Chapter 24: The Undertaker (2)
Chapter 24: The Undertaker (2)
Translation: Godtl
With Penelope's full cooperation, the cola business was sailing smoothly with the wind at its back.
By selling cola at premium prices until now, they had amassed sufficient capital.
Brighton, too, seemed to have swallowed their bluff, as he'd been unusually quiet lately.
In business, momentum must be seized in a single stroke.
This meant it was time to prepare for cola's mass-market debut.
"Miss Penelope, what do you think we'll need for mass production?"
"Who do you take me for? A factory, obviously."
"Just confirming once more..."
"I've said it multiple times already. I told you it's fine."
The only concern had been whether Penelope would oppose cola's mass production...
But unexpectedly, she readily agreed to establishing a factory.
"Cola can't remain an exclusive luxury forever anyway. It lacks heritage."
Currently, cola was riding a wave of near-manic popularity.
Yet when examined coldly, the current cola craze was essentially no different from children's play.
"High society is just playing a game of who-can-collect-more-cola right now. I'm not naive enough to pray this fad lasts forever."
That said...
Honestly, she wasn't completely free from greed.
History and prestige could be crafted with effort.
Since when were luxury goods born as luxuries?
With the right approach, cola could potentially be elevated to luxury status.
But that would conflict with Jurgen's "Gastronomic Revolution" objective, so Penelope cleanly abandoned the thought.
If it were someone more indecisive, they might have wavered, trying to gauge Penelope's reaction.
...Out of some unspoken embarrassment, she didn't voice this reasoning.
"Good. Then I'll explain the plan immediately. A cola factory requires three core processes."
Cola syrup production.
Mixing syrup with water and carbonation.
Bottling the finished cola.
Future plans might include manufacturing their own bottles and caps.
While division of labor across multiple factories would be ideal, you can't be full after the first bite.
"For now, we'll consolidate these three processes in a single factory for a trial run."
"Hmm, the goal of building a factory is good... But where do we even begin?"
Penelope seemed at a loss.
Understandable—having walked solely the path of alchemy, factory establishment was uncharted territory for her.
Which was why Jurgen had prepared plans for that part.
Isn't the essence of partnership playing to each other's strengths?
"Don't worry. While you were selling cola, I've been making my own preparations."
"Oh?"
"Take it step by step. What's the most essential element for establishing a factory?"
"The machinery for production, no?"
"Half correct."
"It's either correct or incorrect—what's this 'half correct' nonsense?"
"It's like observing Miss Penelope—she might be nobility, or she might not."
"Stop bringing that up!"
After briefly teasing Penelope, Jurgen continued.
"This is what we call the 'blueprint'—the 'project plan.'"
Jurgen pointed to a relatively thin binder.
"It contains the overall vision—what goals our factory will have, in what order operations will proceed."
Penelope flipped through the project plan.
Process flow charts, projected output, financial plans—all concisely organized.
"Then that thick stack over there... puzzle pieces?"
Penelope pointed to the remaining pile of documents.
"Correct. The detailed 'technical specifications' describing what performance and functions each required machine—our 'puzzle pieces'—must have."
Penelope carefully examined the specifications document, several times thicker than the project plan.
Hourly syrup production rates, carbonation mixing pressure, bottling machine error rates.
Even quality inspection standards—every machine's requirements were densely detailed.
"So magitech engineers design the machines based on these specifications?"
"They likely won't produce exact matches. Practitioners may have differing opinions, and we must consider costs too."
"Hmmm..."
"We're aiming to cut costs by acquiring an entire existing brewery. We'll need to assess which machines can be repurposed—it'll keep us busy for a while."
Penelope's lips pursed suspiciously.
Though not her field, Penelope had her university education—she could grasp the essentials.
She could tell that this proposal and functional specification document wasn't just some dreamer's fanciful scribbles, but a properly structured set of materials with standardized specifications.
Thud.
