Chapter 376: Auction, Market Barrier, Islander!

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

A large number of Maple City players gathered at the Cat’s Tail Tavern.

A large number of players had gathered, surpassing what Ji Chen had anticipated.

After inquiring, he learned that the mountain trolls had all retreated and withdrawn into the Alvin Mountains.

This was undoubtedly the result of the Deceiver’s actions. Without the Deceiver’s assistance, the mountain trolls were no match for the Maple Principality and the Elves. They were chased all over by the airship fleet and ground forces, resulting in numerous casualties.

Therefore, they decided to retreat decisively and acted like turtles.

Seeing this, the Maple Principality and the Elves chose to withdraw as well, ending the war.

After the war had ended, players who had ventured out received their rewards and decided to come back for some rest. Coincidentally, there was an auction happening, which explained the unusually high player turnout.

Due to the large number of players, Luo Yang had to temporarily change the auction venue from the Cat Tail Tavern to the street outside.

They set up a wooden platform on the street as the auction stage and placed hundreds of wooden chairs in front of it. It was as rudimentary as it could get, but it couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the casual players.

The streets, the houses on both sides, and even the rooftops were crowded with players.

Some players, sensing the business opportunity with so many people gathered here, immediately sat down and set up stalls, shouting and haggling. The marketplace came alive with the sound of bargaining and heated discussions.

What used to be a relatively quiet Black Gold District suddenly became one of the liveliest places in Maple City. This scene even attracted nearby patrolling soldiers who looked at the chaotic scene, somewhat disdainful of these Glory Lords who seemed to have no sense of propriety.

The patrolling soldiers couldn’t help but wonder if these people were indeed from the countryside, given their rather unruly behavior.

They cursed silently but still carried out their duties nearby, watching them vigilantly to prevent any trouble.

On the third floor of the Cat Tail Tavern, in a room facing the street.

Ji Chen sat on the sofa, looking through the window at the bustling street outside.

He held a glass of wine in his hand and sipped it leisurely.

At that moment, he heard slightly hurried footsteps approaching from outside the door.

The door was gently knocked.

“Mr. Zhao, it’s me.”

It was Luo Yang.

“Come in,” Ji Chen said calmly. The door opened, and Luo Yang, with a somewhat anxious expression, walked in. After gently closing the door, he approached.

He seemed a bit urgent in his tone.

“Now, most of the players have arrived, but it seems that the auction items haven’t arrived yet. If this continues, they might get upset.”

Ji Chen glanced at him and said calmly, “Don’t worry; the items will arrive soon.”

Seeing Ji Chen’s indifferent expression, Luo Yang felt a bit more at ease.

“How did the task I assigned you earlier go?”

“The storefront facing the street has already started renovations and will be ready for use soon. But if I may ask, what do you plan to sell in that shop?”

As far as Luo Yang knew, the specialty products that Ji Chen had brought seemed to be limited to a few items: high-quality timber, golden bass, premium coffee beans, weapons and equipment, and the never-before-seen Merfabric.

These specialty products are undoubtedly valuable, but it seems they have already been under long-term trade agreements with Maple City’s merchants and elves. Hence, they weren’t suitable for display and sale in a storefront.

Did he plan to sell everyday items?

In terms of profitability, a prime location like that storefront would be better off leased for a stable income rather than selling ordinary goods, which would likely incur losses.

“We’re going to sell wine.”

This was something Ji Chen had already thought through. The wine market was vast.

He had found a talented winemaker named Leysha among the refugees, capable of producing high-quality wine. Therefore, he wouldn’t miss out on this high-profit product.

“Sell wine?”

Luo Yang paused briefly before adding, “Mr. Zhao, selling wine in the Maple Principality isn’t as simple as it may seem.”

This statement left Ji Chen puzzled. “Why is that?”

“The reason is simple. Back on Earth, if you want to produce and sell alcohol, you need to obtain a series of licenses to qualify for sales. It’s similar here.

But the problem is that obtaining a sales license here is not a simple matter.

The Maple Principality is located by the sea, with a climate and soil perfectly suited for grape cultivation, resulting in a large production of wine.

And, as you know, products like alcohol yield profits that can make any merchant jealous. Therefore, some of the influential figures in the Maple Principality have joined forces to issue alcohol sales permits to only a very small number of people aligned with them.

As for other alcohol merchants, they simply can’t obtain permits, so they have no way to sell alcohol. They are even forbidden from importing foreign alcohol into the local market…”

Ji Chen furrowed his brow. This sounded like trade barriers and market access restrictions.

By using official rights to prevent other alcohol from entering the market, they achieved a monopoly effect.

Previously, the specialty products brought by the Crown of the Ocean were things that the Maple Principality lacked, so there was no conflict of interest. But when it came to alcohol, it was a different story.

This was indeed a matter worth considering.

Ji Chen thought for a moment and felt that he needed to consult with a merchant like Gilder to understand the situation better.

“Alright, I’ll take care of this matter.”

Luo Yang nodded without asking any more questions. He was fully aware of what was appropriate to discuss and what wasn’t.

Ji Chen kept this matter in mind and continued to focus on what was happening outside..