“It is true that the First Young Master will be presenting. And not only I, but also the Director of the Financial Bureau and even the Mayor are studying it.”
‘This...’
‘Surely...?’
At the voice of the person who had tormented them the most back when they had worked at the main office, a voice from which killing intent seemed to drip, Michael and Max felt as though every pore on their bodies were squeezing their fine hairs tight.
It cannot be. It cannot be.
The two of them anxiously turned around, only to be startled the moment they saw the stiff, exacting man standing behind them.
“Eek!”
“M-Manager!”
Damn it!
They said even a dragon would fly over when spoken of!
“It feels like only yesterday that you boys were copying ledgers because you got the numbers wrong, and now you have already become Chief Agents.”
Though his expression was cold, Heinrich patted the two of them on the shoulders.
Were they not boys who, among all those he had thoroughly broken, had gritted their teeth and clawed their way up?
However, to Max and Michael, the touch of Heinrich’s hands on their shoulders felt as though a thousand tons were pressing them down.
“W-We apologize, Manager!”
“Please spare... No! Please forgive us!”
“If someone saw this, they would think I was trying to eat you alive, you brats. Am I that frightening?”
As if he had to ask!
Since they could not possibly confess that openly, Michael and Max merely begged for forgiveness, their faces pale. Heinrich, who had chuckled and scolded them, composed his expression.
“In any case, enough private chatter. You two are studying the instructional text the First Young Master made as well?”
As if anyone could deny that he was a workaholic.
When Heinrich stopped the personal conversation and threw out a work-related question, Max, Michael’s bosom friend, answered with his posture sharply disciplined as well.
“Yes, sir! As soon as we master it, each trading house will begin preparing individual ledgers. The trade headquarters will directly compile them and calculate the settlements.”
“In addition to the Central and Eastern Trade Headquarters, which we belong to, the Northern and Western Trade Headquarters are proceeding in the same way. If the ledgers are organized as shown in the instructional text, we expect management judgments and decisions to become more intuitive and clear.”
After that, Heinrich continued listening to Max and Michael’s reactions to the new accounting technique and its expected effects, then nodded.
“Good. Keep working hard from now on.”
“Yes, Manager!”
Although they had become Chief Agents, Max and Michael answered with perfect posture like freshly enlisted chicks of new recruits.
Then a delicious smell seeped into both of their noses.
“What is that smell?”
“It smells very savory and oily, does it not, Manager?”
Max and Michael sniffed at the appetizing scent and smacked their lips. Heinrich was more dignified than they were, but even he formed a mysterious smile at the smell drifting to his nose.
“Hmm... It smells like cooked flour, but I do not think it is baked. I believe I smell oil as well. We shall see later.”
‘Lunch is already right in front of us, and I am starving. Damn it.’
He could not show himself smacking his lips in front of Michael and Max, who were his distant juniors and subordinates.
Exercising patience and not revealing his hunger, Heinrich quickly went and sat in the seats prepared for the higher-ups of the Konzern and the autonomous territory government.
“Why are you so late, Heinrich?”
Heinrich gave an awkward smile and apologized to a man who resembled him, though his face had more wrinkles.
“I apologize, Brother. I was late because I was talking to two bright little fellows among the ones I used to work to the bone under me.”
“What did you talk about?”
“The accounting instructional text the Young Master made. Those boys had good things to say about it. Are the ones you are running through the mill doing all right, Brother?”
Herbert Gelt, Heinrich Gelt’s elder brother and the Director of the Financial Bureau of the autonomous territory government, smiled and stroked his neatly trimmed beard.
“More than all right. They were in an uproar, saying that if we had introduced such an accounting technique earlier, we could have handled everything from tax collection to budget expenditure far more meticulously. Haha.”
During merchant caravan tax payment season, they faced off as the Konzern’s Accounting-Finance Manager and the autonomous territory’s Director of the Financial Bureau, arguing over whether the taxes were too high or too low.
However, to Heinrich, Herbert was a senior accountant he looked up to and a dependable elder brother.
Because of that, Heinrich smiled in relief at the favorable response from his brother, who was more capable than he was.
“If you say it is good, Brother, then there is nothing more to examine.”
