I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 208: Agitation and Profit (3)

In novels, newspapers, movies, and dramas, everything must start with something provocative to attract people’s attention.

If it isn’t stimulating, people won’t even bother to listen to the story.

Why? It’s not that they’re too busy, but because their interest fades instantly.

In internet slang, it’s because they’re lacking dopamine.

So, as soon as I found the thieves from the information guild, I immediately sought news that would fill people’s dopamine levels.

“Has there been any affair or something among the nobles?”

People are more interested in juicy stories, like a politician being arrested for corruption or a celebrity getting married, rather than the usual talk about politics or economics.

Though times and places may differ, humans are still creatures who like beautiful, well-endowed women and men with more wealth.

Provocative stories are irresistible.

The thief leader in front of me tilted his index finger and smirked.

Does this mean he won’t give the information until he gets paid?

Clever little thing, I liked him.

Humans are most adorable when they’re honest about their desires.

“Take it.”

The thief leader’s face broke into a grin as soon as he received my money.

Just a little more, and he’d be drooling with anticipation.

“Wow, to think you’d give so much gold. For this kind of money, I should bring out the secret ledgers. Ask me anything.”

Usually, when nobles use a thief guild, they have a specific target in mind, asking for information about a particular person or family.

But what I need right now is gossip-worthy information.

“I’d prefer information with solid evidence, but if it’s just provocative, that works too. And the more, the better.”

“In other words, you want everything we know?”

“Exactly. And of course, I’ll make sure the payment is generous.”

“Well, Baron Rothschild of the Seaweed (Misuh) clan would never run out of money, so alright.”

“Seaweed Rothschild? Wouldn’t it be better if you called me Coffee Rothschild?”

In this world, seaweed is considered a high-value medicinal herb, akin to ginseng in Joseon, but to me, seaweed is just a healthy ocean weed.

Here, though, it's treated like an honorable title, like iron blood or lightning.

“From what I’ve heard, Count Baden touched the maid who was engaged to him.”

It’s as natural for nobles to take advantage of their servants as it is to breathe.

They hire maids based on appearance and status, and most of the time, the maids join to improve their social standing, not out of love.

In fact, some desperate maids subtly try to seduce the nobles.

A well-endowed girl might unbutton about three buttons on her blouse and lean forward while serving tea, or purposely show her neck while tying her hair.

But the maid who was sent to get an education and political connections is in a difficult position when it comes to being touched.

‘He touched a maid who was already engaged?’

If the Church finds out, he could be forced to pay thousands of gold coins in fines.

“The count’s power and wealth allowed him to bribe the maid’s family, so the rumors didn’t spread widely.”

“Very interesting. Continue.”

“Lord Berg is famously known for having no interest in anyone but his wife.”

The thief interrupted me midway.

That sly bastard is deliberately cutting me off before getting to the important part—he’s good at this.

I’ll make him stop running the guild and maybe turn him into a storyteller who reads tales for a living.

Nah, anyone can do that. I could just get someone else for the job.

Either way, people who live by information and rumors can never shake the habit—damn it.

I took out a few more silver coins from my wallet.

He shook his head.

“This is actually information we don’t even sell for gold, but... ah, this is the kind of thing that could end a political career or ruin a family. I think I’ll just pass it along to another family.”

I was planning to spread some rumors during the Reformation like a tabloid journalist.

I’ve got to recruit that kid as a reporter. He’s great at getting people to read articles.

With that in mind, I’ll make sure to treat him well, especially for scratching my itch.

I’ll work him like a dog until just before he dies.

“Fine, here’s 2 more gold coins.”

The moment I handed him 2 more gold coins, his face twisted into a wicked smile.

I’ve never fallen for such tactics in the Tuscan Empire...

But this kid, he’s using the fact that I’m a foreign noble and can’t threaten him with a sword to exploit me.

There’s a hidden gem in the mud.

“Lord Berg is actually gay.”

This is the kind of information you can throw out and walk away from like a perverted playboy with no responsibility.

But homosexuality is too sensitive a topic to use recklessly...

‘If this is true, it’ll be a huge scandal.’

“Do you have proof?”

“Lord Berg often goes hunting, but every time he goes, he takes a boy named Friedrich with him. They often ride their horses to remote, secluded areas.”

Taking a maid to a cave or a secluded forest would be a scandal at a social gathering, but it's not too serious on the Albanian continent.

Outdoor sex is just seen as an unusual sexual habit, not a crime.

But taking a boy to those places?

In a world where homosexuals are burned at the stake, this is absolutely unacceptable.

“After a couple of hours, the lord and the boy return, their faces red.”

And then he pushed a small bucket in front of me.

The nobles of the Albanian continent—hell, even ordinary people—might puke just hearing about this.

Considering that, I can understand why he brought this up in such a way.

He’s catching every reaction perfectly, and I think he has a future as a reporter.

‘I’ll make him the king of gossip.’

“I do have some evidence to back this up, but that’ll cost extra.”

For the two pieces of information, this is pretty expensive, but considering it’s about taking down a noble family and a politician, I’d say it’s still cheap.

“Can’t afford the extra. It’s not that I’m out of money, but I have another proposal.”

The world’s future will be ruled by information and gossip.

The 𝘮ost uptodat𝑒 novels are pub𝙡ished on freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

In technical terms, the battle will be won by whoever mixes fake news and real information the best.

After all, didn’t the Rothschild family almost go bankrupt before the Napoleonic wars, but manage to survive by spreading rumors about England losing?

I’m sure I’ll need to spread some rumors like that too.

Otherwise, how will I survive in this harsh world?

Take a look at this world. I’ve just eradicated epidemics and hygiene issues, and I’m only charging a small commission, but that devilish Duke Sforza has stolen 20,000 gold coins from me.

I may not be a hero in another world, but as a good modern man from another world, I have no choice but to modernize this world with the wisdom of the ‘British Empire.’

“Your name, what is it?”

“They call me News here.”

“News? I like it. From tomorrow, bring your men and join my family’s retinue. Your salary will be more than generous.”

I’ll have him work with our spies and create a newspaper. I bet he’ll be great at it.

“I trust you won’t refuse?”

It’s like offering the King of Seoul Station a full-time job at a big company—no one would refuse.

“I’ll do anything.”

“Good. Then write down the information you know, and mix in one lie, just as I tell you.”

“What lie should I use?”

"Just write that an anonymous high-ranking clergyman in the Church believes the Church is to blame for the defeat in this war."

“I understand.”

“Make it so compelling that people will be hooked as soon as they read it.”

Then, I’ll secretly print it with the typeface I brought along.

The Church might investigate later, but...

‘Printing press technology isn’t something worth hiding anyway.’

If I want to start a religious reformation and make a fortune from the war, printing must be widely spread.