I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 362: Enlightenment (9)

But instead of going to theology school, he graduated from law school and tried to become a judge or administrator—people don't always live according to their names.

“Alright, Gramsci. Let me share with you my shameful secret—though it’s not really shameful at all... Let me explain why I feel a sense of kinship with you. Honestly, if I were you, I would be very suspicious if someone offered to help me without any reason.”

A suspicious person claiming not to be suspicious only makes things worse.

If I look strange, I might seem strange, but showing them that I’m just like them is far more effective.

Right now, I’m different in status, but I’m drawing commonalities to make them trust me.

Why do politicians go to traditional markets and eat fish cakes or order pig’s feet?

‘It’s to show the people: I’m just like you.’

“The majority of you who entered university probably come from noble or merchant families as second sons. Because your families aren’t large enough, you couldn’t use your father’s connections to become administrators or judges in a territory. Gramsci, you’re the same, right?”

When I called Gramsci’s name, he let out a long sigh.

It’s easy, so easy. I’m manipulating their emotions right now.

If these people were women, I feel like I could brainwash them into giving me both their bodies and minds.

Fortunately, I don’t have such bad habits or sexual fantasies, so I don’t plan to do that.

If that were my preference, I could just buy women with money and power.

“I was also born as the second son of the Medici Baron family. My father encouraged me to attend university when I turned 15. You must have gone to university for similar reasons.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“And there are certainly some among you who were born into peasant families, worked incredibly hard, and managed to obtain a degree. Raise your hands.”

At those words, the students who were already marginalized even within their own peer group hesitated for a moment, looking at each other’s faces.

Then, they slowly raised their hands.

“My mistress, no, my first love, Chloe, was a peasant from the village of Bio. Because of that, I don’t see peasants as strangers. I think it’s truly remarkable that those who came from such poor circumstances fought so hard to get to where they are now.”

In the Toscana Empire, there are no national scholarships, and university tuition is extremely expensive.

It’s so much more expensive than the already expensive American universities.

The value in tangible terms would be about 50 million won per semester.

Of course, if you succeed in graduating and getting a job, the starting salary after taxes would range from 2 to 3 million won, at a minimum.

‘It’s not easy.’

I personally helped the ones who raised their hands and shook their hands with them.

In a place where those who were marginalized gathered, these people, once neglected, quickly became the objects of envy.

“I see you’ve successfully graduated, so you must have had a noble sponsor. What’s the name of that sponsor?”

“Yes, I am Raphael. I was sponsored by the Tolone Baron family, who previously served as the mayor of Florence.”

“Tolone Baron, huh. That person was indeed a great individual. I once worked under him as the chief of security, gathering the waste from Florence and making gunpowder.”

“Is that really true?”

“Would I lie to you? I don’t double-speak for noble’s sake.”

Then, I briefly spent time with those who had accomplished the impossible feat of graduating from university despite being born as peasants.

When I went to the rural village where Chloe lived, I saw how they truly couldn’t even dream of achieving something like this.

I wanted to encourage the real winners among humanity.

“I digress a little. I think all of you here are valuable individuals. It’s just that you lacked luck and connections.”

The once lively atmosphere died instantly.

It was a situation where even a god of wine would complain about the lack of enthusiasm.

“I’ll tell you how you can become officials of the Toscana Empire. If you do well, you could even get a noble title in the judicial system.”

“Is that really possible?”

“If you don’t believe it, you can leave right now.”

“No, no! For people like us to get the chance to become government administrators... I’m so happy, I can’t even believe it.”

Even after graduating from university, the salary and treatment can vary greatly depending on where you get hired.

If you become an official in the Toscana Empire’s government, you will generally be promoted to the position of clerk. If luck is on your side, you may be granted a noble title as a knight when you retire.

Though the knight title doesn’t provide a pension, it’s still far better than nothing.

On the other hand, administrators of noble territories or cities hold the same title, but in terms of rank, they are like 7th-grade civil servants who eventually retire at 5th-grade.

There’s almost no chance for a commoner to rise in status to a noble.

It’s similar to how in a company, whether you get a job at a large corporation or a small one will determine whether your salary is at a department head level or minimum wage.

“What specifically do we need to do? If you command us, we’ll do anything. We’ll even lick the soles of your shoes!”

A man licking my shoes? The thought of it alone makes me feel uncomfortable.

I understand their situation, but that’s a little much.

“Study the academic disciplines that justify His Majesty’s rule and governance.”

“The academic disciplines that justify His Majesty’s rule?”

“You must have learned theology, law, administration, rhetoric, and philosophy in university.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Use everything you’ve learned to justify His Majesty’s rule.”

Modern universities only require you to learn your major and some general education courses before submitting a thesis to graduate.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

However, medieval universities would require you to memorize knowledge equivalent to a master’s level in your major, plus a bachelor’s-level knowledge of philosophy, rhetoric, humanities, and theology to even attempt the graduation exams.

If you passed the graduation exam?

At that point, these people would easily pass civil service exams or law exams with that level of knowledge.

That’s the level of study they required for graduation.

“But just justifying His Majesty’s rule...”

Oh, oh... These students, even though they’re university graduates, are refusing to blindly praise the ruler’s power.

That’s the correct attitude for an intellectual.

Why don’t they realize what they urgently need right now?

“Are you going to be a public servant after graduating university? Since you’ve got a university degree, you could apply right now and get a public office in Florence.”

The country is large, but human nature is small enough to be comparable to the country of China.

That country’s job market is so bad that even those who graduate from prestigious medical schools are unable to find jobs as doctors and are competing for health teacher positions in other countries.

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Although Toscana Empire has its own social hierarchy, the job market isn’t that tough...

So becoming a public servant is almost guaranteed once you submit your application.

Of course, passing the civil service exam and becoming a 9th-grade official is still a bit unrealistic, though.

“Is His Majesty’s politics wrong? His Majesty has already made countless people prosperous, strengthened the nation, and implemented righteous policies. What’s so difficult about adding a few words of praise? Is that against the scholar’s conscience, Gramsci?”

“....... That’s not it.”

“Then, simply study the academic fields that justify His Majesty’s rule. And research how to realize those ideals.”

If I do this, the emperor will certainly no longer doubt me.

Sitting still, the royal power will increase vertically, and the nation’s ideology will shift to ‘absolute monarchy’—which ruler would refuse that?

“Raphael.”

“Yes, Lord Rothschild.”

“Are your parents and siblings alive?”

“Yes, they are.”

“Didn’t your family support you to attend university by trusting only you? Now that you’ve graduated, it’s time to show your family some respect, make them proud, and get married to a beautiful wife.”

“I do want that.”

“If you listen to me, everything you want will be yours.”

I finished explaining and stood up to leave.

“Compile your research and send it to the imperial palace. His Majesty will read it.”

Done. Now, I’ve gained freedom from suspicion.