"I believe you will surely succeed!"

Hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s encouraging speech, even though Field and William Thomson had many concerns in their hearts, they had no choice but to suppress them at the moment.

"Your Majesty, thank you for your trust in the Atlantic Telegraph Company!

I assure you that all employees of the Atlantic Telegraph Company will not betray this trust. We will do our utmost to serve the French Empire!"

Field’s face was brimming with a warm smile akin to flattery, and he spoke to Jerome Bonaparte in an exceptionally pleasing tone.

Perhaps to make his loyalty more evident, Field shouted loudly after his flattering words, "Long live the Empire, long live Bonaparte!"

Such a gesture moved everyone present, and William Thomson, an advisor to the Atlantic Telegraph Company, wished he could drill his head into the ground at this moment.

William Thomson could understand his boss Field’s predicament. The Atlantic Railway Company’s books were already penniless; if they lost such a premium client as the Emperor of France, bankruptcy would be their only path.

For Field, who has dreams, bankruptcy would be even more painful than being killed.

Therefore, Field was doing everything he could to cater to the Emperor’s wishes.

However, despite this, William Thomson still found it hard to accept Field’s way of continuing the company’s development through near-worshipful flattery.

After all, the real boss of the Atlantic Telegraph Company was Field, not Mr. William Thomson.

When one is in different positions, one has different choices to make.

And in Jerome Bonaparte’s eyes, Field had already possessed the basic qualities of a successful entrepreneur.

For a successful entrepreneur, the primary task is not maintaining so-called dignity, but expending every effort to keep the company running, by any means necessary.

And if maintaining operation is truly impossible, then they should swiftly cut off the company’s negative debts from themselves to prepare for a future comeback.

Of course, many entrepreneurs couldn’t even hold out until the second step.

If things truly became impossible, they would immediately take all valuable bonds and stocks with them, change their names, and escape to other countries.

The fact that Field was able to keep a heavily indebted company running and not let it face immediate bankruptcy was already a commendable achievement.

Jerome Bonaparte retained an attitude of admiration for Field nonetheless.

But, even though Jerome Bonaparte still admired Field, after seeing Field’s flattering demeanor, Jerome Bonaparte also silently quipped in his heart, "Who says there is no social savoir-faire in Europe? I see these entrepreneurs are quite skilled at it!"

"Mr. Field, there’s no need for further pleasantries!

Now, from Senegal to the sea around French Guiana, France is still in the exploratory stage, so we can temporarily put this telegraph construction aside.

Let’s first discuss the telegraph route from France to Senegal!" Jerome Bonaparte leaned forward, crossed his hands between his thighs, and asked Field with particular seriousness, "I just want to know, how long will it take for you to connect the telegraph line from the French Mainland to Senegal!"

When it came to business issues, Field immediately showed a seriousness he hadn’t before. He pointed to France on the map and asked Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask if the cable line needs to pass through the Kingdom of Spain?"

Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and then pointed to Marseille, "I plan to start from Marseille, cross the Mediterranean to reach Algeria, and then continue building along the North African border to connect to Rabat!"

Jerome Bonaparte paused and then stopped his hand at Rabat, the capital of the Moroccan Protectorate, and finally along the coast of Africa to reach Senegal, "Finally, circling the African Continent to reach Senegal!

I wonder how much time this plan will take!"

After hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s plan, Field felt a rush of pressure. He initially thought that from Senegal to French Guiana would be the most challenging segment, not expecting that from France to Senegal would be equally difficult.

This cable needs to pass through at least three cities (Algeria, Oran, and Rabat), adapting to different environmental climates, with the most difficult segments being from Marseille to Algeria and from Rabat to Senegal.

The former needs to cross the Western Mediterranean region, while the latter requires crossing half of Africa.

After a while, Field responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, the Atlantic Telegraph Company has not yet tried laying a telegraph in the Mediterranean, we might need some preparation time!"

