Chapter 101
Chapter 101. Resolution (1)
Late at night. An emergency meeting of Y&P Trading Company's executive staff was held.
The attendees were Penelope, Serena, Jurgen, Belheim, and Baron Keystone, who had rushed over on the night train from Golden Hill. Brigitte was absent, as she was still a minor and had to be in bed before midnight.
"So, how was the food in the Financial Supervisory Service's interrogation room?"
"They didn't give me any food."
"Well, I thought they only lacked manners, but it turns out they're stingy with hospitality too."
Baron Keystone arrived and immediately smirked upon seeing Jurgen.
"Thank you so much for your help."
"A man built like a bear, moving like a fox. You trusted me alone from the start and let yourself get caught on purpose, didn't you?"
By now, the Culinary Revolution was a cherished cause for Baron Keystone as well. This was not a bond that would waver under mere external pressure.
Still, Baron Keystone was inwardly concerned.
"Jurgen, this matter turned out well enough, but…… bear this in mind. Don't push too hard relying solely on me."
"Push too hard?"
"I helped because this was to my benefit as well. I'm grateful you trusted me, but…… what would you have done if I had stabbed you in the back? You should always have two or three escape tunnels dug."
In response to Baron Keystone's admonishment, Jurgen answered nonchalantly.
"I had contingencies in place."
"Well, from here on out…… hm? What did you just say?"
"Every accounting record of Y&P Trading Company is spotless."
Naturally. A former high-ranking Britannia government official committing tax fraud. Absolutely unthinkable.
"That's not something so easily managed, my friend."
"It is the truth."
Just as Baron Keystone, unaware of the finer details, was about to say something, Branch Manager Belheim interjected.
"Even under the Financial Supervisory Service's magnifying glass, there would have been nothing to find."
"Is that really so?"
"I advised against going to such lengths, but…… at a time like this, it turns out to be quite a useful insurance policy. I learned something from this myself."
If Belheim, who assists with accounting matters, said so, then it was truly the case. Baron Keystone gave a small cough. He still had more to say.
"Ahem, the world doesn't always run cleanly. What if District Chief Donovan had falsified the records and pushed them through regardless?"
"That would have been no problem either."
"And why would that have been no problem?"
"All accounting ledgers have copies being submitted to the Royal Central Bank. If they had brought in falsified records, the Financial Supervisory Service would have been the ones in trouble."
"The Royal Central…… what?"
Belheim, an expert in this field, leaned forward and murmured quietly.
"It is one of the management transparency certification systems that was being promoted by the Royal Household."
Hearing it now, he recalled that former Minister of Internal Affairs Hanbin Ainsworth had once pushed for such a system. It had been rendered toothless when various interest groups pushed back and the condition of it being 'voluntary' was attached.
"What? Why on earth would anyone do something so mad?"
And for good reason…… What sane businessman would willingly march their company's books over to a quasi-governmental body one after another? What Jurgen had done was tantamount to clasping a chain around his own neck, or self-harm.
"It's a habit I have, being unable to feel at ease without keeping copies……."
At Jurgen's sheepish answer, Baron Keystone was left not just dumbfounded, but completely beside himself.
He had planned to make a great show of the heroic tale of giving District Chief Donovan a proper scolding. But by Jurgen's account, it seemed things would have resolved themselves fine even without his intervention.
And yet, at the same time——
"W-why are you looking at me like that?"
This admirable fellow! This commendable fellow! How could anyone be so entirely to his liking! No matter how he thought about it, he should have married his daughter off to Jurgen.
"You really are something……."
"Please never look at me with those eyes again."
As Jurgen recoiled in horror, Belheim brought the situation back on track.
"Let us set aside the small talk and get to the main point."
The reason everyone had gathered here tonight was to discuss the future of Y&P.
All eyes turned toward Penelope.
"……."
By rights, this was a meeting she had arranged with quite a heavy heart. Right up until she had collapsed into sleep, her chest had ached tremendously.
But…… Why was it?
Perhaps because Jurgen had been released from the Financial Supervisory Service without a scratch. Or perhaps it was because of this foolishly loud and boisterous atmosphere.
Her heart felt far more composed than she had expected.
"This entire affair was orchestrated by my elder sister Clarisse. More precisely, it was Bell, Clarisse's most trusted confidante, who masterminded it."
Her sister had likely returned to Albion by now. The negotiations with the Royal Household concerning the Rosemore succession were still ongoing.
The reactions among the executives upon learning this shocking truth varied.
"Hmm, sooner than expected."
For Belheim, an early investor in Y&P and someone who had long dreamed of 'the usurpation of Rosemore,' this was an anticipated risk.
