Chapter 95: Chamber of Commerce

A miscalculation!

At this moment, Cario felt utterly hopeless.

Perhaps it was because, during his first meeting with Bruno, the Earl hadn't done anything particularly outrageous, leading Cario to overlook the rumors circulating in the streets?

No matter how meticulously he had planned, how could he have forgotten that the Earl of Idar, Bruno Stuart, was never one to play by the rules?

Bruno looked at Cario with a grin, as if silently declaring, Heh, I refuse to play fair what can you do about it?

As for the so-called noble dignity that the aristocrats loved to flaunt, Bruno had never taken it seriously.

Dignity? What was that? Could it be eaten?

Besides, his predecessor had always been a wayward and unorthodox noble. If he suddenly decided to engage in business personally, it would hardly be out of character.

Seeing Cario looking so frustrated, Bruno felt immensely satisfied.

"Earl, about the sea salt business…" Cario hesitated.

"Are you interested in working for me in the Idar Territory?" Bruno replied with an unexpected question.

Hearing this, Cario shuddered and immediately looked up.

Was this Earl recruiting him?

His mind started racing.

If he refused, Bruno would never entrust him with the sea salt trade. Based on the Earl's reputation, he might very well handle the business personally. And since Cario had already laid out his entire analysis and strategy, he wouldn't stand a chance if Bruno himself entered the market.

Besides, Cario had come to Idar in desperation. If Bruno rejected his proposal, he would have to find another way to survive.

But if he accepted…

The Idar Territory was one of the Empire's key salt producing regions in the east, meaning it had a significant output of salt. Additionally, Idar produced sugar, spirits, and other valuable goods.

Especially the strong alcohol!

Although strong and mild alcohol each had their own appeal, the market for stronger liquor was completely untapped. It had enormous potential!

More importantly, Bruno didn't seem to have a capable merchant working for him yet. If Cario accepted the offer, he would be heavily relied upon from the start!

Reflecting on his previous observations about Idar (see Chapter 26), Cario suddenly realized that accepting Bruno's offer was overwhelmingly beneficial.

"I am willing to serve you, my lord."

With a quick mental calculation, Cario made his decision.

After all, this was his best possible option.

"I plan to establish the Idar Chamber of Commerce to handle the distribution of goods produced in the Idar Territory," Bruno explained.

"I understand… but what exactly will my responsibilities be?" Cario quickly adjusted to his new role.

"I want you to manage the operations of the Chamber of Commerce. Initially, our primary trade items will be sea salt and sugar."

"Beyond simply selling products, you will need to establish stable trade routes and sales channels based on the actual conditions in Idar. Your goal is to use sea salt and sugar to enter foreign markets, laying the groundwork for the Chamber's future expansion."

"I understand… but about the plan I proposed earlier…" Cario hesitated.

Although Bruno had officially recruited him, he still hadn't expressed his stance on intervening in the salt markets of other regions while the two nations were at war.

"You should know that I am a very cautious man," Bruno said after a moment of thought.

Hearing this, Cario couldn't help but mentally scoff. Cautious? He had only ever heard about Bruno's outrageous actions never his prudence.

"…Normally, I wouldn't make such a hasty decision. But… I have high hopes for you! Ever since you first came to Idar to purchase salt, I noticed your exceptional potential and wanted to recruit you. However, I hesitated because Idar is rather remote, and I feared it might hinder your future prospects."

"But now that you have come to me willingly and presented such a well-thought out plan, it makes sense to follow through with it. Of course, I will also have Sam Layton assist you."

Bruno wasn't about to let Cario handle the entire operation alone. After all, Cario was a new recruit, and his loyalty was still uncertain.

But with Sam Layton and the Idar soldiers supporting him, Bruno would have much less to worry about.

The sea salt trade was a massive undertaking, and Bruno had to remain cautious.

Meanwhile, Cario was deeply moved by Bruno's words.

So… the Earl had noticed me long ago?

A surge of gratitude filled his heart. He had chosen the right man to follow!

"By the way, have you heard of the Soren Territory, north of Idar?" Bruno suddenly asked.

"Yes, my lord, I have," Cario responded.

"Then you should also be aware that Soren has a salt field, correct?"

"Yes, my lord. I have previously purchased sea salt from there," Cario answered carefully.

"Good. Lister!" Bruno called out.

"I'm here, my lord," Lister promptly stepped in.

"Send a message to the Soren Territory. Tell them that I have heard of their troubles how they were extorted by multiple nobles after their defeat at the Battle of the Gran Highlands."

"As a man of integrity, I utterly despise such banditry. Therefore, as Soren's most friendly neighbor, and in the spirit of maintaining good relations, I am willing to purchase their entire salt production six months from now at a 10% premium."

According to Bruno's analysis, if the Odin Empire was truly preparing for war, they would likely launch an offensive by late summer.

That would allow Odin's soldiers to plunder the first batch of newly harvested grain once they crossed the Winter Fortress.

And six months from now would be precisely when salt prices surged. Instead of letting the Soren Territory reap the profits, Bruno intended for Idar to claim them instead.

If he was going to take advantage of the situation, he might as well go all in.

After all, even if the Winterhold Fortress wasn't breached, another fortress somewhere might be.

The region where the Norman Empire bordered the Odin Empire was an expansive plain, with dozens of fortresses stretching from west to east in a defensive line.

Bruno refused to believe that the Odin Empire, after years of preparation, wouldn't be able to break through any of them.