The financial officers of the armed forces had begun to dread every new report that came from the cavalry divisions. The reason was simple: cavalry was expensive, and the difference in cost was becoming impossible to ignore. A single light cavalry soldier required enough resources to equip three infantry soldiers, while a heavy cavalry soldier could cost the same as equipping ten infantry soldiers. Every time another order was placed, the military accountants could already feel another headache approaching.
However, while the military officials were suffering from the increasing costs, one family was celebrating the situation. The Roth family had become the primary supplier for the new heavy cavalry equipment, and the demand for their products was higher than ever. Unlike most craftsmen, they possessed the knowledge required to create complete knight armor, including the highly specialized armor designed for warhorses. The orders that arrived at their workshops represented a fortune that few other families could even dream of obtaining.
The reason the Roth family held such an advantage was not because the designs were impossible to recreate. With enough time and resources, other blacksmiths could eventually simulate the lost techniques and reproduce something similar. The problem was that the Roth family possessed the complete historical records behind the armor's creation. They knew why every material was chosen, why every layer had been placed in a specific position, and why every adjustment had been made.
Instead of starting from nothing, the Roth family was improving upon centuries of accumulated knowledge. They were not merely copying old designs but refining them and adapting them to the modern battlefield. Their armor was stronger, lighter, and better suited for the warriors who would wear it. This gave them a massive advantage over anyone attempting to recreate the designs from fragments and guesses.
The difference in craftsmanship was also a major factor. Creating high-quality armor was not simply a matter of shaping metal until it looked correct. Every piece had to be carefully adjusted to match the individual body of the person wearing it. A slight mistake could reduce mobility, create weaknesses, or even endanger the soldier during battle.
Most blacksmiths simply lacked the skill required to reach that level. They could create weapons and basic armor, but producing equipment for elite knights was an entirely different challenge. The Roth family's craftsmen, however, had spent generations mastering these techniques, and their reputation had become nearly impossible to challenge.
Because of this, the Roth family was making enormous profits from the sudden demand. Their wealth was growing rapidly, although they were far from poor even before the heavy cavalry orders began arriving. During the previous three years, they had already earned a significant fortune through their weapons, both from their own stores and from the prestigious auctions they organized.
Their success had allowed them to establish their own town, which had quickly transformed into the blacksmithing capital of Europe. The city became a place where knowledge, craftsmen, and resources gathered together. As more skilled blacksmiths arrived and more apprentices were trained there, the reputation of the city continued to grow.
The location of the Roth family's town also played a major role in its success. It was built beside a large natural bay, giving it direct access to the sea and making transportation far easier. Ships could bring enormous quantities of ore and other materials directly to the city while merchants could load finished weapons and armor before traveling to distant markets.
This advantage created opportunities for everyone involved. Merchants made fortunes by transporting resources into the city and selling Roth-made equipment across the world. The blacksmiths gained access to better materials, while the Roth family benefited from the growing economic network surrounding their workshops.
The Roth family also understood the value of controlling their own auctions. Every year, they organized a massive event where their finest creations were displayed and sold to wealthy buyers. These auctions became famous because the items sold there were not ordinary weapons but masterpieces created by some of the best craftsmen alive.
The purpose of these auctions was not only to sell equipment but also to increase the value of their creations. By limiting availability and gathering influential buyers in one place, the Roth family ensured that their weapons received the attention they deserved. The competition between wealthy collectors and military organizations caused prices to rise far beyond normal market values.
The other trade families quickly noticed the success of these auctions. However, they had no desire to create their own competing events because dividing attention would only weaken everyone's profits. Instead, they chose a different approach. They submitted their own masterpieces to the Roth family's auctions, allowing their creations to receive the same level of attention.
In return, the Roth family did not demand a commission from these sales. They were already wealthy enough that they did not need to squeeze every possible coin from their allies. Instead, they viewed cooperation as a way to strengthen the economy of their city and increase the reputation of European craftsmanship as a whole.
This cooperation created something unique within the European economy. The auctions were no longer just a Roth family event but became a gathering point for the greatest craftsmen across the continent. Buyers knew that if they wanted the finest weapons, armor, and handcrafted items available, this was the place where they had to go.
Because of this reputation, the event began attracting people from far beyond Europe. In the previous year alone, merchants from the United States had spent nearly a year traveling by ship simply to attend the auction and purchase these treasures. Using the system marketplace was technically possible, but the costs involved made it inefficient for such valuable items.
For rare masterpieces, physical travel became the better option. Wealthy buyers preferred seeing the craftsmanship themselves, negotiating directly with sellers, and ensuring that the items they purchased were genuine. The journey was long, but the rewards were worth the effort for those who could afford it.
The scale of these auctions became difficult for outsiders to comprehend. It was not merely a small gathering of wealthy individuals but a major international event that affected trade routes, resource movement, and the reputation of entire regions. The amount of money changing hands during these events was enough to influence local economies.
Of course, Europe was not the only continent with large-scale auctions. Other nations had their own events and methods of selling valuable goods. However, none had managed to create something as centralized and interconnected as the European system, largely because of the cooperation between the major trade families.
The trade families of Europe had developed a unique relationship with each other. They competed in business but understood the importance of cooperation when protecting their shared interests. Since each family specialized in different crafts, they were more interested in improving their own fields rather than destroying their rivals.
This structure was something other continents had struggled to develop. Their historical conditions had not allowed similar families and organizations to form naturally. However, many governments were now attempting to encourage the creation of guilds and professional organizations that could provide similar benefits.
China was one of the countries that had moved quickly in this direction. The government had already begun establishing professional guilds as a method of organizing experts and managing specialized fields more efficiently. At the same time, universities were aggressively recruiting talented individuals, while elite high schools worked desperately to maintain their competitiveness.
The world was rapidly changing, and every nation was searching for ways to organize knowledge and talent. Europe had its ancient trade families, while other countries attempted to build new systems that could compete with them. The question was whether these different approaches would eventually work together or become another source of conflict.