While the Count of Monte Cristo was chatting and laughing with the famous banker at the Baronal de Tangral, Charles was also meeting with an important person in another place.

Like the Count of Monte Cristo, he now finds himself in a splendid place, the Hôtel de la Vieri, not far from the French Senate, one of the most famous and atmospheric restaurants in Paris, where the senate and the imperial government frequented the high-ranking dignitaries of the Senate and the Imperial government, and how many back-the-scenes transactions took place here.

And he was in a private room in the hotel, watching the waiters bring dishes and drinks to the table.

However, unlike the Count of Monte Cristo, he was temporarily appointed by this man, and he did not know what the two of them would talk about today.

The seat across from him had been empty, and the person who had invited him had not yet come, so he could only look around the window in boredom.

Just as he was already a little impatient and had begun to look at his pocket watch, the door finally opened again, and a young man with a swagger strode in.

He was dressed in a very formal black suit, and his expression was hurried and serious, like a young and immeasurable government dignitary.

He was none other than Mr. Lucien Debre, confidant and secretary of Prince Jérôme, Minister of the Interior of the Reich.

Although he was not from a noble background, he was a young man who was very good at drilling, so he soared early, was valued by his superiors, and received the favor of His Royal Highness the Prince, and was promoted to his current status.

can be valued by so many big people, of course, not only by virtue of his whiskers, but also his ability is also very remarkable. When he was a student, his grades were very good, and after entering the government, his work achievements have been praised by onlookers, and his enthusiasm for work is impeccable, so he will be considered one of the most promising young people in the imperial government.

"Charles, I'm really sorry, there are too many things today, so I delayed a little." As soon as he saw Charles, he smiled and nodded at Charles, and then sat directly in front of Charles, that kind of busy atmosphere, people had no doubt that he really had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. "Hey, it's been an eventful time lately, the opposition in the Senate has been chattering about the government, and honestly it's a bit of a hassle for us to deal with......"

"I can understand, Lucien." Charles smiled back, "So, how can I help you?" ”

Despite the smile on the surface, Charles's heart was still full of confusion.

Lucien Debray asked him to come out to meet him, and this was the first experience, so he couldn't help but feel a little nervous, but at the end of the day, Lucien Debray is currently on very good terms with him, and he shouldn't have any bad news today - or in other words, if something does happen to him, Lucien Debray will not be able to get away with him in a hurry, and he will not come to him.

"At this point, I don't ask you to do me any more help, don't add some unnecessary workload to us, and we'll thank God......" Lucien de Bray sighed, "after all, it's hard enough for us to deal with the Senate, and it would be ridiculous to have to bear some burden for some personal matter." ”

"Ridiculous?!" Of course, Charles could hear the subtext in the other party's words, and he was accusing himself of causing them trouble for no reason.

It turns out that Lucien called himself over to ask the teacher for sin?

But he wondered why he suddenly offended this Lucien when he didn't do anything?

"Did I cause you any trouble?" After a moment of silence, Charles still couldn't figure it out, so he had to ask the other party directly, "I'm sorry I don't remember what I did excessively, and if I did it unintentionally, I apologize to you." ”

"It's just an unintentional little thing for you, but it's a source of trouble for us." Seeing that Charles's attitude was very good, Lucien's stern attitude also eased, "Charles, why did you let Kong Ze turn over the old accounts of our department?" ”

"Turning over old accounts?" Charles was even more confused, "What the hell do you mean?" ”

"Have you forgotten?" Lucien was stunned for a moment, then sneered, "Didn't you ask Kong Ze to track down the internal problems of our department thirty years ago. ”

"Thirty years ago?" Charles frowned, then suddenly remembered.

Yes, not long ago, Conze, who had returned from the prisons of Marseille and Château d'Ives, reported to him many of his investigations, including one of the dead prisoners, Edmond Dantès.

This young man was sent to the Château d'Eve prison during the Bourbon Restoration on charges of supporting the emperor, but after the restoration of the empire, he was not released and remained there.

The prison of Château d'Eve had asked Paris to release the prisoner, but at that time Paris received a stern reply asking the prison to continue to hold the prisoner and not to release him, so the poor young man had to continue to serve his sentence in a prison where he did not see the light of day until he died.

At that time, Charles was surprised when he heard about this situation, so he immediately ordered Kong Ze to continue to follow this clue.

