Free Web NovelMy conversation with Cosimo was brief, but highly enlightening.
Most importantly, I was able to hear the true history of how Baltice had come to manipulate the economy of not only Europe, but the entire world.
The history of Baltice was much longer than I had imagined.
Throughout that long history, the Medici family had stood together with Baltice.
There had once been a time when the Medici family faced the brink of collapse.
And it was the head of Baltice at that time who extended a helping hand.
“Doesn't something seem strange, Signore Kim? I began to harbor doubts and started investigating.”
Cosimo slowly began revealing his true thoughts.
“In those days, the Medici family was more powerful than any other house in Europe. Yet our downfall came in an instant. And right then, as if they had been waiting, help arrived...”
Most people believed the Medici family had vanished into history.
I had thought so as well.
Only after starting my new life and investing properly in America had I learned the truth.
The Medici family still existed.
No, it wasn't merely surviving—it was the power behind the curtain, controlling Italy's political and business worlds with a single hand.
“After handing over the position of family head to Lorenze, I continued searching through the records from those days. But the deeper I dug, the stranger everything became. Do you know this? Even I believed the Medici family's downfall had come suddenly. But it wasn't so. For a very long time, very slowly, someone had been leading our family down the path of ruin.”
Just as Cosimo said, the family's downfall had not come overnight.
In 1537, Alessandro de Medici, the last Duke of the Medici family, was assassinated.
Then, in 1737, Gian Gastone de Medici, the last Grand Duke of the Medici line, died without an heir.
To be precise, it wasn't that there were no heirs.
All the boys had died before he did.
Some from mysterious illnesses.
Some in sudden accidents.
And others through assassination.
“After that, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany passed into the hands of Francis Stephen of Austria...”
He continued explaining the events that followed.
The more I listened, the stranger everything seemed.
Their decline had not been a natural sinking caused by the changing times, like the moon waxing and waning.
It was an artificial downfall created by someone.
That was the conclusion I reached after hearing Cosimo's words.
“You believe Baltice was behind all of those incidents?”
Cosimo nodded with difficulty.
“I do. That is why I desire Baltice's destruction. To be precise, I wish for Xavier's family to collapse.”
“Lorenze is planning to bring Baltice under his control.”
“No. No. That child still doesn't truly understand what Baltice is. He simply thinks of it as an alliance of families.”
After coughing dryly, Cosimo continued in a hoarse voice.
“...Baltice is an organization whose leadership can only be held by the head of the Habsburg family. Therefore, such thoughts are foolish. I will persuade Lorenze myself. The heads of this generation still do not properly understand the reason for Baltice's existence.”
Realistically, even for me, completely destroying Baltice was difficult.
No matter how much the American financial crisis swept across Europe, Europe was still Europe.
Their influence might shrink, but erasing their existence entirely was impossible.
“I understand what you're saying. But it won't be easy.”
“I know. If it were easy, I would have accomplished it somehow myself. That is why I am asking you.”
“But I don't see any reason why I should forcefully pursue that.”
“You would inherit Baltice's influence.”
“Hm... Is there really any reason for me to do that?”
No matter how much I thought about it, I had no reason to grant this request.
“Think carefully. If left alone, it will continue obstructing you for years to come, Signore Kim.”
Knowing that, even Cosimo could no longer press the issue.
“...For now, just protect our family. That alone is enough. I do not wish to watch my family collapse again, even from heaven.”
“We have already formed an alliance. I do not betray people and organizations that have entered my protection first. You needn't worry about that.”
“Thank you.”
After expressing his gratitude, Cosimo exhaled roughly.
The medical equipment beside him immediately began emitting warning sounds.
The bedroom door opened, and the medical staff and Pietro entered.
I stood up and stepped aside to allow them room to work.
Soon, the emergency treatment ended, and the alarms ceased.
Despite his poor condition, Cosimo forced himself to speak.
“Huff... huff... Pietro. Give Signore Kim what I entrusted to you.”
“Yes, Lord Cosimo.”
“And... call Lorenze.”
“You can go no further, Lord Cosimo.”
His physician tried to stop him, but Cosimo stubbornly insisted.
“Call him at once. If I fall asleep now, I may not know when I'll awaken again.”
“...Understood. I'll bring the family head.”
A short while later, Pietro returned with Lorenze.
“Grandfather.”
“Lorenze...”
I left the bedroom so the two could speak in private.
Pietro followed me.
“Please wait a moment.”
He entered a room adjacent to the bedroom and emerged several minutes later.
In his hands was a heavy briefcase.
“These are materials regarding Baltice that Lord Cosimo spent his entire life gathering. Please take them.”
“Are you sure?”
“I merely obey Lord Cosimo's orders. I do not judge.”
It was a firm and steadfast answer.
As I nodded, Chief Ma, who had been waiting outside, accepted the briefcase.
“I'll make good use of it.”
“Yes. Whatever conversation you had with Lord Cosimo, I hope you will remember his words.”
After that, Pietro said nothing more.
I headed downstairs.
Igor, who had been speaking with the mercenaries, noticed me and hurried over.
“Igor. Excluding Giuliano, begin interrogating the elders and that butler. Make them spill everything they know.”
“Yes, Boss. How far are we permitted to go?”
I slowly rubbed my chin before answering.
“You may even use drugs.”
“Understood. I'll begin immediately.”
“Oh, and where are the mercenaries being held?”
“We've locked them all in the underground cells.”
“Hm...”
Since a mercenary company was involved, handling them recklessly would be troublesome.
