Chapter 92: Investment Tour
Punctually at the 15th bell, Michael sent for the coachman. Will stepped out of his house and into the coach on his semi-circle driveway. Inside the carriage, Will handed Mei account ledgers she had a courier run over earlier.
Based on those ledgers, Will's capital properties earned twice or thrice as much as the Guidon stores. The reason had to do with the Yorkshire Merchant Guild. In Fermion, the Merchant Guilds set the markup value, something Will was opposed to, but could live with. In this medieval period, guilds were formed to promote economic interest, as well as protection for everyone's mutual benefit.
In Guidon, the markup value was usually 25%, but the markup value in Yorkshire was 50%. The wholesale cost of Will's rose soap cost was 5 silvers. This meant, in Guidon cost of Will's rose soap cost were 6 silvers and 25 coppers, but in Yorkshire, his rose soap cost 7 silvers and 50 coppers. However, this only explained half the reason why Will earned thrice as much profit as in Guidon.
The other reason was the customer based. Not only was Yorkshire's population was twice as large as Guidon's, but the noble market was also twice as large as Guidon's. With a larger customer base and more expensive products, the coins flowed into Will's accounts. With this much coin, when the bank would have substantial reserves. Moreover, the auction would add amass more coins to his banks' reserves.
Secretly, Will hoped he could use auction and his trust to start Fermion's first stock exchange market. He already picked out a name, the Fermion Times Stock Exchange, similar to the one in London. The bank and trust were only the first, towards accomplishing his goal. Will wanted to encourage others to also sell investment shares. This auction was only a demonstration for others to follow suit. And in the end, he would capitalize on the sales of company shares.
Will daydreamed as the carriage came to end when the carriage pulled to a stop in front of the Silver Phoenix Bank and Trust. Will saw the bank when he first crossed the bridge into the noble residence district. The bank was twice as large as the Guidon branch. The bank resembled the Pantheon in Rome. Large, tall columns greeted Will as he walked inside. The inside of the bank had a large dome ceiling.
Upon entry, Will saw loan officers standing behind the desk with their hands folded neatly in front of him. Passed the desk of loan officers, was a solid row of windows with male bank tellers standing well-groomed.
"You must be Sir. William vont Ballard. I am the Yorkshire Merchant Guild Master Earl Alexander vont Calvin. It is a pleasure to finally meet you," a short fat man with stumpy legs said. Will was amazed the man could stand at all. His belly was so obese, Will thought the man cold topple over any moment.
"Greeting Earl vont Calvin. Mei has written wonderful things about you, I fear I owe you a debt of gratitude," Will said bowing respectfully.
"Come now, you are an important merchant in our kingdom. I was most happy to assist your senior clerk," Earl vont Calvin said.
"Thank you, Lord vont Calvin," Will said bowing again as the two men set off to tour the facility.
Will and Earl vont Calvin toured the bank. The bank was three stories. The first story housed the bank tellers and loan officers. The second floor housed the stockbrokers and investment counselors. The second floor had desks but was mostly filled with comfortable chairs and sofas. The third floor had office spaces for Will, Mei, the bank director, and a conference room for Will to meet with his board of directors and shareholders. The top floor overlooked the entire building and gave off a rather impressive view.
"This is a very impressive building, well done Mei! Now, please display the security features," Will asked.
Mei gave the signal, and the bank director pressed a button on his desk. Immediately, five mages rushed out from thin air. A sliver of space opened, and the five mages took fighting stances.
"Very good," Earl vont Calvin clapped. He seemed rather happy with the show.
Will simply nodded at the wizards who returned through the same crack in space, from which they came.
"This is the same process we use at the Merchant Guilds. I never tire of seeing this," the Earl said cheerfully.
"I want people to feel comfortable knowing their money is secure. This display was very satisfying," Will said.
"Now, that everything seems to be in order and the tour is finished, shall we discuss the auction two days from now?" Earl vont Calvin said.
