Police Commissioner and Dean of Academic Affairs (Please Add to Your Reading List)

Joseph looked at Friant approvingly. "You did very well! Continue recruiting students. Pick out those with outstanding aptitude and ambition, form a separate Elite Class, and focus on cultivating them."

"Also, the Police Academy has only just been established, so it can make do with rough conditions for now—but it absolutely cannot stay that way forever. Hurry and build new school buildings, purchase training equipment and gear. Oh, use the Paris Military Academy as the standard. It can only be better, never worse. I'll allocate 250,000 livres to you first..."

Friant's heart gave a violent leap at that figure. With such a huge sum, this was hardly meant for a school training minor police officers—it was nearly enough to establish a proper Military Academy!

Yet Joseph seemed intent on testing the limits of his heart's endurance and continued, "This is only the initial construction funding. I plan to invest over one million in total. Once everything is completed, enrollment must exceed three thousand."

Friant swallowed hard and hurriedly replied, "Yes! Yes, Your Highness!"

Joseph added as though it were merely an afterthought, "By the way, everyone has worked hard during the Police Academy's preparation period. Take 5,000 livres from the budget and reward the academy's management, including yourself."

"Yes! Thank you, Your Highness!"

The Police Academy's preparations had progressed far beyond expectations. That certainly deserved a reward.

The Police Academy had only just opened. Even including all the instructors, clerks, and those managing construction of the school buildings, there were only a little over twenty people in total. It was equivalent to rewarding each person with half a year's salary.

Besançon's eyes were filled with envy. He had once thought Friant was merely the head of a Police Academy, but now it seemed this was no ordinary academy. Friant's future prospects might not be any worse than his own as Police Commissioner.

From now on, I have to work myself to the bone. In the police system, I must surpass Friant!

When Etienne, the General Manager of Lavier Bank, arrived at Versailles Palace, it had just passed ten in the morning.

He had dealt with France's financial system for over a decade and knew the place like the back of his hand.

It did not take him long to find one of his own contacts within the financial system. In a secluded corner, he asked quietly, "Viscount Leon, that batch of Government Bonds is about to mature. Why does the Ministry of Finance not seem anxious at all?"

Viscount Leon glanced around and said in a low voice, "As far as I know, a France Reserve Bank has loaned money to the Crown Prince. That means the loans from Laborde Bank, as well as yours, are no longer needed for the time being."

Etienne frowned deeply. He racked his brains until smoke practically rose from his head, yet he could not recall any bank called the France Reserve Bank. Suspicious, he asked, "Is your information accurate?"

"Are you questioning me?" Viscount Leon's expression darkened with displeasure. "The agreement for the Crown Prince's loan from the France Reserve Bank has already been prepared. I saw it with my own eyes. How could I be wrong?"

Etienne was struck as though by a thunderbolt.

This short-term loan amounted to six million livres. Lavier Bank and Laborde Bank each took half. Every year, it would bring Lavier Bank over 300,000 livres in interest—a major piece of business for the bank.

If someone else snatched this business away, he would certainly be punished!

Sweat poured from him as he recalled the agreement between the bank and the Duke of Orléans—the Lavier Bank would drag out the loan until the final deadline, and when the Crown Prince had exhausted every option, the Duke of Orléans's people would step in, whereupon the bank would immediately release the funds.

Why was this nothing like what the Duke of Orléans had said...

"Damn it, it must be that France Reserve Bank!" Fire seemed ready to burst from Etienne's eyes. "It must be some newly established little bank that knows nothing of the rules!"

"Once this matter is over, I'll make them pay the price!"

But first, he had to snatch this loan business back! With that thought, Etienne hurriedly thanked Viscount Leon and promised him a few benefits before rushing toward the Office of the Minister of Finance. As he went, he plotted that cutting the loan interest rate to seventeen percent should be enough to move the Crown Prince. If that did not work, he would lower it to sixteen percent...

Besançon and Friant had just finished reporting on the affairs of the police system. As they rose to take their leave from the Crown Prince, Joseph's assistant from the financial system arrived, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, Etienne, the General Manager of Lavier Bank, requests an audience. He says he wishes to discuss the loan with you."

When Joseph heard that the matter concerned Lavier Bank, his face immediately darkened. He said coldly, "There is nothing to discuss. Send him back."

The assistant hesitated, then added, "Your Highness, Mr. Etienne said that, to demonstrate his sincerity, he is willing to lower the loan interest rate to seventeen percent."

Joseph laughed. "What sincerity? He must have heard about the France Reserve Bank. Now he knows to panic? Too late!"

The France Reserve Bank was naturally the bank he was currently preparing. Although it had not yet been established, that did not prevent him from drafting the contract with the French Government in advance.

He told the assistant, "Please tell him—and Laborde Bank as well—that they need not trouble themselves with this loan in the future."

After a pause, he added, "When you return, investigate what other dealings the government has with these two banks. Draw up a plan for me to transfer all loans involving them to other banks. Mm, call the plan the Financing Risk Reduction Plan."

Surprise flashed through the assistant's eyes, but he immediately bowed. "Yes, Your Highness."

Besançon was meticulous by nature. When he saw the Crown Prince mention Lavier Bank, it was obvious from his expression that he bore it ill will, so Besançon silently committed the matter to memory.

After leaving the Crown Prince's Palace, he immediately caught up with the assistant and asked what had happened.

Though the matter involved financial secrets, once the latter learned that Besançon was the newly appointed Paris Police Commissioner, he immediately became much more courteous and gave him a rough account of the matter.

When Besançon learned that the two banks had clearly been putting obstacles in the Crown Prince's path, nearly causing His Highness to default on his debts, he immediately narrowed his eyes.

The Crown Prince had personally promoted him to the position of Paris Police Commissioner and entrusted him with the heavy responsibility of Police Reform. Besançon knew gratitude and repaid kindness; his loyalty to the Crown Prince was naturally absolute.

And now, someone actually dared to make trouble for the Crown Prince. His Highness was magnanimous enough not to hold it against them, but as one of the Crown Prince's own men, Besançon absolutely could not let the matter end like this!

"Lavier Bank and Laborde Bank? You will have to pay the price for this!"

Meanwhile, Etienne staggered out of Versailles Palace like a lost soul. He had just been informed that not only would the six-million-livre loan have nothing to do with Lavier Bank from now on, but the government might even terminate all future cooperation with it...

One of Lavier Bank's core businesses was providing the government with large short-term loans. The interest rates were high, and the risk was virtually nonexistent. It was only because the French Government had always been as poor as a church mouse and had to beg the banks for loans. Who could have expected it to suddenly grow a backbone this time?

Etienne's face was ashen. If this matter became reality, losing his job would be the least of his problems. The furious shareholders of Lavier Bank might even sell him to Haiti to perform hard labor for the rest of his life!

At that thought, he shuddered. But the matter had completely slipped beyond his control, so he could only grit his teeth and hurry back to Paris to report it to the bank's board of directors.