Chapter 118 Oh My, My Sister Is Going To Acquire It All

After the conversation with the noblewomen ended and hearing their assurance that they would go back and ‘whisper into their husbands’ ears,’ Cecilia excused herself and left the room first.

She elegantly closed the door… and the appropriate ‘business smile’ on her face instantly vanished.

Before Luna, the Head Maid, who was waiting outside the door, could say anything, Cecilia lifted the hem of her skirt and began to walk quickly toward the main hall.

Luna was startled and hurried to follow.

This was the first time she had seen her mistress so flustered.

However, when Cecilia reached the area of the hall where Morin and the other two were standing, she found that the situation was a little different from what she had imagined.

There were no ambiguous glances, no lighthearted flirting, and certainly no intimate touching.

Morin and the blonde noblewoman from the von Seeckt family were engaged in a heated discussion.

She could vaguely hear terms like “arcane technology,” “cost,” and “usage threshold.”

There was also another unfamiliar young woman in a dark red gown, with a figure so striking that Luna couldn’t help but stare, who was hunched over a coffee table—clearly meant for refreshments—writing furiously with a pencil and notebook, muttering to herself.

“…If the breech mechanism is modified like this, wouldn’t it be more reliable?”

“No, that would increase the difficulty of manufacturing, and the cost would be uncontrollable.”

“Then what if…”

The entire scene was filled with an intense academic atmosphere, completely at odds with the clinking glasses and chatter surrounding them.

Cecilia stood a short distance away, momentarily unsure whether she should approach.

What is going on here?

Just as she was momentarily stunned, Morin, who was deep in conversation, immediately noticed her.

He instantly stopped arguing with Patricia, a brilliant smile spreading across his face, and rose to meet her.

“Big Sister Cecilia, are you finished with your meeting?”

Seeing Morin rush straight toward her, Cecilia’s slight annoyance immediately evaporated, replaced by a surge of quiet happiness.

It seemed that in Fritz’s heart, his older sister was still the most important person.

The little bit of awkwardness she felt instantly vanished.

Patricia and Helga also stood up upon seeing Cecilia.

Patricia, being a long-time resident of Dresden’s nobility, naturally knew Cecilia’s identity.

The reputation of the ‘Brilliant Crystal Queen’ in the Empire’s high society was based on more than just her wealth and beauty…

And Helga, having done some homework on the powerful Dresden nobility after arriving, was now so nervous upon seeing this important figure that she was utterly flustered and speechless.

Cecilia’s commanding presence, cultivated by years of high authority, completely awed the two young women.

Morin, meanwhile, didn’t notice the subtle tension between the three women.

After quickly introducing them, he enthusiastically told Cecilia about a new idea he had just come up with.

“Sister, I have an idea! I want to hire Miss Helga to be the weapons designer for the weapons company we are going to establish!”

Helga was stunned, completely unprepared for Morin’s sudden declaration.

Eh?

He wants to hire me?

Her mind went blank, and she even forgot how to respond.

Morin realized his request was somewhat sudden. He turned to Helga, his face showing apology.

“I apologize, Miss Schmeisser, I know this request is abrupt, but I truly value your design talent! I believe that if we work together, we can design the best light weapons!”

Helga was slightly embarrassed by the direct praise.

Her cheeks flushed, and her hands instinctively clutched her skirt tightly.

After a moment, she quietly replied.

“Well… Lieutenant Morin, thank you very much for your high regard, but my family runs a firearms workshop in Thuringia, and I came to Dresden to seek opportunities for family development.”

The implication was that she probably couldn’t abandon her family business and accept Morin’s offer.

Morin was indeed a little disappointed.

However, he quickly thought that if he couldn’t hire her, perhaps buying the patent or collaborating on the technology wouldn’t be out of the question.

It was at this moment that Cecilia, who had been maintaining her powerful presence and silently observing everything, suddenly spoke.

Her gray-blue eyes fixed on Helga.

“Miss Helga Schmeisser, is that correct?”

“Y-yes, Madam,” Helga answered nervously.

“Where is your family’s firearms workshop located in Thuringia? How large is it? How many workers do you employ? What is your annual sales figure?”

A string of direct questions left Helga bewildered.

She felt flustered under the scrutiny of Cecilia’s sharp gaze and could only carefully describe the general situation of her family workshop.

“In… in Suhl, Thuringia… It is small, with about forty workers. The annual sales are roughly three hundred thousand Marks…”

Her voice grew fainter with every word, becoming almost inaudible by the end.

However, Cecilia showed no sign of contempt after hearing her description.

She merely contemplated for a moment, then, without hesitation, proposed an offer that left everyone present dumbfounded.

“If Miss Schmeisser and your family are willing, I can purchase your firearms workshop outright…”

“And, after the acquisition is completed, I will immediately inject capital to help you expand the scale of production.”

Morin was stunned.

He hadn’t expected Cecilia to be so generous, offering to buy a whole company…

Just because he said he admired the girl’s talent?

