Just as Valerovsky and Von Bismarck were exchanging business pleasantries in a carriage en route to the Prussian Mansion, Prince Metternich, leaving St. Stephen’s Cathedral, "happened" to encounter the Minister of Internal Affairs Bach.

"Mr. Metternich, I have some matters I’d like to discuss with you!

Do you have some time now?" Minister Bach said to Prince Metternich with a serious expression.

Prince Metternich slowly nodded. From Minister Bach’s expression and eyes, Metternich sensed urgency.

Obviously, Minister Bach’s matter of discussion was not a trivial one.

With Prince Metternich’s consent, Bach immediately pointed to a carriage parked by the roadside and then pleaded with Prince Metternich, "Your Highness, could we have a detailed discussion in the carriage?"

"Of course!" Metternich responded with a nod.

Metternich and Bach both entered the carriage belonging to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The driver, upon hearing Bach’s order to start, quickly raised the whip and lashed the horse standing in place.

Upon receiving the "signal" from its rump, the horse immediately began to trot forward, the carriage behind swiftly moving along with its pace.

After the carriage had traveled a certain distance, Minister of Internal Affairs Bach began to explain the situation to Prince Metternich.

"According to reports from the police stationed near St. Stephen’s Church, just a few minutes ago, the Prussian Envoy Von Bismarck and French delegation’s deputy envoy Count Valerovsky left St. Stephen’s Church together in a carriage!

Judging by the direction they headed, it seems the carriage is going to the Prussian Embassy!"

Hearing Bach’s report, a serious expression appeared on Prince Metternich’s face. After a moment, he calmly asked Bach, "What about Prince Monfou? Did he leave in the carriage as well?"

Bach thought for a few seconds, then shook his head and replied, "No! According to the police stationed near the church, Prince Monfou left alone in a French Embassy carriage!

Valerovsky was left standing near the church until the envoy Von Bismarck emerged, after which Valerovsky began to move.

After a brief conversation, the two left together in the carriage!

I suspect Valerovsky was specifically waiting for Von Bismarck to come out!"

"Did your police overhear their conversation?" Prince Metternich asked Bach again.

Though Prince Metternich understood that eavesdropping in public places was nearly impossible, he held onto a faint hope.

A moment later, Bach shattered Metternich’s hope. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Shaking his head, he answered Prince Metternich, "No! The police were a street away from Von Bismarck at the time, so it was impossible to eavesdrop on their conversation!"

Prince Metternich sighed. After a moment of silence, he slowly asked Bach, "Mr. Bach, what is it that you want this old man to do?"

"Your Highness, haven’t you received any news from Paris about this conversation?" Bach subtly queried Prince Metternich.

"Mr. Bach," Prince Metternich replied with a bitter smile, shaking his head, "If it weren’t for your revelation, I would still be in the dark!"

"Haven’t your friends in Paris mentioned anything to you?" Bach persisted in asking Prince Metternich.

With Bach’s repeated questioning, Prince Metternich couldn’t help but feel a tinge of displeasure.

"Mr. Bach, I do have some friends in Paris, but our relationship is strictly private friendship.

Just as you wouldn’t tell me whether you’ve planted secret police in my residence, they would not divulge the secrets of France to me!" Prince Metternich spoke with a slight hint of dissatisfaction.

Once Bach heard Prince Metternich’s words, he instinctively clenched his hand into a fist.

How does he know I’ve planted secret police in his home?

Bach did indeed have secret police stationed in Prince Metternich’s mansion, but only a handful of people knew about it.

Bach began to suspect someone had leaked this information to Prince Metternich.

"Surely not!" Minister Bach forced a lighthearted tone as he explained to Prince Metternich, "Who would dare plant police in your residence!"

"Mr. Bach!" Prince Metternich smiled enigmatically as he slowly spoke to Bach, "I can tell you a secret!"

"Please, go on!" Bach posed in a manner eager to listen.

"When I was Prime Minister, I also planted secret police in the residences of both political enemies and allies!

I considered it a necessary evil, but I only used them to find out with whom they met and what they did!

As long as they haven’t done anything harmful to the Empire, I can turn a blind eye!

Even though I’ve heard several times about their conspiracy to overthrow me, I didn’t care!

