Big G, Coffee Machine and Goblin

Chapter 46 Trade Licensing Orders

Without saying a word, Ma Li first gave each member of the caravan ten silver shields as compensation for the delay. He then provided them with formal employment contracts, hiring them as the caravan's guards.

The salary is seventeen silver coins per person per month, including room and board, which is about 30-40% higher than the market price. In addition, there is a promise of extra bonuses for outstanding performance.

Will and Melissa quickly signed the contract, and Horton followed suit by pressing his fingerprint on it, while only Charles remained unmoved.

The half-elf girl trusted Mali and didn't feel the need to use words to bind their relationship.

Her exact words were, "If you don't need me anymore someday, just tell me and let me leave. I don't need a salary." But after saying that, she looked at Ma Li with a pitiful gaze and asked, "But you won't do that, will you?"

What else could Ma Li say but agree to let her work illegally in the caravan, though her wages would still be paid as usual.

Having resolved the issue of guards, the remaining problem of Levi and his apprentice proved to be somewhat troublesome.

The old alchemist had arranged with him long ago to join the caravan.

However, Ma Li hadn't figured out what position to assign him or how much salary to pay him.

Given Levi's status and position, even if he were expelled from the Radiant Staff, any person or organization that wanted to hire him would certainly offer a very considerable reward.

However, Ma Li's caravan had only just been established and could not afford to pay such high wages at the moment.

Moreover, the old alchemist Er couldn't fully utilize his abilities in the caravan. Don't misunderstand, this doesn't mean that Levi is unimportant to the caravan. On the contrary, Mali still needs his knowledge and connections.

Putting everything else aside, just dealing with the lord families and various forces in this world is a real headache for him.

Although Will and Melissa are also from noble families, they are both too young and seem to have lost the support of their families. In the eyes of true nobles, they are probably no different from commoners.

In addition, the task of Mali continuing to study alchemy also falls to Levi.

The old man had just put on his new boots and was studying how to tie the shoelaces.

He mastered it quickly, and soon learned how to tie a bow. After standing up and trying to take a couple of steps, he immediately praised it highly.

"These are the most comfortable boots I've ever worn in my life. Even the shoemakers in the capital should be ashamed in front of these boots!"

"Just don't stray too far from me, or at least get back within a day," Ma Li instructed. "If neither of those attempts succeed, don't worry, I have other boots here."

Levi nodded and then reached out to touch the rubber sole of his shoe.

"Should we talk about my job and salary next?"

Ma Li nodded and simply asked, "What are your thoughts?"

“I can serve as an advisor to the caravan,” the old alchemist readily agreed, and he clearly understood what Mali wanted, or rather, what he needed most. “Although I’ve never been a merchant, I’ve dealt with many of them. After all, alchemists have a great need for alchemical materials. You can ask me any questions you have, and I will do my best to answer them and lend a helping hand if you encounter any difficulties.”

"However, I am not good at fighting, and the main reason I followed your caravan was to study ancient alchemy techniques. I hope we can work together to revive the Fusion Alchemy School and restore the glory of ancient alchemy."

His last words came from the bottom of his heart.

Ma Li had actually sensed before that Levi really loved ancient alchemy, otherwise the vice dean of the continent's number one magic academy wouldn't have followed him all the way to this small village and waited here for so long.

“You can be my teacher,” he said.

To his surprise, Levi shook his head this time and insisted, "You can ask me any questions about alchemy, and I will answer them to the best of my ability. But I still have much to say about ancient alchemy; I have much to learn from you. We are not master and disciple, but at most, we are like-minded people. As for salary..."

The old alchemist paused for a moment, then said, “I’ll pay you with knowledge. In my opinion, nothing in this world is more precious than knowledge. I don’t know ancient writing, so I need you to translate the ancient alchemy books you brought back from your hometown for me. Just give me fifteen, no, twenty pages a month.”

"make a deal."

Mali didn't haggle with Levi; the collaboration went smoothly, and both of them got what they wanted from each other.

Moreover, the old alchemist quickly stepped in as an advisor, offering his first piece of advice.

"If you want to trade on the continent of Revatres, the first thing you need to do is obtain a trade license."

"Trade license?"

"Yes, if you just want to buy and sell small quantities of things, like those stalls outside the Adventurers' Guild, as long as you pay your taxes honestly, the local lords and nobles usually won't bother you. But large-scale trade requires a trade permit."

"The best trade licenses are naturally from the royal family, which can be used throughout the kingdom. Next are the trade licenses issued by dukes and powerful nobles, which allow you to travel freely in many cities. Finally, there are the trade licenses issued by lords, which allow you to conduct trade activities in the local area."

"So, if I can't get the first two levels of trade permits, I can only visit each lord one by one and ask them to allow us to do business in their territories?" Ma Li frowned.

“Actually, there’s an even simpler way,” Levi said. “Join a guild. Like alchemists and adventurers, merchants also have their own organizations, but their guilds aren’t unified; there are many of them.”

"These guilds are mostly formed by merchants from a certain area who spontaneously unite together, so that they can negotiate with the lords in the name of the guild."

"Once the negotiations are successful, all the merchants who join the guild will automatically have a trade license for that place."

"Moreover, they may receive certain tax benefits and preferential treatment, enjoy certain legal and economic privileges, and members can also receive the protection of the guild. Although this protection is more nominal and not as effective and resolute as the protection of the Alchemist Association, it can still play a role to some extent."

"Moreover, members of the guild sometimes help each other, and powerful guilds may even obtain the exclusive right to operate a certain commodity in the city, which means that merchants from other guilds can no longer sell or buy that commodity in the city."

"In short, if you want to become a merchant, you'd better join a guild."

(End of this chapter)