37 – Investors
Twenty-six investors who poured money into Chandler Syrup Company.
I had their list (provided by Anais) in my hands now.
“Your Highness Anais, are these all of them?”
“…Yes.”
Most of the investors were nobles. There were also commoners, but it was not surprising to see successful businessmen who could be awarded the title of Viscount.
There were even humans who could be classified as top-level nobles in the Empire.
One of the representatives was an old man named Lord Riccius, with whom I had negotiated during the Silovine incident. He was the major shareholder of the second-largest bank in the Empire.
After Anais fell from grace, they had distanced themselves, but it seemed they had become close again through the health syrup.
There were various other faces as well.
The executives of the weekly magazine delivering news from the Guan family,
The entrepreneur who became wealthy by selling knockoff Eastern-style ceramics,
Professor Bobby, the master of fire magic encountered at the Minster Palace, and so on.
“Anais wasn’t just excited for no reason.”
The disbanded faction is making a comeback, and even new faces are infiltrating. Anais must have spread rumors about the demonic arts because of that. It turned out to be a stupid move in the end.
Setting that aside, how should these people be dealt with?
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“What were you originally planning to do?”
Sienna, who was observing, suddenly threw a question.
“I was planning to leave them be, whether they fail or not. It’s not like I told them to invest.”
“It wasn’t you who told them… Well, let’s leave that aside.”
Of course, from the investors’ perspective, anger was building up.
The moment this news spreads, not only will it not be a jackpot, but all the unlisted stocks they held will turn into scraps. They could use them as actual securities or as toilet paper, but it wouldn’t be much consolation.
“They’ll bark for a while. Someone might even come blaming me. But eventually, things will calm down.”
“But have they found a way to compensate for their losses?”
“Yes. Mix op*ium with demonic arts and distribute it anywhere. That’s the end of it. We can’t just let them be, Sienna.”
Sienna didn’t seem pleased with my words.
It was obvious what she was thinking. She probably thought that creating a second health syrup by bankrupting twenty-six people and distributing it on a large scale wasn’t such a bad idea. She might think it’s something inevitable.
In reality, perfectly blocking the second health syrup was impossible.
“Knowing it makes money, there’s no way they’ll give up.”
Someone was undoubtedly planning something. The money earned from dru*gs is as enticing as the dru*gs themselves.
Still, it had to be shown that a wrong move could ruin one’s life.
“This is to reduce future competitors, my lord.”
“Well, looking at what they’re up to.”
“Some of those twenty-six might be smarter than Lady Anais. Perhaps they can distribute precisely concocted medicines within the bounds that don’t harm human lives.”
It was only when the phrase “eliminating competitors” was mentioned that she finally raised her head. Anais, who had been watching her absentmindedly, muttered, “Crazy girl,” as if disappointed, but Sienna seemed unfazed.
“Alright, Alan. So, ultimately, it’s about warning those people?”
“Yes. The method is…”
He was about to kindly explain, but Sienna cut him off.
“It’s okay, Alan. I’ll handle it. Oh, that sounds good. I’ll apply for the listing of Chandelier Syrup and call investors to the stock exchange. If I show them results as you said, the ones gathered in anticipation will be satisfied.”
“….”
“Then our Anais can shine at that time, right?”
“That’s right.”
Sienna’s plan was mostly similar to what I had thought of.
Was the villain influenced by me, or did I naturally get involved while coordinating with this woman? Perhaps I didn’t know either.
“Well then, I need to get permission from Father first. I’ll go right away.”
“My Lady Sienna, once you apply through the Prime Minister, immediately cancel it. He’s worried about Her Majesty’s feelings. If you do that, there’s a good chance Her Majesty will summon you before the day is over. Be careful when you approach.”
“Alright.”
As soon as Sienna and I reached an agreement, I turned my head to Anais.
“My Lady 3rd Princess, take a short break for now.”
It wasn’t just a worried remark; Anais had one last thing to do. Rest was essential as we might face a tough situation soon.
However… it seemed like I wouldn’t be able to rest for long.
“Father gave permission, Allan.”
It was because Sienna had obtained the Emperor’s permission within a day.
Permission to politically “utilize” Anaïs before her fate was decided. The Empress agreed to intervene.
“You have worked hard, Your Highness.”
Since the stage was set, they decided to proceed immediately tomorrow without delay.
**
It was finally just before the dream of striking it rich.
“Well, no, it’s not exactly ‘finally’ as it hasn’t been that long.”
Professor Barbie from the School of Magic smiled innocently, looking at the scraps of paper.
It wasn’t just any paper. It was a stock certificate from Chandelier Syrup Company, indicating ownership and dividend rights.
The quantity was a whopping 500 shares.
But Professor Barbie had only invested a mere 100,000 Taler.
