He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 98

(98) Marie and Pauline Meet on a Holiday in Milan

Milan is traditionally a city famous for finance, handicrafts, and weaponry.

None of these have anything to do with a *rendezvous* [a meeting or date].

It’s quite different from Milan’s modern history as a fashion leader.

That’s why Eugene didn’t particularly want to call Marie to Milan.

However, there are times when so-called ‘subordinates’ take matters into their own hands.

“Since I’m escorting you anyway, *Patrone* [Boss]? So, I ended up bringing not only your mother but also the *Patronne* [Female Boss] along. Haha!”

Antoine Damas, the son of the Governor of Martinique and the president of the Eugene Cartel.

In other words, Eugene’s agent in business.

If Ippolito is the military adjutant, then it’s no exaggeration to say that Damas is the chief of the business secretariat.

Damas was also the head of the escort who brought Josephine, Hortense, and Marie this time.

Eugene came out to the Serbelloni Palace, to the grand garden, and clicked his tongue while examining the goods.

He asked them to bring prototypes, but they ended up transporting unexpected people as well.

The slightly noisy Hortense was sent to her mother, but Marie is still here.

Even though Milan is still at war.

Eugene retorted bluntly.

“You seem to have completely forgotten that this is still a battlefield, Damas.”

“Hey, don’t be like that. Damas brought me here because of my request. Besides, he did everything I asked him to do.”

“What are you talking about, Marie?”

Marie cut in slightly and shouted at Eugene with a smile.

“Ta-da! I’ve written it all down! Regular monetary transactions between Paris and Marseille, expansion of handicraft and weaponry factories, development of fulminate of mercury and Marceau Cap [an early type of percussion cap] cartridges, and even a prototype of a breech-loading rifle!”

So, Marie didn’t just come.

-Thump!

Six six-horse carriages, a 100-man escort, and 120 horses.

This is the group that rushed to Milan with Josephine.

Instead of coming empty-handed, they brought business prototypes from the Paris Eugene Cartel.

Along with Marie’s business performance report.

Eugene picked up a ‘percussion cap’ placed in the grand garden and whistled.

“Marceau Cap? Ah, percussion cap. Anyway, you did all that?”

“I worked really hard, you know? Eugene, it’s been nine months since you left Paris. During that time, I ran around with Damas. Damas?”

“Ah, yes. Armand, or rather, Sergeant Armand also worked hard. He traveled between Marseille and Paris a lot.”

Armand, a postal non-commissioned officer belonging to the Marseille Postal Regiment under Eugene, cleared his throat.

“Ahem! I, no, I just carried out my mission. To carry out the orders of the Brigadier General and the *Patronne*. Here, I also brought a prototype.”

So, Armand is the one who took Eugene’s masterpiece fake letter, Napoleon’s letter feigning illness.

He not only traveled between Paris and Milan but also frequently traveled from Turin to Paris and back to Marseille.

This was to handle Eugene’s business matters along the way.

Eugene chuckled and picked up one of the prototypes, his eyes shining.

“You made this already?”

A breech-loading rifle, a prototype.

-Clunk, click. Clatter!

First, insert a pre-loaded bullet block [a self-contained cartridge] into the breech.

Then, rotate the rotating bolt to secure the block.

The important thing here is that there is no flint.

The bullet must be struck by the bolt to detonate it with impact.

Therefore, this method is only possible with fulminate of mercury.

Armand nodded as he watched Eugene manipulate the gun.

“When actually firing, you don’t use flint but detonate the fulminate of mercury. You insert the fulminate of mercury and the bullet with the ‘Marceau Cap.’ However, it’s still a bit unstable.”

“Well, I guess so. This needs more time. How about the Marceau Cap? Can it be used in muzzle-loading guns?”

“Yes, I heard that a good product came from America. According to Polly. I don’t know much about it, though.”

Armand smacked his lips as he handed over another prototype.

“I heard it’s a rifle [a firearm with a rifled barrel] with rifling. It’s called the Pennsylvania Long Rifle.”

It is a long gun with a very long barrel.

In fact, rifles and muskets are often used interchangeably, but they are strictly different guns.

Muskets are flintlock ignition and often have a rounded bore to prevent gunpowder residue.

The barrel is also relatively short and easy to carry.

