I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 345: Modernized Colonial System (4)

The people of the Toscana Empire are very well aware that real estate is a great way to make money.

Urban areas and fertile lands have only appreciated in value over time, and everyone—whether nobles or merchants—has made a nice profit from it.

This is also why I created stocks and moved the wealth from real estate into the stock market, causing property prices to plummet and thereby stabilizing the real estate market.

Even now, real estate transactions are still a pretty solid way to make money.

"Sebastian, is the promotion going well?"

"It was a bit slow at first, but now word of mouth has spread, and many merchants and nobles are eyeing it. The staff in charge of promotions are even being hounded by people asking when the products will be available."

"Glad to hear things are going well."

"At first, I was worried whether we could sell the amount we had planned since no one was showing interest. But looking back now, it seems that was an unnecessary worry."

Although Sebastian said that, what I had started was honestly a scheme that would have failed in the context of a medieval fantasy world.

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries in Korea, with well-developed transportation and the tendency for all wealth to funnel into real estate, it's considered common sense that a well-executed new city development could generate huge profits in a short time.

But in the medieval era, with no transportation other than horses, carriages, or walking, how could anyone make a fortune from a new city development in such a short period?

'This is a project that should take at least several decades.'

Developing a city artificially, where a noble family must pour in massive amounts of money, is something that can only realistically happen with decades of effort.

And in nine out of ten attempts, you’d fail due to issues like getting the right shops, factories, jobs for the citizens, recruiting people to live there, and investing capital.

Trying to shorten that process to just 3 to 5 years is almost an impossible feat.

"If anyone other than me tried something like this, they would probably be left on the street. But since it’s my business, people are willing to invest because they know it’s mine."

"My lord, you’ve already become the mark of success. Anything you touch seems to yield ten, a hundred times the profit."

"Flattery won’t get you any extra stock, just like last time when you didn’t get any extra for investing in Abito."

"I’m not good at flattery, my lord."

"You’re not completely against it, though."

"Well, my lord is a merchant, so I need to know how to offer a little flattery, just so I don’t get criticized when I go somewhere."

Looking at Sebastian these days, he reminds me of an executive who’s given up on getting promoted.

There’s no higher position for him, but instead of sucking up to me, he’s been pushing ahead with his work while keeping to his own principles.

‘It’s actually a good thing.’

If a low-ranking employee refuses or acts on their own contrary to the CEO’s instructions, it almost always ends in failure.

But when an executive tells the CEO something isn’t right, it can be really beneficial for the company.

No matter how great I am, I’m not perfect and I’m not a god.

"The residential and commercial districts should all be sold out once the presentations are done. However, I do have one concern. Once these areas are sold, won’t the actual ownership of the newly created city pass over to the buyers?"

"Not at all."

"Really?"

"The industries that will form the base of the new city are weapon, armor, and military supplies factories. This city will run on the consumption of the workers who will work at these factories."

A city made up of men who are good at washing dishes and where the suicide rate among middle-aged men is the highest in the nation serves as the most typical example.

The giant semiconductor plant and memory factory of Ohseong Electronics are located in that city.

Naturally, various affiliated companies have set up shop around the area, and restaurants and small businesses like kids’ cafes and karaoke bars have sprung up to cater to the workers and their families.

Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.

Since employees of large companies spend all their salaries within the city, property prices are high, and the cost of living is also high.

The city I’m planning to build will feel just like that.

"Truly, my lord, you are remarkable."

"Also, since it’s a new city, there won’t be any nobles with roots in the city. I can make the factory managers local nobles and take control of the city council. I’ll even be able to appoint the mayor I want."

It’s like how some people live their entire lives with the goal of going to Mars.

That person also moved his business to the countryside, created a city, and was planning to elect a mayor through a democratic vote (though it’s a coincidence that only one candidate is running for mayor).

We’re planning to do the same.

This way, the land the new city controls will essentially be my domain.

"And making money by selling weapons and military supplies is a one-time business. Looking to hold onto all the land in multiple cities with that kind of quick-profit business doesn’t make financial sense."

Abito, when I die ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) or, rather, after I’m dead, will be known as the most prosperous city in the empire, even to my grandchild’s generation.

Because clothes are still expensive, and whatever is made sells out fast—it’s a product that never stops being in demand.

"If it's a business that only makes money for a short while, you’d better sell fast and get out."

"That’s a wise way of thinking."

"I’m telling my employees not to invest in the new city. While land prices may rise during the war with the Holy Empire, once the war ends, land prices will plummet."

"I understand."

"And this time, Sebastian, you’ll handle the presentation."

I would have liked to handle the presentation myself and sell the inventory, but...

Most of the people attending this presentation would be a bit beneath me in rank to deal with personally.

So, sending Sebastian out is the right move.

"Leave it to me."

A week later, the presentation was officially held at one of the estates I owned.

"Thank you for coming this far, everyone. I am Sebastian Maserati, the steward of the Rothschild family."

The room became very noisy.

Given that this was a massive project driven by the Rothschild family, I had expected Fabio to pay close attention to it, but...

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

No one expected that the clear number two in the family would come out to handle the investment presentation himself.

Sebastian deliberately took out his pocket watch and checked the time.

"The current time is 2:15 p.m. Let’s begin the presentation as scheduled."

"Wait, wait, is that... a watch you’re holding?"

"Yes, it is."

At those words, the atmosphere became quite distracted.

A body made of silver with a gold engraving and modest jewels inlaid, all topped off with the ability to check the time?

This was the must-have item that anyone with money, whether a noble or merchant, had to buy.

"It’s not too heavy, and you can check the time anytime, so it’s very efficient. Starting next week, Rothschild stores across the nation will begin pre-order sales. Please look forward to it. Now, let’s begin the presentation."

Sebastian handed out pamphlets that had been printed in advance.

Without the printing press, it would have been impossible to hand out pamphlets at such an expensive product sales presentation...

But Fabio, who runs a large printing business, had artisans working overtime, giving them insane amounts of extra pay, just to print these.

The result was these pamphlets.

"My lord, it seems you are truly serious about this business."

"...I’d risk all my wealth to invest in it."

"Rothschild’s name can be trusted."

Fabio’s sincerity moved the hearts of many people.

The attendees had originally come intending to invest no matter what, but seeing the effort that went into handing out the pamphlets made them realize that Fabio had put real thought into it.

‘This will definitely succeed.’

Then, suddenly, an unexpected person barged in.

Sebastian was about to give orders to his staff to throw the intruder out, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

"I am Baron Florin."

Sebastian, acting as Fabio’s representative, couldn’t chase out a baron himself.

"Are you really the baron?"

"Do I need to show you the sword His Majesty personally gave me when he ascended to the throne to prove it?"

"...No, that won’t be necessary."

"I came here to invest, so give me a seat."

The staff hurriedly rushed to bring a chair.

Once Baron Florin sat down, the room buzzed with whispers.

"Is the Heart of the Beast here?"

"I’ve heard that even merchants seek his advice on stock investments..."

"Could it be?"

"Not once, but twice, he invested using his entire domain as collateral and made huge profits."

At first, Baron Florin was treated like a crazy man by both nobles and merchants.

But after succeeding twice, he had become a deity of investment.

One time was luck; two times was skill.

Baron Florin said nothing in response to anyone’s comments.

He simply smiled.

"Now, let’s begin the presentation."