9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 111 - The Taste of Money (1)

Spring was in full bloom.

The Garnier estate in Le Chapen Core 1 maintained its tranquil atmosphere today as well.

Climbing roses adorned the walls, tulips bloomed in the flower beds, and daffodils graced the waterside.

The flowers bloomed luxuriantly, catching the eye, and to the click-click rhythm of the gardener’s shears, the wild birds who were the garden’s long-time residents chirped, tweet-tweet.

“How peaceful.”

“Indeed it is.”

Sitting on the terrace enjoying the leisurely scenery, the noble lady spoke up, and Garnier nodded and took a sip of tea.

“While it’s complete chaos out there.”

“What matter are you referring to?”

“Oh my, of course the Redan Company stock situation. I thought Miss Garnier would have some interest too, given your connection with Luca.”

“Connection? We only did business once.”

Garnier smiled softly and turned her head.

A gentle west wind blew.

To think that just a year ago, this quiet and peaceful garden had been bustling with countless people coming and going every day. It was simply unbelievable.

Garnier had rented out the estate while traveling for a year, and ‘Little Prince Luca’ had found it after seeing the sign.

She had earnestly pleaded with him to keep everything spotless when he left, yet every day there were parties, salons… He had become a famous figure in Le Chapen, inviting all sorts of people and turning the estate upside down.

When Garnier heard the news, she was furious beyond measure, but even when she sent letters, the only responses were excuses like “I’m living cleanly enough!” and coaxing to invest in his company.

She tore up the letters in anger, and when she returned after grinding her teeth that at least he hadn’t stayed the full year, what do you know—the estate looked exactly the same as when she’d left, not a single thing different.

When she questioned the servants, they told her that Lucas Redan had personally tidied up the mess every night and immediately arranged repairs or replacements for anything damaged.

On the living room table was a gift box containing beautiful accessories, along with a letter expressing regret at leaving such a beautiful home.

Her anger subsided instantly, and she even felt sorry for having nagged him so much. She considered investing in his company even if belatedly, but…

Well, investing wasn’t her hobby, so she let it go.

“But it was fortunate I didn’t invest back then.”

At Garnier’s words, the lady burst into laughter.

“Ho ho ho! How mischievous of you. What could Her Majesty the Queen be thinking? Though I suppose it’s no wonder she was deeply disappointed in Luca, whom she so favored. Still, selling all her shares—that’s quite a bold move. Poor Luca.”

“He’s a good person, but now that he’s become an enemy, there’s nothing to be done.”

Garnier replied calmly and took another sip of tea.

Even if it was regrettable, nothing could be done. That would be the sentiment of most onlookers.

Of course, those directly involved would think differently.

Unlike the peaceful Garnier estate, the reception room of a splendid mansion a few blocks away was nothing but tumultuous.

The Redan Company shareholders gathered here all wore deathly expressions, forgetting their aristocratic dignity as they chattered noisily.

Someone trembled and slammed the table.

“Money is being shredded!”

「Shocking Announcement!」

「A Holy Decision for the Nation!」

The newspapers scattered on the table all bore sensational headlines.

The radio too delivered desperate news in solemn tones.

“Have you heard about the ‘Redan Mining Company’ that’s been such a hot topic in business circles lately? It’s the joint-stock company founded by ‘Little Prince Luca’—that is, Lucas Redan—who rose to become the darling of Le Chapen high society last year.

But five days ago, Her Majesty the Queen summoned her ministers to White Palace and said this: Investing in war criminal enterprises is no different from investing in war itself. Her Majesty expressed profound sorrow and regret.

As you know, Lucas Redan is currently serving as Cortana’s military governor commander. This means he’s closer to war than anyone else.

Her Majesty declared her intention to correct this error even now by selling all shares of Redan Company.