Penelope closed the documents.
Her ruby-red eyes held a suspicious glint.
"Just who are you?"
Even if she generously conceded that the factory establishment proposal made some sense—after all, every merchant dreams of owning their own factory—Penelope's own diary contained fairly detailed entries about "things I'd like to do if the family acknowledges me."
But these functional specifications were far too polished.
From the overview to features, non-functional requirements, control systems, error handling, quality inspection and testing standards—everything was meticulously detailed enough for any contracted engineer to understand immediately.
It didn't take a genius to realize this wasn't something a small shop owner could produce.
"I'm not an idiot. How could a general store owner possibly come up with this?"
"That's quite the classist remark, Miss Penelope."
"I never made such comm—well, maybe I did! But I'm not doing it now, alright? Stop dredging up people's past mistakes!"
Penelope's earlobes flushed red.
Back then, clinging to that aristocratic dignity was all she had to hold onto!
It was a defense mechanism!
She regrets it now!
Meanwhile, Jurgen had been preparing for this inevitable question.
Even if making cola could be excused, it was only natural for Penelope to grow suspicious at this point.
His prepared answer was...
"I used to be a civil servant."
It wasn't exactly a lie.
"Civil servant?"
"I've handled many similar projects."
Jurgen avoided her gaze as he mumbled.
He was genuinely conflicted.
Whether to reveal his true identity to Penelope or not.
Until now, since Penelope had also been hiding her status, Jurgen had felt no qualms about concealing his own. But perhaps it was time to come clean...
Penelope tilted her head, still visibly suspicious.
She clearly had a lot more questions on her mind.
"Hmm, if you say so, then I suppose that's that."
Fortunately, she didn't press further, letting the matter drop ambiguously.
Though whether she truly let it go or was just biding her time remained unclear.
"Anyway, we'll need to decide who to commission for the manufacturing..."
This presented another uncommon challenge.
Jurgen had a decent grasp of basic engineering principles.
But at best, he could tinker alone to make a coffee machine or modify one into a soda fountain.
Mass production machinery required entirely different levels of precision and expertise.
Even during his tenure as Minister of Internal Affairs, he'd only handled "conceptual designs"—he never built everything himself.
Researchers from the Royal University would swarm over Jurgen's concepts, with his role limited to reviewing and providing feedback on their subsequent work.
"I do have someone in mind who'd make a competent engineer."
"Really?"
"But the kid's... rather unique."
The Kingdom of Britannia specially appoints individuals of exceptional contribution as first-generation nobles, granting them the title of "Baronet".
The title isn't hereditary, but etiquette dictates they receive treatment equal to a baron.
"Though saying they receive 'equal treatment to a baron' is... well, ambiguous. Traditional nobles usually refer to first-generation nobles with the derogatory term 'mayflies.' What kind of noble can't even pass on their title?"
Penelope produced a sheet of paper and continued explaining.
"Descendants of first-generation nobles must accumulate achievements and prove their worth to maintain the baronetcy. Only after accomplishing exceptional feats can they receive an official hereditary title." She scribbled rounded characters to illustrate. "I'll write it out to show you—I've simplified it by omitting exceptions, but generally speaking, status increases downward and rightward."
The contents were as follows:
Commoners: Lower class (laborers) < Middle class (small business owners) < Adventurers (low rank)
━(★Below this line: eligible for high society★)━
Elites: Professionals < Military (officers) < Celebrities < Knights, Alchemists (3rd Rank or higher)
Wealthy Class: Entrepreneurs, local magnates, landowners (positions vary by asset scale)
First-generation Nobles (Baronets): Renowned experts in various fields (non-hereditary, descendants must re-earn status)
━(The Invisible Wall)━
Emerging Nobles: (Hereditary, but with short lineage and low bloodline influence; often dismissed by traditional nobles)
Traditional Nobility: (Prestigious families, old money — e.g., the Rosemore Count Family, the Ashford Marquisate)
Royalty: (Omitted)
Penelope circled the "First-generation Nobility" section.
