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Chapter 1145 - 1145 178 First Financing Meeting

1145: Chapter 178, First Financing Meeting 1145: Chapter 178, First Financing Meeting “Clatter, clatter, clatter…”

With the sound of turning gears, the cart slowly moved forward.

“Beka, speed up, we must reach the Mountain Domain today!”

The old man’s words made the coachman, Beka, momentarily stunned, and his whip paused in mid-air.

“Master, rest assured!

If the road behind us continues to be this good, we can reach the Mountain Domain by this afternoon.”

Having realized this, Beka quickly responded.

“Hmm!”

Satisfied with the definitive answer, the old man’s face lightened considerably.

As a sharp-eyed merchant, he saw issues much farther ahead than the average person.

The Near East Development Bank had just opened, and he had noticed it right away.

Banking on Hudson’s reputation, he boldly opened an account and deposited two thousand gold coins even with an uncertain future.

He had hoped to curry favor with Hudson and get acquainted.

Unfortunately, the disparity in their status was too great, and a minor customer with just two thousand gold coins hardly merited Master Hudson’s attention.

Reality was harsh, and Tamir was powerless against it.

His connection to Hudson was forced by circumstances.

As his business grew constantly, the original backers were almost unable to cover him anymore, and he urgently needed to find a new support.

It was not easy to make this step, as many merchants sought to serve major nobles.

Without something exceptional to offer, one could not even get through the door.

“Father, why the rush?

Even if we’re a day or two late, it won’t affect anything!”

Next to him, the young man, puzzled, asked.

Doing business efficiently was true, but the current situation was different.

Under the “money drought” crisis, there simply was no trade to be done.

Prices continued to fall, and buying now meant selling quickly.

Almost all merchants in the kingdom were deliberately reducing their inventories.

Under the influence of panic, no one knew where the bottom was.

All they could do was watch the situation and look for opportunities.

“No, Jack,

we are fighting for these one or two days!

The funds from the Near East Development Bank are not unlimited, and under the backdrop of the “money drought” crisis, loans will get increasingly hard to secure as time passes.

Under the same conditions, we can’t compete with noble lords for commercial loans.

Price declines have already started accelerating, and now the situation is such that whoever has cash will be able to make a big profit in upcoming changes.

Once everyone realizes this, we will be out of the picture!”

Tamir said solemnly.

This was a risky gamble; if he misjudged and placed the wrong bet, he might not even earn back the interest on the loans.

Buying high and selling low was not the issue, but the speed of repayment was crucial.

For an ordinary merchant, having a large amount of capital tied up in goods could be fatal.

This meant that the timing of the exit had to be precise.

Too early or too late, both could result in significant losses.

“Father, I remember you said: only do business within our capability.

We are not nobles; we don’t get the best interest rates, and even if we manage to secure a loan, the cost of capital will be high.

Even if we make a big profit, taking on the major nobles for resources might be risky…”

Before Jack could finish, Tamir interrupted, “Son, you have indeed grown up and are not blinded by immediate profits.

You’re right; some money cannot be earned.

Often, money is the root of sin.

In recent years, we’ve performed too well and have already become a target.

If we don’t want to be completely devoured, we must find a way to save ourselves.

I plan to mortgage all the highly attractive deals we have to the Near East Development Bank!

Including future business, I will use loans to operate.

Even if we’re not short of money, we won’t stop taking loans.”

Hearing this response, Jack was dumbfounded.

He had never expected his father to adopt such a roundabout strategy.

Once the properties were mortgaged to the Near East Development Bank, it would be difficult for outsiders to pry.

Few in the entire kingdom would dare to challenge Master Hudson and snatch resources right from under his nose.

The capital interest payments act like protection money.

With the bank covering for them, no one could tell exactly how much they were making.

Even if someone tried prying, it was futile; the money was all lying in the Near East Development Bank.

Apart from the operational funds, most of their wealth was digits on a Demon Crystal Card.

Demon Crystal Cards are registered by name; stolen cards couldn’t be used to withdraw money, surely no one would dare force them at the bank to withdraw cash!

Forcing a customer to withdraw would be no different from robbing a bank.

Anyone sane wouldn’t dare to be so reckless.

This operation’s biggest risk was betting on the reputation of the Near East Development Bank, or rather, betting on Master Hudson’s integrity.

Thanks to many years of good reputation, Hudson’s name carried a lot of weight in the Southeastern Province.

A model noble who didn’t engage in land annexation, how could he plot against their modest enterprise?

At least, in recent years, there had been no tales of the Koslow Clan forcefully seizing assets.

Even if they did snatch, it was from the Orcs.

The new elites of the Koslow Clan were either opening up lands in the Near East or taking root at the Northern Border.

Apart from lawful land inheritance within the province, there was no deliberate expansion of territory.

Their reputation and credibility were solid within the circle.

The next morning, bright and early, Tamir and his group headed straight for the branch of the Near East Development Bank.

Upon arriving and seeing the crowd lined up, he fell silent.