I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 195: Missionaries, Merchants, Age of Exploration (6)

“Tell me the specifics.”

“This is the content of the treaty we are about to sign.”

I pulled out two documents—one written in the script used by the Botswana tribe and others, and the other in Toscanian Empire’s language—and showed them to Malik.

“The Maasai Confederation and the Toscanian Empire will strengthen mutual goodwill and deepen their camaraderie.”

Even Malik, who didn’t know what modern treaties were, wouldn’t take this statement seriously.

In treaties and contracts between nations or businesses, you can hear the phrase "let’s be friends from now on" surprisingly often.

After all, swindlers who are only thinking of cheating on others will start by calling you a friend or family member to approach you more familiarly.

Taking such flattering words seriously would be seen as a sign of intelligence failure.

Although Malik lacks modern knowledge, he’s a smart man...

‘He must have understood the implied meaning of not stabbing each other in the back.’

“The Maasai Confederation can impose customs duties on goods exported from the Toscanian Empire. However, for specific items agreed upon by both the Toscanian Empire and the Maasai Confederation, customs duties can be exempted.”

In treaties like the Treaty of Ganghwa or other unequal treaties, powerful imperialist nations unilaterally set and imposed customs duties.

They would often prevent customs duties on essential raw materials or items sold domestically, a rather vicious tactic.

While I do know how to make use of the British Empire's wisdom, I don’t plan to do such things to the Maasai Confederation.

If they thrive, my pocket grows fat.

‘Of course, thinking purely in terms of national interest, I would have to create a structure for continuous exploitation.’

Malik paid attention to the second clause about customs duties I proposed.

“What is this customs duty?”

“It’s a tax you must pay when selling goods from the Toscanian Empire to the Maasai Confederation. If the customs duty is 10%, it means that for every 10 bottles of alcohol you sell, you must pay 1 bottle as tax.”

Normally, customs duties are paid in money, not in kind.

However, the Maasai Confederation hasn’t properly established a monetary economy yet.

Therefore, all transactions are effectively conducted in kind.

‘No matter how good the law is, if it doesn’t suit the environment where it’s applied, it becomes a useless law.’

I created a law that fits the Maasai Confederation, setting the duty at exactly 10% in kind.

“So, we can just sit back and get rum or all kinds of precious goods for free.”

“Yes, that’s correct. But, conversely, customs duties will also be applied when the Maasai Confederation sells goods to us...”

Malik smiled at my words.

“Don’t we only have gold to sell you? You’re not planning to tax gold, are you?”

The value of gold in the Maasai Confederation and the Toscanian Empire.

Though you can’t make a direct comparison, if I were to compare it...

In the Toscanian Empire, 1 gram of gold is worth 100,000 won, while here, the same amount of gold is only worth around 25,000 won.

Frankly, if I just sold gold here, I’d make over a 4-fold profit due to the exchange rate.

‘There’s no reason to impose customs duties on it, is there?’

To maintain a sustainable trade (which primarily benefits me), I need to make such concessions.

“Of course. There will be no customs duty on gold.”

“The last important clause concerns the judicial handling of those who come to trade here. This issue will be resolved as follows.”

Imperialist powers have often established extraterritoriality for their merchants, soldiers, and citizens.

During the days when extraterritoriality was strongly applied, if a citizen of a powerful nation killed a local in an extraterritorial area, the only consequence would be expulsion (basically, being sent home) and a mere suspension of prosecution, not even a full trial.

Sometimes, they didn’t even go that far.

But these are just trading partners I’m dealing with, right?

‘If I do something bad to people I’m supposed to receive money from, how am I going to look?’

“Any crimes committed by Toscanian Empire merchants in the Maasai Confederation will be judged according to the laws of the Maasai Confederation.”

In the 21st century, this is the law that applies equally to all countries, except for diplomats.

If an American sells drugs in Korea, they will be prosecuted under Korean law.

Though sometimes, the White House politely requests the person be sent to the U.S., if the drug dealer says, “I like Korean prison food better,” the punishment is usually carried out in Korea.