This is the case with the British Brown Bess Musket or the Prussian Potsdam Model Musket.

However, since the American Revolutionary War, long guns used by hunters have become popular.

It is for sniping and long-range shooting.

This gun has a big difference from muskets.

Eugene nodded as he looked at the spiral grooves inside the barrel, the rifling [grooves inside the gun barrel that cause the bullet to spin, increasing accuracy].

“There are grooves inside the barrel.”

“Uh, doesn’t that leave gunpowder residue?”

“That’s right, Ippolito. That’s why only snipers used these guns during the American Revolutionary War. Besides, the loading speed is slow. But it’s accurate and goes further.”

Eugene, who was fiddling with the Pennsylvania Long Rifle, turned to Armand.

“Armand, Polly is going to modify this and make it a mass-produced model, right?”

“Yes, he’s going to name it Polly Rifle.”

“The barrel is about 180 centimeters long. Reduce it to less than half. Up to 90 centimeters. Accuracy will decrease, but the loading speed will be similar to that of a musket. And.”

Polly, a master gun manufacturer, is capable of modification.

However, there are conditions for using this muzzle-loading rifle on the battlefield.

Loading speed, portability, and, above all, modification of ammunition are necessary.

So-called Minié ball, that is, a bullet in which fulminate of mercury and a bullet are wrapped together in a metal cartridge is needed.

Eugene was about to speak more precisely, but he decided to just suggest the direction for now.

Anyway, right now, the guns to be used immediately in the Italian expedition are more urgent.

“Tell Polly to research how to make the Marceau Cap one with the bullet.”

“Yes? What does that mean?”

“Just go and tell him. Then Polly will understand. The shape of the bullet should be conical. You can name it Polly bullet when it’s made.”

However, ‘Polly Bullet’ is far away, and Marceau Cap and Modified Rifle are near.

“If we do well, we might be able to use this mass-produced rifle and Marceau Cap during the Italian expedition. Order 10,000 units. Damas.”

Eugene lightly handed over the gun and told Damas.

A gun with a firing rate similar to that of a regular musket, but with twice the accuracy and range.

It is the Model 1803 Rifle [a U.S. military rifle] used by the US military in the early 19th century in the original history.

Perhaps if this modification is made, it will become the Eugene Rifle.

Damas, who was calculating the quantity and unit price at that time, opened his mouth wide.

“Isn’t that too much? *Patrone*? It seems like it will take more than ten days to modify one unit. How much will the amount be?”

“Anyway, General Napoleon will pay the bill. Not the government.”

“The artisans will die. I understand. Oh, *Patronne* Marie. Didn’t Polly send you a gift?”

Marie blinked and clapped her hands, putting her hand on her chest.

“Ah, that’s right. I brought this myself.”

Eugene, who was surprised, turned his gaze slightly and widened his eyes.

“Pistol?”

Too dazzling light flashes.

It is the light from the gun, not Marie’s bosom.

It was so fascinating that even Eugene found it difficult to know which one he was captivated by.

The ornate patterns engraved on the gun, the streamlined functionality, and Marie.

Marie smiled brightly and said.

“It’s a pistol that shoots with the Marceau Cap. It shoots with bullets made with fulminate of mercury that DuPont has stabilized as much as possible. I brought about 100 rounds for now, but I wonder if I can use them all on the battlefield.”

At that moment, Eugene quickly snatched the pistol and the bullets that Marie had placed next to it.

-Whoosh!

Eugene urged Marie, who was surprised.

“Don’t even think about transporting this again.”

“Huh, huh, huh? What’s wrong?”

“Fulminate of mercury is not a completely stable substance yet. Damas, when transporting this, wrap it thoroughly in cloth and make sure it doesn’t get shocked!”

Of course, it’s an excessive action.

Fulminate of mercury is a dangerous substance, but Lavoisier and DuPont have experimented with it hundreds of times.

They sent it with maximum stability secured.

Besides, it’s not Marie who transported these bullets in the first place.

Damas and Armand complained, and Ippolito chuckled.

“Hey, if I had known that, I would have been careful when carrying it first? You only worry about the *Patronne*, geez.”

“It’s suddenly getting scary. Do I have to keep doing this transportation mission?”

“Wow, look at him only worrying about the princess. You need to know what’s important to your subordinates.”

Marie burst out laughing as she watched the scene.

