At the same time.
Tennessee had just requested a meeting with Somerset Moore, the legal advisor to the Grosvenor Duchy.
"I never imagined the young master would come to see me."
"It is an unparalleled honor to meet you."
He was a former Supreme Court Justice and once served as the nation's Attorney General.
A man who stood at the pinnacle of the legal profession.
Even for Tennessee, this wasn't someone he could easily approach with a request.
"I've come to seek legal advice."
"It must be quite an important matter."
"Yes. I truly need your wisdom."
Somerset nodded briefly.
"We are preparing to acquire the headquarters of Harris Department Store."
"Oh."
Though he showed interest, his expression soon changed.
Although he was the advisor to the Grosvenor Duchy, his reputation as a Supreme Court Justice meant he never entertained improper solicitations.
Not even if it were the Queen instead of Grosvenor making the request.
Perhaps Tennessee sensed Somerset's resoluteness.
He spoke slowly.
"There are no illegal elements involved. On the contrary, I seek a clean acquisition through proper procedures."
"Then why do you need me?"
"Because I can't bear to see my money end up in Harris's pocket."
"That's quite a candid reason."
"You've taken the time to meet with me… Naturally, I must be honest with you."
Somerset tapped the table, pondering for a moment.
"So, you want to proceed with the acquisition but ensure Harris doesn't profit excessively. Is that correct?"
"Yes. Is it possible, sir?"
To Tennessee's question, Somerset responded with a smile mixed with amusement.
"Possible, you ask? In a society governed by the rule of law, it must certainly be so."
***
That night.
Jo So-deok sat in front of the TV to watch the news.
As expected, the top story was about the reopening of Oxford Street.
The achievements Park Ji-hoon had accomplished were too numerous to count.
Although it wasn't exactly surprising to see it reported on the news,
'Every time I hear praise for the Boss, it's thrilling!'
Jo So-deok's eyes sparkled as if it were about his own work.
Perhaps because it was a public broadcast, the focus was less on how much revenue was generated or how many visitors were drawn in, and more on the public benefits of the project.
For example.
They focused on how part of the revenue was used to nurture new designers, making the street feel younger.
And at the very end, Park Ji-hoon's face appeared prominently on the screen.
"Wow! Ah!"
"I'm swooning over Boss's charm, completely swooning!"
Just as it seemed the news had ended, and Jo So-deok was about to turn off the TV without hesitation—
『Here's the next story.』
Leona Harris's face appeared large on the screen.
『Leona Harris, the chairwoman of the Harris Department Store chain, is set to stand trial on charges of illegal gambling during overseas trips.』
Huh? What's this about?
Soon, footage from the investigation appeared.
It detailed how she allegedly gambled away amounts ranging from £100,000 to several million pounds on each business trip.
The screen turned black as subtitles appeared, suggesting an audio recording was about to play.
『It's not a big deal. Look at the amounts. When you're traveling and can't sleep, you just drop by a casino. You know there's a standard rate for VIP rooms. Even if you play for just 30 minutes, it adds up to that much. You know this.』
Maybe she trusted the reporter too much.
Leona let out unfiltered remarks.
『To outsiders, it might seem like a lot. But consider my net worth. For me, it's like placing a £10 bet a few times.』
Oh no, this is a disaster.
With his sharp instincts, Jo So-deok immediately sensed the trouble.
The saying that a single word can repay a thousand debts is true.
Conversely, one wrong word can create debts that didn't exist.
'What? Compared to your net worth, that amount is like £10?'
Oh dear.
Thinking there was no saving this now, Jo So-deok shook his head repeatedly.
***
The next morning, at Leona Harris's mansion.
Outside, reporters were swarming the premises.
If she didn't respond to interviews, they seemed ready to camp out for a week or even a month.
"Damn it."
When the department store power abuse article broke, she had managed to push through by claiming it was a misunderstanding tied to her dedication to work.
But gambling—what excuse could she possibly make for that?
"..."
The morning papers contained yet another scandal.
It reported not only her casino visits during overseas trips but also how young dealers frequently entered and exited her room.
'What was I supposed to do if I couldn't sleep?'
At this point, trying to respond to every accusation felt futile.
The gossip would keep pouring out daily anyway.
Maintaining complete silence was her only option.
Leona picked up the receiver.
A moment later, the low, composed voice of the protocol team leader came through.