Now, however, Lucien Debrey had brought him to him and begged him not to do so.

"Lucien, I see. Could it be that the order not to allow the release of the young prisoner at that time came from the Ministry of the Interior? Charles finally figured things out.

Lucien's face began to turn ugly, and he subconsciously glanced to the side, and after making sure that there was no one here, he nodded. "Of course, all the prisons in France, including the prisons for political prisoners, are run by the Ministry of the Interior, and if the Ministry of the Interior allows the prison to continue to hold that mortal, how dare they not listen?"

"So, who ordered that?" Charles asked.

Lucien's face became even more ugly.

"Charles, don't you know what I'm calling you here for? I'm not going to tell you, it's my responsibility. In fact, I've already reprimanded Kong Ze as well, and his investigation can only go so far. ”

Then, he sighed again, "Charles, don't blame me, in my position, I can only do this, and if you were in my position, you would do the same." Our old accounts are not so easy to turn over, and no one can afford such a big price. ”

That's true.

Helping the predecessor cover up the shady things, this is the common rule of the leaders of all government departments, after all, whoever is in office, his hands will not be completely clean, if he does not fill the hole for the predecessor, then he will not be there in the future, who will fill the hole for him? When the time comes, the only person who suffers can only be himself.

Therefore, as soon as he encountered this situation, Lucien's first reaction was to immediately order Kong Ze to stop the investigation immediately, and then find Charles to explain his interests to him, and ask him to give up the in-depth investigation of the privacy of his department.

What's more, he still wants to harm the department here, and the privacy inside is even more full of blood, if he really wants to dig through the old accounts, God knows what will happen, he can only choose to suppress it.

As for the grievances of the young man Edmond Dantès, it is not something that Lucien Debrey needs to consider.

He's dead anyway, isn't he?

"Lucien, my friend, don't get excited." Seeing that the other party was so anxious, Xia Er comforted the other party in a warm voice, "Don't worry, my purpose has never been to settle old accounts, and I definitely have no intention of using the privacy within your department to make profits." ”

"I don't know what your purpose is, but your actions are dangerous right now." Lucien Debray shook his head and disagreed with Charles's statement, "If you want to investigate the Count of Monte Cristo, I will definitely not block it, but I can't investigate the internal problems of our department, this is a red line, no one can cross it, at least I can't take this responsibility, please understand." Kong Ze has already said that he already knows his mistake, and he promised me that he will never touch the privacy of the department again, otherwise he will know the consequences. ”

"So tell me, what do I need to do if I have to know what's going on?" The charr still insisted on his demands. "I can promise I won't pass it on, but I need to know."

His stubbornness made Lucien frown.

"Charles...... Don't be so unkind......"

If it weren't for the fact that Charles was the grandson and heir of Marshal Tréville, I am afraid that such unrelenting would have provoked Lucien to be furious, but unfortunately he was, so Lucien had no choice but to reluctantly persuade him not to do more.

"Lucien, I know I'm young, and it might make you feel distrustful, but we've been around for a long time, you should know that I'm not a rapper, I can keep it a secret when I need to, I just want to know who issued that damn order." Charles leaned closer, making himself even more oppressive, "Lucien, answer me, who kept him in prison thirty years ago?" ”

"Is this really important? It's been thirty years, and who cares?! Lucien waved his hand impatiently, "Well, it is true that a poor man died unjustly, but this kind of thing has been everywhere in ancient times, and it is still everywhere now, does anyone care?" Do you want to clear the case for such a person? Then I tell you, you can't wash it, every dynasty is a palatial palace built on white bones, and no one can wash them clean. ”

"I don't want to clear the grievances of the dynasty, I don't have such high ambitions. All I have to do is figure out what really happened in 1815, and it's important to see what I and my family will get next. "Although there is no definite evidence at the moment, I have reason to believe that the Count of Monte Cristo must have had a great deal to do with the misfortunes of 1815." ”

Lucien-Debray did not speak, his eyes were focused on Charles, looking left and right, as if trying to see in him the sincerity of this promise. Charles didn't say anything, just picked up the utensils and began to eat, using this silence to show his sincerity.

His eyes were constantly rolling, clearly weighing and pondering.

Charles's heart was clear - if the other party really didn't intend to bargain at all and resolutely refused to make any concessions on this matter, there was no need for him to deliberately invite himself to the secret room, and there was no need to talk to himself for so long.

