Black Label Union #3(1)
Since Lyon Guild Master declared an all-out war against the Black Label Union and opened his own shop in the Black Label area, a month has already passed.
In the meantime, Lyon's guild members who followed him to the Black Label area began to open their own Banco shops in the Holant region, gradually threatening the existing Banco businesses.
The Banco merchants of Ranstadt, who once relied on the union representative, a former infamous pirate, couldn't just stand by and watch Lyon's influence spread like cancer. Eventually, they banded together and sought the union representative.
"No, Warren. What is this? Weren't you supposed to chase them out right away?"
"Yeah, didn't you promise that in front of us?"
"Those cancerous bastards are taking all our customers!"
"Don't we need to come up with extraordinary countermeasures?"
"Then at least let us adjust the interest rates as we please! If this continues, all our existing customers will be taken away! We have to survive too!"
Watching the union-affiliated Banco merchants swarm in, Warren Dragoon, the union representative, felt a headache coming on.
'No, why is Ismail still letting those guys go? What are they waiting for?'
Even as the union-affiliated Banco merchants cried for help, the only thing the union representative cared about was Ismail's hidden intentions.
"Now, now, calm down."
The union representative tried to calm the union-affiliated Banco merchants, but they didn't seem to want to back down easily.
"Come up with countermeasures right away! Aren't you our representative?"
"No, if there's no way to chase them away, then use your strength, Warren!"
"Where did your past of being a pirate go?!"
At that, the fed-up union representative stood up and drew the massive pirate sword from his waist.
"Look at you all!"
The union-affiliated Banco merchants, who seemed ready to pounce on the union representative, quickly backed off.
"Don't treat me like a fool! You all should know your limits. I'm stressed enough because of those guys."
After showing his temper once, the union representative sat back down with a rough snort. One of the Banco merchants stepped forward to speak.
"If there's no immediate solution, then at least let us adjust the interest rates ourselves."
The union representative shot him a sharp look, as if his request was preposterous.
'What nonsense is he talking about? Why touch the interest rates? That's our source of income.'
The look seemed to say, 'Dare to say it again.'
How could he not understand the union representative's displeasure?
However, it was a matter of life and death for him.
"Since we can't adjust the interest rates according to the market situation due to being tied to the union, we'll lose all our existing customers to Lyon's forces in Holant."
The union representative scoffed and asked without listening to his request.
"If you're going to adjust the interest rates on your own, why are you in the union? Just go and do business by yourself."
"We can't do business without being in the union in the first place! What are you talking about?!"
"So, is this a complaint now?"
He explained his situation.
"No, Warren. It's not a complaint, but we need to find a way to survive. If this continues, we'll really starve to death!"
A few Banco merchants agreed and began to speak up.
"He's right! There's nothing wrong with what he's saying! Please do something about the interest rates right away. Nine out of ten customers leaving are all because of the interest rates!"
"And it's not just that! They don't even charge a gold coin storage fee. Who would continue to entrust their gold coins to us when they don't charge a storage fee and even give deposit interest?"
He continued.
"It's a losing game from the start. If we want to fight against them, we have to follow their methods at the very least, right?"
The union representative scoffed and looked at them.
"Heh, you guys are really crazy. What, lower the interest rates? And not charge gold coin storage fees? Haha... What madness."
The union representative stood up and pointed at everyone with a finger.
"With such foolish thoughts, you're still talking about dying there! Following their methods means we'll be throwing away our own predetermined profits. Why are your thoughts so short-sighted?"
The union representative continued.
"As you know, lowering the interest rates will obviously be a loss for us. And giving up on the gold coin storage fee business we've been doing for a long time means we're throwing away that profit too. How can we do such foolish things?"
One of the Banco merchants stepped forward to refute.
"So, what's the result now? They're taking away all our existing customers. If we leave things like this, all Banco merchants doing business in Ranstadt will only see losses!"
"That's right! We're only seeing losses right now!"
"Come up with countermeasures! Aren't you our representative?"
The union representative spoke to calm the shouting merchants.
"Heh, just wait and see."
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