The first thought that crossed my mind was the annoyance toward the guy who had poured cold water on someone trying to enjoy themselves.
I wasn’t some pervert driven by sexual pleasure, so I quickly sensed the seriousness of the situation.
“Since the report hasn’t come in yet, I take it you just got notified?”
Antonio lowered his head as if admitting his mistake.
“Yes, I was notified just two hours ago. So, I’ve been running the store and business normally while trying to figure out how much sugar stock we have. I’m also checking if I can buy sugar from the spice guilds in other cities.”
The Florence guild acts as the head of the guilds in other cities.
To be more precise, it’s like the president of an association.
Now that the spice guild master has directly imposed a sugar sales ban on us, it’s only a matter of time before other guilds follow suit and tell us not to sell to them.
“Buying sugar from other cities is practically impossible. Just think about it; if Antonio were the spice guild master, would he make such a foolish mistake after drawing his sword?”
“...Still, I’ll check just in case.”
“I’ll contact Guillaume City and see if we can smuggle in as much sugar as we need.”
Guillaume City has become quite prosperous and is noticeable even in the Lyon Kingdom.
Of course, sugar sales would be thriving there.
If I were to buy it all, the wealthy merchants of the Lyon Kingdom would gladly sell it to me.
If sugar were a spice like pepper, cloves, or nutmeg that’s only produced far away in India, I would have truly been out of luck.
‘If that were the case, I might have had to bang my head against the spice guild master right away.’
“And how much sugar do we have left in stock?”
“Since we use sugar in large quantities, we always stockpile a considerable amount when we buy. We should be able to last about a month.”
Like other spices, sugar doesn’t spoil.
“A month isn’t too short, but it’s not exactly a lot of breathing room either.”
If I can rush to Guillaume City and bring in sugar through smuggling, I could extinguish the fire that’s dropped at my feet.
Even if I get hit with customs duties while buying from foreign spice guilds and merchants, I’d have to pay several times the normal price.
However, compared to the losses incurred from not being able to supply desserts if the sugar supply is cut off?
‘I can’t lose sight of the most important part due to a small profit.’
Even if I incur losses from sugar, I can make up for it somehow with seaweed or coffee.
But if I fail to cover the problems arising from sugar and lose trust?
That would leave a wound that can’t be healed by seaweed or coffee.
Antonio cautiously asked.
“Should we stop selling desserts to outsiders?”
“We can’t do that. That’s exactly what that damn spice guild master wants. I’ll find a way to smuggle in sugar, so keep normal operations running. No matter what, accept any unexpected large orders that come in.”
If I were the guild master of the spice guild, I would probably place an unexpected large order just to screw us over...
If we receive orders while we have no sugar stock, we’d truly be in trouble.
‘It would be like pouring chili powder and salt into a wound.’
And just then, I heard someone urgently knocking on the door.
“Mr. Antonio! The Pereira family is holding a large banquet tomorrow with several nobles, including Marquis Grimaldi! They’ve requested 100 strawberry shortcakes, 800 peach parfaits, and 80 kg of tiramisu! We’ll need to gather all our chefs to meet this order!”
So those Pereira bastards are teaming up with the spice guild master to torment us?
I had suspected for a while that they would bow their heads in gratitude only to turn around and be eager to smash me to pieces.
It’s not surprising or shocking, but it’s damn painful.
“Sir! This time, Baron Collonna’s family has placed a bulk order for grape cakes, parfaits, and various desserts using grape jam. The deadline is in three days!”
At this rate, we might run out of stock within three weeks?
If I can’t smuggle it in, it’ll be a huge problem.
My hands are trembling slightly.
Spice guild master, I’ll really crush you under my feet.
‘...I hope Albert isn’t behind this.’
But I quickly erased that thought from my mind.
It seems true that he’s a jealous and insecure piece of trash.
He wouldn’t go out of his way to antagonize me by crossing his wife’s family.
I pressed my forehead and let out a deep sigh.
“I can’t believe this, really.”
But there must be a way if I look for it.
After all, there’s a saying that roads naturally form when people travel.
Chloe and I had planned to enjoy a mature day together, but that plan has fallen apart.
However, I didn’t have time to dwell on such sentiments right now.
I immediately called for Sebastian.
“The butler just arrived.”
“Tell him to hurry in.”
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Sebastian hurriedly opened the door and entered.
“What on earth is so urgent that you called for me so hastily?”
“The spice guild bastards have placed a sugar sales ban on me. And they’re intentionally placing large orders to drain my sugar supply so that I can’t sell desserts.”
“Normally, someone who’s doing well becomes a target of jealousy, but isn’t this crossing the line? We should contact Baron Medici immediately and...”
Albert is unlikely to be directly or indirectly involved in this matter.
But he’d love it if I were in trouble, even though it’s not his mess.
He’s not the type to jump in to help.
He’d make all sorts of excuses and wait until I suffered a significant loss.
‘In the end, he might help me, but...’
“Sebastian, this is a problem I must solve on my own.”
I gestured for him to come closer.
As soon as Sebastian leaned in, I whispered.
“Baron Medici has an inferiority complex toward me. You know why the House of Farnese formed an alliance with the Medici family, right?”
His eyes widened in realization.
“I think I misspoke. This issue must be addressed at our Medici family level. We shouldn’t seek Baron Medici’s help, but how about seeking advice from the former baron?”
Seeking advice is tantamount to asking for help.
And while my father is retired, he still holds far more power within the family than someone like ‘Albert.’
‘He could probably do anything except for ousting the current baron, Albert.’
“I’ll keep that as a last resort. Where’s Kris?”
“She was with me, but as soon as she heard about the urgent matter, she ordered our trading ship to prepare for departure.”
I can’t say this to Sebastian, but aside from being a long-time acquaintance who has seen me since childhood, Kris seems better.
She anticipated that I would be heading out before I even revealed any problems.
A sound came from outside the door.
“It’s Christina Modina. May I come in?”
“Come in.”
As soon as Kris entered, she reported to me.
“I’ve ordered our ship, the Slough, and the Carac to prepare for departure. You should be able to set sail as soon as you arrive at the port.”
It takes about three days to reach the nearest port from Florence.
‘Preparing for the ship to set sail will also take about four days.’
Scraping off barnacles on the deck, loading food and water, and bringing back the crew we hired for our trading ship.
“Very well done. For now, I’ll grant Sebastian full authority, so no matter how much it costs, go to Guillaume City and gather as much sugar as you can. It would be even better if you could fill the Carac to the brim.”
“Yes, understood.”
Sebastian didn’t ask any more questions and walked out.
But perhaps out of caution against any spies that might be inside?
There was a hint of relaxation in his stride.
‘As expected, I have good subordinates.’
“If you’re not going to Guillaume City yourself, are you planning to visit Alsini?”
If I use the relationship of selling seaweed to him and buying coffee, he’d surely give me as much sugar as I want.
But then I’d have to become a servant of the Alsini family.
“No, instead, I’m thinking of taking this opportunity to secure land where we can cultivate sugar.”
“Where on earth could you possibly grow sugar...”
There’s exactly one place.
A place where quite a few people live, not too far off, resembling a ‘foreign country.’
No, to be more precise, it’s the territory of a fanatic knight order that’s crazy about the Deus religion.
“I need to meet Duke Visconti. Kris, you follow me.”
And before half a day had passed, I was granted a private audience with the duke.