Half-elf Notebook

Winter? A bit long... Normally the temperature would rise above zero in May, but this year the snow didn't stop until the end of June.

In the slums... there will probably be a dozen more nameless bodies...

Ina's green eyes couldn't help but dim a little.

I wanted to say something lighter, but when it came to my lips, I found it difficult to open my mouth.

Only a rather dry answer:

"A little longer."

Aishia, who didn't notice Ina's change, nodded.

I just interpreted the white-haired girl's few words as a reaction from me not explaining myself clearly.

Then he said:

"Well, it's about two months later than usual. Farmers and plantations in the southern provinces are doing better."

"Their winter is not long to begin with. In addition to the abnormal drought, the winter wheat yield is reduced, and the planting of two crops is delayed or cannot be planted."

"The harvest is still 80% of previous years."

"The situation in the north is much more severe because of the extreme cold and months of snow and wind. It is estimated that this year's production will be less than half."

"A rise in food prices?"

Ina guessed uncertainly.

It has been a common occurrence for her lately to recall memories that she used to avoid.

But after adapting, people generally won’t be depressed for too long.

"This is the best-case scenario we can imagine."

"After all, most situations that can be solved by purchasing food with some gold coins and distributing it to ordinary people in the name of charity are not too serious."

Perhaps it was because the listener was Ina alone.

As she spoke, and while talking to Chai De, the very reserved Aishia did not make any unnecessary movements, and she unconsciously scratched her long hair.

Make it go from smooth to slightly messy.

Seems quite distressed about the matter itself:

"In fact, it is much more serious. Judging from the situation, food shortages may be what is about to happen."

“For a kingdom where most of the staple food is wheat products, the situation may continue until the next harvest season.”

"The businessman from the Morisin Chamber of Commerce invited us to cooperate just now because he wanted the two chambers of commerce to pool funds to purchase and hoard food so that they can drive up the price later."

"Haha, given his position, of course he doesn't know. Not to mention Morisin and Berleman, one barely made it into the top ten in the kingdom, and the other barely made it into the top five."

"The top chambers of commerce have already started purchasing, and the second crop harvest in the south has even been fully booked."

"The transaction price is generally 30 percent higher than the market price."

Buying in bulk... or hoarding... knowing in advance that there will be a shortage of goods, it is indeed understandable to prepare inventory.

But if they book goods at a higher price half a year in advance, aren’t they afraid of overstocking and the goods becoming unsaleable and rotting later?

Ina's thoughts involuntarily became active in this direction.

Unfortunately, at the age of fifteen, she had no relevant experience and was constrained by her limited cognition and lack of knowledge.

It is difficult to come to a conclusion that you can believe in within a short period of time.

“Aren’t they worried that they’ll suffer losses as a result?”

So, she threw the question to Aishia.

Asking questions is a good habit of human beings...

Ina convinced herself.

"As an underwriter, this is indeed an issue that needs to be seriously considered."

“But I don’t think any of the top chambers of commerce that took the brunt of the action would ever think of being the underwriter who made the ‘last dime’.”

Aixia chuckled twice in a slightly naughty manner and said:

"Raising prices is not just a matter of waiting for goods to go up when they are in short supply."

"In theory, as long as supply remains less than demand, prices will continue to rise."

"Of course, it has to be acceptable to the vast majority of buyers. This is the premise for merchants to reach a consensus of "buying rather than selling", and it is also the bottom line of the kingdom."

"If we go one step further, the people will riot and the country will be in turmoil."

"No matter what the result is, whether it is at the first time or afterwards, His Majesty will never let the perpetrators go."

“As for selling grain, it must be sold.”

"Otherwise, before the top chambers of commerce have confiscated their assets for a few days, the army of the kingdom and the nobility, the court's bailiffs, and the city's mounted police will come and knock on their doors, throw them all into jail, and confiscate all their assets."

“But more often, they wait for the right opportunity, just like starting a joint acquisition, and then tacitly sell to subsequent followers, hoping that there will be peers with higher prices.”

“That’s also why Mr. Chaide said that small chambers of commerce and grain traders suffered. They are the ‘underwriters’ and bear the consequences of unsalable products.”

Aixia paused and said with a playful smile:

"The top chambers of commerce cover the entire kingdom and even the neighboring countries' intelligence and news on all walks of life. The best merchants and auxiliary analysts are incomparable to the "underwriters."

"Sister Ina, please don't tell anyone about what happened next, especially to other friends in the Chamber of Commerce."

"Among the mercenaries employed by the top chambers of commerce for a long time, there are many powerful professionals at the bronze and silver ranks. They are not joking after taking the money."

Then why did you tell me so much...Yina's mouth twitched.

Even though she complained, she didn't show any resentment or dissatisfaction towards Aixia's answer.

After all, she was the one who raised the question, and she was the one she hoped Aixia would talk about.

With the attitude that listening a little is listening, listening more is also listening, Ina asked the second question with a broad mind:

"From what you said, Miss Aixia, it seems that you and your father's Chamber of Commerce do not intend to take advantage of the opportunity to make a fortune like other large chambers of commerce."

“…Instead, I feel like I’m preparing to go against the trend.”

"Against the trend?"

Aixia thought for a few seconds, shook his head and smiled:

"Not really. Berleman will still join the ranks of grain purchasers, but he will change the high-priced sales to normal sales or charitable donations."

“A good reputation and visibility are also important aspects of business operations.”

"The Berleman family should not forget, nor should they betray the Northern Territory that made them what they are today."

"Okay, I've told you so many business secrets, sister Ina, why don't you tell me something interesting?"

Aixia pointedly shifted her gaze to the girl's wrists that were exposed outside her sleeves.

There are two pieces of jewelry worn there.

A silver-white thing with nothing else on it except a crystal that had not been cut.

The other is a gold and white bracelet.

The design is not exquisite among jewelry, but the production is exceptionally good.

The main body is framed with gold, sandwiched with an unknown nonferrous metal as the base, and engraved with simple and obscure runes.

Next are the three gems dotted right above it, and a crystal that is a size smaller than the silver bracelet.

She had seen Ina take the former to the Magicians' Association, but had never seen the latter.