Axel

Chapter 328: If an Apology Works, Who Do You Plan to Frame Next?

Added 2025-03-18 16:07:00 +0000 UTC

The Bretagne family was a prominent house in the Fars Empire. Among those with the surname Bretagne, there were at least hundreds, though not every member of the family wielded significant influence. However, being the daughter of Count Bretagne was a different matter entirely.

At Gorgias University, Annie Bretagne, also known as the "West Wind Goddess," was widely admired. However, outside the university, she was merely seen as a beautiful young woman. Especially given her aversion to socializing, Annie was not as famous as Strasbourg's Rose, Sophia Gallanord.

Earlier, the senior official who confronted Annie had intended to scold her and pressure her into admitting fault. But the document Annie presented not only bore the signature of His Majesty the Emperor—it also revealed something shocking...

Annie held a position of higher rank than he did!

The Director of the Central Government Office's Law Enforcement Division had just stamped the final approval on Annie’s paperwork. That afternoon, he had planned to inform his colleagues about the appointment of a stunning new officer. Little did he expect such an uproar to occur even before his lunch break ended.

Exiting his private office, the director felt awkward and uneasy.

As a senior official of the Central Government Office, he held substantial power within the empire. Yet he was unwilling to get involved in the conflict between Duchess of Mostar and Count Bretagne.

Alence Cook stood in stunned silence, his mouth agape. He never would have imagined that the new recruit had such an impressive background. Suddenly realizing the implications, he exclaimed, "You’re the girl who’s been with Charlot!"

Annie responded calmly, "Charlot Mecklenburg has already met with my father."

“Mr. Alence Cook, do you have anything else to say?”

Only now did Alence Cook understand why Count Bretagne had been indifferent when he investigated Charlot in the past. At the time, he assumed the count was annoyed by his meddling at the frontlines. Now he realized that Charlot was one of the count’s own people!

It also dawned on him why the Duchess of Mostar had instructed him to settle Charlot’s tax penalty with a fine of 3,000 gold écus and forbade further investigation afterward.

Alence Cook had aligned himself with the Duchess of Mostar, thinking that their connection set him apart and allowed him to act with impunity. But now he saw the harsh truth: while the duchess could do as she pleased, he could not.

He wasn’t the duchess’s son, merely a subordinate.

Count Bretagne would fully support his daughter.
The Duchess of Mostar would never provide that level of support to him.

Realizing his own insignificance, Alence Cook muttered miserably, "I can apologize."

Annie smiled faintly and replied, "If an apology works, who do you plan to frame next? And then apologize again?"

“I’ll repeat myself: Mr. Alence Cook must be sent to the frontlines!”

The Law Enforcement Division’s director took a deep breath, having made his decision. He stepped forward and declared, "The men of the Fars Empire should serve their empire on the frontlines!"

"Mr. Alence Cook must be sent to the frontlines!"

"You will depart today!"

...

Charlot Mecklenburg, having just completed matters regarding his subordinates' promotions, exited the Central Government Office. He immediately spotted Alence Cook stumbling out, looking utterly defeated. Charlot greeted him with mock friendliness, "Why do you look like a stray dog?"

Alence Cook gritted his teeth and growled, "You’ve won!"

“But don’t think you’ll always win!”

“I’ll find a way to reopen the investigation against you.”

Charlot responded with a dazzling smile, "Why go through all that trouble? Why not settle this with a formal duel? We can each select a witness and handle our grievances with swords rather than schemes."

Charlot didn’t know that Annie had already dealt a significant blow to Alence Cook. He assumed the man was preparing for more underhanded schemes and, feeling impatient, preferred a straightforward resolution.

Having recently advanced to a higher rank, Charlot was eager to test his abilities. Although their previous brawl ended inconclusively, Charlot believed that in a duel involving weapons, he would prevail.

Alence Cook stormed off, his mind already burdened by the looming deployment to Ferranden's frontline. He had no energy to consider a duel.

Watching him leave, Charlot couldn’t help but feel a touch of admiration. “This man knows when to yield and endure. He’s a person worth keeping an eye on.”

Charlot strolled to a nearby café, ordered a coffee, and waited patiently for Annie to finish work.

...

While certain goods in Strasbourg were in short supply, availability varied depending on location. For example, in the Rosé District, coffee was often scarce, and even someone of Charlot’s standing sometimes struggled to obtain it. Yet in Val-de-Vas, another Upper Seven District, coffee was readily available, even to minor clerks.

The disparity was a reflection of the district's importance. Val-de-Vas housed the Imperial Palace, residences of high-ranking officials, the Central Government Office, and four prestigious universities.

Charlot sipped two cups of coffee before considering a snack. Just then, a striking figure entered the café and ordered a coffee. The person sat casually, their eyes meeting Charlot's in an instant of mutual astonishment.

"Frederica!" Charlot exclaimed. "What are you doing back in Strasbourg?"

The Leopardman girl was equally surprised. "What about you? Aren’t you supposed to be at the frontlines?"

Charlot spread his hands and replied, "I’ve been summoned back for a tax investigation."

Frederica’s eyes widened. "You? Owing taxes? Impossible! Your weekly salary isn’t low, and imperial civil servants have tax exemptions far better than those for ordinary merchants. How could you fail to pay taxes?"

Charlot sighed, knowing she had misunderstood. "It’s not about my personal taxes."

Frederica quickly connected the dots, recalling Charlot’s frequent tax exemptions while governing Silver Dove Castle. "Ah, is this about the tax exemptions at Silver Dove Castle? That’s not a big deal—you can just pay the taxes retroactively."

Charlot found it hard to explain. His tax exemptions had been extensive, and restitution wasn’t feasible. Not only had he leveraged his reputation to great effect, but the taxable population in his domain had mostly been sent overseas, leaving little to collect.

Knowing Frederica wouldn’t care for the specifics, Charlot shifted the conversation. "Never mind me. Why are you back in Strasbourg? The empire’s recent policies toward Beastfolk haven’t exactly been friendly."