NOVEL NEXT Chapter 59
Even in 21st century South Korea, once any item passes through the hands of middlemen, the price shoots up ridiculously. Whoosh!
When you buy cabbage directly from the producer, it costs around 500 won for a single head, but after just three middlemen, that same cabbage can set you back 5,000 won. Ka-ching!
In the Medieval Fantasy world of the Toscan Empire, a similar magic trick happens, but on a much larger scale. Bam!
Especially when it involves “military supplies,” it can drive a saintly Buddha to rage. Boom!
“We’re just trying to make a living here. After paying the porters, there’s barely anything left!”
What that guy is saying is like a merchant moaning in the market. Whine!
“Oh, I’m barely making any profit at this price! I’m just breaking even!” Sigh…
Sure, a sob story can make customers feel like they’re getting a deal, but the truth is that while the merchant may have slightly less profit, they would never sell at a loss. Cha-ching!
The Raphael in front of me seems to be using just such a tactic… Hmm…
I might have to remind him that we don’t need pretenses between us. Shh!
Once he realizes there’s no hearing ear around, he wouldn’t dare use such phony words among merchants. Pfft!
“There are no rats or pigeons eavesdropping here, just you and me. And I’m not going to nitpick over times when you overpriced things in the past.”
Unless I’m a crusader burning with a sense of duty and ambition. Flame!
What advantage is there to a merchant who wants to rise in status by getting on the empire’s bigwig’s bad side? Yikes!
It’s not like I’m some reckless fool who only lives for today. Ding!
“If I want to survive while turning everyone against me, I’ll need to at least be a count, but look at me—just a mere viscount after this whole deal!”
A viscount isn’t a low rank, but it’s also no place where you can openly challenge the magnates. Uh-oh!
“Just a personal chat here, but I’m only 21. After work, I want to spend some quality time with my beloved maid. I have no interest in making enemies with the Benaldi Association.”
My confrontation with the Pereira Guild was ordered by the emperor. Wham!
If the emperor hadn’t commanded it, I would have rubbed my palms together in their presence but wouldn’t have recklessly clashed with them. Sweat!
With that sentiment in mind, I expressed my lack of intent to oppose as a noble and a quartermaster, and Raphael’s frown eased up. Smile!
“Alright then, let’s adjust the price to a reasonable level.”
“Let’s dig into the profit margins honestly.”
I pulled out a stack of receipts Raphael had written when trading with other divisions before. Rustle!
These were transactions from when our First Division was commanded by Duke Ducat at other units. Boom!
“120 kg of wheat for a gold coin, 100L of beer for 4 silver coins, and 75 kg of bread for 8 silver coins. Those prices are more than double the market rate. Even for military supplies, taking 2.2 times the market price is a bit much, don’t you think?”
The reason they can set such prices without flinching is twofold. Bang!
First, those prices include bribes for non-commissioned officers, officers, and commanders. Gulp!
Around 10-13% of the cost goes evenly to the soldiers. Cha-ching!
Well, it’s not like I can do much about public servants accepting bribes in this era. Shrug!
“High-ranking folks are asking us lowly merchants for bribes; what can we do? You know that, don’t you?”
“We have to find the reasons behind the pricing before negotiating.”
The second reason is that they exploit the nobility’s ignorance of market prices. Hmm!
Our clan, or rather that guy Albert from the Medici Clan, knows quite well what prices should be. Spot on!
But most noble families have no clue how much wheat costs per kg or how much a pig goes for. It’s like lawmakers thinking a bus ride costs 3,000 won and ramen is 200 won. What?!
Poor servants and maids use their masters’ naivety to overcharge and pocket the difference as a norm. Cha-ching!
“Sure, we paid 5 silver coins, but let’s write down 7 coins in the ledger, shall we?” Scribble!
By using bribes and the ignorance of market prices, one can charge over double for military supplies and wash their hands clean of it. Ding!
“How much will you cut it?”
Raphael sighed deeply. Sigh…
“9 silver coins for a sack of wheat, and how about 90 pennies?”
“Let’s drop it to around 85 pennies. Even at this rate, you’re still profiting 1.7 times market price, aren’t you?”
“…… To convince our guild leader, we absolutely need to stick with 90 pennies.”
