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(5/20)
Chapter 4 – Product Selection
In the captain’s quarters of the Castle, I gave Camille-san and the others information about the western continent. Then, I gave them the documents that Ilma-san and I had translated and asked them to choose the trade goods to take to the western continent. Camille-san and the other top merchants did their best to select the goods. I don’t know how it will turn out, but I’m looking forward to doing business in the western continent, which is different from the stability of the pepper trade and could be described as speculation.
While Camille-san and the others were busy selecting products, I decided to take a leisurely stroll around the Castle, something I hadn’t done in a long time.
Since moving around in a large group would be a nuisance to the other guests, I walked around the ship with Ines, Felicia, and Rimu. As expected, Pent stayed behind.
Inside the ship, there were many guests, both men and women, dressed in their best to enjoy the luxury liner, walking around happily with sparkling eyes.
Since a luxury liner is used for long voyages according to the original specifications, it is not necessary to dress up all the time as long as you follow TPO, but perhaps it is because this is a short stay; everyone seems to be dressed up as best they can. [T/n: Time, place, occasions.]
There are some people moving around the ship with a desperate look on their faces, but they are probably merchants. They are probably more desperate to get their hands on the luxury liner’s goods than to enjoy the luxury liner.
There are different races and tribes in this world, and there are even some unusual staff members like Saporabi, which makes me feel like I’ve wandered into a cosplay venue for a bit.
It is a bit uncomfortable, but I think a luxury liner is more attractive when there are many people on board.
Well, a luxury liner without people is not so bad once you get used to it because it feels like a monopoly.
Oh, is that Flora-san? I feel like her mood has changed a bit, but I’m sure it’s because she’s with Saporabi, whom I’ve assigned to her exclusively as promised.
She’s wearing plain clothes and seems private, but since I helped her find a job, I’m wondering if she’s having any problems living here, so I thought I’d give her a call.
“Flora-san, it’s been a while.”
“Ara, Wataru-san, Ines, Felicia-san, Rimu-chan, it’s been a while!”
I called out to her, and she replied with a bright smile. Flora-san never forgets to greet Rimu, which makes her even more likable.
“Flora-san, how’s your work going? Is there any problem?”
Looking at that smile, I see that there seems to be no problem at work, but I check just to be sure.
“No problems at all. Well, it’s a job, so there are hard times, but compared to when I worked for the guild, I’m too happy to worry.”
I don’t really understand that last part, but I do know that it doesn’t seem to be a problem at all.
“Huh? …Flora, don’t you look more beautiful?”
Following me, her childhood friend Ines was talking to Flora-san, but the content of the conversation was strange.
Flora-san is a beautiful woman, to begin with… but oh, she has indeed become even more beautiful, as Ines said.
It seems that it wasn’t just my imagination that made her seem different.
“Fufu. Did you find out?”
Flora-san proudly puffed out her chest. When asked if she had become beautiful, I was amazed at her courage to answer, “Did you find out?”
Usually, people would be modest, right? Huh? Is it only the Japanese who are modest in this case?
“You have improved your style, and your core is strong. This is not just the result of beauty treatments, is it? What did you do?”
While I was slightly confused by the cultural differences, Ines asked a series of questions.
According to Ines, Flora had become beautiful not only on the surface but from the inside out.
If this secret is known, not only Ines and Felicia but also Alessia-san and the others can become even more beautiful.
I don’t care about Japanese characters anymore. The way Flora-san’s beauty is better is a hundred times more important.
“Ufufu, my job now is as a gym instructor. As you probably know, there’s yoga, aerobics, and all sorts of other exercise methods that I try to teach, and by trying them myself, my body has changed.”
…An excellent receptionist in an adventurer’s guild has changed jobs to become a gym instructor. Isn’t that too different a job title?
Still, aerobics and yoga?
I rarely use the gym, as I get enough exercise killing monsters around the ship and training in combat. It was a blind spot.
“…Huh? Wasn’t Flora-san’s job more of a different kind of work?”
I think it was something where she could use her experience in the Adventurer’s Guild, but…
“Mauro-san started an event called Ladies Day. As part of the event, I was supposed to take care of the gym area. I heard it was Wataru-san’s idea, wasn’t it?”
“I remember mentioning that to Mauro-san before.”
Mauro-san consulted me, and I remember offering him such an idea.
I see; it seems that I was the reason why Flora-san’s work changed.
“The guests only here for a short time, so they mainly have to learn the forms, but everyone takes the training seriously because it leads to beauty, so it’s quite rewarding.”
But, well, it seems that Flora is very happy with her current job, so I guess we can say that the result was a blessing in disguise.
Oops, we’re in the way if we keep talking in the hallway.
Ines hasn’t seen Flora-san for a while, so we should go our separate ways. Maybe she can get some information about the gym.
The effect of the gym is amazing, by the way.
I guess it’s useless if it’s not continued, but maybe we should use it more.
