After shutting the door to the lab, I confirmed the participants in the room as I walked towards the slate board. We had five people, including Lilka. I think there was a total of ten companies which were choked out of getting a spot due to the sudden jump in real estate prices. It was the second of August. In just four days, Lilka managed to gather half of those companies. Even though two of them were under the Kendalls, it was still pretty impressive.
So this is the power of someone with a real social life? The duty of courting them from this point on belongs to me, the one with no such social life.
Lilka’s gaze was quite stern, since I was guilty of messing up from the get-go. There were upperclassmen here as well, so coming in last despite being the one to call them here really was out of the question, I suppose.
It wasn’t my fault, though. I popped into the director’s office so that I could borrow this room, and got captured by the director, seeing that he had already created a theoretical model of the new antenna about the size of a teacup.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting. I met an unexpected delay while greeting the director in order to thank him for allowing us to use this room.”
I couldn’t really tell them that I was making preparations to deal with the next prophecy. I didn’t come in from the hallway, but the director’s office, so there was at least some credibility to what I was saying.
Aside from Lilka, the other four participants were magnificently scattered around the room, sitting wherever they pleased.
A male student with a sturdy physique was sitting by the window in a lax posture. That would be the third-year student who’s the son of the Dargan Company. The Dargans are apparently an independent company who deal in meat. His attitude seemed to be somewhat like that of a jock.
A slender boy was sitting by the entrance, not even looking my way as he combed his hand through his long hair. That would be another third-year student. He is the son of the Plura company, another independent company who manage a popular confectionery which serves commoners in the capital. His characteristic trait seemed to be his smugness. He gave off a somewhat artsy atmosphere.
A girl with glossy green hair and freckles was timidly sitting in the back of the room. This one was a classmate of mine; I had at least seen her face before. This is the same girl who witnessed the collusion between Dreyfan and Rowan in front of the library. She is apparently the daughter of the Velmini Company, which deals in vegetables. Just as her helpless gaze pointed at Lilka would imply, the Velminis are part of the Kendalls. I think Mia referred to her as Shirley.
As for the daughter of the Torito Company, Lilka, she was quietly sitting in the middle of the room, completely ignoring the distress signal from her classmate.
The last participant present was another boy, a classmate and the son of the Ruston Company, who deal in rare fruits and such from every region. He was sitting closest to the front, but his expression was stoic.
It didn’t feel like any of them were happy to be here. That was perfectly understandable, considering they were all heirs of silver companies. Moreover, Dargan and Plura were the seniors here.
“I’m sure that you’re all quite busy, so I’ll begin explaining immediately.”
I bowed lightly at the waist and began writing an organizational chart on the slate board. The details were the same as what I explained to Lilka and the others before. I outlined the creation of a shared space in the courtyard, as well as the stock system behind the temporary company that would handle it.
I could feel distrustful gazes piercing my back, but I focused on just quickly getting through the explanation. Not a single one took their leave. This wasn’t because of my ability to explain things, but rather a result of how dire their current situation was.
“In short, everyone here puts in money, and we use that to gather customers in the courtyard, right?” Dargan nodded with rather large movements and then glared straight into my eyes. “And so, the one managing all that will be you, Weinder. Well, ain’t that a nice setup?”
The athletic-looking butcher smiled and revealed his canines. He’s a rich boy from a far nicer house than mine... Right?
“There are three companies here under the Kendalls. Wouldn’t that make the actual mastermind Torito or Ruston? That would make you the figurehead. Your home is a copper, isn’t it?” The somewhat high strung looking third year from a confectionery shop said.
Plura scowled at the remaining three participants. I see, it looks like it really is true that the temperaments of the independent companies and those under an umbrella are different, even when they’re all silvers.
“I-I already gave up. I came along because Lilka insisted. But I really haven’t heard of this sort of method before... I don’t feel like it’s really...”
The daughter of the vegetable store shot frequent glances at Lilka, but still stated her opinion. Lilka wasn’t saying anything herself. It would be the worst-case scenario if the suspicion Plura just brought up that I was teaming up with the Kendalls to use the independent companies was given more credence.
“All of your concerns are reasonable. No matter how much I speak of it, I’m sure it won’t carry any manner of persuasive power. I’ll be moving on to a more tangible explanation of the Food Court Firm, so please judge its advantages and disadvantages for yourself.”
I switched with Mia, and Lilka waved at her to cheer her on. Weren’t you supposed to be neutral?
“I’ll be explaining the specific numbers behind the seats which can be prepared in this space.”
Mia began talking about the arrangements for seating using the data she got from Lilka about last year’s festival. Dargan let out an impressed “Hmm” when she brought up the surplus tables and chairs the Kendalls offered, while Plura sneered with an “I told you so” look.
“In this way, with the minimum required expenses, we’ll be able to prepare eight tables in the courtyard, summing up to 36 seats. That’s about seven seats per shop. This would be about half of what a normal classroom could hold last year. Taking into consideration the decline of the ratio of vacant seats, it would mean that we’re securing the equivalent amount of space as any classroom last year.”
We did our own preliminary investigation of all the members here. They were surely thinking about how many seats they could prepare if they were on their own.
“Your calculations are off. Including you, there’s six companies participating, right? That makes it six seats per shop.”
“It’s also doubtful that they’ll be used fairly. What do you plan on doing if there aren’t enough seats? If you’re going to say that you get priority, then I have no reason to stick around.”
Dargan brought up the numbers in discontent, and Plura agreed with him.
“We won’t be selling anything in the courtyard,” I said as I shook my head. “All we’ll be taking on is the management of the space and taking a share corresponding to our investment. This will guarantee fair use.”
“How splendid of you. I can’t trust that. There’s no equivalent merit at all for your company to be putting in any money, now is there?”