Chapter 143

Chapter 143:  A Trap for Beasts (5)

"Representative Roger, you were at the hotel this morning too, weren’t you?"

Freya entered the lobby accompanied only by her chief secretary and escort knight.

Though they were just three people, the atmosphere they exuded was unlike anyone else's.

"Most representatives are hardly ever at headquarters. You're quite the diligent one."

Despite not being of royal blood, she had a noble and elegant presence.

As the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke of the North, she had also inherited the family’s renowned beauty.

"It’s an honor to have you visit our hotel, Lady Grand Duke’s daughter."

She truly lived up to being the child the Grand Duke trusted most.

"If you wish to stay with us, I’ll assist you personally."

"You’re quite funny. You know full well I’m not here to book a room."

Behind that noble face lurked a chilling ambition and a deadly aura.

The fact that she embezzled company funds just to seize the position of family head made it clear—she was capable of anything for her desires.

"How could I possibly presume to guess the intentions of the esteemed eldest daughter?"

"You’ve probably figured it out. You should know what I talked about with Echina two days ago, shouldn’t you?"

Of course I knew.

The five billion I rammed in.

Even a beast with nerves of steel would feel uneasy after betting that kind of money.

She was here for one last check—to confirm whether I was a trustworthy card.

"If it’s about your conversation with Lady Echina… then it must be regarding Lloyd Shipping."

"That’s right. The stock you recommended to her. Is it really safe?"

Freya crossed her arms alone.

Wearing a silk dress, she briefly handed her handbag to the escort knight.

"My sister, just a few months ago, didn’t know the first thing about management or stocks."

Then, she looked at me with those cold, golden eyes that only the Grand Duke’s bloodline could possess.

"Since someone like that was dragged into this, I’m uneasy as her sister. I wanted to hear it directly from you."

In finding just the right justification, she was truly her father’s daughter.

Just months ago, she felt relieved when I told her I planned to use Echina.

And now, she was pretending to care about her sister? It was almost laughable.

Then again, this was just how the children of the highborn behaved.

Not that it was entirely a bad thing.

Those who take the helm sometimes needed to be shameless.

For the sake of their own interests—and those of the group that followed them.

"You came to see if I’m actually competent in this field."

"It’s a bit awkward to say it myself, but I’ve taken quite an interest in this area too."

Of course she had.

Even in her past life, she kept a stock exchange director close by, and would buy stocks that were about to surge or follow major investors.

So, she had approached Echina after already knowing I had invested in Lloyd Shipping.

"That’s why I’m asking—Lloyd Shipping, the stock you recommended to Echina. Could you explain why you recommended it?"

Freya’s eyes, along with those of the two men standing beside her, pierced straight through me.

A secretary who used magic and a knight who, at a glance, was clearly a high-level sword expert.

They were prepared to interrogate me harshly if I didn’t give a convincing answer.

On grounds that I had misled a noble of the Grand Duke of the North’s family.

But—

I wasn’t the type to shrink from threats like this.

"The reason is very simple."

I opened my mouth firmly.

With eyes that had seen through dozens of such intimidations long ago.

"In my view, Lloyd Shipping is a stock that’s bound to surge."

"And what’s your basis for that confidence?"

At Freya’s question, I leisurely folded my arms behind my back.

As if I were a noble of the Empire on equal standing.

"I always personally verify whether an investment target is trustworthy."

"So you’re saying you actually went to the Northern Sea?"

I shook my head with an easy smile.

"Not quite, but I did obtain information from a reliable source."

"A reliable source, you say… The more I hear, the more suspicious this sounds."

Freya, the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke, narrowed her eyes.

She looked like a beast about to sink its teeth into a fox performing tricks right in front of her.

Even her elegant tone had started to turn cold again.

Moments like this called for setting the atmosphere to make my words sound more convincing.

"Let’s move to a different location. There are too many ears around here."

I carefully scanned the area and made the suggestion.

Freya, too, quickly swept her gaze around the lobby, then calmly began to follow me.

"This is the VIP room in our lounge bar. It’s secure, but if you’re still uneasy, you may cast a soundproofing spell."

I guided them into a private room, separated from the expansive lounge bar.

The chief secretary briefly focused his mind, then calmly spoke to the Lady Grand Duke’s daughter.

