Caius wandered through the venue, bottle in hand, without immediately seeking out a chamber or merchant to negotiate a trade deal.

  It was important to understand that this was an event organized by the Chamber of Commerce, and its primary purpose was, of course, to promote trade among merchants.

  The merchants gathered here hailed from all over the continent—even beastkin, demi-humans, and other non-human races were present. Their specialty goods were highly sought after across the land.

  So the products on offer weren’t just aimed at attendees, but also at other merchants present. Deals made between merchants often yielded the most favorable outcomes.

  But there was something deeper at play here.

  Was the Chamber of Commerce hosting this event solely to facilitate trade between merchants?

  Of course not. If that were the only goal, it would amount to nothing more than recruiting a few more merchants into the Chamber—hardly a profitable move.

  As the largest merchant organization, the Chamber of Commerce naturally had grander ambitions.

  So, if Caius’s guess was right, the true target wasn’t the merchants themselves.

  Rather, the Chamber was using the merchants as bait—to attract the most important buyer of the event and also the venue provider: the Grilla City administration.

  And Grilla City’s administration had another identity—it was a representation of the Hepos Empire.

  Doing business with the Empire was the Chamber of Commerce’s true objective.

  It was just like Caius’s previous life, where companies and governments had a web of tangled interests, as intricate and dense as a spider’s web.

  That’s why this so-called “commercial gala” was nothing more than a surface-level pretense. Its true function was to act as a bridge between the wealthy and government officials.

  They didn’t need to promote their goods. All they had to do was hold a glass of wine, exchange pleasantries with government figures, and if the conversation went well, large future orders would come naturally.

  So what they needed wasn’t instant transactions—it was long-term relationships.

  After observing the scene for a while, Caius noted the variety of attendees: local merchants from Grilla City, exotically dressed foreign traders, even merchants from other races. And—oh?—he spotted people from the Wargs Gang.

  That wasn’t surprising. The Wargs Gang had their hands in the shipbuilding business, and Ocean City wasn’t far from Grilla. It made perfect sense that they’d show up.

  Caius noted the Wargs Gang’s booth location before turning his attention back to the crowd.

  Before long, his eyes locked onto a particular group: well-dressed individuals chatting in a tight-knit circle. Judging by their attire, they were clearly officials from Grilla City’s Administrative Hall. Their garments bore the insignia of Grilla.

  At the moment, they were engrossed in conversation with a few prominent merchants.

  Caius didn’t actually know whether these merchants were famous, but judging by their ornate clothing, there was no way they weren’t.

  Meanwhile, the less renowned merchants could only loiter nearby with awkward smiles and wine in hand, unable to insert themselves into the conversation—visibly embarrassed and uncomfortable.

  But the “big shots” didn’t spare them a glance.

  Caius grinned and walked toward the group—not to insert himself into their circle, of course. He wasn’t nearly qualified to speak face-to-face with these high-level figures yet.

  Even though he had 500,000 in his pocket, that was peanuts compared to the assets these people handled. If he tried to buy his way in, he’d be throwing cash into a bottomless pit without so much as a ripple.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  He needed a different approach.

  So, once he drew near the group, he stopped short and turned his attention to some of the surrounding merchants.

  These people had clearly tried—and failed—to cozy up to the officials. Now, they were chatting or attempting trades with other merchants who had similarly struck out.

  Caius picked a small group that was mid-discussion and casually slid in.

  At the moment, the group was discussing the shipbuilding industry—precisely why Caius had chosen them.

  “Don’t be fooled by Hiromus’s magitech ships running faster,” one merchant was saying. “That’s only because they cut corners—replacing the West Denosteel on the hull with the cheaper, lighter East Denosteel. The average buyer wouldn’t even notice. They’re using that as a damn selling point!”

  “No denying their magitech propulsion cores are solid, though. A four-Sequence grand rune kinetic engine—most ships can’t even dream of keeping up.”

  “If it’s about that, then I’ll speak up—we cracked the grand rune engine tech long ago. But our ships still don’t match their speed. They’re definitely hiding something.”

  “Damn Hiromus Chamber! They haven’t even finished swallowing up Valoris and they’re already eyeing the Hepos coastal markets. How are us local shipbuilders supposed to survive?!”

