Flowers, Swords and France

"Isn't this self-serving for personal gain, sir?" Jean-Calvert's question once again plunged the atmosphere that had calmed down slightly into a dead silence.

Not only Charles, but also many other officials couldn't help but look at him with suspicion.

In any case, it is a very dishonorable behavior to publicly accuse colleagues in a department meeting, not to mention such a serious crime of falsely serving the public for personal gain. Although Su Xiaer and him usually have a very bad relationship, they were so tit-for-tat in the meeting. , this was the first time, and it was as if he was openly trying to break up with Ciel.

For a moment, even Charles couldn't help but wonder what this person wanted to do - it couldn't really be for the benefit of the public, right?

However, although he had been thinking in his mind, he remained calm on the surface.

"Self-serving for public benefit? I don't understand what you mean by your accusation." Charles replied seemingly mildly, and then glanced at the stenographer. The stenographer, who had already turned pale, had no choice but to continue recording.

"Don't you understand? Then let me remind you in detail." Jean-Calvert continued unhurriedly, "You want to designate suppliers related to you for the ministry's procurement. This is self-serving for private gain." "Please don't use the Minister as a shield, sir." Jean-Calvert interrupted him directly. It was as if she no longer wanted to tolerate him. "Those of us here know that you have always been the one giving the Minister advice and instigating him to act arbitrarily. You have also cut off our communication with him, preventing us from giving him correct advice. This reform must be carried out by you alone. You are here to take the lead. Your Excellency, the Minister, is usually very busy with affairs and puts your department at the forefront of your mind. He doesn't think much, and he is still at home attending the funeral of Count Dilion, so how can he have so much time to take care of this place? It is already obvious that you neither respect us nor the Minister. Rather, they deliberately create distrust between us and His Excellency the Minister, and then use this to benefit themselves..."

Even with Ciel's self-cultivation, the smile on his face couldn't help but disappear completely after hearing such words.

"Your baseless accusation. Can I take it as slander?!"

Although his expression did not show much anger, everyone present was secretly frightened. Only Jean Calvert still looked at Charles with a calm face, untouched at all. "Slander? I don't think so." In the silence, Calvert's voice seemed to be louder than usual, "Mr. Treville. Since you deny my statement, can you answer me a question?"

"Oh? Please ask." Ciel replied.

"I heard that your relatives, the Duke de Treville and his family, have started investing in the railway industry... Is this true?"

It turns out that I want to attack from here! Ciel frowned slightly.

Although I don’t know where he found out about this kind of thing, it wouldn’t be strange even if he did.

"Oh? Is this the case?" All kinds of thoughts went through his mind in an instant, but his face still pretended to be calm. "I don't know much about this matter. Although we are relatives and don't have much contact with each other. However, I can ask in the next few days..."...

"Okay, maybe you don't know much about it. So, what if this is true?" His answer did not satisfy Calvert, and he continued to ask, "If what I said is indeed true, then you What are you going to do?”

"Oh, thank you for your consideration. However, if it is indeed the case, then there is nothing I can do about it." Charles replied calmly, "I can't interfere with them. I don't see what's wrong with this."

His attitude gave Calvert a slight pause, as if he hadn't expected the man to be so shameless in his stupidity, but he soon resumed his aggressive demeanor.

"If it is true, then your holding such a position will inevitably lead to the perception that the Duke of Treville and his family are planning to use your authority and influence to obtain improper benefits..." Jean- Calvert kept looking at Charles as if As if he wanted to take a bite out of him to vent his anger, "Mr. Treville, as colleagues, maybe we will not doubt your character and integrity, but if all this falls into the eyes of the outside world, then I will I can’t guarantee what the outcome will be…”

Of course, Ciel could hear such an obvious threat. He had no time to argue with the opponent at this time, but started thinking faster in his mind.

There is no doubt that Charles used his position to secretly help the Duke of Treville and his family make a fortune from the railway business. This is a standard use of power for personal gain, and it violates the law, and it certainly cannot be revealed to the world.

However, in this day and age, who doesn’t do this kind of thing? Isn’t everyone accustomed to it? Aren’t Jean-Calvert and others doing it? That's weird. Besides, even in the 21st century, is there less collusion between government and businessmen in France? Since the Fifth Republic, let alone ministers or secretaries, how many presidents and prime ministers have been investigated for rape cases, but who has actually been punished by law?

