Eagle's Glory

"Of course it is necessary. Aren't you going to carry out a secret mission? Such a person must be very skilled. Don't look at me like this. Maybe I can give you some good guidance." Agnes was clearly interested, and kept on Stick to your own ideas. "Well, just for a while, let me see how you are, how about it?"

"Okay, okay." Unable to resist the girl's insistence, Edmund could only agree, "I can come and listen to your advice after I finish my work."

"Then it's settled!" Agnes smiled and waved her hand.

While they were chatting, the carriage drove all the way, and finally came to the central area of ​​Paris.

Mr. Tanglar’s ​​bank is located in a large building near Place Griff on the right bank of the Seine. This place is not far from the Paris City Hall and the Paris Stock Exchange. His pulse was beating, and opening the place itself was a testament to his worth.

On this day, the well-known banker, as usual, sat diligently in his office, checking every account and the wealth he had accumulated.

And just as he was devoting himself to the digital battle, a servant came over with a business card, announcing that he had a distinguished guest.

Mr. Tanglar took a look at the business card and found that it was actually the business card of the Duke of Nordelion. He was immediately in awe.

Then, he asked the servant about the specific situation, and the servant replied that the visitor was a foreign nobleman, who seemed to be a friend of the Duke of Nordleyn, and his daughter Miss Agnes personally accompanied him to visit, and seemed to want to deal with some business .

"Great!" Mr. Tanglar couldn't help but let out a small cheer.

This is not a trivial matter, it means that he is being recognized by the upper class.

His hard work and painstaking efforts to please finally paid off.

"Hurry up and bring them here, I want to entertain them well."

How could he neglect the guest introduced by the duke?

Soon, Miss Agnes was invited to his luxuriously decorated office together with the foreign nobleman.

"Please sit down, two guests." Tanglar tried his best to suppress the ecstasy in his heart, and entertained the guests graciously.Then, he looked at Edmond Dantès, "What should I call you?"

He didn't recognize me at all.thought Edmund.

Yes, I've changed a lot - and it's all thanks to you!Thank you.

Edmond Dantès touched his hat lightly, then nodded to him reservedly.

"I am the Count of Monte Cristo, a traveler who has just arrived in the capital of your country. I am acquainted with the Duke of Nordleyn. Because I need to handle some business, I asked the Duke for help, and he introduced you to me. He thinks You handle things properly and can share my worries."

"Oh! Mr. Earl, please believe His Excellency the Duke's words." Tanglar replied excitedly, "I always try my best to complete the client's commission."

Ah.

The Count of Monte Cristo looked at Tanglar's appearance with cold eyes.

His lips were rather thin and vitriolic, his eyes protruded from his large, protruding cheekbones, his forehead was flat, and his gaze was cunning and treacherous.

After so many years, he really hasn't changed at all.

This man is still so insidious, mean, indifferent, vicious... all kinds of negativity in the world are in one, making people feel uncomfortable.

Agnes didn't say a word. Obviously, she had a very bad first impression of the banker, and she only regarded herself as a living business card.

"Then I just need someone like you to help me, sir." Edmond Dantès slowly took out a small bag from his pocket, and then spread it out for the other party to see.

In an instant, Tanglar's cunning eyes stared at the gemstone intently, as if he would greedily pounce on it in the next second...

Yes, this person hasn't changed at all over the years.

That's great...show me your greed, the more you show, the better, I will let you fall into my palm without knowing it, and let you be driven by greed to the end...

This is the revenge that Edmond Dantès wanted. For his enemies, revenge with just one bullet will never satisfy his desire for revenge.

In order to achieve this goal, he would rather show a little patience first, and even cover up his heart, pretending to be a friend of the enemy.

Today was the first step of his plan, and now it seemed to be going very smoothly. Tanglar was almost bewildered by greed immediately, completely forgetting the hidden danger.

That's right... How could he have imagined that the poor sailor who had been framed by him for a lifetime did not rot in the dark dungeon of Chateau d'If, but swaggered as a nobleman with a duke's business card, politely to visit him?

No, he couldn't believe it, no one would.

With a sneer in his heart, the earl looked at the other party with his most gentle face.