With this determination, Charles unhurriedly used his meal to replenish the energy of his hungry body.

Just as he took a sip of Bordeaux's dry, ruddy throat, as expected, Lucien spoke carefully.

"Can you be assured, then, that all that you know is confined to the Count of Monte Cristo, and that it will never be passed on or cause any other trouble?"

"Of course, my friend." Charles put down his glass, then looked up at the other with a blazing gaze, "I can assure you that I will never do that. Why would I do that? I'm not interested in asking for trouble. ”

"Okay...... Since you say so, then I will believe you for once, who called us friends......" Lucien-Debray's eyes were a little evasive, as if the one who had just reprimanded Charles was another person, "Well, Charles, in fact, I only figured it out in private, because the time in 1815 was too sensitive. ”

"What's sensitive?" Charles asked knowingly, evoking the other party's following words.

"Isn't it obvious? At that time, we changed dynasties twice. The Bourbons came back and purged the people who supported the Napoleonic Emperor in the Ministry of the Interior, and when the Napoleon Emperor came back, the Bourbon people were purged again, and back and forth, many people died, including some innocent people. Although he said such a cruel thing, there was not much sadness in Lucien's expression, and he naturally took a knife and fork to cut the steak in front of him, "Now the old man in the ministry still has palpitations when he mentions it, at that time, he cleaned up a lot of Bourbon remnants, and there were still many remnants of Fu Xie, and finally there were a lot of people in the office, and the normal operation of the department was ......"

Charles knew that Lucien Debray was definitely not a person who liked to talk nonsense, so there must be an implicit meaning in his words.

"What do you mean, the Ministry of the Interior was in an abnormal state at that time......?" Charles asked tentatively.

"To be precise, it's a state of being supervised, or escrowed, and it doesn't work until much later that it starts functioning again." Lucien Debray replied in a low voice, "During this period of time, the few people who have been sent by His Majesty to the Ministry of the Interior are in charge of the entire department, and if they want to do anything, there is no one to interfere with, let alone change. ”

"So, the decision that the prison received from Paris to continue to detain Edmond Dantès was made by these commissioners?" Charles figured it out right away. "Who the hell are these commissioners?"

Lucien Debray just smiled and didn't answer.

"Well, my friend, I'm sensible." Charles understood what the other party meant, so he just shrugged his shoulders, "What do you want?" ”

"Don't ask me that, Charles, it's not a deal." Lucien Debrey shook his head abruptly.

For a moment, Charles even wanted to pick up the plate on the table and buckle it to the other party's serious face.

It's all about this time, and you still want to come to this set? It's not a deal, so what are you calling me here for? Chat to pass the time?

However, Charles knew that he couldn't get angry either, so he had to suppress the anger in his heart and look at the other party calmly. "Okay, what do you want to tell me?"

Lucien did not answer directly, but changed the subject again, "Charles, you were there that night, you saw what poor Albert was made of by Baron Tangral......"

"Yes, poor Albert." Charles shrugged his shoulders, but he didn't feel much pity for the other party, "There is always a time when people are unlucky, and it is time for him to taste the hardships when he has been going well." ”

"Do you know, then, why Baron Tangral is suddenly so mad?" Lucien smiled mysteriously.

"I don't know, don't sell it, tell me." Charles shook his head directly.

To be honest, as one of the witnesses at the time, Charles really wanted to understand why Baron Tangral suddenly turned his face and announced in public that his family did not have any marriage contract with Albert, after all, Marshal Malsev was not a person to be messed with, and it was really unwise for him to turn his face like this.

"Well, after all, this is also the trouble of my master......" Lucien sighed again.

"Your master?" Charles froze for a moment, then came back to his senses, "Prince Jérôme?" What does this have to do with him? ”

"You know, Baron Tangral has a very good relationship with His Royal Highness, he has been friends for decades, and he has been under His Royal Highness's care all these years, and his career has been very smooth......" Lucien explained to Charles unhurriedly, in fact, he meant that he was the backer behind Baron Tangral, "If you can, the Baron wants to continue all this, but God does not fulfill people's wishes...... It didn't seem to be going on, so he was driven insane. ”

"What the hell do you mean?" Charles was still confused.

