Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Persuasion Magic (3)
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The name of the man slated for dismissal was Miguel.
He was a middleman merchant who supplied raw materials like herbs or dyes to alchemy workshops and weaving mills.
But it wasn't just about taking a simple brokerage fee; he had fixed delivery prices set up to pocket the difference from market fluctuations—a sort of forward contract.
That meant predicting the range of market swings and negotiating a delivery price that satisfied both sides was the most crucial part.
In truth, Miguel's market predictions weren't the problem at all.
He just couldn't convince his clients of them.
So when I had him do a mock presentation, his issue became crystal clear at a glance.
"Farmer Juan is an artist. The flowers grown in his orchard are touched by hand down to the tiniest leaf, infused with soul. Their value cannot be measured in mere coins..."
"...That's enough. I've heard plenty."
Lian rubbed his face and let out a long sigh.
This wasn't some street vendor hawking wares.
Miguel's pitch appealed only to emotions, failing to convey any real information.
Weavers or potters might buy it, but no way it would work on an alchemist who was clearly the analytical type.
And that wasn't the only thing wrong with it.
"I specifically told you to pitch me a product you'd actually land a contract for, right?"
The product he'd presented was a dye made from dried flower stigmas, like saffron.
It could cost far more than its weight in gold at peak times, and this was exactly that season.
"W-Well, right now with prices high like this, it's advantageous for negotiating delivery prices because..."
"Sure. Take a small loss upfront to profit from the crash later. That's the core of this trading style."
"Exactly! This moon lily stigma drops to half off its peak in summer."
"And you have the luxury to wait that long?"
"Ah...!"
"Haah..."
Lian let out another involuntary sigh.
He was on the chopping block in a couple months, yet he wanted to trade a product that would post losses this quarter.
Desperation was one thing, but this level of shortsightedness was too much.
It stemmed from the same blind obsession with chasing new deals.
'Well, I don't have much room to talk...'
Lian had made similar mistakes in his past life, multiple times.
That's why Miguel's predicament didn't feel like someone else's problem.
"First off, we need to switch products."
"Products? To what...?"
"There are mineral-based herbs and dyes, right? Especially ones with big year-round price swings."
"Sure, we've got our signature lapis lazuli, plus malachite, cinnabar, peacock stone, and plenty more."
As expected of a pro—he rattled them off instantly.
"Pick one whose price has just tanked."
"What?"
Honestly, there weren't many ways to boost immediate performance fast.
You just had to buy cheap stuff dirt-cheap and sell it high somehow.
"Minerals store well long-term, so you can stock up before prices rise. Factor that in, and you can compete on price too."
Of course, warehouse rent, theft prevention costs, etc.
But he'd account for those incidentals himself, Lian trusted.
If not, he deserved to get cut anyway.
"But who'd be crazy enough to agree to a delivery price higher than the current market rate?"
"Convince the client. Make them see it's a short-term hit for long-term gain."
"Easier said than done..."
Lian understood Miguel's hesitation.
People always weighed immediate gains and losses heavier than uncertain futures.
Plus, the guy sorely lacked the gift of gab in that area.
"This trading method is basically about reducing the client's risk of price spikes, from their perspective."
Looked at it right, it was like insurance.
Just show them security against future uncertainty and assured rewards, and it'd work.
"There's a saying back home: Seeing is worth a hundred tellings."
With that, Lian grabbed a market chart from Miguel's desk.
Then he took a blank sheet and drew a long line across it, steadily.
It was a graph—oh so familiar to any modern person.
"Huh? What's that?"
"Ah, this? It's the ultimate magic for convincing anyone, easy as pie."
Lian was about to pass on the 18th century's greatest statistical invention.
Another ordinary day unfolded as usual.
"Calculate this."
"Got it."
Lian took the paper Diego handed him and jotted down the results.
It had been about a month since he'd started playing calculator for that damn goatee.
Diego still withheld info, showing only numbers,
'I see. This item's tax rate is 44%? Ridiculously high... But this must be after max deductions?'
Lian was starting to glimpse meanings from the numbers alone.
"Hey, slave."
"It's Lian."
"Your name doesn't matter. More importantly, I hear you've been hanging with the dead man walking lately?"
"Miguel? You're late to the party. It's been going on a while."
"Idiot's got too much free time. Don't give false hope to someone on their way out."
Diego seemed to pity Miguel's plight, if only a tiny bit.
No mockery of Lian's actions—just dry meddling.
Knock knock—
"Pardon the intrusion, Mr. Diego."
"Come in."
The door to Diego's office opened, and an annex clerk entered hugging a stack of ledgers.
"This month's settlement ledgers, finished."
"Good work. You may go."
"Yes, sir."
The clerk bowed to Diego, then glanced at Lian.
A look laced with complex emotions.
"Tch. Every last one of 'em spends like it's not their money..."
Diego's grumbling was as usual.
From what Miguel had said, merchant house work wasn't much different from independent trading.
