Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Chapter 179 An old case from twenty years ago!
Finkel's words made Vaughn frown even more.

Could it be that the other party's original target was Helmut?

It seems that he really found out something that involves Helmut.

Vaughn hesitated for a moment. He really didn't know what the other party had found out.

The Collins family has complex connections in Effiin and possesses untold wealth and influence.

Similarly, in order to maintain this wealth and influence, Vaughan, including the Collins family behind him, did many things that could not be made public.

Many things were arranged and implemented personally by his right-hand man and confidant, Helmut White.

After doing so many shady things, there are always mistakes.

Vaughn didn't think there was anything wrong with this, every family did this.

When he is in this position, there is no right or wrong.

It's nothing more than uneven distribution of benefits.

What Vaughan didn't understand now was whether Finkel's initiative to come to the house was his own initiative or the intention of the Queen and the Prime Minister.

While thinking, Helmut said:

"Sir, I was just thinking of having a good chat with this young and promising Director Finger!
Don’t you have an appointment with the Minister of Agriculture for tea? This won’t affect your normal schedule.”

Vaughn felt inexplicably relieved, as he was well aware of Helmut's abilities.

How could a student soldier who hasn't even grown all his hair possibly deal with him?

However, he still wanted to confirm the origin of this Finkel.

Who instructed him to do this?
After Vaughan left, Helmut smiled and said to Fingel:

"Director Finger, if you have any questions, please ask. I will tell you everything I know."

Finger's expression remained calm as he nodded and said:

"Thanks for your cooperation!"

In the shadow plane, Cohen had been observing Finkel's every move since he knocked on the door of the Collins family.

The more I observe, the more worthwhile my investment feels.

Finkel is indeed a rare talent. With a little experience, he can definitely become his right-hand man.

Cohen listened silently to the conversation between the three people. When Vaughn left, Cohen felt a little moved and followed him.

Vaughan walked around in the luxurious Viscount's mansion and soon arrived at a secret room.

After arriving at the secret room, Vaughn activated the magic circle and took out a purple communication stone.

Cohen saw it clearly in the shadow plane.

Vaughan contacted Prime Minister Angus Angrain.

The communication was quickly connected, and after a polite greeting, Vaughn tentatively asked about Finkel's true identity.

Angus's answer made Vaughn frown slightly.

He said that the Military Control Commission is currently in the preparation stage and all work is personally supervised by Her Majesty the Queen.

Even though he was the prime minister, he couldn't interfere too much.

But Angus promised to inquire for him.

After hanging up the phone, Vaughn shook his head slightly. At the same time, the magic circle in his hand was activated.

Scenes began to appear in the secret room, which were the scenes of the conversation between Finkel and Helmut in the reception room.

It started with some simple, routine questions.

For example, Helmut's position and daily work content in the Viscount's Mansion.

Helmut's background, education, how he met the Viscount, etc.

Helmut's answer was flawless and there was nothing unusual about it.

But soon, Fingel asked a question that made Helmut stunned for a moment:

"Mr. Helmut White, 20 years ago, were you the special envoy of then-Industry Minister, the Honourable Vaughan Collins, to the Northern Territory to restructure and reorganize land management?"

There was a trace of confusion in Helmut's eyes. He really couldn't remember it for a moment.

He answered uncertainly:
"I think so. I can't remember clearly."

As soon as he finished speaking, Finkel took out a yellowish red letter of commission from his briefcase.

It clearly states that on a certain date, Helmut White was appointed as the country's northern region land planning and management commissioner.

The signature below was that of the then Industry Secretary, Vaughan Collins.

Seeing this letter of appointment brought back Helmut's distant memories.

He suddenly recalled the incident from twenty years ago, and a trace of gloom appeared on his face.

The fact that such a letter of authorization could be found from the vast amount of documents and materials is enough to show that the other party was well prepared.

I really don't know what they found.

Also, the power of the Military Intelligence Bureau is indeed immense, and even such old secret documents can be retrieved from the archives department.

Helmut's eyes flashed with solemnity, and he replied:
"Yes, I remember now. I did serve as this special envoy twenty years ago."

Finger raised the corner of his mouth indifferently and continued:

"Twenty years ago, Viscount Vaughan Collins, then Cabinet Secretary of State for Industry, submitted to the late King an assessment of the poor management of land in the North.

