Chapter 140: The World Thinks of Us as It Pleases (2) "Supply only the highest quality selection of Zerpa beef."
On the plateau beyond Alberon Canyon, in a border village, I presented a new long-term contract to a man who had transformed into a major rancher with thousands of cattle in just one year.
"...Y-yes. Understood."
I didn't lowball the supply price at all. In fact, I set it generously to match the quality. I wanted him to maintain his business fully and, furthermore, to prosper even more.
"Also, hire the villagers to professionally harvest the truffles that grow in this area."
The purchase price for the truffles was the same.
In truth, truffles weren't particularly expensive ingredients in this barren mountainous region. To the locals, they were just a somewhat unusual delicacy. The biggest problem with truffles was how easily they spoiled—the difficulty of transportation.
Nevertheless, I paid them a fair price.
"The price for the truffles will be set like this."
"...Huh. Y-yes?"
According to Dieter's advice—if you take excessive profits from the source right from the start, there's a high probability that annoying flies will start swarming.
Of course, I had secured a monopoly on the Zerpa food trade from the Crown Prince.
However, if a truffle I bought for 20 dollars locally was sold for 500 dollars in the heart of the Empire, smugglers blinded by greed would eventually try to carve out a black market.
"Let's also give the village a new name while we're at it."
But what if I bought them for 100 to 200 dollars from the start and set the selling price at 500?
When you factor in initial infrastructure costs, refrigerated shipping using mana stones, labor, smuggling costs, and the risks involved, the profit margin drops sharply.
From the perspective of those 'flies,' they wouldn't find the market attractive enough to risk infringing on the 'monopoly' held by Ebenholtz.
"How about 'Terone'? Terone Truffles. It has quite a sophisticated ring to it."
I am not a businessman, of course, but until the war begins, a vast amount of the Empire's wealth must be concentrated in my hands.
Money is a grand promise made by every human on the continent, and I intend to gather as much of that promise as possible to pursue the greatest cause.
"Yes, yes. That sounds wonderful. But, about the shipping for these mushrooms—"
"Don't worry about that."
I planned to solve the shipping issue by commissioning the Lorenzo Academy to develop mana stone refrigeration containers.
"If there are any other hidden ingredients in this region in the future, please let me know at any time."
"Yes! I'll keep that in mind, Sir Knight!"
The rancher bowed repeatedly, his face looking as if he owned the world.
...And.
After that day, a new wind blew through the high-end restaurants in the heart of the Empire.
Led by 「Lilac Vita」, which I had acquired, almost every establishment where my capital was invested introduced new menus utilizing Zerpa specialties.
The highly-paid chefs instantly mastered the flavors of Zerpa beef and truffles. Since Zerpa beef had less marbling but a maximized meat aroma, they cooked it at low temperatures for long periods to enhance its tenderness. They then presented extremely refined dishes, shaving the truffles over the top like snowflakes to add a sophisticated umami flavor.
The result was—exactly as expected.
"...My, Chef. What on earth is this scent?"
"It is a rare mushroom that grows only in the pristine mountain ranges of Zerpa, the 'Terone Truffle.'"
"Terone? Truffle?"
"Yes. It is the condensation of the natural mana of Alberon Canyon..."
From the moment the new menu was released, the gourmets of the Imperial center were ecstatic.
Even the palace nobles, notorious for their picky palates, were captivated by this enchanting flavor, filling the reservations of restaurants where a single meal cost thousands of dollars day after day.
'Terone Truffles' and 'Zerpa Grade 1 Beef' quickly gained a reputation as the finest luxury ingredients on the continent.
For me, who had been running a gourmet business for a long time as a gourmet myself, a new layer of unexpected power had been created.
* * *
"Wow..."
Reutern II trembled with ecstasy as he tasted the new dinner course at 「Lilac Vita」.
Tremble. Tremble. His fingertips and toes twitched involuntarily like a fly's wings.
"...This is insane."
The taste was entirely new and perfectly clean.
The texture of the Zerpa Grade 1 beef was incomparable to any meat he had ever eaten, and this Terone-whatever? This mushroom felt like it was directly stimulating his brain.
