I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 216: Gacha and Tulips (2)

"May God's peace be with you. Alchini, how have you been?"

Alchini immediately took my hand as soon as he saw me and responded warmly.

"My lord, thanks to you, I’ve been doing very well. The coffee sales are going quite well."

"I’m glad to hear the business is doing well."

"My lord, two years ago, you were just a young member of the Medici family, and now you’ve achieved such success. The way the world turns, it’s driven by the will of the One, and we mere humans can never predict how things will go, but it’s truly remarkable."

It may be hard to grasp in this medieval setting, but what I’ve done is no less than a person fresh out of university, winning an election for parliament and creating a large company in just two years.

No, it’s even harder than that, I imagine.

It’s hard to believe anyone wouldn’t be amazed.

Honestly, when I think about it, this was truly a matter of "luck being half skill."

‘My effort was part of it, but the times were just right for it.’

"Thank you for the praise, Alchini. By the way, I was hoping to buy some beautiful flowers. Do you have any good options?"

At the mention of flowers, Alchini tilted his head in curiosity.

Flowers, in general, aren’t typically a lucrative business.

Wherever you go on the Albanian continent, flowers are fairly common, so it’s often the image of poor women trying to make a living by selling them.

‘People who make money from flowers are gardeners belonging to the horticultural guilds.’

But that’s thinking within the normal scope of things.

"Since you’ve come all the way here, perhaps you’re looking for a way to make money by selling flowers, am I right?"

"Actually, from the information I’ve gathered, growing flowers has recently become a trend among the noble ladies of the Holy Empire."

In some countries, you might find a high-ranking nobleman cosplaying as a character for a promotional event, and it could receive a positive response among young men if they’re told it’s an experience they can try.

But in a time without the concept of democracy, if a noble goes to a tavern for the common folk, their political life would be ruined for losing face.

On top of that, growing flowers is a hobby that, while not a direct strike to their reputation, is still better left undone.

Yet, the noble ladies are collectively watering the flowers?

‘This is a sign that the nobility in the Holy Empire are going mad for flowers.’

Alchini smiled with interest, clearly amused.

"If the noblewomen of the Holy Empire love flowers so much, bringing them some exotic and rare flowers should surely cause quite a stir, don’t you think?"

When the tulip craze struck the Netherlands, the price of a rare tulip rose to the cost of a luxury apartment in Gangnam.

Nobles probably owned dozens, if not hundreds, of them.

Even the middle class, wanting to avoid being looked down upon, pulled together all their money to buy tulips.

I intend to create a similar phenomenon.

"That certainly sounds like it could work."

Alchini gestured for the servant to bring something over.

A short time later, the servant brought in a vase with tulips.

"How about this flower? It has a striking color and elegant shape, and it’s quite popular in our Sultanate. There are no flowers like this on the Albanian continent, are there?"

At the end of Alchini’s words, there was a clear tone of "we have this, aren’t you impressed?"

But I wasn’t someone to react like that to a small gesture.

I appreciated that he had brought such a rare and beautiful flower, and I was grateful for his pride in presenting it.

"Indeed, there’s no flower like this in our continent. This would surely capture the hearts of noble ladies in the Holy Empire. What’s its name?"

"Tulip," he said.

How is the name exactly what I was expecting?

"It’s truly beautiful. It seems like a perfect match for noble ladies."

Beauty and flowers always go hand in hand, like thread following a needle.

The reason is simple. If you mix something tasty with something tasty, the dish will be delicious. Similarly, when you combine beauty with beauty, it creates an even more striking appearance.

That’s why beauty and flowers are connected.

‘That’s why it’s profitable.’

"There are even more spectacular varieties, with striped petals or multiple colors mixed together."

If the tulip is beautiful, it’s even better if it’s rare. Nobles would definitely start scrambling for them, like wild boars in heat.

When someone has something rare that others don’t, their reputation is at risk, and that’s why they’ll fight to possess it.

A decline in reputation equals a loss of power, and that’s something no noble can tolerate.

"Would you be able to supply such flowers to me?"

"As long as the price is right."

