Chapter 87 : Chapter 87
Chapter 087
Perhaps because it was so far beyond anything he had expected, Kalmond stared blankly for a moment before finally snapping back to himself. Then he asked,
“You mean to fund all three Young Masters? That sounds far too burdensome. Young Master Prah alone was already receiving 1,000 Gold every month. A thousand Gold is an enormous sum.”
“It is not as though I am saying this without knowing that. We already have 12,000 Gold on hand, and we are not going to stop expanding here, so we need to move aggressively.”
“Hm......”
“Mond, do not look at it so negatively. Take a broader view. All right?”
Kalmond still looked unconvinced. So I spoke to him gently, as though an older brother were calming a younger one.
“We will trade, do mercenary work, run businesses, and secure business interests throughout the Territory. That is how we build things up step by step. Money is not useful just because you pile it up in a warehouse. What matters is creating a flow and keeping it moving properly. We cannot afford to be stingy when it comes to spending.”
That was a basic economic principle as well. If we managed to establish a healthy circulation structure, it would become a very strong company.
Later on, I intended to use my double identity to supply major noble houses, beginning with the Adeline Marquis House itself.
In that respect, my current position as a Butler Apprentice was an enormous advantage.
Take the food ingredient business, for example. Since I already had one strong connection at Rosetta, securing a contract would not be difficult.
On top of that, Head Butler Yanrof and Training Officer Vesper were practically my people already, so I could make use of them in moderation.
More than anything, I had Young Lady Sapiela behind me. If she said a single word, Marquis Chronos would likely spring out of bed in alarm.
“......Understood. Well, numbers have never been my strong suit. In any case, I will follow your lead. Then what amount do you have in mind specifically?”
“Add another 200 Gold and make it 1,200. If we swallow the Black Pig Gang whole and then offer the exact same amount, it will have been no different from doing nothing at all. The scale of the tribute needs to increase gradually. And not just in cash. We’ll need to offer goods as well.”
“Then that means we’ll be taking on at least 3,800 Gold in fixed monthly costs.”
“3,600 Gold.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
From that one exchange alone, I came to understand Kalmond’s sense for arithmetic. From now on, I had better leave the ledgers to Eluna.
“Think of it not as a fixed cost, but as an investment. It will come back to us more than twofold. We still have a great deal left to do, do we not?”
Kalmond nodded heavily.
Now that he had become someone who believed whatever I said, I could speak freely. Even when I spoke of visions for the future, he no longer questioned me.
“On the other hand, I suppose we must continue preparing for war as well. War Booty is important too, after all.”
“No. For the time being, focus on internal consolidation and simply draw up a list of organizations worth taking over. If we expand too rapidly, an allied bloc hostile to us may emerge.”
“Ah. I failed to consider that.”
History had already proven as much. The coalition against Dong Zhuo from the Three Kingdoms was a perfect example. That was why what we needed now was a period of consolidation, building our strength while settling into place.
At the same time, we would need to create our own allies and neutral forces, and begin laying that groundwork.
No matter how strong I was, I could not handle enemies pouring in from every direction all at once. In the end I might still win, but I would lose too many subordinates.
Keeping the sacrifice of my men to an absolute minimum.
That was one of my goals.
“The very first thing we need to do is find out whether there are any Underworld organizations making regular payments to the Young Masters. If possible, we should avoid those organizations and absorb the ones that are relatively clean instead.”
“Understood. I will send men out at once to investigate that. But how should we make the offer of tribute to the Young Masters?”
“I’ll handle that part myself, so do not worry. The timing will be after the company has been established.”
“You mean to offer them tribute under the company’s name rather than the Avengers’?”
“Of course. From the Young Masters’ point of view, receiving money from an Underworld organization would be rather burdensome. They’ll like it more if we spare them that concern.”
“A sound idea.”
The only reason I could step in personally was because I had the Face Mask. Once the company was formally established, I would be doing far more public business anyway, so there would be no issue with walking around in the mask.
For now, I planned to have Eluna draft a proposal, then meet them either outside or inside and discuss matters directly.
And while I was at it, I could also get a better look at the character of the First and Second Young Masters.
“And those craftsmen we recruited before, do you remember them? Summon them immediately.”
“So it is finally beginning?”
Kalmond’s eyes lit up. I had told him before that I would create something extraordinary and make a great deal of money from it. Grinning, I nodded.
“We are already a little late, so hurry.”
“Yes.”
Kalmond immediately left his seat.
***
A short while later, the door opened and three men and one woman entered, each with an entirely different look. There were four of them in total, and these were the technicians Kalmond had recruited.
With great respect, Kalmond gestured toward me and said,
“Pay your respects. This is Leader Suhyeon of the Avengers.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“I look forward to working with you, Boss.”
From the way the technicians greeted me, their individual temperaments were immediately obvious.
One was perfunctory, one deferential, one eager, and one openly greedy.
I had not used to study people so closely, but after working as a butler, I had come to realize that a person’s impression and attitude often had something to do with his work ability.
So I examined them as though I were becoming a Training Officer myself.
The one who struck me most deeply was a handsome young man. He wore glasses, along with a brown vest and trousers, and gave off the air of an intellectual.
He belonged to the deferential sort among the types I had just mentioned.
I was not fond of clingy people, nor of people who were too indifferent, nor of those whose greed showed openly. I preferred things clean and tidy. Business ought to end in business.
Of course, if someone’s ability was outstanding enough, then that changed the equation somewhat.
Without hesitation, I pointed to him.
“You. What’s your name?”
“Spinel.”
