第１８５８堀：どこから人を持ってくるのかも問題 (Part1)
Chapter 1858: The Problem of Where to Source Personnel
Side: Jessica
"So, the interior of the shop is fine, but have you actually decided what you’re going to sell?"
I pose this question to Yuki, who stands before me. I heard earlier that he had visited Glass Port Town to inspect the shop, so I decide to press him on the details he conveniently left out. Not that I believe Yuki would ever truly forget such a thing.
"I’m thinking of focusing on the trinkets Orelia suggested, along with Hovis’s accessories and Yayui’s dagashi—a mix to target a wide range of customers."
"…That sounds convenient, but it also sounds a bit scattered, doesn't it?"
"Can't argue with that. Well, it’s a 'see how it sells' kind of situation."
"I suppose that’s true."
In this line of business, you never really know what will sell until you put it on the shelves. If it were that simple, everyone would be a successful merchant. Of course, Yuki’s shop doesn't strictly need to turn a profit to stay afloat, but if it doesn't perform at all, it would look unnatural. A baseline of customer traffic is necessary.
"I understand the gist of it, but why have you come to my office for this?"
Indeed, for some reason, Yuki and his group have descended upon my workplace—the military administrative office. Military deployment in Glass Port Town is primarily handled by the Navy, with only a small contingent dispatched from Weed. It didn't seem like something that required a consultation with me.
"It’s about the shop staff. I thought about asking Kirika, but her people are stretched thin. Plus, there was talk about avoiding an over-reliance on the Intelligence Department."
"Ah, I see."
It is true. Yuki’s direct subordinates are limited to Prol, Orelia, Hovis, and Yayui. He generally relies on personnel dispatched from other departments, and the monster army is led by Steve. Even Kirika, rather than being a direct subordinate, is simply the head of Intelligence fulfilling Yuki’s requests. While the Intelligence Department—the first organization Yuki established due to his emphasis on information—is frequently utilized, one could argue that’s a form of favoritism. Yuki only turns to Kirika.
Still, given their primary focus is intelligence, they aren't always available to help with mundane tasks. So, it seems Kirika was the one who brought this matter to me.
"There has been some dissatisfaction, you know. That you don't rely on the military enough, Yuki."
"Is that so? I feel like I’m using Steve and the others however I please."
"I phrased that poorly. I meant that you don't utilize the human soldiers, do you?"
"Well, yeah. Weed needs its people. Plus, my work is high-difficulty."
As Yuki says, when I first arrived in Weed, the 'military' was nothing more than a group of green recruits in training. Time has passed, and there are capable people now, but they still lack the experience to serve as Yuki’s direct assistants. After all, his missions involve deep infiltration into enemy territory; one slip-up means death.
Not that soldiers don't risk their lives as a matter of course, but the mortality rate for infiltration is on an entirely different level. You cannot entrust such tasks to soldiers who are little more than amateurs. Steve and the monster units, who move like extensions of his own limbs, are far more appropriate.
"So, you’re saying this mission isn't as high-difficulty?"
"It’s shop management combined with light intelligence gathering. That said, it’s not about digging for something specific. Just patrolling Glass Port Town, chatting with the locals, and picking up information."
"Hmm. That certainly shouldn't be a problem, but… what about the headcount?"
"Let’s see. Even if it’s a small shop, I want two people on the floor at all times. So, three at a minimum? Four to be safe?"
"Four, you say. It’s not an impossible number to provide. In fact, that’s quite manageable, but…"
Four people. Since they will be handling both the front-facing shop duties and the clandestine intelligence work, they cannot be half-hearted. Losing four elites is a significant blow, but being able to legally plant personnel who can grasp the current state of Glass Port Town is a massive advantage. I don't distrust the Navy, but people are prone to temptation.
The question is…
"What is the duration?"
"It’s permanent. As long as Glass Port Town exists. That shop isn't just a shop; it’s a place to gather information from a perspective different from the town hall or the police."
"I understand."
If this were a temporary assignment, I might object, but this kind of self-purification is necessary. Corruption is an inherent risk in any organization.
"Well, that’s why I need people who are mentally resilient."
"Agreed. We can't have them being swayed by bribes. In that case, let’s rotate them periodically."
"Isn't that a hassle?"
"It is, but it also serves as practical training for intelligence gathering."
"Ah, I see. Field training, then."
"Yes. Kirika’s Intelligence Department seems to use the Canary-dono’s bento shop and flower shop as fronts, and we would appreciate having a similar venue. We can even assign them tasks from our end."
"I see. So it doubles as a place to train intelligence officers."
"Exactly. Our military department isn't without its own intelligence needs."
"Naturally."
Weed has grown quite large. Every organization has its own teams or units dedicated to gathering information. While there are specialized organizations like Kirika’s, every department has a need for its own intelligence network. If we can acquire an environment to train those officers—even if it isn't 'free'—it is a net positive. If we had to set this up ourselves, we would need to secure a location and cover the setup costs, which would then involve consulting with Eris and Ratz, making things far more complicated. Honestly, taking Yuki up on this offer is the cheaper route.
"So, what do you think?"
"Well, I’m the one who asked, so I’ll leave it to you. I plan to have the preparations finished within the month."
"Understood. As for the selection criteria, they must be capable of running a shop, correct?"
"Well, trainees won't cut it. The ones stationed there—the ones running the shop—need that kind of knowledge. Do you have such people?"
"I’ll have to check, but Weed’s soldiers are volunteers from civilian life. I know for a fact that quite a few of them have experience in trade. I can't speak to their talent, of course."
Weed’s soldiers are civilians by origin, not individuals forced into service by noble decree as in other nations.