Chapter I’m Quitting Everything and Selling Cola Chapter 24

Chapter 24. The Undertaker (2)

With Penelope’s full cooperation, the Cola business truly caught a tailwind.

They had made sufficient capital by selling Cola at high prices.

Blyton had also been quiet recently, perhaps because the bluffing properly worked on him.

Originally, business was something where momentum had to be seized at once.

This meant it was time to prepare for the full-scale popularization of Cola.

“Miss Penelope, what do you think we’ll need for popularization?”

“Who are you treating like an idiot? A factory, obviously.”

“Just to confirm once more…”

“I’ve already said it several times. I said it’s fine.”

The only worry was the possibility that Penelope would be displeased with Cola’s popularization… but.

Unexpectedly, she readily agreed to establishing a factory.

“Cola can’t remain a luxury item forever anyway. It has no heritage.”

Right now, Cola was creating a craze close to madness.

However, looking at it coldly, today’s Cola trend was essentially no different from children’s games.

“Right now, the social circles are just playing a game of who can get their hands on more Cola. I’m not naive enough to pray this craze lasts forever.”

Even though she said that…

Honestly, she wasn’t completely without greed.

History and story could be created depending on how you handled them.

Were luxury goods luxury from birth?

If she somehow managed it well, she might even elevate Cola to the ranks of luxury goods.

However, since that would clash with Jurgen’s ‘culinary revolution’ purpose, Penelope cleanly gave up.

Since he had an indecisive side, she thought he’d hesitate while watching her reactions.

…She didn’t tell the truth because it was embarrassing.

“Good. Then I’ll explain the plan right away. The Cola factory requires three key processes.”

Manufacturing Cola syrup.

Mixing syrup and water and injecting carbonation.

Bottling the finished Cola.

In the future, he would consider in-house production of bottles and caps.

He should promote division of labor for each factory, but you couldn’t fill your stomach with the first spoonful.

“For now, I plan to concentrate on just these three processes in one factory for a trial run.”

“Hmm, the goal of building a factory is good… but where on earth do we start?”

Penelope’s reaction showed she had no idea.

Well, factory establishment would be uncharted territory for her, who had only walked the path of alchemy.

So Jurgen had planned for that part.

Originally, wasn’t partnership about making the most of each person’s strengths?

“Don’t worry. While Miss Penelope was selling Cola, I prepared in my own way.”

“Really?”

“It’s easy if we do it one by one. What’s the most essential element for building a factory?”

“Wouldn’t it be the machines used for production?”

“That’s half correct.”

“If it’s correct, it’s correct, and if it’s wrong, it’s wrong. What’s half correct?”

“It’s like observing Miss Penelope, you might be nobility or you might not be.”

“Stop bringing that up!”

Jurgen, who had been teasing Penelope for a moment, continued.

“This is the ‘proposal’ corresponding to that ‘blueprint.’“

Jurgen pointed to a relatively thin file.

“This contains the overall blueprint of what goals our factory will have and what order it will operate in.”

Penelope flipped through the proposal.

Process flow charts, expected production volumes, financial plans were all concisely organized.

“Then that thick one… is the puzzle pieces?”

Penelope asked, pointing to the remaining stack of documents.

“Correct. It’s the ‘functional specifications’ that detail in writing what performance and functions each machine needed for each process, or ‘puzzle pieces,’ should have.”

Penelope carefully examined the functional specifications, which were several times thicker than the proposal.

Hourly production volume of the syrup maker, carbonation mixing pressure, bottling machine error rate.

Even quality inspection standards—the requirements for each machine were densely packed.

“Mechanical engineers look at these functional specifications and design the machines?”

“Probably won’t come out exactly as is. Practitioners’ views might differ, and we need to match costs too.”

“Hmm…”

“I’m aiming to cut costs by acquiring an existing brewery wholesale. We’ll have to examine whether machines can be recycled, so it’ll be busy for a while.”

The tip of Penelope’s lips protruded as if suspicious.

