LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 26
In Guillaume City, just because I’ve successfully recruited artisans and the poor, it doesn’t mean everything is over.
Right now, I’ve only just opened up the market for the Lion Kingdom, and I still need to secure trading partners.
But it seems I won’t have to run around looking for people to trade with after all.
“Our Maron Merchant Group is based in Marseille, and people sometimes refer to us as the Great Merchant.”
If this were Joseon in Northeast Asia, there would have been a humble remark along the lines of “but not quite that level of greatness.”
Because, you see, in Joseon, even in the 21st century, pretending to be humble is considered polite.
If you don’t follow this, you’re seen as arrogant and people will be pointing fingers at you behind your back.
But here, in the Almanian continent, in the European cultural sphere, as long as you’re not overly arrogant, it really doesn’t matter.
“I’ve heard that the Lion Kingdom is also selling seaweed these days. How about selling it through us? We’ll offer a decent price.”
“What price did you have in mind?”
“30 gold coins for 100 grams.”
This price is quite fair for what you’d be selling within the Toscan Empire.
Not to mention, the production cost is barely a few coins, selling it at nearly 100 times the price will make sure discounts won’t hurt at all.
But seriously, wanting to get foreign medicines at domestic prices is a bit shameless, isn’t it?
“70 gold coins for 100 grams. For nobles, let’s price it at 100 gold coins.”
“Isn’t that almost double the price circulating among the Toscan Empire nobles?”
“Still, there will be plenty of buyers, especially someone like Mayor Guillaume… cough cough.”
I had just ordered the construction of a shipyard on the coast of our Bio Village, while the poor were directed to hire a mercenary group and make ‘special preparations,’ and look at this.
Mayor Guillaume boasted to me that after eating seaweed soup with garlic and fish, his vitality returned.
Thanks to that, he said his quality of life improved and he rushed at me like I was his lifelong benefactor, ready to kiss me on the cheek.
Supposedly, if you get really close in this country, men even kiss each other’s cheeks… I’m not into that, though.
“This precious medicinal herb is good for vitality and for mothers as well. Nobles from the Toscan Empire go crazy for it. Don’t you think the nobles will buy it?”
“How much are you offering?”
The key here is not to be greedy and give away too much in hopes of making a lot of money.
At first, people will buy it for a high price since it’s a rare medicinal herb.
But once it becomes common, the price will drop rapidly.
“Natural wild matsutake mushrooms are more expensive than shiitake not because they taste better but because they’re rare, right?”
“40 kilos. It might decrease depending on local conditions.”
“…Can you give us a bit more?”
“No, I can’t. Other merchant groups are requesting as well. Plus, there’s a certain amount consumed in the Empire.”
I filled out the various blank spaces on the pre-prepared contract.
“Please sign here.”
I had prepared three copies of the contract, we’d keep two originals, and cut one in half to share.
“If you wish to verify the authenticity of the transaction, just bring your half of the contract.”
“Understood.”
With that, the merchant from the Maron Group stood up.
Just as he was about to open the door and leave, he asked one more time.
“Are you really unable to provide a bit more?”
“No, I can’t.”
“Got it. Still, if you can manage to give us extra at any time, please contact us. We’ll make sure you won’t regret it.”
It seems the best strategy when selling products at high prices is to act like you’re offering just a tiny bit more, like chips with a hint of honey.
No matter how much others beg for more, just giving out that little bit will keep them wanting.
I’ve heard that sales figures are vastly different when sticking to this principle compared to being generous.
“Things seem to be going too smoothly.”
There’s an old saying that when you feel like life is going alright, something happens to ruin it.
I could hear Sebastian’s voice from outside.
“Young Lord, it seems you need to come downstairs urgently.”
Oh, why does my gut feeling always end up being right?
When I went down, I found administrative officials sent by Mayor Guillaume swarming the place.
As soon as I arrived, they were holding large measuring devices and various documents.
They must have come to take revenge now that I’ve gotten close with Mayor Guillaume.
“Are you Fabio de Medici?”
Even knowing I’m a noble, they clearly treated me with disdain.
This seems to be one of the higher-ranking administrative officials in this city.
