“How can all of you be in cahoots? Even if he is a count, how is Count Thedran Alveric able to manipulate this many merchants at once? This is the main trade route toward the Hazaroth Union from the whole Kingdom.”
I spoke with a heavy sense of disbelief, my eyes narrowing as I looked at the merchant standing before me. I was currently in one of the border settlements of the Targonia Kingdom, and the situation was far worse than I had anticipated. The man I was speaking to had just demanded an exorbitant extra payment from me, simply because I was not a part of the specific merchant group they were forming.
“That is just how it is, Sir. You should have known that the overall quality of our products has increased significantly thanks to the Count’s tireless efforts. We all owe him a great debt for that,” the goatee merchant replied. He leaned against his stall with a smirk that felt like a direct mockery. “So, it is only natural for us to increase our prices to reflect that quality. How can we be expected to demand the same extra payment from the very group that supports the Count’s vision?”
“Hahaha! Do you really think you can maintain a profit if you push away independent merchants like this?” I asked, scowling at his casual arrogance. “What do you intend to do if I simply decide not to buy a single thing from you?”
“You are falsely accusing us of misconduct, Sir,” he said, his voice taking on a tone of feigned politeness that didn't hide his dismissiveness. “As I stated before, we are selling high-quality goods, and it is only natural for such items to carry a higher price tag. But if you insist on refusing to purchase our wares, I cannot do anything to change your mind. Since we have many other loyal customers, and there are very few who sell ‘this kind of product,’ we are perfectly confident in our ability to earn a profit through this system.”
Though his words were wrapped in the language of a professional, the subtext was clear: Piss off if you don’t want to buy.
It appeared that Count Thedran Alveric of Velshara had been working to monopolize the main trade route to the Hazaroth Union for several years now. He had been deploying merchants one after another, pouring the majority of his personal wealth into this expansion. It was only natural that such a massive investment would eventually yield results.
The irony of the situation was not lost on me. I am technically still a wanted man in Velshara, even if there isn't an active search party currently hunting me through the streets. After I fled to the Union, I received reports that they had formed several pursuit parties that were significantly larger and better equipped than the original one sent after me. Fortunately, I had already crossed the border by the time they mobilized.
I have been traveling to the border settlements of Targonia for trade purposes, but I have intentionally avoided traveling into the inner cities of the Kingdom. I kept to the outskirts out of caution, fearing someone might recognize my face and report me to the Count’s men. Since there wasn't a huge amount of profit to be found in the interior compared to the border, it hadn't felt like a bad deal—until now.
I can't even buy the specialized minerals or crafts unique to Targonia because these merchants are demanding extra fees from anyone outside their faction. They have created a powerful commercial bloc, and other local merchants, seeing that it is far more profitable to work within the system than against it, have joined one after another. Normally, it is difficult to create a faction this large because of the inherent competition between traders, but it seems the Count’s finances and political power provided the necessary foundation.
I understood then why the goatee merchant could refuse my business without batting an eye. I am clearly a customer who could make him a substantial amount of money, but he is confident that his faction’s price-fixing will yield a greater return in the long run.
If I were a normal merchant, I might have been forced to submit and pay the inflated price just to keep my business afloat. But I am not a normal merchant. My abilities allow me to visit places that are far off the main trade routes, locations that traditional caravans would take weeks to reach. I could find other sources for these goods, but after a moment of reflection, I decided that it wasn't a wise use of my time. I already have too many responsibilities, and the Kingdom was never my primary focus.
It would be better to change direction and head to the Empire for now. I may visit Targonia again later, once the market shifts or my own power grows.
Year 1451, month 10, day 16
Several days have passed since I began my intensive routine of buying and selling goods between the border cities of the Empire and the Union's city of Yargan. I spent nearly all of my initial liquid capital in the first few days of this cycle. Since that wasn't enough to fill my inventory, I kept reinvesting the money I earned into more goods. It has become a recursive loop—a system that supports its own growth while simultaneously demanding that every coin be fed back into it.
Although I can’t see the physical gold accumulating in my pouch yet, it is clear that my total wealth is increasing steadily through the acquisition of valuable, high-end goods. I am quickly approaching the maximum distribution limit that I can achieve in a single day, so the actual profit should start showing up in the form of cold, hard cash very soon.
Because I have been so busy over the last few days, I haven't been able to spend much time at home. Consequently, I haven't had much time to supervise Nari, my newest slave. All I have managed to do is share breakfast and dinner with the household, watch them for a few minutes while they conduct their morning training, and sleep with Woya and Wyn at night.
I was even forced to sleep alone on one of those nights because the girls were on their period. They actually suggested that I call Nari to my room instead, as they didn't want me to have to sleep alone. After spending so much time together, it seems they have learned exactly what my needs and habits are.
I told them it wasn't necessary. I believe I have to restrain myself occasionally; if I were to indulge every single night without fail, I would grow too accustomed to it, and that could cause problems later on. Aside from that, I am still not entirely sure about Nari’s character.
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To be honest, my restraint is partially because I want to make sure I won't regret getting close to her later. I had this same thought when I first bought Wyn and Woya. If I hadn't been satisfied with them, I would have sold them and bought a new slave. It sounds heartless when stated so plainly, but the reason I paid so much money was to receive something in return.
The same logic applies to Nari. In her case, it's even more true, because I now have a high standard for comparison thanks to Woya and Wyn. I have already spotted several aspects of her personality that I dislike, and I still haven't had the chance to test her abilities in the dungeon. If she proves to be useless in combat on top of her attitude issues, she won't be suitable to stay by my side. I still need to see if she improves at her house chores and learns to behave properly.
