Unreconciled

Franz did not agree with Sophie. For a country to run smoothly, the Central Bank required someone either exceptionally capable or fiercely loyal at the helm.

Sophie's perspective was merely clouded by the superficial prosperity of the Austrian Empire's economy at the time, compounded by the instigation of others who convinced her that such a figure was of little use.

In the past, when the Austrian Empire faced financial distress, everyone knew the country could not function without Baron Bruck, its diligent and conscientious financial advisor.

With billions in debt and a declining economy, those Jews and bankers would have likely devoured the country alive had there not been a heavyweight holding them in check.

However, due to Franz's series of reforms, Austria's economy was now far stronger than it had been in history. Economic prosperity and a full treasury had caused the nation's elite to become bloated with arrogance.

A portion of them began to believe that the success was entirely their own doing, leading to the delusion that the country could not function without them.

On the other hand, now that the cake had grown larger, many wanted to be the ones to slice it.

Ironically, just over a decade ago, this had been a position everyone avoided; otherwise, it would never have fallen into the hands of a minor baron with no background.

After all, the Austrian Empire at that time could not even pay its officials' salaries, and being a soldier was merely a way to scrape by, risking one's neck for a crust of bread.

But now, as the governor of the Austrian Empire's Central Bank, one could create several millionaires just by letting a little wealth slip through their fingers.

(A millionaire at the time could be understood as a billionaire today, with assets