Everyone looked at Stephen with a mix of confusion and uncertainty, unsure of what they were supposed to do next.
Sensing the hesitation amongst the people, Stephen knew he needed to address the situation, but before he could formulate his thoughts, one cook stepped forward and began signing the contract.
Then another followed, and soon enough, a chain reaction of signatures occurred.
Stephen blinked a few times in surprise after the last man signed the contract. He chuckled awkwardly, "I haven't even read out the contract yet." His initial intention had been to explain the contents.
"It's fine, my lord," replied a middle-aged man, as if the details were irrelevant.
Stephen facepalmed, momentarily bewildered by their confidence. Quickly, he composed himself and began explaining the contract and its significance, as well as the reason they were gathered.
However, he noticed that many of the attendees still wore the same indifferent expression, as if they were simply eager to participate without caring about the specifics.
Unbeknownst to him, Stephen's public image had already solidified among the masses.
His previous contributions and the projects he implemented had saved them from impending doom during the harsh winter.
This goodwill carried weight, making them trust his intentions without needing detailed explanations.
Clearing his throat to regain their attention, Stephen announced, "I will be adjusting your schedules. The cooks will practice Monday through Wednesday, the servers will practice Thursday and Friday, and the cashiers will practice on Saturday."
He emphasized the need for structured training, considering it was Monday, he immediately started teaching.
The ingredients available were limited, so he decided to teach the cooks a simplified Caprese sandwich, leveraging his resources from the system store, where he had purchased fresh ingredients at a significant cost.
Stephen began with clear, step-by-step instructions:
1. Collect all your ingredients on a clean surface or wooden board.
2. Slice the rustic bread into two thick slices. If you have the means, lightly toast the bread over a fire or grill for added texture.
3. Spread or place the soft cheese evenly on the bottom slice of bread.
4. Arrange the sliced tomato on top of the cheese.
5. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the tomatoes to enhance their flavor. If you have olive oil, drizzle a small amount on top for added richness.
6. Tear or chop the fresh herbs and sprinkle them over the tomatoes and cheese for a burst of flavor.
7. Place the top slice of bread over the layered ingredients to complete the sandwich.
8. Cut the sandwich in half if desired, and serve it on a wooden board or plate.
"Here you go!" he exclaimed as he placed the Caprese sandwich in front of the cooks. "Now then, why don't we start cooking?"
The cooks nodded in agreement, their initial confusion dissipating as they immersed themselves in the task.
---
Three days passed, and Stephen sat observing the cooks as they diligently prepared various dishes.
It reminded him of a cooking show he used to watch on Earth. To enhance the experience, he had invited each cook's family to taste the creations.
Twelve varieties of sandwiches were displayed before them, emphasizing the unique menu of each Deli Cafe would have. Just like back on earth, where there were some menu items that does not exist in other stores.
Stephen made it that the people who at least tried one of the Deli Cafe's would be intrigued by the other Deli Cafe's creating a chained reaction.
After the sandwiches came the salads, soups, hot foods, and beverages like water and ale.
The cooks had all learned without a hitch, even Stephen was shocked at their progress
"Good job, everyone! Now, I expect your family members who are servers to join us tomorrow!" he declared, holding back a grin at their palpable excitement.
---
The following day, the training for the servers commenced. Stephen laid out everything carefully, knowing that many of the commoners were illiterate. He devised a system to help them grasp the essentials:
A for Sandwiches
B for Soups
C for Salads
D for Hot Foods
E for Water
Stephen faced greater challenges with the servers, as they needed to learn proper etiquette and customer service skills. He realized that this would be a long process, but he was committed to seeing it through.
---
Four days later, although some servers still lacked proper etiquette, they had made substantial progress and were nearly ready to serve.
Stephen then shifted his focus to training the cashiers. This aspect was simpler, as they were already familiar with numbers and basic transactions.
Stephen's role was to refine their skills, ensuring they could handle money and make change accurately.
With that part of the training complete, it was time to move on to the next phase: redesigning the interiors of each shop.
Stephen had enlisted Arthur, Roch's younger brother, to oversee this task.
"Eh, me, my lord?" Arthur stammered, a look of uncertainty plastered on his face. "I-I don't know if I can handle that…"
"Nonsense, Arthur! I'm sure you'll do a great job. Besides, I have a blueprint here for you," Stephen assured him, handing over the designs for the shop interiors.
"Umm... I'll try, my lord," Arthur said, still visibly anxious, but he couldn't just refuse the task coming from the count.
Stephen provided him with funds to purchase necessary materials, including modern signage for the shops.
Arthur, taking a family of four with him for assistance. They had departed immediately following the count's orders.
Meanwhile, the other families had to wait for news from Arthur before moving forward, that's because Stephen knew he couldn't send everyone to the Marquis Territory without proper planning.
Back in his office, Stephen sat across from Emeric, inquiring about the items he had requested.
"They've only managed to create one at the moment, my lord," Emeric reported respectfully, handing over the item.
Stephen's face broke into a smile as he examined the metal nib pen in his hands. He eagerly tested it, and a wave of joy washed over him. "It works!" he exclaimed, delighting in the success of the project.
Emeric, intrigued by the item, watched as Stephen instructed, "Tell them to engrave the lion symbol on one to make it presentable."
The lion symbol represented the empire's royalty, and as the spring ball approached, Stephen recognized the importance of presenting a suitable gift to the current king. This gesture could potentially elevate his standing and draw positive attention to his territory.
This was also a marketing strategy, once he presents this to the king himself, surely many would grow curious of the item.
"Also, please inform the tailors to create clothes using this blueprint," he added, handing Emeric another design before he promptly left to fulfill the tasks.
As Stephen sat back in his chair, a smile crept across his face. His plans were carefully falling into place, and he felt a sense of accomplishment.
---
Meanwhile, Arthur and the family of four had arrived at the Marquis territory. After showing the plaque, they entered the territory's gates. Although evening had set in, the streets were still bustling with people.
Arthur paused in front of a rundown-looking shop. He opened the door using the key, and as they entered, they were met with a sight of dust and cobwebs everywhere.
"Well, this is the shop," Arthur explained, gesturing to the cluttered interior. "And the upstairs will be utilized as our living quarters."
The family looked around, their eyes wide with a mixture of excitement and anxiousness.
Since it was already evening, they ate the food, the cook Marcel had made. Afterwards, they set up their small beds and fell asleep.
They had many tasks to tend to for tomorrow.
---
Meanwhile, in his dimly lit office, Stephen sat hunched over a wooden desk cluttered with parchment, ink, and quills, deeply immersed in his thoughts.
It was well past midnight, and the flickering candlelight cast shadows across the room.
"I have to at least finish this before I sleep," he muttered to himself, frustration creeping into his voice as he reviewed the menu items he was designing for the deli shops.
Each dish needed to be carefully crafted to reflect not only variety but also the uniqueness of each of the Deli Cafe's.
His mind raced with ideas, but the weight of exhaustion pressed heavily on his shoulders. "Goddamnit, I'll finish this tomorrow!"
With a weary sigh, he stood up and made his way to his bedroom. Despite having a perfectly good bed at his disposal, he often found himself sleeping on the couch in his office, surrounded by the very work that consumed him.
"My back is also killing me," he thought, recalling the stiffness that had settled into his muscles after long hours of planning.
He stretched his body, trying to release the tension that had built up throughout the day.
As he lay there, his thoughts drifted to the work awaiting him tomorrow—the renovations, and the continued development of the deli menus.