Ch.103Bank (1)

“This is a table summarizing the recent price changes of buildings and land in Dijon and its surrounding areas. I apologize for the delay, as I had to examine documents from several months ago.”

“No need to apologize. Such work obviously couldn’t be completed quickly. Rather, I’d like to commend you for completing all this research in less than ten days.”

“You’re too kind.”

No, I’m being sincere.

I thought it would take at least a month, but how did you finish this in just ten days?

The massive city of Dijon and the price changes of all its buildings and land had to be investigated, and the problem is that we’re in an era where everything is manually recorded on paper documents.

All those paper documents had to be searched through to list price fluctuations chronologically, and when documents weren’t available, you would have had to go to the actual sites where buildings and land were traded to discover past prices.

What the hell? This is scary. How did you manage this?

‘Let’s see…’

The report LeClerk handed me lists land and building prices at intervals ranging from 3 to 10 days, and for times when specific events occurred, there are numbers marked at those positions with explanations in the footnotes below.

For example, events that could affect real estate prices, such as the day the Holy Empire’s civil war broke out, or the day the establishment of the District Archdiocese was announced.

‘Indeed, looking at the table, prices in the Dijon area have been continuously rising.’

Was I being too sensitive?

Looking at this organized real estate price table, the current price increase makes perfect sense.

The land purchased for factory construction raised the value of other lands and increased prices; the Holy Empire’s civil war drove foreign merchants to politically stable Dijon, causing inflation; and the District Archdiocese, which is sourcing buildings and manpower from Dijon, also contributed to inflation.

Seeing how real estate prices rose with each of these events, I can only think that this is a self-inflicted situation.

‘See, the university too. After announcing the university, prices rose sharply…wait?’

What’s this?

“…LeClerk.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“About number 14 marked on this report’s table, labeled as ‘University Establishment’—is this based on the day I ordered the establishment, or the day the university’s establishment was publicly announced?”

“That’s… based on the day the university was announced. Since Your Majesty had discreetly ordered me to prepare for the university’s establishment long ago, using the day of your instruction would have made the timeframe too broad.”

But what’s this?

Why did building prices rise sharply even before the university’s establishment was announced?

According to the report, real estate prices don’t just climb steadily like mountains. After major events, real estate prices jump up like stairs.

The university establishment should have followed this pattern, but the stair-like price increase came before the university’s announcement.

Of course, prices rose after the announcement too, but the important point is that prices rose sharply before the announcement without any apparent reason.

‘This tells only one thing.’

Some spy in the palace and some audacious bastard outside are working together to play money games.

“LeClerk, what has the Intelligence Office been doing recently?”

The Intelligence Office is an agency created by reorganizing Lotaring’s haphazard information collection system.

Since it utilized the existing intelligence network of the Duchy of Burgundy, it could be established quickly, but its performance remains about the same as before since the core is unchanged.

It might change once experience and know-how are properly passed down to the next generation.

“…The Intelligence Office is currently focused on counterintelligence for Lotaring, especially in Dijon. Due to the intensifying chaos in the Holy Empire, many foreigners are entering Lotaring, which has forced us to allocate more time and budget to counterintelligence.”

I see, then let’s set aside the possibility of foreign meddling for now.

Even if their capabilities are similar to before, it would be extremely difficult to infiltrate from outside Dijon when all resources are focused on counterintelligence.

‘Besides, there’s no reason for them to do so.’

The first step in finding the culprit of an incident is to put those with motives on the list of suspects.

Foreign powers? The Holy Empire is in the midst of civil war and has no time to worry about us, and Caroling is also participating in that civil war, so the same applies.

Conclusion: the culprit is domestic.

We need to investigate those who move large amounts of money to pull off something like this.

“LeClerk, audit all officials working in Dijon. Focus especially on officials who likely discovered the university’s establishment during this period when prices suddenly jumped before the announcement.”

“I will do so immediately.”

First, I need to thoroughly shake down the officials who might have collaborated with these people.

……….

“You really don’t know?”

“No, no… I don’t know why I’m here…”

Damn, damn, damn…!

If I’m caught, it’s over. That pig butcher will have my head.

I have to deny everything somehow.

“Hmm…”

His eyes are terrifying.

They say anyone in a position to kill you looks scary no matter what they do, and that’s absolutely true.

