The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 45

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 45】

 

Rianel hadn’t directly examined the bank ledgers herself.

 

No matter how much of a civil servant she was, an outsider couldn’t freely look at the ledgers of a privately established commercial bank.

 

However, there was information that could be verified from the outside.

 

Above all, loans involved the movement of large amounts of capital, so tracking those traces wasn’t difficult.

 

The results of that verification.

 

“The loans are… well, they’re doing well, but…”

 

Mel muttered.

 

Surprisingly, the information the Princess had heard from the Head Maid turned out to be true.

 

The problem was that these easy loans were being approved mainly for specific individuals.

 

“Orman Hansen. Lauren Hansen. Mill Hansen…”

 

“It’s completely structured for the Hansen Family to monopolize everything.”

 

Loans were being issued mainly to trading companies established by the Vice President’s relatives.

 

“But these trading companies that these people supposedly established all seem like ghost companies. There’s no record of any commercial activity.”

 

“The collateral is all fake too, or things that aren’t worth that much.”

 

Of course, people who weren’t part of the Hansen family did receive loans too.

 

“Mori Melton?”

 

When Rianel reacted to one of the names, Wilbrin looked up.

 

“Do you know this person, Team Leader?”

 

“Isn’t that the name of the borrowed-name account used by the excommunicated priest?”

 

“Ah!”

 

Only then did Wilbrin slap her knee.

 

She belatedly remembered that there had been a priest among those who embezzled the Princess Palace budget.

 

Though the amount was smaller than the other two embezzlers so she had forgotten, she clearly remembered how he had hidden his assets.

 

‘He had accumulated wealth under his deceased relative’s name.’

 

This time, it seemed he had pretended to establish a trading company under his deceased relative’s name and received a loan.

 

Of course, since dead people can’t do business, that trading company was also fake.

 

“That person was pulling schemes here too?!”

 

“It seems so.”

 

“Then that also explains where the Head Maid got that information.”

 

Mel laughed as if feeling deflated.

 

“Because they were part of the same gang.”

 

“She might have leaked the information to report her accomplice’s crimes for the purpose of getting a reduced sentence.”

 

In any case, the conclusion was clear.

 

“But isn’t this loan fraud?”

 

People with neither the ability nor intention to repay had deliberately established ghost companies to receive loans.

 

“It also constitutes breach of duty.”

 

Of course, this applied to the Vice President’s side.

 

Someone who should work for the bank’s benefit had caused losses to the bank through bad loans.

 

“…This seems like a big problem.”

 

Three years since Arman Bank’s Vice President had taken control of the bank.

 

The bank was slowly rotting away.

 

The evidence was that internal accountants were quitting one after another, and they were offering high-interest deposit products.

 

“That’s right. Banks on the verge of running out of funds usually do this.”

 

“So they weren’t giving out loans because they had no money?”

 

The Princess’s eyes widened.

 

Wilbrin smiled a bit awkwardly.

 

“That’s part of it, but… I think it’s also because of recent events.”

 

It hadn’t been long since the Princess Palace embezzlement case was revealed, and its aftermath was permeating the entire Empire.

 

The Imperial Family was also closely examining whether there had been similar embezzlement in other departments.

 

“In this situation, they were probably scared that if they carelessly gave out loans, auditors might even look into the bank ledgers.”

 

The possibility was low, but they probably judged it wouldn’t hurt to be careful.

 

‘Especially since one of the conspirators was connected to the Princess Palace issue.’

 

“I have a question…”

 

The Princess raised her hand again, and Rianel, like a former professor, accepted the question from a student ready to learn.

 

“I’m listening.”

 

“Why is it a problem if the bank goes bankrupt?”

 

The Empire had countless trading companies and merchants, and naturally some of them went out of business.

 

So couldn’t banks fail too?

 

“Banks hold funds in a different structure from general trading companies.”

 

“?”

 

“Banks are places that lend money to people and make business profits from interest. So where do you think they get the money to lend?”

 

“Uh…”

 

When the Princess couldn’t answer easily, Wilbrin answered instead.

 

“Deposits. The money people entrust to the bank.”

 

“Ah!”

 

“Correct. But what do you think happens to the people who deposited money in the bank if the bank goes bankrupt?”

 

“Don’t tell me… they can’t get it back?”

 

“That’s right, most likely.”

 

“Then that’s a big problem!”

 

The Princess jumped up.

 

Though she hadn’t learned imperial studies, as royalty she had been raised to consider loving and caring for the Empire’s citizens as basic cultivation. It was natural for the Princess to feel sorry about this.

