Chapter 51 Business Genius
In the early morning, when the first ray of sunshine rose from the sea level, Calim Port finally bid farewell to the crisis-ridden night and ushered in the noisy and lively day.
The slaves who had been waiting on the dock for a long time were being whipped by the supervisor and began to work on moving goods.
As a large city with a permanent population of more than 200,000, it receives countless ships from all over the continent of Faerûn every day.
They will bring specialties from thousands of kilometers away, hoping to sell them at a good price in the most prosperous port in the southwest sea.
When you return, fill it with local distinctive spices, scimitars, chain armor, books, pearls, silks and secondary magic items, etc., and bring them back home to earn huge profits.
Of course, in addition to ordinary cargo, some ships also bring large amounts of living things.
For example, various exotic animals and slaves of different races.
As one of the few countries that still practices slavery, the strong demand for slaves from Calishite nobles and wealthy merchants is enough to satisfy adventurers, mercenaries, black-hearted merchants, and gang members in areas where slavery is prohibited. Take risks out of desperation.
After all, catching slaves is a costless business.
All they have to do is to get people on the ship through deception, abduction, kidnapping, etc., and then transport them to a place in Calim Port that is responsible for training slaves, tame them for a period of time, and then send them to the market to sell them at a high price.
The nobles and wealthy merchants of Calimshan even regard the number of slaves they own as a symbol of strength and status.
A slave owner who owned a large tract of farmland and a manor outside the city near the Carlin River, whose property may include up to thousands of slaves of different races.
In addition, a large number of slave warriors are also needed in the arena to perform cruel gladiatorial performances.
It can be said that slaves have become an indispensable and important part of this country.
Without slaves, Calimshan's production and economic activities would stagnate or even collapse completely in a very short period of time.
Whether it is agriculture or a large number of handicraft workshops, they will not be able to operate normally due to the lack of sufficient labor.
At this moment, Zuo Si, who had just gotten up from the bed, was sitting in the hotel room, looking at the purchase intention list sent by the businessman Bernard himself, and asked in a very puzzled tone: "Why are there slaves?
And there are as many as 150 people?
If I remember correctly, slavery seems to be prohibited in Tethyr and Amn in the north."
Bernard was obviously prepared for this and explained without thinking: "Because according to calculations, our cargo will require at least 500 to 700 camels to barely cross the desert.
If we add the need With so much food and water, the team would become extremely large.
And with so many camels and goods, it would be far too expensive to hire locals.
It would be far better to do it directly. Buying slaves is cost-effective.
The most important thing is that we have no way to tell whether there are bandit spies among the hired locals.
After all, the Kalin Desert is not a safe place, and countless caravans die at the hands of bandits every year.
In contrast, slaves who have no chance to contact the outside world are safer.
Of course, some civilians with special skills will also be hired, but the number must be controlled.
As for the laws prohibiting slavery in Tethyr and Amn, there is no need to pay too much attention.
The first is the Kingdom of Tethyr, which is currently in a state of division and turmoil.
The nobles are desperately trying to defeat their opponents, expand their territory, or even seize the crown from the royal family that has lost its prestige.
They don't care if there are slaves in the caravan.
A few noble lords close to Calimshan are even secretly selling civilians captured and plundered from hostile noble territories to slave traders.
Although Amn ostensibly prohibits the slave trade, there are actually countless nobles and wealthy merchants secretly engaged in buying and selling slaves.
As long as you are careful not to be discovered by nosy adventurers and paladins, it is generally not a big problem.
Besides, I have no intention of bringing these slaves into Askatra.
When they arrive at the last transit city of Cremur, they will be given the status of free citizens, and then arranged to go to manors in the countryside to cultivate fields, raise and take care of livestock.
Anyway, the Chamber of Commerce has large areas of land and fixed industries that require healthy labor. ”
It must be said that this man who looks to be just over thirty years old is definitely a genius in the business field.
Not only does he understand the specialties of each region and the price fluctuations of various commodities, At the same time, it can also reduce its operating costs to a minimum, even in hiring manpower and transportation, it is necessary to find ways to make a small difference.
Look at the plan below this purchase intention list!
Every capitalist on earth has to call him an expert when he sees one.
Just starting from Calim Port and heading north, there are more than three types of transportation that need to be replaced along the way.
The first one used was the camel.
After crossing the desert and reaching Manon, all camels are immediately sold to local caravans who want to go south.
Because these caravans also need to cross the Kalin Desert, they often give a very high price.
At least one third to half higher than the price in Calim Port, which is rich in camels.
The goods that follow the team will be loaded onto the carriage, which will be pulled by Tethyr's specialty heavy packhorse across the Wildas Forest and the two transverse mountains filled with monsters and beasts.
Waiting to arrive at Cremul, a city in Amn.
All slaves and pack horses will be sold at high prices, and then transferred to river transport ships to arrive at Ascatla, known as the "Gold Coin Capital".
Almost every time he changed transportation, Bernard was able to make a fortune from it.
Not only that!
Along the way, he also listed in great detail what goods were sold and purchased in different towns.
Every trade takes into account possible price fluctuations caused by large sales and purchases.
Even from a modern perspective, Zuo Si could not fault anything and could only nod his head approvingly: "Not bad! It seems that you have considered all the details. I have no reason to object. I will just follow the rules formulated." Let’s make a plan.”
“Thank you very much for your trust. Please rest assured that I promise with my credibility as a businessman that this trip will definitely make a huge profit.” Bernard patted his chest. He promised emphatically.
"Of course! I have never doubted this. After I get the ransom from Hallett in a few days, I will hand over the money to you for operation."
Zuo Si It also gave the businessman in front of me a reassurance.
He understood that Bernard was actually quite insecure now.
After all, the little sister I originally trusted and loved suddenly turned into a ruthless conspirator overnight, and even wanted to join forces with outsiders to kill all the brothers and sisters in one go.
This nightmare-like situation makes people feel numb just thinking about it.
In addition, there are many thieves' guilds in Calim Port. Who knows if the girl named Isadora will arrange any backup plan after learning about the failure of Captain "Blood Hand".
This is why, after selling all the goods on hand, Bernard rushed to report immediately and came up with a thorough and detailed purchase intention list and plan without reservation.
He worked so hard to show his value because he hoped to tie Zuo Si onto his warship as soon as possible through the relationship of interest.
...
The businessman who received a positive reply soon left happily.
Not long after he left, the werewolf girl Fangus who was waiting outside the door walked in, knelt down on one knee and bowed deeply.
"Master. According to your request, the two older members of the clan and I went to the slave and pet markets, but we did not find the creatures you mentioned."
"Oh? No one in the market is trying to drive you away or embarrass you, right?" Zuo Si looked at the other party with interest.
Since she took a bath and slept peacefully last night, the werewolf girl looked much better.
In addition, she is not ugly at all. Her three-dimensional facial features and sharp eyes make people feel that she has a wild beauty that cannot be described in words.
Obviously, this is the impact of lycanthropy on a person's appearance and temperament.
It is said that some lycanthropes who completely succumb to the control of their bestial instincts will even permanently transform their bodies into half-human and half-animal forms.
(End of this chapter)