The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 82

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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8. A Trustworthy Person

 

Standing in front of the shop, I looked at the visitors with satisfaction.

 

People’s reactions were similar.

 

Although they initially entered with frowning faces or skeptical expressions, they gradually changed to excited and delighted expressions.

 

‘How satisfying. My fatigue is completely gone.’

 

Was it because I had drawn on Ailren’s magical power yesterday?

 

I was a bit more tired than usual.

 

As I rubbed my eyes, someone came to stand beside me.

 

This long shadow is?

 

“You’re here, Alter?”

 

“…How did you know without even looking?”

 

“How could I not recognize Alter? Shall we go?”

 

I handed him the pamphlet I had set aside for him.

 

I thought Alter wouldn’t have received something like this with his own hands.

 

But?

 

“No need to give it to me. I already have one.”

 

“Oh, so you’re planning to properly enjoy it?”

 

“…The street was so noisy, I just wanted to know what you were up to.”

 

He seemed uninterested, but was he secretly curious after all?

 

Smiling inwardly, I moved to the first area.

 

Alter glanced back.

 

“Wait. Aren’t you opening the pawnshop?”

 

“No, today I decided to focus more on the festival itself.”

 

“This is a festival to promote your shop in the first place. But you’re closing it? Isn’t this putting the cart before the horse?”

 

Alter’s brow furrowed.

 

“Besides, if you don’t open your door, it’s obvious that attention will focus on that goatee man’s pawnshop. What will you do if all the customers flock there? He was aggressively soliciting customers.”

 

“I’ve thought this before, but Alter, you have quite a sense for business?”

 

“I think it’s a problem anyone could figure out with a little thought.”

 

“Yes, that’s right. It’s a problem anyone could figure out with a little thought. But the Goatee Appraiser… doesn’t seem to know beyond that.”

 

To Alter, who looked at me as if asking what I meant, I winked slightly.

 

“A pawnshop isn’t a place where you can quickly buy and sell goods like a general store or grocery shop. One appraiser can’t handle all the festival crowds. So then?”

 

“…Taking customers haphazardly will definitely result in oversights or mistakes. Service quality will drop too, and people tired of waiting will complain one by one.”

 

“Yes. Right now it might seem like he’s winning because he has many customers, but the Goatee Appraiser will soon realize that aggressive customer solicitation was actually a mistake.”

 

Alter had an expression of understanding.

 

‘That appraiser clearly has no business experience at all. He must be someone who colluded with nobles to do fake appraisals.’

 

“Unlike that man, you’re doing long-term customer management.”

 

“That’s right. And you don’t have to open your shop to do promotion. The festival still has a long way to go, right?”

 

“What do you mean…”

 

“Come on, come on. Let’s look at the festival first.”

 

Smiling brightly, I pointed to the first area.

 

There were so many people I couldn’t see well, but Alter, who was quite tall, seemed to be able to see.

 

“Tapestries, paintings, and various handicrafts by street artists on display? But it’s just an exhibition, so why are there so many people?”

 

“Go closer and look more carefully.”

 

I gently pushed Alter’s back and he flinched.

 

I was also inwardly surprised.

 

‘His body is incredibly solid. Does he exercise? Is it natural? If it’s natural, I’m a bit envious.’

 

As I inwardly lamented my stamina that made even climbing the temple stairs difficult, Alter sighed and headed forward.

 

Stopping right in front of the safety line, he initially had a somewhat indifferent expression, but his eyes widened after checking the exhibits.

 

“Mom, look at this! I’m here!”

 

“Oh my, you are! Goodness, I’m here too!”

 

“Look there, look there! Haha, we’re waving our hands!”

 

I could hear the reactions of people who were amazed and fascinated just like him.

 

Alter asked me with surprise as I smiled.

 

“Are those people putting visitors into the artworks on the spot right now?”

 

“Yes, amazing, right?”

 

What I had planned wasn’t a simple exhibition.

 

It was a so-called interactive or immersive exhibition.

