Chapter 34
Chapter 34. Cola Just Helped (1)
Cola was released to the market.
The price was 2 pence per 355ml bottle.
It could be purchased at the Cola Wholesale Direct Sales Location at the warehouse branch near Nortaris Central Station, with a purchase limit of 100 bottles per person.
Social circles where the upper classes mingled were quick with rumors.
Though there was variation in timing, social circles had anticipated 'mass production of Cola' even before the factory was built.
From around that time, they quickly removed the Cola they'd been displaying in hats, bags, or wine cellars.
Because Cola that anyone could obtain no longer had value.
"Cola? That was fun for a while. But wasn't it about time for it to get stale anyway?"
"I always thought it was strange that Cola was trending."
"Common sense-wise, the situation where a bottle of beverage was trading for up to dozens of Crowns was abnormal. Now it's normalized."
"It's human madness. Truly fleeting."
The social circle figures who'd been frantically chasing Cola became more rational intellectuals than anyone else as if they'd never done so, thoroughly criticizing and self-correcting the deformed trend-chasing phenomenon.
Acting completely innocent as if they'd never once been swayed by such trends.
The 'who can get the most Cola game' season was over.
However, for some Cola was simply a game, but for others it was an investment.
They suffered direct damage from Cola's mass production.
"No, what does that mean! Mass selling Cola? Why do such foolish things! Then what about the Cola I've been buying at markup all this time!"
"I equally don't understand. They could've just left it alone and made hundreds of Crowns each."
"Tsk tsk, what would a young lady raised so preciously know? Everyone and their dog talks about business, business, thinking if they just set up a factory money will pour in endlessly."
Among them, the one raising the loudest voice of criticism was Viscount Vance from the Merchant Association.
"How outrageous!"
He trembled his goat-like beard and denounced.
"All this time making unreasonable excessive profits from Cola, while preparing to screw me over behind my back?"
Those around showed knowing reactions.
"That's what investment is."
"Still, didn't you profit nicely in the meantime?"
He was a man who'd reached first-generation nobility through shrewd hoarding strategies, but...
This time the results weren't good.
He'd started hoarding simultaneously with Cola's trend, but suddenly Penelope declared a factory drift and his entire fortune flew away.
"That girl Penelope did this targeting me, I tell you. Why else would she sell dozens of bottles only to me while selling two or three to others!"
"Viscount Vance, isn't that too much of a stretch?"
"Couldn't you have sold then? I understand you're upset about losing money, but you have to take responsibility for your own choices."
Whatever others' reactions, Vance had definite suspicions.
Because Viscount Vance had been talking behind Penelope's back at every opportunity.
Being a daughter of none other than Count Rosemore's family, yet there were no problems no matter how much he insulted her!
For Vance, who felt deep inferiority about his origins, Penelope was a good punching bag he could beat as much as he wanted to relieve stress and feel petty superiority.
This Cola incident was definitely Penelope getting deliberate revenge.
"I'm telling you it's true... Penelope did this to dunk me..."
"Oh my, this person is being so pathetic."
Even the people offering halfhearted consolation were clearly getting annoyed.
'What the fuck do they want us to do about it.'
'Viscount Vance is past his prime too.'
'Not even a kid and whining. Are we his nanny?'
The reason Viscount Vance could remain in social circles was because he was wealthy.
Vance, going around everywhere blabbing that he'd lost all his money, had no value.
"He's coming right over there. If you're so wronged, go confront him."
Following someone's pointing finger with his gaze, indeed Penelope was passing by.
"Miss Penelope! I have something to say!"
Vance, who'd been seething, strode toward Penelope.
Smiling on the outside but probably twisted up inside.
'A green young blood doing such tricks!'
Recently, with memorandums circulating, there were ridiculous rumors that she'd actually been hiding her abilities, or was the mastermind moving the Gray Council, but Vance didn't believe any of it.
The girl who couldn't even squeak when openly gossiped about behind her back?
The rookie who just recently came to Vance stomping her feet asking 'How should I sell Cola?' requesting help?
Nonsense.
"Miss Penelope, let's talk for a moment. I have something to say about Cola."
