Novels online

Chapter 569: Friend, I'm Here to Help!

While Graz was in a terrible fix, the other two main implementers of the British "fake order" scheme—Renner and Borasnia—or rather, their subordinates, also received notifications from French factories announcing completed orders and demanding final payment.

The Thiérrycelin Company in Nantes had already shipped nearly 2 million francs worth of textiles from Marseille, which would arrive in Parma in about ten days.

The Petrus Estate in Bordeaux had also completed an order for 1.5 million francs worth of high-grade wine, and the delivery wagons had entered Bavaria days ago.

Paper products, furniture, steam engines, and other goods comprised a total of seven orders, all for very high contractual amounts. These had been completed, and the Austrian or Italian buyers were being pressed for payment.

Of course, the supposed "completion" was merely Joseph's arrangement; given the actual production capacity of these factories, it would have been impossible to deliver the orders before October at the earliest.

Joseph, however, had the Industrial Development Fund operate secretly, gathering large quantities of similar products at designated factories for packaging, then claiming they were produced in-house.

Essentially, the entire production capacity of France was leveraged to fulfill these orders.

If the companies in Austria and Italy that placed the orders failed to pay the final amounts, it would immediately cause a huge stir, making the French factories realize that their own orders might also be part of the scam.

Joseph, however, had no intention of exposing the deception so simply.

Two days later.

Graz had failed in his attempt to bribe the manager's assistant at Gregoire Brothers Steel Company and had already decided to flee to America, come what may, when he suddenly saw a luxuriously dressed middle-aged man, exuding an air of wealth, appear outside his office.

"Viscount Plummer?" Graz naturally recognized this influential figure in Vienna's business circles. He rose in surprise and asked, "What brings you here?"

"Ha, my old friend!" Mesmer, disguised as Plummer, gave him a direct hug, then chuckled, "You can't refuse me this time—I'm talking about buying those French goods you have."

"I've told you many times, they're not for sale," Graz said, waving his hand impatiently. "You should leave..."

"Don't be so heartless," Mesmer said, acting as if they were old acquaintances. He pulled Graz down onto the sofa and motioned to the servant at the door. "Two cups of black tea, with plenty of sugar."

Then he looked at Graz and said with a smile, "I'm here to help you."

"Help me?"

Mesmer patted his shoulder. "Have you encountered any difficulties with cash flow recently?"

"I haven't..."

"Oh, there's no need to hide it; we're friends, after all," Mesmer said. "I have some connections at the bank.

'I know that the French goods you ordered have already been shipped to the warehouse in Kochasaiga Town, and there have been no large movements of funds from your side.'"

Naturally, he had no friends at banks in Vienna; he was simply bluffing Graz.

He then lowered his voice and said, "Furthermore, I heard you met with Mr. Lukas and offered him a private sum to delay the payment deadline by four months."

Lukas was the executive at Gregoire Brothers Steel Company.

Graz was instantly alarmed. "H-how do you know all this...?"

"Oh, don't be nervous, old friend." Mesmer thought, 'Lukas told me himself yesterday, of course,' but on the surface, he smiled and said, "In business, who hasn't encountered cash flow issues?

'However, if you can't pay for the goods on time now, you'll face hefty penalties for breach of contract, as well as a lawsuit from the other company.'"

"No, I won't default!" Graz insisted stubbornly.

"Why don't we be frank with each other?" Mesmer took a sip from his teacup. "Actually, I'm very interested in those French goods, just as I said before.

'Perhaps I could buy them on your behalf.'"

Graz froze for a moment, then said with delighted surprise, "Are you serious? That's over 700,000 florins worth of goods."

"That's nothing to me." Mesmer waved a hand adorned with gem-studded rings, then changed his tone and said, "But as you know, in business, we always need to make a profit. Even if I were to lend such a large sum to the King, I'd expect over 10% interest."

Afraid he might change his mind, Graz gripped his arm and said, "Yes, of course, I can't let you suffer a loss. So, how do you want to conduct this transaction?"

Mesmer held up six fingers. "I'd like to buy these goods for 60% of their price."

Graz paused. "What about the remaining 40%?"

"You would likely need to make up the difference."

Graz's face immediately turned ashen. 'So this fellow was trying to take advantage of his misfortune!'

He was about to flat-out refuse, but then he quickly considered that if he couldn't pay the final amount, it would inevitably ruin the other ten orders.

He wouldn't get a single franc of his commission!

But if he could stabilize the Gregoire Brothers Steel Company situation, the other French factories would continue production, which presented an opportunity.

But 40% of the goods' value was 280,000 florins, and he didn't have that much money...

Perhaps he could confess to Mr. Klestil and ask him for more money. He would certainly have his commission deducted by Klestil, but by saving his entire plan, Klestil might still give him something.

With that thought, he immediately haggled with 'Viscount Plummer' and quickly reached an agreement, whereby the latter would buy the iron products at 70% of the order price, and he would pay the remaining 30%.

Both parties were greatly pleased, and the agreement was signed that very noon.

Graz repeatedly emphasized that the transaction must absolutely not be leaked, as it would make the outside world aware of his inability to pay, thus affecting other orders.

Mesmer, of course, readily agreed, bade Graz farewell, and immediately instructed his coachman to drive to the Mockbruno Caravan, which had also received a notification of order completion yesterday.

Meanwhile, Calonne's assistant, disguised as a wealthy Bavarian merchant, went to contact Borasnia.

And in Tuscany, Italy, his people also signed an agreement with Erwin Renner to buy the recently arrived wine for 75% of its price.

A week later.

The Duke of Leeds' temporary residence in Vienna.

"This is the only chance to save your plan." Klestil looked at the Duke of Leeds and said, "I had people investigate, and apart from this batch of orders, the French production speed isn't that fast.

'The next batch of completed orders won't be ready until late September at the earliest.

'So, as long as these seven payments are settled, France will still suffer significant losses.'"

The Duke of Leeds frowned, deep in thought.

After the Gregoire Brothers Steel Company's goods arrived in Vienna, he also had the British intelligence system investigate, and indeed, as Klestil had stated, other orders were still far from completion.