"What I require is simple," Prumace stared at MunuBuntara and got to the crux of his intention as he took out a small, semi-circular metal ribbon, "I wish to create this product."
"Is this a..." MunuBuntara stared at the metal ribbon before gasping in shock, "...miniature Gramophone?"
"You're correct," Prumace nodded with a smile, "I knew a man of your standing would be able to recognise it instantly. Yes, it's a miniature Gramophone, and it's what I wish to release as a collaboration with you."
"With me?" MunuBuntara was surprised for an instant before grasping what was required from his side as he pointed at the metal ribbon, "Can I inspect it once?"
"Yes," Prumace nodded, "Please feel free to look into it until you're satisfied."
"Thank you," MunuBuntara nodded and picked up the metal ribbon, noticing hemispherical discs embedded onto either end of the ribbon. He slung it on his head, noticing the two hemispherical discs align themselves onto his ears.
As his Prana flowed into it, he noticed that there was a small crank within the hemispherical disk, rotating a tiny plate. The needle pin on it produced a song similar to the Gramophone. And there were intricately lodged holes on the flat end of the hemispherical disk, allowing the sounds produced within it to travel into the eardrums of the listener.
The size of the Gramophone disk was only large enough to hold fifteen minutes of music content, which wasn't much for someone used to the large Gramophones. However, it would be useful for people to hear music with privacy.
After all, the current Gramophones, though they produced beautiful sound pieces, were loud. So they could only be used in a private setting. However, the metal ribbons could be used in a public setting too.
MunuBuntara wrapped his palm around one of the hemispherical disks, noticing that no sound leaked out thanks to the insulation provided by his fingers. He nodded and placed it on the table, staring at Prumace to say, "You need to have a designer fabric wrap for both sound insulation and to improve the feel the miniature Gramophone provides when worn overhead."
"I knew I came to the right person." Prumace broke into a smile upon hearing MunuBuntara's analysis as he nodded at the people accompanying him, saying as they walked forward, "I have enough to provide an advance sum for our cooperation. After that, for every single piece you wrap, we'll provide you a generous sum."
"My ears are open," MunuBuntara nodded as Prumace began to give all the details regarding their collaboration.
First, the item, termed a Ribbophone would be sold in various price ranges. And depending on the price, the thread used for the wrap would vary. But overall, due to its quality, Prumace wanted the thread to be primarily sourced from a Balghat.
Since MunuBuntara had both the Iron and Silver Grade variants of this Race in the Nest he controlled with exclusive rights, Prumace wanted to start with two products.
The Ribbophone made using a Balghat's wool would be sold for a price of 1000 Natures of Bio-Synthesis. The hemispherical discs were detachable, allowing one to swap around the music of their choice.
A music pack would be sold separately, which consisted of a total of twelve hemispherical discs, split between the two years for a total of six pieces of music. This was priced at 1200 Natures of Bio-Synthesis.
The Ribbophone made using the wool from a Telghat was priced a whopping fifteen times higher, a sheer premium that only the elite class could afford to buy, even in the Varahan Empire. As the Gramophone had already become a statue symbol, people would buy it desperately, irrespective of whether or not they liked music.
And Prumace knew well to feed into the ego and classicism of his customers. And for every Ribbophone they wrapped, MunuBuntara would receive 180 Natures of Bio-Synthesis, which was a whopping sum.
Considering the sheer numbers that they'll be working on, the business opportunity would create a sizeable revenue source for the Noikatol District. Moreover, it diversified their income sources, for they currently relied on only textiles.
They didn't have a monopoly in the industry. Far from it, they weren't even a market leader, despite their Suits selling like hotcakes. There were many Pranic Beasts in Sumatra whose produce could be used to make clothes.
Only something like the Suits, a revolutionary item that one could wear and remove in a second was capable of competing with an already developed market with giant players. The problem with this was the fact that the Noikatol District's weaving capabilities weren't yet on par with the market demands.
Inala's classes resulted in a large batch of skilled weavers. However, they were only able to handle Balghat wool. None of them came close to attempting on Telghat wool. Only Inala was able to handle it.
However, he was too old to do any mass production. Rather, Inala only made one Telghat Suit every two months, unable to take on any more workload. It was a source of worry for MunuBuntara, for he could feel that Inala was very old now, not having more than a year or two before he died of old age.
If at least one individual managed to obtain Inala's weaving skills, then MunuBuntara could rest easy. However, despite his best efforts, no one in his District was talented enough.
"What about the premium Ribbophone?" Prumace asked, frowning upon seeing MunuBuntara hesitate in response, "You mean...you cannot handle it?"