"His Royal Highness the Prince intends to submit his resignation in front of His Majesty in a while, retire and go home to retire and retire to retire and retire to retire for the rest of his life." Lucien was silent for a moment, then told Charles an explosive news. "So he's now busy dealing with the aftermath — the aftermath in all aspects."

"Original...... I see. After Lucien's explanation, Charles finally understood.

Obviously, Baron Tangral relied on the help of His Royal Highness the Prince to get the family business he is today—so he must have been helping His Royal Highness the Prince secretly do a lot of shady business.

And now, the situation is different, His Royal Highness is preparing to retire, his backer is crumbling, and His Highness is definitely preparing for the aftermath - that is, business dealings with him will be reduced in the future, and he will no longer be held responsible.

One can imagine what a blow this was for Baron Tangral.

"If that's the case, it's understandable that Baron Tangral is mad......" Charles nodded, "but, in this situation, shouldn't he be more likely to find a backer?" Why fall out with Marshal Malsev again? ”

"That's because he has found himself a greater backer......" Lucien's mouth turned up slightly, as if there was a little more mockery, "he can't hide it from others, and not long ago he invited Prince Louis-Bonaparte, who had just returned home, to his house; Moreover, Prince Jérôme is also very interested in matching the two of them......"

"Baron Tangral wants to marry his daughter to Prince Louis?" Charles asked rhetorically, then nodded to himself, "No wonder! That's not surprising! ”

That would explain it all.

"So what did His Royal Highness say that he agreed?" Charles hurriedly asked.

"According to the information I received, His Highness did not agree, but he did not disagree." Lucien replied. "He's going to watch and see if there's anything better to do, or rather, to see what more his uncle can offer."

"In other words, Baron Tangral wants to find a prince's son-in-law, but he is still regarded as an alternative?" Charles concluded, "Ha...... This is really a thing to a thing! People like Baron Tangral are now stubble. ”

After a pause, Charles thought of something again.

He turned his head abruptly and looked at Lucien, "That is...... Are you also in a dilemma now? ”

Yes, Lucien should be in a difficult situation right now.

It is well known that he is a confidant of His Royal Highness Prince Jérôme, and he is where he is today thanks to His Royal Highness's support, but if His Royal Highness retires, there will be no way to promote him - so, like Tangral, he has to find a backer.

"Yes, Charles, I'm really embarrassed." Lu Xi's face suddenly became gloomy, "His Royal Highness said that he was going to retire, and there was no warning beforehand, and when I came back to my senses, I had already fallen into this embarrassing situation." ”

"So how can I help you?" Charles didn't delay any time and asked directly.

"Let your grandfather recommend me to His Royal Highness Prince Louis and help me stay in office." Lucien finally stopped dodging this time, and directly said his request, "According to internal information, His Majesty intends to let Prince Louis succeed him as Prince Jérôme in the near future, and even if he is not a minister, he will become one of the de facto leaders of the Ministry of the Interior, so I hope I can stay at that time." ”

"Oh......," Charles replied meaningfully.

Charles did not expect that His Majesty would recall Louis Bonaparte to his home country and be entrusted with a heavy task so soon.

Ay...... It's great to be born in royalty.

"Then why didn't you ask His Royal Highness Prince Jérôme to recommend it? His recommendation is more justifiable, right? Charles thought of something again.

"He wouldn't." Lucien shook his head, "Besides, the words of the predecessor and the successor recommender, no matter how you look at it, is it......"

"I see......" Charles laughed again.

Yes, Prince Jérôme can retire, he is old anyway and has enjoyed everything, but how could Lucien be willing? He had already enjoyed the beauty of power, how could he be willing to retire with Prince Jérôme, he must have to find another backer.

"Charles, remember the last time we met? You tell me that you are willing to help me, and now is the time, you help me find His Royal Highness Prince Louis and make me friends with him, then I can help you with whatever you want, you want to know the history of the department, no problem, I can tell you! If you want to do something shady, no problem, I can help you with the aftermath! Lucien's breathing was a little short, and he was obviously emotional, "As long as you can help me keep everything I have, then I can do anything for you." ”

Charles looked at the other party coldly, the current Lucien Debrey no longer had the composure just now, and the appearance of gains and losses was really ugly.

