'Hey! Don't just take control of my body without asking!'
'Oh, don't act like you're not enjoying it, little one… Don't tell me you have no interest in barbecue?'
'Of course I do—wait, stop changing the subject, you sneaky snake!'
'We had an agreement, didn't we? I lend you my power, and you lend me your body.'
'Hmph! I, the great one, always keep my word! I'm not going back on the deal!'
'Then what are you complaining about?'
'You—! Next time, could you at least warn me first?'
'Next time, I promise.'
'That's what you said last time!'
———
The story shifts back to a time when Cape Group was expanding at a breathtaking pace—its foundations still young and unsteady.
Back then, the prestigious Schwire family, founders of the powerful Schwire Group, took notice of the rising star that was Cape Industries, and naturally extended an olive branch.
But Cape refused.
The old patriarch of the Schwire family didn't take it to heart. After all, Cape Reiss was just a self-made upstart — a fiery young man with more pride than sense.
Hotheaded youth was nothing unusual.
The Schwire Group's plan, at the time, was simple: let the boy suffer a little, and when he inevitably stumbled, they would swoop in to "help" him—carrot and stick, the classic method.
But things didn't go as expected.
Cape Group's growth was too fast.
By the time the Schwire executives realized what was happening, Cape had already become a corporate giant — one that could rival even themselves.
Yet, as the saying goes, the taller the tree, the stronger the wind.
Cape Reiss, a man from humble origins, had indeed built his empire through skill and willpower alone. But in Victoria, where bloodline and birth defined one's worth, he was still an outsider.
In the eyes of most nobles, a man of such common birth didn't deserve to sit at their table — no matter how vast his wealth had become.
In fact, that was precisely why they despised him even more.
How dare a commoner surpass a noble?
And so, they tried to humiliate him, to suppress him, to make him "remember his place."
This hostility inevitably slowed Cape Group's progress.
However, the Schwire family wasn't like those stagnant old aristocrats.
As one of the first noble families in Victoria to embrace capitalism, they valued competence over heritage.
And so, their strategy changed.
Rather than opposing Cape, they sought to recruit him — or better yet, marry him into the family.
"My dear granddaughter, please—humor your old grandpa for a moment. Don't worry, our family hasn't fallen so low that we'd sacrifice your happiness for power," the old man said kindly. "But you're not getting any younger. It's time to start thinking about your future. Of course, if you already have someone you like, then forget I said anything."
"…I do," Schwire said flatly.
"Oh? And who might he be? Come, tell Grandpa—his name, age, occupation, what he looks like, his background, anything. I just want to see which lucky lad managed to win the heart of our family's brightest jewel."
"…Give me a few days. I'll send you his information then."
"Really? Then in a few days, Grandpa will visit in person—"
"…Fine. I don't have anyone."
"My sweet granddaughter, don't worry. The man I have in mind isn't some stuffy political match. He's a self-made genius, young and full of promise."
"…He's talented, I'll give you that."
"Indeed. He's the head of Cape Group—Cape Reiss. Here, I'll send you his photo. His looks should be your type, though I admit his fashion sense is… somewhat casual. But that's a small issue."
"…"
"I know what you're thinking, my dear. But relax—this isn't a command from the family head. It's just an old man fussing over his granddaughter. If you truly don't like him, I won't insist. Everything we old folks have fought for is so that you young ones have the freedom to choose."
"…Even so, I am a member of the Schwire family."
"Don't force yourself, my dear."
"I'm not forcing anything. If I truly liked someone else, I'd refuse right away. But… I can't promise anything either."
"Don't be so serious, sweetheart. I simply admire the young man — I believe he's worthy of you. We fought our whole lives to give your generation choices. Just as I let you become a police officer in Lungmen instead of forcing you into the Schwire Group. If Cape doesn't suit your fancy, Grandpa won't push it."
"…Thank you, Grandpa."
———
"Still, isn't it a little strange for me to attend your family banquet?"
In a grand, glittering hall, Cape, dressed in casual street clothes, stood out like a sore thumb — completely out of place amidst the refined nobles and shimmering chandeliers.
Dishes that looked as though they each cost a fortune were neatly arranged on the long, antique dining table. Men and women dressed in elegant finery chatted softly, their manners refined and their smiles practiced. Attendants in crisp uniforms stood silently in the corners of the hall, alert and poised to respond to any guest's need at a moment's notice.
Amid this harmonious and sophisticated atmosphere, a purple-haired Feline stood out sharply from the rest. Dressed in a loose, street-style shirt, jeans, and a pair of comfortable sneakers, he held a wine glass in hand with surprising poise, conversing quietly with an elderly gentleman whose every movement radiated noble grace.
"Haha, there's nothing inconvenient about it," the old man—none other than Schwire's grandfather—replied smoothly, his tone perfectly measured. "On the contrary, having a talented young man like President Cape among us only adds brilliance to our family gathering."
"Haha, I'm glad you don't mind my casual attitude, sir."
Cape chuckled lightly, deflecting with practiced ease.
He could already guess what the old man was after.
After all, the other party had delayed a finalized business agreement—one that had already been negotiated and refined to the smallest detail—just so it could be "settled" during this banquet.
So, they're trying to throw another olive branch my way? he thought, swirling the cola in his glass. I suppose it makes sense. With noble backing, the Cape Group would face far fewer obstacles in Victoria.
He took a quiet sip, his sharp eyes half-lidded in thought.
But unfortunately… that doesn't quite fit the "character setting" of this body.