“By the way, is the rumor true that the protagonist of today’s presentation is the First Young Master?”
When Herbert looked around and asked in a low voice, Heinrich nodded.
“It is true, Brother. They say the First Young Master has something to present.”
“Hmm... The First Young Master is certainly a prodigy, but I do not know what he intends to say after gathering the people of the Konzern and the autonomous territory.”
“Do not even get me started, Brother. For the past fifteen days, he has been going in and out of the official document archive and asking me no small number of questions.”
For those fifteen days, Heinrich had been struck head-on by the waves of questions Friedrich poured out, and he had been forced to answer until his mouth went dry.
Perhaps Friedrich’s tenacious appearance was vivid before his eyes, for Heinrich waved his hand with a shudder and spoke quietly to Herbert.
“I cannot know for certain, but given that he wrote that accounting textbook, I think it is worth looking forward to.”
“If you go so far as to say that, then I suppose it is all right to expect something.”
“Yes. By the way, do you know what that smell is? It is almost time for lunch, and yet this kind of scent is wafting around. Tsk.”
“It seems to be coming from the kitchen in the main building of the mansion, but I believe this is my first time smelling it. It is not as though either of us has eaten only one or two meals here.”
Needless to say, Heinrich Gelt had often come and gone from the Medichin Mansion, and Herbert Gelt had also frequently enjoyed lavish meals there while discussing work or fostering personal ties.
Even so, the Gelt brothers were so curious about this smell, one they were encountering for the first time, a smell that stimulated their noses and twisted their stomachs in its grip, that they were almost irritated.
‘Of all times, they chose lunchtime for the presentation!’
‘The Mayor would never be the sort of person to do this!’
The Gelt brothers were not the only ones on edge.
The other higher-ups seated in the same row were also frowning at the smell, which fiercely stimulated their hunger right before lunchtime.
‘The Mayor is not the sort of person who would schedule things like this...’
Wilhelm might be prickly at times and work his people intensely, but he was not someone who neglected the meals of his own people. While frowning, Griffith searched his mind for the person who might play this kind of trick.
‘...Friedrich? I did hear about it from Alfred...’
To Griffith, Alfred had been a reliable comrade-in-arms and an irreplaceable friend from the days of the old Berstein Knight Order until now.
Griffith, the greatest martial artist and commander of the Knight Order, had taken charge of the Etilant Army, saying he would protect House Medichin and Johanna from the outside.
And Alfred, who had managed the Knight Order’s household affairs, had become the head butler of House Medichin and was guarding them from close by.
Naturally, Griffith often met Alfred to drink liquor or tea and heard many stories from within House Medichin. Because of that, Griffith knew what dish this smell belonged to and who had made that dish.
‘If that boy planned this, then it is worth looking forward to.’
Even as he drank water to soothe his hunger, Griffith’s face was painted with a smile of expectation toward his beloved pupil, who would become the heir of House Medichin.
***
“Everyone is making a fuss about the identity of the smell currently spreading through the garden, Master. The young junior clerks and agents in particular all have faces full of irritation. Heh heh.”
At the boyish smile, ill-suited to Alfred’s age, as he reported the reactions of the Konzern employees and autonomous territory officials, Wilhelm smiled as well.
“Young people have hearty appetites, so it cannot be helped. Is that not so, Friedrich?”
“That is correct, Father. I think we can begin now.”
Seeing Friedrich answer with a grin, Wilhelm was inwardly horrified.
‘What a ruthless fellow! One should not tease even a baby goblin with food!’
‘When the Young Master succeeds the Master in the future, the gates of hardship will be wide open. Good luck, Griffith.’
As Alfred silently offered his condolences to his friend who led the Etilant Army, Wilhelm’s voice reached him.
“Serve the employees and officials their meal at once. Also inform them that the meeting will begin after the meal is finished.”
“Yes, Master.”
***
As soon as Wilhelm’s instructions were given, the butlers and maids of House Medichin, as well as the day laborers hired for the banquet preceding today’s presentation, diligently set out plates containing half a fried chicken each, bowls of salad, tableware, and drinks before the employees and officials.
“What is this?”
“It is the luncheon the Master has prepared for all of you.”
“Ah...”