"The Lenoir family falls precisely here... What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Jurgen had once dipped his toes into high society himself.
He was well acquainted with such matters, but...
Seeing it laid out like this gave him an entirely different feeling.
"What can I say? One catches glimpses of Lady Penelope's innate sense of superiority, as natural as breathing."
"I did this to make it easier for you to understand!"
Penelope swatted at Jurgen in irritation.
Lately, teasing Penelope had become quite entertaining for Jurgen.
In any case, the Lenoir family originated from magitech engineers—a typical example of an emerging noble house.
To put it metaphorically, they occupied a position akin to corporate executives under relentless performance pressure.
Serena Lenoir, who had previously taken cola from Penelope, suffered under that same pressure while also being a highly skilled engineer who had inherited her father's talent.
Penelope, sensing an opportunity to make use of this, had maintained her connection with Serena ever since.
It was, in essence, a social connection.
"E-excuse me..."
Serena Lenoir had arrived in response to Penelope's business proposal.
Jurgen couldn't help but stare at the sight of her.
For one, she was rather short.
Even in towering heels that looked nearly climbable, she stood just a hair shorter than Penelope.
Her skin was pale to the point of appearing sickly, her eyes a frightened shade of pink, and her hair a slightly lighter hue.
She had clearly put immense effort into her appearance, dressed in a frilly, lace-heavy gown—so much so that it bordered on excessive for her petite frame.
But that wasn't why his mouth had fallen open.
It was the hoverbag strapped to her side and the five bottles of cola stuffed inside.
"...Isn't that heavy to carry around?"
"Leave it. It's the trend."
To other nobles, it might not seem unusual, but to Jurgen, who still retained modern sensibilities, it was a sight that left him torn between laughter and tears.
Who knew the cola he'd popularized among the upper class would have such a butterfly effect?
He felt a deep sense of original sin.
"Ah, hello... Mr. Commoner."
That guilt vanished the moment he heard Serena's greeting, dissolving like cotton candy in water.
In stark contrast to Penelope, who clearly had a temper, Serena gave off an impression of extreme timidity—yet her greeting was nothing short of shocking.
"I've heard a lot about you from Lady Penelope. For a commoner, you're quite resourceful..."
When Jurgen shot Penelope a pointed look, she shook her head vigorously, mouthing, I never said that!
"I've heard a lot about you too, Miss Serena Lenoir. May I call you Serena?"
"...!!!!!"
She was certainly a unique character, but Y&P Trading needed Serena's help.
When Jurgen offered a handshake, Serena flinched, clutching her bag tightly as she stumbled backward.
Her eyes had widened to an almost unbelievable size.
What?
Was offering a handshake upon first meeting considered rude in the North?
Serena whipped her head toward Penelope, her gaze frantic, silently pleading for solidarity.
"L-Lady Penelope! This commoner—he's speaking casually to me on our first meeting! There are noble protocols... dignity to uphold... H-how could such disrespect...!"
Penelope's shoulders twitched at Serena's dramatic reaction.
It was like looking in a mirror from not too long ago.
"Now I see why they say Lady Penelope has a relatively mild sense of superiority."
"Shut up."
"Is she always like this?"
"...No idea. We're not that close."
"Good heavens! He's even speaking casually to you, Lady Penelope!"
Unaware of the truth, Serena bit her lip hard, her expression hardening with resolve.
A fierce determination to correct this wrongdoing radiated from her.
"Lady Penelope! May I—dare I—give this commoner, your business partner, a stern warning?"
Watching Serena's exaggerated distress, Penelope, too, felt the weight of original sin.
The fact that Jurgen was visibly struggling to hold back laughter only made it worse.
"Be quiet."
"Huh?"
"I said be quiet..."
"...Yes..."
Penelope buried her face in her hands, bowing her head deeply.