His Excellency the Count of Grandet

Although Charles had the idea to check the whole thing with Victor - because he figured that Victor already knew what Michele was doing - but since Victor was in Paris this time, he had to wait until he got back to ask.

But then again, he felt at the same time that Michelle must have told him at the right time in order to prevent him from ventilating with Victor.

Thinking about it this way, Michelle's motives seem even more suspicious.

Fortunately, Charles was not in a hurry to make a decision.Even if Michelle offered to give him three years of free work, he didn't necessarily have to accept it!He's never been a cheap eater; at least not until he's figured out the whole thing!

Therefore, in the next ten days, Charles was busy dealing with the Americans, and all other affairs were temporarily put aside.Fortunately, Adams' attitude can almost represent the attitude of the entire delegation—in the mission, whether it is the southern faction or the northern faction, they all happen to be able to obtain huge benefits in transnational cooperation, and a rare consensus was reached.

Everything went smoothly, and the two countries signed the contract in Sharon.

"No one will be against you," Adams told Shire as he boarded the train to La Rochelle, the central French port. "I wish us a happy cooperation."

Charles stretched out his right hand and shook hands with the other party. "What I wanted to say was completely taken away by you."

Adams turned his head and looked at the lineup behind Charles, and asked again: "You are going back to Paris soon, aren't you?"

"After I finish taking care of the affairs in the east." Charles replied succinctly. "Is there anything else you want to say?"

"A little bit." Adams admitted without hesitation. "If I come here in a few years, I hope you will come to meet me."

This topic returns to the current situation in Paris.The reason why Victor stayed in Paris was because it was the critical moment of the cabinet change (Charles was the one at the head), and someone had to take full control in real time to avoid any accidents.

Charles raised his eyebrows and replied, "Thank you for your special concern for me." But in fact, they all knew that no one is in front of the country; what Adams said was not at all being close, but out of necessary political and economic considerations.

"It looks like you have a plan in mind," Adams smiled just right, no more, no less, "Then I can rest assured." In fact, he believes that no matter how hard the two sides fight, neither side will take action against Charles; But it would be an even better sign if Charles were fully confident of their victory.

"For partners, this is what I should bring to them." Charles replied.

Adams finally determined that their eastward journey had achieved the most satisfactory result——

You know, they were hostile to the Europeans before because those people didn't come to do business fairly at all, but just planned to plunder resources one-sidedly.So when they first received the French delegation headed by Victor, they were not very welcome.

But it turns out, they were wrong.Even if they are both European or French, there are still different voices and attitudes!If it can be a win-win situation, why insist on the previous prejudice?

Having dealt with the American mission well, the contract signed can also make France a lot of money. Everyone thinks that Charles has handled this matter extremely well, and everyone praises it.

And Shire followed the itinerary he said, and after checking the previously prepared technical improvement plan with Alphonse and Eugenie in the east, he was ready to implement it.The results of the topographical survey have also come out, and the branch factory in the west is located near Nantes.Nantes itself is a port, and the shipping is convenient; and when the new railway is built there, it will be much easier to transport to Paris or to the south.

Friends and cousins ​​were in charge of the specific details, and Charles boarded the train back to Paris with confidence.And the first thing he did when he went back was to ask Victor about Michelle.

"Want to open a bank in the United States? Then I have to say, it's really not a good idea. You also know that the bank opened by the Americans, called the First Bank of the United States, has already collapsed!"

Victor has never been interested in this topic, and the tone of his answer is extremely sarcastic.Not only that, but he also concentrated on cutting a cigar for Charles, and said, "I think the new variety from South America tastes good. Would you like to try it?"

Charles reached out to take it, and took a slow breath.This gesture was elegant and natural, but what he said next was: "Don't try to change the subject. You must know that Michelle will not actively want to go to the United States." He glanced at Victor, "But you are not surprised at all."

The motive was exposed, and Victor was helpless. "I know you've always been sensitive," he spread his hands slightly, "but in this matter, don't you think it's good to let him go? Of course, when I say let him go, I just let him go by himself."

The so-called going by himself means to let Michelle go to the United States to work hard, don't expect to bring any good things from Shire.

"So, is there really something?" Charles could guess the above conclusion, but now he was more concerned about the cause of the matter. "Something must have happened, and you guys kept it from me for a while?"

"It's not a big deal, but it's not a good thing either." Victor could only admit frankly.Seeing Charles looking at him with his eyes, he could only tell the story of the love letter in detail.

The more Charles listened, the higher his eyebrows were raised, and he was shocked in the end.

"Look, you also think that a person like him is unreliable, don't you?" Victor said tightly.

