Obviously, It's My Child - Chapter 149
Erich’s hand gently moved to her ear, pressing lightly on her neck muscles. Claire unconsciously smiled a little.
It seemed he was doing this to cheer her up. Not just for the massage itself. That fact alone improved her mood.
Claire lowered her head, resting it in his hand, and murmured softly.
“You know that ledger we found in Thomas Borjans’ hideout? I finally understand its true meaning.”
“Mm.”
“It wasn’t just about ruining the nobles of Arren for political gain.”
The scheme involved devastating the Arren region broadly and concentrating industrial investments unilaterally in Rommel. As the disparity grew, the land and farmers of Arren fell into decline, becoming dependent on Rommel, eventually being drawn in as cheap labor.
It simultaneously ruined the Arren nobility who might have tried to stop this.
Everything was not illegal. It was covert, shrouded in nefarious conspiracy.
Claire knew this history.
Only, the method of execution wasn’t through armies and violence but through drugs.
That was history Claire was aware of too.
“I need to meet Jacob.”
“There’s no need for you to interrogate him personally. I’ll just confirm your speculation.”
“Thank you. But it’s not for interrogation.”
Claire straightened up from leaning against Erich and stood.
“I need to use him to bankrupt Marquis Ludendorff.”
Her eyes sparkled fiercely as she spoke.
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- Vein
[To the esteemed Marquis Ludendorff,
While searching for diamonds on behalf of our family, a prospector has discovered a bituminous coal seam near your territory.
Should you be willing to discuss this matter, please respond. We wish to negotiate with the rightful owner.
Ralph Krozik.]
Marquis Ludendorff’s eyes widened. Who was Ralph Krozik? The now-retired elder count of the Krozik family.
Upon receiving the letter, Marquis Ludendorff was immensely excited.
Ever since Klausener began raking in money with its iron and coal mines, a kind of gold rush had ensued in the northern Rommel and has continued to the present day.
Coal and iron had been used for a long time, so the productive mines were generally known. However, in the north, much land remained uninhabited.
The advancement of technology increased mining yields and reduced the difficulty of extraction.
The progress of science transformed what was once considered mere by-products into valuable commodities.
Prospectors roamed the mountains, believing in the existence of new special mines somewhere.
Nobles were no different. They might not search themselves, but being the first to discover and develop a new mine meant securing financial power.
However, Ludendorff had none. This had always been a source of resentment and frustration for the Marquis.
The fertile plains of his estate were irritating to him.
Once, these plains had made Ludendorff a land of wealth, but now, they were outdone by the high quality and cheaper agricultural products from Arren, reducing his land to merely filling it with useless serfs.
But now, there was talk of a coal mine. And for it to be discovered by someone else.
“How can this be? Wilfried? Didn’t the prospector you brought in say it was hopeless?”
“I did hear exactly that. Coal veins usually extend through mountainous areas, and our estate faces the sea with flat plains. Even if a vein did extend into our territory, it was unlikely to be at a minable level.”
Horst, the second son, answered while sweating profusely.
“Tch!”
Marquis Ludendorff clicked his tongue loudly, clearly not believing Horst’s words.
“So, are you saying the elder Count Krozik has gone senile to send such a letter?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Either the prospector you brought in was incompetent or a swindler. Surely, the Kroziks must have sent multiple prospectors to verify, not just one or two.”
It was well-known that the Kroziks had made a fortune in diamonds in alliance with Klausener.
People admired the elder Count’s foresight for monopolizing the Noi diamonds.
Without it, they couldn’t have secured Klausener’s selection. However, they couldn’t just sit idle until the purchased diamonds ran out.
The elder Count was knowledgeable enough to keep investing in prospectors as the income flowed in, sending them out in large numbers.
Those prospectors were certainly more reliable than the one Horst had summoned. The Kroziks were investing their family’s survival in this venture.
‘Even if it’s common to trust multiple verifications from Krozik, it doesn’t necessarily mean the prospector Horst hired was a fraud.’
The eldest son, Hermann thought quietly, standing to one side.
Blindly trusting Krozik was a mistake.
Certainly, Krozik was an old and dignified county family of Rommel, but to negotiate, they needed to have their cards to play as well.
In today’s world, can one truly trust someone solely based on their family’s name?
Even if they were unaware of Johann Krozik’s secret communications with Duchess Klausener, they must be cautious.
Moreover, chastising and blaming his successor, Horst so openly for such an issue was unnecessary. He could have simply asked him to take responsibility and verify again.
The reason Marquis Ludendorff was so furious was because of an inferiority complex.
‘The Duchess was right.’
Hermann thought.
When they met on the train that day, Claire had said.
[“Many people cannot see beyond the monetary value of money. Elder Madam Klausener thought it was acceptable for me to make money from the Weaving Guild, but she couldn’t tolerate my involvement in the diamond mine. That was considered a man’s domain.”]
Claire had added that it was something she hadn’t thought of herself. Hermann agreed with her statement.
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