Of course, I’m not telling you this to boast about my magnanimity. What I mean is that secret police are like a double-edged sword; used too long, it can easily harm its handler!

Those who place blind faith in this power are destined to be backfired upon!" Prince Metternich hinted.

"Thank you for your kind teachings!" Minister Bach responded to Prince Metternich.

"Alright! Back to the point, I really haven’t received any news from Paris!" Prince Metternich said to Bach with a stern expression, "which means the meeting between Valerovsky and Von Bismarck probably wasn’t initiated by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs!"

"You mean!" Minister Bach immediately understood the subtext of Prince Metternich.

If the meeting between Valerovsky and Von Bismarck wasn’t with the consent of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then it must have been orchestrated by that Emperor of France.

Including Metternich, no one knew exactly what that Emperor wanted to do.

However, they could not ignore the opinions of the Emperor of France.

The present French Empire is now the strongest force on the European Continent; their army is capable of crushing any country that dares to challenge them!

"Your Highness, what should we do now?" After a long silence, Bach once again asked Metternich, "What exactly does that Emperor want to do?"

"Minister Bach, that seems to be a concern for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister, not you!" Prince Metternich said to Bach in an intriguing tone.

Bach’s face bore an awkward expression as he responded somewhat unnaturally, "I just have the future of the Empire in mind!"

Then, realizing that his previous statement was too much of an attempt to deceive himself, Bach continued to reveal his political ambition to Prince Metternich, "If the Empire needs it, I would unhesitatingly assume the necessary responsibilities! (referring to becoming Prime Minister)"

"Mr. Bach, I appreciate your honesty!" Prince Metternich smiled, "When I was your age, I too wanted to be the Prime Minister of the Austrian Empire!"

"Thank you for your encouragement!" Bach responded to Prince Metternich.

Then, Prince Metternich brought the topic back, "If my judgment isn’t wrong, the reason the Emperor met with Von Bismarck should be because of the Rhine Region issue!"

"Why do you say that?" Bach asked Prince Metternich in confusion.

"Because the Emperor has already obtained what he wanted on the Apennine Peninsula, his next target would naturally be the Rhine," Prince Metternich said to Bach, "That’s what he has been relentlessly pursuing since 1850, though various reasons (the Crimean War) constrained his actions!"

"So what should the Empire do about it?" Minister Bach asked Prince Metternich again.

"Mr. Bach, that’s something Count Baur should consider!" Metternich said to Minister Bach, "Unless the Emperor appoints you as the Prime Minister immediately, I suggest you refrain from making too many moves!"

"Should we remind Count Baur?" Minister Bach said.

"Of course!" Prince Metternich nodded and said to Bach, "By the way, Mr. Bach! I have a request, and I hope you can fulfill it!"

"Your Highness, please go ahead!" Minister Bach responded to Metternich.

"Would you kindly escort me to the Prussian Embassy!" Prince Metternich asked Bach.

"Your Highness, are you planning to disrupt their meeting!" Minister Bach was surprised by Prince Metternich’s decision.

"No!" Prince Metternich shook his head and pointed to his ear, "I merely intend to listen to the genuine ideas of Valerovsky and Von Bismarck!"

"With you there, they likely won’t reveal their true thoughts!"

"That’s not necessarily true!"

...

On the other hand.

Under von Bismarck’s hospitality, Valerovsky sat on the brown leather sofa of the Prussian Embassy.

With different intentions, the two began conversing intermittently. Von Bismarck started by expressing his admiration for Valerovsky, praising him as the most outstanding Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Empire, and noting that the Paris Peace Conference he led was worth learning from by him and all Prussian diplomatic officials.

(Even though the Kingdom of Prussia’s interests were severely damaged at the Paris Peace Conference led by Valerovsky!)

"Mr. Bismarck, as long as your nation doesn’t blame me for how I harmed your interests to satisfy the Polish nobility at the Paris Peace Conference, I would be very grateful!" Valerovsky said to Von Bismarck with a smile.

"Only mediocre people complain behind others’ backs!" Von Bismarck said disdainfully to Minister Valerovsky, "Those ministers from the Prussian court are such mediocre people; they don’t seem to realize that this world was always survival of the fittest. You (the French Empire) have the strongest military, and naturally, you create history!"