Chapter 1666 - 1572: Charles’s Dilemma

Charles was momentarily stunned on the spot.

Yes, all prisoners should legally face trial, but people like Muzareli have more power than the judge, so who should judge them?

His gaze swept over the faces of Josh and the others: it should be these most ordinary people, these people with conscience.

He shook his head, momentarily unsure who was right, but deep inside, he had the thought, "Can't let the Secret Police catch them."

Josiah puffed out his chest again, recovering his brash demeanor, waving to his companions: "Come on, let those 'Evil Dogs' know our might!"

Charles suddenly reached out to stop "him," then fished out his passport from his chest and handed it to Rosh: "You go negotiate with those Secret Police, just say everyone here is my entourage."

Rosh took the passport, about to advise His Highness to reconsider, when he heard a familiar voice: "Mr. Charlie."

He turned joyfully, seeing the officer of the Imperial Guard, Captain Patrice, quickly running over.

"Great, how did you find this place?" He approached, then looked at the Secret Police outside the university gate, "Those guys didn't stop you?"

Patrice first raised his hat to Charles in greeting, then said breathlessly: "I saw many policemen gathering here, so I thought I'd try my luck, and you all are indeed here.

As for those policemen, I gave them 20 francs, saying I came in to look for my brother."

"What about the others?"

"They're scattered looking for the prince... looking for people, only Boel and six others followed me, but the carriage is outside."

Rosh frowned: "Including me, that's seven people, going hard definitely won't work..."

"Going hard?"

Rosh looked at Charles, face sullen, and said: "Mr. Charlie wants to take his friends away. Uh, their identities are a bit special."

"That's probably not feasible..."

Charles displayed a calmness that belied his age; after all, he had learned a few things following his brother over the years.

He asked Patrice: "Did you just say the policemen outside are accepting bribes?"

"Yes, sir."

"The carriage is over there?"

"Yes, sir"

Charles held up two fingers: "Give them ten thousand francs, and have them clear the gate."

Part of his travel funds were in the carriage, over forty thousand francs, along with plenty of ducats, scudos, and other gold and silver coins.

Rosh shook his head though: "Giving a bit of money to get in isn't hard, but I'm afraid the policemen won't dare let people out, since this involves Muzareli."

Charles frowned, gazing again at the policemen outside the gate, this time noticing the crowd of onlookers further back.

There were as many as two to three hundred people.

He thought briefly, instructing Patrice: "You go get the money from the carriage..."

Before long, "Not having found his brother," Patrice left the University of Rome, while five Noble Guard soldiers began searching the campus.

At this moment, the surrounding crowd suddenly erupted in cheers, then surged towards the University of Rome like a herd of mad bulls, completely ignoring the dozen Secret Police blocking the gate.

Because countless pale yellow franc banknotes were fluttering like snowflakes in the wind near the university gate.

The Secret Police initially tried to draw their guns to stop them, but were quickly knocked over, so they simply joined the melee on the ground to make a fortune.

"My God! It's francs!"

"Thank Jesus! Did you hear my prayers?"

"Haha, I picked up a ten franc note, I'm rich!"

"Get out of the way, these few notes are mine..."

"Ah, damn, don't block my path!"

The Noble Guard Commander looked at the chaotic scene, fired his gun into the air angrily.

The roar made people glance at him, then quickly turned their attention back to the banknotes.

Kidding, picking up a few notes is enough for the whole family to eat for half a year, even if the police really shoot, it's not too late to run then.

Just as the officer prepared to fire another warning shot, a few students chased the windblown notes, rushing past him.

Over ten minutes later, Charles, protected by Rosh, arrived in an alley two streets away from the University of Rome, followed by Josiah and the others.

Soon, Patrice also arrived with several guards.

The student with glasses cautiously approached Charles, handing over a few banknotes: "Thank you for helping everyone escape, this, this is your money, right? I picked them up just now..."

Josiah stared wide-eyed at Charles: "Where did you get so much money?"

Charles touched his nose: "Ah, my family does some government business, I myself have a few stores in my name."

Well, his family managed the French Government, and his Iroquois Treasures Company now had over fifty branches, so he wasn't exactly lying.

Josiah didn't bother to discern the truth, saluted him with a hand over her chest: "In any case, thank you very much for saving everyone. We will try to gather money to reduce your loss, though it certainly won't be that much..."

Rosh let out a long sigh of relief, his position secured, hurriedly clustered with the guards around Charles to leave this troublesome place.

Benigno stared dumbly at their backs, dared not step forward to stop them.

Yes, without Mr. Charlie's extravagant spending, they would surely be caught by the Secret Police. Plus, if Mr. Charlie wanted to leak, he could have done so just now while passing by the Noble Guard.

Charles walked over half a street, arriving in front of the carriage parked at the corner, looking back, he could no longer see the figures of Josh and the others.

Rosh bowed, opening the car door: "Your Highness."

Charles suddenly remembered Josiah's words, "I want a city where no one needs to kneel."

Scenes from his recent days in Rome unfolded before him—

Not the Sistine ceiling, nor Raphael's murals. It was the children on the banks of the Tiber River, scavenging through the trash heaps for moldy bread; it was the street vendor whipped by the Tax Collector until bloody for failing to pay two copper coins; it was the Roman citizens hurriedly kneeling on the street as the Cardinal passed by.

He was inexplicably compelled to turn back.

Rosh quickly followed: "Your Highness, what are you—?"

"I'm going to go with them. Oh, you should come, too. Let Captain Patrice pick us up in two days."

...

In a farmhouse on the West Bank of the Tiber River, the Free Rome Party was holding an extremely important secret meeting.

One of the organization's leaders, Sorendino, glanced at Josiah and the others seated at the back, excitedly said: "After our warriors successfully eliminated Muzareli, the morale throughout Rome is soaring!

"This creates the best environment for our cause of freedom and equality.

"Two days later, we will launch uprisings at twelve locations in the city simultaneously. We must learn from the people of Vienna, occupy every street, build barricades to counter the Vatican Guard..."