This assessment report was drafted by Mr. Helmut and two officials from the Ministry of Industry, am I right?"

Helmut smiled and replied:

"Well... the reports I drafted for the Viscount are at least 8,000, if not 10,000.

Twenty years ago... I really don’t remember it very clearly.”

Finkel then took out two inquiry records from his briefcase and said calmly:

"This is the interrogation transcript of the two Ministry of Industry officials who accompanied you on the investigation and assessment. Would you like to take a look?"

Helmut's lips formed a line. After twenty years, ghosts still remembered the two unknown clerks.

He nodded slowly:
"I remember now, there really was such a thing, and I drafted this report!"

Finkel put away the conversation record, and his voice suddenly became stern:
“According to the two Ministry of Industry officials, during your investigation, the land in the northern region did not have the serious management problems as reported.

They confessed that you used someone's influence to interfere with their production of this false investigation report!"

Helmut's lips curled up into a sinister smile, his body leaned back slightly, and he said calmly:

"Slander, baseless slander.

Where are these two officials? I can confront them face to face!"

There was arrogance and contempt in the corners of Helmut's eyes. If Finkel's trump card was just the insignificant testimony of two officials from the Ministry of Industry, then he felt that he had overestimated this young man who dared to come directly to his door!

Fingel didn't take it seriously and quickly replied:
“Yes, I thought so too.

How could someone Viscount Collins values do such a despicable thing?"

Helmut didn't take Fingel's insinuations to heart at all.

In his view, this was the impotent rage of the weak.

Even if he did force these two officials to tamper with the investigation report, so what?
Not everyone dares to stand openly against the Collins family like Fingle!
He was absolutely certain that once the two officials confronted him face to face, they would change their statements on the spot!

The truth of the matter twenty years ago was that the northern part of Effiin had vast expanses of fertile land.

It is also a famous grain-producing area in the entire northwest continent.

Therefore, the emerging aristocratic Collins family regarded this place as a new target for their wealth expansion.

After becoming the Minister of Industry and entering the cabinet, Vaughan Collins began his carefully planned land merger, which was also the first pot of gold for the Collins family.

He used his position at court to submit an assessment report to the king claiming that land management in the northern region was in disarray.

It needs to be replanned and reorganized.

This assessment report was drafted personally by his confidant Helmut.

The king believed him and appointed him to be in charge of combing the northern lands.

Vaughan took the opportunity to place his confidants in the execution team.

After these people arrived in the north, they began to measure and evaluate the farmers' land for various unreasonable reasons.

They deliberately expanded the land area, claiming that farmers had underpaid taxes for many years and used this as an excuse to confiscate the land.

Some farmers also tried to resist and went to the local executive government to file a complaint with land deeds and proof of family inheritance.

However, these complainants were sent back by the Minister of Industry, who had great influence.

A few troublemakers were still in custody, and the Greens family's private armed forces also participated in the looting spree.

These armed men rode tall horses, wore heavy armor, and wielded sharp swords, rampaging across the northern countryside.

They drove farmers away, burned their houses, and forcibly dragged away those who refused to leave their land.

In this process, many peasant families were torn apart and displaced.

At the same time, Vaughan continued to use his methods in the court to prevent other ministers from learning about the situation in the north.

Whenever a minister raised questions about the land consolidation work in the north, Vaughan would produce some forged data and reports, claiming that everything was proceeding in an orderly manner and that the replanning of the land would bring more benefits to the country.

It's just that some unruly people resist national policies and are unwilling to hand over the land they have occupied.

He also brought the then Chancellor of the Exchequer into his own interest camp.

Having the Chancellor restrict funding to departments that could threaten his plans prevents them from investigating further.

In addition, the Collins family colluded with some bandits and carried out a series of terrorist attacks in the northern region.

Later, the Collins family entered these areas on the pretext of protecting the land security.

They forcibly purchased the land of farmers and ranchers at extremely low prices, and those who were unwilling to sell were directly falsely accused of colluding with bandits and thrown into prison.

In this way, in just five years, large tracts of high-quality pastures and farmland, the country's grain and livestock production areas, were taken into the possession of the Collins family.

The Yis family also jumped from a middle-class noble family to the top powerful family in Effiin.

Frankly speaking, the Collins family didn't do anything very smart.

