Chapter 118: The Commissioner's Suggestion
Chapter 118: The Commissioner's Suggestion
Donate all of the Lane family's assets... to the Royal Family?
Upon hearing Lyon's words, the red-haired commissioner couldn't help but straighten up in surprise.
Even though the Lane family was already on the verge of collapse, it was estimated that it wouldn't be long before most of their assets were devoured by various powerful forces, leaving behind an empty shell with no real value.
But even this empty shell would be more than enough for an ordinary person to squander in a lifetime. Why would anyone consider donating it all?
"Because the salary from the Cleanup Bureau is enough for me, and it can even provide a very comfortable life for my family. Although I would gain more wealth by inheriting the dukedom, I would also be entangled in endless troubles. Anna and the others' lives would be completely disrupted. Compared to that, I think it's better to keep things as they are now."
After briefly explaining his reasoning, Lyon paused and added, "Of course, by doing this, I also intend to avoid any suspicion. After all, if I inherit the title of the Lionheart Duke, I would become the biggest beneficiary of Lane Blood Night. The investigators from the bureau might start to have doubts, so it's better to force them to quickly find someone else to take the title and get rid of this burden."
So, you see the entire wealth of a ducal family as nothing more than a heavy burden?
She looked into Lyon's eyes, confirming his sincerity, and the red-haired commissioner's eyebrows lifted slightly. She then glanced at the toad pendant on Lyon's chest.
Well, if he had a strong desire for wealth, he might not have been able to resist the allure of the Holy Spirit, who holds the power over riches. But...
"Why would you choose to donate it to the Royal Family?"
The red-haired commissioner pondered for a moment, then spoke earnestly, "If you're just trying to pressure them, I wouldn't recommend donating it to the Royal Family. They might not accept it.
After all, it would appear too much like a blatant attempt to seize assets. The old nobility still holds considerable influence. If not handled properly, it could lead to a large-scale backlash, which the Royal Family would not take lightly.
Moreover, even without your donation, the Royal Family, with their current influence, could likely claim three to four-tenths of the wealth. With better maneuvering, they might even secure half. They wouldn't want to risk rejection, so the chances of them refusing on the spot are quite high."
"..."
Lyon was momentarily stunned after hearing the commissioner's words, then felt relieved that he hadn't rushed into action without consultation. He was grateful for not having the Royal Family reject his offer, which would have put him in an awkward position.
Recognizing the gap between his understanding and the commissioner's, Lyon, always eager to learn, humbly asked, "Then, in your opinion, what should I do?"
"Simple!"
The red-haired commissioner snapped her fingers with a crisp sound and smiled, "For such an important coronation ceremony, the Princess will definitely be present. You can offer the entire Lane family as a dowry and propose to her right there and then~"
"..."
"What?!?!"
"Trust me, this is the best solution."
Seeing Lyon's jaw drop in surprise at her suggestion, the red-haired commissioner felt a sense of satisfaction, returning the favor from earlier. She smiled and said,
"Your ultimate goal is to force them to find someone else to take the title, right? In their eyes, you and the entire Lane family are like fish on a chopping block, no matter how much you struggle, you'll only be divided and consumed. So, no matter how outrageous or absurd your actions as a duke may seem, it won't affect the outcome."
Even if you donate the entire Lane Family, it wouldn’t matter much. After all, you can only donate the wealth of the Lane Family. The more important Upper House seat and the influence in the Department of Military and the Department of Transportation are things you can’t possibly give away. These core assets can only be taken over by other noble kin.
But if you were to propose to the Princess with the entire Lane Family as the dowry, the situation would be entirely different.”
With a bewildered expression, Leon listened as the Redhead Commissioner spoke with firm conviction:
“If you really manage to propose successfully, the Princess could swallow up the Lane Family’s wealth and Upper House seat, and then take over their positions in the Department of Military and the Department of Transportation in a legitimate manner, solidifying her influence.
In this case, the number of departments the Royal Family can basically control would reach nine. Including the other departments they have some influence over, more than half of the kingdom’s Revenue Department would be under the Princess’s influence.
Add to that the Lane Family’s Vice President seat in the Upper House, and the Princess would have a presence in both the Upper and Lower Houses. Even if the Old Nobility and the Parliament join forces, they would only be slightly stronger by about twenty to thirty percent.
After accounting for the internal friction and schemes that come with their alliance, the Princess’s faction and the non-Princess faction would be roughly evenly Matched. The reform measures that she has been trying to push through would then have a chance to be forcibly implemented, dealing a heavy blow to the entire Old Nobility class.
Once they realize this, it won’t just be a matter of changing the heir; those people might even have the thought of eliminating you on the spot!”
“……”
Watching Leon’s expression shift from shock to astonishment and finally to silence, the Redhead Commissioner, satisfied with her mischief, smiled and summarized:
“If you do as I suggested, at the very least, you could successfully rid yourself of the Duke title. In the best case, you might even marry the Princess and become a Prince!
Little Leon~ How do you like my idea?”
“……”
The idea is good, but it would be better if you didn’t play tricks on me.
By now, Leon had recovered and realized that his Commissioner had her usual penchant for mischief. The proposal she just made was clearly just toying with him.
“Thank you for the reminder.”
After noting down this ultra-kill move that could guarantee 100% success in shedding the Duke title, Leon said with a grim face:
“There’s no need to really propose to the Princess, right? I just need to mention my intention to propose, and they should kick me off the Duke position.”
“Doing that would work too, but have you really considered it?”
The Redhead Commissioner smiled and said:
“Given the Princess’s style, she would definitely agree to your proposal. She is known as the most beautiful woman in the entire capital. Don’t you have even the slightest bit of...”
“No!”
Seeing the Commissioner had entered her offbeat mode, and having already found a solution, Leon was not willing to stay and be teased further. He left the Commissioner’s office with a stiff face.
“There’s a lot of backlogged work. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go and get busy.”
“Mm, go go~”
Smilingly watching Leon leave, the Redhead Commissioner felt much more at ease. Taking a stack of files, she continued her work. However, as the sun began to set, she suddenly exclaimed in annoyance, opening a drawer to retrieve a family photo tangled in hair.
She had been busy with work and then entertained herself, forgetting to return the anomaly that Jerry had stolen from Leon!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
