Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 217

To quickly quell the sudden frenzy around the Pioneer shoes in the city, I try to meet with Father Nicolo… but…

“Father Nicolo cannot meet you. He is busy with a meeting,” is the eventual response from Deacon Michelino after I finally manage to secure a meeting with him.

Although Deacon Michelino still exudes vibrant energy, there are faint dark circles under his eyes. It is the kind of tension commonly seen in someone who’s been up all night.

“It seems like you’re quite busy,” I can’t help but remark.

“Yes, yes! Well, it would be a lie to say things aren’t busy! But everything is going smoothly! The system for managing the seal is working great! We’re being flooded with requests to put the seal on other products as well!”

This is an even worse response than I had anticipated, but it doesn’t surprise me.

“Deacon Michelino, I shouldn’t have to remind you, but there’s absolutely no way we can start granting the seal to new products right now. The management system and the process on the ground aren’t functioning properly yet,” I warn him sternly.

However, Deacon Michelino’s reply is evasive. “Yes, well, that’s true… but, you see, the people making these requests are quite influential…” he trails off, dodging the issue.

Just as Father Nicolo and Deacon Michelino can’t fully grasp the fundamentals of business, I have no understanding of the political intricacies of the church or the city. While it would be easy to get a clear statement banning the new seals here and now, it would likely just be done in secret, leading to an even bigger mess later.

Given the current power dynamics between me and the church, there is no way I can stop this momentum. If things are bound to blow up anyway, I at least need to steer it in a manageable direction.

“Understood. Lord Michelino, why don’t we announce a schedule and process for this?”

When Deacon Michelino looks at me with a puzzled expression, I continue my explanation.

“I’ve made up my mind. It seems difficult to rein in the enthusiasm of the church members. Therefore, we need to guide that enthusiasm in the right direction. What we need is to properly communicate what the seal management department is aiming for, what procedures are necessary, and how much time it will take. Correct information dissemination and sharing are the only ways to prevent what I’ll dare to call a runaway. I believe that’s the only way to stop this frenzy within the church.”

Father Nicolo and Deacon Michelino likely want to control the information themselves to strengthen their faction, with the whole “I’ll share this with you alone” routine. I can understand their aim of expanding their faction’s influence by creating a sense of obligation. But looking at the exhausted Deacon Michelino before me, it seems that things have gone beyond their ability to handle.

“I understand your concerns, Lord Michelino. But isn’t the current situation one where rumors are running rampant and the church members are anything but calm? Any promises made amidst such excitement will likely be broken later. By providing accurate information and allowing time for proper preparation, you’ll be able to negotiate more calmly and gain long-lasting, reliable allies.”

As I express this concern, he replies, “Hmm, yes. But it’s a shame…”

Seeing that he is still hesitant, I add, “It’s all right. Even if the other side calms down, you and Father Nicolo will still hold the power of authorization. Your position will remain strong. What’s more important now is not rushing ahead recklessly and making mistakes, don’t you think?”

At these words, Deacon Michelino finally nods, and the gleam in his eyes seems to settle a bit.