Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 497 Sales Strategies
No matter how the red-rumped jay changes its plumage, it can't hide the reddish bald patch on its belly near its tail feathers.

The reason for mentioning this bird is that the behavior of the red-rumped crows is very similar to the affected mannerisms of minor nobles and wealthy merchants, and is often used to describe the latter.

Of course, the sarcastic and ironic meaning of this title is obvious; if it were used to address someone to their face, it would be no different from slapping them in the face.

As for whether the term "nouveau riche" like "Master Zhang" sounds offensive, it's not.
As a local lord and a mid-level spellcaster, he was far superior to those newly arrived nobles and nouveau riche. Besides, he didn't care about such external titles.

"How effective is this product? How do you plan to price it? Besides, we don't have any stores in Neverwinter or other cities, so sales channels are also a problem."

Nancy then asked, and Kegan quickly added:

"Boss, we still have a few shops in Luskan, right? How about... uh..."

The dwarf's thoughtless remark immediately ceased under the mage's gaze, and the latter, having withdrawn his attention, spoke up:

"As for the soap, I've prepared one for each of you. You can experience its effects for yourselves before discussing pricing. As for the sales channels,"

"It is true that our territory currently lacks relevant personnel, but manpower and store space are issues that can be resolved with money. The key is how to build the reputation of our products."

The monk paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, pondering the matter while also raising the question.

In just a few words, the current situation of the territory was clearly analyzed and laid bare before everyone:
In the initial stages of business development, one either relies on capital, with those who are wealthy willing to spend heavily to gain a foothold, or on personal connections.

If the upper echelons of High Cliff and Winterless City are deeply connected, or even have intertwined interests, then it's easy to handle. It's like a plot that's been overused in many time-travel novels. Let those noblewomen try it out, spontaneously promote it to build a reputation, and with everyone following suit, there's no worry about starting a fashion trend.

Unfortunately, there was no way to get in touch with them.

Zhang Yuan's backer in Neverwinter City is the Mage Academy, which is obvious. As for the Mage Lord, an anomaly among the nobles, most nobles keep their distance with respect, and the mages themselves are often happy to do so.

The only family with whom I had some dealings was the Mandan family. We had some connections from previous relationships, but their generous gesture afterwards suggested that we were even. Getting them to advertise for me again was not something that could be done just because of personal relationships.

"Why don't we ask Ms. Ophira for help? Her socialites are sure to be very effective!"

Lawrence's words were like a thunderbolt!

It can only be said that this old thief is indeed a regular at Moonstone Mask and a pioneer in the world of pleasure. His mind works incredibly fast, leaving everyone present astonished.

The monk, though initially surprised, quickly came to his senses. With his open mind, he didn't think there was anything inappropriate about it; on the contrary, he found it to be a brilliant idea, and the more he thought about it, the more excited he became.

"Good, good, Lawrence, you did a great job. You're a true loyal customer. You've really got it."

Mr. Zhang just spoke carelessly, and Lawrence's face almost turned green. He used to not care when he was single and living alone, and even used it as a source of bragging rights. But things are different now.

After bringing his lover to the high cliff, the old thief actually reformed and started living a peaceful life. At least he frequented brothels much less often than before, and no longer called himself an "old pro." When he suddenly heard his boss's teasing, he was embarrassed and quickly changed the subject: "You flatter me, boss. You really think too highly of me. Just your VIP status with the Moonstone Mask is something many people would kill for."

"Cough, that's just a little convenience provided by the Starry Cloak; it's of no use to me."

The monk brushed it off with a few words, then continued:
“I’ll use my connections with Ms. Ophira. Lawrence and Nancy, you two go and sound out the Edmont and Mandane families to see if they have any shops in the Black Lake District or the commercial district that you can transfer or lease, even if the fees are high.”

"As for the sales staff, I'll figure that out. If the soap sales pick up, there's something even more interesting waiting for us."

Does this mean there's something new and exciting that hasn't been revealed yet?
The monk didn't keep everyone in suspense and pulled out another good thing in front of everyone, this time much bigger than the soap from before.

What appeared in the open space of the conference room was a strange-looking iron frame in their eyes, with an inverted triangular main frame and a wheel connected to the front and back, with chains and gears meshing and interlocking between them.

And this strange iron lump even has horns!
The area that appears to be the head extends from two evenly curved iron horns, one on each side, making them quite symmetrical.

"This thing is called a bicycle, also known as a pedal bike,"

The monk flipped himself onto the bicycle and slowly began to pedal around the hall. All the attendees stood up and focused their attention on him, turning their necks and eyes as the bicycle circled around, like staring geese.

"It requires no animal power and contains no magical technology. The faster you pedal, the faster it goes. Look here, the pedals connect to the axle, which drives the chain..."

After riding two laps, Zhang Yuan stopped the bicycle and continued to explain how it worked.

As expected, very few people could understand it, but that didn't matter. The monk didn't expect them to offer any technical support or suggestions for improvement; as long as they could learn how to use it, that was enough.

Everyone showed great curiosity and interest in the new thing the leader brought, crowding around it in a tight circle. Not even a mouse could break out of this encirclement, let alone a bicycle.

Taking a shower on-site is out of the question, but trying out this strange metal bar doesn't seem so bad, does it?

Yes, "Iron Horse" was the new name the Canaanites used for bicycles. After all, the concept of a bicycle was too abstract, and since it was a vehicle for riding and its main material was steel, the name "Iron Horse" seemed reasonable.

"Fine, iron horses it is," the mage thought, too lazy to argue. He picked up his bicycle and led the group out of the castle to the open area in front of the gate.

"You guys try it yourselves, but hold back a bit, don't break me, especially Kegan, Rick, and Morty."

Master Zhang shouted at the top of his lungs, genuinely worried about those few iron weights and big meat mountains. They were already struggling to bear the weight just sitting on the bicycle; if they caused any more trouble, the new bicycle would be crushed into scrap metal.

As expected, the agile professionals like Lawrence, Nancy, and Talinda quickly mastered the riding skills and were having a blast after a few laps. Münster, the big guy, was not as nimble as the former, but he was still quite proper, with the air of a middle-aged man riding a bicycle.

Thank you to 150912084549641 for the donation, and thank you to Lazy Dormouse for the monthly ticket!

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(End of this chapter)