Chapter 678: The New Orders of the Fjords
A long-missed guest arrived in Neverwinter at the tail end of an autumn evening.
Margaret.
Roland had prepared a reception of unusual warmth for the woman who had been the first to step aboard during Border Town’s most difficult years and had returned generous results every time since. The First Army fired a cannon salute. Roland himself came down to Shallow Beach to meet her.
“You’re very kind, Your Majesty.” Margaret smiled. “I’m simply a businesswoman.”
“The Western Region would not be where it is without your help,” Roland said. “Neverwinter doesn’t forget its friends.”
It was not flattery. Margaret’s chamber of commerce had supplied the first large food purchases when Border Town could not feed itself, had leased ships to move refugees when moving them overland would have taken twice the time, had given Theo the network he needed to establish a foothold in the old king’s city. None of it had come free — and that was fine. Many things in the world could not be accomplished with money alone, and the people who chose to help despite uncertainty were worth more than the help itself.
“It’s my honor to be counted among your friends.” Margaret offered a slight bow. “I’ve come to fulfill the perfume contract we signed six months ago, but I’ve also brought you a new opportunity.” She gestured behind her. “These are the most respected merchants in the Fjords, and they’re very interested in the steam-powered boat project.”
“Are they.” Roland’s smile warmed. “Give me a brief introduction later?”
The dinner table held his usual approach to commerce: good food, good drink, and conversation that moved where it wanted. The visiting merchants showed no particular interest in performing noble etiquette — the Fjords had never developed much of it — and for a while they attempted a careful imitation, which dissolved pleasantly after a few rounds of drink. Roland preferred it. Palace dining rules had always struck him as designed specifically to prevent enjoyment.
Between toasts he assembled a picture of the visiting group. Beyond Gammon and Marleen, who had come to Border Town before, the delegation included a Chamber of Commerce from Sunset Island and one from Shallow Water Town — both islands flanked Crescent Moon Bay to the south and north, forming a tightly linked commercial circle around the bay. Though modest in land size, the three islands held the highest concentration of population and commercial power in the Fjords, and the competition between them was visible in the quality of their ships. Each three-masted vessel at the dock could carry three hundred people or equivalent cargo, and cost around five thousand gold royals before the sailors’ wages. Neither Sunset Island nor Shallow Water Town was going to arrive in a smaller vessel than Crescent Moon Bay.
After dessert, business began.
“Margaret mentioned the steam engine,” Roland said. “I assume that’s why you’re here.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Nibelung, the Shallow Water Town representative, spoke first. “But beyond the steam engine itself, we hope to have steam-powered boats — fully converted ships, like the one you sold to Crescent Moon Bay.”
“I heard the conversion was quoted at eighteen hundred gold royals previously,” Atiyer of Sunset Island cut in before anyone else could, “and Sunset Island is prepared to offer two thousand per ship — an extra two hundred as a premium — for five ships. We can pay half the deposit immediately.”
They were talking about the paddle steamer Crescent Moon Bay had purchased a year ago, which was by now nearly obsolete by Roland’s standards. Still, filling the order would train workers and generate useful revenue, both of which he needed.
“Two to three months per ship, so roughly a year for five. Director Barov at City Hall will draw up the contracts if you can accept that timeline.”
“Completely acceptable. Though Sunset Island has one additional request.” Atiyer cleared his throat. “We’d like Fjords craftsmen to be included in the construction — as they were for the steam engine factory at Crescent Moon Bay. The ships they build would be delivered to Sunset Island first, and at the end of a ten-year contract they could choose to stay or return.”
“Shallow Water Town hopes for the same arrangement,” Nibelung added. “Five ships is only our opening order. If the terms suit us, we’d expect at least five ships annually after that.”
Roland turned this over. Ten years, five ships a year at ten thousand gold royals per order — and at the end, they’d have both ships and the knowledge to build more. He didn’t actually mind the knowledge spreading. The paddle steamer was already behind his current development; by the time a ten-year contract expired he’d have triple-expansion steam engines and hulls those craftsmen had never seen. What he wanted was not to hoard the technology but to acquire more people.