To find the time for that supervision, I have to deal with these annoying merchants quickly. Fortunately, my high Charisma stat makes negotiations much easier than they were in the past. They aren't causing nearly as much trouble as they used to.
Many merchants were genuinely happy to trade with me, which is a positive sign for my reputation. However, they sometimes take up too much of my time. They often try to extend our conversations, either because they want to negotiate even larger deals or simply because they find me more persuasive now. I have to skillfully excuse myself to keep my schedule on track.
As I had planned, I bought a wide variety of products and sold them to various locations. I couldn't move everything I bought immediately, so I have started to pile some of the excess goods at home. Fortunately, there are several empty rooms on the second floor that serve as a perfect temporary warehouse.
Today, I am making my way to Pinkdolls, Sarya’s clothing shop. I am going to sell her the specific clothes she ordered, and I intend to get the highest possible price for them. Since I keep the stock in my inventory, I don't have to worry about the physical burden of carrying the garments through the streets.
“Hello, Sarya,” I said, raising my right hand in a wave as I entered the shop.
“... Huh? Oh, Han! My favorite delivery boy! You’re finally here,” she said, looking up from the fabric she was working on. She had been so busy that she only noticed me when I called out. She let go of the cloth and smiled happily. “I’ve been waiting for you to bring those new, cute clothes.”
“Yeah, I brought them. I hope you like the selection this time,” I said, keeping my expression neutral.
“Come on, what’s with that face?” she asked, sounding slightly apologetic. “You usually have excellent taste when it comes to design, but even you can be a bit dull from time to time. Those previous clothes weren't exactly special, you know.”
“Whatever. Here are the items you ordered. I spent a significant amount of time searching for these, so you’d better pay me well,” I said coldly.
“... Umm… Okay, let me take a look,” she pouted slightly at my tone, but her focus shifted instantly to the clothes I began taking out of my inventory.
Thankfully, she liked almost every piece. This meant I wouldn't have to waste time finding another buyer for the surplus. As I watched her inspect the garments one by one with intense interest, I was reminded again of just how much she truly loves dresses. That realization caused my own irritation to fade. Sarya is a diligent, strong woman, and because she loves her work, it’s only natural that she is successful.
“Aha! Lady Altynai will absolutely love this one!” she exclaimed.
She was holding a striking dress that was primarily gold in color. The frills and the belt area were a brilliant silver. The combination of those two bright colors made the dress look incredibly eye-catching and expensive. Personally, I don't care for such fancy colors, but I know that most women—especially noble and high-toned ones—prefer them.
“Lady Altynai?” I asked, as the name was unfamiliar to me.
“Oh, she is the wife of the City Lord, Varkos Deylan. Lady Altynai Deylan. She is one of my most consistent regular customers,” Sarya explained. She spoke the name with a level of reverence, almost as if the woman were in the room with us.
“Hoh? I didn't realize you had the wife of the City Lord as a customer. Your business must be going even better than I thought,” I said, feeling a mix of being pleased for her and slightly annoyed.
It’s not that I was jealous. I’m not even suited for her kind of retail work. But I hadn't realized Sarya held such a high position in the local economy. She acts like the owner of a mid-sized store, but she is clearly much more successful than she lets on.
“Why? Did you not expect that from me?” she asked with a teasing tone. “I am many times richer and have far more connections than you think… Huhuhu. What do you think, Han? You could have all of those connections and that wealth if you simply married me. What do you say?”
I was fairly certain there was a hint of genuine seriousness behind her words, but I decided to act as if I hadn't noticed. Sarya has above-average beauty, she is wealthy, and we get along well enough.
However, it would still be difficult to accept such a proposal. She is older than me, which isn't a dealbreaker on its own, but it has caused her to focus heavily on marriage. Combined with how busy she is with her business, there would be no time for us to simply play around or indulge in the kind of fantasies I want to explore. My main goal is to have as many different experiences as possible in this world, and a settled marriage doesn't fit that plan.
“Ah, come on. Are you really considering it? Why so serious?” she asked, laughing to break the tension. “It was a joke! Just a joke.”
I could tell she was just trying to gloss it over to save face.
“Whatever. Aside from that, I liked most of these, and I absolutely loved a few of them. There are a few I’m not entirely sure about, but since you made such an effort to get them… how about 200 gold coins for all 25 of them? I’m certain I can sell that gold dress to the Lady for a very good price, so I’ve added a bit of a bonus for you.”
She became serious the moment the topic returned to business, speaking as if she were thinking out loud.
The offer was higher than I had expected. I had spent approximately 100 gold coins to acquire all of those clothes. This is the first time I have managed to double my investment on a single batch of garments. I have my teleportation skills to thank for that margin.
“Deal. Thank you, Sarya. You are indeed generous today,” I said with a smirk, deciding to tease her back. “How about I treat you to dinner tonight as a thank you?”
“Oh, don’t be such a tease! It’s much better when you act clueless,” she rejected me with a mock-sad expression, making a little crying sound. “When you say things like that, I feel like you’re just playing with my heart. Sob, sob.”
“Huhu, never mind then. Thank you for the offer anyway. Please wait while I go bring the payment,” she said, dropping the act a few seconds later.
When she returned and handed me the payment, I thanked her and left the shop. She looked perfectly normal as I walked away, though she did seem a bit reluctant to actually let go of the heavy coin bag. Fortunately, I seized it before she could change her mind and made my exit.
[Edited]
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Heroes:
Koreyn
NaTaS
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Knights:
udrea radu-cristian
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