Episode 85 😂 Listen to me, Grandpa! Losing to online bookings - The travel agency counter clerk edition

The last day of February. A breeze that makes one feel spring passes over the veranda. Grandpa is sitting cross-legged on the wooden floor of the veranda, looking at some kind of map.

"Grandpa, what's that?" Ryota asks.

"It's an old map of Korea," Grandpa says with a small smile. "It shows the paths I traveled."

Men-chan sits down, wearing a blue and gold striped jacket. "So you liked traveling too, Grandpa?"

"Today's client is..." Ryota lowers his voice slightly while showing a printout. "A travel agency counter clerk. They're losing to online bookings."

"Online bookings?" Grandpa puts down the map.

"They spend a long time just consulting, and then at the end, they say 'I'll book it at home' and leave. Information isn't free, you know."

"Ah," Men-chan says with a slightly exasperated look. "That's tough."

"The counter clerk works hard to research, create plans, and explain everything. But in the end, the booking is made online," Ryota continues.

Silence. A breeze passes softly over the veranda.

Grandpa remains silent for a long time, looking at the map.

"The value of information, huh," he says in a quiet voice.

"The value of information?" Ryota asks.

"Back when I was working as a bodyguard in Hakata, there was a man who was an informant."

"An informant?" Men-chan leans forward.

"That man sold information about enemy movements and town rumors. If you didn't pay, he wouldn't tell you anything."

"That's business," Ryota mutters.

"One day, a companion of mine asked him, 'Tell me for free.' The informant laughed and said, 'Information is my life. There's no way I'd give it away for free.'"

Grandpa traces the map with his finger.

"My companion got angry and ignored the informant. And in the next battle, he fell into an enemy trap and died."

"Huh?" Men-chan's voice rings out.

"Information isn't free. Information is the crystallization of someone's time, experience, and wisdom."

Ryota looks at the printout.

"It's the same for travel agency counter clerks," Grandpa continues. "There are people who take that person's time, experience, and wisdom for free. That's the same as stealing."

"Then what should the counter clerk do?" Men-chan asks.

Grandpa pauses for a moment.

"I'll tell the counter clerk this: Say 'I will charge a consultation fee' from the start. If they don't like that, just tell them to leave. People who truly value their trip will pay the money properly."

"A consultation fee, huh," Ryota mutters.

"Information isn't free. Time isn't free either. Only those who understand that are true customers."

A warm breeze blows across the veranda. Grandpa takes some candies out of a bag and hands one each to Ryota and Men-chan.

"Information is a part of someone's life. Treat it with care."

"If something stays in your heart, give it a 'Like'."