Chapter 37

Twenty-six investors had sunk their money into Chandler Syrup Company.

Right now, I held their list in my hands—provided by Anais.

“Her Highness Anais, are these all of them?”

“…Yes.”

Most of the investors were nobles, but there were also successful merchants among them—ones who wouldn’t have been out of place even if they’d been granted the title of Baron.

Even individuals of the highest echelon in the Empire were on this list.

A prime example was Marquis Rikius, the old man who had negotiated with me during the psilocybin incident. He was the majority shareholder of the second largest bank in the Empire.

After Anais fell from grace, he had distanced himself from her, but it seemed that her health syrup had brought them closer again.

Even excluding him, the lineup was impressive.

An executive from the weekly magazine that disseminated government news.

An entrepreneur who had become wealthy selling knockoff Eastern pottery.

Professor Bobby, the foremost expert in flame magic whom I’d met once at Minster Palace.

‘Anais wasn’t just excited and talking nonsense.’

The faction that had previously dissolved was coming back together, and it seemed there were even new faces entering the group. Anais must have been excited and boasted about ma huang because of this. It ended up being a foolish move, but…

Anyway, how should I manage these people?

“What were you planning to do originally?”

Siena, who had been watching silently, suddenly asked a question.

“I intended to leave them be, let them fail or not. I didn’t recommend they invest, after all.”

“You didn’t suggest it… but let’s say that.”

Of course, from the investors’ perspective, they would be boiling with rage.

When this news got out, the pink slips for the over-the-counter stocks they held would turn into nothing but scraps of paper. If they were physical certificates, they might even be useful as kindling, but it wouldn’t bring any comfort.

“They may bark for a while. Someone might direct their wrath at me, but eventually, they’ll quiet down.”

“However, there is a way for them to recover their losses, isn’t there?”

“Yes. Since all it takes is to mix opium and ma huang and distribute it wherever, we can’t just let them be, Your Highness Siena.”

Siena didn’t seem particularly pleased with my words.

I could guess what she was thinking. She probably believed that the situation where twenty-six people, who had squandered their fortunes and lost their minds, create the second version of health syrup and release it on a grand scale wasn’t so bad. She might also think that it wasn’t something we could stop anyway.

In actuality, completely halting the creation of a second health syrup was impossible.

‘If they knew it could make money, they wouldn’t give it up.’

Someone would certainly try to orchestrate something. The money made from narcotics is as alluring as the drugs themselves.

Still, they needed to see just how much their lives could fall apart if they made a wrong move.

“To think this is about reducing future competition, huh, Your Highness?”

“Hmm, I see where you’re going with this.”

“Among those twenty-six people, there could be someone smarter than Her Highness Anais. Perhaps they could circulate a meticulously refined drug that doesn’t harm lives within that boundary.”

At the mention of eliminating competitors, Siena finally nodded. Anaïs, who had been watching her blankly until then, muttered despairingly, “Crazy woman,” but it seemed she wasn’t too bothered by it.

“Alright. Alan, are you suggesting we warn those people?”

“Yes. The method is…”

I was about to explain carefully, but Siena jumped in before me.

“Don’t worry, Alan. I’ll handle it. By the way, isn’t it a good idea to announce the listing of Chandler Syrup while gathering the investors at the securities market? We’ll have them gather full of expectations, and then we’ll carry out what you suggested, right?”

“….”

“That’s perfect, right? We’ll show them a lesson. And then, Anaïs—she can take charge, right?”

“Exactly.”

Siena’s plan was largely similar to what I had come up with.

Was the woman picking up influence from me? Or did I naturally align with this woman while working alongside her? It could be both, perhaps.

“Then, I need to get Father’s approval first. I’ll be right back.”

“Your Highness. Apply for an audience through the Chief Steward first, but cancel quickly with the excuse of being concerned about His Majesty’s mood. If done correctly, His Majesty will likely summon you before the day is over. Then, carefully bring up the topic.”

“Alright.”

As soon as I reached an agreement with Siena, I turned my head to Anais.

“Take a break, Your Highness.”

I wasn’t saying this out of concern but because there was a final task for Anais to perform. Given the coming trials, rest was essential.

However, it seemed she wouldn’t get to relax for long.

“Father has approved. Alan.”

Siena had obtained the emperor’s consent within less than a day.

The approval granted permission to politically “utilize” Anais before her punishment was decided. It was mentioned that the Empress had assisted in this matter.

“Thank you for your hard work, Your Highness.”

With the stage set, we decided to execute the plan promptly tomorrow.

***

The dream of overnight wealth was finally about to come true.

‘Well, it wasn’t all that long in the making.’

Professor Bobby from the Department of Magic looked at the crumpled paper in his hand with the innocent and cheerful smile of a child.

It wasn’t just any paper. It was an investment certificate indicating ownership of shares and dividend rights in Chandler Syrup Company, the manufacturer of Health Syrup.

