Chapter 1960 Triangular Trade

Mr. Popper also boarded the carriage and reported to Audrey: "Before I came to pick you up, I have ordered the housekeeper to book a single-family villa at the most luxurious hotel in the city for the two Highnesses and their friends to stay in. Dinner will be arranged at How about the restaurant in the same hotel? The chef's special dish 'Butter-fried cod' is well cooked."

"I listen to your arrangement, Mr. Popper, the only request is to keep a low profile as much as possible." Audrey said lightly, "To be honest, our visit to New Avalon this time is to investigate the 'Ghost Ship' It is rumored that we are not the only ones interested in this matter, and I don’t want to alert our competitors.”

Theodore Popper is a slick "human spirit", of course he can understand Her Royal Highness's hint, don't rush to nod and promise to keep tight-lipped.

The carriage galloped along the wide street for half an hour, and stopped in front of a tall ship-shaped building with huge silver sails.

Joan glanced out of the car window, the luxurious style of the hotel seemed familiar. After a little recollection, he remembered that he had seen a hotel with almost the same sign and decoration style in Baiou Harbor. After asking Mr. Popper, he found out that "Silver Sail Hotel" It is a multinational hotel chain brand headquartered in Baiougang, which is said to be the property of the Yangbo family.

Before getting out of the car, Joan specially used the "mythical disguise" to change the body and appearance of herself, Hailaer, Holden, and Audrey, so as not to expose Messinger's henchmen in the street by accident, and expose her whereabouts.

The four of them followed Mr. Popper into the hotel, and were led by the waiter to the backyard. A two-storey villa was located in the shade and flowers, with milky white walls and red roofs, creating a fairytale atmosphere.

The bedrooms for the four of them are all on the second floor, and there is a bathtub in the room. Joan took a hot bath, washed away all the dust and fatigue, and went downstairs radiant.

Mr. Popper was chatting with Holden, Joann did not interrupt after taking his seat, and listened silently.

After waiting a full hour, the ladies went downstairs. After bathing, Audrey and Hailar changed into new clothes and put on a little makeup. They both looked radiant and beautiful.

Joan looked at them and frowned.

Holden said with a smile: "How did you remove all the camouflage created by Joan's magic? If you don't change back quickly, it will be troublesome if someone sees through your identity!"

"Can't you make me look better?" Hailar pouted aggrievedly.

"Joan, how about I become a man?" Audrey also coaxed.

"All of you give me enough, I'm too lazy to serve so many requests!" Joan said angrily.

Audrey and Hailaer looked at each other, then retreated into the sofa resentfully, and changed back to the image Joan helped them design. It's not really ugly, but it's not as eye-catching as they themselves.

Mr. Popper was watching the young people bickering, and couldn't help giggling, until Her Royal Highness threw a majestic slap, so frightened that he quickly lowered his head and coughed twice to relieve his embarrassment.

"Mr. Popper, it's still early for dinner, why don't we just chat in the living room, and I happen to ask you something." Audrey said.

"Your Highness, if you want to know anything, just ask me. I dare not say anything else. I don't know the secrets of all walks of life in the city of New Avalon, the background of the rich and famous."

Mr. Popper patted his chest for assurance, like a "know-it-all".

"Let's talk about Am Flodie first, Mr. Popper. I heard that Mr. Halfling lived at sea many years ago, but now he has become a respected millionaire. I'm curious. Why make a fortune in New Avalon."

Hailar asked nonchalantly.

"I've met Flodie twice in the bridge club, and I also sat with him at the governor's wife's birthday banquet. Unfortunately, I don't have any friendship or business dealings, so I don't know him well."

Mr. Popper took a sip of coffee and said cautiously: "Mr. Flodie is very strange. He lacks enthusiasm for food and wine, and he rarely sees a smile on his face. His gloomy personality is completely incompatible with people's general impression of halflings as a nation. His only interest seemed to be accumulating wealth, and although he occasionally participated in charitable activities, I still remembered him as a 'miser'."

"When it comes to Frody's business, there are three main industries: slave trade, financial investment, and magic crystal refinery."

"Let's talk about slave trading first. In fact, the goods sold in this business are not only slaves, but also spices, tea, sugar, magic crystals and other in-demand commodities. They are constantly purchased and shipped by ocean-going ships, and they earn money by buying low and selling high. To make huge profits, the entire route is connected from beginning to end, forming a large triangle on the nautical chart—the so-called 'triangular trade'."

