Pastel sat across from the Branch Manager of the Craft Guild in the Demon Realm.
“I trusted our merchant members. No matter how far we are from Sky Island, honest members wouldn’t do anything bad.”
Right, right!
“I’m very happy to learn that over the past three days of verification, that’s indeed true.”
As expected, the Craft Guild was just as honest as its master!
The Branch Manager smiled.
“Your trust will make everyone proud.”
“However, we will need to reconstruct our staff management and training. Simply transplanting the system from the Sky Island headquarters doesn’t quite fit the Demon Realm environment.”
The Branch Manager looked puzzled.
“We are transferring responsibilities systematically. In what way did you feel that?”
“Let’s just say we need education and investment to improve staff capabilities. It’s unavoidable that the illiteracy rate among new employees is high, but it’s problematic if employees continue to be illiterate.”
Uh-huh.
“As you know, our guild aims for systematic operation through documentation. Just as constitutions create principles, laws set directions, and judgments distinguish ins and outs, our guild should be operated not by relying on individuals’ improvisation but by the principles and outcomes built on countless cases.”
In other words,
“We strive for every employee to be a replaceable entity.”
A modern system that guarantees minimum capabilities no matter who sits in that place.
“Replaceable entity…”
The Branch Manager muttered blankly. Then his posture became more upright and disciplined.
Pastel chuckled.
“What I mean is there’s a significant need for education and investment to enhance employee capabilities. In order for everyone to meet a minimum capability, at least all employees should be able to read and have the reasoning skills to make proper judgments.”
She pointed somewhere over there.
“I just rode along the beach railroad and saw someone who was illiterate! That shouldn’t be the case! From today onward, the Demon Realm branch should focus resources on staff training! Let’s create a separate department to systematize the in-house training system!”
The Branch Manager responded promptly.
“I will keep that in mind, Governor.”
Uh-huh!
“And I found out that trouble arose because the minimum criteria of being able to read weren’t met. The person in charge of that area manipulated reports from illiterate employees to commit fraud against innocent merchants…”
Pastel took her time finishing the conversation with the Branch Manager. After leaving the Branch Manager’s Office, she walked down the hallway.
Phew.
I can’t believe the illiteracy rate is this high. It was an overlooked issue, but I’m glad I can solve it before it turns into a big problem.
It seems that since Grace High Merchant resides in Sky Island, managing the Demon Realm branch in detail is difficult. But then again, the principle of documentation is born from modernity.
“Pom-pom-pom~.”
Pastel headed to one side of the Demon Realm branch, a place designated for the train’s arrival. Innocent victims who had been defrauded were currently waiting.
Upon arrival, the innocent victims were huddled in front of a partially seized train, covered with blankets.
Whispering.
“Boss, what are we going to do? It’s not like we can fight to the death; we never expected to get tangled up like this!”
“How would I know! Who’s the fool that got caught in this ridiculous fraud contract?!”
“That’s you, Boss.”
“You pathetic moron!”
“I know, right?!”
Ugh.
Darn area manager!
How could he deceive us into renting the railroad and then just gobble up the deposit and run away!
Feeling choked, Pastel let her imagination run wild.
Surely those people are passionate about train technology, capable of creating trains with incredible skills.
―One day, we will blanket the entire Demon Realm with the roaring heat of steam engines!
―You’re the Boss! I’ll follow you for life!
But the train business undeniably requires massive capital. As mere poor engineers, it’s an area beyond our reach.
―What? You can’t get a business loan? If you see our train, you’ll change your mind!
―Do you have any idea how costly railroad construction is? We have zero interest in your petty technology, so don’t be a nuisance and get lost!
―Just give us one chance! Just one time…!
―I said get out!
The dream was suffocated by reality. Yet, selling their precious train technology and entrusting it to someone else was something their pride wouldn’t allow.
―Boss, what are we going to do! The landlord says we must either clear out those junk piles or pay increased rent! I told you we should have settled outside the city for rent!
―You’re blaming me now?! It was you who argued that being in the city was better for finding investors!
They were grabbing each other by the collar, and the necktie they had proudly purchased became a mess.
Whose fault was it? That didn’t matter. We just wanted to vent our feelings of anguish and despair onto someone close.
The team split, and instead of the warmth of coal heating the steam engine, cold dust settled in. The tie lay crumpled on the sofa, and the smell of liquor emanated from their wrinkled clothes.
We knew it.
This place was a swamp, and all we could do was drown day by day. It was a pit we couldn’t go lower or higher from.
But was that just an illusion of ours?
The Demon showed up.
“I hear there are great engineers here.”
“Huh?”
