章 62: Want A Signboard? Here's A Billboard!

"They are coming for us, right?"

"Yeah, I wonder what made them change their mind and buy our wares?"

After being shooed out and failing to get one customer, Hamlet returned dejected. He even tried to lie about the price providing a higher price compared to what Brian and he agreed to. All because the gorgons kept on saying it was a scam because of the abnormally low price.

However, the same people who rejected him first are now coming back asking whether the price is really what it is.

"These are the chief-approved items?"

Not knowing what he was talking about, Hamlet can only nod from the inquiries of the gorgons. However, Brian understood the chief they were talking about should be the grandpa snake as evident from the following words of the next customers.

"It's the shield Chief was carrying a while ago."

"Oh! It's really just 239 coppers! Human, I'll get one of this!"

Brian only brought 8 pieces of the same item, so it was out of stock as soon as people started flocking. Many were disappointed they can't purchase the same thing their chief bought. But since they were here anyway, why not look at the other wares.

The two merchants worked overtime after their carriage formed a line waiting for their turn to look at and maybe purchase what they were offering. They became busy to the point that the people at the inn notice something was wrong going on outside.

Although those inside the inn didn't bother to check anyway. They were also merchants, but the event happening outside isn't their business.

"whistle~ everything sold like pancakes."

"We didn't earn that much since this is Gorgdon village, but it still more than decent considering this factor." Selling the last set of gloves they had, Hamlet exhaled making his fat belly jiggle.

"Your products are really easy to sell Bry. But it's too cheap for comfort. People will see it as sketchy on what it is despite the quality higher than what the price entails."

"Affordability is Nova selling point."

"It's such a waste when you can sell it around 30% of its price more."

Hamlet's mindset is not wrong for merchants. 9 out of 10 merchants would probably say the same since it's a waste of potential profit they can earn if Brian would just sell it at the standard market price considering the quality is above the standards.

However, Brian thinks differently. As a man who once lived in Earth, he knows brand name is everything. If he sold his products on what people of Soliel expect it to be, his Nova Initia will just be another blacksmith or alchemy shop in the city.

It might not be concurrent in Soliel now because it's a young city and people's business practice is not as good as on Earth, but Brian is planning ahead for the future. Since he needs more money than anyone on Teph combined, he aims to dominate every aspect that earns you money.

He does not profit as much as he expected to right now yet having the name Nova Initia spread as fast as it could through the means of lowering the price of his wares is already a big win for him.

To elaborate on this- If you ask someone who have visited Nova 'Where would you go to buy a sword?', then the first name that would come out of their mouth is Nova. There are a lot of factors why that is their answer, and the price is a big part of it.

Quantity over the quality of customers. It's better to have 100 customers who buy a gold worth of item rather than 1 customer buying a 100-gold worth item.

"Ok, we're back."

While Brian was thinking on ways how to dominate the market, they were back outside the Soliel gates. It's a long line as expected so Brian had enough time to accept the rewards of his recently finished quest.

Despite not earning as much, the System approves adding merchant/trading business to its list. All because Brian now understood how merchants of this world work and earn their fat stacks. Hamlet was a great mentor for him while they were traveling. Sharing his experiences and bragging about his most profitable expeditions.

<Rewards: 1 Gacha Roll>

"Father, you're messing my hair."

"Sorry." Brian rubbed the head of Paia for good luck. He feels all lucky things were happening because of her, and not him turning into a new leaf.

He didn't wait any longer and immediately open the Item Shop gacha page.

Pulling the lever to drop the gacha box, a shining blue light illuminated the whole carriage. Brian forgot about this part so he needed to explain to Hamlet it was him experimenting with magic that produces light.

Fortunately, it wasn't a blinding light since Paia saw it without protection. All it did was pique her interest in magic more.

<Congratulation. User has won Digital Billboard>

"Digital… Billboard?"

"What's that father? Sounds delicious."

"Maybe it's food- let me check."

It really is what Brian thought it to be. There was a large red translucent rectangular billboard that is relative smaller compared to the billboard Brian knows about. Until he returns to his place, he won't see how his billboard really works.

Since he can't do anything with the reward yet, Brian's attention went back to the line which seems to be not moving. He hasn't noticed it before but most of the people lining to enter Soliel all came from the same place.

Wings for their arms and feet as thin as one could get, the people of Avian are here once again. But this time, these Avian men and women are all dressed in a not so majestic clothes compared to the birdmen who roamed the Soliel streets for the past weeks.

Ragged and dirtied, these people look a lot like refugees.

Information on current events and news is something Brian needs to find means of getting-- Especially when he is a merchant. For now, he can only ask Hamlet for the weird situation now.

"Do you know anything about this?"

"A big change is happening in the Avian Kingdom... After their king died of unknown causes, the political faction was split into two. Those who want the daughter, the sole bloodline remaining on the kingdom, to take the crown. And those who wanted Iago, to be their next king."

"Iago?"

"Their strongest warrior-- The avian who almost broke down Soliel before it can flourish."

"For all I know, Avian doesn't accept any outsiders to rule them right?" Brian knew that at least.

"That's true-- yet there is an exception. There would be no problem if the one left is a prince, but its Princess Emily. Avian kingdom has a native mindset where men are the only ones deserving to bear the crown. So the princess is forced to marry before the year ends. Those factions that side Princess Emily wants to change that, but they are losing."

"And these refugees?"

"A civil war is inevitable for them. These people are just normal citizens who don't want to side to anyone and risk getting into the crossfire."

Brian can only nod as this is something he knows very well. As much as he hated being betrayed by his own family, Brian was glad it didn't escalate as far to affect the Auzeweth citizens. It's better to live a life swept under the rug rather than potential large-scale dispute among their own people.

There are a lot of risk accepting these refugees, and Brian appreciated the King of Soliel is willing to. Brian should probably know who their king was, but his identity seems to be hidden to the public despite being a public figure.

"It's finally our turn… Ready your identification card!"

Brian brought out the ID of his daughter and his own. After that, it was smooth sailing. They were able to return to Nova before the sun fully sets.

Before the both merchants separated, Brian and Hamlet wrote a contract that concerns how Hamlet would be trading his Nova wares in the future. Starting next week, Nova will provide them seven times the amount they sold today so Hamlet won't have to worry about small profits.

It's a fair trade with Hamlet getting 35% of the net profit, the money he would earn after deducting the total expenses-- this includes the share of Richi and the System for the Specialty Products.

The only condition Brian wanted to set is that Hamlet should stop by Gorgdon Village every time if his expedition is at the north. It's a small market, but Brian wants his Nova to be the primary name of that place since little to no merchants care about it anyway.

"Now for this Digital Billboard. When do I want to put it?"

It's not a question of where because there was only one location where his billboard would fit. Since it's digital, the electricity would come from his shops which are provided by the System itself.

But the location is not ideal. He'll need to buy the rest of the empty lots if he wants to put it down. So he can only delay it for now. There is a piece of better news he needs to be concerned with.