Chapter 6: Cocktail Party
The cocktail party will be held in one of the elaborate hotels in Crentia, the Oderberger Hotel. It was renovated and restored after the Great War and is now accommodating high-profile events like the cocktail party Ernest was preparing to attend.
It has everything that a luxurious hotel has in design, grand chandeliers, marble floors, and expansive ballrooms.
But before he could take a step deeper, Ernest was stopped by a polite yet firm voice. "Excuse me, sir, may I see your invitation card?"
It was the event's usher, whose job was to ensure that only invited guests entered the ballroom. The usher wore a smart black suit with a small lapel pin bearing the hotel's logo.
Ernest reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the invitation card Kleist had given him earlier. It was embossed with the hotel's insignia and included the event's details, including the time, date, and dress code. He handed it to the usher, who inspected it closely, nodding as he checked it against a list on his clipboard.
"Thank you…Mister?"
"Teucher, Ernest Teucher. I'm the spokesperson of the Crentian's Workers Party," Ernest introduced himself.
The usher nodded and then handed back the invitation card with a polite smile.
"Thank you, Mr. Teucher. Please, enjoy the party."
With the formalities out of the way, Ernest entered the grand ballroom, where the cocktail party was in full swing. Guests mingled in groups, laughing and chatting over glasses of champagne. The atmosphere was lively but not overwhelming, with a soft jazz band playing in the background. The room was tastefully decorated, with grand chandeliers casting a warm glow over the marble floors.
Ernest moved through the crowd, recognizing some of the business tycoons and government officials whose names were on the card Kleist had given him.
One of them was Dietrich Becker, a prominent banker known for his strategic investments. Becker was near the grand piano, chatting with a small group of associates. Ernest approached, waiting for a break in the conversation before introducing himself.
"Good evening, Mr. Becker," he said, extending his hand. "I'm Ernest Teucher, spokesperson for the Crentian's Workers Party."
Becker took his hand with a polite smile. "Good evening, Mr. Teucher. I've heard your name mentioned recently. What brings you to our gathering tonight?"
"I'm here to meet some of Crentia's most influential figures," Ernest replied cordially. "Our party has ambitious plans for the nation's future, and we're seeking partnerships with those who can help us achieve them."
"Aren't you just one of those right-wing extremists who claim to have the answers to Crentia's problems but are actually trying to create more chaos?" Becker asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice.
Ernest shook his head. "Not at all, Mr. Becker. We're focused on stabilizing the economy and rebuilding our nation. You, as a banker, should understand the financial pressure Crentia is under due to the enormous war reparations. Our economy has never been worse, and if we don't act soon, there will come a time when we'll have to default on those payments."
Becker nodded, his skepticism easing slightly. "I am well aware of the economic challenges we're facing. But how does your party plan to address them without causing further instability?"
Ernest leaned in, keeping his voice low but firm. "We need to renegotiate the terms of those reparations, find a way to ease the burden on our economy. I have an idea."
"And why do I have to take an idea from a youngster like you, who probably doesn't know how an economy works?"
Hearing that, Ernest contemplated momentarily. He knew that his new body wasn't suited for this type of purpose. Men like Dietrich would take someone as old as them seriously. The body that was given to his reincarnation doesn't fit Dietrich's standards. But it wasn't enough to deter him from convincing him.
As a supreme ruler in his past life, he knew how to run a country's finances, he was an expert in it. The nation he was ruling didn't suffer any economic setbacks thanks to his policies. Perhaps, he could charm him with his economic knowledge.
"Mr. Becker, I understand your concerns. Let me explain our approach. The Crentian economy is heavily burdened by war reparations, causing inflation, unemployment, and economic stagnation. We need a comprehensive plan to address these issues without causing further instability."
Becker crossed his arms, listening with interest. "Go on."
"First, we need to stimulate economic growth through targeted investment in key industries," Ernest explained. "By incentivizing sectors with high growth potential, such as technology and energy, we can create jobs and increase production. This, in turn, will generate more revenue for the government, allowing us to meet our reparations obligations without crippling the economy."
Becker nodded, his skepticism easing. "And what about inflation? It's been eroding the purchasing power of our currency."
"We can tackle inflation by controlling government spending and managing the money supply more effectively," Ernest continued. "By reducing unnecessary expenditures and prioritizing investments that have a high return on investment, we can curb inflationary pressures. Additionally, we can work with the central bank to implement monetary policies that stabilize the currency."
Becker seemed impressed by the thoroughness of Ernest's approach. "And what about the unemployment problem? It's been rising steadily since the end of the war."
"To reduce unemployment, we need to focus on vocational training and education," Ernest replied. "By providing people with the skills they need to work in emerging industries, we can reduce unemployment and increase productivity. This also has the added benefit of reducing the burden on social welfare programs, allowing us to redirect funds to more productive areas."
Becker uncrossed his arms, seemingly more open to Ernest's ideas. "That's an ambitious plan. But let me get you on this one thing. Word on the government is that they are planning on defaulting."
"If we default then the coalition forces would definitely take something from our country. It could be our industrial regions or our valuable resources," Ernest replied. "Defaulting isn't an option if we want to keep Crentia's sovereignty intact. We must find a way to meet our obligations without undermining the stability of our nation."
Becker appeared concerned. "If that's the case, how do you propose we prevent defaulting while managing the economic crisis? The government is struggling to maintain public services as it is."
Ernest took a moment to gather his thoughts. "We have to increase government revenue without overburdening the public. One way to do this is by improving tax collection efficiency and closing loopholes. Many high-income earners and corporations evade taxes, which deprives the government of much-needed revenue. By addressing this, we can stabilize the budget."
"Yeah good luck with that," Dietrich chuckled.
"Well, of course, that is just the legal way, if we want to play by the book. I have a more comprehensive plan to fix the Crentian economy. But I don't think the government would listen to these radical ideas."
"So what's your plan for the government to hear your proposal of amendments?" Dietrich asked.
"It's simple, the Crentian Workers Party must be elected in the Creitstag. For that, we need enormous donations from elites like you who want to see the Kingdom of Crentis rise from the ashes again."
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