"You must have had quite a lot on your mind. I offer my sincere condolences."
For Baron Keystone, who had already suspected as much, it was a pitiful affair.
"I…… I…… want to emigrate……."
For Serena, whose courage was no bigger than a rabbit's, it was a bolt from the blue.
This was no joke.
Serena's position differed from the other two.
Branch Manager Belheim, who would one day inherit the Devon Count Family after his marriage. Baron Keystone, who had been deeply rooted in the North for generations. And the Renoir Viscountcy?
A minor house that would be swept away like a tornado even if Rosemore merely breathed in its direction.
Of course, she had gained a great deal by aligning with Y&P…… And she had felt genuine pity watching Penelope slumped in low spirits……
But Serena was not made of strong enough stuff to endure the knowledge that the peace of her comfortable daily life had entered a countdown to detonation.
"Why? Are you thinking of pulling out?"
"Eeeeek!"
Penelope smiled and draped an arm around Serena's shoulders. Serena thought that arm felt terribly cold. Like a water ghost dragging her down.
"N-no…… still…… I have received a lot too…… A-ah…… ugh…… ugh…… I feel like such trash for even deliberating over this……."
"I'm joking."
"Huh?"
Penelope released Serena, who had been on the verge of bursting into tears.
"Serena, thank you sincerely for everything up until now. I mean that."
"……."
Teasing her had been fun, so she had played around a little, but her mind was already made up.
"I intend to relinquish my stake in the company. If I withdraw entirely from Y&P, Clarisse will no longer need to concern herself with Y&P Trading Company."
Saying it aloud, she found her heart surprisingly still. She had expected to be overcome with emotion, bursting into tears.
Sacrifice. That was Penelope's decision.
"Penelope……."
Serena grasped the full weight of that decision and berated herself.
'I really am trash……!'
Without a doubt, Penelope herself was the one hurting the most. Yet in the midst of that, the sight of Penelope setting everything aside for her comrades appeared so beautiful that even a Saint would bow her head.
"I cannot allow that."
"That won't do."
"That'll be difficult."
However, all three except Serena shot it down without hesitation.
"……Hm?"
Penelope tilted her head. She could understand Jurgen, but she had not anticipated Branch Manager Belheim and even Baron Keystone opposing her decision.
"Penelope, I did not say anything during the day as you seemed to be in no state to hear it, but relinquishing your stake will not mean very much."
"It won't mean much?"
Clarisse had described Penelope as a 'Risk.' Because in the matter of the succession, she could become a variable, however unlikely.
"The greatest variable for Clarisse is you yourself, Penelope. As long as Y&P continues to exist, you could become a stepping stone for her at any time."
"Precisely. In order to eliminate future threats, she would work to thoroughly dismantle Y&P."
"W-would she…… thoroughly dismantle the allied families around us as well……? I'm sorry……."
Serena had timidly chimed in, then quietly shrank back under everyone's gaze.
"In fact, your presence here is what serves as a shield."
Belheim nodded at Jurgen's words.
"The reason Y&P Trading Company is under attack is indeed because of you, Penelope, but conversely, the reason an all-out offensive is not possible is also thanks to you."
"I…… am a shield?"
Words she had never considered. Penelope furrowed her brow and searched her memory.
Penelope had suffered a great deal of 'unjust setbacks' all along. Even the malicious rumors that had swirled around her were very likely Clarisse's doing. By now, Clarisse had openly revealed her hostility, driving Penelope from the hotel and currently moving against Jurgen, her business partner.
But there was something all these attacks had in common. They had all been carried out 'covertly,' without exception.
"……I'll think on it."
Penelope gathered her thoughts. Facts she had not been able to see clearly, having been submerged in grief, began to come into focus.
The reason she had been targeted by her sister. The reason all of these events had unfolded in secret until now. The reason that even after Penelope had proven her ability, rather than receiving recognition, the interference against her had only grown greater.
And yet the reason Penelope could still serve as Y&P's shield.
"……Could it be because of the collateral lines?"
The Rosemore Count Family was powerful. But it was not a monolithic entity moving as one body.
Beneath the direct line existed numerous collateral branches, each with their own conflicting interests.
Elinor Rosemore, who had very nearly ended up facing off against Jurgen, was one such case.
From Clarisse's perspective, she was acting 'for the family's sake,' but…… From the perspective of Elinor's own father? Was it not an absurd situation where his carefully raised daughter was being handed off to a commoner businessman by the main family?
Some collateral branches may support Clarisse blindly, but others would want to extract a little more benefit for themselves amid the chaos.
