How the Villainous Consort Avoids His Death Ending - Chapter 60.2
“Also, find out how much discount we can get for bulk purchases.”
I hoped the merchant would give us a significant discount. I had no idea how much a merchant with nothing to lose would consider our situation.
Even if we paid the regular price… no, even if we were overcharged, bringing these goods back to the Rubyere Empire would allow us to make more than ten times the profit. So there was no need to push too hard, but the truth was, I still wanted to buy as much as possible.
However, as Sir Johannes exchanged a few words with the merchant, his expression suddenly darkened. The merchant’s face also stiffened noticeably. He studied us quietly before giving a short reply. Sir Johannes looked grave.
“What is the matter? What did the merchant say?”
Observing the situation, Tristan furrowed his brows. Sir Johannes hesitated, then spoke reluctantly.
“My apologies, Your Highness. I am sorry, but he says that bulk transactions with foreign merchants are not allowed.”
“Not allowed? What does that mean?”
Tristan raised one eyebrow. When I looked at him for clarification, Sir Johannes elaborated.
“He says foreigners may purchase small amounts individually, but when it comes to buying large quantities of local goods, a permit is required. Without the permit, the merchant cannot do anything at his own discretion.”
“A permit?”
Gehardt’s eyes widened.
“What kind of permit do you need just to sell goods? We are not refusing to pay!”
“It seems their system is different from the Rubyere Empire’s.”
Tristan spoke in a low voice.
I rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache coming on. The street’s atmosphere was tense, and people’s gazes were far from friendly. There were hidden obstacles, as I had suspected.
Sir Johannes seemed to want to ask again what this permit was and how to obtain it, but the merchant merely shook his head, apparently unwilling to explain. He gestured repeatedly for us to leave, as if to say he did not want anything to do with foreigners, even for small purchases.
With no choice, we left the store and visited a couple more places. When requesting top-grade tea leaves prepared for high-ranking nobles, we were refused without even seeing the products.
“If this continues… we might have to return empty-handed after coming all this way.”
Gehardt muttered nervously, shrugging his shoulders.
Finally, we decided to try a shop that sold perfumes. If we were rejected there as well, we would have no choice but to return to the lodging and reconsider our plan.
Upon entering the store, a middle-aged owner, who seemed approachable, gestured for us to come inside.
Sir Johannes pointed to a bottle of perfume and asked about it. He spoke hesitantly, and the owner responded slowly, eventually shaking his head in discomfort. The atmosphere seemed tense.
Still, unlike the people we had met before, he was considerably more kind. Sir Johannes continued discussing with the merchant for some time, then turned back to us with a worried expression.
“I was able to gather some information. In Ashurana, all trade is strictly controlled by the imperial central government. Especially foreign trade… it requires a special permit issued by the Emperor’s decree.”
“Did you say an imperial decree?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
A sudden heaviness filled my chest, and I could not continue speaking.
Even Tristan, as the Duke of Hezekia, was merely a noble from a distant empire. The proud Emperor of Sarr would not meet us easily. Obtaining an imperial decree was out of the question, and meeting the Emperor directly seemed nearly impossible.
Sir Mildred muttered to himself, his face pale.
“Then what about all the goods that have entered the Rubyere Empire until now? The quantities were small, but there was still some trade, was there not?”
“The merchants who dealt with Sarr’s trade until now were in different circumstances than us.”
I answered in a low voice. After hearing the background, I could make some sense of the situation.
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