Chapter 428: Chapter 426 Then I’ll Die with You
After the talk ended, Le Yu looked at Qin Yueshi: "How is the Unshō Kill going over there?"
When it came to business, Qin Yueshi couldn’t keep a sour face and honestly said, "Currently, the research association has received ’loans’ totaling eleven hundred gold yuan, of which I have already given eight hundred to my second brother. But he said that the current business environment in Yanjing is average, with a monthly interest rate of about one percent for these eight hundred gold yuan."
Bad environment, and still a one percent monthly profit? And in these times, there’s no stock market platform for easy gains, where exactly is Qin Yueyang making these profits?
Moreover, the amount exceeding a thousand gold yuan was beyond Le Yu’s expectations. It’s important to know that this doesn’t count the captains’ money from the Qin Family’s ’repayment in full.’ It’s real gold and silver lent to Ming Shuiyun by the students of the Imperial Academy.
Le Yu still underestimated the longing of noble families for investment during these times——In this semi-feudal, semi-industrial era of Huiguang, asset appreciation projects are limited to two: buying land, and building factories.
However, with war looming, trade routes between Yanjing and the Outer District were intermittently interrupted, and a large number of refugees poured into the vicinity of Yanjing. Whether it’s buying land or building factories, it’s likely to be a fruitless endeavor, much like burning money on a lost cause like mobile games.
At this moment, a unicorn-level great project suddenly appeared before them.
The project was initiated by students of the Imperial Academy——the reputation of a prestigious school guarantees sales;
The project leader is Shuiyun Palace——success brings both fame and fortune, but even if it fails, it’s still beneficial to befriend Shuiyun Palace, so there’s no loss;
The project has very promising prospects, with a high likelihood of overturning the status of Battle Card——slow trickle, lasting results!
It’s evident, contrasting Yanjing’s wealthy with the Silver Blood Association of Xuanzhu, that they are worlds apart. The Silver Blood Association is thinking of devouring Dongyang, while Yanjing’s wealthy are just trying to preserve their wealth.
Therefore, irrespective of whether Unshō Kill is a sure-hit blockbuster, or even if it simply avoids losses, it can still attract countless investments!
Moreover, after the news of Le Yu becoming the acting principal spread, in just one morning, Qin Yueshi received nearly another hundred gold yuan in ’loans’!
"The research association currently has over a hundred members, and we are currently divided into a design department and a testing department. The design department is responsible for designing the Patriot Cards and Tactician Cards, while the testing department evaluates their effectiveness through actual combat..." Lin Xue briefly explained the situation of the research association.
Le Yu thought for a moment and said, "You should establish two more departments, one specifically responsible for promoting the research association’s progress on the bulletin board, and selecting some classic and interesting battle scenarios to post on the bulletin board. You can’t just rely on word of mouth... or rely solely on other students to maintain the popularity of Unshō Kill. You need to proactively make Unshō Kill present in everyone’s lives. This way, not only will outsiders be more expectant, but association members will also be more motivated to work."
"The other department should begin preparing for sales activities after the release of Unshō Kill."
"Sales activities?" Lin Xue blinked her eyes.
"You know there are many imitation battle cards outside, right?" Le Yu said, "There might even be self-made battle cards, and Unshō Kill happens to be a deck that easily attracts people to make their own cards——you must have felt that during design, right?"
Everyone nodded in agreement, with Lin Xue and others feeling that compared to playing Unshō Kill, more people were actually more enthusiastic about designing Patriot Cards. By using historical figures’ tales and designing skills for historical figures, they hope the cards they design can interact interestingly with other Patriot Cards. Many people couldn’t help but delve into this wonderful pleasure, and the research association producing ten Patriot Card designs daily is the strongest evidence.
Le Yu said, "Folk self-design is inevitable and there’s no need to avoid it because we need to leverage this passion to reduce losses caused by imitation."
As an aside, the Combat Technique Cards themselves have no profitability, acting more like a form of public entertainment or cultural promotion, serving as carefully designed teaching materials by the Imperial Academy’s Card Department, primarily to let Huiguang people know about current combat technique developments.
Combat Technique Cards are very cheap, but even so, there are still many imitation Combat Technique Cards——rather than being unwilling to spend money, it’s more accurate to say that the imitation of Combat Technique Cards is so undemanding, even children can make a set.
"How to utilize it?" Qin Yueshi also grew curious. Unlike others who have never done business, she has long been pondering how to prevent imitation to avoid revenue loss, even discussing it with her second brother, but they still haven’t come up with a satisfactory method.
"Design competition," Le Yu said, "Any player who purchases Unshō Kill can participate in the design competition by writing a letter. If the designed Patriot Card is accepted by the research association, they can receive a cash reward of one gold yuan—I am just giving an example, you can discuss the specific details yourselves."
"Additionally, there’s the Unshō Kill competition, similarly available to players who purchase Unshō Kill. The player with the highest win rate can earn a certain amount of money, the second place can earn a certain amount, the third place can earn a certain amount... and so on."
