Chapter 41 (2/2)

For a kid born in the 1990s, maybe sugar wasn't sweet at all since they were used to something sweeter like candy, but for those Europeans who even considered eating brown sugar luxurious, cane sugar almost represented the advance of technology.

”It's really is sugar,” Big Nose said as he savored it. ”far better than what we produce.”

”Is it a new domestic product?” Giant Orange said after tasting some. ”Maybe it has been produced too much at home. Otherwise, how can it be sold to Svalbard?”

”Maybe not too much,” a tall Dutchman joined in the discussion.

Walue was still sitting there, listening to the guesses of his subordinates. The governor of the East India Company was a powerful position, but it was not true at every place of the world, for example, Svalbard.

There were several organizations named East India Company in the history, of which the most famous was the British East India Company. In the 17th century, the Dutch East India Company was fighting the Spanish and the Portuguese over the domination of Svalbard.

Presently, the Netherlands was at an advantage. In tens of years, the Dutch would completely monopolize the whaling trade of the North Pole. Right now, Walue didn't dare to slack off. To buy the grains of that guy from Java Island would cost thousands of gold coins, or even more. ”Without money, how can the company buy blubber, which is a strategic material? Is there going to be war?”

Thinking of this, Walue sat up suddenly and said in a hurry, ”Is there anybody who has come from home or Europe recently?”

”Psyche just arrived last month. What's wrong?” Big Nose wondered.

”How's the situation at home? And Europe?”

”Everything is fine.” Big Nose exhaled. ”Except for the British. Without them, the world would be peaceful.”

”The British…” Walue mumbled, which he enjoyed doing, just like the earls at home. However, everyone who knew him knew that he wasn't an aristocrat. Maybe he could get one of the t.i.tles when Svalbard became a part of the Netherlands.

”Mr. Governor?”

Walue stopped thinking about it. He took his elbows off the arms of the chairs, stood up by leaning on the table and said, ”Klee, we will collect blubber at the CIF price of last year.”

”What about these?” Big Nose pointed at the cane sugar and grains on the table.

Walue swept them off the table in disgust and said, ”We must first guarantee the domestic supply of blubber. Let the Spanish buy these things.”