The moment merit was involved, Victor's drive exploded.
That very afternoon, he took leave and boarded a train for Tianjin. The next day, he came hurrying back.
Just as Chen Wu had expected, Victor blurted out, "Ambassador François agreed to help!"
"Excellent!" Davout swung his fist.
But then Victor said, "There's something else I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Some people in the regiment have decided not to go to the New World."
"Not go—" Davout realized what he meant and shot to his feet. "Deserters—"
Davout roared, trembling with rage. He switched straight into French. "Do they have even a shred of a sword-bearing noble's honor left?"
"Who? Tell me who they are!"
Davout clenched his fists and hammered one into the table, actually punching a dent into the hard wooden surface. Splinters flew everywhere, Astral Energy humming around his body. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked as though he wanted to devour someone alive.
Thud. "Don't ask." Victor remained seated by the table, unmoved. "Being a deserter is still better than losing your life."
"You know it too, don't you? The New World is hell! You understood that before any of us did."
"That is no reason to become a deserter!" Davout shot back.
"Life is above all else!"
"Some things are above life!"
Seeing the two of them about to start arguing again, Chen Wu hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
"It's fine, it's fine. Talk it out properly!" Chen Wu pressed Davout back into his seat. "This table is worth money. What you did counts as damaging One Heart Society property."
Davout steadied his emotions and switched back to the official tongue, though he was still indignant. "I knew you Versailles nobles were afraid of death, but I never thought anyone would actually