"Ha! So this is His Majesty the Emperor’s way of maintaining balance!"
Belilla grumbled in an unhappy tone, prompting Achilles Fould beside him to show a similarly gloomy expression.
The Emperor’s unexpected support for the Rothschild Clan, thwarting Fould’s efforts to consolidate the various factions within the Bank of France, indeed caught Fould by surprise.
However, His Majesty the Emperor’s actions were not beyond Achilles Fould’s expectations.
After all, as a Monarch, he could never allow any one side to beco too dominant.
Even if it were Achilles Fould in that position, he would make the sa choice as the Emperor.
Though he understood this, Achilles Fould still harbored so reluctance in his heart.
Back then, it was His Majesty the Emperor who personally sounded the call to defeat the Rothschilds, and only then did they follow the Emperor in the anti-Rothschild movent.
Now, the Rothschild Clan was on the verge of becoming a peripheral force in the Bank of France.
Ironically, the Emperor, who was the "chief commander" of the anti-Rothschild campaign, had chosen to defect first.
This sudden change left Achilles Fould with an indescribable unease.
"Ah! Who would have thought His Majesty is the true referee of this ga! We are all just players in this ga, and we can only choose to adapt to the rules, not make the rules adapt to us!" Achilles Fould seed to be comforting Belilla, as well as himself.
"Indeed!" Belilla also lowered his head, responding in a slightly somber tone, "The Emperor has the right to appoint any officials he wishes!
We can only obey!"
"Mr. Belilla, think positively! The positions we hold now are ones that the vast majority of people can never reach in their lifeti!
Even for ourselves, it’s the sa!" Achilles Fould said again to Belilla, "Take myself, for example, during the Orleans Kingdom period, I never imagined I would one day beco a nation’s Minister of Finance!"
Belilla nodded in deep agreent, feeling sowhat better from his previously gloomy mood.
When Count Algou was President of the Bank of France, Belilla never imagined he would one day beco President of the Bank of France.
As it turned out, after the establishnt of the Second Empire, he was indeed able to sit in Count Algou’s position.
To him at the ti, it was like a dream.
"Since His Majesty the Emperor has changed the rules of this ga, we can only choose to accept this outco, and continue to play according to His Majesty’s rules!" Achilles Fould continued to tell Belilla, "Besides, we still maintain a significant advantage in the Bank of France; even if Alphonse Rothschild joined forces with the remaining board mbers, they couldn’t easily overturn it!"
"But what if His Majesty sides with the Rothschilds again!" Belilla expressed his concern, fearing the Emperor might continue to change the rules for the Rothschilds.
"Rest assured!" Achilles Fould replied to Belilla with conviction, "I dare bet that His Majesty the Emperor will only help them this one ti!
Next ti, they must rely on themselves!"
"True!" Belilla nodded in agreent with Achilles Fould.
In terms of ability, Belilla believed they were not at all inferior to that young Alphonse Rothschild and the old Jas Rothschild.
In terms of loyalty, Belilla and Achilles Fould were miles ahead of the Rothschild Clan.
One faction had pledged allegiance to His Majesty before he beca President.
The other had previously clashed with His Majesty but later reconciled and joined.
Comparing the two factions, they were undoubtedly more loyal.
After all, the Emperor supported the Rothschild only to prevent their own dominance and play against them.
If they still couldn’t contend with them despite the Emperor’s favor,
their fate would only be abandonnt!
Having understood this, Belilla’s mood improved, and he stood up, telling Achilles Fould, "Alright! I should return to the Bank of France!"
Achilles Fould also stood up, expressing that he should return to the Ministry of Finance to continue working.
The two walked side by side to the mansion’s entrance, and Achilles Fould suddenly rembered sothing, saying to Belilla, "Belilla, can you propose a debt review for dium and large banks in France at the next Bank of France eting!"
Belilla was first stunned, then suddenly understood Achilles Fould’s intention.
"It’s possible! But do you think those dostic banks will really comply with our arrangent?" Belilla responded to Achilles Fould.
"Rest assured!" Achilles Fould confidently replied to Belilla, "They will certainly comply because the one proposing this order is His Majesty!"
