Chapter 3
As we all know, in other types of games, you can leave the main quest aside for now, explore the surroundings slowly, and click on each item one by one, especially those that have a shiny, sparkling indicator.
However, if this game includes management features, then I'm sorry.
No matter what business he's in, time is his money.
You can eat your meal two minutes later, but you can't delay an NPC job that can make you money for even a second.
Kazuma Hatori ignored the various expressions on the faces of the Kamo people below and used his mind to make the pop-up window of the [Management] interface appear in front of him.
[Management: Congratulations! As an outstanding capitalist, we have unlocked a management module that matches your temperament. Now, you can assign your subordinates to work for you.]
Please note that only funds earned by your subordinates will be counted as income and expenses. Additional benefits derived from your role in the game will not be counted as your personal income.
Please note that personal earnings can be carried over to the next playthrough.
Currently, your personal funds amount to: 7660.
Currently, you have the following business models to choose from:
—> Trade: This encompasses the entire process of sourcing, transporting, and selling. It involves purchasing specialty products from different regions and shipping them to suitable locations to sell and profit from the price difference. The final profit will be affected by factors such as the availability of raw materials, transportation methods, and prices at the point of sale.
—>Technology: By cultivating or employing research talent, and after a certain period of time, high-tech new products containing patents can be developed and manufactured for sale. Different talents will affect the research time, and the products produced also need to withstand the test of the market.
Tourism: Develop existing buildings and natural resources on the owned land, and promote them to attract tourists. Alternatively, invest in creating highly attractive landmarks to draw even more visitors. The number and scale of these landmarks directly impact the area's popularity.
Agriculture: This involves using labor to grow and sell agricultural products. Only land, seeds, and a shop are needed to generate a stable output. The quantity and variety of agricultural products sold directly impact the profits.
Trade... Kazuma Hatori glanced at the people sitting below, estimating that their average age was no less than forty.
Regardless of where they are sent to trade, their physical strength will likely affect the travel time, making the profits not worthwhile. Furthermore…
What's the date today?
Kazuma Hatake randomly selected an NPC to ask a question.
"Ah, January 5th...?"
The NPC whose name was called jumped, hesitated for a moment, and then dared to speak.
"The year?" Kazuma Hatake continued to ask.
"...Ping...Pingcheng 30?"
Heisei 30... that's 2018. Not to mention that the rapid development of technology is almost reaching its bottleneck, even if you take business activities like trade to Japan, you have to go overseas to make more money.
Moreover, the average age of his current subordinates is so high that it's hard to doubt whether they can withstand the hardships of long-distance ocean voyages.
If any NPC happens to be on the road, that would be a loss for him.
In that case, we can forget about technology for now. These old men don't look like the brightest researchers. We might as well just wait for them to come up with something and then hire new ones themselves.
As for tourism... he needs a lot of land first.
Although I don't know his current location in Japan, not only does he need to spend money to buy land, but he also has to build more iconic landmarks... No, we must be careful that spectacular sights do not harm the country.
After much deliberation, Kazuma Hatake realized that agriculture was still the most reliable option at present.
If these old men can't do maritime trade, research technology, or build wonders, can't we at least keep them at home to farm?
If you can't grow rice paddies, you can still grow radishes, green vegetables, watermelons, etc. These are either necessities for survival or can become high-priced luxury goods.
Yes, the oldest profession is indeed the most stable. After Kazuma Hatake chose [Agriculture], the option to plant land popped up again.
Speaking of the land used for planting...
Kazuma Hatori opened his list of personal assets and found that the only item was the Kamo family mansion—which probably only appeared after he completed his mission.
The text below also states, "Increasing your control over the Kamo main family will unlock more assets related to the Kamo family."
However, even if he only has the Kamo family mansion as his current listing, it is enough for agriculture.
Kazuma Hatake interacted with the semi-transparent pop-up a few times and then closed it.
After completing these tasks, he looked again at the people sitting in the East Pine Hall.
Staring into those dark pupils, everyone shuddered, wondering what terrifying business strategy this demon had devised after targeting them and asking for the time.
Could it be some kind of ancient cursed artifact that has only recently been awakened using a container...?
The more they thought about it, the more likely this seemed, but what good was it? They were still helpless against this demon, and had even started to genuinely regard him as the new head of the family... How outrageous!
"Gentlemen, I'll keep it short."
Kazuma Hatake spoke calmly, yet his words were filled with an irresistible, invisible power.
“I’ve assigned 10 people to cultivate the courtyard of this mansion and turn it into arable land. Another 29 people will each take seeds and follow behind the cultivated land to plant them. Finally, 5 people will go and set up the shop I just bought, where we will sell the produce.”
