The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#Chapter 170 Suspect Isaac (14) - Righteous Discourse "Propaganda and fabrication. What, are you planning to spread malicious rumors about the Darnoua family? Even if you and I try something like reporting them, the other side won't budge at all. They have connections in the media too." "Hahaha, that's right. No matter what, you need at least a minimum weight class. In that sense, Detective, won't you lend me some money?" "Money? How much?" "For use as seed money, about 90% of your entire fortune should do." "Are you crazy?" "And it would be good if you could pretend to be dead too. If you're alive, I don't think the other side will let their guard down." "I'll ask again, are you crazy?" -A conversation between an assistant and a detective. Part 1- *** Just because the walls of the class system had crumbled didn't mean their culture had disappeared overnight. No, it had instead become even more splendid and grand. Former commoners, current power holders who had gained access to court culture that was previously inaccessible due to having to mind the high-ranking officials, had a habit of slathering on anything that looked expensive and good, as if trying to make up for their lack of legitimacy and history. It was the typical tech tree of nouveau riche. They wore stylish suits and gorgeous dresses and continued social gatherings that were free by their standards but appeared debauched from the outside, but today's social gathering here had a distinctly different atmosphere. About half of the participants who would normally scan their surroundings looking for attractive members of the opposite sex were staring at only one man, and other participants also couldn't take their eyes off him, if only out of curiosity. "Who on earth is that person that everyone's gathered around like that?" "Don't you know Mr. Charles Darnoua? You're too slow with the news." "Darnoua? You mean that Darnoua?" "He says the pronunciation is similar but the spelling is different... but hardly anyone believes it. Probably just for saving face." While people murmured on the outskirts, endless smiles and praise flowed from the mouths of those surrounding 'dapper gentleman Charles Darnoua.' "Mr. Darnoua, thank you so much for introducing us to such a good program this time." "Yes, exactly! Everyone was so grateful to me. Thanks to that, my nose is way up in the air!" Though he could well be proud in the face of such fervent praise, Charles Darnoua shook his head with a quite respectful attitude. "What I did is not such a great thing. If you hadn't provided me with capital, what use would any talent I might have be? You have simply received the proper return on your investment." "Hohoho, you're so humble, sir!" "How many businessmen in the world just take money and can't produce results? The more someone like you flourishes, the more benefit it will be to this republic!" "Oh my, then all of you helping me would be patriots, wouldn't you?" "Oh my, does it work that way?" A light laugh of "kyaruk" echoed through the air. As if enchanted by that laughter, the participants subtly asked about Charles Darnoua's 'business' and soon heard surprising answers. "You give back 10% of the principal as dividends every month?" "If you recommend other members to join, your rank goes up, and additional benefits increase with each rank?" An enormous rate of return that could treat bank interest as 'trivial.' Plus the testimonials of those who had already received dividends. Those who attended this party each held considerable positions economically or politically within the republic, but even so, they could not remain aloof from greed for wealth. No, rather, precisely because they were so wealthy, they felt even greater greed. A world where the wall of social status that seemed like it would be above their heads forever had crumbled. It was all too natural that the name of the newly formed wall was the wall of wealth. *** "You receive 100 from A and give back 10 calling it dividends. Using that 10 as bait, you get another 100 invested from B and C. It's robbing Peter to pay Paul. There are this many people falling for such an absurd scam?" "What's important in deduction is truth, but what's important in fraud is the heart. Reason finds it hard to overcome emotion." "Honestly speaking, I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to throw you in jail right now. More than that, won't innocent civilians get caught up in this too?" "It's fine. I've secured all the lists, so we'll be able to get it back later with 'appropriate interest.' By the way, what's the Darnoua side's reaction?" "Since I burned down the building in a fire and then made it collapse, they may be suspicious, but they won't be certain I'm alive. Thanks to that, I've become a homeless wanderer, though." "Then please do some investigation from behind the scenes. The Darnoua family's puppets hiding somewhere. I need information about them." "I don't know why the assistant is bossing around the detective, really." -A conversation between a certain assistant and detective. Part 2- *** "Now, please accept this." The Branch Manager of Darnoua Pharmaceuticals' Confort Branch couldn't close his mouth at the scene spread before his eyes. The moment it was placed on the desk, a rectangular bag so heavy that the desk shook briefly. Inside that bag, crisp bills filled every space without gaps. And it wasn't just one such bag, but several. As the branch manager of a successful pharmaceutical company, he had handled quite a bit of money and even exchanged bribes, but the money before his eyes was truly on a different level. The branch manager gulped and said. "Are you really going to give all of this as investment money?" "Yes." "Are there any conditions or anything like..." "None." It was a story that didn't make sense at first hearing. There couldn't possibly exist bribes without intent or lobbyists without ulterior motives in this world. However, at the words that followed, the branch manager couldn't help but admire unintentionally. "This is all to honor 'that person's' grace. Having received that person's benevolence, isn't it natural to repay it?" "Ah!" The branch manager couldn't help but agree unintentionally. He too was one of those who had grown up in the Darnoua family's orphanage, receiving the Darnoua's sponsorship. Having steadily taken drugs since childhood and undergone brainwashing education, he