Three days later.
Office of the City Commissioner.
"Sir, are you aware of the Crown Prince's reorganization of the police force?" Frouwa stared at the City Commissioner with visible concern, "The Duke of Orleans intends to embarrass the Crown Prince, but now he's actually making progress, and the morale among those police officers is soaring. I'm worried..."
Levebelle carefully selected a bottle of wine from the cabinet, holding up a bottle of red wine, "Relax, Gael, someone will take care of it soon enough."
"Someone will take care of it? Who?"
Levebelle held the bottle up to the light, leisurely admiring the purple liquid inside, "Yesterday, I released news of the Crown Prince's activities to the public. I'd wager that certain people can't sit still anymore."
Just as he spoke, Director of Police Services Gizo knocked on the door and walked in, offering a perfunctory bow before urgently speaking, "Sir, you must persuade the Crown Prince to stop what he's doing."
"Oh?" The portly mayor retrieved a corkscrew, asking deliberately, "Persuade him to do what?"
Gizo scuffed the floor with his leather boot in frustration, "Haven't you heard? His Highness has turned the police force upside down, and this will severely impact the Saint Antoine District's public order!"
He proceeded to describe Joseph's plans for reorganizing the police force, then added with a bitter expression, "Honestly, if anyone else had caused such upheaval, I would have dismissed them immediately. But this is the Crown Prince! You understand..."
Levebelle forcefully removed the cork, inhaling the aroma of the wine as it spilled from the bottle, shaking his head, "Viscount Gizo, what the Crown Prince is doing belongs to the internal affairs of the Police Department. It is difficult for me to intervene.
"Besides, I am currently swamped with budget matters. You know, the Chamber of Commerce provides only so much funding, and the Crown Prince's increased police recruitment means nearly half of the Police Department's funds have to go to the Saint Antoine District."
"That's unacceptable!" Gizo exclaimed, raising his voice, "He can't monopolize so much funding! You must help me find a solution!"
Feigning a look of helpless contemplation, Levebelle toyed with the wine glass, his gaze catching a subtle flicker of amusement, "It's not entirely hopeless. For instance, if you can make the Crown Prince retreat from this endeavor, I will do whatever I can to support you."
Gizo shot him a deep glance, then downed the wine in one gulp, nodded firmly, and grimly took his leave.
After the office door closed, Frouwa looked at the mayor in surprise, "Sir, how did you know Viscount Gizo would come?"
Levebelle handed him another glass of wine, smiling, "The Crown Prince may have talent, but ultimately, he's still a child. He focuses only on immediate results, while overlooking their broader consequences."
"Broader consequences?"
Levebelle sipped his wine, replying, "Policing revenue relies heavily on income from the sale of police posts in addition to funding from the Chamber of Commerce. By spreading the news that the Crown Prince has elevated commoners into the police force, potential buyers of police posts will undoubtedly speculate that in the future, such positions may be available for free. Who would pay for one now?
"This is the biggest source of profit for those involved in the police force." The portly mayor swirled his glass smugly, "Then, I'll withhold some of the City Hall's allocated funds for Gizo, pushing them into panic. What do you think their next move will be?"
Frouwa's eyes lit up, "They'll stop at nothing to thwart the Crown Prince!"
"Exactly."
The sun dipped below the horizon.
Director Gizo's carriage finally arrived at the Saint Antoine District Police Station.
In Joseph's office, Gizo greeted him with great courtesy, forcing a smile as he flattered, "Your Highness, you're truly incredible. This reorganization has brought new life to the police force!"
After speaking in glowing terms, he wore a worried expression, "It's just that, Your Highness, those people you recruited into the police from civilian patrol teams barely know how to wield a sword, let alone use crossbows or muskets. They'll need at least three to four months of training; otherwise, they can't even handle street thugs.
"During those months of training, no one will be conducting patrols in their areas. The 120 officers you had me transfer from other districts will have to go back soon to alleviate their own public order issues..."
