Chapter 24: The Steam Engine and the Carronade
Joseph looked into the eyes of the Minister of the Navy and spoke earnestly, "I assure you, within a year at the earliest, or two to three years at the latest, this 'fantasy' warship will begin construction."
The Marquis de Castries was stunned. "You... you’re serious? How is that possible?"
Joseph took a sip of tea and confirmed again, "It’s true. I am fully confident.
"So, stop wasting money...
2025-02-15 19:03:01 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 23: The Dream Battleship
Dr. Lamarck hesitated for a moment and then said to Joseph, “Your Highness, I feel obligated to remind you that this pharmaceutical workshop will likely require an investment of fifty to sixty thousand livres. If you only aim for a 3% profit, it may take you a very long time to recoup your costs.”
Joseph smiled and shook his head. “That 3% is just a contingency reserve for unexpected situations. I never intended to p...
2025-02-15 19:02:01 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 52: This is Called a "Small Problem"?
Djoka had no idea where Charles had gotten his information. All he knew was that after the telegram was sent to Joseph, a reply came back shortly thereafter:
“The other party agrees to sell for 250,000 francs. Should we purchase?”
Djoka promptly responded with a firm “Yes” and then jumped into a car bound for Paris to handle the bank transaction for the cross-border payment.
(Note: Cross-border payments in ...
2025-02-15 17:02:01 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 51: A Fine Bargain
The morning light was bright, and the autumn breeze was pleasant.
Grevy and Armand, clad in tailored hunting attire, rode their tall horses, each carrying a double-barreled shotgun as they ventured into their private woodland.
At the far end, the servants lined up in formation, holding onto the leashes of barking hunting dogs as they jogged forward. Their task was to drive the prey into the area where the two men could enjoy the hunt.
<...
2025-02-15 17:01:01 +0000 UTC
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"It's not too much, really, it's not."
Charlot Mecklenburg truly wasn’t known for his courage, and besides, what did courage have to do with this matter? Challenging a Saint rank was something only fools would do.
Princess May didn’t say anything more.
Charlot, drenched in cold sweat, began to reflect on whether he had been too "arrogant."
How could he, in front of Princess May, say something like: "Praise Senior Menielman"?
Especially since it was Princess M...
2025-02-15 14:06:01 +0000 UTC
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During this period, Chloe Hadrian had been training with unprecedented diligence, and his combat energy had advanced at a remarkable pace. After enduring the trials of war, he finally shattered the bottleneck and condensed the Proof of the Earth, one of the eight Knight Proofs, doubling his strength.
Brimming with confidence, he ventured alone from the military camp, spear in hand, and loudly issued a challenge to Charlot Mecklenburg.
Charlot, whose mouth was dry from dictating te...
2025-02-15 14:05:01 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 50: An Improvised Performance
What Charles did not know was that Djoka had a heated "battle" with Gallieni when registering industrial rights in Paris.
Gallieni acted with great urgency, as he told his staff officers:
“The Germans are retreating, gentlemen! What we urgently need are sidecar motorcycles to pursue them, not bulletproof tanks. Time is of the essence! If we give the enemy even a few days, they’ll establish a defensive line that our sidecars won...
2025-02-14 17:10:01 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 49: Power Stems from This
"They control the lifeline of France, Father!" Charles explained. "Steel, rifles, artillery, and warships—they are all indispensable. If these capitalists were to close their factories or refuse to sell their products, France would be finished."
Djoka nodded thoughtfully. "Power stems from this—no one dares to offend them because they hold France's fate in their hands!"
"Exactly!" Charles said. "They are the upper-tier merchants...
2025-02-14 17:09:01 +0000 UTC
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Charlot was stunned and cautiously asked, “How did you know?”
Menielman Soumet coming to Silver Dove Castle was supposed to be a secret. If even the Grand Princess of Ingrima Empire, Princess May Guillaume, knew about it, didn’t that mean everyone knew?
Princess May replied calmly, “Your labyrinth’s passages are very useful. I’ve gone back to Cappadocia a few times and happened to encounter Menielman resupplying at the docks.”
Charlot was utterly shocked!
2025-02-14 14:04:00 +0000 UTC
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Charlot had only one thought in his mind: "This is far too grim!"
The Fars Empire wanted to directly annex the Behemoth Principality and the South Seraph region into its territories while dismantling the knight orders. Regardless of whether Brittany's offensive succeeded in holding back Byron, these two objectives had been largely achieved.
