Chapter 219: Does She Really Think She’s the Viscountess?

Some time passed. At the Viscount Estate, Leon once again sat behind the desk, with Father Auden and Adele standing to his left and right in front of him.

Father Auden wore a serious expression, while Adele held her head high, looking eager to give it a try.

“Alright then, Adele. Since you already sent me the good news, you can begin now.” Leon indicated for Adele to report her results.

Just this morning, Adele had asked a Guard to run an errand and report to Leon that she had successfully obtained approval for the Charitable Fund.

After receiving the news, Leon notified the Priest. Once he finished handling his work outside the island, he hurried back to Arend Island to confirm Adele’s report.

“Alright, just this morning, I successfully obtained approval to establish a Charitable Fund for ‘Viscount Arend’. This fund is non-public in nature and cannot publicly solicit donations, but it possesses private authorization, with Viscount Arend and his affiliated family as the initiating entity.

Any other donor must receive Viscount Arend’s invitation and permission before injecting funds. As a Special-Purpose Fund, this fund is intended to assist retired soldiers disabled by war, as well as the widows and orphans of fallen soldiers. It completely meets your requirements.”

After giving a detailed explanation, Adele laid out all the certificates she had obtained across the desk, then looked toward Father Auden, “You can inspect them too and see whether there are any problems, Priest.”

Father Auden silently stepped forward and examined them one by one. After quite some time, he spread his hands and shrugged at Leon, indicating that he had nothing to say.

Leon looked at Adele again. Adele held her head high and chest out, her expression carrying a trace of pride.

She truly had the right to be proud, because she had beaten Father Auden to solving a problem that he had failed to resolve for more than a month.

“So now, as long as I find an Agent, I can donate the money in it to eligible recipients?” Leon confirmed with Adele.

“When I registered it, I injected three million Fenni into the fund. In theory, the fund can now formally begin operating. As long as you designate donation recipients who meet the requirements, you should be able to issue the first batch of donation projects.” Adele said.

“Who exactly did you use connections with?” the Priest could not help asking.

“Do I need to tell you, Priest?” With a trace of victorious pride, Adele raised the corners of her lips toward the Priest.

“Alright, saying it won’t cost you a piece of flesh. I can tell you’re practically bursting to show off anyway.” Father Auden said irritably.

“Fine. Actually, you simply looked in the wrong direction, Father Auden. For this kind of Special-Purpose Fund involving the military, you should have approached the Security Office or a Financial Officer in the Army, rather than looking for connections at the Notary Office or City Hall.

And my grandfather once cultivated this kind of connection while paving the way to arrange military authority for Arend Island. So in truth, I was still relying on his connections to get this fund approved.” As Adele spoke, she looked toward Leon.

“Very good. First of all, congratulations, Adele. You did it.” Leon nodded in response.

“Then, those things you promised before……” Adele carefully looked toward Leon for confirmation.

“I’ll verify it briefly. If that Charitable Fund can truly operate, we’ll have the agreement notarized according to what you said before. As for the money you want to borrow, I can release it to you right now.” Leon said, giving Adele a slight smile, “You did well.”

Establishing the Charitable Fund was equivalent to resolving the most important matter first. This was the condition Johnny needed most, while the remaining problems were secondary.

As long as this condition was fulfilled, Leon and Johnny would have the necessary premise for the agreement they had discussed, and the remaining room could slowly be created afterward.

It could be said that Adele had indeed rendered a major contribution, which forced Leon to genuinely look at her in a new light.

Hearing this, Adele could not help secretly clenching her fist, suppressing the urge to cheer.

She did it! She had finally succeeded!

But Father Auden still noticed the little girl’s delighted reaction and teased: “What, getting praised by your husband makes you that happy?”

“Not at all!” Adele immediately rolled her eyes at Father Auden and quickly adjusted her expression, “I’m only happy that I finally have a chance to buy my family back!”

Then, she turned toward Leon and said: “Then from now on, can I help you manage matters within the territory?”

“Yes.” Leon had intended that from the beginning, “You said before that Viscount Arend can possess military authority?”

This time, Father Auden beat Adele to explaining it to Leon: “According to Imperial law, possessing territory allows you to conscript soldiers within your territory according to a certain proportion. The problem is……with the population here, I estimate that under strict legal requirements, you could only recruit a two-digit number of people, so you’d be better off obediently using Mercenaries.”

“Actually, Mercenaries are also subject to strict restrictions. The fact that you’ve stationed so many people on the island all this time is illegal!” Adele frowned and added.

“The business we’re doing is already illegal anyway.” Father Auden replied without caring.

“Precisely because part of it is illegal, we should be even more careful to avoid other illegal acts that might attract unnecessary investigations!” Adele objected, then looked toward Leon, “If you want to make good use of this territory, the industries you’ve arranged on this island also need to be planned in a more legitimate manner somehow.”

