I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 4

Became the King of the Crusades – Episode 4 (4/215)

Deus Vult? (4)

* * *

The Venetian merchant, Marco, arrived in my room in less than a few hours.

I guess you could say he’s every bit the Venetian.

You could tell just by looking at his attire.

His uniquely comical hat and flamboyant coat.

But what was truly familiar was something else.

His protruding belly.

His seemingly cheerful demeanor.

Marco, the Venetian merchant.

A character I had played dozens of times in Last Crusaders.

‘Seeing him in person like this feels… strange.’

He’s exactly as I imagined.

As I stared at him, he bowed his head first.

A familiar gesture.

“It is my first time meeting you like this, noble Lord Baldwin. I am Marco, representing the Venetian Fondaco Consul [Venetian trade delegation]. I heard you were looking for me.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

He and I shook hands.

“I heard that you, young lord, possess a more manly and dignified appearance than anyone else, but no rumor can match the reality.”

Instead of replying, I cleared my throat.

It’s my first time hearing such blatant flattery.

“Upon hearing the news that you recently fell from your horse, everyone at our Fondaco was greatly concerned. I also heard that your beloved falcon died at that time….”

He gestured, and the servants behind him brought something.

A birdcage, and a falcon inside.

It looks expensive at a glance.

“This one was personally selected by our Venetian branch. Its lineage is excellent. It is a small token, but I would like to offer it to you.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but….”

I couldn’t help but smile.

Typical Marco.

He must have investigated that I enjoy falconry.

Giving gifts is the fastest way to build rapport with those in power.

Especially effective for those with a ‘reckless’ trait.

But I can’t create debts like this from the start.

And I’m not even interested in falconry.

“Let’s just acknowledge the thought for now. I don’t think I’ll have time for falconry for a while.”

“That’s a pity. Then I will bring a more suitable gift next time.”

Shall we get straight to the point then?

“The reason I called you here today, Mr. Marco, is because of the reconstruction of Eilat.”

“The reconstruction of Eilat, you say?”

Marco’s eyes widened as if surprised.

He probably didn’t expect a thirteen-year-old kid to suddenly bring this up.

“His Majesty the King has entrusted this task directly to me.”

To be precise, only the negotiation ‘itself’.

“And from what I hear, Venice is also planning to rebuild Eilat.”

“It is only a matter of discussion, and nothing has been decided yet, young lord.”

What a liar.

I’ve played you dozens of times.

I could tell that the man in front of me was lying without relying on intuition.

In 1181, the Venetians would be meddling in Eilat.

“The conditions presented by the royal family are simple: an annual fee of 20,000 dinars [a gold coin] for the exclusive use of the port. If you pay this amount, His Majesty the King will approve.”

“Holy Mary! 20,000 per year!”

Marco exclaimed.

He looked up at the ceiling as if praying and muttered.

What a show.

“I am afraid to say such rude words, but 20,000 dinars is an excessive amount, young lord. 10,000 to 15,000 would be more reasonable….”

He added.

“The Eilat area is a very unstable region. The risk is bound to increase accordingly.”

“I am well aware of that. That’s why you are requesting payment by promissory notes from the knightly orders, aren’t you?”

“No, how did you….”

Marco stuttered, his eyes wide.

I could feel his genuine surprise.

What’s there to be so surprised about?

It’s the first thing I do when I start as a merchant.

Promissory notes.

Basically, merchants needed a lot of money to buy and sell goods.

But if they carried cash and met robbers, they would be left penniless.

Promissory notes were created to prevent that.

This system was also implemented in Last Crusaders.

‘If you deposit cash at one branch and receive a promissory note, you can exchange it for cash at another branch.’

Only knightly orders with fortresses, i.e., branches, throughout the Kingdom of Jerusalem could support this method.

The problem is getting their cooperation.

“But both the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller will be reluctant to accept Venice’s request.”

“Your intelligence is truly remarkable.”

Marco muttered.

He cleared his throat, as if regaining his senses.

“There are some difficult aspects related to that.”

“Then I will solve that part for you.”

I leaned back.

I’m better at talking than I thought.

“If you accept the condition of 20,000 dinars, I will suggest to His Majesty the King that the knightly orders issue promissory notes.”

“Ahem, ahem.”

Marco coughed again.

“But even if His Majesty the King orders it, the knightly orders may refuse. The knightly orders are directly under His Holiness the Pope….”

“His Holiness the Pope will not make a big deal out of it either. It is virtually an extension of the work already being done by the knightly orders.”

Issuing promissory notes is what the knightly orders do in the original history.

‘Europe’s first multinational bank.’

Some historians called the Crusader knightly orders that.

Later, the King of France even purged the Knights Templar to seize their assets.

“But even if promissory notes become possible, 20,000 dinars is too much.”

“Is that really so?”

Is he still trying to play games?

