Chapter 587

Monica twisted the spaghetti with a fork and placed it atop a slice of salami.

I held my glass of grape juice, glancing sideways at Monica’s tasting scene.

She folded the salami in half like a dumpling and pierced it with her fork to seal the edges.

The members of the Rich family looked at her with astonished expressions.

There was a hint of shock and confusion in their eyes.

As if asking if she was really going to eat “that.”

Monica tightly shut her eyes and took a bite.

At that moment, despite having enjoyed it earlier, she pretended to swallow something she didn’t want to eat.

A faint sigh from the chef could be heard from afar.

Monica’s brothers stared at her, their eyes ablaze as if to say, “We won’t forget the family’s disgrace.”

“It’s, uh, delicious,” Monica awkwardly smiled while wiping her mouth with a napkin.

“How cute.”

It seemed that the Rich family had decided to completely lower their heads.

I satisfiedly set down my glass and picked up my fork.

“From an evolutionary standpoint, the taste we perceive comes from our motivation to consume high-density energy sources and the innate drive to maintain nutritional balance in our bodies. Gourmet enthusiasts exploring new foods can also be explained by the underlying instinct to reduce dependence on specific resources.”

I thought I should shield her since it seemed I had embarrassed her too much.

Unlike how she had eaten, I first speared the salami with my fork, twirled a few strands of spaghetti around it, and popped it into my mouth.

“The high-protein, high-fat salami and the carbohydrates provided by the pasta help with post-meal satiety and muscle recovery. Additionally, the contrast between the soft and chewy texture of the salami and the elastic texture accentuates the rich flavors, enhancing the overall taste. The temperature difference between the warm pasta and cold salami gives a fresh and unique pleasure in the mouth.”

Everything I just said was complete nonsense I made up on the spot.

“I hope that the collaboration between the oil and water, the Jansol and the Rich Company, can produce a harmonious flavor without being swept away by public prejudice.”

But how about bringing our company into this?

Could I possibly deny that it is harmonious food?

“Let me have a bite too; bring it to me.”

“Your Grace?”

Duke Rich took the lead in trying the salami with the pasta.

With each chew, his wrinkled eyes widened with surprise.

Following suit, the family members took on the challenge of the new dish.

“Oh, this isn’t bad at all!”

“This is a hundred times better than Hawaiian pizza.”

“I’m… no.”

“Yum, it’s delicious! Namé, this is really good! Where did you learn to cook this?”

“I often eat it like this when I mess up the pasta seasoning.”

There may be varied opinions, but it is definitely not tasteless food.

In a past life, everyone would have relished it.

The conversation naturally shifted to work-related topics.

“The advanced pharmaceutical cluster in Italy already possesses the most advanced research and development infrastructure in Europe. In particular, the San Raffaele Institute specializes in cutting-edge biotechnology and clinical research, so it will be of great help to the high-precision diagnostic magic development project that Ms. Noname is promoting this time.”

After that, Chairman Rich did not eat even a single plate and continued the presentation.

The status and achievements of the subsidiaries and research institutes that Rich Company possessed unfolded.

“Yes, I’ve heard a lot about the institute’s reputation, Chairman Rich. However, what I have in mind for this collaboration is AI-based genome interpretation. I’d like to know if Rich Company has the capability to analyze vast Akashic Record genomics and collect data through advanced algorithms.”

“Ah, that area is definitely feasible. Of course, we can. We have been developing new drugs in tandem with next-generation sequencing methods. Recently, we achieved results in enhancing the efficiency of targeted therapy by analyzing genetic mutations in cancer patients.”

His personal assistant handed over the presentation materials.

Clinical results, data volume, and NPV by business.

Some of the materials slightly overlapped with Rich Company’s confidential information.

Is this a strategy to get a foot in the door and never let go?

Business people are indeed business people.

Yet, the chairman’s snake-like demeanor was not coming across badly.

“That part is impressive. What I want is to have the company invest as many resources as possible to establish comparative surgical procedures and magical groups that compare against the original Akashic Records. I expect significant resources will go into data processing; therefore, efficiency will be paramount.”

“At this point, our goals seem clear. Shall we join forces to achieve next-generation medical innovation, Ms. Madosa?”

Chairman Rich lifted his glass.

Are you asking me to toast with grape juice?

Cheers—

The purple liquids of the same color swirled in our glasses.

I scanned the atmosphere of the dinner banquet with a sheepish smile.

A cat-like creature lost in the delicious feast.

Beside me, Monica stared at Chairman Rich with a dazed expression.

“Monica.”

“Yes?”

