"Mr. Ismail, could you please tell me honestly why you are so eager to meet with me!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s overly straightforward opening left Ismail somewhat at a loss.

Ismail had mentally rehearsed many scenarios of their meeting, but he never expected Jerome Bonaparte to open so directly.

If it were an ordinary diplomatic meeting, Jerome Bonaparte would pretend to make small talk before tentatively inquiring about his purpose, and then Ismail would similarly respond tentatively to Jerome Bonaparte.

Both parties would reach a certain level of cooperation through mutual probing, or they would realize they could no longer continue to cooperate and would stop to preserve their friendship.

Who would have thought that Jerome Bonaparte would straightforwardly inquire about Ismail’s purpose for arriving at Fontainebleau Palace, leaving Ismail unsure whether to also state his purpose succinctly to Jerome Bonaparte.

Seeing Ismail’s hesitant expression, Jerome Bonaparte immediately decided to apply more pressure on Ismail; exhausted, he did not want to engage in conversation with a Riddler.

Moreover, Ismail’s value dictated that Jerome Bonaparte would not employ puzzle-solving methods to ascertain his purpose.

"Mr. Ismail!" Jerome Bonaparte’s expression gradually became serious. He pointed to the study’s door and coldly said to Ismail, "If you came to Fontainebleau Palace just to silently watch me like this, then please leave immediately!

I have had a tiring day, and now I just want to rest as soon as possible!"

Under Jerome Bonaparte’s forceful order to leave, Ismail panicked and hurriedly said to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for disturbing you when you most need rest! I..."

Before Ismail could finish his apology, Jerome Bonaparte interrupted impatiently, "Mr. Ismail, I’m willing to sit here not to hear you say trivial things to me, but because you waited for me all day at Fontainebleau Palace!

Out of courtesy, I agreed to sit here!

If you are unwilling to state your purpose for coming to Fontainebleau Palace, then I think there is no need for our conversation to continue!"

Upon finishing, Jerome Bonaparte shouted towards the door, "Attendant!"

The attendant guarding the Emperor’s door entered swiftly upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s call, responding in a loud voice, "Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty!" Ismail instinctively stood up and grabbed Jerome Bonaparte’s hand, his eyes carrying a trace of pleading.

The attendant at the doorway, seeing Ismail’s gesture, initially thought Ismail intended to assassinate, and immediately became tense.

With Ismail holding his hand, Jerome Bonaparte maintained his indifferent demeanor and questioned Ismail, "Mr. Ismail, what are you doing? Are you here to assassinate me?"

Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s question, Ismail was thrown into chaos; the hand holding Jerome Bonaparte’s quickly released, and he shook his head vigorously, "No! It’s not!"

At this moment, the attendant at the door seized the opportunity, quickly stepping behind Ismail and pressing him down onto the desk in a flash.

"Your Majesty! Please let me explain!"

Pinned down, Ismail shouted, trying to get up from the desk.

However, Ismail’s strength was no match for the well-trained attendant; no matter how he struggled, he was held firmly on the desk.

Jerome Bonaparte remained silent throughout, only watching coldly.

Subsequently, the attendant asked Jerome Bonaparte whether to execute the "assassin" attempting to harm the Emperor on the spot.

Jerome Bonaparte glanced at the immobilized Ismail and shook his head, responding, "No need! He is ultimately the nephew of Governor Said of Egypt and Egypt’s heir. Executing him recklessly could spark a diplomatic crisis between Egypt and the French Empire!

Just throw him out of the Fontainebleau Palace!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The two attendants responded to Jerome Bonaparte, then each grabbed one of Ismail’s arms and forcibly held him down in the study.

Ismail understood that if he were escorted out in such a manner, he could never again enter the French Empire’s upper society.

Everyone would know he was expelled from Fontainebleau Palace and would instinctively distance themselves from him.

If his uncle Said in Egypt found out, he would be overjoyed.

This way, Said could use "causing a conflict between France and Egypt" as a reason to strip Ismail of his inheritance rights as Governor of Egypt.

Fearing the loss of his inheritance, Ismail struggled desperately and shouted to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, please give me one minute!

I am willing to tell you everything!"

