Chapter 308: Here, There, and Everywhere (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 308: Here, There, and Everywhere (3)
It was a deeply irritating moment for Hoffman.
Valentino.
Muriel.
Vincent.
Throughout his travels across the three kingdoms, the fact that Count Fabius was always there, waiting in the exact same spot, thoroughly rubbed him the wrong way. What was worse, everything had played out exactly as Dmitry intended. Hoffman wanted nothing more than to smash that smug smirk right off the man's face, but he forced himself to swallow his rage. He had a far more important goal right now.
Viscount Vincent spoke up.
"Well, since neither of you was willing to postpone your appointment, I had no choice but to arrange this three-way meeting. Given that you both seem to have sought me out for the exact same purpose, would it be alright if we proceed with the discussion together?"
Despite his polite tone, his ulterior motive was glaringly obvious.
Now that he had become the center of attention due to the steel industry issue, his intention was to inflate his own value by pitting his suitors—Count Fabius and Hoffman—against each other in the same room. Viscount Vincent was cunning. His expression, feigning complete ignorance of the tension, was deeply hypocritical, but his immense wealth ensured that no one dared to call him out on it.
Hoffman was no exception.
Normally, he would have used the overwhelming prestige of the Golden Bank to pressure his opponent, but right now, he was the thirsty man digging the well.
Fine, I'll play along with your little game.
He sneered inwardly. The fact that his opponent was a pure materialist was a distinct advantage for the Golden Bank.
"Viscount Vincent," Hoffman began, "as a man well-versed in worldly affairs, I believe you understand how the tides are turning. The relationship between Dmitry and the Golden Bank is over. We have no intention of restoring ties with them through any future negotiations, and that same rule applies to all of the Golden Bank's partners. Frankly, as someone who pursues rational business, I find this current arrangement highly uncomfortable. It may sound harsh to demand that you choose one over the other, but I have come here today to persuade you."
"Oh dear."
Viscount Vincent put on a troubled expression. Yet, the subtle gleam in his eyes betrayed him; he knew perfectly well that conflict was the ultimate catalyst to skyrocket his own value.
Therefore, Hoffman laid out a concrete reward.
"Sever your trade with Dmitry. In exchange, we will accept the Vincent Family as an official member of the Golden Line."
*
Viscount Vincent's eyes widened. "…Are you truly serious?"
"Yes."
"My word."
The Golden Line.
It represented immense privilege.
Since ancient times, the Golden Bank—which utterly dominated the finances of the Salamander Continent—had invited only partners with guaranteed futures to join the Golden Line. It was a world beyond the horizon. To signify that they shared the same vision as the Golden Bank, members of the Golden Line were bestowed with jaw-dropping privileges.
Just like now.
"As you well know, joining the Golden Line means sharing a future with the Golden Bank," Hoffman continued. "If you accept my proposal, we will back every single business venture the Vincent Family undertakes. You will be able to purchase top-tier goods at rock-bottom prices. We will introduce you to distribution companies within the Golden Line to drastically cut your logistics costs, and existing members of the Golden Line will actively seek out trade with your family."
It was killing two birds with one stone.
No, it was far more than that. Even with a simple mental calculation, it was impossible not to see how extraordinary these benefits were.
"The Golden Bank is, at its core, a lending institution. We intend to adjust the interest rates on your existing loans to the absolute minimum, and we can lend massive business capital to Golden Line members based on credit alone. Frankly, I can guarantee there is no better opportunity than this in the world. Not all factions that joined the Golden Line were wealthy from the start. However, year after year, they demonstrated exponential growth. What do you think will happen if the Vincent Family enters that realm? The Vincent Family, renowned as the tycoons of the Frank Kingdom—the tycoons of the Kingdom Alliance—will finally have the chance to leave this small pond and venture out into the vast ocean. I strongly urge you to seize this opportunity."
It was an incredibly tempting offer.
As a merchant, refusing an invitation to join the Golden Line defied all common sense. However, the Vincent Family's unique situation required calculating far more complex issues.