"If possible, you should imitate the grading system of Battle Cards, designing a ranking system for Unshō Kill, and open an Unshō Kill Card Hall in Yanjing, again only accessible to players who purchased Unshō Kill. However, this involves investing outside the campus and can be put on hold for now, to be discussed later."
"And..."
Having survived the era of online game advertisements like ’if you’re a brother, come hack me,’ Le Yu easily listed several publicity activities that could be considered epoch-making. The girls were all bewildered, while only Qin Yueshi and Li Ying quickly came to their senses and tried to take down notes of what Le Yu was saying.
"That’s basically it, the role of the new departments is to plan and manage these entertainment activities, this way you can not only ensure the sales of Unshō Kill but also genuinely shake the position of Combat Technique Cards—good wine needs no bush, good stuff needs to be known, only then will people try it."
"As for the rest, you can discuss it among yourselves, I will not interfere. For you, this should be an excellent extracurricular practice opportunity."
Everyone except Kuei Nian Ruo and Qian Yuya couldn’t help but smile bitterly—using a business involving thousands of gold yuan as an extracurricular practice is indeed too challenging for them.
However, no one wanted to retreat, Lin Xue asked, "What should the two new departments be called?"
"Operations Department and Planning Department," Le Yu said casually, "You don’t have to recruit many people at the beginning; you can start by finding a few trustworthy people and let them lead the formation of these two departments, or you can do it yourselves..."
"The Head of Operations is mine!" Li Ying immediately raised her hand and said.
"Then I’ll be the Head of Planning, no problem, right?" Lin Xue looked at Qian Yuya: "We’ll leave the Design and Testing Departments to Yuya."
Qian Yuya nodded, indicating she had no issue.
Ming Shuiyun is the boss, so there’s no need for her to work; Kui Nianruo is the mascot, and everyone doesn’t want her to work.
Originally, everyone came to the Platinum Tower just to see Qin Leyin, but unexpectedly Qin Leyin suddenly threw out two bombshells, and for a moment everyone wanted to hurry back to work hard, so they got up to say goodbye.
Le Yin handed them the note she had just written: "These are the secret codes for the future. When discussing important matters, remember to say the code first to confirm the other person isn’t a Thousand-Faced Sword Sheath before continuing."
"Odd stays odd, even sees horizon?" Lin Xue and the others looked at it, completely not understanding what it meant, and could only remember it by rote memorization.
As they were leaving, the usually silent Ming Shuiyun deliberately slowed her steps. As she walked into the mechanical ladder, Qian Yuya looked at her, opened her mouth to say something but ultimately stayed silent and joined everyone else on the descent.
When the mechanical ladder clattered down, Le Yin sighed, stood up, "Come over, sit here."
Ming Shuiyun obediently walked over and sat in Le Yin’s chair—it’s the only chair on the sixth floor, as Lin Xue and the others were standing while they spoke earlier.
Le Yin took out a bottle of honey-flavored Five-Flower Tea and said, "I haven’t drunk it, you can have it."
With no extra chairs around, naturally, there also wouldn’t be any extra teacups.
Ming Shuiyun nodded, "Thank you."
"So, may I ask what humble service this Sword Sheath can provide for the great master?" Le Yin bowed with a flourish, "Are you seeking a never-wilting flower, or do you wish your eyes to become beautiful heterochromatic pupils?"
Ming Shuiyun was taken aback, "Can you make that happen?"
"In a hundred years or so, sure, but not right now."
"Then why did you say it?"
"If I don’t spout some nonsense to lighten the mood, am I really going to let things stay awkward for you?" Le Yin shrugged, "Alright then, you’re about to go to class, so could you quickly get to the point? We’ve already wasted a minute, and Housekeeper Xie downstairs might be suspicious about what I’m doing with you."
Ming Shuiyun chuckled, adjusting her breath, and seriously said, "I want to protect you."
"Hmm, thank you, and then?"
"So," Ming Shuiyun cautiously glanced at Le Yin, "I want... to sleep with you at night."
Le Yin was silent for a moment, looking up at the ceiling.
"Even though I don’t know if Cha Huan has eavesdropping tendencies, I think you’d better give a reason quickly."
"I know why you need to become the acting principal." Ming Shuiyun suddenly stood up, with both hands on the book table, "It’s because you’re going to be assassinated, right? You want to use the title of acting principal to defuse the assassination crisis, right?"
"Did Qian Yuya tell you?"
"Yuya also told me, the assassins wouldn’t dare kill me!" Ming Shuiyun earnestly said, "Our Palace Master is protected by the Sword Holder, and the Sword Holder won’t allow outsiders to harm us!"
"Yes, that’s correct," Le Yin said, "But what does that have to do with you wanting to sleep with me?"
"If, if something happens and you can’t defeat the assassin, I can help!"
Le Yin found it a bit amusing, "How would you help? Make them sit down and play a game of Unmatched Kill with you?"
"You can throw me over!" Ming Shuiyun revealed her true plan, "If the assassin harms me, the Sword Holder will appear to deal with them!"
Almost instinctively, Le Yin directly retorted, "Then what if the Sword Holder doesn’t appear? What if the Sword Holder can’t make it in time? What will you do?"
"Then I’ll die with you!"