NOVEL NEXT Chapter 53
A human who has gathered 9.9 billion wouldn’t stop at anything to fill that 10 billion. Ding Dong!
Just because they’ve amassed 10 billion doesn’t mean their greed disappears; they’d want to move to the 100 billionaires’ club next! Cha-ching!
Even my VIP client, the market lord, had his eyes glistening at the better opportunity right before him.
“If it were anyone else’s idea, I’d be skeptical, but if it’s your words, Fabio, I’d believe it even if you said we should mine gold from sand. So, what is this great opportunity?”
“I intend to import a large quantity of wool and cotton through Guillaume City.”
“Well, how much exactly are you thinking of buying?”
“I want to buy 5,000 rolls of wool fabric and 15,000 rolls of cotton fabric. I’m looking to triple that scale later on.”
To a 21st-century Korean, this might not seem like a lot. Whistle!
After all, the transaction scale of clothing handled by an employee at a company could be much larger than this.
But that’s only due to the advanced technology post-industrialization; for a single merchant, even this amount is quite substantial. BAM!
“I’d be saying a different tale if I planned to be a middleman, though.”
“Are you planning to sell raw materials to the Toscan Empire?”
That makes sense logically.
However, I’m no capitalist; there’s hardly any profit to be gained from middle trading. Why would I jump into that?
Of course, my plan is to process all those 20,000 rolls into fabric for making clothes and sell them. Ta-dah!
“That’s not the case; I’m planning to process all of them into wool and cotton fabric to resell.”
Hearing this, the market lord’s eyes went wide.
“Processing wool and cotton for sale would make a huge profit. But can you handle it? Making fabric requires a significant labor force.”
Guillaume isn’t exactly my most trustworthy ally.
However, in most situations, he’s a reliable companion.
I can’t share all the secrets of our territory, but I can reveal some.
If I didn’t share anything, he wouldn’t trust me from the get-go, so I have to tell him something.
I lowered my voice, carefully like sharing insider stock tips.
“This is something you must keep secret, Lord.”
Once I shared this top-secret information only I knew, Guillaume’s concentration sharply increased.
He was practically shooting lasers from his eyes.
“I may be a bit embarrassed, but I’m closer to being a merchant than a noble, you know? In running the town, I’ve realized something.”
“And what would that be?”
“Even if a village lacks specialty products, if the serfs are weaved instead of just farming, we can collect more taxes. I estimated we could gain about 20% more profit.”
When I speak of profit here, it’s without using any modern inventions like the ‘I am North’ or a spinning machine.
Using the latest machinery that only I have in our territory will yield at least ten times that profit.
The profitability would skyrocket as the workers become skilled with the machines.
“Still, that 20% tax isn’t trivial.”
Guillaume swallowed hard after hearing my words.
“I believe I’ll receive my territory soon, and I should operate it like you do.”
At that moment, “Enclosure Movement” popped into my head.
A movement in the 15th century from a nation that greatly influences half of all international disputes in the 21st century.
Because profit was to be had by creating wool fabric, the lords ironically drove their own serfs out to become impoverished.
As a result, they say social welfare (labor reeducation style) inevitably started in England.
Is a similar occurrence about to unfold in the Lion Kingdom?
“If that kind of trouble arises in our Toscan Empire, I’ll introduce a farming method.”
If everyone is devoted solely to wool production, food prices will undoubtedly skyrocket.
“Please don’t be too obvious about it. It’s better for me to monopolize the good things.”
This principle is proven by self-employed individuals in 21st century Korea.
When a trend emerges, like with Tanghulu, everyone starts their own Tanghulu stands, and when mala soup is all the rage, everyone dives into that too; it may seem good.
At first, sales might be quite average.
But the problem arises when everyone is doing what I’m doing—it drastically reduces my value in the market.
It’s too common.
Ultimately, most become business owners working over 100 hours a week yet barely taking home 1 million won.
