Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 183

Now that we have a shared policy, the meeting temporarily adjourns, and everyone returns to their tasks. I sit in the office and categorize the work I have on hand.

The short-term task is to improve the production line for shoes. I want to hire people other than artisans to handle light work related to preparation and cleanup before and after shifts. This way, the artisans can focus solely on making shoes from start to finish. Just this change should increase production by nearly 10%.

The going rate for these auxiliary workers is relatively low, so even if I hire a few, we can easily produce an extra pair of Guardian Shoes and make a comfortable profit. After all, the gross profit for each pair of Guardian Shoes approaches four large coins. It’s something that should be implemented as soon as possible.

Since we deal with high-end products, we need to be cautious about security and theft. It would be best to hire auxiliary workers from among the artisans’ families. The tasks are light and can be done in under an hour, making them perfect for pocket money. With 20 artisans, there should be a fair number of relatives in town.

What I need to do is create a recruitment and duty roster and appoint a supervisor. Of course, I will need to oversee things at first, but since the artisans basically live in the workshop, that shouldn’t be a problem.

The next short-term task is hiring new shoe craftsmen. Hiring two artisans shouldn’t pose any business issues. I could follow up on leads from Gorgoro or ask the artisans to introduce their acquaintances.

There are no employment agencies in this world, and while we can’t say we have a close relationship with the shoe guild, we inevitably have to expand our business through local connections.

However, in a world where reliable credit checks are impossible, the only way to conduct business is to make the most of these local ties.

I have worked with the craftsmen in the workshop for nearly a year, and perhaps due to the good treatment, there are no issues. If I ask them for introductions, it gets done easily. This is also not a problem.

Once the short-term tasks are completed, the issue becomes the mid-term work. Unlike short-term tasks that just require physical labor, this involves using my head to transform an uncertain future into a solid plan of actionable tasks.

Specifically, I need to create a proposal to persuade the church to assist with advertising and develop a strategy for having the Cardinal wear our shoes, which I then need to present to Father Nicolo for his persuasion.

“This is a tough challenge…”

The time and opportunity to meet with important figures like Father Nicolo are limited. It’s actually unusual that I have been able to meet with him frequently for guidance on the pioneering project. It shows just how invested his faction is in the development efforts.

Unlike when they meet with me at their convenience, I am now the one seeking them out and must persuade them to cooperate with the business, which is exponentially more difficult. Especially to convince a Cardinal to wear our shoes.

In terms of the original world’s sensibilities, it’s as difficult as persuading a high-ranking bureaucrat from Kasumigaseki to wear our company’s necktie while they are an active minister.

In this world, the concept of service-related corruption is less prevalent, which somewhat lowers the difficulty, but still, it remains challenging.

If I approach it head-on, the success rate is low. I want to shift my thinking a bit.

I stand up from the office chair and stretch, placing my hands on my hips. 

Just then, Sara, who has been preparing tea, catches sight of me and says, “Kenji, you look a bit like an old man.”

That’s fine; I’m an old man, after all.