The South Seraph restorationists were entrenched in Ferranden, while the knight orders of the Behemoth Principality had been completely oblite...
2025-02-14 14:03:01 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 22: Planning a Police Academy
Queen Marie curiously observed her son and smiled, “No wonder he suggested today that you take up the position of Assistant Minister of Finance. How exactly did you ‘convince’ him?”
Seeing Joseph respond with only a smile, she refrained from further questioning. After a moment’s thought, she mentioned two names: “Besançon, who has served as a trade coordinator in multiple provinces and led mounted police ...
2025-02-14 04:37:32 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 21: The Enigmatic Crown Prince
"The key to this battle lies in Princess Wilhelmina," Joseph had already considered this point. "As long as the Patriot Party can hold on a little longer, we can make good use of Princess Wilhelmina and station some troops at the French-Prussian border. Prussia should then retreat."
"I will submit a detailed plan as an official document to Marquis de Castries."
Marie Antoinette nodded. "Very well. I will decide...
2025-02-14 04:37:26 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 20: The Budget Proposal
Castries’s face turned green as he glared, exclaiming, “Your Highness, how can you say such a thing? The fleet is France’s sharpest spear and absolutely cannot be—”
Joseph calmly looked at him. “Marquis Castries, may I ask, while we construct one warship, how many can the British build?”
“Well…” Castries faltered, “About one and a half…”
Seeing the Crown Prince’s silent smile, he grew...
2025-02-14 02:23:26 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 19: Assistant to the Minister of Finance
When the cabinet ministers heard the news, regardless of their personal thoughts, they all rose to congratulate the Crown Prince, their compliments flowing endlessly like a river of praise.
Joseph graciously returned the salutes, but before he could say more, the golden doors of the hall were pushed open. The herald’s voice echoed, “Their Majesties the King and Queen!”
The ministers inside were ...
2025-02-14 02:23:21 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 18: Lamarck's Shock
Lamarck immediately took a small knife and a copper basin out of his suitcase and said to Perna, "Prepare to bleed the Crown Prince."
Joseph firmly objected, "No! I strictly forbid you to perform bloodletting..."
Lamarck, observing his weakened state, replied solemnly, "Your Highness, I must do this. A prolonged fever can have serious consequences!"
Joseph struggled to reach for his curved blade, but Lamarck added, ...
2025-02-14 02:23:07 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 17: Aspirin Youth Edition
“Oh, my dear heart!” Queen Marie embraced Joseph tightly after he saluted her, pulling him into her arms. “I think of you day and night.”
“Are you hurt?”
“You look so thin!”
“From now on, you must take a chef with you whenever you go out…”
King Louis XVI approached them but, seeing the dense crowd around, couldn’t muster a word. Instead, he gave his son a look of encouragement.
2025-02-14 02:22:59 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 16: The Girls’ New Fashion
Talking with a clever person is always easy. Joseph smiled and nodded. “Guizot is likely guilty of hiring assassins and shielding criminals. I will explain this clearly to Her Majesty the Queen.”
“Your Highness is truly the voice of fairness,” Count Morneau said, immediately placing a hand on his chest in salute. “Please believe me, I will always remain loyal to the King and Queen, and to you as well!”
<...
2025-02-14 02:22:53 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 15: Political Capital
Joseph felt a lingering fear. At this moment, no matter whether it was the bureaucratic factions, the nobility, the church, capitalists, or foreign powers, every step of his reforming France risked touching their interests. A single misstep could trigger a frenzied backlash.
In other words, incidents like Guizot’s underhanded tactics were bound to happen again and again, leaving Joseph defenseless against them.
How co...
2025-02-14 02:22:45 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 14: Closing the Net
Guizot's face stiffened as he glared at Valéan. "Control your men! What nonsense is he spouting?"
The carriage came to an abrupt halt. Valéan gave a wry smile, looking as if he was on the verge of tears, and shifted slightly. Only then did Guizot notice the dagger pressed against Valéan's lower back.
Guizot’s pupils contracted sharply. He bolted upright, lunging for the door handle, but the slender man moved faster. ...
2025-02-14 02:22:38 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 13: The Deal
Joseph left two guards to keep an eye on the bank manager, ensuring he couldn’t leak any information, and led his entourage out of the Havre-Bank.
Arden urged eagerly, “Your Highness, shall I lead a team to arrest Guizot?”
Joseph raised a hand to stop him. “Guizot only provided Similion with thirty thousand livres. There’s no evidence to prove his involvement.”
