Black Sail
Chapter 162: CLXII. Business Empire

Chapter 162: CLXII. Business Empire

"Really? A thing worth ten thousand silver coins, and you’re just gifting it to me?"

Liszt wanted to see how lavish this person was. If you can casually fork over ten thousand, I, Liszt, will acknowledge you as the strongest! Why bother robbing vehicles? Just be this guy’s underling.

"This..."

The nouveau riche didn’t know what to say. Even in the short term he couldn’t gather up that much money, let alone what kind of artwork would be worth ten thousand Golden Dragons? Maybe they dug up the remains of an Overlord from two thousand years ago, but four or five hundred he could still afford to give, thinking of it as making an acquaintance with a refined gentleman.

His knight bodyguard leaned in to whisper a reminder in his ear, as he was someone involved in this business and quite familiar with some high-tier adventurers.

News traveled fast within the platform of the adventurer’s guild about which Magic Beast had been slain and which Lord had recruited new Guests.

Naturally, the nouveau riche had also hired an expert as his bodyguard, all from the same circle.

"Gawain," although he didn’t recognize him, Meredith and "Weber" both had a certain notoriety, known in the circles by their nicknames.

One was called the Thorny Knight because of the tattoos on his face and the other called Big Dragon Tooth due to his weapon resembling an anvil.

Just like Goria was called the Moon Wheel Knight.

Hearing this, the nouveau riche regarded Liszt with increased respect, truly another who mingled in high-end circles, surrounded by flamboyantly dressed impressive guests.

"You’re joking, who can just pull out ten thousand Golden Dragons? That’s astronomical, even to rob a bank you’d need to empty several."

The nouveau riche knew Liszt was bluffing, and also noticed that his style was particularly trendy—the beard seemed typical of Northern bay residents or perhaps pirates; truly extraordinary.

Of course, Liszt didn’t want any artwork. What would he do with such things? Better to convert it into cash.

But asking directly for a commission would be too demeaning.

Liszt had other ideas; he wasn’t just playing a game at Heaven Port, he needed to cast a long line to catch a big fish, make some friends, easier to maneuver later.

Connections aren’t just about who you know, it’s not enough for them to be impressive. You have to strike the iron while it’s hot.

But to be able to take over the resources from someone’s hands, establish cooperation, form a community of interest, that’s what connections are about, tethered together on the same string to confront the enemy.

Heaven Port was purely an export place, reliant on selling stolen goods; that wouldn’t do.

To play, you play big.

Aside from robbery, which business is most profitable? Naturally, manufacturing is the most profitable.

And what’s the most valuable thing to manufacture?

Of course, it’s the manufacture of money.

It was just unfortunate that the anti-counterfeiting metallurgy of the Western Continent had reached obsessive levels.

But an excellent idea had burst into Liszt’s mind.

The Western Continent now seemed peaceful, but undercurrents were stirring, akin to a cold war, old powerhouses keeping each other in check, just waiting for the contradictions to deepen before the facade is ripped away and war declared.

The timing was right.

Heaven Port, located at the edge of the world, controls the crucial naval path to the Far East Islands.

The geographical advantage was secured.

All that lacked was unity.

Heaven Port’s development was less than one percent; ninety-nine percent was still virgin forest, offering much potential.

According to the experience of his hometown, there was only one way for such a place to flourish—to become a transshipment processing station.

Import raw materials, process them into high-value items, then export them.

And thus move up the industrial ladder.

Boss of Heaven Port indeed had skills, but was still limited by his era, only pillaging raw materials, exporting raw materials, then skimming off the top, earning only so much.

All were risky ways of making a living; go big or go home.

He had already found a fellow countryman, tricked Lu Chen into joining, pushed the limits with technology, considering Sharon was still around, Lostra still had a senior—you with such talent, why waste it on being an adventurer? Work for me.

Raw materials could be imported for free, directly seized, produce goods at virtually no cost after advancing technology; it was just manpower, consuming some rice.

