On the road to Napa County Airport (APC) in a sedan with Andrei.
“You’re taking a private jet? By yourself?”
“…Sorry.”
Chloe sounded unbearably envious when I told her I’d been invited by Viktor Karloff and would be taking a private jet to New York. Even through the phone, I could vividly sense how upset she was.
“There’ll probably be tons of gorgeous women there.”
“Come on, I doubt it.”
“I heard Russian tycoons invite tons of beautiful women to their parties.”
“I’ll ask him to make sure none of them come anywhere near me. I’ll say I don’t need any.”
“Really?”
“I’m serious.”
Only then did Chloe speak in a slightly brighter voice.
“I’m so jealous. I want to go to some amazing party in New York too.”
“Let’s go together next time.”
“Okay. When you come back, you have to tell me everything about Mr. Viktor’s private jet. Don’t leave out a single thing.”
“Got it. How’s the farm?”
“It’s been nonstop chaos. Everyone’s clamoring for our cherries. Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods Market… From what I hear, California cherry shipments are expected to drop by half. I guess the Brentwood area got hit harder than other places because the temperature was lower there.”
“Man, that’s awful.”
“I know. I really hated that nasty association chairman, but… seeing him ruined like that still makes me feel bad for some reason.”
“He had insurance, right?”
“Yeah. But I only just checked the insurance myself, and it turns out frost damage only compensates you for the costs that went into the farm.”
“Right. Since it doesn’t compensate for expected sales, you have to consider the loss enormous.”
Most large-scale farm owners in California at this time were enrolled in Crop Insurance. But having that insurance didn’t mean all losses from frost damage would be covered. That was because most policies compensated based on production costs invested, not expected profits.
On top of that, when frost damage occurred, an insurance adjuster would come out to investigate, and because they strictly examined whether “the farm owner did their utmost to defend against it,” the process was extremely fussy and troublesome.
The compensation wasn’t much, which was bitter enough, but the process was also tedious and aggravating, so from a farmer’s perspective, they had no choice but to do everything they could to avoid frost damage.
And above all, what really turned your stomach was that while you received just enough insurance money to barely avoid going under after suffering frost damage, you had to watch someone else next to you rake in an enormous amount of money thanks to skyrocketing market prices. That was the kind of thing that drove people mad.
“We filed a claim too because of the damage to the almond farm, but I don’t think it’ll be much help. Still, when I asked Dad, he said it wasn’t completely ruined, just that we shouldn’t expect any profit this year…”
“What about the bees?”
“I think they took the biggest hit. From what I heard, they’re barely moving?”
“That makes sense. Bees usually stop flying and return to the hive once the temperature drops below 12 or 13°C. And if the cold damage continues, the young larvae freeze to death…”
When freezing weather persisted, bees formed a cluster, rubbing their bodies together to generate heat, devoting themselves solely to protecting the queen. Furthermore, if the temperature dropped too sharply, the colony itself could collapse.
Although we had protected the cherry farm, it couldn’t be said that Mr. Frederick had taken no damage from this cold snap.
“Still, since we can sell the cherries at a high price, we’re making a big profit. But everyone except us is struggling, so I don’t feel good about it.”
“There’s nothing we can do. That’s farming. Drain the pear farm quickly and manage it well. I’ll call you when I get back.”
“Okay! Go and come back soon!”
I did feel a little sorry about going to New York alone, but we couldn’t leave the pear farm and go together.
Pear trees like water, but if their roots remain submerged for too long, they begin to rot from a lack of oxygen, so as soon as the frost danger ended, the drainage channels had to be opened to let the water out.
And it didn’t end there. Trees that had gone through cold damage would have consumed energy under extreme stress. Since the roots would still be swollen from cold water and their absorption capacity would be low, nutrients had to be sprayed directly onto the leaves or branches through foliar feeding to help them quickly recover their strength. That was why Chloe couldn’t leave the farm.
Not long after hanging up, I arrived at my destination, Napa County Airport, and moved to the well-appointed private terminal. Napa County Airport had strict security and offered door-to-door service that allowed passengers to board the aircraft stairs as soon as they stepped out of the car, so capitalists who operated wineries worth tens of millions of dollars mainly used this place.
Looking out the window, I saw the wings of sleek, polished private jets glittering brilliantly in the sunlight. Guided by Andrei, I entered the inner side of the runway, and the aircraft that would carry me to New York today revealed its imposing figure.
Letting out an exclamation of admiration, I pointed at the aircraft boasting sleek and elegant curves and asked,
“Wow… what model is that?”
Andrei answered with a face full of pride.
“It’s a Gulfstream G550. They call it a palace in the sky. Please board, Master.”
I nodded and asked again.
“How much does something like this cost?”
“Probably around fifty million dollars, about sixty billion won at the 2008 exchange rate.”
“Ooh…”
The aircraft, with its astronomical price tag, was so luxurious that it overwhelmed the viewer. Beside the boarding stairs lay a red carpet emblazoned with the gold crest symbolizing Viktor Karloff, and flight attendants in neat uniforms bowed politely.
With every step up the stairs, I could feel the softness of the carpet underfoot. The moment I entered the cabin, what I sensed was the faint scent of agarwood and the smell of the finest new leather.
“Master, I will escort you this way.”
The interior space Andrei pointed to felt less like an airplane and more like the living room of a luxury penthouse in Manhattan. Sunlight pouring through the large oval windows unique to Gulfstream aircraft dyed the high-end wood finishes inside in gold. A Persian brocade carpet blended with silk covered the floor, and the seats had been custom-made with top-grade Hermès leather.
