Chapter 427 Wheat Sales Strategy
"Sara, what do you mean by having the royal family handle the wheat? Even if I understand that the Sophia Merchant Guild is distancing itself from us, we cannot afford this regarding wheat."
"The full payment has already been made, but is that still the case?"
"I don't intend to meddle, but if we are to trade in Grandchester wheat with the royal family, we cannot turn a blind eye. Furthermore, having sold all the wheat to the Sophia Merchant Guild while ignoring the merchants' collusion, it is certain that next year's bidding will be tumultuous. We need to observe the situation carefully moving forward."
"I see. Understood. Then, Grandfather... no, Marquis Grandchester, as Guildmaster of the Sophia Merchant Guild, I implore you. Please intercede with His Majesty the King."
As Sara rose and bowed her head, Marquis Grandchester placed his hand on his chin and began to contemplate for a moment.
"Hmmm. Should I bring up the wheat matter before being summoned by the royal family, or should I wait for their call? If you want to discuss it together, the latter would be the way to go, but..."
"No, I believe we should address this matter first. It is urgent."
"Let's delve into the details then."
"In fact, I've already discussed this with the Young Marquis..."
"Wait, Sara. I understand the boundary, but there is no need to change how you address me suddenly. Call me uncle as usual. When you call me Young Marquis, it feels like I'm being scolded by my mother. Your tone need not change either."
"In that case, you may also call me Grandfather."
"Well, if both of you insist, then I shall comply."
Though still somewhat perplexed, Sara decided to revert her tone for the moment.
"I have already informed uncle, but regarding the wheat owned by the Sophia Merchant Guild from Grandchester, I intend for half to be purchased by the royal family."
"Half, you say!? Are you really considering involving the royal family in the market?"
"Yes. That's correct."
"Hmm..., speaking of which, yesterday I was asked by the Commerce Guild to persuade the Sophia Merchant Guild to release some wheat."
"What a bothersome bunch they are. It's not like we're hoarding it. They probably just don't want to bow their heads to Sophia~desuwa. If it were my grandfather, he'd bow like a little bird coming to the water trough."
"Well, I can't say I don't understand."
"Therefore, I would like to entrust this matter to the highest-ranking individual in this country. The grain merchants will buy wheat not from the Sophia Merchant Guild, but from the royal family. It is a judgment that royal control is essential to prevent market intervention from the Coastal Union while saving the citizens from starvation."
"However, even the royal family cannot easily move such a budget from one hand to the other. There has never been a precedent for using the national budget for market intervention by the royal family. It will either require the personal wealth of royal members or donations from the nobility."
"Naturally, they will not donate. To be precise, as part of the heat fever countermeasures, we will donate support supplies, including wheat. However, for the wheat to intervene in the market, we will have to ask the royal family to purchase it."
"It is hard to believe that His Majesty the King would agree. He would likely demand that Grandchester or the Sophia Merchant Guild also contribute."
"I suspect I would think the same. Therefore, as the Sophia Merchant Guild, we are considering proposing to significantly delay the timing of our fund recovery."
"Hmm. By how much?"
"If we receive the payment after actually selling to the merchants, the royal family can move the funds without hurting their own pockets. Depending on the royal selling price, it may even be possible to leave a substantial profit."
"──Father, Sara is audaciously plotting to make the royal family the sales agent for the wheat."
"It seems so."
"Because those old geezers won't buy wheat from the Sophia Merchant Guild!"
Sara does not hide her displeasure.
"But why only half? Why not leave everything to the royal family outright?"
"Even if the royal family were to take control, those greedy merchants would undoubtedly sell to foreign buyers at inflated prices. Even if the royal family forbids it, they will find ways to evade those restrictions and sell. I suspect the domestic wheat market will remain high."
"That is a plausible argument. However, what does the Sophia Merchant Guild intend to do with that half?"
"We are considering selling it independently."
"But the Sophia Merchant Guild only has its main office in Grandchester and holds no other establishments. Well, if you are shipping directly from the warehouse, contracts can be arranged anywhere..."
"Actually, we are contemplating contracts with traveling merchants. We are even considering the provision of carts and pack horses."
"Traveling merchants!? Can such individuals be trusted? They might just abscond with the carts."
"At first, an example may be necessary, perhaps. If a traveling merchant possesses the skill to evade the watch of the Sophia Merchant Guild, we might commend their prowess and invite them to other tasks."
Upon seeing Sara's sly smile, Marquis Grandchester and Edward felt a chill run down their spines.
"S-Stop with the talk of severing limbs. Even if they were restored, a broken heart cannot be mended!"
"Uncle, please do not warn me about things that have not yet occurred."
"However, I must..."
"If you insist, I shall swiftly end their lives to eliminate future concerns. It would serve well as a warning."
"That is not what I meant!"
"Oh dear. It was simply a lighthearted jest."
The joke was so dark that it failed to resonate at all.
"Let us speak no more of examples. For now, let us continue our discussion about the traveling merchants."
"Indeed. It seems the traveling merchants are also looked down upon in the Commerce Guild. They are regarded as inferior to merchants with physical shops, it seems~desuwa."
"It cannot be helped. Many of them lead a life like rootless weeds, without a place to settle. I've heard that some are nothing more than ruffians, transporting only illegal goods."
"I am aware of that. However, it is also true that many traveling merchants, who are not tied to the great merchant guild, are looked down upon by other merchants. I intend to carefully choose partners who will work diligently. For now, I plan to handle wheat, and eventually consider various products from the Sophia Merchant Guild."
"But we cannot deny the possibility that they might be resold at high prices to other merchant guilds."
"This is strictly retail. I plan to prohibit resale to wholesalers in the contract. If they violate it..."
Once again, as Sara smiled brightly, the expressions of Marquis Grandchester and Edward stiffened.
However, Robert and Rebecca, observing the scene, realized that Sara's remark was a tasteless black joke, and they watched with cool expressions.
"In any case, with half of this year's harvest, domestic distribution should stabilize to some extent. Not all the wheat supplied to the royal family will be resold to foreign merchants."
"Indeed, at the very least, His Majesty will likely be prohibited from reselling."
"In fact, the situation of 'the Sophia Merchant Guild still having plenty of wheat' is also important."
"What do you mean by that, Sara?"
"I want to obtain permission to export wheat to Roisen. I am aware that exports are restricted as a strategic resource. Therefore, for now, I will work to secure permission from the royal family for the Sophia Merchant Guild for just 3 years. We should carefully consider what comes after that, but first, we must thwart the Coastal Union's intentions."
Edward furrowed his brow and spoke in a strained voice.
"Are you saying we should cause the Coastal Union's merchants to suffer great losses?"
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