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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: The Worn-Out Male Lead Picked the Wrong Opponent
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"A partnership with the Media royal family? That... makes any sense?"
Helen, who had planned to reveal at this opportunity that she possessed the real land, muttered in a daze.
Famous companies in their own country often had to wait months only to get put on hold, yet this was happening in such a short time?
"Cynthia. No matter how dire the situation, you can't lie using the queen of a great power. You won't be able to handle the consequences."
"R-right. What if the enraged queen cuts off aid to Lutemia because of the princess's lie?"
The demons, including Helen, didn't so much disbelieve Cynthia's words as wish they were lies.
In response, Cynthia haughtily lifted her chin and spoke.
"The project grew so large that I needed a partner, so I brought something along. Dalia, the letter from the royal family, please."
Dalia approached with the letter, her usual stern expression in place.
"100 billion...?"
Everyone's mouths gaped open at the staggering sum.
The grandmother's face broke into a wide smile upon seeing the royal seal on the letter.
"My goodness, Snow White has caused quite the uproar! Incredible! Securing investment from that haughty queen is like plucking stars from the sky."
Mixed reactions leaked out amid the hushed crowd.
Before the massive capital, the miner's exposé meant nothing.
Soon, a few who had quickly grasped the situation approached Cynthia.
"Our family has been in construction for generations. Do you need any help?"
"Princess, you'll need supplies for the laborers. Our merchant guild can deliver at the lowest prices."
Those who had been criticizing Cynthia clamped their mouths shut.
One lady who had spotted the chance to make a fortune beamed and said,
"Steel should be with us! They seem skeptical about this grand venture anyway."
The daughter of the steel family, singled out by the lady, bit her nails. She was the one who had just scolded Cynthia not to lie.
'Damn it, Father will kill me if he finds out!'
It was as good as squandering a massive opportunity.
Meanwhile, those who had maintained strict neutrality to the end wore victorious smiles.
'Stay still, and half is yours.'
Cynthia observed the varied reactions, truly feeling the power of the Media royal family.
'They're the strongest nation in the current era, after all.'
"I'll invite you all to the official residence next time. Those who wish to come, give your business cards to my aide Dalia here, and she'll send invitations."
Suddenly promoted to aide, Dalia cleared her throat while managing her expression.
Those who had openly mocked her especially sidled up to Dalia and subtly handed over their cards.
Cynthia didn't miss the demons' sleazy attitude shift.
"Oh, no need for yours! Useless except as goat feed."
"Pardon? But I..."
Cynthia turned to Helen with her same bright, cheerful voice.
"Sister, don't invite these people anymore. Ignoring me is the same as ignoring you, and looking down on the ducal family, right?"
The faces of those pointed out flushed red, and the grandmother and ladies furrowed their brows ferociously like beasts, gesturing sharply.
"Helen. Associating with such vile creatures—are you blind? Get rid of them at once."
"...I'm sorry."
Helen's lips twisted uglily as she bowed her head.
After the article unfavorable to Masera was published, Steve Brigadier General was in high spirits.
He personally handled the paperwork he usually left to Rodriguez Major and visited the official residence.
'Serves you right! To avoid bankruptcy, he'll have no choice but to grovel to me or the Lecanosa Duke.'
This was his chance to treat him like a slave properly.
Heading straight to the office, he approached Masera while trying to hide his excited, mocking expression.
"I heard the news. The Knox land has become worthless, hasn't it? What happened? Did the princess scam you? I heard the real inheritance went to the duchess."
Masera wore his usual expressionless face.
Steve Brigadier General pressed on impatiently.
"You've sunk a considerable amount already, so you must be worried. Where's the princess? She didn't run off after her lie was exposed, did she?"
"She went to the ducal family's tea party."
Masera answered in his flat voice.
"A tea party in this situation. The princess certainly..."
Steve Brigadier General feigned sympathy, pressing his forehead. Then he pulled a cigar from his pocket and placed it on Masera's desk.
Offering a cigar also signaled negotiation, so Masera shook his head.
"I don't smoke anymore."
"Quit after marriage? Must hurt to be betrayed by the wife you trusted."
Seeing Masera furrow his brow, Steve Brigadier General's lip curled smugly.
"This isn't the time to refuse. You need money, don't you?"
"Not particularly."
Steve Brigadier General, revealing his true intentions, picked up a cigar and shoved it into Masera's mouth.
"Masera. Just because you and I are briefly on the same side doesn't make us equals, does it?"
Unlike himself, who had taken the elite path to become an officer, Masera had crawled up miserably as a boy soldier, hadn't he?
Masera smiled faintly with the cigar in his mouth.
"Equals? So that's how you saw it. I didn't spend the entire war lounging in headquarters and chasing women."
"That's exactly what I mean by the difference in caliber. My proper commissioning versus you becoming a starving boy soldier?"
Steve Brigadier General wagged the cigar between his fingers and added,
"Should've promoted you with chocolate? You went crazy for sweets since you barely ate."
It was a jab at the time during his boy soldier days when Masera ran errands for soldiers and got chocolate.
"......"
For a moment, Steve Brigadier General flinched and shrugged at the sight of the purple ring around Masera's pupils spreading like ink, deepening.
But he quickly puffed out his chest arrogantly and sneered.
'What can he do? Without my help, he'll go bankrupt.'
Steve Brigadier General walked to the door, gripped the knob, and turned back to him.
"Masera, think it over. I'm not that heartless. If you show respect and kneel to me right now, I can..."
He was about to mock freely and finally get to the point.
BAM!!!
"Argh!"
Steve Brigadier General screamed as his face slammed into the suddenly opened door.
"Brigadier General! I'm back! Guess what happened today!"
Cynthia, who had flung the door open forcefully while calling for Masera, spotted Steve Brigadier General on his knees.
"Huh? Brigadier General, why are you kneeling to my husband?"
Somehow, he had ended up kneeling first.
Blood streamed from Steve Brigadier General's nose as he groaned in pain.
Cynthia's wide eyes landed on Masera with the cigar in his mouth.
'Making a nosebleeding man kneel while you smoke a cigar—what's this noir situation?'
But that wasn't the important part.
"Uh... smoking a cigar?"
At her slightly disappointed question, Masera spat out the cigar and shook his head.
"No, just to look tough."
The flustered Masera gave some odd excuse.
He knew Cynthia hated cigarette smoke.
Back when he picked her up from the Queensguard Count's estate, he had seen her pass soldiers smoking and fan the air, saying, 'Eek! Cigarettes on the street— so gross!'
He absolutely hated the idea of being despised for that, so he quit right then.
"Oh, I see."
Cynthia walked past the groaning Steve Brigadier General and showed Masera the royal letter.
"Brigadier General, the queen's investing. First round, 100 billion."
"W-what?"
Before Masera could react, the bloodied Steve Brigadier General clutched his nose and jumped up.
Masera stared up at her, eyes wide, frozen like a statue.
"In exchange, I proposed co-owning that land with the Media royal family. Partnership, basically. Read it and sign if you agree. And Brigadier General looks hurt... maybe stop hitting him."
Steve Brigadier General blinked at Cynthia's words.
"100 billion investment and a partnership? N-no way..."
Thud.
The impact from the door was severe, so he staggered and toppled backward, fainting.
'Masera's the one who should faint from joy, so why him?'
Cynthia had no idea she was the real culprit behind the nosebleed.
