since they didn't lace their Gold with copper to get more currency out of it.... like the humans did.

Different from my initial prediction, Rockefeller might not sit on the Lord's seat instead, he turns the current lord into a puppet ruler. At least that will be the current status until I think when things got more 'puffed up' in that territory. He's actually not interested in the Lord's seat in the first place, what he wants in the territory, and the power he will gain from that position (true freedom basically, to do whatever the f*ck he wants in the future).

When MC's 3rd little brother expresses his interest to join the church. His first little brother and the 2nd little brother comment that by doing that, you will not be able to marry.

His first little brother, Andrew, is in love with the Lord's daughter, Stella (she's very awesome btw, became a squire at the age of 14-15? Sheshh) . She is the reason why he wants to go to the imperial military academy, and of course Rockefeller noticed it. So, while he did permit Andrew to attend the academy (the connections that can be made is a plus), he implicitly stated in his monthly letters, that Andrew should let go of that feeling (estrange her a bit). Because it has just so happened that the lord has what he wanted, the territory and the power it holds.

So that's gonna be awkward if your girlfriend is suddenly your enemy because her dad has beef with your big brother that basically your parent (and had raised you until) now. Anyway, came the time when Andrew and Stella can finally go home for vacation. Stella realizes the problem that had haunted the lord, so she decided to marry to help her father escape his debt. And the only option is now the Rothmedici (our protagonist family) because they are the creditor of his father's debt, and the fact that no other rich family will take her in (because of the debt).

Rockefeller SURPRISINGLY agreed on this matter because he seems to realize that his brother won't get out of his feeling soon enough. So he decided to pick the best outcome that will also make his brother holds no lasting resentment toward him (the main reason is probably he realized that throwing non-business (money) related matters to who is basically your s*ave now, aren't too bad either). And might I reminds you that on the day they reach an agreement, Andrew and Stella is currently 14-16 YEARS OLD? (and Rockefeller as the 'parent' are still 18 years old).

Eh, it's just that underage marriage, especially the ones to pay one side's debt, has low chances to grow any real love between the couple. Andrew sincerely loves (or maybe just puppy love) Stella, but we don't know about Stella's long-lasting feelings for her future husband. Although what she did is entirely on her willingness (even her dad, the Lord tried to dissuade her), I got giddy about what the future holds. Other than that, the confrontation and the events leading to this moment are excellent. So even for me, as an avid believer of romance can and would ruin everything, I can't really hate the outcome.

Long story short, Ricardo, the headmaster/patriarch of the Ismail family, a prestigious assassin's household attempted to infiltrate the new bank as Rockefeller assistant. MC naturally finds out about his identity as he has the story knowledge. But still, he let him get the job as to chase away any assassination attempt he will get in the future. The thing is our guy Ricardo, whose entire life views human as just a piece of meat that walks with two leg, actually want to protect a life purely on his own accord, thought of Rockefeller as "Attractive", and that "his thought are so beautiful and powerful" after Rockefeller explain his modus operandi and ambition to him LMAO

I half expected our MC's sister will end up with her own specialty, but turns out he planned her to be the empress. Isn't it too cheap? Like idk, even if she's end up be the empress, I want her to be directly educated by Rockefeller because you know the court is a hard place to lived. But at least for now, there's no mention of her having any kind of education. Also she's at most 12yo when it was decided, this MC is really ruthless LMAO, although I know being an empress is the best he can give to her and she's okay with it too. I am just afraid she will be a good for nothing empress tbh.

Other than that, Rockefeller is confused by the appearance of Ricardo's supposed dead twin sister. I am fairly certain that is Ricardo because novel knowledge seems to be a certain thing here. Which beg the question WHY Ricardo exposed himself with his dead sister identity. Bro trying to get into MC's pant or something? Is this what the tag means by "Handsome male lead"? It's refer to Ricardo? Because to be fair we never hear anyone describing Rockefeller's look other that he is young and perhaps blue eyed unlike the cover illustration.

News flash, Lucia's (MC's sister) arranged marriage pretty much a done deal here as he met the second prince (although he haven't told his sister yet smh). But what I don't expect is Rockefeller ALSO need to marry one of the Ismail family member. Guess who it is? It's Sylvie, Ricardo's supposed dead twin sister! In their mouth they said that it's instead Ricardo are the ones who had died.

Never mind, I think Sylvie is the real Sylvie (a woman), we got baited. Still kinda don't believe it though, there's no 'romance sub-plot' tag nor is there a 'beautiful female lead' tag. But ehh, what they did IS an arranged marriage sooo..

These daughters are supposed to be the original protagonist's love interest mind you, but because they (the major families) fear his (MC) power, they want to make him their ally as soon as possible. MC accepts because he knows the war is nearing and he wants to consolidate the empire's power more quickly. Because his soon-to-be wives are f*cking war machines and he really needs that.

Might I remind you these 3 women are the only women introduced/with names in the entirety of the novel beside his little brother crush and his own little sister? Like-WHY, the author should have known that building a platonic/business related is better than whatever the f*ck is this. And you know what? I am right, in the epilogue we see how dysfunctional MC's family is (except his blood sibling of course).

I know he's a bastard, I mean this is a man who never gets enough money even when he basically holds the entire continent's fate in his hand. He even requested the painter of the new church building to make the god painting as similar to him. The reason? he hates women now (after his second marriage) and even considers the word 'marriage' disgusting. So you know how much he hates his marriage as much as his wives are. They will never love each other. If not for the benefits, I think he rather be a bachelor for the entirety of his life. The result is, he almost never goes back home, basically neglecting his wives and children, leaving them with money he can print out of thin air. What I want to see is the rise of a great financial white shark who wants to conquer the world and end up enslaving the whole world, not a bad husband and an estranged father.

