Upon hearing Zero's request to take a seat, Shinsuke sat down just in front of him, while asking for a drink.
"I can understand that Kusarian isn't really the easiest language around. Just call me Shinsuke, to ease your mind." - he said, while keeping his eyes on the Brigand representative on the other side of the table - "The Hogosha Association of House Kusari wishes to expand its black market dealings to the Gallic black market as well. However, before doing so, we needed to contact the two major parties that control said black market - them being the Unione Corse and the Brigands. I was sent here as a means to establish a profitable and durable relation with your group. Shall we begin?"
He paused, while taking a sip of his drink, waiting the answer of the Brigand.
"It's not a compliment, it's a matter of fact. I never saw you whining about stuff when it didn't go your way, you never do ooRP-arranged stuff, you're active, you're good at playing your character ingame and you're neutral enough to not end up as a clown infront of the community."
Zero nodded to Shinsuke's query, his hand gesturing in front him.
"Oui. Let's begin. I'll start with a question if you don't mind? What is the main reason for reaching out towards the Brigands, and by extension the Unione Corse? It seems that most would try and edge their way in, rather than talking with their main competitors."
Zero was being careful with his words, he wanted to make the Kusarian think carefully about his answer.
Upon hearing Zero's peculiar answer, Shinsuke pondered his words before answering.
"The Hogosha Association controls the black market of House Kusari, you see. Due to the fact that more and more clients are asking for commodities not available on the Kusarian market - and black market by extension - we chose to expand our fields of operation. One of these is Gallia, where we would ask what we consider the two major parties controlling the Gallic black market - the Corse, and you by extension. " - "As a fact, we of the Hogosha Association do not consider Brigands and Corse as competitors, but rather as potential business partners. Besides, we would not just edge our way in the Gallic black market without getting sniffed by the main competitors, hai? Why would we do that instead of seeking a durable and profitable partnership? For instance, all parties would benefit by opening themselves, with you being available to obtain things such as Sorted Artifacts, or Junyo Fire Pearls, or even Stuttgart Blue Jillies from our black market, while we would benefit by potentially acquiring peculiar commodities of Gallic origin. Of course, what I described was just a mere example."
He ended his short speech, taking a sip of his drink, awaiting the Brigand's answer.
"It's not a compliment, it's a matter of fact. I never saw you whining about stuff when it didn't go your way, you never do ooRP-arranged stuff, you're active, you're good at playing your character ingame and you're neutral enough to not end up as a clown infront of the community."
Zero answered clearly and concisely, trying to conseal his distraction and lack of focus.
"Oui, oui. We are always interested in acquiring more goods that we can distribute among the Gallic markets. The rarer something is, the higher the price a collector will pay for it, as I am sure you know. Though... I am wondering something. What are 'blue jillies?"
His pronunciation of Blue Jillies was clearly off, and it was clear he was rather unfamiliar with the item.
Still looking at Zero, Shinsuke picked a small pad with the image of a field of Blue Jillies.
"Hai, the rarer a commodity is, and the higher a possible buyer would pay for it - that's how the 'underground economy' we dwell in works.
Coming to your question: Blue Jillies are little blue flowers originary of Planet Stuttgart, in House Rheinland. In order to move them, though - given the fact that they are protected - you will require at least neutral standing with House Rheinland, and a special permit you have to ask for via official channels."
He ended his short speech, taking a sip of his drink, and then continued.
"As a statement, the Hogosha have many businesses in all four Major Houses of Sirius, ranging from Artifacts to Junyo Fire Pearls, going through all kind of booze - Vodka, Gin, Sake etc. - and also all kind of blackmarket munitions for those who require them - like, for example, the Lane Hackers of Liberty, or the Gaians of Bretonia, or even the mighty Corsair Empire. On the other hand, we have little to none stable businesses in House Gallia. And that's where the Brigands and Corsicans come in. You have more knowledge on the Gallic underground market more than we do. Perhaps we could exchange information of certain goods that the Gallic people are thriving to pay for, and viceversa?"
Ending his speech, he took another sip of his drink.
Zero nodded along in agreement as the Kusarian spoke. He took a keen interest when they mentioned weapons.
