If he was just seeking money, Stanley would not have to leave Poitou, whose economy was booming, and he would have been able to make a profit just by making legitimate investments.

There is no requirement that government officials cannot invest in securities. Many high-ranking civil servants have made their fortunes by relying on more inside information and more favorable investment opportunities than others.

Stanley chose a career, which was his ambition.

The province of Javia, Genoa's western neighbour, was poorer than Genoa in the past, and a large number of impoverished people have poured into Genoa in the past two years, because the latter has provided a large number of employment opportunities due to the development of the new economy. In addition, there were frequent opportunities for merchants to exchange with each other, but the double taxation and different tax policies between the two places were extremely unfavorable to Genoese merchants.

If Stanley were to sit as governor of Javia, it would be very conducive to the integration of the two markets, which is an intrinsic requirement of capitalism.

As for how Stanley consulted with the Minister of the Seals, Sean didn't care, he just happily wrote a cashier's check for half a million. This can be regarded as Sean's early investment.

Not only the 500,000, but Sean also prepared a souvenir in his own name for the Earl of Torees, a box of the best pearls in the south, a set of ruby necklaces from the Kenyan continent in the Southern Ocean, with a total value of more than 200,000.

Stanley himself prepared a generous gift for the Earl of Torres. So the Count of Torres made the trip worthwhile.

Three days later, Elizabeth and Count Torres were put on a train north by Sean. The railway company even arranged a special train for this.

"Shall I see you again, Earl?" said Elizabeth, in a depressed mood.

"It will be, Your Highness!" said Sean.

"Unfortunately, I was not able to return to the Holy City on a ironclad ship. Elizabeth grumbled, "You have a Rocky Mountain." ”

"Your Highness, the Rocky Mountain is still in the sea trial stage, although I am very confident in it, but the sea is not peaceful after all, and in the future, it will transport goods north, and it must sail along the coastline under the escort of the navy. I assure you that you will soon see more new ironclad ships on the river in the holy city of Osay. Sean said.

"Thank you, Count!" said Elizabeth, feeling a little better, "I've had a wonderful summer in Poitou, and I think I'll miss it here." ”

Sean knew that the princess was worried about her fate, and that every freedom and joy here was a set off uneasy thoughts about the future.

He also wanted to comfort the princess, but saw her gaze over Sean's head.

On the roof of the house across the platform stood a slim woman, her royal blue dress striking and her hair ribbon dancing in the wind.

"Hey, Rose!" Elizabeth waved her arms.

Rose gave her an arrogant kiss from afar, making her laugh.

Sean hurriedly motioned to Nelson, who immediately led the people to the house outside the station.

As the train moved slowly, Sean stopped on the platform and waved his hand, watching the train leave the station.

"Is that Her Royal Highness the Princess?" Byrne asked in surprise, in fact he had met Elizabeth on various occasions recently, Elizabeth was very low-key, Byrne only knew that she was a guest in the rose garden, from a northern aristocratic family, and nothing more.

"Yes, Your Excellency the Governor. Sean said, "For security reasons, I can't introduce you to His Highness before today. Thank you for your understanding. In addition, the princess had come to Poitou and asked the governor not to spread the word. ”

Byrne was a little stunned.

As a governor, Byrne also had people in the court, so he knew a little about the princess's marital problems, which was said to be a money marriage.

The princess came here in secret, and it was surprising. This in itself seems to explain why the Keeper of the Seals came to Poitou suddenly, rather than to inspect the construction of the new cargo ships, as stated above.

He couldn't help but think that Sean had a close relationship with the royal family, but he couldn't see any sign of a relationship between Sean and the princess beyond normal, at least he had seen the princess go to the shipyard in the same carriage as an entourage with the lady of Roenburg.

Glancing at Stanley, who was chatting with Sean's butler, Byrne cautiously tentatively said:

"The Lord Keeper of the Seals has visited Poitou, and Victor has been very attentive lately, and I have heard that he has met the Minister several times in private, and that the Minister has even visited his house. ”

"It is said that our mayor, Mr. Mayor, is interested in the post of governor of Javia. Sean confessed.

Byrne's expression changed to a wonderful moment in an instant, and a relieved smile appeared on his face:

"I should do everything I can to get Victor to do what he wants!"

The governor is almost at the end of his five-year term, and although he has received the approval of some of the biggest names in the Holy City to let him serve another term in Genoa, there are still many uncertainties before the official appointment is made, among which the Count in front of him plays a key role - Sean may not be able to disobey the orders of the Holy City, but he can make the Governor alone in Poitou.

So as soon as he heard the root cause of Stanley's recent abnormal behavior, Byrne immediately realized that a mayor who didn't want to be a governor was definitely not a good mayor, which was human nature.

But Byrne didn't want to leave Poitou, where businesses were thriving, the economy was thriving, and the classes were in harmony, and he didn't have to worry too much about government affairs, and even his annual "normal" income was not a small amount—it was perfectly reasonable and legal.

He even thinks that Genoa's current good situation also has his own credit, when he first came to Genoa, the economic situation here gave him a headache, so he didn't want to give it up.

"Your Excellency, your first term is coming to an end, isn't it?" asked Sean.

"That's true. Byrne sighed deliberately, "Maybe I should retire, I'm fifty-six." ”

"Haha, it seems to me that you are in the prime of life, and the Governor of Hollingsworth in Javia is in his seventies, and I hope you will work in our Genoa until you are eighty years old, more than our neighbors. Of course, if you have a better place to go, we can only send you blessings. Sean laughed.

"I don't see a better place to go at the moment. Byrne heard Sean's affirmation, "Well, I'm used to the climate and customs here, and if I leave here, I'll definitely get sick, and I can't afford to be tossed at my age." ”

"Then you should drink two cups of green tea a day, which is good for your health. Sean said.

"That's right, only the green tea from the bottom of the Rocky Mountains is the most authentic tea. My earl, you must leave me some for the first batch of spring tea in your tea garden every year. ”

"Absolutely. You know, I only give the first batch of tea every year, but I don't sell it, and your name is indispensable in the gift list. ”

"Thank you very much!" said Byrne, "Earl, you are a benevolent and generous nobleman, and this will surely bring you a great reward. ”

"Promise your good words!"

At this point, Nelson returned, looking very depressed.

"What, you've lost to the same woman again?" Sean was upset.

"My lord, it's not that my subordinates are incompetent, but that ......"

"The opponent is too cunning, isn't he?" said Sean, "Well, what's the situation this time?"

"Miss Rose threw a handful of gold coins into the street, and everyone was rushing like crazy, and we didn't even see her shadow!"