“Listen.”

“Yes… Inspector, sir.”

“Then who do you think is the culprit? Someone who discovered the university’s establishment during this period marked here.”

“What? This is…”

…This is bad.

These bastards knew everything all along.

When I was suddenly called in for questioning, I initially thought it was just bad luck, but looking at the documents the inspector showed me, one can easily guess who the culprit is.

The period the inspector pointed out exactly matches when I learned about the university’s establishment and reported it to Elise.

“W-well…? I… I don’t really know…”

“Is that so? Well, alright. Then write down every single person you’ve been in contact with on this paper. Don’t leave anyone out.”

The inspector says this while smoothly pushing forward a crisp sheet of paper and a pencil.

He wants me to write everything down right in front of him, doesn’t he?

‘…Should I list everyone?’

I should write down colleagues and friends without hesitation to avoid suspicion.

The problem is Elise. If I write down Elise, she’ll also become a suspect.

I can’t do that… I can’t put my lovely Elise in danger.

“Y-yes…”

The official, for Elise’s safety, begins writing down everyone he interacts with except for her name.

Unfortunately for his efforts, the inspector already knows from other officials’ testimonies that this man has been in contact with an unidentified woman.

True to being a man seduced by Elise’s beauty, this official is essentially a shy person with no romantic connections.

If no female names appear on his list, he will be classified as a prime suspect that very day, but he knows nothing of this.

The man is only thinking about the safety of his beloved.

……….

“…I seek an audience with Your Majesty. I am Elisabeth of Rothschild.”

Of course, the official’s efforts quickly turned to nothing, and after a brief but intense interrogation, he spilled the name “Elise.” As a result, the treasurer Elise was classified as a prime suspect and subjected to rigorous investigation for several days.

Despite using aliases for all her transactions and disposing of all ownership documents in advance thanks to her “lover” planted in the palace, Elise now stands before Claude in restraints.

Why?

“Precious metal deposit documents… that was quite clever.”

Elise conducted real estate transactions using precious metal deposit documents, which is something that would be quickly exposed with just a little investigation.

When all the people who sold real estate say they traded with Rothschild-sealed precious metal deposit documents, it means that even without the official’s testimony, Elise’s trail would have been discovered soon enough.

*Swoosh*

“Speak.”

“Your Majesty…! I have committed no crime. With my humble knowledge, after examining all the laws, this action does not violate any law—”

“Enough.”

What is this woman saying?

I allowed her to speak when she raised her hand, and she comes out with this nonsense.

Given that she used aliases for all transactions and disposed of ownership documents in advance, she clearly knew what she was doing was dishonest, yet she’s incredibly brazen.

“The laws of the Kingdom of Lotaring, inherited from the Duchy of Burgundy, strictly prohibit purchasing goods in large quantities to raise their prices. These goods include land and buildings without exception.”

Of course, when the law was first enacted, “goods” primarily referred to things like wheat or farming tools, but when I, who hold both judicial and legislative power, say that land and buildings are included in the definition of goods, who are you to deny it?

“The punishment for such actions can be as severe as death. For the Rothschild family, who has steadfastly served as Dijon’s treasurers for many years, this is quite a petty end.”

“Th-that can’t be… Your Majesty, please show mercy… Yes, I can do many things! I’m proficient in accounting and skilled at handling all kinds of capital. If you entrust me with such tasks, I swear on the honor of the Rothschild family to make Your Majesty wealthy!”

At the mention of death penalty, the treasurer desperately begins explaining her usefulness.

Judging by how she increased her wealth with minimal risk using precious metal deposit documents, she does have talent in that area, but why should I entrust money matters to someone who exploited legal loopholes to increase her wealth?

“And… and… Yes! I can please Your Majesty not only with material wealth but in many other ways. For example, like this…”

“…?”

Seeing my lukewarm reaction, Elise desperately considers other methods, then suddenly realizes something and begins twisting her body to emphasize her figure, trying to appeal in a different way.

Elise twists her body to emphasize the volume of her chest and hips and her slender waist, slightly lowering her head and adjusting the angle of her entire body relative to my gaze.

Due to the presence of soldiers and servants around, she can’t speak openly, but I understand perfectly well what this woman wants to say.

…What is this tramp doing?