Stephen looked intently at Lydia and Tristan, handing them a stack of designs. "These are for the new clothing line," he instructed. "We'll start with undergarments—nothing overly ambitious, but still enough to earn a considerable amount."
The clothing line had been one of Stephen's many new projects. While the seamstresses worked on the designs, Stephen shifted his focus.
He'd trained several people in his culinary techniques, and now, with the recent tourist influx, he was ready to take things further.
One of his most skilled trainees, Kale—Layla's husband—was at the front of the crowd when Stephen clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, everyone," Stephen began. "I've called you all here to discuss some promotions." His smile grew as his assistant, Emeric, stepped up beside him, handing out contracts and setting up a blackboard. "You've all done great work at the festival, and thanks to a quick survey, we now know that the food has been a massive hit with tourists."
Kale couldn't help raising an eyebrow. 'Survey?' he thought, though he quickly refocused on Stephen's words.
"We've set up several food stalls during the festival each one offering something unique," Stephen continued, pointing at the blackboard. "Fried chicken, skewer barbecue, cotton candy, and milk tea were our big hits—these drew the crowds, received excellent feedback, and because of this we're thinking of expanding."
He gestured toward the papers that each person held. "Now, that we're expanding. Each of you will oversee one of these stalls as we set them up in different territories. However, I'll need a representative for the entire operation. You all know each other, so I'll let you decide."
The group exchanged glances and quiet murmurs began. Stephen allowed them to deliberate without interruption.
Eventually, the crowd settled on Kale as their representative. With a confident nod, Kale stepped forward, and Stephen welcomed him with a handshake.
"Great choice. Now, let's make it official." Stephen placed a contract in front of each person. Most of the workers were unskilled in writing, so Stephen had arranged for them to use their fingerprints as a signature.
One by one, they pressed their thumbs into ink and left their marks on the paper.
Once the last signature was down, Stephen outlined the next steps. They'd be expanding stalls beyond their territory, targeting not just common folk but nobles as well. "Each stall will be run exclusively by our people," he emphasized.
'We can't risk our recipes falling into the wrong hands. And to ensure security, I've placed a spell on these contracts—anyone who tries to divulge the recipes will find themselves...unable to speak of them.'
The magical precaution had cost Stephen a small fortune, but he knew it was worth the investment.
With the contracts signed and precautions set, he turned his attention to Baron Bruno's territory, selecting it as the next target for expansion, given the number of shops left by the previous count.
---
A month passed quickly, and Stephen's plans began to take shape. His workers had settled into Baron Bruno's territory, and once more, he sent Tristan to oversee the new stalls.
Tristan's reports detailed the rapid success: the fried chicken and skewer barbecue stalls became instant sensations, selling more than 700 chickens daily.
The demand was so high that even with a five-man team, the workers struggled to keep up.
"People come and go all day," Tristan wrote in one report, "but the true rush hits in the evening. They line up for hours just to buy skewers and chicken."
Meanwhile, the cotton candy stall found a specific niche among children, with less demand than the other stalls. To attract more customers, Stephen combined it with a milk tea shop.
The result was astounding: young men and women flocked to the stall, and lines formed each day for milk tea and cotton candy alike.
News of the food stalls spread like wildfire, and soon the small shops in Baron Bruno's territory were thriving.
Over in Marquess Lafaille's territory, the deli café opened a second stall, featuring a different menu that quickly captivated the local populace.
Coins flowed steadily, and the café became a favorite among both commoners and nobles.
Demand grew to the point that Stephen ordered a remodel for the original shop, adding two separate entrances—one for nobles and one for commoners.
Inside, a wall separated the two sections, with a single kitchen uniting both sides. This arrangement minimized tensions and satisfied the needs of both clientele groups.
---
Meanwhile, the clothing line continued its smooth progression. If production remained steady, they'd soon have a batch ready for sale.
On an early morning, Stephen stood on his balcony, sipping tea as he surveyed the city below. The festive decorations still adorned the streets, leftover from the celebrations.
Layla, overseeing the cosmetics department, delivered regular updates. The production line had reached 300 batches of lip balm and 200 of lotion.
