Merchant From Earth in the Magical World
Chapter 51 Competitor_1

Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Competitor_1

The money for soap is a small matter, but what about the other lacking materials? Yan Xing looked at his balance, genuinely feeling powerless.

Rental deposits for the warehouse and office had already been paid. With the territory suddenly having so many new mouths to feed, the cost of food also had to increase.

There was also the capital needed to register the company, and he needed to set aside some money for emergencies. Right now, Yan Xing was truly strapped for cash.

Although I have some God-given gold coins that could be exchanged for cash, it was only after recruiting militiamen and werewolves that I realized these God-given gold coins truly can’t be wasted at all. If it weren’t for the reward of a thousand God-given gold coins sustaining me, when faced with the soldiers in the recruitment building, I could only look on with envy.

Moreover, the expenses for building materials and supplies needed for the development of the territory were not a small sum and couldn’t be solved by simply selling a few Gold Coins.

Therefore, before the money from selling the agarwood arrives, the budget has to be handled with great care. The territory can’t construct new buildings, but it can dig. First, I’ll dig a moat. This is a standard feature for a city. The excavated earth can be used as a foundation for future city walls, and the river channel will provide a convenient water source for the territory’s future development. As for where to obtain the water for the moat... I’ve already planned it out since I visited the Thunderous Swamp. By digging a canal between Eternal Domain and Red Mud Wetland, the swamp’s abundant water source can flow directly to Eternal Domain. Not only can this canal provide a water source for the territory, but river transportation can also facilitate the flow of materials between Eternal Domain and the Thunderous Swamp, like timber. Stone materials needed for territorial development can be replaced with bricks, but steel can’t fully replace wood. There are no timber resources around Eternal Domain, yet the Thunderous Swamp is very rich in them. With a canal, timber from the swamp can be transported quickly and conveniently to Eternal Domain. Of course, with Eternal Domain’s current manpower, constructing a canal isn’t feasible, but planning can start in advance.

After discussing with Gao Sipa and Lao Hansi, Yan Xing decided to proceed with the moat excavation project.

Centering on the existing territory, the moat would extend outwards by one hundred meters.

Inside the moat would be the central area of the territory, later to be used for building the Lord’s castle. The area outside the moat could be reasonably planned after the population of the territory increased in the future.

The second ring, third ring, fourth ring, fifth ring... expanding layer by layer outward.

「The next day.」

The workers of Eternal Domain began digging the moat, while Yan Xing continued to be busy with his company in the real world.

Company registration went very smoothly, thanks to having money to pave the way.

Yan Xing quickly obtained all certificates and licenses for Eternity Company.

A few desks were set up in the company office, along with computers and the necessary office equipment. After casually interviewing a few fresh graduates, he had them start work immediately.

After all, the company’s business wasn’t in the real world, so it didn’t need skilled salespeople running around. Having someone man the office to find suppliers online according to the boss’s needs and place orders was enough.

Then it was just a matter of them going to the warehouse to open the doors when goods arrived and, incidentally, checking the quantities.

The warehouse didn’t need anyone to stay and guard it; employees just clocked in and out on time.

Yan Xing would transport supplies from the warehouse at night. During the day, he would tell them that logistics had moved the goods out the previous night. Everything was safe and sound.

「A few days later.」

The premium agarwood placed in the auction was acquired by a collector, who wished to remain anonymous, for the high price of 12 million.

With sufficient funds, Eternity Company began operations.

Yan Xing was finally able to break away from the many tedious matters in reality and focus wholeheartedly on the impending monumental changes in the territory.

Would the human traders who bought agarwood from the Werewolf Tribe in the Thunderous Swamp at low prices easily give up their cheap source of spices? In the face of huge profits... I wouldn’t, and they certainly wouldn’t either.

「...」

Stephen Eden was a merchant from the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce.

Each month, he would travel along the edge of the Thunderous Swamp under the protection of mercenaries. Their caravan pulled carts full of grain and stopped outside the territory of a familiar Werewolf Tribe.

The werewolves would wait at the trading point on time. They brought some of the Swamp’s specialties to exchange for grain from Eden. There were herbs, animal hides, scale armor plates... and also spices.

The trade was orderly.

Not everyone dared to come to the Swamp, nor did everyone dare to do business with the barbaric Swamp Tribe. If you didn’t know how to deal with the Swamp Tribe, sometimes you wouldn’t even know how they killed you.

Eden had invested a lot of time and money in this trade route, along with no small sacrifice. He started by slowly building contact and mutual trust with the Werewolf Tribes, then trading with them, eventually opening up this trade route that others shunned.

No competition means high profits.

Especially after Eden discovered that the Thunderous Swamp contained agarwood, a high-grade spice, his profits and his status within the chamber of commerce soared rapidly.

Eden’s sudden wealth naturally attracted the prying eyes of other human merchants to the Thunderous Swamp.

However, how could Eden let others encroach upon his source of wealth?

Many human merchants had died violently around the Thunderous Swamp. For a long time, Eden’s control over this trade route had been unshakeable.

However, this time, as Eden was trading on the outskirts of the Thunderous Swamp, he quickly realized that something was amiss.

The amount of agarwood received from the Werewolf Tribes was very small.

Eden knew this rare spice would gradually become scarcer with large-scale harvesting, but the agarwood reserves in the Thunderous Swamp definitely shouldn’t have diminished to such a drastic extent.

Furthermore, some werewolves who came to trade even asked if he could increase the purchase price of agarwood...

Someone is trying to buy agarwood from the werewolves!

This was Eden’s conclusion, and it was the last thing he wanted to see. The profits from spices are very high. Competition means a price war—truly a Pyrrhic victory where both sides ultimately lose. The best way to avoid competition, of course, is to eliminate the rival.

Eden had done so in the past.

It’s just that I don’t yet know where my current competitor comes from. I must find out as soon as possible.

Once again, they arrived outside the territory of a Werewolf Tribe, and a group of werewolves carrying goods came forward to trade with the caravan.

When Eden recognized the leading werewolf, he immediately jumped down from the carriage.

He warmly went up to greet him, hugged the Werewolf Clan Leader, and then asked, "Clan Leader Li Zhua... It used to be Steel Tooth who dealt with me. Why have you come this time?"

Li Zhua looked at Eden’s caravan and the mercenaries scattered around for protection, then replied, "Steel Tooth couldn’t come due to some matters. Eden, my friend... regarding those pieces of wood we sold to you before, how much grain is their true value worth?"

Eden sensed some hostility in Li Zhua’s tone.

He immediately responded, "Clan Leader Li Zhua, please don’t believe any lies. The price I’ve given you is very fair. Do you remember last time, some of the wood you gave me was of very good quality?

"I could have continued buying all of it at ten kilograms of grain for one kilogram of wood. But I am an honest merchant; I didn’t deceive you. I took the initiative to add another ten kilograms of grain for it.

"No matter what someone has promised you, any benefit he offers is only short-term. Once I leave this trade route, I guarantee you’ll only be able to exchange your wood for grain at a one-to-one ratio from him, at most."