Penelope, who'd stopped still and waited for Vance to approach, tossed out a remark.
"Who were you again?"
A tone as if he wasn't even on her radar.
Vance forced down his anger and smiled good-naturedly.
"Hehe, why are you like this between us? Don't you remember me buying 3 boxes of Cola from you?"
"Ah, I remember."
"When Miss Penelope was having difficulty with Cola distribution, this Vance rolled up his sleeves and handled it for you, didn't I? But suddenly you turn on the factory and stab me in the back? This is a clear breach of contract!"
"So?"
"Not 'so'... Phew, Miss Penelope must be young and not know much, but breach of contract is a serious matter. I suffered great damage because you proceeded unilaterally without agreement. I rightfully demand compensation."
Penelope laughed lightly as if it was absurd.
"I asked you to sell Cola for me, did I threaten you to hoard it with your entire fortune?"
"Th-that wasn't hoarding! It was quantity control to maintain scarcity! Don't you even know this basic thing? It was for everyone's benefit!"
"Oh my, to think you thought of me that much..."
Trailing off, Penelope looked piercingly at Viscount Vance.
"No wait, Viscount Vance did think of me a lot normally too. Right?"
Cold condescension stripped of nasal tones.
A chilling gleam appeared in the red eyes that had at least superficially contained a smile.
Viscount Vance felt his heart drop.
If it wasn't an illusion, those were the merciless eyes of a hunter looking at a beast caught in a snare.
"Wh-what do you mean by that?"
"Viscount Vance should know better than me, no?"
Indeed, she knew the truth.
Then as Vance expected, she'd dumped Cola on him for revenge.
His speculation was right, so normally he should be celebrating...
Vance couldn't at all.
"J-just how much do you know..."
"Rather than how much I know... It seems more important whether you know who you're spouting nonsense to right now. Don't you think so?"
Everything was falsehood, deception, lies.
The Penelope that Viscount Vance had known until now and the Penelope before his eyes now were completely different people.
A news headline floated up in Viscount Vance's head.
'Polar Sun's CEO, Edwin Blyton found hanged in company building.'
Perhaps the follow-up article could be 'Viscount Vance who habitually insulted Rosemore family's daughter found hanged at home.'
Before Viscount Vance with trembling legs, Penelope smiled sweetly and asked.
"Do we have more business? I need to go receive investment proposals."
Viscount Vance, as well as the people watching that scene, realized.
A person who could bury their political enemy without batting an eye.
That was Penelope Rosemore.
***
Nortaris Central Station, the northern landmark made of steel arches and glass domes.
Because Nortaris was the North's largest city and food production area, all routes crossing the North passed through this station.
Because of that, the old-fashioned waiting room was always packed with travelers in thick coats and merchants going to and from outside, and was notorious for pickpockets.
But just for today, it was quiet enough for flies to buzz around.
Because one beverage wholesale direct sales shop near Central Station had sucked in all the attention and footsteps.
The Nortaris specialty is loved by Bellaby.
That beverage nobles had been anxious to obtain even a single bottle of.
Cola had officially started sales.
"Move! I was here first!"
"What are you saying! I've been waiting with a tent since 3 AM, won't you get lost?"
The direct sales location, converted from what had been a warehouse, was packed with people.
Someone who didn't know the situation grabbed a passing person and asked.
"Tsk tsk, people really have nothing to do. What beverage makes them line up like that? Are they selling an elixir of immortality?"
"You don't know what you're talking about... Cola. They say they're selling Cola."
"What?! Cola? Can I still buy it if I line up now?"
"I'm not sure, but just get behind me."
The line was so long the end wasn't visible, and it was uncertain whether they could buy Cola even if they waited all day, but...
People's faces were full of anticipation instead of irritation and complaints.
"Ooh, finally I get to taste that Cola..."
"Don't tell me you've never had Cola before?"
"Of course! How could I have tried something so precious?"
"I already tried it when they sold it at End of the Galley. Ah... I should've hoarded it and sold it instead of drinking it then..."
"Oh dear... So what does it taste like?"
"The best."
The beverage that Bellaby had highly praised.
