Allen instantly slipped into schemer mode. He gazed at that pile of wealth, presenting a thoughtful silhouette.
“To be honest, all of you deserve to die, but your crimes aren’t unforgivable. The reason is simple: I’m keeping you alive because you’re useful.”
Everyone could see it: Allen planned to rebel, to put a complete end to the Old System. In the future, there would be no more nobles or King.
“Now, guess—why do I need you to stay alive?”
Though everyone had already guessed Allen’s intent to build an army and a secret organization, hearing him say it himself was still utterly shocking.
A Viscount asked, cautiously, “Are you looking for allies… or perhaps… puppets?”
“No. What I intend to give you is a real way out.” Allen turned to face them, his gaze deep.
“You’re all Noble Moneybags. Tell me, why do you hand your wealth over to the Thieves’ Guild? Why are you willing to pay such a high price just to become nobles? What is it you fear?”
The group fell silent.
Allen voiced the answer in their hearts. “Because the Old System cruelly oppresses everyone—yourselves included, as well as our Laval House. In the end, we’re all fattened sheep awaiting slaughter. By becoming Noble Moneybags, at least you can pass for a pampered pet—maybe, when the master grows fond of you, they’ll spare you from the butcher’s knife.”
“But in the end, we’re still sheep, not people. The commoners are grass for us to graze, but we ourselves are sheep to be eaten. We’re nothing but slaves to the Sword-Bearing Nobles and the King—how are we any different from the commoners?”
Seeing that the crowd was beginning to think, Allen continued, his voice laced with temptation. “But have you ever considered this? We are the creators of wealth, the pioneers of the market. We support those greedy Sword-Bearing Nobles, yet instead of gratitude, they see us as of lowly blood, counterfeit nobles in disguise.”
“But what if—what if we didn’t pursue noble titles? Why can’t we, as merchants, become masters of the country?”
“Look at the Free Cities of the Empire, those autonomous Commercial Republics—their rulers are merchants. After leaving the nobles behind, the diligence, wisdom, and creativity of merchants have proven sufficient to govern a nation. Have none of you ever imagined what a country without nobles, without a King, without harsh taxes might be like?”
Allen knew very well that, in the original history, it was the bourgeoisie who ultimately buried feudalism.
Now, these Noble Moneybags, this nascent bourgeoisie, were likewise the best allies of the Revolution.
“I know, you might think I’m dreaming. After all, you can’t picture a kingdom without Sword-Bearing Nobles, can’t imagine defeating those with the Engraved Mark. As for that… Marianne, show them your abilities.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
When the Noble Moneybags saw Marianne display the power of the Brand of Shadow, they were utterly stunned!
“She’s just an ordinary village girl, with no noble Bloodline of the Sigil, and certainly not a Sword-Bearing Noble. Guess what that means?”
“Did you… grant her this ability?”
These nobles had witnessed Allen fight the Heretical God’s Creation and had seen his close ties with the Judgement Court; most had already guessed Allen was no ordinary person.
Allen neither confirmed nor denied it, but said, “But I can tell you: the Engraved Mark isn’t so special. Even you… might be able to obtain a Mark someday.”
This sentence instantly sent the Noble Moneybags into uncontrollable excitement!
Once they realized the supposed sanctity of the Sword-Bearing Nobles was a lie, that even the Bloodline of the Sigil might not be innate, they could no longer tolerate their former days of anxiety and self-abasement!
Exactly! Why should we—the creators of wealth—be treated so unfairly?
It’s all the system’s fault! It’s the nobility and the King that make life unbearable for everyone!
“I saved you from the Judgement Court, and also from the slaves you oppressed. Frankly, you’re beyond salvation; I never planned to let you live… But I can give you a chance.”
Everyone instantly fell to their knees, begging for mercy.
“As long as you let us live, we’ll do anything for you!”
Bernard watched these once-arrogant nobles humbled like this and nearly burst out laughing.
Allen personally helped them up, and began to play the benevolent statesman. “Gentlemen, what do you make of the kingdom’s crisis?”
Everyone understood this point very clearly.
The current political crisis in the kingdom, the rivalry between the Sword-Bearing Nobles’ “Hardliners” and the Noble Moneybags’ “Moderate Faction,” at its core, was a fiscal crisis.
The existence of the Moderate Faction alliance was, in essence, driven by fear that the Hardliners would tear up the pretense to resolve the fiscal crisis and forcibly seize their wealth.
The Moderate Faction existed only because the old King supported them from the shadows. Otherwise, they’d stand no chance against the Hardliners.
When faced with the absolute power represented by the Engraved Mark, wealth was powerless.
But Allen gave them a glimmer of hope for defeating the Marked Nobles.
After all, he had defeated even the Heretical God’s Creation as God’s Messenger! What were mere Sword-Bearing Nobles compared to that?
