"Captain Jacques?" Joseph fiddled with the grill, casually replied, "Have you seen ’Caribbean Pirates’?"

Ruan nodded vigorously: "Seen it, of course, seen it! I’ve watched it three times! I swear, it’s absolutely the most interesting play I’ve ever seen!"

What he didn’t admit was that his father was also inspired by Captain Jacques’ deeds, which ultimately led him to decide to set sail for the Caribbean Sea.

It’s said that just a round trip could earn at least 450 francs, and if you take a detour to New Orleans, it’s nearly 600 francs!

Soon, the aroma of garlic barnacles wafted across the beach.

Eman elegantly placed two servings of grilled barnacles in front of the siblings, Ruan and Karen.

The two children had eaten barnacles since childhood, but never imagined they could be cooked so deliciously.

Ruan only hesitated until Queen Mary smiled and urged him to try some, then he shyly used the tip of his fork to pick out a piece of barnacle meat and put it in his mouth.

The garlic flavor mixed with the rich, sweet freshness rushed to his mind, so delicious he nearly bit his tongue.

Indeed, in front of grilled barnacles, even oysters must yield.

Ruan repeatedly signaled to his sister with his eyes, and the two children instantly forgot their nervousness, devouring the barnacles before them clean.

Eman promptly served them spicy grilled octopus.

The Ruan siblings could never have imagined enjoying a top-notch banquet from the Palace of Versailles and the services of the Crown Prince’s entourage on the white sands of Brest.

Joseph began grilling a sea bream, looked at Ruan and said, "I’ll have Mr. Curtis take you back by carriage later so you won’t be late for school tomorrow.

"By the way, how many new primary schools are there in your town?"

Ruan, worried about being asked about skipping class, shrank his neck and whispered, "There are two, Mr. Joseph. But we’ll just go back on our own, no need to trouble you."

Joseph smiled and said, "No need for courtesy.

"Is it convenient for you there to see a doctor, when will there be a Preparatory Physician?"

"Very convenient, sir. Mr. Bernard was diagnosing in the parish the year before last, and my sister was cured by him last year when she had malaria."

"Can you tell me how much it cost?"

"2 francs, sir," the girl answered, "all for medicine. At the time, Mr. Bernard said if my condition worsened, I’d need to go to the hospital in Rennes for ’Origin of Life’ injections costing 14 francs.

"Luckily, I recovered well, hehe."

Joseph knew that what she referred to as "Origin of Life" was glucose injection. According to the Health Bureau’s statistics, glucose mixed with saline injections for three days could help 72% of patients survive the critical period and save their lives.

And the glucose in France was the cheapest in all of Europe. The same treatment east of the Rhine River would cost over 300 francs and even require waiting for medicine.

Afterward, Joseph left the barbecue work to the accompanying Imperial Chef and started feasting.

He chewed the delicious barnacles, listening to the sounds of the sea breeze and waves gently lapping against the rocks, feeling the fine sugar sand beneath his feet, and couldn’t help but sigh, it would be great to come here every day, catch the sea, and eat barbecue.

No matter how much a person achieves, even if he conquers the whole world, what he can truly enjoy in the end is just a plate of garlic barnacles with his family, blowing the sea breeze.

Queen Mary turned her head to look over and sighed: "Darling, this place is simply paradise. I really want your father to come here and relax, he’ll surely be enchanted by eel fishing..."

She suddenly stopped halfway, looking a bit disheartened.

For the King of France to come to the seaside in Brest to catch eels, that’s simply impossible.

The thought flashed through her mind, if only Louis wasn’t the king...

She sighed again, Louis could only be the king and had to be the king, something he couldn’t change even if he wanted to.

She shook her head, dispelling those unrealistic thoughts, and turned her attention back to the barrel beside her, pointing at the large octopus inside, saying to the Imperial Chef: "Mr. Seznec, please grill this octopus for me."

She proudly said: "This is my biggest catch today. Look at it, how beautiful, adorned like blue gemstones."

Joseph, who was eating grilled eel, was stunned and suddenly jumped up, rushing toward the barrel.

The Ruan siblings also moved together, with six hands pressing down on the Imperial Chef, "Don’t move!"

"Please let me see it!"

Immediately, Ruan used a wooden fork to lift an octopus slightly larger than a pigeon from the barrel, carefully examining its bright blue rings under the campfire, his mouth twitching involuntarily.

Joseph immediately said nervously: "Quick, throw it away, it’s a blue-ringed octopus!"

Yes, it’s one of the deadly assassins on the beach. Just one touch of a blue-ringed octopus is enough to eliminate everyone here, including over a hundred guards.

Fortunately, the Queen had caught it with a wooden fork earlier...

At half past ten in the evening, a carriage stopped at the doorstep of the Ruan siblings’ home.

Lieutenant Curtis briefly informed their mother and took his leave.

The mother glanced at the children’s empty vine baskets, comforted them a little, then asked, "You haven’t had dinner yet, have you? I left some soup for you."

Karen patted her little belly: "We’ve eaten, mom, and it was the most delicious thing I’ve ever had!"

"Was it that gentleman who treated you?"

"No, it was two big figures," Ruan replied proudly, "I taught them how to fish and catch crabs, and they treated us to delicious food. By the way, the lady gave me this."

He said as he handed over the pearl hair accessory to his mother.

She exclaimed, "God, this is so valuable! Do you know where they’re from?"

"Ah, they only said Lady Mary and Mr. Joseph..."

Karen suddenly shouted, "Oh, I remember seeing a golden Iris Emblem on their carriage."

"The Royal Family?" The mother widened her eyes, "Wait, you said, Mary, Joseph? Could it be..."

She recalled the newspaper her husband had read to her, and a shocking speculation surfaced in her mind.

Three days later.

Outside the Bristol Shipyard.

Thick black smoke drifted across the sea. Five "Light of the Mediterranean" class steam-powered escort ships sliced through the waves, swiftly passing in front of the "Poseidon" second-class battleship used for viewing.

meters behind, a black-painted battleship decorated with golden patterns followed at a speed in no way inferior to them.

As it passed directly in front of the "Poseidon," the unique battleship’s cannon doors opened wide, and 26 heavy Carronades on its port side poked out, then fired a deafening broadside.