Chapter 170: Dust Settles
Joseph glanced at Calonne's expression, then immediately stoked the flames:
"This time, the Office of Fair Investigation and the Secret Police combined have over sixty people assigned to this case. They'll likely meticulously investigate everyone and everything related to it.
"Viscount Calonne, during this process, it's hard to guarantee they won't unearth things you'd rather keep hidden."
Calonne could no longer maintain his composure. He pleaded in a near-begging tone:
"Your Highness, I can swear to God I had nothing to do with that investigator's death!
"Please, Your Highness, can you prevent those people from disturbing my already miserable exile...?"
Joseph gazed at him.
"Viscount Calonne, I genuinely wish to help you, but first, we must establish mutual trust.
"As long as you are honest with me, I can promise, no matter what the issue, I can guarantee your safety."
However, he also knew his problems were too significant, and he wasn't sure if the Queen would truly forgive him once everything came to light.
Joseph, seeing his indecision, stood up and feigned preparing to leave:
"Since you choose not to trust me, then you may face the Secret Police and the investigators on your own. I must return to Paris."
Calonne panicked. He took a few hasty steps forward and forcefully grabbed Joseph's arm, then, realizing his impropriety, he quickly withdrew his hand. He lowered his head, breathing heavily, and said:
"My apologies, Your Highness, truly my apologies, I didn't mean to offend...
"Um, well, can you truly help me? I mean, if I've made some mistakes, can you plead with Her Majesty the Queen to forgive me?"
"That depends on your cooperation." Joseph settled back into his chair, his expression softening. "As I said, the Royal Family trusts and values you greatly."
As he spoke, he placed a pardon on the table.
"You see, before I even left Versailles, Her Majesty the Queen had already decided to pardon you."
Calonne, surprised, picked up the pardon and opened it. His eyes immediately reddened with emotion. So, Her Majesty the Queen had still been thinking of him all this time! Not long after the Tax Bill incident, she had pardoned him!
He then recalled what the Crown Prince had just said. 'Perhaps Her Majesty the Queen already knew about his affairs, and had sent His Highness to offer him a chance?'
Joseph added, seizing the moment:
"Viscount Calonne, our common enemy now is Necker. As for you, you have always been a loyal subject of His Majesty the King."
Calonne cautiously looked at the Crown Prince and murmured:
"Your Highness, if I tell you about Necker, what punishment will I face afterwards?"
Joseph smiled. "Why don't you tell me about your own affairs first?"
Calonne's face turned pale, but he considered that even if he didn't speak, the Queen probably already knew, and even if she didn't, the Secret Police would surely uncover something once they investigated him. After weighing his options, he finally gritted his teeth and said:
"Your Highness, in truth, I... during my time as Minister of Finance... made some money for myself..."
Seeing Joseph nod calmly, he became even more certain his deeds were already exposed, and spoke with greater candor:
"Four years ago, Duke Poix and I, during the Grandoc Royal Canal widening project, together..."
He rambled on about the sordid deeds he had committed. Joseph, growing a little impatient, interrupted him:
"Viscount Calonne, just give me a number."
"What?"
"How much money did you make, from everything combined?"
"Well... roughly..." Calonne hesitated, then lowered his head and whispered, "close to five million livres."
Whoa—
Unbelievable! Joseph just wanted to exclaim one thing at that moment: Unbelievable!
This fellow was Minister of Finance for just over four years and managed to embezzle five million livres?!
No wonder he was so terrified—some smaller provinces barely had that much in annual revenue. If this went directly to trial, even if he wasn't immediately executed, he'd at least face a lifetime of hard labor.
He hadn't expected that while planning to deal with Necker, he'd first net such a big fish here.
If Necker was on Calonne's level, the two of them alone could replenish the French treasury by over ten million livres.
This was far more profitable than his Fashion Week initiative! Joseph's teeth practically ached with frustration.
He actively suppressed his anger, for now, he needed Calonne to atone for his crimes by rendering service. So, he took a deep breath and spoke in as calm a tone as possible:
"Since you're so forthright, I, on behalf of the Royal Family, promise you that as long as you return the money you shouldn't have taken, these matters will be treated as if they never happened.
"Moreover, if you can help me deal with Necker, you might even receive some rewards."
"Really?" Calonne had expected the Crown Prince to at least punish him severely, but he hadn't anticipated it would be completely overlooked. He was instantly overcome with emotion, nearly falling to his knees to kiss Joseph's boots. "Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Her Majesty the Queen! You are truly merciful! May God be with you!"
With his own matters settled, he suddenly felt a weight lift from his heart. A cruel smirk flashed across his face. 'Necker, you've been against me for so many years, undermining me behind my back! Now, I'll drag you down to hell!'
He turned and pushed the table aside. He pressed a section of the floor near the wall and heard a faint click.
Then, he brought over a chair, and from a small opening that appeared in the ceiling, he retrieved a stack of documents.
"Your Highness, these are the proofs of Necker's corruption and crimes that I uncovered during my time as Minister of Finance." Calonne respectfully handed the documents to Joseph. "At the time, he also knew some things about me, which is why I didn't dare expose him. But now, I implore you to bring him to justice!"
Joseph took the documents and began to flip through them. The first few pages were copies of receipts. From the descriptions that followed, it detailed Necker's additional allocations for the construction of irrigation systems in the South, but this money ultimately ended up in the hands of several local high-ranking nobles, with Necker receiving a kickback of 350,000 livres.
Next, it showed Necker had borrowed three million livres from a certain bank, but the money never entered the national treasury, while the French treasury was forced to pay 20% interest annually. Only after Necker was dismissed five years later was the money finally deposited to balance the accounts. A third of the annual interest, however, went directly into Necker's pocket.
The third document...
Joseph read through page after page, his face turning ashen. He slammed the documents onto the table with a sharp thud and looked at Calonne:
"How much money did he embezzle in total from all this?"
A glint of triumph flashed in Calonne's eyes.
"Your Highness, a grand total of 7.22 million livres."
Joseph inwardly gasped. This man was even more corrupt than Calonne!
To his surprise, Calonne continued:
"Your Highness, this is only what I have concrete evidence for. To my knowledge, his embezzlement goes far beyond these figures, especially some of his transactions with the banking industry. Because they were executed so secretly, I only managed to detect faint traces."
Joseph took a deep breath. "And how much would that be?"
"Likely more than ten million livres."
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