第１８２３堀：用意が追い付かないのはそれはそれでダメ (Part2)
“Well, as long as I have the names, I can search for them, but there are times when I want to review the catalog’s contents. This is definitely more convenient.”
“Also, I spoke with Mikosu and Ratz; we’ve decided to link the catalog’s contents to our actual inventory. New products will be added, and old ones will be removed immediately. We figured it would only lead to confusion otherwise.”
“True. That’s vital.”
Without regular updates, they would inevitably list items that were no longer in stock.
Then, a thought suddenly occurred to her.
“Say, based on what you just said, are there products that only you have access to, Yuki?”
“There are. You know, those swords and armor that look like they’re carrying a nasty curse.”
“Ah, right. We sealed those away during the Shuten incident.”
Indeed, after the chaos surrounding Shuten’s transformation into their daughter, they had ensured that cursed blades and other notorious items could no longer be pulled from the DP catalog at will. It had nearly sparked a multinational crisis. While the root cause had been the friction between Irwin—the Dungeon Master—and Nogosh, the God-King of the Sword Country, as well as the conflict between Taiki, the Hero King of Ranx, and Bicks of the old royal family, the cursed blades had undoubtedly exacerbated the situation.
Because of that, new products of that nature were only shared after Yuki consulted with the others.
“Exactly. It would be a disaster if Narjia-san and the others had access to a category for robots or heavy weaponry.”
“No doubt. They already have a track record of burning through mountains of materials as it is.”
“In that sense, Covil, who became the fairy representative, has a good head on her shoulders.”
“She’s more capable than I expected. She seems to be getting along well with Kiyu lately, too.”
“Yeah, she’s a fine wife for my little brother now.”
While serving as the representative for the fairies, Covil also handled information gathering within Weed. The investigation into the disappearances, while led by Kirika’s subordinates, relied heavily on the data gathered through Kiyu’s ramen shop and Covil’s information network.
“Anyway, enough small talk. I need to go consult with Seraria and Eris. For now, the Kingdom of Ohe alone wants fifty units.”
“Ah… that’s a number that’s hard to call ‘plenty.’”
“Right?”
“And we can’t guarantee there won’t be follow-up orders.”
“This is only the beginning, after all.”
It was just as Kagura and Mikosu had said. From here, Weed’s products would spread, and the orders would start pouring in. That meant they could expect orders of fifty or more to continue for a while. Even for nobles, one unit per household might not be enough, and there would surely be reselling. However, appliances had a lifespan of about five years. Once they had sold a certain amount, replacements wouldn't be needed immediately, so perhaps things would settle down?
Thinking that far ahead, she began to understand why the future was so hard to read.
*Ah, I see.*
In that case, the next step was already waiting. Right now it was the Kingdom of Ohe, but next would be the Kingdom of Jeyaeth, and it was obvious the numbers would only grow from there.
After all, they had to make a name for Weed on the New Continent. Being unable to keep up with production wasn't necessarily a bad thing in itself, but for Weed, which sought to establish its brand, appearing understaffed or struggling with manufacturing would be a blunder. That was why Yuki wanted her to have everything ready at a moment's notice.
“It really is a hassle.”
“Isn’t it? It’s a new market with no connections, so there’s no way to even research it properly. We’re already panting just dealing with Ohe, but the one after that is the real target.”
“True. Still, we can’t exactly quit. We’d lose our foothold on the New Continent.”
They were putting Kagura and Mikosu at risk to spread Weed’s name; they needed results to match that gamble. Furthermore, the enemy’s goals remained unclear. They needed to gather as many allies as possible.
“Say… do you think it would be better if I went over there?”
The question slipped out before she could stop it. She knew that if it were truly necessary, Yuki would have already selected her for the New Continent team.
“Yeah. You will need to go. Until then, I’m counting on you to look after Weed.”
“…I understand.”
It was rare; he didn't tell her it wasn't necessary. This meant she would definitely have to journey across the sea. She had better start making preparations.
A company’s capability was often judged solely by the speed of its fulfillment. It was the classic "can you deliver this yesterday?" scenario. It was a pain, but for the client, it was the perfect opportunity to measure a company’s worth. Even back on Earth, these kinds of fierce, high-stakes business battles were fought every single day.