Chapter 140 - 140 Jeans
Steve visited the Emmanuel Trading Company and asked Emmanuel to procure denim fabric. Since the name "denim" originates from Earth, he explained that it was a twill-woven cotton fabric.
Accepting Steve's request, Emmanuel investigated not only within the country but also in surrounding nations to find the material.
Aurora was the first to sense this movement. Once word reached the Salieri Trading Company that the Emmanuel Trading Company was searching for cotton fabric, she ordered Valier to buy cotton futures.
Other market participants did not know the reason, but because Valier's buying had driven up the price of cotton futures, they followed Valier's lead like lanterns following a firefly. Evelyn also joined this movement. Information had reached her intelligence network that Aurora's subordinate trading companies were buying cotton futures. And also, the movement by the Emmanuel Trading Company to search for cotton fabric.
Evelyn called for Scarlett.
"Scarlett, I'm going to the West. Before we arrive, tell them to buy as much cotton futures as possible."
"Will Lady Evelyn herself be traveling there?"
"Yes. If Lord Sowell is in command, there is no telling how they will move. I will take direct command on the ground myself."
Scarlett knew that once Evelyn started speaking like this, she could not be stopped, so she immediately instructed those in the West to place the futures orders, and prepared for Evelyn to depart.
Emmanuel succeeded in finding the cotton fabric Steve had requested. He then reported this to Steve.
"Lord Steve, we have found the cotton fabric you requested."
Steve took the fabric and examined it closely.
It reminded him of the denim fabric he had seen in his past life. However, since it was not indigo-colored, it didn't feel quite like denim in that regard.
"Thank you. It's exactly what I was thinking of."
"However, there is a problem."
"What is it?"
"Information that I was searching for cotton fabric has sparked speculation that Lord Steve is starting a new business, causing the price of cotton futures to rise. The purchase price will go up."
"If that's the case, don't worry. I won't be purchasing enough to change the share of the cotton market, so the artificially inflated price will likely return on its own eventually. I won't be selling it off on purpose, though."
Steve instructed Emmanuel to leave it alone.
"Understood."
"More importantly, I am going to make the pants I've been thinking about using this fabric. If you like it, I will place a formal order for the fabric, so please prepare."
"Yes."
Now that Steve had obtained the cotton fabric, he decided to start making a prototype immediately. He visited the sewing department with Nick.
Nick took the cotton fabric in hand and offered his impression.
"This is quite a thick fabric. Won't the needle get stuck?"
"That's right. We'll need a sturdy needle specifically for this fabric."
Saying that, Steve used magic to create a needle thicker than usual.
The sewing department also sews clothes for dolls and has experience making pants, so there were no problems with making a prototype.
He threaded the new needle and immediately began sewing the cut fabric.
Then, he riveted the finished product.
"This is complete. Good thing the sewing machine needle didn't break."
"I didn't think of riveting."
"If we make the rivets through cold forging, both the sewing department and the forging department can generate profit. Also, if we enter the existing rivet market, the Industrial Guild might file a complaint again."
"Lord Steve, have you finally understood?"
Nick looked at Steve, but Steve did not look like he truly understood.
"Protected industries eventually lose their competitiveness and disappear. Even if we don't make them through cold forging, selling the forging machines and molds would achieve the same result. And even if we don't do that, someone else will surely start such a business."
"Well, from the buyer's perspective, cheaper is better."
"That's right. So, just sticking to hot forging forever isn't the answer."
"Well, I hope you refrain from raiding existing products while I am the Factory Manager."
"I will consider that positively."
The workers in the sewing department, listening to this exchange between the two, were nervous about how the Factory Manager spoke. Nick's language was too casual toward Steve, who was not only the president but also a noble.
Since the Toy Department had some old employees, they just let it pass as usual, but there were no such veteran employees here.
"Alright, after hearing Christina and Emmanuel's opinions, if it looks feasible, we'll need to increase personnel in both the sewing and forging departments."
"Lord Steve, may I make one for myself too?"
"Employee discount."
"It's still a prototype."
"If the Factory Manager does that, everyone will copy you."
Steve glanced at the employees in the sewing department, and they all denied it. Apparently, they didn't have the courage to nod. But Steve thought they would probably do it anyway. He didn't point it out on purpose, though.
"See? All our employees are serious."
"We'll issue them as work clothes, so please endure it until then."
"I want them sooner."
"In that case, we should commercialize them quickly."
Steve instructed Nick to build an early production system.
Then, taking the prototype, he went to Christina's place and teleported to the Emmanuel Trading Company with her.
Emmanuel received the jeans from Steve and appraised them.
"They seem quite durable. And you're fastening the fabric with rivets?"
"I think this will win over the workers."
"Yes, I think they will sell, depending on the price."
When Emmanuel expressed concern, Christina began price negotiations.
"Since it's for commoners, we can't add much profit. Besides, since the cotton fabric is purchased from the Emmanuel Trading Company, the material cost is known, right? Wouldn't 15 copper coins be appropriate?"