As long as you look carefully, you can always find some clues.

Therefore, it is not that no one noticed the Collins family's evil deeds.

But even if they noticed, so what? Behind the Collins family is a genuine cabinet minister.

One of the most powerful people in this country.

It's nothing more than occupying a few more pieces of land and killing a few more people.

For a cabinet minister, this is no big deal.

It is even a recognized unspoken rule.

Several cabinet ministers are each responsible for one or two areas of the country, which is each minister's own piece of land.

As long as he does not act out of line within his own sphere of influence and does not interfere with the interests of other ministers.

Others will not interfere with your calculations. Everyone will carry the sedan chair together, give each other face, and support each other.

Everyone lies down together in this rich and abundant country and happily sucks blood.

They don't care what kind of disaster their actions will bring to the country.

For them, the concept of country has become very vague, and family is the only and fundamental thing they strive for.

Cohen's father, King Victor Corleone, also wanted to solve this problem during his reign.

The entanglement between these families is complex and cannot be reversed overnight.

Especially at that time, Aife's rapid development momentum attracted the attention of the Kingdom of Ceylon.

In order to resist the suppression from the Kingdom of Ceylon, Victor had to relax domestic controls.

This has led to these families becoming even more unscrupulous and using every possible means to frantically seize benefits from the country and the people.

Not to mention after Adair came to power.

Although she is passionate and wants to protect this country for her husband.

But the pressure she faced was too great, and the first and foremost came from the Corleone royal family.

When these big families and nobles wanted to develop, the first person they bribed was the Corleone royal family.

Her husband could not provide any help, so she had no other way to deal with her husband's family.

However, after investigating for a while, Cohen had gained a general understanding of the domestic situation.

Perhaps the great turmoil in the near future will be an opportunity for Effiin to be reborn from the ashes.

I guess they wouldn't be loyal to these families who were sucking blood from Effiin all day long.

Maybe I can take advantage of this opportunity to catch some fish, catch all those bastard families and kill them all, making room for my men!
And those scum in the Corleone royal family.

When Adele was in power, she often made things difficult for her, and Cohen wanted to vent his anger on behalf of his sister, the queen.

Cohen's thoughts were all in a flash. In the living room, Finkel continued:
"Besides these, I also want to ask Mr. Helmut about someone, a political clerk with whom he worked twenty years ago.

Baron Harold, then the political secretary of Kansas County in the northern region.

I wonder if Mr. Helmut has any impression of this person?"

Hearing this name, a trace of unnaturalness flashed across Helmut's face. He slightly shifted his gaze and said:
"I seem to have some impression of it. The name sounds familiar. I should know him."

Before he finished speaking, Finkel had already placed several meeting minutes in front of Helmut, each of which was signed by both Helmut and Harold.

The meeting minutes span five years.

In addition, there were two property certificates next to it, one from Helmut and the other from Harold.

The properties are located at 128 Central Street in Kansas City and 129 Central Street in Kansas City.

A colleague who I have worked with for more than five years and was also a neighbor for a period of time.

These materials are sufficient to prove that there is a close relationship between the two.

A fierce look appeared in Helmut's eyes.

Viscount Vaughan Collins' face turned ashen as he watched all this through the surveillance array in the secret room.

It’s not because the materials Finkel produced could prove what Helmut had done.

But the fact that Finkel was able to produce these materials is enough to explain many problems!
How did the other party find the minutes of the meeting conversation from twenty years ago?

There is also the issue of Helmut and the fixed asset certificate of his close confidants. From which channel did the other party obtain it?

His political acumen from years of ups and downs in officialdom told him that an invisible net was slowly enveloping him.

Effiin Military Committee Investigation and Statistics Bureau!

Are you going to operate on yourself?
Yes, a new department naturally needs to demonstrate its new authority and declare its strong political presence.

The Collins family, which has faded from politics for many years, is indeed a good target.

After figuring it all out, Vaughn curled up his lips into a sinister smile.

In the reception room, Helmut's eyes changed noticeably, and his expression became unnatural. Facing Finkel's questioning gaze, he replied with a lack of confidence:
"I remember now that I did have dealings with Baron Harold for a period of time.

But it has been too long, and we haven't been in touch for a long time, and I almost forgot about this person.

