Looking at Fouché’s formidable second generation before him, Valvesky, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, couldn’t help but reveal a trace of panic on his face.

Imagine a day when the head of the secret police under the Emperor suddenly bursts into your office and tells you he wants to talk about something.

Would you think he genuinely wants to talk, or is using the conversation as an excuse to arrest you on the spot!

Anyone with a normal mind would probably not believe that a secret police head would have anything genuine to discuss with you.

Valvesky, naturally among the normal people, was constantly recalling whether he had crossed any red lines while serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

After a quick reflection, Valvesky realized that he seemed not to have violated any of His Majesty the Emperor’s red lines, as every bribe he accepted was based on the diplomatic route already set by the Emperor, theoretically there were no issues.

But why was Marcel Yale here?

While Valvesky was puzzled, Marcel Yale’s ghostly voice reached his ears once again, "Mr. Valvesky, you still haven’t answered my question!"

"I have! I have!" Valveski desperately nodded while responding to Marcel Yale, his expression inevitably tinged with a bit of panic.

Seeing the slightly nervous Valvesky, Marcel Yale immediately realized that his earlier overbearing demeanor may have intimidated this Minister of Foreign Affairs, so he hurriedly switched to a calm tone and replied, "Minister Valvesky, I came under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, to discuss some diplomatic matters with you! You needn’t be so flustered (subtext: I’m not here to arrest you)!"

Marcel Yale’s words acted like a calming pill, instantly restoring the slightly flustered Valvesky to his usual calm.

"What instructions does His Majesty have?" Valvesky immediately asked Marcel Yale.

"This place isn’t suitable for our conversation!" Marcel Yale said to Valvesky, "Minister Valvesky, would you kindly accompany me to the National Intelligence Bureau? I believe it would be better to converse there!"

"This..." Marcel Yale’s invitation to the National Intelligence Bureau stirred waves in the heart of the once-calm Minister Valvesky, causing him to fear that once he entered the National Intelligence Bureau, he might not come out again.

Marcel Yale noticed Minister Valvesky’s apprehension and had to patiently explain the process of arresting criminals at the National Intelligence Bureau to him.

"Your Excellency, as a cabinet minister, we don’t have the authority to arrest you! We can only proceed with an arrest once His Majesty the Emperor publicly announces your dismissal, so you need not worry!" Marcel Yale explained to Valvesky.

Marcel Yale’s explanation made Valvesky feel a bit ashamed, and he quickly apologized to Marcel Yale, "I misunderstood you!"

"It’s nothing!" Marcel Yale waved his hand and answered, "We’ve long been accustomed to it!"

Then, Minister Valvesky left Ossai Pier with Marcel Yale by carriage.

The carriage raced along, quickly bringing Valvesky to the entrance of the National Intelligence Bureau. The two disembarked and headed straight to an office on the ground floor.

Upon entering the office, Valvesky felt the office’s chilly air and shrank his neck slightly.

"Please bear with it!" Marcel Yale invited Valvesky to sit down and informed him about the demands made by Duke Golitsyn, the leader of the rebel forces within the Russian Empire.

"So, you want our Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help you meet the demands made by this Duke Golitsyn?" Minister Valvesky asked Marcel Yale.

"You’re correct!" Marcel Yale nodded, then opened a drawer and placed a telegram from Jerome Bonaparte in front of Minister Valvesky, "His Majesty the Emperor intends for us to meet Duke Golitsyn’s demands as much as possible!"

"I understand!" Valvesky nodded to Marcel Yale and replied, "I will personally take responsibility for this matter!"

"Please, be quick! We may not have much time left!" Marcel Yale advised Valvesky.

"Hmm!" Minister Valvesky nodded.

After the conversation ended, Marcel Yale saw Valvesky out of the National Intelligence Bureau.

Watching the carriage gradually disappear into the distance, Marcel Yale immediately ordered his secretary to prepare a carriage for him as well.

The secretary acted quickly, soon preparing a carriage for Marcel Yale.