"How much money do you need? How much time? How many people? How much cable? How many ships?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Field outright, "If warships are needed, I can have the Mediterranean Fleet fully cooperate with your actions."

Gazing at Jerome Bonaparte, who showed no intention of bargaining throughout, Field for the first time felt the meaning of financial prowess.

Back when building enough cables to cross the Atlantic, Field could be said to have begged everyone, putting all his available funds into cable manufacturing.

If not for the later support from the UK and US governments, Field wouldn’t have even had any ships.

After all, a cable as long as 3,000 kilometers cannot be loaded onto any ordinary ship.

It’s only with the large ship contributed by Britain that the over 3,000-kilometer-long cable could be used in the water.

Of course, the support from Britain and the United States is limited to this.

It cannot be compared to France at all!

Field carefully considered the expenses of constructing the transatlantic cable and cautiously quoted a price to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty, the rough cost from France to Senegal is around 200,000 British Pounds (5 million Da Lang), including a 4,000-kilometer-long cable..."

Field methodically explained the approximate costs to Jerome Bonaparte, as Jerome Bonaparte and Louis Feldbu listened quietly to Field’s quotation.

After Field finished reporting all the prices, he nervously added, "This is only my rough estimate. The actual price might be lower than this!

However, precise calculations need to be made for the exact price!

If Your Majesty can give me a few days, I can provide you with a more precise figure!"

Jerome Bonaparte shook his head after listening and said, "Field, the price is not the issue!

I want to know how long it will take for you to completely lay the telegraph to Sernega!"

Field pondered for a moment and then responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "If the Imperial Government cooperates appropriately, and if we can lay the three lines simultaneously from both ends, the laying time will be greatly reduced!

The telegraph from Newfoundland to Ireland was laid this way!"

Jerome Bonaparte turned his gaze to Louis Feldbu, "General Feldbu, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty, the Governor’s Mansion of Sernega is willing to support all actions of the Empire!"

Louis Feldbu, understanding that building a telegraph connecting Senegal and the Empire is beneficial, naturally expressed clear support.

"Okay!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and replied to Field, "I am willing to support your strategy of laying the three routes together!

However, you must draft a charter!

Also, specify the time required for each route so I can communicate with governors in other regions and ensure their full cooperation with your work!"

"Yes!"

Field immediately agreed to the conditions proposed by Jerome Bonaparte and stated that he would provide Jerome Bonaparte with a detailed laying process within about a week.

"Good! I trust you!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled and shook hands with Field, then turned to give an order to Bourbas, "Mr. Bourbas, could you kindly make a trip for me?"

Bourbas immediately stood up and responded to Jerome Bonaparte with a firm tone, "Your Majesty, please instruct!"

"Please relay my order to Bashirio, stating that the Northern Industrial Group will continue to invest an additional 5 million Da Lang in the Atlantic Telegraph Company!" Jerome Bonaparte said while extending five fingers.

Upon hearing that the Emperor would further invest 5 million Da Lang in the Atlantic Telegraph Company, Field’s lips trembled involuntarily.

Then, Jerome Bonaparte smiled and responded to Field, "Mr. Field, I hope your company will not disappoint me!"

"Your Majesty, I guarantee that the Atlantic Telegraph Company will not disappoint you!" Field reiterated to the financial backer in front of him.

"By the way, I have a suggestion! I wonder if you would like to hear it!" Jerome Bonaparte seemed to have thought of something and continued to say to Field.

"Your Majesty, please go ahead!" Field stated respectfully.

"Since you are undertaking the route from France to French Guiana, calling it the Atlantic Telegraph Company might be too narrow!

How about renaming it to Global Telegraph Company, which better suits your company!" Jerome Bonaparte suggested.

"Global Telegraph Company?" Field thought for a moment before answering, "Your Majesty, let’s do it as you suggested!"

Thus, a new telegraph conglomerate was gradually established under the intervention of Jerome Bonaparte.

At this moment, Field was unaware that his destiny had been silently altered by the Emperor.