Chapter 324: The Gana Continent's First Futures Exchange is Online!

Pay first, deliver later, and it's three months later?

Saint Xisi above...

Kaiderson was willing to swear on the mast of the Traveler that he had never heard such a stupid idea in his life.

However—

He had underestimated people's greed and desperation after all.

When he announced the resolution of the Viceroy's mansion, the troublemaking crowd and the Imperial soldiers watching the fun dispersed immediately.

What made his jaw drop even more was the next morning.

The sky over Deadwood Harbor was just beginning to brighten, and the entrance to the Viceroy's mansion was already crowded with bustling people.

Looking at the blocked gate of the Viceroy's mansion, Captain Kaiderson's assistant Aiwen hurriedly shouted loudly.

"Everyone! Please line up! Don't crowd together! Whether you arrive first or later, the price is the same! The merciful and great Prince Kelin guarantees you that everyone has a share! Whether it is the Empire's army or the Empire's people, he will treat them equally!"

This sentence won countless applause and whistles, even though these people were still cursing that supreme name in the tavern until last night.

They could accept flour at six silver coins a bag; after all, the windmills were blown away by the big storm, and they could understand temporary difficulties.

What they couldn't accept was differential treatment.

Why sell grain to others first? And let the people of the Empire go hungry?

Fairness!

That's all they were asking for.

Under Aiwen's loud exhortations, the crowd soon lined up in order.

The crooked line stretched along the dusty street, like a centipede, almost extending from the gate of the Viceroy's mansion to the wharf under construction.

Anxious merchants, apprehensive captains, and worried sailors all stood on tiptoe, looking toward the front of the line, fearing that being a step late would mean missing this grand, unprecedented panic buying.

And it wasn't just captains, merchants, and sailors; some Imperial soldiers, upon learning the news, also joined in the fun.

The wages of Imperial soldiers were not very high, but unlike sailors who lived for today, they usually had almost no chance to spend money, and there were extra allowances for business trips.

Although most of them didn't know what the market for corn was in other ports, these sailors, captains, and merchants who had been engaged in ocean trade for many years knew.

And seeing them all lining up here, it was clear that the price of thirty silver coins was profitable.

They didn't expect to get rich on this, but earning some wine money was enough.

Because there were too many people, the office location had to be temporarily moved to the entrance of the Viceroy's mansion.

Several sailors from the Traveler moved a sturdy long table, Aiwen sat behind the table, and the quill in his hand was busy non-stop.

He lowered his head and quickly recorded the numbers and names, then pulled one out from a thick stack of printed paper slips beside him, filled in the information seriously, and stamped it with the official seal.

Each voucher had a corresponding number, and while registered, it recorded the transaction information and fingerprints of the initial purchaser, thus preventing forgery to the greatest extent.

Even if forgery occurred, the entire transaction chain could be traced along the information of the initial purchaser, thereby confirming the source of the forgery.

This was almost the same routine as the Kelin Group issuing stocks in the primary market.

"Next!"

Kaiderson directed at the door himself, sweat covering his forehead, and his voice was exceptionally loud today.

He couldn't care about thinking whether these people were crazy; after all, even if they were crazy, the silver coins on the table were real!

"Take your money, fill in the information in advance on the form, and move fast when it's your turn!"

"Prince Kelin's emblem... corn transaction voucher?" A fat captain widened his eyes, staring repeatedly at the paper slip Aiwen handed over, "Delivered three months later? Can... can we really get the grain after paying so much money?"

"Of course!" Aiwen straightened his face, knocked on the table seriously and solemnly, and took time to glance at him, "This is the promise of Prince Kelin and the Viceroy's mansion! If you don't believe it, you don't have to buy it."

"No, I believe it!" The fat captain shook his head hurriedly, carefully placing the heavy bag of silver coins on the table, as if afraid the clerk would go back on his word, "I will definitely come in three months! I hope I can see my goods in the port's warehouse!"

Aiwen didn't answer, just mechanically issued the voucher, and then the staff of the Viceroy's mansion—that is, the sailors of the Traveler—took the money bag and sent it to the warehouse behind.

