On the way back to his family’s fief, Hote was not idle.
He immediately used a carrier pigeon to inform the First Prince, Spaite, in Golden City of everything he had seen in Border City, as well as the Fourth Prince Anke’s Bond Plan.
“My fourth brother intends to raise money from Earl Oca and the others? He even agreed to repay the full principal and 10% interest upon maturity?”
Upon receiving the intelligence, Spaite gripped the letter.
He felt his younger brother was truly audacious, actually attempting to use something resembling high-interest bonds to raise funds for the construction of his territory.
“Cavens, take a look at this. What do you think?”
“This thing called a bond can indeed raise a large amount of capital in a short period, but the risk involved is too great. Repaying 10% interest upon maturity will not be easy, even with expensive alchemy goods. Therefore, it is definitely not a wise strategy.”
Cavens gave his opinion after reviewing the letter’s contents.
“It is exactly as you say. My fourth brother’s move is indeed extremely treacherous; a single misstep and he will lose everything. However, since he is willing to offer himself up, we cannot simply stand by and watch. Draft a letter immediately. Tell the Oca family to purchase as many of the bonds issued by Anke as possible. Buy as many as they can. If their funds are insufficient, I can allocate extra to them.”
Spaite commanded Cavens.
“Your Highness, do you plan to first prop up the Fourth Prince and then let him fall?”
As a close official to the First Prince, Cavens could easily guess Spaite’s thoughts.
“Exactly. Just as you said, 10% interest is not that easy to earn. I want my poor fourth brother to go bankrupt in three months!”
“But Your Highness, what if the Fourth Prince actually earns that much money? After all, in the intelligence provided by the Oca family, both the perfumes and the crystals are highly sought-after luxury goods,” Cavens voiced his concerns.
“That will not happen. Have we not already dispatched veterans to play the role of bandits? The Piranha River near Border City is unnavigable, and the opposite bank is the Skeleton Forest where the Barbarians live. To transport goods, one can only take the land routes. As long as the bandits under my command block the commercial land routes, Anke will not earn a single cent! When that time comes, my dear fourth brother can only watch as the products he worked so hard to create pile up in his warehouse, unable to sell a single piece! He will have no choice but to hand everything in his Alchemy Workshop over to me with both hands.”
Spaite sneered.
“Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! I will draft the letter now and have the Oca family cooperate with Your Highness’s plan.”
Cavens looked at the First Prince with admiration.
Before long, another carrier pigeon departed from Golden City, soaring against a sky full of stars.
It flew until the sun rose from the horizon, and until the sun climbed to the middle of the sky, casting its shadow over the fief of the Oca family…
……
The family council chamber of Earl Oca’s castle.
Having returned from Border City, Hote was discussing how many bonds they needed to purchase with his father.
“Father, the Lohak family will certainly purchase a large number of bonds. When the time comes, whether the Fourth Prince succeeds or fails, they will reap the greatest benefits. This is very disadvantageous for our family. We must purchase the same amount, or even more, to avoid being threatened by the Lohak family.”
Hote advised his father, Earl Oca.
“What you say is true, Hote. The Fourth Prince is our rival on the surface, while the Lohak family is our potential rival. We cannot allow a potential rival to grow strong just because we are focused on the one in plain sight. However, we are currently allied with the First Prince. Investing a large amount in the Fourth Prince’s bonds… if he fails and goes bankrupt, it would undoubtedly be best for our families to divide his achievements directly. But if the Fourth Prince uses this momentum to grow powerful, we would be aiding our enemy…”
Earl Oca spoke with concern, tapping his thigh with his fingertips.
“Lord Earl, Lord Earl! There is a reply from His Highness, the First Prince!”
At that moment, an attendant carrying a secret message from a carrier pigeon ran into the Oca family council chamber.
Earl Oca took the secret letter from the attendant’s hand and read it carefully. After finishing it, he placed it face down on the table.
“Father, what does His Highness want us to do?” Hote inquired.
“The First Prince wants us to go all out in purchasing the bonds issued by the Fourth Prince and become Anke’s largest creditors. Furthermore, if there is a need for funds, he is willing to transfer capital from Golden City.”
Earl Oca relayed the meaning expressed by First Prince Spaite to Hote.
“Then should we follow His Highness’s suggestion?”
“We will do exactly as the First Prince suggested! Hote, go and take an inventory of the family’s assets. Leave only the emergency reserves and take everything else. Additionally, draft another letter to transfer money and alchemy raw materials that can be converted into cash from the First Prince.”
With the First Prince’s push, Earl Oca made up his mind and gave the order decisively.
On the other side, in Rivercenter City, the fief of the Rohark family.
Earl Rohark and Sola, who had returned from Border City, were having a secret meeting with the envoy of the Second Prince.
“As I said, the Fourth Prince’s Alchemy Workshop is an inexhaustible mountain of gold. Those perfumes and crystals are a continuous stream of gold coins. Unfortunately, the Fourth Prince refuses to let others interfere directly with his workshop. We can only follow his ideas and purchase his bonds to participate.”
Sola shook her head, her tone full of helplessness.
“I understand. Lady Rohark’s trip to Border City was quite fruitful.”
The envoy of Second Prince Terishi looked at Sola and Earl Rohark with a smile, then continued.
“However, His Highness the Second Prince’s original intention is for the Rohark family to help the Fourth Prince grow strong to compete against the First Prince. Since the Fourth Prince will not let us interfere directly, we will follow his wishes. Your Lohak family will buy as many bonds as the Fourth Prince issues. At the same time, His Highness the Second Prince will provide interest-free financial support, just until the Fourth Prince is strong enough to compete with the First Prince.”
“Very well, we will proceed according to the envoy’s plan. It is settled then.”
Earl Rohark also finalized the plan to purchase the bonds.
Then, there was Hannah, who had returned to Maritime Cliff City.
“Mom, give me money! I want to buy the Fourth Prince’s bonds!” Hannah directly reached out to her mother, Earl Pauly, to ask for money.
“What bonds?”
Earl Pauly looked up from a mountain of documents and stared at her daughter.
……
Five days later, following the replies from the Oca and Rohark families, both parties dispatched representatives.
After formally signing the bond certificates and agreements with Anke…
Boxes of gold coins, carts of alchemy raw materials, and hundreds of various craftsmen were sent to Border City.
“I’m rich! I’m rich! Woo-hoo!”
Anke poured a box containing 5,000 gold coins directly onto his office desk. He grabbed the coins and began to toss them into the air.
“The statistics are in, Your Highness. Earl Oca and Earl Rohark, in the form of money, goods, and craftsmen, have purchased bonds worth a total of 7.3 million gold and 4.2 million gold, respectively. In addition, Lady Hannah Baoli personally purchased 6,000 gold worth of bonds.”
Mustafa informed Anke of the compiled results.
“7.3 million plus 4.2 million… 11.5 million?! These nobles are truly wealthy!” Anke subconsciously ignored Hannah’s personal 6,000 gold coins.
“Your Highness, please do not only look at the money we borrowed. Three months from now, we have to return the principal along with 10% interest. For the interest alone, we will have to pay 1.15 million gold. You must take this seriously,” Vera spoke up to remind him.
“Repay? Why should I repay money I borrowed through my own ability?” Anke spoke without a hint of worry.
‘Huh?’
“If I destroy the Oca and Rohark families before the repayment date, I won’t have to repay them, will I?”
Anke’s words were shocking.
‘What?!’
Vera had thought that Anke might seek help from Sai-insi, the God of Science, to earn enough money within three months. ‘I never imagined he simply had no intention of paying it back!’
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