Even if I twist the neck of a chicken, dawn will come.

    Whether my brother Albert, the Baron Medici, is jealous of me or not, I must continue to move forward.

    I need to digest the sudden assignment of the supply duties for two divisions from the Emperor.

    “Young master, please have a cup of tea and take a little break.”

    Chloe placed a teacup on my desk and poured some black tea.

    A slightly sour yet rich aroma filled the room.

    Just the scent seems to ease my fatigue.

    “Thanks, I’ll drink this and cool my head before getting back to work.”

    It reminded me of something a YouTuber said while I was living in Korea.

    “If you want to earn a lot of money, then you have to work more. That’s the only answer.”

    His tone was annoyingly paternalistic, and the content was akin to something a middle-aged manager would say.

    But that statement seems to hold some truth.

    To make a lot of money, in the end, you have to work like crazy.

    ‘That’s exactly how I am right now.’

    Upon hearing my words, Chloe frowned and puffed out her cheeks.

    “I always think the young master is amazing for being so dedicated to work, but if you keep working 13 to 14 hours a day like this, you’ll wear yourself out. What will you do if you collapse while working?”

    “Still, I need to finish the tasks piling up in front of me.”

    “Both the butler and Kris said that the urgent tasks that need immediate attention are already completed.”

    In most noble families, a personal maid would not dare to nag her master.

    If she upsets her master, she risks being thrown out onto the street.

    Moreover, genuinely loving and caring maids are treated like “stories from novels” among the nobles.

    However, it’s clear, both objectively and subjectively, that Chloe cares about me.

    ‘Especially in bed, she’s very proactive, even trying to entice me again after we’ve been intimate.’

    With a smile that comes from the heart, she seems to be eager for more.

    “I can endure the loneliness of not being loved by you lately because you’re busy. But if you were to collapse or fall ill while working, it would break my heart.”

    Since the gracious Emperor bestowed upon me the supply rights for two divisions, I’ve been working like this for almost two weeks.

    These days, even after drinking coffee, I feel like I might doze off in broad daylight, or I can feel a lack of energy when I wake up.

    If I keep overworking like this, I might end up in trouble.

    “I’ll drink this, do a little more work, and then take a good rest after lunch. That sounds good, right?”

    Chloe beamed at my words.

    “Yes, I’ll give you a knee pillow or whatever you need. You just rest comfortably, young master.”

    “Though you said to rest, are you trying to pamper me?”

    Kris pointed to herself.

    “I asked them if they could accept me as their superior. If they were to join our guild, I would be their superior.”

    “It’s certainly not easy to accept a woman as a superior.”

    In the 1990s in Korea, even if a woman was incredibly capable, it was considered normal for married women to be let go from their companies.

    Let alone in a country with a patriarchal society and a system of polygamy, having a woman as a superior would be seen as a repulsive notion.

    Some might genuinely feel nauseous at the thought.

    ‘Even so, there’s ample value in continuing to use Kris.’

    Her abilities are in the top 0.1%, and she is more diligent than anyone.

    Additionally, the direction I pursue is a few centuries ahead of the conventional mindset.

    However, those who can’t accept a woman as a superior likely won’t just disagree with my values; will they even follow me?

    Upon hearing my words, Kris gracefully held her skirt with both hands and bowed her head.

    “I am always grateful to you, young master, for providing me with the opportunity to demonstrate my abilities without worrying about others’ objections. I want to repay you with everything I have.”

    A chill ran down my back at that moment, but it must just be my imagination.

    Glancing at Chloe’s face, she wore a cold smile that seemed reminiscent of winter.

    ‘Could it be that Kris... just like Chloe said?’

    But such thoughts can wait for later.

    “We have completed the hiring process following the procedures outlined. Is there anything concerning about this, Major Baron?”

    “I’d like to give it a score of 120 out of 100. Indeed, our guild’s treatment isn’t inferior to others. We aren’t solely hiring from merchant families like other guilds, so this level of expectation is reasonable.”

    In the Toscana Empire, unless you’re a small hole-in-the-wall shop, hiring employees is typically done through connections.

    General citizens hoping to break through that barrier must rely on university ‘professor recommendations.’

    We’ll hire anyone capable, even if they’re a farmer named Antonio; it doesn’t matter.

    “I’ve found all the methods to handle administrative tasks. However, with our guild’s current capacity, it’s impossible to carry out the supply duties for two divisions. Have you found alternatives?”

    Though I say I’m competing with the merchants, my standing is infinitely weaker than theirs.

    ‘I’m like a tuna caught in a whale fight.’

    So when the whales think one step ahead, I must think a million steps ahead.

    Yet, I’ve always sought ways to survive.

    “We need to break away from traditional guild management methods.”

    Saying that, I handed Kris a report I had organized over several days, drawing from the knowledge in my head.

    Kris read the title written on the cover.

    “Comprehensive Trading Company?”

    To summarize it in one sentence, this could be described as a sophisticated colonial management approach developed in the late 20th century.