"With this quality, one purchase will last five years. If we purchase at that price and sell it, maybe 20 to 30 copper coins? Since the design is good, it might sell not just as work clothes but as everyday wear, even in urban areas."
"I'm planning to have Nancy wear them to show that women can wear them too. They are easy to move in and absorb sweat, so I think they are good."
Jeans were born as work clothes, but now they are used as everyday wear all over the world. Steve was confident that the same would happen in the Kingdom of Cascade.
Since there is no job called "fashion model," he is trying to spread the word by having Nancy wear them. Christina must wear a dress in public places, so she couldn't possibly wear jeans. However, within the mansion, there was no problem, so she was wearing the prototype to check its appearance.
Regarding the price, originally he would have wanted to take a bit more profit, but since it was business for commoners, he thought that if he made it any more expensive, it wouldn't sell.
Emmanuel also agreed with the price and decided to purchase.
"Understood. We will purchase and sell this through our company. However, there is a troubling matter: the cotton market price is still rising."
"It's still going up? Who is doing it?"
"The main culprit is the Valier Trading Company. Lord Claman has joined them. This is drawing in more followers like lanterns."
"Cell the Fact. I think the price will hit the ceiling once my product comes out. If it's rising ridiculously, maybe we should short it. The jeans talk is over, so let's go check the market."
Steve took Christina and Emmanuel to the exchange. There were Aurora and Valier. Evelyn and Scarlett. And Joseph Frobel.
"Lord Sowell, Lord Claman. Having both of you here makes today's exchange quite splendid."
"If Her Excellency's wife comes, our brilliance will fade."
Aurora smiled brightly. She did not think for a moment that she was losing to Christina.
"It's been a while, Your Excellency. Since you came all the way to the West, I was planning to contact you later and pay a visit. Your wife has also managed to reach a skin condition that is somewhat visible, thanks to the hot spring effect, hasn't she?"
Evelyn bowed her head. Christina glared at that head. It was filled with blatant malice. Steve regretted visiting the exchange.
Unlike those women, Joseph greeted without any malice.
"It's been a while. Your Excellency."
"Joseph, long time no see. I haven't had many opportunities to go to the Empire. Is Ino doing well?"
"Yes. While I am here in the Kingdom of Cascade, I have left the shop in Ino's care."
"I see. So, what brings you here today?"
At Steve's question, Joseph averted his eyes. Ah, this is a question he doesn't want to answer, Steve intuited. With Joseph and Aurora present here, he could vaguely guess.
Aurora offered a lifeline to Joseph, who had averted his eyes.
"What brings Your Excellency here?"
"Since the development of the new product is finished, I thought I'd try futures trading again for the first time in a while. Something about cotton prices rising."
Steve looked back and forth between Aurora and Evelyn. With the thought: I know your schemes.
Evelyn, ignoring Steve's gaze, asked what the new product was.
"Your Excellency, what new product have you developed?"
"New pants. Durable, usable as work clothes, and perfectly fine as everyday wear. I plan to sell them nationwide through the Emmanuel Trading Company."
Hearing that, Aurora sent a signal with her eyes to Joseph. Joseph received it, bowed, and stepped back.
"Then I will take my leave here."
"When you return to your country, please say hello to Ino for me."
"Understood."
Once Joseph stepped back, Aurora instructed Valier to place a sell order. Steve and Evelyn also followed suit and placed sell orders.
Steve whispered to Aurora.
"You probably had Joseph transport cotton from the Empire, didn't you? Inflate the futures, then sell off before the physical goods appear. Depending on the situation, short the reversal."
"Recently, Your Excellency hasn't been playing along, so out of loneliness, I just did something like this."
Aurora said this with an expression that showed not a shred of loneliness.
Beside her, Evelyn whispered to Scarlett.
"See? It was the right decision to come. The market has hit the ceiling here. The main culprit has sold off. The conversation and quick judgment here. I might have lost out if I hadn't been here."
"As Lady Evelyn says."
"On the way back, shall we stay at Your Excellency's inn and relax in the hot springs?"
"But I am worried about the territory."
"Scarlett is too serious."
Even so, Evelyn felt she had been away from her territory for too long, and if it dragged on any longer, she intended to wrap it up and return.
"Well, it turned into a nice temporary income. I want to run a futures exchange in the East too."
"The investigation regarding operations in the West is complete, so it's just a matter of gathering staff, isn't it?"
"That's the problem. Talented people are in high demand. Should we perhaps poach the staff from here?"
"That would start a war."
Scarlett didn't know how serious Evelyn was and glanced at Aurora.
Aurora was enjoying her conversation with Steve and seemed relieved that she wasn't being questioned for the moment.
After this, a massive sale of physical goods by Joseph was confirmed, and the futures price returned to near its original level.
Steve closed his sell positions, thinking everything was over, but in fact, it was not.
The drop in cotton prices would become a source of worry for Steve.
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