"Mr. Treville, do you think I'm right?" Seeing that Charles had fallen silent, Jean-Calvert continued to press with secret joy, "I guess you don't like to be misunderstood by the world because of this kind of thing, right? "

"So what do you think?" Charles asked back. "Can I interfere with the Duke of Treville's family? The law does not prohibit my distant relatives from doing any business?"

"Oh, of course you don't need to force your relatives to do anything," seeing that Charles had been tricked. Jean-Calvert smiled triumphantly, "You just need to protect your reputation, and leave all matters to us. Well... this equipment management bureau is also in charge of loyal and reliable officials, and then we will have someone to review the qualifications of the candidates and select suitable suppliers from them. Don't worry, our review is fair as long as all procedures comply with laws and regulations. So what if there is a company with a stake in the Duke of Treville? No one can say anything... Don't worry, we will do our best to protect your reputation."

Charles remained silent. He didn't say another word, and he seemed to be carefully weighing the pros and cons.

It seems that this person is planning to completely accept the fruits of Charles' labor-that is, he intends to accept the departmental reform plan proposed by Charles. But he completely placed his own people in the department, and took over all the achievements under the pretext of protecting the reputation of Charles and the Treville family. It seems that he still thought too simply. His opposition just now was just to lure the snake out of its hole, and now is his real purpose.

And why did he dare to do this? He even dared to break the routine and directly attack his colleagues at the department meeting?

There is probably only one reason... He must have felt that the minister and Charles had not been in this department for a long time, so he could offend them in any way.

Why did he think so? I'm afraid this is a question worth pondering...

In that short period of time, Charles carefully weighed the pros and cons and found that now was indeed not the time to have a full showdown with Jean-Calvert-it was simple to forcibly ignore his opinions. But it was not a wise move to lose both sides for this, at least not now.

"Mr. Treville, what do you think?" Seeing that Charles had been thinking. Jean-Calvert urged again, "We have clearly felt the urgency of the reform you just mentioned, so why don't we just speed up the implementation?"

"You are right, I hastily proposed this reform plan. There are some places where we are not careful enough, we need to think carefully again." Charles suddenly said.

Jean-Calvert was stunned for a moment.

"As subordinates, our natural duty is to help realize the Minister's vision, but now the Minister is unable to take care of things, so we'd better discuss the details carefully and wait until the Minister comes back to make the final decision..." Charles said calmly.

Jean-Calvert looked at Charles quietly, watching him slap his face in front of everyone without changing his expression. He kept looking at Charles, as if expecting him to blush for a moment.

"So, your opinion is very reasonable. Important things always need sufficient discussion. The government has always been like this." Charles failed to live up to his expectations and smiled instead, "Let's continue to slowly consider this proposal. Since it was hastily put forward, there must be many shortcomings."

The original text can be read in the six # 9 @book/bar!

"Mr. Treville, you are using all the points you just refuted to support yourself!" Seeing that something was wrong, Jean-Calvert had to remind Charles in a deep voice.

"Really?" Charles shrugged slightly, "I find myself too impatient. It is indeed as you said. We need to think about it again."

I'm sorry, the Treville family has always valued practical benefits over reputation - although they will never admit this. If his own reform plan cannot benefit him at present - or even harm him - then Charles will not mind taking it back immediately.

Jean-Calvert's face was uncertain, but he finally accepted Charles's retreat. He found that the other party's shamelessness was higher than he expected. He actually changed his attitude completely in public.

This guy is really not afraid of losing face in front of his subordinates. Is he still a young man in his early twenties?

After cursing in his heart, Jean-Calvert had to accept this result. In any case, he still got a small victory - using the Treville family to give the other party an unexpected blow, forcing him to lose face in front of everyone. Although this may not be of much significance, at least it can make him happy in his heart.

"Okay, sir, since you think of your hard work in this way, then let's discuss it slowly. We have always been dedicated to serving the Minister and you... Oh, by the way, don't take back your plan for now. Can you leave me a copy? Maybe we can use it soon?"

Then, he looked at the stenographer with confidence.

"What are you still standing there for? Write down what Treville said just now! Mr. will review it later!"

Calvert's ridicule, but Charles will not take it to heart, he is thinking about the really important things.

He seems to really believe that Mr. Dillion and I will not be together for long, what is the reason? ...Charles' heart is cold again.

Very good, I want to see who wins in the end.

"Of course, you can keep it." Charles replied with a smile, "I also believe that we will still need this plan after all."

Sooner or later you will be dealt with.

The two looked at each other and thought at the same time.