I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 279: Colmar Peasant Revolt (2)

Raphael was stunned.

Until just moments ago, he had been at home, lamenting his fate with friends who shared his frustrations, cursing the inequality of the world. But then, a man dressed in what appeared to be an expensive suit walked into the room.

"Who are you to come here and visit someone as insignificant as me? Did Mayor Colmar send you to kill me?"

Sebastian scoffed at those words.

"When you made your appeal to Count Colmar earlier today, asking for tax reductions, you spoke quite eloquently, thinking you were a smart young man. It seems I’ve misjudged you."

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"... Are you here to kill me?"

"Well, the Mayor would certainly want to tear you apart for rallying the people to ask for a tax reduction, but he can’t kill you. I’m sure you were hoping to use that to get a position on the city council eventually, weren’t you?"

If a rebellion had actually broken out, it might have been a different matter, but before such an event happens, the leader of a rebellion should never be killed.

If that happened, the leader would be martyred, and the people following them would be enraged, quickly turning into an organized rebel force.

Raphael understood this principle, which is why he was being so bold.

"Civilians, serfs, and so on. Even a modest estimate would put the number of people supporting you in the hundreds, maybe even thousands. If you can hold out for just a month, Count Colmar will have no choice but to seat you on the city council. By then, you’ll have become the symbol of the angry masses."

On the Albanian continent, democracy, where the common people became the masters, hadn’t yet been established.

However, everyone, including the Lyon Kingdom nobles, knew that when the common people became enraged, it could eventually threaten the positions of the elites.

For their own survival, the elites would sometimes compromise and even give up part of their wealth.

Survival was key to retaining any power or wealth.

"You’ve got quite the knack for setting the stage. But there’s something you’re overlooking, my friend—something you don’t know."

Cold sweat ran down Raphael’s back.

Who was this man to see right through the plan he was weaving?

He felt like a rat, bound and destined to become a cat’s prey, his every move predicted.

‘Who is this person?’

"As I see it, you’ll be appointed to the city council in about a month. The Mayor can’t ignore you any longer. But have you thought about what comes after that?"

Sebastian spoke calmly, like an adult telling a child the truth about Santa Claus.

"Count Colmar and Mayor Colmar are no fools. They know that they must collect huge amounts of taxes to buy food for the people who are suffering after the war. They understand that starving the people will put their positions at risk."

Many people make a big mistake when thinking about the nobility.

They believe that nobles are born with a silver spoon in their mouths and just occupy their positions by chance.

But that’s not the case.

The truth is, those born into nobility go through rigorous education, hardships, and struggles to maintain their position and build their competence.

Nobles, even if they’re at the minimum threshold of capability, know that it’s more important to feed the people than to indulge in luxury at times like these.

"For now, they’ll appoint you to the city council and say they’re listening to the people’s voices. A few months down the line, they’ll release food for relief. At that point, you’ll lose all your support, and Count Colmar will have you executed for treason for daring to challenge him."

Raphael, being fairly clever, quickly realized the fate that awaited him.

"That’s why I said you only know ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) one thing but not the other. If you had truly wanted to rise in this situation, you should have supported Mayor Colmar to stabilize the public sentiment."

Had Raphael followed Sebastian’s advice, he might have retained his position on the city council, or at least avoided a brutal end at the hands of Count Colmar.

But the die was cast, and the advice no longer mattered.

"Well, the water’s already spilled. If you keep going down this path, you and your family won’t escape a tragic downfall."

Raphael immediately fell to his knees and begged.

"Please, sir, spare me!"

Pride meant nothing anymore.

He had survived ten years as an apprentice to become a craftsman, only to live his life making cheap furniture in a corner of the town. To die so easily now, just when he had a chance to break free from his fate, was unbearable.

Sebastian helped Raphael to his feet and whispered.

"But you’re lucky. My master needs someone like you."

Fabio needed someone like Raphael.

To stir up a rebellion and lead it effectively, a person like Raphael, who could stand at the center and rally the people, was exactly the kind of person Fabio needed in the borderlands of the Lyon Kingdom.

"Really?" Raphael asked, disbelief in his voice.

"Do I look like I’m here to play games with you?" Sebastian replied with a slight smile.

Raphael had never heard of Sebastian, but judging by his fine clothes, which were made of the finest silks, it was clear he wasn’t just a nobleman but likely someone of higher standing.

‘He must be someone far above ordinary nobles.’

Sebastian clapped his hands a few times, and men who had been waiting outside entered Raphael’s house, placing a box down quietly before leaving again.

Raphael’s gaze shifted to the suspicious box.

What could it be? It certainly didn’t look like a box of random junk.

"Open it."

Raphael cautiously opened the box.

His mouth dropped open, and he was speechless when he saw what was inside.

After a few moments of silence, he managed to speak.

"Gold... is all this gold?"

One gold coin could support a single serf family for an entire year.

Yet there were not dozens or hundreds, but thousands of gold coins, more than he could even count at a glance.

It was an amount Raphael could never earn, even if he worked his entire life—or several generations.

"Yes. There are five thousand gold coins inside. All of them are yours."

For a moment, a dangerous temptation gripped Raphael.

‘What if I just take this money and run?’

With this money, he could live a far better life than he ever had before.

"Don’t even think about running off with the money. I have plenty of my people around here. If you try anything foolish, I’ll have you sold to the heathens as a slave. It won’t be a quick death."

"I understand."

"Now, let me tell you what you must do to survive."

Raphael perked up, hanging on every word.

"First, continue your protest in front of the city hall. But after the protest ends, gather your followers and incite them, saying that if you sit idly by, you’ll be taxed to death while starving. Then tell them that Count Colmar is raising taxes to indulge his own lavish lifestyle, regardless of the suffering of the people."

"If we spread this message, the rumors will naturally spread."

"Exactly. They’ll believe that the Count is the one to blame for their suffering. When they hear this, they’ll feel vindicated, thinking they were right all along."

At present, Count Colmar was busy buying materials from outside to support post-war recovery, but the facts didn’t matter to the common people. The more provocative the story, the more likely they would believe it.

"At the same time, use the money I gave you to spread similar rumors to other regions. Once a rebellion has started, the more allies you have, the better."

"I understand."

"Make sure to do your part. My people are already working on the groundwork, but you have to do your part too."

"And once we’ve gathered enough support for the rebellion, what do we do?"

Sebastian sighed heavily.

"Take the farming tools from your homes and lead the uprising, capturing the armory and the supply depots. Then, rally the oppressed people from other regions to your side. As you grow the rebellion, the numbers will swell."

Raphael swallowed hard at the thought.

"And when the Holy Empire’s emperor hears of your deeds, he’ll offer his support. By then, your efforts will be properly recognized. If not, you’ll at least be made a councilor. If you make a big enough contribution, you could even become a noble."

"..."

"Of course, it all depends on you."

Raphael’s heart pounded.

It seemed like he was destined for death, but if he grasped this opportunity, he could become a true noble and change his cursed fate.

‘I’ll fix this damned fate once and for all.’

"I’ll do as you say. But, noble sir, how should I address you?"

Sebastian turned to leave, casually replying.

"Call me Samuel, Lord Samuel. Once you’ve earned the trust of the Holy Empire, you’ll know who I truly am."

And with that, Sebastian left for the Toscana Empire, having laid the groundwork for what would become a deadly rebellion.