Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 452

452. Prophecy (3)

At Giovanni’s question, Angelo paused, considering. Recalling the rumors he’d heard and the things he’d witnessed, Angelo came to a conclusion and answered Giovanni.

“At least from what I’ve seen, Joseon [Korea] has neither the intention nor the capability to do so.”

“Neither the intention nor the capability?”

“To advance westward, they would have to contend with Ming [China], or Kitai, a country several times larger than Joseon, which is impossible. Therefore, Joseon is only considering trade with Europe, not expansion. And, as far as I know, Joseon has recently acquired new uncultivated land in the northeast, and they are struggling to develop it.”

Mentioning the northeastern region beyond the Tumen River, Angelo explained why Joseon had neither the intention nor the capability.

“Is that so… Then is it Kitai?”

As Giovanni muttered to himself after hearing Angelo’s answer, Angelo posed a question.

“Why are you suddenly asking such a random question?”

At Angelo’s question, Giovanni sighed softly and replied.

“Hoo… It’s embarrassing to say, but prophecies are circulating in the Vatican and various European countries.”

“Prophecies? Even in the Vatican? That’s absurd! How can those who believe in God dabble in such things!”

As Angelo burst into anger, Giovanni replied with a troubled face.

“It’s a prophecy you also know.”

“A prophecy I know?”

“Isn’t there a prophecy that has been passed down from ancient times? ‘A small spark that blooms in the East will burn the entire West.'”

“Wasn’t that about the Mongols?”

At Angelo’s dumbfounded reaction, Giovanni sighed again.

“Hoo… Many people used to think so. But recently, that prophecy is circulating again. Of course, there is much debate over where that ‘East’ is. Some say the Mamluks, some say the Ottomans, but these days, Joseon is the most frequently mentioned.”

At Giovanni’s words, a crude Joseon expression that Angelo had learned popped out of his mouth.

“Those goddamn bastards, don’t they have anything better to do than gossip over their fancy meals!”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

Giovanni asked the meaning of the sudden Joseon expression, but Angelo nervously made the sign of the cross and replied.

“Never mind! It’s not a proper thing to say!”

“Is that so….”

“It’s not important what I said, but how can someone who serves God be a spy? Aren’t you ashamed!”

At Angelo’s rebuke, Giovanni replied with a desperate expression.

“How can I abandon my duty as a believer? But the situation in the Vatican and Europe now….”

“What situation! The Vatican is thousands of leagues [one league is roughly 3 miles or 5 kilometers] away from here! The land route is blocked by Muslims, and to go by sea, you have to go around the African continent! And Joseon is what? A spark? What nonsense are they spouting in the Vatican!”

At Angelo’s rebuke, Giovanni sighed deeply.

“Hoo… If you think about it logically, that’s right. If you think about it logically. But this country called Joseon is not logical itself.”

“This country called Joseon is not logical?”

At Angelo’s question, still full of anger, Giovanni immediately replied.

“Isn’t that so? In the Vatican and many European countries, this country called Joseon is truly an enigma. So, they sent people to find out everything they could, even to the Eastern Roman Empire and Arab merchants. And they found out that a country called Goryeo existed before this Joseon. But all that came out of that Goryeo country was incense and pottery. But after the country changed, all sorts of strange and wonderful things that never existed in the world are popping out in just a few decades. Can you see that as a logical country?”

“Hmph!”

At Giovanni’s explanation, Angelo snorted.

“Do you know what I felt most keenly after coming to Joseon and seeing the Joseon people? That we Europeans were lazy. We are digging to the bottom of the buried knowledge of the past, examining it, looking at errors, and desperately trying to know a more accurate truth with that knowledge of right and wrong. It’s not just intellectuals who do that. Artisans and merchants also do their best to create better technology and better products. During my life in Joseon, I have never seen the lights of the buildings in this city of Hanseong [Seoul] go out completely. What does that mean? But, what? Not logical? The common sense of the Vatican and European nobles is not common sense but ignorance!”

“Not common sense but ignorance….”

“Hmph!”

Angelo was still unable to contain his anger and was breathing heavily, and Giovanni was pondering Angelo’s words.

Later, the Joseon people who overheard Angelo’s words all muttered in tired voices.

“Those lights are the lights of overtime….”

* * *

After venting his frustration and calming down to some extent, Angelo asked Giovanni in a calmer voice.

“The powerful people of Europe or the Vatican only pay attention to this place when there is trouble. What’s the problem this time?”

At Angelo’s question, Giovanni sighed softly.

“Hoo… Joseon is the problem.”

“So, why Joseon?”

“The problem is the goods that Joseon sells to Islam and Europe. Everyone is scrambling to monopolize those goods. It’s not uncommon for a small merchant who was worried about the future until recently to suddenly grow into a giant merchant.”

“I bet there were rumors that they sold their souls to the devil or something.”

At Angelo’s words, Giovanni nodded silently.

“It’s starting to circulate little by little. But the benefits that can be gained by using Joseon’s goods are so great that the competition to secure the trade rights or trade routes is fierce. In addition, the controversy stirred up by the prince of this country has made the church internally noisy, so His Holiness the Pope is in a situation where it is difficult to mediate. So, His Holiness the Pope sent me. To contact you, find out about the situation in Joseon, and see if it can be a threatening presence.”

“Hoo….”

At Giovanni’s explanation, Angelo sighed deeply.

“Let me say again, Joseon has no intention of threatening Europe like the Mongols or Islam. For the current ruler of Joseon or the prince who will succeed him, the value of Europe is only one thing: ‘Grateful customers who buy things well.’ Unless Europe takes the initiative to do something stupid, there will be no conflict with Joseon.”

“Are you confident?”

“I can swear in the name of God.”

