第１６７５堀：港町の商店街について (Part1)
Chapter 1675: Regarding the Port Town’s Shopping District
Side: Yuki
"Long time no see... or is it?"
I tilt my head, greeting Sisua and Sona as I drop by the Commerce Division. They tilt their heads in return.
"I wonder? It is true that we haven't seen each other for two or three days, but..."
"That happens all the time, doesn't it?"
Neither of them seems quite sure, and the sentiment doesn't quite sit right with any of us.
In that case.
"Right, let's drop the 'long time no see.' I just came by because I had some business."
"Understood. Welcome, Yuki-sama."
"You're always welcome here! So, I heard you were bringing Yayui to talk about the fishing port... but why here?"
"Ah, well, Yayui—or rather, Orelia and Hovis—are currently occupied dealing with merchants from other countries. I figured it wouldn't hurt for them to understand the rules and preferential policies of this port town."
" "Ah—" "
They both nod, seemingly grasping my intent.
"However, Yuki-sama, these preferential policies are currently intended for Weed citizens, aren't they?"
"Are you planning on bringing in people from other countries?"
"That’s something we’ll discuss. For now, I want Yayui and the others to hear about it, and if Sisua and Sona see merit in letting foreign merchants open shops, I’d be open to it. Actually, are all the shops that Ratz secured—or rather, built—already filled?"
That is the crux of the matter.
These preferential measures are meant to draw merchants to the town. They aren't strictly limited to Weed citizens, though naturally, Weed citizens take priority. After all, if our people succeed as merchants, it bolsters Weed’s reputation. That said, if people from other nations succeed here thanks to Weed, that’s fine by me, too.
But moving past the "who," the question remains: are the vacant shops occupied?
"No, only about half are filled."
"Naturally, word of these policies hasn't spread beyond our own circles and those of Ratz-sama. I imagine once we start a large-scale recruitment drive—or perhaps once Mikos-sama’s information magazines and pamphlets are distributed—they’ll fill up quickly."
"Ah, I see. So it’s a matter of establishing the bare minimum functionality before gathering the crowd."
"Exactly. The Super Ratz port branch will be opening soon, and only then can we finally propose migration to the port town."
It’s true; right now, people still have to go all the way back to Weed for their shopping. It’s not an impossible distance, but it’s certainly a hassle. Once that’s resolved, we can move to fill the remaining vacancies.
As I’m thinking this, Yayui speaks up.
"Excuse me, Sisua-sama, Sona-sama, what exactly are these preferential policies you mentioned?"
"Good point. We should explain them to Yayui as well. Could you provide a handout?"
"Certainly. Here you go."
As a Commerce Division staffer hands over a printout, Sisua turns to me.
"Yuki-sama, Yayui, if you’d like, we can explain the details in the office. We have the matter of the fishing port to discuss as well."
"Sounds good."
"Yes, please."
With that, Yayui and I head to the office. Inside, the desk is piled high with documents, as always. Knowing that if I hadn't brought those two here, we would have been the ones doing all this work, I feel a deep sense of relief.
"Now, please take a look at this handout."
Yayui accepts the paper and begins to read.
"...Is this for real?"
"It certainly is. Our goal is to increase the number of people starting new businesses. That said, there are strict rules in place."
"Specifically?"
"As written on the handout, the primary condition is that you must conduct business here in the port town. Secondly, you must commit to operating the shop for at least three years. Additionally, an instructor will be assigned to you."
"An instructor?"
"Since the shops are essentially being leased out, we need someone to ensure there are no disputes over storefront displays or decor. They also act as consultants if sales aren't meeting expectations, that sort of thing."
"You go that far? Looking at these policies, the terms are so generous I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. At this rate, one could almost start a business with zero capital."
Indeed, as Yayui points out, the preferential policies allow one to start a business in the port town with almost no out-of-pocket expense. It looks incredibly generous on the surface, but...
"Do you understand, Yayui? It looks like a favor, but it’s really a trade-off: you have to accept our interference. We guarantee the shop for three years, but if things aren't working out after that, it means we reserve the right to take it back."
"...I see. So, if the business isn't stable after three years, you can simply reclaim it. But isn't the risk of loss quite high for you as well?"
"That depends on how you look at it. Honestly, the development of this port town is unprecedented, even for us—or anyone living on the Rogali continent. There are small nations with port towns, but none are developing them with this level of resort-style infrastructure to attract people. You’re aware of that, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. So, in that sense, I suppose it is a net loss."
"Precisely. It may be a financial loss, but we gain experience."
"Experience... I see. Learning what kind of shops and products work, understanding customer flow, and so on."
As expected of someone who handles negotiations for me with merchants and the general public, she grasps the value of non-monetary gains immediately.
Well, the leadership of Weed doesn't really struggle with money to begin with. Of course, we make purchases from the International Exchange Alliance to keep our reserves from growing too large, but when it comes to supplies, we can literally obtain them using DP.
Experience and knowledge take priority over coin.
"That’s exactly it. Since this is our first attempt, we decided it was better to have as much data as possible."
"We might even see some unexpected things pop up. Though, I couldn't bring myself to tell the office staff to start running shops themselves. Oh, Yayui, would you like to try opening one?"
"Sona-sama, please, don't even joke about that. Including myself, there are only nine people directly under Yuki-sama. Besides, Jessica-sama, Samantha-sama, and Cleena-sama are busy with foreign diplomacy and their specialized departments, and we are already stretched thin supporting Yuki-sama."
"She’s right. It’s impossible for Yayui and the others to run a shop."
I chime in to back her up. If the workload increases any further, we’ll truly be in trouble.