NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 19
Free City of Hamburg.
This city is located in the center of roadways connecting various countries such as the Count Nante’s domain, the Franche Republic, the Romanian Empire, Italica, and the Republic of Zenobia.
Moreover, a vast plain through which the Main River flows spreads nearby, producing enough food for the city’s citizens.
Diligent citizens, outstanding scholars, and many merchants seeking wealth each play their roles to the fullest, advancing the city.
Thus, even though this city does not belong to any nation and has no lord, it possesses the strength to defend itself.
Consequently, every citizen living in this city enjoys the independent economic rights, military power, and freedoms owned by the city.
Not only that, but people like me who can earn money or bring goods continuously influx, showing a dynamic appearance.
And its grandeur is.
“Look, young master. This is the Free City of Hamburg. Look at those city walls.”
It was truly magnificent.
The high city walls, which must be at least 8 meters tall, encircle approximately 2 to 3 kilometers.
“… That’s amazing.”
Ela, who was beside me, echoed in agreement.
“Yes, my lord…”
Balt looked at me and Ela as if we were country bumpkins.
“Haha, how can you be so intimidated? Once you enter the city, you’ll see roads and houses made of bricks. Wealthy merchants even build their mansions out of marble. You shouldn’t be so surprised.”
“Is that so, Helmut?”
“Yes, young master. However, the marble mansions that Sir Balt speaks of are indeed quite rare, probably not exceeding 4 or 5 in the entire city.”
At that moment, I imagined a mansion with marble-clad walls, but I could hardly visualize it.
The scale was too grand.
“I see.”
“Those who own such mansions are the heads of the five families that govern this city. You should meet them within an hour; would you like me to tell you their stories?”
“Please do, Helmut.”
So Helmut shared with me about the political system of this city for an hour.
According to what he said, the entity leading this free city is the ‘City Council,’ and the chairman of this council becomes the de facto ruler.
The council chairman is called the ‘Doge,’ and under the Doge are 10 senators as part of the city council, along with 30 other council members.
Most of the council members inherit their positions to people from their own families, but fitting for the name ‘Free City,’ every four years, they elect candidates from their respective districts.
Helmut criticized this system as foolish, but it seems not too bad considering that the wealthy citizens of this city would likely strive to participate in politics and realize their dreams of advancement.
And incompetent council members would typically fail to be ‘re-elected,’ hence would likely be eliminated.
Beneath the city council, there are organizations like the guard responsible for maintaining order and defending against military invasions, as well as the administration comprising bureaucrats.
The most important point is that in this city, except for ‘courtesans, low-level laborers, the poor, and beggars,’ almost everyone is a citizen with ‘freedom rights.’
With freedom in hand, even a Doge, who possesses formidable power like a lord, cannot treat them recklessly…
Looking at all this, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that it resembled South Korea or other democratic nations in some way.
**
When we reached the city gates, two soldiers in armor wielding halberds stopped our carriage and said.
“Stop, stop! For what purpose have you come?! You must pay a toll to enter this city!”
Upon hearing that, Balt got out of the carriage and yelled.
“This person is Sir SIEL von Croilet, the heir of Baron Croilet! No matter how much of a free city this is, how can you charge a nobleman a toll?!”
The guards answered in faltering voices.
“How would we know that? And isn’t this carriage not branded with any insignia?”
Hearing that, Balt scratched his head, realizing that it sounded odd to argue that they shouldn’t collect a toll from a nobleman because the carriage bore no insignia.
“That’s my bad. Then can we pass through now?”
“Please enter.”
The guards moved to lift the bolt to open the door.
I stopped them and said.
“Hold on a moment, guards. There are a total of four carriages behind me; how much is the toll?”
The guards looked at me with puzzled expressions and replied.
“Aren’t you a noble? You may just go on. It’s an unspoken rule.”
“Not at all. I understand that within this city, both nobles and commoners alike must obey the same laws. Thus, I must pay the toll.”
Then the guards glanced at each other before answering.
“It’s one silver coin per carriage and two copper coins per person. However, if you pay this, you’ll at least receive some minimal protection under city law.”
“Good, here you go.”
After paying the fee, my party and I got back on our carriages and entered the city.
Just then, Balt looked at me as if I were a strange person and asked.
