The Fox of France

In the Elysium Palace, Lucien is meeting with his newly emerging subordinates, Victor Treville.

"Victor," Lucien says, "I heard you have a brother, now serving under the Count of Provence."

"Yes, Your Excellency," Victor calmly responds, "I reported these matters to the disciplinary department early on, following the rules. Moreover, my political views have always differed from his."

"I know all that, Victor. I believe your brother's disapproval is more towards the Robespierre faction than a genuine opposition to the Republic. Additionally, from what I know, the Count of Provence is likely leaving England for North America. I think this marks the end of Bourbon's influence. Do you agree with my assessment?"

"You're correct, Minister," Victor replies.

"Bourbon has lost its value. When the Count of Provence decides to leave England for North America, he admits his failure—his and Bourbon's lack of future. Many under him now need to think about their own futures. On the other hand, with the Republic's position strengthened, we can afford to be more lenient. I believe you understand my point."

"I understand. Only the strong have the privilege of tolerance," Victor responds.

"Among the former French nobility, there are many outstanding individuals who shouldn't exit the stage of history with the Bourbon dynasty. In fact, many nobles have made remarkable contributions to the Republic, and the Republic does not discriminate against them. It is willing to reward them appropriately. For instance, your uncle, Admiral Treville, is of noble descent. Due to his victory in North Africa, he is about to be promoted to 'Admiral of the Fleet' and will receive titles from the Roman nobility and the Senate. He will also be rewarded with a mine in Tripoli and an olive oil estate from the Turkish Sultan. My friend, France is now a Republic; there are no more nobles. But Rome is an empire, and nobility exists there, passed down through generations.

"Victor, since the establishment of the ruling government, France has reorganized its internal order, establishing the foundations of a republic where the people govern themselves; externally, we have triumphed in numerous battles, illuminating the glory of France throughout Europe. Today, France stands at the pinnacle of the world, attaining unprecedented honor. Even in Bourbon's heyday, compared to present-day France, it's like comparing a firefly to the full moon in the sky.

"Recently, the Republic is about to grant amnesty again. Many nobles who took the wrong path for various reasons, who stood against history, as long as they sincerely return and reform, leveraging their talents and abilities, do you think they need to worry about finding a place to showcase them? After the amnesty is declared, you can contact your brother. Talented individuals shouldn't waste their abilities in unworthy places. Do you understand?"

"I understand," Victor quickly responds.

"Furthermore, you've performed exceptionally well before, completing many important tasks. Therefore, as the Protector of the Roman Empire, I've proposed to the Imperial Senate to admit you as a Roman citizen. Do you have any objections to this?"

"I am very grateful for your recommendation. It is an honor for me to become a citizen of the great Roman Empire," Victor says quickly.

"Very well. Also, your son's painting skills are impressive. After Jacques-Louis David saw his artwork last time, he praised him for his talent. He even expressed a desire to be his painting teacher. I believe he will become a great artist in the future."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Excellency," Victor says.

"Alright, finally, we have one more task for you to undertake. I know you've just returned from a journey, and you may want to spend more time at home with your wife and children. However, Victor, why do we, people like us, endure such labor and hardships outside? It is for the sake of ensuring their peaceful days at home, isn't it?" Lucien says.

"Minister, where am I going this time?" Victor asks.

"North Africa. To be precise, to Tripoli," Lucien replies. "You will go with Father Peter from the Vatican. Over there, you will finalize the allocation of land for the liberated slaves, organize them, and establish a capable militia.

"Additionally, keep an eye on the Vatican's people. Although, for now, they align with us on this matter, we must control the organization in our hands. Victor, do you know what to do?"

"I understand," Victor nods.

"Tell me your thoughts," Lucien asks.

