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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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Curses and harsh words filled the Blacksmiths’ Guild in Firenze.
“Is this for real? Which madman is selling steel at this price?!”
The Guild Master slammed his fist on the desk.
His hand must hurt, but he showed no sign of pain, his fury evident.
“Fine, let’s say you can make cheap scrap iron by chucking iron ore into a furnace and turning a water wheel! But to make steel, you have to hammer it until your arms fall off! How can they sell it at this price?”
The Guild Master was about to explode.
Even with their monopoly on steel, controlling military supplies like weapons and armor and essential tools, making a living was tough.
Now, with their steel monopoly broken, life will undoubtedly become harder.
Their competitors will undercut them, even at a loss, to drive them out of business.
“We’re all going to die! We’re doomed!”
Their usual practice of profiting within reasonable limits, without offending those in power, is over.
“Deputy Master, can’t we petition Duke Sforza, or even the Imperial Family? Ask for help, saying that our centuries-old guild rights have been violated?”
In this world, it’s natural for nobles involved in politics and merchants involved in trade to be intertwined.
So, if they suffer losses, the pockets of those in power are also affected.
Those in power know that their financial situation is directly linked to their political power.
So, it’s common practice for them to protect merchants like their own…
“Master, they’re dealing in steel. The price of steel accounts for most of the cost of weapons. Which noble would prevent the price of steel from falling? Even if you propose a solution to the City Council, it will be blocked.”
The cost of a suit of armor or a horse isn’t a significant burden for high-ranking nobles like Barons.
In fact, some even commission custom-made armor worth more than a castle.
But even a Baron employs dozens of knights or heavy cavalry.
These knights struggle to afford even a single suit of armor.
The high-ranking nobles aren’t oblivious to their knights’ situations and won’t act against their vassals’ interests.
“Damn that Visconti! If it were anything else, we could have resisted, citing infringement on guild interests.”
The Guild Master clutched his head.
He sighed, feeling a throbbing pain.
“What’s the estimated loss?”
“Around 1,758 gold coins. And that’s just an estimate. I expect the losses to increase.”
“We’ve lost 10% of our revenue. Oh, dear God.”
Although it’s just 10% numerically, the repercussions will be much greater.
With an unlimited supply of steel at 30% below market price, nobles, who consume most of the steel, will all secretly trade in the steel produced by Duke Visconti.
Having secured a large supply at a low price, they’ll cut unnecessary deals.
‘If only they had sold it at the same price as us… this wouldn’t have happened…’
“And starting this month, 15 noble families, including Count Vauban, have notified us that they’re terminating their steel supply and weapon/armor contracts. They’re also demanding a refund of the deposits…”
When purchasing goods in bulk from the guild, a deposit of 20% to 30% of the total price is required.
Because the guild uses that money to purchase necessary materials and tools for production.
So, this money is spent as soon as the deal is made.
And now they’re canceling their orders and demanding a refund?
“Tell them to go to hell! We signed contracts with officials stating that deposits are non-refundable, anticipating this! Fuck!”
They can prevent the outflow of deposits.
But without a steady income, it will become difficult to pay their employees and repay the loans they took to establish their workshops.
If this continues, they might even face bankruptcy.
“Is there really no solution?”
“There’s nothing we can do.”
“Damn it, how can we…”
Then, a brilliant idea struck the Guild Master.
“Even if Duke Visconti is backing them, trading goods monopolized by the guild without Imperial permission is illegal.”
It’s illegal and against Imperial decree.
But in a world where social order trumps legal justice, what does it matter if the nobles condone it?
“What good is it if the nobles condone it?”
“Think differently. If those violating the Imperial decree and engaging in illicit trade are robbed, who can they appeal to?”
Although Duke Visconti is secretly involved, selling steel is not a legitimate economic activity.
So, just as criminals can’t report injustices to the authorities…
The Duke can’t openly use his power to intervene if those engaging in illicit trade, against the Imperial decree, are robbed.