The big difference? All capital came from Isabel's pocket.
From buying goods to logistics and taxes.
She covered every cost, and naturally took all the profits.
Merchant house members were basically salaried workers.
They did get bonuses for new contracts, though.
So it made sense to cut guys like Miguel—lots of deals but rock-bottom performance.
At least they didn't demand compensation for losses. Lucky them.
"Hm? Huh... What?"
Diego's face twisted through odd exclamations as he reviewed the monthly ledgers.
He stared intently at the papers for a while, then fixed Lian with a glare.
His flushed face made Lian worry a bit for the old man's health.
"I know I'm handsome, but I'm Isabel's, so no ogling."
"What the hell did you do...?"
"Huh? Do about what?"
"Nothing. Must be coincidence... Ahem!"
Diego shook his head like denying what he'd seen and flipped the page.
Lian smirked and twirled his charcoal-tipped stick.
Diego wouldn't spill the details, but Lian had a good idea what happened.
Time to reap the magic's rewards.
The Lapis Lazuli Merchant House office was always noisy, but today one topic dominated every conversation.
"Heard? Miguel landed a new contract delivering lapis at three times current market price."
"No way! A new deal like that this season?"
"It happened. What 'possible' or not?"
No one had waved a magic wand.
Lapis prices just happened to be at rock bottom—historic lows.
Once they stabilized, it'd double at least.
If they spiked, five or six times current—no, a fair price really.
Just unbelievable to lock it in now, of all times.
"Wait! So this season, the dead man walking..."
"Not Miguel, that's for sure."
"Hold on... Ugh! I gotta do some math."
Fate's script had flipped.
The arrow's fixed target now pointed anywhere.
"Damn... Cutting it close. Maybe dump the warehouse stock on the market quick..."
"Argh! If those desert bastards hadn't muscled in...!"
Murmurs mixed with cries and groans everywhere.
Those who'd banked on Miguel's fall and coasted through winter now had fire at their feet.
"Miguel, you deal with the alchemy workshop on Iris Street, right? I want periodic buys of a few potions—could you...?"
"Hey, Miguel! About that deal you mentioned last time. I've been rethinking..."
"Hey, wait! I was talking first!"
Colleagues who'd treated him like a ghost flipped overnight.
"Haha. I'm not going anywhere, so let's talk it over nice and easy."
Miguel greeted them with a smile.
No trace of his old gloom.
Their volte-face irked him, but merchants valued profit over fleeting grudges.
Info sharing among house members, of course.
Plus, linking clients could yield bigger gains ahead.
"Hey, Miguel..."
Another colleague approached his desk.
"Oh, you..."
A face gaunt from rapid strain.
Miguel's own look from days ago.
"That slave, right? Isabel's pet slave helped you? He put in a good word with her?"
"Whoa, easy there, friend."
"Help me! You're rising means I'm sinking! If this keeps up...!"
"Yeah, yeah. Calm down first."
Miguel soothed his desperate coworker with a wry smile.
Considering recent treatment, ignoring him would be fair.
But he had a debt to repay.
"Everything else aside, one thing we gotta clear up. You all too."
Miguel eyed his colleagues with uncharacteristic seriousness.
"His name's Lian. Don't call him 'slave.'"
"What...?"
"Want his help? Start by remembering his name right."
"Lian..."
His colleagues murmured it blankly.
"Listen up, everyone! I won't hide the secret to my turnaround!"
"Whoa!? Miguel?"
Miguel hopped onto his desk, shouting to the whole office.
The buzz died instantly, eyes on him.
"This amazing result? All thanks to the persuasion magic Lian taught me!"
The office erupted again.
"L-Lian?"
"Isabel's pet slave?"
"Persuasion magic...? From that slave?"
"No way! He just pulled strings 'cause they're buddies!"
"Dude, that's even less likely. Isabel do favors?"
Some doubted, but most bought it.
How else to explain Miguel's reversal?
Rumors said Isabel was training that slave boy as a new accountant too.
"Mark my words! Want Lian's help? Respect him first! No more 'pet slave' crap!"
Miguel knew a few words weren't full repayment.
But as a merchant,
he couldn't stand Lian's value going unrecognized.
"No wonder! Isabel wouldn't drop three hundred gold on a pretty face alone!"
"What? That slave... no, Lian—does he really have something?"
Soon the office brimmed with "Lian."
A threat to some.
Curiosity to others.
A lifeline to more.
Creeeak—
And as always, at that hour.
The door linking to Isabel's mansion opened, drawing all eyes.
"Good work today, everyo...?"
"Hey, Lian! Talk to me!"
"Lian! We've seen each other loads, right? Always nodding hi!"
"Lian! No, Sir Lian!"
People swarmed Lian at his entrance.
"What? Why's everyone suddenly buddy-buddy...?"
Lian blinked at the sudden fuss.
But spotting Miguel grinning atop his desk, he got it.
"Ha, this guy's popular now."
Thus he spread his arms wide, welcoming the change with joy.