Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 170

Once the discussion reaches a certain point, Jilboa turns to me. “It’s been a while since you showed up here, Kenji. What’s this about?”

“Oh, it’s about business. I want to expand a little, so I came to ask for your advice.”

At this, Galahad starts to roll up the blueprints he had spread out on the desk and shows signs of leaving.

“I’m sorry,” I say as he leaves, but Galahad doesn’t respond, merely shrugs his shoulders lightly and carries the blueprints out.

It is clear that Galahad is preoccupied with how to implement the discussed ideas. That’s just how craftsmen are.

“The office has changed again,” I remark to Jilboa.

“Last week, we hunted three griffons that were nesting in a mine at the request of another noble. We managed to sell their feathers at a high price. So, business is a bit better now,” he says nonchalantly.

It seems the Sword Fangs Legion is steadily solidifying its footing.

◇　◇　◇　◇　◇

When only Sara, Jilboa, and I are left in the room, Jilboa starts the conversation. “So, how much do you want to expand your business?” he asks.

“I want to make it ten times bigger,” I answer honestly.

Although he doesn’t shout like Sara did, he doesn’t reply right away like he usually does.

Even someone like Jilboa seems to struggle with grasping the concept of a workshop with 200 people.

“I want to create a workshop where 200 shoemakers work every day, making only shoes,” I reiterate.

Jilboa responds with a few questions. “Can you assemble that many craftsmen?”

Jilboa’s concerns are understandable. In this world, training craftsmen takes a decade, and skilled craftsmen typically set up their own workshops. Gathering craftsmen capable of producing high-quality goods, like the Guardian Shoes, which require skills and procedures comparable to making leather armor, in units of 100 seems nearly impossible.

However, for a company with an established assembly line system and a proven training and development method, this is not an obstacle.

“Yes, we can do it,” I answer confidently.

“Do you have the land prepared? Do you have the funds? Have you done the groundwork with local connections?”

“No, we have yet to do that. I thought it best to consult with you, a shareholder, first,” I reply.

While land, funds, and connections are important, they can be acquired later as long as there is a guarantee that shoes can be produced. My intention is to show respect for the Sword Fangs Legion, which has supported our company behind the scenes many times as a shareholder.

Understanding this, Jilboa ponders with a thoughtful expression, selecting his words carefully as he begins. “First of all, it’s good to expand business. It will benefit us as well.”

I nod.

“But it’s sudden. If the Guardian Shoes are sold ten times more than now, their price will drop. If Guardian Shoes become widespread among all adventurers, the Sword Fangs Legion’s advantage might decrease in the short term,” he points out.

This is a correct prediction, so I can only nod in agreement.

“That being said, it’s not like you can magically expand it tenfold overnight. What time frame are you looking at?” he asks.

“Three years,” I say.

I answer based on the plan I have prepared in advance. Even the current company, which was established by making the most of existing workshops, took nearly a year to get manufacturing on track. Considering the effort required to build a new factory ten times the size, there’s no telling how much more complicated it will be.

Considering the time and effort involved in acquiring land, raising funds, developing raw material routes, setting up sales channels, obtaining various licenses, hiring and training personnel, manufacturing and purchasing tools and equipment, and constructing the factory—all these tasks mean that even three years might be too short.

In this world, there is no convenient entity like a Japanese trading company that can procure anything for you based on money alone. Everything, from nails to wooden planks, must be sourced personally.

“Three years, huh…” Jilboa murmurs as if negotiating something. He probably has his own plans and is adjusting them in his brilliant mind based on what I have just said. “But it’s interesting,” he says softly, turning to me and continuing with a grin. “So, what happened?”

“Nothing in particular,” I try to brush it off.

Jilboa isn’t convinced. “All that cowardly vibe you had before is completely gone. It’s bothering me,” he says rudely.