Chapter 61

Chapter 61

#61. The Mirror Treatment Project (2)

In this otherworld, salaries are usually paid daily or per task.

However, bureaucrats, knights, and soldiers receive monthly wages since they belong to a trustworthy organization like the government. In the private sector though, people generally get paid on the spot because overall social trust was pretty low.

Also, there were way too many folks living hand-to-mouth.

Why wait a month when you can barely make it till tomorrow? It’d be a miracle if no one pulled out their swords in frustration.

The current weekly pay system was only established after we put on quite the show by providing free meals to employees’ families for a while.

“Once the company builds more trust and employees have enough to live on, we’ll switch to a monthly salary system.”

“Ahh…”

“What’s with that disappointed look? This is actually more convenient. We can reduce the weekly hassle to just once a month.”

I said this while touching the warehouse door where the seal had been lifted.

Gugugugung

As I touched it, the security magic holding the large, sturdy iron door dissolved.

After entering through the iron door, we passed through several more doors.

Finally, in the innermost room, there was a small hill made of silver and copper coins.

“Isn’t it beautiful, even though we see it all the time?”

“Yes, it is.”

There were some gold coins mixed in, but most were silver and copper.

‘I really wish we could move into the paper money era already.’

Even while gazing at these dazzling treasures that never got old, my mind yearned for banknotes considering the costs of storing and managing all this.

Since there was practically nothing resembling a bank in the Northern Region…

‘Hmm… maybe we should start a banking and loan business?’

A fleeting thought crossed my mind.

‘No, not now. Once we accumulate more funds and find financial experts from the empire or kingdom, we’ll do it then.’

But I pushed it down to second priority.

Right now, growing the company was top priority.

Besides, there simply weren’t any suitable talents in the North yet.

‘Too bad I don’t have any banking-related knowledge or skills in this body.’

No matter how much I was an all-master in production and crafting outside of combat, I wasn’t omniscient.

Though I did run a trade company up to level 50 in Silver Age 1, I never operated a bank.

Back to reality.

While looking around the room filled with silver coins…

“Is this silver coin from the Kingdom Union?”

On a sudden impulse, I picked up a peculiar silver coin I noticed. Instead of Emperor Solaed’s face, it had a profile of another person.

“It appears to be a silver coin issued by the Scania Kingdom.”

“The Scania Kingdom? Isn’t that the island country at the southernmost tip of the continent?”

“That’s correct. For coins from there to reach the northernmost part of the continent… it’s truly remarkable and fascinating.”

“Yeah, money doesn’t care about borders.”

For a moment, I stared blankly at the foreign silver coin.

The size of the silver coin was the same as others – twice as big as Earth’s 500 won coin and 1.5 times thicker.

Both sides featured the ruler’s face, naturally different depending on which country minted it, but the value was mostly equal.

Even within the feuding Kingdom Union and Empire, foreign rulers’ faced coins were generally used equally aside from slight premiums.

After all, they were all the same metal when melted down.

Apparently, even from faraway East Continent, these gold and silver coins were accepted.

By the way, the Northern Region mainly used coins with the Emperor’s face issued by the Empire.

‘This makes me think of North Korea for some reason. They shouted anti-American slogans but used dollars as currency.’

Lost in strange thoughts when I heard Mary approaching from behind.

She probably came to report that all employees had gathered outside the warehouse.

“One day, I hope our Highness’s visage will appear on these silver and gold coins.”

I casually threw this line at Mary who might be a spy sent by Duchess Ariana.

With Arad Company growing bigger every day,

If I didn’t throw these loyalty lines as naturally as breathing, I wouldn’t know when or how I’d get worked over.

“Our Highness’s visage on gold and silver coins! I hope that day comes soon!”

“My lord’s loyalty moves even someone like me who was once a knight!”

Though it was close to ad-libbing, the effect was excellent.

Not only Mary, but Theo standing nearby also started trembling excitedly imagining the scene.

“For now, we have no choice but to use coins with foreign rulers’ faces.”

Continuing the act, I asked,

“Are we withdrawing 178 silver coins and 964 copper coins?”

“Yes, I’ll prepare them according to the quantity.”

Though the silver and copper coins were piled up like a hill in the warehouse, they weren’t stored chaotically.

They were stacked in bundles of twenty each.

We took out the exact amount needed for this payment and loaded them into boxes brought along.

When fully loaded, it was quite heavy so Te Manager, Mary, and I carried it together.

Coming out of the warehouse, all the company employees were eagerly waiting.

Nearly 300 employees of Arad Company, having grown significantly, bowed their heads or removed their hats to greet me.

“You’ll get docked pay if you head straight to taverns, gambling dens, or red-light districts after receiving your paycheck! Hand it over to your wife at home!”

Employees laughed at this half-joking remark.

“Go ahead and distribute.”

“Yes.”

We handed over the boxes we were carrying to the management team members responsible for payroll distribution.

Made up of people who could do basic calculations under the direction of Te Manager and Mary, the management team had a good gender balance.

