“Your Highness, I can promise on behalf of my father regarding the first two points you mentioned,”
Labia said, showing a troubled expression: “However, matters concerning Bizerte Port exceed the authority my father has granted me.”
Without waiting for Joseph to say anything, she quickly added: “But if you could provide some financial support, I am confident that I could persuade my father.”
“Moreover, your funding would also help us defeat Hamouda Ali more swiftly, don’t you agree?”
Joseph smiled and nodded:
“Very well, I’ll provide an additional two million livres of military funding to Pasha Eunice. However, since this is for military purposes, the payment will be made after I’ve seen his army.”
Two million?! Greed and surprise flashed in Labia’s eyes.
Although she had some objections about the timing of the payment, thinking that the Crown Prince of France might be doubting her father’s influence, she accepted it.
She immediately exclaimed aloud:
“You shall soon see the mighty army that will satisfy you!”
After that, Joseph negotiated some “cooperative” details with her and then had Joan take her to the adjoining guest room to rest, with plans for her to return to Algiers early the next morning.
Once Joan had settled Labia, she immediately returned to Joseph’s office, greeting him anxiously:
“Your Highness, I do not wish to question your decision, but my duty requires me to offer you the advice I think is necessary. I’ve had previous contact with Eunice. He is undoubtedly a person of great ambition and extremely cunning.
“You have provided him with substantial support, including weapons and millions in funds, but it is very difficult to ensure that he will keep his promises or refrain from colluding with other powers.
“Perhaps, you should send some troops to watch over him, to ensure that we get the benefits we deserve.”
Joseph looked at her with an appreciative gaze:
“Thank you very much for your advice, and clearly your concerns are valid. However, I have never truly trusted that Eunice.”
“Ah?”
Joseph smiled and gestured for her to sit down:
“You see, Mr. Eunice once raised an army to betray his own father and, after being defeated, fled to Algiers. If he can betray even his father, what about others?”
Joan nodded repeatedly.
Joseph continued: “Moreover, do you know of Eunice’s other identity?”
“You mean the largest smuggler in Algiers?”
Joseph shook his head: “Smuggling is just his overt cover; he is actually a major shareholder behind the Algiers Pirates.”
Previously, the incident of the American Charles obtaining pirate intelligence from Eunice’s smugglers had made Joseph suspicious of Eunice.
A mere smuggler, yet he knew the pirate’s sailing routes inside out, which obviously wasn’t right.
Therefore, Joseph had the Police Affairs Department investigate Eunice further and discovered that he was involved in the pirate business himself.
This was also why he had some degree of freedom in Algiers—by taking shares in the pirate forces, influencing the Algiers Council, and eventually obtaining the privilege to live in the Dahra Region. Of course, for Eunice, this was just collaboration with the Algiers Navy.
Joan expressed her surprise: “He is a pirate?!”
“Indeed. Eunice’s fleet usually smuggles goods from Britain back to Tunisia, but if they encounter a suitable target along the way, the smuggler’s ship immediately turns into a pirate ship. In fact, it’s not difficult to find out about these things in Dahra.”
“Oh, that Labia lady just now is a fearsome pirate leader. She has sold ‘white slaves’ many times in Algiers. I even suspect that the ‘white slaves’ she brought as gifts are those she herself plundered from the coasts of Europe.”
Joan suddenly remembered something and asked:
“But, Your Highness, I heard that the American obtained pirate intelligence from one of Eunice’s men. If Eunice has shares in the pirates, then why would he…”
“Pirate factions competing for power,” Joseph said with a smile, “Eunice belongs to the outside factions and has always been at odds with the local Algiers faction. He is using the Combined Fleet to strike at his rivals.”
Experience tales at empire
Joan nodded silently. Knowing Eunice, she was sure he would be capable of such a thing.
Joseph looked at her with a smile:
“Look, how can I trust a man who can sell out even his own partners at any moment?”
Joan asked in confusion:
“Then why would you support his return to Tunisia?”
She looked up to see the Crown Prince smiling without saying a word, realizing her impertinence, and quickly bowed, saying:
“Oh, I am very sorry, Your Highness, this was not for me to ask.”
…
Tunisia.
Ksar Hellal Palace.
A twenty-something woman with a shapely figure and distinctly Greek features is trying on French fashions in front of a mirror—naturally tailored to Arab styles.
She is Hafsa, the most favored concubine of Bey Hamouda Ali of Tunisia.
“Inam, is this color too dark?” she asked her maid, turning her head, “I remember I also ordered a lighter one.”
“Certainly, esteemed madam,” before the maid could answer, a woman assistant from the tailor’s shop nearby eagerly approached, “Is this the one you mentioned?”
“Yes, help me put it on,”
As maid Inam took the dress and turned away, the woman assistant slipped a piece of paper into Hafsa’s hand.
The latter frowned slightly, glanced at her maids to see them busy unfolding the intricate gown, and hurriedly unfolded the note.