Fun Territory Defense of the Easy-Going Lord

CHRONIC LACK OF PERSONNEL. AN AFFLICTION FROM which anyone in any position of importance in Seatoh Village suffered. Even for those who weren’t nobles or Chivalric Order members, it was a massive issue: for the adventurers who took on innumerable quests and for the business-minded folks who had more and more customers each day.

Naturally, then, the Bell & Rango Company was short-staffed, especially with Baron Van’s territory as their main base of operations.

“We need more people,” Rango whispered. Bell sighed and shook his head.

“You’re preaching to the choir. The real question is: how do we get them?”

The initial plan had been to head to the capital and the territories of House Fertio and House Ferdinatto to buy slaves, but the approaching war against Yelenetta had made it far more difficult to hire adventurers. They would need anywhere from five to ten adventurers if they wanted to feel safe leaving their own territory.

“Do you think we can ask Lord Van to borrow five of his people from the order?”

“Probably not. You’re well aware that the order is short on personnel, too.”

Both men sighed. They wanted to increase their workforce, but they didn’t have the staff. Even though every month saw a few hundred new villagers, the personnel problem persisted.

“If we don’t do something fast,” Bell said, “we’ll work ourselves to death. Ugh, fine. It’s time to swallow our pride and ask the Mary Chamber of Commerce for help.”

Rango made a sour face, his shoulders sagging.

“Absolutely. We have caravans going to Seatoh Village weekly, so we would gladly lend you some of our people.” Rosalie smiled at Bell and Rango, who bowed their heads and smiled tensely back.

“You’re a real lifesaver.”

“You have our gratitude, Rosalie.”

Rosalie lifted an eyebrow at their self-deprecating tones and cocked her head. “It’s nothing. Honestly, I expected you guys to come to me sooner. I was starting to get worried.”

She smiled peacefully, but Bell and Rango clenched their jaws and tensed up. They used to work as merchants for the Mary Chamber of Commerce, where Rosalie was essentially their boss; when they heard her enter lecture mode, instinct took over and they stopped moving, resembling nothing so much as a pair of toads caught in the gaze of a vicious snake.

Rosalie narrowed her eyes at them, still smiling. Speaking quickly and quietly, she said, “Standard operating procedure would be to increase personnel while you still have workers to spare, no? I know Lord Van can make pretty much anything, but he can’t conjure up employees to manage all of those new stores. Regardless of your inexperience, you’re company presidents. Don’t you feel bad for your employees?”

Both Bell and Rango shrunk into themselves. “Y-you are completely right.”

“We’re so sorry.”

She sighed. “I expected you to come to me at least a month ago. Even from the outside, it was clear you lacked the personnel to deal with your volume of customers. As I’m sure you know, when you hire new employees who don’t already have at least three years of experience under their belts, you need even more workers to train them. What are you going to do about this?”

The smile was long gone. Bell and Rango looked down, sweat rolling down their foreheads. “Well, we figured that if the village gets another few hundred residents, a few of them would have to have merchant experience…”

“Y-yeah! And then we could have those people train the new hires—”

“Are you idiots?” Rosalie spat, cold as ice. Bell and Rango gulped. “It takes time to adjust to a new location, company, and even culture, regardless of how experienced a merchant might be. That’s the first thing they must do, which means you must have a mid-level employee available to handle training, then fill in the holes with any merchants you hire after the fact.”

“R-right.”

“Yeah…”

She stared at the two of them, both quiet and disheartened in the face of her strict, businesslike reprimand, then shrugged. “It is what it is. Fortunately, I anticipated a personnel shortage and made preparations two months ago, so I have more than enough people to loan you. And since your new hires will require training, I can lend you some workers for three months after your return. That being said—each person will run you five gold per month.” They were stunned. Bell said, “Five gold?!” “That’s so expensive!” said Rango.

Rosalie only grimaced. “If it’s too much, feel free to turn down my offer.”

“I-I’m sorry!”

“We’re fine with five gold per person!”

The swift turnabout made Rosalie chuckle. She waved a hand.

“Apology accepted, really. We’ve known each other forever. But you guys are going to owe me one.”

Bell and Rango exchanged glances. “Even though we’re paying five gold per person?” Rango whispered.

“Bro, is it just me or is she trying to swindle us?”

Rosalie narrowed her eyes at them. “What? Are you complaining?”

The response was hasty and apologetic. “Nope! Not at all!”

“Never!”

At this point, they were reacting on instinct alone. But the Bell & Rango Company was finally able to take steps toward fixing their personnel problem.

It wasn’t long, however, before Bell and Rango purchased another thousand slaves, exasperating Rosalie all over again. “And who is going to train them?” she demanded. “Are you idiots?”