Lavalette was still not quite used to the Crown Prince's wild flights of fancy. After a moment of stunned silence, he said awkwardly, "Your Highness, the United Kingdom Investment Fund has already completed all its approvals. We'll have to wait another six months for the next round."
"Isn't there still parliamentary review?" Joseph said. "Have the members reject a few projects and free up 800,000 in funds."
"This... but their parliamentary review is merely a formality. Once the Management Committee approves something, Parliament will most likely sign off on it."
"Spend a little money. They'll think of a way."
Lavalette looked even more troubled. "Your Highness, this involves more than a dozen people, and they are all officials in plain sight. Even if we offer money, I'm afraid they wouldn't dare accept it."
With such a large sum involved, and so many people implicated, news of bribe-taking could easily leak out. Unless one could establish connections with all dozen or so people at once—but that was clearly impossible.
Joseph smiled. The bureaucrats of this era might have huge appetites and ruthless hands, but when it came to "technique," they truly could not compare with their counterparts in later generations.
He immediately gave Lavalette a few instructions. The latter's eyes widened in shock, leaving him with only one thought—You could actually do it like that?!
Joseph glanced at him and said half-jokingly, "Whatever you do, don't try this method yourself. I told Mr. Marat about it years ago."
Lavalette jumped in fright and stood ramrod straight. "I will most certainly remain incorruptible and loyal to Your Highness!"
Joseph laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "Relax. Why do you have no sense of humor at all?"
As he spoke, he saw Berthier and Talleyrand hurrying toward him from ahead.
When the