Chapter 40: Blooming Business

The three basic elements of human life are food, clothing, and shelter.

However, it wasn't easy to live with all of them properly because none of them were inexpensive. It was especially difficult in the capital city of Perias. Because it was the center of the empire, the prices were extremely high.

Thud. Thud. Thump.

"Hey, it's ripped again."

The sleeves of the man walking down the street were fraying. It was because he briefly bumped into someone who was coming from the opposite direction.

He didn't feel like getting angry though. The other person was also wearing rags.

"Careful there…Sheldon"

"Delton, I'm really sorry about this. I was in such a hurry."

"If you want to get to the logging camp, you'll have to move your feet diligently. Okay, let's go quickly."

"I will definitely compensate you next time."

"Even if you do that, you'll be late."

"Oh, thank you for your hard work!"

The man named Sheldon waved his hand vigorously and quickly disappeared. Delton, whose sleeves were torn, let out a short sigh.

This part was just added a while ago, but it's already damaged like this. It was a day when he expected his wife to nag him.

"Oh no, I'll be late if I keep doing this."

Delton suddenly came to his senses and hurried his steps.

These days, they hire a lot of sickle workers, but if you're late, there might not be a spot. Because the wages are high, it is very popular.

As he was walking diligently through the North Gate of Perias, a strange sight suddenly unfolded.

People were bustling in front of the building that stands out in the middle of an empty field. Delton tilted his head.

"I saw construction going on, but what on earth is going on?"

Even though he was busy, he planned to take a quick look. Since he was on his way anyway, it wasn't a big burden.

But Delton had to stay there for quite some time.

"No, what are you doing that requires such a long line?"

"I want to buy some fabric."

"Surely not everyone here is going to do that?"

"You'd be an idiot not to buy it. But why is it so hard to get out of here?"

He asked the man in the back row but got only a curt answer. It seemed like he was frustrated because the line was so long.

Delton frowned at the unfriendly answer. It was something that couldn't be helped.

Did he even give me an answer when we first met? Sёarch* The Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The world we live in is so tough that it's hard to care about others.

Delton eventually decided to go forward and find out for himself.

"What the hell is going on and why is everyone making such a fuss?"

After walking for a while, he finally came into view of the entrance to the building.

The display cases spread out on both sides were filled with linen cloths. It was a top-quality product with a tight thread arrangement and subtle colors.

"Oh!"

As the person at the back said, it was indeed something that could be considered a threat.

But Delton knew what the price of fabric was. At that level, they should have paid about 4 shillings per piece.

Isn't the monthly food cost 1 shilling? The common people, who had difficulty making ends meet, could not afford to buy even a single roll of high-quality linen.

But no matter how much he looked around, he couldn't find any scrap fabric for sale.

"If I were to add sleeves, I would have to buy something the size of my palm."

As he was looking around the stall with a troubled expression, a large sign caught his eye. There was something written on it, but he couldn't read it.

Delton, like other wage earners, was illiterate. First, he could make out the picture and the amount.

"For one piece… 5 copper?"

Five copper coins are worth half a silver coin.

Even if you live in a house with no money, you can invest that much. If you work hard in a mowing shed, you'll probably get about 6 shillings a month.

Delton, his eyes wide, asked questions to the people waiting in line.

"Hey, is this real? It really only costs 5 copper?"

"Look. Everyone is buying one. I haven't bought one yet, so I don't know for sure, but it doesn't seem to be a lie."

"Why on earth is it so cheap?"

"It's the grand opening celebration. Duke Carriers has specially lowered the price. However, each person can only buy one."

"Ah, Your Majesty!"

Delton clasped his hands together with a moved expression on his face, as if praying. It seemed like he was praying for Abel Carriers' long life.

"This is not the time. I have to wait in line too."

Delton, who had quickly turned back, waited with a smiling face.

The line was quite long, but the smile on his face did not fade. With just one roll of linen, he could make clothes for his whole family.

Moreover, it was possible to neatly repair old clothes. It felt like he was doing his best for the first time in a long time, so he couldn't hide his excitement.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Delton continued to express his gratitude, even though Abel Carriers could not hear him.

Who is to thank for the fact that life has become better for the common people in the capital these days?

The once despised textile factory has now become the best place to work.

In addition, mowing the grass has probably become much easier.

This was because the textile factory provided unlimited access to all tools.

Originally, sickles were personal items, so most people worked with their bare hands.

How convenient it is that that doesn't happen anymore. Not only that, wages also increased by six times compared to before.

Of course, this only applies to the workers under Duke Carrier's command, but other places could not be unaffected as well.

Because everyone wants to go to the Midias area to work.

"It's all thanks to His Highness the Duke of Carriers."

"Yes! He is a person with a completely different personality from those greedy nobles."

"So, isn't life a little better these days? It was such a mess before he came."

"Compared to that time, it's a world of difference."

People around Delton agreed with his monologue.

The man who had spoken rudely earlier was also smiling and agreeing. This meant that Abel Carriers' fame had a positive impact.

However, not everyone viewed it with a positive outlook.

"That linen cloth costs only 5 copper? That's crazy!"

A robed man who was watching Abel's shop gritted his teeth and then quickly disappeared somewhere.

***

Since opening the store, I've had a happy smile on my face every day. It was thanks to the system messages that kept coming up.

[The clothing conditions of the capital's common people are improving.]

[Your reputation will rise.]

[It made a huge difference to the community.]

[A reward will be given.]

'That's right! It's so easy to build a reputation. And it's even easier to make money.'

The fabric sold like hotcakes. Linen cloth was used extensively throughout the empire.

That doesn't mean the quality of my stuff suffers. I instructed them to make it as tight as possible, and I even had ten people inspect it.

It is probably a luxury item that is hard to find anywhere else. That's why the nobles also sent their servants to buy a lot.

"It seems like they mobilized almost all of their servants. Some nobles even bought over 30 pieces."

Tobias Wilkin, the butler in charge of managing the store, reported with a worried look on his face.

It was a natural reaction.

What was the reason for starting a textile business in the first place?

It was intended to raise the clothing standards of the common people.

It's not uncommon for people to wear clothes that were made to order as soon as they became adults for over 10 years.

Not only was it unsanitary, but it also looked unpleasant. In any case, it was of little importance for the nobles to secure linen cloth.

"It's okay. Just leave it alone. It'll go away soon."

"What if they secure a quantity like that and then resell it?"

"It doesn't really matter since I'm just going to keep pulling them out anyway."

All I had to do was change society in a positive way and unlock abilities.

I have more than enough money anyway, so what's the point of being greedy?

As you do various businesses, money just comes naturally.

'But what else is open?'

This damn system makes me want to look for it. I carefully examined every part of the information window.

But this time I had no idea what had been unlocked.

"What the hell is the compensation?"

Last time it was easy to figure out.

The skill was floating right in my information window. I haven't even tested it yet, though.

But then suddenly I heard a strange sound in my ear.

"… Is this the right way to do it?"

"I think I should install it a little further to the left, should I just call the butler?"

"If we do it among ourselves, it seems like we'll just be wasting our energy."

"Then I will quickly bring Deacon Miller Xavier over."

It was the sound of the maids discussing the decorations inside the mansion. I wondered if it was really necessary to go that far.

'Still, it's good to see you working hard. Who should I praise?'

But, at that very moment, a holographic window appeared that was on a whole other level larger than anything I'd seen before.