The Merchants Rule

Southeast of the Tearmoon Empire, past a group of small countries, lay a huge port. The Holy Principality of Bellugas harbor city of St. Baleine was an independent port city that was proud and quiet. When neighboring countries kept fighting over who had the right to use the harbor, the Belluga stepped in. They took over the surrounding lands and let traders from all the nearby places use the harbor. Then, they got a number of businesses to form a group called a merchants guild. This group was in charge of maintaining and improving the facilities of both the harbor and the town. Belluga had made the town its territory in name only. They set up a system to make sure that all material gains were shared with other countries in the area.

At first, this change was met with a never-ending stream of complaints from the neighbors. All the people involved wanted to control the ports possibility for making money. But as time went on and they started to see the benefits of Bellugas method, the voices against it got quieter. Business activity in and of itself was a good thing. Regional players quickly figured out that the current setup might be better than having one person own the port alone. Having a fountain of gold in your own garden made you a very obvious target, and it wasnt cheap to protect it. It could save everyone money if it wasnt in anyones yard. So, the port of peace grew and became one of the most important trade hubs on the continent. It was known as a merchants paradise.

There, at this huge port, was Marco Forkroad looked up at the Auro Vangelo, a big commercial ship owned by his company, and sighed. Who would have guessed?

The ship was going to a country across the ocean where there was a lot of wheat. Mia Luna Tearmoon, princess of the Tearmoon Empire, had hired the ship to go there.

The way things are now Did the princess know this would happen? If she did, that makes her a very scary person.

Marco remembered the face of the princess who had become close friends with his daughter. He smiled in a way that showed both pride and worry. God, Chloe, what kind of person did you make friends with?

Oh? Well, if its not Marco of Forkroad & Co.

When Marco heard his name, he turned around to see a man with a big belly and a curly beard standing in front of him. The man greeted him with a huge smile, but it was clear that it was only on the surface. Marco knew him well. He was a man who had never smiled from the heart.

Hello, Shalloak! Its been a while.

Shalloak Cornrogue was a wealthy trader whose business was so big that it covered the whole continent. He traded everything from food to silk goods to weapons. No matter what it was or where it fit, if there was money to be made, he sold it. Marco didnt like being around him because of how ruthlessly he focused on making money in business. Shalloak was a very ruthless businessman, which worried him because Shalloak was right. As a businessman, Marco knew that being ruthless was the right thing to do. He also knew that he didnt have that ability.

Well, it had made him feel bad. Now, all of that was in the past because Marco had found something more brilliant and more wonderful than the right way to do business.

How amazingly interesting! Whenever I was with him, I felt like a fool, but now

He shook his head and smiled again in a sarcastic way.

Shalloak said, Oh ho ho, I know that grin, as he twisted his moustache. That smile is from someone who just made his enemies look like complete fools. Well done. When you first started trading in wheat from other countries, I thought you had gone crazy. I remember calling it the height of stupidity. And now look at you, your wheat must be worth three times what you paid for it. How does it feel to have made us all look bad, hm?

Marco gave a shrug. Im glad youre interested in this, but the selling price of the wheat I recently brought in was already set before I brought it in.

Oh? Shalloak asked with a knowing smile, Would that be through a contract with the so-called Great Wisdom of the Empire?

How did you

Oh ho ho, but I know, of course. Keep your ears open, and whispers will come from everywhere.

Information is a very important tool for traders. Because of this, Marco had made sure that as few people as possible knew about his deal with Mia. But still

After giving it some thought, Marco let out a sigh of resignation. I guess theres no point in trying to hide it now. As you said, it is a part of my agreement with Her Highness.

And youre going to follow this agreement? To the word?

Of course. For us traders, contracts are holy and cant be broken. Do you think I should go back on what I said I would do?

Now, come on. Its not a matter of right or wrong, but of how to do things. There are many ways to do it. You can, for example, first sell some to another kingdom for a better price. The empire can wait.

Marco, who was usually a nice guy, gave Shalloak a hard look. His voice started to sound a little angry. You cant really mean that.

Yes, but why cant I? I have never been more serious than I am right now. This is, if anything, what makes us traders, isnt it? We only stick to contracts because they help us keep customers for longer, which means we make more money than if we didnt. But if there is a way to make even more money, Shalloak said, narrowing his eyes, you should use every bit of knowledge you have to find a way out of that stupid contract. Due to last years bad harvest, wheat costs have gone through the roof. It would be a shame if you didnt make the most of this. Were business people. The heart of business is being loyal to money. Well find a way to sell the ashes if war burns this land to the ground. Thats what it means to be a business owner.

Lord above all I dont think Shalloak and I will ever agree on anything. I hope that your business does well for a long time. At least I can do that much.

Ill take it. When youre running a business, every little bit helps. Marco turned around and walked away. Shalloak gave him a smile that wasnt quite friendly as he left.