Yes, Madam Prime Minister

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“That’s right,” Noodles replied.

The noodle brothers were dumbfounded. This was an earl! Asking the earl for a debt? Did they have a death wish?

"Interesting, very interesting! I've disliked that bastard for a long time!" Ina exclaimed.

She certainly knew the Count of Champagne; the story is complicated.

The old Count of Champagne was a reformist who had been part of Isabelle's party. He was then dealt with by the late King Lucien. Lucien then found a reason not to allow the then-underage current Count of Champagne to inherit the title and fiefdom. After the Queen's death, Lucien made the Count of Aquitaine, Ambrina's uncle, the Count of Champagne.

After Ambrina ascended to the throne, Ronan received a sum of money from the son of the old Count of Champagne, who is now the Count of Champagne.

Then Ronan pulled some strings and exiled Ambrina's three uncles, so the current count successfully ascended to the throne. Incidentally, he also sold the title of Count of Aquitaine for a sum of money.

The current Earl of Champagne was penniless back then; all his money was borrowed. But now he's become a deadbeat, living a life of luxury yet refusing to pay back his debts. It's not that Ina calls him a bastard for refusing to pay back his debts; it's because this guy dared to give gifts to her aunt.

Isn't this a despicable act? Only her father, Ronan, is allowed to give gifts to her aunt.

"So, you're participating?"

"of course."

Chapter 461 Scrap Metal, Too Smooth, Some Speculations

Nighttime, outside the cabin, under the moonlight.

"Noodles" Garibaldi is practicing greeting the gatekeeper for the third time. Yes, practicing greeting the gatekeeper.

He was to replace Alves, the leader of the Red Bucket Gang, as a debt collector. First, he had to meet the wealthy baron, but the baron was a nobleman, and a wealthy one at that, not someone they, as poor neighbors, could meet simply by knocking on the door and saying hello.

That snobbish security guard wouldn't even bother to inform you if you weren't a respectable person; he'd just kick you out.

As a nobleman's illegitimate son who had once served noblemen, Noodles knew this very well.

He'd been hanging out on the streets for so long that he'd forgotten how to greet people.

Ina walked over and said, "What's the use of all this? The doorman can tell you're a poor wretch just by looking down at your shoes."

“I can go buy a nice pair of shoes,” Noodles said nonchalantly.

“The shoes of wealthy people are definitely custom-made, fitting well and comfortable. And they won’t be brand new when they go out. They have to be smooth and lustrous. Those that are shiny and gleaming are for tasteless nouveau riche who love to show off. The shoes of nobles are old, but they are very well maintained. For example, some shoes made of horsehide are very stiff. Men have to tough it out on their own. If it is a woman, she might find someone with similar height, weight and foot shape to wear the shoes for a few days to tame them before she wears them herself.”

"Clothing is even more important. In recent years, many wealthy people have emerged. Many nobles are not as rich as merchants. In addition, the current queen and king consort do not like the gorgeous and complicated style. Nobles advocate a low-key and refined style to distinguish themselves from nouveau riche. Do you understand refinement? For example, a silk or linen coat that looks very ordinary may have a lining full of embroidered patterns, which you will only see when you take off the coat in a warm room."

"Nobles are such rotten things, they love these boring things, and there are so many boring things that I could talk about them all day long. So don't even think about pretending to be a nobleman, it's hopeless."

Ina gave Noodles a good talking-to.

Although she vehemently disliked the etiquette teacher who promoted this rubbish to her, she had to admit that some of it had still gotten into her head.

A hint of frustration crossed Noodles' face. "What should we do then?"

Ina chuckled, "It's simple. Just say you're from the Ministry of the Interior's Security Bureau, and absolutely no one will dare refuse to open the door for you."

"This..." Noodles was stunned. Impersonating someone from the Security Bureau?

"What, you don't dare? You dared to go to the Earl to collect debts, but you don't dare to impersonate the Security Bureau?" Ina questioned.

“It’s different. Even if I don’t collect the debt, nothing will happen to me. But if they find out I’m impersonating someone from the Security Bureau, well, forget it. You’re just a kid who doesn’t know how terrifying the Security Bureau is. It’s no use telling you,” Noodles said.

"You..." Ina was momentarily furious, wanting to say that she, the princess, had grown up in the Security Bureau, but she held back and asked instead, "I don't know, but you do?"

