Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 220

How do I design the explanatory meeting?

Naturally, it won’t be about business. It will likely revolve around political matters concerning Father Nicolo’s faction. This is a field I’m somewhat less comfortable with. Therefore, I decided to be honest from the start.

“If we consider it a business meeting, there are two goals. The first is to promote how innovative the product is. The second is to sell the product on the spot. I would like to stack boxes of the pioneer shoes and sell them all in exchange for silver coins to anyone interested.”

I express my wishes as clearly as possible, but he simply replies, “I cannot allow that.”

“Politically, should it be an opportunity to showcase the strength of the Cardinal’s faction?” When I throw this out there, Father Nicolo nods silently, urging me to continue.

It seems I am on the right track.

“I request that as many high-ranking individuals as possible wear the pioneer shoes while making speeches, emphasizing that these shoes are indispensable for the church-led pioneering projects in the future and that the seal will be strictly managed by the church’s specialized department. If we do this, the victory of the Cardinal’s faction in this city will be all but assured.”

Since Father Nicolo remains silent, I press on.

“This is because both the pioneering projects and the church’s seal are not fleeting political movements but will continue to generate wealth over time. The priests who align with the Cardinal’s faction will benefit and expand their influence, while those who oppose and distance themselves will lose power. Those who approach the spring from which water flows will prosper, while those who withdraw will wither and decline; that is the way of the world.”

Father Nicolo murmurs with a hint of irony, “The way of the world, is it?”

“I’m not a priest,” I reply.

Father Nicolo chuckles with amusement. “I suppose faith has nothing to do with it, huh? Well, that’s fine. Let’s go with that. Tell me, Is there anything you desire?”

“I want to ensure that the shoes are widely distributed to adventurers, farmers in the rural villages, and pioneers. It’s only natural to support those who promote this.”

As I decline his offer, Father Nicolo gazes at me with a puzzled look. “Hmm. Kenji, you have little greed for someone who isn’t a priest.”

I don’t appreciate being labeled that way, so I respond firmly. “Father Nicolo, I have desires too. As an adventurer, I have big ambitions.”

“Oh? That’s the first I’ve heard of it. What is this great desire of yours?”

Seeing that I have piqued Father Nicolo’s interest, I decide to convey my thoughts clearly. “My desire is for every budding adventurer to wear guardian shoes, for every poor farmer to wear pioneer shoes, and to carve out the black forest, expanding safe wheat fields all the way to the horizon, where monsters have been completely eradicated. There, I will live a leisurely life as a wealthy, comfortable farmer and a retired adventurer, enjoying time with family. Every day, I’ll eat meat from livestock and bake white bread—that is my desire.”

Father Nicolo closes his eyes for a moment, silently envisioning the scene, and then quietly remarks, “That is a great desire.”

“Yes, I will do my utmost to cooperate for the sake of this great desire.” I make eye contact with Father Nicolo and nod vigorously.