“The shower room is prepared in the back. Lord Viktor has also had a robe and a change of suit prepared for you in advance. Please sit for a moment, and once we take off, rest comfortably.”
I nodded at Andrei’s consideration, sat down, watched the takeoff, and then headed to the shower room. Even the shower installed inside the private jet drew admiration. The interior design was more luxurious than most hotels, and the floor was warm heated marble. A high-resolution display was installed on the wall, showing the outside scenery in real time.
To be honest, I was so exhausted and wanted to wash so badly that I cleared away all distracting thoughts and went into the bathroom. I threw off my clothes and surrendered myself beneath the stream of hot water, and the extreme fatigue accumulated over several days of traveling back and forth between Napa and Lodi, battling the frost damage, washed away. Even the hot water pouring from the faucet somehow seemed to carry a fragrance.
When I glanced out the window, the plane had already left Napa behind and was gliding above the clouds. Taking a shower in the sky while watching the sunset over a sea of clouds…
“This is insane. Absolutely insane…”
After my regression, earning money was important, but I had been content with reconnecting with my family through farming and learning about the world again. Yet actually riding a private jet made it feel completely different. I felt keenly that this was the power of capital, and the world in which a man named Viktor lived.
After finishing my bath, I went to the dressing room and found a bespoke suit hanging there, as if they had measured my build with perfect accuracy. The high-quality fabric in deep navy felt softer than silk beneath my fingertips. The shirt was cotton without a single wrinkle, and the cufflinks placed beside it were platinum with a subtle sheen.
When I came out into the living room dressed in the suit, Andrei offered me a glass of champagne.
“It is Krug champagne, the 1988 vintage. Lord Viktor prepared it especially, saying it would suit Mr. Brian’s palate.”
“Haha… thank you.”
Holding the champagne glass, I sank deep into the sofa. The sofa supported the curves of my body perfectly. Outside the window, pitch-black darkness was spreading, and thanks to the aircraft’s cutting-edge noise-blocking technology, the cabin was as quiet as a library.
Behind the living room were a dining area where four people could sit and enjoy a formal meal, and even a master bedroom equipped with a king-size bed. All this space existed solely for the one owner of the private jet.
“Now this makes earning money worthwhile.”
I had no choice but to admit it. So this was why all the wealthy magnates of Napa Valley were obsessed with private jets.
“Mr. Brian, we’re in New York.”
Having slept deeply on the private jet, I opened my eyes at Andrei’s low voice. What I saw outside the window was the dazzling nightscape of Manhattan. The Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building stood tall above a sea of lights.
“We’re here already.”
“It is time to prepare.”
The plane landed smoothly at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. Instead of the complicated terminal used by ordinary passengers, two black Rolls-Royce Phantoms were already waiting in front of the private gate.
“To this extent…”
By now, I was curious why Viktor was going to such lengths for a single winery owner.
The car passed through the Lincoln Tunnel and headed into the heart of Manhattan. Watching the brilliant neon signs flash by, it felt like a dream that only a few hours ago, I had been standing in a vineyard reeking of soil.
The Rolls-Royce stopped at a high-rise residence on 57th Street with a sweeping view of Central Park. After taking a private elevator to the penthouse, heavy double doors opened, revealing a splendid scene.
“Hahaha! My young friend, you’ve finally arrived!”
The man standing with the Manhattan skyline beyond the huge floor-to-ceiling windows as his backdrop—Viktor Karloff—approached with both arms spread wide. He was wearing a party tuxedo, and his overwhelming physique and charisma suited New York’s dazzling night view all too well.
“It’s been a while.”
Viktor hugged me hard enough to crush me, then patted my shoulder.
“You look better than I expected! I suppose you liked the Gulfstream’s shower facilities?”
“Thanks to you, the fatigue from the past few days disappeared as if it had been washed away, Viktor.”
“Good, good! I’ve already heard your news. They say California has become a mess from the cold damage, yet only your farm survived? As expected, I chose a business partner brilliantly. In two days, at my birthday party, all the high-nosed bastards of New York will gather. Do you know what they’re all waiting for? Astra Veil. The jewel you created.”
In Viktor’s eyes, mischief and the sharpness of a great merchant dwelled at the same time.
“They all envy me tremendously. Because I have not ten cases of Astra Veil, but a full… one hundred cases. One entire wall of my wine cellar is Astra Veil. Do you know how much Astra Veil is trading for on the market right now?”
In truth, I didn’t. To be precise, it would be more accurate to say I hadn’t been interested. After leaving distribution to Christopher, I had only been focused on farming and wine.
“Hmm… over a thousand dollars?”
“Haha, over fourteen hundred dollars. Your distributor is quite meticulous about controlling the volume.”
It was a little unexpected. Considering the private jet and sedan he had sent, even if Astra Veil was worth over $1,400 a bottle, it would be less than a drop in the bucket compared to his wealth.
So I grew curious.
“There’s one thing I’d like to ask.”
“Ask away.”
He straightened his back and looked at me with an intense gaze. Because of his great height, he was looking down at me, but perhaps because of his charisma, he truly did look like an aristocrat.
“Is this birthday party perhaps not simply a party to celebrate?”
“…Why do you think that?”
“I just get that feeling.”
An unknowable madness flashed through his eyes. No, that was how it felt.
“Then that feeling must be right.”
“Do you have no intention of telling me?”
“Wouldn’t that spoil the fun? It likely won’t be a loss for you.”
He patted my shoulder, gave a strange smile, and went off to meet someone else. Then, as I was left standing there, Andrei approached me again.
“I will guide you to where you will be staying.”
Suppressing my curiosity, I followed Andrei.