"Right, that takes care of the rats," Karl said after finishing the phone call. He was confident that even if someone somehow obtained a recording of the conversation, nobody would be able to understand what had actually been discussed. Even if someone became suspicious, suspicion alone would never be enough to prove anything. The Sonnenbergs had been operating through indirect arrangements for far too long to leave behind obvious evidence.
Their family had several ways of transferring money without creating unnecessary records. The greatest advantage, however, came from the relationships they had maintained for generations. Because the various families trusted one another, there was no problem with one side waiting a hundred years before receiving payment. In fact, many families preferred that arrangement because an outstanding debt could later become a hand on the door when they needed a favor.
A debt between old families was not necessarily a burden. It could become an opportunity to ask for assistance without having to negotiate from the beginning. Someone who had been allowed to delay payment for a century might eventually find themselves willing to return the favor when circumstances demanded it. That kind of relationship was worth far more than ordinary money.
Karl leaned back in his chair and considered what had just happened. "Now that we have the hidden arrow underway, it is time to show our political muscle." He reached into a drawer and took out a completely different phone from the one he had used earlier. The device was far more secure and was reserved for conversations that could not be handled through ordinary channels.
Karl knew exactly what kind of message he was sending by using it. The Sonnenbergs were demonstrating that they were capable of playing an extremely dirty political game when necessary. More importantly, they could do so without leaving an obvious trail leading back to them. Anyone who underestimated them because of their quiet lifestyle was making a dangerous mistake.
However, Karl also knew that simply threatening a major player would accomplish very little. Whoever had sent the American negotiation team was unlikely to be intimidated by the possibility of assassins. They would probably believe that their money, security personnel, and political connections were enough to protect them. What they did not know was the track record of the family the Sonnenbergs had hired.
The European intelligence bureau had deliberately sealed the records concerning that family. The documents were classified so heavily that only the President of Europe, the Marshal, and the head of the intelligence service were permitted to view them. The decision had been made because releasing such information would create more problems than it solved. Even the President had become deeply interested in the family's abilities after seeing what was contained in those records.
Karl therefore picked up the secure phone and called Herman.
The line connected almost immediately.
"Hello, Karl," Herman said. "What do I owe this call?"
There was a slight trace of resentment in his voice. He still had not completely recovered from the surprise Karl had given him several years earlier. Every time Karl used this particular number, Herman immediately assumed something important had happened. The number itself was so restricted that unauthorized military surveillance of it could potentially be treated as an act of high treason, with consequences severe enough to include death.
"Well, I am just being a concerned citizen," Karl replied.
His tone was almost casual, but Herman immediately became suspicious. Karl was not the sort of person who used a highly classified communication channel simply to chat with a friend. The fact that he had specifically chosen this number meant that whatever came next was going to matter. Herman quietly prepared himself for another headache.
"I was recently approached by a US company attempting to buy my mana vein," Karl continued. "They also said some rather unpleasant things."
Herman remained silent.
"But don't worry," Karl added. "I chose not to sell my ancestral land."
A small amount of bloodlust leaked into Karl's voice.
"And regarding the unpleasant things they said, they are entitled to their opinion," Karl continued. "I simply believe that karma will arrive soon enough."
Herman stared at the phone in silence. He knew Karl well enough to understand what those words meant. His friend was not merely complaining about an unpleasant business negotiation. He was indirectly informing Herman that people were probably going to die because of what had happened.
The frustrating part was that Herman could not do anything about it. He had sworn his oaths as a government official, but there was no evidence of any crime committed by Karl or the Sonnenbergs. Without evidence, there was nothing Herman could officially investigate against them. At least, he thought bitterly, the people involved were American, so he did not feel quite as conflicted about what might happen.
"That sounds troubling," Herman finally said. "What exactly do you want to report?"
His tone became more serious. Foreign companies attempting to purchase mana veins genuinely concerned him. The resources were becoming too important to allow powerful foreign interests to gain control over large portions of them. Even if Karl's personal problem disappeared, the underlying political issue would remain.
