Let's Manage The Tower

Schmidt was in his office at Crown Headquarters to check on the recent situation.

You can say the business itself is going well.

The Crown's main earnings are made from materials sold by adventurers and handicrafts made by the Igreeds.

Not only are Iglid crafts already popular as a specialty of the Amamiya Tower, but they are also being nominated and commissioned.

Originally, Iglid crafts were customarily named after producers.

It seems that someone who noticed the name spread it more and more.

Nearly a dozen producers had already been asked to do so under that name alone.

The Iglid people have fulfilled the nomination request because they are also handling orders properly.

Some craftsmen refuse a request that it is boring just to make things specified by customers, but none of the Iglid craftsmen seem to say so at this time.

Perhaps one of the Vamilinian clans in between is making good adjustments.

As an intermediary, I have no particular problems because they are finished within the time frame.

Materials from adventurers are sourced from stores in the safety area, which is very different from other stores.

Other non-Crown merchant alliances have already opened their doors to the safety area, but it will cost you a lot of transportation.

Meanwhile, the crown that is transporting through the transfer gate has been able to significantly reduce its cost.

Other Merchant Guilds naturally require permission to use the Transfer Gate, but the Crown will never give it up.

Nominally, the transfer gate of the store in the safety area is not controlled by the government, but is directly controlled by the Crown.

That's why other Merchant Alliances don't have anyone to complain to.

Strongly speaking, you will complain to the tower administrator and install permits to use the transfer gate.

However, since the tower administrator does not appear on the front, it is said that there is nothing that can be handled.

As a result, in the Tower, the Crown's merchant division is in a much better position to do business than other merchant guilds.

Naturally, there are voices that say it is unfair, but since the person who should speak up becomes the keeper of the tower, it always ends up being yellow.

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The information behind the Schmidt was delivered.

The person who brought the information was the one who brokered the trade route from the city of Lüssen to the north.

Rick will be in charge of looking at everything in the caravan, but naturally he can't look at everything by himself, so he divides the responsibility into eight more parts.

It was one of them who brought the information.

"Is piracy becoming more active?"

"Yes"

As a part of the story, piracy is becoming more active on the northeast side of the Central continent, in short, in the waters of the region where this person is in charge.

Basically, the crown is dominated by large-scale caravan movements by road.

However, since land transport is still no match for sea transport in terms of cost, it is also carried out by ship as a matter of course.

And what about the damage?

"No, we haven't done as much damage as we did in the first place."

The absolute numbers are small in the first place because they rely mainly on the transportation of large fleets of merchants by road.

However, indirect damage is occurring, such as damage to the Merchant Alliance, which is making money on goods bought from the Crown.

"I see. Is that what you mean?"

Schmidt listened and looked reluctant.

If the Crown's ship was directly damaged, that's why I was able to use the Tower's features.

But when it comes to indirect things like this one, it's also difficult.

If you don't pull a line somewhere, they'll ask you to help me, and there's no limit.

That said, I don't feel like asking you to help me out to something completely irrelevant.

"Having said that, it's not stupid to come all the way to the report, is it?

"Yes, there are already a lot of adventurers on board instead of products."

Given the pirates' victimization, we should increase the number of adventurers and deal with them.

"It's still okay now, but rumors are spreading that it affects prices."

"... there was your problem, too."

Though inadvertent, the cost of dealing with pirates naturally comes with the product.

It won't be enough to be beaten, but if the overall purchase price drops, the impact will naturally come to the crown.

"I see. In the meantime, please pay particular attention to pirate information, as we will discuss it here."

"Yes"

When the report was finished, his men lowered their heads and left.

Schmidt sighed one big sigh.

Whatever you think, it's not something that the merchant department alone can handle, so it was necessary to talk to other departments.

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So, what was the actual damage?

That's what Gazelan heard from Schmidt.

There are also craft director Dareth and production division Foulik.

Incidentally, the production department is to be headed by the six Houses of Kennelsen.

Foulik is currently in charge.

"Well... I'm pretty sure there's been some damage..."

Schmidt looked like he couldn't say anything.

"What? Is there a problem?

"The shipment was stolen by pirates, but it seems to be sold exactly where it was originally intended to be unloaded."

"Ha? What's going on?

Gazelan, who heard Schmidt's words, questioned, but Hulik nodded instantly.

"I see. I see."

"Yes, the eastern continent is all that flows."

"Just one?

"No, more than one, but not as many."

Schmidt and Foulik were the only ones who talked quickly, leaving Gazelan and Dareth behind.

"Hey, what did you say?

The two laughed bitterly at Gazelan's doubts.

"I'm sorry, it's a business story, so I left first."

"The point is, the merchant guild and the pirates must be the victims."

Well, I'm not sure yet.

"Guru... is that what you mean?"

Pretending to be attacked by a pirate, they actually trade with the pirate and sell it for a small price.

Pirates sell the merchandise exactly where they originally intended to sell it.

The Merchant Alliance, which is claiming to have been attacked, may have come up with the idea of compensating by buying the merchandise at an even cheaper price by saying that pirates attacked it for what it sold at a cheaper price.

Originally, if pirates attacked me, the price of the merchandise would go up, but since the merchant guild is on the attacked side, I think we can negotiate to make up for it with the purchase price.

"Well, that won't last long. You will soon be able to tighten up with other Alliances."

Foulik said so, but Schmidt shook his head.

But there seems to be a circumstance that's not going to work.

"What do you mean?

"Thank you for being a pirate group, but there seems to be a country behind it."

Others who heard it from the boulders quickly perceived the situation.

When there is a state in between, not only does it aim to make money, but it also sees another intention.

"... are you shooting at us?

"It's not so obvious, but I'm pretty sure."

Considering the ship being targeted, it is likely that most of it is a vessel carrying goods handled by the Crown.

"It's starting to be troublesome again."

That's what Foulik said as he turned to traffic, but everyone here thought of the same thing.