  “Enough, man. Focus on selling ships now. I went to Ocean City last time and got kicked out by the Wargs Gang. Didn’t even get to meet their boss. They won’t cooperate at all. Keep this up and we won’t even make payroll for the yard workers…”

  “Sigh…”

  Hearing this, Caius nearly laughed aloud.

  Then he strolled up with his wine and timed his interruption perfectly. “Damn Hiromus Chamber!”

  The group of merchants turned to look—and their eyes lit up.

  At this point, cursing Hiromus was basically a friendship badge.

  “Brother, you in shipbuilding too?” asked a merchant with a receding hairline.

  “Of course!” Caius replied angrily. “Our little shipyard was doing just fine—until Hiromus barged in and wrecked the market. Now we can’t even sell a single vessel!”

  The merchants nodded vigorously and quickly joined in the bashing.

  “That damn Hiromus Chamber—won’t let a single coin slip through. From small ships to large ones, they’ve locked down the whole line. They haven’t even digested what they’ve taken, and they won’t let anyone else take a bite. This isn’t business—it’s a death grip!”

  Caius raised his voice. “Exactly! Thank the stars I’ve got a way out, or we’d be dead meat by now!”

  At that, the merchants paused, glancing at each other before lifting their cups toward Caius.

  “Sigh, we’re all pitiful souls in the same boat. Come, brother, a toast to you—we share the same fate.”

  “Yeah! Drink, drink!”

  Caius raised his cup too, looking every bit the drunken reveler.

  Four or five merchants took turns pouring him drinks. Before long, his cheeks flushed red, and he draped an arm around one man’s shoulders, looking like a lifelong comrade.

  “If the Hiromus Chamber of Commerce wants me dead, then I— hic—”

  “I won’t let them have it easy either!”

  Caius waved the hand holding the bottle as he spoke, swaying slightly.

  A few merchants exchanged glances, nodding subtly to one another—they figured this was the moment to probe further. One of them, a sharp-nosed fellow, deliberately said, “Brother, and just what could you do against the Hiromus Chamber of Commerce? Talk is cheap if there’s no action behind it.”

  Caius immediately furrowed his brows, clearly annoyed. “Who... who says I’m all talk and no action?”

  “I’ve already made my move!”

  “I’ve got some ties with the Wargs Gang in Ocean City. Their scale isn’t that much smaller than the Hiromus Chamber.”

  Hiccup.

  “And then?” The group of merchants leaned in, eyes eager.

  “Heh, they like market competition, right? So I’m gonna fatten one side up... and let them fight it out.”

  “Rog, that woman, she’s not too fond of the Hiromus Chamber either. She’s been thinking about clashing with them.”

  “So I took the opportunity and sold off the shipyard—every last ship, the whole package—to the Wargs Gang!”

  “You sold it all?!” The merchants were stunned. “With current ship prices, wouldn’t you be losing a fortune?”

  “Heh, not selling now is what would cost me everything,” Caius said, reeking of alcohol and speaking sharply. “Once those two start fighting, what future is there for a small shipyard like mine?”

  “Besides, the Wargs Gang is itching for a war. What they need most is ships.”

  “Sure, I sold at a price a bit below market... but at least I got them sold. Hic”

  “With that cash in hand, I’m pivoting directly into the magitech ship repair business. I’ve already got the connections. Most of the master craftsmen at the yard won’t leave either. When the fighting really breaks out—heh—then it’s not just gonna be a trade war anymore. There’ll be real blades clashing on the sea.”

  “And by then? I can play both sides—the Wargs Gang and the Hiromus Chamber. Damaged ships? We’ll repair or buy them up at low prices. There’s no way to lose!”

  In an instant, the merchants’ eyes lit up.

  Damn... it actually made a lot of sense!

  It was like when two empires go to war—the merchants on the sidelines always made a killing off “patriotic profiteering,” lining their pockets to the brim.

  Now these two forces were going at each other? It was the same idea, just on a smaller scale—and perfect for small merchants like them to slip in and profit!

  No matter who lost, the victor wouldn’t be able to monopolize the aftermath immediately. Even if they were just scavenging scraps, they could still stuff themselves full!

  At that moment, all of the merchants looked at Caius like he was a fat golden fish ready for harvest.

  But Caius, head lowered, lips curled up in a sly, cunning grin.

  The underhanded schemes he learned from his old company life in his past life—damn, they really worked like a charm!