When I remained silent, lost in thought, Igor cautiously asked,
“What should we do?”
“If they merely accepted a contract, disposing of them is problematic, isn't it?”
“Yes. If we kill fellow mercenaries without negotiations, the same treatment will be returned to us when we're captured.”
“Then let's think about that later.”
“Yes, Boss. I'll proceed immediately.”
Igor called John and quickly got moving.
After watching them, I returned to the study and waited for Lorenze.
By the time the coffee brought by a servant had gone cold, Lorenze finally returned.
The color had drained from his face.
“Lorenze.”
“Grandfather... Grandfather says I should leave Giuliano to you. Just what kind of conversation did you have?”
“Ask Lord Cosimo directly.”
“......”
“We've already begun interrogating the elders and the butler. Giuliano is waiting for your answer.”
Lorenze remained silent.
His confused expression and trembling hands betrayed his state of mind.
To me, his reaction was endlessly frustrating.
“Lorenze!”
I raised my voice, and his unfocused eyes turned toward me.
“Get a hold of yourself! Do you think Lord Cosimo wants to cast aside his own blood like this? He made this decision for the sake of the family. You're the family head now, so why do you think he made that choice? If the family head is this indecisive, the entire family will waver.”
“......”
“Did I make the wrong choice? Should I completely withdraw from all of this? Is that what you want? If you want it, I'll step aside. Just say the word.”
I didn't stop.
I pressed him even harder.
If this was his mentality, we couldn't continue together.
Lorenze needed to be more desperate than I was.
What if Giuliano wasn't the end?
What if he had prepared another plan?
One thought led to another.
And with every thought, my voice grew colder.
“This is the last time. There won't be a next. What will it be?”
“...No. Do as you see fit.”
At last, Lorenze gave his consent.
I lowered my voice again.
“Lorenze, I never want to have this conversation again. We still have a long road ahead. This isn't the time to hesitate like this.”
“......”
“Why do you think I came all the way to Italy myself during such a busy time? To finish things quickly.”
I stood up.
“Look into Baltice as quickly as possible. That's what matters. I need to know what they're plotting.”
Leaving those words behind, I exited the study.
I spoke to Chief Ma, who had been waiting outside.
“Let's go see Giuliano.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Giuliano was being confined in his own room.
Black Bear mercenaries stood guard outside.
They snapped to attention and saluted when they saw me.
“You've all worked hard. I'm going in.”
The mercenaries stepped aside.
Chief Ma and I entered.
Giuliano stood quietly by the window, staring outside.
It seemed they had merely confined him without tying him up.
“Giuliano.”
At my voice, he slowly turned around.
“Charlie?”
“You know me?”
“How could I not? Because of you, our family ended up like this.”
I'd heard he was intelligent, but apparently not.
I smirked and mocked him.
“Because of me? Get your facts straight. This happened because of your greed, not me. Lorenze was right, and you were wrong. As expected, the younger brother can never surpass the elder.”
Veins bulged on his forehead.
“My brother was right?”
“Yes. You were wrong. Chief Ma, bring some chairs.”
Chief Ma brought over two chairs.
I sat in one and gestured to Giuliano.
“Sit. Let's talk.”
Still glaring at me, Giuliano clicked his tongue and sat down.
“I'll ask you a few questions. If you answer sincerely, I'll let you die painlessly.”
“Hahaha! You'll kill me? You? I'm Giuliano Medici! Who could possibly kill me?”
Giuliano stood up, shouting.
Chief Ma pushed down on his shoulder and forced him back into the chair.
“Do not move without the Boss's permission.”
“Ugh...”
Chief Ma tightened his grip.
The strength transmitted directly into his shoulder caused Giuliano to groan.
“It seems you don't understand. I ask the questions, and you answer. Simple, right? Even if I kill you here and now, no one can hold me accountable. That's the reality of a traitor. Now then.”
Crossing my legs, I asked my first question.
“What is Xavier planning?”
“......”
“Answer. I'll give you three seconds.”
But Giuliano remained silent.
At a slight nod from me, Chief Ma applied even more pressure.
The veins in his hand bulged as though he intended to crush the shoulder itself.
At first glance it seemed insignificant, but the pain was impossible to understand unless one experienced it.
As expected, Giuliano's body gradually collapsed, and he toppled over along with the chair.
“Aaaagh!”
“Answer.”
“I'll talk! I'll talk...!”
At my signal, Chief Ma released him.
“Huff... huff! What the hell are you doing?!”
“Just answer the question. What is Xavier planning?”
“I don't know! I don't know! How would I know something like that? Xavier only wanted one thing from me—Lorenze! He only told me to hand over Lorenze!”
“And you expect me to believe that?”
“What answer do you want to hear?!”
“Hm...”
I rubbed my chin and looked directly into Giuliano's eyes.
'Does he really know nothing?'
I didn't think Xavier had shared all his plans with Giuliano.
Still, I had asked just in case.
And as expected, I was right.
Afterward, I continued asking question after question, but Giuliano only repeated that he didn't know.
“You know absolutely nothing. You're useless.”
I stood up without hesitation.
“Chief Ma. I'll leave now. Make him spit out everything.”
“Understood, Boss.”
Leaving Chief Ma behind, I exited the room.
The mercenaries saluted me once more.
“Chief Ma will personally interrogate him. Make sure no one enters.”
“Yes, Boss.”
I stared at the closed door for a moment before heading back toward the study.
With every step I took, Giuliano's screams began spilling through the door.
His cries echoed throughout the silent mansion for a long time.
