[The characters, places, organizations, events, and so on that appear in this work have no relation to reality and are entirely fictional, created by the author’s imagination.]
June 12, 1979, in the conference room of the vast main library within the Devenger Manors estate.
The walls were packed with ancient books, adding to the oppressive atmosphere, and every seat at the long mahogany table in the center was occupied except the place of honor. The moment Henry opened the heavy door and stepped inside, the low murmur of voices ceased as if cut by a blade.
The twenty or so managers who had been seated all rose at once, chairs scraping across the floor. Instead of bowing to them, Henry responded with a brief nod and went straight to the head seat. Only after the leather chair creaked under his weight did Henry open his mouth.
“Everyone, sit down. Let’s begin with a bit of praise. All of you have worked hard. In the chaos after my parents and the key figures of the family fell in the line of duty, we were able to regain stability quickly because you held your posts. In particular, settling my mother’s inheritance and cleanly integrating it into the family trust was excellent work. Thanks to that, there’s only ten thousand dollars left in my personal account—my allowance—but, well, I’m satisfied.”
No sooner had Henry finished speaking than applause burst out and filled the conference room. Henry also clapped briefly in response, and the heavy atmosphere softened somewhat. Henry stopped clapping and went straight to the point.
“The first item on the agenda. I intend to establish a fund for the members of the family who died in the recent accident. I’m considering an amount of roughly five hundred thousand dollars per person. What are your thoughts?”
The one to break the suddenly solemn mood was Bart, who was seated close to Henry.
“I agree with establishing the fund itself, but the amount is far too excessive. Five hundred thousand dollars per person? There were fifteen people aboard the crashed aircraft. Even excluding the head of the family and his wife, as well as the media specialist hastily brought in, the total comes close to 5.5 million dollars!”
“I agree with Mr. Kensing. You must not forget that this is June, when the tax burden is heaviest. In three days, the tax deadline arrives and a large sum will be leaving our accounts. Adding another 5.5 million dollars as a welfare fund on top of that is unreasonable!”
“I understand the family head’s feelings, but the existing insurance payouts and the family’s own welfare system already provide compensation on a level entirely different from other families. I don’t believe there’s any need to add cash on top of that.”
“I am opposed as well. Are we not already providing children’s education costs, medical expenses, and even rights to residences within the estate for a mere one dollar in the name of maintenance fees? Even if we give them more cash on top of that, they’ll soon forget their gratitude!”
“With just these benefits alone...”
As if they had all agreed beforehand, everyone raised their voices in opposition. They were elders of the family or people who had devoted themselves to it for many years, but it seemed the idea of “hard cash” going out was difficult for them to tolerate. Henry nodded, signaling that he was listening. Of course, he had not the slightest intention of withdrawing the proposal.
When the atmosphere had grown heated enough, Henry spoke.
“I understand perfectly well. I know the welfare of our family is already sufficient. Hmm... Then let’s do this. We’ll fill the trust over six years, one million dollars each year. We won’t touch the principal, and in an era of high interest rates like this, even using only the returns from MMFs or Treasury bonds, ten percent a year should be easy. Use those returns to distribute an annual pension of ten thousand dollars per household. The remaining profits will be reinvested, and the fund will be elevated into a family protection fund to prepare for the retirement of the elders here and for unforeseen accidents in the future. Would you still oppose it?”
“If you operate it only with the returns, I will not oppose it. However, as a condition for establishing it as a subordinate trust, you must include a clause stating, ‘Upon the request of the family trust, the fund’s assets may be withdrawn to the superior trust, excluding that year’s dividend funds.’”
“I agree with Lord Bartholomew’s opinion as well!”
“As do I...”
When everyone agreed, Henry smiled in satisfaction. The chairman of the investment committee that would operate the fund and determine its beneficiaries was none other than himself. This fund would strengthen Henry’s authority within the family while also serving as a secret weapon that would dramatically improve the family’s cash flow through overwhelming returns based on his knowledge of the future. Henry clapped again to bring the room to order.
“I’m glad everyone agrees. Once this fund’s returns are on a stable track, let’s have the existing welfare expenses currently paid from the general account covered by this trust as well. It will be a great help in securing liquidity for the family. Let’s name the trust the Devenger Pension Trust. Now, then, let’s move on to the next agenda item. This one is very meaningful to me. It’s the matter of how you address me!”
What had tormented Henry throughout the inspection period was the inconsistent forms of address. It was the same in this room, but lately, the titles used for Henry had been far too varied. Whether they called him young master—Young Master, Master, and so on—or head of the family—High Lord, Lord of the House, The Patriarch, and the like—there were simply too many variations, and they changed depending on the person and the situation, which greatly annoyed Henry.