"For the plain tulips, I can buy 20 flowers for a silver coin. The rarer ones will be a gold coin per flower. If the beauty is outstanding, I’m willing to pay more."

Alchini looked at me as though I was crazy.

"You’re really buying them at that price? It’s just tulips, isn’t it?"

"Just tulips, indeed. But I believe they’re worth that much. And I’m not planning to buy them at that price forever."

If I continue buying tulips at that price, even I would go bankrupt.

At some point, I’ll sell them at a higher price and make a profit.

After all, selling something that’s practically nothing for an absurd price is the true art of a merchant.

And that’s why I respect Bong Yi Kim Seon-dal.

Look at his skill of selling water from the Daedong River at an incredibly high price—truly impressive.

At this rate, the British East India Company would recruit him as a multicultural hire.

"I understand. Then, please wait for about a week or ten days. I will bring you the best tulips, loaded on a ship."

After concluding the deal with Alchini, I called Sebastian, who had been following me.

"Sebastian, there’s something I need you to do."

"Yes, my lord."

"Return home immediately and find a beautiful woman as pretty as Chloe."

Sebastian tilted his head in confusion.

Well, given the way I asked, it might have sounded like I was ordering him to find someone to be my mistress.

But I’m already satisfied with the three women I have.

In fact, three is too many. Once Erica turns 20, I’m going to be in real trouble.

I was thinking of sending her to Hong Kong, but then I’d end up flying to America instead.

Chloe keeps asking for a sibling for her child, and it feels creepy sometimes, like a heavy weight pressing down on me.

When I get home, should I ask my father-in-law to put me through some military-style physical training?

"Why don’t you spend some time with Erica? After all, Chloe is nearing her due date, and though she hides it well, she really wants you around."

Even in the 21st century, with all the advances in medicine and healthcare, pregnant women are filled with anxiety before giving birth.

Even though I’ve done everything possible to reduce the risks, such as providing top-tier hygiene and nutrition, the reality is that even in the best hospitals, one in a hundred women still dies from childbirth complications.

Chloe might seem fine in front of me, but deep down, she’s probably terrified.

‘But I can’t stop now.’

"I’ll tell Erica, but I’m heading out now to do a little trick in the Holy Empire with these tulips."

Although it sounds like a small trick, the aftermath of it will be far more impactful than anyone can imagine.

The real estate market in the Tuscan Empire has already collapsed, so the Holy Empire will likely experience something much worse.

If I introduce Tulip Coins in the Holy Empire, it’ll surely bring chaos to their economy.

"The impact will be far greater than when you caused the land prices in the Empire to crash. Really, my lord..."

Sebastian’s voice trailed off.

He probably had something else in mind, but it wasn’t a pleasant thought.

To the British East India Company or any modern financier, this approach would be perfectly understandable.

"So, if this is traced back to the Holy Empire, it could lead to an international scandal."

"That’s right."

I’ll use this situation to my advantage.

By doing so, I’ll gather massive wealth from the Holy Empire, and the Lyon Kingdom will have a result in weakening the Holy Empire’s power—an unexpected gain.

It’s a diplomatic strategy that benefits everyone involved.

Of course, the probability of the Holy Empire declaring war on the Lyon Kingdom is extremely high.

In that case, we can profit by selling expensive weapons, like matchlock guns, to the Holy Empire.

"If we succeed in this, we could double the family’s finances."

Maybe even more.

That money will be carefully invested, and I’ll leave it for the children Chloe and Kris will have.

There are no taxes on stock trading, so I can pass down the money without anyone noticing.

"This is something only you, my lord, could have thought of."

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I’ve seen this strategy countless times while studying history, so of course, no one else would have thought of it.

‘History is the result of the efforts of many geniuses.’

"Thank you for the compliment."

"In that case, I’ll join you on this venture. Erica has been wary of you bringing in ‘women’ from unexpected places, after all."

Even though Erica says she’s fine, she’s still obviously not happy about it. It’s cute, though.

"Alright. Then, let’s head to Guillaume’s city in a week. We need to get citizenship there."