"It is truly... truly magnificent."
The nobles seated in the same private room all chimed in with faces lost in appreciation.
"To think I would taste such a delicacy in the heart of the Empire..."
"Who would have known that such precious ingredients would come from that Zerpa?"
"Indeed, I can hardly believe it even as I eat."
"It's all thanks to Lord Reutern. I heard even Grossman couldn't get a reservation here."
These days, getting a reservation at 「Lilac Vita」 was nearly impossible. No matter how much money you had, it was useless; no matter how high your status, it wouldn't work unless you were the Emperor himself.
The restaurant was backed by Ebenholtz, so what could anyone do?
"Ah~ it's fine. As long as you all enjoy it, I'm happy."
「Lilac Vita」 had always been a prestigious restaurant, but after the launch of the new menu, it gained a symbolic status among the nobility as 'proof of power and prestige.'
He heard that reservation requests were being pushed in from all sorts of places.
"I felt it would be a bit much to come to such a nice place alone, you see."
Reutern II acted pompous while holding his fork. In truth, he had only gathered them because Maximilian had told him he could secure a reservation whenever he wanted.
"But it really is delicious."
"The harmony between the food and the wine... Haa."
"I think the taste will linger in my mouth even after I go home."
These were palace nobles. In terms of rank, they were roughly middle to upper-middle class. Until now, whenever he asked them to hang out, they would give him some nonsense about 'needing time to think,' but as soon as he mentioned 「Lilac Vita」, they gathered in a heartbeat.
"This dish is ox tongue, a special cut from Grade 1 beef raised free-range on the pristine plateaus of Zerpa, accompanied by wild greens and truffles..."
Just then, the staff entered to explain the beautifully presented food, and the sommelier poured the wine.
"Ox tongue?"
Reutern II furrowed his brow.
"This is ox tongue? People eat ox tongue?"
"Yes. You will find it to be a delicacy once you try it. Please, enjoy."
Reutern couldn't understand it at all, but the staff left after telling them to enjoy.
"I mean, who eats ox tongue—"
"Lord Reutern."
At that moment, one of the palace nobles exchanged glances with the others as if by prior agreement and spoke in a low, secretive voice.
"Actually, we gathered here today because we have something to tell you."
Reutern pretended to listen while focusing on the new dish.
This thing is ox tongue, but still, eating ox tongue... Should I eat this? What if I eat it and throw up? Should I make the others eat it first?
"We believe the time has come for us to make a decision. To give Lord Reutern the reward we have been considering—"
"Oh, for heaven's sake. What reward? There's no need for that."
It would be tacky to ask for money just for sharing a meal.
"Just eat. Try it."
At Reutern's word, everyone elegantly sliced and ate the ox tongue. There was no hesitation. It seemed they hadn't even heard the description of the food just now.
"...!"
"Hoh!"
"...My goodness!"
Their expressions changed instantly. It was as if they had been struck by lightning.
"Is it good?"
At Reutern's question, they swallowed quickly and asked back.
"Yes. Wh-wh-what is this?"
"They said it's ox tongue."
"Ox... ox tongue can taste like this?!"
They really didn't listen to the explanation.
"Whatever. It seems you like it. Then."
Reutern II also chewed a mouthful of the meat.
One bite.
The moment he took just one bite, the unimaginable taste, aroma, and texture felt as if they were transporting him to another universe...
"...Uuuugh."
Reutern dazed out for a moment at the indescribable flavor.
...
The Imperial Palace, Reutern's detached villa.
"That boy Reutern did what?"
"Yes."
Reutern I received another, much more impressive report from his confidant.
"Hoh... I see."
His son's movements were bold. He had managed to secure a 'room' at 「Lilac Vita」—a place so difficult to book that even Reutern I himself struggled to get a reservation—and invited several palace nobles.
All of them were men who held voting rights.
It was clear.
His son, Reutern II, was also beginning to rally his own forces in earnest to lead this political struggle to victory.
"That aside, how is the matter of convening the Ethics Committee proceeding?"
