The Supermarket System

Chapter 24: 24. How to make money

Kai had overlooked one important aspect of running a supermarket in a place where supermarkets were still a novelty: the staff needed to be knowledgeable about all the products sold so they could explain them properly.

So Kai organized a training session for the four store employees. Even the male employees assigned to security duties had to know everything.

Kai was lucky because his four store employees were friendly and sociable people; they also picked up basic etiquette and manners quickly.

After sorting out what he would sell, Kai taught them about each item one by one and demonstrated how to use them as well.

Kai knew people would be confused by new items they didn’t recognize. For that reason, at first he sold more items that were already quite common in Ardhez rather than new ones.

Especially vegetables, meat, and fresh fruit, as well as instant kitchen spices. Everyone seemed very enthusiastic about learning everything from Kai, since all of it was new to them.

Kai also taught them how to use a microwave to heat food. He also showed them how to use a water heater, and so on.

A comment Raka made while they were all taking a break in the noon gave Kai an idea for his next lesson:

cooking.

Kai sold fresh vegetables and meat, and he even sold seafood. But the residents didn’t know how to cook them or use those unfamiliar spices.

Luckily, the supermarket had a large kitchen in the back. So Kai immediately taught them how to cook that afternoon.

Kai taught them how to use spices. Peoni and Nathan, who were also there, joined in learning how to cook from their young master.

Luckily, since Daisy and Peoni love cooking, both of them learned well. They even had the idea to create something using the available ingredients and spices.

That afternoon was so much fun that Kai only realized later they had cooked a huge amount of food.

But it wasn’t a problem, because the food was distributed to the orphanage and people in need. Not to mention, Kai handed out sweet cream buns that were actually very cheap. For about a dollar, you could get five packs of sweet cream buns.

Even though they were cheap, they were buns that could fill them up. And the quality was far better than the bread they usually ate. Because the bread the poor people ate was truly pitiful. Even though they had quite extensive wheat fields, all that wheat was exploited by the rich.

Thinking about it made Kai feel uneasy. If only Kai could teach them how to make flour, and then bake their own bread...

Hmm—it seems like that could actually be done, right? But before that, Kai would need a lot of capital first.

So far, Kai only had his allowance from the Duke.

How could Kai get a lot of money without drawing too much attention or causing a commotion?

"What are you thinking about, young master?" asked Nathan.

Kai was on his way back to the pavilion after spending the whole day training his staff so they could open the shop the next day.

So before going hunting, Kai had to open his supermarket first.

For tomorrow’s event, Kai planned to hold an exhibition to attract people. So tomorrow would be busy too.

"I’m thinking about a lot of things, Nathan... because I just realized something," said Kai.

That day, Kai was only accompanied by Nathan and Peoni, since Keith was preparing various things for the hunting event with the Duke. Since so many people wanted to come and watch, the event was no longer just an ordinary hunt, but had become an event that even the local residents were curious about.

What made them curious was Kaileon; they wanted to see Kaileon in person. Whether Kaileon was really as bad as the rumors suggested or not.

"What is it, young master?" Peoni asked, deeply curious about her young master who was daydreaming so much.

"I just realized that this Arslan region is quite pitiful. The social inequality is too great, unbalanced. Then, the Duke works alone, while the Duchess is actually the main reason why this region is in such bad shape. I don’t understand why the Duke keeps a Duchess like that—is the Duchess’s family so influential that the Duke doesn’t dare to confront her?" Kai asked.

Nathan swallowed hard; he already knew the answer, but to tell it to

Kaileon... that was very risky.

"Well, actually, the Duchess’s family—the Maustrine family—is extremely wealthy. They live in a fertile region with beautiful volcanoes. The Duchess is the eldest daughter; her younger brother, who is now the Marquis of Maustrine, is very different from her. I’ve heard that ever since they were children, they’ve often competed with each other, but of course, it’s her younger brother who will be the family’s heir. But even though there’s no rule that a man must be the heir, the Duchess couldn’t possibly compete with her younger brother. Because her younger brother is too smart, too strong, and he’s also beloved by the people of Maustrine. With that story, you can understand why the Duchess is desperate to make her son the Duke’s heir, right? Though I think that’s going too far," said Nathan.

