"By getting rid of ninety-five percent of the material and labor cost, I am able to reduce the cost of production to a point so low that at least the least poor people living in the slums are able to afford it," Cæ continued. "The only sacrifice is quality of life with such a small amount of space that it would be considered 'unfit for human residence' by most people."
"…That's a rather big sacrifice, is it not?" Mr. Nortion raised an eyebrow. "Being 'fit for human beings' is a very basic requirement for housing, after all."
"The context of that being uttered by people who don't live in the slums is usually simply in reference to comfort." Cæ shook his head. "That's because basic comfort is considered to be the bare minimum."
"…Isn't it?" Mr. Nortion frowned.
"Not if you live in the slums, no," Cæ snorted. "Physical safety from people and dangerous infrastructure and protection from the elements is the bare minimum. But it's taken for granted by people living outside of the slums. Comfort is not important for people in the slums because we have constantly lived our lives desperately striving for the true bare minimum. Tell me, Mr. Norton…"
He gazed at the man opposite him with clear eyes.
"Would you rather freeze to death in the rain or the snow, get scorched by the Sun, get crushed under a building, and get assaulted by robbers or…" he paused for a moment, "would you rather simply endure discomfort?"
"…I would very much rather endure discomfort if it means avoiding the former," he heaved a sigh. "I see, you have made your point. Your rationale is valid and sound and you have indeed made a rather clever and compelling business strategy to harness untapped demand where others wouldn't even give any thought."
His tone was appreciative.
"However, a business strategy, no matter how well fleshed out, is simply the second step of the process after fleshing out a business model," he explained. "You have yet to engage in any product development whatsoever, haven't you?"
Cæ nodded earnestly. "I have not yet commenced that. Product development first requires specifying an end specification range and objective for the product in question while fleshing out all the constraints. Only when you have clearly fleshed out all the conditions and laid it out clearly can product development even begin."
It wasn't enough to say, 'I want a micro-housing unit,' and simply hire a bunch of engineers and other specialists.
The material, budget, cost, inventory, supply, labor, and production timeframe constraints, among many other constraints, needed to be clearly highlighted.
The constraints would essentially function as barriers that would box in the number of possibilities into a limited space within which the development team would then work to operate.
"I am getting close to fleshing out the constraints with the needed precision," Cæ replied. "I have been researching this topic for months now."
"That's not enough if you're serious about this business," Mr. Norton said. "It isn't that simple."
"…I know," Cæ heaved a sigh. "In this particular regard, my inexperience is most damning."
Cæ didn't want to get conceited in his own ability because of his Acquired Savant Syndrome. There were things that simply couldn't be acquired by anything other than experience.
"Well, it's good to know that you are level-headed and rational in regard to your own shortcomings," Mr. Norton nodded with approval as he smiled simply. "Well, regardless, I suppose that brings me to an end to the most pressing questions I had for you. You have satisfied me with your answers quite well, I must say. But that doesn't mean you will succeed. These questions were frankly the most basic aspects of business, failing to provide good answers would mean your business own be guaranteed to fail, but answering well doesn't mean it won't fail. Do you understand?"
Cæ nodded. "I am aware of that, if this was all it took to launch successful businesses, then the world would be filled with a lot more successful businesses."
"Well, I wouldn't go that far," Mr. Norton chuckled as his sheepish demeanor returned. "After all, your business strategy is truly unique. I don't think anyone has ever conceived of what you have. You have managed to squeeze water out of the rock. That is not something I see every day. Most businesses don't have any novelty and simply hope to etch out their little corner in the market by using tried and tested models and strategies. Your business strategy, on the other hand, is nothing but novelty!"
He gazed at Cæ with a hint of flustered admiration.
"Then…" Cæ's tone grew solemn. "What do you think? Are you interested in joining my business?"
"…"
Mr. Norton stirred at the question.
Frankly, any normal person would have dismissed it then and there. Come work for a random fellow over a business that hadn't even started yet?
It was out of the question.
Cæ was aware of this as well.
He predicted that there was a little under ninety percent chance that the man would refuse him then and there. However, it was worth making the offer nonetheless because it took nothing, and the potential benefits were worth it.
He liked this man.
He was clearly knowledgeable and experienced in business. His questions were pertinent and apt, his judgment on Cæ's business idea and strategy were grounded. He gave Cæ credit where credit was due while pointing out his shortcomings where he felt the need.
When speaking about these matters, the flustered and nervous body language would disappear, and he would speak with the composure of someone who knew exactly what he was talking about and had every reason to be confident in his words.
On top of that, his personality was open and agreeable enough that Cæ enjoyed speaking with him. His lack of personal, familial commitments also made him someone that Cæ was more willing to trust with the running of the company. His passion for his mini-housing unit business also pleased Cæ as he hoped to hire people who were invested in the project.
