I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 573 It’s rude to come and not return.

"I feel extremely honored to receive your recognition!" Kalona quickly stood up and saluted.

"Please sit down." Joseph gestured to him and continued, "Based on your contribution, I will apply to Her Majesty the Queen to appoint you as the Special Advisor to the Minister of Trade."

Kalona was overjoyed. After the last corruption case, it was difficult for him to re-enter the bureaucracy. He did not expect that his nightmare would end after only being in Austria for less than a month!

Although the so-called special adviser was just an insignificant position, it was a good start. As long as he worked hard for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, he would probably be able to become a mid-level official before he passed away.

In fact, the reward Joseph gave him this time was quite low.

You know, as the leader of the Austrian operation, Kalona found the key clues of the order scam and saved France at least tens of millions of losses. If the possible wave of factory bankruptcies is taken into account, the credit would be even greater.

So, Joseph decided to re-employ him.

And from this incident, it can be seen that he is very talented in the field of trade and fraud, and I just happen to have a new task to assign to him. Therefore, giving him an identity will also make it easier for him to act.

As for corruption, Joseph believed in Mara's ability - Mara had direct contact with Kalona in the last incident, so how could he not pay extra attention to him?
After Kalona expressed his loyalty with tears of gratitude, Joseph looked at Mesmer standing at the door:
"You too, please come in, Mr. Mesmer."

The latter hurriedly straightened his clothes, stepped forward quickly, and then saluted with perfect court etiquette:
"Ah, it is an honor to be summoned by you, Your Highness! Your good name is known far and wide under the gaze of God..."

"Hey!" Joseph raised his hand to interrupt his flattery, turned his head and looked at Fouché beside him and said, "Mr. Fouché, how long is his sentence left?"

"35 years, Your Highness."

Joseph nodded. "In view of Mr. Mesmer's indispensable assistance to Viscount Kalona, ​​I will recommend to the Supreme Court that his sentence be reduced by 20 years and that he continue to assist Viscount Kalona."

Mesmer immediately saluted exaggeratedly and poured out long words of gratitude.

Joseph had to interrupt him again, and then said to Kalona: "We can't just let this order scam go."

He gestured to Fouché again: "Please tell them the latest findings of the Intelligence Agency."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Fouché leaned forward and looked at Kalona and the liar: "The Intelligence Bureau investigated the mastermind behind this scam, the second president of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, Klestil. However, on the day you left Austria, he was killed outside Vienna.

“This is clearly an attempt to silence someone.

"At the same time, we found out that his financial situation was very bad and the company under his name was on the verge of bankruptcy, so he could never come up with the deposit to start the scam."

Kalona nodded slightly: "The first deposit plus the money for 'supplementing the payment' later is more than 10 million francs. Even if his business is doing well, he doesn't have that much money."

"Yes." Fouché said, "All this shows that there is someone behind Chrystil."

"Who the hell is that guy?"

"I'm not sure about that yet. But many clues have clear directions. For example, the Duke of Leeds suddenly went on a trip to Vienna, and the order scam appeared shortly afterwards.

"And witnesses saw that Chrystil had visited the Duke of Leeds' residence several times. This was the only person of high status he had contact with during that period, except for dealing with debts. "Most importantly, Chrystil's subordinate, Alvin Renner, confessed - oh, we caught him with the help of the Grand Duchess of Tuscany - that most of the funds he received were in pounds. Even among the deposits received by the French company, many were paid in pounds."

Kalona couldn't help but narrow his eyes: "It seems that Osborn did it."

The Duke of Leeds's real name was Francis Godolphin Osborne.

"To be precise, it should be the British Parliament." Joseph corrected, "The Duke of Leeds cannot come up with tens of millions of francs himself. Moreover, the British government has the motivation to do so now."

He did not tell Kalona that Britain had begun to implement the Continental Balance Policy. The fake order was clearly the "opening move" of the economic war against France.

Kalona remembered what the crown prince had said before, and immediately lowered his voice and asked, "So, you plan to take revenge on the British?"

"That's right." Joseph nodded, "I used some simple means to interfere with the construction of gas street lamps in London.

“And now it seems necessary to expand these measures in order to teach the British a profound lesson.

"I hope that you can do this operation. Of course, you need to bring your assistant, Mr. Mesmer."

The general manager of Lightning Company, Styler, was just a business expert, so he was able to contract the London gas streetlight project, but he seemed incapable of doing more things.

After seeing Mesmer's superb "performance" in Austria, Joseph thought the opportunity was ripe.

It is impolite not to reciprocate. The British have already started an economic war, so it is now France's turn to take action.

"It is my great honor to be able to serve you!" Kalona immediately bowed and said, "So, what are you going to ask us to do?"

"Lightning Company, oh, it's the company that undertook the construction of London's gas street lamps. I was actually the one who sent them there," Joseph said, "and it already has considerable influence in London. When you arrive in England, just like that..."

Then, he looked at Mesmer again: "As for you, continue to play the role you are familiar with - a wealthy businessman, cooperating with Viscount Kalona..."

Mesmer was indeed a genius in the world of deception and he immediately proposed some suggestions for improvement on the prince's plan.

"Very good, I will do as you said." Joseph nodded with satisfaction, "If I can successfully complete this mission, I will ask His Majesty the King to grant you a pardon."

"Thank you, Your Highness! I will complete your orders even if it means sacrificing my life!"

……

Austria.

Eastern suburbs of Vienna.

Lord Grenville got out of the carriage, bowed to the Duke of Leeds who was waiting on the side of the road, and then said with a smile:
"I heard that things don't seem to be going well for you here."

The latter lowered his head and said:
"I've said it before, the Dutchman's method is as stinky as fish that has been left out for a month! He cost us half a million pounds and gained nothing!"

(End of this chapter)