He knocked the table once. “No objection in principle, though I’d want to adjust the duration. Ten years down to five.”
Both businessmen looked immediately pleased. Shorter terms meant mastering the construction method sooner, which was precisely what they wanted.
“I’ll sweeten it further,” Roland continued. “If Shallow Water Town and Sunset Island are willing to let their craftsmen remain permanently in the Western Region after the contract ends, I’ll offer a twenty percent discount on all prices. What do you think?”
A pause. Craftsmen were expensive to train, and several hundred of them represented a real investment. Losing them against a discount measured in thousands of gold royals was not obviously a good trade.
“May I confer with my colleagues before answering, Your Majesty?” Nibelung asked.
“Of course.” Roland made an easy gesture.
“Please excuse me as well.” Atiyer rose and left the room.
Roland turned to Gammon and Marleen, who had spent the commercial discussion in a state of composed patience — exchanging pleasantries about Border Town’s early days, displaying no urgency. The lack of urgency was itself informative.
“You’re not here for the paddle steamer?”
“We are here for a steam-powered boat, Your Majesty.” Gammon took a measured sip of the white spirits. “But not a wooden paddle steamer. Crescent Moon Bay wants the indestructible steel ship — the one built for Sir Thunder. The one that can split a storm.”
Margaret’s expression changed immediately.
Chapter 678: The New Orders of the Fjords
Translator: TransN Editor: Meh
A long-lost guest was ushered into Neverwinter on the end of the autumn twilight.
She was the businesswoman, Margaret.
Roland had prepared an extremely high-standard courtesy for the friend who was the first to come onboard and brought generous returns to Border Town during its difficult time. She was not only welcomed by the First Army’s cannon firing but Roland had come to Shallow Beach to welcome her in person.
“That’s very kind of you, Your Majesty,” Margaret smiled and said, “I’m simply an ordinary businesswoman.”
“The western region wouldn’t be so developed today without your help,” Roland said in ease, “Neverwinter will never let such a friend down.”
Margaret’s Chamber of Commerce was a great help in both the initial acquisition of a large amount of food and also in leasing ships to transport the refugees in the later days. Even Theo had depended on Margaret’s network and support to gain a firm foothold in the old king’s city. Although these were not provided free of charge, Roland was very clear that many things could not be done with only the money.
“It’s my honor to be your friend,” Margaret slightly bowed and said, “Other than to fulfill the previously signed perfume contract, I’ve brought you a new business opportunity this time.” She pointed to her back and said, “They’re the most popular businessmen in the Fjords and they’re very interested in the plan of the steam-powered boat.”
“Really?” Roland smiled. “Would you please give me a brief introduction later?”
According to his usual practice, eating and talking was the way to deal with the businessmen. The long table in the living room was filled with a variety of delicious food and the overseas visitors seemed to be particularly happy without eating fish. They had been trying to control themselves and behave as elegantly as possible as noble etiquette was not popular in the Fjords, but after a few drinks, the imitated etiquette was gone as the atmosphere was increasingly heated.
Roland did not really care about this as he preferred a lively dining environment as opposed to the complicated dining rules in the palace.
He also had a brief understanding of the visiting business group through the chit-chatting session. Other than Gammon and Marleen who first came to visit Border Town, there was also the Chamber of Commerce from Sunset Island and Shallow Water Town. Both of the islands in the south and the north next to Crescent Moon Bay formed a closely-connected business circle.
Although the three islands were not very big in size, they held the most population and power as the first residential area in the Fjords. Besides, it was very competitive among them as could be seen from the size and scale of their ships. Each of the three-masted ships parked at the dock of Shallow Beach could carry around 300 people and cargos of similar weight. The price of such sailing ships was around 5,000 gold royals each excluding the sailors. It was obvious that both of the Chamber of Commerces did not want to fall behind Crescent Moon Bay in the competition of respect and power.
