Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 850

850. Their Ambition (1)

“Drip it?”

“Drip what?”

“Perhaps you meant to write ‘entice’ but made a mistake?”

As one of the executives said this, the other executives around him erupted in simultaneous shouts.

“Say something that makes sense!”

“Have you forgotten what kind of person the Director is!”

However, the one who was challenged defended his point.

“Isn’t the command to ‘drip it’ a bit out of left field? Wouldn’t it be more reasonable to use the courtesans of the Giru [brothel district] to entice the alchemist in question?”

“But what kind of person is the Director….”

At the somewhat reasonable argument, the surrounding executives looked intrigued.

Having risen to the position of executive, they had accumulated considerable experience and achievements. As such, operations using honey traps were not unfamiliar to them.

At that moment, the executive who had been checking the order form finally spoke.

“It’s not a mistake. The Director has ordered us to leak the Phouken recipe. That’s the operation.”

“Ah!”

Upon hearing those words, the executives slapped their knees in understanding and exclaimed. Then, they glared at the colleague who had made the ‘typo remark.’ The executive in question, feeling the silent criticism, muttered with an embarrassed face.

“People make mistakes sometimes….”

“Tsk!”

The executives clicked their tongues in unison and reviewed the following instructions.

-Europe is a place where alliances are fluid, with mutually hostile countries often bordering each other.

-Leak the Phouken recipe to the most powerful country among the hostile countries of the nation that developed Phouken.

-When the country that developed Phouken is called A, and the hostile country is called B, choose a country C that has interests concerning both A and B and leak the recipe to it as well.

-However, the countries to which this recipe is delivered are limited to those capable of self-respect and self-defense [possessing the means to protect themselves from exploitation].

-Finally, the existence of the Empire and Milwei must not be revealed.

“…And this is the Phouken recipe written in Latin.”

“Hmm….”

The Milwei executives, having reviewed the last instruction, all crossed their arms and pondered.

After a long silence, the executive in charge of the Paris sector spoke.

“Hmm… we’ll still have to use a honey trap to seduce that damn alchemist.”

“The alchemist? Isn’t the Phouken recipe already here?”

At the other executives’ questioning, the Paris executive explained his reasoning.

“The phrase the Director wrote at the end bothers me. ‘The concentration or ratio of the acid used in Phouken production may vary slightly.’ If another country, especially our archenemy England, were to create Phouken, France would immediately suspect a leak and investigate thoroughly. In the process, if the ratio is different from the Phouken they made, or if the original developer is unclear, they will surely suspect the involvement of someone else. Then the risk of failing to fulfill the Director’s request increases.”

“That’s right….”

At the words of the Paris executive, the other executives all nodded.

After that, the executives put their heads together and began on-site coordination to ensure the success of this operation.

As a result of this meeting, the direction of future progress was decided.

-First, monitor the activities of England, the biggest enemy of France, and the powerful competitors, Habsburg and Spain.

-Find suitable henchmen who can conceal the identities of the Empire and Milwei. However, avoid direct contact with these henchmen.

-The Paris representative secures the Phouken production secrets by recruiting the alchemist in question or key artisans.

-After that, examine the Phouken development status of England, Spain, and Habsburg, and if it is lagging, leak the French secrets.

-If the development status of the three countries is too far behind, or if the operation in Paris fails, spread the Empire’s recipe using henchmen.

“Good. Let’s move like this.”

“Let’s do it.”

“Jaeum.”

“Wiguk.”

The executives, who finished the meeting by shouting Milwei’s motto, ‘Jaeumwiguk (在陰衛國 – Defend the country in the shadows),’ quietly disappeared into the darkness.

* * *

The Milwei executive who returned to Paris quietly began to prepare for the operation.

In ‘Red Moon (lune rouge),’ Milwei’s disguised base, there were several courtesans who were either disguised as courtesans, or rather, actual courtesans belonging to Milwei.

The Milwei executive gathered the courtesans belonging to Milwei and explained the operation.

“…So, we need to recruit that alchemist or the artisans working under him. Do you have any good ideas?”

At the executive’s question, one of the courtesans stepped forward and answered.

“If it’s that pushover alchemist, Sarah is the right person.”

“Isn’t Sarah not one of us?”

“Instead, she likes money. If someone whispers to her that it’s a chance to make a fortune, she will immediately become our hands and feet.”

“Hmm… I see….”

At the courtesan’s answer, the executive stroked his chin and calculated in his head.

‘If I bring a handsome guy from other branches and use him as bait, she’ll fall for it right away. That’ll be fine.’

The executive, who quickly thought of an additional operation, immediately moved on to the next item.

“Good. Let’s use Sarah for that part, and were there any incidents that must be reported while I was on a business trip?”

At the executive’s question, the courtesan who had answered earlier stepped forward again and answered.

“There were people approaching that pushover and the financier (錢主) [patron/investor].”

