Performance (1)
Belderet, manager of Esteban’s upper ranks. He was originally a person who developed his abilities as a merchant because he wanted to travel across a wide continent.
And the reason for this was his childhood growing up under his father who was a mercenary. The feeling of ‘romance’ that arose every time I heard stories about what was happening all over the continent. It became the number one contributor to blooming his talent as a merchant.
In fact, thanks to that, he was able to become a merchant who was exceptionally bright even in the situation of the continent.
but… … Had it not been for his lack of martial arts, he might have become a mercenary following his father.
However, as usual for those who went up, the existence of a merchant could freely roam the continent on one hand.
risk, and the return that follows.
Since he had already become a being that moves money, ironically, he could no longer pursue his original purpose of ‘romance’.
When he finally came to his senses, it was after he had already risen to the blissful position of manager of the upper kingdom.
A top that moves only for the royal family. A wagon on a road that cannot move except on a designated road… … .
And perhaps from then on, he himself would have erased the dream of roaming the continent neatly from his mind.
It was the last romance of a man who has now adapted to reality in the name of father.
For sure… … It was.
However, the situation was somewhat different after Prince 1 came to manage the top of the kingdom.
“Hmm… … !”
Belderet inspected the inside of the wagon and stroked his bristly beard. The eyes, which had been meticulously examining the interior, were suddenly wide open.
“One thousand two hundred and fifty white furs. I want to be sure.”
The quantity I ordered was correct. It was also of the desired quality.
Belderet nodded approvingly and took the merchant’s outstretched hand. Then, while taking over the wagon, he readily handed over the price of the transaction.
When the merchant who sold the furs left with the gold coins Belderet had given him, the girl who had been loading in another wagon came up quietly and asked.
“Anyway, is there any need to buy so many furs? That’s already two wagons worth.”
“hahahaha… … That’s a little too much.”
She was Reika, a new member of the kingdom’s upper ranks and in charge of relay trade.
Did you say that you were a child who ran a bookstore in another country?
Even though she had insufficient experience to become a merchant, she sometimes showed a tough side, so from Belderet’s point of view, she remembered herself as a child and passed on various knowledge about trade.
That was the case.
“But it’s okay. Fur is an item that is steadily consumed among the aristocratic women of the southern continent. There is quite a demand for it at this time of year when the New Year’s party is held one after another.”
“yes? Why?”
“hahahaha, unless you are a god, there is no way a mere merchant can even read their thoughts.”
Even so, if you guess, it’s probably something like longing. It was because the fur that was white and soft like the snow that came from the north was not found in the southern continent.
But even so, that part was a little odd. It’s always been like that, but at best it’s at the level of ‘pretty’ existence… … .
“However, Her Highness only predicted that demand would explode this year.”
“Your Highness, the first prince?”
“You said you couldn’t sell it because you didn’t have it. Thanks to you, it’s good that we can freely move around the North, but… … .”
Belderet, speechless, glanced at the wagon.
“… … As you said, I don’t know if the demand will suddenly soar.”
“Will all of this large quantity be sold?”
“Okay. It’s not a perishable thing, so in the worst case, even if it’s out of fashion, if you sell it over time, it’ll work out somehow.”
… … You will suffer a little big loss, though.
Belderet, who swallowed those words behind her, showed a bright smile as if trying to reassure the girl.
Yes, Prince 1, who was newly in charge of the management of the kingdom’s upper ranks, gave them the opportunity to travel all over the continent.
Thanks to that, even if it is unavoidable to go on a certain path, it has presented a very wide range of options that arise in the process.
Whether it was an intermediary trade or whatever.
And the order given to Belderet and Reika, who set Azran as their destination, is to gather as much fur as possible and head to the southern continent.
That’s why they were currently wandering the northern continent and buying fur.
The lingering uneasiness in his heart stemmed from that.
“… … For now, I have no choice but to go to the southern continent before the deadline your Highness said is over.”
However, at the end of such a long trip, the moment I set foot in Azran, my destination.
That anxiety turned into something a little different.
“You mean you really brought fur from the North? Is that white fur too?”
“Yeah, but… … .”
“Now, please wait!”
The group of the upper class of the kingdom stopped by the boutique assigned by the first prince. And just one word.
In response to the employee asking about the business, he only left the one word, ‘Don’t you need fur?’
But the reaction that came back was very dramatic.
The employee was startled as if his eyeballs were about to pop out, and then went inside and brought a high-ranking aristocratic wife out.
She seemed to be the owner of the boutique, and it was only natural that it was run by an aristocrat, as it was the most famous one here, but she seemed particularly eccentric, judging by the attitude of the staff she treated.
