After listening to Hirose and his party talk about explorer skills and levels, I was struck once again by the sheer difficulty of dealing with explorers as business partners. There was nothing for it but to continue collaborating with Hirose-kun and the others while steadily accumulating know-how. We were in a better position than other companies that had to build that knowledge from scratch without any leads, but I knew I needed to communicate with Hirose-kun’s group even more to gather information.
Once we finished discussing skills and related matters, I moved on to introducing the properties I had selected based on their new criteria.
"The first property is located in the mountains."
While the location was similar to the one I had introduced previously, this property was close to a home center, which would make procuring materials much easier. Since it was accessible by road, the store would even deliver items to the site for a fee.
Of course, they would likely need to clear a path to move items deep into the property, but I figured that having goods delivered to the site would be a helpful service for Hirose-kun and the others, who didn't have driver's licenses due to being minors. After all, when we looked at the previous property, they had mentioned bringing in materials by towing a rear car with a bicycle. While their physical capabilities meant a bicycle could carry as much as a light truck, riding a bicycle connected to a fully loaded rear car on mountain roads was simply too dangerous.
"This looks like a pretty good property."
Looking over the materials, Hirose and his party seemed to have a favorable impression. Since the environment was similar to the last one, it seemed easy for them to visualize. The improved convenience appeared to have left a good mark.
Furthermore, the slope of the entire site was relatively gentle, making it easier to clear trees and construct buildings. As a bonus, there was no dam upstream, so they wouldn't have to worry about sudden flooding from emergency discharges during heavy rain.
"I’d like to see it in person."
"There are some things you just can't understand from documents alone, so it’s important to go and see it with your own eyes," the President added.
Even though it was effectively a superior version of the previous property, it wouldn't necessarily be perfect, just as the President said. It was a vital step to verify the site for themselves and ensure it met their requirements. In fact, there were some clients who insisted on signing contracts after only reviewing the paperwork—despite our strong recommendations for a viewing—only to complain later that it wasn't what they expected. While I always felt it was their own fault for ignoring our warnings, we still had to deal with them, and those types of clients were truly exhausting.
Having finished the introduction for the first property with a good sense of their interest, I moved on to the second, more "romantic" option.
"As for the second property, this one is a plot of land on a coastal cape."
"A cape? You mean that landform that juts out into the sea?"
The second property I introduced was a cape that boasted an incredible amount of space. I had heard that it was forced onto our company a long time ago—before I joined—due to various circumstances. Apparently, it was originally secured as a resort development site during the bubble era, but the plans were canceled. It became a burden following the bubble's collapse and had been treated as a stagnant property by our firm ever since.
While it was difficult to use for resort purposes, a sprawling site like this might be perfect for Hirose-kun and the others, whose goal was to use it as a training ground. After seeing their capabilities as explorers during our previous viewings, I felt they needed a place this large to move around without worrying about damaging the surroundings. They were the type of people who could run across an entire mountain in no time, after all.
"The land consists of steep cliffs covered in thickets, and it’s been left untouched because it’s considered difficult to utilize."
"A cliffside covered in thickets... is there any flat land where we could build a small hut or something?"
"There is. Although I called it a cliff, only the coastal edge is steep; the majority is just thickets... I believe that if you clear the land, you can secure enough space for buildings."
As the President said, this property had been left as a stagnant property for many years, resulting in the land being completely overrun by trees. However, since the original site area was so vast, there was plenty of flat land even with the thickets. While whether they could actually build there was a separate issue due to certain land complications, there was enough space to easily build something the size of a small apartment complex even without clearing the surrounding trees.
"I see..."
Between the coastal location and the unexpected scale of the site, Hirose and his party looked a bit overwhelmed. I suppose it’s hard to immediately wrap your head around a space described as being several times the size of a domed stadium.
Seeing this, the President made a suggestion.
"Well then, why don't you go and see it for yourselves? You still have time today, right?"
"Eh? Oh, yes. We planned for today to be for development verification, so our schedule is fine."
"Then Yuta-kun can take you for a viewing. It shouldn't take too long by car, and if you're having trouble picturing it, it’s best to actually see it. As they say, seeing is believing. Yuta-kun, is that alright with you?"
As the President turned the conversation to me, I thought about the property's location and nodded.
"Ah, yes. That’s fine. If it’s that location... I think we can be back in two or three hours, including the viewing time."
Since it was on the coast away from the city center, the roads shouldn't be congested. We could probably get there in less than an hour by car. Even if the site was vast, an hour would be plenty of time for a quick walkthrough.
"Then, Yuta-kun, please take everyone for the viewing. In the meantime, I’ll take a look at the video materials from today's development verification. I have a general idea of the results from your report earlier, but I want to see the footage of them actually digging the tunnel."
"Understood. The video materials are unedited, so they might be a bit difficult to watch, but I’ll leave the recording equipment on your desk, President."
He had been quite surprised when he saw a bit of the footage earlier, so I was a little worried. If he watched the whole thing, his jaw might just hit the floor. The last time we all watched a viewing video together, everyone had been left speechless or shouting in shock.
"Very well. Yuta-kun, head out for the viewing at once."
"Understood. Everyone, please wait a moment while I prepare for our departure."
