Time is money

It took five days to travel from Morris Town to Norwington Estate. With iron ore loaded aboard for the return journey, it would take at least six days, assuming there was no bad weather.

Today was the fourth day since Leonard had left Morris Town. Over those four days, Rowan had gained a general understanding of the town.

Although Morris Town was a port town, there were no fishing grounds along its coast. The seawater around the town was frighteningly salty, and when the tide receded, the beach was covered in a white expanse of crystals.

As the saying went, those who lived by the mountains lived off the mountains, and those who lived by the sea lived off the sea. Now that nothing from the sea was edible, they could only rely on the mountains.

Fortunately, Morris Town bordered the Whitewater River to the north. Meltwater from the northern snowy mountains ensured that this coastal town had plenty of fresh water.

Morris Town was surrounded by mountains on three sides, leaving little flat, open land. As a result, the amount of farmland per person was pitifully small. A household harvested only about three hundred kilograms of grain a year. If bad weather struck, even keeping the family fed and clothed became a problem.

The coal mine in the northern mountains was enormous. Although its output was low, judging by the thickness of the coal seams, Morris Town's reserves could be mined for at least several hundred years.

Coal, the fundamental fuel that had driven the First Industrial Revolution, was also Morris Town's only advantage at present. Rowan decided to start with the coal mine.

On weekends, goblins from Kezan arrived at the harbor to load ore. Apart from the shipyard, this was Morris Town's only source of income.

The price was fifty silver coins per ton. The goblins from Kezan took ten tons of coal from Morris Town each trip, for a total of five gold coins.

The mine employed forty workers. They were responsible not only for mining the coal, but also for hauling it from the mine to the harbor in handcarts.

Mining ten tons of coal took less than two days, but transporting all of it to the harbor took five full days. The miners spent most of their time hauling coal rather than digging it out.

Kande handled all negotiations with the goblins over the ore trade, but today, Rowan decided to meet these goblins from Kezan himself.

At around ten o'clock, several small cargo ships appeared on the calm sea to the south.

Once the ships docked, two green-skinned goblins wearing tall white hats came ashore. The goblin in the lead took off his hat, revealing a smooth, bald head.

"It's been a while, my old friend. The blackstone we bought last week was generally poor quality, so we've decided to lower our purchase price this week. We've only brought four gold coins." The bald goblin forced a regretful expression onto his wizened face, shaking his head as he spoke helplessly.

Kande was about to explain, but Rowan interrupted the old steward. "Then please leave. I've taken over Morris Town's blackstone mine, and we're no longer selling the ore."

"Master Kande? Who is this young friend?"

"This is Young Master Rowan, Lord Aldrius's eldest son," Kande introduced him.

The bald goblin's expression darkened, then instantly turned fawning. "Time is money, my friend. Young Master Rowan, although the Norwington family is wealthy, even the greatest fortune must be built up bit by bit. Our Venture Company has always enjoyed a very pleasant partnership with Morris Town. I believe that under your leadership, our cooperation will become even more pleasant, so..."

Listening to the bald goblin prattle on, Byron chuckled. "You just don't want to have come all this way for nothing. Cut the crap. Haven't you understood what our young master means? Pay more, got it?"

"Uh, but that's the market price. I'm very sorry, Young Master Rowan, but four gold coins is our limit," the bald goblin said, frowning and shaking his head.

The Venture Company? Rowan's heart sank. I'll make you cough up every last bit you've swindled out of Morris Town.

As an infamous goblin company in World of Warcraft, the Venture Company had left traces of its destructive activities all across Azeroth. Now you've actually brought your scams to Morris Town. Don't blame me for showing no mercy.

"Ship this ore to Southshore or Menethil Harbor, and its price will increase dozens of times over. Do you think I don't know how much demand the dwarves and gnomes of the Eastern Kingdoms have for this blackstone?" Rowan did not actually know how much blackstone sold for in Ironforge, but the bald goblin's nervous expression told him he had guessed correctly.

Although he had guessed correctly, he was furious.

Goods bought for five gold coins could fetch over a hundred in Ironforge, while Morris Town, which produced the coal, received only five. This trade had actually continued for decades. Just thinking about it made his heart bleed.

Damn it, if the warships at the shipyard could put to sea, I'd start trading coal myself right now.

These unscrupulous goblins were even more wicked than capitalists.

"H-how did you know?" Behind the bald goblin stood a goblin with a mohawk, who stared blankly at Rowan.

The bald goblin kicked the mohawked goblin hard and roared, "Dunk, get back on the ship!"

The bald goblin was so angry he nearly lost his senses. Dunk's words had confirmed Rowan's claim beyond a doubt, leaving him with no way to save face.

He had originally felt confident enough to bargain down the price with this human brat who had barely grown any hair. Now, however, he had lost his advantage as the buyer.

"Puzik, is what he said true?" The old steward Kande's chest heaved. He clenched his fists, itching to land a couple of punches on this green-skinned bloodsucker.

Puzik waved his hands with a hollow smile and said calmly, "Of course not. Our Venture Company's trade isn't that simple. We aren't the only trading company involved along the entire sea route, and we're only responsible for shipping. We barely make any money."

"Ninety gold coins. That's my final price. Otherwise, please leave." Rowan considered bargaining with these goblin bloodsuckers a waste of time. I'm not short of money right now anyway. Take it or leave it.

The sea voyage from the Eastern Kingdoms to Kul Tiras took at least two months. If you don't want to return empty-handed, prepare to bleed.

Rowan had Puzik's trade route figured out, and that gave him nothing to fear.

Puzik's face flushed red. He felt the money pouch at his waist and deliberated for a long time.

Shipping alone cost six gold coins from Menethil Harbor to Kezan, or twelve for the round trip. If he failed to bring back any blackstone on this voyage, he would be out twelve gold coins.

But if he spent ninety gold coins on coal and shipped it to Menethil Harbor, he could still sell it for over a hundred. Although this voyage would earn him nothing, at least he would not lose money. Besides, Puzik had ten fleets in Kezan running to Menethil Harbor, ensuring that a fleet arrived in Kezan every week to transport ore.

After agonizing over it, Puzik decided he could not sacrifice the greater benefit for a small saving. He took ninety gold coins from his pouch and handed them to the old steward.

As the ninety gold coins left his pouch, Puzik nearly fainted. This was the first losing deal he had made since joining the Venture Company.

Once the coal was loaded, Puzik returned to his cargo ship. The fleet left the harbor.

"Fuck you, Dunk! I'll beat you to death, you idiot! Fuck you, fuck you! How can you be so stupid?"

"Stop hitting me! Stop hitting me, Captain Puzik! Don't you think we've learned something incredible this time?"

Puzik stopped swinging his whip and asked in confusion, "What have we learned?"

"The Norwington family's young master! He's in Morris Town right now. If we tell the pirates in Freehold..."