 

“Isn’t there a solution? Like telling people that the bank is about to fail…”

 

“Then it would really go bankrupt.”

 

“Why?”

 

Til inwardly smiled, finding the young Princess’s innocence endearing.

 

“Well, if rumors spread that the bank is failing, all the depositors would rush to the bank to withdraw their money.”

 

Then the already precarious bank’s funding would dry up, and there was a high possibility it would develop into social chaos as people who couldn’t get their money back would riot.

 

This time Mel raised a question.

 

“But don’t banks get audited every year?”

 

“That’s right. Since the aftermath of bankruptcy is severe, naturally.”

 

“But why didn’t anyone know until things got this bad?”

 

Originally, regular bank audits were the Inspection Bureau’s job, but when the Inspection Bureau disappeared, the work was transferred to the Ministry of Finance.

 

That’s where the problem arose.

 

“Those Finance Ministry bastards seem to have colluded with the Vice President.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“They already went for an audit in the fall. They even submitted an audit report saying there were no problems?”

 

“What department in the world conducts accounting audits in the fall?”

 

Shouldn’t audits be conducted only after year-end settlements are finished and the year’s ledger preparation is completed?

 

“Here’s one. That crazy department.”

 

“Those useless bastards, really.”

 

Eventually even Mel spat out profanity.

 

Since year-end and New Year are busy times, they had clearly visited the bank early under the excuse of conducting an interim audit and created and submitted an audit report based on that.

 

Upper management doesn’t know how to read financial statements well, so when told there were no problems, they probably approved it as a matter of routine.

 

‘Disgusting bureaucracy.’

 

“Anyway, we’ll have to submit a re-audit request.”

 

“We’re already busy and now we just have more work.”

 

Til grumbled.

 

“What’s with that smiling mouth of yours?”

 

“Ah, the blessing of dopamine just won’t stop flowing.”

 

Just thinking about beating down those guys who had already left made the corners of her mouth impossible to control.

 

Just then, someone stretched and yawned, and Til began organizing his workspace.

 

Rianel reflexively checked the clock.

 

“It’s quitting time.”

 

The Special Tax Bureau people, like excellent members of society, were doing their work while letting their mouths run separately.

 

They moved according to the work assignments Rianel had organized, and had finished today’s quota.

 

Naturally, they had the right to leave work on time.

 

“Everyone did great work.”

 

“You too, Team Leader.”

 

Though the conversation with the Princess was enjoyable, nothing could surpass personal rest time at home.

 

Everyone gathered their bags and stood up, bowing silently to the Princess. The Princess watched them leave and sat down close beside Rianel.

 

“Arman Bank. Isn’t there any other way?”

 

The Tax Bureau people had said there was no other method until special audit permission came through, and Tiren knew that was the standard procedure, but she was still concerned.

 

“Um… right, couldn’t we go directly to the president? Since he’s supposedly a capable person, if he knew the situation, he might come up with some solution.”

 

‘Since he was someone Sister-in-law cherished.’

 

She wanted to help and also get closer to him.

 

‘And then we could talk about Sister-in-law too!’

 

It would be good to have many people to share memories with.

 

“There’s a high possibility he’d refuse. They say he’s secluded due to health issues.”

 

Though imperial status was powerful, there were cases where it didn’t work.

 

In most cases, claiming illness was a good excuse to avoid visitors.

 

However, since Rianel also agreed that meeting Norman directly would be a good method, she proposed a different solution.

 

“Instead, let’s do it this way.”

 

The result was,

 

“Are you really going to marry President Rikel?”

 

Asil’s shocked exclamation.

 

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m still unmarried with no wedding plans.”

 

“What misunderstanding… no, let me hear this first. Was what I heard just a false rumor?”

 

Asil asked with faint hope, and Rianel lightly crushed it.

 

“I’ve only submitted the marriage proposal letter so far, and since I haven’t received a reply, that’s what I meant.”

 

“But if they accept, the engagement will be established!”

 

Asil felt frustrated for the first time in a while. If the person in front of him wasn’t his teacher, he might have run around the government building screaming like a beast.

 

“Why on earth are you doing this?”

 

“It was the easiest method.”

 

Like someone who pursued extreme efficiency to solve problems, Rianel answered calmly.

 

“To draw out someone in seclusion.”

 

Marriage is a major life event. Even if the other party is an old man well past sixty.

 

“Wouldn’t he open the mansion door at least once to deliver an answer, whichever way it goes?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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