Chapter 65: Do You Want to Read My Diary?
Her business sense told her that once this item was promoted, it would definitely be a hit product that would be in short supply.
She had already made up her mind that even if she had to withstand the pressure of her family, she would invest her own money.
As the daughter of Count Hall, she also had some industries and funds under her name that she could dispose of herself, so operating such an investment was not a difficult task.
According to the original development, Klein's bicycle shares were eventually sold to her.
In fact, she had previously been rewarded with many gold pounds and unredeemed equity because of Nairn's guidance.
However, what Audrey was worried about was not this.
This genius idea, combined with that subversive marketing strategy, all came from the hand of Nairn.
It could be said that without him, this company simply could not exist.
But according to common sense, investors should naturally hold a certain share.
Otherwise, it would be illogical.
But Audrey already felt in her heart—
Nairn should rightfully hold the vast majority of the shares, perhaps even a hundred percent.
She had even thought it through: if Nairn was willing, she could use her private Connections to solve a series of troubles for the company, such as factories, channels, and official permits, thereby participating in such a business destined for greatness.
This in itself was an honor.
It was also a deepening of the relationship between them—
Well, definitely not a love brain!
Nairn smiled noncommittally: "These are just some insignificant little tricks. Now, let's talk about more practical matters, such as the company's equity."
However, Nairn's next words caused her thoughts to come to a standstill once again.
"Miss Audrey." Nairn looked at her, his tone as calm as if he were speaking of an insignificant trifle, "This company, you will take all the shares."
"...What?"
Audrey's brain buzzed, and for a moment, it went completely blank.
She doubted if she had misheard. Her emerald eyes widened, and her mouth opened slightly, completely forgetting the ladylike poise she usually maintained so meticulously.
"All... the shares? One hundred percent?" she confirmed.
"Yes, one hundred percent," Nairn answered affirmatively.
Audrey's brain went blank for an instant.
What... what did he mean by this?
A company that could change the world and create astronomical wealth—he was actually just... giving it to her?
In an instant, an uncontrollable surge of ecstasy and dizziness rushed to her heart. Her cheeks flushed uncontrollably, and her breathing became rapid.
Is this... is this a gift?
An incredibly precious, incredibly romantic gift?
Could it be that Mr. Nai Ya... his feelings for me have already reached this level?
After all, in some stories—those kings, in order to win the favor of their beloved, would offer a city or a peerless gem.
And what Nairn offered Audrey was a business empire about to be born—though it defied common sense.
But it was full of pink bubbles.
"Lovers"... the "Lovers" of the tarot cards... Could this be his response? Using this most direct and shocking way to respond to her secret and burning emotions?
She almost couldn't help but speak up and ask, "Is this a gift for me?" but her last shred of reason made her swallow the words.
Too forward, Audrey, you must maintain your ladylike grace!
Just as Audrey's inner world was already performing a full-blown romantic drama, Nairn's next words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing all her fantasies.
"Miss Audrey, I think you've misunderstood." Nairn's voice carried a hint of helplessness, but more so an unquestionable seriousness, "This is not a gift; this is a business arrangement."
Audrey suddenly looked up, the flush on her face fading instantly, leaving only astonishment and confusion.
"Business... arrangement?"
"Yes." Nairn's gaze was sharp and clear; he could clearly "see" Audrey's intense emotional fluctuations just now and had guessed what she was thinking. He had to correct this dangerous misunderstanding immediately.
"Miss Audrey, you must remember that we are partners, and our goal is to change this unreasonable society. Money is merely a tool to achieve this goal, not the goal itself."
He paused, giving Audrey time to digest, and then threw out his true purpose.
"I am letting you hold all the shares because you need the money and the social status this company brings to better operate the Foundation, to influence the nobility, and to push for the changes we want. All this visible wealth and prestige belong to you."
His words shifted, his tone becoming deep and powerful.
"But what I want is not these."
"I will serve as the company's 'Chief Consultant,' a shadow decision-maker who holds no shares."
"I don't want money, Miss Audrey."
Nairn's gaze seemed able to penetrate the human heart and reach the depths of the soul.
"I only want power."
"The right to define the company's development direction, the right to veto major decisions, and... the power to mobilize all its resources when necessary."
Audrey was completely stunned.
The little romantic thoughts she had just now were shattered by Nairn's words, leaving not a single trace behind.
Is this like some kind of 'white glove'?
That makes sense.
Only when a company focused on industry is ostensibly held by a high-ranking noble like Audrey can it play its greatest role.
Audrey thought he was on the fifth floor, thinking about how to make money through marketing. And she herself, because of his "gift," had floated up to romantic fantasies on the sixth floor.
But in reality, this man had been standing in the stratosphere from the very beginning.
Money? Profits? Social status?
These things that the world dreams of were not even worthy of being considered spoils of war in his plan; they were merely tools that could be distributed at will.
What he wanted was the most essential and core thing hidden behind it all—power.
An invisible power that could leverage the world and achieve his grand goals.
At this moment, Audrey's perception of Nairn was refreshed once again.
Before, she felt he was a wise mentor, a far-sighted guide.
But now, she felt as if she were seeing a supreme existence sitting behind the scenes, using the entire world as a chessboard and all living beings as chess pieces to layout the future.
"I... I understand." She took a deep breath, using all her strength to keep her voice steady, "I accept your arrangement, Mr. Lovers~"
Audrey instantly understood the key points involved.
What would a suitcase company spread across the country, or even the world in the future, mean?
It meant tens of thousands of jobs for workers, immense influence over upstream suppliers of leather, metal, and wood, close cooperative relationships with major railway and shipping companies, and a logistics and information network that could cover the entire country!
In times of peace, it would be a commercial behemoth capable of raking in money daily.
