Quantum Leap - Vol. 6 Kingdom Building Garnering Wealth

C002 Setting The Empire

Once Kayu-san was too drunk, whatever company secrets that he had held in for so long could easily be coaxed out with just a few cups of Yumeshu. Hahaha...!

"Alright, if you agree... Please sign here. Make sure the work starts tomorrow, you hear me Kayu-san? Thank you very much. Here are 2 gold coins, go and enjoy a good lunch and don't lose this proposal, and don't forget what I said, remember? Repeat what I had said to you."

"S-S-S-Staaaart woooork tomorrrrrroooooow *hic*." he slurred in his speech as he signed his name follows by our signature on both papers and he rolled it up and waved to us. His legs were all over the place behaving like Squidward from Spongebob and his 4 assistants finally placed him into a handcart and wheeled him back to his factory.

"Women and wine, if you come to me with an attitude, you gonna get f****d B-I-G Time." I thought to myself. I held my cup to Hiko-sama and he poured for me. I raised my cup and we both cheered "Kanpai!" and laughed hysterically at what had happened just now.

"You really are something, kid. You can strike a bargain more daringly than me. Haa... Haa... Wait till Kayu-San becomes sober and then he would realise that he had fallen deep into your trap!"

"Haa... Haa... Well, it's his fault to start off high and mighty before. I could read people's thoughts and their body language so I knew that this type of businessmen is only after wealth. Furthermore, you started it first." I explained it to Hiko-sama.

"I started it first? Since when? I don't remember..." said Hiko-sama truthfully and had totally forgotten the matter.

"This..." I waved the piece of paper I got from the cosmetics department and he soon realised that the soap we intend to sell for 5 silvers had become 1 gold each and comes in 5 sets for his wife and mistress.

"Haa... Haa... I almost forgot. Yah, 1 gold each... Haa... Haa... By the way, how do you know he got a mistress? You never failed to amazed me, kid."

"It was the moment when I said he could buy for his wife or another secret lover. His shifty eyes and silence answered my questions. Guilty conscious, right? Haa... Haa... Just like that, we just earned 15 gold!" But to the rich, we sell them 1 gold each while commoners like us, it would cost 5 silvers each. Good deal?" I raised my eyebrows at Hiko-sama when I explained about the pricing.

"Sound good, young master," said Hiko-sama jokingly as we raised another cup and cheered together. "Yes... Yes... Senior Master." we laughed together and when the regular delivery boy that sends the food came, he was befuddled by the way we were laughing and drinking in midday.

"Ah, good... The delivery guy is here. Could you ask him over? We need to talk to him." I inquired for Hiko-sama assistance. "Hey, kid. Send those lunches over here." Hiko-sama called out to the delivery boy who hurried over and places the bento box and bowed to us.

"I'm sorry, Samurai-San. Your lunch was a little late today." explained the delivery boy and begged profusely as he would be afraid to get complaints about his service." No worries, young master wants to talk to you." directed Hiko-sama to me so I would take over since he knew I would be in an awkward position to call for someone my own age or older.

"OK, I need you to run an errand for me. You will go back to your innkeeper and take the menu and the order taking form from him. Then I would order lunches for the next 7 days, in a separate billing from our senior Master here that had paid before, you understand? These lunches are for 11 people for 7 days starting tomorrow. So bring the menu and the order form now and I will order straight from here." I explained to the delivery guy and new that there would be more business coming in and he would be busy for the next coming week from tomorrow onwards.

"Yes, Young Master. I will go back now and return shortly. At the meantime, please enjoy your lunch." he bowed deeply and jogged back to the inn. I guess he earns delivery tips as well as commission if he gets extra orders through value-added services.

We opened up our bento boxes and saw the ever sumptuous meals in them. 2 onigiris, a portion of squid in red sauce, 2 yakiniku and a portion of mixed vegetables and muso soup in a chawan.

"Itadakimasu" we graced our lunch and proceeds to eat since we had been only drinking before our lunch came.

.

"Sensei, I'm so sorry to trouble you again," I said apologetically as I might offend him in doing so many tasks without a receiving a payment. "What is it, kid. Just tell me and I would assist you within my means," he replied nonchalantly as every task he performs would mean for the both of us.

"Could you go to the business or government department and open up a business trade name for us, later today after your lunch?" I replied and watched Hiko-sama swallowed his squid and nearly choked on poor Squidward.

"You really mean it? Today? For sure? Muahahaha...!!! Definitely kid. I thought you were just talking about it and not being serious." he replied as he smacked his lips due to the red sauce from the squid he was eating.

"Yes, Sensei, it would be today... "

"The business trade name is called, "Fasuto Japan KabushikiGaisha - First Japan Corporation"

"Wow...! A very nice and auspicious name...! *FASUTO JAPAN KABUSHIKIGAISHA* I really liked it, kid. The first of its kind, the first in revolutionary and in people's lives, the first of many... Wow, kid... I'm amazed. Does anyone own this business trade name before?"