"…I agree that it is an exceptionally good offer," Vincent said slowly. "There is likely no faction in the world that could refuse your proposal, Lord Hoffman. However, there is an issue we must consider. The Vincent Family operates primarily upon the stage of the Kingdom Alliance. Since our entire power base is rooted right here in the Frank Kingdom, we cannot simply overlook the political complications."
A cataclysmic shift had occurred.
The world had changed. Previously, they hadn't needed to pay much attention to the political affairs of the Frank Kingdom, but the war between Dmitry and the Kronos Empire had completely upended the status quo. The Frank Kingdom had bet everything on Dmitry. If the Vincent Family, operating within Frank's borders, shook hands with the Golden Bank—an entity openly hostile to Dmitry, the leader of the Kingdom Alliance—what would happen?
It would be the end.
Immense pressure would bear down on them from all sides, and their carefully built infrastructure within Frank could vanish overnight.
Thus, it was a delicate dilemma. When Hoffman had first requested a meeting, Vincent knew it was a golden opportunity, but it wasn't a decision he could make hastily. His mind was a tangled web of complex calculations. Wanting to turn this opportunity into a guaranteed, risk-free profit, Viscount Vincent had played a highly calculated, materialistic hand by meeting Count Fabius and Hoffman at the exact same time.
"Lord Hoffman's proposal could shake our very foundation. How do you plan to resolve that issue?"
He smoothly shifted the burden of the problem. If Hoffman could provide a viable solution, he would accept; if not, he would turn his full attention to Count Fabius.
Hoffman smiled.
It was just as he expected. His opponent was a true materialist, and he welcomed it.
"It is a simple matter. Step out into the vast ocean. How long do you plan to stay confined to this small pond called the Frank Kingdom? We will establish a foundation for the Vincent Family to settle in the Kronos Empire or Valhalla. I do not mean for you to completely abandon Frank. But by expanding your options, we will provide a solid foundation that can withstand any external pressure the Frank Kingdom might attempt to exert."
It was a perfect solution.
Entering the empires! It was an intoxicating prospect. Viscount Vincent could not stop his lips from twitching with barely contained excitement as the conversation progressed.
"Count Fabius. What do you think of the Golden Bank's proposal?"
Vincent shifted his gaze. Although his heart was already leaning heavily toward the Golden Bank, he still had to hear Dmitry's counteroffer. Perhaps, through fierce competition, he could extract an even better deal.
However…
"Even in my eyes, those are excellent terms. Seize the opportunity, Viscount Vincent."
Count Fabius's words, delivered with a lazy smirk, instantly threw cold water on the heated discussion.
*
It was baffling.
To think that a man who had traveled all this way to persuade him would say such a thing.
Viscount Vincent asked, dumbfounded, "…Are you saying it doesn't matter to you if I join hands with the Golden Bank?"
"Yes."
Count Fabius leaned back against the sofa. Sipping his tea with a deeply relaxed expression, he looked at Viscount Vincent's face, which was currently painted with utter bewilderment.
"Dmitry cannot match the Golden Bank's terms. To be precise, we have absolutely no intention of granting special privileges to the Vincent Family as a condition for holding hands with Dmitry."
"I see. If that is how you are going to play it—"
"However…" Fabius cut him off abruptly.
As Viscount Vincent's face flushed with rising anger at the perceived slight, Count Fabius adjusted his posture and smoothly set down his teacup.
"Out of genuine concern for you, Viscount Vincent, let me tell you an interesting story. In the long, bloody process of fighting for interests to reach where the Golden Bank stands today, disputes exactly like this have occurred more than once or twice. And every single time, the presidents of the Golden Bank uttered the exact same words: 'Seize the Golden Line. If you share a future with us, you too will face a brilliant future.'"
He smirked.
It was entirely predictable. He knew exactly what kind of proposal the Golden Bank would make. Because it was an offer that was nearly impossible to resist even while knowing the catch, Hoffman had spoken exactly as expected, playing right within Fabius's predicted boundaries.