"I have to admit that Paris is a dazzling paradise, but in order to linger in paradise, the cost is too high... So, in order to pay for my trip, I need to sell some of my collection , in exchange for sufficient funds. Mr. Tanglar, can you do me this favor?"　　

50, the transaction is established

"Monsieur Danglars, can you do me this favor?"

Edmond Dantès' tone was indifferent and reserved, just like the nobleman he hoped to play, he regarded the gems in his hands as the most ordinary things.

According to Tanglar, however, the exact opposite is the case.

He has been in the financial world for more than ten years, and has experienced countless mortgages and bankruptcy liquidations. He has already cultivated his sharp eyes in his work, and he can see through the authenticity of jewelry at a glance.

These are real gemstones and of excellent quality, definitely treasured by generations of noble families.

That's right!This is a lot of money, as long as you buy it all, you can make a lot of money by changing hands.

In just a short moment, the magic power of money made Tanglar's breathing a little short, and his eyes also revealed a greedy light.

We can't let him run away, we must make this deal!It was the only thought on his mind at the moment.

And his performance also fell into the eyes of Edmond Dantès at a glance.

It's like a prey falling into a trap step by step.

"Of course! Of course!" Tanglar restored himself to his original businesslike and calm expression, and then nodded, "It stands to reason that banks like ours do not deal in precious metals and jewelry, but since you are Friends of the Duke of Nordleyen, the situation is very different, even if it is only to please His Excellency the Duke, I am more than happy to grant your wishes—Master Earl, do you wish to mortgage these jewels, or sell them?"

"I hope to sell them and get enough money for my expenses in Paris." The Count of Monte Cristo replied immediately, and then he looked at the banker with a slightly contemptuous look, "Then, Mr. Tanglar, let me ask, Can you come up with enough cash to buy these jewels?"

This provocative question made Tanglar go crazy with anger, and aroused his competitive spirit even more.

"For a banker, your question is close to an insult to the personality! You don't have to doubt the ability to pay and the cash reserves of the Tanglar Bank!" he answered loudly.

"No, I don't despise you, sir." The Count of Monte Cristo smiled, not taking Danglar's anger to heart at all, "but, as far as I have seen and heard in my life, bankers are The most duplicity people, who are rich and poor, do not really enjoy stability and security. Even though they appear to be rich in assets, they actually hold very little money in themselves, and they take other people's money. Lending money as capital, earning interest margins, and in order to convince others that they have money, they have to spend a lot of money to maintain a facade, but as long as they check the books carefully, God knows how tight these people's funds are? Maybe they are only one step away from bankruptcy remote……"

The Count of Monte Cristo's words were ironic, but so hard to refute that Danglars was instantly furious; if this man had not been a friend of the Duke, he would have lashed out at this ignorant fellow.

But now he can only suppress his anger, and sneered, "Sir, maybe what you said is true for many of my colleagues. After all, they are really not good at management. They only have a little capital, and rely on the poor turnover of a small amount of funds to maintain their operations. But I'm different—I'm a banker who has his own place in the French financial world, a general in the banker's family, and you must not compare me with those little soldiers in the mud."

Having said that, he spread his hands and showed off the luxurious furnishings of his office, "Everyone who has worked with me knows how reliable Tanglar's credit is. How many years of hard work have I put in, We have built a solid foundation for our bank, and even though I can't compare with the most famous and powerful big banks for the time being, it is still quite easy to satisfy your wishes."

"Really... please allow me to reserve my opinion on this point. After all, I am meeting you for the first time, and I cannot make an accurate judgment. I like to judge a person by his actions, not by his words." Monte Cristo The Earl still looked skeptical, but he was obviously relieved, "However, I hope we can cooperate happily in the future."

After speaking, he casually handed the bag in his hand to Tanglar, "Then, please estimate the price of these jewels."

Tanglar took the bag carefully, feeling its weight.

Although his heart was already cheering, in order to maintain his dignity, he still tried his best to maintain his superficial calm.

He opened a drawer of his desk and took out a small case, from which he took out a magnifying glass and other small tools, and carefully examined the color and texture of the gems.

