The chief's gaze was fixed on the contents of the chest.
Tears were streaming down his face.
“Is this cursed weapon that has killed nearly a thousand of our warriors, a silver-shining barrel with a wooden body?”
Instead of answering his question verbally, I nodded my head.
The chief gestured for the warriors, including the warrior chief, to gather around.
They, too, began to examine the guns in the chest, shedding tears.
Some of the more sensitive men even cried out loudly.
When I asked Abdullah what they were saying, he replied, “There are so many people speaking at once that I can’t make it all out, but from what I’ve gathered, they are saying that this horrific weapon that shot and killed their comrades has now come into their possession. Some are grieving, while others are expressing joy that they will no longer be the ones suffering unilaterally.”
In survival situations like wilderness survival, bows and arrows are much more useful than matchlocks.
They make little noise and have a much shorter reload time.
The effective range of arrows is over three times that of matchlocks.
However, matchlocks changed the course of history because, to exaggerate slightly, anyone could use them, and each shot had tremendous power.
‘If it’s not made of steel armor, it will pierce right through.’
Moreover, steel armor costs more than the living expenses of twenty peasant households for a year.
For lower noble families, it’s considered their ‘first asset,’ handed down through generations.
After the excitement among the chief and the others settled, we could continue our discussion.
“I’ve shown an unseemly side.” “No, it is an honor that you are pleased with this.”
If they’re this happy, I can raise the price a bit more.
It was worth the effort to come this far.
“Let me ask one more thing. With this, can I pierce this armor as well?”
At the chief's signal, armor that seemed to have belonged to a soldier under the governor of Nador was brought out.
It was a typical Sultanate-style plate armor made of chains and iron plates.
“They use soldiers clad in such iron armor to kill us, plunder, and abduct us into slavery. We try to fight back somehow, but... our arrows cannot penetrate their armor.”
One common misconception we have is that crossbow bolts can pierce plate armor.
In reality, it’s not just difficult; it’s nearly impossible for crossbow bolts to even make a dent.
Let alone with a bow, which has a lower draw weight than a crossbow.
‘Unless the arrow somehow fits into a gap in the armor.’
That’s why armored knights could dominate the battlefield before the advent of gunpowder.
But what happens when you combine heavy ‘lead projectiles’ with the tremendous kinetic energy generated by an explosion?
Ordinary armor would be pierced without question.
“I will demonstrate its power directly.”
When selling goods, it’s customary to offer samples and demonstrations.
Such effort is necessary to convince customers to make a purchase; that’s why customer satisfaction services exist in any company.
Even though the Botswana tribe is a nomadic people and a bit primitive, they are still our guests, and it’s courteous to present them in such a way that they might faint from joy.
“Gather all the tribe members. I will show you personally.”
“Then I will pierce that armor with one shot.”
As soon as I finished speaking, all the warriors of the tribe focused their attention on me.
It felt burdensome, but I told myself I was on stage.
First, I loaded gunpowder into the barrel, followed by paper and the projectile, packing it down with a metal rod.
Then I placed more gunpowder into the firing pan, and I was ready to fire.
“It will be loud, so please cover your ears, chief.”
With those words, I fired at the armor.
The armor could not withstand the force of the lead projectile and was pierced.
The tribesmen stared at the armor in silence, unable to utter a word.
“Chief, what do you think now?”
Hearing my words, the chief vigorously nodded his head.
“I will buy 100, no, 500 matchlocks! What will you accept as payment? Ivory? Lion skins, or is gold better?”
Ivory or lion skins would also be good.
While I may not be able to receive the full price with just those, I could take a portion of it and sell it to the nobles for a considerable profit.
‘Especially lion skins would fetch a high price.’
It would likely serve as a status symbol; with proper quantity control, it could be sold for about the same price as ‘silver’ per weight.
“A single matchlock and twenty bullets will cost 25 grams of gold. If you pay in ivory, I can give you five matchlocks for one piece of ivory, or two for lion skins.”
Compared to selling to Governor Nador, that would be over three times the profit.
However, since I’m the one secretly transporting the goods here, I should charge a delivery fee, right?
