The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#Chapter 261 Evil Boss Nigel (10) - Canned Goods and Anger Although there was an internal issue where the evil boss, feeling pangs of conscience, attempted to improve the slave's treatment while the slave waved her hands saying she was fine, the plan to expand the store itself proceeded smoothly. The building became larger, staff increased, and the products on display also became more diverse. Among them, what garnered the most attention was naturally the newly released canned goods. "What is this metal can-like thing?" "It has fruit pictures drawn on it? Is it food?" "The price is... wow, that's quite expensive?" Nigel set the price of canned goods quite high. The original products weren't that cheap even by modern standards to begin with, and he was concerned that if he sold these cheaply too, people would attempt hoarding to get the cans themselves, just as they had done with sports drinks. What Nigel hadn't anticipated was that even that price felt excessively cheap to people. Especially from the perspective of those engaged in commerce. "...This is insane." The leader of the 'Dancing Sand' caravan, Zayd, let out a hollow laugh. As the store's first customer when it opened, he was also an excellent customer who had purchased every single product Nigel had introduced since then. This time was no different. Pineapple, mango, peach. He purchased various canned goods by type and tasted their contents at home, and while the taste was impressive, there were quite a few other extraordinary aspects as well. First, convenience. "...No need to cut with a knife, no need to roast or boil with fire, and you don't even need to prepare a separate container. Just open it easily and eat using the can itself as a bowl." Next, rarity. "Fruits that require a lot of water to grow are precious in themselves. Especially fresh, undried fruits are impossible to get unless there are trees within the city. There are even several fruits I've never seen before." Finally, and the most shocking aspect as a merchant, was preservation. "As long as this metal container isn't dented or swollen, the contents remain intact. Even when exposed to hot heat, it just gets a bit soft but doesn't spoil. The expiration is at least a year, even conservatively speaking." Food remaining fine after more than a year? By common sense, it was unthinkable. Even customers who heard explanations from staff at the time of purchase just laughed it off, saying that was too much of an exaggeration. Of course, since the taste itself was excellent, they still bought the products despite this, but hardly anyone seriously believed these canned goods would last over a year. And Zayd was the exception who didn't belong to that 'hardly anyone'. "It must be real." Paper cups, plastic bottles, plastic packaging, stickers. Many people were captivated by the taste and aroma of the foods that store presented, but merchants like Zayd realized that the side elements that came along with those foods were the truly amazing technology. "Food that can be eaten conveniently anytime, has excellent taste and nutrition, and can even be preserved for years, costs not gold coins but just a few silver coins? Oh, Sarbadsi." The god of sand and wind who receives much faith in the Markanda region. Muttering that name, Zayd sighed deeply. After calculating in his mind what would happen in the future, Zayd called his aide and said: "This trade run. Don't touch other goods. Porcelain and silk are all unnecessary, so mobilize all transport capacity for those canned goods. Get more camels too, as many as you can find." *** "Twenty peach canned goods! Give them to me right now!!" "What? You're out of pineapple canned goods? Almost no mango either? Then bring out those chestnut canned goods or something!" "I'll buy the corn canned goods here! How many? Just bring out all the stock you have!!" "Wait! Don't cut in line! I chose first!!" The canned goods business was successful. No, beyond successful, to the point where one could even feel a slight frenzy. Especially the merchants' reactions were dramatic, as they cleared out goods so thoroughly that ordinary customers complained there was nothing left for them to buy. To prevent this, when Nigel imposed restrictions allowing only a few purchases per person, merchants not only brought all their employees to buy one each, but even hired people solely for purchasing goods or outright bought from those who had already purchased at premium prices. Even doing all that, once they obtained them, they could make several times the profit in other cities. "Um... shouldn't we stop this?" "Stop what?" "The merchants buying Master's goods and then going to other cities to sell them at high prices." "That's fine. It's common sense that prices rise when distribution processes increase." Moreover, this wasn't just ordinary distribution, but an extreme journey where they had to face scorching sun, fierce sandstorms, and incidentally, desert-adapted monsters. When they risk their lives crossing over to other cities to sell goods like that, shouldn't they at least earn hazard pay? "When products spread widely in the first place, it's ultimately us who benefit. They're essentially doing promotion for us." Nigel had no intention of being satisfied with being a local store famous in just one city. Even if not the continent's greatest merchant, he would only consider his goal achieved when he became at least the top merchant in the Markanda region. Merchants who bought goods from Nigel made enormous profits selling canned goods in other cities, and with those profits, they came back to buy more canned goods from Nigel's store. As long as no one other than Nigel could produce canned