novelSusiti Chapter 33 A cocktail party, two worlds
Chapter 33 A cocktail party, two worlds
The supplementary terms were compiled into a document and sent to London with the highest level of encryption via undersea cable.
Buckingham Palace remains brightly lit even late at night.
When the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer of Salisbury received the telegram from Sir Harding, which included a "personal guarantee of honor," they fell into a long silence.
"He's raising a tiger to cause trouble!" The Chancellor of the Exchequer slammed the telegram on the table, scattering cigar ash all over the floor.
"A strong, centralized Greek monarch is not in the interest of the British Empire! What we need is a divided, dependent Greece that can be easily manipulated!"
Prime Minister Salisbury did not speak; he simply stared silently at Greece's crucial geographical location on the map.
After a long pause, he slowly spoke: "But Harding is right. What we need more is a Greece that won't go bankrupt again within three years. A Greece that can steadily repay its debts, provide ports for our fleet, and hold back the Russians from advancing south."
He picked up the telegram and read over and over the two "requests" made by Constantine.
"Auditing the oligarchs, establishing a supervisory office directly under the Crown Prince... Logically, this is indeed the best solution to ensure the safety of our £7.5 million investment, isn't it?"
The Chancellor of the Exchequer opened his mouth, but could not refute it.
"As for that young crown prince..." A complex glint flashed in Prime Minister Salisbury's eyes, "For our Eastern Mediterranean policy, a smart young man is always better than a bunch of fools who only want to make money. Once our advisory group is stationed in Athens, his every move will be under our watchful eyes. The reins will always be in our hands."
Finally, he stubbed out the cigar.
"Reply to Harding, I agree in principle. Have the legal department finalize the text as soon as possible; this matter cannot be delayed any longer."
Under the combined influence of Sir Harding's vigorous lobbying, which risked his political future, and Constantine's "impeccable" reasonable arguments, the British cabinet, which was already eager to resolve the matter as soon as possible, ultimately approved the revised agreement with remarkable efficiency.
three days later.
The Royal Palace of Athens, with its most magnificent Golden Hall.
Today, this place is a gathering place for all of Greece's political and social elites, as well as ambassadors and journalists from various European countries stationed in Athens.
The crystal chandelier shone brightly, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime. A pristine white tablecloth covered the long table, which was laden with silver cutlery and exquisite dishes.
Constantine, dressed in a brand-new white royal suit with a gold sash across his chest adorned with the highest medals he had received from his royal relatives across Europe, stood tall and imposing beside the head of the long table, exuding an aura of charisma and becoming the sole focus of attention in the entire room.
Beside him stood Sir Harding, also dressed in formal diplomatic attire. This experienced ambassador wore a professional, impeccable smile, but only he knew the weariness and bitterness hidden behind that smile.
In the presence of dozens of Greek dignitaries and hundreds of journalists from various countries, Constantine accepted a brand-new Parker gold pen from his attendant.
He unscrewed the pen cap and lightly dipped the nib into the ink bottle.
Then, he solemnly signed his name on the thick, bilingual (English and Greek) "Agreement between the UK and Greece on Guarantee of National Recovery Bonds".
— Constantine.
Sir Harding then signed his name.
When the two names were listed side by side at the end of the agreement, the entire hall erupted in thunderous applause.
The flashes of the spotlight instantly created a white ocean, freezing this historic moment forever.
Almost all the Greek officials were applauding vigorously, their faces beaming with genuine joy and excitement. This agreement meant that Greece would receive a massive sum of £7.5 million, enough to modernize its aging army, build much-needed railways, and revitalize its collapsing finances!
This is Greece's rebirth!
Tomorrow, newspapers across Europe will be headlined with "The Rebirth of Greece! His Highness the Crown Prince Brings £7.5 Million in Hope to the Kingdom!"
Constantine's personal prestige reached an unprecedented peak at this moment.
He held up the agreement in his hand and showed it to everyone.
The flashbulbs started flashing wildly again.
The celebratory champagne was opened, and the golden liquid was poured into the tiered champagne tower.
Constantine raised his first glass of wine and gestured to Sir Harding.
"Cheers to the unbreakable friendship between Britain and Greece!"
"Cheers to friendship!" Harding responded, raising his glass.
The atmosphere at the party was lively and cheerful. However, in this sea of joy, there were a few corners where a cold chill permeated the air.
Prime Minister Deliplis, along with several of Greece's top bankers and shipping magnates, were gathered in an inconspicuous corner. They held wine glasses, but none of them touched them.
Their faces were as somber as the aged cheese in the cellar.
"That little brat... he actually did it," a gray-haired banker said in a hoarse voice.
"Seven and a half million pounds... and that damned 'Royal Economic Advisor's Office'..." another shipping magnate gritted his teeth. "He's got money, he has connections, and the British are backing him! What's he up to?"
Prime Minister Deliplis stared grimly at Constantine, who was surrounded by a crowd in the distance, without uttering a word.
He knew that they were no longer facing a young prince who could be manipulated at will or used as a political bargaining chip.
Rather, it is a powerful and formidable adversary who holds enormous sums of money and firmly grasps the sharpest sword of authority—the "British Advisory Council."
Most fatally, the clause in the agreement that "audits state-owned monopoly industries and major families" is like a guillotine hanging over their heads, ready to fall at any moment.
"He's trying to kill us!"
The lively atmosphere of the party and the deathly silence here created two completely different worlds.
Constantine seemed to sense their gazes, and across the crowd, he raised his glass to Prime Minister Deliplis with a bright smile.
That smile, in Deripples' eyes, was more chilling than the devil's grin.
After the party ended, Constantine ignored the officials who swarmed around him trying to curry favor and went straight back to his study.
Closing the door shuts out all the noise from outside.
He took out the Parker gold pen he had just used to sign the agreement from his tuxedo pocket.
Under the light, the golden pen body gleamed with a cold luster.
Constantine's fingers gently caressed the pen barrel. To him at this moment, the pen had long transcended the realm of mere stationery.
It symbolizes his arrival from another world, and his ability to unlock the world's first pot of gold.
It also symbolizes that he has obtained an "extra-legal authorization" that allows him to bypass all domestic laws and regulations, as well as parliament and cabinet!
He will use this pen to sign the first war declaration against the oligarchic groups that have been leeching off this country!
Constantine walked to his desk and spread out a brand new, clean sheet of paper.
He unscrewed the pen cap and, stroke by stroke, wrote six characters at the very top of the letter.
"Office of the Royal Economic Advisor".
He looked at the line of text, the black ink slowly spreading across the paper.
The real war has only just begun.
The British sent a peerless sword.
But now, he needs to find a truly worthy and qualified wielder for this sword.
Constantine's gaze passed through the window and landed on the ancient temple in Athens, a place where knowledge and thought converged, amidst the dim lights of the city.
University of Athens.