Or rather, if after working 100 hours you only take home 1 million won, that means you’re above average!
So, if one wants to achieve success in any business, they must be absolutely unique from others.
“This is why I’m trying to keep my weaving of fabric a secret.”
“Just produce, and I’ll take care of selling for you. No commission.”
“Can you really do that?”
“What’s our relationship, my friend? Besides our differing nationalities, we are effectively allies.”
Through this fellow, I can infiltrate the Lion Kingdom’s market, and he can make the city thrive thanks to my selling of goods like seaweed!
It’s common for even family to lend money and not pay it back, or guarantee loans and run away, but if there’s mutual benefit, that’s alliance!
“If I only had a daughter of the right age, I would consider giving her to you.”
“Your sentiments are appreciated.”
“By the way, why are you solely intending to buy wool and cotton from the Lion Kingdom? Considering transport costs, using resources from the Toscan Empire would also be advantageous.”
While it’s hard to detect international purchases unless customs comes knocking, internal transactions leave plenty of evidence, so that’s best to avoid.
I don’t need to reveal this fact, so I must change the subject.
“Currently, there aren’t any nobles within the Lion Kingdom dissatisfied with me; however, simply hoarding money and only selling wouldn’t reflect well on me. Hence, that’s why I’m looking to buy the Lion Kingdom’s special wool and cotton.”
The British Empire, throughout history, did many despicable acts, yet even with their horrid deeds, they felt a tinge of guilt over the Opium Wars—that was the cause.
Back then, Qing China held a unilateral trade advantage against Britain, which jeopardized British interests.
The British, who loathe incurring losses as much as death, eventually sold opium and utterly wrecked Qing China.
When China protested against the opium trade, the ensuing war kicked off.
While my seaweed selling may not trigger such massive issues… Sigh!
It’s important to knock on wood before trouble strikes.
“I’ve heard from Duke Guillaume that a small number of financial managers in the Lion Kingdom have a poor view of you; this should resolve that.”
Indeed, even if I provided excellent goods, I’d still gathered too much profit for myself.
“Alright then, shall we have a drink? I’ve prepared something special for your visit.”
Fine wine is great, but since I’ve come this far, I must promote some coffee too.
“Wine sounds good, but before that, why not try this?”
“Did you bring tea?”
“Coffee. It’s a drink the infidels enjoy, but it clears the mind and makes for good tonics.”
Guillaume’s brows furrowed slightly at the mention of a drink favored by heathens.
However, as soon as he heard it boosts stamina, a smile crept onto his face.
“Even the emperor of the Toscan Empire claimed to have fathered a child at a late age after drinking this. Hah, ha!”
Guillaume urged me to serve it quickly.
“After having your seaweed soup, my long-standing erectile dysfunction disappeared. If you recommend it, how could the infidels resist?”
If I were to delay any longer, he’d surely become furious.
Best brew it right away!
I pulled out my portable coffee maker.
Grinding the pre-roasted beans and pouring hot water over them,
The rich scent of coffee spread throughout the office.
“It smells wonderful. The taste is bitter yet smoothly goes down, really delightful.”
“Thank you.”
“And it wakes me right up! I don’t know why, but I feel infused with energy.”
That’s just an awakening effect from excess caffeine.
Medieval Europeans mistook it for a stamina booster, deeming it the best stamina tonic alongside chocolate.
“Sorry, but I think I’ll save the wine for tomorrow. Tonight, I must see my wife.”
To drink that and then head for his wife, surprisingly romantic!
“I’m feeling a bit tired as well; I think I’ll just rest today.”
“Alright then, see you tomorrow!”
Concluding our exchange, Guillaume left the office with surprisingly swift steps.
His footsteps were so light—maybe he found a renewed sense of confidence!
After all, when a man crosses into his 40s, whether he can ‘perform’ or not becomes a measure of confidence.
“Guess I’ll tidy up here and head back now?”