A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 164

Translator: Jasper Kadowaki | Editor: NovelMultiverse

“Well, then. What were you all doing today, Takeo?” asked Grandpa Elvis. 

“We were running the final firing test on the New Rifle 1, and practicing our shooting, but…” said Takeo.

“Hm? What happened?” asked Grandpa Elvis. 

“Well, it’s about the New Rifle 1. We found out that Lady Alice can fire it,” said Takeo. 

“What?” asked Grandpa Elvis. 

“And since it takes a lot of magical energy to use it, we decided to limit her to ten shots, but…” said Takeo. 

“It was fun. I want it,” said Alice. 

“…As you can see, now she wants to keep the New Rifle 1 for herself,” said Takeo, looking over at Alice with a half-smile. 

“Ah, but Alice – Your main strength lies in hand-to-hand combat, using your “Body Strengthening” and “Weapons Strengthening”, isn’t it?” asked Grandpa Elvis. 

“Urgh… Do you have to tell me the same thing Takeo told me, Grandfather?” asked Alice. 

“It’s a sensible thing to say. The rifle is something that Takeo invented out of desperation because he’s no good with the sword or magic, is it not?” asked Grandpa Elvis. 

“Yes, I suppose it’s because this is the only weapon he can use, but…” said Alice. 

“…Well, you two work it out and use it accordingly,” said Grandpa Elvis. 

“Yes, sir. After that, we made proposals for the down jackets and down vests at the tailor shop. We discussed writing up some contracts and bringing them back. Then, when we returned home, we had that conversation with our three guests, and we went to have coats made for them. After that, we went to the liquor store and bought a few bottles… Ah… I forgot to serve them,” said Takeo. 

“Oh, that’s right. We were going to drink them along with the shortcake, weren’t we?” asked Alice.

Takeo and Alice looked disappointed. 

“Hm? What’s the matter?” asked Grandpa Elvis.

“Well, we had bought some carbonated wine, and we were thinking that we would try it with the cake, but we forgot,” said Takeo, laughing. 

“Ah, well. Were you able to have the trench coats made?” asked Grandpa Elvis. 

“Yes. Alan-san, William-san, and Layla-san each got one made. They got two versions – custom coats and the ones made for sale in clothing shops,” said Takeo. 

“Hmm, yes. It was quite fun,” said the king. 

“Well, that’s good to hear,” said Grandpa Elvis. 

“And, to continue on that topic, we came up with a plan to hold negotiations between the unions in the city and the unions at the royal capital to work out a sales contract,” said Takeo. 

“What?” asked Grandpa Elvis, surprised. 

“Uhh, well. We’ve decided to sell coats that are for sale at a clothing shop to the shops in the royal city, and as for the decoration – meaning things like pockets and lapel width – we will give them permission to alter those. As we had discussed earlier, the coats will be continued to be made in the factories in this town, and if imitation products are found in the capital, we will have the royal capital issue fines towards them. On top of that, in order to have the negotiations between the unions operate fairly, he will have William arbitrate,” said Takeo. 

“Yes. If I get to wear the new products from this town, it’s a bargain of a deal for me,” said William. [Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

“Well… that’s…” said Grandpa Elvis, holding himself back from calling it a grand plan. 

“That’s pretty much it,” said Takeo. 

“H…Hmm, Yes,” said Grandpa Elvis. 

“Oh, yes. Takeo, what is shojoo? You said you’d tell us about that, here,” said the king. 

“Oh, that’s right. Well, then, I will bring it over. Please wait here for a moment,” said Takeo, leaving the parlor. 

—————————-

Grandpa Elvis, Alice, Smith, King Azupal, Layla, and William remained in the parlor. 

Frederick had gone to get a fresh pot of tea. 

“Your highness, my lord. Thank you for agreeing to a contract with our tailors,” said Grandpa Elvis. 

“No, well, the conversation happened to go that way. When I asked if we could make some of these coats in the royal capital, Takeo got angry. He said, ‘Out business has just started blossoming, and you want to destroy that?’,” said the king. 

“Takeo… He dares say such a thing…” said Grandpa Elvis, hanging his head in shame. 

The king laughed softly and said, “There are not many people who will say things like that to me, so it was quite refreshing. I can understand Takeo’s thoughts on the matter, too. If the product starts getting produced all over the place, the prices will drop, and if one of them is made shoddily, the entire product might fail. The basic product will be manufactured here, and designs produced at the royal capital… Hmm, Yes. It’s a good idea. Besides, the royal capital is not a good place for mass manufacturing. We are good at producing designs for individual tastes, though… Anyways, I left it all up to William.”

“Yes, you certainly did,” said William. “Even I can see that the trench coat and down vest will become popular products at the royal capital, though. I don’t think tailors at the royal capital will make much of a fuss about the rights to manufacture them, either. They tend to want to decide on decoration and designs. I think the negotiations between the tailor unions will go well.”

“Please see that they do,” said Count Elvis, bowing his head. 

“Ah, by the way – Taylor, was it? The magical goods shopkeeper. You knew him, didn’t you, King Azupal?” asked Layla. 

“Yes, since he was an associate at the old man’s place,” said the king.

“What?!” exclaimed Layla and William in surprise. 

“That’s… Isn’t that the most elite group of mages in the kingdom?” asked William. 

“Hmm, yes. Just as he was due to make an announcement on whether he would enter the top position, he quit. Now I see… He was in this town all along…” said King Azupal, laughing softly to himself. 

“Your highness, you seem happy about this,” said Grandpa Elvis. 

“Ah, well, I’m glad he’s alive, and that he met Takeo. Fate is funny, isn’t it?” said the king. 

“Will you call him back to the capital?” asked William. 

“No, the top position has already been taken by someone else. If we called him back now, it would only cause trouble. I don’t intend to do such a thing. Besides, I’ve never seen Taylor so happy. He always seemed to show no emotion at the capital… He must enjoy living in this town. Alice, did you show the royal house’s ring to Taylor?” asked the king. 

“No. Why would I show it to him?” asked Alice. 

“Ah, all right. Well… I guess he would be all right. Ah, never mind. Alice, forget I ever mentioned it,” said the king. 

“Uh, all right…” 

Alice simply gave a half-hearted reply. [Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]