In fact, when he saw them for the first time, Tanglar had already made a judgment in his heart, but he still took the time to carefully identify them.

On the one hand, it is for insurance, and on the other hand, I hope to use these actions to delay time for myself and organize my thoughts.

There is no doubt that these are very high-quality jewelry, in other words very valuable.

Then the remaining question is very simple - what price do you want to ask for these gems?How much do you have to earn to be satisfied?

The Count of Monte Cristo seemed to be in a tight spot right now. If he used his usual ability to beat debtors to their bones, he might be able to earn huge resale profits, or even double his profits.

But it is also very inappropriate to do so. He just boasted about his reputation and dignity in front of the earl, but turned around and showed a face like a Jewish usurer, which is tantamount to slapping himself in the face , and the earl, who already had a bad impression of the banker, might be furious, and he might even walk away, letting his deal come to an end without a problem.

Moreover, it may not matter if a foreigner like the Count of Monte Cristo is cheated. He has no way to retaliate anyway, but the lady of the Nordlynn family is sitting here at this moment. If he makes it clear that he cheated, she will go back and add fuel to her father. That said, it would have a huge negative impact on Tanglar Bank.

If the Duke knows that he treats his friends like this, then the personality he worked hard to maintain in the Duke and in the upper class will disappear.

Although Tanglar was greedy, he knew how to balance it out. He knew that it was absolutely not worth losing the reputation he created in order to make a quick buck.

After a short period of weighing, Baron Tanglar made a decision.

"These are jewels in very good condition and of high value. If you are willing to sell them to me, I can give you 32 francs."

He estimated the value of these gems in his mind, probably worth about 35 francs, so he paid this price to guarantee himself a profit of 3 francs.

Although the profit is not high, considering that he can make a steady profit of 3 francs just by changing hands, the profit is already rich enough, and even if other people hear about it, they will no longer have any opinions on him.

3 francs is equivalent to a year's annual salary of a senior cashier under him. Although it is a pity, this income can satisfy him.

"The price is very affordable, and it is very close to my psychological expectation." The Count of Monte Cristo raised his eyebrows, as if surprised by Mr. Tanglar's bid, "Mr. Tanglar, it seems that I should apologize to you, I shouldn't have unfairly placed my prejudice against bankers on you just now."

"It's not your fault. A handful of moths and liars have ruined the reputation of our industry, so the world will have some prejudice against us." Tanglar smiled, expressing that he didn't care about what happened just now, "and I, will overcome this prejudice, serve my clients wholeheartedly, and let them know that not every banker does this."

"It seems that the Duke of Nordlion's compliment to you is not a lie." The Earl of Monte Cristo finally showed a little smile on his haughty face, "Then, how do you plan to pay the 32 francs to me?"

"I can pay you with a promissory note in cash, that's the norm." Tanglar replied.

"Promissory notes!" the Count of Monte Cristo raised his eyebrows. "To tell the truth, sir, I am most afraid of hearing this word. I have lost a lot of money because of promissory notes. Some people used to Blowing up my own promissory note, tricking me into accepting it, and by the time I needed to pay it, they were empty! From then on I decided that I would never deal with these bloody things no matter what."

"You don't accept the promissory note?" Tanglar couldn't hold back anymore. After finally negotiating a deal, the result was suddenly blocked at the end. The feeling was really uncomfortable. "Mr. Earl, haven't I already said it just now? Don't force your impression of those swindlers on me! The credit of our Tanglar Bank's promissory notes has never been a problem. It is easy to exchange and has won the favor of the Paris business community. I don't understand why you should doubt me so much."

"If it's easy to exchange, why don't you just exchange it for me now?" The Count of Monte Cristo was not swayed by his harsh words, but asked abruptly, "Could it be that you are not so confident in your financial strength, so Do you still need to use promissory notes to delay the exchange time so that your own funds can be turned over?"

Tanglar's heart beat violently, and he was poked in the sore spot by the count.

After these years of development, Tanglar Bank has indeed accumulated a lot of capital, and has also made a name for itself in the financial circles of Paris. It can be regarded as a medium-sized bank. Turnover to earn money, and Tanglar kept his reserves very low in order to make more money, so his cash holdings were not that sufficient.

