Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 107

Revenge Has Its Interest 107

107. Crime Leaves Traces

November 15, 2023

Bang!

Allen slammed his fist on the desk.

He had hired a contractor to eliminate Sarah, but they couldn’t even get rid of one measly woman.

‘It must be that I was scammed by inexperienced people who are only contractors in name,’ he thought.

“What about the freighter captain?”

He snapped at his secretary.

“They say he’s been taken care of.”

It was a relief that at least one person was properly eliminated. But Sarah was the most dangerous. She was like a bomb waiting to explode.

“You don’t know where she went?”

“We haven’t identified it yet.”

‘Damn it, how could things go so wrong?’ Not only did Rivet fail to be chosen, but Tuazo was even arrested.

He burned all the evidence, so he was relieved, but it would be a disaster if Tuazo had a change of heart and confessed to framing the Hamilton Trading Company.

‘That can’t be. If he says the wrong thing, he’ll get the death penalty, not just life in prison.’

That’s what Tuazo knows best.

“Hire the best people. We must find Sarah.”

“Understood.”

“Oh, what about information about the princess?”

At Allen’s question, the secretary turned pale.

It was certain that Empress Theresa had a princess among her children. But no one has ever seen the princess.

He even wondered if she really existed.

“I’ll find out more.”

“Do that.”

It hasn’t been long since the Crown Prince was married, so there’s still time left.

It was wiser to prepare for the worst.

‘What did Sarah find with that key?’

If he had known this would happen, he would have tried to please her and make her loyal to him.

He was blinded by Grace, and his greed got the better of him.

“Sir, there are documents you need to review urgently.”

The secretary held out the documents to Allen, who was distracted.

Allen looked at the documents for the Bertan Railroad construction.

The construction was proceeding smoothly because the royal family was so active.

This week, textiles given almost for free by the royal family would enter Galdentia.

It was received as an advance payment for the railroad construction.

‘If the quality is good and the price is low, we’ll quickly dominate the textile market.’

But he heard rumors that Terun was obsessed with expensive luxury goods.

There was a limit to making a large profit because the consumers of expensive goods such as porcelain and silk were limited.

‘Not just anyone can do business.’

Allen hoped that Terun would taste bitter failure. The secretary, who was looking at the documents with him, said in a worried tone.

“Sir, aren’t you investing too much money in railroad construction?”

“You have to be bold when investing. When it’s completed, several times the profit will roll in.”

“But we haven’t received cash from the Bertan royal family, have we?”

“They’ll give it to us soon. They’ve agreed to pay in gold.”

Even with Allen’s answer, the secretary kept tilting his head.

Currently, 80% of McDowell Company’s funds have been poured into the railroad construction.

It would be a disaster if any variables arose. The secretary thought it was wise for Terun to buy porcelain and expensive goods.

‘These are items that can’t be sold here because they don’t exist. That cotton is everywhere here.’

He was just frustrated with his boss.

Currently, a large number of newly rich people have been formed on the continent who have made money through factories and trade.

The classes that were commoners or merchants suddenly became rich and wanted to enjoy the same life as the nobles.

Terun was meeting their needs at the right time.

* * *

Terun visited Elder Rapa with Leia. It was to appraise the poppy flower that Arthur had given him.

Elder Rapa looked at the poppy flower a few times and laughed.

“This is what we sold.”

“What?”

When Terun looked surprised, he explained slowly.

“It’s not a poppy flower from the East Continent. You can get it anywhere, even if it’s not Lubeck, so there’s no need to smuggle it.”

Only then did Leia seem to have found the answer to the problem.

Allen, Tuazo, and the freighter captain conspired to load it onto the ship when it entered the port.

Possession of poppy flowers is illegal even in the East Continent.

“Rapa, is this poppy flower from Lubeck?”

“No. If you go to the backwoods of Galdentia, you can pick up the ones that grow naturally. Of course, not many people know that.”

“If you sold it, there should be a record left, right?”

At Terun’s words, Rapa shook his hand and said.

“Who would leave a record of opium smuggling to die? We only trade in cash and don’t use accounts.”

Leia bit her lip tightly. But Terun asked a surprising question.

“If it’s cash, what country’s money is it?”

“I received it in gold bars, not money. Gold is the same as cash.”

“Do you still have the gold bars?”

“Yes.”

“Bring it.”

After a while, Elder Rapa brought out several gold bars.

Terun looked at the gold bars and smiled brightly, unlike him.

“I found it.”

“Yes?”

When Leia asked in surprise, Terun handed her the gold bar.

Fortunately, it was not a gold bar of unknown origin.

“It’s a gold bar issued by Brasel Bank. It also has a serial number.”

“All you have to do is find out who issued the gold bar.”

