*Author Note: Different POV
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Thirteen months ago, Before The King's assassination attempt.
A week after the first meeting with Prince Vasta at Red District's.
Office of The Ministry of Foreign Trade, Audience Hall.
" Mr. Francois. We have seriously taken into consideration your proposal. It was an honor for our country that your company, the NTUC highly valued with our local crops. But I'm afraid we can not afford to supply your demand completely. We have to put into account the local demand and other previous legal agreement with the various clients such as companies from Perxian, Hendian, Vrusian, Huns or even Sinosian."
That man, Mr Vayan Duta, The Ministry of Foreign Trade of Magelang Kingdom reject my trading proposal.
As I thought, my target was an insane numbers. I hated my superior who recklessly gave such impossible requests. I also hated Van Beck , my senior who achieved huge success, such insane amount procurement during his previous travel.
He was the sole reason that triggered the greedy inside my board of directors.
The 800,000 pounds of pepper, 350,000 cloves, 40,000 pounds of nutmeg, 400 pounds of nutmeg and 1000 pounds of chili were really not a joke. Those would generate 599% profit for them.
Unlike Van Beck, they had not provided me with many goods to trade or more time to spare.
Somehow I could understand his reason for rejection.
But I should have my mission accomplished. I must find another way. I was a perfectionist person. I did not want to tarnished my reputation.
" Your Grace, I heard your country had pepper harvests every three months, every two months for harvesting chilies, and once a year to harvest cloves. Those will suffice for the quota in our trade proposal."
" Mr. Francois, that means you are buying all of our harvests. Besides those big five foreign trading companies, we still have to supply our internal demand, including the trading agreements with our national or regional merchants. We're sorry, we can not fulfill your wishes. That's final."
Damn! He's too smart. I could not outsmart him.
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A week after the proposal rejection tragedy, in the same building owned by Mr. Hayes.
I have spent countless bottles of liquor to entertain these two corrupts high officer, Mr. Fritz Hayes, and Frank Zonk.
I've talked to them what I need. It took hours to 'educate' them about how important this deal to us.
In the end ..
" So, what you need from us, Mr. Francois ?"
" Help me to complete my mission."
" And ?"
" In exchange, what will we got from you ?"
" I'll promise you all ten percent each of commission."
Their eyes widened, shone with the light full of greediness. "Deal !"
I would pay them not with my own money, instead of using their own country's money.
" Great !"
I heard applause. It was from the Prince. I never know that he was already here before.
" Your Highness !"
" Greeting Your Highness!"
" It's an honor to meet you again, Your Highness!"
" Flattery will take me nowhere, Mr. Francois. " He laughed.
" Please, have a seat."
He took a seat and then pour a liquor to the glass.
" You know, Lately I've been thinking deeply about my problem. Some people judged me a loner. But I am not. I just realize that, if I do not start to take a stand, I will end up losing everything."
He tokens a gulp.
" I should realize, who's my friend, who's my foe."
Then he looked to those two "I am offering you to become my own faction, to support me. You should absolutely loyal to me. No compromise. In exchange, You may ask anything from me."
They nodded. " Thank you, Your Highness. It's an honor to receive your acknowledge!"
The Prince smile satisfied.
" I gave you all a month to think about what you want from me. Just think about it, what you really wish."
They nodded.
"Now, please leave me alone with Mr. Francois. I want to talk to him privately."
They nodded. " Yes, Your Highness."
It's only me and the Prince in the room.
His face looked solemn and grim.
" Mr. Francois, how many forces do you have ?"
" Well, if I'm not mistaken, I could provide more than a nine company of forces. They're veterans, very experienced and modern, comprise Infantry, Cavalerie, armed with spears, swords, the musket matchlocks, and canons. A man from us will be equal to three or four regular soldiers."
I saw his face try to hide a wicked smile.
" That was amazing, Mr. Francois. How much must I pay ?"
This greedy prince really thought that money could solve everything.
" Excuse me, Your Highness," I whispered at his ear. " It should be equal to 800,000 pounds of pepper, 350,000 cloves, 40,000 pounds of nutmeg, 400 pounds of nutmeg and 1000 pounds of chili, Your Highness. It was my target from my board director."
He laughed. "You were really not a joke."
" Now, listen to me, Mr Francois. How much do I have to pay to become the next King, soon ?"
I put a wide smile. " That will be very expensive, Your Highness."
" It was cheap. The problem is, do you had a suffice enough forces? There many elite forces around the King, and many strong mage knights protecting him."
" The risks were already counted, Your Highness. I am basically a businessman who always work in the safe deals."
" Then, state your price. I gave you one month to contract, otherwise, I'll seek another ally."
" No worry, Your Highness. You're already found the best partner."
" Remember, your main forces should already base in around Capital City within a year from contract."
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A month later, the contract was signed, it was later known as The Red River Agreement.
The Prince was really serious about his demand. That was the greatest deal in my life. The Prince did not bargain at all.
In an agreement with me as the envoy of NTUC with Prince Vasta Yuda, NTUC agreed to help Vasta Yuda take the throne on five conditions.
First, the pepper monopoly in the Kingdom of Magelang is held by NTUC only.
Second, the Kingdom of Magelang must expel any foreign traders not only limited to merchants from Perxian, Hendian, Vrusian, Huns and Sinosians.
Third, the Kingdom of Magelang must pay 600,000 pieces of gold if they break their promises.
Fourth, the Kingdom of Magelang troops who control the coast and inland areas must be immediately withdrawn.
This Red River Agreement was legally signed by me, Captain Herman Dirkse Hendepoel, and Evenhart van der Schuere of the NTUC. From the Kingdom of Magelang were Prince Vasta, Prince Nohan, Prince Nandana, Prince Darya, and Second General Sirna.
Because of the agreement, the NTUC will immediately actively determine Magelang's monopoly trade.
A few days after the contract was signed, my intelligent networks sent me another information that, Earl Franc Zonk promised 100% military support to Prince Vasta Yuda. In exchange, he wanted Magetan City territory. While Earl Fritz Hayes promised 100% bureaucrat support to Prince Vasta Yuda. In exchange, he wanted the Mount Luwa region.
For me, it was just a mountain of gold, but for the others, that was the death bell of a kingdom.