episode_0040

On the boat heading to Romelo Village.

This is your problem and Lilac’s problem, not mine.

No, if you really look at it, it’s Chairman Lilac’s problem. It’s not my problem.

I just can’t stand the Chairman giving me that blank look in his eyes.

I muttered to myself, but I couldn’t find any solution.

The chairman is very unstable right now. If you don’t do that, there’s no way you’ll fall into my arms.

I guess I have to solve this somehow…

“Mr. Coleman.”

Due to the president’s personality, he will appear again tomorrow with a smile on his face as if nothing happened.

“Coleman County?”

But I don’t think that will work. This time I want to take off the mask.

I don’t want to let you run away like my sister.

“Hey! Get down!”

Ouch!

The captain with a bushy beard was looking at me with burning eyes.

After apologizing, I huffed and went up to land.

phew. Let’s think about it later. Now let’s get ready to deal with Cobb Priestley and all.

“The Priestley Wonders branch is said to be located on the south road.”

“Do you know the way? Mr. Cleo?”

“Yes. I often come to town for student council work.”

A trio of our student council walking through Romelo Village following Cleo’s guidance.

In fact, Romelo Village is more like a small city center than a village.

The streets are all covered with bricks, and each small alley has a magic lantern.

It’s different from the Cantor family estate, where the delicious smell of cow dung wafts over you the moment you leave the Baron’s mansion.

It is said that the reason this village, which grew up on the receiving end of the academy’s bread and butter, cannot expand further is due to various regulations established to create a sound educational environment…

I don’t see how the words academy and ‘wholesome’ can go together.

“This is the branch.”

When I got there, I realized that I didn’t need directions.

The Romelo branch of Priestley Wonders was the biggest building we saw when we came into town.

I was thinking of a light wooden office, but it was the height of luxury, with a marble exterior and a crystal spire on top.

And the person waiting for us with a bodyguard and a secretary in front of him is a middle-aged gentleman with an impressive red beard and angled glasses.

The beige suit he was wearing was neat, but even as someone who isn’t particularly interested in fashion, I could tell that it wasn’t a cheap suit.

From the fabric used and the level of stitching, even the best attire in Baron Cantor’s suit would not be worth more than that suit.

“I heard about it before. Are you a Coleman soldier?”

“Yes. This is clerk Cleo Macariel and lead artist Gyo Hwa-young.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Cobb Priestley, president of Priestley Wonders. Let’s go in.”

hmm. It’s not the type I really like.

I thought it would be nice to have a young and trendy CEO, a bit like the CEO of a startup.

This person looks more like a nobleman than a nobleman.

When we entered the branch, about 100 employees were gathered in the central hall and doing group exercises.

“The boss is entering!”

They immediately looked at us and then gave a sharp 90-degree bow.

The same was true for employees who were performing their work and not participating in gymnastics.

Oh, that’s right, this human is from the Blue Dragon… I looked at Cleo thinking this, but seeing that she looked horrified as well, it seemed like this wasn’t normal etiquette.

Cobb Priestley didn’t even wave in their greeting and headed toward the drawing room.

As expected, this is also a luxurious room with the highest quality carpets and interior design.

After seating us, Cobb signaled his secretaries and bodyguards to leave.

Awkward silence.

Hwayoung hesitated, then took out a scroll from her pocket.

“I heard you like art, so I tried drawing it.”

“Oh! I only have a few pieces of Far Eastern art, but I would be very grateful. School artist. But… ”

He carefully put the scroll in the drawer and said with a smile.

“I’m glad that they seem to be polite young people, but there was no need to bring them.

We met now as business partners, you didn’t come to be indebted to me.”

“Then shall we get to the point?”

“Good!”

Cobb unfolded the documents and explained the company’s current finances and room for expansion.

Since I had no idea, I had no choice but to look at Cleo, but it seemed like she could barely follow the story.

“Did you say you would receive models and books from the Imperial Workshop?

If we collaborate with headquarters, we can increase production tenfold within one year.

And the quality of the model… ”

He took out a Romantic period model from his pocket.

“The main material is glazed wood… It has good preservation properties, but is extremely vulnerable to fire.

Just by casting one or two simple spells here, you can increase both paintability and fire resistance.

Alternatively, you can change the material to hollow volcanic stone.”

“Can you handle mass production of various types?”

In response to my question, Cobb adjusted his posture and sat down.

“What do you mean by multi-species?”

“Students’ implementation models must be custom-made.”

“That’s no problem. There is a handmade workshop by artisans.”

“And we must be able to consistently produce more than a thousand different models.”

“Cheonjong?”

Cleo and Hwayoung looked at me in shock at my words.

Excluding the current implementation model, there are less than 100 regular models in the five dormitories.

