Chapter 23

Basic Investment (3)

Dione was exquisitely beautiful that night. She wore a lace dress and had woven pearl ornaments in her pinkish-gray hair. Her earrings also were pearls, and she had put on light makeup to make her cheeks and lips the color of cherry blossoms. He didn't know much about fashion, but he soon realized that Dione knew how to dress. When she walked on the street, not only men but also other women stared at her as if possessed.

'I just wanted to dress up normally, so why again...'

An hour and thirty minutes before the party began, Dione started on Kleio Asel's project. She was dressing him from head to toe with a strict attitude. His shirt collar was too tight, and his vest felt stuffier than his school uniform. Kleio was fed up with these uncomfortable clothes, but the ladies dressing him ignored his protests and only listened to Dione.

"You don't know how earnestly I requested the tailor to complete this dinner suit by express. I struggled to make it without Gabon."

"... Didn't you decide to quit being my private teacher?"

"True. However, it is absolutely unfit for my 'partner' to appear before others in such an unsightly manner."

Finally, his suffering was over as Dione put a top hat on him. The ladies praised her work.

"As expected of Lady Dione's eye. You're like a different person."

"You've turned into a nice gentleman!"

The women led Kleio to the mirror, and he was quite surprised by what he saw.

'...How is this possible...?'

Supplementing his poor body with well-cut clothes, he now looked like a young businessman. Although he was younger and smaller, he also seemed to resemble Gideon Asel. Dione looked into the mirror with Kleio and fell into thought, with her chin resting on her hand.

"Lady Dione... isn't this enough..."

"Well, it still lacks something- oh, the lapel flower! I forgot about that!"

'What is that...'

Dione walked to the table with a vase and picked a white flower to place on Kleio's collar. The light smell of perfume from it wafted up to his nose.

"Done. With this, anyone will think of you as a good conversational partner."

"Is this necessary to conduct business in this country?"

"To do business well. You chose a good partner; I'm an expert on this."

"Sigh..."

"Besides, use your popularity with the opposite sex well; it will become a weapon for your information network."

"That doesn't seem to be the area I'm looking for."

"Oh, young master. It is difficult to think that every girl likes handsome and trained men. There is a steady demand for your type. I believe this as Dione, who made her social debut at the age of sixteen and swept the capital."

'To be sure, this woman has a strange taste in men. Before, she praised Gideon Asel for being good-looking...'

"Well, how much do you know about dancing?"

"Dancing? What sort do you mean?"

"Is there anything else to dance at a ball? A ballroom dance."

"I can't dance, haven't learned."

"...Ha. How can that be?"

The mood that had softened shattered at once. Dione lamented as they went down to the hall.

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The banquet didn't start until 9 o'clock. The hall was full of gorgeous women and men dressed up in tailcoats and dresses. As Dione led him, he greeted people, chatted unpleasantly, and paid careful attention to the atmosphere. As Kleio grew used to the party to an extent, Dione disappeared into the center of the hall, called off by some group. Now alone, Kleio picked up a glass of champagne and looked around. At that time, a familiar voice sounded out over the band playing. It was Cel.

"You came, Kleio! I'm honored you accepted the invitation!"

"I did. Thank you."

'No, you're wearing men's clothes in a place like this?'

Wearing a cream-colored tailcoat, Celeste looked like an old Hollywood actor that the youngest editor had liked. Her cheekbones seemed to stand out, creating a dangerously sexy atmosphere about her.

"Kleio!"

"Hello! You look pretty cool today."

"You seem like an adult?"

He noticed that the Angellium twins were on either side of her a beat later.

"Lippy, Leticia. You guys also look pretty."

The sisters wore dresses with low waistlines and generous amounts of ruffled layers. With corollas on their heads, it looked like they were prepared for a wedding ceremony. The sisters ran up and put their arms around Kleio's. Although they seemed like cute children on the outside, Kleio couldn't shake off the sisters who had learned how to use a sword at the age of four.

'Ah... Oh, I can't win even against these kids.'

"Guys, let Kleio go. He's dressed so nicely. His clothes will get wrinkled."

"Oh, sorry.'

"Sorry!"

"We have sherbet and pudding over there, so would you like some?"

"Okay!"

"Good!"

Cel, having turned the twins' attention to sweets, looked back at him.

"I've heard the rumors about Lady Dione, but to think her skill was this great. You have to reward her for bringing your potential to this point from your previous appearance."

"Be aware that if you say it with that face, it sounds like you're making fun of me."

"Haha. Did Dione try to make sure you wouldn't miss out on any popularity amongst people your age? How cute, Kleio!"

He didn't have an answer for her, so he sipped at his champagne. As Cel had said, the taste was incredible.

