Chapter 26. Betrayal and Lesson (1)

Successfully recruiting shipwrights and the poor from Guillaume City didn't mean everything was over.

I had only opened up the market in the Kingdom of Lyon, but hadn't secured any business partners yet.

Still, it seemed I wouldn't need to actively seek out people to trade with.

"Our Maron Trading Company is based in Marseille, and people often call us great merchants."

If this were Northeast Asia, Joseon, a humble interjection like "though we're not that great" would have followed the statement about being called great merchants.

Because in Joseon, or rather in Northeast Asian countries, even in the 21st century, pretending to be humble is considered polite.

If you don't follow this, you're pointed at as arrogant behind your back and to your face.

But this is the Albania continent, European culture, so as long as you're not arrogant, it doesn't matter much.

"We heard that you're selling seaweed in the Kingdom of Lyon these days. How about selling through us? We'll pay you generously."

"How much are you thinking of buying it for?"

"30 gold coins per 100g."

This would be a fairly good price if selling within the Tuscan Empire.

No, in the first place, we're selling a product that costs only a few copper coins to produce at nearly 100 times the price, so even with a discount, there wouldn't be a loss.

But isn't it unconscionable to try to buy foreign medicine at the price of its country of origin (domestic price)?

"70 gold coins per 100g. You can sell it to nobles for 100 gold coins."

"That seems to be nearly twice the price distributed to nobles in the Tuscan Empire."

"But won't there still be many buyers? Even Mayor Guillaume… ahem."

When I returned after ordering the construction of a shipyard on the coast of our Bio village and hiring mercenaries to give "special preparations" to the poor, would you believe it?

Mayor Guillaume boasted to me that his virility had returned after eating seaweed soup with garlic and fish.

Thanks to that, he said his quality of life had changed and that I was his lifelong benefactor, almost rushing at me as if to kiss me on the cheek.

They say in this country, if men are really close, they even kiss each other on the cheek… I don't like that.

"This precious medicine that's good for virility and postpartum mothers. Moreover, it's a medicine that nobles in the Tuscan Empire are crazy about. Will nobles be able to resist buying it?"

"How much quantity will you provide?"

What's important here is not to give out too much quantity out of greed to make a lot of money.

If you sell a lot, at first everyone will buy it expensively as a precious medicine.

But when anything becomes common, the price drops sharply.

'Wild matsutake mushrooms are more expensive than shiitake mushrooms not because they taste better, but because they're rare, right?'

"40kg. It might decrease depending on local circumstances."

"... Could you provide more quantity?"

"No. There are many requests from other trading companies. And there's also consumption within the empire."

I just filled in several blanks in the pre-written contract.

"Please sign."

I had prepared a total of three copies of the contract, two of which we would keep as originals.

One was cut in half and shared between us.

"When you want to verify the authenticity of the transaction, you can bring the half contract."

"Understood."

Saying that, the merchant from the Maron Trading Company stood up.

Just before opening the door to leave, he asked once more.

"Is it really impossible to provide more quantity?"

"No, it's not possible."

"I understand. But if you can provide additional quantity, please contact us anytime. We'll make it worth your while."

As expected, when selling things at a high price, it seems absolutely right to do it like honey-flavored potato chips.

Only releasing an amount that leaves people craving for more, even when they clamor for more.

I heard that even those potato chips had a huge difference in sales volume when they strictly adhered to this principle compared to now.

"Things seem to be going too well."

There's an old saying.

Just when you think life is going well, something always happens.

Sebastian's voice was heard from outside the door.

"Young master, it seems you need to come down urgently."

Ah, damn it, why do these bad predictions always come true?

**

When I went downstairs, there were administrative officials from Guillaume City gathered in a group.

As soon as I arrived, they were holding measuring tools like large rulers and various documents.

They must have come for retaliation now that I've become close with Mayor Guillaume.

"Are you Fabio de Medici?"

A clearly condescending attitude despite knowing I'm a noble.

He seems to be quite a high-ranking official among this city's administrators.

Even in military strategy, it's said to bow your head to achieve peace in front of someone stronger than you.

"Yes, that's right."

"I am Louis de Padorne, city councilor and finance director of Guillaume City Council. I wanted to visit on good business, but it's a shame I can't."