The military strategy says to bow my head to stronger opponents and ensure peace, after all.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I am Louis de Padorne, a councilman of Guillaume City and the HR Head. I wanted to come with pleasant news, but alas, it seems that’s not the case.”
Considering his demeanor, he seems quite determined to throw me into the lake, doesn’t he?
Even while we were still talking, his underlings were carelessly rummaging through our boxes of seaweed.
“I’m here today because we received reports from well-meaning citizens that you are violating our kingdom’s laws in your business.”
“And who reported this?”
In 21st century Korea, the identity of the reporter is not revealed.
There are many scumbags who exploit this and report without hesitation.
But in this world where the value of a peasant is far less than that of a combat horse, they don’t adhere to such laws.
It’s like those anonymous heartfelt letters everyone magically knows who wrote the next day.
And any scribe in the military who writes such a letter ends up dead, that’s just standard practice.
You can bet that reporting a high-up official in this world will likely end the same way.
“That’s not something you need to know. What’s important is…”
As Councilman Louis started speaking, one of his lackeys rushed in.
“There’s seaweed packed in that box! We weighed it, and it seems to be about 10 kilos per box, and there are around 50 similar boxes.”
“Since these are illegally imported goods, I suppose we can confiscate the lot.”
In 21st century South Korea, the tax authorities also confiscate all illegally brought goods and put them up for auction.
That’s why sometimes you can find good alcohol at a dirt-cheap price.
“All of those are the owner’s property. Furthermore, I’ve already received permission to conduct business from Mayor Guillaume.”
“Would we be treating you so politely if you were operating without a business license?”
As if I couldn’t see they were planning to intimidate me with confiscation, while actually using it as a pretext to pocket some hefty profits by claiming taxes or illegal tax evasion?
What’s polite about this?
Isn’t that like a boss who gropes his female employees and then promises them a promotion (which they never get), claiming he cares about his staff?
“If you didn’t have permission, I would have arrested all of you by force. And as for claiming ownership, that’s quite the dilemma and confiscation would be out of the question.”
That guy likely knows what seaweed is because Mayor Guillaume has been boasting about it everywhere.
So upon hearing the claim of ownership, he must have thought, ‘Since this is the quantity the nobles would take, let’s not touch it.’
“Alright, then I’ll make a special exception to allow you to pay duty.”
“I’ve already paid the full duties.”
I had given a little something to the customs official working at the port.
So yes, it was under the lowest tax rate, but we had followed legal procedures to an extent.
“For luxury items like these, the duty is usually set at 50%. Therefore, pay only half the cost of the seaweed.”
Have I ever seen such a despicable person?
He obviously carried the law in a way that benefits himself, trying to squeeze some money from me.
“And moving forward, you will need my help to do business, right? No matter how you look at it, trading in this city has to be under my control as the HR Head.”
The HR Head, this guy has the power to control all the money in this city.
He collects taxes and oversees budget execution.
“I hope you make a wise choice.”
Then our dear Louis the HR Head made a circular motion with his finger.
That is, he was asking for a bribe.
I was about to explode with rage, but first, I needed to pay him off to get out of this situation.
As they say, a true gentleman—or just about everyone—should prioritize survival over pride when facing death.
Only then could I plot my revenge.
“I don’t have much cash on hand as I’ve been securing that amount. So please wait until I receive payment.”
I said this and handed Sebastian about 100 gold coins.
Seeing the shimmering coins, a smile spread across Louis’s face.
He was likely overjoyed at the prospect of subduing someone like me, who would become a pillar of this city’s economy, only to drain cash from me monthly.
“You won’t have to wait long. In our city, or rather I am generous. However, until you pay the taxes in full, you won’t be allowed to leave Guillaume City.”
Do you really think I’m going to pay up?
I can already tell that if I bow my head this once, I’ll be seen as an easy mark from now on.
‘Once a fool, always a fool,’ is what they say, after all.
With that title of a councilman, he loves strutting around, but let’s see how far he can push it.
I’m a madman who will figure something out to pull them under.
Louis took that money and promptly left.
“Sebastian, look into where the other councilmen live, especially those affiliated with that Louis guy.”
Those who think money solves everything tend to end up burnt because of it.
I’m going to show him exactly how that goes.