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"...In short, that was the order you gave me, and I made it to your specifications."
Sharf received Alger in the sitting room of his residence. A freckled maid poured them both some pale tea.
The Artisan had not worked that day, and his shirtsleeves were not rolled up. He picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, and complained in a somewhat peculiar tone:
"Back when I was in Intis, I generally wouldn't touch cheap, tasteless tea like this."
"I never imagined its price would double out at sea, to the point where I can't afford it instead! I hear that once it's shipped to the Southern Continent and sold to native nobles looking to improve their standing, the price can double again. Shipping really is outrageously profitable! I'm tempted to go into maritime trade myself."
The pirate captain Alger smiled faintly.
"Risk and opportunity go hand in hand, and at sea, the risks are often greater."
"I could buy a ship and lease it to a shipping company. As long as it doesn't sink, I'm guaranteed a profit." Sharf still refused to give up.
A ship cost a great deal, but the Artisan, who had more private commissions than he could handle, thought little of it. His improved firearms were selling exceptionally well, and his share of the arms factory's profits had already reached an astonishing ten thousand pounds and was still increasing. Since he had come out to sea, Beyonders and pirates from all quarters had also come to sell Beyonder characteristics or purchase items. With his status as a member of the Pilgrimage Church and the protection of a Sequence 5 powerhouse who lived only a kilometer away, Sharf had no concerns at all about his safety. His wealth had accumulated at an astonishing