Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 610

610. Inauguration, Accession, and Abdication (3)

With moral fortitude strengthened by Angelo’s warning, the monks soon arrived at the *giru* [a type of upscale Korean house, often used for entertaining] where Henrique and his party were staying.

“Welcome!”

“Humph!”

“Ahem!”

As the lavishly dressed courtesans greeted them with sweet voices, the monks blushed and cleared their throats.

“We have come at the invitation of Duke Henrique.”

At Angelo’s words, the head courtesan gave a bewitching smile and raised her hand, pointing inside.

“Hohoho. This way, please.”

“Th, thank you.”

Watching the monks enter awkwardly, guided by the head courtesan, the other courtesans whispered among themselves.

“Aren’t they the Western monks who have been working at the research institute for several years?”

“That’s right.”

“But, don’t they seem like country bumpkins fresh from the countryside?”

“I know, right? I can understand the Western envoys being like that, but they’ve lived in Hanseong [historical name for Seoul] for years, yet they’re so unsophisticated? Their behavior is so clumsy….”

All the other courtesans around nodded in agreement with one courtesan’s critique.

* * *

Angelo and the monks’ awkwardness was well-known in the research institute and Area 51.

Especially when compared to Pietro, who had caused all sorts of commotions before settling down, their awkwardness shone even brighter.

This became a topic of conversation even among the administrators, and Hyang was no exception.

“Even though it was knowledge learned in a haphazard way, when you look at the religious figures of the Vatican during this period, illegitimate children and all sorts of scandals were common, so why are they so innocent?”

Hyang, filled with curiosity, examined the monks and soon realized the reason.

“That’s it. It’s familiar somehow; it’s that damn tech tree [referring to a specific path of education and experiences].”

They were on a similar path to the ‘all-boys middle school – all-boys high school – engineering college’ tech tree, which was a common trait among the *otaku* [a Japanese term for people with obsessive interests, particularly in anime and manga] friends Hyang had in the 21st century. They had entered the monastery at a young age and learned knowledge while living only within the monastery, and now they were like this.

“And the fact that they are far removed from power must also play a part. No, wait. Did they take that tech tree because they were far removed from power? Or did they become distanced from power because they took that tech tree?”

* * *

The courtesans, who had been critiquing the monks in that way, muttered with expressions full of regret.

“If they weren’t guests of those Western envoys, we could have fleeced them properly. What a shame!”

“Tell me about it.”

The courtesans couldn’t hide their disappointment until the end.

In the eyes of the courtesans, the Westerners staying at the *giru* now were the biggest hicks of all hicks. They were wearing all sorts of gold and silver trinkets, but compared to the nobles of Hanseong or the big shots from Ming [Chinese dynasty], they were so unsophisticated it was overflowing. Among the foreign guests who had visited the *giru*, the only ones who could rival them were the students who had come to study from Waeguk (Japan).

At other times, it would have been a good opportunity to make a solid profit each time they received such guests, but this time it was not the case.

This was because the Ministry of Finance and Economy was paying for their drinks and lodging.

* * *

“… So, foreign envoys will be staying at your *giru*.”

The head courtesan bowed her head and replied to the administrator’s words.

“Yes.”

“We have chosen you considering your status to entertain these honorable foreigners, so know it as an honor.”

“Oh my, how grateful we are!”

This was not an empty compliment. If word spread that the country had chosen them to entertain foreign envoys, it was certain that the nobles of Hanseong, who were known for their high standards, would not pass them by.

However, the head courtesan’s face crumpled at the words that followed.

“However, the expenses incurred while entertaining them will be paid by our Ministry of Finance and Economy. Do you understand what I mean?”

“….”

“Do it moderately. Moderately.”

“…Yes.”

“Then, please do your best.”

“Farewell.”

As the administrator, having finished his business, disappeared, the head courtesan gathered as much phlegm as she could and spat it out.

“Kaak~. Ptooey! It seems good things never come without bad!”

The courtesans were relentless when it came to collecting their drinking fees. So much so that there was even a rumor that the famous Pyongyang courtesans would attack even a tiger if their drinking fees were overdue. There were those who made even those great Pyongyang courtesans cry and leave, and those were the Ministry of Finance and Economy officials.

It wasn’t because they incurred debts, delayed payments day after day, or unconditionally and ruthlessly cut prices. It was the infamy they gained because they paid immediately but calculated even one copper coin, haggling to avoid being overcharged.

* * *

“I have called you here because you are suffering in a distant, foreign land.”

Angelo replied on behalf of the monks to Henrique’s welcoming address.

“Thank you for the invitation.”

Following Henrique, Giovanni and Mehmed II offered their congratulations. In particular, Mehmed II’s congratulations were especially meaningful.

“Although our ways of believing are different, our hearts towards the truth are all the same. In that sense, I cannot help but admire your hard work.”

“We are truly grateful.”

Soon after, all sorts of delicacies and alcohol came in with the courtesans.

“These people are practicing ascetics, so have the courtesans dismissed.”

As Henrique’s words were conveyed through the interpreter who was present, the courtesans quietly left the room.

“You too, please step out for a moment.”

“Yes? Yes.”

The interpreter, sensing the atmosphere in the room, quietly went outside.

The international language of the time was Latin. Everyone in the room was fluent in Latin. With the courtesans, who needed an interpreter because they did not know Latin, gone, there was no need for him to be there.

The interpreter, having left the room, quietly sought out the head courtesan.

