Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 514 - 513: The Common Folk

Kode, a prominent merchant from the Carol Region, whose family has been in business for generations, was well-known in the northern areas of the southern borders during his younger years when he ventured out on his own. Known for his keen insight, bold actions yet cautious nature, he is a model merchant who seizes every profit while strictly adhering to contractual obligations. His family business spans multiple fields, including fur, spices, and potions, and due to his wide network of connections, he has channels in the Plains of the Holy Spirits and the Eastern territory.

Pal is Kode’s eldest son—absent unexpected circumstances, this young man with a talent for business will inherit his father’s enterprise.

Gawain looked at the prominent Carol merchant before him and matched his face to the information in his mind—this was his first time meeting Kode in person, but he was quite familiar with the merchant’s background, and two things left a profound impression:

The first was the reorganization of the Carol Business Association. After the unification war in the southern borders ended, the Administrative Office took over the Carol Region. Originally a loose alliance of local merchants, it was reorganized and managed by the Administrative Office. Kode was the first prominent merchant to sign up at that time, and he actively pushed for the reorganization of the business order throughout the region, thereby gaining the attention of the local Governor and securing a place in the Administrative Office.

The second event occurred earlier—following the rise of the Cecil Alchemical Potion, affordable industrial potions quickly saturated the entire southern borders, impacting nearly every merchant involved in the potion business, including Kode’s family. However, when many merchants fled, changed industries, or allied with Count Hosman, Kode made an astonishing move: without hesitation, he abandoned all finished potion business of the family and started dealing in herbal raw materials and wholesale alchemical potions, becoming one of Cecil’s earliest raw material suppliers and alchemical potion wholesalers...

A distinguished businessman.

"Please sit, no need for formalities," Gawain chose to meet the merchant father and son in the study, naturally not adopting an aloof attitude, "Betty—prepare some tea and snacks and bring them to the study."

In the study, furnished with tables and chairs for hosting guests, Kode and Pal calmed their slightly nervous emotions and seated themselves as gracefully as possible—it was almost unimaginable for merchants of their common background to sit face to face with a noble of such stature. Despite Kode’s usual composure, it was hard for him to remain entirely calm, yet the seasoned merchant did not lose his basic sense of judgment—he noticed that this was a study, which was undoubtedly a positive sign.

The reception room is the most common place for receiving guests, but the study is more private. What is discussed in a study often cannot be taken to the reception room.

A great deal of business is at hand today.

Observing Kode and Pal’s reactions, Gawain smiled slightly: "There’s no need to be nervous. Today we’re discussing your area of expertise—Patrick recommended you to me. Mr. Kode, as far as I know, your trade routes are extensive."

"Merely striving for a living," Kode carefully weighed each word, "which is nothing before you."

"No need for humility; the value of merchants is significant to the duchy—Mr. Kode, I’ve heard you even have ventures in the Eastern territory?"

Kode’s heart skipped a beat, momentarily unsure how to respond, as sweat slowly formed on the back of his neck.

The Eastern territory is in conflict with the Anzu Kingdom’s military... although the southern borders have not been drawn into this civil war, merchants with extensive trade routes have been somewhat affected.

Aside from the southern borders, Kode’s business spans a large market in the Plains of the Holy Spirits, and he also maintains some connections with merchants in the Eastern territory.

Due to changes in the rocky ridges Fortress, trade routes to the Plains of the Holy Spirits are somewhat impeded. To avoid losses, many merchants engaged in business with the Plains of the Holy Spirits are seeking alternative routes. Kode has also strengthened ties with the Eastern territory—using the land corridor through the Gran Region as a transit point, he has recently shipped several large batches of goods there, mostly potions...

He hasn’t violated any Cecil laws, all taxes are duly paid, and all goods are documented, yet the duke suddenly inquires about this... should he answer affirmatively or not?

Gawain Cecil is Anzu’s Grand Duke, so which side does he support in this civil war? From a legitimacy standpoint, he may support the Anzu Kingdom’s military... but to be honest, who among the warring parties is one hundred percent legitimate...