Is he okay now? "

Finkel shook his head and said in a serious tone:
"No, Baron Harold has been dead for more than ten years."

Helmut showed just the right amount of surprise on his face and asked:

"Died of illness? What a surprise! Now I remember clearly that Harold was a good lad.

We had a lot of fun working together, it’s such a shame.”

Finkel stared at Helmut and asked:
“It turns out that Mr. Helmut never knew about Mr. Harold’s death.

It's a pity, because Lady Lucy, Sir Harold's widow, always thought that the mysterious man who was secretly supporting her was you!"

As he spoke, Finkel had already placed a thick stack of remittance receipts in front of Helmut.

The payee was Harold's widow, Lady Lucy, and the remitter was Sir Faro from the East.

Finger continued:
"I asked Lady Lucy, and she didn't know any Sir Faro, and her husband, Baron Harold, had never had any contact with anyone from the East.

She always believed that the man who used the pseudonym Sir Faro was her husband's good friend, Mr. Helmut White! "

Helmut's expression became much stiffer, and he forced a smile:

“What a surprise! I didn’t expect to leave such a good impression on Mrs. Harold.

Unfortunately, I don’t know any Sir Faro, and I am not Sir Faro.”

Finkel didn't care and asked with a chuckle:

"What kind of person is Harold in your eyes?"

Helmut leaned back slightly, his eyes flickering with memories:

"He is low-key, calm, humble, has great communication skills, and also has a simple sense of justice, passion and idealism.

Although he is a nobleman, he is able to empathize with the common people and often speaks up for the lower classes spontaneously.

Overall, he's a very nice young man.

pity……"

"What's a pity?"

Helmut came back to his senses, a flash of nostalgia in the depths of his pupils passed away, and he said calmly:
"It's a pity that he died so young. Didn't Director Finger just say that Baron Harold died a long time ago?"

Finger's expression became much more serious:

“Yeah, it’s a pity.

It seems that Baron Harold has left a good impression on you.

But I guess you haven't known his other identity yet."

Helmut's eyes regained their composure and he asked:

"What identity?"

"He is also a secret agent assigned to Kansas County by the Minister of Supervision."

Helmut's heart skipped a beat.

Did you find this too?

This department was established just a few days ago and even the specific office location has not been determined.

Has the investigation reached this level so quickly?
Helmut's eyes unconsciously showed admiration for the young man who was capable of being cultivated.

Although the two men were on opposite sides, Finkel was able to unravel the mystery and sort out all the related and unrelated matters in just a few days, and he investigated an old case that had been buried for twenty years so clearly.

In addition to being shocked by the power of the Military Control Commission, Helmut also highly recognized the ability of Finkel, the fourth-level investigation director.

Helmut concealed the emotion in his eyes and said in a deep voice:

“This is the first time I’ve heard of this.”

Finkel's tone became much lower:
"Then you certainly don't know that Baron Harold has a secret that even his wife doesn't know.

As a secret agent of the Minister of Inspectorate, he is well aware of the situation he is facing and that he may encounter unexpected events at any time.

So every time he found evidence—those forged appraisal reports, letters colluding with robbers, evidence of bribery to various departments in Kansas City...

He would make copies of these things using photo stones and then bury the stones in the Bayside Gardens in the city center!
This incident was also discovered not long ago by Lady Lucy, who found a diary left by Baron Harold.

Hearing this, Helmut's breathing became noticeably faster.

However, his face remained calm and his tone did not change at all:

"To think there's such a thing! I wonder what kind of power Baron Harold is investigating that requires such caution!"

Finkel shook his head and said:
"Unfortunately, the Bayside Gardens began renovations five years ago, and the secrets that Baron Harold buried in the flower beds are probably long gone.

What a shame! "

Helmut remained silent.

Finkel packed up the documents he brought and slowly stood up:

"Okay, I've finished asking my questions. I won't bother you any more. Please say hello to him. It was a pleasure talking to you. I hope we can meet again next time."

Helmut was very surprised that Finkel's questioning came to an abrupt end. Why didn't the other party take the opportunity to pursue the matter further?
Why is that?
Are you here just to demonstrate?

Helmut shook his head and had to suppress all the speculations in his mind.

Before leaving, Finkel suddenly asked:
"Mr. Helmut, do you still go to commemorate Mr. Harold every year?"

(End of this chapter)