“The fee to create a Grade 5 Merchant Company is 1 gold. It operates as an annual membership fee. For your information, the annual fee is unrelated to taxes paid to the kingdom.”
“Yes, I understand.”
It seemed that the Order of Merchants didn’t particularly discriminate between nobles and commoners.
I suppose anyone can be a customer…
I was able to receive kind guidance from the woman who introduced herself as an official.
Suddenly, the opulence of the Order of Merchants’ building made sense to me.
The annual fee for a Grade 5 Merchant Company was a whopping 1 gold!
Although anyone could establish and run a Grade 5 Merchant Company, the annual fee was extremely expensive.
“What are the benefits of a Grade 5 Merchant Company?”
“If you become a Grade 5 Merchant Company, you can obtain information from the Order of Merchants. We can also act as an agent to purchase goods you need. It’s also possible to buy items from other merchants who have purchased them overseas at prices lower than the market rate. Furthermore, since the Order of Merchants has treaties with many countries except for a few, you can freely trade across various nations.”
“However, companies crossing international borders must be protected by the Order of Merchants, so you’ll need to pass the Grade 4 Merchant Company promotion exam. Once you become a Grade 4 Merchant Company, the annual fee rises to 5 gold, but you gain the ability to trade with other countries and receive many benefits.”
For the steep annual fee, the benefits weren’t bad.
Currently, most merchants earned their profits through business and trade.
They sold goods to city dwellers or territory residents, or made money through trading.
Joining the Order of Merchants would surely make it much easier to do business or trade.
“Also, I’ve only explained about merchant companies, but the types you can register with our Order of Merchants are largely divided into two. There are companies that engage in economic activity and there are armed organizations, such as Mercenary Companies. Mercenary Companies are armed organizations that operate for the purpose of battle and war.”
Unlike merchant companies, mercenary companies are essentially agencies that dispatch personnel for combat purposes.
Even on Earth, there were famous mercenary companies like the Hawks.
“I’d like to create a Grade 5 Merchant Company.”
I handed 1 gold to the official. Then I answered several questions regarding personal details and other information.
I also submitted the identification certificate I’d received from Costa Village.
“William Steven, what would you like to name your company?”
At last, I was going to have a merchant company in this world. I spoke the name I’d prepared.
“Unicorn Company.”
“Yes. Registered as Unicorn Company. While Unicorn Company is a name used by many merchant companies, it appears that none have yet become renowned under this name. Registration is possible. I hope William Steven’s Unicorn Company can make a name for itself.”
“Oh, and one more thing.”
I handed the official another gold coin.
She looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“I’d also like to establish a mercenary company. Its name will also be Unicorn Mercenary Company.”
I had created the merchant company to carry out the young lady’s mission and to start my Startup. While I was here, I decided to set up a mercenary company as well.
I’d be visiting the Red Beard Band soon enough.
From now on, this is where it truly begins.
***
Ever since the young lady gave me my mission yesterday, I’d planned to create both a merchant company and a mercenary company.
A company to carry out a Startup in this world, and one day, a mercenary company to protect it.
I thought both organizations were necessary.
For now, I’d focus on running the Unicorn Company.
The official looked a bit surprised that I applied for both a merchant company and a mercenary company, but soon regained her composure, her face returning to its previous expressionless state.
When I handed over my gold and the identification certificate from the village, she proceeded with the registration.
“Yes, Unicorn Mercenary Company has also been registered. Mercenary companies are also divided into five grades. William Steven, your company is a Grade 5 Mercenary Company. In the case of Unicorn Mercenary Company, three companies have been registered under that name, but none have yet gained fame with it. I hope William Steven’s Unicorn Mercenary Company will become renowned.”
The remarks were almost 90% identical to those made when establishing the merchant company.
It must be a mechanical script.
Even in the Republic of Korea, the name of your business is extremely important.
It’s the face of your company and is your calling card.
Unlike private businesses, corporations can sometimes have duplicate names, but there are restrictions.
For example, the same name cannot be used for the same type of business within the same special city, metropolitan city, city, or county.
That’s why, before establishing a corporation, checking for duplicate company names is essential.
Also, changing a corporate name involves complex administrative procedures and is not easy.
So you have to decide carefully.
“In this world, it seems you can use duplicate names unless a company is already famous. That’s a relief. I’d better become famous quickly so no one else can use this name…”
Sitting in the waiting room, I noticed a clock. Time here is measured in 24-hour days, just like the solar calendar.
Whether it was the metric or mile system, the fact that a 24-hour, 365-day system was used was surprisingly similar to Earth, even in this world.
After waiting about 30 minutes, the official brought me certificates stamped with the seal of the Order of Merchants for both the merchant company and mercenary company.
The identification certificate I received before felt like a cheap scrap of paper, but whether it was the difference between 10 copper and 1 gold or not, the certificates I received now felt like they were made from rather luxurious parchment, quite different from the one issued at the village.