"I know, Charles, I look a little ugly now, I don't look like a carefree prince at all, but I'm not a noble son in the first place." Lucien smiled bitterly, "Everything I have gained after more than ten years of struggle, you can easily get it without much effort, so you can be free and easy, for you, even if you lose something, you will never have the opportunity to get it again in the future, but I am different...... If I lose something, I will never have a chance to get my hands on it again, so I have to hold it tightly, like a drowning man holding a life-saving straw, there is absolutely no way to let go, even if it looks ugly, I have to hold it tightly, even if I am ridiculed, it is better than falling into a mud puddle and being forgotten. Tell me, then, Charles, will you extend a hand of friendship to me and get everything in return? ”

"Okay, don't worry, Lucien ......" Seeing that the other party had already said this, Charles couldn't stay silent, he nodded, "I understand your feelings, okay, I'll let my grandfather do this, don't worry!" ”

"Charles...... Thank you! The joy of the rest of his life after the catastrophe made Lucien laugh from the bottom of his heart.

He couldn't help but stand up and take Charles's hand. "Trust me, as long as you give me a way out, I can help you do anything!"

"So tell me who did that?" Charles was not moved, and he asked directly about his concerns.

"It's the Marquis de Novatière." Lucien didn't dodge anymore, and replied to Charles simply, "This is the guy who has now suffered a stroke and is paralyzed, he helped the exiled Emperor in charge of the affairs of Paris, and when His Majesty the Emperor returned, he came to the Ministry of the Interior as a special agent, and took over the work of the entire police department with a few colleagues. ”

Before Charles could ask any more questions, he directly took out a paper bag from the briefcase he brought with him and handed it to Charles, "I have prepared all the relevant files, you can just check them directly." ”

Feed! So you've been ready for a long time? What about the sectoral principle you just mentioned? Where are you running now?

With such a complaint, Sharmo silently took the paper bag.

Of course, he won't take it apart now, and the two of them tacitly agreed that when nothing happened, they continued to eat and chat, but by this time their topic had become much more relaxed.

"Now Baron Tangral is in a hurry, he is afraid that His Royal Highness Prince Louis-Bonaparte will not agree to the marriage, so he is so attentive to him, I think he is really mad." Lucien spoke again about her mistress's husband.

"It is the dream of many people to let their daughter be the prince's wife, and he is not to blame." Charles replied casually.

"If this is done, then surely no one will have anything to say, and if it cannot be done, then the baron will be in trouble...... After all, there is already a lot of gossip about him in the social arena. Lucien Debre's smile added a hint of mystery to it, "And for me, that's great news." ”

Charles sensed something surprising in his smile.

"What? Do you want to marry his daughter too? He blurted out.

"Yes, I really want to marry her, after all, she is so beautiful and so rich." Lucien replied in a very ordinary tone, "Then again, I can be considered worthy of his daughter, right?" After all, I'm a big future, aren't I? ”

"But you're her mother's lover." Charles asked rhetorically.

"It's a real problem, but I think if we find a way, we can get around it." Lucien shook his head, obviously disapproving, "If his daughter can't become the Prince's wife, Baron Tangral should have to pursue a more realistic goal, right?" At that time, I should have a chance, and if I work harder, I might be able to ......."

Charles's eyes narrowed slightly, and he stared coldly at the high-spirited Lucien de Brey.

It's a hungry wolf.

Hungry wolves will never know what boundaries are, they will only devour, devour everything in front of them, they don't have any rules in their heads, anyone can betray, anyone can betray. They are never satisfied, and they have to trample everything under their feet.

For this kind of person, you can only use it forever, and you can never trust it.

Just like that Attorney General of Villefort.

It was already clear that the Marquis de Novatier intended to conceal information about the prisoner from Marseille, Edmond Dantès, and to keep him in custody for one reason – to cover up his son.

It could not have been a coincidence that the prisoner was in Marseille and that the Attorney General of Villefort was also in Marseille.

It is conceivable that this prisoner must have been sent in by Villefort, and for the sake of his son, the Marquis de Novatière violated his principles by having a supporter of the emperor imprisoned in the emperor's prison until he died.

The father has helped his son do this, but how does the son repay the father?

He isolated his father who was paralyzed in bed as a person who could be manipulated at will, and wanted to deprive his father of his property.

Hehe, this world is really ruthless now.

Lucien Debrey, who was talking eloquently, suddenly found that the young man in front of him sighed and spit out an exclamation that made him scratch his head.

"Pity the hearts of parents all over the world!"