"I assume you've read Sir. Arwin vont Navarette letters. May I presume, all my requests have been met?" Will questioned.
"Of course, of course, the Guidon Merchant Guild Master has informed me of the arrangements," the Yorkshire Merchant Guild Master said agreeably.
"Then what is there to discuss?" Will asked curiously.
"There's a rumor you plan to fly to auction in a magic flying ship. Is that true?" Earl vont Calvin asked hopefully?
"My apologies Lord vont Calvin, that rumor is not true. Can you tell me where you heard those rumors?" Will was interested to know how his top-secret plans leaked.
"Sir vont Ballard, it's the talk of the town. Everyone is expecting to see one!" he said disappointedly.
"Then sadly, I must disappoint everyone," Will said still curious how so many people figured out his future plan.
"People have a way of over embellishing in the capital, you'll get used to it living here. Now, I must confirm the auction details. You still plan to sell shares of each of your companies?" Earl vont Calvin asked.
Will nodded in affirmation.
"If I understand, the shares are divided into distinct two classes voting and non-voting. Voting shares get a say in how your company operates, non-voting shares do not get a vote in how the company operates. And you say, you'll pay these shareholders money based on how company's profits.
A-shares will be an auction with a starting amount of 100,000 gold and B-shares at 1,000 gold. You'll also auction leases of your games' blueprints.
After the auction, all the funds, minus the guild's fees, will be transported to this bank. Am I correct?" Earl vont Calvin repeated what Sir. Arwin vont Navarette wrote in his letters.
"Yes, however, there Will be a slight change to the schedule," Will said.
"Slight change to the schedule? You're not backing out on me are you, Sir. William vont Ballard, are you?" Earl vont Calvin's said with his voice lowered an octave.\
"Heavens no, I want to auction a new limited product," Will said smiling.
Immediately, the Guild Master's eyes lit up with greed, "A new product you say. But, not your flying machine. You must know any else you auction will also be subject to guild fees," he said rubbing his hands together.
Will saw the Guild Master's lips tick-up in a grin.
"I would never think of denying my guild their dues. I am a member in good standing am I not?" Will asked.
"You are, yes, you are. In fact, you are my favorite youngest merchant," Earl vont Calvin said wrapping his hands around Will's shoulders.
The two continued to talk a short while before Will excused himself to check on his other properties.
Waving farewell to the Yorkshire Guild Master, Will and Mei walked next door to the casino. Outside the casino was a sign that read "Closed for Inspection."
"Mei is the entire casino closed?" Will asked, amazed that Mei closed the establishment.
"Sir, the café, theatre, casino, and restaurant are closed, but the casino's inn is filled with guests. We let guests know a week ago, that we would be closed today for an inspection," Mei said proudly.
Similar to Guidon, the entryway to the casino led first to the inn. The innkeeper and his staff were immediately summoned. Everyone stood in line and Will examined the staff. Will slowly walked down the line and greeted the innkeeper and staff. Whenever he stood in front of a person, Mei handed him a folder with the employee's name, background, and reason for the hire.
Mei was much more thorough than Vanessa. Will was happy, he chose Mei for this position. After Will examined the staff, he was led vacant suite. Will was happy to learn there were not many vacant rooms. Nobles from all over Fermion had come to Yorkshire to attend Will's auction, and many of those visiting nobles chose to stay in the casino's inn.
Compared to Guidon, the inn's rooms were much smaller. According, to Vanessa these rooms were slightly larger than the average inn's room in the capital. In New York or London, people would pay thousands of doors to sleep in a room the size of a closet. In large cities, the rent for square meters was expensive. The same was true of Yorkshire, the population density, lack of inns, drove up the cost for guest rooms.
Next, Will walked to the restaurant. Where he once again greeted every employee. The chef had also prepared a sampler of every dish offered on the menu. Will took a bite of each sampler and sent kudos to the chef.
"Mei, I have a date with Elizabeth vont Ballard after the auction. Please reserve the restaurant for our date," Will asked impressed with the chef's skills.
