Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 537

Episode 537 Conspiracy (3)

Meanwhile, Pedro was looking down at the courtyard from the balcony overlooking it.

“All 3,000 bags have arrived. “No seals have been broken.”

“is it?”

Pedro nodded slightly at the report from the captain of the SS guard protecting the family and gave an order.

“Then, as planned, send 300 sacks to the territory for training. And send 200 sacks to Florence. Lastly, send 100 sacks to the Duke of Viseu.”

“All right.”

“And be sure to convey this to Thiago, who is in charge of training at the estate. ‘It’s okay to break down all 300 bags. However, within the next ten days, we must bring in people who can handle them properly.’.”

“I will definitely deliver!”

After saluting Pedro, the captain of the Royal Guard left Pedro’s room.

After a while, SS soldiers began to move busily in the courtyard.

The rifles were placed one by one in a large oak barrel for wine, then sealed tightly, and these barrels were loaded onto a cart heading to Pedro’s estate. Other boxes were mixed with boxes containing goods purchased in Joseon and placed on a cart heading to Henrik. And on the other side, boxes destined for Florence were loaded onto a cart.

After the distribution, the boxes remaining in the courtyard were moved to the mansion.

Pedro stood on the balcony and watched the whole process. As the last remaining box was moved inside, Pedro turned and muttered.

“For the child of a lowly bitch, death by a dog would be fitting…”

Pedro, who had turned his head while cursing someone, continued speaking while looking at Florence on the map hanging on the wall.

“I wonder… how many of the 200 bags will he break and eat?”

* * *

The Seokseok-style gun obtained from Joseon had outstanding performance.

“It is truly surprising that although it weighs an arquebus, its power and range are 10 fathoms (approximately 18 meters) longer than that of a musket. “If we could form a thousand-man army with long guns like these, it would influence the outcome of the war.”

Cosimo, who visited Pedro and Henrique and saw the performance of Joseon’s senior rifle, was impressed. But Pedro pointed out a fatal problem.

“The problem is the price. 50 nyang silver coins in Joseon currency. “In terms of ducats, it’s 500 silver ducats, so it’s definitely not a cheap price.”

Cosimo nodded at Pedro’s words. Considering the cost of living in Florence at that time, you could barely buy two houses with the money needed to buy a well-built town house. This was said to be extremely expensive.

Henrik objected to Pedro’s words.

“Although it is expensive, it has many more advantages, starting with not using dangerous fireworks.”

“Yes, but the price is the problem. The price is the problem. What kind of guy is war? “It’s a money-eating monster.”

In response to Pedro’s still negative reaction, Cosimo joined the conversation.

“Isn’t it okay to just clone it?”

“The Koreans played a trick on the most important part of that gun, the percussion part. “I brought 10 sacks, but 8 of them have already been damaged.”

“Well…”

Looking at Cosimo’s face that couldn’t hide his regret, Pedro suggested something.

“Would you like to try it in Florence?”

“we?”

“Isn’t Florence one of the places with many skilled craftsmen?”

“Hmm…”

At Pedro’s suggestion, Cosimo stroked his beard and was lost in thought.

‘It is far superior to the Arquebus and muskets currently used in Europe. Even if you can’t make it exactly the same, if it has somewhat close performance, it’s marketable.’

Cosimo, finding another possibility of making money, accepted Pedro’s offer.

“Good!”

In this way, Pedro was able to extort a considerable amount of money from Cosimo for the purchase of a long gun.

“Isn’t the amount allocated too small compared to the funds I pay?”

In response to Cosimo’s complaint, Pedro explained the reason.

“The start of the war is just around the corner, but we can’t just wait, can we?”

“But….”

“Isn’t 200 bags enough to form a bodyguard in addition to the quantity needed for cloning?”

In the end, Cosimo had no choice but to accept Pedro’s offer.

Cosimo consoled himself as he left Pedro’s mansion.

“It was a pretty big expense, but I can bear it if I think about the future.”

* * *

A fortnight later, Pedro spoke to Afonso V.

“your majesty. “Can I say something?”

“Please speak, Regent.”

“Thank you.”

Pedro, who expressed his gratitude to Afonso V, began by asking a question.

“Your Majesty, do you remember what you said last year?”

“last year? Hmm….”

After briefly remembering, Afonso V immediately looked at Pedro with a bright face.

“Are you saying you said you would bring a gift from Joseon?”

“That’s right. It finally arrived a while ago. So, I would like to serve Your Majesty.”

“Good! “Then when should I go?”

King Afonso V could not hide his joy when he heard Pedro inviting him.

“We will hold a banquet in five days.”

“Five days! “It will be both fun and painful to wait until then!”

“You will never be disappointed.”

After assuring Afonso V, Pedro turned and spoke to the nobles gathered in the hall.

“I will send you an invitation, and I hope you will attend.”

Afonso, Duke of Braganza, frowned slightly at Pedro’s words.

“Wouldn’t it be better if we just presented it to the palace? “What are you doing all the way there…”

Pedro also responded with a stern expression to Afonso, Duke of Braganza’s complaint.

“I feel sorry for not being able to arrive at the right time, so I want to serve your Majesty!”

Pedro paused for a moment and asked a question with a hint of ridicule.

“why? Is there any other problem? Hmm? what! “If you’re busy, you don’t have to come!”

