So my trader is still relatively young, but I was wondering if there is (or could be) the ability to request a contract destination at a heavily discounted reward (like, the profit on the contract is only worth 10% or 15% of what it would usually be).

The issue: While contract trading I invariably get to the point where I want to stop, but would like one last contract to take me back to the central hub (rather than returning empty handed, which I often do). Since I'm caravaning it's not any more effort (usually), but it feels very un-traderlike to head back to a municipal area with empty cargo. How I envision things going:

>ask minister for work to Crossing

The minister frowns. "We really don't have any open orders heading in that direction, but I suppose if you wanted to take these empty barrels from the last gala back we could draft something quickly."

>give contract to clerk

The clerk glances at the contract, an eyebrow inadvertently arching. "After dues, your net profit will be...200 kronars. Don't spend it all in one place."

It should be heavily discounted so it remains more efficient training/profitable to take random contracts than requesting them. But this way I'm still performing some task (albeit for little to no profit/experience) when I'm heading back.

I understand I could just return the caravan and script/manual walk back, but this just feels non-trader to me, as well. As a merchant, why would I take my caravan all the way up to Dirge, deliver the goods, and return the caravan just so I can walk back to the Crossing? It seems that I'd keep my caravan for the convenience and then offer to take almost any job (except for one at a loss) that is headed that direction.

Low-priority for sure, but throwing it out there.