Chapter 48
Translator: True Detective
It's a Huge Catch!
Compared to Magic & Servant, The Game of Life still seems like an elf when looking at it again.
Of course, the The Game of Life side also has a tremendous amount of areas to rip off money── no, generate profit, such as targeting the vanity of the wealthy upper class and the luxury of nobles by making and selling special boards.
However, still, she didn't think it was at the level of Magic & Servant.
Unlike The Game of Life, which is a one-time purchase no matter how expensive it is, Magic & Servant has no end.
New cards!
New effects!
Because they can continue selling card packs endlessly while adding those.
"Of course, driving force is needed for that. For that purpose, we also need to hold Magic & Servant tournaments every year, and publish works related to Magic & Servant to make Magic & Servant like a kind of merchandise."
There is freshness to the fun of a game.
No matter how fun and good a game is, it eventually has no choice but to gradually wither as time passes.
To keep that freshness of fun fresh for as long as possible, one must use that many tricks.
They need to hold Magic & Servant tournaments with jaw-dropping prize money and prizes to create buzz and form a sense of a major trend, and publish novels or comics themed around Magic & Servant to make it a fad.
"It would also be good to hold things like contests and make new Magic & Servant cards based on the winning person's ideas."
Literally, Magic & Servant can generate massive profits until its lifespan ends, like the honey of the World Tree.
"However, we must add effort to prevent cheating by that much. We must prevent card duplication as much as possible, and unlike existing card games, Magic & Servant must also maintain an image of being a wholesome play. For that, we must also strive for image making, such as using a portion of the profits to help the needy or for the public good of the Empire."
"As the game gains popularity, there will also be many people playing tricks, so we must pay special attention so that an employee who fell for the temptation of money doesn't secretly sell off cards or something. Cards can only be obtained from card packs. Because the moment that trust collapses, the game is also finished."
"Ah, it would be better not to touch the buying and selling of cards between individuals, rather than just exchanging. Honestly, I've thought about it, but I don't think that's an area we can do anything about, and that kind of thing could also be an element of the game's box office success."
Market predictions continuing one after another, and countermeasures against various ills according to those predictions.
Felix frantically began taking notes on Noel's words while playing the game.
'What kind of messed up foresight is this. Doesn't it seem as if she's been to a world where a game like Magic & Servant is already established...!'
Felix unable to withhold his admiration.
He genuinely feels it's a pity that Noel isn't a merchant, and at the same time, a relief.
Felix now understood a little why the authors of the literary circles were making such a fuss because of the Miss.
Oblivious to such inner thoughts...
"However, this is purely just a prediction, and I'm worried whether the game will actually gain popularity and sell well."
Noel says this kind of thing.
"You are a bit worried whether it will sell as well as you think...?"
Felix's expression is momentarily dyed with bewilderment as if asking what kind of nonsense that is.
"It is the opposite! I am more worried about whether we can properly supply according to the demand, Miss!"
Felix's only experience with cards was touching them when playing reception games with business partners.
That means he lived a life with no connection to games, but such a person had taken an interest and fallen into it right away after playing a few games.
In an era lacking amusement, Felix was certain that Magic & Servant would achieve a kind of new epoch where saying it simply sells well or is a box office hit is insufficient.
That it would become a social phenomenon.
"This... I might not be able to digest it with the capacity of the Grace Merchant Guild because it seems like it will be too successful."
It wasn't just saying it to sound nice; Felix was sincere.
The business item Noel presented was sufficiently at that level.
Above all, the most powerful merit is that they don't need to compete with other merchant guilds.
They are not going as a latecomer into a market where someone else is already established.
It's safe to say they are creating a market that didn't exist at all, and is there any reason for there to be competition in such a market.
Without checks or competition, it is possible to monopolize it with the feeling of planting a flag on an empty mountain.
It doesn't matter even if latecomers appear after seeing that.
At that time, they just need to stay ahead with the points of being the first mover and the original.
The game will definitely gain sensational popularity, and matching that popularity, everyone will try to buy card packs without distinction.
Felix was worrying whether they could properly predict that demand and supply the volume without being late.
He felt he shouldn't be doing this here right now, but should be running on foot immediately to secure production lines.
Because to mass-produce cards by incorporating various anti-duplication technologies to prevent illegal card copying was not an ordinary headache.
Fortunately, that part has been resolved to some extent with Clara's help.
Since Clara is also someone who owes a debt of the heart to Noel due to what happened during the outing, she actively helped with that part.
And Lydia also lent a hand saying she wants to see the game her ultimate favorite made make the people of the world go wild as soon as possible, so she doesn't need to worry that much.