After the desserts were served, it was time for the official discussion.
“Margaret mentioned that you want to purchase steam engine?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Nibelung, the person-in-charge of Shallow Water Town’s Chamber of Commerce was the first to speak. “However, other than the steam engine, we also hope to own a steam-powered boat like the one you sold to Crescent Moon Bay.”
“I heard that the modification fee you previously quoted was 1,800 gold royals and Sunset Island is willing to pay an extra 200 gold royals to modify 5 ships at the price of 2,000 gold royals each,” Atiyer, the businessman from Sunset Island said as he was unwilling to be left behind, “Sunset Island’s Chamber of Commerce can pay half of the deposit upfront.”
They were apparently referring to the paddle steamer that Crescent Moon Bay purchased a year ago which was an almost obsolete technology to Roland. However, it would be a very cost-effective transaction to him as he could train the workers with this order while earning a good amount of money.
“It’ll take two to three months to build a paddle steamer and it’ll take around a year to build 5 ships. Barov, the City Hall Director, will sign the contract with you if you can accept that.”
“That’s not a problem at all. However, Sunset Island has a small request,” Atiyer cleared his throat and said, “We hope you can hire the craftsmen from the Fjords to build the ship.”
“What do you mean?” Roland lifted his eyebrows and asked.
“It’s just like the steam engine factory of Crescent Moon Bay, we’ll provide you with a group of craftsmen and the ships they build will be first used by Sunset Island and then they can choose whether to leave or stay after the completion of 10 years.”
“Shallow Water Town also hopes to sign the same contract,” Nibelung added, “Five sailing ships are only for the first order. There’ll be at least five ships to construct every year after that if you agree with our request.”
“I see,” Roland thought, “So, this is a big order which lasts for 10 years in which every completed transaction each year costs up to 10,000 gold royals. Additionally, they won’t be controlled by others after 10 years as they’ll have learned the detailed construction method by then.”
In fact, he did not mind to spread this method at all. The paddle steamer was apparently outdated as compared to the steam turbine that was under
development, along with the triple-expansion steam engine that was already in production.
His initial purpose of signing a 10-year contract with Crescent Moon Bay, rather than to prevent the technology leaking out, was was for the craftsmen to adapt to the life of the western region, and afterwards, they would refuse to return to the Fjords and become a member of Neverwinter.
It was just a seemingly beautiful castle in the air apart from the industrybased technology.
Thinking about it, Roland knocked on the table and said, “There’s no problem in principle, but there could be some amendments needed on the details, such as changing the 10 year duration to five years…”
Speaking of it, both of the two businessmen looked extremely happy about it. It was an even better choice for them if they could master the construction method of the steam-powered boat earlier.
“I can even give a 20% discount on the price if Shallow Water Town and Sunset Island are willing to let the craftsmen stay in the western region. What do you think?”
“This…”
Both of them immediately hesitated as it was difficult to train a craftsman. However, it was hard for them to determine if it was a cost-effective deal for reducing the duration to five years with a few hundreds of people and an additional annual saving of 2,000 gold royals.
“Your Majesty, may I answer you later after I discuss it with the others in the Chamber of Commerce?” Nibelung asked.
“Yes. Of course,” Roland made a gracious hand gesture and said.
“Please excuse me temporarily.” Atiyer subsequently left the living room.
“So…” he shifted his gaze to Gammon and Marleen and said, “Are you not here for the steam-powered boat?”
The representatives of Crescent Moon Bay had been very calm when both the Chamber of Commerce was fighting to be the first to discuss the business. They only occasionally talked about their previous business with Border Town and it felt like they were not here for business but casual chitchatting… Such actions had raised Roland’s curiosity.
“No, Your Majesty. We’re also here for the steam-powered boat,” Gammon took a sip of the white liquor and said, “but not the wooden paddle steamer. Crescent Moon Bay wants the indestructible steel ship that can split the storm, just like the one you built for Sir Thunder.”
Margaret’s look immediately changed after hearing this.