Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 399

Even if we were to confront the town’s shoe guild directly, a guild from a third-class district doesn’t have much real power.

More accurately, they’re probably completely unable to touch us.

They might try to interfere by restricting our material orders, but we control the upper stretch of Leather Street.

If they try to obstruct our sales, we handle distribution to both the Adventurer’s Guild and markets outside the city.

If they were to resort to physical threats, we’d have the Sword Fangs Legion to protect us.

And we also have official standing through the Church and the local Governor.

If they caused any disturbances, they’d be the ones punished.

Between the company and the shoe guild, we clearly have the upper hand. No matter what policy we pursue, they won’t be able to stop us.

That’s exactly why I want to approach them amicably.

“Hoh. I thought for sure you’d just crush them, buy out their land, and poach their craftsmen,” Gorgoro joked—a rare sight.

“No way. Even if we did get craftsmen that way, there’s no way they’d work properly, right?”

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I gathered information from our craftsmen and decided to hold an information session, inviting about six masters who seemed open to discussion.

The venue was the same training space the new officials had used recently. Since it was available, we decided to use it.

Part of one wall doubled as a blackboard, which made it easy to explain things.

There were enough chairs and desks for everyone.

The visiting masters from the third-class districts had rarely been to Leather Street before. They were visibly surprised by the company’s size and the sheer number of people working there.

For the time being, they sat silently as they were guided to their seats, gazing intently toward the workshop.

Once everyone had arrived, we stepped up to greet them. Their return greetings were awkward.

Not surprising—this was probably the first time they’d encountered an atmosphere like this.

“So, what exactly are you here to talk about?” one of the masters asked in a low voice.

“Are you trying to get us to sell our shops? My family’s been in business for four generations. We’re not handing it over just because someone’s making threats!” Another added in a louder voice.

I stayed quiet for a while, letting them speak freely.

Maybe my silence unnerved them, because their voices gradually fell.

When I finally raised my right hand, they fell completely silent.

“Everyone, I think there’s a misunderstanding. I’m here to talk about a business opportunity—for your benefit.”

Maybe my tone sounded shady.

I tried my best to sound sincere, but the wariness in their eyes didn’t go away.

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“I wonder… do you think they’ll go along with it?” I asked Gorgoro after seeing the masters off.

Now that Sara’s gone, I’ve had to rely more on Gorgoro for advice regarding the factory.

And as a fellow master, he understands how other masters think.

“Ordinary craftsmen probably won’t accept the offer.”

“That bad?”

But holding the meeting here in the factory was a smart move. Did you see their faces?”

“They looked shocked when they saw the state of the factory.”

“Exactly. I wouldn’t say shocked—they were blown away. Craftsmen like us believe that as long as we keep making shoes, we’ll be fine no matter what happens in the world. But after seeing this workshop, they must’ve realized—whether they wanted to or not—that a time is coming when that alone won’t be enough.”

That was, to some extent, the goal.

In consulting, making a strong visual impression is a key technique.

Sometimes, things that can’t be conveyed with words can be understood instantly by seeing it with one’s own eyes.

I hope the masters sensed that the times are changing—and that this town is, too.