Chapter 262 - Solving Problems and the Main Event Begins
"Sorry to keep you waiting. If you're busy, I can come back another time."
"No need to be so formal. So, what's the issue?"
The burly bearkin seems surprisingly polite.
The other visitor is being attended to by Frederica, so I can leave them for a while.
I fiddle with the raw gemstone the bearkin gave me, enjoying the intricate shapes and colors that only uncut stones possess.
"Sorry, but I'm looking for a place to sell these stones."
"So, you want to sell them. What have you been doing with them so far? Did the regular buyers suddenly stop purchasing?"
"Not exactly. After we cracked down on those rogues, they revealed the location where these stones are found. We can dig and extract them, but we can't find any buyers..."
Even the best stones are useless without a market. It's all about expanding your sales channels.
"That's the problem. We can take them in, but small stones of this type aren't worth much. You won't make a fortune, but it's better than nothing."
"Any help is appreciated. I'm just glad they can sell."
He seems relieved. The village's financial situation must be tough.
I'm not doing charity work here. I saw potential in this and gave a positive response.
Exembra is a growing metropolis with high demand for various goods. There might not be much demand for tourmaline among the wealthy, but there's still room to move them.
We can resell the raw stones, polish them, or even operate as a legitimate business.
"It's important to know the average quality and quantity of the stones you can extract. I'll send someone to the site for an assessment. We might find some high-value stones, so a survey is necessary. After that, we can discuss specifics. Also, how does the village earn income? Maybe there's more I can help with."
This could be an opportunity for the Kikyo Society to expand our reach into the southern small states.
"We mainly hunt and grow crops, but most of it goes to feeding ourselves. We don't have many ways to earn money. In the past, we made some through temporary border skirmishes, but those opportunities have diminished."
"So, you've been doing mercenary work to earn money."
Hmm, what to do...
They seem like capable fighters, but it's questionable whether they'd fit in Exembra. We need more arena staff, but taking the village's fighting men away isn't feasible. Still, it would be a waste to let that combat potential go unused.
"―I see. There are bandits nearby?"
"Yes, and we need to hire guards. They seem to have moved their base, and they're a large group. The village men alone can't handle them. Fortunately, they haven't discovered us yet, but it's only a matter of time."
I overhear Frederica's conversation with the visitor. Guarding against bandits is a serious concern.
Who was it again?
Curious, I apologize to the bearkin and peek around the screen.
"Ah, Village Head Dandy."
The man talking to Frederica was a familiar middle-aged beastkin. His short-cropped white hair and beard give him a wild, rugged look. Dandy, the Village Head.
We connected when I helped the McDallian Family free the Mithril mine workers from forced labor. Now, they've turned their former drug fields into Lily's specialty vegetable gardens, and we buy their produce.
Dandy asking for guards? Essentially, he wants us to send people to protect his village from bandits. That's a tough request. The arena is at its busiest, and we're already short-staffed. Guarding is an immediate need, not something we can postpone.
"I see a perfect match here."
"What's going on?"
"Come with me. I have a good idea."
I bring the clueless bearkin to Frederica and Dandy, introduce them, and get to the point.
"Village Head, I'm busy, but I can offer an alternative. How about hiring these people? We'll cover the guard costs."
We buy the village's produce at a very low price, so covering guard costs is no problem. It's also a hassle to replace stolen goods with labor.
Besides, if we don't send our own staff, the cost is worth it. The village shouldn't bear this expense, and we don't want to force them into an unfair arrangement.
"An introduction from the President? We'd be grateful. By the way, this gentleman isn't from the Kikyo Society, is he?"
"Yeah, he's from Narctopress. We met under similar circumstances."
The bearkin seems to understand the situation.
"Bandit problems aren't just their concern. If we can take on this job, it would be beneficial for us as well."
Narctopress and Tresmaria are neighboring countries, and the villages aren't far apart. The bearkin village can provide enough guards.
The two men don't seem to have any negative feelings toward each other. It's a perfect match, and both seem relieved.
I'll facilitate the arrangement and have Frederica calculate the guard costs as a prepayment.
It's great to solve problems quickly and efficiently.
We don't know the bandits' strength, but if more help is needed, they can ask. Even after dealing with the bandits, it's wise to keep guards on retainer.
It's better to be safe than sorry, and regular employment will make the guards feel more secure.
