Chapter 239 Old Kohler's New Job
Lorne wasn't particularly skilled at running a factory. While he had some weapon designs that were ahead of their time, he lacked experience in corporate management and didn't want to spend his valuable time on the factory's daily trivia.
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Professional matters should be left to professionals.
Therefore, when he decided to acquire the factory, he had already considered that directly employing the original management staff might be a good choice. This would ensure maximum stability during the factory's transition, avoiding unnecessary chaos. Once everything was on track and production was stable, it wouldn't be too late to gradually replace some employees whose management skills weren't up to par and recruit more talented individuals.
With someone to look after the factory for me, I can be a hands-off boss with peace of mind.
Hearing Lorne's proposal, Ted was first stunned, then an unspeakable ecstasy surged into his heart, making his dim eyes, which had been dulled by disappointment, light up again.
For him, this factory was, after all, something he had founded himself. To be able to continue working here and watch it regain its vitality was undoubtedly the best outcome.
"Mr. Scott, I—I am very willing to take on this position!" Ted, shaking off his previous dejection, straightened his back, a long-lost smile gracing his face.
Afterward, the two men briefly discussed the follow-up details.
"Mr. Ted, I want to build a complete Robot production line for the factory and purchase some stamping equipment. Approximately how much will that cost?" Lorne asked.
"Five thousand pounds," Ted mused for a moment, extending a hand. "At least that much."
He explained, "Even with our current machines, to have a true Robot production line, the equipment cost alone would be at least that much."
Five thousand pounds, still acceptable. Lorne nodded; this figure did not exceed his budget.
"I have some firearm patents here; take a look and see what you think." Lorne said, pulling a folded sketch from a hidden pocket in his jacket and handing it to the other party.
"You... you acquired the factory for this?" Ted took the sketch, asking with some confusion.
"More or less." Lorne didn't elaborate.
Ted carefully unfolded the sketch and scrutinized it for a long time under the gas lamp, a look of admiration gradually appearing in his eyes.
"Amazing!" he exclaimed.
"This design is indeed very interesting—a lever-action mechanism, using the reciprocating motion of the lever to complete ejection and loading—why didn't I think of that?"
"Can the factory produce it?" Lorne asked.
"Although it's a bit more complex than the common single-barrel or double-barrel shotguns on the market, no problem!" Ted affirmed. "Even without upgrading the equipment, with the skill of our current workers, we can produce it."
"What do you think of this gun's sales prospects?" Lorne asked again. Even though he had done a lot of market research, he might not understand it better than the professional, so he wanted to hear Ted's opinion.
"There are currently no weapons of this type on the market. Its rate of fire is faster than traditional hunting rifles, and it's easy to operate, making it suitable for both self-defense and hunting. I personally believe it should sell very well—but—"
Ted's tone shifted, and he sighed again: "The entire industry isn't doing well right now; sales channels are limited, and some places are even engaging in price wars. This gun's structure is much more complex than a normal single-barrel hunting rifle, so the cost will definitely be much higher."
He seemed a bit pessimistic. Having just experienced a painful bankruptcy, he wasn't very optimistic about the market prospects.
Complex things are definitely expensive, and if they're expensive, they might not sell—Lorne understood his concerns and nodded, saying, "Adding some new stamping equipment should help reduce costs."
"But in that case, we won't have enough workers; we'll need to recruit another batch," Ted added.
"Hmm." Lorne nodded.
"I'll bring over the detailed blueprints later. You can organize your staff and try to produce a small batch first, to test the waters with our current channels." He paused, then continued, "Production of other firearm parts should be temporarily halted. Ammunition—you can continue to produce it, but slightly reduce the output."
Before Ted could speak, Lorne continued, "You only need to focus on production; I'll figure out the new sales channels."
He already had a few directions in mind.
First was Hazel. He planned to visit the young lady later to see if he could get her father's help through her to connect with the military. Councilman Macht only had one daughter, Hazel, and valued her greatly.
Visiting as Hazel's friend, then having Hazel put in a good word, or simply asking for guidance as a junior, shouldn't be a big problem. If that didn't work, he could even bring Hazel into a partnership; a father would have no reason not to help his daughter's business, right?
Although he held leverage that could threaten the other party, Lorne really didn't want to use it until the last moment. After all, using it would mean tearing up the relationship.
