Chapter 25. Pioneering Overseas Markets (3)

"As you know, shipwrights are very valuable personnel. Why should I hand them over to a noble from the Tuscan Empire?"

In fact, the mayor's permission wasn't strictly necessary to recruit shipwrights or technicians.

You could just tell the master shipbuilders that you'd pay them a lot of money if they left the city guild and came to us.

From the perspective of those being poached, it would be extremely annoying, but there were no laws in our continent to regulate or sanction this.

'If we do that, we'd become enemies with this city.'

"That's because although minor diplomatic conflicts may occur between the Tuscan Empire and the Kingdom of Lyon, they will have to continue to maintain friendly relations in the future. First, please trust the situation, not me."

Humans are animals governed by circumstances.

A kind person who hasn't eaten anything for a week can easily kill someone to get food.

A wealthy but evil person doesn't go around with a knife trying to get a little food while taking unnecessary risks.

Political interests and diplomacy flow in a similar principle.

"The potential enemy of the Tuscan Empire is the Duchy of Milan. On the other hand, the potential enemy of the Kingdom of Lyon is the Hanover Empire. Aren't they both busy dealing with the enemies right in front of them?"

The worst-case scenario that the mayor was most wary of right now was probably me building warships to attack them.

So I had to convince him first that I had no need to do such a thing.

"That's true."

"So wouldn't it be fine for you to provide me with some conveniences?"

A faint smile appeared on the mayor's face.

However, I had only gained the qualification to negotiate now.

He would only give permission to recruit shipwrights if I gave appropriate benefits in return for a commensurate reward.

"If you allow me to recruit shipwrights, I will also help you, Mr. Mayor."

"What kind of help do you intend to provide?"

"I will sell a sufficient quantity of seaweed to the Kingdom of Lyon. And I promise not to sell seaweed separately in other cities of the Kingdom of Lyon, except Guillaume City, for three years."

According to recent rumors, it seems that news about seaweed has spread beyond the empire to several surrounding countries.

That's probably why people like Hans in our village tried to sell it secretly.

"So, all the seaweed supplied to the Kingdom of Lyon will pass through Guillaume City."

"Any noble would covet a medicinal ingredient that helps postpartum mothers recover."

Let the story that it's also good for virility spread widely.

Even in Korea, they say that when rumors spread that nutria, an overpopulated harmful animal, was good for virility, its population rapidly decreased.

How could a medicinal ingredient that's good for both postpartum mothers and men not sell?

Nobles will surely clamor, demanding to hand over all the seaweed after shutting up and taking my money.

Still, since cultivation is progressing well, we'll soon have more than enough volume to sell to Lyon next year.

Any excess production can be consumed in our Bio village or disposed of through smuggling to other countries.

"Our Guillaume City has been developing a bit slowly because it's quite far from other big cities. But countless trading companies will flock like clouds to buy seaweed. It will be a tremendous help for the city's development."

No matter how barren a place is, people always gather and cities form where attractive specialties are produced.

As someone who serves as the mayor of a port city, he would know such an obvious fact.

But this gentleman is subtly downplaying the value of the favor I'm bestowing?

This makes me quite disappointed.

"Won't the mayor also receive considerable benefits when the city develops?"

Looking at it very simply and one-dimensionally, there's the benefit of increasing the scale of political support funds (bribes) the mayor receives annually.

However, that's just the tip of the iceberg.

"Numerous citizens living in Guillaume City will praise and extol the mayor's good governance. Everyone will actively support you, Mr. Mayor."

Nobles with titles like baron, viscount, and count generally don't get kicked out of their positions once they receive the title.

However, positions like mayor operate surprisingly democratically.

They can be replaced at any time by the votes of citizens, or more precisely, city council members, without the approval or permission of the lord.

So, wherever you go in the Albania continent, mayors have to go around seeking support from city council members and citizens to maintain their positions.

'Better than going around seeking support is filling these guys' wallets with money.'

The mayor suddenly started clearing his throat.

"Ahem, ahem."

