Javert's residence on Peacock Street had an interesting feature. From the second-floor window of the building, you could clearly see anyone knocking at the door below. The house also had a back door leading to the adjacent street, providing an escape route for Javert's family. Javert had chosen this residence initially because of its affordable rent and its suitability for his family's safety. Now, he remained there to elude his creditors. Since losing his job, Javert had struggled to find alternative means of income. He had spent most of his life as a police officer, and aside from policing techniques, he lacked other survival skills. Given his age, switching careers was not easy. Consequently, he accumulated debts, and his financial situation worsened.
However, Javert had not run out of options entirely. He had spent the first half of his life catching various criminals and had witnessed various criminal methods. If he chose, he could have resorted to crime to make money, utilizing his extensive knowledge of criminal techniques. It was perhaps this potential that led moneylenders to continue lending him money. The lenders weren't in a hurry because they believed that the pressures of life would eventually make him make rational choices.
When Lucien and his team arrived at Javert's residence and began knocking on the door, Javert was contemplating whether he should descend into the criminal world he had always despised.
Lucien ascended the steps and gently rang the doorbell.
The doorbell's chime made Javert jump from his chair as if he were a spring. He signaled for his wife, who had been incessantly complaining, to be quiet, and cautiously approached the window. He opened the curtain slightly and peered below.
Three young men stood outside, and the one in the middle was ringing the doorbell. He appeared well-dressed, likely from an affluent family. The two next to him seemed to be trained guards, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. They were not debt collectors, but their presence puzzled Javert.
"They're not debt collectors," Javert informed his wife.
"Not debt collectors?" His wife, upon hearing that they weren't there for debt collection, reverted to her previous topic. "I must have been blind to marry a useless man like you. Now, our children are hungry and scared because of you!"
Though they had both sworn before God at their wedding to love, comfort, honor, and remain faithful to each other in poverty or prosperity, in sickness or health, the God they had sworn to seemed to have taken a backseat in their lives in the current state of France.
"Let's not talk about that right now," Javert said. "Let's open the door and see why they've come."
"Do you want to run away at this opportunity? You always try to avoid problems. Look at how our family is suffering because of you," his wife continued to berate him.
"Alright, enough! Maybe it's an opportunity," Javert retorted. "As long as they're willing to pay me for something, I'll do it."
With that, Javert strode out of the room and pounded up the wooden stairs outside.
Lucien waited for a moment, and the door slowly opened before him. A middle-aged man with a troubled expression stood in front of him.
"Sir, who are you looking for?" the man asked.
"I'm looking for Mr. Javert. I'm here to see Mr. Javert," Lucien replied politely, taking off his hat.
"That would be me," the man said. "But I don't know you, sir. What brings you here?"
"I'm Lucien Bonaparte, and General Napoleon Bonaparte is my brother," Lucien replied.
"But... sir, I don't know General Napoleon Bonaparte either," Javert responded, his surprise evident. Napoleon's name was well-known, and he knew of him from newspaper reports, but the general was a high-ranking figure, far removed from Javert's world. He couldn't fathom why the general's brother had suddenly come to find him.
"I heard about you from General Carnot. Would you mind inviting me inside so we can talk?" Lucien asked politely.
"Of course," Javert said, opening the door for Lucien. "I don't recognize you, sir, but if General Carnot mentioned me to you, I'm at your service."
Lucien followed Javert into the house, climbing the steep, dark wooden stairs to the second floor, where they entered a room that was roughly seventeen square meters.
"Mathilde, we have a visitor. Can you fetch some water?" Javert said as he approached his wife. Then, he lowered his voice and said, "This is a high-ranking person, a friend of General Carnot."
Mathilde knew who General Carnot was and was startled by the news. She quickly went to get water.
"Mr. Javert, we've come to find you because of your extensive experience over the years. We'd like to employ you," Lucien said as he observed his surroundings. From Javert's appearance and their earlier conversation, he knew that Javert's life was not in a good state.
Lucien knew that individuals like Javert, known as crime-fighters, were well-versed in various criminal techniques. If they were willing to abandon their principles, they could easily become formidable criminals. Yet, many of them found themselves in difficult circumstances. This, however, indicated that they were principled and steadfast individuals. The pressure of life seemed to be pushing Javert into this predicament. Moneylenders had confidence that life's pressures would lead him to make rational choices eventually.
When Lucien explained the purpose of their visit, Javert's eyes welled with tears. He was deeply touched and hastily wiped his face. He asked, "Mr. Bonaparte, can you tell me what you need me to do?"
Lucien explained that they were looking for people to protect the secrets of the French army, which were crucial in restoring France's military superiority. Additionally, they needed to train individuals in other countries who were fighting against the invading forces. The success of these people's struggles was France's success.
After explaining this, Lucien said, "Mr. Javert, you are welcome to join us in the fight for France."
"I am willing," Javert replied immediately, standing up.
"From today, you are one of us," Lucien said, shaking Javert's hand. "Your salary will be based on your previous earnings as a police chief."
Lucien also suggested that they could provide an advance on several months of his salary.
After discussing the matter, Lucien informed Javert that he needed to find Henry Durand to locate Maniere and others.
Javert, now standing, put on his hat and coat and took a large cane from the rack. He smiled at Lucien and said, "Mr. Bonaparte, let me be your guide."
With Javert's assistance, their efficiency improved significantly. In just one day, they located more than half of the people on their list. Most of these individuals were also in difficult circumstances, and some had even turned to a life of crime. However, Lucien still welcomed them into their group. He told Javert, "People who are suffering are the most valuable to us. We are all of one heart, and we will surely defeat the invading forces."
After a few days, they were able to locate almost all the individuals on their list, with the exception of one, Marius, a former lawyer who had gone into hiding.
Lucien said to Javert, "I hear Marius is a formidable individual. Could you help us find him?"
Javert pondered for a moment and then replied, "I have some connections that I can rely on."
Lucien took a step forward and said, "Javert, I believe you can find him. The goal of the French army is at stake, and we need every person we can find."
Javert smiled and said, "I will find him."
Now, the team had almost all the members they needed. They began the second phase of their operation by instructing these individuals to prepare for a meeting where they would be informed of their mission. Their training began in earnest as they prepared to take on the challenges that lay ahead.