"That’s wonderful!" Belilla also showed a smile on his face, "When can we start the investigation!"
"Once the Ministry of Finance is ready, I will go to the Legislative Corps to present my views to the representatives. As long as I get the approval of the Legislative Corps, I can start the investigation. What you need to do is to rally more directors on the bank’s board to agree with this decision!" Achille Fuld said to Belilla.
"I understand!" Belilla replied to Achille Fuld.
After that, Belilla and Achille Fuld took a carriage back to their respective departnts.
However, Belilla and Achille Fuld were unaware that the area around Achille Fuld’s mansion was already being covertly monitored by the National Intelligence Bureau’s reconnaissance personnel, led by Felix Godan.
Holding binoculars, Felix Godan watched the carriage gradually fade into the distance, turned to the underling next to him, and said, "Let the brothers withdraw!"
"Yes!" the subordinate responded, then turned and left.
Only Felix Godan remained standing alone at the spot. After a while, he took an already opened pack of cigarettes from his pants pocket, took one out, and lit it.
When the cigarette was about to burn out, the subordinate returned next to Felix Godan and reported, "I’ve already ordered them to withdraw!"
"Alright! We should head back too!" Felix Godan flicked the cigarette, forming a parabola in the air before landing on the ground, then turned around and left the vicinity of Achille Fuld’s mansion.
Half an hour later, Felix Godan appeared in Marcel Yale’s office, reporting the news of Minister of Finance Achille Fuld’s and Bank of France’s President Belilla’s private eting.
"Felix, do you think they’re plotting against the Empire in the mansion?" Marcel Yale asked Felix Godan with a smile on his lips.
This question was practically a death trap for Felix Godan, especially when he didn’t know Marcel Yale’s intentions, making Felix Godan more hesitant to answer carelessly.
Such questions could cost one their head!
Thus, Felix Godan could only ambiguously reply that he was rely surveilling the mansion and wasn’t aware of what they were discussing!
Of course, it couldn’t be ruled out that Minister Fuld and President Belilla were conspiring.
Therefore, he suggested sending soone to investigate more closely and gather evidence!
"Felix, who do you think would be suitable to investigate?" Marcel Yale continued questioning.
Soone else, obviously!
Felix Godan silently spoke to himself.
If possible, Felix would avoid getting involved in such upper-level conflicts.
"I think the gentleman from the last ti is quite suitable!" Felix Godan tentatively suggested.
"He has other assignnts!" Marcel Yale responded.
Then, Felix Godan proposed a few other candidates.
Marcel Yale vetoed all of them for various reasons.
Felix Godan realized he probably wouldn’t escape this ti, so he could only smile bitterly at Marcel Yale and say that if no other personnel could be found, Marcel Yale should make the decision.
"Felix, I think you’re a good candidate!" Marcel Yale said to Felix Godan, "I’ll assign this task to you. Shouldn’t be a problem, right!"
"Yes!" Felix Godan could only respond to Marcel Yale.
Even though Felix Godan held the position of director, he had no room to bargain in front of Marcel Yale.
If Felix Godan got exposed, Marcel Yale would cut ties with him and the National Intelligence Bureau without hesitation.
The National Intelligence Bureau had no obligation to offend ministers for Felix Godan.
At this mont, Felix Godan realized his own insignificance once again, strengthening his resolve to climb upwards. He had to strive with all his might to rise, so he might one day have the chance to crush those who had once exploited him underfoot.
"Alright! You may go!" Marcel Yale said with a calm expression to Felix Godan.
Soon after Felix Godan left, Marcel Yale also left the office.
...
Taking a public carriage to the vicinity of Tuileries Palace Garden on Champs-Élysées, Marcel Yale once again donned his badge and entered the Tuileries Palace, accompanied by Bashirio, coming before Jero Bonaparte.
"What is it?" Jero Bonaparte asked Marcel Yale in a flat tone.
Marcel Yale imdiately reported to Jero Bonaparte about the eting between the Minister of Finance and the President of Bank of France at this critical juncture.
Jero Bonaparte replied to Marcel Yale just as Marcel Yale had treated Felix Godan, "Alright! I understand!"
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