harbored loyalty equivalent to faith deep in his heart, so he could completely trust—no, have faith in—the words spoken by the man before him. No matter how much they say there are no bribes without compensation in society, isn't religion fundamentally meant to transcend reason and rationality? "Then you too...?" "I cannot tell you the details. That person wants this matter to proceed secretly." "I see. I apologize for asking." The branch manager, who had momentarily tried to determine the opponent's detailed identity, cleanly backed down at those words. Given the nature of the Darnoua faction, who wouldn't hesitate to eliminate obstacles when necessary, it wasn't uncommon to conceal each other's identities like this or handle only partial operations without knowing the overall situation. As if satisfied with the branch manager's attitude, the mysterious patron smiled faintly. "As I mentioned, how you use this funding depends entirely on your will, Branch Manager. However, I do have a personal hope that it might be used to fatten the Darnoua family's flesh and strengthen their bones." "Indeed, indeed. I understand. I will handle it myself, so please be at ease." "I trust you, Branch Manager." (E/N: Not sure how to convey it properly but it's stronger than just a random 'I trust you') The two men firmly clasped hands. *Click*. The branch manager failed to realize that such a small camera sound had echoed from somewhere. *** "Did you get the photos well?" "I got clear shots of you in disguise entering buildings of Darnoua associates, chatting amicably with them, and even the large bundles of bills." "Then please distribute them to newspapers everywhere. And—" "—If possible, calculate the mail arrival dates and coordinate so multiple newspapers can break the story simultaneously, right? I know that well without you having to say it." "Excellent." -A conversation between a certain assistant and detective. Part 3- *** The republic was one of the countries where newspaper culture was highly developed. Other countries sometimes jeered, saying "That's just propaganda spread by the government anyway," but at least the republic's citizens took considerable pride in their newspaper culture. What would those guys who still use parchment or bamboo slips because their printing and papermaking technology is poor, or those whose technology is sufficient but are restricted for political reasons, know anyway? The general perception was that any civilized person with social status and culture should at least regularly subscribe to a newspaper, and according to the law of supply and demand, the newspaper industry was one of the hottest red oceans within the republic. [Vicious nationwide fraud scheme. What is the true identity of mysterious businessman Charles Darnoua?] [The people's tears of blood lost to Darnoua! The shamelessness of criminals who deny everything to the end, saying "I don't know anything about it!"] [The true face of the 'Saint of Chaudronbourg'! Where on earth did his political funds come from!] Therefore, the moment those newspapers all simultaneously fired salvos on the same topic, it was only natural that public opinion exploded. "What? Darnoua committed fraud against people?" "Hah, they pretended to be good with charity work and all, but behind the scenes they were doing this!" "Those damn bastards!! So you were the criminals who took my money!!" Of course, the Darnoua side wasn't just sitting still taking the hits either. "This is a false accusation!! Spreading such rumors without fact-checking—we'll sue for defamation!!" "Logically, if we were the criminals, would we have openly used the Darnoua name? How is this different from stealing without even covering your face? Huh?!" "Damn it, what are you doing! Hurry up and publish a correction!! We must prevent damage to the family head somehow!!" Those connected to the Darnoua were spread throughout the republic, and they struggled to somehow turn the direction of public opinion. However, the effect was not satisfactory. "Then what about these photos? The criminal is clearly shown going in and out of your side and handing over money, isn't he?" "This was investment money!! How could we have known this was money earned through fraud? We're victims too!" "If it was investment money, there would naturally be appropriate conditions or profit-sharing plans, wouldn't there? If what you say is true, on what conditions did you receive the money?" "Well, that is, all the specific plans were delegated to our side..." "Ah, so the other party unilaterally gave you money without demanding any compensation, and you swallowed it up without any suspicion and then invested it in Darnoua business. And the other party uses the Darnoua surname but is an outsider with no relation to the Darnoua family?" "......" "Even hearing this yourself, don't you find anything strange about this story?" Those who had received the money had nothing to say even if they had a hundred mouths. They couldn't explain, 'Actually, our puppets have absolute loyalty to the main family through brainwashing education and drug consumption since childhood, and they're people who wouldn't hesitate to eliminate someone through suicide attacks if ordered, so bringing and offering money isn't that strange! That's why we accepted it without much suspicion!' Normally, when such troublesome situations occurred, they would have silenced the people involved, but this time even that was impossible. The main clients that that Charles Darnoua fellow had swindled were high-ranking members of society that even they couldn't easily approach, and committing assassinations at this point when the incident had become so widely known would be like pouring oil on a burning house. But to just stay still? "Bring out Charles Darnoua!! How long do you plan to keep hiding him?!!" "We don't know that person either! There's no such person in the Darnoua family to begin with!!" "The victims all say they invested because they saw the Darnoua surname—what are you talking about!?" "Isn't that the fault of people who invested without checking the facts!!" "Squeeeal! Darnoua has shown their true colors!! They're saying it's all the fault of innocent victims!! Oh my!!" The Darnoua side's people all felt dizzy, whether they were field workers, middle management, or executives. Of course, regardless of all that, the journalists diligently printed new newspapers. That was the true spirit of 'righteous discourse.'