Victor thinks for a moment before responding, "The most stable connection is based on economic integration. So, the first priority is to organize those Christian farmers into a commercial and production sector. Let them produce olive oil or anything else profitable, then centralize the procurement and sales, similar to what the Veterans Association does in rural areas. Moreover, since the North African region may not be suitable for cultivating crops, once this structure is established, their dependence on us will deepen. Of course, this is just a general idea. I need to learn more specifics before finalizing the plan."

"Very good!" Lucien applauds. "Victor, I haven't misjudged you. You are indeed someone with vision and capability, worthy of cultivation. Later, go find Mr. Ferrero; he should have prepared the relevant materials. For this week, you can read these in the small reading room of the Elysium Palace, but you cannot take the materials with you, understand? After a week, submit your complete plan to me. If there are no issues, we can arrange for your journey to Tripoli."

Exiting Lucien's office, Victor heads to the secretariat and finds Lucien's true secretary, Ferrero.

Ferrero is a thin, small middle-aged man, always dressed in a black suit that stands out from the entire Elysium Palace's atmosphere. After Victor explains his purpose, Ferrero meticulously checks Victor's various credentials—even though he just came from the minister's office. Once he confirms the authenticity of the person before him, Ferrero nods and says, "Mr. Treville, the relevant materials are already prepared for you. Please follow me."

Victor follows the small man to a reading room. Ferrero opens the door and says, "Mr. Treville, please wait here for a moment. I'll bring the materials to you shortly."

Victor enters and sits at the desk, observing the room's decor. Unlike other rooms in the Elysium Palace, this reading room is exceptionally simple. The spacious desk is only varnished, plain, and without any decoration. There is a small button on the right side. On the right side of the desk, there is a state-of-the-art typewriter. The chair is of a common style, without any embellishments. Even the overhead lamp is quite ordinary. However, due to the large floor-to-ceiling windows, the room is very bright.

As Victor is looking around, he sees Ferrero entering with a servant pushing a small cart filled with various books and documents. The servant leaves after pushing the cart in. Ferrero then says to Victor, "Mr. Treville, these are the materials Minister Lucien asked me to prepare for you. You can go through them here, but you cannot take them or record

anything. If you need food, tea, or if you plan to leave, you can press that button, and a servant will be in the next room."

After conveying this information, Ferrero nods slightly to Victor and leaves the reading room.

Victor walks over to the cart and begins examining the materials.

Clearly, Ferrero has prepared thorough and well-organized materials for Victor, with detailed categories covering local history, geography, culture, climate, and resources. There are also the latest intelligence reports. Victor first picks up the most recent intelligence and sits back at the desk, carefully reading through it.

A week later, Victor submits a stack of printed documents to Lucien. After a thorough review, Lucien says to Victor, "Very good, Victor! Go home, rest for a couple of days, and prepare yourself. We will soon arrange your journey to Tripoli."

Almost simultaneously, in the Vatican, the Pope is discussing matters with a bishop named Torres. Since presiding over Napoleon's coronation, the Pope's health has been deteriorating day by day. He knows that his days, called by the Lord, are not far off.

Regardless of whether the Pope truly believes in God with deep faith, at this moment, reflecting on his life, he can't help but recall the assessment of his predecessor, Pope Urban VIII, regarding Cardinal Richelieu: "If God truly exists, our brother will have explanations over there; if God does not exist, then his life is indeed remarkable."

On the question of whether God exists or not, well, if you ask the Pope, he would undoubtedly affirm His existence. Especially now, when the verification seems imminent, he involuntarily thinks about the issue of "how to explain to God." Under his leadership, the Vatican's position has been declining, and that's not easy to explain.

So, the Pope believes that he must seize this last opportunity, do something big, no, do something that genuinely pleases God. Thus, he breathes heavily and says, "Torres, my brother, you know those lambs in North Africa have been separated from the Church for a long time... We must find a way to guide them onto the right path, fulfilling the trust the Lord has placed in us. In North Africa, we need to rely on the strength of the French, but also... also be cautious of them. We cannot let... we cannot let their influences contaminate... contaminate the lambs... Do you understand?"

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