And Belderet’s guess was very accurate.
“This is Larina-sama, the hostess of the Marquis of Carden.”
“It is an honor to meet the Most High. It came from the top of Esteban’s kingdom.”
Belderet was polite while hiding his embarrassment.
She was the wife of a marquis. She was also the wife of the Marquis of Carden, the Minister of Finance who was said to have undisputed power within Azran.
‘There must be a reason Your Highness told me to stop by here.’
Belderet’s head nodded. But whether he did it or not, her interests seemed to be all about what the foreign merchant had brought.
“Can I see the fur?”
“Would you like to say no? It is carefully kept in the carriage, so you can check it at any time.”
As soon as those words were finished, Lerina walked out of the boutique herself, beckoning the staff to follow her.
All the carts of the merchants on the street are three. The staff hurriedly approached the place, removed the cloth covering the carriage, and almost sat down, covering their lips at the feast of countless white furs that were revealed.
“Mo, fur… … !”
“Oh my God! such a large amount… … .”
Even the inside of the carriage was endowed with a magic circle that made things not to be damaged by impact by the prince’s order. It is a collection of things that are not awkward to call a first grade.
And that sense of astonishment also appeared to Lerina, who confirmed everything belatedly.
“With this amount, I can handle all urgent orders… … .”
Naturally, Beltheret and Reika, who were watching that reaction, were just bewildered.
‘Is it really in high demand?’
If there is no demand, why be so surprised?
No, even this response did not seem to be at the level of simply being in high demand.
As expected by His Highness, the first prince of Nyeongnyeong, it seemed that the quantity was insufficient.
What’s more, I’m so shocked that I’m so shocked… … .
In the end, Belderet, who could not hold back his curiosity, began to secretly get lucky.
“As the trend of fur is approaching just in time, we brought plenty of stock. We want to sell the amount required for the boutique you run… … How much are you willing to buy?”
“… … entire.”
“yes?”
In an instant, Belderet’s bewilderment deepened.
However, the Marquis was anxiously looking at the staff and was just busy calculating their value.
“How is the price of fur traded in the capital formed recently?”
“A palm-sized piece of fur costs around 100 gold, madam. And the pure white fur is said to be worth three times as much.”
“Four, three hundred gold… … !”
Reika, who was lowering her head, unconsciously shouted. Then, he hurriedly closed his mouth and thought.
‘Hey, isn’t that ten times the price?’
The price of fur purchased from the northern continent was 30 gold.
No, even that wasn’t the size of a palm, it was 30 gold for a proper piece of fur.
Considering that, it was no different than making a profit of not ten times, but twenty times, well thirty times.
And Belderet, who was standing behind the scenes, also came up with such a thought.
‘You did well to prepare more than one wagon… … !’
Because the image of the first prince who led them was so full of confidence. Believing only in his appearance, I bought an additional wagon worth.
That’s time and money. It was a level that raised all those risks to the maximum.
However, I heard that there would be demand, but I did not expect that the price would soar like crazy.
No, it was a level that I dared not even imagine.
Belderet, unable to hide his curiosity now, opened his mouth.
“if… … May I ask why you are asking for so many?”
“You guys must be pretty lucky to have saved so much without even knowing that.”
… … Hey, that’s why I was able to get this much.
Saying that, the Marquis began to explain the changes that had taken place in the capital.
It was probably a kindness for the merchant who would sell him a large amount of fur.
“In the past, accessories made of fur were often used. But this year, the queen and princess wear white fur at the New Year’s banquet, and similar fur clothes are starting to catch on.”
“Alas, that is why furs are needed far more than the original demand.”
How much more do noble women have a bit of pride? Since I wouldn’t wear the same outfit in a row, I needed at least two or three fur costumes to wear to the banquet.
Because of this, the price of fur skyrocketed. For merchants who only thought about the fashion of the previous year and didn’t prepare much fur, it was literally a piece of cake.
“The problem is that the trend didn’t stop with banquet wear, but spread to everyday wear as well.”
“Huh… … .”
It was said that the situation came when fur and leather were used for both banquets and everyday wear, since they could not even digest fur costumes that would only be used at banquets.
It was a big hit too. That’s why the scarcity of fur that doesn’t come from southern countries was getting higher.
‘The result is that the current profit is dozens of times higher!’
Whether this is a dream or real life is at the level of being dumbfounded.
However, the surprise Belderet felt was even bigger than Reika’s.
‘… … Does he even say that his talent for ascending is outstanding?’