As soon as Charles VIII’s royal sanction was given, French diplomats began to move busily toward the Habsburg and Spanish courts.

Banquets were held for those entrusted with the mission of envoys, and many nobles attended. And for the mid-to-low-ranking officials who could not attend due to their status, banquets were also held in the entertainment districts of Paris.

Subsequently, the nobles who had attended the banquets gathered in their own factions and held drinking parties again in the entertainment houses.

Thanks to this, the Secret Guard agents stationed in Paris had to move busily.

They had to gather information spilled by drunk lower-ranking officials who attended the banquets in the entertainment houses, and they had to eavesdrop on the nobles who had attended the banquets hosted by the king and the highest nobility as they discussed the mission’s chances of success.

With this secured information in his possession, the chief Secret Guard officer stationed in Paris headed for Italy.

***

Gathered in a liquor warehouse in Livorno, the Secret Guard officers shared the information they had gathered and exchanged opinions.

“The changing political situation in Europe is picking up speed, and I’m worried. Seoul is too far away.”

The operative from Lisbon pointed out the problem with a deeply furrowed brow. At his point, the other officers also nodded with similar expressions.

To send information from Italy to Seoul and receive a reply took four months if they were lucky, and usually six.

In normal times, it was a situation they could endure and move on from, but these were not normal times.

And the one whose situation was most urgent was the man in charge of Lisbon.

“How are things in Lisbon now?”

At the question from the Paris operative, the Lisbon operative let out a sigh.

“Hoo~. Don’t even get me started. In the court, every day begins and ends with arguments, and the streets at night have turned into lawless zones. Thanks to that, our sales are at rock bottom and intelligence gathering is a mess.”

The Lisbon operative’s complaint went on for a long time.

“…To set up shop in a place like that, of all places… No, for all the formidable people to have passed away… Phew~.”

The other officers who heard the Lisbon operative’s complaint could understand his hardship.

With it becoming certain that not only the great powers of Europe but also the Empire would intervene in the war to be fought over Italy, the one that found itself in the most difficult position was Portugal.

***

Since Prince Henrique’s visit to the Empire, Portugal had been enjoying a golden age.

This was because by partnering with the Empire, they had gained enormous economic benefits and had been able to import weapons from the Empire to keep Spain in check.

On top of that, by becoming a community of interest with France through Suez, Portugal was in a situation that ‘couldn’t get any better.’

With the great land power of France keeping Spain in check, Portugal’s burden was steadily decreasing.

Not missing this golden opportunity, Portugal had moved busily. While steadily building up its army’s strength, it had simultaneously thrown its weight behind its naval power.

Thanks to this, Portugal’s naval power had now grown to a position where it vied for the top spot in Europe. And based on that naval power, it had further grown its colonial enterprises in Africa.

Subsequently, it was able to get ahead of other competitors in the race to find the rumored ‘Southern New Continent’ and was seeing some handsome profits.

However, because of Italy, this golden opportunity had turned into a crisis.

And Portugal was forced to stand at a crossroads. It was because of France and the Empire.

Both justification and practical interest pointed to the same conclusion: France and the Empire could not be on the same side.

And the conclusion had also been reached that if Portugal did not choose one of the two, its independent survival would be difficult.

For this reason, a fierce battle of words was being waged daily in the royal palace in Lisbon.

“The Empire! We must side with the Empire! Even a child knows of the Empire’s power!”

“But the Empire is far away! We must join hands with France! The Empire has to cross the sea, but France can walk right over!”

“There are rumors that France and Spain may join hands! With Spain, which is always watching our Portugal with covetous eyes!”

“Are you saying we should make an enemy of France? Do you really think our army can handle the French army?!”

“Hoo~.”

Watching the nobles and ministers split into two factions and wage a war of words, King John II let out a sigh.

Both sides were arguing their opinions out of a desire to protect the country, and both sides’ opinions had their pros and cons.

“Hoo~.”

Sighing once more, John II intervened in the debate.

“Enough. Everyone is too agitated. Let’s calm down for a moment.”

“Forgive us, Your Majesty.”

“We have shown an unseemly display.”

At John II’s point, the ministers and nobles bowed their heads and fell silent. Having stopped the argument, John II shared his own thoughts.

“What about just declaring neutrality?”

At John II’s proposal, the ministers and nobles, regardless of faction, simultaneously shook their heads.

“That is impossible.”

“The Empire might recognize it, but France will refuse.”

“What is the reason?”

The nobles and ministers answered John II’s question immediately.

“It is because of our navy.”

“Ah…”

Hearing the answer, John II immediately nodded his head.

To repeat, Portugal’s naval power was one of the strongest in Europe.

With the Empire joining the war over Italy, the military officials of Europe had been studying ways to win against the Empire.

• -To win against the Empire, the best way is to cut off its supply lines in the Mediterranean.
• -To do this, a powerful naval force is necessary.

Having reached this conclusion, the military officials of Europe all turned their attention to Portugal. No, they turned their attention to Portugal’s navy.

