#491 - The Lion Opens His Mouth (asking for monthly ticket recommendation)

“You flatter me.” Anduin modestly raised his coffee cup. “With your strength, doing these things would be easy. Perhaps we'll have opportunities to collaborate in the future, and I'll have to rely on you a lot then.”

“Oh? Collaborate? What do you mean?” Clement knew the main act was about to begin, but he still put on a curious expression.

“Yes, I came to Germany this time for collaboration.” Anduin said, deliberately looking puzzled. “And I think the progress of the collaboration even needs to be accelerated, because I've discovered some puzzling things here.”

“Really? If there's anything you need me to do, please don't hesitate to ask. Although I'm just a small figure, I know West Germany quite well.” Clement smiled and personally refilled Anduin's coffee.

“West Germany… that's what confuses me so much.” Anduin emphasized the word. “I've found that in Germany, East and West Germany are almost completely divided into two worlds, even this Duden building is like that.”

“This is indeed a special situation for us. We West Germans don't have a very harmonious relationship with East Germany. There are some historical reasons for this. It seems you're also very interested in politics?” Clement nodded slightly.

“I don't really care about politics, but it has brought me a lot of trouble in business.” Anduin put down his cup, looking serious. “You should have seen that I reached cooperation agreements with two German merchants in Egypt.”

“But who would have thought that these two merchants would belong to different… uh, how should I put it, regions?” Anduin paused. “One is in East Germany, responsible for selling our civilian products, and the other is in West Germany, responsible for selling alchemical equipment.”

“But this means that the two series of products from our Silver Flash Trading Company cannot fully circulate in both regions. East Germans can't buy our alchemical amulets, and West Germans can't see those magic lamps. This is equivalent to me losing half of the local market.”

Anduin shook his head with a distressed expression, as if a large pile of Galleons was waving goodbye to him.

“I have indeed heard of the situation you mentioned.” Clement nodded slightly, then joked, “It is said that this has made the local black market a lot of money. They simply circulate the products between the two sides and make a lot of money from it. It's clearly in the same country, but it's like smuggling.”

“Isn't that right? Isn't this equivalent to me losing a lot of business?” Anduin shook his head helplessly, then looked up at Clement. “As an elite in Germany, what do you think of this division between East and West Germany? When will the situation here ease?”

“What kind of elite am I?” Clement first shook his head modestly, then said sincerely, “Regarding the relationship between East and West Germany, I'm not pessimistic, but I think the possibility of division is much greater than reunification if things continue like this.”

“Oh? How much greater do you think it is? Is the probability of reunification high?” Anduin knew that the other party was the leader of the division organization, but he was still curious, not wanting to reveal too much of his background.

“If you ask me…” Clement pretended to think for a moment, “I think there is a 90% probability that Germany will continue the process of division, and in a few years, this will no longer be a country. Perhaps even the Ministry of Magic will be divided in two.”

“It seems you don't think Germany can be unified either. Everyone else I've visited these days has the same view.” Anduin frowned slightly, looking troubled. “If that's the case, then the Silver Flash Trading Company's strategy in Germany will have to change.”

“You don't know…” Anduin said with some melancholy, “I came to Germany this time mainly to find a product distributor for long-term cooperation. My cooperation with the original two merchants can only last for one year.”

“But with the current situation in Germany, perhaps one distributor can't satisfy the market. There must be a merchant on both sides of East and West Germany that can cooperate.”

“And what's even more troublesome now is that goods cannot circulate between East and West Germany. Perhaps before I negotiate a long-term distributor, I have to negotiate two temporary agents on both sides first, so that East Germany can sell alchemical equipment, and West Germany can sell civilian props.”

“This is much more troublesome than I originally imagined.” Anduin said with a troubled expression.

As expected, this kid is here to negotiate a distributor. Clement silently gave himself a thumbs up, then replied with a smile, “Oh, Anduin, it's not that troublesome. You just need to turn these two collaborations into one.”

“Oh? What do you mean?” Anduin played along.

“You just need to choose a long-term distributor in both East and West Germany, and then let them sell the products that are lacking locally first. After the other short-term contracts expire, you can replenish their product categories.”

Clement didn't think that someone like Anduin wouldn't have thought of this. Wasn't this kid just trying to get him to take the initiative to propose cooperation and take the initiative?

