章 6: Chapter 3: Success (Six Years Old, Closer to Seven)
First Person PoV)
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"I heard a rumor."
Clack...
Inoichi's fork move and picked up a premium meat— no doubt it came from the Akamichi restaurant. He opened his mouth and chewed the meat, his eyes that resembles mine stared at my own.
"Spill the tea." I reply back with sassiness that would no doubt recieve Inoichi's irk.
"I heard you made a mess."
"Pay no heed about it, Brother. I'm already taking care of my mess."
Brother dropped his fork as he roared, "While I do appreciate that you're taking care of your own mess, however, the fact that you are a Yamanaka does not change that! Do you have—"
I cut off his sentence, feeling a sense of deja vu as if i had already experience this kind of coversation before.
"Yes, Brother. Yes. I know what I'm doing. And I know the consequences I would recieve — the clan would recieve — if and only if, I were to not do my part as the Contractor."
Inoichi let out a sigh, he took off his hitai-ate and massage his temples.
"Tobias," He called out my name. I hummed I response as I couldn't make out a word from the glass of water I'm drinking, "Tell me, otouto, what would you even gain from.... that?"
"Money," I replied as if it was the most obvious answer.
"We're not bankrupt nor do we have a large debt we need to pay off. So why?"
I lick my dry lips, "That's where you're wrong brother, what I'm doing isn't for the Clan, but for me. Why? Because I want to live independently on my own, I will never survive in the outside world if I were to only rely on everyone." I answered my brother's unspoken question with a half-truth and half-lie.
While the part of the reason why I'm making money is to live independently on my own, that, however, is not the full truth. My dream is to live a jobless life where I do not have to worry about paying off debts and lacking from financial issues, unlike my previous life. I have once already lived my whole life paying off debts that my parents left me with. I do not blame my parents for the misfortune they have left me, but only myself for not realizing their situation a lot sooner. Had it not been for that swindlers, I know that I'd be living my dream life in my past life.
However, no matter how much I blame anyone in my life before, that fact that I lived a hard life does not change. So I'd be damned in I let myself live like that once again!
Also, as for not to rely on anyone. I lied. I plan on manipul, cough, cough, helping a few (Lots) of characters that has a lot of potential to be a High-Kage level shinobi and for them to be in debt of me and serve for the rest of their life.
MHUAHAHAHAHAHA!
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The construction continued. The ondol in the backyard of the pub quickly took shape. The gazes from the onlookers were pouring in. Amidst the misunderstandings, murmuring, and rumors, I charred the panels. It was to get a thin film of carbon coating the wood to prevent deterioration. I wasn't used to it at first, so I messed up a few. Some were so burnt that it split, and some recoiled. However after several attempts, I got the hang of it. The key was to burn only up to 3 millimeters deep from the surface of the red pine panel.
'Perfect.'
The panel had become durable and lighter. The water didn't soak in easily. I think this would last at least for 10 years. We weaved the roof with these panels. Vinegar was spread on the panels, dried, and covered with clay from the floor. I applied a slightly thicker sheet of layer with a damp grass and posted it on top. Then, soybean oil as applied and resin was added to finish the waterproofing process.
It was the completion of the ondol room. I lit a fire as a test for the ondol and touched the floor.
'This is enough.'
I couldn't help but grin. It was time to check my costumers reaction in hoped of everyone to order ondol.
"IT'S FINALLY FINISHED!" I happily shouted, arms stretched widely as I laugh with content happiness with the thought of money unlimited lying flowing in my way.
"Tobias-sama. Why is your kanji name above on the front door?"
"It's my brand logo."
"Logo?"
"Yes. It's a logo that'll be easy to identify that I made it."
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"It feels hot?"
A pair of wrinkled hands caressed the floor. She pressed on it with her palms, then she flipped her hands over to touch it with the back of her hands. An astonished expression soon showed on her face. The cushions were put aside. Then, she rubbed her bottom onto the warm floor. A satisfied smile bloomed on the white-haired old woman's lips.
"Great. This is very good."
She was an old woman with dementia. That was why she was more honest. Hearing the old woman's words, the tavern owner turned around to look at me. His face was also beaming with a satisfied smile.
"Oh my~ It feels great! So great! Its like my stiff joints are loosening!" The pub owner's mother cried out happily.
"How did this happened?" Questioned the pub owner.
I smirked. It is natural for people in this undeveloped world to be surprised at the power of the magic-like guduel ondol!
"Thank you so much, Sire! It has been a long time since my mother smile like this!"
I can already read Vū's thoughts. Sigh, I regretted not making a bet with him had I known that he'd be like this.
"Right?"
"Yes."
"I told you so. I said I would make it, the ondol room."
I shrugged my shoulders. I mentally chuckled, now with this, I'll me fucking rich in no time!
It was a cold morning in the almost early winter. The air outside was very chilly because the cold snap was in full swing. However, the inside of the ondol room where the fire was lit, was different. The floor was hot. Even the air felt hot. That's why the pub owner took off his coat.
"Did you see the fire earlier? You can light a fire in the furnace outside the door. Once smoked properly, the heat will last for a couple of days. But if using a fire jutsu, it'll last a month, I think. This, it really doesn't cool down as fast as it looks."
"A couple of days with am ordinary fire? And a month with a fire jutsu?"
One fire can last for a couple of days, but one fire jutsu will last for a month. This made the pub owner's eyes wide open. I laughed.