Because it became so rare afterward, even snobbish nobles were anxious to obtain a single bottle.
The opportunity to drink for only 2 pence the luxurious beverage that had gone for up to dozens of Crowns per bottle couldn't be passed up.
Though social circles' interest had waned, the Cola 'brand' they'd gilded still shone with a halo.
"According to plan."
Jurgen watched that scene with satisfaction from the wholesale shop's second floor.
This was it.
This picture he'd been drawing since requesting Cola promotion from Bellaby.
The masses have ambivalent feelings of pointing fingers at high society while also admiring it.
They try to imitate, copy, and recreate the culture of the upper class.
There are many examples.
After the French Revolution, when noble exclusive chefs opened restaurants, 'fine dining' culture formed centered on the bourgeoisie.
Hotel stays or omakase costing hundreds of thousands of won per night or per meal becoming popular packaged as 'special experiences.'
You can tell from how the main target of 'luxury goods' with absurd prices is the middle class.
To say it again, consumers consume a product's image.
At this point, who could say 'Cola? Isn't that a lowly beverage the lower classes drink?'
At least within Nortaris, Cola's brand was solid.
Until they all tried Cola once, this craze wouldn't die down.
However.
This was only the starting point.
The goal was to spread this fever throughout the entire North, and further, the entire kingdom.
For that, money was needed.
A lot of money was needed.
"Jurgen, you here?"
Penelope came up from downstairs.
She'd said there was a tea party at 'Tiffany Salon' in the afternoon, and she seemed to have returned.
"What what, why are there so many people! I had trouble getting in."
Upon returning and seeing the long waiting line, a smile of satisfaction appeared on Penelope's lips.
Though she grumbled outwardly, her cheeks were flushed red with undisguisable achievement and passion.
"Welcome back, Miss Penelope. Was the tea party enjoyable?"
She made her characteristic mischievous smile and sashayed over.
"You, if you knew what I brought back, you couldn't be so carefree."
Penelope pulled out documents and spread them like a fan with a swoosh.
"What's that?"
"Investment proposals. Everyone seems heated up."
Penelope didn't go around drinking tea just for fun either.
In Britannia, business runs not just on money but on status, connections, and the networks derived from them.
Social circles are also a place of opportunity where all of that is tangled like a spider web.
"I filtered out all the worthless proposals and picked only the decent ones. Want to look? I think it's right to consult with you."
"Show me."
The Cola business outlook was bright.
There were that many good proposals.
"First is the proposal from Marquis Ashford's side. He's a City Council Senator and also goes in and out of the House of Nobles, the center of central politics. His business is mining—it's no exaggeration to say every shiny pebble in the North goes through his hands."
"What are the investment conditions?"
"Immediate 1,000 Crown cash investment and 2,000 Crown conditional loan. Requirements are 10% stake. Royalty of 0.1 pence per bottle for 4 times the loan amount."
At first glance, it looks like a thief's mentality to take large stake and royalty with small investment.
However, this was a proposal worth sufficient consideration.
Just the rumor that 'Marquis Ashford invested' would give Y&P Trading Company social credibility.
Also, him holding stake meant the more Cola grew, the more the marquis's share increased.
He would become a political umbrella against various troubles and checks that would pour down like hail from now on.
Knowing that, he made such a lowball proposal.
"The Merchant Association proposed a 10,000 Crown investment. They're asking for a 15% stake. Instead, the condition is that all future Cola distribution must only go through Merchant Association affiliated transport guilds."
This wasn't bad either.
Instead of delegating the distribution network they needed anyway, they could build several more Cola factories right now.
"Next is Countess Rambouillet. She'll invest 5,000 Crowns for a 7% stake. The other conditions are a bit annoying though..."
"What conditions?"
"Whenever she holds charity parties at central events, she wants us to officially sponsor under Y&P's name. In my view, this isn't a loss either. Countess Rambouillet is quite successful in central social circles."
Penelope secretly hoped.
For instance, a reaction like 'Wow! Thanks to Miss Penelope, our company is running!'
However.
Jurgen, who'd been stroking his chin, pulled out an answer Penelope couldn't have imagined.
"Miss Penelope, I want to refuse the investments."