He thought he had seen through Anduin's little plan, but he didn't mind it, as long as he could get the distributor's spot.

“Your idea can indeed save me a lot of time.” Anduin nodded reservedly, then went straight to the point. “I wonder if Mr. Clement is interested in the Silver Flash Trading Company's business?”

“Of course.” Clement didn't hide it. “If you are willing to cooperate with my trading company, I believe we can definitely join forces and I will definitely do my best to help you develop the local market.”

“A strong alliance, huh?” Anduin nodded upon hearing this. “But there are also many powerful merchants in Germany. I don't necessarily have to choose you. Perhaps I should gather the owners of several more merchants and hold a bidding process to see everyone's sincerity.”

“Mr. Wilson.” Clement immediately put on a serious expression. “Forgive me for speaking frankly, but there are not many merchants in West Germany who can take on your business. To put it bluntly, my merchant has the highest market share in the local market in the alchemy industry. Choosing to cooperate with us will definitely not disappoint you.”

“Oh, really?” Anduin just nodded upon hearing this, then showed a thoughtful expression, as if he was considering something.

Clement couldn't help but curse in his heart when he saw this. This kid won't do anything until he sees the rabbit. Isn't your intention just to get me to show you my cards?

“Mr. Wilson, perhaps you can listen to my offer. If you think it's appropriate, there's no need to discuss it with other trading companies and waste your time.”

Clement knew that it was about to be time for bargaining, but he really needed something from him, so he might have to suffer a bit. He hoped that this little fox's appetite wouldn't be too big.

“Okay.” Anduin responded calmly after hearing Clement say this. “In that case, let me see Mr. Clement's sincerity.”

“Mr. Wilson, our Clement Magical Supplies Store is willing to pay you a one-time agency fee of 1,000 Galleons, an order worth 3,000 Galleons, and directly pay a 20% deposit. At the same time, we guarantee to import at least 2,000 Galleons of goods from the Silver Flash Trading Company every year for the next 3 years.”

Clement looked at Anduin with a sincere expression. To be honest, the conditions he offered were not bad. This was even including their trading company's orders for the next three years.

After all, who knows if the Silver Flash Trading Company's products will still have a market in two years, or whether they will be affected by other similar products on the market.

When the pirated versions come out, if they sell cheaper than Anduin's products, his orders may lose money.

Anduin couldn't help but nod secretly in his heart after hearing Clement's conditions. This old guy is quite generous, but since I'm here to trick you this time, how can I not make you bleed?

“Your offer is indeed quite sincere.” Anduin nodded with a smile, but immediately changed the subject. “But the German market is so big, even if it is divided in two, an order of a mere 3,000 Galleons will easily be digested, not to mention the 2,000 Galleons every year after that, and the one-time payment of the agency fee.”

Clement frowned upon hearing this, cursing Anduin's greed in his heart, but still asked with a smile, “Then what are your thoughts?”

“Hehe.” Anduin chuckled lightly. “Mr. Clement, you need to know one thing, our Silver Flash Trading Company's products have been tested by the Egyptian market. Even the alchemists in Egypt have praised them, and even they cannot replicate my work in the short term.”

After a slight introduction, Anduin began to ask for a high price. “First of all, the 3-year guarantee order is too short, and the price is not reasonable. I propose that there should be at least a long-term contract of five years!”

“Among them, the first year's order must be at least 5,000 Galleons, and at least 5,000 Galleons must be guaranteed every year thereafter, for five consecutive years, and the one-time payment of the agency fee is not very reasonable. I won't change your first payment, it's still 1,000 Galleons, but you still need to pay us an agency fee of 500 Galleons every year thereafter. This is the most basic sincerity!”

Clement's expression could no longer be as calm and composed as before when he heard this. His eyes widened like copper bells. He didn't expect Anduin to be so ruthless. What's the difference between this and robbery?

However, before he could raise any objections, Anduin continued, “At the same time, I am a little worried about whether your business as a distributor is really as good as it seems. Cooperating with us requires you to prepare 5,000 Galleons in cash as a reserve, which will be deposited in the Silver Flash Trading Company as a guarantee that you will be able to pay the final payment in case you can't deliver it!”

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