Chapter 299: The Recruitment Office’s Problem
For now, I’m gathering feedback on the island’s issues and inconveniences. The complaint about taking a bath was dismissed. People are confused by how different life is here compared to what they’re used to, and they can’t imagine going back to the days of fetching water. They mention how the waterways are cool and that they don’t feel itchy.
“The bath, the laundry area, the bed… they’re all wonderful…”
Fadar must have found the straw bed unbearable; he probably replaced it every day.
The mattresses are being diligently crafted by artisans hired through Soleil in Marina. For now, they’ve been set up in the main building and the high-end inn. There’s already been interest, but they’re still too expensive for the average person.
Currently, the beds with mattresses in the main building come with a fee deducted from salaries. Since there aren’t enough for everyone, they’re being lent out to those who want them. Soleil and Auro mentioned they bought theirs, but it seems Fadar is likely to buy one too.
I want to expand this quickly, but materials are expensive—everything is pricey. Labor costs are surprisingly low, though. Even the workers here, despite being paid a higher wage due to snack allowances and the rental of supplies, seem to end up with lower wages than expected.
“So far, the ones moving here are from the city. There’s a request to expand the immigration quota because they want to bring relatives, but we’re prioritizing those with skills. We also want farmers, but that’s a tricky situation,” Auro explains.
Most lords just squeeze farmers dry, keeping them barely alive and never letting them escape. If they tried to recruit anyone, they’d be met with soldiers. The farmers themselves are in a state of ignorance, so unless there’s a severe famine, they wouldn’t even think about moving.
“At first, let’s have them work part of their taxes as labor and get them to cultivate the fields. Sometimes we need a few people, and other times we need a lot,” I suggest. There are also tasks like cleaning the waterways twice a month, tidying the plaza, and maintaining the paths—lots of labor to assign. We could hire cleaners, but I want to instill a cleaning habit…
For those who aren’t original islanders, we’re only renting out land and houses without granting permanent residency; it’s still a trial period. Well, even the people living here, while not treated as slaves, are still somewhat regarded as the lord’s property, which I’m not quite used to.
“I’ll think about the farming situation.”
I’m an ex-convict who escaped from early interactions and ended up hanging around Dinoss. My way of thinking is just too different.
There’s talk about the sales status of dyed goods, the power figures who visited Naruadeid, and the shortage of craftsmen. The male population has increased, making things a bit rough, and there’s a desire to recruit female employees for the inns and eateries.
From urgent matters to trivial ones, there’s a lively discussion. The basic plan is to dye goods on the island and produce and sell mattresses and lanterns elsewhere—Soleil’s trading company will handle the mediation—and rely on tax revenue from tourists.
As the population grows, tax revenue will increase, but I don’t want it to become as crowded as Fortress City or Naruadeid. Fortunately, dyed goods have been selling well due to their vibrant colors from the clear, cool water, and they’ve gained brand value.
For now, I’ve asked Soleil to continue with the business and to look for someone to manage the Spirit’s Branch.
“Leave the business to me! No matter what, we’ll be in the black in six months, in the black!”
Soleil is busy with negotiations and diplomacy, while Auro will be the one primarily searching for people.
Is that why there are so many oddballs around…? It seems the Changelings are coming from the other side.
We need various professions, from postal workers to messengers, scribes, chimney sweeps, and even people who can teach general education—there’s a shortage of many jobs, and we’re currently recruiting or organizing.
I need to find a manager for the Spirit’s Branch before the spirits gather and start causing some serious mischief.
If Auro is the one searching, the chances of finding someone who will shout alongside Soleil seem incredibly low.
After filling a tin with sweets and packing pies filled with shrimp gratin for those who wanted something other than candy, I leave the island and head back to the inn in the Fortress City.
I want to buy livestock from here, like pigs and cows, but the island is small. For now, I just need to secure enough meat to distribute during the festival. If we can’t provide meat at the festival, I’ll be labeled a stingy lord.
I might want to keep the goats a bit longer since the babies need goat milk when their mothers aren’t producing.
“Why the serious face? Are you thinking about something pointless again, like stones?”
Dinoss teased me. I had forgotten all about the Go stones!
“By the way, where are Retze and the others?”
“Dean and Chris are at the brothel, and Retze is gathering information.”
“Those two went back and then went again, huh?”
Retze is diligent in a different way.
“This time, both of them are gathering information. I thought Lady Rosa and the others were being quiet, but it seems the False Hero has been waiting to use what’s called the Fairy Path and the Spirit Path. Retze has heard something about pinpointing the location.”
Ah, that’s right. I was planning to block that off!