One after another, they voiced their opinions, all astonishingly unanimous—the Lorraine Kingdom was doomed!
Anyone with sense could see the Royal Treasury was about to collapse; if a natural disaster hit, it might not last even a few years.
“Very well. Since you’re clear on the kingdom’s crisis, you should be clear about your own predicament too. To put it bluntly, when the Royal Treasury collapses, that’s the day you all die.”
Allen watched as realization gradually dawned on their faces, then continued, “Princess Charlotte Durand and her brother have no fundamental conflict. She became your leader only because… she believes you are the ones who can truly save this country.”
“But can you win?”
Of course not. But…
Everyone looked at Allen with anticipation, waiting for his solution.
Allen looked to his father. “Father, take notes.”
“Oh, oh, alright!” Bernard hurriedly took out his little notebook.
And so, Allen began to expound on his united bank proposal.
At first, the nobles tried hard to understand the modern financial concepts, but as Allen delved deeper, these merchant-born Noble Moneybags were all stunned by the grandeur of the idea.
If Allen’s plan succeeded… the united bank would become the de facto Central Bank of the Lorraine Kingdom, and the “Bank Note” it issued would gradually replace the current currency.
The Royal Mint’s profits were nothing compared to what this bank could make in the future—after all, the printing cost of paper currency was negligible compared to coinage!
Most crucial of all, this bank… could truly become a vital tool for the Noble Moneybags to avoid taxes and legitimize their property.
As long as the money kept flowing and became investments, their shady, dirty cash could be completely “washed clean”—and might even drive economic growth!
This was… such a terrifying yet brilliant concept!
Allen then briefly described his full package of development plans. There was so much information that the Noble Moneybags frantically searched for paper and pens to take notes.
“Well? Do you think it’s better for the Noble Moneybags to keep playing political games with Her Highness, or to join me and truly become masters of this country?”
“Think about it—you’re not evil by nature. You were simply forced to be scum by your environment. That’s why the Dawn’s Children and Mutual Aid Association exist—to utterly transform this rotten environment!”
“When the Revolution succeeds, you’ll benefit, the commoners will benefit, the oppressors will be gone, and only then can we create a society where ‘human nature is fundamentally good,’ not ‘fundamentally evil.’”
“Come, make your choice. Will you join?”
Allen’s lips curled in a smile, but his gaze was icy cold.
“By the way, I’ll let you leave. You can tell the rest of the Moderate Faction everything you saw and heard today—let them consider whether my proposal and blueprint are to their advantage… But if anyone dares to cross me, my maid will be watching you from the shadows.”
The Noble Moneybags realized not only could they survive—they had found an unprecedentedly bright path to the top. Their hearts surged with excitement.
As for Allen’s threat… betrayal was out of the question; in fact, they even wanted to drag more people into it!
Everyone’s doomed anyway—better to die together than die alone!
“As you said, whether our assets are here or in your united bank makes no difference. But your bank is truly our future—we’re willing to give our all for it! Any banking monopoly or royal decree you need to promote the bank’s growth, we’ll do everything in our power to make it happen!”
Allen finally got what he wanted.
At least, these people could use their political influence to “atone” for their crimes.
It could be seen as making the most of waste.
“Father, you can continue discussing with them. The matter of the united bank is yours now. I…”
At that moment, Allen suddenly felt a wave of intense exhaustion, his body swaying.
After such a series of events, even Allen’s endurance had reached its limit.
Marianne immediately sensed it.
She whispered to Bernard, “Father, I’ll take Allen to rest.”
Bernard looked at Allen with concern and nodded. “Alright, I’ll take care of things here.”
After Allen and Marianne left, Bernard looked at these nobles who occupied key positions in the kingdom’s bureaucracy.
Suddenly, he realized his son had, almost without bloodshed, orchestrated a peaceful revolution within the Moderate Faction.
Even that clever Princess Charlotte Durand would never have imagined that her camp had already been undermined by Allen—and she herself might, in the future, gradually be sidelined and used as a “shield” for the revolutionary forces.
Bernard, unknowingly, had transformed from a struggling minor Viscount caught between two camps into a major figure who could sway the kingdom’s political landscape.
All of this was thanks to Allen.
Allen… my Superman!
The old father soon used his extensive business experience and diplomatic skills to unite the Noble Moneybags.
And those nobles, like a virus, would go on to drag even more Noble Moneybags into this grand cause of “rebellion and beheading.”
Out of desperation comes new life—this was the truth Allen had finally made them understand.
Thus, Allen, at unprecedented speed, laid the groundwork for every aspect of his revolutionary cause.
All that was left was time. The spark he planted would, in time, set the prairie ablaze.
But is time really on Allen’s—or humanity’s—side?
Only the heavens know.
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