My older sister is a villainous rich girl

With his position as president of the Lily Society, Wayne could easily obtain the list of all graduating members and their whereabouts. Next, he needed to find a few spies to plant in the southwest region in advance to pave the way for himself.

However, simply sending some people there is not enough. Although he has tried his best to keep an eye on the movements in the southwest region, his intelligence sources are still too limited.

He secretly followed the city guard's secret documents, the academy's internal files, and the former subjects of his homeland whom he had assigned to tighten screws in the factory… but ultimately, he only glimpsed the whole picture through a narrow tube. From those narratives, each with its own perspective and limited viewpoint, all he could glean were vague answers.

Franz had just returned from an inspection of tax collection in the southwest region, and given his position and connections, his data would undoubtedly be more in-depth and reliable than what I had currently gathered. However, while Franz seemed to be willing to support my involvement in the southwest operation, he might not truly be on my side.

If any conflict of interest arises, given his petty and narrow-minded nature, it would be a miracle if he didn't turn around and bite back.

Therefore, even if he decides to cooperate with the other party to a certain extent, Wayne must find a way to keep control in his own hands.

Everything proceeded according to plan, and the following evening Wayne, accompanied by two guards, personally paid a visit.

Although it would have been more formal if Duke Eliot had been involved, Eliot himself said that he was already annoyed enough by seeing Franz so often in his official duties, and he did not want to go to Minister Franz's house and have to deal with him again. Therefore, the negotiations were left to Wien to decide, and he would provide support from behind the scenes.

Adhering to the stance of the Duke of Winchester, Wayne carefully tidied his attire before disembarking from the carriage, then stepped onto the soft and expensive carpet and entered the Edgeworth family's gate.

Upon entering the room, the first thing that caught his eye was an extremely magnificent crystal chandelier hanging in the center of the hall. Jewels and gold leaf carvings complemented each other, making everything it reflected look luxurious and splendid.

Under the crystal chandelier, Ge Li, dressed in a simple yet dignified black dress, gazed intently at him.

Wayne stood still for a moment, and seeing that Ge Li didn't seem to want to start with any welcoming remarks, he strode forward and started a conversation as if he didn't care about the other's rudeness.

"It's a pleasure to meet you tonight, Miss Ge Li."

He glanced at the stairs leading to the second floor behind her. "I wonder if His Excellency Franz is waiting in the second-floor reception room? It wouldn't be good to keep him waiting too long, so let's leave the pleasantries for another time."

Wayne slightly raised his chin, gesturing for her to lead him up.

“Young Master Wayne is here for the first time, yet he seems quite familiar with the layout of my house.” Ge Li smiled coldly.

"Ah, I guessed." Wayne gave an awkward but polite smile.

After a brief stalemate, Ge Li ultimately decided not to embarrass him on the spot and turned to signal him to follow.

"Just have your servants stay downstairs; what we're about to discuss is not for them to hear."

"Has His Excellency Franz invited any other guests?" Wayne asked casually.

“Of course, but they are not outsiders, just a few retainers—” She suddenly remembered something halfway through her sentence and added, “Oh, I forgot, of course they are outsiders to you, you don’t need to get too close to them.”

"..."

This is so true! When other people entertain guests, they try to make them feel at home, afraid that the guests will feel uncomfortable. But this person is the opposite; they're afraid that they themselves will feel uncomfortable.

Wayne shook his head helplessly, didn't continue the conversation, and followed behind her up the steps.

The two first went up one flight of stairs, then through a long corridor with seven or eight doors on each side, and then went up another flight of stairs, where they found themselves in another long corridor.

Wayne was starting to have doubts.

"I don't think you'd pull some kind of trick like taking me on a roundabout route through your house, would you?"

He was just saying it casually, but Ge Li stopped and suddenly pushed him into the doorway on the left.

With a click, the door closed behind her and locked with lightning speed.

Wayne was stunned.

He looked around. It seemed to be a study, with a leather sofa about two meters wide on a hand-woven wool rug, enough for a person to lie down comfortably. A book lay open and tossed aside, and the fire in the fireplace was still burning quietly, casting its warm light on their profiles.

"you……"

Ge Li's expression was gloomy, and he bit his lower lip, as if he had made up his mind.

“Listen carefully, don’t trust that man named Urban, and try to avoid being alone with him. He’s an executioner who secretly takes care of some ‘trouble’ for the Edgeworth family.”

etc???

Could it be that Minister Franz is planning to assassinate me simply because he dislikes Eliot? Surely my past actions haven't come to light yet.

He felt he needed to reassess his character regarding the Chancellor of the Exchequer. "Your father is so ruthless; he's trying to kill me?"

"It's not necessarily that he wants to kill you. Maybe he just wants to use your identity as a cover to secretly eliminate other enemies for Edgeworth. In any case, be careful of this person. Father will use the excuse that he knows a lot about the situation in the Southwest to place him by your side."

She said in a low, strained voice, "And...this person...has a history of seducing young boys."

Ah? ? ?

