Chapter 289 - 33: The Lord
Adelle introduced many people to Jones, including members of the Sambo family advisory council and members of the Hilde Chamber of Commerce. It could be said that Jones had his horizons greatly expanded all at once.
Regardless of where Adelle went, someone would greet him. Jones was utterly stunned.
"You know every single merchant in the Hilde Chamber of Commerce..."
"No, I only know the big merchants. But generally, the rest know me. Jones, business is different from warfare. In war, there are always winners and losers, but business can result in a win-win or a lose-lose situation. War arrays opposing forces against each other, fighting for life and death, but business operates on a completely different principle. If your ventures are large and varied enough, you might even find you don’t truly have competitors at all. Every opponent may become a collaborator in some respect, and every partner may become a competitor in another respect—like the Ganggro Family."
"One of the three major Blood Clan families?"
"Yes, the Ganggro Family, which is comparable to our Sambo family." Adelle held a glass of wine as he stood on the balcony, gesturing toward the garden of the chamber.
Following his gaze, Jones saw a tall Blood Clan member wearing a white robe discussing something with another Blood Clan member in the garden.
Yes, a white robe, similar to the robes worn by priests. Among the Blood Clan, who favor formal attire, this style of clothing was exceedingly rare.
"Is that a member of the Ganggro Family?"
"Yes. The members of this family are easily identifiable, as they all wear the same style of white robe, regardless of gender." Turning around and leaning against the railing, Adelle said, "The Ganggro Family’s strongest business is banking, far surpassing our Sambo family. Admittedly, they’ve already put some pressure on us. But, on the other hand, we collaborate in the slave trade. Our Sambo family has an advantage in the supply of slaves, while they excel in slave sales. We can’t possibly take all the pie ourselves. If we were to attempt it, the only result would be to weaken our strengths and consequently, the other two families would join forces to devour us."