OBS Chapter 269 Diverting Attention
Chapter 269 Diverting Attention
"Let me tell you, no matter what, John has to sit down and talk to me."
Looking at Jacques opposite him, Andrew curled his lips, squinted his eyes and said to him:
"Are you Jacques? I know you. I heard that you were the one who led the army to arrest those gangsters?"
Jacques did not react at all, but saluted to Andrew:
"It is me. Those gangs have colluded with the enemy country and have posed a threat to the lives and property of the people of Mont-de-Marsan. Eliminating potential enemies for the country is the purpose of the wartime patrol."
"Oh? Then I would like to ask, who do you think is a potential enemy in Mont-de-Marsan now?" Andrew asked Jacques sideways, his white face, which seemed to have been carefully maintained, was a little gloomy at this moment.
"It's not clear yet, but Governor John has already got some information. When the time is right, he will send me to capture those potential spies."
"Got it. Tell John that I, Andrew, will go to the embassy this afternoon. Let's go!"
After Jacques left, the butler who had gone out to see the guests off immediately walked into the room and carefully closed the door. At this time, his forehead was covered in cold sweat. He asked nervously:
"How do you plan to resolve this incident?"
"How to solve it? Of course John should apologize to me. Do I have to apologize to him? He is an outsider who messed up Mont-de-Marsan. As the owner, asking him to apologize is already the bottom line." Andrew said nonchalantly, because transactions with gangs are usually ordered by the Chamber of Commerce, and then passed through layers of orders to allow people outside the Chamber of Commerce to contact the gangs directly. Even if Bober really colluded with the enemy country, they would not be able to find him.
After leaving Andrew's residence, Jacques immediately returned to the embassy. After reporting the entire conversation process to John, John asked:
"What was your first impression of Andrew?"
"Hmm..." Jacques carefully recalled every moment of his conversation with Andrew, and finally he answered carefully:
"I think this person is very unruly and arrogant, and he doesn't even take the nobles seriously."
"If the nobles aren't afraid of him, then this guy is really crazy."
After hearing this, John began to think about what to say when he met Andrew next. Generally speaking, people who are fearless either have a backer or are just brainless idiots.
"By the way, spread the word outside that I will discuss the issue of grain prices with Andrew at the embassy this afternoon." John instructed Jacques. Ever since he learned of the existence of Andrew's Chamber of Commerce, John has been looking for the right opportunity to dismember it, and now he must take the first step of the plan.
In the afternoon, Andrew arrived as promised, but this time there was not just one carriage, but a whole motorcade. When John looked out from the second-floor balcony, the whole street was filled with golden carriages. If one didn't know, one would have thought the king had arrived.
"It seems that he is really rich. No wonder he can be so arrogant." Thinking of this, John became more determined to take over Andrew's Chamber of Commerce. As for Andrew, he can go wherever he wants.
The carriages in the convoy kept passing by the gate of the embassy until a carriage inlaid with various gems stopped at the door of the embassy. It was then that John saw Andrew's appearance for the first time. He looked exactly like the nobles John had met before, except that he had "I am so-and-so" engraved on his face.
Andrew walked briskly into the embassy. This was the first time in his life that he had entered the residence of the royal envoy. In his memory, only his father and elder brother had been there. When he wanted to go, he basically got a rejection and a lot of disparagement.
Looking at the spruce door of the embassy so close at hand, Andrew couldn't help but feel secretly happy. This was a small step in his life journey. In the future, he would enter Windham and even the palace to chat and laugh with a group of royal family members and court ministers.
At the same time, Andrew took a glance at the decoration inside the embassy and decided to build a building of the same style for himself to rest after returning.
At the same time, John also walked down the stairs and said happily to Andrew across from him:
"Lord Andrew is very punctual. He arrives at the exact time he says he will arrive."
Although Andrew didn't want to talk much to John at this time, since he was a noble, if he ignored him, he might get into some unnecessary trouble. Andrew still responded slightly frivolously and a little sarcastically:
"No, no, as the host here, I should have entertained you a long time ago."
John was surprised by what he heard. What does "the owner here" mean? Is it the Andrew Chamber of Commerce or Mont de Marsan? And what does the last sentence mean? They were supposed to entertain him but didn't go. Doesn't that mean they don't take him seriously?
"No, no, no. As the governor of the southwest region, I should take care of the local people. This is the sacred responsibility and obligation given to me by the king. Just a few days ago, the king gave me the power to collect taxes from the Western Free City. Now I have more things to take care of."
"Then let's cut to the chase and talk about government affairs." Andrew thought that John was using the governor's position to pressure him, so he didn't take it too seriously and followed John to the conference room. The butler who followed him understood John's intention.
In his opinion, John's threat to Andrew was not limited to suppressing him in his official position, but more importantly, the power to collect taxes from the Free City. This meant that John could check the tax report of the Free City of Mont-de-Marsan, and naturally he could check the commercial tax. If Andrew's tax evasion was discovered, John could legitimately inspect the Chamber of Commerce.
After both parties sat down, John asked directly:
"Excuse me, do you agree to reduce the original price of grain to one silver coin per pound?"
"No, it's not in my interest to do that at all."
After receiving the rejection, John knew that this was expected. After all, if he agreed, there would be no need to hold this meeting. At the same time, John also understood that his competition with Andrew Chamber of Commerce had officially begun.
"Then do you have any suggestions? Let's make some concessions to each other. It will be good for you, me and the citizens of Mont-de-Marsan." Although he knew that this plan was bound to fail, he was still curious about what Andrew was thinking.
"My request is simple." Andrew turned his head and said:
"If you consider giving me 2,000 of your troops and letting them obey my command, and if you purchase all the supplies you need from the Andrew Chamber of Commerce, I can consider lowering the price of food to three silver coins per pound."
"see a visitor out!"
As John could no longer hold back his roar, a group of soldiers suddenly rushed in from the doors of the conference hall, and Andrew was immediately carried out of the embassy by two White Wolf Knights before he knew what was happening.
After sending Andrew away, John sat in a chair and calmed down for a while before saying to Jacques:
"I actually wasted my precious time on an unprecedented fool."