"The triangular trade started on the east coast of the Meteor Ocean, such as the ports of the countries of the Old World, where they purchased bulk spices, tea, coffee, and cane sugar. After loading, they crossed the Meteor Ocean and sailed from south to north along the east coast of the New World. Aboriginal islands everywhere."

"From south to north on the east coast of the New World, from Peek Bay to Asa Bay and then to Maple Leaf Bay, there are countless indigenous peoples of various ethnic groups living on the coastal islands. Whichever wins and loses, the winning side will always get a lot of prisoners of war—these are all good slaves!"

"Businessmen only use a small amount of 'hard currency', which is loved by the natives and cannot be produced by themselves, in exchange for a large group of strong prisoners of war, and then sail westward to the trading cities on the east coast of the New World, such as Leiden Port, Midgard Port, and of course New Avalon, unload spices, sugar, tea, coffee, and slaves at the ports, sell them at high prices, and buy magic crystals—mainly bulk rough and coarse crystals, Turn around and cross the Meteor Ocean, return to the starting point of this route, and sell magic crystals at major ports in the old world, thus completing the entire voyage of the 'Triangle Trade'."

"It usually takes a whole year to cruise this route. If the sailing period goes smoothly, the final profit will be tenfold!" Mr. Popper said with joy, waving his arms.

"Mr. Flodi does not directly operate the slave trade business, but buys shares in the armed merchant ships that trade slaves to earn dividends."

"Most of the halfling traders in New Avalon are keen on engaging in the financial industry, such as speculating on securities, discounting bills, pawning mortgages, and of course traditional usury."

"Mr. Flodie has been involved in these industries. It is said that his investment income is quite rich. This may be related to his special friendship with the governor's family. If there is any trouble in the city, the news will always reach his ears first. .”

At this point, Mr. Popper hesitated to speak.

Joan saw his concerns and said, "I've already set up a 'mage's secret room' in this living room. You don't have to worry about being eavesdropped. Just speak up if you have something to say."

...

·Today in History: Black Triangle Trade

As the name suggests, "Black Triangle Trade" is a common form of triangular trade. The reason why the word "black" is added is because it involves the criminal activity of selling black people as slaves.

The common slave trade is divided into three parts like the so-called triangular trade in the standard concept, but the evil slave trade is inserted into it:

In the first step, European merchants ship locally, usually razors, kettles, metal pots and bowls, glass beads and other commodities suitable for sale in Africa. Ships usually go south along the cold Canary Current on the coast of North Africa, and after a few weeks of sailing, they reach the coast at 12 degrees north latitude (now Guinea-Bissau), and then catch the Guinea Warm Current and continue southward along the Gulf of Guinea, reaching their destination in Central Africa area.

After European merchants arrived in Africa, they would exchange the cheap commodities in Europe with black tribal chiefs for healthy young blacks, or simply send out armed men on board to form slave hunting teams to capture black slaves by themselves. This process lasted for about a month. When the merchant ship was full of slaves, the second step of this triangular trade would begin.

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In the second step, the ship full of black slaves will cross the Atlantic Ocean near the equator and sail to southern North America or the West Indies.

Often these slave ships were overloaded, and ships rated to carry more than 400 people could sometimes hold more than a thousand people. The blacks were chained to the bed frame in the cabin or locked directly in the cabin. They ate, drank, and scattered on the spot, with only a small amount of fresh water and food barely sustaining their lives every day. More than half of them will die on the way, and the stinking corpses will be thrown directly into the sea by the crew. The black slaves are generally put on the deck once or twice a week to blow air-this is not the kindness of the European merchants, but otherwise, more slaves may be lost.

When the ship arrived at the destination, the black slaves were sometimes sent to the nearest slave market for sale, or resold to specialized wholesalers. Slave traders would use the money from the slave trade to buy local specialties, usually tobacco leaves and cane sugar, or tea.

The second step in the trade is complete when the cargo is filled to the brim.

The third step, of course, is to return to Europe by boat. With the help of the warm Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Current, these criminal merchant ships sail back to the Old Continent full of goods that can be sold at a good price in Europe.

This heinous crime lasted for nearly 400 years, transporting tens of millions of blacks across the Atlantic from Africa to America.