At those words, the people who had grumbled that a meeting had been scheduled at lunchtime blushed. To think they had resented Wilhelm, who cherished people more than anyone else!
“See? Did you grumble that much because you thought the Mayor would starve us?”
“Why would you bring that up? How embarrassing.”
The butler smiled at those bickering back and forth, then conveyed the remaining instructions.
“You must all have been very hungry, so it is only natural that you were sensitive. The Master understands as well, so please wait just a little longer.”
“Ah... Understood.”
The butlers and maids of House Medichin were outstanding bodyguards capable of using Aura like knights, and they were also capable secretaries equipped with scholarship comparable to recognized employees of the Konzern.
Because of that, the employees and officials answered the butlers and maids politely, then stared intently at the fried chicken that was giving off a savory smell.
‘What are those black specks?’
‘He is not someone who would serve us something we cannot eat...’
While the employees and officials swallowed their saliva as they waited, looking at the black powder mixed like flecks into the golden batter, a loud voice rang out.
“The Mayor is coming. Everyone, please rise from your seats.”
At the shout of a butler with a strong voice, everyone rose from their seats and looked at Wilhelm and Friedrich as they walked toward the table prepared on the stage. With Friedrich beside him, Wilhelm spoke to those before him.
“All of you have gone through a great deal while waiting. Then let us eat first.”
“Yes, Mayor!”
After seeing Wilhelm sit down, take the end of a chicken leg, and bring it to his mouth, the employees and officials also each bit into a piece of fried chicken.
“Hmm!?”
The moment they chewed, a spicy fragrance and flavor spread throughout their mouths.
“Could this be...?”
The fried chicken that made their eyes bulge in surprise was Black Pepper Chicken, made with a generous amount of pepper imported in exchange for gold coins.
Pepper from Hindira, which could only be bought in a quantity equal to the weight of the gold paid after sailing all the way to Araman at the entrance to the throat of the Sea of the Great Maw.
That precious pepper had been finely ground into powder, used generously from the base seasoning to the batter, and then fried. The spicy taste and aroma of the Black Pepper Chicken were beyond intense to the Konzern employees and autonomous territory officials. They were shocking.
“Oooh!”
The deliciously spicy flavor, strong enough to pry open even eyelids sealed fast with glue, along with the crispy yet chewy texture of the chicken and the juices bursting out from it, captured everyone’s tongues.
As Friedrich and Wilhelm watched people tear into the chicken as though enchanted, they looked at each other and laughed softly.
“The effect seems certain.”
“It is thanks to you trusting and helping me, Father. Hehe.”
The amount of money Wilhelm had spent to grant Friedrich’s request and make Black Pepper Chicken was tremendous.
‘For the people who came to sell their labor for today’s work, it would be two years’ income.’
Naturally, House Medichin had decided to provide each of them with the same half chicken as well.
Because of that, if commoners learned that such a luxurious meal had taken place, there would be nothing to say even if they were cursed. However!
‘That absolutely cannot happen. They are people too, after all.’
The day laborers hired to prepare the meal would hear the things discussed here today.
If they heard those contents and spread them among the people, it would help the future to come.
Firmly believing that, Friedrich ate chicken together with Wilhelm with a peaceful heart.
“Whew.”
‘At this level, even if we offered it to the emperor, he could not refuse it. No, wait. It might be so spicy, salty, and greasy that His Majesty would pass away from high blood pressure.’
Among the dishes Friedrich had eaten at the last Imperial Diet banquet, there had not been a single dish with a more stimulating and greasy taste than this.
After happily eating while comparing that time to now, Friedrich left only the bones of what had once been chicken on the plate before him, and Wilhelm did the same.
“Hmm...”
After surveying the people together with his son, Wilhelm could see here and there that some of those who had emptied their plates were so regretful that they were even sucking their fingers clean.
“It seems preparation for the main act is complete.”
“I think so too.”
After exchanging quiet words with his son from a handspan away, Wilhelm spoke to everyone.
“Since it seems everyone has finished eating, we will begin the presentation in one hour. During the break, prepare yourselves to listen closely to the presentation.”
“Yes, Mayor!”
The officials and employees answered in ringing voices.
Needless to say, the source of that answer was Black Pepper Chicken.