However, since we mentioned 1,000 species, it is natural to be surprised.

Priestley could not give a definite answer to this either, and thought for a moment before answering.

“If we want that much, we need to build one more factory, maybe two.”

“As you can see from the academy craze, there is ample business potential.”

“Ah. I don’t doubt its business viability. only… ”

Cobb got up and headed to the cupboard.

He took out a bottle of alcohol and spoke quietly.

“I feel like there isn’t much trust between us.”

The three of us quickly exchanged looks.

Hwayoung said as if she was embarrassed.

“I… This is our first time meeting… Is there such a thing as disbelief? ”

“Yes. Mr. Priestley. We do not doubt your abilities-”

“I told you so. Secretary Macariel. I also don’t doubt the student council’s abilities.”

He poured alcohol into a glass. The faint scent of cognac filled the room.

“It’s because the Cantor developer doesn’t seem to like me very much.”

The eyes of my two colleagues are focused on me. I thought for a moment and answered.

“I don’t know what that has to do with business. My personal feelings-”

“What don’t you like about me?”

“Why do you have to do that… ”

“I really want to hear the answer. Cantor Developer.”

This guy. I really don’t like it.

Since you want it that much, I’ll reveal it all to you.

“I think the management is a bit old-fashioned and focused on appearances.”

“Ah. Like that group gymnastics?”

“That too, and the overly flashy clothes and office.

And above all, even my father, a baron, does not make people bow at 90 degrees.”

“We, the Priestley family, are a commoner family. It must seem presumptuous to you, a nobleman.”

Priestley nods. He took the cup and sat back down.

“So, do you have any plans to correct these points?”

“No. Not at all.”

I was dumbfounded and burst out laughing.

“Then why did you ask?”

“20 years ago, I was the branch manager of this branch.

At that time, a girl who was attending the academy stopped by here.”

A random story from the past. I gestured for him to continue.

“That girl gave me a lot of advice. It was really helpful advice.

I still use some of that advice as my management principles.”

“Did the girl order it? Have employees bow at 90 degrees?”

“No. Quite the opposite. She advised me not to ask employees to say hello because it would lower their morale.

But I didn’t follow that advice. Why do you think that is?”

The president crossed his legs and sipped his cognac.

A little annoyed, he looked at the table and said sarcastically.

“Well. Do you think that efficiency will increase if employees are made aware of their positions?”

“It can’t be.”

“Then why? If you raise the morale of your employees, they will work harder, and the company will grow bigger, and the boss will make more money, right?”

“When you die, do you pack your money and take it with you?”

I raised my head. Cobb put down his drink and looked with a straight face.

“Cantor Developer. I’m in business to have my employees bow to me.

Making money? It’s good. Growing a company? good.

But that’s to hire more employees and increase the number of people who will greet me with courtesy.

But should we change the personnel culture for management efficiency? What a language.”

As I was speechless, he brought his face close to me.

“Do you know what? I will never, ever trust anyone who says that the company’s interests are my interests, or that my joy is watching the company grow.

Those who are not honest about their desires will be eaten by them.

At some point, they fool themselves into thinking that my interests are the interests of the company.

What’s unfortunate is that they don’t even realize that they’ve messed up.”

He took a sip of cognac and continued speaking.

“Do you think I’m an old guy? that’s right. There’s that side to it. But I’m honest.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that making employees behave politely is actually helpful to the company.

I feel inferior to the Priestley family because they are commoners, so I am relieving that feeling by receiving greetings from the staff.

I’m maintaining these company rules that are not helpful to the company just for my own good.”

President Priestley, looking at me unable to say anything, asked the last question.

“So, be honest. What do you want, Cantor developer?

ah. I hope your business goes well. I hope the era of romance is a success.

Don’t talk about abstract things like this. Because true desires are always specific.”

I thought for a moment and opened my mouth.

“The Romantic Era continues to be played for 10 or 20 years, replacing the academy’s duel culture… ”

“I guess that was Princess Lilac’s dream, not yours?”

what I want. What I want, not the chairman…

Originally I was going to say that it was a beautiful game. A game with perfect and elegant rules.

but… My thoughts changed.

Watching the students play at the academy, crying and laughing at the game, I thought that was the real beauty.

It’s not the rules of the game, but the stories of the people who play the game that are beautiful.

“Everyone on the Aeorid continent cries and laughs at this game.

A world where children learn about the romantic era from their families as they grow up, and can also enjoy a game of romantic era when they spend time with friends.

If you have great talent, you can try to become a professional. If you have average talent, you can go out to the local gaming store every weekend and have fun. Even if you don’t have talent, you can find happiness in collecting and painting models.”

“Good.”

Priestley chugged down the remaining cognac and sat back down.

“Now I’m ready to talk about business.”