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Chapter 315: Noble Family (7)

"Ten minutes? It\'s almost here."

As Yeongwoo mumbled while looking at the timer, Song Jiseon asked.

—Ten minutes? Is that how long we have until they arrive?

"Yes. Did you take care of the thing I asked you about earlier?"

The favor.

He was referring to the matter of the gift, something Yeongwoo had practically subcontracted out to her.

In response, Jiseon instantly snapped and drove her greatsword into the ground.

Thud!

—Damn it. I’ve been busy fighting, so when would I have had time to do that?

Despite her grumbling, she gazed up at the sky, preparing for her next words.

Although her pride was hurt and she had said something, she actually had a gift prepared in her own way.

No matter how annoying a business partner was, she couldn’t afford to ruin the entire operation because of that.

—By the way, where are these examiners coming from? The space government? Or maybe some specialized review agency?

"I don’t know either. But since the whole \'Reset\' system is within the space governance structure, there’s a good chance they’re civil servants."

—What? Didn’t you say that the gift is supposed to be given to people of high status?

"It’s all relative. From the perspective of a remote planet like ours, whoever comes from the outside is considered a VIP."

—That’s absurd.

"It can’t be helped. That’s why it sucks not to have power."

Yeongwoo, her son, dared to lecture his mother.

A woman who once led a group that competed in the global market.

—Hmm.

Jiseon rubbed her chin with one hand and then, still looking at the sky, asked another question.

—What do you think?

“…Sorry?”

—I’m asking what you think about this gift.

"It’s just… a gift, isn’t it? A customary token given from those of lower status to those of higher status… It’s probably part of the space etiquette."

The universe that Yeongwoo had learned about so far was one of strict hierarchy.

Naturally, he understood gift-giving as an act of submission to the hierarchy.

However, Jiseon, who had only recently been thrown into this universe and had no preconceived notions, saw it a little differently.

—Do you really think so? That it’s just about saving face? Even though they officially announce it to everyone?

Yeongwoo tilted his head, puzzled by his mother’s remark.

"Then what do you think? Just get to the point; we don’t have much time."

[00:08:13]

Only 8 minutes were left until the examiners would arrive.

As Yeongwoo pressed her for an answer, Jiseon smirked and finally shared her thoughts.

—Here’s what I think...

She made a circle with her thumb and index finger.

It was the universal gesture for money.

—The gift is a legal bribe opportunity.

“…What?”

Yeongwoo’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected answer.

Jiseon continued.

—Why do they give the gift in advance? Even if it’s to show gratitude for visiting our planet, couldn’t it be given when they leave?

"Maybe you’re reading too much into the timing. They could just be giving it first, you know?"

—Just giving it first?

Jiseon shot a frustrated look at her son.

—The word \'gift\' itself means you’re repaying something you’ve received.

"Well, that’s true, but…"

Still not quite convinced, Yeongwoo frowned, and Jiseon made a gesture as if she might pull her greatsword out of the ground.

—Why are these examiners coming here?

"They’re coming to decide whether our planet can be upgraded."

—But the decision hasn’t even been made yet, so why are we giving them gifts in advance? What are we so thankful for?

"Uh…"

Yeongwoo thought for a moment.

Then, he finally said something that was somewhat close to what Jiseon had in mind.

"We’re… going to be promoted?"

—Exactly. It\'s like saying, \'Thanks to you, we’ll be really grateful,\' putting pressure on them. And that pressure is directly proportional to the size of the gift.

"So, you\'re saying... this whole gift system was set up to encourage bribery?"

—Isn’t it? To me, it looks like a legitimate bribery system. Why else would they systematically make us express gratitude?

“…I guess that makes sense."

Thinking about it that way, it didn’t seem too far-fetched.

If gifts were expected every time a higher-ranking individual visited a lower-tier planet, it could certainly be seen as a form of request or solicitation.

When a notorious villain visits, the gift could mean, "Please spare us."

When an examiner visits, it could mean, "We hope we pass the exam," with the gift being offered in advance.

—And what is bribery, really? In a broader sense, even greeting someone you know is a form of lobbying. It\'s like saying, "We’re still doing okay, right? Let’s keep things smooth between us." It’s just a free form of lobbying.

Jiseon was now fully stepping on the pedal of sophistry.

—It’s just that if you put a little more effort into that \'greeting,\' you can get closer to the other person a little faster. And that’s what society calls \'lobbying.\' So, bribery is…

“…A paid greeting.”

—Exactly. Now you’re getting it.

"Yeah. I guess I’ve learned that you casually handed out bribes, just like saying hello."

—Hey, in America, lobbying is legal.

"It’s illegal in most other places."

—But just like in America, it’s legal in space. That’s what I’m saying. The folks in space know what’s up.

"…"

With his mother concluding the matter like that, Yeongwoo had nothing more to say.

In any case, they wouldn\'t know for sure until they tried.

