Severus flipped through the materials brought back from another world.
Both the Tuileries Palace and Saint Luke Palace had vanished. Following that clue, he searched through French history for palaces connected to Bonaparte that had once existed but did not exist "now."
"Hey." John knocked on the door. "Come out and eat."
"Not hungry," Severus said coldly.
"Go out for a walk. Fresh air will clear your head," John said. "And you might run into another clue."
Severus ignored him.
"You think the intelligence you gathered is real?" John persisted. "Not a trap Napoleon set to drive a wedge between us and America?"
"I don't care," Severus said.
"In a sense, Napoleon is a devil. The clue he gave you may not be a real clue."
Severus stopped flipping through the papers.
"Come on." John gestured to Severus. "I know a place where people are well informed."
Severus took out his pocket watch and glanced at it, then followed John out of the warehouse.
Compared to the bustling construction site, the docks were clearly much quieter. This was due to the trade blockade after Britain and France went to war. Only merchant ships from neutral countries could enter Paris.
"Napoleon's government valued agriculture more. Even if overland transportation cost more than sea transport and cut into profits, they still had to do it," John said. "Political needs took priority over commercial ones."
Severus paid him no attention.
"It wasn't just Jenner. Napoleon was gathering scientists from other countries too, but cultural activities had nearly come to a halt. Even operas had to be approved before they could be staged. That's why those actresses had to keep him company. Fifteen minutes." John laughed loudly. "That little runt could only last that long."
"Are you done?" Severus asked with a cold face.