"I don't think so, Sensei. I don't think anyone would use this name in the first place. But we would be using it, of course. And another favour, Sensei... Could you get someone to create a banner in gold lettering against a red background and two ends to have golden balls or tassels on it? The banner should be ready by next week."

"Yes...yes...a business trade name and banner. People would definitely ask what is a company doing here in the inner residential cluster. They would be curiously asking and they would come to see what we are selling and we can set Izumi and Riko bathing in the tub outside here in the courtyard and to promote the Karada Soap for the public...! Haa... Haa...! " Hiko-sama was laughing hysterically when he mentioned the last sentence as he finds it to be rather interesting for the public to see 2 young ladies bathing out in the open.

"Sigh... What happened to the original Hiko Seiko that I had known in the beginning. He used to shun all these social and lewd thoughts but right now, it seems he had been influenced by me. I had turned a true Swordmaster into a lewd, immodest, indecorous, indelicate and naughty little man... Hahahaha...!!!

=*=

While we are still having our lunch, the delivery boy came back and he had with him the menu and order taking form. He was almost out of breath and I offered him cold green tea in which he flatly refuses.

I looked at the menu and quickly choose what I needed. Since fish and vegetables were rather cheap, I choose 2 onigiris, 1 Saba shioyaki, 1 portion of stir-fried vegetables and miso soup for lunch in the next 7 days for 11 people from tomorrow onwards. I told him to prepare the receipt and place it on the round table here. I picked a small pebble and told him to put the bill here.

I returned the menu and the order form to him and gave him 5 copper coins for his effort and he thanked me, saying he would come by to pick up the bento boxes later after his rounds.

We soon finished up our lunch and placed the bento boxes on the garden table and was feeling kind of nostalgic since people started to observe us having our lunches not at the terrace but at our own garden furniture. It's not really called a garden right now, but soon right after the construction of the new house, I intend to buy Hiko-sama's pottery and use it to decorate the place here.

At the meantime, Hiko-sama had a task to do later which is to register a business trade name and told him to settle any payment first. Also as for the banner, it would be based on payment upon delivery as well. I passes him the money box and told him to keep it with him since I don't really like to have too much gold coins lying around.

"Sensei, if they were to ask who is the Director or Chief Finance Officer, just name it under you. As for the Chief Executive Officer or the Manager, just put it under my name. Please don't forget to bring my ID."

Hiko-sama nodded in apprehension. He slipped the small wooden chest with the mixture of gold, silver and coppers inside his right sleeve and went back to the house. I told him I'd continue to clean the house of Kami-sama and return home afterwards.

=*=

I soon reached Kami-sama's House and started to resume my tasks. As this is the last house for the week, I made sure that the house would be as clean as the rest of the houses. I checked the laundry drying in the wind and discovered that it is already dry and I brought it into the house.

I started to clean the parts of the house that was left earlier and can't wait to finish up my work to join Hiko-sama and hear his good news upon returning.

---Meanwhile, on Hiko-sama's part---

"Hiko-dono, where are you going this time?" Hiko-sama turned around and saw Izumi holding a basket in her hands and were selling bouquets to those who wanted to present for their spouse, girlfriends or mistresses.

"Oh, I am going to the government district for some official business." Hiko-sama simply replied.

"You seemed busy all the time, running errands for Senpai. He is still doing the cleaning?" asked Izumi.

"Yes, he is a very down to earth and humble guy. Even he had so much money, he still obligated to clean houses which were his first earnings ever when he stepped into this village. He never forgets where he comes from." explained Hiko-sama as he feels pride in his heart when he mentions my name in that manner.

"Oh... I see. He is a humble person and doesn't mind sharing his joy and wealth."

"Yes... Oh yeah, before I go. Do you happen to know a few friends that suffer the same fate as you? If you do know them, please invite them over to our place for dinner and supper like last night. I guess Yokoso has some things to say to them."

"Oh Yes... I know 4 other girls who were the same state as me, I will go and find them and ask them to come along with me tonight. Is that alright for 4 other girls to join us?"

"Sure... Sure... No worries. OK, I've got to hurry now and settle two tasks. I would be back home soon after."

"Thank you, Hiko-dono. See you later for dinner." she bowed and quickly continued her business to sell those flowers to potential customers.

Hiko-sama then proceeded to the government building when he saw a messenger and stopped him. "I need to send a message, how much do you charge if delivered within the hour?"

"Just 1 copper, sir. What message would you like to send?"

"Come, I write the message for you. And send it to Samurai Kami-san's house. A boy there will receive it."

Hiko-sama then wrote the following, "6 girls will be coming for dinner tonight. They should be those that you needed. Signed, H.S". He gave the message to the messenger and asked him to deliver it first and handed him 3 copper coins. The former thanked Hiko-sama for his generosity and told him that he will deliver it soonest possible as his feet could carry him.