Joseph invited him to sit down, smiling, "It shouldn't take that long. I have a simplified training method—combat routines completed in about ten days. Borrowing police from other districts for that short period should be no problem, right?"
"Of course." Gizo adopted a solemn expression, "But training is extremely important and must not be rushed carelessly."
"Thank you for the reminder," Joseph said, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
"Alright then..." Gizo nodded stiffly, but still refused to relent, "Your Highness, there's another issue. Bringing in over 200 new officers, the Police Department simply doesn't have enough equipment for all of them..."
"You don't need to concern yourself with equipment—I'll handle it myself."
Gizo hadn't anticipated that his carefully devised "problems" wouldn't faze the Crown Prince in the slightest.
He then attempted to bring up several other "issues" with police reform, but none gained traction. In the end, he had no choice but to leave in frustration. On the journey back, his mind raced as he lamented the Crown Prince's determination to overhaul the Police Department.
It seemed the allocated funds from City Hall would shrink drastically...
Actually, he was overthinking. Joseph had no intention of relying on the meager funding from the Police Department. Besides, sourcing police revenue primarily from the Chamber of Commerce was already absurd. Joseph possessed modern knowledge, technologies, and advanced concepts to generate income in countless ways. He aspired to close France's 2-billion-franc debt gap; supporting a police system would be merely a trivial task.
On the carriage ride, Gizo's expression darkened further. He knew he had to act swiftly to eject the Crown Prince from the Police Department and restore things to their former state!
Soon after Gizo left, two ornate carriages arrived at the Saint Antoine District Police Station.
A personal attendant of Louis XVI stepped out, putting on his gold-rimmed monocle. He frowned as he assessed the dilapidated station, confirming its location before swiftly entering with his servants.
Upon meeting Joseph, he first observed the full royal protocol before respectfully presenting a letter, "Your Highness, this is a letter from His Majesty the King."
Then, he signaled to the servant behind him to unlock an elegant wooden box, "Her Majesty the Queen has learned that you don't even have an imperial chef with you and fears you might not be eating well. She personally arranged for these to be prepared."
Joseph looked into the box to find meticulously crafted cakes, strawberry pies, profiteroles, and an assortment of sweets.
He buried his face in his hand, chuckling bitterly. Just one glance made him feel overwhelmed by the sweetness, but he knew it all came from Queen Mary's sincere care.
He broke the wax seal on the envelope and unfolded the letter to find Louis XVI's elegantly flowing Italian script:
Dear Joseph,
I hope this letter brings you my heartfelt warmth and affection! Here, I want to express my profound care and concern for you as a father.
Did you know I finally completed the "Salamander Fountain"? I swear to God it is the finest masterpiece... (details about his mechanism idea). When it was finished, the first person I thought to share it with was you—only to learn you had gone to work at the City Hall. I'm sorry; I've been so absorbed in the workshop that I failed to realize. How has life in Paris been treating you? Your mother is really something; you're only thirteen, how could she send you to bear such responsibilities? This kind of work belongs to Brian and his people...
Oh, by the way, I heard you've already completed university-level coursework! How did you manage that? It's extraordinary—I'm so proud of you. Son, you are the pride of the entire royal family! I am certain you will one day restore France to the glory of the Sun King's era... (continued praising for an entire page).
Joseph, I heard you're now reforming the Police Department and doing quite well. Well done! You should pursue your aspirations without hesitation. If anything goes wrong, I'll cover for you. I will always support you... If you feel overwhelmed, return to the Palace of Versailles at once. Your mother keeps worrying you're not eating well...
Finally, I want you to remember that no matter where you are, you'll forever be my beloved son. A thousand loving kisses!
Despite the letter being saturated with sentimental French flair, Joseph undoubtedly felt the deep paternal love within.
*He inhaled deeply. His parents in his previous life had passed away due to poor health when he was in college. He had been without familial warmth for so long. At this moment, he was brimming with warmth and quietly hoped that in this lifetime, he could peacefully and happily live alongside his family.*