The quantity was a whopping 500 shares.

However, Professor Bobby invested only a modest 100,000 talers. It was possible because he got in before anyone else in the State paid attention to Health Syrup.

Contrastingly, people who entered a few days later ended up paying an excessive price for the newly issued shares.

“So, that’s why investment should only be done by people with their heads turned upside down… or something.”

Professor Bobby’s momentarily proud mutter darkened his expression.

He couldn’t boast of his investment skills based on one success, given his abysmal investment record over the years.

After starting to show interest in investments, he had suffered nothing but losses. He had lost more than 4 million talers in the process.

Thinking about those times when he sold everything from the top of his head to his ankles made him feel like his self-esteem was being whittled away. Recently, he sometimes pulled his blanket over his head.

However, the reflective time didn’t last long.

Because Professor Bobby had in his hand stock that was sure to bring in at least tens of times that investment. Maybe he had unintentionally mastered the skill to spot promising stocks after squandering so much money and time.

Yeah, let’s call it expensive tuition.

With a “Yeeh!” filled with vigor, Professor Bobby stood up.

He was heading to the stock exchange.

Though not just for fun, he was there following the summons by Imperial Princess Anais.

“Her Highness, Princess Anais wishes to meet with investors in the stock exchange lobby after the session closes. Please relay this information to other investors, Professor.”

The instruction came two hours ago via communication device.

He carried it out with great pleasure because there was only one reason to gather investors at the stock exchange at this point.

An Initial Public Offering (IPO). Probably wanting to create some buzz at the time of announcement, right?

“It might feel fast, but it’s not unreasonable.”

Typically, for a regular company to publicly issue its stock, it would usually expend a long time in raising the necessary funds for royal tribute.

But Chandler Syrup’s major shareholder was Princess Anais, the Imperial Princess of the Empire. It was reasonable to see the rough procedure as unnecessary for her.

Just imagining the rosy days ahead filled Professor Bobby’s chest with overwhelming excitement.

‘First, I should show those who mocked me what’s what.’

The head of the Department of Swordsmanship who subtly gloated each time Bobby’s investments failed. The junior professor who derisively pointed out that getting rich overnight was a fantasy…

…and his wife who declared separation a few months ago and left.

Bobby was curious how they would react after the listing.

Would they look away, embarrassed?

Or would they brazen it out and try to maintain their composure?

At fifty, he shouldn’t indulge in such thoughts, but the mere imagining was thrilling. Soon, this wouldn’t be imagination—it would become reality.

He calmed his excitement and finally left the lab.

Right after stepping out, a remarkably striking scene caught his eye.

“A bottle for 190 talers? That’s too expensive.”

“You should pay that much. I’ve been in line for over two hours!”

It was admirable to see students trading Health Syrup for more than double the original price.

Among them was a prodigy from the Department of Swordsmanship, whose talent was so remarkable that they had been once considered for expulsion but were now being predicted to become the youngest-ever Master in history.

Who would’ve thought this guy was one of Health Syrup’s customers? This wasn’t an exaggeration; it was a genuine boon that elevated Health Syrup’s value.

‘Thank you.’

Professor Bobby left the academy feeling deeply satisfied.

…

Shortly thereafter, at the stock exchange.

Twenty-six men and women gathered, each visibly tense and excited.

These were all investors in Chandler Syrup.

They had recognized the worth of Health Syrup early on when it was just beginning to emerge as one of the State’s essential standby medicines, and they took the risk of investing.

Although everyone was busy with their businesses and investments, not a single one of them failed to respond to Princess Anais’s summons.

Was it because of the royal command?

More likely, it was due to their anticipation.

“Was this gathering really for the listing? I didn’t hear any mention of it from the section chief I asked before the session closed?”

“If you didn’t catch it, you’re a fool, mate. Ultimately, getting the royal court’s seal is key, and it was said that Her Highness Princess Anais went to the main palace yesterday. It must be for the IPO, right!”

“Oh, then, we should celebrate here first, and then…”

“You need to be careful about saying that kind of thing!”

The investors chatted freely and happily when suddenly, the grand finale of this lively atmosphere appeared.

“Her Imperial Highness Princess Anais arrives!”

Princess Anais Carlisle, the Third Princess.

Every investor turned their eyes toward the entrance but…

…there was no roaring applause.

Instead, several people tilted their heads curiously. Others cleared their throats, only to blink repeatedly.

“Huh?”

It was due to Princess Anais’s appearance.

She wore a drab linen garment. Her hair hung loose, and her eyes, which stared fixedly at the floor, had lost their usual sharpness.

Her disheveled and unimperial appearance barely made her recognizable as a royal with a mixed-race heritage.

Moreover, her escort was not her usual bodyguard, but officers from the State’s police force. To the casual eye, it looked like an arrest.

“Your H…?”

Startled expressions replaced the smiles on the investors’ faces.

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