Chapter 46

Mali immediately distributed ten Silver Shields to each caravan member as compensation for the delay, and afterward provided them with formal employment contracts, hiring them as caravan guards.

The salary was seventeen Silver Shields per person per month, including food and lodging, which was about 30% to 40% higher than the market price. In addition, he promised that those with excellent performance would have extra bonuses.

Weier and Melissa soon signed their names on the contract, and Huodun followed closely and pressed his handprint. Only Xia'er remained indifferent.

The half-elf girl trusted Mali and didn't feel the need to use words to constrain the relationship between each other.

Her original words were "If you don't need me one day, just tell me and let me leave. I can not take the salary." But after saying that, she looked at Mali with pitiful eyes and asked back, "But you won't do this, right?"

What else could Mali say? He could only agree to let her work illegally in the caravan, but the salary still had to be paid as usual.

The problem of guards was solved, but the remaining Lievre and his disciple were a bit tricky.

The old alchemist had made an appointment with him early on that he would also follow the caravan.

But Mali hadn't thought about what position to arrange for him and how much salary to pay.

With Lievre's status and position, even if he was kicked out of the Guangyao Staff, if anyone or organization really wanted to hire him, the reward offered would definitely be quite considerable.

However, Mali's caravan had just been established and couldn't afford such a high salary for the time being.

And the old alchemist couldn't exert his full effect in the caravan either. Don't misunderstand, this doesn't mean Lievre is not important to the caravan. On the contrary, Mali still needs his vision and contacts quite a bit.

Not to mention anything else, just how to deal with the noble families of this world and all parties is a headache for him.

Although Weier and Melissa also come from noble families, both are too young, and looking at it, they have also lost the support of their families. In the eyes of real nobles, they are probably no different from commoners.

Besides that, Mali's continued learning of alchemy also has to fall on Lievre.

The old man had just put on new boots and was lowering his head to study how to tie the shoelaces.

He learned very quickly. In a while, he learned to tie a bow, stood up, tried to walk two steps, and immediately praised it endlessly.

"This is the most comfortable pair of boots I have ever worn in my life. The shoemakers in the capital should feel ashamed in front of this pair of boots!"

"Don't leave me too far, or come back within a day," Mali warned. "If you don't succeed, it doesn't matter. I have other boots here."

Lievre nodded and reached out to touch the rubber on the sole.

"Should we talk about my work and salary next?"

Mali nodded and simply asked, "Do you have any ideas?"

"I can serve as a consultant for the caravan," the old alchemist was also very straightforward, and he obviously knew what Mali wanted, or what he needed most.

"Although I haven't been a merchant, I have dealt with quite a few of them. After all, alchemists have a great demand for alchemical materials. If you have any questions, you can come to me. I will try my best to answer them for you, and I will also help you when you encounter difficulties.

"However, I am not good at fighting, and following your caravan is mainly for the research of ancient alchemy. I hope we can revive the Fusion Alchemy School together and reproduce the glory of ancient alchemy."

His last sentence came from the bottom of his heart.

Mali could actually feel it before. Lievre really likes ancient alchemy, otherwise a vice-dean of the mainland's No. 1 Magic Academy wouldn't have followed him all the way to this small village and waited here for so long.

"You can be my teacher," he opened his mouth.

To his surprise, Lievre shook his head this time and insisted, "You can come to me if you have any questions about alchemy. I will definitely know everything and say everything. But I still say that, there is a lot for me to learn from you in ancient alchemy. We are not teacher and student, at most we are like-minded people. As for the salary..."

The old alchemist paused. "Just pay with knowledge. In my opinion, there is nothing more precious than knowledge in this world. I don't know ancient characters. I still need you to translate those ancient alchemy books you brought back from your hometown. Just give me fifteen, no, twenty pages a month."

"Deal."

Mali didn't bargain with Lievre. This cooperation was very pleasant, and both of them got what they wanted from each other.

And the old alchemist soon exerted the role of a consultant and gave his first piece of advice.

"If you want to trade on the Leiwateleisi Continent, the first thing you must do is get a Trade Permit."

"Trade Permit?"

"Yes, if you only want to purchase and sell a small amount of things, just like the small stalls outside the adventurer's guild, as long as you honestly pay taxes, the local lords and nobles usually won't bother you. But large-scale commodity trading requires a Trade Permit.

"The best Trade Permit is naturally from the Royal Family, which can basically be used in the entire Kingdom. The second is the Trade Permit issued by Dukes and powerful nobles. Holding them can go unimpeded in many cities. The last is the Trade Permit issued by lords. With it, you can carry out trade activities locally."

"That is to say, if I can't get the Trade Permits of the first two levels, I can only visit one lord after another and ask them to allow us to do business in their territory?" Mali frowned.

"Actually, there is a simple way," Lievre said. "Join a guild. Like alchemists and adventurers, merchants also have their own organizations, but their guilds are not unified, but there are many.

"These guilds are mostly spontaneously united by merchants in a certain place, so that they can negotiate with those lords in the name of the guild.

"Once the negotiation is successful, all merchants who join the chamber of commerce are equivalent to automatically possessing the Trade Permit of that place.

"Not only that, they may also get certain tax preferences and care, enjoy certain legal and economic privileges, and members can also get the protection of the guild. Although this kind of protection is more nominal and not as effective and determined as the protection of the Alchemist Association, it can still play a role.

"And members of the guild sometimes help each other. Powerful guilds may also obtain the exclusive operating rights of a certain commodity in the city, which means that merchants of other guilds can no longer sell or purchase this commodity in the city.

"In short, if you want to be a merchant, it is best to choose a guild to join."