novelSusiti Chapter 163 Triple Price
Chapter 163 Triple Price
One week later, Smyrna Port.
A passenger ship flying the British Union Jack slowly docked, and Antonio Petaras, carrying a simple leather suitcase, stepped down the gangway. His current role was the chief representative of the British Helios Shipping Company in Smyrna.
The land beneath his feet gave him a completely different feeling.
The air was thick with the cloying sweetness of Asia Minor spices, the pungent odor of dried leather, and the faint, decadent scent wafting from the distant opium dens. It was a sensual cacophony, half heavenly fragrance and half hellish stench.
On the docks, merchants and sailors in all sorts of clothing thronged together. Turks wearing fauz hats, Arabs in robes, shrewd Armenian merchants, European adventurers with high noses and deep-set eyes... people of different skin colors and faiths mingled here, creating a noisy and distorted prosperity.
This place was a den of iniquity for the Ottoman Empire, and also a paradise for adventurers.
Petalas' arrival was like a pebble thrown into the ocean, without causing the slightest ripple.
In Muradbey's mansion, the underground king of Smyrna had just finished a lavish luncheon. He leaned back on a soft Persian carpet, two beautiful dancers massaging his legs, and on the table in front of him were top-quality wines imported from France.
An aide respectfully handed him a brief intelligence report about the "Sun God Shipping Company".
Muradbay glanced at it lazily, and when he saw the typical Greek name of the chief representative, "Antonio Petalas," he let out a disdainful sneer.
"A Greek." He swirled the crimson liquid in his glass, like blood. "Even if you dressed him in English clothes, he'd still be a dog wagging its tail at the smell of gold."
"Over the years, how many Europeans have tried to compete with me for food in Smyrna? In the end, they all obediently went back home."
He brought the glass to his lips and took a sip.
"Keep an eye on him. See what tricks this little dog is up to."
The staff member bowed and withdrew.
Muradbay didn't take this newcomer seriously at all. In his view, he was just another European speculator blinded by the legends of Eastern wealth. He believed that in less than three months, this Greek named Petaras would slink out of Smyrna with his meager capital.
However, Petalas' next move was completely beyond his expectations.
Petaras did not visit the Chamber of Commerce, did not try to seize the supply of goods, and did not try to lower prices to attract customers.
The first thing he did was to book the entire top floor of the "Imperial Glory Hotel," the most upscale hotel in Smyrna.
Then, in the name of "Sun God Shipping Company", he hosted an extremely luxurious banquet.
Invitations to the banquet arrived like snowflakes in every corner of Smyrna Port. But strangely, those who received the invitations were neither the big merchants who controlled the goods nor the port officials.
He invited only one group—all the captains and first-class sailors working in the Muradbey fleet.
This move has left the entire Smyrna shipping industry bewildered.
On the night of the banquet, the top-floor banquet hall of the Imperial Glory Hotel was brightly lit.
The long dining table was laden with roasted whole lamb, caviar, and all sorts of delicacies whose names I couldn't recall. A band from Europe played an elegant waltz.
Nearly a hundred invited captains and sailors sat stiffly in their seats. Most of them came from impoverished backgrounds and spent their days battling the wind and waves; they had never witnessed such a lavish scene. While greedily enjoying the fine wine and delicacies, they observed the hosts of this banquet with bewildered and wary eyes.
Petaras did not make any lengthy remarks.
He waited until everyone had drunk several rounds of wine and eaten several dishes before slowly standing up.
He clapped his hands.
Immediately, a group of servants in respectable uniforms, carrying silver platters, approached each captain.
On the silver plate lay a thick envelope.
The commotion instantly subsided. All eyes were fixed on the envelopes.
Petaras raised his glass, a warm smile on his face.
"Captains, gentlemen." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears.
"My boss, an unnamed British gentleman, greatly admires the superb seamanship you all displayed in the storm."
He raised his glass, gesturing to the crowd.
"Inside the envelope is your annual salary prepared by Sun God Shipping."
He paused, then uttered the number that made the entire audience hold their breath.
"Not much, exactly three times the salary you're currently receiving from Muradbay. And it'll be settled in pounds."
"Whoosh—"
The scene erupted in uproar!
Triple pay! And settled in the strong pound!
For these sailors who risked their lives every day to make a living for their families, this was an irresistible, devilish temptation!
Petaras's smile remained unchanged, and he made a "please" gesture.
"Those willing to serve this generous British gentleman, please open the envelope; inside is your employment contract. From tomorrow onwards, you will be employees of the Sun God Shipping Company."
His gaze swept across the banquet hall entrance.
"If you don't wish to, the door is over there. The banquet is over. Please make yourself at home."
There were no threats, no persuasion.
There are only naked, multiple-choice questions, piled high with gold.
An old, unshaven captain, his hands trembling, was the first to open the envelope. When he saw the number on the contract—a number he had never dared to imagine in his entire life—his eyes instantly reddened.
Once there's a first, there's a second, a third...
That night, more than half of the senior captains and almost all of the first-class sailors in Muradbey's fleet did not return to their original ships docked in the port.
Muradbey's central nervous system was undermined overnight!
The next morning, while Muradbey was still furious about the collective "disappearance" of dozens of core crew members the night before, an even more insane message arrived.
The "Helios Shipping Company" in Petalas officially opened for business.
Their first freight rate list sent shockwaves through the entire Smyrna business district.
For all routes and all cargo, the prices are a full 30% lower than Murad's company!
As soon as the news broke, those astute businessmen, like sharks smelling blood, tore up their contracts with Muradbey and flocked to the offices of "Helios Shipping".
Muradbey stood on the balcony of his mansion, looking at the long line forming in front of the "Sun God Shipping" in the distance, his face turning gloomy for the first time.