"So you want to form a merchant caravan and trade goods between different islands? Is that what you mean?"
After hearing him out, Franky couldn't help asking, but Reiner shook his head.
"I want to establish a trading company. I'm not recruiting merchant caravans, but nations across the Grand Line. I want them to join and conduct business under my alliance system."
"Huh?"
Franky blinked, somewhat bewildered. Though he had started out as a thug, he had built his own ship-dismantling company, so he could barely be considered someone who had done business before.
He understood how outrageous the profits would be if they could establish a merchant caravan unrestricted by the various powers.
But he couldn't quite understand what Reiner meant. A trading company recruiting nations?
"I don't plan to trade goods myself. Buying low and selling high may seem highly profitable, but once an entire trade route becomes active, the price gap will gradually shrink."
"Unless I violently monopolize the trade channels, that kind of business won't last long. And I don't intend to do that."
Reiner continued explaining his idea.
With his current reputation and strength, if he wanted to establish a trading company, plenty of people would be willing to join him. Monopolizing the trade channel of a single route would not be difficult either, but that was not the path he intended to take.
He wanted to make money openly and proudly!
He wanted others to willingly, eagerly rush to give him money—and then praise his name everywhere.
The business he spoke of was not business with merchants, but business with nations.
"As for the name, let's call it the Black Snake Trading Company. I'll provide protection to every nation that joins it, so they won't have to worry about pirate raids or threats from