"My concern is that foreign companies and foreign nations are buying mana veins," Karl replied. "I believe they are vital to our union and should never fall under the control of foreigners."
Herman listened carefully.
"My hope is that you can seek legal counsel and find a way to stop the sale of those mana veins in the interest of national security," Karl continued. "I would also like the members of the European Council to consider laws preventing mana veins from falling into non-European hands."
There was a faint smile in Karl's voice.
"That is a serious suggestion," Herman replied. "And one I take very seriously."
He paused before continuing.
"I could use your family as an example."
"No," Karl immediately answered. His tone became firmer. "I would rather my family not be mentioned in any official discussion."
Herman was not surprised. The Sonnenbergs had spent considerable effort keeping their identity and history away from public attention. Using them as a political example would expose far more information than Karl wanted to reveal. Herman therefore waited for another proposal.
"But I can compensate you for the inconvenience," Karl said.
Herman raised an eyebrow.
"I have a member of the local organized crime groups from this region who is eager to report to the military," Karl explained. "He is also willing to testify before the European Parliament in exchange for having his sentence reduced."
Herman immediately understood where the conversation was heading.
"And he has a lot to say," Karl continued. "I would therefore like you to use his evidence to designate the American private equity firm Broken as a terrorist organization operating out of the United States."
Herman leaned back in his chair.
Karl continued before he could respond. "I will inform the rest of the relevant people myself, so do not worry about political pushback. They will not be pleased to hear about an American company attempting to establish itself in Europe through this kind of operation. You should find plenty of people willing to work with you."
The call ended.
Herman stared at the phone for several seconds after the connection was cut. Karl had somehow transformed a personal grievance into a matter of European national security in the span of a single conversation. Worse, he had provided a potential witness who could give the government an entirely separate reason to investigate the American company.
Karl, meanwhile, immediately began putting his own part of the plan into motion.
The unconscious gang member was ordered to be transported to the patrol fleet of the navy. A naval vessel was scheduled to pass through the local port the following day, making it the perfect opportunity to send their unexpected guest toward Brussels. Karl knew Herman would be extremely busy preparing the investigation once the evidence arrived. He therefore saw no reason to waste time.
The man represented something more valuable than a simple witness. He was a connection between the American company, organized crime, and the threats made against the Sonnenbergs. If his testimony was as useful as Karl expected, the government would suddenly have a legitimate reason to examine the entire affair.
Karl was not finished, however.
He began preparing copies of the evidence for the Great Houses. They had their own reasons to dislike foreign companies attempting to purchase mana veins. Those resources were becoming increasingly important to Europe's future, and nobody among the ancient families wanted outsiders gaining control over them. The Great Houses would therefore have little difficulty understanding why Karl considered the matter unacceptable.
Karl also intended to contact the other trade families.
The Sonnenbergs were not the only ancient family with valuable resources. If one American private equity firm had approached them with an aggressive offer, there was a reasonable chance that other trade families had received similar visitors. The question was whether those families had been targeted in the same manner.
That possibility concerned Karl.
The ancient trade families were even more difficult to locate than the Sonnenbergs. Many of them had spent generations developing methods to remain hidden from outsiders. Their existence was known to certain political circles, but finding their actual homes and businesses was another matter entirely. Anyone attempting to purchase their resources without understanding that history was likely to make the same mistake Emerson had made.
Karl looked over the evidence once more.
The Americans had come believing that money could open every door. They had failed to understand that some doors were connected to families that had existed long before their company had been founded. They had also failed to understand that those families possessed relationships that could remain dormant for generations before suddenly becoming useful.
For Karl, the incident was no longer merely about one mana vein.
It was about establishing a precedent.
If foreign companies were allowed to buy up Europe's most important resources simply because they could offer enough money, then the problem would only grow. Today it was a single mana vein belonging to the Sonnenbergs. Tomorrow it could be dozens, followed by hundreds, until foreign corporations possessed enough influence to dictate who could access one of the most important resources of the new age.
Karl had no intention of allowing that to happen.