When receiving the voucher, a flash of joy crossed the fat captain's face, and he folded it carefully, stuffed it solemnly into his arms, and left the line, protecting it carefully like a treasure.

The onlookers on the side showed envy in their eyes, whispering and discussing.

"Look at old Henry, that's five hundred silver coins, he didn't even blink!"

"Heh, that's corn at thirty silver coins a ton, such a good thing, I wouldn't blink either... it's just a pity I don't have that much money."

"What kind of good thing is this, it's three months! What if the corn doesn't come by then, wouldn't it all be lost?"

"What are you afraid of? With the Prince's emblem, this thing is money! If it really doesn't work, you can sell it to others by then!"

The crowd was whispering, and there was a commotion in the line.

Those who had just received the transaction voucher were ecstatic, while those in line became increasingly anxious, constantly stretching their necks to look forward, fearing that it would be sold out by the time it was their turn.

Soon, another merchant wearing a gorgeous silk coat came to the table, the attendant carrying a heavy money box, and opened it on the table with a "bang", full of shining gold coins.

This scene immediately stunned everyone around.

Aiwen and Kaiderson were also stunned for a while, and it took a long time to come back to their senses.

The latter gave the former a wink, and the former immediately squeezed out a smile and stammered.

"Sir, how much... do you want to buy?"

"All five hundred gold coins, you count it." The merchant said nonchalantly, while the attendant following him stood with his hands down, as if this was not a large amount.

A burst of exclamation spread from the back of the line.

"My God, is this guy crazy?"

"Ignorant, this is called investment! Even if the corn fields in the New World start sowing now, the harvest will be six months later! He only needs to pull it to a port with huge demand within three months after receiving the goods, and he can immediately earn double!"

"I heard that in Kral Port, the price of a ton of corn has soared to fifty silver coins! And only silver coins and gold coins are accepted, refusing copper coins!"

"Damn, this profiteer is going to get rich!"

"But... what if the Viceroy's mansion can't take it out by then?"

"Then we have to question the quality of the Purple Moon Emblem, but I think Prince Kelin is a person who values honor, so this shouldn't happen! And... why did the Empire's Navy spend so much effort building a port here? Use your brain to think!"

"So that's how it is..."

"I have to find a way to transfer some funds from the Ankedun colony!"

"Damn! There isn't even a post office in this godforsaken place!"

Anxious emotions spread rapidly in the crowd like a plague, and some people who didn't bring enough money were sweating profusely, starting to borrow money everywhere, and the scene was in chaos.

At this very moment, not far outside the Viceroy's mansion, Titch was standing there.

He crossed his arms over his chest, watching the crowd busy like ants, with a proud smile on the corner of his mouth, his eyes deep and satisfied.

Flour at six silver coins a bag couldn't squeeze them dry, but this time they should be completely squeezed dry.

Tomorrow the construction site will probably be overcrowded.

And it's not just the construction site!

The port under construction is the same!

Although there is no post office in Deadwood Harbor, those resourceful merchants can always find ways to pass the news to other ports in the New World, whether through carrier pigeons or by bribing the Empire's soldiers.

Soon, there will be everything here.

Just when Titch was imagining the beautiful future of this territory, Captain Kaiderson trotted to his side and said nervously.

"Baron, sir, we have already sold fifty thousand tons... are you sure Prince Kelin has so much corn?"

That's fifty thousand tons of corn!

The total value is 1.5 million silver coins!

The income of ordinary Imperial workers is only two or three thousand copper coins, equivalent to only twenty to thirty silver coins!

Thinking of the silver coins piled up in the warehouse of the Viceroy's mansion, and that promise that he didn't know could be fulfilled, every piece of meat on his body was trembling.

Especially since this didn't just include the money of sailors, captains, and merchants, but also some Imperial soldiers from Saint Yier Castle!

General Hamorton only forbade them from gambling during work, but didn't forbid them from investing during work...

He didn't want to get shot in the back while walking on the street!