Additionally, the demand for firearms in the colonies was also huge. There were various resistance forces, countless adventurers, and local powers there. With his connections with Edwina and Cattelya, he could also ask them for help in finding suitable sales channels at sea.
Of course, the processes and procedures involved would definitely be more troublesome.
"Alright." Ted, seeing his new boss so confident, didn't say anything more.
"Ah, if only one day, we wouldn't have to worry about selling what we produce," he suddenly lamented.
"That might only be possible with a world war," Lorne joked in response.
"Heh heh." Ted chuckled at the dark humor, and the heavy atmosphere in the office lightened considerably.
The two then briefly discussed the specific handover procedures.
"By the way, does the factory still have a Gatekeeper?" Lorne suddenly asked before leaving.
"A Gatekeeper—" Ted thought for a moment and said, "It used to, but then the factory fell on hard times, so it was laid off. There's usually nothing going on during the day. I've been living in the office recently and will patrol myself at night."
"Now that we have money, it shouldn't be a problem to hire someone, right?" Lorne asked.
"Of course not, why?"
"Hmm."
"Sir, have you finished your discussion?"
Seeing Lorne emerge from the office, Old Kohler, who had been waiting patiently at the Door, immediately stepped forward and asked.
"Yes, this factory is mine now," Lorne replied.
"Then congratulations, sir," Old Kohler said sincerely.
"Old Kohler, where are you planning to go next?" Lorne asked.
"Me?" Old Kohler was a bit surprised but still answered honestly, "I plan to find the cheapest hotel first, take a good shower, get some sleep, and then go look for odd jobs."
"Your health is still good, and you're quite honest," Lorne looked at him. "I have a job here; do you want it?"
"A job?" Old Kohler was stunned, not reacting for a moment.
"Yes, the factory still needs a Gatekeeper. Are you interested?"
"Yes! Of course, yes!" Old Kohler blurted out, his face full of pleasant surprise. But a moment later, he became fearful, waving his hands repeatedly: "Sir, you don't have to do so much for me; you've already helped me a lot. And my age is—"
"No, this isn't just about being a Gatekeeper," Lorne interrupted him.
He lowered his voice and explained, "I want you to help me watch over this factory."
A puzzled expression appeared on Old Kohler's face.
"I won't be staying here all the time; I'll only come periodically to check. The factory's management staff is still the original group. As an outsider, I may not understand many of the situations within the factory.
For example, whether the management staff is making any small moves, if anyone is embezzling, if workers' wages are being withheld or misappropriated, and if there are any other problems the factory manager hasn't told me—all of these require time to verify."
Lorne's gaze sharpened: "I want you to help me record some of the things happening in the factory and then tell me. I want to know the most authentic, first-hand information."
"I understand!" Old Kohler immediately grasped Lorne's meaning.
"Thank you, sir!" He nodded heavily, a trace of cloudy tears overflowing from his eyes. He sniffled hard, trying not to cry in front of his employer.
Although Lorne's words made perfect sense, he knew in his heart that the other party was primarily helping him out of kindness. Given his current age and physical condition, finding a job in a harsh environment like the East Borough was as difficult as climbing the sky. And not finding a job meant he might truly not be able to survive. This "Gatekeeper" job was nothing short of a lifesaver for him.
"Hmm." Lorne nodded. He had also done a divination earlier, confirming that Old Kohler was a person of good character and trustworthy, which was why he went ahead and helped him.
He extended his hand to Old Kohler: "James Scott, your employer."
Looking at Lorne's outstretched hand, Old Kohler hesitated for a moment, then vigorously wiped his hand on his half-worn clothes before shaking it solemnly.
"Thank you, Mr. Scott! I will never let you down!"
"I'm going to look around the factory again. For the specifics, go find Factory Manager Ted; he'll brief you."
"Thank you, sir!" Old Kohler released his hand, nodded heavily, and expressed his gratitude again.
Watching Old Kohler's retreating figure towards the office building, Lorne stood still and murmured to himself:
"Am I—a bit too kind-hearted?"
Once again, he questioned his moral standards, which transcended this era.
A moment later, he sighed helplessly:
"Forget it. If I hadn't encountered it, then so be it, but since I did, there's no harm in helping out."