A whirlwind of thoughts raced through Kode’s mind, a sea of interests ebbing and flowing, but he had to reply. So, after a brief hesitation of two seconds, he spoke: "...Indeed, there are some channels, but due to the impact of the civil war, they are not very smooth..."

"To me, the Eastern territory and the Anzu Kingdom’s military are the same," Gawain said unhurriedly, "just juniors squabbling."

Kode’s expression straightened: "But the channels have been much smoother recently."

"That’s good," Gawain nodded in satisfaction, "the duchy needs your business."

Kode skillfully controlled his facial expressions, but his breath momentarily caught.

Big! Business!!

More significant than he had imagined!!

The prominent merchant’s face almost glowed: "Honored to serve you—this is the highest honor for our entire family!!"

Gawain nodded again, satisfied, then said, "Then, you should get familiar with this transaction..."

Kode listened intently, not daring to miss a word.

As he had anticipated—the duke intends to do business with the Eastern territory and sell potions there.

This is a public large-scale deal, yet it cannot be conducted too blatantly, and thus requires an agent.

Kode and his family will become that agent, executing the duke’s will and managing the flow of gold coins.

The terms offered by the duke are exceedingly generous—although the family will not retain all the profits from the potion trade with the Eastern territory henceforth, being required to submit a significant portion to the duchy, this "loss" is negligible compared to the forthcoming profits.

With the duke’s support, how much will the family’s potion business in the Eastern territory expand? Tenfold? Twentyfold?

Even more!

Kode understands what a transaction it is to become a noble’s agent. As someone of common birth, he knows that many like him would fight for such an opportunity even if it dissipated much of their wealth: it is a path to joining high society, to gaining noble blood honor.

An excellent agent can secure genuine nobility for descendants, and for this possibility, they are willing to pay substantial costs.

Though the southern borders’ nobility now wields little power, possessing only honorary titles and limited hereditary rights, conversely, the duke demands no substantial sacrifice from him—he can even earn significantly—nothing in the world is better than this.

Once the essential matters were clarified, Gawain looked into Kode’s eyes: "Then, do you understand?"

"Yes, my lord duke, I completely understand," Kode swiftly nodded and remarked, adjusting his tie while calming himself and cautiously asking, "But I don’t understand... why did you specifically choose me?"

"You are capable and a smart person," Gawain leaned back in his chair, "Besides, I didn’t specifically choose you—Patrick recommended twelve candidates, and I simply selected you from these twelve alternatives."

Kode blinked, a trace of understanding appearing on his face, then he stood up and bowed deeply: "I understand—Kode Baldwin, in the name of the family, swears to uphold loyalty, never betraying our pledge to you."

"You shall," Gawain smiled and nodded, then took out a stack of documents, "Let us sign the agreement—Patrick will contact you afterwards to prepare everything for your ensuing business. As for how to conduct business in the Eastern territory... you probably don’t need anyone’s assistance."

Kode solemnly took the stack of documents and scrutinized it twice from top to bottom—the agreement drafted by the duke was even more rigorous and formal than he had envisioned, more professional than many contracts signed among merchants, and he couldn’t find any grounds for doubt.

Thus, he signed his name—finally exhaling a long breath after the last stroke.

The young man named Pal merely observed silently from the side, remembering his father’s teachings, not uttering a word more than necessary in such settings, nor missing a word.

After the contract was finalized, Kode felt completely relieved, and then he cautiously looked at Gawain with a hint of hesitation on his face.

Gawain was already preparing to return to his previous work, but noticing the reaction of the businessman, he still asked, "Mr. Kode, is there anything else?"

"Your Grace—I have a somewhat presumptuous question...or perhaps several questions. I hope you won’t find it offensive," Kode pondered his words even more carefully this time. After receiving Gawain’s permission, he continued, "We saw the new vehicle displayed in the square when we arrived... The incredible Magic-guided Vehicle left a strong impression. I wanted to ask... Is it for sale to commoners? If one wishes to buy, what are the requirements?"

