I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 395: Ponzi scheme (9)

Louis de Lyon was in a great mood these days.

It wasn’t anything special; it was just that he had invested all of the surplus government budget that he could use personally into the Namhae Company.

At first, the Minister of Finance had tried to stop him, saying it was absurd...

"Your Majesty, are you in good health today? From the look on your face, it seems like you're in an extremely good mood."

"Is the Minister of Finance in good health?"

"Your health is my peace of mind, Your Majesty. Seeing Your Majesty in good health reassures me."

"You are truly the kingdom’s greatest loyalist. I’ll have the finest wine from the wine cellar presented to you later in honor of your loyalty."

"The wine bestowed by the great investment genius, Your Majesty. If I drink this, I’ll be able to make a fortune from stocks as well. I am deeply grateful, Your Majesty."

Everything in life comes down to results, not how much effort you put in or whether the work you began was founded on noble principles.

In reality, it might not happen this way, but if a student studies for 10 minutes a day and becomes the top student in their class, they are a diligent and righteous student.

If a student studies for 10 hours a day but ends up at the bottom of the class, they are lazy, indolent, and pathetic.

Talk about character or effort is all nonsense in the end.

In that sense, King Louis de Lyon of the Lyon Kingdom became a genius investor thanks to his massive investment in the Namhae Company, reaping enormous profits.

"Life is all about results."

War, success, and everything else are just the same.

"Since we're already here, let's go to the audience chamber together."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I’ve heard that the Ministry of Finance has been busy because of the Namhae Syndicate. Are they managing?"

"If it’s due to natural disasters, poor harvests, and handling bad situations, then it’s tough, but the growth of the Namhae Syndicate is growing pains that promote the kingdom’s development, isn’t it? If you want to grow tall, you have to endure the pain, of course."

"There’s a saying that if poverty comes through the window, love leaves through the door."

It’s often said that even couples who love each other will quickly divorce if money runs ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) out, such is the importance of money.

Now, thanks to the Namhae Company, everyone in the Lyon Kingdom was experiencing unprecedented wealth accumulation at an unimaginable speed.

The situation was so favorable that everyone began to be more generous and the atmosphere grew harmonious.

The Minister of Finance and Louis, who had been distant before, had become much closer now, united by the Namhae Company.

The two of them happily chatted about politics and recent family matters.

At the court meeting, Louis immediately brought up the topic of the Namhae Company.

"No matter how I think about it, I believe no single trading company should be allowed to monopolize the New World. But if we threaten them with swords, President Orsini will undoubtedly flee to protect his own interests. If that happens, the Lyon Kingdom will suffer irreversible losses."

Right now, all of Lyon Kingdom’s money had been poured into the Namhae Company.

Louis had scraped together every available budget for investment, and even the ministers had deposited their money, which would give them 15% interest annually...

Recently, with dividends offering 100% a year, where the principal remains the same but the interest equals the principal, they had piled their money into the Namhae Company stocks.

Some, perhaps wanting to follow Baron Florin’s lead, had even sold parts of their territories to invest in the stocks.

"The Namhae Company is us, and we are the Namhae Company."

To exaggerate a little, if the king tried to enact a policy that could harm the Namhae Company, everyone involved would almost feel a rebellious urge.

"So, we should allocate a special budget from our kingdom to support them, and at the same time appoint them as governor so we can share the profits..."

Just as they were eagerly drinking their "kimchi soup" in preparation, a messenger suddenly burst in.

Without waiting for anyone to accuse him, the messenger delivered the worst possible news.

"The Namhae Company in Marseille has disappeared overnight without a trace!"

In most cases, no matter how big the merchant, if they went bankrupt, a messenger wouldn’t rush in like it was a war.

But when it was the Namhae Company, everything changed.

Lyon Kingdom had literally bet their future and invested it all in that company.

That’s why the news of one company disappearing could be treated like a war.

"Deus, have mercy."

After someone’s lament, the previously jovial atmosphere instantly turned chaotic.

"What are we going to do now?"

"Minister of Finance, do you have no countermeasures? I said, what are we going to do about this?"

"Damn! That bastard Orsini!"

The ministers gathered together, all united in cursing Orsini.

Of course, Orsini, who was already on his way to the New World, would never hear these curses.

He might itch a bit, but he wouldn’t care.

After all, they couldn’t catch him.

Louis grabbed the shoulder of the Minister of Finance, with a look as if he were about to grab him by the collar.

But none of those present criticized the emperor’s actions.

"Minister of Finance, just tell us what we should do now! What the hell do we do!"

The Minister of Finance himself was curious about that.

What the hell could they do to escape this damn situation?

But no matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn’t come up with an answer.

"We’ve poured all our family’s wealth into this."

Right now, they were beyond broke, with nothing left.

It was possible to turn one into a hundred, but right now, there wasn’t a single coin left in the country, so what could they do?

"I apologize, Your Majesty."

With that, Louis issued his royal command as the king.

"Ministers, stop everything else and come up with a solution! Hurry up, if we don’t hurry, we’re all dead! Damn!!"

Paris, the capital of the Lyon Kingdom.

Just a few days ago, the streets were full of people dressed in expensive clothes, and the market was bustling with rare goods.

But now, all that seemed like a distant memory.

In fact, it was in such a state of chaos that one could even call it lawless.

The foolish Henri, who hadn’t invested while everyone else was, pulled out his armor and looked around.

Inside the market, the guards were seen confiscating food and other goods from the market vendors.

"Do you know who we are? We’re the Paris Guard! While we starve, you think you can keep trading calmly?"

"But, guard sir. If you do this, we’ll starve to death. Please, stop."

"Shut your mouth! I’ll seize all the flour, salted meat, and cheese here! If you don’t shut up, I’ll treat you as disobedient and deal with you under military law."

There’s no worse state than this.

The guards were robbing food from the commoners in broad daylight.

"At least if they were extorting money, I could curse them as corrupt bastards."

But food? They were stealing food?

This meant that the military was so poor that they could barely get enough supplies for themselves.

Henri sighed deeply when he saw this.

"Just a few days ago, even beggars in Paris were carrying silver coins. Is this really Paris? This isn’t a war, what the hell is going on?"

He had come out to buy food, but there was almost nothing to eat in the market.

Even if there was a famine, Paris markets usually had low-quality flour and old cheese, but...

While wandering around, Henri stumbled upon a shop selling groceries.

Though they were only selling just enough for Henri’s needs.

"What is this place?"

"How did you manage to get food in this chaos, shopkeeper?"

"The Namhae Company, or whatever, had a big delivery right before they went bankrupt. That’s why I’m still hanging on."

"Well, you were lucky."

"Don’t talk nonsense. Lucky? If I were lucky, would I be doing business as a merchant in Paris during this time? Every day, I’m robbed of food by the guards and threatened by thugs, that’s the reality."

The shopkeeper sighed deeply.

"Right now in Paris, aside from the higher-ups, it’s almost impossible to buy food. All the trading companies dealing in food have gone bankrupt. I’m selling this and then I’m leaving."

"Is that so..."

"Just leave as well. Paris is hell right now."

"But if I leave..."

The shopkeeper didn’t stop Henri.

"Yeah. Thanks for buying. I’m heading out to the outskirts of Paris today. Think it through."

And on his way back, Henri crossed the Seine River.

In the river, there were several bodies dressed in expensive clothes.

He didn’t know if they had been murdered or had committed suicide...

"If I want to survive, I really have to escape."

That day, Henri fled to the countryside with his family.

But even the countryside was in very poor economic condition, much like Paris.

At least, here, they didn’t have to worry about starving to death.