Quantum Leap - Vol. 6 Kingdom Building Garnering Wealth

C011 Easy Does It

Business is a cutthroat deal. We can't depend on one but as a general. We can't afford others to monopolise but we should be the one monopolising instead.

Hiko-sama pushed the money to me and I double-checked it. Well, as long as there's scrap, there would be money in it. Dealing with hot property is simple. It's all sold within a blink of an eye.

After they had gone, I opened up the door and unmasked my face. "Just like that. One or two hours of work and we earned 540 gold coins! So what is your plan now?"

"We can make 120 pieces at one go for the moulding sets. I was thinking of creating up to 200 pieces which means I need a total of 40 moulding sets."

"The making of the [Refined Iron] is simple as its a single process. For [Purified Iron] plates, it would be a double process. The first process would be removing the slag and then it would be aerated and poured from a height into another smelting pot."

"It means it would be 2 furnaces, 2 bellow pumps and 1 would be higher than the other, right? Why should it be aerated because I know removing the slag, removes the impurities, right?"

"Aerated improves the oxygen content level inside it and also churns out from the bottom of the smelting pot thus the slag could be properly removed."

"What can the slag do?" Hiko-sama asked while I explained its just another part of iron oxide that is useless and can't be used at all except turning it into weights."

Hiko-sama nodded as he thought of this. Then an idea strikes me. We could use the worker to collect weapon scraps at the northside after their work and to send in by hand carts. There are 10 men and 5 handcarts would be good enough to fill the upcoming orders.

"Sensei, could you talk to the men if they want to earn extra for another hour of work? 10 men 5 handcarts full of weapon scraps. 1-hour extra work. 1 silver each."

Hiko-sama understood what I meant and he approached the men. All of them agree since they would be paid 1 silver for just an hours work to collect weapons parts for 5 handcarts full. No questions asked.

Hiko-sama showed a thumbs-up and I prepared the coins and passed to Hiko-sama, so he would be the paymaster while I hide in the shadows like bushido and throws coins like a shuriken. Whoosh! Whoosh!

My gold coins that were acquired from the sales also was kept safe by Hiko-sama. I advised him that tomorrow he would bring the hangers to Patent it and then make a deposit of 500 gold coins to my savings account.

I looked at our handcart and discovered that we still had some weapon scraps that could be made into 2 batches of [Refined Iron] plates and hope that the killings over at the duelling grounds would not cease as other's losses are someone's gains. I sneered at the idea of taking advantage such as these.

What would happen if there are no more weapon scraps over at the duelling grounds? Should we be miners to look for iron ores then turn them into pig irons thus turning them into [Refined Iron] instead? Because it seemed that the process would be more tedious.

Or I straight use iron ore, coal and limestone to create steel instead? Hmm... I should ask the Director of the corporation for more insights into these matters. Why should we buy something when we could gather things for free instead, right?

*Ding! *Another idea struck me. I approached Hiko-sama and asked him if he could make the foreman drunk again and then entice him to hand over his metal junk for us at a few pieces of silvers per hand cart or several pieces of gold per horse-drawn wagon.

Hiko-sama smiled as he soon fetched 2 jars and 3 cups for our little session later. Soon Hiko-sama called for the foreman and he came running expecting that he had made a mistake somewhere. "Yes Senior and Junior Master, is anything the matter?" he asked in a panic matter.

"Nothing is wrong, we would like to invite for some drinks later after 5 pm because we have a business proposal for you," Hiko-sama said as he spreads his hands.

"Oh, alright... What kind of business proposal are you talking about?" he asked hurriedly half expecting a windfall of fortune coming his way.

"Remember we discussed smelling nice for the ladies? I have the samples here with me. I would like to show you and let you try and see if your wife and mistress would be impressed. I am sure you are impressed with it right?"

"Yes... Yes... I would definitely join you. Is it the sake that we drank the other day? The taste is exquisite, rather mild and fruity but really intoxicating! In that the case, I see to my work first because as you can see I can't talk or walk straight after I drank half a jar of that fine yumeshu." he quickly bowed and then back to work.

"Good man! No drinks during work and pose a hazard to workplace safety." I thought to myself and I asked how many jars he got left and was told it would run out in 3 days time.

"Haa... Haa... Its time to top up again soon. It's on me, Sensei. No problem, as long as you are happy, I am happy as well. Haa Haa Haa!" we both laughed as we joked about us having a relaxed time together after clearing some hurdles in life.

Soon it was close to 5 pm and after tidying up their workspace and their tools, the workers then proceeded to carry the 5 handcarts and heads to the northern gate.

Hiko-sama went to fetch his 5 treasured bars of soap and sat down at the garden while I helped to carry a jar of yumeshu and joined them. Hiko-sama poured the 3 cups and handed one to the foreman and was advised by me to take sips instead as we do not him to be drunk and clouded his visions and thoughts.

