Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 315: Trade Fair in the Wasteland

It was a statutory holiday in the Frontier Territory, but Harvey did not choose to sleep in at home like most people in the territory. Instead, he struggled to get up from his soft and comfortable bed early.

This was entirely due to his two subordinates who were "Magical Power·Innate Working Saints", Chief Advisor Asdalen and Mayor Reiner. After all, as alchemical beings, they did not need to eat or rest at all. When their rational working mode was running at high speed, they could finish the paperwork that ordinary territorial officials would take two or three days to finish in one day.

Whenever Harvey wanted to take a rest without caring about anything, or stayed in bed pretending to be asleep, Asdalen would maintain his composure and wait for him in the study while handling official business for him. Reiner, the old friend who had followed Harvey the longest, could not sit still. He would either run outside the bedroom and whisper to the guards every quarter of an hour, or quietly enter the living room adjacent to the lord's bedroom and keep watch.

The main focus is on a proactive leader who is a reverse involutionary boss.

"My Lord, I still think this... trade fair should only be held in Jackdaw Town or Grizzly Castle. Having those invited chambers of commerce come to our pioneer territory always seems to cause trouble... after all, there are too many people and too many eyes."

Asdalen has always been very supportive of the concept of "intellectual and technological property rights" proposed by Harvey. When the territory conducts commodity transactions or trade cooperation with the Southern Chamber of Commerce, he always adopts a cautious and distrustful attitude.

"No, let them come to the North. Only when they come to the Frontier Territory and see how we have built this wasteland into such a prosperous place in just a few years will they have confidence in business cooperation with us and be willing to pay for large-scale trade orders..."

This is also a disguised form of "flexing muscles", but it is somewhat different from using armed force for violent deterrence.

Harvey yawned and, while enjoying a hearty breakfast, gave instructions: "Each chamber of commerce will limit the number of people entering. They will be issued temporary passes, and they can only move around within the designated venue and the territory's market area during the entire trade fair."

Spying on rivals' trade secrets and stealing product formulas are traditional methods of commercial competition in this world. In comparison, engaging in price wars and secretly spreading negative news about competitors are considered routine and acceptable practices. Harvey once heard from a casual chat with his old friend, Vice President Santos of the Dragonstone Chamber of Commerce, that some chambers of commerce with royal or aristocratic backgrounds would even resort to force to strike down rival forces in trade competition, gaining the upper hand by blocking trade routes and sealing up rival workshop warehouses.

Reiner nodded in agreement and added, "Many of the people brought by the various chambers of commerce this time will undoubtedly have official backgrounds in the southern kingdoms, and there will inevitably be some spies or spies from the nobles mixed in. I will specifically notify Superintendent Yurio and have him arrange sufficient police forces to keep a close eye on these unruly speculators."

Harvey wiped his mouth, clapped his hands, and laughed, "Then, let's discuss and finalize the list of products to be displayed and promoted at this trade fair!"

……

Three days later, on the morning after the heavy snow had stopped, the Dragonstone Chamber of Commerce's caravan was the first to arrive at Harvey's northern frontier territory.

Out of respect for his old friend and long-term partner, Harvey personally greeted them at the city gate for the first time. After a warm greeting, he led them into the city and directly to the exhibition hall in the market area. The venue was temporarily arranged by connecting three vacant shops in the market area. The downstairs was used for product display, and the upstairs was a lounge and negotiation room prepared for the chamber of commerce.

"Sir Harvey... uh no, Lord Harvey! It's been a long time since we last met. The sudden outbreak of plague and war in Saint Valen has indeed delayed our cooperative trade for a long time. It's a big loss for both of us!" The pot-bellied Vice President Santos was very satisfied with Harvey's grand reception, which was completely different from the treatment given to other invited chambers of commerce.

The slight dissatisfaction in his heart about Harvey's previous proposal to introduce multiple chambers of commerce to compete and cooperate was instantly thrown away. He smiled and took the initiative to introduce him to the heads of other chambers of commerce who were invited this time.