Taking out 32 francs in cash in one breath will indeed greatly affect his money. After all, it is not so easy to sell jewelry quickly.

"You're underestimating people. We don't have unlimited financial resources, but a mere 32 francs can't stop me. The reason why I insist on this is just because this is our industry rule. I can't make an exception for you, otherwise the same industry I'll be blamed too."

He himself knew that this reason was not convincing, but he still bit the bullet and said it.

"It seems that we have a very serious ideological difference." The Count of Monte Cristo frowned, "I stick to my principles, and you stick to your rules—Mr. Tanglars, can't you be more flexible?"

"Why don't you accommodate me, count?" Danglars asked. "If you wish to make me a friend, you should not treat me in this manner. Perhaps you have acquired the habit of treating all men as servants in your fief, but I regret to tell you that here is France, we are an equal country, although I am not a nobleman yet, I have the right to defend my dignity."

"I am happy to make you a friend, but you have to be considerate of me. I have to accept a lot of promissory notes from you when I meet you for the first time. This friendship is too heavy." Count Monte Cristo said Opened his hands, "I still hope that our first transaction can end with a happy result for both parties, and then we can be friends again—how about we take a step back?"

"What do you mean?" Tanglar asked hastily.

"I still want cash, but I can make a concession on the price - I only need 30 francs." The Count of Monte Cristo expressed his thoughts, "If you agree, then we will be friends from now on. If you have any business in Paris, I can also ask you to deal with it first, what do you think...?"

When he had finished speaking, the Count of Monte Cristo looked at Danglars with calm composure, waiting for his reply.

And he knew that Tanglar would only have one answer, and his greed would not allow him to make other choices.

Tanglar thought about it for a while. Although it was a bit difficult for him to take out 30 cash all at once, it was not impossible.

But his return is very attractive-he can earn at least 5 francs in profit within one or two months, which is more than 15% of the profit!

There's no reason not to.

It can even be said that if you don't agree, you will be punished by God.

"Well, since you are so persistent, I have to make an exception for you." Tanglar pretended to hesitate for a moment, and finally agreed reluctantly, "However, this is because you are the Duke of Nordlian My friend, for his sake, I'd be happy to help you once."

"Well, sir, we have a deal." The Count of Monte Cristo stood up.

Then, with a smile on his face, he stretched out his hand to Tanglar.

"make a deal!"

Tanglar shook hands with him very happily and finalized the deal.

You are in my hands.

The Count of Monte Cristo, that is, Edmond Dantès, laughed coldly in his heart.

He took the initiative to bargain, just to make the other party trust his strength more, and continue to trade with him in the future.

His Majesty gave him jewels worth 100 million francs, and His Majesty also knew that it is impossible to sell all the jewels at the original price, so he had already said that as long as Edmond Dantès could bring him back 80 francs Very satisfied.

Therefore, in the first transaction, he sold 35 francs of jewelry at a price of 30, which completely met or even exceeded His Majesty's psychological expectations. His Majesty can get the funds he urgently needs-this is also a task that he must complete first.

With the help of this transaction, he also let his title of Count of Monte Cristo emerge for the first time in the French financial circle.

Even better, he also made his enemies think of him as the God of Wealth.

A sudden reduction of 30 francs in capital would hurt Tanglars, but it was not fatal, so Edmond Dantès did not plan to do anything for the time being.

He wants to continue to cooperate with the other party, be his friend, and then lure the banker into a trap step by step during the cooperation, and finally destroy his money and capital, ruin his reputation and lose everything.

And this is just the beginning.

You wait for that day, bastard!He laughed inwardly, then shook hands with each other in a gentle manner.

============================

A short time later, Edmond Dantès and Agnes walked out of the Bank of Tanglars.

"I didn't expect you to have the talent to bargain with the banker." After getting into the carriage, Agnes covered her mouth and yawned wearily. "That man is so ugly and boring. I'm so sleepy."

"I agree with you about him, only that time has to be spent in order to complete the task," replied Edmond Dantès.

"Okay, sir, is there anything else you want?" Agnes asked again.