"Let go!" Jerome Bonaparte said blandly to the attendant holding Ismail captive.

"But, Your Majesty! This man..."

The attendant was somewhat afraid Ismail might injure the Emperor, given how dangerous Ismail’s actions were just moments ago.

"Let go!" Jerome Bonaparte repeated again, then added, "I believe Mr. Ismail understands his situation. He is not an impulsive person!

Am I right, Ismail!"

At this moment, Ismail had already been worn out by Jerome Bonaparte’s actions, and now he just wanted to convey his thoughts to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty, I swear by Allah, I have never once had the thought of harming you!" Ismail replied sincerely to Jerome Bonaparte.

The two attendants eventually obeyed Jerome Bonaparte’s orders and released Ismail, though their eyes still held caution, as if looking at a criminal.

Regaining his freedom, Ismail breathed a sigh of relief and then continued to request a private conversation with Jerome Bonaparte.

"You may leave!" Jerome Bonaparte ordered the attendants again.

"Your Majesty, your safety!" The attendants were still somewhat fearful.

"I said, leave!" Jerome Bonaparte furrowed his brow and emphasized sternly.

The two attendants had no choice but to leave the study, gently closing the door behind them.

Sitting in the study chair, Jerome Bonaparte put on a smile akin to a face-changing act and pointed to the empty chair opposite him, saying to Ismail, "Mr. Ismail, please have a seat!"

Ismail sat back opposite Jerome Bonaparte, and this time he did not plan to act like a Riddler but directly told Jerome Bonaparte about his desire to serve in the French Foreign Legion in Algeria.

Jerome Bonaparte showed a hint of surprise on his face; he could hardly understand why Ismail, a dignified "Crown Prince" of Egypt, wanted to join the French Army.

"Ismail, why do you want to join the French Foreign Legion!" Jerome Bonaparte asked Ismail in return.

Before Ismail could speak, Jerome Bonaparte warned first, "Do not say things like admiration for the French Army; I need to know your true thoughts!"

Ismail showed a bitter smile and explained to Jerome Bonaparte that he wanted to join the French Foreign Legion to escape persecution from his uncle Said.

"My uncle can no longer tolerate my existence; to maintain his own authority, he stripped me of all my rights in Egypt and expelled me from Cairo!

Your Majesty, you must understand that an heir with no rights is like a fish on a chopping board, only waiting to be slaughtered!" Ismail sincerely told Jerome Bonaparte. "Moreover, my uncle only became Governor of Egypt after my cousin Abbas was assassinated!"

At this point, Ismail subconsciously glanced at Jerome Bonaparte’s expression, feeling uneasy.

Ismail knew that his uncle Said’s smooth succession as Governor of Egypt couldn’t have happened without the shadow of the French Empire and the Kingdom of Britain. He even suspected that the assassination back then surely had the shadow of England and France.

Now, for Ismail to suddenly bring up the assassination was tantamount to revealing to Jerome Bonaparte that he knew part of the assassination’s insider story.

If Jerome Bonaparte was unwilling to assist him, then he would have to consider seeking political asylum in the Ottoman Empire.

"Alas! Governor Abbas’s death was merely an accident, a fact jointly recognized by Britain and France!" Jerome Bonaparte said righteously to Ismail, "Mr. Ismail, I do not know why you associate Governor Abbas’s death with Governor Said. There is no relation between the two!

Such baseless conspiracies should not be believed!"

Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s words, Ismail’s heart felt as though it had fallen into a deep abyss.

"Your Majesty, I understand!" Ismail said bitterly to Jerome Bonaparte.

"However..." Jerome Bonaparte changed his tone and continued speaking to Ismail, "Since Mr. Ismail graduated from the Strasbourg Staff College, it can be considered that he is half a French soldier.

On behalf of the French Army, I welcome Mr. Ismail to join!"

Ismail’s eyes lit up, realizing that he could receive protection from France.

"Your Majesty, thank you for your generosity! If I have the honor of becoming the ruler of Egypt, I will exert all efforts to serve you!" Ismail said excitedly to Jerome Bonaparte.

"I look forward to you becoming Egypt’s ruler!"