“Is there a room where I can hear what is being said in the banquet hall now?”

At the interpreter’s question, the head courtesan turned around.

“This way, please.”

* * *

As time passed and the monks’ tension slowly eased, Giovanni stepped forward in place of Henrique.

“I saw an excavator in Han River yesterday, and it was amazing. It was quite a sight to see a lump of iron the size of an average house moving.”

At Giovanni’s words, Angelo smiled slightly and replied.

“You would be even more surprised if you saw the excavators used by the Joseon army [Korean kingdom]. To exaggerate a bit, it’s like an entire fortress is moving.”

“Really?”

“The excavator you saw in Han River is a Type A. It is the first excavator ever made and is used in general construction sites. The ones used by the military are used by combat engineers in the battlefield, so they are even bigger, sturdier, and more powerful. As a result, military excavators require about 20 people just to operate them.”

“Heo~.”

At Angelo’s answer, Giovanni shook his head in disbelief.

Giovanni’s barrage of questions continued.

“Even if it’s for military use, the size of the Type A is considerable, is it possible to transport it by ship?”

“It is possible if it is disassembled and transported. Joseon also disassembles and transports them on iron horses [trains] or ships when moving long distances.”

“It must be expensive?”

“It is expensive. That’s why many Joseon merchants borrow them from the country or purchase them by paying in installments.”

“They buy them even though they are expensive?”

“Once you buy one, its uses are endless, and the country guarantees a lifespan of at least 10 years, so wouldn’t it be worth it?”

Nodding at those words, Giovanni continued his questions.

“We are currently researching the steam engine that you sent us in your letter. If that steam engine is completed, we will be able to build an excavator right away, right?”

At Giovanni’s question, Angelo shook his head firmly.

“Impossible, no, it is impossible.”

“Why?”

“The problem is steel.”

“Our Florence also makes steel.”

No sooner had Giovanni’s answer ended than Henrique and Mehmed II nodded.

Although there was a problem with production volume, Portugal, Florence, and the Ottoman Empire were all producing steel. After seeing Joseon’s appearance, all three of them were acutely aware of the need for mass production of steel.

‘Only steel can make a country prosperous!’

It was a common determination of the three.

At Giovanni’s rebuttal, Angelo raised his hand and pointed to his friend sitting next to him.

“Interestingly, this friend also has the same name as you, Giovanni.”

“Is that so? Nice to meet you. But why?”

“One of the things this friend did was related to the steel made in Joseon. Tell me, Friar Giovanni. How many types of steel are there in Joseon?”

“So far, there are 8 types. But research is not stopping now, so it will increase further. And research on alloy steel is also continuing.”

“Wait! Only 8 types of steel? Isn’t steel all the same?”

At Giovanni’s urgent question, Friar Giovanni replied.

“The properties vary depending on how much impurities are left in the process of making steel. Joseon is now not only dividing and classifying these, but also conducting research to adjust the properties by intentionally adding impurities. The reason why Joseon can use steam engines in various places is because of the various types of iron.”

“Heo~.”

At Friar Giovanni’s answer, the three shook their heads.

A moment of silence passed, and Giovanni asked Friar Giovanni.

“Then, wouldn’t it be possible for you to come back and help?”

“No.”

At Friar Giovanni’s firm answer, Henrique’s expression turned sour.

“Why?”

“It’s because of the issue of faith.”

“Huh?”

The three’s expressions became strange at the unexpected word. Seeing those expressions, Friar Giovanni explained the reason in more detail.

“Currently, missionary work is prohibited in Joseon. The first reason is that the Vatican’s answer has not yet arrived.”

At Friar Giovanni’s words, the three nodded.

Hyang’s question about ‘ancestral rites’ was famous. One of the reasons why the Pope and the Council were arguing was how to answer this question.

Friar Giovanni continued to explain.

“The Crown Prince of Joseon, that is, the First Prince, added these words: ‘If you want to spread the gospel of God, spread it not with words, but with actions.’ If I were to return to Florence right away, I would be abandoning my faith, and Christianity would become a religion without faith. That is why I cannot go.”

“So you mean to stay here until you die?”

“If only proselytizing is possible, I don’t mind dying here.”

At Friar Giovanni’s firm answer, Henrique closed his mouth.

“Perhaps the others as well?”

At Henrique’s question, all the monks in the room nodded.

Angelo opened his mouth on behalf of those monks.

“Even if we were to return, it would not be of great help. You know well that the Crown Prince of Joseon has also gathered alchemists, right? What the Crown Prince of Joseon asked of them was not to make gold. It was to classify the minerals that come out of this Joseon and neighboring areas and analyze their properties. It is because of the results that such various steels have been made.”

“Then, what if we take the alchemists with us as well?”

At Mehmed II’s urgent question, Angelo shook his head.

“You know very well how they were treated in Arabia and Italy, don’t you? Frankly speaking, we, who have inherited the scholarship of Roger Bacon, could also be branded as heretics if we are not careful.”

At Angelo’s answer, the three could not hide their regret.

As Angelo said, the studies they are currently researching are in fields that are likely to be branded as heretical with just a slight misstep.

Whether they knew the hearts of those three or not, Angelo, having emptied his glass, continued to speak.

“Besides these problems, the biggest reason why we cannot return is because of the Challenge Records.”

“Challenge Records?”

“Yes. The moment we solve the difficult problems listed in the Challenge Records, we will be closer to the truth of God.”

Angelo’s eyes were shining intensely as he spoke.