Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Do You Think I Don't Know Your Intentions?
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"Go on ahead."
Esther rose from her seat and skimmed over the report lying in front of her.
It mentioned that many people had jumped on the bandwagon of the noisy investment hype in the market, but she had no interest in it. Besides, the meeting had already concluded that it wouldn't happen.
Esther flipped the report back over so the front cover was up and stood from her chair.
I can't condone even a moment of you sinking into such despair.
She could almost hear that man's words again. The matter still lingered as a mystery.
There had been no further contact from Helios afterward. Noel had left a letter saying he'd come again, but even that had been arranged through Dana.
I can't tell you how long I've waited for this day.
She had no desire to see that loathsome face again, and perhaps because he knew he was at fault too, he mercifully didn't force the issue by insisting she had to meet him this time.
Esther's tenure as the temporary head of the Elpis Merchant Group was also nearing its end. All that remained was to put the imported goods on the market and settle the group into a stable position.
Esther and Dana soon boarded the carriage waiting in front of the merchant group headquarters.
"By the way, if you hadn't told us about the navigation log, we would've been in real trouble. I went ahead before letting you know, and aside from all the filth, everyone was safe and sound. You have no idea how lucky we were to make it back safely after navigating that massive coast."
"It was all thanks to the efforts of the crew members who went out on the voyage, wasn't it? What I found was pure coincidence."
"Aw, still, finding it before the voyage made all the difference. They kept raving about how much it helped and reciting my heroic tales. I barely escaped getting captured myself, you know?"
Dana, who had been grinning and sticking close to her side, suddenly pouted and asked Esther in a worried tone.
"But the amount of goods we brought back this time is huge. Do you think we can handle it? What if we end up with too much inventory or take a loss?"
The crew members who had tasted food cooked with the oil naturally showered it with praise, but since the consumer base included not just commoners but nobles as well, Dana's concern was understandable.
"At first, we were cursing how awful the smell was. Those people aren't going to cook and eat it themselves—will they even buy it? That's what worries me."
"……."
"Of course, it's all been decided in the meeting already, but I can't help worrying."
Dana, gauging Esther's reaction as she stared silently out the window, hurriedly added as if to backtrack.
Esther already knew Dana's words were all true and perfectly reasonable concerns. But in this life, she was confident she could make it all happen.
"We've arrived."
"Ah, we're here, ma'am."
Dana flung open the door with her small but sturdy hands and hopped out of the carriage first.
Esther followed, approaching the familiar ship, where the faces she'd been eager to see greeted her.
"Ma'am! Have you really been well? Your complexion looks darker than ours. And have you lost even more weight? Have you been eating properly?"
Karun, who had been particularly worried about Esther, came staggering up to her with teary eyes after boarding the departing ship.
A sour stench wafted from him, proving he hadn't bathed properly for months. Esther unwittingly stepped back a pace.
"I'm fine, but you all look like you're in worse shape……."
"Hey, Karun! Go wash up already. Everyone else went home to bathe ages ago—why are you still hanging around here?"
Dana approached Karun but couldn't ignore the smell, gagging and pinching her nose.
"No way, I had to at least greet the ma'am!"
"You did. Now go. You reek."
"Ma'am! Then I'll head out."
"Yes, take it easy for a week before coming back."
"Thank you!"
Realizing just how bad he smelled, Karun flushed slightly and scurried off. Dana openly cackled at his retreating back.
"How are the goods?"
"Ah, we brought back exactly the right quantity. That guy's reliable when it comes to work. Precisely 10,000 bottles—confirmed. They're all being moved to the underground warehouse at headquarters right now. Thanks to hiring people in advance, it should be done before midnight."
"Thank you. It's a relief that everyone Dana recruited are such good workers."
Dana handled personnel and general affairs for the merchant group. She was quick at dealing with and judging people, so everyone she brought on performed satisfactorily.
"It's nothing. Just doing what's expected."
"Then, can you oversee things here? I'll head back to headquarters to check that the quantities match up properly."
"Of course! Leave it to me. Carter's probably at the underground warehouse, so it'll be even smoother for you!"
"Yes, thank you."
Esther hurried on her way back to the carriage, exchanging greetings with the workers she passed.
