Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 174

Back at the office, I keep pondering how to persuade Gooljin, the other shareholder. Jilboa’s advice, “Negotiate with an eye on pride and profit,” echoes in my mind.

Thinking back, from the moment I entrusted Gooljin with the shoe distribution, he has always wanted to run the business his own way. There was even a time he joked about kidnapping me to monopolize the secret and profits of the shoes. With nearly 100 rough ex-adventurers under his command in the caravan, he’s not someone who can be swayed by force.

To break it down, our company plans to expand its operations significantly within the next three years. This expansion requires not only an increase in production but also in distribution. The church will be involved, and we need to contract new traders between towns to handle the expanded sales.

That’s all there is to it.

But from Gooljin’s perspective, he has been supporting the company’s growth ever since I first brought him that patchwork prototype shoe, back when there was no sign of the company even existing. He likely takes pride in that. Now, with us bringing in competitors and expanding production, which will likely lower the unit price of the shoes, it’s not hard to imagine him feeling betrayed.

The challenge is figuring out how to manage the growing number of stakeholders and ensure they’re satisfied as the company expands. The more successful the business becomes, the more headaches it seems to bring.

In the end, the only solution is to sit down with Gooljin and find a compromise. First, I need to prepare a few scenarios I can compromise on and show a willingness to meet his demands as much as possible. That’s the least I can do to show good faith.

After spending a few days working on different scenarios, I decide it’s time to visit Gooljin.

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It has been a while since I last visited the kind of inn frequented by inter-town merchants like Gooljin, located on the outskirts of town.

Since the place is far away, and inter-town merchants usually travel along the highways between different towns, it has been a while since I last saw Gooljin. I bring Swiberry as my escort. Although Kiriku’s skills aren’t significantly inferior to Swiberry’s, Kiriku specializes in a halberd, which makes him more imposing as a bodyguard in town. However, in a situation where true swordsmanship is required, I rely more on Swiberry and his enchanted sword. Plus, Swiberry knows Gooljin, so I hope that will help with the negotiations.

Even in a busy inn, Gooljin, with his large frame and booming voice, stands out. As soon as he sees me, he raises one arm and calls out. It is midday, but he and his comrades are already making a ruckus and seem to have had a bit to drink.

“Hey, Kenji! Long time no see! What’s up? Where’s that young lady?” he asks.

“Ah, she’s got some work piled up. She’s at the office in town,” I reply.

It isn’t a lie, but it isn’t the whole truth either. I haven’t brought her along this time, considering the possibility that negotiations might break down and turn violent. She is safer with Kiriku as her bodyguard, and there are over 20 craftsmen at the office as well. I’m not expecting trouble, but better safe than sorry.

“I’ve got a profitable deal to discuss, and it’s a bit complicated. Could we talk without the booze? Just for a bit?” I ask.

When I call out to him, Gooljin excuses himself from the subordinates or fellow merchants around him, roughly pushing through the crowd as he makes his way toward me.

“If it’s a money-making deal, there’s no way I’d miss out. And this bit of alcohol doesn’t even count as drinking!” he says, breathing out his alcohol-laden breath and giving me a fierce grin.

“Well, it’s certainly a profit-making venture, but it might not be the kind of fun you’re expecting,” I warn, trying to temper his enthusiasm.

The person I want to talk to is already tipsy and has a gleam of greed in his eyes from the prospect of a good deal. This isn’t a good start, and I can tell the negotiations won’t be easy. Swiberry glances at me with slight concern, watching the situation unfold.

I nod back, all the while becoming more aware of the weight of the sword belt I haven’t used in quite some time. I hope negotiations will settle things peacefully.