Chapter 139 - The Expedition Stove for Whom?
In the room rented by the Rossetti Company within the Merchant Guild, Dahlia and Ivano sat across from each other at a table.
Ivano had handed out silver coins to the clerks and scribes, sending them off for a long tea break, leaving the two of them alone in the room.
Since the day after returning from the royal castle, the two had been repeatedly discussing the presentation and pricing of the expedition stove.
“I think the explanation is solid now. The only thing left is the price.”
Today, the day before their presentation at the royal castle, they had finally agreed on the content of their explanation and were almost done preparing.
However, the issue of pricing remained unresolved.
“Well, it’s kind of a tradition for the finance department to be strict with the Monster Subjugation Force’s budget. Apparently, five generations ago, the unit’s captain inflated expedition expenses and embezzled funds.”
“Five generations ago? That’s quite a while back, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it was before either of us were born. I only found out about it from Fort-sama. Back then, there were eight marquis families, but it dropped to seven because the captain in question was from a marquis family.”
Dahlia now understood why the finance department was so strict with the unit’s budget.
However, the current captain, Grato, was even willing to pay for the expedition stoves out of his own pocket for his subordinates. It was hard to believe he would ever do something like that.
“To reiterate, even if it’s for the Monster Subjugation Force, I’m against lowering the price by cutting into the company’s profits.”
Ivano’s stance hadn’t changed since they left the royal castle.
“Is the price based on the compact magic stove production cost too generous?”
“Yes, to put it bluntly, it’s ‘far too generous.’”
Ivano took off his navy-blue jacket, hung it on the chair, and clasped his hands on the table.
After taking a deep breath, he began speaking in earnest.
“Dahlia-san, my father was known as a ‘virtuous company head.’ But after my grandfather, a ‘shrewd company head,’ passed away, my father helped struggling merchants friends, became a guarantor for their debts, and in the end, he lost everything. His reputation, clients, wealth, home, his family’s lives, and even his own life—everything was sacrificed.”
“Ivano...”
“It might sound harsh, but the foundation of a merchant is profit. Compassion, love, and pride are all wonderful, but they don’t put food on the table. A merchant, and by extension a company, must bring in money. I learned that the hard way when I was young, and I don’t want you, as the company head, to repeat the same mistake by clinging to idealism.”
Facing Ivano’s sincere words, Dahlia responded with equal determination.
“If we consider this as laying the groundwork for future long-term deliveries to the Monster Subjugation Force, wouldn’t there be benefits to lowering the price this time?”
“The expedition stoves are quite durable and designed to resist damage, right? We don’t know how many additional orders we’ll get. The number of units to be delivered to the entire royal castle is still uncertain. Given that, I’d prefer not to lower the price upfront.”
“What about the profits from the socks and insoles? Aren’t we making a decent profit from the Monster Subjugation Force with those?”
“We are, but those are separate products. No merchant willingly handles products that don’t turn a profit.”
When put that way, Dahlia had to admit Ivano was right.
Giving special treatment to one product would be strange for a company.
She desperately searched for a justification.
“What about strengthening our relationship with the Monster Subjugation Force for the future?”
“We already have strong connections with both Volf-sama and Captain Grato. We could let them buy the stoves personally and wait for them to spread naturally. The product is good—it’ll sell itself over time.”
“But what about until then? They’re risking their lives to defeat monsters, only to come back to meals that are neither tasty nor nutritious... And their work is so dangerous that it might be their last meal.”
“Isn’t that just ‘sympathy’ and ‘concern’? Wanting to deliver the expedition stoves to the unit based solely on those feelings—isn’t that wrong, both as a company head and as a magical toolmaker?”
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Ivano’s deep indigo eyes calmly met hers.
“Forgive me for saying this, but—Dahlia-san, aren’t you projecting too much of Volf-sama and the Monster Subjugation Force onto this?”
“Ah...”
A small, almost involuntary sound escaped her throat.
Ivano was right.
At first, it had just been about Volf wanting to use the stove. She hadn’t even considered selling it to the unit.
But now, she wanted the unit to use the expedition stoves, hoping it would make their expeditions even slightly safer and more comfortable.
The foundation of that desire was Volf.
The image of him, wounded and covered in blood on the day they first met, had stayed with her all this time.
“The unit members will find the expedition stoves convenient, and I’m sure they’d appreciate your concern. But our dealings with the unit aren’t charity—they’re a business transaction on equal footing. If we unilaterally cut our profits, it’ll eventually make them feel indebted. They’re knights, and they’re men, after all.”
“...I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Dahlia bowed her head to Ivano, biting her lip.
She had mixed her personal feelings for a friend with her work, narrowing her perspective and letting her hopes run ahead of her.
“Umm, don’t get too down. I know I can be harsh sometimes...”
“No, thank you. If you hadn’t said it, I wouldn’t have realized.”
“There are plenty of options. For example, we could lend the expedition stoves as trial products and charge the full price after they’ve been used. But I doubt that the finance department head will make it easy for us.”
As Ivano ruffled his mustard-colored hair, his concern for her made Dahlia feel even more apologetic.
There was no time to dwell on her feelings.
Tomorrow, they would make a presentation to the finance department at the royal castle.
“If you’re really set on lowering the price, let’s think of some effective compensation. It could be something for the company or for you as a magical toolmaker.”
“Really, Ivano? Is that okay?”
“Thinking about it doesn’t cost anything. If you want to lower the price, you’ll have to convince me first, Chairwoman. Otherwise, you won’t get that ‘old fox’ to agree either. He’ll definitely find fault with it.”
Calling Gild an “old fox,” Ivano smiled his usual smile.
Dahlia couldn’t help but feel grateful that this man was part of her company.
“There’s always a way. Keep thinking from different angles, even if it takes time.”
Her father’s words about creating magical tools came back to her.
A way to lower the price for the Monster Subjugation Force while still benefiting the Rossetti Company—something that would satisfy Ivano, the merchant.
Her feelings, her selfishness in a way, wanted to push through even if it meant cutting into the company’s profits. It was only natural that her head would ache from thinking so hard.
“Let me think about it for a bit.”
“Of course. Take as much time as you need.”
Dahlia spread five sheets of paper on the table and began jotting down every idea that came to mind.
The pencil scratched against the paper, and she repeatedly peeled back the wrapper to expose more lead.
As she wrote furiously, she realized she was biting the thumbnail of her left hand. A childhood habit she thought she’d long forgotten had resurfaced.
Her father had once painted her nails with a chili-infused liquid to break her of the habit.
The red bottle had a large label that read, ”For Dahlia.”
She could almost feel the phantom sting on her lips and smiled faintly.
Then, suddenly, an idea struck her.
“...Ivano, can I run something by you?”
“Of course. Are you going to consult Gabriella-san? Or maybe Volf-sama... though it might be awkward given his position in the unit. Or perhaps Fort-sama? He’d probably be willing to help.”
“No, I want to discuss what I’ve come up with... with you, Ivano.”
“My apologies. Go ahead, Chairwoman.”
Ivano straightened his already neat collar, and Dahlia sat up straight, facing him directly.
If she couldn’t convince Ivano, she couldn’t lower the price and move forward.
And if she couldn’t do that, the Monster Subjugation Force wouldn’t be able to use the product without feeling indebted.
“Alright, let me explain.”
As she sketched diagrams and wrote notes on a fresh sheet of paper, Dahlia began to speak.
The discussion between the company head and her trusted employee continued for a long time.
Thank you for translating!! I'm excited to see what Dahlia is thinking about! (人*´∀｀)｡*ﾟ+
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