“Pfft! Don’t worry too much. Nothing happened.”

Eugene scratched his head awkwardly and looked at the bullet.

All of this is because the gunpowder is still too weak.

Black powder requires a stronger explosive force when detonating fulminate of mercury.

Thinking of a slightly stronger and more convenient new gunpowder, Eugene muttered.

“Should I develop smokeless gunpowder instead?”

“Huh? Gunpowder that doesn’t smoke? Is that possible?”

“I know the principle roughly. The problem is that there will be too many casualties during the experiment.”

At that time, Marie stood in front of Eugene and leaned her head in.

“Well, you’re going to instruct DuPont to do that again in the future, right? Instruct him later, and I did well, right? Praise me.”

Eugene was startled and stepped back, then stopped.

Marie’s eyes are shining brightly.

Eugene smiled and pinched her cheek as he stared at Marie.

“You’re older than me, but you’re pretending to be cute.”

“What? Am I not cute?”

“You’re cute, so stop whining. Hmm, what should I give you as a reward?”

Just as the subordinates who couldn’t stand to watch turned their heads, Eugene nodded and decided.

“Okay, I should give you something to eat as a gift.”

However, this something to eat is a ‘food’ that neither Marie, Damas, nor Ippolito could have imagined.

***

There is a gambler in Milan who started a business even before receiving permission.

-Clang! Clang! Clang!

Of course, it’s something Eugene did.

A canned food factory.

He asked Salicetti this morning, so it’s not something that started yesterday or today.

The construction was already completed on the site he had been looking at since he entered Milan a month ago.

Canned food production had already begun.

It’s like doing things first and getting permission later.

Pierre Colo, a criminal who was also helping with the illegal factory construction, welcomed Eugene and his party.

“Oh, Monsieur Damas. Long time no see? Our Boarnais Cartel president has come all the way to Milan. Don’t tell me the Chamber of Commerce is also advancing here?”

On the other hand, Damas and his party, who were suddenly dragged to the canned food factory on the outskirts of Milan, opened their mouths wide.

Of course, the one with the most dumbfounded face is Marie.

She doesn’t even have a clue what Eugene is thinking by bringing her to the construction site.

She probably thought he would take her to a cafe since he said he would treat her to food.

Damas, looking embarrassed, greeted Colo with a forced calm.

“Oh, long time no see. Monsieur Pierre Colo. By the way, what about the Marseille Bank? Why did you come all the way here?”

“I also have some subordinates working with me. Antoine Hamelin, from Tours.”

“Keep a close eye on him so he doesn’t embezzle money. The Marseille Bank is the core vault of our Cartel.”

Colo, the man who originally ran the Marseille Bank, laughed heartily and replied.

“I know that without you telling me. I’ve put double and triple surveillance on it! By the way, what’s going on? Don’t tell me you came to see this factory being built?”

This question is what Damas, Armand, and actually Ippolito want to ask Eugene.

Why did he bring them to the canned food factory?

Especially Marie.

Eventually, Marie, unable to bear it, glared at Eugene and asked.

“This isn’t the food you’re talking about, is it, Eugene?”

Eugene replied very brazenly.

“It is?”

“Eugene, I’m from the former royal family, so I’m used to men being selfish. But you don’t think this is a *rendezvous*, do you? Is that the food I’m going to eat tonight?”

“Come on, only soldiers eat that kind of thing.”

Eugene joked, pointing to the food that goes into the silver canned cans.

On the other hand, Colo, who was watching this conversation, had an interesting face.

There are quite a few faces he doesn’t know.

Suddenly, Colo asked Damas.

“Who is she?”

“Shh, be careful what you say. She’s someone who is likely to become our *Patronne*. For now, she’s in charge of our Cartel in Paris.”

“Huh? Weren’t you in charge of Paris? Wait. I’ve seen her face somewhere.”

In an instant, Colo exclaimed.

“Good heavens, Princess Marie Therese?”

In fact, Colo has never seen Marie in person.

Even though he was called to Paris for business matters.

However, conversely, the fact that he has now seen Marie has another meaning.

It means that Colo has also risen to become a key member of the Eugene Boarnais Cartel.

Marie changed her expression, smiled brightly, and responded to Colo.

