I was a charlatan in India

Dana's empty box has arrived.

Cargo containers are usually designed for specific purposes, since different goods require different storage spaces.

For example, those tall, barrel-shaped boxes were generally used to store silk rolls, while drawers tightly bound with hemp rope likely contained fragile items such as ritual objects.

Although Dana had piled up a lot of straw outside and covered it with coarse cloth, an expert could still tell the difference just by looking at the edges.

The packaging is of excellent quality, sturdy and exquisite, making one wonder what rare treasures are hidden inside.

Of course, they were originally used to hold good goods, but now they have been emptied and only filled with stones as counterweight.

The boxes were divided into dozens of trucks and transported into the city through different channels, as if they were being squeezed into any available space.

The delivery wagon had a plowshare attached to its back.

This thing is structured somewhat like a towed road roller. Its main function is to blur the ruts so that people with ulterior motives can't judge the quantity of goods by the depth of the ruts.

But for most people, just seeing the ruts indicates that the tracks are quite heavy.

Not to mention the marks left on this batch of goods; they couldn't even be smoothed out by pressing.

Since Dana declared stones for outer packaging and warehouse reinforcement, customs clearance was naturally quite simple.

He appeared extremely cautious, as if he were genuinely afraid of being seen by his colleagues.

But such a large scale cannot be kept secret, and soon competitors came to sound him out.

"Where can these kinds of ceremonial objects and jewelry get in now? Don't ask, I don't have any connections either."

Dana pretended to be tight-lipped to everyone, offering insincere and perfunctory evasions.

Therefore, everyone was even more convinced that this bastard had managed to get the goods in.

I can't let you eat alone.

Envious people quickly emerged and began to fan the flames.

"Maybe the reason other companies are being blocked is because of what he did."

"Yes, that Dana is practically driving everyone to their deaths just to make a little money!"

"No, I have to have a bite too!"

The business district was immediately abuzz with excitement.

Monopolizing the Full Moon Festival – isn't that harmful?

At first, we thought it was the Kshatriyas causing trouble, so we could only swallow our anger. We never expected it to be you.

How dare you, a mere Vaishya!?

If we can't do anything about the high-caste lords, are we sure we can't do anything about you?

Some people tried to test the waters by closing the gates, but the answers they received were always stones and empty boxes, presented with absolute certainty.

Many people, on the contrary, became even more convinced of their judgment.

The things that Nabu's family has been airing out recently are clearly silk and ceremonial objects!

Do you think we're blind?

Damn it, collusion between officials and businessmen!

Shameless Vaishya merchants, unscrupulous Kshatriya corrupt officials!

I bother!

"Master, recently the head of the Nabu family has been secretly stocking up on goods and airing out silk ritual objects, but it seems..."

"What does it look like?"

Vasudiv sat upright in his chair, pretending not to care as he listened to the servant's report, but his hand, which was pouring fruit syrup, froze in mid-air.

"It seems that the business community is very dissatisfied with him, and there have even been cases of private retaliation. Some goods have already been secretly sabotaged."

"Before I came back, I saw him sighing as he dealt with the damaged goods, and he even picked up a few items on the way back."

A servant took out a package and, at Vasudiv's signal, carefully opened it.

Ok……

It was indeed a ritual vessel used for sacrifices. All the gemstones and gold on it had been scraped off, leaving only the unfinished form with little value for reuse.

Those in the same industry are often rivals.

These low-caste businessmen just can't stand seeing others do well.

Vasudiv snorted and ordered his servants, "Send someone to Dana to ask if he needs any help."

But then he withdrew the order.

"Never mind, let's wait a bit longer."

Sending someone over now would be tantamount to admitting that I'm spying on him.

It's better to wait for him to ask for help.

Dana really didn't have time to pay attention to him at the moment.

Since everyone firmly believed that he had brought the goods in, people started coming to his door to discuss cooperation.

His consistent approach was to first express his reluctance, then politely decline, until the person came to his door a third time with gifts, at which point he would reluctantly begin to discuss serious matters.

"Brother, you've come several times already."

"Well... you know, there are some things I can't say."

Dana closed the door and drew the curtains, making the room pitch black even in broad daylight.

"Brother Dana, I had no other choice."

"You know, the full moon festival is just around the corner, and getting supplies is so difficult. You have to leave everyone a way to make a living, right?"

"Hey! Why won't you guys believe me!"

Dana made a troubled look.

"There are rumors circulating that I blocked the supply channels, but that's completely untrue. I don't have that kind of power!"

"Yes, yes, of course I believe you."

The guest smiled ingratiatingly and replied, "Brother Dana's character is undoubtedly impeccable in Varanasi."

He didn't believe it when he heard that.

Dana, with a pained expression, continued to add.

"And you don't know, I promised 70% profit to secure this batch of goods, so in reality, it's already become someone else's errand boy."

"Seventy percent?"

The guest exclaimed in surprise.

Even with a monopoly, there's no profit for 70% of them, because labor costs won't decrease; in fact, they'll only increase as the full moon festival approaches.

"Yes, business is tough these days."

"I'm just trying to get rid of these things and break even, since the prices of these items won't be good for a long time after the Full Moon Festival."

This is the truth.

But the guests didn't believe the truth.

His eyes darted around slyly a few times, then he smiled ingratiatingly.

"Brother Dana, we businessmen don't do business at a loss. You must have some tricks up your sleeve."

"You see, if there's anything I can do for you, brother..."

Even if Dana is telling the truth, 70% of that "profit" is far too inflated.

Which businessperson doesn't know how to do accounting? With just a little manipulation, a profitable business can appear to be losing money on the books.

Seeing that Dana remained silent, the guest leaned closer and said.

"Of course, I definitely won't let you work for nothing. This time, I'll give you 20% of the profits..."

The guest held up three fingers, but quickly withdrew one.

Dana sneered inwardly upon seeing this.

profit?

Just breaking even would be a huge relief!

He maintained that troubled expression, neither confirming nor denying.

"I'm not entirely sure either. Here, bring me the invoice, and I'll take a look..."

Guests come and go in waves, and the same words have been repeated countless times.

The gifts filled almost half the room, and Dana didn't put them away; they were just blatantly displayed outside, making her seem like the one in charge of the whole affair.

Of course, Donald wasn't after these gifts; he was trying to broaden his options.

The Full Moon Festival is a major event for the whole city, and many people want to take advantage of it to make a quick buck.

After all, people need to eat and horses need to eat, and every family has servants to support; they can't survive if they keep closing down.

Each of these invoices represents a specific item.

Once Vasudiv's inquiry letter receives a reply, he can immediately transfer his own goods into the names of these merchants.

Of course, business associates aren't made of clay; if this impersonation were exposed, he would quickly become the public enemy of the entire city's business community.

But in any case, it's much better than going bankrupt and being burdened with debt.

After realizing the situation, they quickly withdrew, moved to another place to do business, and never had any contact with each other again.

He began planning to cash out his fame and run away.

Of course, with such a big commotion, Surya, the Kshatriya, naturally received the message.

After all, it was his private soldiers who were undergoing arduous training, not him personally, so they wouldn't ruin their own brains.

and so……

"Anshu, what do you think?"

This curly-haired little chubby guy is just too useful.