“Rapa, bring all these gold bars.”

“Yes…? I will.”

Rapa took out all the gold bars, about twenty, and Terun ordered Luke and Louis to pack the gold bars well.

“Are you going to take that?”

Rapa’s eyes widened as if he thought his gold bars were being taken away.

“It’s evidence to be sent to the Metropolitan Police Agency. So, think of it as donating to people in need.”

That was Terun’s situation, but what was he going to do if he was taking away his gold, which was like his lifeline?

Then Terun patted Rapa on the shoulder and said.

“Rapa, Chener is a noble, isn’t she? Then her grandfather should donate to society. That way, you can wash away your past mistakes, right?”

“Still…”

“Instead, if you make a profit from importing porcelain and silk from Bertan, take as much as the gold bars.”

“In that case, hahaha!”

Luxury goods from the East Continent were so popular that they were worth a lot of money because they were not available now.

It was also a way to earn money legitimately.

“Luke says he’s going to marry Chener. Do you want to pass on a shameful past to your granddaughter? Or do you want to live proudly as a businessman?”

At Terun’s words, Rapa was stunned for a long time and finally blushed.

It seemed that he couldn’t believe that Chener was marrying a noble, not a gypsy.

“I’m just grateful that that lacking person is doing his part, but he’s even marrying a noble… Of course, I shouldn’t hold my granddaughter back.”

Tears poured endlessly from Rapa’s wrinkled eyes, and Leia cried with him.

While Leia was hugging Rapa and crying, Terun approached Luke.

“Send the gold bars and poppy flowers to Arthur Wellington, the head of the Metropolitan Police Agency. Have Brasel Bank investigate who issued it, and also state that the poppy flowers are native to Galdentia.”

“Yes, Duke.”

Terun felt that the owner of the gold bars was probably Allen.

He was the prospective son-in-law of the Hamilton Trading Company, so he could afford to manage a quantity of gold bars that was neither small nor large.

The moment Leia saw the gold bars, Allen came to mind.

Before her marriage to him, a considerable amount of dowry was spent on Allen’s family. He probably issued the gold bars with that money.

Looking back now, she doesn’t know how stupid she was. She was even touched by Allen’s words that he would not accept the dowry.

‘This is how you collect evidence step by step.’

Arthur is secretly reinvestigating in Galdentia, so the day will soon come when Allen’s ugly mask will be removed.

“Grace, I have to stop by the Imperial Palace, so go home first.”

Terun was planning to send Luke and Louis on errands and then send Leia home in a carriage.

“Will it take long?”

“No, I just have to report to His Majesty that I’m back.”

“Then I’ll wait at the general store. I’ll also talk to Grandpa Rapa.”

“Go and come back, I’ll take care of the young lady.”

“Then, I’ll come back as soon as possible.”

“Don’t worry about me and take your time.”

Leia had a lot of things to take from the general store.

This was because Oliver had ordered a variety of ingredients to make cosmetics.

Terun hurried out of the general store and headed to the Imperial Palace.

* * *

Leia checked the list that Oliver had written down and packed her things.

“Rice flour, cocoa powder, natural beeswax, lavender oil, distilled liquor, starch powder, rose oil, birch sap, aloe.”

Rapa had packed some things for her, but some were not available at the general store.

“You can only get birch sap and aloe at the market, right?”

“I’ll go.”

“No. The market isn’t far either. I’ll go quickly.”

The general store suddenly became crowded with customers, making it difficult for Rapa to leave his seat.

Leia decided to take a walk and headed to the market alone.

‘I should stop by the clothing store on the way.’

Many employees, including Chener, would be working hard now. She thought she would buy some fruit to give them when she went to the market.

‘Oliver mainly makes cosmetics with natural ingredients. That’s why Alicia’s skin is so good.’

Because she doesn’t use harsh face powder or rouge sold on the market.

When Leia arrived at the market, she bought aloe and birch sap and also bought fruit for the employees.

Before she knew it, it was evening and everywhere was getting dark, and Leia’s steps quickened.

But it was not easy to get out of the crowded market.

Just as Leia was about to leave the market, she ran into a group of women.

“Oh! Hey! Long time no see!”

The women suddenly acted friendly to Leia and grabbed her arms.

“Who are you?”

“It’s Jeanne. Have you forgotten already? Let’s go somewhere and have tea. I’m so glad to see you.”

They grabbed Leia’s arms too hard to be called welcome friends.

Enough to drop the things Leia was holding on the floor.

Leia instinctively knew that she had been caught by bad women.

“Who are you?”

Even when Leia struggled and resisted, they laughed and chattered noisily, distracting the attention of passersby.

Soon, a woman whispered in Leia’s ear.

“Follow me quietly, you thief.”