Purchase
If the bank wasn't in the city, the place was a forbidden zone for businessmen as the city was formerly under the chapel's administration. Lots of people should never have gone there. The thing was that there was no spending there. During the chapel's long reign, it wasn't possible to people to spend lavishly. No spending meant that there were no business opportunities. Thus, it was the first time one could see so many businessmen in the city.
All businessmen and merchants had come to the city. They rented a place close to the bank to hold our shareholder meeting Edward set up. The main purpose of their visit was to meet me and discuss pertinent matters. Anyone with a nose keen enough would've noticed the business opportunity that coal offered. Lots of people might've come to check out how much coal there could be, as a matter of fact.
I deliberately arrived late. I gently adjusted my clothes when I arrived before the entrance of the building and then confidently strode in. The building looked as though it was one the chapel renovated. There was a spacious room as soon as I entered. On both sides were large colourful glass. Unfortunately, there was no longer a statue of a god or people praying. All that was there was a giant square table at the centre of the room and, of course, the people on both sides in conversation.
"Mr. Lin, you are late. I thought you considered this meeting important enough to be here early. I did not think you would be more than a day late," commented Edward, grumpy. "I remember I wrote you a letter long ago. Did you not receive it?"
"Sorry, gentlemen. I do consider it important, but I ran into a bit of trouble on the way here," I explained as I sat down in my seat to join the laughing men. "You know that the path from my place to here is different to yours from the imperial capital. Our place was not under Her Majesty's jurisdiction before the war ended. Naturally, that means that we are not blessed. The path from our town to this city hasn't been repaired. As a consequence, the recent rainfall left the road muddy. In addition to that, the road was also slippery due to the land. As I had to ride in a horse carriage, I couldn't arrive sooner."
"I see."
It did rain around the area recently. Howbeit, the path wasn't as slippery as I claimed. With that said, it would be by the time I went back. I had organised people to make the road muddy and then had them toss lots of tree bark and whatnot on the road. Forget horse carriages, even one horse and one rider would struggle to tread the path.
There were over twenty people at the table. It didn't resemble a shareholder meeting whatsoever. It resembled an alliance meeting. Businessmen form alliances for profit but also split for profit. It was just their nature. I didn't recognise lots of them. Achilles was also missing. He definitely wouldn't want to sell his shares because he knew coal would become extremely valuable. I also knew that it'd be difficult to buy his shares from him, which was why buying from him never crossed my mind.
My targets were middle-class to small businesses. They didn't have the money that Achilles and the bank president had. They, therefore, couldn't tolerate long investments and trades. They didn't have a lot of shares. Having said that, it was a colossal sum when combined.
They understood that extracting coal was one thing, but its value was another. Whether or not it could be transported out of the mine was the key factor. At the moment, the roads were already blocked, thereby making it impossible for them to transport extracted coal out. Hence, the coal couldn't be sold. If it couldn't be sold, then there was zero income from it. With zero income from it, they couldn't continue. Essentially, it was business with them continuously coughing up money. Without being able to remain calm and determined, as well as lacking funds, the smaller businesses would request to pull out. Edward, who was responsible for the transportation of the coal and paying them back, would refuse for sure. In turn, that provided me with the opportunity to purchase their shares from them. Obviously, that was a future step.
"Since Sir Lin has arrived, let us not waste any more time here. Let us commence," stated Edward, who rose to his feet. Smiling, he went on to inform, "I introduce to you a new shareholder. I am sure most of you recognise him. He is the most outstanding businessman representative, the newest businessman and Queen Sisi's favoured vassal, Mr. Lin. I believe that we are all aware that we are here for the coal on the mountain. I was the one who discovered it and began extracting coal from it. Nevertheless, you were the source of funding. Her Majesty has realised the power of steam engines, so coal is bound to become a hot commodity. I am also here to answer your questions. If you have any issues down the road, you can visit the mine on the mountain to see for yourself."
The workers weren't willing to work. Nonetheless, Edward's forceful demands convinced the workers to begin work, and work efficiently, for their family's sake.
