Chapter 27. Betrayal and Lesson (2)

Why would a company chairman act as a chairman?

There could be several reasons for that.

They might have founded the company, or inherited it.

Or they might have been promoted from an entry-level employee and secured management rights, and so on.

However, if you look at the fundamental reason, there's only one answer.

Regardless of the reason, it's because their subordinates serve and support that person as the chairman.

In technical terms, it's called a social contract.

"If the guys supporting him from below to act as finance director disappear, he's just an old man in the back room."

It's no good for a foreign noble to interfere in another country's politics, nor can they do it.

I needed to make all the subordinates my allies.

"Is the HR Director of Guillaume City here?"

When I knocked on the door, an elderly man came out cautiously.

Seeing that he wasn't wearing an expensive suit, he must be a servant.

"The master is resting now. Please come back later."

"Tell your master that Fabio de Medici is here."

I took out a silver coin from my wallet and handed it to the servant.

Since I gave him a bribe, he would at least relay the fact that I had come.

It's not human to just take the money and keep quiet.

"The master says to come in. Please enter this way."

As I entered, the HR Director smiled at me slyly.

"You're quite handsome. It makes me think how unfair heaven is."

Hearing such words from someone who's eaten up all their years is really not pleasing even as much as dust.

"Thank you very much for the compliment."

"Seeing young people like you gives me energy. Anyway, why have you come at this late hour?"

"I came because I wanted to receive the HR Director's help."

As soon as he heard the word "help," a smile appeared on his face.

Paying a large sum of money in exchange for help is a beautiful custom that exists in any era, not just the Middle Ages.

So he must have thought I would pay a large sum of money for his help.

I absolutely did not come here to bow my head.

"It's the right and duty of the elderly to correct the path if a young person has gone astray. That's how one lives up to their age."

The words themselves sound very smooth and nice, but the ulterior motive is clearly visible.

Why don't you just say you're going to a motel with your girlfriend and only hold hands tightly?

That would seem more believable.

"No, I should help you. Before you make the wrong choice."

I smiled, raising one corner of my mouth.

"At this rate, aren't you in a position to be extorted for half the price of seaweed? You seem quite relaxed for that. Have you gone mad because a problem you can't handle on your own has erupted?"

The HR Director frowned and got angry at me.

Looking at the outward situation alone, it's true that I've been screwed.

But the actual situation is completely different from what he's saying.

"Let's talk more honestly. Aren't you trying to tame me?"

These people aren't coming at me with essentially non-existent laws like the viscount who tried to screw me over last time.

However, just like how even for the same crime in a 21st-century court, the sentence can differ by up to twice depending on the judge's gender and ideology.

These guys are judging and applying the law only in the most disadvantageous direction for me.

This way, even if there's talk later, they can make the excuse that they just followed the law, so the risk of being countered is quite low.

And yet, they're trying to crush my spirit from the start to make me a goose that lays golden eggs and obeys them well in the future.

"It seems you've lost your fear like a three-year-old child not afraid of a lion because you've handled some money at a young age."

Weak dogs bark a lot, and people raise their tone when they're scared.

The HR Director also looked at me with a slightly stung expression.

"I am acting a bit recklessly without fear."

Rushing into a fight without thinking is like self-certifying that you're a chicken brain.

However, fully understanding your situation and fighting against a strong opponent with confidence in your chances of winning is called courage.

And I'm going to be a courageous person, not do stupid things.

"Haven't numerous great merchants lined up to visit Guillaume City, making inns and markets very active? Isn't this all thanks to me?"

Although Guillaume City is a port city, it's not that large.

The population is just over 20,000, and there are no special local products.

So while trading companies kept coming, it was just that kind of city.

'The atmosphere has changed a lot since it became the center of seaweed trade.'

As it became the only port in the Kingdom of Lyon where seaweed, which nobles are crazy about, could be bought, numerous trading companies started lining up to come.

The inns are overwhelmed with people, and merchants coming to buy seaweed bring all sorts of goods.

"If I say I'm leaving this city because of you all, do you think the citizens will stay quiet? They'll surely be dissatisfied."

Nobles like barons, viscounts, and counts are not elected officials, so there's no problem at all if they do as they please.

To put it extremely, as long as they don't get stabbed by their subjects, their tenure is guaranteed for generations.

But people like city council members or mayors are kicked out of their positions if they don't receive support from citizens.

Although citizens don't vote directly, the source of their power is 'citizen support' anyway.

If they lose public sentiment, other nobles in this city would replace the HR Director's position on the city council.

"Or should I tell the great merchants I deal with that we can't trade because of our HR Director? It seems like something very interesting would happen."

Unless I'm pushed to an extreme situation, I have no intention of doing this.

Because this is really a matter of mutual destruction.

If I use this card, first, the opposing forces including the finance director will have their heads cut off for the crime of daring to prevent high-ranking people in the Kingdom of Lyon from receiving seaweed.

However, I would be labeled as an idiot who can't even properly deal with high-ranking people, losing the trust that's most important in being a merchant.

It would be a life where all I do is have sex with Chloe, stuck in some rural countryside with the money I've gathered so far.

Therefore, this is nothing more than a means of threat.

Such a trivial life isn't bad at all, but I want to go much higher in the future.

"Besides that, I have countless ways to take revenge."

What if I fail to bribe the city council members including the HR Director?

Fine, then I'll just give a huge amount of money to the city's administrators.

At first, they might say they won't succumb to money, but when they see an amount they can't refuse, everyone's thoughts will change.

The HR Director just stared at me without saying anything.

However, that person was shaking as if he had chills even though it wasn't cold.

Has he finally realized he messed with the wrong person?

"But after thinking about it, I think I can maintain a good relationship with the HR Director as well."

The HR Director's face in front of me brightened.

"Is that true?"

"A little cooperation is enough."

"What should I do? I'd gladly give you my daughter if you ask."

Maybe because this is the Middle Ages, both high-ranking people and lowly serfs offer their daughters as if they were objects.

The village chief of Bio village, my territory, also tried to continue being the village head by offering his daughter to me.

As expected of a world where women's rights, no, the concept of human rights itself doesn't exist.

"Isn't there a city council meeting in a week? Please impeach the finance director."

The HR Director slightly rolled his eyes.

Then he trailed off and said.

"That, I mean, our two families have maintained an alliance relationship for nearly 120 years. If I impeach him, what would happen to me?"

If you don't impeach him, what else but getting kicked out as a city council member and failing miserably like a dog?

"I'll give you one last chance, so think again and choose."

I stared into his eyes.

And while lightly touching his brow with my finger.

"Will you choose the path of losing everything because of that shallow loyalty? Or will you join hands with me?"

To him, who was lost in thought, I handed over an item meaning let's get along well from now on.

It wasn't anything else but a friend's fee.

Not money, but another form of friend's fee.

"This is a document listing just a small part of the HR Director's corruption that the administrators belonging to the HR department have identified. I'll say it again, but I don't necessarily need the HR Director, but if you become an unnecessary existence to me…"

I made a gesture of cutting my throat with my finger.

"Something a bit sad will happen."

Only then did the HR Director bow his heavy head.

"If you just spare my life, I'll roll in the mud like a dog."

"I always pay sufficient compensation to those who follow me. So we'll be able to get along well in the future."

In this way, I succeeded in bribing all the city council members except the finance director through threats and persuasion.

And not long after, the city council meeting was held.