With the oil bottling underway, the merchant group was entering a new phase.
However, things at the merchant group didn't change as dramatically as expected. As unsold goods piled up as inventory over the month, the atmosphere grew tense.
No matter how they promoted it as a hard-won import through trade, it drew negative reviews first for the smell, then for its unclear origin.
On top of that, for some reason, negative buzz about the oil spread like wildfire through the market.
"It's not fun when it follows the exact same pattern."
But this was precisely the situation Esther wanted. She had anticipated the goods wouldn't sell right away—she'd been through it once before.
What she wanted now wasn't sales.
"Ma'am, a letter's arrived. But this one……."
Kalun entered, knocking with a somewhat dejected expression. Seeing the results of his life-risking journey treated this way had clearly disheartened him.
"Thank you. Is there a problem with the letter?"
"Well, it's from the Imperial Palace."
Esther snatched the letter as if she'd been waiting for it.
She quickly unfolded it to find the Emperor's seal alongside hastily scrawled handwriting.
"Karun, sorry, but can you check right away if I can enter the palace tomorrow morning?"
"Pardon? That soon?"
Esther nodded, and Karun swiftly left her room. The moment the door closed, laughter burst from her lips.
"Do you think I don't know your intentions?"
It was such an obvious scheme. Seeing the market stirred up with strange rumors to push the investment only confirmed it.
The Emperor had undoubtedly pulled strings behind the scenes to shape public opinion here.
"Disgusting."
Esther held the letter to the candle flame of the incense burner on her desk, and the paper blazed up.
To think that vile man was the Empire's Emperor.
He still seemed deluded into believing he was the smartest, greatest person around.
"Then I'll have to show him."
Esther flicked the burned remnants of the paper into the air and lightly tapped her desk.
This time, she would make him realize that he, not she, had taken the bait.
The Emperor grinned upon hearing of Esther's visit.
Rumors truly were fearsome. With just one bit of reputation-mongering, he'd effortlessly gotten what he wanted, and he hummed a little tune to himself.
"Let her in."
The servant announced from outside, the doors opened, and Esther entered.
"I come before the sun of the Empire, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
"It's been a while. I trust you've been well?"
What a ridiculous question.
No one knew better than he how dire the merchant group's crisis was right now.
Especially since the Emperor himself was the one who had pushed them into it.
"So, have you given it some thought?"
"Your Majesty showing such favor to our humble merchant group leaves me at a loss. We were troubled by the massive inventory buildup, so for you to bring it up……."
"Haha, didn't I get along well with your father? So, when can I receive those goods?"
The Emperor asked with a grin, unable to hide his good mood.
"We could do it today if you wish. However, Your Majesty, there's a problem."
"What might that be?"
"It concerns the oil's shelf life."
"What about it?"
Esther knew this man, who wouldn't let even the smallest loss slip by, wouldn't overlook it. That's why she'd struck first.
"The climate where the oil was produced differs slightly from the Empire's, so we can't pinpoint the exact shelf life. They said a year there, but that place is on the cooler side……."
"Hasn't it only been about a month since import?"
"Yes. Our group's assessment is that it won't last a full year, but selling a product with an uncertain shelf life would damage our credibility. Plus, with the bad rumors spreading, we can't expect positive feedback even if Your Majesty uses it……."
"Are you doubting my influence?"
Pricking the pride of the Emperor, who had always lived as if everything was firmly in his grasp, his calculating side vanished, replaced by an angry glare as he vented before her.
This was exactly what she wanted.
"I spoke out of turn. But with the reputation so poor, we're honestly inclined to discourage the purchase. The shelf life is the biggest issue. After selling, they might try to pin it on us……."
"The Imperial Palace would never utter such nonsense. We wouldn't hold you accountable for that, of course. I'll consider it in the contract. So, what's your estimate for the shelf life?"
"Looking at past Empire climates and roughly calculating summer temperatures, we're estimating at least eight months. The Empire's summers never exceeded 25 degrees."
"Verify it. Bring the records of the Empire's climate."
At the Emperor's words, his attendant moved to exit the room.
Esther inwardly sneered at the sight.
Checking the temperatures would be pointless. This year's heat was on another level compared to the past twenty years.