Descending On France 1780
Chapter 302 - 295 An outsider plunged into the whirlpool of Paris

Chapter 302: 295 An outsider plunged into the whirlpool of Paris

After the ball, Anning immediately started planning the assassination of Paul Balas.

This guy was one of the main instigators who sent Robespierre to the guillotine.

Then, after a few busy days, Anning desperately realized that his political acumen was virtually nonexistent, completely lacking in insights.

Anning had no idea who to approach for collecting incriminating evidence, or what sort of evidence would be needed to send Balas to the guillotine.

The most fatal problem was that due to his long-term military focus away from Paris, Anning’s connections were all in the military. Other than the few gentlemen from the Jacobin Club he knew from drinking and playing cards, he was unfamiliar with the rest of Parliament.

In military matters, Anning could count a dozen trustworthy people whom he could confidently assign tasks, but in politics, he had no choice but to be personally involved.

These days, Anning was chatting with people in clubs and drinking tea in salons frantically, all to find a trustworthy hitman to take care of Balas.

After all, Anning himself was too conspicuous in Paris, any action would attract a horde of people’s attention.

This series of activities made Anning experience the same predicament as — no, not exactly that, as Sir Camming would not be born for another hundred years. It should be said "in the future," the predicament Sir Camming felt when suddenly dispatched to handle espionage: groping in the dark, not understanding anything, desperately trying to make his presence felt.

In the end, Anning thought somewhat desperately, I might as well become a dictator and just drag him up to be executed; it’d be much easier.

But once he became a dictator, whether it be Dan Dong or Robespierre, they would immediately become his enemies.

Especially Robespierre.

That would be putting the cart before the horse.

Eventually, with no other option, Anning could only consult with his wise fiancée.

That day at noon, he pulled Christina, who was about to leave for a tea party, into a secluded room in the Royal Palace, then instructed Vanni: "Make sure no one around can hear our conversation, including yourself."

Vanni silently bowed and left.

Then Anning looked at Christina seriously.

Christina swallowed nervously: "What’s the matter... You’re making me nervous..."

Anning: "Is there any way to get rid of Paul Balas?"

Christina was stunned: "Huh?"

Anning repeated his question in a low voice.

Christina: "Uh... How did he offend you? Why so sudden?"

To change the course of history, execute the scoundrel who usurped the Republic first.

But Anning couldn’t say that directly, so he took a detour: "I have a premonition that such an opportunist will be detrimental to the Republic."

Christina: "Is he already detrimental to the Republic now? Then why not just hand him over to the Savior Committee? If you denounce him, he’s certain to go straight to the guillotine."

Anning licked his lips: "This is the biggest problem, he hasn’t done anything detrimental to the Republic yet, at least not now."

Furthermore, as a Special Commissioner, Balas had done quite well in the countryside and was regarded as having merit in pacifying revolts.

Christina looked at Anning perplexedly: "You can’t just send someone to the guillotine because you feel that they will do bad things in the future. Andy, what’s wrong with you? This doesn’t seem like the wise and principled action that you would take."

Anning had no retort to his fiancée’s words.

Christina continued: "However, I will keep an eye on Balas’ movements. Actually, I have heard some things—there are more than a few gentlemen in Paris who correspond with Balas regularly, and he even hires someone to rush the daily newspapers to him by fast horse."

"Hiring so many riders and horses to do this at this time, Mr. Balas must be quite wealthy. Maybe I can collect some evidence of his embezzlement."

Anning: "Exactly! Please take care of this for me."

Christina nodded: "Okay, leave it to me. But I still don’t understand why you suddenly have such a big grudge against Mr. Balas; didn’t you get along quite well with him before?"

——That’s because I was still maintaining the thinking inertia of a fence-sitter at that time.

Anning patted Christina’s shoulder heavily, then made an excuse for himself: "I’m worried about Maximilien; he’s too straightforward and must have offended quite a few people. I always feel that one day he will end up on the guillotine because he has sent too many to it."

Christina: "Right now Paris is singing his praises, as the establishment of the Savior Committee has significantly reduced indiscriminate killing and vigilante justice."

"That’s now," Anning replied.

Christina: "Alright, you always have a foresight far greater than ordinary people. I don’t know what you’ve foreseen, but I will help you."

Anning: "Also, keep an eye on Dan Dong and find out who he has been in contact with."

Christina was astonished: "You want to deal with him too?"

"No, I just want to understand who is influencing him. Dan Dong’s friendship with Maximilien isn’t as solid as it appears on the surface. I want to make sure of their friendship."

Yes, ensuring that Dan Dong and Robespierre do not fall out is also one of the means to fight against history.

Christina nodded solemnly: "Okay, I’ll be careful."

Anning sighed with relief, although he wasn’t sure how reliable Christina’s skills were in this respect; he was glad to have found someone to do the job.

It’s a pity that he can’t see character attributes like an in-game overlay; if he could, he would definitely find a wife with high plotting skills.

Having a wife with high plotting skills as a spy manager and making an effort to maintain a good relationship with her, keeping the relationship level above 60, would effectively prevent his character from being inexplicably ’knifed’ – this is what Anning, an experienced player of the Crusader King series, thought.

The problem is, Anning has no idea about Christina’s plotting capabilities.

Perhaps a double insurance is necessary...

After coming out of the side room with Christina, Anning glanced at Vanni and suddenly lowered his voice to ask her in a whisper, "Do you have a way to get rid of someone for me?"

Vanni was shocked; she looked at Anning and replied seriously, "General, I am a maid."

Anning: "Yeah, you’re a maid, right!"

Aren’t maids supposed to be all-capable in espionage, pulling out a Desheka Machine Gun from under their skirts for a stand-up barrage when necessary?

Extreme maids might even throw flying knives, stop time, or toss steamrollers.

Vanni looked at Anning as if he were a fool and finally got him to give up his unreasonable expectations for his own maid.

At that moment, Vanni sighed, "I’m already struggling to deal with all the powerful figures trying to sneak their spies into the Royal Palace. Please don’t give me more burdens!"

This time it was Anning’s turn to be shocked.

You’re really a maid, aren’t you!

Anning continued in a lowered voice: "What if one day, I ask you to serve a cup of deadly poison to a certain gentleman, could you do it?"

Vanni stared at Anning for a few seconds before speaking: "Once certain boundaries are crossed, there is no turning back. Are you sure you want to go from being a hero to a tyrant?"

Anning wanted to say, "No ruler is innocent," but he hesitated.

At least at this moment in time, he still wanted to continue being a righteous hero, both inside and out.