It was all thanks to entering at a time when no one in the system was interested in Chandelier Syrup.
Unlike Professor Barbie, who succeeded in buying at a low price, it was said that humans who entered a few days later bought the issued stocks at a very high price.
“That’s why you should only invest if you have a clever head…”
The proud muttering of Professor Barbie’s face darkened for a moment.
It was because his track record had been so miserable that he couldn’t boast of his investment abilities with just one success.
Since becoming interested in investments, he had only faced defeat. The money he had lost in the process had easily exceeded 4 million Taler.
Thinking back to the days of buying at the hairline and selling at the ankle, he felt his self-esteem diminishing. In fact, even now, there were times when he would kick off his blanket.
However, the time of triumph was not long-lasting.
Currently, in Professor Bobby’s hands, there were stocks that guaranteed at least several times the jackpot. Perhaps it was due to the money and time he had invested over the years, allowing him to naturally acquire the ability to identify promising stocks.
Yes, let’s assume it’s because he paid expensive tuition fees.
With a determined expression, Professor Bobby rose to his feet.
It was to go to the stock exchange.
Not just for leisure, but because he had received a summons from Princess Anais Hwang to meet with investors in the exchange lobby after the funeral.
“Her Highness, the Third Princess, wishes to meet with investors in the exchange lobby after the funeral. The professor is requested to inform other investors as well.”
This was the instruction received through the communication device two hours ago.
He carried out this instruction with great joy. There was only one reason to gather investors at the stock exchange at this moment.
To go public. It must be to create an atmosphere while making the announcement.
“It might seem fast, but there’s nothing strange about it at all.”
For a regular company to go public, it was common to spend a long time preparing the imperial payment for listing.
However, the majority shareholder of Chandelier Syrup was Princess Anais, the imperial princess. Considering such clumsy procedures unnecessary was a rational decision.
Just thinking about the bright days that lay ahead overwhelmed Professor Bobby’s chest, making it hard to bear.
“At least show it to those who used to ridicule me.”
The head of the martial arts department, who subtly yearned every time Professor Bobby failed in his investments. The junior professor who criticized with considerable intellectual arrogance, calling striking it rich a fantasy. … And even his wife who declared something and left home a few months ago.
He wondered what expressions they would show after the listing.
Would they avoid eye contact out of anxiety? Or would they put on a confident face with a steel plate on their visage?
Even though he shouldn’t be like this at his age, just imagining it was exhilarating. Soon, it wouldn’t be just imagination but reality.
He suppressed his excitement and finally left his research lab.
Immediately after that, a very impressive scene caught his eye.
“A bottle for 190 talers? So expensive.”
“You have to pay that much. I’ve been waiting in line for over two hours!”
It was a remarkable sight to see students trading health syrup at prices more than double the regular price.
And among them was a student from the famous Swordsmanship Department, who was gaining popularity these days.
Once, he even received advice to drop out from the academy, but now he was a genius among geniuses with the potential to become the youngest master in history.
I can’t believe even that guy was a customer of health syrup. It was not an exaggeration but a real boost to the value of health syrup.
“Thank you.”
Professor Bobby left the academy feeling a sense of pride.
…
A while later. The Stock Exchange.
Twenty-six excited men and women were bustling in the lobby.
They were all investors in Chancellor Syrup.
They were the ones who recognized the value of health syrup, which was rising as an essential remedy in the system, and made investments at an early stage. They were all busy with their businesses and investments, but they gathered without a single vacancy at the call of Anais.
Was it because of the princess’s stern order?
It was more because of other expectations.
“Did you gather us because of the listing? I asked the department head before the closing, but there was no mention of it.”
“I didn’t see it that way. You’re quite an idiot, aren’t you? What’s important is the royal family’s support. But Anais mentioned yesterday that she went to the palace. It must be because of the listing!”
“Oh, then let’s enjoy ourselves here for now and secure the supply line for Mahwang…”
“We should be careful with such talk!
The investors chatted excitedly without any restraint, eagerly anticipating the climax of this lively atmosphere. Soon, the protagonist made their entrance.
“Your Highness, Princess Anaïs!”
Princess Anaïs Kallail, the third princess.
All eyes of the investors turned towards the entrance, but there was no burst of applause. Instead, several people looked puzzled, tilting their heads or blinking their eyes in disbelief.
“Hmm?”
It was because of Anaïs’ appearance.
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Her plain clothes made of Amapo fabric, disheveled hair, and eyes that only stared at the ground, having lost her firearms.
It was a shabby appearance that didn’t befit a princess. If it weren’t for her unique mixed-race features, she would have been difficult to recognize.
Moreover, the guards accompanying her were not the royal knights but the security forces responsible for maintaining order. It seemed like a mere escort at first glance.
“Me, ha…?”
The smiles on the faces of the investors gradually disappeared.