Whether it could be transported from the mountain depended on when I fixed the road. We were in Veirya's territory, so if she didn't approve of road repairs, then I could fully control when the road was repaired.
The main aim of the meeting was to introduce me, and then it was Edward's turn to answer queries. By the looks of it, it was quite a normal meeting. But nonetheless, my attention wasn't on the meeting; my goal was to meet with them in private later to see if they understand my aim and sold me their shares. Edward didn't mention the news from the imperial capital. As a result, the other businesses weren't convinced of his "bound to" claim. Nobody who didn't receive the Queen's letter and document would believe the claim.
"It seems that Achilles and Sisi shared the news with only me. I'll be the only one making money, and I better do it so that I don't let her down, then," I inwardly remarked.
The meeting soon came to an end. Servants by the side served up food and wine. It was a wise setup on Edward's part. As we held the banquet right on the spot, if anything needed to be discussed, we could do so right at the venue.
I turned down the wine the servant served me and took a cup of fruit juice, instead. I never liked things that impeded my thinking abilities. It wasn't time for me to chase down others, but time for me to wait for them to approach me. I was perfectly calm. Those who had functioning brains should've deduced what I did to cause my late arrival.
Not surprisingly, a businessman soon approached me. He was a middle-aged man who seemed to have been in business for several years already. He was attired black clothes with a flat and straight style. He was a tad older than Achilles, but Achilles probably wouldn't have a big gut. The man wore a huge gemstone ring on his finger. I wasn't a fan of that type of jewellery.
"Haha, truly a young and talented man. Queen Sisi's plans are not something that we can decipher even after extensive deliberation, yet you were able to win her favour so quickly. Do you really have no intention of becoming Prince Consort?"
"No, Sisi isn't the one I love. You came to persuade me to return to her side, correct? I think that you can spare yourself the effort, then, as I will naturally return on my own."
"Sorry, I am not here for Queen Sisi. I am merely here to see if I can get back my investment. This is truly important for me as my child will soon be opening a medical clinic, which requires a big sum. I want to sort out all my investment. I plan to keep on with anything with potential and abandon those that do not show potential."
I nodded. It was difficult for a young man or woman to open a clinic in this era. First, they needed connections. Second, they needed skill. They would need enough money to maintain their clinic during times where patients were few and far between. It would be financially exhausting for a father.
"What do you think of this business, then?"
"I am not sure. Judging from the news from the imperial palace, Her Majesty has never mentioned steam engines. Having said that, she might be preparing. Achilles has left the imperial capital. Some claim that he is in charge of a project. I surmise it might be Her Majesty's steam engine project. Accordingly, I think that there is some potential to it. Nonetheless, I have learnt about the problem with the road from your late arrival. The question, therefore, is if the coal can be transported out from the mountain when the time comes. If it cannot, I think that there will be no income.
"The road is not good, indeed."
I hadn't yet revealed my true aim; I merely entertained him with a remark. He, however, conveyed, "I now want to pull out, but I know that Edward does not have much money. Therefore, I doubt I can get my money back from him. I know that you made a lot of money from the businesses in the capital. If possible, I want to get back my money, and I will give up on trying to profit from this. I can sell my shares to you for the same price I bought them for. One thousand and five hundred gold coins for four percent of the shares, what do you think?"
"Mm…"
The price was reasonable; it was five hundred gold coins below expectations. I couldn't accept it yet, nevertheless. Since I came from the muddy path, I was supposed to know that the coal wouldn't be easy to transport.
I pinched my chin and sighed: "All right. Unfortunately, I do not have much cash on me. I also need to find a team to clear the road… Now that I think about, I have quite the expenditure. To be honest, I really don't want it."
"One thousand and two hundred gold coins. I just need one thousand and two hundred. Consider the three hundred to be for clearing the road. What do you think?"
"Mm… All right, then. Sigh, I'll consider it forming a friendship. One thousand and two hundred. Deal."