“Why did you insist on paying, young master? No matter how free this city is, they don’t impose tolls on foreign nobility…”
I smiled and replied.
“Balt, I’ve come to negotiate with entities in this city. According to Helmut, these entities are also the ‘rulers of the city.’ Therefore, it’s better to show that I, despite being a noble, adhere to their rules.”
**
The day we entered the city, I took the chance to rest and then gave Helmut and Balt a lot of money to gather information.
Though gathering information in this era mainly involves eavesdropping while drinking in taverns.
I decided to rest in a noble-only inn in the city since I was exhausted from riding in the carriage for nearly ten days.
However, when I requested a room solely for myself to relax, Ela stubbornly opposed, saying, “Serving my lord is an important task for Ela.” So, I ended up sharing a room with two beds.
The small bed was for Ela, and I took the larger one.
For about two or three days, I ate three meals a day within the hotel, occasionally enjoying performances taking place in the city, and relaxed thoroughly.
Finally, Helmut and Balt returned with some gathered information.
Though the details were somewhat complicated, they summarized it as follows.
Currently, the Doge of this city is Rael Schmitz, who originally made enormous profits from sugar trade with Spania.
However, due to the ongoing civil war within Spania, the sugar supply is gradually diminishing, causing prices to rise, and this gentleman is on the verge of bankruptcy.
In such circumstances, if I were to offer to sell sugar at the same price that Spania previously sold it, without any limits, it would be of great help.
Nobles must provide ‘sugar’ in their dishes when hosting banquets, so they would buy it almost unconditionally without price negotiations.
Not to mention the amount Count Nante spends on sugar for hosting banquets… let’s not even go there.
Then, I ought to hurry and prepare to take swift action on the good deed.
“Balt, Helmut. Thank you for your hard work thus far. Go to the Doge’s mansion and let them know that SIEL von Croilet has brought sugar. Ask them to recognize the prices previously sold in Spania, and I’ll be willing to sell as much as they desire.”
Now that I’ve laid the bait, he must take the hook…
**
Before long, not even two days had passed when a servant from the Doge’s family came to find me.
“I am Helios Pyler, the servant to the Doge. I heard that Sir Croilet has brought sugar, and the Doge wishes to meet with you directly.”
Upon hearing this, I was certain I had caught the opportunity for success.
I felt like doing a somersault from joy but deliberately said nonchalantly.
“May I go now? I have brought two tons of sugar for sale. Though it’s not a large amount yet…”
Upon hearing that, the servant’s eyes widened in surprise.
Next, I moved to the Doge’s office located in his mansion.
**
Surprisingly, the Doge’s office was simple—well, simply seemed simple.
The sofa the Doge used appeared to be made of black fabric at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it was slightly glossy silk, and the desk and bookcases were made from black ebony.
Particularly, the curtains, although white, were adorned with intricate lace from top to bottom, indicating an immense cost.
As I sat there, pondering the extraordinary amount of money spent on the office, the door opened, and the Doge entered.
Dressed in a passionate red coat with gold embroidery, the Doge, who was already over sixty, walked in briskly, appearing nothing like someone his age, and sat on the sofa across from me.
After sitting down, he looked at me with a smile, but within that smile, I could not discern any intent.
I deeply bowed my head toward the Doge before speaking.
“It is an honor to meet you, Doge. I am SIEL von Croilet, the heir of Baron Croilet from the Count Nante’s family.”
The Doge looked at me and said with a smile.
“Indeed, I am the Doge of this city. No matter how much you have brought sugar, ordinarily, I would not bother meeting you. However, according to the guards’ reports, I wanted to meet the young man who willingly paid a toll out of respect for ‘our laws,’ even when he did not have to.”
“Is that so?”
“You are much more prudent than I thought; it is like looking at myself when I was young. You’ve passed.”
It seemed that showing the unnecessary respect of paying the toll to ‘show respect for the guards’ was indeed the right choice.
And the Doge, with a profoundly meaningful smile, looked at me with a cold gaze that was frightening.
“Well then, about that sugar. At what price will you sell it, and don’t think about trying anything deceitful in my presence. If you do, I will take revenge not just on your father but also on your lord’s family.”
At that moment, when someone capable of erasing me and my family threatened me, fear swept over me.
But I composed myself and prepared to respond.