Reincarnated Into The Middle Ages

"May I ask what kind of business you're in, sir?"

"Silk. I've got a batch of top-notch red silk!"

Marco looked at Norn in surprise, not expecting this young noble to have such high-end goods on hand.

"Is there a problem? No connections?"

"By His Majesty the Emperor's special permission, we merchants do have some influence in this city. But sir, may I see a sample?" Marco said eagerly.

"After we disembark."

"Ah, my apologies for being forward! Allow me to arrange accommodations for you."

And so, Norn and his party smoothly checked into the Venetian Merchant's Inn in the port district. Though the rooms were small, thanks to Constantinople's wealth, the furnishings were exquisite, with freshly changed fine linen sheets.

Once Norn had settled in, Marco came calling.

"I hope you'll forgive my intrusion, but the pursuit of profit is a fine virtue for any merchant."

"No problem. Take a look at this," Norn said, handing over the sample he had prepared.

Marco took it with both hands, first gently feeling it with his fingers, then tugging on it forcefully, and finally holding it up to the light to check its translucency.

Norn watched with a smile as Marco examined it.

"Top-quality European silk, but this color..." Marco said with increasing respect. "It's brighter and more vivid than what the court used to have. May I ask where you got this fine batch?"

"From the latest weaving technology in Florence. Their top craftsmen spent three years purifying the old dyes to get this new experimental dye," Norn lied smoothly.

"This batch was originally meant for the Cardinal, but due to some fortunate circumstances, our family got hold of a portion."

"I'm impressed by your connections. But may I ask how much of this batch you have?"

"A thousand bolts! We're on our way to the Holy Land for a pilgrimage, and we need to offload this quickly."

"So much!" Marco exclaimed in delight. "If that's the case, please give me a few days. I'll introduce you to another gentleman who might be able to take the entire batch off your hands."

"No problem."

"I'll go find this important person right away. Also, the caravan will set off for the Port of St. Acre in ten days. In the meantime, you can explore this city of wealth," Marco said, holding the sample and backing away.

Just before leaving, he added, "Oh, and sir! Please make sure to bring guards when you go out. The locals... well, they don't quite understand us."

"Why is that?"

"Twenty years ago, after the Norman Kingdom went to war with the Empire, the people here have become less friendly to merchants from Venice.

And there are always some scum who claim to act in the Lord's name, plundering and ravaging the empire's villages. Now the locals call us 'Latins' or 'Franks' with great misunderstanding. So, please be careful."

"Thanks for the warning."

With that, Marco left. After resting at the inn for a day, Norn took William and DeMol to explore the city.

Thanks to the fine Roman tradition, the straight and clean avenues liberated Norn's feet, but what delighted him most was the fresh air here!

In both Mainz and Veneto, there were no toilets. Whether it was the noble ladies or the monks serving the Lord, everyone relieved themselves wherever they pleased. The city lords might clean the streets occasionally, but some alleys were beyond their reach. So the air there was simply foul.

"Roman air is so refreshing."

Norn took a deep breath, feeling for the first time that toilets were a great invention!

Since he was in Rome, there was one thing he definitely had to experience, Norn thought.

"A bath!"

The private bathhouse Marco recommended was located on the west side of the port district, and even foreigners like Norn could use it.

After paying a silver denarius each, the three men entered the bath hall.

Perhaps because they arrived early, there was no one inside. A large marble bathtub stood in the center, with marble loungers on one side. There were also several marble statues around.

The walls and floors were heated by underground channels, so when Norn stepped in naked, he didn't feel the slightest bit cold.

"Ah!" Norn and his companions groaned in pleasure as they soaked in the warm water.

Compared to the rough wooden tubs in the inn, this place felt like heaven!

For a moment, Norn's childlike excitement took over, and he splashed around in the bathtub, playfully flicking water at William and DeMol.

"It wouldn't be bad to live here permanently!"

As Norn was daydreaming about how much he could make from this deal and whether he could afford a house, a tinkling, silvery laugh came from outside.

