"Is saltpeter your main business in the capital?" Roland cut straight to the chase.
"No, Your Highness," Margery's smile now broke free from its formulaic stiffness, her voice softening with warmth. "I run a wide range of businesses—from gemstones and fabrics to inns and taverns. Truth be told, I wasn't even dealing in saltpeter a month ago. But the original owner of the saltpeter workshop lost his entire fortune in my casino, so he had to mortgage the place to me." Not just trading goods, but also providing services... What kind of man was this merchant? After all, operating a casino in the capital wasn't just about money. He tapped the table, but the nightingale's beak was on the middle—signaling the owner carried the God's Stone of Punishment, making it impossible to tell if he was lying.
Wait... If it's unobservable, why did she forcefully pinch her right side earlier?
Roland coughed twice, suppressing the urge to turn around and ask.
He had heard tales of merchants from the fjords who, after settling in the Four Great Kingdoms, expanded their businesses until their amassed wealth became unimaginable. After all, seafarers were born merchants—possessing both a bold spirit and a keen sense of opportunity. Many were dismissed like sheep after amassing fortunes, while others managed to secure their footing by bribing local connections, forming stable alliances. Could Margery be one of those wealthy merchants?
Given this, Roland decided to state his demand bluntly: "I need a large quantity of saltpeter—more is better." "But the western kingdom isn't particularly hot, especially the small town near the Desolate Mountains. Your Highness, do you really need so much saltpeter?" she asked curiously. "In the outskirts of the capital, I own three saltpeter mines that could supply a medium-sized city's Noble ice supply." Three saltpeter mines! Roland was instantly delighted, though his expression remained unchanged. "I plan to build a cold storage in the castle basement to store perishable food. If your offer is reasonable, I'll take all this saltpeter." "Since you're already on this," she nodded, "I can transport all the saltpeter to Border Town and charge you 90% of the market price. But..." "But what?" "I don't particularly want golden dragons—they're almost filling my warehouses. I heard you have some very peculiar products. If possible, could these replace golden dragons? I'd be happy to negotiate a deal." "Peculiar products?" Roland was taken aback. It was the first time he'd heard of anyone not wanting golden dragons.
"Indeed, like the self-propelled Black Iron creations," Margery leaned forward slightly. "Your servant mentioned this device could generate astonishing power simply by heating water. In fact, I came to Border Town specifically for this reason—otherwise, selling saltpeter directly to the capital Noble would have been more profitable. The longer the transport distance, the greater the losses I'd incur." Roland thought it was a pleasant surprise. Though he couldn't figure out how Barov's apprentice had gotten involved or how they'd discussed steam engines, the capital merchant clearly showed keen interest in the technology.
He was acutely aware of the staggering profits from industrialized products, especially those mechanical items that only he could manufacture. Initially, he had worried that once Border Town ceased selling ore, the coins brought from the Duke's estate would eventually run out. Yet now, an excellent opportunity had presented itself to him.
"Ah, I see," Prince said with a faint smile. "The steam engine you mentioned converts boiling water into power. The principle is simple, but only Border Town can produce it." "Does this really exist?" "Certainly," Roland shrugged. "But it's extremely complex to manufacture and quite expensive. If you're interested, I can show you a real one." "I'd be more than happy," she said, getting up excitedly.
...
At the Beipo Mine, Margery's eyes nearly popped out when she saw a steel monster with a piercing roar slowly hauling a stone-laden mine cart out of the shaft.
"Your Highness, this... this is absolutely unbelievable," she murmured, her voice trembling. "I thought your emissary was exaggerating, but what he said was nowhere near the truth... I fear even dozens of people combined couldn't match this steam engine." The merchant tried to step closer, but Roland stopped her. "Steam engines in operation are extremely dangerous. Stay clear. See that white steam? A mere touch will scald your skin." "Is it only for transporting ore?" she demanded, her voice rising due to the deafening noise.
"There are two mining engines in total. The first one handles hauling mine cars, while the second pumps water out of the shaft," Roland explained. "In fact, Border Town has only produced three steam engines since their successful development. I need to deploy them where they're most needed. But their applications are far more versatile than you can imagine. Beyond replacing windmills and water wheels for wheat milling, they operate independently of rivers and wind. They can handle heavy labor tasks requiring both human and animal power, and even power sailboats with oars – achieving rapid navigation without sails!" He knew how crucial wind-resistant seagoing vessels were to the Fjord people. As expected, Margrethe's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Roland. "Give me a price, I want to buy it!" "This one's out of the question. The mine still depends on it for production. You can order several new steam engines first, and settle the payment when the saltpeter arrives." "How much is it?" Roland led her to a safer distance from the mine entrance, where the machinery's noise finally subsided. "Five hundred gold dragons," he said. The price was steep – nearly equivalent to a Knight's annual income. The ore for steam engines cost around twenty gold dragons, plus smelting fees, labor, and installation expenses totaling fifty gold dragons. But business deals always involve some negotiation.
"Then it's settled! I'll buy ten steam engines!" "..." Roland froze. Ten units meant five thousand gold coins—roughly equivalent to Duke Laine's savings for five or six years. "No bargaining? That's how big business owners operate, right?" He cleared his throat. "Are you sure? This isn't a small sum. Besides, machines aren't meant to last forever—you'll need constant maintenance." "I know," Margery said nonchalantly. "Just like ships, they require annual repairs: removing keel parasites and algae, replacing sails and ropes. Whatever needs replacing, I'll cover the cost. If that's too much, you can sell me the maintenance and operation craftsmen too." Roland fell silent. His mind was filled with one thought: money was everything.