Abandoned with Cheat Skills in Another World Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Commerce Guild and Savings

After they finished their meal, the members of Serpent stood up from their seats and headed outside. Tenma followed after them.

When they reached the main street, Tenma caught up with the three heading toward the castle gate and asked Alf.

“Is the Commerce Guild this way?”

“That’s right. It’s right in front of the castle gate. We’re going to deposit money too.”

Alf and the others had both a shared Serpent account and individual personal accounts at the Commerce Guild, and the system was set up so that when money was deposited into the shared account, it would be transferred to their individual accounts the next day. That’s why the Serpent account always had a balance of zero, Alf explained with a laugh. While listening to such talk, they arrived at their destination.

As they entered the Commerce Guild, two women stood at the front counter.

“Good morning. What business brings you here today?” 

Alf told the receptionists bluntly.

“Deposit. And teach this guy about opening an account and about the Commerce Guild.”

“Understood. For deposits, please proceed over there. Someone will guide you shortly. For account opening, could you please follow me?”

“I know where it is, so I’ll go on my own. Tenma, follow her. I’ll be outside until you’re done. Even if you finish first, Mario will be outside. Got it?”

Tenma nodded at Alf’s words and followed the receptionist.

Behind the reception area was a counter with two-person benches placed there. Each seat was partitioned off. Tenma was guided to one of them and took a seat. The receptionist immediately sat in the seat across from him.

“I’m Marie, and I’ll be assisting you today. May I have your name please?”

“I’m Tenma. Please take care of me.”

“Tenma. Today is for account opening and an explanation about our Commerce Guild, is that correct?”

“Umm, I’d like to open an account, make a deposit, and exchange currency. Also, please teach me about the Commerce Guild.”

“Understood. First, to open an account, you must become a member of our guild. The membership fee is 1 copper coin. Do you have that ready? Also, please present your identification.”

Tenma took out his Guild Card and 1 copper coin from his Subspace Storage and placed them on the desk. For a moment, a middle-aged man and Marie directed sharp gazes at Tenma. As if nothing had happened, Marie said.

“Then, I’ll take care of these.”

She took the Guild Card and copper coin and disappeared into the back. In her place, the middle-aged man took a seat.

“Nice to meet you, Tenma. I’m Gadan, and I serve as the vice-representative of this Gomena Commerce Guild. I’ll teach you about our Commerce Guild.”

Gadan’s Explanation

The Commerce Guild’s work is divided into three parts: management of merchant registration, customer asset management, and business loans and their collection.

Merchant registration involves issuing licenses necessary to conduct business, and the registration fees become the guild’s profit. Merchants have grades of Iron, Copper, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Iron is for peddlers and street vendors. Copper for retail stores. Silver for those with noble patronage or merchants with multiple stores. Gold for those with royal patronage, foreign noble patronage, or shops in all Commerce Guild designated cities. Platinum is for those with patronage from two or more royal families.

Registration fees are: Iron – 5 copper coins, Copper – 50 copper coins, Silver – 1 small silver coin, Gold – 1 medium silver coin, Platinum – 1 silver coin. Licenses require renewal procedures every 5 years. Renewal fees are: Iron – 5 copper coins, everything above that is 1/10 of the registration fee.

Customer asset management involves not only holding money, but also real estate rental, brokerage for buying and selling, and mediation. Additionally, with customer consent, investment of funds into businesses, and acting as intermediary for loans to specific businesses or individuals and their collection.

Business loans and their collection refers to lending money to countries, territories, or individual business owners either by the Commerce Guild as a whole or by individual local Commerce Guilds, and collecting those loans. Naturally, interest is also collected during repayment.

“This concludes the Commerce Guild’s operations. Do you have any questions?”

“I’m fine. I understand well.”

When Gadan finished his explanation, Marie returned and sat next to Gadan.

“Tenma-sama. I’ll return these to you. Thank you very much. This is your card for monetary deposits, withdrawals, and transactions. Please register your magical power.”

Saying this, Marie returned the Guild Card to Tenma and placed a silver plate on the counter. On the plate were a golden needle, cloth, and a card with the Commerce Guild’s emblem engraved on it. Tenma looked at the plate, not knowing what to do. Gadan, sensing Tenma’s confusion, explained.

“Magical power registration is usually done with crystals within the guild or with blood. Since Tenma-sama is not a full member of our guild, you’ll need to register here on the spot. Please prick your finger with this needle and drop one drop of blood onto the card. That will complete the magical power registration.”

Hearing Gadan’s explanation, Tenma did as instructed and dropped blood onto the card. The card glowed faintly for just a moment.

“This has now become Tenma’s exclusive card.”, Gadan said. 

After confirming the magical power registration, Marie resumed explaining the card.

“Transactions can be used when shopping or conducting business at stores of guild members of Silver rank or higher. We will deduct from Tenma-sama’s account the actual transaction amount plus 1/1000. The advantage of transactions is not having to carry large amounts of currency, but since Tenma-sama appears to have an Item Box, it may not be necessary. Please look at the back.”

