"Mischief-Makers"

Just as the various Italian city-states were still scheming against one another and competing in secret, France, Britain, and the House of Habsburg formed alliances through marriage, weakening the Italian city-states.

Meanwhile, pirates and the Ottoman Empire were weakening Venice's naval power at sea. Everything seemed to be heading in a bad direction.

Yet Venice still managed to tame Europe by its own methods. Banquets, music, fine wine, and beautiful women all became part of Venice's enchanting scenery.

They wanted to enjoy a luxurious life but hated spending money. It would have been one thing if they had been wise scholars, brave heroes, or Divination practitioners with magical powers, but the problem was that most tourists hurried away after taking a photo with Venice.

That photograph was their trophy, like a fisherman's photo after catching a big fish. It proved, "I came to Venice," and then it became something they could show off to others. "Look. Take a good look. This is the proof."

The explosive growth of tourism brought about other secondary disasters. Later, Venice would limit its average daily visitor numbers. The more people were forbidden from going, the more they wanted to go; the more something was forbidden, the more people wanted to touch it. After finally getting the chance to "enter the city," of course they had to "enjoy" themselves to the fullest.

The Talmud said: A merchant's ears could hear money singing.

In business, one should treat one's trade as one's lover, and then the relationship would be full of passion and pleasure.

Sultan Selim II, like a boy who loved playing "computer games," had many games to play. Cecilia, who had nothing but beauty and her body, had to use every bit of her charm to keep the Sultan's attention on herself and stop