“Unless they want to openly advertise their violation of Imperial law, it’s impossible.”
If it were a fight between Duke Visconti and the Blacksmiths’ Guild, the judge would side with the Duke, even if he raped the Guild Master’s daughter.
Even rape would be twisted into “consensual sex.”
That’s the beautiful legal justice of the empire.
Anyone who objects is a delinquent and a traitor.
But Duke Sforza won’t ignore a lawsuit involving a blatant violation of Imperial law.
“If this comes to light, we’ll lose our heads, but Duke Sforza will never let Duke Visconti off the hook.”
In short, even if the Duke’s steel is plundered, he can’t report it due to the potential for greater losses.
Everyone was impressed by the Guild Master’s crazy idea.
“To avoid complications if our involvement is revealed, let’s have Tony handle it. Promise to set him up with his own workshop using guild funds, and he’ll wag his tail.”
It costs at least 50 gold coins to set up a small workshop.
Even for master craftsmen who earn a good living, it would take 10 years of saving every penny to accumulate 50 gold coins.
It’s a large enough sum to risk one’s life.
And they’re prepared to take all the credit if it succeeds and blame Tony if it fails.
Truly wicked.
“Contact the bandits first.”
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Our steel mill is thriving.
We’re preparing to produce 20 tons of steel daily now, and nearly 40 tons in a few months.
And the steel is selling out as soon as it’s produced, generating a 600% profit margin.
Most of the profit is going into my pocket, but the Duke isn’t demanding a cut.
He must have secured significant political influence by secretly distributing the strategic resource of steel to other nobles.
Well, I’m not interested in politics yet, so it’s none of my concern.
Or rather, the Duke needs to be politically successful for my value to increase, so it’s better if he handles the politics.
“I wish things would always stay this good.”
When I go home, my father, the former Baron, will nag me to get married and buy a knighthood to become a noble.
I still have things to do here, so I can’t go back yet.
Or rather, if I go back now, I’ll probably get stabbed by someone hired by the disgruntled Blacksmiths’ Guild.
Enjoying my leisurely inspection…
“I should have stayed a serf! This is insane!”
“It’s absurd that they pay us so much but give us no time to spend it!”
A craftsman held up a hammer.
As the serf-turned-apprentice craftsmen quieted down, the older craftsmen began their hazing.
“Back in my day, we didn’t get paid as apprentices! Huh? And you brats, who went from being serfs to freemen and are getting paid regularly, are complaining?”
It’s common knowledge throughout the Toscana Empire, and even the Almaina continent, that apprentices don’t get paid.
But at our steel mill, they get a silver coin for a month’s work.
“You must have too much energy to complain if you’re slacking off.”
“Mercy! I won’t complain ever again.”
“Ha, the world has become too soft. You’re all dead today.”
And they were dragged away by the younger, yet senior craftsmen.
They’ll be stirring molten iron in the reverberatory furnace until they almost die today.
“Even the serfs are quickly integrating, as the work is too demanding to leave any room for bullying.”
In other workshops, serfs would be subjected to bullying far worse than 21st-century school bullying.
But there’s no discrimination against former serfs here.
Even those who were dragged away will become friends with their seniors after today’s ordeal, over a beer bought by their senior.
It seems social discrimination can be resolved with hard labor and high wages.
“Once those serfs become skilled, we can aim for 40 tons of steel per day.”
Though the profit margin per kg will decrease with increased volume, the total profit will definitely increase with higher sales.
“Should I head back for the day?”
As I was about to leave early, a servant from the Duke’s family approached me.
Judging by his attire, he’s a noble with a knighthood. What business does such a high-ranking person have with me?
“We have a serious problem! A merchant caravan carrying steel was robbed by bandits!”
…This is bad.
“His Grace urgently requests your presence.”
A person of the Duke’s stature must have a plan for such situations. Why is he summoning me?
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