Patricia was also stunned.

She looked at Cecilia in shock, her emerald eyes wide with disbelief.

Seeing a designer you like, and instead of trying to poach her, you just buy her entire company?

Money truly grants ultimate power…

Helga was even more bewildered.

She felt like she was dreaming.

She had only come to a ball, and suddenly her family company was about to be acquired?

The young woman’s eyes reddened, and she looked on the verge of tears.

Just then, Cecilia continued in her level but firm voice.

“You don’t need to be nervous, Miss Schmeisser.”

“I promise the acquisition price will not be a loss for your family… And after the acquisition is complete, your family and the veteran workers in the workshop can all continue to work in their original positions.”

Cecilia’s gaze shifted to Morin, a hint of indulgence in her gray-blue eyes.

Then, she turned back to Helga, her tone softening slightly.

“I am only doing this because my younger brother, Fritz, values your talent.”

“Since that is the case, I want your talent to be available to him without any reservations.”

Helga felt dizzy, as if she were drunk.

She cautiously glanced at Morin, then at the commanding Cecilia, finally gathering the courage to speak softly.

“Th-this is such a huge matter. I need to discuss it with my family.”

“Of course.”

Cecilia readily agreed to the request, then, checking the time, displayed her astonishing efficiency.

“I can immediately arrange for our company’s staff at the Suhl office in Thuringia to contact your family directly.”

She looked at Helga, her tone becoming a little gentler.

“Furthermore, if Miss Helga is willing, you can stay at my manor tonight.”

“Tomorrow morning, I will send a car to pick up your family, and everyone can discuss the specifics of the acquisition in person. How does that sound?”

A strong wave of dizziness washed over Helga. She felt completely unable to think.

She nodded almost instinctively.

“G-good. Yes, Madam.”

Soon after, the ball came to a close.

Morin said goodbye to Ludwig and Patricia.

After tonight’s ‘seminar,’ his relationship with Patricia was no longer as awkward as before.

Patricia was genuinely interested in many of Morin’s imaginative ideas about arcane technology.

She felt that although the man was sometimes unreliable, he truly had a genius-like vision in certain areas.

So, Morin also agreed to visit her at the Arcane Research Institute after settling Helga’s affairs.

In the carriage returning to the manor, the atmosphere was quiet.

Cecilia maintained her high-level demeanor, occasionally asking Helga questions about the management and operations of her family business.

Every question was insightful and hit the core issues, forcing the young woman to stay fully alert and answer carefully.

However, upon learning that Helga had come to Dresden alone to seek opportunities, a hint of pity naturally arose in Cecilia’s heart for the nineteen-year-old.

Her demeanor softened considerably, and she even proactively asked about Helga’s accommodation and meals in Dresden.

Morin, meanwhile, didn’t interject much throughout the ride.

After arriving back at the manor and Head Maid Anna had escorted Helga to a guest room, Cecilia turned to Morin.

“Fritz, once the acquisition is complete, you will be the owner of this new company.”

Morin quickly shook his head.

“That’s not right, Big Sister Cecilia. You are the one acquiring the company. I haven’t done anything…”

Cecilia merely smiled.

“Didn’t you want to start a weapons company? Since you value this girl’s talent, and her family workshop already has skilled workers, it’s the perfect base for you to practice and experiment.”

Morin: “But acquiring the workshop and adding investment is a considerable expense. Once my patent compensation is finalized, I still have to pay you back that money…”

“Silly boy, why are you being so formal with your own sister?”

“Consider the money my investment in the company. You only need to pay me dividends every year.”

The night passed without incident.

At least, it did for Morin.

But for Helga Schmeisser, it was undoubtedly the longest and most tense night of her life…

She lay on the incredibly soft, large bed, covered by a silk blanket that smelled faintly sweet, yet she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Everything that had happened yesterday was simply too shocking for her.

Early the next morning, when a maid knocked on her door, bringing clothes that Cecilia had prepared from her own wardrobe, Helga was still slightly dazed.

When the young woman came downstairs to the hall, Cecilia couldn’t help but frown slightly upon seeing her own conservative dress stretched and showing off the girl’s curves.

How did this young woman grow like this?

In the afternoon, Helga’s father, the elderly Mr. Schmeisser, and a few core managers of the Schmeisser Arms Workshop rushed to the manor, covered in travel dust.

They first felt relieved upon seeing that their daughter was safe and seemed to have been well taken care of.

Following this, Cecilia and Morin officially sat down with them in the home’s reception room to discuss the full acquisition.

The process of discussion was much simpler than Morin had anticipated.

Or rather, it couldn’t even be called a ‘discussion’ or ‘negotiation.’

Cecilia had woken up early that morning and, through her company’s channels, had acquired all the detailed information on the arms workshop.

This included asset valuation, current patent holdings, and a rough market outlook analysis.

Therefore, she immediately offered a sky-high price that Mr. Schmeisser and his companions simply could not refuse.

(End of this Chapter)

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