"Hmm. Oui. I understand. I take it that the Hogosha are very similar to the Brigands and Unione in that regards then? You are the black market traders of Sirius, as we are of Gallia. While I do love the idea of importing new goods, and expanding our business with exports, I am aware of the risks it entails. Bringing in more things to sell, isn't always the greatest of ideas. Sometimes an existing hold might ware a bit thin due to increased demand of other products."
"To elaborate, as we bring in more narcotics, more people will become addicted to them instead of our homemade Nox. While this isn't inherently bad, it does create a dependency on the import of this new substance. Most of our imported goods so far are things we can either replicate or maintain a steady supply of. It's a very risky move to establish new business on goods that would become high in demand very quickly. If either side was unable to produce the needed quantities or produce shipments fast enough, it would severely hamper trade and relations on both sides.
"You are more than correct. Importing more exotic commodities is profitable, but also very risky. However, the demand for these exotic commodities would increase, and their sale price too - which brings more wealth into out pockets, hai?"
He took a sip of his drink, and then continued.
"With House Kusari reunited once more - news straight from Kusari tabloids, it is likely possible that certain commodities that Gallic citizens are seeking, like Artifacts or Kyushu Rice, for example - might go on a shortage, and the same might happen with goods like your own Nox, or Wine, Tobacco in Kusari. We should work on a suitable agreement that would benefit equally both sides. Do you have any propositions on this, perhaps?"
Zero raised a finger slightly mid-way through Shinsuke's sentence, as if to dispute his words, but quickly lowered it, as he continued.
"Our main commodity of trade, is Nox, as I'm sure you know well, and you're right, we are always looking to expand this trade in particular. I think, and this is just my opinion, that we need to focus on a deal that will ensure an equal amount of both importation and exportation is conducted. As most of our goods, Nox especially, are extremely addictive, moderation is key. Too much prices either go down or we become unable to supply the required amount due to an increase in addicts. Too little and it's not widespread enough to gain traction, popularity, and by extension, profits."
Shinsuke, yet again, nodded at Zero while listening to him.
"Hence why we need to find a suitable solution. My thought was to not rely solely on Nox haulage, but to vary the imports and exports. For example, we could import Kyushu Rice, Sorted Artifacts, drinks and -if specifically required- black market arms and munitions, and export Gallic wine, tobacco, blue diamonds and even Nox, the latter though can be exported once in a while in order to maintain the flow of the substance through Sirius and Gallia alike and the profits for both of us at the same time while keeping the addicts under the lens. Maybe you could export wine, tobacco, blue diamonds, Nox or any sort of unique gallic commodity within Kusari -where we would then distribute through the Sirian Houses- and in exchange you could export unique Sirian commodities you deem exotic, like Holotainment Bands and Holosculptures."
He paused, took a small sip from his drink, and continued.
"Of course, mine is nothing but a mere example. If you have any propositions, please go ahead."
"It's not a compliment, it's a matter of fact. I never saw you whining about stuff when it didn't go your way, you never do ooRP-arranged stuff, you're active, you're good at playing your character ingame and you're neutral enough to not end up as a clown infront of the community."
Zero slightly nods his end and moves it back and forth has he mulls over what he has just been told. There was a chance for both profit and loss, as there always is, so he needed to make sure the right move was made.
"Our main interests, at least in my eyes, are drugs, weapons, and slaves. Drugs are a consistent reminder how people make mistakes, profitable mistakes. Drugs allow us to establish a more permanent income, as without a steady supply you quite literally 'lose' customers.
Weapons serve two purposes. We either sell them to the highest bidder, or use them to boast our own power. Many operations in the past have used weapons we have imported from Sirius. While the Gallic crown is very capable of demonstrating his ability to create weapons of mass destruction, you Sirians seem to have mastered the technique of killing each other in rather horrific ways.
And lastly, we have one my favourite practices. Slavery. There are two ways in which this benefits us. We either use the labour in the production of many products and services, or we sell them to the highest bidder. Well, there is also another thing. The men over at one of our bases are considered some of the best providers of human organs we've encountered. Their equipment and methods are second to none, and the trade fetches us a rather nice price.
That all being said, if you can hook us up with things that, at a minimum, fit into these criteria, we can offer out our services to you. We would have to establish some ground rules about your operation in our space, but that would be for Rousseau to decide, that is not my place - or so I'm told."
Zero puts his hands flat on the table, with two fingers pointing at the Kusarian.