Aarya, his identity hidden behind a carefully chosen mask, ventured into the lively marketplace.
This was no ordinary market; it was a hub of skilled labor, where carpenters doubled as furniture sellers. The clatter of tools and the chatter of buyers filled the air.
Tiger's mission was clear: find a craftsman to handle the delicate task of post-production for his growing pencil business.
He approached several carpenters, each skilled in their craft but united by their steep demands. They wanted 8% of the income from every piece they worked on.
At first, it seemed like a reasonable rate, but Aarya quickly calculated the long-term costs. Given the sheer number of pencils his company produced, the expense would be astronomical. Despite their polished sales pitches and impressive samples, he rejected all their offers.
Frustrated but determined, Aarya expanded his search beyond the bustling heart of the city. He ventured to the outskirts, where the pace of life was slower, and people were less demanding.
Here, he came across an elderly carpenter working diligently in a modest workshop. The man's products caught his eye—not because they were extraordinary but because they bore a simple charm.
Upon closer inspection, Tiger noticed that the wood used was of low grade, which explained the slightly inferior quality.
Intrigued, Aarya approached the old man. "Hello," he began, his voice steady and confident. "My name is Tiger. I run a company and am looking to hire a skilled craftsman."
Since they were working anonymously in the company, they couldn't use their real names. Therefore, the three of them decided on code names: Aarya chose "Tiger," Rose became "Moon," and Alex took the name "Zeus."
The old man paused his work and looked up. "How Much?" he asked, his tone neutral but curious.
"Five silver coins per day, two percent of the income from each piece, a place to stay, and food to eat," Tiger replied, listing the terms succinctly.
The old man considered for a moment before nodding. "Deal," he said simply and began packing his tools.
Tiger was taken aback by the speed of the agreement. "You're coming already?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
The old man smiled faintly. "It's better not to be late for work," he replied, his movements efficient as he gathered his belongings. Within minutes, he was standing ready, his small bag of possessions slung over his shoulder.
Impressed by the man's actions, Tiger led him to the workspace. It was a quiet area far from the main production site, chosen for its focus and solitude.
Along the way, Tiger explained about his company and what type of products they make. Once they arrived, he handed the old man a prototype pencil. Its surface was roughly carved, and the design was crude.
"I need this to be smoother," Tiger began, pointing to the pencil. "Shape it into a hexagon, like this." He drew a quick sketch, knowing that terms like "hexagon" might not be familiar. "And carve our company's name onto it. Make sure the name is visible and clear."
The old man examined the pencil and the sketch with a keen eye. "This will be challenging," he admitted, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "But it sounds fun."
Tiger nodded. "You'll also have five workers to assist you. Train them however you see fit to speed up production. And don't make me nag if we fall behind when the orders increase," he added with a wry smile.
The old man chuckled. "Understood."
With the deal finalized, Tiger decided to test the craftsman's skills. While the old man worked on the sample, Tiger found himself lost in thought. His masked face betrayed no emotion, but his body language gave him away. Zeus, his trusted colleague, noticed and approached him.
"Yo, Tiger, why are you dozing off?" Zeus asked, his voice breaking the silence.
Tiger snapped out of his reverie. "Just hired a craftsman for post-production," he replied casually.
Zeus raised an eyebrow. "You actually found someone?"
"Yeah, now I'm just waiting to see what he's capable of."
The two began chatting idly about unrelated topics until, twenty minutes later, the old man emerged. In his hands was the refined pencil. "This took me twenty minutes to make by hand," he began, handing it to Tiger. "With the five workers you promised, we can reduce that to four minutes per pencil. At first, production will be slow, but once they're trained, we can make up to 100 pencils a day. With additional workers, we could push that to 200 or even 300."
Tiger inspected the pencil carefully. The surface was smoother than before, the hexagonal shape was well-defined, and the company's name was neatly carved. The old man had even filled the carving with charcoal powder to make it more visible—a thoughtful detail Tiger appreciated.
"Well done," Tiger said, nodding in approval. "You're officially part of the team now. Alex will show you where you'll stay."
Before the old man left, Tiger handed him a contract. "This agreement ensures confidentiality," he explained. "It forbids you from disclosing any information about our materials or processes."
The old man skimmed the contract and signed it without hesitation. He understood the importance of secrecy and had no intention of breaking it.
Tiger then introduced the craftsman to the five workers who would assist him. The old man greeted them warmly. "Call me Master, not Boss," he said with a grin. The workers nodded, accepting the request.
Zeus escorted the old man and the team to their accommodations, provided by the company. With post-production now in capable hands, Tiger felt a sense of accomplishment. Yet, he knew this was just one step in the journey. Many more challenges awaited as he worked to grow his business and turn his vision into reality.