"There’s no one nearby, Representative."

"Good enough. Now, let’s hear what you’ve got to say."

Freya sat down, crossing her legs in a leather chair.

She didn’t even touch the tea that had been served, as if to signal I should stop trying to create a mood.

"Very well, I’ll explain."

I looked at her gently, as though watching over a younger sibling.

After experiencing her during my time as the thirty-year-old chief secretary, I no longer saw her as someone so lofty.

"Do you recall the recent summit between the Empire and the Northern Sea Union?"

"I do. Thanks to that, trade between the two nations has become active."

Freya looked at me as if wondering whether I had really invested in shipping over something so trivial.

In response, I answered with a tone that said, “Do you really think I would dump 18 billion just for that?”

"I obtained the details of the meeting that took place there between His Majesty the Emperor, the two Grand Dukes, and King Doku himself."

"...!"

Freya’s crossed legs hesitated mid-motion—clearly, this was something she hadn’t expected.

"Included in that discussion was King Doku’s personal commitment to invigorate the shipping industry for the sake of trade between the two nations."

I lifted my index finger and lightly waved it.

"Do you know what measures a nation takes when it wants to promote a specific industry?"

"……."

Freya gave silent permission for me to continue.

In response, I turned my gaze toward the grand seascape painting hanging in the VIP room.

"They nationalize companies that are already thriving."

"Are you suggesting they’ll absorb the top-performing shipbuilding and shipping companies in the Northern Sea?"

It was quite the radical statement.

The idea that a government would acquire and manage private enterprises for the sake of trade—unthinkable in an empire that upheld corporate autonomy.

Naturally, her tone turned even colder, now that we’d left behind the formal setting.

"How is that even possible? If a state seizes private companies, how can any industry thrive?"

But kingdoms were different.

They were still fundamentally monarchies, with societies revolving tightly around the crown.

Even if someone established a private company, if the state wielded money and justification, there was no way to resist.

"The Northern Sea is a kingdom. They still follow a primitive form of feudalism."

I unfolded my arms and sat facing her directly.

Then, instead of coffee, I took a sip of the tea and continued.

"Once the leading shipping companies are absorbed, naturally the ones lower in the rankings will come into the spotlight."

I explained why I had specifically chosen Lloyd Shipping from among them.

"The company with the highest potential among them is Lloyd Shipping."

From inside my suit jacket, I pulled out a document.

The paper contained the profiles of Lloyd Shipping’s CEO and executives, which I had been researching over the past few days.

"The CEO of this company is Baron Albiron, a cousin of King Doku, the head of the Northern Sea Union. That means there's no chance the state will take over his company."

I flipped to the next page.

Images of massive warships spread across it.

"Moreover, this company originally specialized in military vessels. A place like this has excellent infrastructure and personnel, so adapting to trade ships will be quick."

I handed the valuable material over to Freya.

The chief secretary reviewed it first, then respectfully passed it along to the eldest daughter.

"Other than those companies facing nationalization, there are hardly any shipping companies with this level of technological capability."

While she reviewed the documents,

I emptied my teacup with a satisfied smile.

"How did you even come by this kind of information...?"

Freya looked at me with suspicion—aware that I had accessed overseas intel even she didn’t know.

In response, I calmly replaced her now-cold tea with a fresh cup and answered plainly.

"Even for someone like you, Lady Freya, would it be wise for me to reveal all my weapons?"

I gently pushed the steaming teacup toward her and said kindly,

"It would mean a lot if you could understand that much, as the eldest daughter."

"……."

The silver-haired woman remained silent for a moment after hearing that.

Then, after instructing the chief secretary to gather the documents,

She rested her chin on the back of her hand and gazed at me with the lofty air of a queen.

"Fine. You're no longer part of the Grand Duke’s household, after all."

A loaded statement.

It meant that since I was no longer affiliated with the Grand Duke’s house, we could speak privately…

But it also meant she could crush me in public without a second thought.

"I won’t press further on this. But I’ll ask one final question."

Since I was no longer under the Grand Duke's banner, she was making it clear I was fair game.

"Aside from the amount you offered Echina, how much have you personally invested?"

Still—

That worked both ways.

"How much are you hoping to walk away with?"

Facing her not as a former subordinate, but as a complete adversary,

I no longer had any reason to go easy on her.