“How have you been lately? I hadn’t heard anything since the National Exchange Games, and I noticed you participated in the Madosa tournament. Will you be competing in the European Super Cup at the end of the year?”

“I will participate in the Super Cup. During that time, my shoulder and knee still hadn’t fully recovered, so I was focusing solely on healing.”

“Oh really? It seems you got injured more than expected.”

“My principle is to not compete unless I’m in optimal condition. There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to show my full potential and losing.”

She was quite the prideful girl, as her looks suggested.

However, from across the table, Chairman Rich frowned disapprovingly.

“She’s just a coward. She doesn’t know when to strike when the opportunity arises and is filled with useless thoughts, tsk… She’s endlessly lacking in skills but is unwilling to lose, blaming it all on her condition.”

Despite the chairman’s reprimands, Monica could only sulk with her lips pouted, unable to retort.

This was a family with a clear power dynamic.

Her father was probably the one footing all the bills.

“Even if she had won in the round of 16, she would have lost miserably to that American guy, so what’s she whining about?”

“Of course she’s upset, Father! Wouldn’t you be? I prepared so much for Nathan Chen, and I couldn’t even use a single strategy!”

“Preparation? The world doesn’t survive just based on preparation, my daughter. Let’s ask Ms. Noname. How much time did she spend on counter-strategy formulation for the main event of the National Exchange Games?”

Father and daughter locked eyes simultaneously.

“Except for Katsuhata Emika, who I’ve known for a long time… about three to four days?”

Bang—!

After a while of holding in her temper, Monica finally exploded.

“That’s a lie! You prepared nothing before the competition?”

“See, Monica? The important thing is capability. If your abilities surpass anyone else’s, you don’t need to spend a lot of time preparing. Do you know why our 900-year-old Rich family is struggling in front of Ms. Noname?”

Chairman Rich pressed down on Monica’s energy from above.

“It’s because the gap in capabilities is evident. On the other hand, our collaboration is due to being Rich.”

Chairman Rich was someone with clear self-awareness.

It was also an acknowledgment of his own failures in properly running the business.

By the end, he even subtly reminded everyone of the majestic stance of the Rich family.

Even if a genius-level object called the Dream Stone fell to Earth, it is Duke Lorenzo Rich who recognizes his position and seeks a better future.

I was relieved that my judgment of people seemed to be correct.

He had a strong patriarchal and domineering quality, but it didn’t pertain to business management, so it wasn’t something to consider.

“…I’ll prepare well for the Super Cup, as you say, Father.”

“Well, you should. As a late-born child, she still seems immature. Her thinking is much younger than our Madosa. Don’t the rest of you have something to say to Ms. Noname? Didn’t you express wanting her autograph?”

Chairman Rich asked Monica’s older brother and cousin.

The age spectrum ranged widely from teens to thirties.

They readily accepted the flood of autograph requests.

Stiff high-quality paper and fountain pens were prepared.

“I became a complete fan after watching the National Exchange Games, Ms. Noname. Especially that quadruple casting! Wow, that must have been unimaginable for the opponents.”

“I’ve been a fan since way before. All the way back when you streamed games, Namé.”

“By the way, is it true that Narita confessed to Saetbyeol over there? It sounds like such an exciting story, I’m curious.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. What do you think?”

“I didn’t believe it at first, but seeing today, it might actually be true. She certainly has a rare beauty that’s hard to find anywhere.”

“If you get too close, you’ll get in trouble with me. She’s my precious little sister.”

“Haha! You take good care of her, I see. You both are always attached wherever you go. Thanks for the autograph!”

Dinner gradually came to an end, and the staff escorted us to the room we would be staying in.

We were supposed to stay at the Rich Manor for a few days, visiting the Italian pharmaceutical industry clusters of ‘Parminindustria’ and ‘Human Technopolis’.

“Huh? You didn’t drink?”

Saetbyeol waddled over, patting her inflated belly.

“I heard you can drink from 18 in Italy.”

“But you only have a few months left. I still have eight years.”

“Still, I got to eat a lot. Wow, is the bed size for real? I want to live here…! Let’s buy a mansion like this in Korea, unni!”

“No way, too troublesome.”

“Why not?!”

Knock, knock—

Just as I was about to change into my pajamas, someone knocked on the door.

“Who is it? Monica?”

Monica entered our room with a weird scarf on her head.

She looked dejected, having been scolded by her father during dinner.

“Namé, do you want to fight?”

“Yes.”

“Huh?”

She seemed surprised at my immediate answer.

“Are you talking about the Madosa tournament? I’ve been waiting for this.”