I also received some commemorative items. Inside were a small notebook for memos, ink, a pen, a towel, a commemorative badge, and so on.
“Wow. Money really is wonderful…”
After receiving some additional information from the Order of Merchants, I went outside.
I headed to the appointed place, but Richard hadn’t arrived yet.
I decided to look around the area a bit more.
From a distance, I saw a freight wagon entering one of the Order of Merchants’ buildings.
That must be the Exchange Office where you can buy the goods the official described earlier. I could see the most people going in and out of the Exchange Office.
“I’ll have to take a look there later and see if there are any worthwhile goods to trade…”
For now, I decided it wasn’t time to head to the Exchange Office.
I turned my steps toward a quieter area. Ahead, a wide stretch of green grass unfolded.
At the end of the grass was a lake. I found myself staring, lost in the beauty of the scene.
“Being here, it feels like I’m walking across a college campus.”
On the lake, ducks and geese paddled about.
“Ha ha… Isn’t this such a peaceful scene?”
“Who’s there?”
Turning around, I saw a kindly-looking middle-aged man standing there. He didn’t look like the wizard Gandalf, but rather resembled a gentle grandfather.
“Hello, sir.”
I greeted him politely.
“Just by looking, I can tell you’ve just become a company leader.”
“How did you know?”
“Ha ha, I’ve worked here for over ten years. I’ve had the chance to deal with many merchant companies. After seeing so many, you can tell what grade a company leader is just by looking… or not. Actually, the commemorative package you’re carrying is a gift given only to those who’ve just established a company. I guessed from that.”
He’d figured out I was a new company leader by the commemorative package I was carrying.
“I see. I’m William Steven. I’ve just become the leader of the Grade 5 Unicorn Company.”
“May golden blessings be with you on every step you walk…”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Call me Lac.”
“Yes… Lac, uh, no, Lac-nim. I guess I should drop the ‘sir’.”
“Good. What kind of company leader do you wish to become? You look quite young… Are you planning to start business by buying goods at the Exchange Office?”
“That would be nice, but I’m more interested in starting a business.”
A hint of curiosity flickered in Lac’s eyes.
“Oh ho… Not just business, but a ‘startup,’ is it? Are they different?”
“Yes. I think so. Business is about buying and selling goods for profit, but a startup is planning and building something that will grow sustainably and generate money over time.”
“I see? But in the end, both are about making a profit, aren’t they?”
“Yes, Lac-nim, you’re right. I think the fundamental difference between business and a startup is in the system. While both generate profit, business is decided entirely by the judgment of the owner. On the other hand, a startup is about creating an organization to manage things so that profit can be generated even without the owner’s direct judgment. That’s the key difference, I think.”
“Hmmm… I see.”
“There are also differences in goals and vision. Business is usually aimed at short-term gains. It’s about daily transactions and labor to earn income. But a startup pursues long-term vision and goals. It aims for sustainable growth, constantly seeking to develop and expand.”
“Anything else?”
“Well… There’s a difference in risk and investment too. Not always, but businesses generally require less capital and carry lower risk. In contrast, startups require higher initial investment and are riskier, but if successful, can generate much greater profits.”
“Ha ha, I’ve learned something new. The difference between business and a startup… I may not agree with all of it, but it’s an interesting approach. Honestly, you looked so young that I thought I might give you some advice… but for a Grade 5 company leader to have such a perspective, I look forward to seeing what your company achieves.”
“Hehe… Please remember me. I plan to make mine the most famous company in Yuras Continent.”
“What kind of company is your goal? Since you said it’s a startup… have you got something in mind?”
“Hm? Lac-nim, that’s a trade secret. But since we’ve met, I’ll give you a little hint.”
“Thank you…”
“The business I want to create is a Company Builder.”
“Company Builder? Is that even a business?”
“Simply put, it’s not just about a single business but about creating a variety of Startups… I mean, businesses, and supporting them so they can grow. The role is to help each business develop in a stable way.”
“Ohh… For that, you’d need to understand various businesses… It won’t be an easy path.”
“It’s easy. Because I have a ton of business ideas in my head.”
I pointed to my head with my finger. That was the truth. All I had to do was customize these ideas to suit this world.
Lac clapped his hands together.
“Good… Good. Since I’ve been at this guild, that’s the most interesting explanation I’ve heard. Could you give me a small token? If you become famous one day, I want to brag that I met you.”
Lac seemed like a good person. It was a sudden request, but I gladly agreed. Wondering what to give, I took out the notebook I’d received earlier and wrote my signature in it.
Below my signature, I wrote: ‘To dear Lac, from William Steven of Unicorn Company,’ then tore out the page and handed it over.
“This is my autograph. It’s not worth anything now, but someday, it’ll be a source of pride for your family.”
“Ha ha. I’ll treasure it. Then, it’s nothing special, but I’ll give you a token as well.”
Lac handed me a badge engraved with a seal, shaped like a coin.
On that badge, in beautifully styled letters, it read: Rothschild.
“Rothschild? That sounds familiar from somewhere…”