Claude only returned to his residence at eight at night. It was the governor's manor in the inner city of Port Cobicus, which had become his temporary residence.
Sergeant Kester walked over. He was a veteran who was about to retire. He was one of the two guards who survived the attack from the Greytower magi.
Now that he had recovered from his injuries and was about to retire, due to his honesty and honesty and the fact that his family was no longer around, Claude decided to keep him by his side as a retainer of a noble family.
Kester reported to Claude, who was about to take a bath and relax, "General, Viscount Gooditch is here to visit you. He's been waiting for you for more than an hour."
Viscount Gooditch?
The name sounded familiar, but Claude couldn't recall who the noble was.
Kester reminded him, "General, Viscount Gooditch is the branch manager of the national bank …"
Oh, it's him, Claude immediately recalled.
Aueras set up branches of the national bank in the colonies to carry out business, trade, administration, military expenditure, local taxation, as well as private loans and other services.
It could be said that the national bank of the colonies was the only financial monopoly in Aueras. All large expenditures and business transactions relied on the national bank.
However, the national bank of Nubissia didn't have the right to issue coins. All the gold, silver, and copper needed had to be shipped from the kingdom. Due to the kingdom's restriction on the amount of currency used in large transactions, the scale of business transactions in the colonies couldn't be expanded. Even if a deal was struck, the national bank wouldn't have enough cash to pay for it. That had a huge negative impact on the colonies' economic development.
Each of the kingdom's eight colonies had a branch of the national bank. Dreadnaught's eastern route originally ended at Port Patres, so the branch there became the national bank's branch on Nubissia, in charge of the other colonies.
When Whitestag opened up a new sea route, the terminal port became Port Cobicus, so the branch in Port Patres was moved to Port Cobicus as well. It was mainly for the convenience of transporting currency and settling accounts across the ocean.
When Claude took over Tyrrsim, he did have his eye on the bank branch there. Unfortunately, he couldn't find anything on the head of the branch, Viscount Gooditch.
The three governors and admirals had signed the affidavit of loyalty to Prince Hansbach. Everyone with some status and power had signed it, but Viscount Gooditch's name was nowhere to be found.
Claude had no choice but to give up on the idea of raiding the national bank. If Viscount Gooditch signed his name, Claude could arrest him as a traitor and point out that the reserves in the bank were meant for Prince Hansbach's military expenses.
However, Viscount Gooditch didn't give him the chance to do so. He even ordered his subordinates to cooperate when he investigated the bank accounts of the governor-general and admiral, as well as the administrative officials who signed the affidavit and local people.
Otherwise, Claude wouldn't have been able to rake in more than a million crowns.
But why did Viscount Gooditch come to visit so late at night?
Claude gave it some thought and told Sergeant Kester, "Bring Viscount Gooditch to the study and tell him to wait a little longer. I'll go see him after I take a shower."
Claude washed his body and changed into his sleeping robe before heading to the study.
The moment he entered, he saw Gooditch in his forties leaning on the sofa, deep in thought. He didn't even notice Claude's arrival.
Claude coughed twice.
Gooditch snapped out of his daze and hurriedly stood up and bowed. "General Claude, I apologize for disturbing you so late at night."
Claude waved. "It's fine. I welcome your visit, Viscount Gooditch. Thank you for your cooperation in investigating the traitors' bank accounts. That was a great help to our military expenditure.
By the way, what kind of fruit wine would you like? Blueberry? "
Gooditch didn't stand on ceremony. He knew that the manor was only Claude's temporary residence. The wine in the study was the former admiral's collection.
He stood up and looked at the cabinet. "I personally think Sky Blue isn't bad. It's pure and sweet, with a lingering aftertaste.
I've had it once before and I still can't forget the taste. "
Sky Blue?
Claude gave it some thought. He seemed to have heard someone mention it before. It was one of the best blueberry wines. The wine was light blue and crystalline, like the blue sky. That was why it was named Sky Blue.
He didn't think that the captured admiral would have such good wine in his collection. It was just that it was given to Claude.
"Alright, let's have a taste of Sky Blue." Claude took out Sky Blue from the cabinet and took out two crystal glasses.
