The Count Urfelt frowned, and his expression turned serious as he said:
"Such things may happen once or twice, and I can help cover it up for you, but if it continues, I might even be investigated."
Federer was the tax officer who was strangled to death in a small town east of Vienna last month.
Holz showed a flattering smile:
"Everyone knows that those secret police wouldn't dare investigate you. Alright, I promise to find other ways to show those guys at the Tax Bureau who's boss."
Count Urfelt was the former president of the Vienna Advisory Council for Political and Economic Affairs. Although he had already stepped down, a third of the council's upper echelons consisted of his people.
He was also Federer's "old friend" and partner.
As the two were speaking, an elderly man with a short stature and drooping eyelids walked into the hall, surrounded by several tax farmers. The room immediately quieted down, and everyone bent forward in greeting, "Baron, Your Excellency."