"Calm down, it's just 1.5 million silver coins," when saying this, Titch paused for a moment and continued, "As for the corn, you don't have to worry. Prince Kelin has bottomed out with me, don't worry within 100,000 tons, if they want to buy, give it to them."

Captain Kaiderson swallowed his saliva.

"What if... it exceeds 100,000 tons?"

Titch shrugged.

"Sold out in three months, then sell the one four months later... and so on."

Hearing this sentence, Kaiderson was completely stunned.

Saint Xisi above...

This works too?!

Kaiderson felt his worldview had been impacted.

However, it didn't take long before he found that he was stunned too early, and even more incredible things were yet to come.

In the evening, as the bell for nightfall rang, the long line at the entrance of the Viceroy's mansion finally dispersed, leaving only Aiwen, whose arms were sore, squatting on the wooden steps in front of the door, being massaged by a diligent sailor on his right hand that was almost written broken.

Actually, he wanted to find a girl.

But unfortunately, human girls in Deadwood Harbor are as rare as mother Lizardmen.

"Hiss... lighter! Do you think I'm a bolt on a steam boiler? My hand is almost twisted off by you!"

"Sorry, Lord Aiwen." The young sailor replied nervously.

Lord Aiwen.

What a wonderful title.

Looking at the sailor serving him with lowered eyebrows, Aiwen's eyebrows couldn't help but raise, and the corners of his mouth that were originally drooping also smoothed out unconsciously, humming and saying nothing more.

This is probably the first time.

He saw heartfelt respect from the eyes of his subordinates...

At the same time, on the other side, inside the tightly closed Viceroy's mansion, the spacious hall had been filled with layers of wooden boxes.

These wooden boxes were filled with silver coins and gold coins, and under the candlelight, they emitted charming light and shadows like sea waves.

Looking at this mountain of wealth, Captain Kaiderson's cheeks flushed, and his hands trembled with excitement.

He grabbed a handful of gold coins, let them slide through his fingers with a clatter, and turned excitedly to Baron Titch beside him.

"Saint Xisi above... I have never seen so much money!"

Not to mention Kaidesen, even Tichi had never seen it.

It was precisely because he fantasized about getting rich overnight that he sold his family property to buy a ship to go to sea, and then lost all his family fortune in the colony.

If he had so much money, he wouldn't go to sea...

Coughing hard, Titch restrained the excitement that was almost overflowing from his face, walked up and patted Kaiderson on the shoulder, and said earnestly.

"Calm down... my friend, this is just the beginning."

"Just the beginning?!" Kaiderson was stunned, and looked up at Titch in confusion: "Baron, sir, I don't understand... is there anything more worth being happy about than this?"

Two million silver coins plus nearly seven thousand gold coins, they have sold all the corn for this time next year at once!

Seriously, if it weren't for those guys taking the money out on their own initiative, he wouldn't know that these seemingly down-and-out "poor people" actually had such a rich family fortune hidden on them!

But this is basically the limit.

Even if the Deadwood Harbor Viceroy's mansion could sell the corn for the year after next, these sailors and merchants who had been squeezed dry had no money to continue buying.

And—

Who can say what the situation will be then?

No matter how far-reaching the impact of the big storm is, it won't affect the year after next. Maybe the price of corn will have returned to normal by then!

Maybe cheaper than normal!

Kaiderson could clearly feel that when selling the 'vouchers' for delivery next year, those who were still watching were obviously hesitant.

Looking at the confused Kaiderson, Titch, who had learned the true teachings of Prince Kelin, smiled mysteriously and said unhurriedly.

"The pattern is small. You only saw the money in front of you, but ignored the gold mine hidden under this pile of gold coins! Why did we sell these vouchers? Is it to harvest the residents of Deadwood Harbor? The money in their pockets was originally ours!"

Originally ours...

If this spread out, I'm afraid I'd be beaten to death!

Kaiderson swallowed his saliva and continued nervously.

"You mean..."

"It's very simple," Titch explained unhurriedly, "... I want you to immediately establish a futures exchange, right across from the Viceroy's mansion!"

Although the Demon King told him that by this point, even if they did nothing, this exchange would eventually appear.

But...