The fact that Her Majesty became Redan Company’s largest shareholder caused quite a stir in political and business circles last year…”

The radio went on at length about how deeply saddened Her Majesty was, what holy decision she had made to cast out Lucas Redan, whom she had so favored.

It was news that had been repeating for days now.

“We’re ruined now! We’ll inevitably be branded as traitors!”

One investor’s lament was already manifesting in the present.

The situation was such that nationwide vigilance against Schufaben was reaching sky-high levels.

The cabinet, in step with the Queen’s announcement, issued yet another condemnation of Schufaben and designated Lucas Redan as a dangerous individual.

Next, naturally, came the people’s turn.

The citizens of Rubellia, whose pride and love for their Queen were second to none in any other country.

They raised their voices, saying they must uphold Her Majesty’s will and stand against Schufaben.

Cut diplomatic ties with Schufaben and prepare for war, drive those Schufaben bastards from this land, no—erase those devil-like bastards from the continent!

Such terrible and frightening claims emerged.

Redan Company shareholders were at a loss.

‘What? You still haven’t sold your war criminal enterprise stocks? You traitor.’

That was roughly the atmosphere.

In fact, the public didn’t even know exactly what Redan Company did.

Lucas Redan had founded Redan Company by receiving massive investments from the Queen and old nobility, citing rumors that “there might be magic stone mines in the great desert.”

Most had invested not so much believing those words as believing in ‘Luca’ himself, caught up in excitement and atmosphere. For them, it wasn’t particularly large money anyway.

Redan Company immediately sent employees to the desert to begin exploration.

They also went public on the stock market, established headquarters in Schufaben, and as a sort of side business, dabbled in real estate.

The company’s performance was still lackluster, but investors had seen huge profits.

Naturally, this was because CEO Lucas Redan had been riding high.

When he was hailed as a ‘returning hero’ in Schufaben and even appointed as a military general, people rushed to buy Redan Company stock whether from Rubellia, Schufaben, or other countries, and the stock price soared endlessly.

The initial public offering, set at 50 rickels in Rubellia currency amid evaluations that the company was unsound, jumped tenfold in just one day, and after a month had leaped an astounding thousand-fold.

Everyone knew it wasn’t exactly a normal situation when stock prices fluctuated based on the CEO’s movements rather than the company’s future prospects, but early investors holding dozens or hundreds of shares didn’t particularly care.

They’d already made tremendous profits.

Redan Company stock began to occupy a meaningful portion of their vast wealth.

Then came the incident where Lucas Redan was reportedly hit by Cortana forces, causing panic selling that crashed the stock price.

But that was just small investors’ troubles. The big players didn’t budge, trusting in Luca’s abilities—no, trusting in the Queen as the major shareholder.

Eventually, he was resurrected to return as Cortana’s military governor commander, and the stock price soared again.

Yes, they had been so happy…

What was this current situation?

When several nobles who usually acted dignified by sending servants came to the stock exchange themselves, the road in front of the building was already packed.

“Eradicate traitorous investment!”

“Drive out Schufaben!”

Protesters with sound equipment marched while shouting at the top of their lungs.

Whether they were the same crowd that had been shouting nonsensical slogans like “Save Schufaben!” and “Bear the revolutionary’s burden!” in front of the Prime Minister’s office and parliament was unclear. Either way, they were equally irritating.

And inside the exchange, compared to the commotion outside, it had become a complete battleground.

“My money!! My moneeeey!!!”

“Dammit, who turned my stocks into this!”

“Curse that Little Prince! Lucas Redan, that bastard! I’ll tear him apart!”

“How can it be less than half the offering price!!!”

“Does anyone know what the water temperature of the Serene River is right now? I want to go warmly at least!”

“What? The Serene River? The line’s packed. Look somewhere else.”

“If only Her Majesty hadn’t said such things…”

“What did you just fucking say?! You traitor!”

Loud voices rang out everywhere, with collar-grabbing and fistfights quite common.

The ripple effect from the Queen’s announcement was tremendous.

