"The only thing that could suffice is a loan," Tessa said.
"Exactly, a loan! How could I forget that?" Lyria stood from her seat and began pacing the room. "Tessa, first thing tomorrow morning, apply for a loan using the parent company name: SP Group."
The application was filed immediately. SP Group's first loan was approved quickly, thanks to a government scheme encouraging youth entrepreneurship. Once the funds were secured, Lyria instructed Tessa to finalize a meeting with the factory owner.
That afternoon, they met the owner, Madam Gloria, at the capital branch of Moonpetal Coffee & Confections. They headed to a private room where Lyria noticed a dog beastwoman waiting for them. Though her face was covered in makeup, it was clear she had made a significant effort to hide her exhaustion and the dark circles under her eyes. Lyria took a seat opposite her, with Tessa by her side.
"Good afternoon, Madam Gloria. I am Lyria, and this is my assistant, Tessa."
"Nice to meet you," Gloria said with a weary smile. Clearing her throat, she continued, "Miss Lyria, your assistant informed me of your intent to buy my factory. I would like to ask about the workers, what plans do you have for them?"
"I will retain them temporarily," Lyria informed her. "However, they will all be under probation for two months. If there is no disruption of work ethics and they follow the new rules I stipulate, they will be retained permanently."
Gloria sighed in relief.
"If that is all you wish to ask," Lyria said, "then let's sign the contract and finalize this."
"Oh, yes. I've brought the documents, and I assume the funds are ready," Gloria added, pulling a file from a somewhat shabby bag. The process of signing and obtaining the government stamp to certify Lyria's ownership took the rest of the afternoon.
"Miss Lyria, I will be expecting you tomorrow for the inspection," Gloria said, shaking Lyria's hand with a much more relaxed expression.
The next day, Lyria and Tessa arrived at the factory. Madam Gloria was already waiting at the entrance to escort them. Since the facility was quite large, it took several hours for her to introduce them to every sector. After the tour, Lyria invited Madam Gloria to lunch.
Lyria looked at the older beastwoman and noticed the tension in her brow had finally vanished. She couldn't help but ask, "Madam Gloria, why did you decide to sell? From everything I've seen today, this place seems to hold deep importance to you."
Gloria stopped eating. After wiping her mouth, she began, "I was duped by a close friend... and one of my husbands." She sighed heavily. "This factory was something my father built from scratch after he was abandoned by my mother. If not for the debts I have to pay, I would never have sold his life's work." Her eyes grew blurry, and tears began to trickle down her cheeks.
Tessa, feeling sentimental, handed her a napkin and began patting her back before a sharp glance from Lyria reminded her of their professional setting.
"I'm sorry," Lyria said gently. "If I had known it was such a sensitive subject, I wouldn't have asked."
"It's no problem. I would have told you eventually."
"Madam Gloria, to be honest with you, I don't have anyone to manage this factory yet. I would like to offer you the position of General Manager. I want you to witness how your father's factory produces the fabrics for one of the greatest brands in history," Lyria said with absolute confidence.
Gloria's eyes widened. "I... I would gladly accept, Boss. Thank you for trusting me."
Once Gloria had calmed down, Lyria stood to take her leave. "Since everything is settled, Tessa will contact you regarding the materials for the new fabrics. Please, don't let me down," Lyria said, extending her hand.
Madam Gloria stood and met her handshake firmly. "I promise, Boss, you won't regret it."
The following days flew by as Lyria and Tessa arranged for trucks to transport the Silkra plants from Sari Village. With the factory officially beginning the processing phase, Lyria left home at dawn and returned late into the night. She was entirely unaware that her neighbor had already received news of her arrival in the capital and had been monitoring her movements, waiting for the perfect moment to create a "chance" encounter.
High up in the penthouse office of a fifty-story skyscraper, a man with shoulder-length white hair sat reviewing documents. His fox ears twitched occasionally as he flipped through the pages. This serene scene was disrupted when a man with wolf features entered the room.
"Boss, I've been informed that the neighbors at the Silverbloom mansion have moved in. It appears to be a family."
Fenric's ears flicked at the news. With a silent wave of his hand, he dismissed the wolf fecund. Standing from his seat, Fenric approached the floor-to-ceiling window, his thoughts wandering back to the day he had narrowly missed Lyria before her departure from the capital. He had been gathering information on her whereabouts then, but he'd noticed a rival gang tailing him. He'd had to stop his search; if they discovered his interest in Lyria, she would be dead by the next morning; especially since their leader, a ruthless beastwoman, was obsessively fixated on him.
The thought of Lyria brought a genuine, almost untraceable smile to his lips, and his tail wagged of its own accord. "Lyria... there is no way I am letting you go this time," Fenric murmured, his voice laced with a dangerous possessiveness he himself hasn't noticed.
Elsewhere, Lyria felt a sudden chill and sneezed. Thinking it was just the night air catching up to her, she followed Rowan's insistence and drank a bowl of warm soup.
As the factory made significant progress turning the Silkra plants into high-grade fabric, Lyria called Gloria. "Gloria, it's time to hire the tailors who will be sewing the first collection."
"Boss, we had several talented tailors on staff whom I had to let go because I couldn't pay their fees. Should we re-employ them?"
Lyria considered it for a moment. "You can re-employ them, but you know the rules: I want only the most competent and dedicated employees." After the call, she hung up, feeling the weight of the upcoming launch.
Suddenly, the familiar chime of the System sliced through her mind.
DING!
[MISSION COMPLETED]
[MISSION PROGRESS: ALL TASKS COMPLETED]
[TASKS: Open 5 "Moonpetal Coffee" branches in 5 different regions in Felorin.{COMPLETED}
Establish a new business in another sector.
{COMPLETED}
Give the new business a brand name.
{COMPLETED}
Takeover a company that has already been established {COMPLETED}.]
[UNLOCKING REWARDS....]