"No, no, you misunderstand," MunuBuntara waved his hand in a hurry, "We have enough skilled weavers who are capable enough to handle Telghat wool."
"Then, I hope you can deliver as per our demands," Prumace said and laid down the specifics of the deal, which was rather beneficial. They'll be paid 1500 Natures of Bio-Synthesis per a premium Ribbophone.
It wasn't a tenfold jump in pay as compared to the regular version, as the profits were actually lower for the premium Ribbophone due to the materials used to make the ribbon and miniature Gramophone components.
The sound quality was expected to be heavenly. As a result, the pay was 1500 Natures, which was still above the market pay associated with the necessary work.
"Here's to a happy collaboration," Prumace said and shook hands with MunuBuntara, transferring all the Natures in his Human Avatar to the latter. As an Empyrean Boar at the 3- Life Stage, MunuBuntara was able to handle such a volume.
He accepted the Natures deposited by the group of people accompanying Prumace, making a mental tally at the end to nod in response, "It's all there."
"Of course, I'm never wrong in my calculation," Prumace stated in confidence and walked
away.
'Seems I have more than enough Natures to pay the salaries of my people.' MunuBuntara thought as he watched Prumace board a luxurious carriage and sped away. He stood there in silence for a few minutes, waiting until the carriage was out of his line of sight.
Immediately after, he prompted Wepetay with a sense of urgency, "We need to visit Sir Binala."
"Yes, I've already sent a messenger to inform him in advance." Wepetay nodded, having thought of it the moment Prumace talked about premium Ribbophones. He acted upon it immediately.
The duo boarded their carriage and travelled to a decently large house situated in one of the Decodus Trees acting as a residential complex. It was in the same complex where Wepetay's family lived, signalling the status that Inala had achieved in recent times.
Wepetay's family lived on the fourth floor while Inala lived on the twentieth. The duo of Wepetay and MunuBuntara quickly arrived at the house and knocked on the door.
Had it been anyone else, MunuBuntara would have summoned them to his office. However,
the reason he couldn't that to Inala was different. Letting out a slow breath, he calmed himself and nodded at Wepetay, watching the latter knock on the door a second time.
Followed by a click, the door opened. The duo entered inside and noticed a wizened man positioned on a bed, weak. He was in the process of getting up, slow and strained. Faint sweat covered his forehead as he struggled to orient himself.
His Prana was weak, his presence feeble. MunuBuntara subconsciously glanced at the old man's palm, 'His Human Avatar has grown more fragile as compared to before.'
"Are you alright, Sir Binala?" Wepetay hurriedly arrived to assist Inala, holding the latter
with care, "Why isn't my wife here with you? I've told her to look after you."
"She has a life beyond helping this old man." Inala glared at Wepetay fiercely, "And if not for
her, I would have already died a few years ago. So, don't talk bad about her."
"I'm sorry," Wepetay apologised instinctively.
"It's alright, I know you've said in concern." Inala let out a wry smile, "I'm not senile yet."
He then stared at MunuBuntara and let out a chuckle, "My Lord, seeing that you've come all the way here, it must mean there's more work to do. But..."
"I can't," He shook his head stubbornly, "You've already worked me to the bone. I only intend
to rest. I have no intention of working anymore."
"Your skills are needed, Sir Binala." MunuBuntara said, "Our City is desperately dependent on
it for..."
"Ahh, fuck that!" Inala's voice was weak, but arrogant, "That's not something someone comfy in his grave should worry about. It won't be a surprise if I were to die tomorrow, so I
DON'T CARE!"
"But..." MunuBuntara felt angry upon hearing Inala's response, but what could he do? Punish him? Threaten to kill him? It won't work.
He could easily tell with a glance that Inala's condition had worsened and it wouldn't be a
surprise if he died the next day itself. Inala's heart had grown too weak, a result of stressful cultivation. Changing Human Avatars came at a cost, especially since his original cultivation was high before he lost his Life Stage Spirit Container to a Centinger and then switched to a
Vara Human Avatar later.
His body had taken a toll already, which made him age faster. "No buts!"
"You told me to teach others, and I've done that, exemplarily well in fact." Inala snorted with
his weak tone, coughing mid-sentence, "The first three graduate batches of mine have all the theoretical knowledge on how to handle Telghat wool, including the skills necessary to do so. They just haven't trained enough to put them to practice."
"I can't train on their behalf, can't I?" Inala said and waved his hand, "So, whatever new work
you have for me, I won't do it."
He pointed at a nearby wardrobe, "I've made a gift for you, since your coronation is due next
month. Take that and respectfully leave, please."
"This old man wishes to be alone in his final moments."