Simultaneously, this was not a highly disagreeable or over-assertive man who would try to resurrect his old dream in Cæ's new business venture. He didn't want to have somebody who would try to usurp his vision with their own. Thus, he would prefer somebody who harbored a high degree of respect or perhaps even some fear of Cæ.
It was a cold and level-headed evaluation of Mr. Norton as a character. This man fit exactly what he was looking for: a managerial subordinate who could run things when Cæ was not there or after the business hit a stable running.
Mr. Norton, on the other hand, fell into a deep thought on the matter, not feeling the need to rush an answer.
"…I will consider it," Mr. Norton finally heaved a sigh. "Obviously, I can't give you an answer right here and now. Additionally, what you are asking is very risky for me, I hope you realize that. It's also very inconvenient for me. Besides, you have not clarified exactly what you want to hire me for."
Cæ nodded. "That's true. I believe you have a background in civil engineering and management, right? While the former is not directly relevant to micro-housing units, I would like to ask you to become something like a general manager who will oversee operations. With your experience and your background, you should be more than equipped to handle run the day to day management of the business. I have already done much of the research into fleshing out all the details of the business strategy, your input will still be very welcome. Additionally…"
A small, brief smile emerged on Cæ's face "If you get this early in the venture, then I am willing to offer you as much as twenty five-percent equity into the business."
Mr. Norton's eyes lit up at those words.
Offering that much equity off the bat was a substantial gesture of good faith and sincerity. Cæ was essentially conveying that he valued what Mr. Norton had to offer and wouldn't simply have him be a tool and executive.
Admittedly, this was an attractive offer to Mr. Norton.
Although he hadn't mentioned it, the truth was that he hated working for other people especially when he was just an executor whose will didn't matter. His only job was to do as his general manager told him to and nothing more.
As someone who understood how the pleasures of being one's own boss but also the leader of one's own enterprise, he had never been able to fully adjust back to being a mindless drone.
With twenty-five percent equity, he was a partial owner of the company. He, too, would have a say, although Cæ had made his vision clear and had highlighted that his primary goal was general management while Cæ would tackle business strategy.
Mr. Norton didn't have a problem with this. He understood that this was not his venture and would never go in the direction that he sought it to and it was absurd to expect it to. Everything was good on paper. There was only one issue that fought against all this.
"I don't know if I wish to commit to such a risky venture when I have just entered my forties, Mr. Cæ." He heaved a sigh. "If there was some way to guarantee the success, I would probably take this agreement…"
Unfortunately, there was absolutely no way to guarantee success.
All business ventures were inherently risky, some more than others, to varying degrees. And yet, businesses that appeared to be safe on the surface could become the biggest flops in the world, while businesses that appeared to be extremely risky could go on to become multi-billionel businesses.
"…Well, think it over," Cæ nodded. "I would actually be a little wary if you accepted right away."
Mr. Norton smiled. "You wouldn't want such a thoughtless person running the heart of your business ventures."
"Precisely," Cæ nodded, scribbling on a piece of paper with a pen. "Here are my contact details, let me know when you have made your decision. Until then…"
He slowly got up, stretching his hand out with an uncharacteristic smile. "Thank you for your time."
"Ah…" the man got with a flustered expression, shaking Cæ's hand vigorously. "Thank you for the offer."
They bade each other goodbye while Cæ departed from the cafe, heading back to Elendir Institute of Magic.
Mr. Norton heaved a sigh as he sat back down in his seat. "…And to think he's only twenty-three years old."
Mr. Norton thought back to the intimidating aura and heavy presence that the young man had with an amazed expression. The very air around him was suffocating, and Mr. Norton felt like a heavy boulder had been placed on his shoulders every time he directed a powerful gaze with dichromatic eyes and his scarred face.
"Just what has he gone through?"
Mr. Norton had met many people in his life of different classes and walks. And yet, he had never met someone who seemed to brim with a ferocious drive and an endless potential like Cæ.
He heaved a sigh as he thought about his offer.
"…I must be insane for even considering it."
It was risky.
Foolish.
Ill-advised.
And yet, he couldn't take his mind off of it for some reason. At the moment, he currently worked as a project manager at a large construction company in Colohen. There was decent upward mobility, and he even got two-percent salary hikes each year, although much of that was bled off by inflation.
If he chose to accept Cæ's offer, he would be ditching all the progress he had made in the past ten years.
"…Progress," he muttered to himself, immersed in thought. "What progress?"
A twenty percent salary hike was all that he had accomplished in that time.
Was that how he wanted to live the rest of his life?
"…"