Since he saw the script in advance, why should he let this gold mine to others?

Of course, it must be held in his own hands!

"Futures... exchange?" Kaiderson repeated this strange term blankly, "Sorry, Baron, sir, I don't quite understand what you mean."

Titch seemed to have expected his reaction and explained patiently.

"Remember the transaction vouchers we sold? That thing needs a formal name now, called 'futures'. Although they are not corn, they are also a kind of goods, goods delivered at a specific time... and since they are goods, they can naturally be resold to others."

Kaiderson, who was able to be a captain, understood immediately upon hearing this, and the excited light gradually lit up in his eyes.

"You mean, they don't need to wait until three months later to take the corn and leave here, they can sell the paper slips in their hands to other people who need them now?"

Titch smiled and nodded.

"That's right, who can say what will happen three months later? Even if we will definitely transport the corn to the warehouse, it is difficult to guarantee that our customers will be able to sail their cargo ships to the port at the agreed time. At this time, we must allow them to sell the vouchers in their hands to other people who happen to need them... At the same time, speculators trying to resell vouchers to earn the price difference will also participate in pushing up the price of these futures."

Kaiderson had completely understood, but there were still some details he didn't quite understand.

"But... what good is this for us? The 'futures' you mentioned have already been sold to those merchants."

Titch chuckled, as if he had heard a very stupid remark.

"Good? That's too big! Including transaction fees, including pre-deposited transaction funds, and even... our own people can also enter the market to trade, sell at a higher price, and pick up at a lower price."

This is just the first step!

The vast Gana Continent cannot only produce corn. Soon the leeks—oh no, the colonists who set foot on Deadwood Harbor will find that everything can be traded!

Then they will also start newspapers, manipulate the market through news, and finally pry the entire trade map of the Vast Ocean, and unite with the vested interests of the Empire to harvest the wealth of the entire New World!

And all this will be in the name of the Empire!

Of course.

Whether it is the Deadwood Harbor Futures Exchange or the Kelin Group's stocks, they are just a part of His Majesty the Demon King's grand plan.

And the appearance of this entire blueprint, there is no need to unfold it to "small characters" like Viceroy Kaiderson... besides, he only knows the tip of the iceberg himself...

Looking at Titch with a smile, only thorough admiration remained on Kaiderson's face, and he sighed sincerely after a long time.

"Saint Xisi above... this is really a genius idea!"

For a moment, he even felt that a devil lived in the shadow of the Baron in front of him—and the flickering candlelight on the candlestick was its eyes.

"It seems you have realized it, I am very gratified." Looking at 'Saturday' who finally understood everything, Titch nodded with satisfaction, smiled and continued.

"Now, I have one more thing I need you to do."

Kaiderson, who admired him to the ground, bowed respectfully.

"Please give your orders!"

Titch looked around at the money boxes and said unhurriedly.

"It's not safe to put so much money in the Viceroy's mansion, and... putting them in this godforsaken place, except for watching them mold, has no meaning. We have to spend them to make them turn into more money to come back and find us."

Pausing, he looked at Kaiderson and continued to order.

"In a while, you arrange a few trusted sailors, and when it's three o'clock in the morning, cooperate with my confidants to transport all this money to the Purple Moon cargo ship docked at the port. Remember, cover the boxes with a few stinky fish in advance, don't let everyone in the port know that their money is no longer in this house."

That is a hybrid-powered sailing ship with a cargo capacity of 900 tons.

Half a month ago, he bought this ship cheaply from a bankrupt captain, spending less than 9,000 silver coins in total.

His Majesty the Demon King's servants soon replaced the sailing ship's steam boiler, and while reinstalling the mast, refurbished the damaged deck and cabin.

The entire sailing ship immediately took on a new look, looking even better than before the shipwreck.

After General Hamorton returns to Saint Yier Castle, they will also take this Purple Moon steam sailing ship to sea, accompanying His Highness "Prince Kelin" to visit the Empire's Shengcheng!

The Demon King stepping onto the Shengcheng...

This is probably the first time since the identity of the Demon King existed. ===== CHAPTER 325 =====