“Do you think we can do it?” Michael asked.
Bart rubbed his chin, with his mind working on the project’s feasibility. “There are a lot of hurdles with this, son. First of all, the issue of money. A large-scale construction like this would need a tremendous amount of funding. After all, the sewer system will span the entire City, which will take a lot of manpower as well.
Most importantly, we will need the help of the Magic Tower to lend us some mages adept with construction.”
Michael raised his hand. “We don’t have to worry about that. I will talk to the Tower Master and convince him to help us.”
A little wager with a game of chess should suffice, he thought.
“Alright,” Bart nodded. “The most important part we have to consider is the City’s support. Even if we have the money and manpower to create the sewer system, it would be useless if we don’t get permission from the rulers of Kingsbridge City.”
Michael looked up at his father. “Don’t we have enough influence for that? We are Vanderbilts, after all.”
Bart sighed. “Yes. We indeed have enough influence with the high authorities of the City. However, that is just one part of the problem. We also have to worry about public perception, and that, I’m afraid, can’t be solved by flashing our family emblem.”
Michael frowned. He would have thought that the richest family in the world would have the support of the City.
“Why not?” he asked.
“It’s my fault, son. I have not been able to retain my control over the public perception of the Vanderbilt business. Right now, the entire City is on the side of the new upstart company called Reborn. Unless we have their help in convincing the citizens to start a large-scale construction that will disturb their daily lives, we can’t start the sewer system,” Bart explained.
Michael couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. If the Reborn company was the final piece of the puzzle they needed to start the sewer project, then it was easier than he thought.
“I think I can help with that.”
Michael led his parents back to their carriage and instructed Sebastian to go towards a certain building in the City.
…
…
…
After a few minutes of riding in the carriage, they finally reached a newly built building in the middle of the commerce district of the entire City.
There was a large, sculpted typography of the company named REBORN on the side of the building.
Michael didn’t know how much he spent to have this building constructed, but it must have cost more than half a million gold coins, which was why all of the profit he earned from the company was spent towards the company itself.
He walked out of the carriage, with his parents just behind him.
“Michael, this is the main office of the Reborn office. We can’t just stroll in here without a proper meeting scheduled,” Bart said, tugging on Michael’s scruff to stop him in his tracks.
The Reborn company was at its highest popularity as of this moment, with their innovative product called the Reborn Matchstick becoming the highest-selling product this winter.
Even now, in the deep-dead winter, people were still lining up in their office stores to buy their products.
Though most people didn’t like to bathe during the winter, most people found that they had less chance of contracting a disease whenever they bathed with Reborn soap and shampoo.
Right now, it was just a rumor and hearsay, but they didn’t know that it was rooted in science.
Because of their popularity, people couldn’t simply walk down their doors and demand an audience with their owner, especially since no one had seen them since the company started.
It’s even become a source of gossip and intrigue within the City.
Even as a Vanderbilt, Bart was sure that he couldn’t use his influence to try and meet with the Reborn boss.
“It’s fine, dad.”
Michael tried to walk through the doors again, but Bart had a firm grip on his shoulders.
“Bursting in through their doors is not a good first impression,” Bart said.
“It’s better if we explain the situation to them through a letter and request a meeting. I’ve heard that the owner of Reborn is a magnanimous figure who doesn’t prioritize monetary gain. I’m sure he’ll want to help with the sewer system since it will benefit the entire City.”
Even Lylia tried to stop Michael from barging in. “Michael dear, It’s cold outside. We should get back in the carriage,” she said, shivering with snow piling up on her winter hat.
“Don’t worry, Mom, Dad. I’ll show you.”
Michael finally walked forward and opened the doors, revealing the busy clerks and assistants working at their desks.
They all stopped what they were doing and looked at the ten-year-old boy who entered their offices.
Before they could say anything, the door to the boss’s room suddenly burst wide open, with Castelle coming out of the room and staring at Michael.
“Young Master?” she said, as her eyes moved past him and spotted Lylia and Bart behind him.
Immediately, she knew that the time to reveal the truth was here. She immediately walked down the steps of her office and greeted Michael and his family with a bow.
“Welcome, Young Master. I hope the office is to your liking,” Castelle said, ignoring the stares of the Vanderbilts.
“It’s good. You did fine, Castelle.” Michael said casually, inspecting the interior of the office.
“Why have you visited the building, Young Master? Have you come to take back control of your company?”
And the moment she said that, Bart and Lylia both walked inside and expressed their confusion.
“Castelle? What’s going on here?”
Bart tapped one of the workers to the side and asked, “How do you know her?” he asked, pointing at Castelle.
“That’s Miss Castelle, sir, the manager of the Reborn company.”
Bart looked over to Castelle, with confusion painted all over his face. He looked like he knew the answer to the question in his head, but couldn’t quite reconcile that with reality.
“Good afternoon, Madame, Sir,” Castelle said respectfully. “That is right. I am the current manager of the Reborn company. However, the true owner of this business is none other than the Young Master. He is the true hand that led this company to the heights it is today.”