For saying that, he looks full of determination to sink me.

Even though we're still in conversation, his subordinates are recklessly opening our seaweed boxes.

"The reason I came here today is because we received a report from a good citizen that you're doing business in violation of our kingdom's laws."

"Who reported it?"

In 21st century Korea, they don't reveal the identity of the person who reported.

There are many trash people who abuse this to make reports in an "even if it's not true" manner.

However, in this other world where the value of a warhorse is much heavier than that of a serf, such laws are not well observed.

It's like the anonymous letters of the heart.

Strangely, if you write an anonymous letter of the heart, the next day everyone in the company knows who wrote it.

And it's military common sense that the person who wrote the letter dies.

In our other world too, if you report a high-ranking person, there's a high probability that will happen.

"You don't need to know that. What's important is…"

As Louis, the city councilor, was dragging out his words, his subordinate quickly ran over.

"Those boxes are full of seaweed! Weighing them, it seems each box contains about 10kg, and there are about 50 similar boxes!"

"Since it's illegally imported goods, we can confiscate all of it."

Even in 21st century South Korea's National Tax Service, they sometimes confiscate all goods brought in illegally and put them up for customs auction.

That's why you can occasionally buy good alcohol at cheap prices?

"Those all belong to the owners. Moreover, I've already received permission to do business from Mayor Guillaume."

"If you were acting without permission for commercial activities, would we treat you this politely?"

Do you think I don't know that you're obviously trying to intimidate with confiscation and then actually make a big profit by making excuses about customs duties or illegal tax evasion?

But what's polite about this?

How is this different from a department head who touches his female subordinate's butt and says he cares about his subordinates while suggesting going to a motel to talk about promotion (which he won't actually give)?

"If you didn't have permission for commercial activities, we would have arrested you all by force. And since the goods have owners, confiscation would be difficult."

That guy probably knows well what kind of item seaweed is because Mayor Guillaume has been talking about it.

So as soon as he heard there were owners, he must have thought:

'This is the quantity for the nobles, so let's not touch it.'

"Alright, then as a special act of mercy, pay the customs duty."

"I've already paid all the customs duties."

I gave a small gift to the customs officer working at the port.

So although I brought it in by applying the lowest tax rate, which is close to tax evasion, I followed the proper legal procedures.

"We usually impose 50% customs duty on such luxury items. So pay half the cost price of the seaweed."

Have you ever seen such a son of a bitch?

It's obvious he's thinking of extorting money by bringing the interpretation of the law that's most advantageous to him.

"And won't you need my help to do business in the future? I hate to say this, but to do business in this city, you have no choice but to be in my hands as the finance director."

As finance director, this gentleman will have the power to manage all the money in this city.

He'll collect taxes and execute the budget.

"I hope you make a wise choice."

And then our Finance Director Louis made a circle with his finger.

It means to hand over a bribe.

I feel like I'm going to die from anger, but for now, I need to give him money to escape this crisis.

As a rule, a gentleman, no, all people are like this.

When faced with a life-threatening crisis, the top priority is to survive by bowing down first.

You take revenge after that.

"I don't have much cash on hand right now because I secured that quantity, so I can't pay all the customs duties. Please wait until I receive the payment."

Saying that, I received about 100 gold coins from Sebastian and handed them over.

Seeing the glowing light inside, a smile appeared on Louis's face.

He must be delighted thinking about subjugating me, who will become the pillar of this city's commercial rights in the future, and extorting money monthly?

"There's nothing we can't wait for. Our Guillaume City, no, I am generous. However, until you pay all the customs duties, you can't leave Guillaume City."

Do you think I'm going to pay all those damn customs duties?

It's obvious that if I bow my head once now, they'll keep seeing me as a pushover in the future.

'They say it's hard to become a pushover once, but once you're taken advantage of, you become a pushover for life, right?'

You like to act up so much with your title of city council member. Well, go ahead and act up to the end.

I'm a crazy guy who sinks anyone who messes with me by any means necessary.

Louis left immediately after receiving the money like that.

"Sebastian, find out where the other city council members live. Especially those belonging to that bastard Louis' faction."

Those who think money can do everything are ruined because of money.

I'll show them that properly.