Seeing the eager look on the businessman’s face, Gawain couldn’t help but laugh: "Of course, it’s for sale, just like the mining machinery, the Magic-guided Vehicle can be bought and sold. Initially, it will be very expensive, much like the earliest mining machinery, but for a prosperous merchant like you who needs it, it would be an affordable price. Additionally, as it’s a completely new item, the factory production line is still being adjusted, and some subsequent management rules have yet to be released. You’ll likely have to wait a bit before you can purchase one. As for the requirements... you must first undergo training to master its controls, and you must comply with the corresponding traffic regulations because it’s a mode of transport that’s faster and stronger than horse-drawn vehicles, and its safe operation must be assured."

"Oh, I completely understand that," Kode nodded repeatedly, "I’ve seen mining machinery, and I can imagine how powerful a vehicle driven by a Magic-Powered Engine can be. If this thing runs on the road, carelessness would not do."

Gawain was pleased to see someone quickly recognizing the importance of a new invention and willingly wanting to engage with and use it. He noticed Kode had more to say and encouraged, "If there’s anything else you’d like to say, go ahead—I’m not a strict person, and you needn’t be nervous."

"Thank you for your understanding. I have another question," Kode organized his thoughts as he spoke, "About the Magic Web Broadcast... The Carol Region doesn’t have a broadcast device installed yet, but further north in rocky ridges Town and further south in the Kant Region, they do..."

Listening to Kode, Gawain sighed slightly in his heart.

The businessman stated facts. Compared to the newspapers, the current coverage of Magic Web Broadcast Devices is quite limited due to the production constraints of the Magic Web Terminals. The limited number of terminals means Gawain could only prioritize installing them in necessary areas: rocky ridges belongs to a frontline fortress, and Kant is an industrial city. Both are naturally included, while the development of the Carol Region has to be delayed.

"The Magic Web Terminals are limited, so we couldn’t timely cover the Carol Region, but rest assured, the Cecil Clan will not abandon any piece of land or its people. Next, we’ll begin installing terminals in secondary towns, including Carol," Gawain explained.

Upon hearing Gawain’s explanation, Kode expressed his gratitude first, then said, "If the Carol Business Association is willing to fund it... if we pay for the machines, set up relay towers, handle maintenance, can we get a priority installation? I have just a small request..."

Gawain paused slightly and then looked inquisitively: "What request?"

Kode cleared his throat, starting to describe his ideas: "It’s like this. On the way here, I inquired a lot about things related to Magic Web Broadcasts. I thought of a... sort of thing that’s somewhat akin to ’programs’ on the Magic Web but with different content. I wanted to introduce the specialties of the Carol Region and the projects of our business association using it..."

Gawain’s expression didn’t change much, but he was inwardly shocked as he listened to Kode, his gaze inadvertently falling onto the unfinished plan document.

Kode was already in his element, finally losing his tension, and spoke more fluently: "People always say the Carol Region doesn’t have any specialties, but actually, we have a top-notch cheese that pairs perfectly with the local ochre-hued wine for an exquisite flavor, yet hardly any outsiders know about it, making it difficult to sell. When I heard I was coming to Cecil Castle, a few of my friends discussed at length about renting a small space on the newspapers to introduce this specialty, but no one knew exactly how to do it. We researched all the laws published by the Administrative Office and found no prohibition against this, so I took a chance here, but upon seeing the Magic Web Broadcast, I feel it’s even better than newspapers..."

Gawain couldn’t help but interrupt: "You also want to place ads in newspapers?!"

"Ads?" Kode was taken aback for a moment, having never heard the term before, but since Gawain formed the word using roots meaning ’broadly disseminate’ and ’inform,’ he quickly understood its meaning. "Ah, so you’ve already envisioned such a thing?"

