Chapter 37
Chapter 37. The First Secret Plan (1)
Branch Manager Belheim carefully reviewed the document containing the 'secret plan.'
Jurgen occasionally answered his questions.
About 30 minutes later.
"This is a sharply painful blow."
Branch Manager Belheim stroked his beard and smiled.
His gaze was fixed intently on Jurgen.
"This may be an impertinent question, but... Mr. Jurgen, do you have a particular family you're hostile toward?"
"I don't have any in particular."
"Hmm, I see. If that's the setting you're going with, then so be it. In any case, this is truly impressive. Remarkable."
If his demeanor until now had been that of a cold-blooded banker, now he seemed somehow like a chess player before a chess board.
A refreshing smile that revealed unexpected pleasure at how the game had unfolded.
"I never imagined you'd have not just one, but two game changers."
"We prepared in advance."
"Is this a feasible technology?"
"Here's a feasibility review from Renoir Workshop. Manufacturing has already begun."
Penelope showed him the review prepared by Serena.
The Renoir family seal was holographically embedded on every page.
"Your preparation is thorough."
This material proved that Y&P had a chance of winning this war.
It showed they weren't hungry enough to pick up poisoned food.
In other words, there was room to change the terms.
"Since the game has changed, you'll be proposing new terms."
"Yes, instead of investment that would require sharing equity, we'd like to borrow 10,000 Crowns as a loan."
"A loan instead of investment..."
"Of course, we'll pay fees in addition to interest."
Belheim tapped his temple with his finger.
Penelope swallowed and waited for his response.
In any case, Jurgen's game changer could only be most successfully deployed with Belheim's help.
'Please accept it...'
'Please.'
"That was impressive."
"Then..."
"However, our bank won't approve a simple loan. Even if it were approved, such a high-risk business would require corresponding equity to offset the risk."
Jurgen's secret plan was an innovative gamble.
In the end, it was a 'gamble.'
From Devon Trust's perspective, the Cola business wouldn't be worth such a gamble.
'From Devon Trust's perspective,' that is.
"Then it seems we've reached the end."
"Thank you for your hospitality. Next time I'll treat you to a meal."
The moment Jurgen and Penelope exchanged glances and started to rise from their seats.
"Wait."
As expected, Belheim raised his index finger to stop the two.
"Give me time to think."
Belheim pondered.
Y&P wanted a 10,000 Crown loan without giving up equity.
Additionally, they were requesting Devon Trust's network and cooperation.
The secret plan was quite a good idea, but even if successful, there was no guarantee it would capture 100% market share.
In other words, the risk remained high.
Just because he was a branch manager didn't mean he could ignore the bank's procedures.
Devon Trust probably wouldn't get involved even if he brought Penelope's proposal as is.
However, this beverage war involved Keystone Company and Rex Salisbury.
Rex Salisbury, 8th Seat of the Gray Council, representative of Salisbury Financial.
Devon Trust received money from high-ranking nobles and provided loans or investments to viscounts and emerging companies.
But Devon Trust's essence was closer to a corporate hunter than an investment bank.
One of its main revenue models was executing collateral rights when debtor companies defaulted, acquiring quality collateral assets.
Sometimes they directly intervened to push companies into default.
The problem was that Salisbury Financial intervened at this point.
Those vultures conducted high-interest refinancing loans at the point when collateral execution was imminent.
They paid off the debts the debtor company owed and charged murderous interest rates.
Debtors didn't want to lose everything to the bank, so they grabbed onto Rex's coattails and had their blood sucked dry until death.
Devon Trust could recover principal and interest, but lost the quality collateral assets that were the real target to Salisbury Financial.
Belheim had to watch Rex snatch away prey he'd worked hard on multiple times.
You wouldn't know unless you'd experienced it.
This really made his blood boil backwards.
But what if Y&P succeeded in counterattacking with the money and power Belheim lent them?
Rex, who was acting as Keystone Company's lackey, would eat quite a bitter pill.
Given the scale of what was happening, Rex must have made a considerable investment.
This should produce quite a satisfying scene.
"Good."
A decision was reached.
"A loan through the bank is still impossible... But I'll lend you my personal funds. I'll even help you find 'partners' to join this plan."
Belheim inwardly expected the two to show surprise or moved reactions.
With such a dramatic proposal, he deserved to expect that.
He was even ready to proudly explain his decisiveness and the reasons for his generosity.
However.
The two weren't surprised or shocked at all.
They simply maintained composure as if they'd known Belheim would react this way.
"Ahem..."
At their too-composed demeanor, Belheim concealed his embarrassment with a cough.
Had he misspoken?
Or had they misunderstood?
Then, a hypothesis flashed through his mind.
"Well, well..."
Soon Belheim realized.
Penelope and Jurgen hadn't come to Devon Trust Bank—they'd come to Gideon Belheim.
From the moment they first visited, they'd considered the friction between Belheim and Rex and come to propose 'Shall we screw that bastard over together?'
He'd been completely read.
"I wasn't the one in control."
To think these two, from whom he hadn't expected much, would show such splendid cooperative play.
This is why he couldn't quit this job.
"Miss Penelope, you're scarier than you look."
"Not at all."
Belheim, who had been serious, smiled cheerfully.
Penelope also curled up the corners of her mouth into a grin.
***
"Yes, Baron. The factory construction is going smoothly too. Yep, good work... you fucking son of a bitch."
As soon as he finished the call with Baron Keystone, Rex added a curse.