Marie flipped the card over. There, it was written: types of coins from medium copper and above, savings, and trust funds.

“This is designed to display the amount you have deposited. For example, if Tenma-sama deposits 1 copper coin with our guild, it will display ‘1’ in the copper coin column. Also, small and medium coins are automatically converted to higher denominations. For example, if you deposit 4 new coins to 7 medium silver coins, it will display as 1 silver coin and 1 medium silver coin. However, even if you have 100 copper coins, it won’t display as 1 small silver coin, so please understand.

Savings refers to us holding your money for a period from 6 months to 10 years, and in return, we promise a certain dividend when the term expires.

Trust funds, as Gadan explained, are treated as business loan funds and investment funds. These range from 1 month at the shortest to 30 years at the longest. We can offer higher dividends compared to savings. On the other hand, if the business you invested in fails, you may not be able to recover your investment funds. In that case, your trust funds may decrease, or in the worst case, become zero.

So, how much would you like to deposit today?”

Tenma placed 300 copper coins, 50 silver coins, and 1 gold coin on the counter. Separately, he took out 1 silver coin.

“Please deposit these, and exchange this silver coin for 8 medium silver coins and 20 small silver coins.”

Looking at the pile of coins Tenma placed on the counter, the two froze.

“Tenma-sama. Is it alright for us to hold all of these? Marie, bring the collection bag, and the exchange coins too. I have something to discuss with Tenma-sama.”

At Gadan’s words, Marie snapped back to reality and hurriedly stood up. Gadan, rubbing his hands together, said.

“Tenma-sama. Allow me to supplement the explanation Marie gave earlier. First, regarding savings, suppose Tenma-sama puts 10 silver coins into savings. At that time, you can use up to 9/10 of the saved amount. Also, current savings dividends are 3/100 of the saved amount for 6 months, increasing by 0.5 each month, reaching 60/100 dividend for 10 years.

Trust funds offer 1/100 dividend for 1 month. Up to 11 months, it increases by 0.5 each month, and from 1 year it starts at 6/100 and increases by 0.5 each month. From 10 years, it starts at 60/100 and increases by 0.2 each month. From 20 years, it’s 85/100 increasing by 0.15 each month, reaching 100/100 dividend at 30 years. Trust funds offer larger dividends in exchange for no guarantee.

Please consider using either or both of these services.”

Gadan recommended investment to Tenma. Tenma had no resistance to investing. However, he didn’t quite grasp the value of gold and silver coins. He had heard from Alf, but it didn’t quite click.

“Gadan, what can you buy with 1 silver coin? Also, what’s the value of 1 gold coin? Everyone in the countryside, including myself, didn’t live lives that required money. They just gave it to me as a farewell gift when I headed to town, so I don’t really understand. I was taught the currency units, but…”

With a surprised expression, Gadan explained. With 1 silver coin, you could buy a small mansion with a garden, and the annual operating expenses of a small territory or large city could be covered with 1 gold coin plus several to several dozen silver coins.

Hearing Gadan’s explanation, Tenma re-recognized that he was extraordinarily wealthy. Then he asked about a point of concern.

“Regarding savings dividends, if I borrowed 9 out of 10 silver coins, what would happen to the dividend?”

“For example, if Tenma borrowed 9 coins and completed repayment by maturity, you would receive the full dividend – for 10 silver coins over 10 years, that would be 16 silver coins returned. If you leave the loan unpaid, it would be 1 silver coin and 6 medium silver coins.”

“Then, please put the gold coin in 10-year savings. 5 silver coins in 1-year trust funds, and 10 silver coins in 10-year trust funds.”

Hearing Tenma’s words, Gadan suddenly stood up and bowed deeply.

“Thank you very much.”, Gadan said. 

When he looked up, Marie was standing behind Gadan with a collection bag.

Marie placed the collection bag on the counter. Gadan wrote the amounts and periods for savings and trust funds on the bag and asked Tenma to confirm. Tenma confirmed. Meanwhile, Marie counted the coins, and Gadan verified the count. He wrote the number of coins on the bag and again asked Tenma to confirm. After confirmation was complete, Gadan put the money into the bag. Finally, he tied the mouth of the bag, and both Gadan and Marie held their hands over the bag. Tenma felt something moving between their extended hands and the bag.

Marie took the collection bag and withdrew to the back. Gadan told him it would take about 30 minutes for the amounts to be reflected on the card. Hearing this, Tenma stood up. Gadan also stood and extended his hand for a handshake, so Tenma shook it in return and headed outside.

Gadan and Marie followed Tenma. They overtook Tenma, walked in front, and opened the door leading outside. When Tenma went outside, the two bowed in front of the door.

“Thank you very much. We look forward to serving you again.” 

They said in unison. Tenma also replied.

“Please take care of me.” 

He turned around. There, he found the members of Serpent giving him suspicious stares.