Anning looked at the Duke and suddenly realized that this was a good opportunity to bring the Duke on board as his backing. He spoke up, "Your Grace, would you be willing to be a witness for me? After all, this duel was initiated under your watch."
The Duke thought for a moment and nodded, "It makes sense, and everyone sees you as my retainer, so it's only proper for me to be the witness. But why didn't you choose the sword?"
Anning replied, "Last time, I nearly died in a sword fight. It was really dangerous. His swordsmanship is even stronger than Reginald's; I can't take the risk."
The Duke stared at Anning, "What? Aren't you proficient in swordsmanship? Christina said you suppressed Reginald with your splendid swordplay!"
Anning shook his head, "No, that's a misunderstanding by Christina. It was really very dangerous."
"So this time you've chosen pistols, but isn't this a bit too much down to luck?" The Duke looked worriedly at Anning, "As far as I know, pistol duels rarely end with a single shot. Both sides stand facing each other to load their guns, and it's all about who has better luck to hit the other first. To increase the chance of hitting the enemy, both parties desperately load their guns, hoping to fire more shots, but fundamentally, it's still a matter of luck."
Anning uttered an "Oh," as he had not known that pistol duels were like this until the Duke mentioned it.
The image of two people standing face to face, loading bullets into their pistols... looked quite silly.
Anning asked, "Does the distance between the two duelists have to be fixed?"
The Duke shook his head, "No, there are no rules about that, so some people try to rush up and shoot at close range to win, but usually, they get shot before they can get close enough for a sure hit."
Anning raised his eyebrows.
At that moment, a concept for victory formed in his mind: after getting the pistol, a sight would appear in his vision, showing the scatter range of the bullet. As long as he got close enough for the sight to nearly lock onto the opponent, he could ensure a hit.
He only needed to get a little bit closer, not very close to the enemy.
The Duke said, "In that case, I will provide you with a more accurate pistol. However, the Marquis will probably buy the best pistol from the finest craftsman in Paris. Don't fantasize about winning with the precision of the pistol."
Anning replied, "I'm not harboring such fantasies, but I will win this duel."
The Duke nodded and then said earnestly, "If you die, Christina will be heartbroken."
Anning smiled, "I won't. I still have to accompany her to the military academy in Briena."
**
The next day, Anning rode to the dueling ground in the Duke's carriage.
Besides the Duke, Christina was also in the carriage with him.
Christina glared at Anning, her lips pouted in displeasure, "Why do you have to duel with him? If you think you can't win, just refuse!"
Anning shook his head, "If I refuse the duel, the Marquis will not let it go. You wouldn't want me to be stabbed by someone suddenly rushing out on the street, would you?"
Christina frowned, "How could that be! Paris's public security is quite good. They wouldn't let such a thing happen in the street."
Before Anning could speak, the Duke interjected, "That Edward Ales is a knight of the Marquis. These country nobles take these old master-servant relationships very seriously. It's quite possible that he really would risk his life, even his whole life, to avenge his young master."
Christina fell silent.
The Duke continued, "That's why I personally very much appreciate Andy's decision. His approach is both wise and courageous."
Christina said, "But he's in danger now. Why not fight with swords? Isn't it completely up to luck with pistols?"
Anning looked solemnly at Christina, "With the sword, I would surely lose. I really don't know swordsmanship."
"You're lying! I saw it clearly last time, you flicked Reginald's sword away with just a twist of your wrist! You must be proficient in swordsmanship."
Anning thought that the move of flicking away the sword did indeed look like that, because that step was managed by the external support. Why didn't you pay attention to my subsequent attack? Anyone with knowledge would see that attack and know I'm an outsider.
But he couldn't explain this to Christina, so he had to say: "Don't worry, I have a clever plan to win with a pistol, and it's not just leaving the outcome to luck."
Christina was not easily appeased: "How can you win? I know how to use a pistol, and I know that hitting a target often depends on luck!"
"Just trust me, wait for my triumphant return," was all Anning could say.
The Duke also spoke up: "You just have to believe in Andy. Anyway, nothing you say can change the fact that he's going to duel with pistols. It's better to spend more time praying for his victory."
Christina sighed, looking at Anning: "I'm waiting for you to go to Briena together, you must come back victorious!"
"Leave it to me," Anning paused, then added, "I really have a secret strategy for victory, just wait and see."
Christina: "You'd better have one."
**
The carriage arrived outside the forest where the last duel took place, and Anning disembarked first.
This time there were even more people gathered than before, and most of them were nobles.
As soon as Anning got out of the carriage, someone shouted, "Look, the leatherworker's son has come in the Duke's carriage!"
"He's definitely the Duke's client."
"I heard he's the Duke's illegitimate son, just fostered in the home of a leatherworker in Caen. So he's received the best education, and his swordsmanship was personally taught by a master!"
Anning couldn't help frowning, what nonsense!
Do these nobles find it so hard to believe that the son of a leatherworker could defeat a Marquis's son?
The Duke also got out of the carriage and probably heard the gossip around him. He laughed heartily and patted Anning on the shoulder: "You've become my illegitimate son now."
Anning: "Please don't joke about that."
At this moment, the Marquis and his knight, Edward Ales, were already waiting not far away, and the two of them led a military officer and a priest towards them.
The Marquis introduced them to the Duke: "This officer is our witness, Colonel Arsene, and this priest is the head of the Saint Remi Monastery, brought at the recommendation of the Cardinal, Chameleon Talleyrand."
Upon hearing the famous name Talleyrand, Anning took a few more glances at him.
Talleyrand was a famous chameleon during the French Revolution, a fighter among the fence-sitters.
This man, though a priest, sided with the Third Class during the revolution and even suggested to the National Convention the confiscation of Church properties, boldly stamping his disloyalty on his forehead.
Talleyrand gave a slight bow to the Duke, then asked Anning with confusion, "I haven't seen Mr. Francois's witness?"
Anning: "Firstly, my surname is Frost, and secondly, my witness is none other than Duke Tolleson."
Talleyrand uttered an "Oh" and his eyes quickly darted around.
Anning even thought he might defect on the spot.
But Talleyrand didn't do so and instead spoke in an official tone: "Now that the witnesses for both sides are present, please check each other's weapons."