act20mini

Am I misunderstanding something? Is your family not in big trouble? Does it not matter if this stuff sells?

No, of course it matters! I just want to help sell the wine. Nonno says sales have been getting worse and worse lately, and if we can't make enough this month, the winery will have to close...

What should I do? You said you'd teach me.

What? When did I say that—

Kids these days have no mental fortitude! I'll teach you, okay?!

Oh. I guess I did. Though I thought you were going to... Ahem.

I'm not trying to wiggle out of what I said, but take a good look at your product. Cheap, local wines like your Verdi are the worst performers in the current market.

Outdated production facilities, careless cost control, old-fashioned marketing... While Golden Prairie offers some better-quality budget wines, and they are only half the price. Only a fool would pick the other option.

The winery your nonno works for is doomed. My advice to him is to start looking for a new job sooner rather than later.

But the adults all say there's no such thing as an unsellable product, only salespeople who can't sell it.

I know Verdi is hard to sell... Is it so bad that not even you could sell it, Signorina Tosia?

First you trick me into giving you advice, then you go for a psychological tactic? You've got moves.

Trick...?

But I won't fall for it, hehe.

I don't have to get mixed up in your problems to prove myself. I'm last year's sales star at the Krzywy Domek Department Store, and the future top salesperson at Golden Prairie. There's nothing I can't sell...

That's right, absolutely nothing! Alright, since you've talked your way this far, allow me to teach you a thing or two!

With my secret sales techniques, forget selling a few bottles, you'll be selling crates by the dozen!

...Alright, tell me the story. Why is it you haven't sold a single bottle yet?

Sorry, I know how hard it was for you to find free time to teach me, but I... *sniff*

I can afford a day off, I've built enough of a lead on second place. Gotta leave myself some room for improvement next month...

The important thing is, you're my apprentice, how can you be getting stuck like this?! Are you really doing things the way I taught you?

I did my best to use the words you taught me, but...

But?

Things like 'the wine is full-bodied, with exquisite balance and a lively zing'. I don't understand what they mean at all, so how am I supposed to pretend I do when talking to people?

And then saying things like our wine 'comes from a winery with deep historical roots'... We just use grapes from our own vineyard. Isn't this misleading?

Nonno says we should put ourselves in other people's shoes, and be sincere when dealing with them. That way, everyone will trust us. It's the only way to get a good deal that everyone's happy with, so I... I...

*sigh*... I knew it.

Listen to me. Your playbook is outdated.

You're being sincere, but other people aren't necessarily going to be sincere back. Gullible idiots get swindled and lose everything. Even if they put it all on the line to make some cash, they just burn themselves out.

You'll see, when you find yourself in a desperate situation. Then you'll look around and see no one ready to lend you a hand. Sincerity means nothing in the face of profit.

You can't entrust your survival to anyone else. We need to be smart, or we'll get gobbled up. You hear me?

I... I don't know...

The sight of the girl with her head lowered, clutching at her clothes, makes Tosia decide to lighten up a bit.

Look, I'm not saying you need to become a swindler yourself. You just need to package it a little nicer, that's all.

Package it?

Yep, like using a ribbon to tie a pretty bow, and putting it in a nice bag...

There we go! Looks much more presentable than before.

You might've already noticed, but there's a huge change coming to the wine racks of Nuova Volsinii.

Used to be that they'd only stock a few types of wine. But now, you can easily find Pinot noirs from Victoria, Cabernet Sauvignons from Columbia, sweet rosés from Bolívar...

It's a miracle for sure, but can you see where the issue lies when you lift up your glass?

This miracle was born from stringent production criteria, and carried all across Terra in cargo containers. They're appropriately priced, and are stable in quality, but what they lack is soul.

Wine isn't meant to lack personality like a fast-food burger! Put those dime-a-dozen industrial goods back on the shelf, and look at the premium gold label Sangiovese in my hand!

The product of craftsmanship honed over decades at a local Siracusan winery! A unique flavor with a lingering aftertaste! One sip will delight the mind, two sips will bring good health—

I'd like one. Will this be enough?

Huh?

Wha?