Wien was almost laughing in exasperation. "Very well, His Excellency Franz certainly has an unconventional approach to hiring."

Seeing that he could still laugh, Ge Li felt both embarrassed and annoyed: "What, is this exactly what you wanted?"

"Tsk, what nonsense are you talking about?" With no one around, Wayne grew bolder and leaned down to whisper intimately in her ear, "You dare to reveal such a secret to me? What if I accidentally kill him? Aren't you afraid your family will lose a valuable trump card for nothing?"

Ge Li let out a soft sigh. "If I were afraid, I wouldn't have reminded you."

A cold glint flashed in her eyes. "But if you're going to kill him, make sure you do it cleanly and don't get any blood on yourself."

Chapter 686 Little Tricks

As Miss Geli became increasingly involved in family affairs, her methods gradually became more and more shrewd and sophisticated. Wayne had never expected to hear such words from her before.

He gently stroked her back, but only briefly, without disturbing her clothes. "Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you."

Even if she didn't remind herself, it would be impossible for her to be completely unprepared for the people Franz had planted.

When there is an absolute disparity in strength, schemes are nothing but pointless tricks.

The two did not talk for long. It was already extremely audacious of Ge Li to dare to speak to him alone while leading him upstairs.

When Goethe led him to Minister Franz's reception room, Wien realized that Franz was downstairs, separated from the room where the two had been alone by only a floor.

Belatedly, Wayne finally felt a pang of guilt.

Striving to maintain a calm expression, Wayne sat down opposite Franz with no less imposing presence.

A middle-aged man in a black tuxedo stood to Franz's right rear, holding a tray in one hand. This was Nash, the butler who had worked for the Edgeworth family for nearly forty years. His personal information had been laid out on Wayne's desk before the meeting. However, as Franz's most trusted confidant, he spent almost all his time managing the Edgeworth household and there were no flaws in his record.

Wien then turned his gaze to the other side of Franz.

To Franz’s left sat a man in a green shirt with messy short hair and a goatee. He had a rather effeminate air about him, and the way he looked at Franz was quite unsettling.

This person must be the Urban that Ge Li mentioned.

“Mr. Franz,” Wayne said sternly, “I thought our two families would finally have a chance to put aside the unpleasantness of the past and face a new future with honesty. Therefore, I accepted the condition of a private meeting in order to avoid certain things being heard by outsiders.”

"However, judging from your tone, it seems you don't think so."

Although Wayne Winche appears to be powerless and unqualified to challenge the powerful nobleman Franz, who is the Kingdom's Minister of Finance, Franz, as the designated heir to the dukedom, a close friend of the two princes, and the president of the Lily Club at Seiki Academy, is destined to become a significant force in the kingdom in time. Franz would certainly not underestimate him.

Although he still loathed Elliott, Franz was determined to resolve the troubles in the southwest swiftly and decisively, a task that required the support of Duke Winteau.

He has already spoken with His Majesty the King.

Perhaps wanting to make up for past regrets, His Majesty the King has recently become increasingly unabashed in indulging in pleasure, feasting daily, and gradually losing his ability to handle state affairs. More than the troublesome Eliot, it is the various signs revealed by the King that worry Franz more.

King George II was Franz's biggest supporter; he was greedy and suspicious, but also avaricious and astute.

Therefore, as long as he grasped His Majesty the King's mind, Franz was able to thrive in the position of Finance Minister, thereby expanding the family's influence. Some old nobles despised him for his constant pandering to the King in politics, seeing it as a disgrace to the Edgeworth family's honor, but he didn't care.

Aloofness cannot buy power.

His trip to the southwest to investigate taxes was also at the king's behest. His Majesty understood better than he did what would happen if the kingdom's finances were in a prolonged deficit.

Therefore, even though the southwest region could no longer bear heavier taxes, this money had to be conjured up out of thin air no matter what.

We can't let the king get angry and start robbing these nobles of their money.

Thinking of this, Franz smiled and reassured the spirited young man before him, "No, no, no, you're overthinking it."

“Wayne, I have great faith in your will and ability, but there are some things that cannot be done by one person alone. We nobles have long lived in the capital, thousands of miles away from the southwest region. Without someone familiar with the local situation to provide assistance, decisions made behind closed doors are bound to have various flaws.”

He gave a wink to the person sitting next to him: "Let me introduce you. This is Mr. Urban, my assistant whom I specially invited. He is a local from the former capital of the Principality of Milstein and knows the situation there very well. I have relied on his help a lot during this tax inspection trip."

Urban understood immediately, stood up as Franz had said, and bowed to Wien.

"I have long admired Young Master Wayne's name. It is an honor to meet you today. Your handsome appearance is indeed unforgettable." He chuckled. "I have long admired you. If you don't mind, I hope we can get to know each other better in the future."

Whether it was because Ge Li had said something beforehand or not, Wayne got goosebumps all over from his words, and he found his effeminate voice particularly disgusting.

