In this world ravaged by Calamities, rife with bandits, and where nations are distant and wary of each other, large-scale freight trade exists only between countries and giant corporations, with massive land-based cargo ships being the primary mode of commerce.
These enormous land ships are equivalent to oceanic cargo super-freighters on Earth; they require hundreds of escort personnel, all highly skilled and employed by the state, along with dozens of fixed-point ballista turrets, to ensure they aren't plundered.
However, if it's a Laterano cargo land ship, even terrorists wouldn't dare to cross it; with at least ten fixed-point rotary cannons, anyone who touches it dies.
Of course, for these cargo land ships managed by nations and giant corporations, the taxes and fees required to lease cargo space are not small; ordinary merchants would absolutely not be able to afford the price.
Therefore, besides large cargo land ships, Terra also has many private commercial activities; there are government-sanctioned border caravan teams, and also smugglers strictly forbidden by the government; these merchants sell everything, whether it's allowed or not.
Black market merchants like Sha Zu, who have extensive connections, represent the pinnacle of such private organizations; as long as you pay enough, he can even get Goki an Originium cannon.
Naturally, most merchants are neither purely black nor purely white, but rather a refined shade of gray, living purely for money.
"Mr. Goki, my friend, we might have to stay here for a while."
A man encased in iron armor, peering out from the co-driver's seat, politely apologized to Goki.
Cannotgoodenough, a name as fake as it gets, is an itinerant merchant active on the Columbia border, primarily operating in the Gapass Wasteland.
Merchants need courage and wisdom to speculate between nations, and even more, they need a bit of good connections.
This merchant, Cannot, was introduced to Goki by Kaltsit, so that he and Skadi could follow his caravan to their destination, Kawaleria.
"What happened, Mr. Cannot? I have no demands regarding the travel speed; everything according to your pace—after all, we're just hitchhikers, aren't we?"
Goki, holding Skadi's arm, gave a proper smile to the man who looked like an NPC from the neighboring Lordran, with a metal helmet on his head and his body wrapped in a wide cloak.
Although this fellow was a mere background character, Goki, during his time as the former Doctor, often encountered him while playing roguelikes, so he was particularly familiar with him.
Anyone who can traverse the borders between two countries isn't a truly pure and legitimate merchant; Mr. Cannot naturally has his own backing.
However, Goki didn't care and wasn't worried; even if an reinforced company came, Goki wouldn't mind.
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