Chapter 296. Cold Person (1)

Translator: Aura / Editor: SaWarren

“Counterfeit promissory notes? My trade team’s promissory notes can’t be counterfeit.”

“Innovations are not limited to trade teams. Criminals are also capable. Hasn’t the world become a truly ugly and twisted place?”

After Danju left, the President of the Bear Corporation laughed bitterly, angry and skeptical.

Counterfeit promissory notes? Are thieves innovating?

‘Where did he get the incidents of counterfeit promissory notes?’

Promissory notes were the credibility of a trade team. The less the promissory notes could be counterfeited, the more reliable the trade team would be.

The Bear Corporation’s promissory notes were the best, to the point that they were officially used by the Imperial Family of the Eastern Empire.

Recently, the Corporation’s reputation was further elevated due to Empress Rashta’s use of promissory notes issued by the Bear Corporation to distribute a huge social support donation.

For the president of the Bears Corporation, the possibility that the promissory notes could be counterfeited was totally unacceptable.

He was a very cautious man. Even the former empress, whom he had met on several occasions, had admired that he worked so hard to be in the position of the best trade team. He meticulously checked everything that worried him.

The President of the Bear Corporation could not dispel his anxiety and ordered his secretary late at night,

“Bring the books of accounts and promissory notes for the last year.”

His secretary returned shortly after,

“Here you go.”

“Pour me a cup of strong coffee.”

After lighting his desk with an oil lamp and putting on his glasses, the president began to carefully examine the date of issue of the promissory notes, the authenticity of the returned promissory notes, the users of the promissory notes, and so on.

There was nothing wrong. From the promissory notes used by Countess Reygess to the recent use by Lord Vallois.

Even the largest promissory notes by Empress Rashta…

‘Hmm?’

The president frowned and leaned a little closer over the account books. He rummaged thoroughly through all the account books, records, and his memories. It was strange. It was very strange. No promissory note had been issued to Empress Rashta in this past year.

It was impossible for one to have been issued more than a year ago. Back then, she had not even appeared in high society and lived as a mere ‘commoner’.

Moreover, Empress Rashta used promissory notes from the Imperial Family.

‘How strange…’

The president tapped impatiently on the armrests of his chair. Although these promissory notes had not been issued, there was a record of their use.

At the time, the person in charge seemed only to have checked the authenticity of the promissory notes. But that point aside, it was clear that something was amiss.

The president called the secretary again and ordered him,

“Bring detailed reports of promissory notes issued as well as returned promissory notes for this past year.”

“All of them?”

“Yes.”

“I will have to go up to the top floor… so it will take me a little time, president. It’s late, wouldn’t it be better to check tomorrow? I will take it to your office early tomorrow.”

“No, I need to check it now. I don’t think I can sleep if I don’t.”

Because of the president’s heavy voice, the secretary’s face darkened as he wondered if something serious had happened.

The secretary appeared with a large box after about an hour.

The president immediately pulled out the reports of the promissory notes issued and confirmed his suspicions. Here there was no record of the issuance of these promissory notes either.

Then he pulled out the returned promissory notes after they had been used, and changed his reading glasses for special ones.

With these glasses he would be able to distinguish the promissory notes of Empress Rashta. The Bear Corporation put special marks on the promissory notes that were issued to the Emperor and Empress.

Just by observing the promissory notes that came out of the Imperial Family, one could know in advance where to invest, what would prosper, what would collapse, and so on… so it was a convenient method used by the Bear Corporation in secret.

“Sigh.”

A heavy sigh came out of the president’s mouth.

As he expected, the Bear Corporation had not issued any promissory notes to the Imperial Family in the last year.

So, there were two options.

The huge donation that made people praise Empress Rashta was actually money given by the Emperor or she had used promissory notes from the former Empress.

‘In either case, it was disappointing.’

If it was the first, it was laughable that she had acted as a kind person taking advantage of the emperor, and if it was the second, it was a truly wicked act for her to use the former empress’ money.

The president, who had hoped that Rashta was truly the light of the commoners, was very disappointed.

However, his disappointment was not the real problem.

The president went down to the drawing room and took the crumpled newspaper that was in front of the fireplace. He recalled that this newspaper had been read this morning by his daughter-in-law and she had said to him,

“Father, have you read this? Journalist Joanson must have had a huge fight with Empress Rashta. He has attacked her again. Didn’t this journalist usually only write articles praising the Empress?”

At the time, he didn’t pay much attention to her because he was playing with his grandchildren.

‘Here it is.’

The president, who found the article written by Joanson, returned to his room with the newspaper in his hand and opened it under the lamplight.

After reading the article carefully with his glasses on, his concern took a clear form.

Journalist Joanson, who did not expect to write an article about nobility meetings, related that Empress Rashta only met with noblemen to hang out, and ended with this.

— Is it scary to look down from the top? Those who have climbed the ladder of status seem to have no intention of looking down.

‘He previously wrote in an article that Empress Rashta framed her maids to replace them…’

Rashta, who had become empress amidst the cheers of commoners, in less than a year as empress had already starred in all sorts of scandals.

It seems that the journalist still knows nothing about the promissory notes… What if the promissory notes used by Empress Rashta were not the Emperor’s, but really those of the former Empress? What if the former Empress asks for back the promissory notes she left behind, or if someone close to the former Empress realizes this?

Even if he kept his mouth shut, he didn’t know which way the promissory note issue would blow up.

‘It’s worrisome.’

Empress Rashta had distributed a huge donation through the Bear Corporation, and both received high praise.

Now it was beneficial to the Bear Corporation, but if Empress Rashta fell, the Bear Corporation would suffer the same fate.

‘I should take measures beforehand to disassociate us.’

The president began to think in a totally calculating manner.

***

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