Chapter 18
Chapter 18. Competition is Not Fair (1)
If one were to compare human relationships to chemical reactions.
The pitch-black night would be like a catalyst that promotes such chemical reactions.
For instance, a man and woman who are attracted to each other would share sweet whispers of love, and when a defenseless passerby meets a robber, they would engage in a cordial monetary transaction.
And when the branch manager of 'Devon Trust Bank' and a city council senator meet under the moonlight, they would exchange lobbying.
This is common sense.
"Senator, I heard the city council is handling an interesting agenda these days. I understand you're discussing port expansion as a public works project."
"Nortaris is developing indeed. Hasn't the port cargo volume increased by 50% over five years? The current facilities can't handle it. But the problem is..."
"It would be the allocation of expansion sites."
"Hehe, this fellow's intuition. That's why I like you."
"Haven't you and I known each other for more than just a year or two?"
"That's right. I always have many things to be grateful to you for. But speaking of which, are we going to talk business all day today? Let's have another drink."
The senator before him was a veteran lawmaker with 40 years of political life.
A wily old fox with strong influence even in the senate.
He would have been anticipating what favor would be asked from the moment they arranged this private meeting.
"People these days always come looking for ports whenever they see me—I should change my name to Port at this rate. I'm tired to death! Uhahaha!"
So the senator's beating around the bush was nothing other than this.
A euphemistic political signal saying 'I have friends other than you, you know? What can you give me?'
"You're always working day and night for Nortaris's sake. I wonder if this would serve as modest support for such efforts."
The branch manager took out a heavy bag and placed it on the table.
Inside the opened bag shone stiff bundles of bearer bonds and gold coins neatly tied with bands.
"Huh, what's all this between us."
"It's a clean gift prepared by our company's smartest fellows. There should be no problem using it as your political funds, Senator."
"It's thicker than usual, isn't it?"
"I've put in five times more. You just need to use your influence so that our bank's owned land gets selected as an official development zone."
"Hmm..."
However, the toad-like senator just smacked his lips and didn't readily accept the bag.
Well, it was quite a deal.
Real estate development was a gold mine where blind money would gush forth once you broke ground.
Various trading companies, corporations, and nobles would be engaging in fierce lobbying competition behind the scenes.
"It seems this doesn't quite satisfy you."
"It's not that, but..."
To gain the support of an influential senator, a more decisive 'knockout blow' was needed.
The branch manager smiled confidently and took out another bag.
"Then how about adding this on top?"
"Oh? Oh! Ooh... Ooooh!!!"
A document bag with red silk lining the interior.
And as if that wasn't enough, wrapped preciously in white cloth was...
"Th-this is Cola, isn't it? Six whole bottles of this precious thing?"
"Kukuk, it was difficult to obtain. Do you see the production date on the bottle caps? These aren't items that were buried in some dust pit. It's fresh Cola directly acquired from yesterday's production."
Someone of a senator's level had money rotting away so much they could smell gold coins decomposing.
The bribe that moves such a person's heart must be 'something difficult to obtain even with money.'
"Besides this, there's a whole case of 30 bottles in the trunk. Please take it comfortably."
"Uha! Uhahaha! Our branch manager is really generous! My daughter has been nagging me endlessly about this Cola! Thanks to you, branch manager, my face will be completely saved! Let's toast! Toast!"
"To Devon Trust Bank's site acquisition...!"
"Cheers!"
The world of power holders where bribes and lobbying run rampant.
Cola gained attention as the best 'gift.'
This topical nature of Cola wasn't limited to just solicitation and politics.
It had been a month since Bellaby left.
Spring had come even to the frigid city of Nortaris.
Though the bitter cold that would make people from other regions not want to leave their blankets continued...
"Ohoho!"
"Ahaha!"
"Huhuu!"
For the collective noble young ladies of Nortaris, who carried the northern climate in their hearts, it was perfect weather for an outdoor tea time.
The young ladies, each dressed in fine gowns, chatted while laughing with their hands covering their mouths, seemingly finding something very amusing.