Though she couldn’t understand everything since it wasn’t her major, Penelope had attended university.

She could tell these proposals and functional specifications weren’t the absurd scribbles of a dreamer, but materials with a series of standards.

Thud.

Penelope closed the materials.

Her ruby-red eyes held a suspicious look.

“What’s your identity?”

Let’s concede a hundred times that the factory establishment proposal could be like that.

All merchants dreamed of having their own factory.

Penelope’s diary also had ‘things I want to do if recognized by the family’ written in considerable detail.

But these functional specifications were too plausible.

From overview to functions, non-functions, control systems, error responses, quality inspection and test standards—everything was described in detail so engineers receiving production orders could understand.

She could tell this wasn’t a level a small business owner could achieve.

“I’m not stupid, you know? How could a general store owner do this?”

“Miss Penelope, that’s quite a commoner-phobic statement.”

“I never made such a statement… well, maybe I did! But now I don’t. Can you please stop digging up my dark history?”

Penelope’s earlobes reddened.

Back then, all she had to cling to was that kind of noble prestige!

It was a defense mechanism!

She regretted it!

Meanwhile, Jurgen had also prepared for this question.

Making Cola was one thing, but having come this far, Penelope’s suspicion was natural.

The answer to this was…

“I was a civil servant before.”

Don’t lie.

“Civil servant?”

“I did a lot of similar work.”

Jurgen mumbled while avoiding her gaze.

He was gradually worrying about it.

Whether to reveal his identity to Penelope or not.

Until now, since Penelope had also hidden her status, Jurgen had confidently concealed his identity, but now shouldn’t he tell her…

Penelope tilted her head.

Still looking suspicious.

She seemed to have a lot she wanted to say.

“Hmm, if you say so, then I guess that’s it.”

Fortunately, she moved on without grilling him thoroughly.

Though it wasn’t clear whether she moved on or let it go.

“Anyway, we need to decide who to entrust with the production…”

This also wasn’t an easy task.

Jurgen had a decent understanding of basic engineering.

But at most, it was to the extent of tinkering alone to make a coffee machine or modifying a coffee machine into a Soda Fountain.

Machines used for mass production had different precision and required expertise.

Even when he was in the Minister of Internal Affairs position, he did ‘concept design’—he didn’t directly make everything.

Royal University researchers would swarm over what Jurgen conceived and research it, and after that, he just inspected and gave feedback.

“I have someone in mind if you need a capable engineer.”

“Really?”

“But she’s a bit unique.”

***

The Britannia Kingdom appoints specially meritorious individuals as First-Generation Nobles and grants them the title of ‘Viscountcy.’

This Viscountcy is not inherited by descendants, but according to etiquette, they receive treatment equal to a Baron.

“But receiving treatment equal to a Baron is… um, ambiguous. Usually, traditional nobles call first-generation nobles by the derogatory term ‘mayflies.‘ What kind of nobility can’t even pass on inheritance?”

Penelope pulled out a sheet of paper and continued her explanation.

“Descendants of first-generation nobles must accumulate merit and prove their ability to continue inheriting the Viscountcy. Then, if they achieve special merit, they officially receive a title and become hereditary nobles. I’ll write it out and show you.”

Penelope drew a diagram in round handwriting on the paper.

“I left out exceptions and wrote it simply, but generally, the further down and to the right, the higher the ‘rank.’“

The content was as follows:

Commoners: Lower Class (laborers) < Middle Class (small business owners) < Adventurers (low rank) ━(★Entry to social circles possible from below★)━ Elite: Professionals < Military (officers) < Celebrities < Knights, Alchemists (but 3rd Rank or higher) Asset Class: Businessmen, Local Magnates, Landowners (these three positions vary by asset size) First-Generation Nobles (Viscountcy): Notables and Masters in each field (not hereditary, descendants must achieve again) ━(Invisible Wall)━ New Nobles: (hereditary, still short lineage, low bloodline influence, ignored by traditional nobles) Traditional Nobles: (prestigious families, old money, examples—Rosemore Count Family, Marquis Ashford’s Family) Royalty: (omitted below)

Penelope circled the ‘First-Generation Nobles’ section.

