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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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Recruiting shipwrights and slum dwellers from Guillaume doesn’t mean everything is settled.
I’ve secured a trade route to the Kingdom of Lyon, but not clients.
But it seems I don’t need to actively seek them out.
“Our Maron Trading Company is based in Marseille. People call us merchant princes.”
If this were Joseon, such a statement would be followed by humble self-deprecation.
Because in Joseon, or rather, East Asia, even in the 21st century, feigning humility is considered polite.
Failing to do so would label you as arrogant.
But this is the Almaina continent, the European cultural sphere. As long as you’re not overly arrogant, it’s acceptable.
“I hear you’re selling kelp in the Kingdom of Lyon. How about selling it through us? We’ll offer you a generous price.”
“What price are you offering?”
“30 gold coins per 100 grams.”
That’s a decent price even within the Toscana Empire.
Besides, the production cost is just a few copper coins, so even with a discount, I wouldn’t lose money.
But offering the origin price for an imported medicinal herb is shameless, isn’t it?
“70 gold coins per 100 grams. I’ll sell it to nobles for 100.”
“That’s almost twice the price nobles pay in the Toscana Empire.”
“There are plenty of buyers, aren’t there? Even the mayor of Guillaume…”
When I returned after ordering the construction of a shipyard on Bio Village’s coast and making “special arrangements” for the slum dwellers with the mercenaries…
…the mayor of Guillaume boasted about regaining his virility after consuming kelp soup with garlic and fish.
He claimed his quality of life had improved dramatically and treated me like his lifelong benefactor, almost kissing me on the cheek.
Apparently, cheek kissing between men is a sign of close friendship in this country… I’ll pass.
“This precious medicine, good for both virility and postpartum recovery, is highly sought after by nobles in the Toscana Empire. Do you think they’ll resist buying it?”
“How much can you supply?”
It’s important not to offer too much, driven by greed.
Selling a large quantity initially at a high price is tempting, but…
…anything becomes less valuable when it’s readily available.
‘Wild pine mushrooms are more expensive than shiitake mushrooms not because they taste better, but because they’re rare.’
“40 kg. The amount might decrease depending on local circumstances.”
“…Could you increase the supply?”
“I can’t. I have many other requests, including domestic demand within the empire.”
I filled out the blanks in the pre-written contract.
“Please sign here.”
Three copies of the contract. We each keep the originals, and we split the third copy in half.
“If you need to verify the contract, present your half.”
“Understood.”
The merchant from the Maron Trading Company stood up.
Just before leaving, he asked again,
“Are you absolutely sure you can’t increase the supply?”
“I can’t.”
“Alright. But if you can supply more, please contact us. We’ll make it worth your while.”
Indeed, the best way to sell a high-priced product is to create artificial scarcity.
Like potato chips with honey, limiting supply even when people are clamoring for more.
I heard those chips saw a dramatic increase in sales after implementing this strategy.
“Things are going too smoothly.”
There’s an old saying:
When you think life is going well, something bad is bound to happen.
Sebastian’s voice came from outside.
“Young master, I think you need to come downstairs.”
Why do my premonitions always come true?
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Downstairs, a group of officials from Guillaume awaited.
They carried measuring tools and documents.
They must be here for revenge, now that I’m close to the mayor of Guillaume.
“Are you Fabio de’ Medici?”
He’s speaking down to me, even though he knows I’m a noble.
He must be a high-ranking official in this city.
The Art of War advises bowing your head to achieve peace when facing a stronger opponent.
“Yes, I am.”
“I am Louis de Fadorne, a member of the Guillaume City Council and Director of Finance. I wish I could have visited under better circumstances.”
He seems determined to ruin me.
His subordinates are already opening my kelp boxes.
“We received a report from a good citizen that you are conducting illegal business, violating our kingdom’s laws.”
“Who filed the report?”
In 21st-century Korea, the identity of the reporter is protected.
This is often abused by malicious reporters.
But in this world, where a warhorse is more valuable than a serf, such laws aren’t strictly followed.
It’s like anonymous “letters to the editor” in the military.
Strangely, even if the letter is anonymous, everyone knows who wrote it.
And the writer usually suffers severe consequences.
The same applies to our world. Reporting someone powerful often leads to retaliation.
“You don’t need to know. The important thing is…”
As Louis, the city council member, was stalling, his subordinate rushed over.
“The boxes are filled with kelp! Each box weighs about 10 kg, and there are about 50 boxes.”
“We’ll confiscate all illegally imported goods.”
Even in 21st-century Korea, illegally imported goods are confiscated and auctioned off by customs.
Sometimes, you can find good deals on alcohol that way.
“These goods have an owner. And I have a permit from the mayor of Guillaume to conduct business here.”
“If you didn’t have a permit, do you think we’d be treating you so politely?”
They’re clearly trying to intimidate me with confiscation and then extort money under the guise of customs duties or tax evasion.
What’s so polite about this?
It’s like a manager sexually harassing a female subordinate and promising a promotion (that never comes) in exchange for… favors.
“If you didn’t have a permit, we would have arrested you by force. And since these goods have an owner, confiscation is problematic.”
He must know what kelp is, as the mayor of Guillaume has been bragging about it.
So, upon hearing that the goods have an owner, he must have thought,
‘These are for the nobles, so we shouldn’t touch them.’
“Alright, we’ll show you mercy and let you pay customs duties.”
“I’ve already paid the duties.”
I gave a small gift to the customs officials at the port.
So, I imported the goods at the lowest tax rate. It’s borderline tax evasion, but it’s legal.
“The duty for such luxury goods is usually 50%. So, pay half the value of the kelp.”
This despicable scoundrel.
He’s clearly twisting the law to extort money.
“And if you want to do business here, you’ll need my help. Let’s just say everything in this city goes through me, the Director of Finance.”
As Director of Finance, he controls all the money in this city.
He collects taxes and manages the budget.
“I hope you make a wise choice.”
He made a circle with his fingers.
He’s demanding a bribe.
I’m furious, but I need to pay him off to escape this situation.
A wise man, or rather, any man…
…prioritizes survival in a life-or-death situation.
Revenge comes later.
“I don’t have much cash on hand, as I invested heavily in acquiring these goods. Please wait until I receive payment for them.”
I had Sebastian bring me 100 gold coins and handed them over.
Louis smiled upon seeing the gleaming gold.
He must be thrilled at the prospect of extorting money from me, the future pillar of this city’s commerce.
“There’s no need to wait. We, or rather, I, am generous. However, you can’t leave Guillaume until you’ve paid the full amount.”
Does he think I’ll actually pay the full amount?
If I bow my head once, he’ll see me as a pushover forever.
‘It’s hard to become a pushover, but once you are, you’re a pushover for life.’
He seems to enjoy wielding his power as a city council member. Let’s see how long that lasts.
I’m not one to let those who cross me get away with it.
Louis took the money and left.
“Sebastian, find out where the other city council members live. Especially those in Louis’s faction.”
Those obsessed with money often meet their downfall because of it.
I’ll show him that.
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