Chapter 259 - 207: Only Believe What You See (Part 2)

The only language they understand is violence, the only logic they heed is that of force! Reason? It’s a foreign concept to them! They are arrogant, insolent, and ignorant!

Since they are so fond of using such base and clumsy tactics, then we will fight them the same way—to the bitter end...

So let the cities of Tuscan unite! Not just Pisa and Florence—we will utterly destroy the rule of the Canossa Clan! To Hell with that foolish Marchioness and her Normans...

Let them rule their kingdom in Hell! For they are no different from Demons—in fact, they are even worse...

We have nothing to lose but our chains, and a united Tuscan to gain!"

"Yes, their greed knows no bounds!" Giacomo said, feigning anger.

"So we must teach them a lesson! A bloody one!" Otto chimed in.

"Yes, a bloody one," Giacomo repeated.

"It is time for us to act. Cesare’s death has laid bare the Canossa Clan’s despicable nature! Now is the time to rise! Your father is dead, so the decision falls to you.

Pisa is far stronger than the other cities."

"Yes, the decision does fall to me. I am in control of the Lanfranchi now..." As he spoke, Giacomo tried to get out of bed, but the moment he moved, a sharp pain shot through his abdomen. He collapsed back onto the bed, his forehead beaded with sweat.

"What is it, Mr. Giacomo?"

"I... It’s nothing. It’s just... my injuries are still too severe... I’m sorry, I may need to rest for now. We can... we can talk again tomorrow," Giacomo said, putting on a weak facade.

"Ah... very well. You should get some rest. I will just..." This was exactly what Otto had hoped for.

His performance had achieved its desired effect.

"I will have someone arrange food and lodging for you," said Giacomo.

"Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Giacomo." Otto bowed respectfully and left the room.

The butler, Alberto, had a maid lead Otto to his room.

After confirming that Otto was out of sight, the butler, Alberto, re-entered the room.

"Master Giacomo, he..."

Before the butler could finish, Giacomo cut him off.

"He’s a fraud. His whole speech was just an emotional tirade. He didn’t mention a single concrete detail about the rebellion, skirting all the important issues. And as for liaising, no matter the circumstances, there shouldn’t be only a representative from Florence."

"Could he be one of Canossa’s men? Does Canossa know about our plans?"

"Perhaps."

"Then should we postpone our plan?"

"No, we have no path of retreat. I’ve had enough of the Scalara Clan. I want to shut them up for good. And that squawking rabble of commoners, too."

"As soon as the Emperor crosses the Alps and launches his attack, everything will change..." Giacomo’s face twisted into a vicious sneer.

Giacomo had barely finished his sentence when the door was kicked open.

It was his younger brother, Rolando.

"Rolando? What are you doing here?" Giacomo stared at his brother in surprise, then shot a glare at the butler. "You let him in, Alberto. Did you betray me?"

"No, I don’t know... I just had men posted all around your room," Alberto explained hastily. He then rushed to block Rolando’s path. "Rolando, your brother Giacomo needs to rest."

But Rolando, shedding his usual gentle demeanor, kicked Alberto to the ground. The sixty-year-old man almost couldn’t get back up.

"Is this a power grab? I’m not dead yet, Rolando." Giacomo tried to remain calm. "My dear brother, I always thought we had a good relationship. Or was that just wishful thinking on my part?"

He was probing to see how much Rolando had heard.

"You are my brother, Giacomo." Rolando tried to calm himself. He glanced at Alberto struggling on the floor, then back at Giacomo on the bed. He walked over to Alberto and helped the old butler to his feet.

"But you look like you’ve come to attend my funeral," Giacomo said with a laugh, trying to make a joke of it.

"If that were true, it might not be such bad news, Giacomo," Rolando said, clenching his fists.

"Such a cold-blooded answer, my dear bro—" Giacomo replied, still trying to sound nonchalant, but Rolando cut him off before he could finish.

"I’ll just ask you this: was it you who recalled the loans to the citizens of Pisa? Do you have any idea that you’ve left them with nothing? That with a single stroke of your pen, you’ve made them homeless!" From what he had just overheard, Rolando was now almost certain his brother Giacomo had done this deliberately.

"The bank’s expenditures have exceeded its capital. What was I supposed to do? Let the bank our family has run for four generations collapse?! On my watch? Should we, the Lanfranchi, just support all the paupers in Pisa?"

"Don’t be a fool, Rolando. I’m a merchant, a banker! I’m in business, not charity!"

"Couldn’t you have borrowed from other banks?"

"I’ve already borrowed everything I can, but it’s not enough! The war between the Heretics has cut Pisa’s business in the East in half! Countless people have lost their jobs and have nothing to do. Nobody wants to make deposits right now! Do you understand, Rolando?!"

"So you took from those who also couldn’t make ends meet... Giacomo, you’ve betrayed our family’s oath. If our great-grandfather and grandfather were still here..."

"They would have approved of my actions! Just as our grandfather said, sometimes you have to do bad things to be able to keep doing good."