Chapter 210: Agitation and Profit (5)
The Emperor accepted my unexpected request for an audience.
“Are you the Baron Rothschild? You look much younger than I imagined.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“It would be great if we had young, wise nobles like you in our Holy Empire. I’ve never been envious of other kings, but looking at you, I sometimes find myself envying the Emperor of Tuscany.”
Outwardly, I’m known as the man of coffee and seaweed from foreign lands.
However, those in power, in any place or organization, always have spies planted to gather secret information.
As the Emperor of the Holy Empire, it’s likely he’s bought off a few Tuscan officials or nobles as well.
There are those who sell out their countries for money, so there’s no way there wouldn’t be those selling information, right?
“I heard the people of the Tuscan Empire have been making gunpowder like crazy lately. And, it turns out, you’re at the center of it. Our Empire is suffering from chronic gunpowder shortages, and I’m quite envious. I’d even consider kidnapping you to get some of it.”
The Emperor said this and licked his lips.
It seemed like the Emperor was trying to make a joke, perhaps a royal joke.
But instead of being funny or absurd, it sent a slight chill down my spine.