“Are you not the engineers who solved unprecedented problems and developed the fastest trains?”
They say demons have sweet words.
“You lacked business insight. With this speed, you could immediately start a profitable transportation business. I can rent you the railroad. You just need to run the trains.”
“No thanks. What kind of absurd proposal is that? We’ve already failed. We’re failures. Don’t disturb us drinking and just leave.”
“No, I won’t leave. Are you really going to fail like this? The future is ready. All you need is the will to seize it.”
Indeed. They just needed someone to push them. They were only waiting for someone who would say they hadn’t failed yet and extend a hand to go with them.
They loved their dream, hence couldn’t leave or give up, resigned to sink into the swamp.
“Just get the deposit for renting the railroad, and you’ll be set.”
It was easier than expected.
“Huh? What kind of train did you create to manage such a contract? Let’s take a look.”
As they brought the pre-contract, the banker’s attitude changed.
“What speed is this! If it’s like this, the business potential is definitely there! Incredible! I’ll approve your loan immediately!”
Showing the train changed the loan amount, and the deposit was ready.
“According to the contract, I will rent you the railroad. It will take some time, so please prepare your business while I get ready.”
The first thing I did was clean the tie.
I lathered it with soap, soaked the wrinkled tie in water, and scrubbed it. The old stains came out and the smell of liquor disappeared. It had seemed irreversibly dirty, but once I touched it, it quickly became clean.
But do you know?
If you iron a wet cloth, it gets wrinkled?
I didn’t know that.
So, seeing the wrinkled tie, I could only laugh. I had to wash it again, but why was I feeling so joyous? Do you know? I don’t.
Everything went smoothly.
Our team acted as if there had never been conflicts or divisions in the past, almost as if it was the future.
The train was ready, clients appeared, and morning broke.
The train puffed black smoke from the chimney, and its sturdy wheels ran on the rails. Countless goods received from clients followed behind.
Everything was going well.
We could even discuss silly ideas like developing air purifiers to place in the engine room while breathing in the dusty air from coal smoke.
Until the train was forced to stop and the truth was revealed.
“Stop your operation! Who do you think you are, using the rails as you please?!”
“What? We already have a rental contract. Here’s the contract.”
“That can’t be! Let me see the contract. Huh? This isn’t valid. The person who wrote this contract only has maintenance responsibilities and has no authority to rent or operate the railroad. Therefore, he couldn’t contract for the railroad’s rental, and this contract has no validity.”
It was a scam.
“But we already paid the deposit!”
“It doesn’t matter what you say.”
“Then our deposit…!”
“Seriously, it’s meaningless! You operated the train without permission, let’s go!”
Okay, I’ve said enough.
Our train has stopped.
It’ll be hard to roll again.
What angers me the most is that it’s not about our future disappearing or that we’ll ultimately remain as failures.
The fraudster had scammed us, oblivious to the technical achievements and potential of the steam engines we created, just to earn a measly sum of money.
A future where new technology is announced, the market active, new competitors emerge, and where there’d be people who share our love, was snuffed out for the sake of some petty change.
That angers me so much.
I, myself, am furious……
The only thing the fraudster stated correctly was,
We shouldn’t have gone out.
We should have been confident.
At the moment when the banker didn’t even glance at our dream, we should have stood our ground and proven it right there, betting everything we had.
You saw it too. That it was possible. That it only needed to be shown confidently. We should have been proud before our dreams rather than shrinking back from the unfamiliar atmosphere, awkward ties, and condescending gazes.
Oh.
My story ends here.
Are you loving what you cherish without regrets?
I hope so.
Goodbye.
“Hic.”
Pastel’s imagination got all teary.
“Yes! I will boldly love money and power from now on…!”
So touching, so touching.
“Huh?”
The members of the engine crew, who had been the object of her fantasies, stared at her blankly.
Pastel grabbed the engineer’s hand tightly.
“You’ve worked so hard all this time! That passion! That skill! That patent! The Craft Guild will take responsibility for all of it!”
Suggesting to postpone punishment for rail misuse and proposing a technology transaction!
Am I totally a saint now!
Quick-witted guild members brought the related contracts in a flurry.
As the engineer received the contract, he became dumbfounded, and another member spoke up.
“So, are you saying the Craft Guild will take responsibility for the contract fraud we experienced?”
Pastel instantly took on a business-like expression.
“Oh, please understand that this is unrelated to headquarters. For the fraud contract, please discuss it with the fraudulent party.”
The gazes bore into her.
Pastel wiped her eyes, still feeling emotionally stirred after saying what she had to say.
Sniffle.
What a sad story!
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