We have no complaints about hiring these affordable guards. The cost is minimal, and the peace of mind is invaluable.
When I suggest long-term employment, both men seem relieved.
The Kikyo Society's business is profitable, and I hope it spreads to the southern small states.
I wanted to visit the arena while the village heads were here, but dealing with the bandits is their priority.
The bearkin village will be busy with explanations and preparations. I've entrusted some healing potions to Dandy, just in case.
"Feel free to reach out if anything comes up. Have a safe trip back."
"Thank you, always."
"Thank you, I'm in your debt."
I send them off, grateful for their appreciation, and return to my busy schedule.
I should get out more when I have the time. There are still opportunities to expand our operations.
After the exhibition matches, the main event starts. The arena runs from morning to night, with no reserved seating except for the VIP boxes.
You buy a ticket and find an open seat. People come and go frequently.
Zenobia, the head of the Security Bureau, manages the crowd to prevent overflow. It's a tough job, but she has support from Siegrune and Gradena. Perfectly precise control isn't necessary, and standing room is available if seats run out.
We don't tolerate unruly behavior. That's why the Kikyo Society, a violent organization, is in charge.
We don't waste time with lengthy persuasion. Troublemakers are swiftly removed. Local residents know better than to resist, but tourists might not, and high stakes often lead to heated tempers.
Free seating can lead to disputes over seats, and some spectators get carried away and cause trouble.
The first day of the tournament begins.
I watch the matches from the officials' box, occasionally glancing at the noisy audience.
The matches are as dull as expected.
The arena's white sand hosts four simultaneous matches, with new bouts starting immediately after each one ends. The early matches are randomly paired, so some are mismatched, with one-sided victories or hesitant, lackluster skirmishes.
The match quality is low, but the variety can be entertaining in its own way.
Every match is a betting opportunity, so even the most lackluster bouts draw loud cheers and jeers from the crowd.
"Onee-sama, this isn't what I expected..."
Valeria, watching beside me, probably imagined more exciting matches with top-tier fighters. The early rounds are a mix of average and poor performers.
Today is the first day, so most of our staff are working, not watching.
I'm observing as a board member, but it's part of my job. Valeria is my bodyguard, so she's here with me.
I'm not just idly watching. If this were a boring task, I'd find something more meaningful to do.
The purpose is to scout for strong fighters. Recruiting strong fighters from other arenas is difficult, so we look for promising talent.
Most participants are locals or from nearby towns and countries. There must be undiscovered strong fighters among them, and finding and securing them is crucial for the arena's future.
Relying on guest fighters from other countries isn't sustainable.
Fighters are celebrities, respected and admired. Arenas with multiple strong fighters attract more attention, and attention brings people and money.
We also aim to nurture promising fighters, especially female fighters.
"Nothing interesting so far."
Most participants are men, but a few women are also competing.
The Exembra Arena is the only one run by the female-dominated Kikyo Society. I hope to see strong female fighters emerge.
A few decent performers are here, but no standouts yet.
Our members could easily dominate, but that would undermine the spirit of the competition and raise suspicions of fixed matches.
To avoid this, we need to find and develop female fighters outside our organization. We have a plan for this, and we're open to recruiting promising male fighters as well.
"Thirsty, I'll get something. What would you like, Onee-sama?"
"Get some fruit juice, the extra-large size."
As Valeria leaves, I continue to watch the matches, thinking about the arena's future.
I want to make the Exembra Arena unique. Despite being new, it's not much different from other arenas yet.
The annual fall tournament works, but we need to innovate for the rest of the year.
Since the Kikyo Society runs it, we should emphasize our female presence. Maybe we need new costumes.
"Maybe it's the costumes. The usual outfits are a bit dull."
The Kikyo Society members wear black or moon-white coats with red armbands. The hired staff are a mixed bunch, lacking uniformity.
Like the Epic Junebel Hotel & Resorts, we should aim for a high standard.
I want to create a dedicated uniform for the arena staff and a uniform for the hired workers.
Uniforms foster a sense of belonging, unity, and professionalism. They make staff more visible to guests and discourage misconduct.
It's a win-win. Plus, the uniforms should look cool.
I'll make this a priority for the next tournament. Uniforms are a must, and they should be stylish.
The early rounds of the tournament are disappointingly dull.
Next time, we'll focus on scouting top fighters.
I'll keep a critical eye on the matches!