The carriage, carrying Marcel Yale, headed west, and after leaving the Paris city area, moved south.

Ten minutes later, the carriage stopped in front of a village. Getting off the carriage, Marcel Yale immediately gathered the secret police guarding nearby and inquired about the situation.

The secret police told him that since Marcel Yale sent them to tail, apart from an old steward, only a nobleman had entered the castle, and this nobleman had not yet come out.

"Not good!" Marcel Yale immediately realized something was wrong. He hurried to the castle entrance and knocked on the castle door.

The one who opened the door for Marcel Yale was the same steward as yesterday.

Looking at the steward in front of him, Marcel Yale instinctively breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as he was about to ask the steward if Duke Golitsyn was still in the castle, a hint of panic appeared on the steward’s face. Leaning half of his body out of the door, he whispered urgently to Marcel Yale, "Why is it you? Didn’t you say you’d only rent the castle for one day?"

"Rent?" Marcel Yale was stunned for a few seconds, and immediately realized something was wrong.

That Duke Golitsyn... might have already left!

At this moment, a voice came from inside the room, "Who is it?"

"Nothing! No one!" The steward hastily turned his head to the room to say, and then turned back to Marcel Yale, "Get lost!"

A slight trace of anger appeared on Marcel Yale’s face. A seasoned hunter, he never expected to be played by the prey.

If this wasn’t where Duke Golitsyn resided in France, then where would Duke Golitsyn be now?

Standing at the castle entrance, Marcel Yale even began to doubt whether the name Golitsyn truly existed.

"Why don’t you leave already!" The steward’s voice reached Marcel Yale’s ears again.

Since Duke Golitsyn had already left, Marcel Yale was certain he would never return here again.

With the clue broken, Marcel Yale had no choice but to leave. As he walked out of the village with a sullen face, the secret police stationed nearby dared not approach him.

"You are all such utter idiots, can’t even handle this little task, what’s the use of the state employing you!" Marcel Yale couldn’t help but curse.

Knowing they had messed up, the secret police could only hang their heads in silence.

Looking at these silent subordinates, Marcel Yale sighed again.

Since what happened had happened, blaming them further was of no use.

Marcel Yale waved them off, "Alright! Go back!"

Then, Marcel Yale got into the carriage to return to the National Intelligence Bureau and left, while the secret police stationed in the village also left one after another.

Upon Marcel Yale’s return to the National Intelligence Bureau, his secretary immediately informed him that a writer named Herzen was waiting for him in the office.

Marcel Yale hurried back to the office, where Herzen was savoring tea. Marcel Yale’s arrival made him put down the teacup with a smile, "Minister Marcel, we meet again!"

"Mr. Herzen, what exactly do you mean?" Marcel Yale took the lead and questioned Herzen, "I’ve worked so hard to meet your conditions, yet you’re playing tricks on me. Is this how you treat your partners?"

"Minister Marcel, I apologize sincerely!" Herzen smiled and bowed to Marcel Yale, "Because of us, you came up empty-handed! But, could you tell me why you have so many spies guarding around the village?"

"I only had people protect you for your own safety!" Marcel Yale responded without a trace of embarrassment.

"On behalf of Duke Golitsyn, I thank you for your protection!" Herzen replied to Marcel Yale, "Now His Excellency the Duke is very safe and does not need anyone’s protection!"

"By the way, where is your Duke now?" Marcel Yale asked Herzen.

"His Excellency the Duke took a boat back to Russia last night!" Herzen replied to Marcel Yale.

"I recall that the freight ships between Russia and France stopped running as soon as the war began!" Marcel Yale asked in confusion.

"But the ships from France to Prussia have not stopped!" Herzen replied to Marcel Yale.

Marcel Yale immediately understood Herzen’s implication, Duke Golitsyn went through Prussia to return to St. Petersburg, "But why did His Excellency the Duke leave France so quickly? Didn’t he say yesterday that he would return to St. Petersburg after some time? Isn’t he afraid France will reject his request?"