And at critical moments, just as Nairn said, it could immediately turn into a chess piece of infinite power.
Strikes, resource allocation, intelligence transmission, personnel transfer... there were too many things that could be done.
This was a true Open Scheme.
He pushed all the most glamorous and eye-catching "monetary" gains to her, making her the business queen standing in the spotlight, attracting all the greedy gazes.
While he himself remained hidden behind the scenes, holding that invisible thread that could control everything.
This maneuver made her realize once again the massive gap between her and Nairn on a cognitive level.
While she was still blushing and her heart was racing over some small romantic sentiments, he had already laid out his chessboard across the entire Kingdom of Loen.
"What, do you think I'm too cold and heartless?" Nairn asked half-jokingly as he looked at her shifting expression.
"No, no!" Audrey immediately came to her senses and waved her hands quickly, "I was just... just once again shocked by your far-reaching plans. Compared to what you seek, those gold pounds indeed seem... insignificant."
She now fully understood and accepted this distribution plan.
In fact, she felt this plan was a huge bargain for her.
She gained tangible wealth, enough to give her more of a voice in noble circles to realize her simple ideals.
At the same time, through this cooperation, she established a closer Connection with Nairn.
This was a partnership in business, far more solid than simply being Beyonder companions.
"It's good that you can understand," Nairn nodded with satisfaction.
He very much appreciated Audrey's intelligence; she understood things with just a hint, saving a lot of trouble with explanations.
"Then, it's settled." He stood up, preparing to end the conversation, "I'll leave the preparation work for the company to you. That includes registration, finding factory space, recruiting craftsmen, and so on. I'll give you the design blueprints and key technical points within the next two days."
"Alright, Mr. Nai Ya." Audrey also stood up, performing an elegant curtsy, "I promise to get it done as quickly as possible."
"I trust your abilities." Nairn walked to the door, his hand already on the handle, but then, as if remembering something, he turned back.
"By the way, so that you, as the 'CEO,' can continuously bring out amazing products to the market and consolidate your business genius persona..." A mysterious smile appeared on his face, "I plan to reveal another great idea shortly after the next Tarot Club meeting."
"A new idea?" Audrey's eyes lit up again.
The wheeled suitcase already seemed like a work of genius to her; there was actually more? And from his tone, it seemed to be another revolutionary product of the same level.
"What is it?" she asked curiously.
"It's a secret for now." Nairn winked mysteriously.
The figure of Klein appeared in Nairn's mind.
One more Klein won't hurt; he might as well pull him into this Foundation when the time comes.
It wasn't that he assumed since Klein copied it, he couldn't copy it too.
After all, the bicycle market was quite large.
As a small form of transportation, it would exist for a very long time.
In the face of such interests, copying it first was the way to go. Klein wouldn't be able to say anything either; he'd even have to praise his senior for being so impressive.
If he felt bad about it, he could just provide compensation in other forms later.
But as the saying goes, one should make as many friends as possible.
Pulling Klein into this Foundation would bring too many benefits.
Firstly, it could further deepen the binding of interests between the two parties. If everyone made money together, the relationship would naturally become solid.
In the future, many things would be easier to communicate during the Tarot Club meetings.
Secondly, and most importantly, what Nairn was eyeing was that invisible "Sefirah Castle" behind Klein.
That was a perfect logistics transit station and information hub.
When the time came, whether it was transporting materials to the Southern Continent or conducting secret communication across half the world, Klein's "transit station" could provide irreplaceable and immense help.
Of course, Klein himself could never have predicted these deep-seated plans.
That was also something for a long time later (though it would be less than a few years).
When Klein later realizes and faces the invitation, he will be full of emotion—
He will remember the "embers" of the "past" and will accept it all with a face full of honor for the sake of "rebirth."
He was not just Klein.
He was also Zhou Mingrui... "As for what the next idea is... you'll know then. It will make the streets of Backlund more vibrant."
He didn't explain it too clearly, but he had given enough of a hint.
The topic returned to the Tarot Club.
Since the Tarot Club and Mr. The Fool were mentioned, Audrey naturally thought of another important matter.
She organized her words and asked with a tone full of expectation and shared joy:
"Mr. Nai Ya, speaking of the Tarot Club... are you interested in Emperor Roselle's diary? I have collected several new pages of content here."
She felt that with Mr. Nai Ya's wisdom and insight, he would surely be able to interpret more information from those diaries than she and Mr. Hanged Man.
She was even prepared; as long as Nairn nodded, she would immediately take out pen and paper to write down those mysterious diaries from memory.
However, Nairn's answer once again exceeded her expectations.
"Diary?" Nairn's expression was a bit strange, as if he had recalled some bad memory, and he waved his hand, "Oh, that thing."
"I've seen them, all of them."
In a casual tone, he spoke a sentence that would have made Klein jump up on the spot.
"All... you've seen them all?"
Audrey was indeed startled. Her emerald eyes widened, and her small mouth opened slightly, completely unable to comprehend the meaning of this sentence.
All of them? Emperor Roselle wrote so many diaries in his life, and they were scattered all over the world. Even Orthodox Deity organizations like the Church of the Goddess of Night and the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom only possessed a portion of them.
Mr. The Fool was also laboriously collecting them page by page through members like them.
Mr. Nai Ya... how could he have seen them all?
Could it be... that the speculation during the first Tarot Club meeting was true?
As Nairn watched her reaction, his heart skipped a beat.
Oops!
I showed off too much!
He only thought about showing his uniqueness but forgot his current persona.
A mysterious, powerful mastermind with far-reaching plans could say he knew many secrets, but saying "I've seen all the diaries" directly made him seem too... too much like Roselle himself.
Or perhaps, he had an ambiguous relationship with Roselle?