"How's the atmosphere at the company?"
(....)
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
(Sales have dropped significantly. Even the total sales for the weekend didn't surpass the average Monday revenue.)
"What's the plan?"
Although she had asked for a plan,
(The luxury brands in our department stores are in an uproar, threatening collective action. They're demanding compensation for losses, blaming the owner's risk for the steep decline in revenue.)
he continued to spout unhelpful complaints.
"When things were going well thanks to me, they kept their mouths shut! And now? Just because the mood's a little bad, they want me to cough up money?"
(It's an undeniable fact that consumer preference has dropped. Spending money on Oxford Street feels like contributing to contemporary art, but spending at Harris Department Store feels like funding gambling.)
"What did you just say?"
(It's not my opinion; I'm just conveying what consumers are saying.)
"Are you insane?"
(....)
"What? Do you think I'm just going to let this end here?"
(Madam Chairwoman, I'm not sure if this is the right time to bring it up, but…)
"What is it now?"
(The Grosvenor Duchy contacted us.)
"What?"
(Mr. Somerset has already set out and instructed that you remain on standby.)
Thirty minutes later.
Leona Harris and Somerset Moore sat across from each other at a reception table.
Somerset Moore, who once vowed that their next meeting would be in hell.
Perhaps because of this, he silently handed over a document.
"What… is this?"
As if to say it was self-explanatory, he remained silent.
Was it a compilation of unsavory secrets he couldn't even stomach to voice?
"Are you trying to blackmail me?"
Again, he maintained his unyielding silence.
"Sigh."
Leona reluctantly picked up the document.
She fully expected it to contain her sordid private affairs.
But instead—
"A proposal to acquire the London flagship store?"
She quickly checked the proposed acquisition amount.
If it was an absurdly low figure, it would be blatant blackmail.
However, the amount was in the billions!
'Did I see that wrong?'
Leona doubted her own eyes.
It wasn't enough, but—
With sales plummeting, wasn't this a reasonable offer?
Perhaps sensing the hesitation reflected in her conflicted eyes,
Somerset Moore, who had remained silent thus far, slowly began to speak.
"This is about selling Harris's symbol amidst all the scandals. It might even garner some public sympathy."
"A-are you giving me a chance?"
"I am merely handling the matter on behalf of the Grosvenor Duchy."
"Will this really… settle things?"
"That depends on you."
"But surely it will help, right? Whether it's the Grosvenor family or the public, it might ease their feelings a bit?"
To her question, Somerset didn't reply. He merely handed her a fountain pen.
"Sign here, and it will be resolved today."
Selling at the offered price and earning sympathy votes was clearly the smarter choice.
Yes, no matter how she thought about it, this was the best she could do.
With trembling hands, she scrawled her name on the proposal.
"Please… speak favorably about me to the Duke…"
Before she could finish her sentence, Somerset produced a second document.
"W-what's this now?"
Once again, he offered no explanation, forcing her to read it herself.
Unlike the acquisition proposal, this document was heavy with details.
The first thing that caught her eye was a list of luxury brands:
Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Balenciaga…
It seemed as if every brand in the luxury section was named.
Below that, estimated revenue losses caused by Leona Harris's embezzlement and breach of trust were detailed.
And that wasn't all.
There were detailed accounts of Carl Bernstein's abusive behavior, the reckless actions taken to launch her son's brand,
and the damages those actions had caused.
The list went on and on, as though someone had meticulously cataloged every misdeed.
"W-what is all this?"
"They've commissioned me to lead a class-action lawsuit against you."
"That's a lie…"
"Based on my experience, I'll offer you some advice. The result of the lawsuit isn't the issue. The real problem is that every brand in your store has turned its back on you. The public will make up their minds the moment that happens. Don't you think?"
"Then what are you suggesting I do?"
"Isn't it written there?"
"To… compensate for the damages?"
Somerset nodded.
With trembling hands, she turned to the last page of the document.
The same multi-billion figure she had seen earlier!
"Wait, this is… the sale price of the flagship store!"
"..."
"Are you telling me to return the entire amount?"
"Is there a law against it?"
"B-but that would mean the flagship store disappears into thin air! How am I supposed to—"
She had no qualms about gambling away others' money, but seemed deeply attached to her own assets.
Perhaps noticing the contempt in Somerset's gaze, she asked in a trembling voice.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"I should be asking you that question."
"...?"