"Oh? Is he a nobleman?" Wien feigned arrogance, avoiding a direct conversation with Urban, and instead looked at Franz.

Urban's expression froze for a moment as he tried to continue the conversation.

Franz shook his head and said, "He should have inherited his family's viscount title, but with the fall of the Duchy of Milstein, his family was reported for helping Archduke Laird escape, and was therefore stripped of their noble titles."

“That was nothing but a false accusation by a petty person who has a long-standing feud with my family. There was no credible basis whatsoever. But in the chaotic situation at the time, it was impossible to convict someone without providing evidence.” Urban’s expression was gloomy.

“Since I promised to find a way to restore your honor and title, I will do so.” The Chancellor of the Exchequer was unconcerned about the implied dissatisfaction with the Kingdom’s handling of the matter; in his view, those who had something to gain were easier to control. “However, you must also make contributions that prove your loyalty to the Kingdom.”

"At your service!"

"Look, your chance to make a contribution is right in front of you. Continue to assist this promising junior; he'll likely need your help someday. Now, give a brief overview of the findings we obtained during our trip to the Southwest..."

Wayne watched them perform their act quietly, offering no comment.

Only the bright green grapes in the fruit bowl in front of him were eaten one by one until the bowl was empty.

Through Urban's detailed explanation, Wayne compared the information with what he had previously gathered from various sources, and indeed found that this person was quite talented in data statistics and analysis. No wonder Franz, who was good at financial work, valued him.

However, if I understand correctly, what Ge Li means is that this person is actually a killer who specializes in assassinations?

"Do you know magic?" Wayne suddenly asked.

Chapter 687 A Familiar Feeling

The man's face stiffened slightly again, then he showed a look of dejection.

"At that time, I was stripped of my noble status and was expelled from the noble academy I was attending. After that, without the guidance of teachers and constantly busy with the livelihood of my family, my magic was neglected."

Judging from his facial expression, he didn't seem to be lying.

But Wayne knew very well that even if a person was telling the whole truth, the meaning could be completely different depending on the focus of the topic or the selective concealment of certain information.

"Oh...that's really a pity."

He shook his head, signaling the other person to continue.

After more than three hours of discussion, Wayne's notes, which he had casually jotted down, filled a thick stack.

From Franz's expression, Wien could tell that he was eager to know what Wien was writing while they were negotiating. So Wien placed his left hand on top, intentionally or unintentionally covering the top of the page, and after finishing each page, he deliberately placed the paper face down on the far side of his hand.

Then Wien saw that His Excellency Franz's slightly plump face had visibly become much less attractive.

These little tricks may not be very effective, but they can easily annoy or bother someone.

After finishing his farewell remarks, Wayne organized his own notes along with the materials provided by the other party, and then got up to take his leave.

Franz watched him leave without even moving an inch.

"How is it?" he asked after a moment of silence.

“It feels strange,” Urban said. “His face… seems somewhat familiar, like I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

……

After finalizing the pieces to be placed in key positions in the southwest, Wayne, amidst his busy schedule, did not forget that he still had a factory that had taken in the remnants of Grand Duke Laird's old forces.

At Wayne's behest, Ross led a team to explore specific markets, providing customized services for emerging industries that sprang up like mushrooms after rain in the kingdom, such as Leaf Publishing House and Dandelion Publishing House. The factory earned quite a lot of profits.

Every month, Ross would give him a detailed report on the business situation.

If Elliott hadn't turned his attention back to the southwest, reminding Wayne of the hidden dangers behind him, Wayne would have almost fooled himself into believing that these people who honestly worked as laborers could truly be considered ordinary citizens of the capital.

After another business report, instead of encouraging Ross to work hard as usual, Wayne ordered him to convene a secret meeting with the core members of the Restoration forces.

Even the three people in charge of coordinating affairs in the southwest rear who had not been able to come to the capital in person before were included.

In his limited interactions with these people, Wayne occasionally saw a complex mix of emotions in their eyes: doubt, scrutiny, and confusion. For a slim chance of restoring the nation's flag, these people had abandoned almost everything; for their dream of a great cause, they were even willing to sacrifice their lives. If the banner of Archduke Laird were to fall one day, perhaps none of them would be able to help but question the meaning of all their arduous efforts.

They were loyal to Norman, and also loyal to Laird.

Now, Wayne wants to turn them into people loyal to him.

“We are all one family here, so I won’t beat around the bush.” Wayne sat at the head of the meeting room, while Ross stood respectfully beside him with his head bowed.

After this period of screening, Wayne has a general understanding of the situation.

After Norman's "disappearance," some of the old regime saw hope in themselves for regaining a prosperous life, and their fighting spirit gradually waned. Some even expressed a tendency to give up on restoring the country.

Of course, these people only dared to subtly express this sentiment to Ross when they were out of the loop. If Norman were still around, anyone who dared to say they wanted to give up would quickly be eliminated by their own people, so no matter what they thought in their hearts, they could only go down this path to the bitter end.

However, among this group were also fanatical restorationists and people who did not entirely trust Wayne.