“The Renoir family is right here… What, why are you looking like that?”

Jurgen had also dipped his feet in high society.

He knew this kind of content well, but…

Seeing it organized like this felt different.

“How should I put it… I can see Miss Penelope’s breathing sense of superiority.”

“I did this to make it convenient for you to see!”

Penelope thump thump hit Jurgen.

Jurgen found teasing Penelope quite fun these days.

Anyway, the Renoir family was a typical new noble family with origins as a mechanical engineering engineer.

To use an analogy, a position like executives under constant performance pressure?

Serena, who had received Cola from Penelope before, was also suffering from such pressure and was simultaneously a capable engineer who inherited her father’s talent.

Thinking she could use this well, Penelope had maintained a relationship with Serena since then.

It was a kind of social circle connection.

“Ex-excuse meee…”

Serena Renoir, who came after receiving Penelope’s business proposal.

Jurgen couldn’t close his mouth when he saw her appearance.

First, she was a bit short.

Despite wearing heels high enough to almost step on, her head was slightly lower than Penelope’s.

Skin white enough to look sickly, pink eyes that looked frightened and lighter-colored hair than that.

She wore a dress with frills and lace dangling everywhere, as if she paid tremendous attention to dressing up.

So, slightly excessive compared to her build.

But he opened his mouth not because of that.

It was because he saw the hover bag at her side and the five Cola bottles stuck in it.

“…Isn’t it heavy carrying that many around?”

“Leave her. It’s trendy.”

He didn’t know how other nobles might see it, but for Jurgen, who retained modern sensibilities, it was a scene where he couldn’t laugh or cry.

To think the Cola he made trendy in the upper classes would cause such a butterfly effect.

He felt deep original sin.

“Ah, hello. Mr. Commoner.”

The guilt disappeared like cotton candy washed in water the moment he heard Serena’s greeting.

Her impression looked extremely timid, contrasting with Penelope who obviously had a temper, but unlike her timid impression, she delivered a truly shocking greeting.

“I heard a lot about you from Miss Penelope. That you’re quite capable for a commoner…”

When Jurgen stared, Penelope shook her head side to side, grinning ‘I didn’t say that!‘

“I’ve heard a lot about you too. Miss Serena Renoir. Is it okay if I call you Miss Serena?”

“……!!!!”

She was quite a unique character, but Y&P Trading Company needed Serena’s help.

When he offered a handshake, Serena, who had been clutching her bag with hunched shoulders, jumped back in surprise.

Her eyes were wide open as if she couldn’t believe it.

What?

Was it rude to offer a handshake at a first meeting in the north?

Serena quickly turned her head from Jurgen to look at Penelope.

Her gaze full of bewilderment demanded common ground.

“P-Penelope! This commoner is sp-sp-speaking informally at a first meeting! There’s noble etiquette… there’s dignity… h-how could such blasphemy…”

At Serena’s dramatic reaction, Penelope’s shoulders flinched.

It was because it felt exactly like watching herself from a while ago.

“I can see that Miss Penelope is on the lighter side of elitism.”

“Shut up.”

“Was she originally like this?”

“…I don’t know. We’re not that close.”

“Goodness! Informal speech to Miss Penelope too!”

Serena, who had no way of knowing that fact, bit her lips tightly and made a determined expression.

The spirit of correcting what was wrong flowed out.

“Miss Penelope! May I dare give a stern warning to the commoner who is Penelope’s business partner?”

At Serena’s fussing, Penelope also felt deep original sin.

Especially since Jurgen was making an expression like he was desperately holding back laughter.

“Be quiet.”

“Pardon?”

“Be quiet…”

“Yes…”

Penelope covered her face with both hands and hung her head deeply.