From his point of view, although Charles can't be considered a soft bun, he definitely has a good temper. If he can keep a low profile, he should keep a low profile; in this way, if he forgives Michele according to the truth, wouldn't it be too cheap? Has he added to the blocking guy?

"No," Ciel denied without a word, still looking Victor up and down, "It's you who surprised me."

"...What?" Victor felt that he couldn't keep up with Charles' brain circuit.Isn't the point of this matter that Michelle is probably an unfamiliar white-eyed wolf?

"Yeah, you," Charles nodded extremely seriously, "When can you endure this kind of thing? This is not the Victor I know!"

Victor heard the implication and almost laughed angrily.Will he always be a vinegar jar? "It wasn't that easy at first," he gritted his teeth, "but he only found me, and you are too busy!"

"So you two did all these things behind my back." Charles continued to nod, and changed the topic, "Aren't those my love letters? It's fine if Michelle didn't ask me, why didn't you ask? Don't you think I'll give you a disappointing answer?"

"Of course not!" Victor replied quickly, "Just because I know you will never disappoint me..." He turned his head as he spoke, obviously feeling that this matter was so embarrassing, "I don't want you to know .I can take care of this!"

Charles did not entangle Victor with the right to know as a partner, but only asked: "So have you solved it?"

"...I didn't expect him to find you in the end." Victor could only admit.

Charles stared at Victor again. "Michelle has left Paris for the United States, do you know about it?"

"Yeah." Victor replied, "I also know that you haven't commissioned him to do anything, at least so far."

"But he left me a box of gifts." Charles said, "I saw it as soon as I got home."

No need to guess, the so-called box of gifts is the letter Shire wrote to Annette before, which can almost be regarded as the only and last handle to blackmail Shire.

Victor thought of those sweet words, and suddenly felt sour again - although Charles obviously had no feelings for Annette, he had never heard or seen those sweet words! "so what?"

"I counted them, and then burned them all." Charles blinked, "It will end up the same as the little gift you received."

Victor finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Fair enough Michelle!If he doesn't take the initiative to hand it in now, when he forces him to hand it in later, it will definitely make Michelle's life worse than death!Even in order to avoid blame, Michelle had already set off for the United States first, but there was no new trouble left behind!

"So this matter is settled?" He said lightly.

Of course, he didn't have the energy to go to the United States to hunt down Michelle or something; as long as the other party disappeared from his sight from then on, he felt that it was complete.And, imagine where Michelle is going - without Shire's backing, the fortunes are usually accompanied by gunfire, ha!

"It's not over." Charles put down his cigar and pressed his hand on the table, "Of course it's not over."

"...What?" Victor realized that he seemed to be happy too early.

"It's not just about this, is it?" Charles asked in a deep voice. "I think you'd better tell me something else that I don't know, so I won't find out later; that's two different things."

"No, look, you're already so busy that your favorite money-making career is going to be handed over to someone else..." Victor tried to bargain, but in exchange for a glare from Charles, he had to change his words: "Okay, it's just a little thing That's all."

The curvature of Charles' eyebrows and eyes fully expressed his disbelief.

"It's really just a little... things haven't been settled yet!" Victor said. "If the transfer goes well, Duke Decaz will soon take over as Minister of the Interior."

The home secretary is a cabinet job they had previously vowed to take.It stands to reason that after Duke Decaz was forced to step down from the position of the chairman of the Council of Ministers, his political career was basically destroyed; and now, they have successfully re-supported such a person!

Although the power of the current cabinet is far less than that of later generations, the number of seats undoubtedly reflects the relative strength of the two factions from one aspect.And if one side significantly overwhelms the other, even the king may have to consider adjusting his decision.What's more, now is the time to change the monarchy; the overall tendency of the cabinet that came to power at this time undoubtedly shows the style of the next monarch!

"This is a good thing." Charles gave a precise overview. "But the position is close to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers... does our dear Minister-at-Large know? And what does he think about it?"

The Count of Villeret, the Minister of Nothing, is a loyal fan of the Count of Artois.If the royalist side wins, the position of chairman of the Council of Ministers must fall to the Earl of Villers.

"I'm afraid it's not up to him to think, or what he thinks can no longer affect the overall situation." Victor affirmed, "We have the king, Britain, the United States, and Russia; but what does he have, the Pope?"

This is undoubtedly a satire on the declining power of the Holy See.

But Shire caught another focus. "'We have a king'?" He sharply asked, almost sure: "If we can form a majority of the cabinet, His Majesty will issue an edict to confirm the replacement of the heir to the throne?"

"That's right." Victor said approvingly, "But actually, I think His Majesty has already finished drafting..."

Charles was both delighted and surprised.The joy is that they have done so many things, and now they finally see the dawn; the surprise is, isn't this implying in disguise that the storm is close at hand?