Thus, the goods exported from Heaven Port would be top-quality foreign luxury goods.

A personal MP3 player selling for ten Golden Dragons wouldn’t be too much, right?

And this Duguli nouveau riche was a great distributor, Liszt had found a business opportunity, the place was full of pretentious people, just the sort who craved luxury goods.

After conning the wealthy with a "Youth Mini Edition," they’d take another two Golden Dragons from the middle class, and finally release a "Medium Cup Edition" for a hundred silver coins to finish conning the world.

Duguli.

It was his first step in dominating the Western Continent.

Liszt knew very well that he could never defeat that magician alone; he needed the power of influence.

This was the starting point of his commercial empire.

Swan didn’t know what Liszt was thinking; he was lost in a daydream, now was, fantasy time.

"I’m just kidding. How about this, let’s go to the private exhibition area now. I’ll help you check it out; it’s no bother."

Liszt calmly told the upstart, and took the opportunity to ask him what business he was in while entering the private exhibition area directly.

The upstart readily agreed.

"Please."

"After you."

The group followed the signs of the exhibition area, then entered into a deep, dimly lit hallway, which wasn’t as spacious and bright as the public exhibition area.

Because the private exhibition area emphasized privacy and secrecy, it was all enclosed, decorated in traditional retro-style white ashwood paneled walls, high-end wallpaper, and the indoor ornamental plants were meticulously cared-for genuine articles, some only found in restricted areas.

The fluorite chandeliers emitted a mesmerizing glow.

Entering the private exhibition area required a capital verification.

However, the organizers’ security personnel certainly knew the upstart, a big shot in Duguli, so there was no need for capital verification; they simply opened the red silk ribbon stretched between two columns to let them in.

Liszt was treated as the upstart’s entourage too, because he looked like a bodyguard, and Black Sail’s group effortlessly mingled into the private exhibition area.

Once they officially entered the exhibition area.

All items here were up for competitive bidding, first displayed for the clients to choose from; of course, there were also some hidden gems reserved for the formal auction stage.

"Whew."

Weber No.2 had never been to such a fancy place before, where every piece of art or antique was displayed in glass cabinets, each lit by individual fluorite lights, creating a precious atmosphere.

The floors were also covered in specially-crafted fur carpets, extremely comfortable.

And the people walking here, were all wealthy patrons, sparsely scattered, each with a gorgeously dressed beautiful companion, as a symbol of status.

Conversely, some handsome knights were also fashionable accessories coveted by wealthy daughters.

In contrast to the noise outside, it was very quiet here, no loud voices, just a band playing soothing background music, with only quiet conversations.

Suddenly, Liszt regretted acting too tough earlier.

It would have been nice if General Fen were here, he would definitely have charmed the upstart.

The private exhibition area had relatively fewer pieces of artwork, more antiques, and Liszt knew nothing about the history here.

What Liszt had never expected was.

Swan was a damn expert.

He really got into his stride.

Thief Guild, also into the business of tomb raiding?

Faqiu Seal, Tomb Raider Talisman, protect the body, not the ghosts of a "Ghost Blows Out the Light." Nun’s coffin, bronze coffins, "Eight Characters" - keep away if not strong.

Damn professional!

No wonder Diaz has so many talents under him, unsurprisingly dominating the underworld.

Swan’s mouth was full of jargon, old fakes, raw pits, seasoned pits, outer shells, charming goods, completely baffling the upstart.

Liszt was greatly shocked, thinking about it, the Thief Guild was a parasitic type of faction, mostly skilled labor, necessarily attached to developed regions, definitely including money laundering operations.

And Swan, previously serving as the regional staff chief for the Thief Guild, naturally had an impeccable vision.

Liszt focused on artwork, while Swan focused on antiques.

They both bamboozled the upstart; these two guys really knew their stuff.

Of course, they also continued searching for Sefer.

And Sefer was just around the next corner, not more than fifty meters away.

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