Next on her agenda was to establish a cosmetic line store in the Marquess's territory, catering to both noble and common women. Stephen insisted on accessibility; he wanted everyone, regardless of social rank, to afford these luxuries.
As for the metal pens, they continued selling in great numbers, thanks to Stephen's clever design. Each pen came with ink that would eventually run dry, requiring buyers to replace it regularly. This ensured a steady demand, keeping the pens in circulation and sustaining their value.
The introduction of other items waited. Stephen planned to unveil hoodies as the cold season approached, ensuring maximum profit during the winter months.
Fingerless gloves remained in development—he wanted a noble model to introduce them to high society, where they'd generate the most intrigue.
Meanwhile, beanies found immediate popularity, especially among children. Parents eagerly dressed their young ones in these practical accessories.
Stephen's toy line also found a receptive market. Miniature cars delighted children, while puzzles intrigued both kids and adults alike.
However, the puzzle production took longer than expected, so Stephen shifted focus to prioritize other items.
---
A young man named Derick prepared for a his journey. "Bye, Ma! Bye, Pa!" he called, waving as he climbed into the cart. His small bag rested at his feet, filled with essentials for his trip.
"First time traveling far?" the coachman asked with a knowing smile.
Derick nodded. "Yes, sir. It's my first time leaving town." His voice held an excited tremor. After a moment, he hesitated. "Sir, is it true that there was...an epidemic?"
The coachman let out a hearty laugh. "Something like that," he said, shaking his head. "But I promise, things are better now. You'll enjoy the main city—it's a place full of surprises these days."
The journey took three days. When Derick finally arrived, he was awestruck by the city's vibrance.
Banners and decorations adorned the streets, while throngs of people bustled around, their voices filling the air with cheerful chatter.
Although the festival was already finished, the decorations were still hung on the walls.
A savory aroma caught Derick's attention. He followed it to a nearby stall selling golden-brown fried chicken.
"Five silvers, kid," the stall owner offered with a grin.
Derick handed over the coins and took a bite. "Wow! This is incredible!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with delight. After finishing his meal, he shyly approached the stall owner again.
"Are you looking for the job offer?," the man said, pointing toward a large warehouse, it's as if he had read Derick's mind. "Just head over there. Show your identity card, and you'll be good to go. I must say, the line is pretty long."
Derick nodded gratefully, made his way to the warehouse, and joined a long line of applicants.
After three hours of waiting, his turn came, and he found himself seated in front of a man with dark circles under his eyes—Tristan, the overseer. He had recently returned after taking care of the stalls in Baron Bruno's territory.
"So, you're here for the job?" Tristan asked, raising an eyebrow as he sized up the young boy in front of him.
Derick straightened up, trying to look confident. "Yes, sir," he replied, his voice a mix of nerves and excitement.
Tristan nodded, pulling out a slip of paper and sliding it across the table. "Alright, we have two basic tests before we can hire you. First, can you read this?"
Derick squinted at the words, furrowing his brow as he read aloud, "'So, you know how to read?'" He looked up at Tristan, confused. The sentence seemed like a strange thing to put on a test.
Tristan's lips curled into a grin. "Good. That was the first test. Now, for the second…" He handed Derick a quill and ink. "Write what I say."
Derick quickly jotted down every word as Tristan dictated a short sentence.
When he was done, Tristan looked over his writing, nodding approvingly. "Well done. You've got the job. Report here tomorrow morning, and someone will show you to the place."
Before Derick could ask more questions, Tristan handed him a slip of paper with a few hastily written directions, then motioned for the next applicant. "Next!"
Out on the street, Derick held the paper, still a bit dazed by how fast everything had happened.
He took a moment to gather his thoughts, then suddenly burst out with excitement, shouting, "I did it!" His voice echoed down the street, drawing a few amused looks from passersby.
After his excitement subsided a little, Derick looked at the paper, scanning the directions. "Wait... what even is the job?" he muttered. At the bottom, he found a line that simply read: 'Kindergarten Staff.'
"Kindergarten?" he whispered, bewildered. He shrugged, deciding he'd figure it out tomorrow. Tucking the directions in his pocket, he set off toward the inn for a good night's rest.