Of course, getting here is a bit inconvenient, but the retail price will hardly increase by even 10%...
It’s common sense that when flour prices go up by 100 won, noodle prices go up by 500 won.
The chief frowned.
“Isn’t that a bit too expensive? In the nearby market...”
In traditional markets, buyers hold the advantage, but I’m the only one bringing goods here.
So, no matter how much I sell it for, it’s entirely up to me.
“Well, then, if you don’t want to buy, that’s fine. But I worry you won’t be able to buy from the market later.”
If matchlocks and gunpowder were sold in the market, these folks would do everything they could to obtain them.
So they would have had a few on hand and wouldn’t be so shocked.
‘That’s why maintaining a poker face is crucial in negotiations.’
If I reveal all my cards, they will have no trouble tormenting me based on what they see.
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These friends have no allies nearby with whom they can negotiate, so their negotiation skills are lacking.
I should teach them with just the right amount of service fee, out of goodwill.
“Pack up, everyone. We’re moving to another place.”
As I said that and we began to pack, the chief grabbed my hand.
“Alright, I’ll buy 500 matchlocks! I will purchase them at the price you requested.”
Even 500 matchlocks would amount to only about 10 kilograms of gold.
Of course, in our Albanian continent, gold holds great value...
‘But I didn’t come all the way here to settle for just this.’
“Hmm, however, we could offer a special discount.”
“How would you discount it?”
“If you let the other tribes know that we are selling guns, I’ll give them to you for about 18 grams of gold. Additionally, for every gun you buy from other tribes based on your introduction, I’ll give you 2 grams of gold.”
What I created is known in technical terms as a multi-level marketing structure.
It’s a term a bit unfamiliar in the Albanian continent, or rather, this world.
But its effectiveness is off the charts, maybe even 100,000 points.
Just by giving an ‘introduction’ to others, they could receive a 10% discount on the ‘matchlocks’ and bullets, which are valuable yet clear indicators of power?
Moreover, with an additional 10% incentive coming in, how could anyone refuse that?
“But if we hand over matchlocks to other tribes, they will grow stronger. What will happen if they gain strength and turn their weapons against us?”
Well, it means a continuous state of struggle. In lofty terms, it would be a state of conflict against all.
But aren’t you currently in no position to leisurely consider what might happen in the future?
“Though I feel awkward saying this as an outsider, can you truly defeat those wicked Nador people in your current state? They are trying desperately to kill Chief Motswana and capture your tribesmen as slaves. Hence, you’re losing your livestock and gradually being pushed out of your homeland.”
Of course, I share some responsibility for how things have turned out.
If I hadn’t sold weapons, the Botswana tribespeople wouldn’t be dying.
I just didn’t shoot the bullets myself.
“If you get pushed back another step, you’ll have no choice but to die. Of course, other tribes are likely in a similar situation.”
The region of Nador, or rather, Governor Nador, is essentially like the ‘king of an independent nation.’
That means he possesses power, wealth, and military strength that are appropriate for that title.
A single tribe’s strength cannot withstand that.
“No matter how strong a lion is, it cannot recklessly charge at a herd of buffalo. It will either be trampled or gored to death.”
In Africa, there’s a reason herbivores move in massive herds.
If they stray from the group, they die; if they band together, they survive.
“And Chief Botswana, if you manage to unite everyone and fend off those Nador folk, how will the other tribes view you?”
The principles for forming tribes, cities, and nations are fundamentally the same.
I don’t serve someone because I want to; I pay taxes and serve because I never know when something might happen if I don’t.
“As long as the Nador folk remain, they will seek to rely on ‘Chief Botswana.’” “Is it similar to being revered as a chief by everyone?”
As expected of a chief, he was very astute.
“I am just the chief of a very small tribe; in our terms, I’m a baron. The king of the Granada Kingdom is a great chieftain who leads many small chiefs.”
“Great chieftain, or king... I am a king...”
“I will assist you, chief.”
Instead of replying to my words, the chief vigorously nodded his head.
“Then how long will it take to consult with the other tribes?” “It will take about a week. Please wait during that time.”
With that, the chief led several warriors and departed.