Mostly second, third, fourth, or fifth children of Northern noble families.

Outside of the eldest sons, both peasants and nobles had similar struggles to survive, so we managed to hire them relatively easily.

Of course, they had to pass my interview and Frosthaven’s background check.

“Employee number 125!”

“Yes!”

Employees counted on the abacus I introduced and called out employee numbers while flipping through documents with the other hand.

The reason for calling out employee numbers was to prevent confusion from people with the same name.

“Name is Mark. Worked on clay mixing at Second Factory and did overtime for three days.”

“Yes, that’s right!”

The first person called was an elderly man with chimera prosthetic arms.

“With performance bonus added… that’s 70 coppers. Take half a silver coin and 20 coppers.”

“Thank you!”

“Next! Employee number 29!”

“Yes!”

The next worker slowly walked up.

By the way, employee numbers were called randomly to prevent those with higher numbers always getting paid later.

“Name is Bill. Worked on bone processing at First Factory…”

And so the payroll distribution began.

“Employee number 109!”

“Employee number 88!”

“Employee number 17!”

There were six tables set up in front of the warehouse. Employee numbers were continuously called out.

Kung Kung Kung Kung

At the same time, the sound of silver coins being split in half could be heard.

The weekly salary for entry-level workers varies depending on overtime and performance bonuses, typically between 50 to 70 coppers.

It was too much to give entirely in coppers but awkward to give in whole silver coins.

Therefore, cutting silver coins in half using specially made chisels became a necessary procedure on payday.

‘Something something… this works because we’re in the North. If we were in the Empire, there would’ve been chaos.’

Though it’s another country’s ruler, and though it’s an emperor I don’t particularly like…

Seeing his face getting split in half feels strangely amusing.

‘Would there be issues doing this with Ariana’s face later?’

Like I mentioned earlier, when we eventually put Ariana’s face on gold and silver coins, that would likely cause its own set of problems.

‘Didn’t misinterpret what I said earlier… right?’

Swallowing dryly, I glanced at Mary and Theo.

Looking at all these various rulers’ faces getting carved up, I suddenly felt nervous about that ad-libbed line I made earlier.

“Employee number 299!”

“Yes! Employee number 299, Sara here.”

While I was lost in all sorts of thoughts, the payroll continued.

“Yes! I worked really hard!”

“110 coppers. Take one silver coin and 10 coppers.”

“Thank you! Thank you!”

“You should thank yourself for working hard. Next.”

Not all employees received the same pay.

This woman named Sara was a widow whose husband died in the recent polar expedition. With four young children, she works harder than anyone.

“In fact, sir, I did overtime all five days and achieved target performance three times this week?”

Even her craftsmanship is excellent and she never misses achieving targets.

“Mr. President! Thank you!”

Before leaving, Sara mustered the courage to greet me.

“On the contrary, I’m grateful. Go home quickly. Your children must be anxiously waiting.”

“Yes!”

Every week I witness this scene, yet it still touches my heart every time.

“Roji.”

“Yes! Mr. President.”

I called Roji while watching the woman walk home lightly.

I could’ve asked Mary, but she’s busy cutting silver coins with the employees.

“Did you prepare for this week?”

“Yes, all the guards in High City are focused on maintaining order. Colonel Sun is even personally patrolling.”

“I owe him one.”

“This is the privilege of being an imperial merchant. You don’t need to feel burdened.”

Everyone in High City knows today is our company’s payday.

All restaurants and taverns must be fully prepared to welcome our employees.

And surely, there are those who target women like Sara’s pockets.

“I’ll give some coppers to the soldiers participating in today’s security operations.”

That’s why I’m making full use of our status as imperial merchants.

* * *

Meanwhile, a man was observing this Arad Company with baffled eyes.

“What kind of bizarre paradise is this? What’s going on in the North!?”

None other than Entaire who had just arrived in High City with Valkyrie.

* * *

The North that Entaire visited under Valkyrie’s guidance was a strange paradise.

The North was certainly neither prosperous nor peaceful.

Every breath felt like his bronchus and lungs were freezing due to the harsh cold. Wild monsters and beasts frequently attacked through snowstorms.

Yet, Entaire sensed hope and peace among the people living in this harsh land.

“I didn’t encounter a single bandit coming from Haven to High City!”

Perhaps because this land was so full of nature and savagery? He hardly saw people harming each other.

“There aren’t any beggars on the streets either. They couldn’t have cleared them just for me.”

Even in the prosperous southern part of the Empire, he often saw thieves and groups of beggars.

Because of the aristocrats’ cruel exploitation.

But not in the North.

“I knew taxes were low in the North, but I didn’t expect such thorough governance.”

Unity is most important in the North. Any division would lead to being swallowed by nature, savagery, and external forces.

“Was it because of the recent treason? The already centralized North became even more centered around the Duke of the North. The nobility has almost no power left. Is there anywhere on the continent where the central government has this much power? Those scholars advocating absolute monarchy would love it here as their ideal world.”