"Ohoho, everyone, I received a bag as a gift from Father this time?"
"Oh my! Isn't that a BRUNNEN Hover Bag NO.8?"
"Wow, this graceful crescent silhouette! I heard it's made of hippo leather? How envious..."
However, it would be a mistake to misunderstand.
Just as social gatherings are battlefields for nobles, such small tea parties are also small battlefields.
If you thought the above conversation was simple bragging, your understanding of 'nobles' is still insufficient.
If you observe closely, their eyes are saying this:
'Damn! I was going to bring that first!'
'I liked that one too when I saw the catalog! Now if I bring that, it'll obviously look like I want to fight!'
'I hate you!!! I wanted a senior senator father too!!!'
Though it might seem childish at first glance, this too is part of politics.
Power is ultimately an intangible byproduct arising from human chemical reactions.
It starts from others' 'recognition.'
The young lady from Marquis Ashford's family, who just showed off the Brunnen Hover Bag, had gotten her hands on the bag faster than anyone.
This immediately proved her family's power, connections, and wealth, and furthermore proved her father's 'investment' in Lady Ashford.
In other words, she had shown off that Lady Ashford was worth that much.
'But... it's not over yet.'
'I understand you want to show off your vanity, but a Brunnen Hover Bag alone isn't enough. After all, it's something anyone can buy anytime if they just pay and wait.'
'Hmph, I heard Marquis Ashford's family isn't what it used to be after messing up their mining business—is it really true?'
The other young ladies launched their counterattack.
"It's reeeally pretty, but... Am I the only one who feels like there's juuust a tiny bit of a disappointing part that seems to be missing?"
"Indeed. Though it's a wonderful design since it's a Brunnen product, it still feels a bit empty? Don't you feel that way, Lady Ashford?"
"It would be so pretty if it had Cola like this."
They showed off their own 'weapons' as if to say 'look at this.'
Cola tucked diagonally into each of their bags.
Cola placed like decoration on top of hats.
And Cola that had been turned into decorative items by simply attaching jewels and such to the Cola bottle itself.
They were saying:
'Well, how about this?'
'Fashion isn't complete without Cola.'
Lady Ashford, receiving their challenging gazes, snorted as if it was ridiculous.
"Oh my, I was forgetting. Ohoho! Maid?"
She called her maid and instructed her to bring Cola, then began completing her own 'fashion.'
One bottle, two bottles, three bottles of Cola tucked diagonally into the hover bag.
The Brunnen hover bag that even the capital's nobles coveted was, at this moment, nothing more than a Cola holder.
"Oh my, three bottles are indeed a bit heavy."
"Th-three whole bottles of Cola... As expected of Marquis Ashford's family."
"A-amazing. The hover bag seems complete."
Truly an overwhelming proof showing the 'class' of the family.
"Three bottles are indeed too heavy, so shall I just drink one?"
"What?! You're going to... drink the Cola...?"
"What are you saying? Originally Cola is meant to be drunk?"
"I-I'm fine. I'm full. Hahaha."
Everyone averted their eyes at Lady Ashford's proposal, confident of victory.
'Am I crazy? Gulp down this expensive thing?'
'How do I know if I can get it again next time!'
'I borrowed this from my sister!'
Today's tea party winner has been decided.
Lady Ashford, who not only brought three bottles of Cola but was now gulp gulp drinking one of them.
Everyone lowered their tails before that deadly spiritual pressure.
Instead, they began looking for a more manageable victim.
'You're perfectly timed.'
'Let's go with that girl?'
Lady Renoir, who had been shrinking her shoulders and reading the mood, became the target.
"Miss Serena Renoir."
"Y-yes?!"
"Come to think of it, Miss Serena said you were going to get Cola too. Did you succeed this time?"
"Um, well..."
Serena Renoir, who looked timid at first glance, was the weakest in this tea party.
Unlike the other young ladies who were members of noble families with long histories, the Renoir family was a first-generation noble family with an engineer background.
That's why her title was also 'Miss Serena.'