goods, no matter how much margin the middleman distributors took, it was a structure where Nigel ultimately had to make money. Nothing could block this solid path... "Stop selling those things called canned goods." ...or so it seemed. *** It began with Princess Fariza's sudden summons. She was the precious daughter of the Baharah Family that ruled Shurabasti and the powerful figure who served as Nigel's backing, and when he responded to her call, didn't he suddenly hear demands to stop selling canned goods? "What do you mean so suddenly, Princess?" "Big brother Zarka told father about your canned goods. He said these are military supplies that shouldn't be carelessly leaked to other cities. He said if only our family could utilize these canned goods, their value would be enormous." "Hmm." In a way, it was a pointed observation that hit the mark. Considering that the origin of canned goods itself was created to secure wartime provisions, Fariza's brother had grasped the essence. Princess Fariza continued speaking in an annoyed tone as if troublesome matters had arisen. "There was even talk of summoning you... no, I'll be direct. There was talk of capturing you and making you spill the technology, but I blocked that for now. I said we'd make you supply only to us, so don't create unnecessary trouble." "Hmm." "They'll probably try to cut the price since they're military supplies, but they'll balance it out by supplying raw materials cheaply or something, so you won't lose money. I put a lot of effort into this, you know?" "Hmm." "So stop selling canned goods. From now on, sell only to our family. ...Are you even listening properly?" Nigel thought. 'Hmm, what to do about this? I hadn't thought of this development.' Sell awesome stuff. People around react with "Wow!" Evil villains interfere, but some connected high-ranking person takes care of it. This was roughly the basic plot of merchant life that Nigel had envisioned. It was a rather crudely naive plan, but if he had used his head properly from the beginning, he wouldn't have recklessly done the 'modern goods are amazing!!' thing without countermeasures. If you analyze the aftermath, surrounding repercussions, and how others will receive these items one by one, you can't comfortably use modern civilization cheats. 'If it comes to armed conflict, I'll lose. Can't be helped.' There were plenty of other things to sell besides canned goods anyway. Having product sales blocked due to external pressure was somewhat unpleasant, but if he recklessly confronted them here, he wouldn't even recover his initial investment. Next time, he should bribe not just Princess Fariza but also her siblings and father before doing business. It was when Nigel had organized his thoughts like that and was about to speak. "Are you staging some kind of protest or what? If you're going to keep your mouth shut─" "What choice do I have but to keep my mouth shut? In this absurd situation, what else can I do?" "Huh?" 'Huh?' Question marks arose simultaneously in the minds of both Princess Fariza and Nigel. Perhaps the other servants and guards nearby felt the same way. Regardless, Noa boldly stepped forward and met Fariza's gaze. "Princess Fariza." A mere slave interrupts the conversation without permission and calls the princess by name. Normally this would warrant punishment, but Noa's attitude was so natural, and such extraordinary spirit flowed from her body that no one could stop her. "Uh, huh? Why?" "Master offered the Princess a tumbler and thermos, and in return asked you to block various factors that interfere with business. The Princess accepted that. But now you're casually breaking the contract and trying to suppress Master's actions. Isn't it natural that Master is so dumbfounded he can't speak?" "No, well, I can block some merchant riffraff from interfering. But when family members step forward saying this must be stopped, what do you expect me to do?" "That's just an excuse!" "Hik." At the momentum like a lion's roar, Fariza shrank back slightly. Born into the highest family in Shurabasti and raised with indulgence even among family members, who would have dared to scold her like this? "Master is a great person. He's freely bestowing his special and noble abilities to people at practically dirt-cheap prices. But what did you say about that? Military use? Capture him and make him spill the technology? Do you really want to die?" "No, well, I wasn't the one who suggested it. I was actually the one who blocked it..." And shouldn't a slave not threaten a princess asking if she wants to die? Fariza wanted to retort like that, but Noa's eyes were too frightening for that. Her golden eyes flickering wildly—even though she had never seen it directly, this must be what a predator's eyes look like when eyeing prey just before hunting. After that, Noa delivered a lengthy speech about how great Nigel was, how much he devoted himself to people like her and bestowed so much upon them, and what a great sin it was to try to block this. In the end, Fariza raised the white flag. "Ah, fine! I'll talk to father and my brothers again! That's good enough, right!?" "Wonderful, Princess. I believed the Princess was someone who could do it if she set her mind to it." "Y-yes." Noa smoothly turned around and bowed her head toward Nigel. "I tried to speak in Master's place, though inadequately. If there's anything lacking, please tell me anytime." Nigel looked around. Princess Fariza who seemed to have slight moisture around her eyes, and servants looking at Noa and him with somehow fearful gazes. As he pondered what this was all about, he spoke in line with his policy of living with an empty brain. "No, it was excellent, Noa. You're truly my first employee." "Hehehe."