“My biological father was also an aristocrat. I worked for his family when I was a child, but he left later. A few years ago, my stepfather ran into trouble. I wanted to ask him for help, but I found that he had completely changed. He used to be a gentle but imposing man, but when I saw him again, he was an old man who spoke softly but would suddenly lose his temper. All of this was because he went to the security bureau once.”

As Noodles recounted the story, his voice grew louder and louder, an instinctive attempt to mask his inner fear with his shouting.

He couldn't imagine what kind of place the Security Bureau was, that could turn a person from a calm alpha wolf into a small dog that would suddenly bark.

"Tch, if you can't even get through the door, then I don't want to play with you anymore," Ina said.

“I’m sure I can get in and then convince the Baron,” Noodles assured him.

the next day.

Things went unexpectedly well, even though it was beyond their expectations.

The gatekeeper didn't react at all to the aristocratic air the noodles were trying to project; he simply made a gesture of blowing on a silver coin.

It turns out, all that was needed was money.

The noodles went in, and not long after, he came out.

Everyone looked at him, but Noodles remained silent.

Several brothers asked anxiously, but Noodles remained silent until the four brothers sighed and even began to comfort him, until Ina gave him a disdainful look from the side.

Noodles then burst into a triumphant laugh.

He succeeded. Although he didn't receive the promised 70% of the money like Alves, the leader of the Red Bucket Gang, the Baron promised to give him 10% if he got the money, to support his reorganization of the Red Bucket Gang. Even if he didn't get the money, he could still get support by suing the Earl of Champagne.

The Baron told him not to worry about the Earl of Champagne harming him, because it was the time to elect a prime minister, and the Earl of Champagne was a member of the election committee. He had a vote and was being watched by many people, so he would never dare to do anything reckless.

"Haha, we're rich! We're going to be rich!" shouted the third chubby boy.

“I knew it, there’s nothing the boss can’t do,” said the fourth brother with freckles.

“Of course,” the fifth brother, “Axe,” chimed in.

Only the second brother, the skinny curly-haired one, didn't shout or yell.

At this moment, Noodles felt like he was at the pinnacle of his life. "Let's go, have a good lunch, get everyone a nice set of clothes, and then we'll go collect the debt this afternoon."

What they call delicious food is nothing more than roast chicken.

So-called good clothes are only those that are made to order; in this era, truly good clothes are not ready-made but custom-made.

Of course, Ina and Lucien were a little happy, finally free from those uncomfortable coarse linen clothes and those cheap wool sweaters that smelled bad.

After changing his clothes, Lucien once again called his sister Ina aside, "Let's not go see the Count of Champagne."

“Of course I won’t see him. I’m not stupid. He knows me.” Ina thought Lucien was talking nonsense.

“That’s not what I meant. I meant we shouldn’t get involved anymore. Don’t you think that’s wrong?” Lucien asked.

"You mean, there's something wrong with this baron?" Ina asked.

“Hmm, but I can’t think of anything wrong with him,” Lucien said.

Ina fell into deep thought. She was clever enough, but more importantly, she had a level of insight far beyond her years. "I understand. The baron was certain that the Earl of Champagne would not repay the money. What he wanted was not the money, but the tickets in the Earl of Champagne's possession. However, it was inconvenient for him to go there himself, so he found someone who was ostensibly there to collect the debt, but was actually a middleman."

“I still feel something is not quite right,” Lucien said.

“What’s wrong? It must be like this,” Ina said without any room for argument.

Immediately, Ina ran over to Noodles and shared her analysis.

When Noodles heard this, he felt it made a lot of sense, but he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, because in this way, he was destined not to get any money, and at most he could only get a reward.

"Ha, you bunch of thugs, the gold vouchers you got from that Alvis guy are enough."

"Sigh, you're right," Noodles couldn't help but sigh.

Chapter 462 Upper Class, Lower Class, Money Must Be Paid

What is a typical day like for a member of the upper class in the Kingdom of Fas?

First, you have to get up at 10 a.m. because you stayed up late last night; nightlife is high-class.

Next came washing up and getting dressed.

After lunch, we hold or attend a salon where we discuss art, philosophy, and politics.

The main meal must be a grand feast consisting of thirteen authentic dishes, lasting from dusk until dark, and accompanied by some music.

It got dark, so I went to the luxuriously decorated small theater to watch a play. The outdoor theater in the afternoon was too crowded, it just didn't feel right.

After watching it, all I saw was drinking, whoring, and gambling.

Especially the gambling, poker and gold coins, it's incredibly authentic.

I have to stay up until late at night before going home.

The wealthy baron was undoubtedly a true member of high society, and therefore, he also enjoyed gambling.

