Capítulo 5: Rising Prices
"Josh, I want you to go find out about any new news in the empire." Josh was a knight that came with Randy to Red city.
After giving out orders to Josh Randy took a couple of servants and two knights with him to go shop for supplies.
Normally grown food hovers around 1 silver coin per pound. During wartime, the price can rise to 5 silver coins or even as high as 7 silver coins per pound. Meat is much more expensive than grown food and is usually only eaten by nobles and rich merchants.
If you want to become a successful merchant you need the support of a noble. Nobles are above the law to a certain degree. Unless they do something to piss off the emperor he will turn a blind eye to minor crimes. If a merchant is supported by a noble, the noble will help cover up the merchant's crimes. By working together both the merchant and the noble become rich while the peasants go hungry.
"Cheap produce! Only 2 silver coins a pound!"
"Rice for sale only 1 silver 50 copper per pound."
"Grain! Pound for 2 silver! If you buy in bulk I will give you a discount!"
"Iron ore 25 silver for one pound!"
As Randy entered the marketplace he heard all kinds of shouts from people selling their products. This is a normal sight no matter what city or empire you go to. Some of these people are merchants the others are just common farmers selling their products to earn a living.
Although farmers produce a lot of food on their farms, they have to give 90% of it to the government. Most of the food that is left is bad quality and can't be eaten or sold. Sometimes they get lucky and make a couple of gold coins a year and have enough to feed themselves.
"Hey, handsome are you looking for some fun?" As Randy was looking for a vendor to buy from a young lady approached him. She was selling "services" which is also a very common scene. Prostitution isn't illegal and even some nobles get their services. These girls have to sacrifice themselves so they don't starve. Some are even sold to brothels.
"How about you show me the best food vendor," Randy said as he threw a bronze coin toward her.
"Sure thing, handsome. My name is Diane, after this would you like to have some fun."
"The vendor." Randy wasn't amused and gave a cold reply.
"Yea Yea, you are so boring. Follow me." Diane frowned but continued to show the way.
"This here is Bernie, he has the best rice in all of Red City." Diane took Randy to an old man with crooked teeth.
"Howdy, as Diane said I got the best rice in the whole city," Bernie said with a smile that showed all his teeth. "It's pretty cheap only 2 silver coins per pound! If you buy in bulk I'll give you a discount."
"What!? 2 silver coins? The last time I was here it was less than one. Then again I did hear people advertising higher than normal prices in the market." Randy was astonished, usually, during winter the prices go up to 2 silver coins but winter is still three months away.
"You haven't heard, handsome?" Diane looked at Randy in shock, this was big news everyone has heard, did this guy live under a rock?
"Heard what?"
"Tensions are rising between Arcadia and Orion, no one knows why. Merchants are buying up food so the price increased. The price is continuing to increase. It looks like they know something." This time Bernie replied in a serious voice.
"Handsome, you are lucky I heard in the imperial capital that the price is at least 3 silver." Diane didn't forget to call Randy handsome despite the seriousness in her voice.
"It's that serious?" This has never happened in Randy's lifetime so of course he was surprised. 'Two weeks ago there was nothing or the baron would have mentioned it when he came to the city.'
"Enough of this serious stuff it makes my old heartache, do you wanna buy or not?" Bernie didn't want these two to spread the solemn atmosphere to his other customers so he changed the subject.
"I need 15000 pounds of rice do you have that much?" Randy didn't wait any longer and stated directly.
"15000? I don't have that much I can give you 1000 at most I'll give it to you for 4 gold 90 silver.
"Okay pack it up I will send someone to collect it later here is 5 gold."
Bernie grinned and handed 10 silver back.
"Here this is for you, continue showing me around." Randy threw a silver coin to Diane because she was very helpful.
"Thank you handsome, what other stuff do you need to buy?"
"Rice, grain, fruits, seeds, everything."
"Wow, you are buying a lot of food are you perhaps one of those merchants? But that's not right you didn't even know about the rising prices, are you the village chief of a remote village out here buying food for everyone?" Diane didn't know what Randy needed all this food for and she couldn't help but ask.
Randy laughed but didn't answer. After walking around for a little bit and stopping at a couple more vendors Randy saw josh running towards him.
"City lord, big news!" Josh hurriedly said after he caught up. "Tensions between Arcadia and Orion are increasing it sounds like they are going to war, As a result, the price of food has more than doubled and it is continuing to increase.
"I know, we need to hurry back to the city and report this to the baron. I have a couple more things to buy then we can rest for today and head back tomorrow."
Randy went and bought everything he needed to in total he spent the full 500 gold on this trip. He didn't get nearly as much as he thought.
"I hope I don't get punished when I get back, this isn't enough to feed us all. Alright, let's head back first thing tomorrow." Randy said with a frown on his face.
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