Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 969 - 86: The Merchant’s Character

Chapter 969: Chapter 86: The Merchant’s Character

"Actually, it’s all very simple. When your grandfather exchanged visits with them, I accompanied him a few times. After introductions, we got to know each other. After a few brief encounters, when we bumped into each other elsewhere, even if I was alone, we would greet each other and chat for a bit. Some people from those races or powers came to know me as well." Snape laughed at himself, shaking his head, "After that, I found that negotiations for trade with all parties went surprisingly smoothly. As long as my prices and services were competitive with other traders, I was sure to be part of the final deal. It’s easy to understand, really. For those powers, whether buying or selling, trade has to happen. If all the conditions are similar, why not go through me? It wouldn’t lead to any loss or harm, and it could even put the Demigods in a better mood. So you see, this is a manifestation of the influence of the Demigods. They often don’t have any agenda, but their influence permeates every corner of their power. If they’re not careful, it’s too easy to imprint their own brand on their faction."

"Indeed, if it were me, I’d probably think the same, no, such a choice seems quite natural. If what you say is true, the subtle influence of the Demigods is indeed frightening." Catherine nodded in agreement, wondering if the Elves would easily acquiesce to assist her in some personal matters without harming the interests of the Elves, had Pannis not intervened. The knight girl sneakily glanced at the beautiful Elf Queen, who looked like a piece of art. Her Majesty Flare was unscrupulously giggling at Pannis’s cries in the sky, and she accompanied Pannis’s piercing screams with her lyre, turning them into a beautiful melody. The knight girl wrinkled her nose, secretly baring her teeth at Flare, who had her back turned, and muttered, "Hmph, it will be troublesome for sure."

"What?" Marquis Snape, not catching up with the girl’s thoughts, asked with confusion, "What would be troublesome?"

"No, no, nothing, hahaha, it’s nothing, just a delusion," Catherine playfully stuck out her tongue, laughing awkwardly with a standard Pannis-style change of subject, "Ah, right, so that’s how Grandpa Snape’s commercial empire was originally established. It’s my first time hearing about it."

"Yes, the greatest return I received was from investing in your grandfather. The surprise he gave me accelerated my progress by at least twenty years, ’at least’ twenty years," Snape emphasized, "After that, my business grew larger and my wealth piled up. Heh, the bigger the wealth, the easier it becomes to earn more."

"But, your investment in my grandfather ultimately failed," Catherine said with a wry smile, "Even though the surprise he gave you increased your fortune dramatically, accelerating your progress by twenty years, as you said, his subsequent mistakes in a short period managed to bring you back to square one. If my father is not mistaken, you even faced bankruptcy at that time, nearly losing the small family legacy you had started with."

"Well, that’s not an exaggeration, but your family simply doesn’t understand business, so you didn’t really grasp the situation I was in." Snape shook his head and said, "True, I was on the verge of bankruptcy at that time, having to sell nearly all of our assets to mend the broken financial chain. However, that didn’t lead to my complete despair. For a successful merchant, the loss of funds is merely a trivial matter. What really matters, I not only retained but also gained."

"Connections?" Catherine pondered before asking, "That’s true, connections don’t necessarily diminish with the loss of funds, at least not entirely."

"Connections and reputation are a successful merchant’s most precious assets," Snape explained. "Although your grandfather’s failed experiment caused me significant financial loss, he subsequently sold a great deal of his property to help me repay all the debts in time. Thus, my business reputation was preserved. Most of those who had worked with me believed that my prioritization of debt repayment over fund transfer to minimize losses was commendable, indicating I was a reliable long-term business partner. In other words, the bankruptcy crisis not only left my reputation unharmed but actually enhanced it. As for connections, though the loss of funds made many business acquaintances keep their distance, that was within expectation and hardly surprising. What did surprise me was the connections your grandfather brought me didn’t shy away but provided substantial support during the crisis. For example, the Elves and Dwarves allowed me to draw upon their goods freely; I no longer had to pay upfront as before, and no collateral was required. As long as I sold the goods and paid them promptly, that was sufficient. The Winged people went even further; not only did they let me draw on their high mountain specialty teas and herbs like the Elves and Dwarves, they also covered the transportation costs in advance. Essentially, as long as I found enough people to form a trading caravan, I could acquire a large amount of goods without any upfront costs, profiting from the sales. Of course, I made sure to promptly clear the debts after the sales, and I paid an interest that matched the market price. This way, everyone maintained a pleasant trust and cooperation until my financial situation improved enough to return to normal trading methods. Moreover, I subsequently noticed that since that incident, most Demigods appeared to have changed their attitude towards me, no longer reserved as in the beginning, but closer and more respectful."

"Of course, this event entirely showcases your trustworthy nature and firm sense of responsibility. Anyone who can maintain good virtue in the direst moments is worthy of most people’s respect," Catherine said with a sudden realization, smiling, "I think I understand the message you’re trying to convey today. You’re suggesting that our family, over three generations, hasn’t really owed you anything; rather, your achievements today are still reliant on my grandfather."

"That’s right, you never owed me anything," Snape sighed, "On the contrary, it is I who owes your family the lives of two men. If it weren’t for you feeling indebted to me, your grandfather and your father wouldn’t have passed away so early, and you wouldn’t have to be like this now..."

"You’re wrong, Grandpa Snape," Catherine said, straightening her back and speaking earnestly, "The one who doesn’t understand is you actually." (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com), and your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)