"Lord Hoffman is correct. Indeed, many factions have found great success as members of the Golden Line. But did you know that there are also factions that failed? And what if I told you there is a distinct common thread among those failed factions?"
"…What do you mean by that?"
"I mean you need to face reality. The factions that failed despite becoming members of the Golden Line—their commonality is that they joined through 'competition,' exactly like this one. They were not accepted because the Golden Bank truly valued them, but rather as conditional pawns used to win a bidding war. Unbeknownst to them, they faced severe discrimination even from within the Golden Line. On the surface, it seemed like the bank was actively fulfilling its grand promises, but behind the scenes, they orchestrated situations that left those factions with no choice but to burn out and collapse."
Looking back at history, there were clear, undeniable precedents.
The factions that had collapsed in that manner could not even raise their voices in protest before meeting their miserable demise at the very bottom.
"Both you and I, Viscount Vincent, know very well that what I just said is the absolute truth. If you ask for proof, I would simply tell you to look back at history. So let me ask you this: the Golden Bank desperately wants the Vincent Family right now, but do you honestly believe they will feel the exact same way in the future?"
"What absolute nonsense is this—!" Hoffman flared up.
He leaped to his feet, but Count Fabius's gaze remained calmly locked on Viscount Vincent.
"Dmitry is different," Fabius continued smoothly. "Dmitry never betrays a relationship once it is established. That is the sole condition Dmitry can promise to the Vincent Family."
*
The atmosphere in the room grew strange.
Seeing Viscount Vincent's expression turn deeply complex, Hoffman hurriedly raised his voice.
"Viscount Vincent! Do not be deceived by such absurd nonsense! The Golden Bank is an institution that reached its current pinnacle solely on trust. We value our word like gold, and we truly desire a future with the Vincent Family. You know very well that joining the Golden Line is an incredibly rare opportunity!"
Vincent had to admit it. Hoffman's proposal was the opportunity of a lifetime, but Count Fabius's chilling words had thrown him into deep confusion.
Count Fabius is right. Partnering with the Golden Bank means worrying about a knife in the back at every turn. But if the rumors are true, Dmitry never betrays a relationship once they accept you. If so, which partnership truly secures the best future for the Vincent Family?
There was a common misconception about materialists.
People assumed they were driven by blind greed, but true materialists never acted recklessly. Even if their selfish motives drew criticism, they would always choose the safest, most stable future in a coldly calculated, pragmatic manner.
"…I will accept Count Fabius's proposal," Vincent finally declared. "The Vincent Family wishes to share its future with Dmitry."
He had made his decision.
In the end, trust was what mattered most. While partnering with the Golden Bank would guarantee immense short-term wealth, what truly mattered to the Vincent Family—who were already renowned as tycoons—was security. A future with the Golden Bank was inherently unstable. In contrast, Dmitry was forging a new future, and the rumors circulating throughout the world proved they were absolutely trustworthy.
It was over.
Having failed to win over even Viscount Vincent, Hoffman's last shred of patience finally snapped.
Slam! Crash!
"You fucking bastards!"
He violently flipped the table. With a face flushed crimson, he spat his fury directly at Viscount Vincent.
"Vincent! How dare a mere wretch like you reject my offer?! Joining the Golden Line is an opportunity that even the empire's greatest tycoons beg for! Yet you dare reject it, completely blind to your own lowly place? I promise you this: the future of the Vincent Family will plunge into the abyss, right alongside Dmitry. The Golden Bank—and I, Hoffman—will drag you straight down to hell!"
He whipped his head around.
There sat Count Fabius. The true culprit who had orchestrated this entire humiliating situation was none other than that sly raccoon.
"Fabius. On the day Dmitry falls, I will capture you alive and—"
"Lower your voice."
"Why, you little—!"
Instantly, the atmosphere in the room turned chillingly cold.
Count Fabius, who usually wore a constant, lazy smirk, now bore a ferocious expression. He looked like an entirely different person.
"If you don't want to die, shut your mouth, you fucking bastard."