74 Jasmine Flower
"This looks more like a castle/institution," Felipe added as he looked at the palace-like building from which the East India Company would operate its massive empire of trading routes and governance of the territories from which it took enough money to satisfy its shareholders.
They were in the middle of London in Leaden hall Street, but no one cared about him. Everyone was busy with their own business, which was nice for once.
He was known for being a ruthless ruler by the people in power, but he was known to be a just ruler by the many people of his empire. Even though the Emperor was his father, everyone knew who was driving the country to the achievements it had gotten.
"It is indeed more… than the Royal Castle," Aurelio said, holding multiple Briefcases.
"This is the power of corporations. The successful implementation of one will create immense wealth—enough to fund wars and keep a country afloat. Our Castle is in France, though." Felipe laughed, and so did the Ambassador.
They both laughed, but the Evaluation of the Castle was already way above what they paid and repaired it; they could sell it at a profit, but more likely, they could create a mortgage on it. All in all, their plans in France were Beyond that.
Now that things were harsh was when the usefulness of all the implementations they have put in the Embassy of France. For more than they laughed about it, they knew that France's Market was a cornerstone of the empire of news they have and of Matches.
Now, it will be the epicenter of Sewing Machines! The number of tailors and small businesses will have to reach for them, or there will be nothing.
If they do not accommodate, many people will lose their jobs—a revolution might happen! Everything can go wrong with it.
--
It was 4 p.m., as it was already tea time for the meeting, for it was the meeting's schedule; the only heat inside the massive structure was from a whole array of chimney, which had beautiful fireplaces adorning wherever the fire would shine.
"Your Grace," Felipe said as he saw the prime minister also in the room, where he could see multiple members of the East India Company.
The Prime Minister was also there.
Felipe was not that surprised. After all, he was there to meet Henry St George Tucker, the current Director of the East India Company. It also happens that Henry St George was the general accountant to the now Duke of Wellington way back in the very early 1800s.
There was a chance that a person was so important, like the de facto ruler of an empire.
"Your Majesty…" The Prime minister just acted like nothing happened.
"Mr. Tucker." Felipe then saluted the Director of the East India company with a slight tilt of his upper body to show respect.
He would not get anywhere showing arrogance; he had better show humility and let them think they were taking advantage of the situation.
"You, Majesty." The Director nodded back.
"Well, it seems that is perfect for tea." Felipe smiled, looking at the tea set steaming vapour; the tea tradition was taken by the women more than men—they would prefer strong spirits; however, the tradition was widely performed by men and women alike, especially in the high aristocracy.
"Indeed, I hope Your Majesty is not bothered by my inviting the Prime Minister; after all, it is crucial to discuss part of the agreement we will make today… if everyone is satisfied, of course." The Director said he was very apologetic but, at the same time, showed he was ready to make things more official.
"Of course, I don't mind, especially after yesterday's lunch and evening. I enjoyed the stories of war from his perspective." Felipe put his briefcase on the floor next to the couch, looking to converse in front of the two men who did not bother to stand up.
"Indeed, I also enjoyed the stories of battles and war… you almost made me miss the action," the duke said, very impressed. You almost made them feel fun… I see why your books are pretty sought after and your ability to sway entire populations on key topics."
"War is never fun, I am afraid. My description was to make it fun for people who do not know what it is to take a life and what it is to be on the border of losing your own."
"No need to worry; I understand completely." The duke did not make things difficult or implied. He does not know how many times people have asked him to tell the story of how he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo; he does not care about it anymore. The duke felt jealous of Felipe, as he could not create the same atmosphere when telling his story to the nobles and royals.
"Well, let's not bitter this tea with negotiations. Let's enjoy the moment first!" The Director of the Company clapped his hands, and then the footman in the room slowly got to the border of the tea table and put a ball from a wooden box into an empty crystal teapot.
The footman slowly poured hot water on the empty crystal teapot, making the ball swirl alongside the turbulence of the hot water from above.
"Jasmine flower… popular tea in China, they serve it this way so people can expect the unraveling of its petals and thus see it dance," The Director said as he proudly explained it.
"I am familiar with it. The Matches business has led me to have multiple connections with the Chinese… very artistic people. They admire the nobility of things. The flower is meant to be put after the hot water to show the peaceful opening of the flower, while calmness creates an emphasis on the flower." Felipe said while looking at the chaotic tea pot calmly. The dried-up flower in ball shape was already unraveling to its glory.
"Ah… I see." The Director did not know what to say other than looking at his footman with a dagger-for stare.
"It is not that much of a difference… here you can see the roughness that the water has introduced to the whole thing, like a seagull in a hurricane; there is an art to it." Felipe did not care a bit. However, it was mesmerizing how the water inside the teapot would calm itself and show the full extent of the flower.
"Your business relationship with China, to what extent have they reached?" The prime minister asked, quite interested in the commentary.
"I tend to have more exchange with Japan; China is overly corrupt—their downfall from the heights of modern civilization has already begun to show… but the extent, I license my brand and create Matches Factories in China under my brand… It is easy money from a Market that I would never have reached otherwise." Felipe said without any fear of showing something people already didn't know.
"If the country is as you said, why not make factories already there?" The Director asked.
Felipe smiled as he was still mesmerized by the flower opening inside the Crystal Tea Pot.
"Matches is such an easy thing to do. So easy that any country with an incompetent economy can recreate… They are also so useful and in demand; they are meant to have endless iterations and mass production worldwide. So, seeing the impending doom of losing my monopoly, I decided to license my brand; that way, countries far away would be the ones enforcing the monopoly and not myself. Small amounts of money with a monopoly in powerful countries, or no money and losing my monopoly… Those were the options." Felipe explained.
"Now you don't have that monopoly." The Director said weirdly.
"True." Felipe chuckled as he did not care—instead, he was surprised by how long the monopoly lasted!
The Phosphate made the match a match. However, his inspiration came from the future, and he put red Phosphate in the strip on the side of the box while the original one had it on the match head.
Now, the copy of his business model used Phosphorus on the head just like the original and was patented, but the patent owner granted licenses to anyone. That is how the UK and the USA were already independent investors trying to get into the Matches Money.
"The new products are inferior, yet they serve their purpose," he said helplessly, still mesmerized by the whole ritual of the flower entering its full bloom stage as it swirled around, truly like a ballerina.
"Thankfully, you have your new product," The Prime Minister said as he looked at Felipe and the teapot, which also showed the Jasmin Flower.
"True… a new monopoly, a new decade to pay interest on the loan to England… now to the East India Company," Felipe said as he broke his trance with the Jasmine flower and returned to look at the two gentlemen.
The poor footman was already in shaky stances as he felt his job leaving the grip of his hands. However, he still had to pour the tea, which he needed a certain amount of time.
"We can solve that." The Director said.
"Maybe we can… but it is still tea time. Let me tell you about the Japanese's beautiful swords and the Chinese Bonsai art. I have started a Bonsai Garden and an imperial court to care for Bonsais in multiple parts of my empire. Truly, it is a transcendental thing."
"…"