While elderly nobles who remembered the Queen’s past reign might have expected it, young nobles couldn’t have imagined such results.

The Queen hadn’t been powerless—she had simply remained silent.

The Queen, who had been showing gradual movement since Lucas Redan’s appearance, was now shaking not only Rubellia but the entire continent with this emergency announcement.

The implications contained in the Queen’s statement were ominously significant.

‘Investing in war criminal enterprises is no different from investing in war.’

Those words meant this.

‘I will strike down Schufaben enterprises connected to war.’

And.

‘If even the Queen is giving up, how dare you not?!’

Citizens enraged at Schufaben applauded the Queen, while investors were shocked.

All sorts of rumors flew on people’s lips, and not only Redan Company but all Schufaben companies that had entered Rubellia saw their stock prices plummet like cliffs.

“Did you hear?! The Prime Minister supports Her Majesty’s decision!”

One furious shareholder tugged at his mustache and shouted.

“What the hell does this mean?!”

“Well…”

“Her Majesty is bidding you farewell.”

A middle-aged woman’s calm voice was heard, and everyone’s heads whipped around.

Click-clack. Rubellia’s Prime Minister, Silvia Bertrand, was walking through the wide-open door.

Beside her, servants could be seen flustered by her sudden visit.

“P-Prime Minister!”

“Would you like to see this? It’s material the administration will announce in three days.”

She smiled and held out documents, and the nobles hurriedly rushed over to look. Their faces turned deathly pale.

“T-this…!”

“You didn’t even ask our opinion…!”

“Why should I ask your opinion?”

Silvia was smiling, but her eyes flashed coldly.

“I’m the head of the administration. What are you people?”

She swept her gaze over the nobles.

“Traitors consorting with the nation’s enemies, aren’t you?”

“That’s too harsh!”

“Am I wrong?”

Her questioning was utterly cold.

Those who had just been babbling,

“Let’s clear Luca’s name!”

“Let’s bring Luca to our side!”

—their mouths snapped shut.

“This is your last chance from me. Handle everything now. Three days. After that, you won’t even recover your principal, so think carefully.”

Leaving this sharp warning, Silvia turned and left.

Watching her retreating figure, the nobles realized.

This wasn’t just about money anymore. If they mishandled things, they might lose everything, swept away by this storm the Queen had unleashed.

Returning to the Prime Minister’s office, Silvia glanced out the carriage window.

The streets were still busy with protest groups of various sizes. Just like Rubellia citizens who loved to meddle and were loud.

Today Silvia had crushed one of those voices.

The voice of nobles who were greedy and trapped in past glory.

‘What does Her Majesty want?’

The old noble faction had been the royal family’s strongest supporters and partners. No matter how much broad love Queen Marianne I received from the people, that fact couldn’t be denied.

Yet through this stock incident, the Queen had chosen to sweep away those nobles entirely.

Was she going to clean house of past remnants that were nothing but shells?

Or was she going to eliminate those who would cause discord blinded by money and unite the countless voices that had been clamoring about this and that under a single cry of ‘Crush Kruger!’?

‘One thing’s certain. This measure will be a huge blow to Schufaben.’

Ah, and incidentally, it would become a stepping stone for Silvia Bertrand to seize control of Rubellia. Right beneath the Queen, of course.

A smile played at Silvia’s lips.

Three days later.

Rubellia’s administration announced it would halt investment in enterprises related to Schufaben and sold all stocks owned by the royal family and state institutions.

It also declared a freeze on funds to Schufaben.

***

In the highest room of the floating castle, illuminated by moonlight.

The beautiful blonde man read the report his aide had brought and burst into laughter.

“Ahahahaha! Uhahahaha! How clever indeed, Major Redan! Ahahahaha!”

If Lucas Redan were prostrate at his feet right now, he would smile with lifeless eyes and say,

“It’s an honor, sir.”