The Welcome Trading Company was established by William.
It was a relatively new company, started from scratch by William himself, who had risen from being an apprentice to owning his own business. Although other merchants treated him like a young upstart, his reputation was not bad.
The company name was chosen because it signified that they did not discriminate against customers.
Having come from a poor background himself, William often experienced being treated poorly or not as a customer based on his appearance or age.
Even though he promised to save up money and pay, he often wondered why he couldn't shop like everyone else.
His pride was hurt, and he vowed to himself that one day, he would run a business that wouldn’t make people feel the same way.
He would always treat everyone with sincerity as a customer.
This resolution became the inspiration for the company’s name, reminding him not to forget his initial determination.
Luckily, William had a talent for customer service and calculations, which made him well-liked by his master, allowing him to start his own business at a young age.
From there, he worked relentlessly, gradually hiring more people, purchasing slaves, expanding the range of products he handled, and increasing his network of suppliers and buyers.
Although he came to understand the reasons why merchants tended to distance themselves from the poor, he never forgot his initial feelings and continued his efforts to grow his business.
(“This is a great opportunity... If this deal goes well, I can establish a strong connection with the nobility.”)
Now, a great opportunity had come William's way.
He had acquired sugar of such high quality that it could be described as pure white.
No major store anywhere could boast such a product.
While the Welcome Trading Company did deal in sugar, the quality was vastly different.
The sugar that came from overseas through trade was much browner, with a rough taste—if one were to be generous, one might call it flavorful, but it could also be described as having an off taste.
(“I wonder where they sourced it from, but the important thing is to establish a stable trade relationship. Greed often leads to disaster.”)
William had a slim connection with the lord of this region—or rather, the steward.
This was an opportunity he couldn't afford to miss.
On the day he obtained the product from Wata, he sent a messenger to the lord's manor and secured a meeting for the next day.
“Raise your head.”
“Yes. It's been a while. I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me.”
“Time is precious. Let's get straight to the point. I hear you've acquired something valuable.”
“Yes, the finest quality sugar currently available.”
In the meeting room of the lord's manor, William was sitting across from Herodotus, the lord's representative.
Herodotus was a man of thirty-four years, tall and with a face that appeared nervous.
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As a steward, his abilities were decent, neither particularly good nor bad.
He was married locally and now a father of two.
He was a devoted husband, with his wife being the second daughter of a minor noble from the central region.
William recalled the information he had on the steward.
(“It’s been about five years since he arrived here, but he hasn't achieved anything noteworthy yet. He must be feeling some pressure. Whether he uses this sugar at a royal capital party or as a tribute, it’s a commodity that will make him desperate to get his hands on it.”)
The meeting room was not very spacious.
Two guards stood flanking the steward, while a table and chairs were arranged in front of him.
The large table was difficult to maneuver around or over, and could be used as a shield in case of an attack, all of which was designed with the lord's safety in mind.
Behind the steward, the room was decorated with flags, shields, and paintings, all symbols of authority and wealth, arranged to intimidate visitors.
The décor of the room, even if merely for show, often revealed much about a person’s wealth and character.
However, the interior did not intimidate William.
William took out the sugar he had purchased from Wata from his bag.
“Oh... This is sugar? How beautiful! It’s as white as pearls or seashells...”
“As you can see from its whiteness, it contains no impurities.”
“I see... So this is why you sought an audience with me.”
Herodotus stared intently at the sugar with sharp eyes.
Since it wasn’t yet purchased, naturally, William did not allow him to touch the product.
Depending on the steward’s request, he was willing to offer a sample.
(“Just as expected, he’s taken the bait. Sugar is a consumable. To stay in the good graces of the central nobles, he’ll need to purchase it repeatedly.”)
Each time, a large sum of money would flow into William's hands.
If it became popular in the central region, sales would improve even further.
“Hmm... Such quality... However...”
Herodotus groaned, clearly calculating something in his mind.
He was quickly assessing the effective uses of this sugar, estimating the potential returns, and determining how much he could afford to spend.
William decided to help Herodotus make up his mind by providing more information.
“I considered bringing this to the Cantark Trading Company, the largest in the city, but I thought it appropriate to present it to you first, Herodotus-sama.”
“No, no. If that greedy fellow caught wind of it, the price would skyrocket. So, how much is it?”
“Yes, I am selling it for 100 gold coins.”
“...That’s expensive.”
“You’re aware of the going rate for sugar, I’m sure. While the price is high, I believe it’s not exorbitant.”
After all, sugar was an expensive product imported from overseas.
Even ordinary sugar required a significant amount of gold.
Enjoying it alone required a small fortune, and sharing it with others demanded even more wealth.
Because of this, those who managed to do so often demonstrated their influence and power.
Despite understanding all of this, Herodotus still maintained a pained expression.
“I understand. But can’t you do something about the price?”
“This is a business, after all.”
“I suppose so.”
Herodotus’s response was curt, and his impatience was evident.
William could tell that this lack of composure was likely what held Herodotus back from being an exceptional steward.
Still, William wasn’t close enough to him, nor did he have any obligation, to voice such thoughts. Instead, he maintained a soft, merchant-like smile and remained silent.
After a while, Herodotus seemed to have made up his mind. He met William’s gaze with a resolute nod, signaling the success of their negotiation.
“Very well. I will have the money brought here.”
“Thank you. If you need more in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.”
“Oh? Do you have a steady supply?”
“It’s not guaranteed, but I am currently negotiating with my supplier for regular purchases.”
“Hmm. I see. I don’t need more immediately. I plan to showcase this in the central region. But depending on the reaction there, I might need more.”
“...I will do my best to accommodate.”
If a large quantity was required, William would make a significant profit, but it would also require considerable preparation and funds.
If he couldn’t secure enough, he would surely face reprimand.
On the other hand, if the reaction was lukewarm, William could suffer a significant loss if he had already invested heavily.
Even though this product was valuable, vague demands that could go either way posed a risk to the business.
At the same time, William couldn’t dictate terms to a noble.
The fact that Herodotus made such demands so casually was a clear sign that he looked down on William.
(“This is why I don’t like dealing with nobles...”)
Depending on the situation, William might have to scramble to raise funds.
But the opportunity was also enormous.
If he played his cards right, he could join the ranks of the major traders.
Building a strong connection with the central nobility wouldn’t be just a dream.
(“The success of the negotiation with Wata-sama is crucial for this. I can’t afford to make any mistakes.”)
William had already taken several steps, such as facilitating the purchase of slaves.
As he bowed deeply, his mind began to ponder how best to negotiate with Wataru.