Konbini Ossan Volume 5 Chapter 10 — Merchant Guild’s Transport Practices
The first place we visited was the Merchant Guild office in Waynesvale City.
Normally, people came here to join the guild or to apply for various business permits.
This time, however, we were here to learn how local merchants typically outsourced their transport operations to adventurers.
Once inside, we spotted a general reception desk near the corner and approached it.
“Excuse me, do you have a moment?”
“Yes, how can I help you?”
“Well, I’m a merchant based in the royal capital, and I’m interested in purchasing Waynesvale’s agricultural products.
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I was thinking of hiring adventurers to escort the goods back to the capital. I wanted to ask how transport operations are usually handled in this city, so I came to inquire about that.”
“Understood. I’ll call someone more familiar with the details. Please wait a moment.”
The receptionist disappeared into the back for a bit. Soon after, a middle-aged man appeared.
“I hear you wish to learn about our transport procedures. Do you have some time now?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Then please, this way. I’ll explain in a separate room.”
We followed him to another room, sat down, and he began his explanation.
“First, the general flow of transport operations. In Waynesvale, everything is centrally managed by the guild.
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Whether it’s for exporting goods to another city or importing from elsewhere, merchants simply complete a short procedure with us.
…
After that, we assess current market conditions, organize a trade caravan, and submit a formal escort request to the Adventurers’ Guild.”
“So the Merchants' Guild handles everything?”
“Yes. Otherwise, too many separate escort requests would flood the Adventurers’ Guild, and certain companies might monopolize adventurers for themselves.
…
To ensure fairness, the guild manages both caravan organization and escort requests.”
So the guild also determined the payment structure, then.
“And how are adventurers paid? What’s the amount like, and how is it handled?”
“We determine the payment amount after discussions with the Adventurers’ Guild.
…
Once the adventurers’ compensation is decided, we collect fees from each merchant in the caravan based on the cargo type. That pooled amount is then used as the reward.”
Just as the man finished explaining, Arisa suddenly spoke up.
“What about the cut? How much do the guilds — yours and the Adventurers’ — skim off the top?”
The man’s expression stiffened slightly.
“Well, calling it a ‘cut’ makes it sound rather dishonest. In truth, the Merchant Guild handles caravan coordination, cargo inspection, and other administrative tasks. We simply collect a small processing fee for that work.”
“Oh, I see. So you do take a processing fee.”
I understood her intention immediately. She wasn’t accusing him — she was confirming facts.
Now that he’d admitted the guild collected fees, it was clear that some money was being siphoned off along the way.
And most likely, the Adventurers’ Guild did the same. The fact that they had a say in determining payment rates all but confirmed it.
Normally, the Adventurers’ Guild already deducted a percentage as a mediation fee when paying adventurers.
If they were also charging administrative fees on top of that, they were effectively double-dipping.
A highly inefficient system, to say the least.
“Was that all you needed to ask?”
“Yes, that covers everything. Thank you very much.”
Having gotten all the information we needed, we stood, bowed, and left the room.
Once outside, walking side by side with Arisa, I spoke.
“As I thought, transport management is going to be the key issue.”
“Yeah. That ultimate transport company thing you mentioned before — this might really be your shot.”
“Indeed. Even just confirming this much is a big step forward.”
Until now, the magic tool shop and the factory had relied on the orphanage-made robes, resources gathered through Adventurers’ Guild requests, and locally obtained materials from within the capital.
We’d never had a reason to look into the logistics network itself.
But this trip — starting with the discovery of that tofu in Waynesvale — had revealed an overlooked gap in the system.
“Well then, there’s one more place I’d like to check out.”
“Let me guess — the tofu place?”
“Exactly.”
It seemed Arisa had already figured it out.
“Let’s go. To the tofu maker.”
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E/N:
Freaking corrupt middle-men! Cancer of economies! Stay tuned! (2/3 chapters)
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