Chapter 96: That ti when we bought cows
PR: Filip/Gecko
It’s been seven days since the fool’s subordinate got attacked by a bear. We arrived at Corundum in the morning so everyone went to their favorite place to have breakfast while leaving the unloading to the subordinates. As for , I imdiately went to the catfish-mustached rchant’s inn and inford him that the goods were being brought into the warehouse and that Alban-san had died.
He was a bit surprised but he didn’t seem particularly shaken.
「Please ask your two subordinates for further details. Well then, I’ll be waiting at the warehouse so please bring a carriage over」
It would have been fine if I just entrusted it to my subordinates but instead of just hearing about it, I wanted to see firsthand his reaction when he hears that soone died so I can relay it to Caam-san.
After a while of waiting, a carriage arrived in front of the warehouse so we loaded in the coffee as well as the luggage of the remaining two subordinates.
Then it was ti to negotiate.
「Let’s review the changes, shall we? Apart from the price we agreed upon before, we will be adding the necessary expenditures to get to and from the island. We both have confird that there is almost no calculation error for this part. That said, there was no longer a need to provide one person’s share on the return trip but that will only deduct three als a day for a total of 18 for six days…… May Alban-san’s soul rest in peace」
I don’t know much about him but I said a prayer to keep up the act. After that, I received the amount agreed upon, returned 18 als worth of money then said the customary line.
「If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us」
I bowed after saying that, then the catfish-mustached rchant rode his carriage and went towards the gate.
「Good grief. I wonder if he got those three to co along at the behest of so bigshot from sowhere. Well, the hundred bags of coffee beans this ti were really profitable so I should thank Caam-san when I can」
□
I had gathered all of the islanders in front of .
「Right about now, the rchant Nils should have already arrived at the port city. Once they have settled things, we will finally get so money. We’ll use a part of it to pay the craftsn from Corundum but I think we’ll use the rest to finally buy the long-awaited cows. Of course, we’ll get a pair so we can breed them. However, we still can’t afford to pay wages for islanders who were forr slaves and we don’t have anywhere you can spend it here anyways so please bear with it for a while」
「We don’t really mind though……」
That lone response ca from their representative.
「Just buying the cows won’t decrease dissatisfaction though so I’m also planning on buying other necessary items. What do you guys want? You’ll be paid in kind instead of money」
「Liquor!!!」
That was what several n imdiately cried out.
That was quick. I’m actually a bit surprised how quick that ca out.
「It’s almost ti to harvest the wheat so we’re going to store a bit more than usual but the rest will be made into liquor. Because of that, we’re going to buy liquor but not as much as we did before. Anything else?」
After I said that, everyone started discussing among themselves and several opinions started to co about. Then finally, they were able to organize a list and the most important items were written at the top while the least important ones were at the bottom.
「Alright then. When we have so extra money, we’re going to buy the things on this list starting from the top」
「No objections」
A cheerful man replied for everyone. We could probably make so liquor right now using coconuts if we have sugar but they’ll probably want to drink liquor that’s not available on the island from ti to ti.
「Captain, I have a question」
「What is it?」
「Last ti, we asked the rchant to deliver the livestock to us but I’d like to save money so I want you to handle transporting it. Is it possible?」
「……ships can more or less handle sheep and the like but larger livestock are going to be harder. And wouldn’t the added stress make it more difficult to milk them?」
「Ah……」
「Caam, just bring a cow that’s not being milked because it’s about to give birth. It’ll turn out fine if we just let it relax once it gets here. Don’t worry about it. I’ll just co along to the port city」
After Enomoto-san said that, it was decided that we’ll be leaving the cattle to him. The only problem left is the ship.
「Would it really be alright, Captain? You’ll be dealing with a lot of fodder and manure you know?」
I tilted my head while asking as I faced the captain.
「……Y-yeah. If we tie it on the deck, lay down so straw to let it soak in, then wash it off right away then maybe……… Even better if we can get Caam-san to help clean up with his magic when we get back to the island」
「Then it’s fine. Can you put ten adults in a small boat and lower it down with a rope?」
「What? Haa. We pretty much can」
「A cow is roughly the sa weight as ten adults so I guess you guys would be fine carrying it in and dropping it off right?」
「EH!?」
「Iyaー, as expected of our strong sailors. I’ll leave it to you guys okay?」
I tapped the captain’s shoulder while having a huge smile on my face. I heard one of his subordinates saying that was pretty nasty of but it’s better if we spend as little as possible.
I actually wanted to just go with the captain who brought the heroes to the island before so he’ll get a stomachache from all the stress but I’ll give up on that.
I’ll just leave it to sitting across the table from them, serving them so tea with a smile, then talk about recent happenings as we drink. His stomach will probably still get affected if he’s guilty.
「Well then, once the preparations are ready, please depart for Corundum. We will be purchasing a variety of things so it would be great if you can start loading in the cargo once you get there. Because of that, please take your ti getting ready. With that said, let’s take care not to have any mishaps in our work today as well. We don’t have any coffee left so I should get them to harvest more today」
After I said that, I went and harvested more coffee than usual then transferred to Corundum in the afternoon to go to Nils-san’s place.
