Otaku Translation: I! Anomaly Cleansing Agent! C51

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The moment the office door closed, sealing off any chance of eavesdropping, the long-suffering middle-aged woman erupted in a shrill scream: "What’s this nonsense about giving away shares?! You’ve handed over forty percent of the company! Is the Char Department Store still our Char Department Store?"

"Do you really have the nerve to confront me?"

Old Char already knew what she intended to say before she opened her mouth. Slamming his hand on the desk, he glared fiercely. "What about the Waterworks Company incident? Did the issues I warned about come to pass or not? If I hadn’t acted swiftly—if I’d relied solely on your negotiations—the Char Department Store would be finished by now!"

"..."

At the mention of Waterworks Company, Mrs. Char’s fiery demeanor faltered slightly, but she persisted: "Even so, handing over forty percent of the shares in one go? And most of them from my family’s side…"

"If I hadn’t given away forty percent, do you think you’d still be standing here yelling at me?"

Old Char didn’t bother masking his exhaustion in front of his family. Leaning back into his chair, he massaged his temples, his voice heavy with fatigue.

"Have you forgotten? Fifteen years ago, when the Char Department Store nearly collapsed, I refused to part with even a single share. No one opposed distributing shares more than I did—but this time, it was unavoidable.”

“Yes, the problem seems resolved, but the solution was brutally crude. While we stand to profit immensely, we’ve trampled the interests of every competitor in fifteen industries.”

“Do you know what that means? We’ve driven price standards to their absolute lowest. The Commercial Federation is already furious. If we hadn’t shared some equity to let others drink from the same soup, do you know what would’ve happened?"

Watching his wife suddenly shudder, as though struck by realization, Old Char continued in a flat tone:

"This year, Char Department Store may grow to its peak, but once the dust settles after the end of the year—after all compensations are paid—it will no longer belong to the Chars. Without the support of the Commercial Federation and the councilors, I alone cannot protect this company. Not even our basic safety would be guaranteed. By then, the only place we’d reunite as a family would be in prison. Do you understand?"

Seeing his wife, now drenched in sweat, finally shaken awake from the intoxication of unimaginable wealth, Old Char wasn’t done yet. He rapped the desk sharply, raising his voice:

"Do you know what your biggest mistake is? Shall I tell you? Your biggest mistake is always assuming everything will follow the rules!”

“Did you think writing a veto clause into the contract would restrain those old nobles from causing trouble?”

“Did you think monopolizing factories and retail channels would force everyone to yield?”

“Did you think once the company grew large enough, we could ignore the opinions of the Commercial Federation?”

“Utter foolishness!"

Gazing at his wife, pale as a ghost and barely kept upright by their daughter’s support, Old Char’s eyes flickered with a trace of pity. But ultimately, he hardened his heart and delivered the final blow:

"People play by the rules with you because they don’t have a winning strategy outside of them!”

“But now, we’ve disrupted the unspoken rules with our dumping tactics, driving others to desperation. Do you honestly expect them to keep playing fair instead of striking back?”

“At a time like this, refusing to share equity and bring capable allies onboard—did you plan to sit atop piles of money, grinning like an idiot until death came knocking?"

"Dad! Please… don’t talk like that! Mom meant well; she just lacked foresight.”

“But Dad, think about it! How many people have risen almost from nothing, going from a small street vendor to one of the top three merchants in the capital within twenty years? Ordinary judgment can’t compare to yours!"

After casting a worried glance at her trembling mother, the baby-faced girl quickly shot her father a pleading look while trying to smooth things over:

"Dad! Mom was once a pampered noblewoman who ran away to be with you. She learned to wash clothes, cook meals, and stayed up late helping you manage inventory and accounts. She’s struggled alongside you all these years—it hasn’t been easy!”

“Aside from this one misjudgment, she’s always managed the company impeccably without issue. And when I was little, while you were constantly busy, she took care of me while also learning how to…"

"Enough."

Shaking off her daughter’s supporting hand, the woman—who bore a striking resemblance to her child, with faint traces of youthful innocence still visible—pressed her lips together tightly and turned away with stubborn resolve.

"A mistake is a mistake. What’s the point of dredging up the past? Leaving home to follow him was my choice, and making this error was my decision too. There’s no need to drag up old memories for sympathy.”

“Besides, look at your father—no one’s watching over him, and he’ll work himself to death in this office. Stay here and keep an eye on him. Too many people are shopping right now; the staff might not handle everything. I’ll go oversee things myself."

"Mom, you’ve barely recovered from your illness. Let me—"

"I don’t need your help!"

"..."

Watching his wife storm out, slamming the door behind her, Old Char fell silent for a moment. Finally, he waved a hand at his daughter, who seemed ready to say more.

"Don’t try to mediate. I’m not blaming her. My harsh words earlier were meant to ensure she remembers this lesson. As for the past… I remember it far more clearly than you do.”

“You know, when you were born, I was so poor I couldn’t afford proper nourishment for your mother. Her health suffered after childbirth—she barely had any milk.”

“Back then, I was working tirelessly to provide for the family, leaving early and returning late. Your mother, once pampered, had to wear a tattered apron and wander in the freezing cold, holding you as you cried from hunger. In the end, she knelt before strangers just to beg for a bit of milk…"

His gaze darkened as he recalled those bitter days.

"When I rushed home early one day and saw that scene, I made a vow: even if I had to sell my soul to the devil and become the worst kind of villain, I would ensure you and your mother lived comfortably. Sigh… thinking back now, it’s truly…”

“Your father has never feared anyone—except your mother. I could never win against her. If I’d been firmer during the establishment of the Waterworks Company, perhaps we wouldn’t be in this mess today… but enough of that."

He gently touched the four stacked metal boxes on his right, confirming the locks were intact, then shook his head slightly.

"Come on, your mother isn’t well. Let’s go—"

"Emergency!"

Just as father and daughter prepared to rise, the office door burst open. A salesclerk rushed in, panic etched across his face.

"Boss! At the shopping plaza’s cash box, there’s something—"

"Ribbit! Ribbit!"

Two deafening croaks from outside cut the employee short. Simultaneously, a warm, clear baritone resonated in the minds of over fifty thousand people gathered around Char Department Store headquarters.

"To those who chase wealth, I ask you this."

Climbing laboriously out of the enormous cash box, a colossal toad covered in multicolored coins puffed out its golden throat sacs. With a resounding croak, it spat out a torrent of gold coins, forming a shimmering river. Then, narrowing its eyes, it smiled benignly.

"Is the gold I’ve just spat forth sufficient to buy your life?"

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