"I'm a noble, but I'm also a merchant. Naturally, I'd never do business at a loss."

Street vendors in traditional markets might tell customers, "I'm selling at a loss, so take it for cheap," to appeal to housewives.

But even at larger neighborhood supermarkets, they might use phrases like "shock discounts" or "special offers," but they never outright claim to sell at a loss.

Why? Because both the shoppers and the store owners are there to make money—no one expects a business to operate at a loss.

And here I am, a merchant who has already amassed immense wealth through …