"...No, it’s something you came up with," Gawain rubbed his temples, waving his hand, "Please continue speaking, Mr. Kode. Speak all of your ideas, all your thoughts."

"Yes. I believe the Magic Web Broadcast is a better thing. You see, it leaves a more profound impression, and it can directly showcase products with live images, plus it circulates faster than newspapers—but if we could also publish ’ads’ in newspapers, that would be even better because newspapers have a wider distribution..."

Kode seemed to gain more courage after Gawain encouraged him, speaking with such excitement that even Pal standing beside them was dumbstruck—this young man hadn’t seen his father this enthusiastic for many years.

"In fact, we even considered buying a printing press to print promotional materials ourselves, but the Administrative Office told us it would be illegal...

In Carol, many merchants are buying machines to build textile and brick factories. The Administrative Office approved our request, but it’s challenging to find workers, and it’s also hard to sell the products... We’re strictly adhering to the Administrative Office’s production requirements, but promoting the products has been incredibly difficult...

Gawain listened to the merchant’s narration, and when the latter finished speaking, he let out a light breath.

"Your Grace," Kode then realized he might have been too bold and showed a nervous expression, "all I said was just some bold thoughts of mine. You can freely..."

"These ideas are fascinating," Gawain interrupted, "and very valuable."

Kode looked overjoyed: "Then... Do you agree?"

"I think it’s feasible—of course, it requires a stringent plan and a matching regulatory framework," Gawain nodded, "Can you imagine what the outcome would be if merchants were allowed to publish their ads in newspapers and broadcasts?"

Kode furrowed his brows, contemplating as he spoke: "Things would sell more easily, and many would learn of distant specialties..."

As he continued, he hesitated a bit, but still pressed on: "...There might also be exaggerated descriptions, even entirely false information... If things get out of control, people may no longer trust the newspapers and broadcast programs..."

Gawain nodded discreetly—an intelligent person, and indeed a competent businessman.

Even before the advent of ads, he had already thought of false advertising—though it seemed he hadn’t intended to use it.

"As you said, Mr. Kode, this new thing needs to be handled cautiously," Gawain said, "Before it is released, we must establish comprehensive rules to prevent fraud, prevent harm to the audience. We need to set up an oversight system, and a punishment mechanism, and from another perspective, we also need to set up a management system for those responsible for audits in the Administrative Office to prevent them from using their power for personal gain, turning the audit qualifications into a tool for profit..."

Comprehensive regulatory constraints—Kode involuntarily recalled the soldiers at the outpost who wouldn’t accept a single copper coin.

Although he didn’t know what methods the Duke used to restrain those soldiers, it must have involved a rigorous system and discipline.

The merchant bowed his head before Gawain, genuinely convinced: "Managing a piece of land is far more complex than I imagined. I took too much for granted."

"Indeed, governing a piece of land is complex, but I am more grateful that this land has diligent and thoughtful people like you, each question you raise helps the land progress," Gawain stood up, left the desk, and came to Kode, extending his hand proactively, "Mr. Kode, thank you for your contribution to the Cecil Clan. I will remember your needs. Please return and await good news."

The merchant, filled with trepidation, left with his son. Gawain quietly stood for a moment in the study before turning back to his desk and sitting down.

He looked at the draft of the plan he had been sketching and the half-formed provisions, and after pondering for a moment, he ran his hand over the paper.

The unfinished page instantly turned to ash.

Then Gawain reached for the blank sheets of paper beside him, ready to rewrite the plan. However, before this, an impish voice came from the empty windowsill: "Oops—written in vain."

Without turning back, Gawain tossed a ball of paper towards the window, and hearing an "ouch" from outside, he picked up his pen again, retrieving a special notebook from the drawer. He opened it and wrote several lines in Chinese:

On the 8th of the Fog Month, Anzu 736, a new lesson.

The people do not need you to teach them.

Do not commit such errors again.

(Recommendation: A book named "Dungeon Player," a story full of hilarity and fun about dungeon production and construction. A good read when there’s nothing else.)