Chapter 161 (1): Pope’s Envoys x Sacred Lance of Heaven
At the bidding, Wayne’s professional team met with their partner, Murphy Mining. The group of around thirty people was quite a sight to behold. Alberd Steel’s representative was also present. Dressed in an old-fashioned style, he looked difficult to communicate with. When others offered pleasantries, he maintained a poker face.
Alberd Steel was the largest steel company in Luzerbourg. Supported by the country, it wasn’t a regular private company. Thus, political influence prominently informed the company’s decision-making.
The choice between Franc and Prussia was the biggest dilemma Luzerbourg faced. On a macro level, this tender could signal the small nation’s stance. Luzerbourg couldn’t just claim neutrality and be done with it.
Steel made and broke the country.
If Luzerbourg simply had an abundance of iron, it wouldn’t be that much of a problem. However, due to their previous leader being a visionary and choosing to keep their iron rather than exporting the minerals, Luzerbourg had become an advanced industrial country.
That put her in an awkward position!
Luzerbourg was only so big. Since the excessive steel output had to go somewhere, she depended heavily on Franc and Prussia economically. Their railways connected to the two nations and couldn’t afford to offend either, so Luzerbourg had stayed neutral. A quick death would be preferable to being forced to choose a side.
Murphy Mining got the cold shoulder from the representative of Alberd Steel, while Prussia’s Saar Mining received a warm welcome. Nicholas shook his head. The differential treatment was clear and expected. The result of the tender was long determined.
Wayne frowned, leading his team out of the venue.
In the car, Nicholas took the passenger seat and discussed the possibility of turning the situation around. Their chance was slim, but it wasn’t impossible. As long as they banded together and pressured Luzerbourg in the name of Franc, they might still win with a lower price. During the meeting this afternoon, they would discuss the details of their collaboration.
“It’s tricky. I would choose Prussia, too.”
Wayne wasn’t feeling optimistic. Prussia’s advantage was too significant. They could take an offensive or a defensive stance, and their great military might was unrivaled. On the other hand, Franc, while being a powerful nation known for the world’s top ground forces, was no longer her glorious self. In recent years, the Francan military had been staying within national boundaries, creating equipment and laying down defenses behind closed doors. Defense had been the primary focus.
One nation had been parading its might, while the other had been quietly building fortresses. It was clear which one was stronger, and it was equally clear which side the neutral nation would choose.
Luzerbourg feared Franc, but she feared Prussia more. Between the two evils, it only made sense for her to side with Prussia.
Denying both? It was impossible. Luzerbourg wasn’t strong enough to do that!
Sensing Wayne’s concern, Mona placed a reassuring hand on the back of his hand. He extracted it to place it on the back of her hand instead. It was a thoughtless gesture purely fueled by his competitive nature.
Nicholas brought up the meeting this afternoon once more, urging Wayne to put aside his personal feelings in a roundabout way. While a victory wouldn’t solve every problem, it could cover them up. Working with Boswell Mining would benefit all of them.
Wayne wavered a little. He didn’t want to lose. This was his first mission after becoming the Lando heir. If he failed, the old man would surely use the failure as an excuse to get him back. He could already imagine the look on the old man’s face and how he would boast about his glorious achievements in the past.
But working with Boswell Mining... the victory would taste bitter!
“Damn old man, he must be doing this on purpose.” Wayne turned to Nicholas. “I’m a little tired. You’ll attend the meeting in the afternoon on my behalf. If a collaboration seems viable, do it. If not, give it up. You can lower your pride since pride isn’t worth a silker, but absolutely do not make concessions in terms of profit.”
Now, the pressure was on Nicholas. How was he going to negotiate a deal without offering benefits? He was being set up for failure!
He told himself that this was a test from his new boss, and if he passed, he would become indispensable, thus securing his standing in the business circle of Londan in the future.
His empty promise to himself rejuvenated his motivation.
***
Alliance meeting, three o’clock in the afternoon.
Young Master Owen, the heir of the Boswell family, walked into the meeting room with his head held high. The mining company he represented also received a warm reception from the man in charge of the tender. When he learned that Wayne’s side had been met with indifference, he felt compelled to comfort his friend in person.
But no one showed up.
Well, Nicholas was there, but Owen didn’t consider him a person. When he saw that Wayne had sent an underling to the meeting, his smile dropped from his face.
So this was the level he should’ve expected from the heir of the Lando family!
Owen was irritated by Wayne’s lack of care but happy with Wayne’s incompetence. He could foresee the decline of the Lando family. The Boswell family would take over their business, and he would become the head of the Financial Town in Londan. How wonderful that future would be.
He didn’t pay Nicholas any attention. You’re in no place to share a table with me. Tell your master to come in person. If he doesn’t, fine. We’ll consider that as his voluntary withdrawal from the meeting.
Owen unceremoniously kicked Nicholas out, along with Murphy Mining. He looked forward to seeing the dog fight that would break out between them. Let it be known that it had nothing to do with the Boswells. Wayne got what he deserved.
Even more than that, he looked forward to seeing Wayne returning to Londan with his tail between his legs, facing Auston’s ire. That would be a real dog fight where the old dog chewed out the young dog. What a spectacle it would be!
Driven out of the meeting, Nicholas returned to the hotel to brief Wayne, fuming. He didn’t dare to voice his bitterness, so he simply stated his incompetence as the reason for the failure.
“It has nothing to do with you. He would do that one way or another. I simply gave him an excuse to strike,” Wayne said to Nicholas. “You’ve done well. I’m satisfied.”
“Are we going to participate in the next three rounds of bidding then? Murphy Mining is ready to give up,” Nicholas asked.
“We’re seeing this act through to the end.”
“I understand.”
Nicholas took his leave with mixed feelings. He was happy that his new boss seemed to approve of him, but worried that it was based on his failure. He had not done a perfect job. How he envied Mona for her position. She was Wayne’s right-hand woman during the day and woman during the night.
Mona shut the door, bending down to whisper into Wayne’s ear, “Boss, should I teach Owen a lesson?”
Wayne looked up at her and got an eyeful, huffing. “You’ve been showing a violent tendency lately. I don’t remember you being this way.”
“You’re my master. It is my duty to defend your life and dignity.” Sensing Wayne’s gaze, Mona blushed but maintained her posture.
“Again, remember to call me ‘boss’.” Wayne glanced at her again. “Matters in the business field shouldn’t be solved with violence. At the end of the day, the Boswell family is one of the Tulip Families. I’m not so petty that I can’t tolerate them.”
Anyone else would’ve doubted his words, but not Mona. She believed Wayne wholeheartedly. She had been a witness to his noble acts many times and trusted her own judgment. Her master embodied every virtue she could think of. Even when his integrity seemed questionable, there was always a reason he had to be flexible.
For example, her master had to be sneaking glances at her because he had seen through her inappropriate desires; he was forcing himself to show interest in order to protect her pride. As a clergywoman, she had sinned.
However...
The Archbishop had eased her concern. Wayne was an angel, and any clergy member craving to enter heaven would see an angel as a path to ascension. Combined with the contract formed by Golden Law, her desires were entirely normal.
She was absolved!
“Mona, isn’t your back hurting?”
“It isn’t.”
“Then stay bent.”
Wayne had to admire her understanding. Tonight, he would prove himself to be unangelic. It would be difficult for him to sneak a glance after that, so he got a few more eyefuls.