Chain reaction

"Salmon river city. You can travel there for 20 bronze coins!"

"Wagon for Salmon river city here! Only 30 bronze coins people."

"My Wagon has the finest quality with the price cheaper than ever! Travel to Salmon river city today."

"Salmon river city, highest quality Wagon, only 40 bronze coins."

Shouted one merchant after the other, as if they were in the city square's market, trying their best to sell their finest fish.

That Merchant hired by Ursa formed this plan together rather well. It has only been several days since they met yet you see one merchant after the other yelling about the amazing travel prices!

"Sir Dalerus, this turned out to be more profitable than we thought." Approached a merchant with a big smile.

It almost seemed like gold appeared on his eyes out of joy. "I've seen at least 10 families depart for Salmon river city just this morning."

"Yes indeed." Replied Dalerus, the exact merchant who got this entire plan together with Ursa's financial influence of course. "Apart from making good coins per transport, we are killing the competition!"

Dalerus here is talking like a bigger reward isn't waiting for him after 3 months, keeping Ursa's identity safe of course. Over the days he has thought about investing all those gold coins.

What he ran across is easy coins yes, but he has no intent of retiring. With a bit of proper planning, he can earn tenfold.

"This is all thanks to your employer." Air poked the merchant talking to Delarus, with his fingers high and gave out a small playful laugh as he patted Dalerus' shoulder.

"Yes yes, the employer, you shouldn't be speaking openly about that." Gave Dalerus a firm stare towards this merchant, which killed his humour in a split second.

Trying to calm Dalerus down, the merchant replies "Relax man, nobody will hear us in this busy crowd."

Although he said that to not break relations with Dalerus and lose those wonderful bronze coins, he still has a point.

Families have flocked the area right in front of the city's main gates where wagons are lined up one after the other to transfer families.

Their conversation would only be like a drop of water on an ocean.

Worth noting that there are also other merchants in front of the main gates who aren't aware of this propaganda, they don't know about this plan.

Hearing the other merchants drop prices so greatly got them no doubt confused, propaganda coming from Salmon river city wasn't of course their first thought.

Their first thought was a business based propaganda coming from a group of merchants who want less competition in the near future.

They thought that this group of merchants were dropping prices like crazy in aims to put other merchants out of business and hopefully push them away from the city, getting more coins for themselves.

While Merchants who apart from transporting people, also delivered cargo won't be financially affected from this deal, others who simply make a living by only transporting people, feel like they are being cheated out of their Income.

But of course, going back to Salmon river city or any other domain without a paying traveller, would cut into their Income even harder.

So they started lowering their prices to as low as 20 bronze coins, that way they can at least break even with a little Income pocketed instead of going home empty handed.

It was especially hard for them because before they charged each person instead of a group of people or in this case, families.

So if a family of 5 walks by, paying 20 bronze coins each, it would of course cost 100 bronze coins. Considering that, many merchants had to lower their standards.

Because why would anyone pay 100 when they can pay 20 for a family of 5 to travel?

"This plan is more than a big success." Smiled Dalerus in satisfaction, but the man's face was forced straight once thinking about Ursa, remembering other work that demands attention. "As much as I love to see the downfall of our competitors, I have some business to attend too."

"Of course of course, you have to meet with your employer." Joked around the merchant once more about that sensitive topic which made Dalerus think twice about hiring him.

"No, that's not it." This was a lie of course, he can't simply reveal information to this merchant, especially since this one can't keep his mouth shut.

"I've asked around about ships but each merchant has different price guesses so I have to ask you as well." Explained Dalerus, glancing upon the crowd of people walking in front of them, feeling satisfied, proud of his work. "How much do you think it would cost for a ship to get here from Salmon river city and back?"

"That could honestly vary from the ship's speed, size and quality." Replied the merchant. It isn't an answer that Dalerus didn't hear before but at least this one gave this answer first instead of a wild guess.

"Can you elaborate on that?" Feeling a bit intrigued by this reply who no doubt stood out a bit from the rest of the answers he had today, the thirst to know more increased.

Taking this topic in extensive detail, the Merchant recites. "Salmon river city doesn't have a big port so there are only a few ships you can choose. But each ship needs a crew and the distance being approximately 1,000 - 1,500 kilometers long, it would take around 2 weeks for the ship to come here and 2 weeks to go back. Meaning you will need to pay a month's worth of salary for the entire crew and a bonus for the captain."

Hearing out this whole information, Dalerus felt dumbfounded. It is extremely rare for him not to understand a business flow but at this point, he is lost.

Of course trying everything to hide the fact that he is less informed than a miner on the shipping business, Dalerus compliments with a question. "You are well informed, do you have any experience with ships?"

It felt like an appropriate question for Dalerus to ask as this fool who joked around with sensitive topics, as if switching a lewer, started spitting firm facts as if owning 30 ships.

"I just wanted to do big cargo transport, but found out that it is too costly." The merchant replied with an abnormally long smile.

"The foolness returned." Thought Delrus but of course didn't say that. Instead he started yelling. "By the 3 gods man! You could have told me the prices!"

Having a good reason behind this dumb move, the merchant replies. "Yes but you need to understand how it works before you go there."

Dalerus feels like he needs to be more careful around this man, this merchant's perception is amazing although he acts like a jester often.

Trying to avoid suspicion, Dalerus queries. "How much did it cost when you wanted to hire a cargo ship?"

"50 gold coins." Raised the merchant his hand high.

"What? Outrageous!" Yelled out Delarus which captured a few people's attention.

But once noticing the grabbed attention, he simply cooled down and acted calm and normal.

"Well it was a medium sized ship holding a crew of 30 people." Explained the merchant once noticing Dalerus calm down.

"How many people can a medium sized ship transport?" Well this was another bad move from Dalerus as this merchant is very perceptive yet the man is talking about human transport.

The merchant instantly patched another piece of the puzzle once he heard that sentence but acted calm, as if he didn't notice anything. "Judging from the size I saw, I would say around 200 at max. It won't be comfortable for them though."

"I will talk to my employer for you to earn a bonus." Bonus? The merchant smiled at the thought but he knew these are just bribe coins.