“You used ‘we’ this time. Looks like you’ve integrated yourself quite well.” Father Auden said, “But I imagine you simply want to use his money to improve Arend Island so that once the agreement is fulfilled in the future, you can take over a prosperous territory, right?”

“What’s wrong with that? Developing the territory is also necessary for Leon, isn’t it!” As Adele spoke, she cast Leon a look seeking confirmation.

“That is true. The question is, how are you handling the funds used for development?” Leon asked about the Money Laundering.

He had separately handed Adele and Father Auden ten million Fenni each, asking them to make use of Arend Island’s resources and industries to create large amounts of “legal” income under suitable pretexts as quickly as possible, filling Viscount Arend’s coffers.

Then, Leon could openly use the enormous funds earned from the Magic Essence Trade to invest in and operate this territory, further expanding both profits and the scale of Money Laundering.

Earl Foyle had used precisely this method over ten years to govern his territory into the most prosperous commercial center in the Eastern Region.

Even though he was dead now, and his family could not inherit the Underground Business he had built, the assets he had left behind within the territory could still allow his family to live gloriously for the rest of their lives, even benefiting several generations, provided no unforeseen changes occurred.

Only with a prosperous territory as backing could a lord rank among the forefront of noble circles and possess the confidence necessary to seek power and status within this country.

“Things are going smoothly on my side. I’ve already processed eight million five hundred thousand.” As Father Auden spoke, he placed a pile of accounts and documents he had completed onto the desk, “Miss Adele is completely welcome to inspect them.”

“On my side, including the portion injected into the Charitable Fund, I’ve processed five million so far. The rest won’t be possible until the end of the month……” Adele said.

“Looks like I’m still better at handling funds after all.” Father Auden straightened his collar.

“I was completing the Charitable Fund application while handling the funds at the same time.” Adele retorted.

“Oh, I was actually also processing the Charitable Fund application at the same time.” Father Auden said indifferently.

“You didn’t accomplish anything, and you still dare use that as an excuse?” Adele shot back.

“We’re only discussing the amount of effort spent. You need to be logical. Unfortunately, Miss Adele, the fact is that your Money Laundering efficiency is lower than mine.” Father Auden said.

“By that logic, you also started preparing half a month earlier than me! And in the long term, my projects are safer!” Adele said seriously.

“Miss Adele, you’re more familiar with the industries within the territory. Should I also count the time you previously spent handling business within the territory as preparation time? Besides, this long-term consideration of yours……can you really say with certainty what will happen in the future? It can’t be verified at all.” Father Auden said.

At this moment, Leon chuckled softly. Hearing his laughter, Adele and Father Auden stopped arguing and looked toward him at the same time.

“Sometimes it’s rather amusing to watch the two of you argue, but this time we’ll follow the originally planned arrangement. The island industries belonging to the Viscount Arend Family will be handled by Adele, while my personal affairs outside the island will be handled by the Priest. Is that acceptable?” Leon said.

“But there’s still a portion in between. Your territory needs both internal investment and external trade, and there will inevitably be interaction between the inside and outside. I hope you’ll allow the Merchant Consortiums handled by my side to have priority rights for investment and transactions with the industries in your territory.” Father Auden suddenly said.

“I refuse! If it’s investment, I can find more reliable channels. But neither you, Priest, nor any clients associated with you will ever be considered!” Adele immediately rejected it.

“You’re overstepping, Miss Adele. This isn’t for you to decide. At most, you’re only an Advisor just like me. Do you really think you’re the Viscountess?” Father Auden said teasingly.

“I do not!” Adele widened her eyes, “This is simply my opinion as an Advisor. You and your clients are absolutely forbidden from interfering with the industries on this island again. You already harmed our family once. None of you are trustworthy!”

“Oh, I’m not stupid enough to try harming a troublesome man like this.” Father Auden glanced at Leon.

“I know. Your objective is to use investment and transactions to gradually squeeze control over this territory’s assets back out of my hands. In the future, after Leon and I reach an agreement and he withdraws his investment, all of you will be able to do whatever you want.

Even setting that aside, with the large amounts of money Leon will invest into the island in the future, the development potential of the industries here is astonishing. You could also take shares and profit. To put it plainly, you simply want to follow Leon’s capital investment and profit by investing alongside him.” Adele stared at the Priest.

“Aren’t you merely trying to keep the opportunity to profit from investments relying on this man in your own hands? The loans you take from him will still be invested into this island, won’t they?” Father Auden spread his hands and turned toward Leon, “You should decide. The previous agreement never said this portion would also be handed over to her.”

“The advisory authority over leading investment and trade, is that it.” Leon considered it briefly, “Then I’ve decided to hand it to the person I trust more.”

“Stop keeping us in suspense. Just say who it is?” Father Auden urged.

As for who was more trustworthy, arguments could be made for either side. One could say that Father Auden had worked with him longer, or that Adele was objectively less likely to betray him.

Leon smiled slightly, then took out a small bottle filled with dark-red liquid and placed it on the desk.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me?” Father Auden’s brows immediately knitted tightly.