After nodding to Hirose and his party and asking them to wait, the President and I began our preparations.
Before leaving for the viewing, I handed over the verification video data to the President and gave him a brief explanation of the contents. If I didn't provide at least a little context beforehand, the footage might be so shocking that he wouldn't be able to process it.
"The verification items were the transportable weight, excavation ability, and logging ability. As for the construction part, it was more like passing on basic knowledge, so it’s hard to call it a true verification."
"I see. So there are three main verification items. Do you have any supplementary explanations for each?"
"Rather than a supplement, I’d say our estimates were too low. We couldn't fully test their limits. We underestimated the abilities of these... explorers. Please consider this session a verification intended to establish the baseline for future tests."
The President looked like he wanted to say something in response to my comment, but he closed his mouth and wore an indescribable expression. It was likely because he had already seen a snippet of the verification video.
"We were ill-prepared. I set the verification items based on videos of explorers I found online, thinking they would be around that level, but..."
"In reality, they were far beyond your assumptions?"
At the President's question, I nodded, a furrow forming between my brows. The slender explorer in the reference video I used had been lifting a 500kg weight, and it looked like he was at his absolute limit. I never imagined Hirose and his party would casually lift sandbags weighing nearly a ton...
"Yes. The explorer in the reference video called himself a mid-level explorer, so I thought it would be safe to estimate top-tier explorers at forty to fifty percent higher. However..."
"You're saying that wasn't enough to measure the abilities of top-tier explorers like Hirose-kun's group?"
"Yes. I believe we should have assumed at least double. If you watch the entire verification video, I think you'll agree with that assessment."
Whether we could truly measure their abilities even with that adjustment was another matter, but we would have to perform several "verifications to establish baselines" going forward. The standards for top-tier and regular explorers were just too far apart.
When I think that this will be the standard for a mid-level explorer in a few years... I suppose it's lucky we found out now.
"I see... First, I'll watch the verification video and then make a judgment."
"Please do. I think the footage is quite shocking."
"I've only seen a little, but I imagine it is."
With a slightly cramped expression, the President lightly rubbed his stomach. I think your stomach is going to hurt even more once you see the whole video, but please hang in there, President.
I told the President I was heading out and left the office.
After finishing the viewing of the Cape property with Hirose and his party, we returned safely to the office. The viewing had ended on a very positive note; the presence of an underground cave, in particular, seemed to have struck a chord with them. A property with an underground cave was certainly the stuff of dreams. Furthermore, they mentioned that an environment like an underground cave, which resembled the inside of a dungeon, was an invaluable advantage. They said that while monsters didn't appear there, it was perfect for training movements in dark, confined spaces.
An underground cave, which would be nothing but a nuisance to someone looking to build a normal structure, could become a benefit depending on the viewer.
"I'll go get the President, so please wait here for a moment."
"Understood."
While Hirose and his party waited in the reception area, I headed into the office.
The first thing I saw upon entering was the President slumped over his desk, a colleague looking after him with concern, and another colleague with a cramped expression peering at the President's computer screen. Ah, I see... this was the result of watching that verification video.
"Um... we've returned from the viewing."
When I gave my greeting in a small voice with a bashful expression, the eyes of everyone in the office snapped toward me. They all wore indescribable expressions, as if they didn't know what to say.
Breaking that awkward silence was the President, who sat up from his desk with a weary face.
"Everyone, calm down. Yuta-kun, thanks for accompanying them. How was it? What was their reaction?"
"Eh, ah, yes! Overall, they had a very favorable impression. I think they were particularly interested in the underground cave on the site."
"I see. We had considered that a point of concern, though..."
"They said it was similar to the inside of a dungeon and might be useful for training."
As I reported the impressions I gathered while accompanying them, the President's complexion improved slightly.
"I see. So something that was a nuisance to us is nothing more than another training ground to them."
"It seems so. They appeared to have a very good impression of the rest as well, and they even said they wanted to hear the details of the contract terms."
"Oh, that reaction certainly shows they're interested. Looking at this verification video, I agree that if they're going to build a training ground, they'll need a property with a site as large as that one."
Learning that Hirose and his party were considering a contract, the President’s lips curled into a happy smile. After all, despite viewing several properties, this was the first time they had shown a reaction that pointed toward an actual deal.
"Yes. Given the size, clearing the land will be a struggle, but considering their abilities, I don't think it's impossible for them to build a training ground with just a few people."
"Indeed. I would have said it was impossible before seeing this footage... but after seeing this, I can't say it's absolutely impossible. Even I'm starting to think they can do it."
"I believe they'll see it through."
Since they could bore a tunnel through a mountain in such a short time... it might take a while, but they would get it done.
"I see... In that case, it would be rude to keep them waiting any longer. Let's go. Yuta-kun, prepare the detailed materials for the property."
"Yes, right away."
And so, the President and I discussed the matter with Hirose and his party and succeeded in finalizing a three-year lease agreement based on the premise of a future purchase. Of course, this was still a preliminary agreement; they requested that we draft a base contract for them. Since they were still minors, they needed the consent of a guardian or legal representative to enter into a formal contract. They wanted a draft contract to use as material to persuade their guardians.
The lease agreement had very favorable terms, so I just hoped the discussion between them and their guardians would go well...