＊＊＊
“Hmm, let me put it this way, it’s normal. Are you sure this is okay? Didn’t the Duke’s trade records show much more expensive and valuable items being transported?”
While I was enjoying the Castle for the first time in a while, Camille-san and the others called me and handed me this list of goods.
After checking the contents, I thought they were ordinary. They were so ordinary that even I, not born in this world, could understand them. They are all ordinary things.
I don’t know if it’s right for me, an F-rank merchant, to say such a thing about the items that Camille-san and the other two top merchants had chosen, but I think there are other options.
“I can understand why you say that, Wataru-san.”
Camille-san answered my words with a wry smile. It seems that she had already taken my reaction into account.
“So there is a reason why these ordinary items were chosen?”
“Of course there is. Do you need an explanation?”
“Please do.”
Perhaps a straight merchant would be able to guess the reason why these ordinary items were chosen if they saw them.
That’s why Camille-san also confirmed whether an explanation was necessary, just in case.
Well, before that, I revealed that I didn’t understand, so I guess it was just a precaution.
Because Camille-san must understand that I am not a legitimate merchant but rather a fake merchant.
“These products are plants that will never grow in the western continent unless there is an extreme climate change. They are not as profitable as pepper because they can be substituted and are not necessary for survival, but they are sure to attract attention because of their rarity and can be expected to fetch a slightly higher price.”
Hmm… I see, so a common plant is on the list.
It’s simple if you think about it.
From the data, I can tell that the western continent has a pleasant climate. It might be similar to the climate of ancient Japan before the summers became a scorching hell.
And this continent has a perpetual summer-like climate that is warm all year round. The difference between the two would be good for business.
There was a time when tropical fruits were popular, even in ancient Japan. In a world where civilization is dying, and development is being stifled, they may be perceived as more valuable commodities.
For a moment, I was worried that the greenhouse might have been developed, but it probably wouldn’t have been a problem.
If the civilization on the other continent had not died out and developed, there would have been contact from the other side since information would not have been lost.
The fact that this is not the case means that they are so damaged that they cannot afford it.
Above all, we can be sure that such a kind ending is impossible and that the problems of Creator God-sama would not fall only on one continent.
He is equally troublesome to the gods, the nobles, and the people. That is what I understand about Creator God-sama.
Therefore, it is unlikely that a greenhouse, which requires considerable technology and expense, will ever be developed.
There is no possibility of small-scale greenhouses, but it is safe to assume that greenhouses large enough to affect commerce are unlikely.
Given that, Camille-san and the others are not making the wrong choice.
“The goods on this list are quite selective, but this part of the list is the highlight of the list. This part is a list of very fragile fruits, but Wataru-san would be able to deliver them in high quality, wouldn’t he?”
So, the Ship Summoning skill is also a choice that must be taken into consideration.
It’s amazing that even though I only taught her a little about Ship Summoning when I appointed her to the staff after she joined my group, she was able to understand and use it.
If I were in Camille-san’s position, I would probably forget about it immediately and not even think about using it.
After listening to Camille-san’s story, I understood.
I had thought that because it was a special trade, special products were necessary, but to turn an ordinary product into something valuable by taking advantage of the differences between continents, this is where a merchant’s skill comes into play.
This must be where you showed your skills as a merchant.
Because these are not special products, they are inexpensive. It was also a point of starting a business in an unknown continent with minimal risk.
After listening to the story, I understood that it was a perfect choice. Except for one thing: my comfort…
“Heh. With this, most of the items will be ready in no time. Camille, how soon can you have everything?”
Alessia-san, who was also looking at the list, casually asked Camille-san what I was afraid of.
“I was thinking of placing an order after checking with Wataru-san, but I have already talked to some of the stores involved. We can probably have it ready tomorrow or the day after.”
Excellent. I knew she was excellent because I scouted her because she was excellent, but at this point, I wanted to complain to myself about having brought in such excellent people.
“Then I guess we could save a day and leave the day after tomorrow, right? Wataru, that’s okay, right?”
“…Yes.”
The plan to take a slow boat trip while stocking up on hard-to-find items fell apart in an instant.
It’s really… unacceptable to ask for another product because if the product is easy to get, the paperwork will come quickly, right?
Yes, everyone but me has an excited look on their face at the thought of the western continent. I can’t open my mouth about such a stupid thing in this situation.
I’m also curious about the western continent, so I understand how they feel, but… It’s depressing…
＊＊＊
“We’ll be arriving at the Aquamarine Kingdom soon, won’t we?”
Alessia-san speaks to me happily.
“Yes, we’re almost there.”
I feel like we just left the Castle, but I must be in the wrong mood because I can see the Aquamarine Kingdom in the distance.
The good times go by so quickly.
And the unpleasant events are coming at full speed.
Is there no escape?
Thanks for the chapter
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Thanks for the treat.
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