Your guild leader isn’t stupid either. Nope!
He must know I’m backed by the emperor, and even if he didn’t, his subordinates surely would warn him. Ding-ding!
“That 21-year-old quartermaster is under the protection of the second prince and the emperor—crossing him would mean trouble for us!” Yikes!
Hearing that, the guild leader would likely lash out at you, Raphael. Uh-oh!
“8 silver coins and 50 pennies—nothing less. Also, knock 15% off the other goods.”
“Just give me a little break here.”
“If you’re charging 1.7 times the market rate, factoring in net profit means you’re still eating up 2.5 times the original cost, aren’t you?”
Now I’m a little offended, even if I’m not Korean anymore. Grumble!
Well, if weapons like spears were overpriced, I could tolerate it, but… Sigh!
These soldiers are all poor wretches dragged here from serfdom. Aw, man!
Couldn’t they at least lower the prices of food so these guys could eat well? Instead, they inflate the prices so even decent meals are out of reach? No way!
Are you even human? Dude!
“This is infuriating. If you want to keep supplying military goods, you’ll have to provide the soldiers special meals once a week.”
Raphael looked at me like I was a demon risen from hell. Gasp!
“What in the world do you mean?”
“Isn’t it common in the market to get bonus items when you buy in bulk? Give the soldiers a donut each week.”
“You know how pricey sweets are, especially donuts, right? You’re the one leading the dessert trend in the empire.”
I chose donuts for their low production cost and also remembered how during World War I, the U.S. handed out donuts to soldiers for morale. Sweet!
And that guy looks like he would strangle me if I didn’t have the quartermaster arm band. Yikes!
“Well, considering how I snap my fingers and the profit margins drop, it’s not surprising.” Snap!
“I’ll take care of making the donuts. You just cover the costs.”
I’m not some charity worker, and I’m not about to incur losses while supplying donuts to soldiers. No way!
Still, it’s for those poor conscripts, so I’ll just charge them the cost. Fair!
“Fine. But this is it—I can’t give any further! If I budge anymore, the guild leader might kill me!”
Finally, this guy’s being honest; I’ll reward his humility with a deal. Deal!
“Pereira Guild is now banned from all military supply contracts. And His Majesty will have to fill that gap, but who do you suppose he’ll choose?”
Raphael’s eyes began to sparkle at those words. Sparkle!
“Thank you, thank you! Thank you!”
The guy who saw me as a demon from hell bowed as if he was going to prostrate himself. Wow!
As expected from someone smart enough to be a large guild officer. Smart!
He grasped that by sacrificing a bit of profit, he would now have the chance to scoop up the share previously held by Pereira Guild under these conditions. Got it!
In a rush, he scribbled up a contract and dashed out. Zoom!
I took the contract to Duke Ducat. On my way!
Our division commander grinned when he saw me. Smile!
“You are truly impressive. How did you manage to drive down the military supply prices by a whopping 15% when our capable quartermasters couldn’t?” Wow!
The commander might be clueless, but it’s because I made sensible negotiations that even the corrupt supply merchants had to concede. Smart!
But before the high-ranking folks, it’s best to take credit. Show off!
“That’s because I discovered the Benaldi Guild was trying to hike prices and adjusted them reasonably.”
“Typical merchant, only after money! Utterly greedy!”
As long as it doesn’t involve holding a knife to someone’s throat and demanding money, being interested in profits isn’t a bad thing. Nah!
History is driven forward by those who want to earn more. Boom!
“Since I reduced the profits of the suppliers, the Benaldi Guild might see me as an enemy, but I don’t regret doing it for His Majesty.”
Duke Ducat nodded at my words. Agreed!
“I’ll make sure to let His Majesty know of your loyalty.”
“Thank you, Commander.”
Both the duke and the emperor probably understand that I’m not truly looking to go against the Benaldi Guild. Nope!
No noble would be that stupid. Dumb!
But they surely recognize my abilities and that I fulfilled the tasks set by the emperor. Nailed it!
“With an improvement in meals, my reputation will undoubtedly spread among the soldiers.” Boom!
“You still have much to do.”
“Trust me to handle it.” I got this!
As I expected, it wasn’t long before the soldiers started singing praises for their new quartermaster, Fabio de Medici. Hooray!