"Hey, if it isn't the turtle merchant group."
"Hahaha, please don't refer to us like that. We haven't established a formal name yet."
"Ok, Ok, Present the list of items and your I.D. please."
"Here."
"Thank you, wait a moment as we assess your cargo."
"Go ahead."
I have already been here a couple of times. I wonder when that engagement party will be held.
The rich kid didn't show up afterwards either. It brought down the profit to be had too. We were only lucky that one time. Now that a rich kid didn't sweep up the market, the economy returned to normal.
We aren't the only merchant group that passes through here. There are times where we show up as the people are in need of items and sometimes we show up just after another merchant group finished selling their wares. However, even with these fluctuations, we still make enough because the population of the molekin is large.
"Hmm, everything is in order as always. Please proceed to the side to pay off the tariff."
"Thank you."
I don't know if it's because the hero was summoned during the early stages of civilization here but even regulations like these are something the hero invented.
They made it very simple and decided to calculate the tariff by classifying the cargo by weight but the luxury pieces are priced differently. A silver coin for every 40 kg of weight. Let's say your cargo is pencils and you have a box of it weighing 20 kg and a box of erasers weighing 20 kg. You would have to pay two silver coins but if you have 40 kg of each then you would still pay 2 silver coins.
Luxury goods are priced at 3 silver coins a piece. That is the price for those registered as a merchant group. If an individual has a lot of cargo then they would have to pay double the price.
"Welcome, this is the assessment of the guards during the inspection. Everything has been matched with the list of cargo you have presented. The total amount to be paid would be 20 silver coins."
"Ok, here is a gold coin."
"One moment while I retrieve your change please."
"Take your time."
"10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 silver coins. Please check if the amount is correct."
"Alright, everything is here."
"Thank you very much, please have a good day."
*Crack* *Crack* *Creak*
"Ahhhh, it always feels stifling going through formal procedures like that."
"We would have to go through those a lot of times. You better get used to it. Also, I'm the one doing all of the talking, you were only sitting there looking at everything."
"It's my job to watch! I'm the one in charge of guarding our merchant group!"
"Yes, yes, you're so great, thank you for protecting the cargo from the guards."
"Hmmp! Don't think that because the towns are considered a safe area from the survival rule that guards won't secretly pocket our items."
"I know. Come on, let's find a place at the market first."
"I hope that we finally find those rich folks you've been trying to fish out for so long. Otherwise, that wine and decorative plates will just waste us 4 silver coins everytime we enter a town."
"I'm going to start finding a buyer for it. After you help me set up the stall, I need you to find out the latest news."
"Got it, I'll especially pay attention to any big parties by the rich families in the area."
It could be a birthday party, an engagement party, or even a small celebration, anything just please happen! I haven't even tried to hide the luxury items. The problem is that no one could afford it, so it has been left over for some time now.
If this goes on for some time longer, I would rather drink the wine and smash the plate. I have paid a third of the price with the tariff now. If this goes on I would be taking a loss.
"Turtle boss, I think we should start increasing security. The attacks have been frequent lately. I think people have become accustomed to the survival rule. Our cargo has increased and so did our income but a large part of that income goes to paying off the loan. We would be in trouble if we lose it from a bandit attack."
"That is true. Our foundation isn't stable enough that we can take a loss against a bandit attack. If we did, then we would have to take out another loan."
"Exactly, we would spiral down the moment we lose. You don't want to dive into the bandit business, so we can't run away and start a bandit group."
"After looking for news, go and find out if there are any trustworthy people to hire as guards."
"What's the budget?"
"We are still a small group and we only have two wagons. One person with the wage of 50 copper coins a day should suffice."
"Ok, I'll look for someone with decent character. I'll set the maximum pay as 50 copper coins. During travel, food, water and shelter will be taken care of by us. Inn fee will also be covered by us, and they could return home from service after five months. Is that ok?"
"Yeah, that should be good."
The price is really low because they don't have to worry about food and shelter. We are still in the more mellow beastkin territory, so the bandits here aren't that aggressive. They would more than likely just end up standing there as a deterrent.
We have been frequently visited by the bandits during our travels as of late. They weren't particularly aggressive. I don't know if it's because they aren't carnivores but the most they did was ask for a battle against us. If we lose then they get the cargo but if we win, we get their coins.
We haven't lost because hops is a great fighter but there was a time we encountered multiple bandits. She won in the end but I could see that she was too tired to continue.
That is why we need a new member of the guards while we are still in a peaceful territory. They could train while the majority of the population is still hesitating over this survival rule. The beast king did enforce the hero's rules but as the fighting became more intense, I doubt those fighting would remember those rules in the heat of the moment.
From what I heard from Bunny, the time before the hero basically a battle everyday. Food was guarded by the strong to lure in prey. Also, while the carnivore beastkin doesn't eat the herbivore beastkin's, the animal carnivore counterpart does try to maul the herbivore beastkins.
Things settled down once the hero came, so people's needs were met. They didn't need to fight others, so things just settled down.
The time of peace stretched out from the time the continents were divided until the beast king enforced the survival rule again.
It seems that the goal of the beast king isn't to make one person remain on top but to help reignite the fighting spirit of the beast continent.
Of course not everyone will be enthusiastic with it but as long as you are on the road, you will surely encounter battles. You will have no choice but to fight.
"Ok, the stall is set up nicely now. Take the other wagon and reserve an inn room for us. You can do the news collection afterwards. Here is some money for it."
"Can I have some extra for snacks?"
"It can't be helped. Here, enjoy some snacks!"
"Are you open?"
"One moment, sir. I will be right with you."
Oh! A customer already. It seems luck is going our way today.
"I'll drop by to find you after. Don't wander around, ok!"
"Yes, yes, I'll stay here and behave. Now go! We can't let the customer wait too long."
"Ok, good luck!"
I don't know why but she keeps treating me like a child. I beat her in our first encounter, and I handle the finances. Is it because she buys all the meals, reserves the inn, and finds the recent news?
It is also true that she has more common sense than me, though that is only because I am new to this continent.
Anyway, we would have our first employee. We would have to keep guard against the new recruit for some time. It's a good thing I don't need too much sleep. I can keep watch while pretending to be asleep.
"Thank you for waiting. Which item do you want?"
"How much for that wine bottle?"
Great! Excellent! It seems that our luck is really good today. I can finally sell this bottle. I'll need to make a lot of profit here to fully equip me and hops.
"Ah, this bottle is an old fruit wine from the monkeykin territory. It's the last one made by the known maker Copper Fermen."
"Ooh, this will make a great gift. Hmm, how about 50 gold coins for it? If you add the box, I'll add 10 silver coins. How about it?"
"It can't be helped. You bargain great, sir. Do you want it wrapped?"
"No, I'm good. I can carry it right now. I'm going to be late."
"Here you go, sir. Thank you for buying. Please visit us again next time for your shopping needs."
I finally found the rich bourgeois attending a party. This is enough for me to buy ores and rent a workshop to make armour and weapons for me and hops.
We'll continue circling around the nearby territories to train the new recruit. Once we are sure they are loyal and skilled enough, we could start passing through aggressive carnivore territories.