Hiko-sama presented the 5 bars of soaps and asked him to take a whiff on every single one of them. I just remembered that after smelling the bar of soap, the person would not get drunk! Instead, he would feel fresh and rejuvenated!

"Wow...! It smells like perfume! The perfume here is too dear. 2 gold coins for a 10 ml bottle. But this..... Aaaahhhhh..... It feels so fresh, so invigorating and leaves me with a tingle of freshness!"

"These are my treasured samples. It is out of shape and I used them for samplings only. Like a sales gimmick. The actual size is a 3x3x3 inch and weighs 50 grams."

"And you told me its 1 gold a piece? It is very cheap you know, it is like buying 5 bottles of perfume for just 10% of its value!"

"I am glad you like it very much Kayu-San. Come, let's cheers on it! Kanpai!" as Hiko-sama raised his cup and we 3 clinked it.

"By the way, Kayu-san, what do you do with your scraps of metal? So you send it to a foundry for sale or remodelling into something else?"

"Ah... There's no foundry here in Kitakata. We just keep it in the factory and collect rust and dust. We had many projects before and it nearly filled up a quarter of our warehouse."

"Oh...so Kayu-san, you mean to say that these scraps of iron had been sitting there, for at least 5 years or so? You don't really need it, do you?" I asked, setting a psychological trap for him to start committing to our deal.

"Yes, it's pretty useless... Bits of pieces of iron bars, bent bolts, rebars, bent metal rods of all sizes, metal plates and angle bars... You know what I mean. Bits of pieces here and there with no beginning and no end."

"So, it's pretty useless to you, right?" I asked and making him commit that the junk which is useless to him would prove very beneficial for us.

"Hmm, in that's the case, since they are useless and pointless for you why don't we clear those useless junk and make your warehouse empty so that you can stock up on your fine collection of furniture and woodcraft? It's better that way right? At least customers can walk through your showroom and you can extend your business within your warehouse too."

"You really mean that? Help me clear all those stupid junk that I had been accumulating all these years? It's a good idea, young master. Now I could expand my collections of woodcraft!"

"Yes... Yes... Since its junk to you then we could help you clear it for a small fee. All I need is to borrow your horse-drawn wagons so that I could park them here. How many wagons would you need to clear those junk of yours since it is of no value to you?"

"It would take about 6 wagons at most. Do you really need so much of that junk? And how much are you going to charge me if I send it to you?"

"I would need it to be delivered once a single wagon is being cleared. If let's say 1 wagon is cleared every week, then it would take about 2 months for the useless junk to be cleared. Since you had been storing it for many years now, you could wait for another 2 months right?"

"That's right, young master. As long as I could clear those junk, I could finally free up enough space for the warehouse."

"Just imagine how grand your warehouse is going to be when you see its splendour every time you enter it. Your customers would also be able to walk freely and have a relaxed time to view your fine craftsmanship. Also, you see this garden furniture, do you know people are asking where we bought them? I told them, go to Kayu-san and view his many fine products there."

"Yes...yes...young master. You are very correct. I like your idea very much. People would talk about my furniture and knows that they could only get the best from me. So how much is your fee for helping me clear my useless junk."

"Kayu-san, since we are already acquainted, I am only and merely asking for 1 copper for 1 whole wagon full of junk!"

"Wooohooohooo...! Just 1 copper?! Its a deal young master it's a god damn deal!"

"Yes, let's drink to this and by the time the house is complete, you can send the wagon over."

"Kanpai...!"

We raised our cups and saw a sly wink from Hiko-sama thinking of the conversation we had earlier, I managed to turn the whole situation towards our favour and advantage.

We had a few more drinks and noticed the foreman was getting all slurred and was not steady in balancing himself on the stool. Hiko-sama shoved a soap to him and asked him to take a few deep breaths.

"Fuuuuuhhhh....! I feel fresh already. Your soap is really magical, it clears up my muddled head the moment I smell in it. How about this, once your stock is ready, I would like to place an order of 20 bars of soap for every scent at a price of 1 gold each. Since you help me clear my warehouse, I help you in your business as well."

As simple as that, we had gained another 100 gold coins for the soaps. We raised another cup and cheered.

A few moments later the 10 men returned with 5 handcarts full of weapon scraps and placed them near the clothesline. Hiko-sama paid them one silver each and they bowed and thanked both of us before leaving to their homes.

Soon after, Kayu-san took his leave and left us both alone in the garden and we both we laughing and giggling without exchanging a word as we both understood how we could easily turn the tides around.

With the additional so-called junk from Kayu-san, we would not run out of metal products and could easily turn it into [Refined Iron] and [Purified Iron] as well.