Chapter 128

3rd Person POV

“I’ve been assured that Murano Workshop’s products will be in great demand. I’ve been itching to sell them.” (Ekaterina)

“That’s very kind of you.” (Rev)

Rev smiled, relieved.

“I was talking about the Murano Workshop’s standard products, such as glassware. As for the glass pens, it will take some trial and error before we can produce them to a commercially-viable standard. I have been given permission by the Duke of Yurinova to fund the development of new products until the workshop is back on track. Mina.” (Ekaterina)

“Yes, my Lady.” (Mina)

Mina placed the bag in front of Rev, and the coins clinked together.

“Here is your paycheck for this week, Mina told me that you were fired from the Garen Workshop after you spoke with me.” (Ekaterina)

That old man is a lousy employer, suddenly firing people without paying them for their work.

It’s probably because he noticed that I was talking to him, but I suspect that Master Garen took it out on Rev-kun because Mina gave him a twist when he tried to grab my arm.

“I’ll pay you in advance because we can’t afford to develop products if you’re having trouble making a living. I’ve already paid the same amount as I did for the Murano Workshop, but we’ll make a proper contract at a later date. I will do my best to give you an amount that is befitting of your position in the workshop.”

“Wow, you are indeed a great entrepreneur…! Thank you very much.”

He took the salary without hesitation, and Rev looked as if he was dreaming.

“And…”

Ekaterina was about to say when she heard a clear sound. The sound of a beautiful bell, similar to a wind chime, playing a musical scale. It seemed to be that the doorbell of this workshop was made of a glass bell that rang when the lever next to the door was pulled.

Before Rev could get up in a hurry, Mina quickly walked out. Then she came right back.

“Where do you keep the firewood?”

Mina asked, and from behind her, a man holding a large bundle of firewood peered into the room.

“Ah, yes, it’s in the basement storage. I’ll show you.”

Rev rushed out to answer. As expected of a Murano Workshop with a well-thought-out flow line, the fuel seemed to be stored in an underground warehouse that could be accessed directly from the outside.

Rev returned with a stunned look on his face, and Ekaterina smiled.

1st Person POV (Ekaterina)

“It arrived before I could speak to you, and I apologize for the surprise. The purchase of materials and fuel will both be combined with the duke’s other businesses operating purchases. The reason for this is that we can save money by purchasing in bulk. Besides, we can leave the purchasing to people who are better skilled in price negotiations, which will further lighten the burden on the workshop.”

Halil-san suggested this to me when I praised him for cutting the price of the workshop in half. He told me that by including the workshop’s portion in the purchase, the buying side would have the advantage of being able to increase the quantity purchased and negotiate the price more favorably, so he proposed that I do so without hesitation, to which I gratefully accepted.

“Also, would you be interested in hiring an accountant with specialized knowledge for the role of balancing the books and calculating profits and losses?”

“Oh, you can do that for me?”

Rev’s eyes were blank, and he didn’t really seem to realize it yet.

I’m not going to let the duke’s family lose money, but I am going to make sure that the duke’s assets and human resources are properly utilized. Somewhere inside me, a Tsukomi is trying to come out…

Don’t get distracted by it! Face it with pride.