Vienna. Franz once again received petitions calling for the abolition of the exit tax and investment restrictions.
Besides those who had wanted to flee in the first place, there was now another group: economists.
"Your Majesty, some of them may be acting out of self-interest, but more of them have spotted a new opportunity. British capital is fleeing Britain. If we take it in, we can catch this wealth falling from the heavens.
The reason Britain was able to rise so rapidly after the Anglo-Dutch Wars was precisely because the British accepted Dutch commercial capital.
Britain's economic crisis has yet to end, and the British government is at its wits' end. If we adjust our policies in time, we may be able to replicate Britain's success from those days.
Make the Austrian Empire the financial center of the world."
Lady Fanny von Arnstein spoke with immense satisfaction.
Franz understood that neither the idea nor the entire plan that followed had necessarily come from the woman before him. It was merely that those old men believed she would have a better chance of succeeding if they sent her.
"Don't get too pleased with yourself. The plan is good, but it does not suit the Austrian Empire as it is now. We are not yet prepared to accept that gift."
Franz's answer left Lady Fanny von Arnstein utterly dumbfounded. She, along with the Austrian Empire's economists and bankers, had all regarded it as an irresistible temptation.
"Your Majesty, did I hear you correctly? You intend to reject such tremendous good fortune? Money itself is innocent; it is greedy people who are guilty.
You need not be like this. You can absolutely control it, just as you can control me. I am a proud person as well. Before meeting you, I had never