“Let’s unify the form of address from now on. Family head, young master—the names are so all over the place that even I get confused sometimes. From now on, just call me by my name. You’re practically my family, so I think it would be best if you called me by name. Ah, Joshua. I know. If that truly feels improper and uncomfortable, then just call me ‘Boss.’”
When Joshua looked as if he were about to raise his hand with an expression that said, “Absolutely not,” Henry beat him to it and threw out “Boss” as a compromise. Even so, when Joshua and several other elders still looked displeased, Henry hurriedly drove the point home before they could open their mouths.
This was something Henry had truly wanted to say.
“It’s not just the titles... Whew, I’ll be honest. I may have become the head of a distinguished family, but I absolutely cannot live like this. Authority, honor, etiquette... These things don’t suit me. From now on, I intend to live comfortably in my own style. Let’s leave rigid formalities to our ancestors in their graves and become flexible like living people should. Rather than wasting time standing on ceremony, we should put even one more dollar into the family vault! That is the fastest way to cross this swamp of recession. Do you understand?!”
Henry expected fierce opposition to erupt as soon as he finished speaking, but the air in the conference room was more lukewarm than he had anticipated. The elders exchanged glances and let out deep sighs. Rather than opposition, their expressions were closer to enlightenment, as if saying, “So what was bound to happen has finally happened.”
When Henry raised his eyebrows with a look that said, “This isn’t what I expected,” Bart adjusted his glasses and opened his mouth.
“Whew... I expected a day like this would come. Henry, from the day you abandoned Yale’s tradition and packed your bags for Stanford, saying you would mingle with those western upstarts, we were prepared for the family’s etiquette to bungee jump out the window of this conference room. To be honest, because you had been so well-behaved and proper these past few days, I was quietly wondering whether the position of family head had worked some miracle and changed a man one hundred and eighty degrees.”
“The rumors have already spread throughout New York society. They say an unprecedented heretic has appeared in the Devenger family and, in the end, ascended the throne of Devenger.”
“I’m opposed as well, but... Henry, when have you ever listened to us? I gave up long ago. On the day you packed your bags for the West, even the previous family head failed in the end, though he tried not only to persuade you but even to force you to stay. Who could break that stubbornness?”
A barrage of hard truths from the elders followed. Henry broke out in a cold sweat inwardly, thinking, “The Henry from my previous life must really have been a total disaster,” but outwardly, he did not lose his relaxed smile.
“But Henry, you must know this. Considering the valuable eastern connections and circles you severed by choosing the West, now is precisely the time to fasten the armor called etiquette even more tightly. If you lack even tradition, they will see you as nothing more than a lucky merchant.”
“Of course, I mean that I’ll be flexible about deliberate etiquette, formality, and protocol, not that I’ll discard them entirely. I also know how important a business managing human relationships is. Events hosted by the family? Social gatherings? Of course I’ll participate. I simply want to say that you shouldn’t expect me to always present a solemn and dignified appearance. So...”
Henry met each elder’s eyes one by one as he continued.
“What I’m saying is that I will also enjoy the freedom to take off that ‘armor’ depending on the place and the other party. When the solemn and dignified image of a family head is needed, I will squeeze out even dignity I don’t have and act the part. I will observe the lines that must be observed; I simply do not want us to be weighed down by heavy formalities even when we are among ourselves or at a pragmatic negotiating table. Formality should be a weapon used to overwhelm the other party, not a prison that confines us. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Ahem...”
“Hmm.”
The ones who spoke about this agenda item were mainly the elders. The rest of the specialists kept their mouths firmly shut and merely watched the mood, but Henry could read their true feelings. Inwardly, they were probably cheering that Henry had freed them from the shackles of etiquette. The family’s exacting formalities must have been a tiresome matter even for those serving it.
‘Right, once you get off work, you want to loosen your ties and knock back a beer too, don’t you? I’m looking after your work-life balance as well.’
Though he had not received a clear confirmation from the elders, Henry took their silence as tacit consent. Just the fact that he would no longer have to run simulations until his brain overloaded from choosing refined words and elegant vocabulary made Henry feel as if he could fly.
“Well, I’ll take it that everyone understands and consider this agenda item passed! Then let’s move on. There should be documents I prepared in front of your seats. I trust you’ve skimmed through them in advance. After all, I could hear your whispering all the way down the corridor even before I set foot in the library. Now then, let’s talk about ‘this item.’”
As soon as Henry finished speaking, the family’s chief financial officer, Gilberto Fiorsen, as if he had already thought something through, raised his hand first and spoke.