Dan Dong saw Robespierre and laughed, "Maximilien, you seem to have worn this green coat for weeks now."
Robespierre: "To be frank, I only have one coat. Does the value of one's speech here depend on the number of coats they own?"
Dan Dong appeared slightly embarrassed, "No, of course not."
"I also occasionally attend lectures at the Academy of Sciences, especially to see Mr. Lavoisier's public experiments. Before Mr. Lavoisier, we even thought burning was caused by phlogiston. It is a time of change; we should not stand on existing notions and think certain things impossible. Otherwise, we would be as ridiculous as those scholars who mocked Mr. Lavoisier."
Robespierre glanced at Anning: "Although I personally can't imagine an era where naval warships burn coal, I would not say it is definitely impossible."
——So, after all this time, you still don't believe in the era of burning coal.
Anning: "We're already using steam engines in mines to pump water and transport coal. Why can't we believe that steam technology could be more widely integrated into our lives? We will have steam-driven cars and ships, as well as steam-driven spinning machines."
"I also agree with this statement, why not?" a new voice joined the conversation.
Anning frowned immediately upon seeing the speaker, for he looked a bit rugged.
"The era of great technological advancement is now. I recently wrote a paper and sent it to Mr. Lavoisier, but I have not yet received a reply," said the ugly fellow.
Everyone suddenly fell silent.
Seeing the situation, Mirabeau immediately stepped in to continue the conversation, saying to Anning, "Let me introduce some, this gentleman in the green coat is Maximilien Robespierre, the very Roman you were seeking. This individual striving for accomplishments in science is Jean Paul Marat, a well-trained doctor."
Anning was shocked, well, Robespierre, Dan Dong, Marat, plus Saint Just from the core group of the Jacobin club are all here.
But considering the age, Saint Just should still be very young now.
Robespierre looked at Anning puzzledly, "And you are?"
Mirabeau immediately introduced him, "This is Andy Frost from Caen, the Civilian Swordsman who defeated Reginald yesterday."
Robespierre frowned slightly: "Reginald was defeated? When did that happen?"
"Just yesterday, it was the hottest news of the day," Dan Dong laughed, "Didn't you see yesterday's extra edition?"
Robespierre: "A duel worth publishing an extra edition?"
"After all, it was Reginald, you must have been humiliated by him too, right?" asked Dan Dong.
It seems Reginald often humiliates those of civilian origin.
Robespierre: "I don't recall such. So, Mr. Frost, what can I do for you?"
Anning: "I might be sued by Marquis Li Xia'er, Reginald's father, so I need a lawyer willing to defend civilians."
Robespierre: "That's certainly no problem, but I am just a law student who recently graduated and I have no experience in representing clients yet, is that an issue?"
Dan Dong interjected: "That's not a problem; after all, he's always been top of his class in university."
Robespierre did not deny this but looked seriously at Anning and asked, "Why do you think the Marquis would sue you, was there anything in the duel process that was not standard? Did you not find enough witnesses?
"No, there were witnesses from both sides and a third party, and a doctor confirmed Reginald's death on the spot," Anning answered truthfully.
"Then even if it's the Marquis, he has no grounds to sue you, you really shouldn't worry."
Anning: "I'm just being cautious…"
"For caution's sake, you'd better carefully recall the process of the duel, help me identify where the opponent might cause troubles, so I can prepare. Did anything unexpected happen during the duel?"
Anning was about to say no, but suddenly remembered what Reginald's unsavory friends had done, and told Robespierre everything: "Indeed, there was an accident. After the duel, one of Reginald's friends tried to shoot me, but the bullet was not loaded properly and rolled out of the barrel before he could fire."
Robespierre frowned: "Who shot at you?"
Anning was stunned; he had no idea what the names of Reginald's unsavory friends were.
It was Mirabeau who resolved the situation: "It was Quiller Moore, one of Reginald's unsavory friends. Apparently, he was a playmate Reginald brought from the countryside; his parents are likely servants at the Marquis' house."
Robespierre nodded, then asked, "Did everyone present see Quiller Moore shoot at you? Is there anyone willing to testify?"
Mirabeau patted his chest: "I was there, and I witnessed the whole process."
Robespierre nodded: "I understand. I assume the Marquis might try to dispute the validity of the duel, and if he can prove there were irregularities, he could accuse you of murder."
Anning: "Are you saying he might slander me for firing a shot during the duel?"
"Yes, since a gunshot was heard at the venue, the noble ladies watching may not know who fired it. They will only tell the court that a shot was fired. It would be easy for the Marquis to bribe a few witnesses to falsely accuse you of shooting."
Robespierre looked confident: "You don't need to worry, the French justice system today is not one where the Marquis can sway right and wrong by bribing witnesses."
Dan Dong: "After all, even the high justices dare to veto the King's decisions."
Marat: "If we find the doctor who performed the autopsy, he should be able to confirm that Reginald died from a stab wound."
Anning nodded: "I will find him, and Mr. Mabuli, who witnessed for me, should also be willing to testify on my behalf."
"Mr. Mabuli? The one who advocates equalizing wealth?" someone in the room frowned, "I don't quite like that man, how did he get involved in this?"
Anning spread his hands: "When I threw my glove at Reginald, Mabuli was right there giving a speech. He witnessed the entire process and volunteered to be my witness."
Mirabeau: "Incidentally, the third-party witness to the duel was a Priest from Sais."
As soon as he finished speaking, Dan Dong exclaimed: "What a lineup of witnesses you have, all opposed to noble privileges. I'm beginning to believe this was orchestrated murder. Don't tell me you guys really plotted to kill him?"
Anning: "I have only been in Paris for a few days; I didn't know Mr. Mabuli or the Priest from Sais before this."
"The Marquis sure won't believe that."
Robespierre: "It doesn't matter whether he believes it or not. What matters is whether the judge believes it. So when does this lawsuit start? Where is the Marquis now?"
Anning: "He should be on his way to Paris."
Robespierre was taken aback: "How is he going to sue you without being in Paris? Through a proxy?"
"No, I haven't been sued yet. I'm just preparing in advance."
—The truth is I had a nightmare about being betrayed by a lawyer, so I sought out a reliable lawyer first.
Robespierre looked slightly exasperated: "Alright, I just finished my exams and got my degree, and I don't have much going on. If you had come a few days later, I might have been back in Alas."
Dan Dong, somewhat surprised, said: "You're going back to Alas? I thought you would stay in Paris to practice law."
"The Priest from Alas sponsored my travel to study at the King Louis School in Paris and paid my university fees. I owe it to my hometown to serve there." Robespierre replied seriously.
Dan Dong: "You're not even slightly attached to life in Paris?"
"For someone like me who owns just one coat, apart from the high cost of living, there's nothing in Paris worth missing," shrugged Robespierre, "Of course, I admit it's nice to exchange ideas with everyone at the club, but that's all."
After speaking, Robespierre looked at Anning: "I will be in Paris for a while, so if you get sued by the Marquis, find me immediately. I will give you my address; even if I'm not there, you can leave a message with my landlady."