—Come on, is this even something to worry about? Bribery isn’t a big deal. It’s just a more impressive form of greeting.

"No one gives money when they greet someone."

—That’s why a greeting that comes with money is more welcome. Because it’s rare.

“…Damn it."

Her argument, no matter how twisted, had no obvious flaws.

And since they were dealing with beings from space, who often acted outside the norms of Earth, Yeongwoo had no choice but to take it seriously.

If this gift really was a legal bribe system, he had to take full advantage of it.

After all, it was a crucial exam that would determine the status of their planet.

"But what if space officials are unexpectedly clean and see bribery as a sin? We could end up being penalized instead. Forget promotion, we might get punished."

Yeongwoo made one final rebuttal, but Jiseon, disappointed, wagged her finger at him.

—You crazy idiot, why do you only go half-crazy? If you’re going to do something, do it properly. You’re planning to take over this planet, and you’re scared of a little punishment?

"…You might not know, but apparently, the mortality rate for people who are detained and prosecuted in space is 84%."

—…What?

It was true.

According to the tax officer Kubu, 84% of those waiting for trial in space detention centers die due to unforeseen accidents.

In other words, they end up dying before a verdict is even reached.

"And by the way things are going, it seems like I’ll be visiting one of those detention centers soon enough."

Yeongwoo said this, scrunching his nose, while Jiseon crossed her arms.

Click.

—The mortality rate in space detention centers is 84%?

"Yes."

—So, that means 16% come out alive?

"...?"

Technically speaking, they emerge alive to face their trial, but it wasn’t entirely wrong to say that.

"That\'s true, yes."

—And you don’t have the confidence to be in that 16%? Then just quit right now. This Earth and space stuff—all of it.

"What?"

—You idiot! How can I partner with someone who doesn’t even have the guts to survive a mere detention center? Do you really think you can round up those who started this \'Reset\' business with that level of courage?

"No, I mean…"

Once again, Yeongwoo was at a loss for words.

As crazy as it sounded, it wasn’t entirely wrong either.

"You\'re being a bit harsh just because it’s not your problem, don’t you think?"

—You cowardly idiot! Do you really think you\'d go to prison just because you gave out a few too many thank-you gifts?

Song Jiseon curled her index finger and pointed it accusingly at Yeongwoo.

—Even if the people who received the gifts lodge a complaint, we can just say we prepared those thank-you gifts sincerely. The system clearly has exploitable loopholes, so why are you scared already?

Song Jiseon was a veteran entrepreneur who had been through the wringer on the global stage.

So, of course, she was adept at exploiting such systemic flaws.

On the other hand, Yeongwoo was a novice entrepreneur with barely seven days of experience, not even enough to call it a startup.

He was no match for his mother in this field.

—At worst, we might lose some money over excessive thank-you gifts. But if it goes well, the bribe will work, and we\'ll secure the planetary promotion. We might even get promoted higher than originally expected.

“So, you’re really suggesting we bribe them?”

—Do you have any other options left at this point? Time’s running out, isn’t it?

Jiseon tapped her empty wrist, mimicking checking a watch.

When Yeongwoo looked at the timer in his field of vision, just as his mother said, the remaining time had sharply dwindled.

[00:01:33]

1 minute and 33 seconds until the inspector\'s arrival.

The problem was that they hadn’t prepared anything because they had been busy arguing.

"There\'s 1 minute and 30 seconds left."

When Yeongwoo informed his mother about the remaining time until the VIP’s arrival, Jiseon pulled the large sword she had stuck into the ground back out.

Wham!

—Is that so? We\'ll find out soon enough if space bureaucrats accept bribes.

“What about the money? Even if we combed the country for cash, we couldn’t get it here in 1 minute.”

Not even using high-speed transport.

Jiseon looked at her son again.

—Do you have a coin or something? Something that feels like it could substitute for money.

"A coin?"

At his mother’s request, Yeongwoo took something out from his armor.

Swish.

It was a gold-colored coin.

A commemorative coin with Jeong Yeongwoo\'s own face and name engraved on it, worth 10,000 Karma.

—......

Seeing this, Jiseon flinched momentarily, but then continued her line.

—Make a product with that thing you like so much.

"A product?"

—Write a blank check. Tell them they can write down the thank-you amount they expect when they leave after the inspection.

"Isn’t that too risky? We don’t know how much they’ll write."

—They’ll probably write a modest amount if they\'re honest bureaucrats. But if they write down a considerable sum...

“Then that means bribery is possible even in space.”

—Exactly. And what’s more, you’ll find out the going rate.

“The going rate?”

—The going rate for bribes in space.

“…Mom, are you insane?”

—Business is all about matching the tone and manner of your counterpart. If you’re dealing with crazy people, you have no choice but to cross the line too.

And this business market was nothing less than space.

For the first time in a while, Song Jiseon felt her heart race.

—But if this all goes wrong, and I mean spectacularly wrong...

“Goes wrong?”

—You’ll be the one going to prison, son.