“There was still someone in the Boarnais Cartel who didn’t know me? I’m Marie Therese Cafe, in charge of Paris. Damas is not in charge of Paris, but the overall manager of the entire Cartel.”

“Ah, it’s not that I didn’t know Damas’s position. I’m sorry. Mademoiselle. No, *Patrone* Marie.”

“Pfft, *Patrone* is just Damas joking. Just call me Mademoiselle.”

But suddenly, Eugene shook his head.

“No, *Patrone* is right. At least in Milan. Because.”

Eugene’s hand pointed to the factory where tin cans were piling up.

“That factory will now belong to Marie.”

Everyone except Eugene was shocked.

Especially Ippolito and Colo, who had already heard that the canned food business was important.

It is canned food that will be used as the corps’ food throughout the Italian expedition.

It can be said to be a huge vested interest.

But he’s handing over this factory under Marie’s name?

It’s something that can’t happen between ordinary people.

“Planned daily production volume, 3,000 cans of canned food per person. Manufacturing time is 6 hours per can. 500 people employed. 300,000 units produced within 100 days. In the future, annual military food supply for the Italian Corps, which is 100,000 people on paper.”

Again, Eugene told Marie, who was stunned by the numbers.

“Expected profit of 10 million francs this year.”

Of course, this is the calculation excluding investment costs.

Also, Eugene said that he would put the factory name under Marie’s name, but he didn’t say that he would give Marie the entire business rights.

However, it is clear that the factory owner will eventually reap the greatest profit.

Eugene smiled at Marie, who was staring at Eugene without a word.

“How is it? Of course, you shouldn’t just spend all that money, you have to invest it systematically.”

Damas, who had been watching the situation until then, clicked his tongue.

“Good heavens.”

This was the eating gift that Eugene was talking about.

***

Indeed, the scale is different because the gift is a factory unit.

“Eugene, I’d rather have you safe than this kind of gift······.”

But Marie wasn’t very happy even after receiving this factory.

Of course, she can understand Eugene’s feelings for Marie.

Still, she wanted praise rather than this kind of gift, and furthermore, she wanted to hear about what had happened in the meantime.

Or she wanted to have a conversation asking how he had been.

Nevertheless, seeing Eugene’s smiling face makes her heart flutter.

Just thinking about how hard it must have been on the battlefield makes her heart ache.

Just as Marie was about to hug Eugene, unable to bear it.

Someone hugged Eugene first.

“Kyaa! I found you! Eugene Boarnais!”

Marie, surprised, froze.

Suddenly, a girl ran from behind and hugged Eugene.

First of all, Eugene is a brigade commander of the expeditionary force, so he always has guards attached.

Nevertheless, a single girl broke through the guards and approached Eugene.

Adjutant Ippolito scolded Tournay, who was the head of the guard.

“What, what? Captain Tournay! How are you doing your guard now?”

“No, I can’t touch her rashly.”

“Who is she? Huh?”

Only then did Ippolito realize who the girl was and opened his mouth wide.

“Oh my, nice to meet you. Lodger. How have you been? Do you have a lover?”

The girl, that is, the daughter of the landlord who had Eugene and Ippolito as lodgers.

The most passionate beauty of the Bonaparte family.

A teacher who once taught Eugene French Kiss [a passionate kiss with tongue contact].

Pauline Bonaparte was rubbing her chest and holding on to Eugene’s neck without letting go.

Ippolito, who was watching the scene, cleared his throat.

“I want to have one from now on? Ahem!”

Eugene was also embarrassed and didn’t know what to do, so he said to Pauline.

“Wait, wait. Pauline. Let go of this.”

“Why? I don’t want to? Originally, in Italy, we show affection like this.”

“So, this is an official business meeting right now.”

That’s when.

“Eugene.”

A very cold voice was heard.

Marie was glaring at Eugene.

Just as Eugene, who had frozen, was shivering in the summer, not winter, Marie’s whisper was heard.

“Who the hell is she?”

At that moment, Pauline let go of Eugene, jumped up, approached Marie, and smiled.

“Oh my, is this the Princess? Hello. My name is Pauline Bonaparte.”

With a very bright smile, Pauline’s decisive words fell.

“I’m Napoleone’s younger sister.”

The princess of the former royal family and the younger sister of the revolution terminator.

It was the first day that Marie and Pauline met in Milan.

With Eugene frozen between them.