「Hello thereー」
As usual, I entered the warehouse and called out to a worker nearby. I heard that he ca back in the morning and the rchant who bought coffee had left the town by noon so that’s why I’m here. It seems like he was in the middle of resting.
I knocked on the door then entered when I heard a reply.
「Thank you for the other day. I figured you would be back today so I ca to visit」
「No problem. It was my pleasure. The coffee has yielded quite a profit you know?」
Nils-san forcibly made a smile but his face looked tired.
「I know you’re really tired but I’m here to get our pay. We’ll use that money to buy so things」
「Hahaha…… Transfer magic is so convenient, isn’t it? In fact, it’s so convenient that I want to learn it. Ah, please forgive my grumbling」
It’s not like this is our first eting and I don’t particularly mind so I’ll just ignore that complaint. I guess it is quite ntally exhausting to travel by boat. I should have expected this to happen when I visited as soon as he got back.
While I was thinking that, Nils-san ca back with docunts and the proceeds and put them on the table.
「Here is the money we received from the rchant we did business with. As you can see from the docunts, these here are the necessary expenses plus the labor costs and this here is the price per bag. Since this is Caam-san’s suggested price per bag, this is the difference. And when adding a ten percent profit to that, the final sales of a hundred bags is this」
Hmー, even though it looks favorable to , I guess they are still making quite a profit from this. He had a huge smile on his face when seeing the numbers on the docunt after all.
「I see. Since it’s just ten percent, it’s easy to calculate. Well, considering that huge smile, it seems like you are making quite a lot of profit from this but I won’t ask for the specifics. It’s fine as long as we can sell coffee so I look forward to working with you again in the future」
「I look forward to it too」
「Anyway, these are what I am thinking of buying. After taking the amount that I’ll be needing to pay the craftsn that we invited from this city, I want you to use the rest of the money to buy the things from this list」
After saying that, I gave the list to Nils-san.
「I see you want to buy cows. Do you want the rchant to deliver it to the island again?」
「No, I want to save as much money as possible so we’ll bring it back ourselves. We don’t have much knowledge about transporting large livestock but we’ll manage sohow. I’ll leave it to you to decide where you’ll get it from though it’s unfortunate that I can’t appoint the rchant who gave us a free hero from last ti」
「I don’t know what you’re thinking but you’re making a terrifying smile you know?」
「I just want to get revenge for the other day by thanking him for his hard work and serving him tea with a smile on my face. That’s all. I won’t lay a hand on the captain and his crew who are innocent. I’ll just smile and be mature about it. Maybe so small talk about what happened to the hero too like the misunderstanding that caused to get attacked. We managed to reconcile though so I sent them back to this port city because I happened to be going here anyway. Just stuff like that」
「Haha. That’ll give him a stomachache, wouldn’t it?」
「It’s just a teeny tiny bit of revenge you know?」
We negotiated while looking at the things written down on the list and decided to imdiately scrap the bottom half of it.
「Ah, I forgot but the rchant who ordered coffee wasn’t particularly shaken when I told him about Alban-san’s death. It seems like they really had nothing to do with each other and were just traveling companions」
「I see. It doesn’t really matter to . If the number of people like that becos too much, we can just bring Oda-san here instead of having them co to the island」
We continued chatting after that. We talked about how the taste of coffee was really slightly different or how they got hooked by the fragrance of the soap made from the island that they brought it ho with them.
「I want to talk more about that soap」
Nils-san lowered his voice and his eyes looked like a predator that’s seen prey.
「Don’t you have those here?」
「We do have so but just like how it was with yours, they are kept a secret and the techniques don’t really get out. And since they are made privately, they are the only ones who reap the rewards」
「I guess it’s pretty expensive then. I don’t mind selling the finished product but we don’t have enough manpower yet and we are only making enough to et the island’s demand. Even if we were to put all our effort into making it, we would need to rent an empty house over here and hire people to produce it in small quantities」
「Let do it. We’ll split the profits 50-50. How about it?」
He imdiately brought business into the conversation. Guess that’s to be expected of a rchant.
「There’s a high demand for it, right? Ten percent」
「The demand is really high among the upper class. It’s honestly a premium item. It also takes ti and effort to make essential oils. Eighty percent」
「If you’re willing to provide essential oils then that’s good as well. But even so, when the island has developed, we can also sell it ourselves you know? You might be fine with that but we probably would have already gotten more than enough of that manpower after about five seasons cycles passes」
「Mu……」
Nils-san was really troubled.
「I was joking. I’m not that interested in money. If you’re willing to do a favor in the future, I’m even willing to take a 50-50 split」
「You…… You’re so naive that I really want to scold you. I thought this was going to be a fun negotiation」
「I’d like to avoid troubleso things. I really just wanted to live a leisurely life in my hotown, you know? Despite that, I suddenly beca a Demon Lord……」
I breathed a sigh as I pushed on my eyebrows.
