The Incompetent Emperor Who Changes the World from the Shadows: Iron, Gunpowder, and the Young Maidens of Favor - Chapter 12: The Intersection of Products and Political Enemies
Chapter 12: The Intersection of Products and Political Enemies
After Ariel leaves, I stand quietly and pull a worn leather-bound notebook from the back of the bookshelf.
Inside are handwritten notes on the “city’s economy,” compiled from information I’ve gathered since arriving in this world.
The price range for soap.
The average income of a typical household.
The wage standards for laundry services.
The budget for supplies in maternity wards.
And—the allocation of materials for the military’s sanitation department.
They’re all mundane but critical numbers.
Sopina hops onto the desk and peers over.
Staring at numbers again? Selling this detergent sounds tougher than making it.
“That’s obvious.
‘Making it’ and ‘selling it’ are two different things.
And ‘selling it’ proves its ‘value.’”
The sales strategy is already taking shape in my mind.
Strategy Outline: Three-Phase Sales Model
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- [Free Trials for Commoners] → Distribute free samples, focusing on sites where the detergent’s effects can be directly felt, like maternity wards, laundry businesses, and small washing facilities.
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- [Limited Retail] → Produce an initial retail version based on user feedback. Sell it through pharmacies, general stores, and clinics in the capital under the label of “sanitary materials.”
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- [Adoption by Military and Administration] → Propose formal adoption as a military sanitary supply, aiming for inclusion in logistics. → Secure the “main revenue” here while capturing the broader market with an affordable civilian version.
“Keeping the condition of ‘a price affordable for commoners’ while recovering ‘development costs.’
To do that, we need to separate the buyers from those who can pay.”
…Oh, you mean?
“Let users have freedom while fairly collecting from those who can afford it.
The military and government can be persuaded to allocate budgets if the need is clear.
For commoners, an affordable version will make it part of daily life.
This dual structure will lock in the market.”
Sopina purses her lips and stares at me for a moment.
…You’re kind of scary.
Acting like a ‘good emperor’ on the surface, but inside, you’re all businessman.
“An emperor is supposed to be like that.
Politics, economics—those who know how to move a country should do so.
But I’m not a businessman, for the record.”
I pick up the pen again and jot in the notebook’s margin.
Target Price: Civilian version, 1 bottle < 500 Gerks
Cost control: Regional fragrance variations, tailored by distribution channel
Military use: Concentrated formula allows higher unit price, durable for long-distance transport
Branding: “Supervised by the Imperial Sanitation Research Institute” (under Ariel’s name)
“…Alright.”
As I close the page, a small spark seems to ignite deep in my gut.
The product is made.
It has a fragrance.
It reflects field feedback.
Now—all that’s left is to sell it.
※
Brunhilde Palace, West Wing.
Outside the window, a cold rain falls silently, as if longing for spring.
Vogler stares wordlessly at a stack of reports spread before him.
As chancellor, he’s reviewing routine notifications from the palace treasury—and among them, a single suspicious report catches his eye.
“Lately, a private company that renovated a warehouse in Ash Wall Alley has been submitting frequent requests for substantial material supplies… is that right?”
A nameless private research institute.
Its figurehead is a mere former maid turned laundress.
And the flow of funds and materials directed solely to this “workshop.”
Vogler picks up a pen and marks a small circle on the report’s edge.
“This institute… who’s backing it?”
One of his aides answers quietly.
“It’s registered as a recipient of the Imperial Sanitation Improvement Fund.
However, the investor isn’t named, listed only as an ‘anonymous sponsor’ on the documents.”
“Anonymous?”
Vogler frowns.
“An anonymous investor in a fund directly managed by the imperial household, for ‘sanitary material development’…
That’s far too convenient.”
He pulls another ledger toward him.
It lists the emperor’s official activities this month, including audiences granted and denied.
The number is small.
In fact, it’s suspiciously small.
And yet—despite the emperor “not moving,” there are increasing signs that something is in motion.
“…Is someone using His Majesty’s name as a shield to act freely?
Or—”
His gaze shifts to the window.
“—is His Majesty himself hiding something and making moves?”
The room’s air seems to grow colder.
Vogler closes the documents and pulls his chair back.
“Investigate further.
Don’t make it public.
Frame it as an ‘internal review out of concern for the emperor’s health.’”
“Understood.”
Just before the aide leaves, he hesitates and speaks again.
“…Also, Your Excellency, regarding Lady Sabine, the daughter of Viscount Lapis-Danes—”
“What’s she done now?”
Vogler places a hand on his forehead, his face sour as he asks.
“Today, at the central market, she reportedly scolded a poor child for ‘not knowing their place’ and took their bread.
It caused quite a stir among onlookers—”
Vogler’s brow furrows at the aide’s report.
“She’s inherited her father’s arrogance…”
“The public’s discontent is growing, but fear of the Lapis-Danes family’s influence keeps anyone from speaking out strongly.”
Vogler lets out a faint sigh and looks out the window.
“Problems keep piling up.
All of them need pruning before they grow too large…”
Only the sound of rain fills the quiet room.
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