20,000 dinars is ridiculously low compared to the money they will earn.

Then there’s no choice.

“I understand, I’ll take it that Venice has rejected my offer.”

I leaned back in my chair.

“Then I’ll have to contact Genoa or Pisa.”

Marco flinched at my words.

The three maritime cities: Genoa, Pisa, and Venice.

They all have one thing in common.

Their fanatical rivalry towards each other.

‘There was even an event where Genoese and Venetians fought each other.’

It wasn’t just a simple fight, but a brawl that injured and killed hundreds of people.

It was hard to call it just a rivalry.

‘When dealing with them, you have to use that point.’

I slowly opened my mouth.

“Exclusive port operation rights and tax exemption benefits. Wouldn’t everyone be willing to come over with these conditions?”

“But Genoa and Pisa may not have the capacity to carry out such a large project right now. Those fools are always obsessed with making small money.”

“Well, if they hear that Venice is trying to monopolize the port of Eilat, wouldn’t even those two join forces?”

I asked.

That level of bluffing wouldn’t be enough.

“Maybe Amalfi will join too. If the three cities pool their funds, it will be more than possible. It’s not like there hasn’t been a precedent before.”

Only then did Marco show signs of panic.

“Young lord, even so, I cannot make a decision on my own right now. If you could give me a little time….”

“One day.”

I said.

“I will give you a generous one day. Go to Fondaco and discuss it with the other Venetian merchants.”

That should be enough.

Giving them any more time would only give them more time to scheme.

“Until then, this offer will only be valid for Venice.”

“Thank you, young lord! I will definitely give you an answer by tomorrow.”

Marco hurriedly stood up and went out the door.

His attitude was 180 degrees different from when he came in.

Watching him, I barely managed to hold back a laugh.

Negotiations are manageable because I know everything they want.

‘I probably wouldn’t be able to refuse either.’

Now all that’s left is to wait patiently.

By the way, have I always been this good at talking?

[Innate Charisma].

It must be thanks to that trait.

I looked at the mirror placed on one side of the room.

A skinny body that still feels unfamiliar.

Should I exercise when I have time?

＊＊＊

“Eleven… twelve… thirteen….”

My arms were trembling.

I stood up, gasping for breath.

I can barely do ten push-ups.

Even if I have terrible stamina, this seems a bit too much.

When I put the cloth on my body, it was soaked with sweat.

I don’t have time, so should I give up exercising for a while?

As I was gulping down water, someone knocked on the door.

It was one of the maids.

“Young lord, a knight from the Knights Hospitaller has come to see you.”

A knight from the Knights Hospitaller?

Why would such a person come to see me?

It’s only been a few tens of minutes since I talked to Marco.

There’s no way he could have heard the news this quickly.

“Let him in for now.”

The door opened and a man came in.

A black coat over chainmail.

A white cross engraved on his chest.

And a cape on his back.

It was an outfit I had seen thousands of times in Last Crusaders.

The man bowed.

“It is an honor to meet you like this, Lord Baldwin. I am Garnier of the Knights Hospitaller.”

“Nice to meet you, Sir Garnier.”

I reached out my hand and quickly scanned him.

A face that looks like he’s in his late 20s and a physique built from exercise.

Even his appearance seems to be shouting, ‘I am a knight!’

Knights Hospitaller.

Like the Templars, the Knights Hospitaller were warriors and monks who devoted everything to protecting the Holy Land.

Directly under the Pope, they possessed not only powerful military force but also enormous funds from donations from all over Europe.

‘Did the two knightly orders hold almost 30% of the Kingdom of Jerusalem’s territory?’

They are the first line of defense against Islam and at the same time the last line of defense.

‘Saladin always executed members of the knightly orders when he caught them.’

As if to show that, the knightly order forces boasted the most powerful stats in Last Crusaders.

Even though he’s wearing armor, his physique is amazing.

“What brings a knight of the Knights Hospitaller to me?”

“The reason I came to see you today, young lord, is none other than….”

Garnier looked at the piece of cloth in my hand.

His eyes look familiar.

The eyes of a senior gym rat looking at me during my 육사 [ROTC – Reserve Officers’ Training Corps] freshman days.

―I will show you what true muscle is.

“It seems you were exercising.”

He said with a smile.

“His Majesty the King has entrusted your training to our Knights Hospitaller. Now that you are thirteen years old, he says it is time to start formal training.”

“Formal training, you say….”

“Of course, swordsmanship and horsemanship training. I was worried after hearing rumors that you were neglecting your physical training and only going falconing, but….”

He smiled.

“It seems that they were all false rumors. I brought some equipment with me, so if you’re okay with it, let’s start right away.”

I stared at him with my mouth wide open.

Something felt seriously wrong.

Start training right now?

Here?

“Don’t worry. It’s the first day, so we’ll take it easy.”