「At any rate, we’ll sort out the details on another day. You’ve already seen the product so it’s fine right?」
I stopped pressing on my eyebrows and went back to my usual self.
「Let’s go with that. We can make it official with so docunts by then. I’ll have the items you requested ready as soon as possible」
With that said, we parted and I went back to the island.
◇
I sent the captain and the others to Corundum while promising that I will bring Enomoto-san there after five days. As we discussed before, they brought along with them a harpy to see how they would fare as their lookout.
「Ah, there’s the ship. Let’s go」
「Alright. I’ll send it back right away if the cow’s not good enough」
「Got it. I’ll leave everything to you since you’re more knowledgeable than when it cos to this」
With that said, we went to the ship to et up with everyone.
「Good work. How did the harpy do?」
「They were excellent when it cos to keeping watch but they can’t really do much else. They were able to spot a rchant vessel passing through the sea route from the top of the sail where nobody else could so we would have been able to react quickly if they were pirates」
「If that’s the case, I guess I should get Oda-san to co up with sothing they could use as a weapon when thrown from the sky」
「We’ve also already brought in the requested items in the presence of one of Nils-san’s staff so all that’s left is to bring this docunt there and pay for it」
The captain took a paper out from his breast pocket and gave it to .
「But before that, the cow! Hurry up and show us the cow」
「Ah, that’s right. They’re over here, Enomoto-san」
The captain led Enomoto-san to the stern of the ship where the cows were tied to.
「Hmmー. Well, they’re still young so there’s so promise. They’re alright. And there are two of them as well. Excellent. Well then, it’s fine if I look after these guys right? Take to the hot springs when we get back okay?」
「Alright. We can even discuss making your coastal hot spring house and the drainage you know?」
「You do get , don’t you? If that’s the case then I’m completely satisfied」
After saying that, he started talking and patting the cows to calm them.
「Thank goodness. If you weren’t satisfied with these cows after we’ve co this far……」
The captain breathed a sigh of relief.
「Was it hard to bring them on board?」
「Yes, really hard」
「Thank you for your hard work. Well then, I’ll leave the rest to you」
「Mooo!」
As the cow mooed, an odd sll drifted across the deck. I ran away towards Nils-san’s place.
「Good day」
This exchange has beco so common that I even got greeted by the other workers who were around.
「I drank cocoa for the first ti the other day and it was really good. I even brought so back ho to give to my kid and he loved it」
「That’s good to hear」
「The wife kept grumbling about the sugar though」
「Haha, it’ll be bitter without it after all. Well then, I should go and et up with Nils-san」
After saying that, I went to Nils-san’s room
「Sorry but let’s get down to business right away」
He seed really motivated. The docunts were already prepared and all I had to do was sign them. It was that profitable huh? Was 50% still too low?
「These are the goods. There’s mint, lavender, and chamomile. There are no roses on the island so we couldn’t make rose oil but I think we can pretty much make the basic stuff」
Nils-san started slling the soap I brought.
「Can I try it?」
「Sure. I don’t mind」
After saying that, he called out to his employees of both genders including one who looked like a secretary, and got them to wash their hands at the well in the back.
「Ohー. What a nice scent」
「It can clean dirt just as well as regular soap」
「This one feels cool and refreshing」
Those kinds of comnts could be heard all around.
「Nils-san, this is a luxury item, isn’t it? What’s happening?」
「Those are made by Caam-san. I asked how they’re made since I’m planning to open up a new business venture」
Hearing that, they all gave an annoyed look. Hey, I did nothing wrong okay?
After the sampling was done, we all went back inside. Once the other people left, we began the explanation.
「It’s simple. You shave off a bar of soap, make a strong brew from fragrant flowers, then take the potpourri used to make the tea and grind it together with the soap shavings. Add the essential oils into the soap potpourri mixture as well as so honey then slowly add in the tea until the mixture has a similar softness to your earlobe. Once that’s done, you put the mixture into a mold and let it dry in a cool and shaded area」
「This isn’t a detailed recipe but it outlines the general points of how to make it. Burn it if you don’t need it. Also, it’s not a perfect formula so please continue to study it okay?」
「Understood. Well then, please sign here」
While I do trust him, I still read the contract carefully and reviewed it several tis before signing it.
「Alright, it’s done」
「I hope it succeeds」
「I hope I don’t get stabbed in the back for having a monopoly on this……」
「Have you experienced that before?」
「Sothing similar happened a long ti ago」
「……well then, I’ll be taking my leave. Take care」
I didn’t ask him to elaborate. It seems like Nils-san was quite reckless when he was younger……
「Hahaha, please pray that I don’t get killed」
「Then why don’t you increase the number of security you have? What happened to the adventurers who were with you the first ti you ca to the island?」
「They just happened to be going to Corundum so I was able to hire those guys for cheap」
「Ahh…… Then please be careful」
「I got it. I also wish you the best of luck. If I need anything, I’ll pass a letter on to the manager」
「Alright. I’ll be taking my leave」
After saying that, I went back to the island. With the things we bought, we can now make butter and cheese.
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