Chapter 119 - 119 New Product Ideas
Steve, Bella, and Ellie walked through the clear sky of the Royal Capital. The three of them were dressed as commoners, wandering around the commoner district.
The reason they were doing such a thing was to develop new products.
Recently, Archibalt Territory had not been able to develop new products. They had released some improved educational toys, but nothing completely new had been created.
Steve, feeling a sense of crisis, came to the Royal Capital to find something that commoners could afford to buy.
Originally, the plan was for just Ellie and him to come, but Christina ordered Bella to accompany them so that no mistakes would be made.
If Steve had refused Bella's accompaniment, he would have been forced to wear iron pants with a lock. Steve had never had physical relations with anyone other than his wife, yet he was trusted so much.
Speaking of trust, Bella was deeply trusted by both Christina and Nancy. Even now, she thought she should be ready to move at any moment for Steve's sake, so she had no intention of having children. Since the two of them knew this, they chose Bella as the monitor.
If it were anyone other than Bella, there was a risk of the mummy catcher becoming a mummy.
Well, the three of them had walked all morning, so when the sun reached its zenith, they were struck by hunger.
"Shall we have lunch soon?"
When Steve asked, the two agreed. They entered the first restaurant they saw.
The shop was crowded because it was lunchtime. Fortunately, they were guided to a seat without waiting, so they were able to place their order immediately.
While waiting for the order, the three of them grimaced at the annoying buzzing sound.
Steve clapped his hands towards the sound of wings.
"The flies are annoying, but it seems there are mosquitoes too."
"It can't be helped this time of year."
Bella also talked while swatting away mosquitoes. With the two of them's physical abilities, the surrounding mosquitoes were exterminated in an instant.
"Isn't there any magic that keeps insects away?"
At Ellie's question, Steve had an idea. If it was insecticide, it would sell. He just didn't know if they could make insecticide.
It would be possible with Steve's magic, but they couldn't make it in a factory. They had to think of a way to make it without magic, but large-scale chemical plants were impossible.
They might be able to do it someday, but not right now, so he pushed the idea to the back of his mind.
Afterward, they ate the brought food and went out for an afternoon stroll.
Walking down the main street, they saw laundry drying in various places around the town.
Ellie spotted clothespins being used and looked toward Steve.
"The clothespins you made as president have become widespread among the general public."
"Yes. Recently, with the war over, there is an excess of iron, so it seems they have the capacity to produce steel wire for clothespins. It seems they are being sold not only by what I made."
Since clothespins have become widespread, the demand is not as high as before. In rural areas, they are still not widespread, but since the monetary economy has not penetrated, rural residents cannot purchase them.
And in urban areas, new products were being released from other workshops. Even if they made these in a factory, he didn't think they would turn a profit, so Steve decided there was no need for clothespins.
In this way, new product ideas were hard to come by.
After walking for a while, they saw a girl selling flowers on the street. They were white flowers like chrysanthemums.
Steve stopped in front of the girl and looked at the flowers.
Seeing that Steve might buy them, the girl tried hard to sell them.
"Big brother, these flowers are beautiful, aren't they? Won't you buy them?"
"They are very beautiful flowers. Can I take a look?"
"Yes."
Steve took the flower from the girl. He recognized this flower and pulled up memories of where he had seen it.
It was not in this life. It was something he had seen somewhere in his previous life.
Behind Steve, Ellie snapped her fingers.
"Again, mosquitoes."
"Ah, mosquitoes."
Steve remembered because of the mosquitoes. The white chrysanthemum was the floral pattern printed on the container of mosquito coils.
When he measured the flower, he found the component pyrethrin.
"Bella, Ellie, I found a new product. I'll buy all of these flowers. Also, I want you to tell me where they were growing."
"Um, I can't calculate, so it's one copper coin for five flowers. Is that okay?"
Since the flower-selling girl couldn't calculate, she repeated the task of gathering five flowers and handing over one copper coin. It took quite a long time, so passersby noticed.
Just as it was about to end, a voice came from behind Steve and the others.
"Who gave you permission to do business here?"
When Steve turned around at that voice, a trio of thugs was looking at them.
The girl and Ellie were terrified of the thugs and trembled.
Steve and Bella stepped in front of the thugs to protect the girl and Ellie.
"Who needs permission to do business on such a famous thoroughfare?"
When Steve asked, the thugs laughed.
"Is this guy a newcomer? You need our Snake Head Knights Order's permission to walk the streets of the Royal Capital."
At the unfamiliar word "Snake Head Knights Order," Steve twisted his neck.
"What's that? Bella, do you know?"
"I don't know."
He thought he knew all the knight orders in the Royal Capital, but it was a name he didn't know at all, so he asked Bella, but she didn't know either.
Instead, the thugs explained.
"The Snake Head Knights Order is an organization that manages this area. This is our territory, so you need our permission to do business."
"Oh, so it's a mafia or a gang."
"Well, something like that. Anyway, that person was doing business here without paying any money, so we came to collect the fee."
Steve understood it was something like a protection fee for a yakuza gang.
"So, how much does that permission cost?"
"One silver coin for one month. If you violate it, it's ten times that."
"That's quite expensive."
"Everyone agrees and pays."
The thugs looked around and laughed. The stall merchants averted their eyes. It didn't seem like they were agreeing to pay.
Steve let out a big sigh.
"Haa~ I'll let you off, so go home."
Hearing that, the corners of the thugs' eyes twitched.
"Brother, I didn't hear that well."
"I said go home. And, stop taking money from merchants starting tomorrow."
"Just because there are women around, don't act tough or you'll get hurt."