"I heard about the Trinity auction house the other day. Didn't you come here to play?"

"I did."

"And then, Novantes turned completely over. Rumors have been spreading since you won the lira from Mrs. Sileum."

'I guess that must've been the woman who I beat out for the lira that day. Should I thank her for the free promotion?'

"Thanks to that, the people gathered today are only talking about you. They're still glancing at us now."

"What is there to look at?"

'Is this socializing for evaluating people? Well, me.'

If you threw the bait, a fish would bite. Having finished one glass of champagne, Kleio picked up another with a blank expression.

"So, umm... my mom wants to see you."

"Isn't that an honor?"

Kleio's lips tugged upward as he sipped at his champagne. A big fish had awaited him. The greatest resource to be gained from Celeste as a classmate was her contact with Katarina.

'Since the author has pushed me, I'll have to use every resource within reach to make a profit. The war will soon overturn this world, so I have to hurry.'

"It is. Yes, the opportunity to kiss my mother's hand doesn't come easy. Look, I'm still surrounded by courtiers."

A few meters away, people were milling about around a woman.

'According to the manuscript, she must've been in her late forties, but it doesn't look that away at all.'

Katarina had curled-up indigo blue hair, the same as Cel, and a headdress made up of dozens of diamonds. Her vivid silver eyes seemed to reflect the light off the diamonds. She seemed like some mythical ghost as she looked at Kleio with a gaze that could turn one to stone. One by one, the men around her fell away.

"You're Kleio, Cel's friend. How's your father?"

"Hello, I am Kleio Asel. My father is pointless."

"Hoh."

It was a remark that pushed his father away. With a finger under her chin, Katarina tilted her head a little. The search had begun. Kleio consciously straightened up and put his feet together as he pushed his chin up. From here on out was the real sword fight. If he could complete today's vital work well, his final plan would be successful.

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The balcony was closed, and the curtains were down, making it seem like a perfect place for lovers to meet, but the conversation between Katarina and Kleio was dry. For Katarina, Kleio had only appeared as a young boy for the first few seconds. She knew from the moment he greeted her that he wasn't just some kid. Now, she was overpowering him with a smile. The royal advisory chairman could do little before her momentum, but this boy, who said he couldn't hold a sword properly, looked her in the eyes without being pushed back.

"The development of the capital will change. The new hotel site should be on the east side."

"Interesting... Carry on."

"Especially if it is a state-of-the-art hotel you are focusing on, it should be a place where business meetings and hospitality are readily accessible."

"If the area is changed from the east, there is only the Schola district where the capital defense school is located. Other than that, there are no stations, complex divisions, or tangled ownership relationships. Are there any factors to build a luxury hotel for businessmen there?"

"Will that be true in the future?"

"It doesn't sound true. I don't plan on wasting my time listening to predictions that have no concrete evidence."

Katarina drank her remaining champagne and placed her glass down on the railing. Now that the allotted time was over, she meant to give a conclusion.

"Train stations can be built anywhere. As long as the need goes beyond the hardship."

Katarina's eyes waved. She was also a businesswoman with connections to the government and the royal family, yet she had heard no such news on any source.

"Is this information from Baronet Asel?"

"No, it has nothing to do with my father. I want you to be aware that I have a purpose and direction completely separate from his."

"Then, what do I have to believe in such absurd claims? Without your last name, Kleio, you're just a student."

"Prince Melchior also rose at a young age. Was he lacking?"

He picked as provocative an answer as possible. Katarina appreciated a bold and adventurous personality... so it had been written in the original manuscript. In actuality, he was so nervous; his back felt sore. But whenever his movements became stiff, he distracted himself from his tension by remembering Behemoth's shaking belly. Katarina Tanpet de Neju had never conducted business with someone she didn't know before. Most aristocrats born into a business started with a strong network. Even if he was a brittle young boy, he had to put on a strong face. Otherwise, she would never sign a contract with a first-timer like him.

'Let's see. I know it sounds like a scammer inviting you to invest, but I didn't want to brag like this either.'

If Katarina demanded evidence, things wouldn't go well.

"Do you have any evidence?"

"It will be revealed soon. You know better than I that it's already too late when the news shows up in the papers. There's very little I can tell you without holding your hand, but I would like to advise you to keep an eye on the movement of the mining bureau from now on."

The mining station, east side of the Tempus River, train station... Suddenly, Katarina's mind started to spin rapidly at those keywords.

"If I find a valid basis for your words, I will send a message."

"I'll see you again soon. I'll say in advance that I want to make a mutually beneficial deal with you."

Kleio, as Dione taught, kissed Katarina's hand.

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When Dione returned to the room and heard what had happened, she seemed delighted.

"It sounds like you shook the bait at Katarina."