So I'm thinking, why not get a divorce if they don't like each other that much? MC's ambitions are pretty much a done deal anyway, and he is the most powerful man in the world, there's no family going to annoy him, not even other countries. Yes, we nearly get that but author said nahh, it's not a harem if it's just two wives. So MC's makes a deal with one of his wives who is a great mage, in exchange for whatever she wanted for this marriage (if she wanted a divorce or not). Ofc she accepted the deal, but somehow??? she takes back her word just because MC says he will try to love her even though she also knows that is pretty much bullsh*t anyway.

In the epilogue, even his first wife (the one who I think will develop a romantic possibility because their marriage, although arranged, is discussed with both of them present and on equal footing) already regrets her decision when she saw his inaction (not helping a girl sold in front of his window, haven't met his son for god knows how long). All of them were tempted to sign the divorce paper but end up not because you know how much a hassle it is to divorce a wealthy pair be it, men or women.

Lee Han's gutsy and "I do whatever the f*ck I want" personality is great, usually, the 'original' protagonist is just an edgy punk. No further development.

Isabella's critical thoughts and suspicion regarding MC's scheme to the point of almost destroying MC's planning early are very engaging. Make her MC's wife (even though she can literally go everywhere anytime she wants, but she decided to lock herself for some reason).

Ricardo's prudentness, detailed planning, and decisive personality as a fallen family patriarch is very relatable to some extent. Make him a her and make her MC's wife too.

And many more, hahh...

Andrew's marriage. We don't know how the couple's dynamic are and their opinion of each other after the marriage. Did Stella dropped her military education? how did she cope with her sudden marriage even though she prepared for it? How did Andrew feel about his marriage that is based on debt solving?

Leo's life in the church. How did he feel at the beginning compared to now? No, we don't even know what his feeling are other than he is happy that he can help his brother. But no way that feeling will remain pure forever right? especially as his own big brother is the one who make the entire world a 'better' place.

The new emperor's feeling of being used constantly and knowing what he allowed to be done will have negative impacts. Well-informed noble reaction to MC's unusual rise of rank. Other races' reactions. And many more!

Thing is, I think the author knows all that jazz and decided to wash over all the bad things. Because he thinks that will just be a useless emotional burden to us the reader? But I think those conflicting thoughts from various individuals, are one of the charms of reading morally grey characters.

Ricardo being Sylvie is such bullshit. All this time the novel is like a god's word, all in there is a must happen. But YOU just gotta pull that out of your ass (a plot hole) just because?? Not only you baited a lot of readers who are fans of male-to-male friendship and appreciation, you just HAVE to make all the named females as MC's wives. Ugh, can't male authors realize that platonic relationships, whether it's same-gendered or different-gendered have more potential, and are very high on the market right now smh. Don't tr*sh your own plot.

Making this a book transmigration novel while never explaining the supposed plot is terrible. Then you just have to make the original protagonist go back home so that the females can go back obediently to be your main character's wives...

Lucia being the empress without known high-end education just bugs me a lot. The only thing MC teaches her is when she is already married and it's words like "don't let them trample you as we are now higher than them, but don't be a b*tch, you understand right?". That makes a new low to a parent's (big brother) advice.

No explanation of MC's origin... author just gonna give us a very suspicious family motto, past betrayals experience, then leave it as it is

No explanation about Andrew's military school life... alright. The mana tanks that MC's ardently invest in also have no further explanation other than it used in war...

Again, if you don't want to world-building alright. But if you put em at the end of the novel, it seems like you put it purposely to belittle us, readers.

No further explanation on the big three families of the empire other than their specialized talent. Like not discussion of the scope of their influence? their main business line? how their clan dynamic work, the ranks, etc.

This will be main reason why I read this novel. The novel is about MC that that rise to become a financial superpower by becoming a banker. MC is from another world and just finish his study on financial and history. That's the main focus of the story. This novel is all about banking and financial stuff. You won't see any fighting or war scene. There is a mention about war or fight, but you won't see any detail describing the said fight. So, for those who expect some physical fighting, you won't see anything of it here.

This is the part that manage to gain my interest. The only fighting scene you will see is how people fight using money. That's what makes this novel interesting and fascinating for me. This novel will explain with detail how banking system exploited and gain money. Even me that doesn't know anything about finacial found it quite easy to understand most of the explaination. Its not like most Chinese novel where the MC just said banking term and throw money at investment and stock. This novel made me understand how money works. For example, why did people change using from gold coin, something that very valuable to paper, something that is worthless, or how they manage to convince people to use the paper money. This is just to say few of them. This kind of thing for me is very rare to see in any novel, so its very fascinating for me. This point alone made me gave it 4 stars.

From this point, I consider it as a minus.

First, this world setting is a fantasy world in a novel. That's fine for me. The thing is the author doesn't elaborate about the world at all. This novel doesn't have any world building at all. The author just tell us the MC is reincarnated in a novel just for convenience and the MC just unexpectedly came into the novel. This world has multiple races such as Human, Elf, Dwarf, Orc and Goblin. I don't see any races other than what i've mention before and the only races that MC interact is Dwarf, Goblin, and other human as they are the only financial superpower on the world. So you wont see any interactions with races that doesn't have any connection with money.

This is the main reason why I gave this novel is a 4 star for me. There is no other main focus on the novel other than making money and become financial superpower. That's mean no romance whatsoever. The MC did got married with the girl he interact with, but there is no romance involve, only business. For me its quite dissapointing, but maybe because the author doesn't have any expirienced on writing romance so it can't be helped