If she ended up just being trampled by Lady Ashford, it wouldn't save face, so they were trying to secure their dignity by laying Serena, who was easy prey, on the ground.
"I did... bring it..."
"Oh my! If you brought it, please show us!"
"You said you got it last time!"
Despite the urging from those around Serena, she desperately pushed the Cola bottle deeper into her bag.
An item her mother had prepared telling her not to be discouraged.
However, unlike the other young ladies who brought new products, this one had already been opened and was more than half empty.
If she took it out now, she would only buy everyone's ridicule.
"I'm sorry! I forgot I had riding lessons today!"
Serena escaped from the tea party as if running away.
'She doesn't even have Cola?'
'The Renoir family is a viscountcy that's first-generation nobility. 50 years ago, they wouldn't have even dreamed of sitting at such a gathering. Tsk.'
'Not knowing her place and trying to fit in. How ridiculous.'
Such ridicule seemed to pierce her back.
"Sob... sniff... sob..."
Serena cried.
She cried because she was sad and she cried because she was angry.
It wasn't that the Renoir family particularly lacked money.
However, at present, Cola wasn't something you could get simply by having money.
It didn't even appear at auctions and only minimal quantities flowed through personal connections.
Unfortunately, the Renoir family's influence couldn't get their hands on Cola.
"No, there is a way..."
If the rumor Serena had heard was true...
She could do it.
She could get Cola.
However, this method was like selling one's soul to the devil.
If handled carelessly, it could develop into a terrible scandal that would end Serena Renoir's social life.
"Father, Mother..."
Serena recalled the tea party from earlier.
That moment of humiliation that was shameful like swallowing mud.
The texture of bitter, stinging humiliation that wouldn't leave her mouth even after a long time.
She would definitely pay them back.
Even if this body would be torn apart by pointing fingers, she wouldn't back down like this.
Venom swirled in Serena's eyes.
Her footsteps were already heading toward the source of the rumor.
"If my memory is correct..."
According to rumors, there was a person who manufactured and distributed this Cola.
Though unbelievable, the person's identity was Penelope Rosemore, owner of The Richfield Hotel and called by the derogatory nickname 'Useless Flower.'
How the young lady of Count Rosemore's family, whom even the Ashford family would respect, became such an object of ridicule was still a mystery.
However, separate from such questions, the social world was a cruel law.
Anyone who associated with the thoroughly isolated Penelope would be treated like 'Huh? Isn't that person on the same level as Penelope?' and would be isolated together.
"E-excuse me."
Serena opened the office door, clutching her pounding heart.
In the intentionally darkened space.
Bathed in sunlight streaming through the mosaic glass window like a halo.
A woman sat there.
A bright red dress that seemed to imprint her presence as if refusing to hide from the mockery heard everywhere.
Bright and radiant blonde hair flowing like sweet honey.
Arrogant and rough, yet beautiful red eyes.
She was too beautiful to be called a devil, yet looked too dangerous to be called an angel...
'Ah, this person is...'
The mother of Cola.
The heretic of the Rosemore family.
The one who would become an official outcast in social circles if you played with her.
"Penelope Rosemore..."
"Yeah, you came looking for me?"
Serena came to her senses at the dry, withered rose-like voice.
Then she hurriedly took off her hat and knelt down.
"I-I heard that if I deal with you, I can get Cola."
"So?"
"......"
Scary.
Serena was at a loss for words.
The words 'Please give me Cola' wouldn't come out of her throat.
It was because she was afraid of being permanently buried in social circles if she got involved with her wrongly.
At the same time, it was because she wasn't confident she could be as confident as Penelope if she ended up in such a situation.
She would probably become weak-hearted and die.
But she asked herself again.
What about humbly passing on the contemptuous ridicule like now?
Wasn't such misery already death?
Right.
It wasn't time to be consumed by fear.
"I don't need friends or anything! It's fine if I become an outcast like you! Instead, please give me Cola! I'll pay any price!"
Serena Renoir shouted like Faust selling his soul to the devil.
"What, what are you saying?! I have friends, you know?"
Penelope shouted angrily.