In other words——
"She has to keep me in check while also maintaining the appearance of justification."
If they were to simply crush Penelope, a member of the family, on the sole grounds that she 'harms the family,' it would incite discontent among the collateral branches. Of course, it would be less out of sympathy and more out of the calculation that the arrows aimed at Penelope could turn on themselves at any moment.
The social circles' criticism of ruthlessly persecuting a younger sister when the game was already over could not be avoided either. All the more so not when Penelope was merely a 'useless flower,' but now that her ability had been verified through Y&P Trading Company.
"Our strategy is a single one."
Jurgen raised a finger and said——
"To deflect Clarisse's interference while growing Y&P Trading Company explosively in a short period of time. The more Y&P grows, the harder it will become for Clarisse to apply aggressive pressure."
In other words, a strategy of breaking through head-on.
But for this, Penelope's resolve was necessary.
Without crumbling beneath the loss of her life's goal, and with the readiness to treat the sister she had so desperately longed to be acknowledged by as an 'enemy.'
Jurgen asked silently, with his eyes alone.
Did she have that resolve?
Penelope looked around at the faces surrounding her anew. Everyone had their eyes fixed on Penelope.
It was truly a strange thing.
Until just a few hours ago, she had been busy weeping. The reconciliation with her sister had been all she had wanted her entire life.
And yet now, with the exact opposite path laid before her, she felt not the slightest fear, not the slightest unease.
Branch Manager Belheim, Baron Keystone, Serena. And Jurgen.
Though not bound by blood, perhaps these were the very people who were the family Penelope had longed for all along.
"I'll do it. Let's see it through."
The family bound together by the name of Y&P.
***
Marcus, the chairman of the Gray Council. While the other seats changed hands numerous times, he had held firm in his position as chairman throughout.
The reason was a simple one. The high-quality intelligence he possessed was an irreplaceable resource for other organizations within the city.
And the reason he had been able to attain that was singular. He was the hunting hound of Bell, Clarisse's most trusted confidante.
The quality intelligence Bell fed him became a great source of power for Marcus, and he had maintained his current standing by distributing it judiciously.
Just as a devil does not offer goodwill without a price, a nobleman's favor given without conditions does not exist. Marcus bore an obligation to complete this commission no matter what.
And so, without a moment's hesitation, he sought out his sharpest blade.
A casino Marcus operated. At a table where Baccarat was in full swing, a man sat slouched in his chair with a disreputable air, in the middle of a game.
"What is it?"
"Aiden, there's a job after a long while."
"Hold on, let me finish this game."
Scraggly beard and unkempt, disheveled hair. A mountain of cigarette butts piled high in the ashtray.
"Bloody hell…… Another Banker call here? 8 in a row?"
And to top it off, reckless betting that ended in spectacular losses. By any measure, the atmosphere around him screamed layabout.
"Damn it…… Another blank day. Hey, Marcus. Your casino isn't rigging the games, is it?"
"Do you come to casinos to win money?"
"Of course you gamble to win money. Why else would you do it, to lose?"
Indeed, Aiden lived a life bordering on that of a true layabout. Arriving early in the morning and pouring money into the casino until late at night was his daily routine.
The one who paid for the stakes every month, tens, sometimes over a hundred Crowns worth, was none other than Marcus.
"So, what's the mission this time?"
Aiden, lighting a cigarette in his slovenly way, but to Marcus's eyes, that figure looked nothing short of reassuring. That was precisely why he had spent all that considerable money.
"I'd like someone roughed up. A commoner."
"Ha, a commoner? What a loss of dignity. What kind of commoner?"
"I've sent the details to your lodgings."
Aiden made no attempt to hide his wounded pride.
"Marcus, have you forgotten who I am?"
"It is an important matter. Probably the most important among all the jobs I've ever entrusted to you. There won't be any mistakes, will there?"
And rightfully so.
Though he was addicted to gambling, addicted to alcohol, and addicted to nicotine…… And though he had fallen into an abyss of debt by betting beyond his means, living a life that had completely gone off the rails…… And though he had been harassing the staff, getting himself banned from every establishment except Marcus's casino…… If Marcus had a son like this, he would have struck him from the family registry on the spot……
"Why are you like this, have you forgotten where I'm from?"
Oh right, and he was the insufferable wretch who pocketed his pay without fail yet whenever given a job would go on and on about 'back in his glory days' with absolutely no sense of propriety……
"I'm Aiden. Yeah?"
But this man was Marcus's most powerful asset and fixer.
Former Special Agent. A genuinely capable man who had once belonged to the Secret Burial Unit.