The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1030: Chapter 70: In the Midst of the Game

“Arthur, I heard you’ve taken on another job recently?”

“Who did you hear from? Alexander or Heinrich?”

“Both, neither of them are the type to keep secrets well. Alexander likes to be straightforward and doesn’t bother with intrigue; Heinrich is much better than him but, you know his mouth, he only considers carefully when he’s short of money.”

Arthur took out a matchbox and lit a cigar, leaning against the lamppost by the roadside and took a puff: “I’m naturally busy; without some work in hand, my heart always feels empty. The diplomat job isn’t like what we do at Scotland Yard; there’s always leisure time, and working hours are the minority. Fortunately, Mr. Victor thinks highly of me and invites me to sit at his place; I’ve taken his francs, so I have to help him solve the troublesome things. Taking money from others to relieve their hardships, in my hometown, this is considered a basic moral of being human.”

Louis took the cigar from Arthur’s hand and lit his own.

Such means of borrowing a light among rough folks were not something Louis, born in the Palace of Versailles, originally knew. But in these years at Scotland Yard, he had learned all these things and even became accustomed to them.

Since his birth in 1808, he had been closely protected by his sensitive mother, meticulously raised by her side. Meanwhile, Louis’ father, the former King of the Netherlands, long doubted whether this little son was indeed his own child.

However, one cannot entirely blame Louis’ father for being suspicious, as he did not have a good relationship with Louis’ mother. During Louis’ birth period, they only met during a trip to the Pyrenees.

Due to the long-standing doubts about his lineage, Louis developed a calm, silent character, unlike the other brothers of the Bonaparte family who were passionate and impulsive. However, such a child is evidently very charming, and Louis’ mother’s maids often praised the mild, shy yet generous and affectionate prince.

But perhaps due to his mother’s excessive pampering, Louis showed little achievement in his studies before the age of 12. When his father discovered his son’s ignorance at such a level, he directly threatened Louis’ mother that if his education continued to be so poor, he would forcibly take the son away from his estranged wife.

Louis’ mother naturally did not want to accept such a result, and thus, she went to great lengths to find a knowledgeable and suitably-positioned teacher for her son.

However, by this time Napoleon’s empire had long since crumbled, and most learned individuals were unwilling to associate with the Bonaparte family, while those who were willing to connect might not meet Louis’ mother’s standards.

Thus, after much hardship, Louis’ mother ultimately had to compromise politically, inviting Mr. Philippe Leba, who had once served as a member of the National Assembly, to be Louis’ teacher.

Why was this considered a compromise?

It’s because Mr. Leba was an unabashed republican, and he had a famous friend named Robespierre.

Under Mr. Leba’s stern teachings, Louis finally found his place in his studies, although he wasn’t a top student, he was no longer trailing behind, comparable to a student like Mr. Eld Carter, with moderate grades. Louis completed his secondary education in four years, attended preparatory classes at Augsburg University, and finally completed his full education at a military school in Thun, Switzerland.

Or rather, he completed the school portion of his education in Switzerland, while his societal education was thanks to the focused training from the Greater London Police Department.

Learning to borrow a light, navigate, interrogate, extract information, how to play the role of a thug in small taverns, pretend to be a sailor urgently coming ashore at the docks, or to blend into rallies shouting slogans, and how to use weapons at hand to protect oneself when discovered.

The “Greater London Police Department’s Entry Handbook” contains too much jargon; truly learning these requires firsthand experience, and now Louis clearly graduated successfully from this social university.

Graduation, this term isn’t merely a descriptor. Because before leaving Scotland Yard, Arthur, yet to formally step down as the principal of the London Police Academy, personally awarded him a certificate for outstanding graduates, even though Louis never trained at that school.

Intellectually, he was rigorously trained by Mr. Leba.

Regarding personal influence, the two individuals who impacted Louis the most were his mother, Madam Odense, and his commanding officer, Sir Arthur Hastings.

Madam Odense always indulged and pampered her youngest son, never obstructing his indulgence in music and beauty, but of course, the premise was that his pursuit of carnal desires would not lead to a marriage interfering with his brilliant future.

And in this aspect, Louis always reassured his mother; her teachings constantly echoed in his ears.

——The Bonaparte family should remember that all our power stems from the will of the people; we must await the people’s expression of this will and adhere to it, even if it contradicts the people’s own desires. If the people feel pain, we must also appear to be oppressed like them, and make them understand that only you can save them. In short, the Bonaparte family should act as friends to all mortals. You must always be prepared until you have the power to create events. Do not let anyone feel disappointed, never ally with anyone, nor refuse anyone. Keep all doors open, even to curious ones, those with personal agendas, and advisors alike, for these individuals will be useful to you in the future.