Earl of Ulfeld frowned and said gravely:
"I can help cover this up once or twice, but if it keeps happening, even I may come under investigation."
Feder was the tax officer who had been strangled in a small town east of Vienna last month.
Holtz put on a flattering smile.
"Everyone knows those Secret Police would never dare investigate you. Fine, I promise I'll find another way to make those Tax Bureau bastards learn their lesson." Earl of Ulfeld had been the former executive chairman of the Vienna Council of Political and Economic Affairs. Though he had since stepped down, a third of the Council's upper ranks were still his people.
At the same time, he was Feder's "old friend" and business partner.
As the two spoke, a short old man with drooping eyelids entered the hall, surrounded by several Tax Farmers. The room immediately fell silent, and everyone bowed to him. "Your Excellency, Baron."
"You've arrived."
Yes, although this gathering was being held at Earl of Ulfeld's residence, its central figure was Baron Arnstein—the former chairman of the Vienna Tax Farmers Association.
Arnstein came to the long table on the east side of the hall and took a seat. Raising a hand to acknowledge the crowd, he exchanged a few pleasantries before swiftly getting to the point. "I called everyone here today mainly to discuss our future."
He swept his gaze over the Tax Farmers present. "I know that lately, in your anxiety, some of you may have resorted to certain special measures. People have even died. The news I received from Schönbrunn Palace is that that young Royal Secretary..."
The middle-aged man beside him reminded him in a low voice, "Metternich."
"Right, Metternich. He is a ruthless man. He has advised the Emperor to mobilize several thousand