“However, before punishment is carried out in the Maasai Confederation, Toscanian Empire officials must be given an explanation of the charges. The officials may object and request a retrial.”

“We don’t have such great laws. So, if someone deserves to die according to our standards, they must also deserve to die by your standards, right?”

Generally, the elements of a crime in criminal law are quite similar worldwide.

If you kill someone, it’s murder; if you steal something, it’s theft; if you forcibly engage in sexual intercourse, it’s rape.

However, in some countries, the same crime might carry a 20-year sentence, while in others, it might only be 2 years.

“There may be differences in how we view whether someone should die or whether they should be spared to pay for their sins. And if the criminal is from the Toscanian Empire, don’t we have the right to be explained why they are being punished?”

If I gave Malik the power to judge Toscanian Empire merchants at will...

Then, he could easily arrest a few merchants, accuse them of absurd crimes, and claim they committed murder.

A vast country with great land, but a small country with corrupt people who have little conscience.

It would be like a mysterious country where China exists.

‘Even though Malik is friendly with me, no one knows when the situation will change.’

“That’s a fair point.”

“There are no other special clauses.”

I said this and quickly read the contents of the treaty.

“The Toscanian Empire merchants must remain within the port village of Soros, which I have established, and may only travel if permitted by the Maasai Confederation. This treaty will remain in effect permanently in the name of the great and omnipotent Deus, but it may be amended by mutual consent of both parties.”

The inclusion of Deus’ name in the treaty still shows that medieval customs persist in some aspects.

“What do you think?”

“It seems fine. It doesn’t seem unfair.”

As for the customs duties, the Toscanian Empire merchants might not understand their power and might try to exploit you.

Should I tell them, or not?

‘For the empire’s national interest, I’ll keep it to myself. Telling them what customs duties are is enough.’

If the treaty becomes too unfavorable for the Maasai Confederation, I can tell them when the time comes.

“The treaty is settled, and our business is concluded... Shall we have a drink? It’s a warrior’s tradition.”

But didn’t you guys not have that tradition?

“But our drink is a bit bigger.”

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Perhaps Malik had already arranged this with the tribal warriors, as one brought a 2-liter cup.

Inside, transparent rum gleamed.

“We won’t be able to go back until we finish this. Thanks to you, we’ve decided to give up our religion and start trading with foreigners. We won’t refuse the brotherhood ceremony, will we?”

I couldn’t believe it.

I’m going to have a brother who is 40, maybe even 50, years older than me?

What kind of world is this?

That day, I realized for the first time that it’s possible to drink a lot and have no hangover.

What do I mean by this?

I woke up two days later after drinking a ton of alcohol.

“Not some cheap fake liquor, but the real thing.”

Soon after, Malik gathered the tribal chiefs from the nearby villages.

“I hear Toscanian Empire merchants are going to start serious trade with us. The terms of the agreement seem to have no drawbacks for us.”

Those who had already read the treaty nodded in agreement.

“Definitely, it doesn’t seem like we’ll lose out. Especially the customs duty part. If they come to sell 100 bottles of alcohol, they’ll have to give us 10 bottles for free.”

But one question remained.

“But passing all our gold mines to Baron Fabio is still bothering me.”

At that, Malik smiled slyly and patted his chest.

“Why not just take 30,000 matchlock rifles and seize the gold mines of another tribe? This is our chance to expand our influence. Frankly, if we want to live in luxury, you and I must..."

We had to expand our influence and solidify our power base.

To do that, we needed to gather more—plain and simple.

It was a conclusion drawn from rational thought.

“We can win a big battle and make a clean profit.”

It was similar to the thinking of the late General Mudaguchi Renya of the dark independence army.

That man started the Second Sino-Japanese War without any permission, just because a soldier didn’t show up for roll call.

And after winning the war, he quickly rose in rank.

It wasn’t much different from that kind of thinking...

But none of us here were pointing out that this was gambling.

‘If we win big, then we’re set!’

All the chiefs were addicted to land-grabbing and territorial expansion.