saw it.

Could it be that the emperor wants to bury me in the military?

“Your task is already complete. The imperial edict says you should go home and rest now.”

There are still things to be done, like peace negotiations and stabilizing the civilian life, but those are tasks for the noble bureaucrats of the Empire.

Once you’ve completed your duties, you should return home.

“And as is only natural, the Ministry of Military Affairs has recommended you as the number one contributor to this war, and His Majesty has approved it. As of now, you’ve been promoted to Brigadier General. Technically, you’re a reserve brigadier general, but next year you’ll automatically be promoted to reserve major general.”

A reserve major general—just hearing that rank makes my head spin.

During the Korean War, the country had only been founded for about five years, and the military system was in disarray. Despite the rapid promotions due to the war...

‘At 25, reserve brigadier general, at 26, reserve major general...’

The promotion speed is so fast it’s dizzying.

“Although you’re a reserve officer, if you wish, you can switch to active duty anytime. In addition, you’ll be awarded the Toscana Empire’s honor medal and various other combat medals.”

If I go active duty, does that mean I’ll become a division commander at 25?

That’s some dizzying promotion speed.

Of course, compared to the lightning-fast promotions when the sovereign of the kingdom promoted Admiral Yi Sun-sin, this is still relatively slow.

“After the peace negotiations are completed, Guillaume the Baron’s safety will be entrusted to you, and you’ll be granted the title of Viscount of Nice. Moreover, your title will also be specially elevated by one rank.”

...Finally, I’ll surpass my father in title.

“In that sense...”

General Ragusa whispered into my ear.

“I think I’ll be promoted to Marshal next year. I’ll support you, so... from next year, you should follow the military path...”

Upon hearing that, I immediately placed my hand on my stomach.

“I suddenly have a stomach ache, so I’m sorry, but I need to use the restroom...”

And with that, I hurried back home.