The thugs tried to take out their knives. However, they couldn't even draw them. Steve's fist sank into the solar plexus of the middle and left thugs, and the right thug had his knife-wielding arm broken by Bella.
After taking the three knives, Steve said,
"Will you learn your lesson now?"
Then, the three glared at Steve with eyes full of anger.
"Wait here. If you run, I'll kill that kid."
Saying that, they disappeared somewhere.
Watching the thugs' backs, Bella asked Steve.
"Is it okay to let them go?"
"They'll bring their friends. Since it's a good opportunity, let's do some cleaning up."
While having such a conversation, one of the onlookers who had been watching from a distance approached.
"You guys, I'm not saying this to be mean, but you should run."
"Thank you for your kindness. But, why?"
"Those guys are untouchable even by the guards. It's an organization made by noble children."
"Noble children?"
When Steve heard the story, he learned that the Snake Head Knights Order was an organization gathered by those who could not inherit their family houses, such as second or third sons of nobles. Therefore, the guards could not easily interfere, and rather, they were colluding to enjoy the benefits.
Also, the person who told him didn't know, but Steve's influence was involved in the formation of the Snake Head Knights Order.
Until now, those who could not inherit their houses had employment opportunities as officials through their parents' connections. However, now that employment exams are implemented, commoners can also become officials. This system of evaluating based on actual ability was originally created by Steve.
The noble children were resting on their laurels regarding that treatment and had not made any effort, so they could not pass the employment exams.
If their parents had territories, they would have benefited from the expansion of the territory, but since they were nobles without land in the Royal Capital, they had nowhere to find employment. So, they formed a gang with people in the same situation in the Royal Capital and got involved in evil deeds.
"Thank you for telling me. But, hearing that, I can't leave it alone anymore."
"I see. That's all for me. Don't die."
With that, the man left so as not to get involved.
Then, the thugs returned with about ten friends and five guards. One of the thugs pointed at Steve and the others and shouted loudly to the guards.
"These people were brandishing weapons in the city."
Hearing that, the guards showed vulgar smiles.
"We thank you for the report from a good citizen. If possible, we would like you to help with the arrest."
Seeing the guards, Steve was exasperated.
"Did they really collude?"
"Is it okay to kill them all?"
"Bella, just don't kill them."
"Understood."
Even with the number increasing slightly, they were no match for Steve and Bella.
However, after defeating ten of them, the remaining guards and thugs ran away.
"Is it okay to let them escape?"
"They'll bring their friends again. Since we're at it, let's do a big cleaning. It will be dangerous if the number increases, so I'll cast a body strengthening spell."
"Thanks."
Steve cast a body strengthening magic on Bella and picked up the baton the guards were holding, handing it to her.
Watching that scene, the girl who was selling flowers asked Ellie.
"Why are those people having so much fun fighting so many people? Aren't they scared?"
"Well, normally you would think so. To defeat those people, you'd have to gather soldiers from all over the country. Since there are no people left to fight for us, I'm happy to be able to fight again."
In neighboring countries, there were no factions left that would challenge Steve to a direct battle. Because they were incognito like this, they started a fight without knowing anything.
Ellie couldn't reveal Steve's true identity, so she spoke vaguely, and it didn't quite get through to the girl.
"Are you strong too, big sister?"
"I'm weak. That's why I'm standing behind like this."
While having such a conversation, a total of 80 guards and thugs gathered.
With that number of people, bystanders joined in, and the main street was closed to traffic.
The captain of the guards stepped forward and asked Steve.
"We received a report that someone was causing trouble in the city, so we came and found this mess. What is your purpose?"
"I am leading those who are illegally collecting money from the townspeople. Are you one of them?"
"Those who are illegally collecting money?"
The captain looked at the people lying on the ground. Since they were originally noble children, they didn't look as evil as those who truly engaged in shady businesses. People say that judging by appearance accounts for more than seventy percent, and this captain thought that judging by appearance, he didn't think they were that kind of person.
"If you want, you can investigate."
When Steve said that, the leader of the thugs came out from behind the captain.
"We are nobles. The town guards have no authority to interrogate us. Besides, the people you beat up are nobles and guards. You are the one who will be interrogated."
He said that while pointing a sword at Steve.
Noble children are treated as nobles until they come of age. However, if they cannot inherit a title upon coming of age, they become commoners. The man saying he was a noble was mistaken.
Steve smiled without hesitation at the sword pointed at him.
"I see. Then, my father is also a noble, so I won't be interrogated."
The leader was surprised by Steve's words.
"Your father is a noble?"
"Yes."
"What is your title?"
"Baron."
Hearing that, the leader looked at Steve with a mocking face.
"My parent is a Viscount. I'll crush a house like a mere Baron."
Just then, knights arrived. A report had reached the knight order that the famous thoroughfare was closed to traffic.
"Move."
The knights pushed through the bystanders and came over. As soon as they saw Steve's face, they made dumbfounded faces.
"My Lord, what are you doing in such a place?"
That knight had experience training under Steve, so naturally, he knew his face.
The captain of the guards and the leader of the thugs asked the knight in unison.
"My Lord?"
"Yes. This person is Lord Archibalt. Lord Archibalt of the Dragon Head Medal. So, what happened?"
At the knight's answer, the two could not speak.
Instead, Steve answered.
"That person there threatened to crush my house, so I was trembling in fear."
"To threaten to crush the Lord's house is quite reckless."
"Indeed. Also, despite being adults, they claimed to be nobles. Falsifying noble status was a serious crime, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"Also, some of the guards were colluding with such people. This is a very serious problem."
"Is that true!?"
"Please investigate immediately."
"Understood."
When Steve revealed his true identity, cheers rose from the bystanders.
Thank you always for your typo reports.