Parallel Vol. 4 [LEGACY EDITION]

Chapter 50.2: Kashi's Plan

"Thanks." Leila accepted the compliment with a small smile as she gave Kashi a once-over. "You've gotten a lot stronger since our last meeting."

"Haha, it's nothing," Kashi laughed as he waved his hand and reverted to his daeben form. "I've recently had a bout of luck."

"Luck, huh," Leila muttered as she crouched to examine the fallen loot. "Would it be we were all as 'lucky' as you." The wisben made a mental note of the materials, as well as the best method to distribute them within the guild then rose to her feet. She then turned to Kashi with a half teasing smile. "So, have you come to resume your Guildmaster duties? I have kept your office nice and clean, ready for you anytime."

Kashi recalled the mountain of paperwork he saw on Leila's desk and instantly paled. Laughing nervously, he refuted "Haha... No. Of course, not. As long as our great vice-guildmaster is here, I can rest assured the guild is in guild hands. I'll leave that up to you!"

Leila rolled her eyes as she suppressed her laughter. "Fine, then. If you did not come here to relieve my stress, did you come to add to it?"

"Eh..." Kashi hesitated as he scratched his cheeks. "I'm not too sure if it's one or the other." The daeben proceeded to explain everything about his world and Drixlia's evolution in full detail, leaving nothing out. "With your permission, I'd like to move our HQ into my inner world, and use it as a hub connected to several places on the continent."

Leila thought about it and nodded, "I think that's a good idea too. Secret attacks against our guild have been escalating recently. We've intercepted numerous spies trying to steal all our secrets, including the blacksmith manuals. We do not have to move the entire Headquarters, but certainly, we can safeguard the more sensitive materials in your world."

"I agree," Kashi stated. "But aside from that, I was wondering if we could use the world as a hub for adventurers to travel between the major cities. You know, we charge them to use the gateway into my world, from which they can then take the gateway to some city I've painted on the continent."

"That's a good idea, but wouldn't it prematurely kill the train and skyboat business?" Leila's brows furrowed in thought. "Miote will kill you if he finds out."

"Don't worry, I already considered that possibility," Kashi assured her. "I have two solutions. First, I intend to have the public gateways only access a couple of major cities. The trains will remain the main mode of transportation within a country. Also, the gateways will only take individuals, not luggage. Like this, merchants will choose to use either the skyboat and train for travel. Second, we make the gateway price much higher than the train. Most people should choose to take the train then, leaving only the insanely rich or adventurers. The skyboats will specialize in long-distance travel, ferrying goods, and people between countries. I don't think it'll be affected much."

"Miote did say our main target should be the poor and middle-class Residents," Leila muttered as she absorbed the details of Kashi's plan. "Your plan does exactly that, while also accommodating the rich. Miote would be proud of you."

Kashi scratched the back of his head, as he replied with nervous laughter, "Haha, like you said, if I did not come up with a good plan, Miote would kill me for destroying the train business before it even started." The daeben patted his chest and released a nervous breath he was not aware he was holding. "So, what do you think? I can present this proposal to Miote, right?"

"It could use some polish here and there," Leila replied with a thoughtful gaze. "But the groundwork is solid. You can leave the rest to Miote. He'll make sure to squeeze out the highest possible profit."

"Ah, okay, that's good then," Kashi said with a smile. "Next, to the real reason, I'm here."

Leila's brow rose. "Oh? There's more?"