Chapter 471 – 471. Things That Should Not Exist (1)
Starting as a small grocery store selling potions prepared by Eun-hyeon, Jis gradually increased the size of the store.
He moved and renovated the building several times, hired more staff, and now there are dozens of people under him.
The reason why the store was able to grow to this extent in a few months was because of Eun-hyeon’s help, such as the continuous supply of good potions and financial support.
The biggest reason is that Gee’s original business skills, such as an eye for good products and communication skills to respond to people and manage employees, shined.
It was a pity that he polished his talent while cheating, but now he is living a life of rehabilitation that is not too bad, returning some of the profits to the Armitas estate and adventurers as Eun-hyeon’s anti-force doctor.
In such a time, Jis’s small general store, which only dealt with potions, soon bought materials for witches, sold them to alchemists and blacksmiths, sold foods to ordinary citizens, and even toys that children could play with.
The products it handles have increased along with new employees hired and the size of the store that is gradually growing.
The present Jis Firm was responsible for 80% of all logistics within the Duchy of Armitas, and had grown into an important center like the heart that circulates blood in the veins.
The starting point of the incident to visit Jis’ business goes back about two months.
“Nice to meet you. Chairman of the Chamber. I am a bit that runs the coin top. And this one is called Toji.”
The story begins with the visit of two people who are suspicious of their names.
“This time, we want to sign a contract with this company and continue to do business. Is that possible?”
Two merchants from the top of the coin, Bit and Doji, offered Jis a contract for the delivery of goods.
“What we want to deliver are fresh ingredients and quality potions.”
Bit said so and handed over the lists he had made to Jiss.
The list contained the names and unit prices of the products to be delivered.
“…”
All of them are offered at prices that are about 30% cheaper than normal market prices.
Delivering high-quality products in large quantities at a lower price than usual leads to a huge profit from the trader’s point of view because it can leave a margin as large as the profit.
“I’m sorry, but I think it will be difficult to accept this contract.”
However, Jis did not accept the contract offered by the top of the coin.
“… Why?”
It was a very unexpected answer from Beat’s point of view, which he knew would of course accept.
Bit, who had twitched his eyebrows at Jess’ refusal, pretended to be as calm as possible and asked why.
“…”
Jess kept his mouth shut and didn’t say why.
“All I can say is this. I’m sorry, but I just want you to go back.”
It was the tone of a polite request, but it was like an expression of intent, ‘I will no longer do business with you.’
Bit and Doji felt a little annoyed after hearing that doctor, but they quietly backed away without revealing it.
“Why didn’t you accept it?”
As the two men from the Coin Chamber left the room, the secretary asked Jiss why he hadn’t accepted the contract.
As long as you deliver the items on the list and sell them, you can make a profit with a large margin, but the reason for rejecting it is not convincing.
To the secretary’s question, Jis, who had not relaxed his expression while pondering the concerns presented at the top of the coin, answered.
“… We benefit too much.”
“Isn’t that nice?”
“It’s a problem because it’s too good.”
What troubled Jees was that the interests on their side were presented too high.
Excluding costs including labor costs and transportation costs, the profit remaining at the top of the coin is almost nonexistent at a level that is difficult to glue.
It’s just that there is no direct financial loss, and a transaction that is almost unprofitable is equivalent to a loss that throws various things into the sky, including labor costs.
“It’s a deal, I mean. It is established when mutual benefit exists.”
The zero-sum structure, in which one side sees an overwhelming advantage and the other side has no choice but to suffer a loss, is also an eternal truth that is bound to work everywhere.
Transactions that do not benefit each other cannot be called transactions.
It’s just that this side doesn’t know, and the other side is setting up a structure that can produce a proper profit and taking action accordingly.
In other words, the purpose of the upper end of the coin must have been to sell a large amount of products at a bargain price close to loss, and to make some profit through their superiority.
“In a case like this, there is obviously a different purpose, so aiming for that is the standard.”
Even Jiss couldn’t figure out what the purpose was.
However, the reason why he felt uneasy about this part and rejected the offer was because his experience and sense of being active as a fraudster had sent a strong warning signal to his reason.
This experience and awareness of his own is the basis for his excellent business skills, which allowed Jis to grow his company to such a huge scale.
“No matter how you think about it, it smelled too much…”
“…”
Except for the slightly strange expression, Jis’s words were not incomprehensible to the secretary.
Certainly, after listening to Jis’s explanation, it would be embarrassing if there was nothing left for them while giving high profits to the company this far.
“A place called the top of that coin. Check if there is any record of trading with our company, even if it’s small.”