 

After checking the visitors’ clothing and faces, the craftspeople drew the visitors into their works on the spot.

 

Visitors who were initially overwhelmed by the massive tapestries, paintings, and crafts became immersed in the festival while looking for themselves.

 

‘This was a section I could create because I trusted the guild members’ skills.’

 

“It was a plan to give a visual shock while simultaneously dispelling any doubts about the quality of Ashen Street products.”

 

Since they were making and drawing right before their eyes.

 

“Of course, it could also lead to purchases.”

 

Worried about crowds gathering, I had set up purchase and experience booths separately at the end of the street.

 

It was also an attraction strategy to let people see the entire festival.

 

“If something like this is at the entrance… you’re right that people can’t help but become immersed.”

 

“Right? Shall we go see other things now?”

 

I pulled Alter toward the next area.

 

All areas of the festival were organically connected.

 

Following the guidance as if enchanted, you could see all the shops’ products.

 

“This is a puzzle competition. You win by quickly completing the Ashen Street guide map, and the art supply shop manager sponsored it.”

 

Of course, it didn’t end with just looking around.

 

“Over there is a pea shooting competition. You blow paint-covered peas to hit spinning street-shaped panels. This is sponsored by Emma, the magic item shop owner.”

 

Because I combined each with entertainment and naturally induced exposure.

 

As I was explaining, I looked up at Alter who was viewing the area list.

 

‘There’s one more thing I intended, did Alter notice?’

 

Alter, who looked at the pamphlet once and the people enjoying the festival once, slowly opened his mouth.

 

“Rather than focusing on individual shops, it seems like you’re promoting the ‘Ashen Street’ area itself.”

 

I smiled slightly.

 

“That’s right. The first impression about the festival I wanted to instill in visitors was ‘comfort.'”

 

I wanted to show that Ashen Street wasn’t the gloomy and dark place rumors made it out to be.

 

“Deploying many safety personnel, unifying promotional materials, and prohibiting frowning customer solicitation were all for that reason.”

 

I wanted to show it was a comfortable and pleasant place with lots of things for the whole family to enjoy together, like a theme park.

 

‘Also managing to prevent safety issues. If even a small accident happened, Rosaline would be ready to find fault with burning eyes.’

 

“I planned the sections and events so that no single place would stand out, but everyone’s strengths would be revealed. So, I…”

 

I muttered while looking at the street warm with sunlight.

 

“Made it into one brand. Ashen Street itself.”

 

If the street’s image changed and its reputation improved, visitors to this place would gradually increase.

 

Then individual shop visitors would naturally increase too.

 

However, such effects were secondary, and I had a different real goal.

 

I wanted to restore pride to the street’s guild members who had been somewhat intimidated by the permit issue.

 

That our street has so many capable people. That it’s quite nice and decent.

 

So they could have confidence.

 

“…”

 

Alter looked at me intently.

 

Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, I coughed and added with a smile.

 

“And it also has the effect of firmly establishing in people’s minds that Ashen Street goes from here to here! Now, opening the same type of business right outside the street to interfere with business like someone did won’t work anymore, right?”

 

Alter’s head tilted slightly.

 

“Listening to your story.”

 

After hearing the story?

 

I subtly moved a little closer, anticipating what Alter might say.

 

“So your purpose wasn’t to enjoy the festival but to inspect it? You went around with me because you were curious about an outsider’s evaluation.”

 

Cough.

 

I almost choked.

 

His words were right. Since I already knew all the content anyway, there wasn’t really a need for me to look around at the sights.

 

Even so, the reason I wandered around the festival was because I was curious about people’s reactions and expressions.

 

I muttered awkwardly.

 

“Ah, well, that’s true, but still, it was fun going around together…”

 

‘Wasn’t it fun for Alter? Was he just being dragged around because of me?’

 

As I glanced around dejectedly, Alter spoke quietly.

 

“You did well.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“I said you did well.”

 

Alter raised one eyebrow.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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