I Became A Black Merchant In Another World

Alcini’s eyes went wide as he looked at the sword and folded pirate flag in front of him.

“It’s impressive that you managed to defeat the Blue Flag Pirates in just three weeks.”

To be fair, someone at Alcini’s level wouldn’t have been unable to capture those guys due to a lack of strength.

Just offering cash and a place to live wasn’t enough to stop thugs like that from coming over.

A spice market mogul would have no trouble taking them down with just a few ships.

Surely, the Blue Flag guys were simply too quick to run away and avoid capture.

“They were nothing more than a small group of pirates, dragging around a single ship,” Alcini said.
“But they were incredibly swift, making it hard to catch them. How exactly did you manage to defeat them?”

I couldn’t honestly admit that I didn’t just defeat them but instead recruited them.

Even if I said that, I wouldn’t face any consequences.

What they wanted from me was to solve the problem, not to defeat them.

However, if I admitted it honestly, I’d have to hand over all of my future sailors and marines tied up as prisoners, pretending to be captives in our harbor.

I couldn’t hand them over now that they were under my command, not when they weren’t my subordinates before.

“No matter how swift those pirates are, they can’t hide their tails, can they? They were just thugs targeting the merchants and military vessels of the Sultanate. In the Sultanate, they’re criminals, but in the Toscan Empire, aren’t they seen as decent citizens?”

Alcini probably sank several ships that weren’t affiliated with families involved in spice trade, including the Medici.

Those who got caught loitering near the territorial waters likely ended up being sold off to salt pans.

“So the port cities near Toscan should be able to relax completely. Plus, since pirates love to brag about their exploits…”

Pirate behavior patterns aren’t much different from those old guys who brag about their past glories.

Not knowing when they might die and being pointed at by others, they have a strong desire to be acknowledged, which makes them talk about all their exploits.

I might as well say I imparted the teachings of Deus to the infidel merchants, and digging into such information led to surprisingly quick results.

‘They probably thought no one would chase them all the way into the Toscan Empire.’

Not a completely wrong assumption, but they should have been more cautious.

What if someone else was on their tail?

“So when they reached the far sea, unnoticed by people, we ambushed and defeated them.”

“Your determination is truly impressive. In that case, we have no choice but to keep our promise.”

Alcini shrugged his shoulders and flashed a sly smile.

“As a merchant, maintaining trust is crucial. As promised, I will supply you with everything you need within a week.”

Having successfully secured the spice supply, my immediate business was done.

Moreover, as a young lord of the Medici and a proven merchant, I would continue trading with Alcini in the future.

But I couldn’t just be satisfied with this situation where I could get more efficiency, could I?

“Thank you, but may I also purchase coffee beans separately?”

“Coffee, you say? We cannot drink alcohol, so we drink coffee instead. However, I heard there’s no coffee-drinking custom on the Albania Continent.”

I once had a friend at a university famous for soy milk.

That friend drank coffee as if he had some vendetta against it.

Coffee in the morning, coffee at lunch, coffee at dinner.

So when I asked why he drank so much, he replied:

“I can’t drink alcohol, so I fill up with coffee instead.”

Even the followers of the Madbach faith can’t drink alcohol due to their doctrine, so they probably settle for coffee’s caffeine.

“Even if such customs don’t exist on the Albania Continent, isn’t coffee a far superior drink to alcohol? Its rich yet subtle aroma, the slight bitterness tinged with a hint of acidity. After drinking, your mind clears up, and you feel awake. It’s great to drink before studying or sharing a delightful moment with a loved one, right?”

In reality, the cakes and desserts made at Cafe Medici have reached a stage where countless others are imitating them and developing new products, reducing profits a bit.

Of course, our cafe still maintains its dominant position thanks to leading the cake and dessert trend…

But one day, our position as the “king of desserts” might waver.

If that happens, political standing would also suffer.

‘So now is the time to gradually introduce the drink that pairs perfectly with cakes: coffee.’

“Ahem, the youth of the Toscan Empire seem to be very spirited. I’ve only thought that drinking coffee clears my mind before I read the Quran.”

As he said this, he rolled his eyes.

If he were maintaining a poker face, it would be one thing, but his persuasiveness is nonexistent.

“While you, Lord Alcini, may have a deep faith, young folks like me are driven more by lust.”

Before chemically produced aphrodisiacs came out, coffee was considered the best aphrodisiac.

With caffeine awakening the senses of the body, it also enhanced feelings of sexual pleasure.

For high-ranking individuals, entertainment means gossiping at useless social gatherings or having affairs with beautiful women.

Coffee, which fulfills the latter, would be ravenously sold to men.

‘For women, it’s the drink that pairs best with cake; for men, it’s an aphrodisiac.’

“It will sell just as well as spices. And unlike pepper or cloves, which need to be brought from afar, coffee can be harvested nearby, right?”

“Hm, that’s true.”

“Please sell coffee to me, Fabio de Medici.”

Alcini pretended to raise both hands in surrender.

“Honestly, coffee can be sold in limitless amounts. Alright, I give in! From now on, you can trade with me, Alcini.”

“Thank you! Well then, I’ll take my leave to hurry on my way.”

As I got up from my seat, Alcini grabbed my sleeve.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“If I sell close by, I’ll get caught. Naturally, I should sell in the Kingdom of Granada.”

In a place like the Kingdom of Granada, even the Toscan Empire’s spice monopoly members would struggle to find evidence of our smuggling spice.

‘Of course, if I wanted to play it safe, I could sell in the Lion Kingdom.’

But I’d rather embark on an adventure, make money, and sell far away.

While I couldn’t build connections by smuggling over there…

If I wanted to make a lot of money and become a great merchant, smuggling is basic knowledge. I must learn it thoroughly when the opportunity arises.

After Fabio left, Alcini burst into a chuckle.

“Is this what they call a natural talent, Muhammad?”

The man called Muhammad didn’t respond.

Alcini urged him once more.

“Isn’t he an impressive guy? It’s one thing to turn a bunch of pirates into his subordinates.”

The reason Alcini suspected he had turned them into his subordinates was right here.

Despite being able to earn a higher bounty or get better deals, he never sold the captives off to someone else.

Alcini tapped his fingers on the table.

“But the fact that he grasped immediately how to sell coffee in the Toscan Empire after just a few cups is astounding.”

To succeed in business, you must adhere to certain principles.

The most crucial one is to buy low and sell high in another region.

Always maintain trust with your partners.

“There are many principles, but the most important one is this: recognizing the value that others cannot see.”

Muhammad replied.

“Yes, the founder of the Alcini faction once saw pepper as mere inedible seeds but later transformed it into a valuable medicinal herb, thus making a fortune and reviving the clan.”

A man who created and imparted a new value to pepper as both a spice and a delicious ingredient.

“From what I’ve heard, this Fabio fellow discovered seaweed, something our Sultanate’s nobles couldn’t even get their hands on, for the first time. Perhaps he, too, like our ancestors, is finding the value in something that seems truly useless.”

A wealthy merchant or noble, regardless, the founder of a clan is treated as an inviolable entity.

You can be forgiven for cursing your mother or father if the situation is just right, but cursing the founder will never be forgiven, no matter the situation.

Thus, what Alcini said was one of the highest praises he could give.

“We should be able to supply that seaweed starting next spring. So, prepare a list of high-ranking nobles in our Sultanate that are likely to have kids soon. We need to sell it to them for a pretty penny later.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“And cook some soup with that seaweed. A lot of garlic. Even though I’m over 60, if I want to sell seaweed, I should slurp down some more children soon.”

Fabio returned home safely after completing the smuggling in Granada.

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