One Last Job Before We Go
France and Cazar grimaced.
"Why are you so obsessed with 'France Corporation' anyway?" France asked.
"Exactly," Cazar chimed in. "If it were a cool name, I'd understand, but it sounds like some cheap merchant guild."
Are you insulting every corporation currently existing on Earth? I thought. No, wait, that wasn't what was important right now.
"Ahem. That's not the issue right now. What matters is that we are going to absorb the Frida brand itself."
France looked skeptical. "How do you plan on absorbing them? Frida is already widely considered the largest brand in the Empire. Swallowing a giant like that is no simple task."
She was right. For a newly established startup to swallow a household name like Frida was normally impossible. But that was only assuming Frida remained intact.
"Frida will collapse from within," I said. "Because they are about to lose their ability to produce clothing."
"Collapse from within? Surely you don't think a giant like Frida will fall just because we poached a few laborers?"
I let out a soft chuckle. Andrea was an absolutely irreplaceable asset.
"Do you remember the artisan we met?"
"Yes. What about them?"
"They are the absolute core of Frida's clothing production. Without them, it will be physically impossible for Frida to manufacture garments of their usual caliber."
Operating without Andrea—who personally oversaw every design and finishing touch—was like running an orchestra without a conductor. At first, Frida might try to patch the holes by hiring new laborers, but the entire operation would soon fall apart.
"So if we secure that artisan, everything is solved?"
"Exactly."
"But Frida doesn't just deal in clothing," France pointed out. "They have metalwork, gems, and accessories. What do you plan to do about those three sectors?"
"You don't need to worry about that. I have a plan for everything."
Once France Corporation established its dominance, Frida's jewelry and accessory artisans would naturally migrate to our side. We would simply offer them far better terms. If the work was identical but the compensation and treatment were vastly superior, they would have no reason to stay.
I clapped my hands together and continued, "I'll share the finer details once the clothing business is up and running. For now, let's focus on the immediate hurdle in front of us."
France and Cazar nodded.
"First, the Lady and I will pay a visit to Seldas," I said. "Cazar, you wait here quietly."
"Understood," Cazar replied.
France and I stood up from our seats. "Then, let us go meet Seldas."
France and I arrived at the tavern to seek out Seldas. Guided immediately by the receptionist, we were ushered into his private room.
"Are you here regarding the matter you requested last time?" Seldas asked.
"Precisely," France replied.
Seldas sat with his legs crossed, propped casually on top of his desk. To display such an attitude in front of clients—his lack of manners was as consistent as ever.
"Everything we discussed is prepared," Seldas said. "I've scouted all the properties in the duchy available for cheap purchase, and I've secured a prime location with heavy foot traffic, perfect for launching a business."
Rude as he is, the man is undeniably competent, I thought.
Seldas swung his legs down and leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk.
"So, I believe it's time to settle the bill. A significant amount of capital and manpower was deployed on our end, you see."
"You didn't need to ask," France said. "How much is the total?"
"Three hundred million for the dark guild's services. Eight hundred million for the property acquisition. That brings the total to 1.1 billion."
Whoa, that's a steeper price tag than I anticipated. Can France actually afford this? Aside from her basic allowance from the duchy, I hadn't heard anything about her receiving financial backing from the Duke.
France tilted her chin up, looking down at Seldas with a cool gaze. "Since we are to be future business partners, shouldn't you offer a discount on the service fee?"
Seldas's response was icy. "Listen here, my sheltered Lady. Three hundred million is already heavily discounted. Securing the services of the Empire's premier dark guild at such a price is practically unheard of."
Well, he wasn't wrong. Seldas's dark guild catered exclusively to high society. Even the "Instant-Ramen-Brain" Crown Prince relied on them, which spoke volumes about their prestige.
I quickly sent her a Sound Transmission. She gave a subtle nod and spoke.