He opened the cork and poured the wine into the glasses. Under the candlelight, the wine looked like a clear pool of seawater.
Claude raised the glass and poured some into his mouth. It tasted rather good, with a faint blueberry fragrance and sweetness.
The two of them didn't speak, and they slowly finished the wine in the crystal cup in small sips.
"Not bad. As expected of the best blueberry wine," praised Claude as he poured himself and the viscount another glass.
But this time, Claude didn't continue drinking. Instead, he raised the glass and asked, "Let's get straight to the point. Viscount Gooditch, what brings you here tonight?"
"It's like this, General Claude. I'd like to ask if this thing was produced by your theatre?"
Viscount Gooditch put down his cup, picked up a black leather bag on the sofa, and took out a few vouchers of different denominations.
"Yes, it's issued by our theatre.
Due to the influx of immigrants, the theatre was short on funds for development and construction, so we had no choice but to issue vouchers as payment for the immigrants' labor.
These vouchers allow the immigrants to purchase daily necessities from the various trading companies in the theatre based on their denominations. The trading companies can then use the vouchers to exchange for real money from the theatre's logistics department.
We don't have a choice. The colonies are short on cash right now. We asked the person in charge of the national bank in Anfiston and he said that the branch can't provide that many coins. So, the theatre had no choice but to issue these vouchers. "
Claude first explained the process and the reason behind the voucher's release. He wondered if the release of the voucher also hindered the bank.
Is this Viscount Gooditch here tonight to denounce me for my crimes?
"I can only say that releasing this voucher is a genius idea."
Much to Claude's surprise, Gooditch exclaimed, "General, you might not know this, but there was an endless stream of immigrants from the kingdom's mainland at the end of last year and the first half of the year. The scale of the influx shocked everyone in the colony.
The viceroy and the admiral even bet on when your theatre would collapse. From their point of view, you're just asking for trouble by taking in so many immigrants. Based on the military expenditure of the theatre, you won't be able to accommodate so many immigrants.
"I've done some calculations. You'll need to spend at least three million crowns to settle down two million immigrants.
"The total value of the currency in circulation in the colonies is only that much. I can't imagine how you'll solve this problem.
"In the end, you disappointed many people, but you surprised me greatly.
"What surprised me the most was that you released this voucher and perfectly solved the problem of the immigrants' lack of funds.
"I've done some research on it and believe that it can be used as a substitute for gold and silver in many cases.
"However, the amount to be issued will require careful calculations and sufficient gold and silver as collateral.
In the current situation, perhaps the war zone can promote this voucher and solve the economic difficulties caused by the lack of cash throughout the colonies … "
Claude was taken aback. Gooditch was clearly trying to get on the good side of the theatre.
The honorary viscount was quite an intelligent man. He knew that the theatre had gained the monopoly over the colonies after being cut off from the mainland.
Anything that concerned the development of the colonies couldn't bypass the theatre, not even the national bank.
"You mean to say that the national bank is willing to issue the voucher for the theatre?" Claude asked with a smile.
Gooditch shook his head. "I'm sorry, but the branches of the national bank don't have the authority to do so.
However, I think the war zone can set up a bank to issue these vouchers. For example, gold and silver coins can be issued at a ratio of 1: 2, and one crown can be used to issue two vouchers of the same value. As for copper coins, they can be replaced by vouchers. That way, it'll be more convenient to carry them around. "
"The theatre can set up its own bank?"
Claude asked, surprised. He had never thought that other banks could be set up in Aueras apart from the national bank.
Gooditch nodded. "Of course. As long as it doesn't overlap with the main business of the national bank, you can apply for a new bank.
"There are four private banks in the royal capital. They deal with foreign exchange, commercial loans, mortgages and investments. Even the royal family has invested money in them.
As for the kingdom's national bank branches in the colonies, their main business was the settlement of cross-border trade between the two continents.
"Now that the trade between the colonies and the mainland has been cut off, the national bank has lost its main business.
"Before the two princes fight it out, the national bank won't be able to receive support from the main branch in the mainland and send money over. They've already lost their role in supporting the colonies' economic development.
