A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Moreover, raising the purchase price would mean raising the selling price, which carries the risk of buyers refusing to pay the higher rates... And as for increasing the purchase cost while keeping the selling price the same? Such merchants do not exist in this world.

But Reginald could afford to do so, not only because he was the wealthiest in Pelican City but also because he only bought grain from Laurel and James, and immediately sold it to other cities. He did not have a funding gap; on the contrary, he had already made a profit.

The other cities in the Watson territory, obviously more affluent than Pelican City, and with their demand for this wheat, meant that even at a higher price, there would be plenty of buyers.

Reginald could effortlessly purchase the farmers' wheat at higher prices.

And when the other farmers truly achieved higher incomes due to Laurel's "negotiations"...

No one would ever sell their grain at lower prices again; they would only recognize this price, they would only recognize... Laurel.

"In merely a few days, you have become their representative. Before anyone could usurp your position by purchasing the wheat at a higher price, no one could challenge your standing."

Reginald shook his head with a smile, "However, who would be foolish enough to purchase wheat at a higher price when its yield and production speed are so alarmingly high? The current price is already pushing the limits."

Within the bounds of reason, fluctuations in price are normal. The merchants of Pelican City acquired the majority of the farmers' wheat at a "reasonably low price," but Reginald was able to offer a "reasonably high price."

Without anyone to coerce the farmers, Laurel, who held the decision-making power over sales, essentially controlled… all the fields outside Pelican City.

"It's not just about the wheat, Mr. Hegel." Laurel took a sip of his drink, trying to calm his emotions.

His father had spent all his savings to send him to serve a nondescript second-tier extraordinary being. Following this extraordinary being, he gained perspective and knowledge, yet he remained a servant, a farmer at heart.

When you're born, some things are already destined. Class is something that, in this world, exhausts a person for a lifetime... No, it's something that cannot be changed no matter how many generations pass.

Laurel was acutely aware of this fact, and he... despised himself for it.

Despite having such a strong initiative, he couldn't maintain complete composure.

"That field can cultivate anything, with different crops having different harvest times, which means... we could very likely harvest other crops in less than seven days."

Reginald paused, then said with a laugh, "You don't need to keep emphasizing the prowess of that field to me; I'm more than willing to make a bold wager on it. Since you're willing to sit here and talk to me calmly, it means... you've made your decision, right?"

Laurel nodded, saying crisply:

"All the crops can be supplied to you, Mr. Hegel. With this, dominating the entire Watson territory's food market will no longer be an issue."

"We will have everything." The man, whose heart raced, whose appearance was coarse, and whose stature was short and stout, seemingly worthless, said hoarsely.

"I believe so too, Mr. Morlamo."

At this moment, the two speculators reached an agreement.

Thus, on the thirteenth day, Reginald's grain trading company was established in Greenridge City.

By the fourteenth day, when the second seven-day period arrived, not a single grain of all the crops planted outside Pelican City remained in the city, which had not yet fully digested its previous grain production.

On the seventeenth day, Reginald's grain trading company had monopolized the entire wheat market of Greenridge City, owning a hundred percent of it, and began to advance into other territories within the Watson domain.

Also on the seventeenth day, the "Pelican Trading Commerce," established only four days prior, began to establish a complete grain industry chain in Greenridge City.

They purchased several bakeries and directly refused to supply that cheap special wheat to other bakeries, instead offering an unlimited supply at even lower prices to their own bakeries.

Consequently, within just four days, their bakeries overwhelmed the customer flow of Greenridge City's oldest bakery. The visible aftermath was not limited to bakeries; the Pelican Trading Commerce could devastatingly dominate any grain-related industry connected to wheat.

After the fourth day, which is the twenty-first day, the third round of harvest was completed.

It was proven that this land could cultivate any crop regardless of conditions. On this day, the Pelican Trading Commerce produced a massive amount of potatoes, green vegetables, radishes... various vegetables for the entire Watson domain.

The central territory of the Watson domain, Greenridge City, was almost completely overtaken by the Pelican Trading Commerce in the grain industry, and it was constantly supplying food to the entire Watson domain. When farmers began planting short-cycle vegetables, hundreds of tons could be produced in almost a day!

Therefore, by the twenty-second day:

A monopoly began.

*

I put a lot of effort into untangling the logic of this chapter. I read it several times, hoping there wouldn't be any glaring loopholes. After all, I'm not an economics expert = = However, considering that this is a game under the supervision of extraordinary beings, any logic can be understood!

This chapter draws inspiration from the cyberpunk worldview, where society is in a high-tech, high-productivity stage. However, social classes still exist, and the lower class may live lives even more miserable than those in the Middle Ages. Most people live in crowded, impoverished, polluted, and crime-ridden urban environments.

Technological progress has not brought about comprehensive social advancement, but rather, the societal class divide has been widening. Individuals and small groups are often oppressed and manipulated by corrupt social power structures.

I think these works shall help understand this cyberpunk worldview better!:

Neuromance by William Gibson

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by hilip K. Dick

Market Forces by Richard K. Morgan

Full Metal Alchemist (anime) Enjoy more content from m-v l'e|m,p| y- r

** I checked the above msg won't raise chapter price, dont worry~