The Mafia Empire

"Your price is too high!" Julian's remark nearly caused Mr. Richard's eyes to pop out. In the over a year he had spt represting Moonshine in Ternell, it was the first time someone had told him that his goods were overpriced! He knew that bars had already decided to purchase the high quality almond wine priced at 85 cts a bottle, and no one had ever said his products were expsive!

Looking at the remarkably young Julian, Richard wondered if this young man was guinely interested in doing business or if he had simply come to toy with him. Just as he was preparing to d this somewhat unpleasant negotiation, a single statemt from Julian made him sit back down in his chair.

Julian simply extded a finger and said earnestly, "In six months, t thousand bottles!"

Every successful businessman can quickly estimate their pottial revue and profit margins using mtal arithmetic. T thousand bottles meant 8,500, with roughly 30% profit. This deal could net Julian at least ,500!

Is ,500 a lot?

It could be considered both a lot and not much at all.

For wealthy capitalists, ,500 was merely the price of a luxury car, the amount they might spd on a mistress for a year, or just the chips they would throw to cover their tourage after a gambling spree.

To these capitalists, ,500 was nothing.

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But for the average person, it was money that would take twty years of frugality—no food, no drink, no clothes—to save up. However, by the time they managed to save ,500, its value would have changed significantly.

For Richard, ,500 represted a business opportunity that could provide him with comfort for a while!

He was convinced that if this deal could be maintained, it would become the most successful transaction of his life!

Julian had just painted a grand vision for him. If Ternell could operate at such a scale, how much more could they achieve across the tire Star Empire?

It was unimaginable!

Before Richard could ev ask Julian wh he would need the t thousand bottles of Moonshine almond wine, and while he was considering how to slightly adjust the price, Julian stepped in first, saying, "I must be honest with you, integrity is the cornerstone of any successful businessman.

Prior to our meeting, I gaged with four other wine suppliers—some from abroad and others from the Star Empire. Based on their quotations, your Moonshine lacks any competitive advantages."

Richard maintained a neutral smile, but inside he was nervous. This deal was crucial for him. The inexplicable inability of Moonshine to petrate the market in the Star Empire had already raged the big bosses of the Free Federation. If he could make this deal work, he would not only pocket the profits but might also secure a better price for the goods.

Additionally, if his established channels could be integrated into the company, he could transform from an agt into a managemt position.

The cost of his almond wine was strictly a 60 cts. With the Free Federation's commercial departmt and various guilds working behind the sces, they planned to turn the Star Empire into a dumping g for Free Federation products, flooding the market with high quality, affordable goods to dismantle the Empire's light and craft industries and cause an economic collapse.

Thus, ev selling to this young man named Julian at a cost of 60 cts would still yield Richard a profit.

Because the Free Federation offered subsidies, the more he sold, the more support he received.

On one hand, there were personal gains; on the other, there was a promising future. Richard quickly settled on a psychological price point of 65 cts. He believed that under equal quality conditions, no one could offer a better price than his.

Of course, while he had a psychological price, if he could negotiate a higher price, that would be ev better. So, with a smile, he asked, "I'm curious—what prices have others offered you that made you feel my goods were 'expsive'?"

Julian spread his hands, revealing a slightly regretful expression, as if he had already decided to forgo any pottial trade. He sighed, "There are offers at 40 and 50 cts, with a maximum of 6 cts."

Upon hearing this, Richard felt a sharp pang of irritation. He forced a smile and said, "If I price it at that range, I won't make a pny. Besides, Mr. Julian, you should understand that Moonshine almond wine is absolutely superior to what those other merchants provide."

"But, sir, people are unlikely to distinguish betwe a slightly higher or lower alcohol contt based solely on taste. As you said, quality is certainly important, but the audice is more crucial. Wom don't prefer wines with a hint of bitterness; it's primarily adult males who do."

Julian stood up, straighted his clothes, and extded his hand. "While I truly hope to collaborate with you to distribute this higher quality wine, you know, whether it's about price or audice, unless you can meet my requiremts in any capacity, I cannot commit to signing an agreemt with you."

Richard reluctantly stood up, shaking Julian's hand. He desperately wanted to say he could lower the price, but he knew now was not the right momt. Having just declared a price deemed too high, he wouldn't want to appear as if he were backpedaling. It would be better to wait two or three days before contacting Julian again, making the proposal seem more sincere.

After watching Julian leave, Richard began arranging for his m to investigate Julian's company and his financial capacity while simultaneously preparing to source goods from within the Free Federation. Their warehouse had only over ,000 bottles left, most of which had be there since the previous year and hadn't sold out yet!

Once he was a little further away from Richard, Graf scratched his head, wearing an expression that suggested he wanted to ask something but didn't dare.