The World Dragon's Heir - Chapter 361

Chapter 361: It Will Pay Wages
Once Dominic stepped outside, Architect Sunni flagged him down for a meeting at the forge.

“So, how did it go? Did he take a good stock?” The Architect asked over the ringing of hammers.

Presumably, he thought that the noise meant a private conversation, but Dominic had long since realized that Dwarves could tune out the sound and make it background noise, so they could talk normally while working.

“They took two full trailers of them. Mostly fireplace inserts. I was hoping that they would take a third trailer, but he wasn’t comfortable with the large total, as he’s never sold any of them before.

If they sell out at a good markup, I think we can get three or four trailers out of the next caravan that passes by.” Dominic explained.

“Oh, that is wonderful news. But if they think that carrying so many valuable goods is too much risk, are we going to be alright in the factory with just two trailers per shipment?” He asked.

“Concerned about my profits? Or the workers?” Dominic asked in a teasing tone.

“The workers, naturally. I’ve made friends with many of them, and everyone is eagerly waiting to see if this is going to make enough money to pay the wages they were promised.” He explained.

Dominic nodded. The money he had gotten from this shipment, even with the wholesale discount that the merchant had gotten, was enough to buy all the materials and pay the worker wages for two months.

But they made most of their own materials, or dug them locally.

“As long as we get more than one of these caravans a month, we should be in good shape to keep the factory running at full output for the foreseeable future.” Dominic offered.

Sunni sighed in relief. “That is excellent news. Everyone is quite excited about the wages they’re getting, and looking forward to their first payday.”

Dominic laughed. “I bet. The first payday is the big one. I told them that I’d pay them weekly, and we’ve only got a few days to their weekly rest day. I’ll make sure everyone is paid at the end of the day on their last shift, if you want to warn all the merchants that there will be a flood of celebrating workers.”

“I will spread the good news. Everyone is waiting for someone to come and confirm that a sale has been made. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the guard volunteered to escort them to the edge of the Duchy, just to be sure that they were safe.” Sunni joked.

Dominic laughed. “You know, we’re living nearly at the eastern edge of the Duchy, and he’s headed that way, right? But it wouldn’t hurt to send a few men out that way to make sure that the roads are clear.

Keeping the area clear of bandits is every Noble’s duty, and there aren’t any in charge of the border regions at this time.”

“Have you suggested that to the Duchess?” Sunni asked carefully.

“Unfortunately not. She is out on a monster hunting expedition today, so I haven’t had a chance to suggest that travel into the wilds of the Cygnia borderlands might be necessary.”

Sunni smiled. “So, she did manage to escape. I will let you get back to your business for the day, my Lord. You might want to go check on the Adventurer’s Guild. They have been unloading quite a lot into the convention centre.”

Dominic smiled. That they would be. They had brought all the equipment for the casino with them, as well as their personal belongings, and whatever went into the operation of an Adventurer’s Guild.

That would take a lot of time for them to move into the building, and it already had an officer’s corps in there that was likely stuck negotiating details and solving issues between their forces as the negotiations went on between the four Princes at the Manor.

But that reminded Dominic that he shouldn’t leave his guests unattended.

“Alright, I will check on them before I return home. See you later, Pops. Don’t work poor Mead too hard.”

The Dwarf laughed and waved, which made Sunni realize that the Dwarf could hear everything that they said.

But Dominic wasn’t concerned about Pops’ hearing. He would have told him at dinner anyhow. It was important information for the business leaders of the Duchy, and Pops would be making new tools if they had to change the plans for the factory.

The town was buzzing with excitement as he made his way over to the side of the convention centre that would be the offices for the Adventurer’s Guild, and walked into the middle of chaos.

There were dozens of soldiers arranging tables, Guild members assembling a counter at the back of the room to register quests, a mage creating a poster board that took up an entire wall,

“Master Stone, you have guests.” Someone called, and the Dwarf came out of the back room.

“Duke Wistover, what brings you by already?”

“I just wanted to make sure that you weren’t having any issues getting settled in. But it looks like the officers are being helpful and not giving you a hard time about the process.

They had gotten quite used to having the place to themselves, you see.” Dominic explained.

The Dwarven Adventurer chuckled. “I bribed them. You see, we brought better liquor than what is available in town. There is some good wine here, and some decent mead. But you don’t have a liquor still at all.”

Dominic shrugged. “Such are the hazards of settling in too fast. Give it a bit of time, and we will find someone who can make decent liquor. It’s not like we’re short on potatoes or corn to make liquor.”

The Dwarf smiled. “I did notice that, now that you mention it. Your Duchy has bountiful fields everywhere that I look. Are you selling the crops to the Merchants?”

Dominic nodded. “As much as they will take. Between that and the factory, we might need to start organizing entire convoys ourselves. The issue is that it’s such a long trip anywhere, so we don’t have any local caravan operators like they do in the Capital.

There is no region to serve, no other villages nearby to trade with.”

Master Stone shrugged. “Give it a few years, it will come.”