Chapter 570: "My Friend, I'm Here to Help You!"
While Graz was at his wit's end, the other two key players in the British "fake order" scheme—Lenna and Borasnia—or their subordinates also received notifications from French factories stating that orders were completed and payment of the balance was due.
For example:
Nantes' Théisselin Company reported that nearly 2 million francs worth of textiles had been shipped from Marseille and would arrive in Parma in about ten days.Bordeaux's Pétrus Winery completed a 1.5-million-franc order of premium wine, with delivery caravans already entering Bavaria.
Additionally, goods like paper products, furniture, and steam engines—seven large orders in total, each involving significant sums—were "ready" for delivery, and the buyers in Austria or Italy were being urged to pay.
Of course, this "completion" was all part of Joseph's elaborate plan. The actual production capacity of these factories would require until at least October to fulfill such orders.
However, Joseph had directed the Industrial Development Fund to secretly consolidate similar products from other factories, package them as if they were produced by these companies, and declare the orders completed.
Effectively, all of France's industrial output had been mobilized to fulfill these select orders.
The goal? Once the Austrian and Italian buyers failed to pay, it would create a massive shockwave, alerting French factory owners that their own orders might also be part of a grand scam.
But Joseph wasn't content to simply expose the fraud. He intended to make the scammers bleed. After all, with his knowledge of countless con schemes from his previous life, he felt compelled to "play along" to perfection.
Two Days Later
After unsuccessfully trying to bribe the assistant manager of Grigor Brothers Steel Company, Graz resolved to flee to America. However, before he could act, a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious attire and exuding the aura of wealth appeared outside his office.
"Viscount Plammer?" Graz recognized the rising star of Vienna's business scene and stood up in surprise. "What brings you here?"
"Ah, my dear friend!" Plammer—none other than Mesmer in disguise—enveloped Graz in a friendly embrace and laughed. "You mustn't refuse me this time. I mean it about buying those French goods you have."
"For the last time, I'm not selling," Graz waved dismissively, his tone irritable. "Please, just leave."
"Don't be so harsh!" Mesmer, unbothered, sat him down on the sofa and gestured to the servant at the door. "Two teas, plenty of sugar."
Turning back, he smiled warmly at Graz. "I'm here to help."
"Help me?"
Mesmer patted Graz's shoulder. "Are you having trouble with cash flow?"
"No, I'm not—"
"There's no need to hide it from me; we're friends," Mesmer interrupted smoothly. "I have connections in the banking world.
"I know the French shipment you ordered has already arrived at the warehouse in Kochasega, yet there's no sign of major fund movements on your end."
Of course, Mesmer had no such banking connections—he was simply bluffing.
He leaned in and lowered his voice. "And I've heard you offered Lucas a bribe to delay the payment deadline by four months."
Lucas was a senior executive at Grigor Brothers Steel Company.
Graz's face turned pale. "How... how do you know that?"
"Don't worry, old friend." Mesmer silently noted that Lucas himself had spilled the beans just the day before but maintained a reassuring smile. "These things happen in business—who hasn't had cash flow issues?
"But if you can't pay the balance on time, you'll face steep penalties and potentially a lawsuit."
"I won't default!" Graz insisted, his tone growing defensive.
"Let's be honest with each other," Mesmer said, sipping his tea. "As I mentioned before, I'm very interested in those French goods.
"Perhaps I can buy them from you."
Graz froze, his expression shifting to one of cautious hope. "Are you serious? That shipment is worth over 700,000 florins!"
"That's nothing for me," Mesmer waved dismissively, flashing his bejeweled hands. Then, in a more serious tone, he added, "But, as you know, in business, one must make a profit. Even loans to kings come with interest of at least 10%."
Graz, desperate to secure any solution, leaned forward eagerly. "Of course, you deserve your share. How do you propose we proceed?"
Mesmer held up six fingers. "I'll take the goods at 60% of their value."
Graz blinked. "And the remaining 40%?"
"That's for you to cover."
Graz's face darkened immediately. The nerve—this man was trying to take advantage of his plight!
He opened his mouth to refuse but hesitated. If he couldn't pay the balance, the ten other orders he'd placed with French factories would undoubtedly collapse.
Without those orders proceeding, he wouldn't receive a single florin of commission!
On the other hand, if he secured the funds to pay for the steel shipment, it would keep the other factories working. It was a gamble, but it might just work.
Perhaps Kleistiel could provide additional funds if Graz came clean. Sure, Kleistiel might dock his commission, but keeping the larger plan intact would ensure some payout.
Reluctantly, Graz began haggling with "Viscount Plammer." After lengthy negotiation, they settled on a deal: Plammer would purchase the shipment at 70% of the original value, while Graz covered the remaining 30%.
By noon, the agreement was signed, and Graz made Mesmer swear to keep the transaction secret to avoid exposing his financial troubles.
Mesmer, of course, readily agreed. After bidding farewell, he immediately set off to meet the Mock-Bruno Trading Company, which had also just received notice of order completion.
At the same time, Calonne's assistant, posing as a Bavarian merchant, approached Borasnia. Meanwhile, in Tuscany, another operative negotiated with Lenna, purchasing newly arrived French wine at 75% of its value.
A Week Later
Vienna - Temporary Residence of the Duke of Leeds
"This is the only way to salvage your plan," Kleistiel argued firmly. "I've investigated thoroughly. Other than these specific shipments, the French factories aren't producing at this speed.
"The next round of orders won't be ready until late September at the earliest.
"If we can resolve payment for these seven shipments, France will still suffer immense losses."
The Duke of Leeds frowned, deep in thought.
After the steel shipment arrived in Vienna, the British intelligence network confirmed Kleistiel's assessment: the remaining French orders were far from completion.
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