Even opening the House of Nobles Ethics Committee is a hurdle. It requires the consent of more than half of the members to open, and only with the approval of more than two-thirds can a member be expelled.
"The evidence we have secured is so definitive that Julius's side won't be able to dodge it easily. However, a cornered rat will bite a cat, so we must be careful of their desperate struggles now."
The confidant reported with a voice full of concern.
Reutern nodded heavily.
"The first expulsion in a hundred years..."
Even for someone like Reutern, leaving such an extreme precedent carried too much political burden.
"We shall compromise by stripping Julius of his actual power to a reasonable degree while preventing the expulsion."
Like a seasoned politician, he considered what to gain instead of completely cutting off the enemy's breath.
"However, rumors are rife in the palace that Reutern II desires Julius's complete expulsion and ousting."
"..."
Reutern I's eyes wavered.
As could be seen from the fact that he had invited palace nobles to Lilac Vita, such rumors were indeed strong in the palace.
"...I will persuade him regarding that part."
As a father, it was something he had to do.
His hot-blooded son seemed to have the decisiveness that 'one must kill to avoid being killed,' but looking further ahead, stopping here would be much more beneficial for the boy.
* * *
The office of the Sentinel Knights.
—So, how much is it in total?
Sitting in my chair, I listened to the eavesdropping transmitted from the mana stone cube owned by Reutern II.
—Sir Maximilian has already settled the payment...
—Ah, forget it.
The ultra-high purity mana stone premium cube he had practically begged me for. Through the eavesdropping magic I had secretly implanted inside it, I could monitor Reutern II's every move.
—I ate under my own name, so I should pay. Charge it as is.
—Yes. The total for the six-person dining course and beverages is 80,000 dollars.
The best way to effectively keep the palace in check is to make them endlessly suspicious and distrustful of one another. To sow the seeds of division so that factions cannot unite as one.
While they tear each other apart, I will fully grow my own strength.
In that regard, Reutern II is a quite excellent pawn.
—80,000 for six... It is expensive here, indeed.
—This is the breakdown of the beverages you consumed.
—Ah, I know. I know. The alcohol is expensive...
Muttering with a pained voice, Reutern finished the payment. Afterward, I heard the sound of him leaving the restaurant. Small talk with the palace nobles expressing their gratitude followed, and before long, he climbed into his car and settled in.
—I'm full~ Let's go home now.
—Yes, sir.
As the luxury car carrying him moved smoothly forward.
I picked up the communicator on my desk.
"Are you ready?"
The finale to ignite the conflict between the two royal houses, Julius and Reutern, remained.
—Yes. Give the signal whenever you are ready.
Reutern's vehicle was traveling down a quiet night street.
I had previously ordered agents to install a specially crafted mana bomb on the undercarriage of his car.
It was a homemade explosive assembled using some parts from the old Gigantes, and the creator was Yukia. Furthermore, the mana stone used as the explosive charge was a type called 'Curio,' which comes from a mine owned by the Julius family.
The mana would quickly evaporate and vanish upon explosion, but a capable forensics team from an Imperial direct agency, or a Sentinel knight, would be able to find those minute residual traces.
—Phew. Wow, that was really delicious. It was worth the money, though.
At the very moment Reutern II patted his stomach and muttered with satisfaction.
"Detonate."
My command was executed.
KABOOOOM!
Beyond the bugging device, a thunderous explosion erupted, loud enough to tear eardrums.
CRASH!
The heavy armored vehicle was lifted entirely into the air,
SCREEECH—CRUNCH!
The chassis crumpled under the explosive pressure,
GRIND!
The sound of shredded steel fragments scattering and pelting the asphalt echoed.
—Aaaagh! Gaaah!
The scream from Reutern within was so transparent and theatrical that I found myself smiling despite myself.
However, I didn't have time to just watch.
Ding—.
An alarm sounded from the computer on my desk, the Sentinel mission system.
[ Emergency: Vehicle explosion occurred on the main road of District 3 of the Capital ]
[ Suspected attack on a VVIP vehicle. Sentinel Knight deployment requested. ]
As Maximilian, a Knight of the Sentinels, I readily accepted the deployment order.
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