"Also, the main branch in the mainland has a lot of authority over the overseas branches, so they won't be able to provide effective financial and economic support to the theatre.
"Under such circumstances, I personally believe that the theatre should set up its own bank so that every penny can be used efficiently. That's the only way to help the economy of the colonies and the war theatre."
Claude raised the cup to his lips and slowly took a sip. After putting it down, he looked at Gooditch and asked, "I have a question, Viscount Gooditch. I would like to know, as the manager of the overseas branch of the national bank, why did you suggest setting up a bank for the theatre?
I hope you can answer me honestly. "
Gooditch smiled bitterly and downed all the wine in his cup. "General Claude, if you know why I came to the colonies to become the manager of the overseas branch, you might be able to understand why I suggested setting up a bank for the theatre.
"To be honest, I've been the manager of the overseas branch for 18 years now. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll probably stay there until I retire.
"When I was 18, I graduated from the royal capital's best high school as the top academic student and smoothly became a clerk in the bank.
"For the next eight years, I worked diligently and didn't dare to slack off in the slightest. I rose step by step until I became the youngest vice-manager in the royal capital.
"Back then, I thought my life was perfect. My hard work and dedication were worthy of what I got.
"What happened next was the beginning of my misfortune. As the vice-manager, I had the authority to monitor the abnormal flow of funds in the bank.
"Sometimes, I regret being so observant. I found some illogical signs in the bank's funds for the construction of the local utilities in the royal capital. That's when I started investigating.
"That was the stupidest part of me. I thought it was a good chance for me to make a name for myself, so I didn't tell anyone and hired an investigator instead.
In the end, I succeeded. I lifted the veil over the corruption of the capital's local public utility construction. Just the number of people who were implicated in this case numbered eight, and their positions were all higher than mine. Because of this case, there were more than thirty local officials who were arrested.
"The late king, Stellin X, issued a decree to punish them. I helped the kingdom recover millions of crowns in losses and was made an honorary viscount.
"I thought my career would soar from then on. I didn't think I'd be sent to Nubissia as a branch manager two months later.
"I remember the head of the head office telling me sincerely that I was a rising star of the bank and that the reason I was sent to the colonies was to train and train me.
"So, I was happy to take up the post.
"Only after I got here did I realise that my authority as a branch manager wasn't even as great as a branch manager in a city. It was just a decoration. I ended up being the branch manager here for 18 years."
Claude could only shake his head with a bitter smile. Viscount Gooditch was already very lucky.
A corruption case that involved millions of crowns clearly wasn't something that eight high-ranking members of the national bank could handle. Perhaps someone even higher was involved. The eight high-ranking members were merely used as scapegoats to cut off their connections with the higher-ups.
Had it not been for Stellin X bestowing the title of an honorary viscount to Gooditch, the branch manager would've died a long time ago.
Only the title of viscount saved his life. In the kingdom, the mastermind behind the murder of a commoner or even a citizen might be able to escape.
But the murder of a noble would become a major case in the kingdom. It would be like poking a hornet's nest. All the nobles would exert pressure to investigate the case and punish the suspects.
Putting themselves in their shoes, all the nobles were worried that they would be the next victim, so they wouldn't let off anyone who dared to harm a noble.
Perhaps it was because of this consideration that the upper echelons of the main branch of the national bank exiled this Viscount Gooditch to the overseas colonies to be the manager of a branch. Out of sight, out of mind.
Just as Gooditch said, he wouldn't be returning to the royal capital until he retired.
"That's why I don't want to spend the rest of my life as a branch manager, nor do I want the knowledge I've learned to be useless.
I'm only 45 this year and there's still 15 years left before I retire. I want to find a place where I can put my talents to good use. I also want to take revenge on the bank.
This is a good opportunity for me and the war theatre. We can make use of the chaotic time when the two kings are fighting for the throne to establish a bank in the colonies that can rival the national bank, "said Gooditch.
Claude poured the rest of the wine into two crystal glasses. "Viscount Gooditch, let's have lunch together tomorrow. I'll introduce General Skri to you. Perhaps he'll be interested in establishing a bank."