"My Lord, this is Guild Master Andrew, an old friend of the Dragonstone Merchant Guild and one of the leading mine owners and gem merchants in the Principality of Barkley."

"This is Mr. Morgan, the trade director of the Faros Royal Chamber of Commerce, primarily responsible for Erisburg's land-based trade." "Oh? The Faros Royal Chamber of Commerce?" Harvey asked curiously. "I heard that your chamber of commerce is the only organization in the Southern Continent that maintains good trade relations with the sea people year-round. I'm curious what kind of goods and commodities these alien races living in the reefs and archipelagoes buy from us humans."

Director Morgan, a tall, thin, and gentle man, bowed before smiling and slowly explaining, "Haha, it's true that most people don't know much about the Sea People. Although they spend half their time in the sea, they still need to return to land for daily rest and reproduction. However, weaving and farming are not possible on the reefs, so they lack a lot of cloth and fur... This has always been our main trade commodity with them."

Andrew, the muscular, bearded mine owner, took the opportunity to speak up. "Respected Lord, Santos introduced us to the magic stone...power machine you manufacture. It's thanks to your introduction that we are able to discuss the purchase of this alchemical equipment with you..."

Harvey smiled and said, "Don't worry, everyone. I've prepared many products of great commercial value for this trade fair, not just the Magic Stone Power Machine. I suggest you take a look at them one by one before sitting down and discussing it."

After saying this, he clapped his hands and asked his attendants to uncover the goods covered with cloth in the exhibition hall, which attracted the heads of the chambers of commerce in the southern region to gather around and look at them carefully.

"This is a high-quality liquor with a unique recipe. I've named it Icefield Vodka. You can try it and give me some feedback."

Several businessmen who obviously loved drinking quickly took a small glass of wine from the tray in the waiter's hand, put it to their nose and sniffed the aroma, then took a sip and closed their eyes to savor it.

"Wow! What a strong wine! I bet that even Isengard, the kingdom of the cavalry, famous for its strong liquor, can't brew such a fiery wine with such a long aftertaste!"

"Yes, it's indeed a rare fine liquor! Unfortunately, people in our area don't like drinking liquor. They prefer mellow and refreshing wine... I'm afraid this wine won't sell very well."

Harvey did not rush to explain, but waited leisurely for them to continue the discussion.

A few minutes later, the faces of the merchants who had been drinking began to turn red, and beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads. Then, some of them ignored their manners and unbuttoned the heavy fur coats they were wearing. However, they felt that was not enough, so they even unbuttoned several buttons of the formal suits underneath to let them hang open.

"This wine... just a small glass of this wine has such a fiery effect in dispelling the cold!"

Harvey then smiled and said, "Yes, gentlemen, this is actually a finely brewed medicinal wine that wards off cold and dampness! We added a magical herb during the brewing process. Not only does it help with cold weather, but it also soothes the blood and meridians within the body. For those who suffer from rheumatism and bone pain, it's like taking a potent potion."

Director Morgan exclaimed in surprise, "Your Excellency, arbitrarily mixing magical substances into civilian goods is... this is expressly prohibited by the Federation!"

Harvey waved his hand, ignoring his confusion. He explained, "The Union stipulates that only magical substances registered in the Alchemy and Potions Codex are prohibited from civilian use. The medicinal wine I use is a unique potion plant native to the Northern Wastes... It's never been discovered or made public, so it's not prohibited."

His argument of taking advantage of official loopholes won the approval of the group of cunning businessmen present, and everyone nodded in approval.

However, Director Morgan, who was the first to raise the question, had a glint of heat in his eyes - to keep out the cold and dampness, and to activate menstrual blood circulation, this is simply the most urgently needed medicine product for the sea creatures who live in the salty and cold sea water all year round and suffer from bone pain!
If the exclusive rights to the "Icefield Vodka" liquor can be obtained, it will surely bring the Faros Royal Chamber of Commerce greater wealth than the overseas trade of textiles!
(End of this chapter)