Those at the top might not care, but that did not mean the people below did not care either. Argente held a high position and great power; he himself was a member of the privileged class. Even if he offended people, there was little anyone could do to him.
The people below were different. Do not assume that only the higher-ups took money and benefits. In fact, most gray-market dealings were handled by those beneath them.
As Minister of Logistics, Argente was not so cheap as to personally step in over the freight charges for a few trainloads of goods.
Besides, if the underlings took benefits, the boss would naturally get his share as well. The transactions could continue because everyone was in the same boat.
Brittany McLean had been on the verge of a breakdown lately. A shipment bound for Moscow had been unloaded in Samara.
Fine, he admitted that military supplies bound for the front were indeed important, and this railway had long since been requisitioned by the military. But no matter what, they could not stop everyone from making money, could they?
Time was money, and money was life. Though business in the Russian Empire mainly depended on connections, Brittany was not lacking in powerful backing.
But business was business. Now that the goods had been unloaded, if no new railcars were available to transport them and he ultimately failed to deliver on time, he would have to pay liquidated damages.
"Director Iksil, I need a reasonable explanation. Why were my goods unloaded?
Do you know how much we lose for every day of delay?
Who is going to bear these losses?
Do not forget that you have already taken the money. Now you suddenly break the agreement—do you think Brittany is easy to bully?
Or