“Then let’s arrest Similion. He might confess ...
2025-02-14 02:22:29 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 12: Clues
A few members of the Black Sheep Gang were chatting when they suddenly heard a commotion nearby, as if someone was robbing in broad daylight.
The Royal Guards immediately rushed over, shouting loudly, "Get down at once, or we are authorized to shoot you!"
Two ruffians from the Hoss Gang, however, completely ignored the warning. They slashed a victim with their knives and fled towards a nearby alley without looking back.
Unlik...
2025-02-14 02:22:19 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 11: The Crown Prince's Guard
“This doesn’t seem right,” Joseph frowned thoughtfully. “Have the gangs in the Saint-Antoine District gone mad these past few days?”
He immediately instructed Arden, “From now on, everyone’s patrol hours are extended. It will be tough, but the performance bonuses will double. Night patrols need to be particularly strengthened. Something might happen.”
“Yes!”
Arden placed a hand on his ch...
2025-02-14 02:22:06 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 10: A Great Disturbance
The Viper Gang barely resisted before they were pinned to the ground by the wooden forks wielded by officers attacking from both sides, their faces filled with fear as they whimpered in submission.
Quillian thanked his colleagues who had rushed to his aid while tying up the criminals one by one with ropes.
That day, similar scenes played out across the Saint-Antoine district.
The police, as if invigorated with b...
2025-02-14 01:47:27 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 9: Results
In the blink of an eye, it had been ten days since Joseph took over the police force.
The open space in front of the Saint-Antoine District police station was filled with dust as over two hundred new recruits, dressed in crisp blue uniforms and wearing blue-and-white wide-brimmed hats, trained vigorously, sweat dripping as they wielded their peculiar-looking weapons.
These uniforms were something Joseph had procured from the milit...
2025-02-14 01:47:06 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 8: The Dilemma
Three days later...
The Municipal Commissioner’s Office.
“Sir, are you aware of the Crown Prince’s reorganization of the police force?” Frouois stared at the municipal commissioner with a worried expression. “The Duke of Orléans intended to make the Crown Prince a laughingstock, but now he’s made such remarkable progress. The police morale is sky-high, and I fear…”
Lefebvre carefully selected a bottle of...
2025-02-14 01:46:43 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 7: Reorganizing the Police Force
After flipping through the remaining files, Joseph realized that the more than 180 police officers had not received full salaries for four months.
Their wages were funded 20% by the municipal government and 80% by the merchants’ guild. However, the guild often failed to collect enough funds due to noncooperation from merchants, resulting in partial salaries for the officers.
Joseph frowned and shook his hea...
2025-02-14 01:46:19 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 6: Starting as a Minor Official
Early the next morning...
The Paris Municipal Commissioner, Lefebvre, greeted the Chamber of Commerce President with a jolly wave, his chubby face wobbling as he spoke a few pleasantries before getting straight to the point:
"By the way, what are your thoughts on the Crown Prince’s resolution of yesterday’s case?"
Fresselles sighed in amazement. "The Crown Prince’s brilliance is simply astonishing. I ...
2025-02-14 01:45:57 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 5: The Duke of Orléans' Counterattack
Guizot was the first to react, summoning his subordinate seated at the far end of the banquet table. He instructed:
“Cesar, gather your men and investigate whether a dentist came into contact with Lenotre a month ago!”
Joseph pondered briefly and added, “If a dentist visited Lenotre’s residence, his servants should know.”
“But the servants’ testimonies didn’t mention this…” Gui...
2025-02-14 01:45:22 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 4: Solving a Case Effortlessly
Joseph casually pulled open the curtains, frowning at the sight before him.
Since arriving in this world, he had been confined to endless examinations at Versailles Palace. This was his first glimpse of Paris.
The reality was far from his imagined image of the most prosperous metropolis in continental Europe. The buildings were filthy and decrepit, the streets were riddled with mud and sewage—some of it human...
2025-02-14 01:44:40 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 3: Journey to Paris
The queen had not yet spoken when a tall, thin man with a cold and calculating expression suddenly cleared his throat. He stepped forward and said:
"Your Majesty, did I hear correctly that you wish for the Crown Prince to participate in governance?"
Queen Marie turned her head slightly and replied in a calm tone:
"Yes, Duke of Orléans. I made an agreement with the Crown Prince that if he completes his university studies,...
2025-02-14 01:44:06 +0000 UTC
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