“Really? Did you find out who they were?”

“The first ones seemed to be from Burgundy.”

“Burgundy, huh….”

At the courtesan’s answer, the executive looked like he understood what was going on.

‘Are they trying to resolve the resentment of the lost country?’

Burgundy, which dreamed of complete independence from France, was instead annexed by France. The family of the Duke of Burgundy were all purged by Louis XI, and the nobles of powerful families also met the same fate.

Thanks to this, there were still many Burgundians who harbored resentment about this.

‘They’re trying to take revenge by stealing that secret and handing it over to France’s enemies. If I play this right, I can kill two birds with one stone without even lifting a finger?’

The executive, whose face brightened at the thought that Milwei might not have to intervene, continued the questioning.

“So, are those Burgundians still meeting with the alchemist these days?”

At the executive’s question, the courtesan shook her head.

“They haven’t been seen lately.”

“Why?”

When asked the reason, another courtesan stepped forward and answered.

“I heard from other guests a while ago that the bodies of those who appeared to be Burgundians were found in the Seine River and back alleys. So, the guards in charge of Paris’ security were in an uproar.”

“The guards?”

“Yes.”

At the courtesan’s answer, the executive had a serious face.

‘Were they caught and suffered? As far as I know, the French king doesn’t have an organization like ours? Perhaps, the intervention of another force?’

Considering the existence of another variable, the executive continued the question again.

“Then, are there no people meeting with the alchemist and financiers these days?”

“No, these days Italian merchants are frequently coming and going with them.”

“Italian?”

“They seemed to be merchants from the Medici family.”

“Medici?”

“Yes. But no matter how I look at it, it seems like they’re trying to take advantage of them under the guise of investment.”

“Medici, huh….”

The executive recalled the memory while chewing on ‘Medici’.

* * *

Before being dispatched to Europe, Milwei executives and agents received education on the European situation.

“The powerful countries of Europe, England, France, Portugal, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire. These countries are countries that must never be neglected. But there is a place to be really wary of. It is the Medici family of Florence.”

The person in charge of education spent the most time on education about the Medici family.

“They are the lords of a mere city-state, but the monarchs of Europe cannot easily disregard them. What made this possible is the enormous financial power they possess. What can be seen directly from the financial power and influence they have is the war over Suez. Islam and Catholicism, irreconcilable enemies, joined hands and fought a war, and are still in the same boat. This was made possible by the capabilities of the Medici family. Never underestimate the Medici family.”

The education officer repeatedly emphasized the capabilities of the Medici family and urged them to pay attention.

When the executives and agents showed a reaction that they understood properly, the person in charge moved on to the next topic.

“So, what kind of Europe does the Medici family want? The Director, His Majesty the Emperor, and the ministers of the court believe they are aiming for an ‘Eternal Warring States Period.'”

To summarize the words of the education officer that followed:

-The Medici family does not want peace in Europe. But they don’t want endless wars either.

-The reason is that most of the European monarchs and countries owe money to the Medici family.

-If peace lasts for a long time, the countries and monarchs will pay off all the debts they owe to the Medici family, and then they will not borrow money again if possible.

-However, if only constant wars continue, they will lose the ability to repay their debts and bankruptcies will occur frequently. That would be an even bigger loss.

-In order to pursue their own interests stably and permanently, the Medici family does not want the emergence of uniquely strong countries and monarchs. The Medici family’s financial power is great, but their military power is not. Therefore, they do not want the emergence of uniquely strong countries and monarchs because it is certain that they will only be extorted for money.

-To sum it all up, what the Medici family wants is for the state just before the war to continue. If this happens, European countries and monarchs will constantly expand their military power, and they will have no choice but to rely on the Medici family for the funds needed for this.

-And, if this situation just before the war continues, the safety of the Medici family can also be secured. The moment someone threatens the Medici family, their enemies will strike them in the back, and the Medici family will tighten their purse strings.”

“Huh….”

The executives and agents who heard all the stories of the education officer could not hide their surprise.

“A mere merchant family….”

The education officer, who heard someone’s mutter, immediately continued.

“Lu Buwei of the Warring States period [Chinese merchant who became a powerful minister] established an emperor. But the Medici family does not want an emperor to be born in the first place. Again, the Europe that the Medici family wants is the ‘Eternal Warring States Period.’ And….”

The education officer, who paused for a moment, moistened his throat and continued.

“One of the biggest tasks of our Milwei is to prevent people like Lu Buwei or Medici from appearing in our Empire. Don’t forget this until you die. No, risk your life for this.”

* * *

Recalling the memory of the education he had received in the past, the Paris representative muttered softly.

“If it’s Medici, they would have eliminated the Burgundians and left. Hmm….”

The executive, who paused for a moment and calculated the variables and possibilities, ordered the courtesans.

“Next time the Medici merchants and that pushover come, take extra care to entertain them.”

“Yes, I understand~”.