Everyone sitting below, listening to him speak, slowly opened their mouths wide, but couldn't utter a sound.
"………………"
Did I hear that right? Them?
This devilish patriarch, who just fed them over fifty lousy meals, now expects them to farm for him in the Kamo family's yard to earn money?
Do you look down on the Kamo family?!
One of the three great families of the sorcery world, inheriting the noble bloodline of ancient Onmyoji, a prestigious family among prestigious families, a legitimate clan with a voice even among the highest levels of government, has actually! Today! been reduced to having its elders and core members carrying hoes and digging the ground to grow vegetables within the main family compound!?
Does he even know how rich the Kamo family is?!
Those with a bad temper would be so angry they'd jump up and down on the spot, smashing the drum that had been banging on the outside for so long, and then pointing their fingers at the rotten rice devil and giving him a good scolding!
But they dared not speak out of turn. They could only take a deep breath and then point out tactfully, "Master, you are unaware that our Kamo family... possesses enough financial strength for you to squander for a lifetime."
After all, nobody wants to blurt out "handsome dad" while cursing the new head of the family.
That would make the whole situation very awkward.
It also lacks any imposing presence.
"I know."
Kazuma Hagoromo nodded.
Since the money owned by the Kamo family head can only be transferred between these NPCs, if he wants to earn his own slush fund, he has to arrange for these NPCs to work for him.
“I think I’ve treated you guys pretty well,” Kazuma Hatake said earnestly.
"At least, I haven't scheduled any of you to work 16 hours a day."
After completing a series of procedures, including selecting land, purchasing a street-front shop worth 50 gold, and determining the number of staff to handle the corresponding processes, a pop-up window presented him with several options for working hours.
To start operating your first agricultural production base, please select different working hours for your staff:
—> 4 hours/day (output reduced by 50%): A generous and benevolent capitalist, no employee will question you, they will be very happy to work for you, and will always maintain a good mood and physical health. Obedience will increase with the number of working days.
—> 8 hours/day (output reduced by 20%): A competent and law-abiding capitalist will have employees who work diligently for you most of the time, but you can't expect them to do more for you. Obedience remains unchanged.
—> 16 hours/day (output reduced by 0%): A ruthless and cold-blooded capitalist. Your employees will be persistently depressed, and their rebellious spirit, even wanting to hang you from a streetlamp, will persist throughout the workday. Obedience will decrease with the number of working days.
Kazuma Hatori didn't want to become generous and kind, but he was also worried that if the level of obedience dropped too low, they would actually intend to hang him under a street lamp.
Therefore, he chose the most conservative option of 8 hours per day.
He could actually alternate between 16 hours/day and 4 hours/day, but he doesn't have enough funds to experiment right now, so he's choosing the safest option for the time being.
But in short, the outcome of these NPCs going to farm to make money remains unchanged.
"…………"
The elders nearly collapsed, clutching their chests, after hearing that the new head of the family even planned to make them work 16 hours a day.
It's infuriating! It's infuriating!
But deep down, they had a faint urge to immediately pick up hoes and run to the courtyard to cultivate the land... not a moment could be wasted!
Time is money for the head of the household!
Before long, some people couldn't resist their impulse and got up, leaving the East Pine Hall in a scattered manner, perhaps accompanied by curses and swears.
Kazuma Hatake watched with satisfaction as the NPCs who could make money for him went to work, then turned his gaze back to the only elder he had kept in the hall—Chōkichi Kamo.
Because he resisted so many times, even Kazuma Hatake remembered his name, so he made sure to leave him out when deploying staff earlier.
He can't be all alone; he still has things to ask.
"Elder Kamo,"
Kazuma Hagoromo asked him.
Do you know where Gojo Satoru is?
He remembered that the name of the spirited young man with white hair and blue eyes on the promotional packaging was spelled like this in the introduction section.
"Gotō...are you planning to challenge him?"
Upon hearing this question, Kamo Chokichi's eyes lit up.
If the Kamo family is to be repeatedly tormented by this devil in the future, then he would be happy to see Gojo Satoru, who always opposes them, suffer at the hands of this devil as well!
"He's currently at the Gojo residence,"
Kamo Chokichi eagerly replied, "I'll be heading to the high school after the New Year, and then you can..."
"Who wants to wait until after the New Year?"
Kazuma Hatori raised his hand and waved it away, interrupting his rambling.
"I'm going to Gojo's house now to spend the New Year with him. Go and send them a notice and make the arrangements."
Kamo Nagakichi: "………………"
There's no reason for the new head of the Kamo family to spend the New Year at his mortal enemy's house!
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