Joseph handed Lucien a set of documents outlining weapon development plans. These weapons were not just abstract ideas; they came complete with detailed blueprints. Lucien couldn't believe that Joseph had come up with all of this in just a little over a morning, right after seeing Lucien's plans. He knew that it was impossible for Joseph to create so much in such a short time, even if he were to resurrect da Vinci from the depths of the earth.
So, the appearance of this document folder meant only one thing: his brother had been preparing for this for quite some time.
However, Lucien overestimated Joseph in some ways. These designs were mostly adaptations of future concepts, and the relevant blueprints had already been drawn. They were merely waiting to be put into practical use. Lucien's suggestions prompted Joseph to dig them out to impress Lucien.
Among these designs, the first to align with Lucien's vision was the revolver.
In this era, handguns were flintlock pistols, which shared the same loading difficulties as muskets. Loading a flintlock pistol was a time-consuming process, and after firing a shot, it might take over a minute to reload. Handguns had limited range, and in a real combat situation, there was no time to reload.
Compared to rifles, handguns were less accurate due to their grip style. Since they could only fire one bullet at a time, many people believed that a swift sword was more useful in combat. Even those who intended to use handguns typically carried two of them, just like Carnot's two friends.
Therefore, a firearm capable of firing multiple shots was a game-changer. Imagine holding a revolver and firing a shot at someone, missing the target. The enemy would assume you were out of bullets, exposing themselves with a malicious grin, and that's when you'd fire again. In an urban setting, a few individuals carrying two revolvers each could easily cause mayhem.
Furthermore, revolvers had a relatively simple design and could be manufactured even with the technology of the time. Unfortunately, metallic cartridges were still under development and couldn't be used yet. Joseph had no intention of immediately introducing them, as he planned to release an older version first, let people buy it, and then unveil a new model for more profit.
So, the first version of Joseph's revolver still required the traditional loading process with priming, pouring gunpowder, and loading the bullets, which was painstakingly slow after firing six rounds.
Besides the revolver, there were other special melee weapons. Small, dismantlable crossbows were popular for assassination when suppressors weren't available yet. However, these didn't sell well in the end; a more successful melee weapon was the folding knife.
Joseph designed two types of folding knives: a side-opening spring-assisted knife and a butterfly knife, which would become popular in the future. In a way, both were just variations of daggers. Surprisingly, these two knives were highly appreciated by criminal organizations worldwide. Although they were more expensive than regular daggers, they quickly replaced them as standard equipment among criminal circles.
These knives had two distinct advantages over regular daggers:
First, they were easy to carry. You could fit spring-assisted and butterfly knives into a small pocket without the risk of injuring yourself. Regular daggers were almost twice as long and, with a sheath, weren't as convenient. Even if you removed the sheath to make them shorter, pocketing them could lead to accidents.
Second, they offered enhanced concealment during attacks. Regular daggers were conspicuous because the blade was visible, even when held normally. Spring-assisted and butterfly knives concealed the blade until the moment of attack. This made it difficult for the target to react properly. Changing defensive postures was hard, and this increased the chances of a successful surprise attack. Therefore, these knives were more sinister and dangerous than regular daggers, to the point where many places banned them even in the future, where firearms weren't restricted.
Lucien didn't initially consider these factors; he simply thought that these knives were unique. However, he understood why Joseph had to keep their designs highly confidential – they were deceptively simple and easily copied.
Lucien spent the entire night in Joseph's office working on the basic budget for these new designs. Surprisingly, Joseph was satisfied with it, without any nitpicking.
"Well, about establishing the related organization, I think the first thing to do is to gather talent. You'd better handle this yourself. I'll write a letter to Carnot for you to take with you. While Carnot's status is not as high as before, he should be able to obtain a list of recently discharged personnel from the Paris police. You can also contact Fouché, but try not to get too involved with him. In the long run, you'll be competitors. Frankly, I think he's more capable than you, especially in this field. Our family doesn't have anyone better. Be careful when dealing with him; he might sell you out and count the money."
Lucien's heart was lightened by the thought of going to Paris. It felt like a vacation. He burst into laughter. Joseph noticed but didn't think much of it, considering it a typical daydream of a young teenager. Joseph went on to discuss various details and matters to be cautious about when he arrived in Paris.
Joseph, although rather unscrupulous, was highly efficient. He wrote the letter that evening, and the next morning, Lucien took the letter and, accompanied by two assistants, boarded a carriage headed to Paris.
When Lucien arrived in Paris, it was already evening. He didn't go to Joseph's residence in Paris since the original owner of the house had met the guillotine during the Reign of Terror. Joseph had acquired the property at a relatively low price from the government. Instead, Lucien went directly to Carnot's house, a place he knew well.
Upon arriving at Carnot's house, it was nearly dinnertime, which was an opportune moment to enjoy a free meal. Lucien got out of the carriage and knocked on the door.
...
A day later, Carnot handed a list to Lucien, saying, "Lucien, this is a list of police personnel who were expelled from the Paris police force after the events of Thermidor. I suggest you pay particular attention to a few of them. First, there's Javert, the former police chief. He's highly capable and has thwarted numerous royalist conspiracies, earning the enmity of royalists. After the Thermidorian Reaction, some of his colleagues accused him of being a Jacobin, leading to his dismissal. He has a son and a daughter and used to live at 25 Peacock Street.
Next is Maniere, similar to Javert, he's an excellent detective. However, he was wounded in one operation against speculators, leaving him crippled. You know that being injured in an operation against businessmen is no longer an honor. He's in a worse position than Javert, as he's disabled. He's currently living in an unknown place. But the name on the list, Henry Durand, is his friend. You can contact Maniere through him. Henry Durand resides at 45 Bernard Street."
Carnot continued, introducing a few more individuals from the list, and he also expressed his concerns about the current state of Paris. Lucien learned that Paris was teetering on the edge of chaos, with the republicans and royalists constantly butting heads.
After dinner, Lucien left Carnot's house, determined to find Javert and Maniere. They seemed to be suitable candidates for Joseph's plans, but finding Maniere, who was without a fixed residence, might prove challenging.
As Lucien walked through the dimly lit streets of Paris, he couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. The city was a powder keg, and any spark could set it off. Lucien had a nagging feeling that his visit to Paris was not just for recruiting new talent; it might lead him into a situation much more dangerous than he anticipated.