"I intend to walk away with exactly ten times the current stock price."

"……."

At the number "ten," Freya let out a slight chuckle.

As if to say she already knew exactly what was in my head.

"And your investment amount?"

"I’ve wrung out everything I have. At most, 10 billion is my limit."

The eldest daughter nodded, indicating she understood.

"Even if the Erian Foundation is growing, it’s not easy to secure 10 billion gold in liquid assets."

"I’m wagering the fate of our foundation on this."

As though she’d finally grasped the full extent of my intentions, the representative of Luton Maiden rose to her feet.

"Fate, huh… That’s a good word."

"The more responsibilities one bears, the more decisive they must be—don’t you agree?"

My sharp eyes curved into crescent moons.

Freya smiled faintly, as though acknowledging the meaning behind my words.

"Not wrong at all."

Her two escorts also prepared to leave.

I respectfully guided the three of them out of the VIP room.

It was only after stepping out into the lounge that she returned to her usual, warm expression as the eldest daughter.

"Thank you for your honest answers today, Representative Roger."

"Of course. What good would come from hiding my true intentions from the Grand Duke’s family?"

Freya patted my shoulder in agreement.

"Exactly. There’s not a single benefit to making enemies of us."

It was a warning of sorts.

A veiled threat to watch my step going forward…

"Still, the hotel is quite nice. I used to hate how Mother would waste her time here all the time, but…"

Perhaps because her worries had been resolved, Freya slowly began to take in her surroundings.

But that was the extent of it.

Unlike Echina, she didn’t seem to hold any particular affection for her mother.

"Well, coming by as a guest at least once wouldn’t be the worst idea."

"I hope you do. We’ll be sure to serve you with the utmost care."

Freya nodded lightly in thanks.

Then, with her usual indifferent expression, she exited the hotel.

"……."

The silver-haired woman stepped through the grand entrance doors of the hotel.

As she passed, she locked eyes with another woman who had the same pure silvery hair as herself.

Saint Istina.

She immediately recognized Freya and greeted her with a slight nod of her eyes.

In return, the eldest daughter responded with a polite nod to the symbol of the State Church.

"Why is the Saint here…?"

Freya briefly paused in her steps and watched Istina walk ahead.

Rumors that she would soon be appointed bishop were widespread even in Nord.

Not to mention, the newspapers had vividly published scenes of her enjoying the festival with a certain man.

And now, that very woman had come directly to this hotel.

Then, she handed over a neatly wrapped bundle.

To none other than Roger Julius—the very man Freya had just met.

"Hmm… So that’s what this is."

Freya found the scene quite amusing.

Like she had stumbled upon an entertaining little spectacle.

"Is something the matter, Representative?"

At the question from her chief secretary and escort knight, the eldest daughter shook her head.

Then she crossed her arms and raised her chin high.

"I think I understand why Roger Julius is so bold."

"And what would that be?"

The reason he could use her younger sister Echina and still stand tall before the eldest daughter herself.

That reason was clear...

"Roger intends to have the Saint become bishop—and marry her."

"……!!"

Even the normally solemn knight, along with the chief secretary, was visibly shocked.

"Is that really true?"

"With the might of the State Church at his back, it makes sense he’d go all-in on such aggressive investments."

Freya finally looked satisfied, as if all the puzzle pieces had fallen into place.

"Enough to lie and say he was only aiming for tenfold."

In truth, Freya had only wagered the embezzled 50 billion gold from the company funds up to tenfold.

But now, she turned to her chief secretary and gave an order.

"That 50 billion we invested this time? Leave it in until it hits 25-fold."

The Grand Duke of the North’s eldest daughter clasped her hands behind her back with ease.

And then she thought to herself,

He wasn't helping Echina out of loyalty in her bid to become family head. He likely just saw her as a useful connection.

"If it really does go up twenty-five times, I should at least send a decent wedding gift."

That night, after she returned home, she personally heard the rumor spreading from the Northern Sea Union—

That the state would begin nationalizing shipping and vessel companies.

The eldest daughter, delighted by the news, enjoyed it like a fine piece of classical music.

For that night, the woman who had once trembled in fear after embezzling 50 billion was finally able to sleep soundly.

All while knowing nothing of the unexpected variables still to come.

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