There were few people who were unaware of the intense conflict between Pedro, Duke of Coibra, and Afonso, Duke of Braganza. Even now, in the streets of Lisbon at night, assassins from both sides were spilling blood to assassinate or prevent key figures belonging to the other side.

Afonso, Duke of Braganza, screamed at Pedro’s sarcasm.

“Send an invitation! “I’ll have to take a look and see how great these things are!”

‘joy! What nonsense are you hoping I won’t come! If I’m not there, you’ll just talk nonsense to the king!’

Pedro responded to Afonso, Duke of Braganza, with a face full of cynicism.

“I will send it first.”

* * *

Five days later, carriages filled with nobles began to arrive at Pedro’s mansion.

Every time a carriage arrived, the slaves and servants who managed the mansion politely opened the carriage door and bowed.

“Welcome, welcome.”

Finally, the carriage carrying Afonso V and his wife arrived, and Pedro personally came out to the entrance to greet the king and his wife.

“welcome.”

“It is truly an honor for the regent to come in person.”

“God is the glory. Please eat inside.”

After leading Afonso V and his wife inside, Pedro continued speaking.

“You will have a great time.”

The banquet began with the arrival of Afonsu V and his wife.

* * *

“Oh oh!”

“That’s amazing!”

The nobles who entered the large banquet hall in the mansion exclaimed in exclamation as they looked at the glass lanterns shining on the pillars on all sides, starting with the ceiling lit up with gorgeous chandeliers.

As Joseon exported lighting fixtures made of crystal glass, the nights of European aristocrats became brighter and more colorful.

And the banquet hall at Pedro’s mansion was filled with such shining splendor.

All kinds of delicacies soon began to be laid out on the table in the banquet hall, where Afonso V and his wife were seated at the head of the table.

* * *

“your majesty!”

When the atmosphere settled down to a certain degree, Pedro stood up and spoke to Afonso V.

“I will show you the items I told you about, Your Majesty.”

“I’ve been waiting!”

“Bring it in!”

At Pedro’s command, the doors to the banquet hall opened wide and servants and slaves entered the banquet hall carrying Joseon items.

“Oh oh!”

The nobles exclaimed in exclamation as they looked at the precious items placed in the center of the banquet hall.

When the servant who put down the last item stepped back, Afonso, Duke of Braganza, who was examining the items, sarcastically said to Pedro.

“These are good items, but just this? “Is this the only thing you have served your Majesty with?”

“barely? Does the Duke of Braganza barely see this?”

“Barely! “I can see some pretty nice things, but this isn’t enough to serve your Majesty!”

Suddenly, the banquet hall became extremely quiet. As the two dukes began their war of words, all the nobles attending the banquet, including King Afonso V and his wife, looked at the two dukes with tense faces.

Pedro, who was glaring at Afonso, Duke of Braganza, nodded.

“I understand. Then I will give you the best gift.”

“Hoo? Did you say it was the best gift? “Can I look forward to it?”

“enough!”

Pedro, who answered briefly, screamed.

“Arrest the traitor!”

* * *

“Arrest the traitor!”

“Arrest the traitor!”

Doo doo doo doo!

As soon as Pedro’s order was given, Duke Pedro’s personal guards came out from all sides of the banquet hall and pointed guns at the nobles. At the same time, soldiers waiting in the corridors of the second and third floors of the banquet hall revealed themselves and pointed their guns.

“What is this!”

Chop! Chop! Chop!

In an unexpected situation, the guards who were right behind the nobles drew their swords and protected their lord.

“Go Go Duke, what is this? “Treason?”

Afonso V was frightened by the unexpected situation and asked Pedro.

Pedro bowed his head to Afonso V and answered.

“For some time now, the wicked Duke of Braganza has been plotting a treason. “Please forgive me for being so cunning that I had no choice but to create this situation.”

Afonso, Duke of Braganza, shouted at Pedro’s words.

“Shut up! I am a traitor! This is a plot! “It’s conspiratorial!”

Pedro responded immediately to the cries of Afonso, Duke of Braganza, who shouted about his injustice.

“There is a witness. “Bring him!”

At Pedro’s order, SS soldiers brought in a man covered in blood.

“You…”

Afonso, Duke of Braganza, saw the man covered in blood and felt defeat. The man in front of him was his confidant, who mainly delivered his orders to nobles.

“Tell me frankly what you saw and heard! “Then I promise you a comfortable death!”

At Pedro’s command, the man opened his mouth with difficulty.

“The Duke of Braganza said this. ‘The current king is the regent’s puppet. In order to properly govern this kingdom, our noble nobles must take the lead. In order to do so, not only the regent but also the king must be purged.’ “

It’s a conspiracy! Surely I said that our nobles should take the lead! But it didn’t mention the King’s purge!”

Afonso, Duke of Braganza defended himself with a loud voice, but victory and defeat had already been decided.

“profit!”

At that moment, his son Fernando, who was next to him, gritted his teeth, drew his sword, and rushed towards Pedro.

bang! bang!

At that moment, two gunshots rang out in the banquet hall, and the Duke and Duchess of Braganza fell to the ground.

In this way, the winners and losers of the original history were reversed.

Pedro, who would have been pushed out as regent, abandoned by the king, and then killed in a civil war, was the winner.