Volume 2 Chapter 17 (1/2)

I’ve changed the merchant’s name to Conanna Curtrude

With my preemptive attack, the merchant faltered.

”Oh my. Shot down before I even got the chance. For now though, could you at least listen to my proposal, please? If I sold the swords you make in this city over at Eclaba, I could sell it for as much as four times the price you're selling it now. That is if you let me buy them in bulk even at three times the price. I think it's a fair trade with both of us profiting.”

”I cannot approve of this deal. For reasons I will not discuss, my purpose is to gather a lot of people here in this city, even if I must do so alone. And so, I can't sell you the swords which I use to encourage people to stop by.”

If I felt like I needed money, I could just make as much as was needed.

What was important to me was the humans themselves.

”Hmm, that's surprising. It should be easier for you to just sell them to me in bulk and yet… Anyway, how about selling to me the process to create your swords? If you do, I'm willing to even give you a gold coin for every sword sold. Like that, your income will grow by a hundred-, no, a thousand-fold!”

His way of thinking was truly that of a merchant's.

If I agreed to what he proposed, Avalon would earn money even if it remained idle and produced nothing.

”I'm repeating myself but I don't intend to sell this city's products elsewhere. No amount of money can change that.”

”Your purpose means more to you than money?”

”Gathering a lot people here and making the city develop is everything. Anything else means nothing to me.”

The merchant peered into my face and let out a sigh.

”I see. I can't move you, not even an inch. It looks like you're being sincere and not just bluffing.”

I nodded in silence.

”It would seem we are at an impasse. Then, let me add on an additional proposal: I would very much like it if I could open up a store of my Curtrude firm here in your city.”

As far as the city was concerned, he couldn't propose anything better than that. Avalon lacked a great number of things. Right now, the only food being sold in Avalon were the bread, apple, and dried meat. While they may be cheap, the humans still wanted more variety.

After a long time of living here, they would also want some clothes and footwear. And while I'm at it, I think I should also open up a store that's open at night to serve a variety of cuisines. Actually, there already were adventurers and small-time peddlers who were bringing in their own products to sell.

We didn't have enough manpower so it was troublesome for each time we stocked up on the items that could be bought from Eclaba. But once Avalon had a store of a large firm, we would then have a steady supply of the essential items.

Most importantly, we would be freed up of worrying about those products and then be able to focus on thinking up of new ways to lure in the humans.

”I think this is a fantastic deal for Avalon, Procell-sama. As such, I would like to ask you of two things. First is about the tariff-”

”There won't be any. You may bring in as many products as you want.”

”What-”

Conanna raised his voice in his surprise.

Normally, tariffs were an important source of income. It was unheard of to forgo it.

”Are you serious?”

”Yes. Avalon shall become a place where your firm is exempt of tariffs and may trade in peace with the many people gathered. In doing so, I am hoping it would lead to an increase in the variety of items in the city that would be offered at a low price. Also, the store directly managed by Avalon will only sell products that are made with the ingredients that are produced here or from those could be bought in the city… by that I mean products made with the ingredients that could be bought from the shops that will open here in this city, hopefully including yours. If your store will also be selling dried meat, we are willing to stop doing so. But then again, it's a different matter altogether if your store didn't sell the items that we need.”

The merchant gulped down.

In this day and age, each city solicited tariffs from anyone bringing in goods. On the other hand, doing business outside of cities where monsters ran rampant was worrying, to say the least.

Setting up a shop in a city where one could trade safely while not paying any tariff was bound to be a very profitable business venture.

Furthermore, by saying we would only sell the things I said we would, I made it clear that merchants didn't have to worry about competing with us who didn't care about making profit.

Ours was a city where a lot of people gathered, that had many specialty products, and that had a lot of ability to attract crowds and yet lacked a great many things. There were countless opportunities to profit.

”Let me state my second request then.”

Conanna flashed an amazed smile.

”Before that, let me inform you that I will collect a tax of 10% of your monthly gross profits. That and nothing more.”

”Our gross profit and not our net profit? It's still cheap. Very well, alright. Now then, I would like to set up shop as soon as possible but is it possible to purchase some land?”

”I shall provide you with an already-built building. You may renovate it your liking. It has utilities including a water well, a drainage system, and access to water from the hot spring. I will also give your firm a Silver Golem. Let it serve as my apology for not being able to procure my city's products… at least, not from me.”

”I'm very thankful. May I inquire what you mean by that last part, Procell-sama?”

I guess it was only natural to be intrigued. If this was a normal trade, the merchant would bring in items for him to sell and on his way back, he would stock up on items he could sell on other cities. Being unable to accomplish the latter would halve his profits.

”Sooner or later, this city would have its first immigrants and when they have grown their own produce—be it the apples you've so praised or the high quality wheat you can't find in any other city—the immigrants would then be able sell some to you. Also, many adventurers are bound to stop by at this city and with them are the treasures they've gained in the nearby dungeon. Treasures that should be up for purchase. I have no intention whatsoever to regulate the trade with these people I've mentioned.”

”Yes, it would seem I can indeed obtain them through those means. It's regrettable I have no way of procuring batches of your most special swords but this should be plenty enough. And then, about that golem?”

When he asked about the golems, his eyes changed colors. A merchant would probably recognize their significance right away.

”I'm hoping you'll let it pull your carriage instead of a horse. They may not sprint as fast as a horse but over a long distance, a Silver Golem will be able to outrun one. With its strength, it'll allow you to load more into the carriage. It doesn't eat, drink, or even get tired. And with its power that will rival a C rank monster, it could act as a guard too.”

Such were the appeals of a golem. Horses needed time and money to raise and look after. In times of monster attacks, they also needed to be defended.

Golems were inherently slow so I was going to give the merchant a Silver Golem to satisfy my statement.

Moreover, in this age where monsters ran rampant, it was necessary to hire adventurers as one's guards.

A Silver Golem were able fulfill all those roles and would therefore greatly reduce the cost of transportation.

”Furthermore, I will prepare houses for the employees of your store. Though let me state one thing: they would have to pay the tax I mentioned earlier about your store: 10% of the money they've gained.”

My proposed terms were insanely good.