But this time, he lost to a nouveau riche, and lost a lot of money, so much so that he didn't even have enough gold coins left. Finally, in front of everyone, the baron's servant took out a debt contract of an enormous amount and decided to go all in with this nouveau riche named Garibaldi, betting everything he had won before.

In the end, the Baron lost.

The next day, the name "noodles" began to spread rapidly.

After that, another day passed.

Noodles met Count Enes of Champagne, not during the day, not at the Count's mansion, but at night, in a brothel.

Noodles even recounted how he won the debt, and that he was there now to collect it.

However, the Count of Champagne did not give him the slightest response, not even an expression, until he finished speaking.

He neither showed disdain for him as a commoner, nor did he mention repaying the money or not, nor did he, as Ina had guessed, dismiss everyone and then privately discuss having Noodles act as a liaison between him and the Baron.

“Your Excellency, it may be a bit noisy here. Please allow me to repeat myself…”

Noodles respectfully repeated the purpose of his visit.

After hearing the noodles' second retelling, Count Enes, who looked to be no more than twenty years old and had pale skin, still sat there without any decorum, only with a hint of impatience on his face. Then he poured the expensive red wine in his glass into the cleavage of the woman next to him.

"Little boy, come here and lick this red wine clean, and I'll consider paying you back."

Enes said.

Noodles thought this guy was really not an aristocrat; even those despicable gang leaders in the Southeast District were more like human beings.

Enes looked at Noodles' silent yet somewhat disdainful gaze, but he wasn't angry. "Since you don't want to, then forget it. You can leave now."

The noodles turned to leave, but halfway there, it turned back and said, "It's illegal not to pay back debts."

Enes waved his hand dismissively, as if swatting away a mosquito. "I know, if you're going to sue me, then hurry up."

Noodles took a deep breath and left the brothel with quick, heavy steps.

After the noodles left, Enes took out his silk handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to the prostitute beside him, saying, "Excuse me."

After apologizing, Enes waved again, and soon a balding, muscular man emerged from the shadows and approached, leaning close to whisper in his ear.

Enes leaned closer, "Go protect this little chick, don't let him die."

The man nodded and left.

After the man left, Enes slumped on the sofa. "Sigh, everyone's making things difficult for a nobody like me."

On a street not far from the brothel, Noodles briefly recounted what had just happened to his four brothers, as well as Ina and Lucien.

Ina kicked Lucien in a fit of anger and muttered, "It's all your fault. You made me overthink things and embarrass myself."

"What do we do now? Should we really sue him?" asked the skinny curly-haired man. He shared the same feeling as Lucien, sensing that something was strange, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

"Actually, we can just let it go like this," the short fifth brother said. He was still afraid; after all, that was an earl, an earl who was much taller than the police captain.

The fourth brother, with his freckled face, chimed in, "Yeah, we're rich now, and all three gangs are in disarray. We have a chance."

“No, money and ability are useless. You need someone to protect you. I have to sue the Earl. Only by suing him will the Baron support me.” Noodles said through gritted teeth. Seeing his brothers’ tension, he quickly reassured them, “Don’t worry. Someone like me, who is as worthless as mud, will not be taken seriously by the Earl. The Baron is just using someone as insignificant as me to create a reason to cause trouble for the Earl.”

"I'm just a pawn; they don't care about me at all."

"Besides, I, 'Noodles' Garibaldi, am not someone you can just deal with. I am a second-tier mage."

Noodles tried her best to wear confidence on her face.

He was so eager for success and so unwilling to give up the opportunity he had finally obtained.

The next day, accompanied by the lawyer sent by the Baron, Noodles went to court and sued the Earl.

The court officials made a record and then let him go.

After he left, the lawyer sent by the baron left without taking any money from him.

Soon, Noodles and his four brothers, along with Ina and Lucien, reunited.

“See? I told you, the court won’t even listen to me. They’ve probably already thrown that pile of papers in the trash.” Noodles said casually. “No problem. Maybe the Baron just wants to test my guts.”

Except for the skinny curly-haired guy, the other three nodded in agreement.

Taking a deep breath, Noodles turned to Ina and Lucien, “I’ve finished my business. Come with me to that room, and I’ll give you the money you’re owed.”

"This is pointless. I'm leaving. You can keep the money yourself," Ina said, clearly annoyed.

How should I describe it? Oh right, it's that word "Seres" that my old man used to say: a tiger's head and a snake's tail.

Lucien breathed a sigh of relief; he could finally go home.