"We plan to scale our business rapidly," France said. "Which means we will be requiring your services far more frequently in the future."
"Scale your business?" Seldas scoffed. "You haven't even launched your first venture, yet you're already counting your chickens before they hatch."
What on earth does 'eating empty potatoes' mean? I wondered. Is that the local equivalent of counting chickens before they hatch?
"I am telling you, this venture is guaranteed to succeed," France insisted. "Frida will collapse, and we will take their place."
Seldas let out a sharp chuckle. It was a blatant sneer. "How amusing. I didn't realize the young Lady of Descartes was quite this detached from reality."
I couldn't entirely blame Seldas for his reaction. If Eden Descartes had walked in here making these claims, it would be one thing. But who would take a neglected, uneducated Lady with zero track record seriously?
I sent another Sound Transmission to France.
"Think of this as an investment," France parroted. "If we succeed, we will even pay you a performance bonus."
"...A performance bonus?" Seldas repeated, his interest piqued.
"We will give you ten percent of our net profits."
"You expect me to invest based on that?" Seldas countered. "For all I know, you might go bankrupt within a month of opening."
This negotiation is turning out to be tougher than I thought, I mused. Maybe I should have had her bring one of Andrea's finished pieces as proof of concept.
"Fine," France said, taking the initiative. "Then let's draft a new agreement."
"An agreement?"
"Yes. If we fail, we will pay you double the original amount."
Wait, I didn't tell her to propose that! I panicked internally. Going off-script like this is going to complicate things.
Seldas's eyes, visible through the slits of his mask, turned sharp and predatory. "...Are you expecting me to take that seriously? Even for the Lady of Descartes, 2.2 billion gold is not pocket change."
But France didn't flinch. "That is simply how confident I am. If you wish, I can show you our prototype later."
Seldas narrowed his eyes behind his mask, seemingly weighing his options.
"Very well," Seldas said. "Since I've already revealed my identity to you, I will trust you this once. I will reduce the 1.1 billion to 900 million. However, if you fail, you must honor your word. That is, unless you wish to make an enemy of the Empire's largest dark guild."
France smirked and nodded. "Excellent. Then the deal is struck. Furthermore, I have another request."
"Another request? What is it this time?"
"Secure tight-lipped drivers and enough carriages to transport about a hundred people. I need them by tomorrow."
"...So you're tapping into our resources again."
"Consider it part of the investment."
Seldas let out a heavy sigh. "Fine. With 1.8 billion gold practically in my grasp, I suppose I can accommodate this. Where should I send the carriages?"
France picked up a pen and began writing on a piece of paper. It was the coordinates for the border entrance leading to the Frida clothing factory we had visited.
"Here. Send them tomorrow at dawn. And send one separate carriage to this address as well."
Seldas glanced at the paper. "...Are you seriously planning to go there?"
"You already know what we intend to do, don't you?" France replied.
"You are absolutely out of your mind."
Seldas chuckled and nodded. "Very well. I will prepare the carriages. I truly hope you won't end up handing over 1.8 billion gold to us for nothing."
"Don't worry, that won't happen," France said. "Once you see the business we launch, you'll be begging to maintain our partnership."
Seldas smirked once more. France paid him no mind, maintaining her haughty, downward gaze. Her unyielding attitude seemed to amuse Seldas, and one corner of his mouth curled upward beneath his mask.
"Very well. We have a deal."
France penned the figure of 900 million onto a blank check, slid it across the table, and stood up. Without waiting for a reply, she swept out of the room. I followed closely behind her.
Once we stepped out of the tavern, France turned to me. "How was I? Did I do well?"
Her lips curled into a triumphant, self-satisfied smirk. I supposed she deserved some praise. Although she had gone off-script, the outcome was highly favorable.
"Yes, you did splendidly," I said. "I was a bit startled by your sudden improvisation, but sometimes a bold, aggressive stance is exactly what's needed."