“I understand.”

Giovanni nodded at Angelo’s words, and his expression brightened.

“I can send that reply to the Vatican!”

“Reply? Are you staying here too?”

At Angelo’s question, Giovanni nodded.

“Of course! Why would I volunteer to be a spy! I want to do the research I want to do in peace. In that sense….”

Giovanni looked at Angelo with a very expectant face.

“Brother, are you perhaps close to that prince?”

“Huh?”

After hearing about what happened between Giovanni and Hyang, Angelo patted Giovanni’s shoulder with a face full of pity.

“Oh, brother….”

“How can there be no answer?”

At Giovanni’s question, Angelo’s face was full of embarrassment.

“I have a relationship, but I can’t say I’m close. And, considering the current level of Joseon’s scholarship, the prince’s words are absolutely not wrong. It’s not a level to give teachings, but rather a level to learn from.”

“Is it that much?”

“Otherwise, how could instruments like iron horses [trains] be born? Do you think that can be created just because the artisans are good at it?”

“Heo….”

Looking at Giovanni’s face, unable to hide his surprise, Angelo continued.

“I was in a position to teach in Joseon for a while, but it didn’t last more than half a year. There are monsters living in this Joseon research institute.”

“Monsters?”

“Typically, there is a person named Yi Sun-ji, and there are Kim Dam and Princess Jeongui. In particular, Yi Sun-ji’s tongue is as sharp as his mind.”

“Is that so?”

Giovanni, who was nodding at Angelo’s explanation, suddenly had a surprised look.

“Princess? The princess is studying? Is that possible?”

“It’s possible in this country. Not only princesses but also quite a few female officials.”

“Is that possible? No, can women properly handle official duties?”

“They’re doing well. They don’t just pick them randomly; they take the same exams as men and pass.”

“Heo… Didn’t you mention that in the letter you sent?”

“I didn’t think it was necessary to write that, did I? If I make a mistake….”

As Angelo trailed off, Giovanni muttered with a gloomy face.

“It will become ‘The Maid of Orléans (Joan of Arc)’ [Puella Aurelianensium].”

They were two people who recalled Joan of Arc, who was revered as a saint but was branded as a witch and met a miserable end.

“So, if you really want to stay in Joseon, brother, it’s best to say that you want to learn and research, not teach knowledge.”

“Want to learn and research….”

“The basic virtue that the nobles and intellectuals of this country should have is ‘to constantly learn and contemplate.’ The current monarch will surely allow it.”

At Angelo’s advice, Giovanni immediately made up his mind.

“I understand! I’ll do that! Brother, thank you so much!”

* * *

The next day, Giovanni visited the research institute and looked for Hyang.

“So. Have you made a decision?”

“Yes, I will not proselytize until the documents are officially issued from the Vatican. Also, as the prince said, my skills may be lacking. But I also like to learn and train in scholarship. If you give me a chance, I will do my best to learn and improve.”

“Hmm….”

Hyang stroked his chin at Giovanni’s words and came to a conclusion.

“I will report to Abamama [His Majesty, the King]. I will give you an answer as soon as Abamama’s decision is made.”

“Thank you.”

“Then go out.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After sending Giovanni out, Hyang stroked his chin again and muttered.

“‘I will learn and practice.’ He’s coming in very humble? Well, the more people, the better….”

‘Because there are still plenty of tasks to push and grind them on.’

“Your Highness. Grand Prince Jinpyeong has arrived.”

At the eunuch’s announcement, Hyang straightened his expression and replied.

“Let him in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Why is this guy again….”

Hyang was subtly nervous.

After suffering a traffic accident, he became a terminal train enthusiast, and from there he evolved into a steam engine enthusiast. But Hyang couldn’t let go of his tension.

Thanks to that, when Sejong tried to change Grand Prince Jinpyeong’s title from Jinpyeong to Suyang, Hyang did his best to stop it.

“People’s fate follows their name. You never know!”

A moment later, Jinpyeong, who entered the office, bowed to Hyang.

“Your Highness, have you been well?”

“Yes. What’s the matter today?”

At Hyang’s question, Jinpyeong took out a piece of paper from his sleeve.

“Yes, I came because I have a pencil sharpener design that I have been thinking about.”

“Pencil sharpener?”

“Yes.”

Jinpyeong, who answered immediately, spread the paper on the desk.

“What is this?”

Hyang’s eyes lit up when he saw the picture drawn on the paper.

On the paper was drawn something similar to a pencil sharpener that Hyang used well when he was an elementary school student in the 21st century.

Seeing that Hyang’s reaction was not bad, Jinpyeong started explaining excitedly.

“Looking at the current pencil sharpener frame, you hold the frame and turn the pencil to sharpen it, right? Can’t you hold the pencil and turn the blade of the frame in the opposite direction? So, if you put a handle on a frame with a fixed blade and turn it….”

“It’s a good idea, but why is the shell an iron horse?”

“One of the places where pencils are used the most is the railroad office and the research institute in Area 51….”

“Is it because you like iron horses more than that?”

At Hyang’s question, Jinpyeong nodded with an embarrassed smile.

“That’s right.”

“Hmm… Let’s see….”

Trailing off, Hyang began to examine the paper intently, and Jinpyeong looked only at Hyang’s mouth with a very nervous face.

‘I was only thinking about slowly releasing it later, but that guy is popping this out?’

Hyang was lost in thought at the completely unexpected event.

But, not long after, Hyang burst into a smile.

“Hoo! Are people’s thoughts the same everywhere?”

“Your Highness?”

“Jinpyeong-ah!”

At Hyang’s call, Jinpyeong replied with a very nervous face.

“Yes, yep!”

“Let’s write a contract!”

“Yes?”