Kaileon’s reaction at that moment was still calm; he was thinking about Nathan’s story seriously. But the story also made him dislike the Duchess even more. For Kai, with that story, his opinion of the Duchess as selfish and unwilling to lose only grew stronger.

"What do you mean, Nathan? I don’t understand," asked Peoni, confused.

Nathan chuckled; he didn’t want to discuss it anymore. He was afraid there might be the Duchess’s spies around them.

But, to his surprise, Kai immediately answered Peoni’s question.

"It means the Duchess has been selfish and unwilling to lose since she was a child, Peoni. Even though, from any angle, I can’t inherit my father’s title, the Duchess still tries to get rid of me. I don’t know if she saw my potential from the start, or if she’s just a bit mentally unstable."

Nathan grew afraid upon hearing Kaileon’s blunt words just now. But he really liked what Kaileon said about that woman—who, in his opinion, was indeed a bit mentally unstable. It’s just that an ordinary person like Nathan could never say something like that.

Kai himself didn’t say it without reason, because Kaileon had always been weak, with no interest in titles or power. But the Duchess wouldn’t leave Kaileon alone; she kept trying to make him unpopular by spreading strange rumors.

But well, Kai said it only because he didn’t like that woman.

"In that case, what about the Duke? I mean, I know the Duke is strong, but what if one day the Duchess feels she has to get rid of the Duke? Hahaha, forget it, young master, I’m just daydreaming too much," said Peoni, suddenly feeling guilty for speaking ill of the nobility.

"No, I think you have a point. There’s no harm in being cautious," Kai replied.

To be honest, Peoni’s words kept Kai thinking about it even after he had already reached the pavilion.

Keith, who had just arrived, immediately went to see Kaileon.

"Young master, I’ve come to deliver some unpleasant news," said Keith.

Kai furrowed his brow; it was unusual for Keith to look that panicked.

"Calm down first, Keith, then tell me what happened. Have a seat," said Kai.

Keith tried to compose himself, took a sip of water, then sat facing his young master with a serious look in his eyes.

"Here’s the thing, young master. Almost all the preparations are complete, but there’s one serious problem. You know that the kitchen staff are loyal to the Duchess, right? They’re refusing to prepare food for the hunting trip. Yet, we have to prepare food for the guests who’ll be coming—at the very least, snacks and lunch. Plus, I think some locals will show up too. Usually, there’s a food giveaway during events like this."

"They dare to refuse, even though the Duke is there?" Kai asked.

Keith gave a small smile, then replied, "Because most of the people in the castle are the Duchess’s loyal servants. The only ones on the Duke’s side are the Duke’s personal servants and his military troops. The head Butler, the head maid, and several chefs—they’re all people loyal to the Duchess. The Duke, who never bothered with such matters, actually made them even bolder in their refusal. They also said that this hunting event was hosted by young Master Kaileon, so the servants and cooks at the pavilion itself should be the ones preparing it."

Kai leaned back against the sofa he was sitting on, his eyes fixed on the ceiling of his room, deep in thought. freewebnøvel.coɱ

"Actually, the snack situation is really simple, Keith. With just one large gold coin, I can buy ten big jars of cookies—and I’d still have enough left to buy bread, donuts, pies... but as for lunch—oh, when do we start hunting, Keith?" Kai asked.

"We have to be at the edge of the forest by morning, young master. All the tents must also be set up there. We also have to prepare breakfast for those who are used to eating breakfast."

Suddenly, a brilliant idea crossed Kai’s mind.

"What a coincidence, Keith. We need to promote the supermarket. Instead of going to the trouble of feeding them, let’s just sell them the fast food that’s also sold at the supermarket—oh, let’s just move the supermarket to the hunting grounds."

Confused, Keith finally asked, "I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand, young master."

Kai laughed and said, "You rest for now and calm down; everything has been taken care of."

"But young master."

"Calm down, Keith."