“All right.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“So… That’s all the stories that have been woven together at the top of the coin and on our side so far.”
After finishing the story, Jess let out a small sigh.
It seemed that the reason why his face was filled with a tired expression was because of the scuffle with the top of the coin.
“… Hmm.”
After hearing the story, Eunhyeon thought for a while and then asked Jis again.
“I think I said a word of warning that I will regret it when I left at the end. Did you do anything that directly harmed the company?”
“This… It’s just speculation, but… Recently, there have been several groups that have said they want to cut ties with us.”
“How many?”
“Three places last week. And I got a call from one of them today.”
“… Exquisite.”
“Yes. Exquisite.”
“What is exquisite?”
Erin, who was quietly listening to Jiss in the seat next to Eunhyeon, asked Eunhyeon.
“Timing.”
“Timing?”
“That there is a company that has suddenly expressed its intention to end business with this company.”
And not just one or two, but four in total.
It’s too exquisite to see it as a coincidence that there are guild members who simultaneously expressed such intentions.
“… So, Hyun-i, are you saying that the merchants who have been saying they’re going to end the deal now are a phenomenon deliberately created by someone?”
Originally, being a merchant is a job that seeks profit through trading.
What is the reason for suddenly withdrawing the transaction with Jis, which has been steadily gaining profits through continuous transactions?
That is, even while violating the contract signed once and taking the damage of paying a penalty.
The reason may be that it instilled a fear of losing something greater than financial loss.
“That’s right. Maybe… That coin… It must have put pressure on the other top from the top.”
Every time the word ‘coin’ came out of her mouth, Eunhyun’s expression distorted severely.
‘Cut off the deal with Ji’s Corporation. If you don’t, I’ll cut your lifeline right now.’
If the same threat had been received, if not one but many guilds were threatened, the current situation would be understandable.
“What about the damage?”
“It’s not big, but honestly it’s annoying.”
Although I received a penalty, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had suffered a small loss because I had missed out on long-term benefits.
“I heard you well. Erin. Let’s go.”
“Huh.”
Eunhyun stood up with Erin nodding her head.
“Uh? Are you going that… The list of health food and medicinal herbs for the lady is…”
“Choose that. I’ll buy them all at once later.”
“Ah, yes. All right. So what am I going to do next?”
“You can do nothing.”
“… Yes?”
In reply to Eun-hyeon’s reply, Jiss asked back, widening his eyes.
He didn’t think that he would hold himself accountable as he didn’t do anything particularly wrong, but it is himself and his superiors who are involved in this case.
Jis, who thought he would definitely give him some orders, was embarrassed by Eun-hyeon’s words that he didn’t have to do anything.
“You are a merchant. As a trader, your treatment was excellent and beyond reproach. But leave it to us to solve the problems that arise after this.”
For Jess, who had a wonderful response, he was willing to do this much.
“And I’ll tell Eleanor and attach some Armitas knights as escorts.”
Jess is already the chairman of the business association responsible for the logistics of the Duchy of Armitas, and one of the important people.
It was a private order through personal acquaintance, but the justification and position to issue the order were sufficient.
“Go, thank you!”
Jis’s tired face brightened with joy at how reassuring the story was that Eunhyeon would move and take action.
“Then, select a list and goods to give to Illyana.”
“All right! Suffer! Be well!”
After leaving the store building with Erin, Eunhyeon called Erin right away.
“Erin. The two people at the top of that coin earlier. Can you find it?”
“Huh. I remember the smell.”
Erin nodded her head without hesitation.
The body odors of the two men I sniffed as they passed by in the hallway had a stench with a slightly bitter scent.
Even though they hurriedly groom themselves and make their clothes look good, the body odor on a person’s body does not easily disappear.
“I don’t think he was a merchant…”
“Then?”
“That… Why are you Thug-like people? I can smell people like that…”
Basically, the smell that is ingrained in the body does not easily disappear no matter how hard you try to erase it.
Eunhyun smiled as she listened to Erin’s question.
“That is enough.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I have to find it first.”
I don’t know what the purpose is yet.
But as long as you have a clear means of tracking, it’s not that hard to figure out who’s behind that purpose and the dubious caravan.
“Hmm… Are we going?”
“No matter what, we will solve it by ourselves. What.”
Erin, who didn’t think too deeply, nodded her head at Eunhyun’s words.
However, after reading Eunhyeon’s accident, Belldandy asked Eunhyeon in a low voice with a meaningful expression on his face.
[What on earth is that coin, why is the child so angry?]
“… There is. It should not exist in this world.”
Eunhyeon frowned as if she was offended by Belldandi’s question.