“You’re saying they will surely force us into an alliance because of our proud navy?”

“That is correct. Especially after the Imperial fleet crossed the Atlantic and arrived in Italy, they will certainly try to get their hands on it.”

“Hoo~. This is a headache.”

John II placed a hand on his forehead and sighed.

“So we must join hands with the Empire…”

“No, with France…”

While John II was deliberating, the nobles and ministers began to wage a fierce war of words once again.

If they waged a fierce debate in the court during the day, at night, it was a matter of life and death. This was because they were sending assassins to eliminate their political enemies.

***

As this chaotic situation continued, everyone from King John II to the peddlers in the marketplace came to think the same thing.

“If only they were still alive…”

The ones they missed were the first Duke of Coimbra and Prince Henry the Navigator.

Those two were the ones who had made the Portugal of today. With judgments faster and decisions bolder than anyone’s, they had headed for the Empire and made Portugal prosperous, and through a great purge of the nobles, symbolized by the purge of the Duke of Braganza, they had prevented the tyranny of the aristocracy.

However, they too were now figures of the past. The 2nd Duke of Coimbra, who had succeeded the first as the kingdom’s chancellor, was also a capable man. But compared to the first Duke, his light was a little faded.

Thanks to this, they were still floundering about, unable to make a decision. And this was adding to John II’s burden.

After the great purge symbolized by the purge of the Duke of Braganza was over, Afonso V had all but entrusted full authority to the Duke of Coimbra. The first Duke of Coimbra, disappointed in Afonso V, did his utmost to teach the arts of kingship to Afonso V’s son, John II.

Thanks to his teaching, which used examples from the deeds of famous emperors of the old Roman Empire era to the anecdotes of Sejong and Hyang, John II was able to become a capable king.

Even in the history before Hyang’s intervention, he was a man called ‘the Perfect Prince (o Príncipe Perfeito).’

However, no matter how capable the king, if his subjects could not find their direction, there was no way the affairs of state would run properly.

Just like now.

Exhausted by the daily-repeating arguments, John II looked out the window and muttered.

“I envy the Ottomans…”

Bayezid II, who had ascended to the sultanate after Mehmed II, was doing his best to strengthen the internal affairs of the Ottoman Empire while watching the chaotic battle over Italy.

“Just watch them bite and tear at each other. But if they bite me, raise the club without mercy.”

This was Bayezid II’s thought.

***

The Secret Guard officers, who were searching for the best method in the increasingly urgent situation, soon reached a consensus.

“Do we agree that the current situation is one where ‘the judgment on the ground takes top priority’?”

“Agreed.”

“Agreed.”

“Then let’s put it in writing and stamp our thumbprints.”

Having reached a unanimous agreement, the Secret Guard officers put their heads together and began to create a plan.

A few days later, a man entered the Imperial Embassy in Florence.

“What is it?”

At the question from the embassy official, the man hesitated, looked around diligently, and then quietly opened his mouth.

“Um… I am a person named Song who works at a tavern in Paris. I have an urgent matter to report to the ambassador…”

“An urgent matter to report?”

“Yes. It is a matter concerning the safety of the nation.”

At the man’s words, the official hurriedly rose from his seat.

“Please wait a moment.”

***

A short while later, the man was summoned to the place where the ambassadors were seated.

“I am here to see the ambassadors.”

“You said you came from Paris? You’ve had a long journey. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you, sirs.”

As the man sat down, Shin Sukju opened his mouth.

“Alright, you said it is a matter concerning the safety of our Empire. What is it?”

“I work at a tavern in Paris, sirs. Since it’s a rather expensive tavern, our customers are people who are quite influential in Paris.”

“Paris… the ‘lune rouge’?”

As Shin Sukju acted as if he knew, the man nodded his head emphatically.

“Yes, that’s right, sirs!”

“I see. Continue.”

“Yes. After working for a few years, I’ve come to understand a few words of French, and a while ago, officials who work at the royal palace came in for a company dinner. While I was bringing them their drinks, I overheard words like ‘Spain, Habsburg, alliance.’ So I listened a little more closely, and it seemed like France was sending envoys to those countries. Although I am just a man who works in a tavern, I still know a little about how the world works, so I came all the way here just in case.”

“Is that so? Thank you very much. But do you know when they sent them?”

“It must have been over a month by now, sirs.”

“Is that so? Thank you.”

“I will report your deeds to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“It is an honor, sirs!”

After sending out the man who was bowing and scraping obsequiously, the three men faced each other with serious expressions.

“We expected it to some extent, but…”

“We must also devise a countermeasure.”

“So, speaking of which…”

Shin Sukju looked at the other two men and shared his thoughts.

“I think I’ll have to go to Portugal. If I play my cards right, I should be able to drive in a proper wedge.”

At Shin Sukju’s words, Seong Sam-mun and Yu Eung-bu also nodded.

“That’s a good idea.”

“If it’s Portugal, it could be quite a troublesome wedge indeed.”