325 316 Not bad, but can be inconvenient (1/2)

I got some information from Hands that Kawasaki is making some kind of move, but I can't confirm it for sure.

So I think we have to keep a wait-and-see attitude for now.

Midori Kawasaki?

There was no choice but to do nothing, and I came from Hands store to Memoria's to gather information.

A familiar conversation over the counter.

I came to the store to see if I could find any information about Memoria from the same shopping district.

She hasn't read behind the counter since she and I became lovers, but there was a book with a book cover on hand, a remnant of the store that was deserted just a few minutes ago.

I didn't care if it was the usual, I just told him what I'd heard from Hans and how I'd imagined his character, but he said, ”No, I haven't met him.

No, we haven't met. To begin with, the newcomer is not supposed to be able to enter this shopping mall yet. So you'll have to make contact outside the mall. I don't get out of here much.

”Well, then you've never heard of it?

There is a degree of gossip, but

That prediction comes up empty.

Either the opponent dodged it, or it's just a coincidence that Memoria never made contact.

It's understandable that the giants would not have remembered their appearance or other characteristics if they were all about weapons, but it's not likely that the memoria would have forgotten them.

Then it's not active in the mall.

What kind of rumors?　The rumors of the Hands are a little fuzzy,

I haven't been following the details, but I think it's more accurate to call it ”sales” than ”asking for help. I heard it sounded like you were trying to make a profit by offering a return.

But where there is no fire, there is no smoke.

If gossip is circulating, then there must be a reason for that flow.

Then you will build a flow of the story based on the story of the memoria.

The range of activity will be limited to what the newcomer can do, and the time of day will be limited.

And the memory's story confirmed my prediction.

”Sales, huh? Do you know the details?

Yes, the woman offered three things: One, the woman's group basically buys supplies and armor from a contracted affiliated store. Two, make a review of the products they used. Three.

One or two and a memorandum that stretches out the index and middle fingers and counting fingers tell me what is rumored.

The first is a monopoly contract.

The second is a product development contract, I guess.

Then the third is about as predictable as it gets.

”Advertisement development and publicity.

You are correct. You are well informed.

Well, I'm an old hand at that.

”Kinezuka?　Is?　What is it?

There's a Japanese proverb that says, ”I know what it means because I did it a long time ago. It means ”I know what it means because I did it a long time ago.

Traditionally, merchants find value in information.

If an item has a good reputation, he jumps on it; if it has a bad reputation, he avoids it.

Who decides on the reputation?

Product developer?　No, of course, product developers also evaluate their products and publish their information, but such information often hides the bad parts.

It's all about the effort to sell.

So it is helpful, but not decisive.

The most important reference is the voice of the person who actually bought and used the product.

Of course, there are individual differences in impressions and misinformation, and there are parts that are difficult to refer to, but if you scrutinize them carefully, they can become reliable information.

And a good reputation attracts new sales flow, and if you catch the flow, you can distinguish yourself from other stores.

As bait, it's a good story. It could be considered as a bait, but on the contrary, it is ours. A recommendation from an acquaintance is the easiest and most reliable advertising campaign to obtain.

With a hundred or so dungeon testers, it's relatively easy to manipulate that information.

That weapon shop is bad and that one is good.

That level of word-of-mouth is enough to move the flow of people to some extent.

All the stores here were recruited by the demon king's army and are subsidized or supported by them.

But I have to say that the lack of sales is tough.

The current increase in the number of testers has increased the momentum for new business in the shopping street.

In such an environment, if you are offered a sweet snack, you would normally reach for it.

So, are there any stores willing to take you up on the offer?

I haven't heard anything like that so far. But I don't trust them. Silence is golden. It's possible that he's keeping quiet.

”I guess that's an otherworldly saying, too.

As a merchant, you know that keeping your mouth shut can be profitable from time to time.

But that's merchants.

You don't take second-rate actions such as blatantly reaching out.

Gathering information like this doesn't make it any easier to rag.

Maybe I'm one of those people who keeps their mouths shut?

”Give me a break, I'm totally f*cked if that happens.

”Huh.

It's hard to gather that kind of information when you're not in your day job.

Memoria was teasing me, and I honestly threw my hands up in surrender.

I decided that if she didn't know, there was nothing more she could do.

If you can, I'd like to have that kind of information collected.

So, since it's a business meeting, let's talk about how you're going to pay for the information.

Be gentle with me.

Because it is not a merchant who does not gain when he can.

It didn't hurt, but I asked her what she wanted to do, thinking the expense was high.

If I can say one thing, let's just say that she was very hard that night.

”Senpai, do you have circles under your eyes?

It's just a little sleep deprivation and anemia. Don't worry about it.

The next morning, I arrive at work a little languidly.

While drinking coffee to wake you up, you chat with Kaido, who had arrived at the office earlier.

Pouring coffee in the kitchen, you ask Kaido, who is looking through the company's news on his computer, if he's there too, and he says he is.

Do you have any interesting news to share?

The only thing I heard was that the newbies' training is over as planned. Isn't that what we're going to do to close it out?

Well, that's a condition for scaling back.

Hand one cup to Kaido and gently look at the computer screen over Kaido's back.

Yesterday's story about Hands and Memoria.

I'll look to see if there's any information about that, but as expected, it hasn't come to light.

The other party won't show its tail so easily either.