It means that as long as Felix handles the working-level matters, they can start production at any moment.
"You have a plan for everything, Miss."
Felix nodded his head in admiration.
"Understood. As soon as I return, I will devote the total power of the Grace Merchant Guild and strive for the box office success of Magic & Servant. Ah, but there is something called a procedure before that, so the Viscount's permission..."
"If it's Father's and Mother's permission, I've already received it."
Noel presented evidence as if saying would she have proceeded with this without a single word of consultation with her parents, who are the actual power holders.
It was something similar to a power of attorney from Viscount Julian.
Felix, who checked the document containing the statement that he would entrust full authority regarding this game business to Noel and the Viscount's signature, nodded his head as if he understood.
'I thought she called me for a consultation... but in reality, it was a notification.'
At first, he thought it was a seat for business consultation, but it wasn't that.
It's good that things are fast, but if it's like this, it feels like he's just eating the meal the Miss prepared for him without doing much.
There's nothing bad about that either, but Felix decided to ponder a bit to see if there was anything more he could supplement.
'It would also be good to invite VIPs and hold an event with the feeling of a special exhibition.'
And this was precisely the reason why Noel diligently went around distributing invitations taking the opportunity of having come up to the Imperial Capital.
In that way, the New Year.
A time when the winter cold was still raging, a heat that made one forget even that cold came to fill the Grace Merchant Guild stores.
'As expected, it seems I will have to open a separate store as the Miss said.'
At first, when Noel said it would be better to open a separate location, a completely new store, for selling card packs or board games, he didn't think it would be to that extent.
He thought they could sufficiently handle it with the existing grocery store, but he had no choice but to admit that it was a misjudgment.
It is a situation where the sales of card packs and board games are taking the lead more than the Grace Merchant Guild's main business, grocery sales.
Because of that, it reached a point where those who actually wanted to buy groceries were experiencing inconvenience.
He shouldn't leave this as it is.
Since they aren't going to change their industry type, it's better to separate them quickly.
Even without that, Felix was in a situation of hastily looking for a usable store.
He plans to acquire a suitable cafe and remodel it like an arcade.
He intends to transform it into a space where customers can enjoy games among themselves and buy card packs while also enjoying refreshments.
He got the idea from the comic collab cafe Iliad Publishing Company held last time.
Perhaps if Noel had known this, she would have reacted with, "Huh? Isn't that an internet cafe...?"
At the point where he came up with such a thing on his own without Noel's advice, it is certain that Felix is a competent merchant.
That's probably why he is entrusted with and operating a merchant guild owned by a noble at a young age.
Now, managing Magic & Servant and The Game of Life, Felix will be able to handle most working-level matters.
Because it is a situation where Noel delegated full authority trusting his abilities.
However, even for such Felix, a matter of a massive scale that he absolutely couldn't handle on his own erupted──.
"C-C-C-Crown Prince?!"
The Crown Prince deigned to come to the Grace Merchant Guild saying he had an urgent matter to discuss regarding the games.
Cassian Ashley Aurelion.
The next Emperor and a big shot ranked second in the Empire.
Dealing with such a figure whose status is too high, no matter how competent or whatever, was too heavy a task for a mere guild master, Felix Harper.
"Haha, calm down. Today, I am merely a guest who came because I was curious about the card game that has made the Imperial Capital go wild."
Gentle charisma.
Befitting that modifier representing Crown Prince Cassian, he spoke with an easygoing laugh, but... Felix's liver wasn't big enough to actually be comfortable when a high-ranking person told him to be comfortable.
"I-It is an infinite honor for your visit today──."
Felix Harper giving a highly courteous greeting with the utmost manners.
Seeing him like that, Crown Prince Cassian, as if accustomed to such situations, gave a bitter smile and decided to just quickly get to the main point.
Getting the business done quickly and returning would probably be truly considering the other person.
"Actually, it's about the amusements the Grace Merchant Guild is handling these days..."
He thought it wouldn't be the case, but his heart sinking wondering if the two games had perhaps displeased the high-ranking person was an unavoidable physiological phenomenon.
"I would like to request some special production of those."
"By special production, you mean...?"
Fortunately, it wasn't a reprimand or making an issue out of it.
Rather, it was a story where the smell of money began to waft, and the moment he smelled that scent, Felix wanted to fulfill his duty as a merchant, setting aside his liver trembling from nervousness.
However,
"You must be aware that honored guests from various countries are gathering one after another to observe the academy entrance ceremony in the spring. I was thinking of gifting them to those state guests. Did you say it was the premium line? I would like you to prepare even more precious and special products than that."
This was an agenda too large for the frontline to decide at their own discretion.
It was Noel's turn to step up.
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