My first contract came out to be successful, which I did not doubt to be unsuccessful. I spent a lot of money for the wood using my allowance but... that's not important.
Because this 'model house' is merely a promotion for my business.
Kekekekekekekekeke~
Advertising is important. Promotion is life. Plus, construction is not an exception. It was all the more so in the modern world. If you create a new IPhone, it all will start with an advertisement. Broadcast advertising, flyers, outdoor advertising, and telemarketing were basic. The internet and social media viral ads were also naturally an option. We simply did everything we could.
'As such, I hit a big commercial and dragged out the aggro. Thanks to that, people are gathering like clouds on the model house's opening day.'
Because of this, there was no shortage of new construction applications. It became a so-called business. Thanks to the rumors I didn't need to spread as seeing people had already done so, I've got this many people gathered without paying for an advertisement. Opportunities like this are rare in the modern world.
Even now, the residents were still looking over this way. There seemed to be over one hundred people. In my eyes, they didn't appear as permanent residents of Konoha. Instead, they were potential sales applicants. In other words, they were possible customers who would devote their money to him.
'From now on, the model house is open.'
He stood before the spectators. Everyone's eyes were focused on him. He cleared his throat and said.
"Aren't all of you curious? About what I had made?"
Of course, nobody answered. Everyone just moved their doubful eyes to look around. I grinned, I had already expected this kind of response as seeing I am still a child. So there was no need for long words.
"Then, go inside in order and check it out for yourself."
I approached the people with big strides. Then grabbed the sleeves of a woman who stood in the front. I took the white-haired woman inside the ondol room.
Because word of mouth started from the ladies in this side of the neighborhood.
With the consent of the tavern owner, he gave her a tour. The woman's eyes widened at the heated floor. After that, there was no turning back. The crowd of spectators visited and experienced the ondol room one by one. When they went in, the doubting look on their face was changed into admiration. Outside, they were greeted by a table set up by Tobias. It was a contract table for the pre-sale of ondol room construction.
"Ahhh, I though I was about to melt." Remarked by a civilian.
"Oi, Oi, Oi! IT'S AWESOME AIN'T IT?! ISN'T IT SATISFYINGLY HOT?! ESPECIALLY WITH THE UP COMING WINTER COMING?! DON'T YOU WANT A ROOM THAT IS AS COOL AS FUCK AS THIS ONE?!" I shouted, slamming my hands on the paper that sat on the table, as I gathering the attention of everyone, but mostly from the man who came out of the ondol room.
I held the paper for the residents to look at. In fact, it was actually a pamphlet I made Vū write for this very moment. Two types of ondol rooms were beautifully drawn on the pamphlet.
"Type A, like the ondol room you just saw, is a separate building in the yard. Type B is in the form of remodeling the first floor of your existing house. If you choose to combine the two together, you'll get 10% off the price as a service."
"..."
When the man didn't answer I began to taunt him.
"You have children at home, don't you?"
"Yes, the older one is seven years old while the younger one is five years old."
"Doesn't it hurt your heart to see your children shivering in the house in winter, crying and coughing with their eyes burning while huddled together in front of the fireplace? My heart ached just thinking about it." I said, taunting him even more. But when the man still hadn't replied, my right eye twitched in annoyance.
I should have went for a different approach when I targeted the pub owner.
I banged my hand repeatedly on the table, rather loudly.
"We've seen each other multiple times," That was a lie, not once have I ever see a guy like him with such a face, "Why won't you fucking trust me, hehhhh?!"
I could see the rational determination to not be deceived in his eyes. Such eyes was similar to mine in the past. The fear of the impending misfortune. The man who had been at odds between the two of them finally made up his mind. With a reluctant expression, he signed the contract. The same was true for the next resident, and so was for the next resident. It doesn't really matter to me that people look at me with such horrendous expression. Since, I'd be receiving a lot of profit anyways.
Kekekekekekekeke
'That's just how efficient the ondol is.'
It was a conclusion I had come to after some investigation over the past few days. This was due to the fireplace's limitations, the world's own heating method.
The fireplace is less heat efficient than it looks. It's only warm around the fireplace. The air heats up and cools down quickly. The heat doesn't stay indoors for too long. Plus the ashes, smoke, and soot were making eyes feel like burning during winter. It's tricky to manage because you can't just use any type of firewood. Not just that, the person who guards the fire from going out should stay awake and watch the fire all night long.
Ondol, on the other hand? It can counterbalance most of these shortcomings. I was a hundred percent sure about that, so he threatened the residents with confidence. Thanks to this, his business was able to win better-than-expected pre-sale contracts before the end of the afternoon. There were 32 contracts for type A and 57 contracts for type B. The heavy down payment was a bonus.
This is amazing."
Of course, it wasn't a lot of money. Even though they've been forced a little bit to sign a contract, if I could finish the construction of the ondol well within this part of the territory. No doubt there will definitely be good rumors. Maybe I can even be payed a lot if one of Konoha's Noble Clan would buy ondol from me.
Branding the ondol construction as well as running a heating room business around this territory. This was my primary plan and goal, for now.
"Phew."
When I finished calculating my future plans, I sighed. Suddenly, I turned back to look behind me. It was sunset with the sky tinged red. Vū was following me with the sunset behind him.
"Hey, can you create Shadow Clones?"
"Yes. Somehow."
"How many?"
"About ten."
I grinned at Vū's misfortune. I didn't even need to turn around and see his expression to know that he had already regretted his decision to reveal how many shadow clones can he create.
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