"He's brilliant at sniffing out money sources... Even making me pay for the factory construction. He's got me by the ankle good."
Not knowing whose credit it was that Berrymix performed this well, he kept demanding additional investment.
It was a ploy to bind their ankles together so Rex couldn't change his mind and stab him in the back later.
Rex was ambitious.
Who in the Gray Council didn't have ambition, but at least in Rex's own opinion, no one had as much decisiveness as him.
Before the 'month of concession' decided by the Council even ended, he'd sought out Baron Keystone.
He conspired to devour the Nortaris beverage industry together.
Baron Keystone, already drooling, immediately accepted the proposal.
They gathered all the Berrymix inventory from Golden Hill, Riverport, and Blackville and threw it into Nortaris while accepting losses.
The volume in just the first week reached 2 million bottles.
Now in the third week, over 2.5 million bottles had been released into the market.
Rex blocked Cola through various methods while simultaneously clearing the way for Berrymix to quickly penetrate distribution gaps.
The tide of the market share war tilted more toward Berrymix with each passing day.
Rex and Baron Keystone prepared to drive the final nail in.
The establishment of a local manufacturing plant in Nortaris, which they'd just discussed by phone, was exactly that.
Liquid is heavy.
The bottles containing it are fragile.
The reason Berrymix currently incurred losses with each bottle sold was the insane distribution costs.
Having secured the market, now was the time to ensure profitability.
Keystone was building the largest-scale beverage factory in the New Industrial District as quickly as possible.
Keystone had maxed out his borrowing to invest in factory establishment.
Rex also provided half the funding under the name of investment.
They paid above market rate to acquire the site due to rushing, but timing was everything in these matters.
It was worth accepting the loss.
News came that Y&P Trading Company was hurriedly building Factory No. 2, but it was already too late.
The factory scale alone had a 5-times difference.
"I want to make this more certain..."
However, Rex wanted more assurance.
After all, Cola was a popular product.
Berrymix's current market share stemmed from Cola's lack of supply capacity.
They might catch up and overtake eventually.
Well, there would be methods for that time too... but was there any need to wait?
Rex had violence.
The outlaw group 'Black Fang Gang' embedded in the Demon Realm were his subordinates.
"Can't touch Penelope..."
Even knowing the rumors about her wielding influence over the Gray Council were false, directly touching Penelope still felt uncomfortable.
She might be a weed, but she was a poisonous flower blooming in Rosemore's garden.
Rex didn't want to follow Blyton's example.
"The commoner..."
Jurgen, who held half the equity.
Though his identity was quite suspicious, he was easier prey compared to Penelope.
But he stuck too closely to Penelope, so opportunities wouldn't come easily.
"Then..."
There happened to be a very easy target.
While also being deeply involved as a connection to this Cola business.
***
"Phew..."
Twenty days had passed since Serena received a new commission from Penelope.
Twenty days had also passed since Serena returned to the bed at her home.
"I, I can't do it. I can't do it anymore..."
"Miss, let's go in and rest today."
"Should I...?"
Since Serena took on the team leader position at Renoir Workshop, this was the first time she'd been this swamped with work... but this was excessive.
Too excessive even for excessive.
And she couldn't pass it to anyone else either.
It was a shame to hand the achievement to another workshop, but...
The equipment involved in this new work contained Y&P Trading Company's core technology.
It was also a secret plan to counter Keystone Company.
'Both of our secret plans must proceed while maintaining maximum confidentiality, Lady Renoir.'
Especially, when an unexpected person came and earnestly requested this.
None other than the big shot who was the Devon Trust Bank branch manager personally descended to make the request.
The two had somehow pulled even one of Nortaris's key players into this war.
"How big is this getting... If I'm like this... I'm too scared..."
That aside...
Serena's conversation with the branch manager remained vivid in her mind.
As Branch Manager Belheim inspected the equipment, when only he and Serena remained, he subtly asked:
'Do you happen to know which family Mr. Jurgen belongs to?'
'Y-yes? I, I really don't know. Other than that he's capable...'
'I thought someone like Miss Serena might have an idea. Beaumont? Brunet? Pelford?'
'I, I truly don't know... I'm sorry I can't be of help...'
Thinking Jurgen was hiding his identity, Serena evaded the question.
There was no need to blabber unnecessarily when it might offend an industry senior.
But looking back, it was strange.
Belheim naturally asked which 'family' Jurgen belonged to.
Even though he'd been introduced as a commoner earlier.
Serena's timidity radar soon grasped the truth.
Branch Manager Belheim hadn't asked because he was truly curious about Jurgen's identity.
He was testing whether Serena was someone who carelessly leaked information.
Belheim had certainly ended the conversation with a meaningful smile.
'I was careless. The heavier the lips, the better, right?'
Running it through the social circles translator:
'Good job. Just keep doing this, okay?'
That's what it meant.
What if she'd said 'I think so too' or named a specific family?
Serena couldn't help but tremble.
Stepping into the world of the 'real' was nerve-wracking yet exciting yet anticipating yet...
...too exhausting.
"I'm clocking out for now..."
"You've made a wise decision. We'll take care of everything else."
"That's right. Get plenty of rest, plenty."
Fortunately, her home was near the workshop.
Let's just sleep soundly for 8 hours.
Sleep deprivation was the enemy of skin.
As Serena walked with drooping shoulders.
—Vroooom!!!
A vehicle charged fiercely behind her.
"Huh? Uh-uh...?"
When the car that had briefly stopped started moving again, only swirling dust remained.