“That is a fine name. Since fate has brought us together, shall we shake hands?”
Kalmond looked at me as though to say, Are you not showing too much favoritism? But I paid him no mind and shook hands with Spinel.
Just as expected, the Status Window appeared.
That meant he too held a certain degree of feeling toward me.
○ Spinel Artois
Rank: ★★★★
Level: 27
Trait: Loyalty S, Fabrication A, Material Procurement A, Design A, Taste A, Forming B, Gemcraft B, Polishing C, Instrument Performance C, Cooking C, Smelting D, Mining D, ???, ???
Status: Favorable
[Not Unlocked]
[Not Unlocked]
......
Just as I thought.
A four-star talent, and he possessed all the virtues a technician ought to have. Fabrication and Material Procurement were one thing, but Design as well? And Taste at A-rank? Was he some sort of gourmand?
Looking at his neat appearance, I found myself thinking that he would suit sitting elegantly in a fine restaurant, listening to music while cutting into a meal with perfect poise.
The fact that his Status toward me was Favorable did not seem especially noteworthy, but if I wanted to win him over, feeding him something delicious would likely do the trick. Was there a good restaurant nearby?
And Loyalty at S-rank, of all things. Remarkable. If I played this well and won his heart, he would never betray me.
I ought to check the other technicians’ Status Windows as well. Though I did not know whether all of them would appear.
“Shall I shake hands with the others too?”
I naturally shook hands with the other technicians as well. The rest were ordinary enough, but one of them had an atrocious Status Window. His Level was not even 10, and his highest-ranked Skill was only C.
He was the very one who had given off a greedy impression.
Smiling at him, I said,
“Regrettably, I only intend to hire three people. You may go back now.”
“W-what?”
“I mean you’re free to go home. Your skill has not yet matured. We are not such an easy organization.”
“Hah!”
The middle-aged man with C-rank skills was flustered.
He looked toward Kalmond with a dumbfounded expression, silently protesting. But my order was law in this place. Kalmond took him outside.
Silence fell over the room.
Then Spinel, wearing a curious smile, asked me,
“How did you know the friend you sent away lacked skill?”
“A man worthy of being called an artisan never has hands that are too smooth, yet his were entirely clean. I also did not like the greedy attitude he was giving off. Excessive greed invites disaster.”
I spoke as though giving a warning. But Spinel merely shrugged.
He had courage too?
“So that is why you shook our hands. As expected, your reputation is well deserved.”
“Is my reputation that high?”
“At least in the Underworld, there is no one who does not know the name Iron Man.”
Not only was he skilled with his hands, but his way with words was not bad either. Smiling, I pointed at him.
“You seem to be the most capable of the lot. I would like you to take charge of our manufacturing business, at least for the time being. What do you say?”
“If you provide compensation worthy of the work, I have no reason to refuse. Artisans like us prove our worth through our skill.”
“I like how easily we understand each other, Spinel. I hereby appoint you as the Head of Manufacturing. Do the others have any objections?”
I looked over the remaining two. A young man and a woman. They looked slightly dissatisfied, but neither protested.
“Good. Then shall I show you the object we are going to make from now on? Come over here, all of you.”
At the large round table, I spread out the blueprint I had drawn myself. The artisans all held their breath as they looked it over.
The others merely tilted their heads in confusion.
Spinel, however, was different.
His eyes flashed once, and then he broke into a grin.
“A most intriguing object. A rod through which liquid flows via this conduit, with a nib attached at the end. If the liquid were replaced with ink, it would fit perfectly. Is it meant to be used for writing?”
“Exactly. You truly do have a good eye.”
“The blueprint is excellent. I have never seen such a method before, but...... it is innovation itself.”
The two of us admired each other’s ability. It was one thing for me, since I had once worked a part-time job drawing blueprints. But for this man to grasp it all in an instant just by looking at it, I could not help thinking he might be a true genius.
I’ll work him hard and turn him into a five-star talent. Slowly, carefully, I’ll win his loyalty too.
“What do you think, Spinel? Can it be made?”
“I would say the odds are half and half.”
“Explain in more detail.”
Rubbing his chin, he pointed to various parts of the blueprint as he explained.
“If the purpose of this tool is writing, then it must be both light and durable. But with this blueprint, the parts are very small overall and difficult to refine. In other words, securing the right materials will be difficult.”
If only we had plastic, it would be easy to make. But at present, we lacked the technology to produce it. That meant we needed a material capable of replacing plastic.
It was exactly the obstacle I had already anticipated.
That was also why I had made him department head in the first place. His Material Procurement rank was A. He would find an answer somehow.
“Then why did you still say there was a fifty percent chance of success?”
“Because the blueprint itself is exceptionally good. Even Academy graduates do not use methods like this. It is original, yet expressed with precision. They do say that beginning is half of the whole, do they not? In that sense, this is a very textbook-perfect beginning.”
“And?”
“If the material can be found, then there is no reason it cannot be made. I shall have to think on it further.”
I rolled the blueprint back up. Then I handed it to Spinel.
“Are you truly certain you should be giving this to me? What if I run off with it?”
“If I can’t trust one of my own people, then who can? Just keep it.”
Spinel accepted the blueprint and tucked it away inside his coat.
“Request all necessary funds from Kalmond. I’ll concentrate all support on this. One week will be enough, won’t it?”
“I shall do my utmost.”
“Doing your utmost is useless. Bring me results. I’ll make you rich. Let’s become rich beyond reason! Do you know what that really means?”
“Well, no.”
“It means being absurdly rich.”
We looked at one another and grinned.