"Certainly, Boss Will! I will make the arrangements a once," Mei said running off to inform the chef.
Afterward, Will toured the casino, greeted the staff, and played a game of roulette. He was very impressed with the casino, the staff, and the food.
Will and Mei, crossed the street to the theatre. The Merchant Knight upon seeing Mei moved to allow Will entry. The theatre was dark, even during the late afternoon. It was eerie silent, and Will's mind travel to the production Phantom of the Opera.
Mei ushered Will to a seat. Once Will sat, the candles were lit, and the curtains opened. A company of troubadours performed a medieval version of Carmen. In the performance of soldier returns from the frontline to find his fiancée, in the arms of another man. The fiancée apologizes because he thought he was dead. Both men quarrel over the woman until the soldier accidentally shoots the man and his lover. In the end, he kills himself out of sadness and guilt. At the end of the performance, Will stood and cheered. Both the acting, music, and singing were excellent. Even the set design was phenomenal, with thought.
Will met each troubadour and lauded them for a spectacular production. However, what Will liked best about the piece was that the troubadours' last performance packed the theatre for four straight days. Even the King and Queen enjoyed the show.
The café next to the theatre was also closed to guests. Similar to the restaurant, the café's chef brought Will a sampler of all dishes on the menu. After meeting the café's chef and the waitstaff was felt tired. He yawned feeling exhausted.
The last shop to tour was the general store. Will and Mei arrived by carriage in the general store. Unlike the other shops that bordered the commercial and noble districts, the general store was in the middle of the commercial district.
As opposed to the general store in Guidon, where he bought an existing store from an old couple. Mei bought four separate stores, demolished them, and built on superstore on four plots of land, and sat four stories high. Behind the general store was a warehouse almost the same size.
The first floor was groceries and household wares, the second floor, was hardware and general supplies. The third floor was furniture, and the fourth floor held office spaces and a lounge that acted as the staffroom for the junior clerks. The staffroom was where the general store manager held daily morning meetings.
The general store had large inviting glass windows, a wide aisle, and bright lighting. Decorative bins, boxes, crates, invited the customer over to view the contents. The nicely package products invited the customers inside to peruse. Inside the store, beautiful women-directed customers to the wares. The women acted as personal shoppers, guiding customers around the store making friendly recommendations.
Each woman was a junior clerk Mei hired. Mei personally taught the women the art of the upsell. The women were required to wear clothes the general store sold and bathe using only rose soap. It was not a surprise that rose soap was the number one soap brand in the capital.
In the warehouse, Will sat on crate covered with blankets. He had just finished expecting 500 bicycles built in the capital. Will wanted to inspect the bicycles, before they were moved to the theatre to join the ones Daska built.
"Mei you have done an excellent job in my absence. I have full confidence in your abilities. Starting next week, I want the staff to pick up their pay from the bank. Encourage the staff to open a saving account. Create some kind of incentive to motivate them. Vanessa has been issued the same orders," Will said.
"Yes, Boss Will," Mei nodded her head.
"Also, you deserve a raise for your hard work. I will raise your salary by five gold. I am certain, you are the best senior clerk in Yorkshire. I don't know what I'd do without you?" Will meant it.
Will left Mei behind and returned home. Michael greeted Will at the front door. Before turning in for the night. Will went to the Gentleman's Drawing room. Michael poured Will a glass of whiskey, and Will sat down at this desk. Will RSVP'd to both Duke Whitby's invitation. In regard to the date, Will asked if the duke would allow Elizabeth to have dinner at his casino's restaurant. Will handed two letters to Michael. Will knew Michael would send for a courier to deliver the response.
After swallowing the rest of the whiskey, Will headed upstairs to his bed. After he changed into this nightwear and tucked himself into bed, he heard a knock on the door.
"Yes?" Will asked.
"It's April, may I enter Master Will," she asked in a sexy voice.
"Yes," Will's voice squeaked in excitement.
April walked in the master suite, blew out the candelabras and cuddled into bed with Will.
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