I won't be fooled by him pretending not to know in an attempt to minimize the compensation he has to give me.

He's probably just trying to test me, just in case.

"And aren't city council members elected by citizens' support? If the city prospers thanks to you, Mr. Mayor, who will everyone push to belong to which faction…"

When dealing with high-ranking people, it's better not to directly ask for more money if possible.

So it's best to make them voluntarily offer more money themselves.

"To provide such great help for the city's development. Even though you're a foreigner, I should provide more generous compensation. What do you want?"

The mayor sighed after saying those words.

Yes, people should trade fairly and squarely.

"Please allow me to take the poor from the slums."

"Is that all you need?"

Even in the Middle Ages, when the saying "population is national power" was common, the poor were seen as a social evil.

This was because, being poor, they were seen as potential criminals who might commit crimes for survival at any time, worsening public safety and making citizens anxious.

Even by medieval standards, it wasn't uncommon for lords lacking in faith to massacre the poor or expel them from the city altogether.

Who would dislike someone taking away such troublemakers?

"To start trading right away, we need sailors, don't we?"

I want to use them for other things too, but let's hide that.

You should know how to hide your cards, like in a card game.

"You can take as many of those trash poor people as you like. Do as you please."

"Yes, thank you. Then I'll see you when we start trading in earnest next time."

**

The shipyard was quite crowded, perhaps because it's the most important facility in a port city.

"I didn't expect much from a small port city's shipyard, but…"

The number of artisans working here seems to exceed 100 easily.

No, including the artisans I can't see right now, it might easily surpass several hundred.

"What brings you here?"

When I turned around, an artisan drenched in sweat was standing with a hammer in one hand.

The practical compressed muscles all over his body were enough to remind one of a knight.

"I want to build a new port and shipyard in the Tuscan Empire, and I've come to find shipwrights to work there."

"Everyone working here belongs to the shipwrights' guild. But taking our artisans away is a bit…"

The artisan talking to me gestured to gather others around.

They all held tools like saws and hammers in their hands.

It seemed like a threat saying they'd let me live if I just got lost, even though I was a noble trying to interfere in their territory.

'That's natural in this other world, I guess.'

Even in Korea, industrial spies are arrested on the spot and thrown in jail.

"I'm here to recruit artisans with the proper permission of Mayor Guillaume."

The guards assigned by Captain Charles held out the permit given by the mayor like a horse token.

Seeing that, the artisans stopped trying to threaten me.

I approached the one who looked like the newest apprentice among them and asked.

"How much do you get paid monthly?"

"As an apprentice, just 50 copper coins a month, plus meals and lodging…"

"I'll give you 1 silver coin, 1 pound a month. I'll also provide better meals and lodging."

The pupils of the man who introduced himself as an apprentice shook.

Others started looking at their colleagues beside them.

"..."

It would be abnormal if their eyes didn't turn at the bait of doubling their annual salary.

"If you follow me, regardless of your position, I'll unconditionally give you twice your current salary. I'll recruit exactly 100 people."

They probably don't know who I am.

However, they would consider a high-ranking person who could get permission to take away strategic resources like themselves after meeting with the mayor as someone whose trust is guaranteed.

"1 silver coin as a referral fee for introducing one skilled sailor. 2 gold coins for someone who can serve as a captain. Referral fees vary depending on experience and skill."

As I was throwing around money at a level that seemed insane by their standards, everyone just stared at me with blank expressions.

However, for me now, it's more important to save time by spending money rather than saving money by spending time.

"I want to buy a 300-ton sloop, do you have any good ones? If you can find a good one quickly, I'll give you plenty of gold coins as a referral fee."

As soon as they heard those words, the artisans here hurriedly scattered.

"I don't know who that crazy guy is, but this is an opportunity!"

"Let's try to make a big profit!"

"Dario, go grab that guy stuck in the tavern by the collar and bring him here! Just introducing him will make money!"

And in just a few days, I was able to gather all the manpower to build a shipyard in our Bio village, as well as merchant ships and sailors to use for trading.