Norn jolted, his body stiffening, and he slowly turned his head.

"H-How... could this be?"

Three snow-white figures appeared, their forms faintly visible through the misty steam.

"What a cute little boy!"

As the figures approached Norn, their graceful, charming, or adorable bodies enlarged in his pupils!

"Disaster!! I completely forgot that this bathhouse is mixed-gender!!"

By the time they left the bathhouse, Norn was as red as a boiled shrimp, his eyes spiraling like incense coils.

"That was so embarrassing!" Norn thought back to how he had been toyed with by the three Roman women, his vision filled with a sea of white. "You're supposed to be experienced, and yet you acted like such a wimp!"

"Hahaha! Little Norn, you're such a newbie!" William wouldn't let go of this chance to tease him, laughing and patting Norn on the head.

DeMol couldn't stand it anymore and retorted,

"Norn is still a kid. What about you? You were the one staring at people and almost got kicked out!"

The laughter stopped abruptly, and William turned away, muttering quietly, "Well, this isn't my first time here."

"Let's go! Back to the inn!" Norn shook his head, shaking off the previous scandal from his mind and heading back to the lodge.

After disappearing for a few days, Marco finally reappeared in front of Norn.

"Sir, that gentleman would like to see you."

"Hm?" Norn asked in confusion.

"There's no other reason. He just wants to express his gratitude to you."

Norn glanced worriedly at Otto, who thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Then lead the way!"

An hour later, Otto and Norn were led to an exquisite courtyard by the soldiers at the gate. The courtyard, which didn't look very large from the outside, was a hidden paradise inside.

Fountains and flower beds sprayed water jets, and the various statues placed in the corridors were all masterpieces.

When the two men were shown into the study to wait, they were even more astonished by the owner's wealth: five cabinets full of parchment books, red curtains used casually, and patterned Persian carpets trampled underfoot.

Just as Norn was wondering who the owner might be, an elderly man in his fifties, with a clean-shaven face and wearing a red robe, walked in.

Norn and Otto immediately stepped forward to greet him, but the old man waved his hand in a friendly manner. Although he smiled at Norn and Otto, Norn felt as if he were a frog being stared at by a snake.

"Please, have a seat, Latin travelers from afar," the old man said in a sharp voice, clapping his hands. Immediately, the maids served Norn and Otto full glasses of wine.

"The delivery of this batch of goods is very timely. The royal weaving factory is already overwhelmed with the preparations for the princess's birthday next month," the old man said with a slight smile of gratitude, then asked, "But I am very interested, does this silk really come from Florence?"

"Of course!" Baron Otto replied according to the prearranged story, "We obtained it from a Florentine merchant."

"Hehe," the old man picked up his cup and took a gentle sip, with a half-smile, "I didn't expect the textile guild of Florence to progress so quickly!"

"You know, the silk technology that you Latins have taken from the empire is only a little over ten years old, right?" The old man changed the subject, "Of course, I know that all of you are loyal subjects of the empire and would not be involved in such dirty affairs."

"But Baron Otto, could you pass on to the guild in Florence that the empire is very interested in new technologies. Of course, the empire is willing to grant Florence more privileges."

"We just happened to get this batch of goods, and we will soon set off for the Holy Land to join the Templars and fight for the Lord's cause," Otto replied modestly, "We are really sorry to disappoint you."

"Is that so?" The old man leaned back and said no more. Norn and Otto knew when to take their leave.

After a while, the butler came forward to report, "Sir, shall we send someone..."

"The empire is now in great danger, and the treasury is already in deficit. These damned Latin rats are still gnawing at the roots of the empire," the old man's eyes gleamed with a cold light, "Let them be for now. Lord Andronicus is about to enter the city, and we have more important things to do."

On the other side, Norn, who narrowly escaped, wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and thought to himself, "I just wanted to make a quick profit and leave, but I didn't expect to be targeted so soon. I can't underestimate these two-faced people anymore."

"No way, I have to find a way to protect myself." Norn looked at the weapons he had bought a while ago, and his lips curled up unconsciously.