France nodded, thoroughly pleased with herself. Seeing her puff her chest out like this made her look like a proud little squirrel. It was actually quite endearing.
"Now, let me escort you back to the Descartes estate."
"Are you not going to meet with Cazar?" France asked.
"I will go meet her alone later," I replied. "It wouldn't do for both of us to be absent from the estate for too long."
France's expression instantly soured. Wait, what's with the sudden mood swing?
"You're going to be alone with that woman?" she muttered, her voice dropping.
"Do not worry, My Lady. Now that the business plan is fully established, why would she betray her employer?"
"...That is not what I meant at all," France grumbled, crossing her arms. "But fine. Let's return to the estate for now."
We boarded our carriage and made our way back to the Descartes estate. Even as we stepped through the grand entrance, not a single servant offered France a greeting. They merely cast wary glances in her direction and hurried away.
This kind of treatment won't last much longer, I thought.
Once this venture succeeded, the way people looked at her would change forever. No one would ever dare to look down on France again. After all, that was the entire reason I had initiated this business in the first place.
"Welcome back, My Lady!"
The only servant who dared to greet France was Helena.
"Yes," France replied softly.
"If you require anything at all, please ring the bell!" Helena squeaked, bowing deeply.
France nodded and entered her chambers. I followed her inside, immediately heading over to open the window.
"Are you leaving right away?" France asked.
"Yes."
"Alright. I'll be waiting for you."
I nodded, vaulted over the windowsill, and slipped past the iron fence of the estate. I made a beeline for Cazar's house.
I arrived and knocked on her door. Less than a minute later, Cazar opened it.
"You're back already?" she asked.
"Yes. Let's go inside and talk."
Pulling up a chair, I got straight to the point. "The schedule is set. As planned, we move tomorrow at dawn. We'll meet at the border crossing leading to the factory."
"Wait, how are we supposed to get all the way out there?" Cazar asked.
"A carriage will be sent directly to your house."
"Directly here?"
"We can't exactly have you meet us at some random remote location, nor can we have a suspicious carriage pull up to the front gates of the Descartes estate."
"Ah, that's true."
Why does she seem so clumsy every time I see her? I wondered. Where on earth did the cold, rational Cazar Uplain from the game go?
"Anyway, that's the plan. Don't go to sleep tonight; stay awake. The Lady and I will be coming by to pick you up."
Cazar nodded. "Alright, I'll make sure I'm ready."
"Do you have a lot of gear to pack?"
"Hmm, not really, but just in case."
"Alright. I'll be off, then."
Having concluded our business, I slipped back to the Descartes estate, vaulted over the windowsill, and stepped back into the room. France was sitting at her desk, diligently reviewing her mathematics.
"You're back," she said, looking up.
"Yes, My Lady."
"So, what is it that I need to do next?"
"You need to prepare a speech."
"A speech?" France tilted her head in confusion. "What kind of speech?"
"A speech to imprint your image upon them as their savior."
The laborers needed to perceive France as the savior who had rescued them from that hellish, exploitative factory. Only then would their loyalty solidify, and only then would they truly trust us.
"Since you are the president of France Corporation, you must draft the speech yourself."
"I have to write it?"
"You will be running a massive corporation and leading a business empire. You must get used to public speaking and commanding a crowd."
France tilted her chin down, tapping her fingers rhythmically against the desk. "Hmm. I've never done anything like that before..."
I smiled reassuringly. "Do not worry. Cazar and I will set the stage perfectly for you."
In any grand endeavor, presentation and staging were everything. Given the desperate circumstances of the laborers, they would be highly receptive to her words.
France nodded slowly. "Alright, I'll do my best. Though I'm not sure how well I'll perform."
"You will do wonderfully," I assured her. "And if you stumble, I will make sure the crowd hears exactly what they need to hear anyway."
Tomorrow at dawn. The first chapter of France Corporation—an empire built solely for France—would finally begin.