Aren't you two selling wine? I'm pressed for time, so give it here quick. Err... How do I look?

Ah, er, you look perfectly fine... Where's the fire, signor?

I find myself needing to meet someone, but it's rather last-minute. I didn't expect them to be in Nuova Volsinii, and in my rush, I wasn't able to prepare a gift. Lucky I ran into you.

Grazie mille, signorine. I hope your business goes well.

Signor, wait—Damn, he's fast.

Err... I was only trying to give you an example. Didn't expect there to be anyone crazy enough to actually buy it. Probably a foreigner, since he didn't recognize the wine?

He gave us enough to buy a ton of Verdi...

This is great, though! We finally sold our first bottle! How about a high-five?

But... Mm...

Why the long face? Selling something is a victory, even if it was a misunderstanding. It's his own fault for not studying up...

But he did look like he was <i>really</i> in a rush. Must be a really important meeting?

Hey, kid... If you show up with a bottle of cheap wine in Siracusa... What happens?

—So that's why we're really sorry!

Here's your money back. Please, use it for some other gift. This isn't a high-quality wine, it's just a bottle of—

Verdi, right? So that's why you two were chasing after me in a panic.

You know it?

How could I not, considering all the years I've drank? I was born in Sorrento, and many years ago, I had a falling out with my family. In my anger, I ran off to Columbia.

You can laugh if you want. My Siracusan is a little rusty these days.

But if you knew, then why did you...?

Haha! If I brought a fancy foreign wine as a gift, I'm afraid my papà would slam the door in my face.

The meeting is with your own family?

I didn't know they moved here. I saw them while I was out on the street, nearly didn't recognize them.

What once felt like the biggest deal in all of Siracusa now barely feels important at all. All these years, I had no contact at all. It's time I finally dropped by.

My family was not well-off, so we had Verdi with dinner. I don't know why Papà never tired of it... I hope that once he sees this bottle, he'll let me in.

So there's been no misunderstanding here. A bottle of common, ordinary Verdi, wrapped with care, appeared in front of me precisely when I needed it. And for that, I am willing to pay this price.

If it still weighs on your conscience, then why not offer me a 'good luck' as a bonus?

...Sure! Best of luck to you!

Never thought I'd see the day I'd chase down a buyer to get my product back... You're looking chipper. Happy now?

Mhm! When I tell Nonno, he's gonna say I made a good deal.

Then how about a high-five?

Yay!

No time to rest on your laurels, though. We've only sold one bottle. You can't count on more happy accidents—

Excuse me, are you Bettina?

I am. Who might you be, signore?

Finally found you. Miss Bianca says you sell traditional Siracusan red wine. Is that right?

I'm planning to open a Siracusan restaurant in Victoria, and I might consider bringing a few such items back with me. Could you introduce your product?

Oh, you mean...?

A golden opportunity is knocking, Bettina! Don't just stand there, the important part is putting your marketing skills to good use next! Still remember what I taught you—

Hm.

Signorina Tosia?

Never mind, kid. You... You graduated.

Just forget everything I said. It's better you do things your own way.

Tosia watches the girl and the young man move to the curb, listing out the gains and losses in her head out of habit.

A Siracusan restaurant... Even if he's looking for a local wine, he'd make more profit if he went for something a couple grades higher than Verdi. Well, it's all about what the buyer thinks, in the end.

Just gotta hope he signs a long-term agreement. Though, even if he does, it's still a drop in the bucket. This label isn't going to escape bankruptcy or acquisition that easily...

Hmm?

The conversation nearby seems to pause for a moment. The girl turns to Tosia, jumping and waving her hands, a bright smile plastered all over her face.

Looks like things are going well.

Whatever... As long as she's happy.

One week later.

I've spoken with Mr. Roger, and he approves of your idea. He simply has some hesitation about getting involved, and is worried about the risks.

No rush, the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi isn't making any big moves right now, but this doesn't mean things will go the way G.C.C. planned.

We may be backed by the G.C.C. right now... but we need to make our own preparations.

No matter which of these titans lets something slip through its fingers, we shall enjoy a sumptuous feast.