industrial lord

Chapter 705 This is a game
"Life is like the crystal chandelier in Grand Duke Wesson's living room, dazzling and bright, but at some point, the switch of fate is turned off, and everything returns to darkness."

In front of the garment factory building, Bell Burke whispered a line from the play.

A girl of about seventeen or eighteen was eating a Weissenburger in her hand in big mouthfuls. She walked hurriedly and arrived at the workers' door just in time to finish her meal. When she turned around, she was stunned.

The iron door that had never been closed in the past was now tightly closed. There were several iron chains wrapped around the handle and a padlock hung on it. The noisy sound of the machines behind the door disappeared without a trace, and it was completely silent.

The girl then remembered that the last piece of cloth in the warehouse had been used up yesterday morning, and Sir Schneider paid all wages and subsidies to everyone in the afternoon. She didn't need to come to work today, but years of habit made her repeat what she did every day.

A lot of people gathered in front of the door leading to the office area, and many of them were looking at a notice.

Frederick and Bellberk looked over for a while, then walked towards the ancient palace as planned.

Part of the former imperial palace is now the office area of ​​the city hall, and many areas have been converted into cafes and tea rooms. The waiters are dressed in the costumes of court servants from hundreds of years ago, and the furnishings are restored to historical standards, but they are all cheap imitations.

In one room, Belle Burke drank some tea, and after putting down his cup, he said, "If I remember correctly, this is the emperor's bedroom."

Frederick pinched his chin and said, "It would make sense if I had you cooing here."

Bell Burke was just about to show off his knowledge of history, but was choked by his words and was speechless. He could only roll his eyes at him and drink his tea without saying anything.

Like many first-time visitors, Frederick walked on the floor and knocked on the walls, looking for possible treasures.

However, this palace had been searched countless times, and even many jewelry hidden by servants and love letters written privately by maids were found. All valuable things had long been found.

"Oh, there is a major discovery!"

Bellburk turned his head and saw Frederick's upper body stretched into the fireplace, and he wanted to kick him.

Frederick said excitedly: "Come and see, my last name is here!"

Belle Burke did not go over, but said: "Your grandfather's grandfather once served in the court as an official in charge of maintaining the palace, but was later dismissed for breaking a vase."

After Frederick became famous, his family tree became the focus of research, and he himself didn't care about it.

He came out of the fireplace, chin in hand, and asked, "Then do you know where my family lived at that time?"

"That's our ancestral home. It's very commemorative. We have to buy it. Maybe we can even collect the rent that's been in arrears for hundreds of years."

Bell Burke found it really tiring to keep up with his imagination sometimes.

"I have no recollection of it," she said. "If you want to know, telegraph to my grandfather and ask him to send for the records at the College of Arms."

"I think it would be quicker for you to ask Count Weisen. He might have records of it."

Frederick thought so too. The territory of Count Weissen was the ancestral land of the Weissen family. His great-grandfather was driven away and defected to the King of the Rhine Alliance, which led to the current city of Weissenburg.

Bell Burke asked, "Are you no longer in charge of Sir Schneider's affairs?"

"His business was doing well, but it suddenly stopped. Something must have gone wrong."

Frederick sat down beside her, picked up his teacup and said, "This matter requires more intelligence support. I have already arranged it last night."

About a quarter of an hour later, the waiter delivered two letters in succession.

The letters came from the local branch of the Dawn Chamber of Commerce and the local department of the Steamed Bun Bureau, and were written in their respective ciphertexts.

Frederick read it carefully, frowning a little. Belle Burke asked, "Is it difficult?"

Frederick said in a deep voice: "He was set up."

"Two things."

"He was running against someone in a tight race for Supervisory Committee who had a background in the Piast Kingdom."

"Last year, when he expressed his intention to run for this position, the Kingdom of Piast placed a large order for military uniforms with him. The amount was so large that he had to borrow money to buy the materials, and the factory was running around the clock."

"This order was completed three months ago, and the payment should have been made within a month of delivery, but the Piast Kingdom kept delaying it."

"He almost went bankrupt a few days before the election, and later mortgaged his garment factory and the hotel where we stayed to borrow money to repay the loan that was due at the time."

"It's just that recently there was news from the Kingdom of Piast that the noble official he was dealing with died after falling off his horse while drunk. Such a big deal needs the final decision from King Casimir, and Casimir is now traveling incognito across the country like I did. I don't know when he will be able to return to the capital to handle official business."

After listening to this, Bell Burke said, "Does that mean he's going to be completely bankrupt?"

Frederick sighed deeply, leaned back on the sofa, sneered, and said, "According to local laws, if he commits suicide because he can't pay off his debts, the person competing with him will automatically take that position."

Bell Burke realized the seriousness of the problem.

Sir Schneider had always claimed that he had a good relationship with Frederick. Now everyone knew that there was money to be made by following Frederick. If he committed suicide because of bankruptcy—or even was forced to commit suicide—and the news was distorted when it was spread by someone with ulterior motives, it would cause a considerable blow to Frederick's reputation in business.

Bell Burke suddenly exclaimed: "Bohemia!"

There were many people who followed Frederick to do business, and everyone had confidence in him. When one person failed occasionally, they would think that he was not good enough.

The Bohemian region has always been an area of ​​contention between the Piast Kingdom and the Osmagian Empire. The Piast Kingdom has a deep network of relationships there. Frederick only reached out last year and started doing business there this year. They do not have the same confidence as others, and one case can shatter Frederick's image.

Frederick nodded, and it was obvious that this was Casimir's response to his extension into the Bohemian region.

Casimir did not choose to confront head-on, but changed the track.

Bell Burke discovered the problem: "Then why aren't they afraid that Sir Schneider will ask you for help?"

Frederick shrugged and said, "I think he feels guilty too. He thinks that after he takes the reward and leaves, the relationship between us is severed. What he said before was just bragging."

Belle Burke nodded and said, "That should be the case. He himself knows that there is really no relationship between you two. He just can't help but brag about his relationship with the nobles, and even... Forget it, I won't say it anymore."

Frederick knew what she wanted to say in the end and did not ask any more questions.

Many socialites who had been to the Duchy of Wessen claimed to have slept with Frederick, and some men also claimed to have done so, not to mention others. The relevant departments had to conduct cross-border investigations because of this.

Bellberk continued, "I think the Piast Kingdom should have inquired in Weissenburg. He had only met a few people at the time. You even forgot about it, let alone others. In the end, all they found out was that it was just an ordinary business transaction."

Frederick nodded. It was because of this that the Piast Kingdom dared to take action against him.

Bell Burke asked curiously, "What are you going to do next?"

Frederick thought for a moment, then he brought her over with a wicked smile and said, "Give me a kiss and I'll tell you."

Seeing him like this, Belle Burke didn't know what he wanted to do, so he struggled and shouted, "Gu... just kill me!"

(End of this chapter)