"Haha, that's quite the amusing joke," Charles laughed even louder.
He had been running the Mediterranean route for over ten years and had some understanding of the situation in the North African countries. The Tunisian Pasha imprisoned here was named Eunice, but he wasn't actually a true Pasha.
"Pasha" referred to the Governor of Tunisia, appointed by the Ottoman Empire, who was in practice the King of Tunisia. Eunice had led a rebellion as a prince and proclaimed himself Pasha. His efforts, however, were crushed by his father. He then fled to Algiers and was imprisoned.
How could such an important figure have escaped so easily?
Ali took a sip of his soup and began today's story. This was a daily ritual between him and Charles, where they would share their experiences to pass the time—digging tunnels was impossible in the afternoon when the guards would make their rounds.
"I really shouldn't mention this to anyone, but since you're an American, there's no harm in speaking of it."
After finishing his food, Ali wiped his mouth and said, "Don't think of Lord Eunice as a mere prisoner. Back in Tunisia, he had many followers, including several generals. And when he came to Algiers, he brought with him a large fortune."
"He was locked up here by the Guard, but it took less than a year for someone to help him escape."
"Now he lives on the West Coast, wealthy and powerful, and even owns a beautiful castle. Many there rely on him for their livelihood."
Charles scoffed, "These legends always sound so mythical, like the Ghost Pirates of the Caribbean."
Ali immediately responded, "This is no legend, my friend. You know what I do. My boss has met Lord Eunice and even dined with him."
Charles knew that Ali was a smuggler with extensive operations, handling one-seventh of the smuggled goods from England to Algiers each year. That was also the reason he wasn't hanged immediately after being caught—his boss might be willing to pay a ransom for his release.
Ali continued to speak of Eunice, indicating that smuggling operations on the Algiers West Coast couldn't proceed without Eunice's approval.
Sometimes he even took a cut from the Algiers Navy's deals.
Charles spat on the floor with annoyance—he had been captured by the "Navy" of Algiers.
The "story salon" only came to an end when darkness fell and Ali resumed his digging.
Two days later, when the guard came to deliver food, they discovered that Ali had escaped.
Charles, watching the soldiers cursing around the hole in the opposite cell, was greatly shocked and filled with regret—if he had believed Ali and dug a tunnel to the adjacent cell, he could have escaped with him!
He sighed heavily, looking at the ceiling, recalling Ali's often-repeated words, "My friend, once we're out of here, I'll treat you to the finest fermented grape juice and the most beautiful girls. Oh, remember my address..."
That afternoon, a piece of news began circulating among the nobles at the Palace of Versailles—the Queen has decided to establish the "French Industrial Development Fund."
No one was quite clear on what a "fund" was, but it was generally understood that the government would amass a large sum of money to invest in France's industry, and anyone could contribute to the fund, sharing in the profits if the investments were successful.
It sounded a bit like buying into a company, but it seemed far less risky. However, as the fund's total amount was rumored to be up to hundreds of millions of livres, it immediately became a topic of interest.
The next morning, the "Necker Case Alliance" gathered in front of the main gate of the Palace of Versailles and began loudly protesting.
Their numbers had grown since the previous day, now totaling over four hundred.
In reality, thousands of nobles had investments in banks implicated in the Necker case, but many were afraid to make a fuss.
However, once the headstrong few hundred opened the way, the rest were bound to follow suit.
Viscount Protodem stood on the steps in front of the main gate, shouted some slogans, then gestured dramatically, "Follow me as we plead with the Queen!"
Although it was called pleading, it was actually a threat of "not lending money to the government" to force the Royal Family's hand.
Just as the crowd was about to turn towards the Petit Trianon Palace, two platoons of palace guards in red uniforms ran over and, following the officer's commands, took positions around them.
The nobles were slightly startled, thinking the Royal Family intended to use the guards to disperse them, but those who lived at Versailles were accustomed to such spectacles and showed no fear. Instead, they prepared to confront the soldiers with even louder protests.
It was then that Archbishop Brienne emerged from the main gate of the Palace of Versailles, accompanied by the Crown Prince and a group of officials from the finance department.
The nobles from the "Necker Case Alliance" paused briefly, then redirected their focus onto the Finance Minister, "Archbishop Brienne, please advise the Queen to halt the interrogation of Necker!"
"Using Necker to accuse those banks must be a Cabinet conspiracy!"
"Archbishop Brienne, please give serious consideration to our financial issues and put an end to the Necker case."
"Indeed, otherwise we shall no longer purchase any government bonds!"
With a smile, Brienne raised his hand for silence, then proclaimed loudly, "Necker's tenure was marked by serious embezzlement, and the interrogation of him cannot be stopped."
"Moreover, the implicated banks will indeed face severe punishment," Joseph added from the side. He appeared there as the assistant to the Finance Minister, primarily responsible for supporting the argument.