Within Reason, Beyond Expectation.

"25 to 10, how is this possible!"

Time turned back a quarter of an hour.

The stunning dancer Ajani wore a red and white off-the-shoulder dance dress, holding the ballot box against her chest.

The rise and fall of her movements made the hearts of the representatives preparing to vote flutter, leaving them momentarily unsure of where to place their ballots.

Ajani's gait was truly swaying and graceful; the representative from Bavaria exclaimed that this woman must not be allowed into Bavaria, otherwise their King would surely spark another scandal.

What they did not know was that this French beauty before them was actually the current leader of the Polish Restoration Army. She was the wife of the former commander of the Polish Freedom Army, Borkine Agata, and a mother to a four-year-old girl.

The 1830 Polish Uprising failed, and a large number of Polish soldiers were massacred and exiled. This included Lady Agata's husband. After he was gone, she decided to continue his cause and became the leader of the Polish Restoration Army.

However, under the bloody suppression of Russia, the soldiers of the Polish Restoration Army were slaughtered, and their assets were completely lost.

To support the thousands of Polish Restoration Army members scattered across Europe and to continue the cause of the Polish Restoration Army, Lady Agata organized a large number of widows of the Restoration Army to go abroad to earn extra money and solicit sponsorships.

Ajani was merely one of her aliases, but due to her outstanding natural gifts, she quickly received extra attention. Invitations flew in like snowflakes, though most people only wanted to spend a night of passion with her.

Ajani felt deep disgust for these men, yet she had to navigate among them.

Today, she had come at the invitation of the local Archbishop, and that sanctimonious Bishop had actually demanded she perform an encore that evening.

However, Ajani refused decisively, because someone had actually given her 2,000 Florin today to stop performing, and later gave her another 1,000 Florin to collect the ballots.

Earning money this way was far too easy; why debase herself? She could not understand those sisters who sold their bodies; after all, Ajani could earn in a single day what those poor women could not make in a year.

She had another purpose for coming to Frankfurt today: to seek allies to support their cause. After all, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth no longer existed, and the restoration required more than just money.

But when she heard a representative call the Polish people dirty, she felt angry and aggrieved.

She thought of her husband, her daughter being fostered at a friend's house, and those friends who had been slaughtered by the Russians.

Tears welled up in Ajani's eyes, which only served to stir the protective instincts of the men even more.

Soon, all thirty-five representatives had cast their votes; the representative from Baden had been carried to the hospital and was considered an abstention.

This was also an arrangement by Friedrich Ancillon. Although he estimated that Prussia would have at least 20 votes, there was nothing wrong with conveniently eliminating an opponent who did not support him.

The ballot box was opened in public, and the Archbishop of Frankfurt unfolded the first ballot.

"Opposed!"

Ajani smiled as she took the ballot, raised her hands above her head, and repeated with a smile.

"One vote opposed."

"Three votes opposed."

Three in a row, all for Prussia, which caused a cold sneer to curl the corner of Friedrich Ancillon's mouth. He looked at Ankett, who was drinking alone nearby, and thought to himself.

Once I drive out the Austria, you Saxony are next. I will make you pay back today's humiliation tenfold.

Ankett sensed Friedrich Ancillon's gaze, they locked eyes, and then he responded with a smile.

"Austria."

"One vote for Austria, three votes opposed."

Friedrich Ancillon was unconcerned and asked a waiter for a glass of wine.

"Austria."

"Austria."

"Opposed."

"Three votes in support of Austria joining the Zollverein, four votes opposed."

Thereafter, the votes for both sides rose alternately, which made Friedrich Ancillon somewhat irritable. At this moment, he recalled Ankett's smile; that fellow seemed to want to say something.

"Austria."

"Austria."

"Austria."

The number of votes supporting Austria's entry into the Zollverein had reached fifteen, with only seven opposed. This made Friedrich Ancillon feel his throat go dry, and he downed the contents of his glass in one gulp.

"Austria."

This was the sixteenth vote, and Friedrich Ancillon choked instantly. He spat red wine all over the representative from Brunswick. That man was just about to stand up to protest, but upon seeing it was Friedrich Ancillon, he sat back down and had to take out his own handkerchief to wipe away the wine stains.

Damn it, someone has betrayed us, Friedrich Ancillon cursed inwardly, feeling fortunate that he had just excluded one representative who supported the Austria.

"Austria!"

"Seventeen votes for Austria, seven votes opposed."

With just one more vote, Austria would be allowed to join the Zollverein, and Friedrich Ancillon's mission would be a failure; his palms were now covered in sweat.

The Archbishop of Frankfurt picked up a ballot, unfolded it slowly, hesitated for a moment, and then announced loudly.

"Austria!"

"Eighteen votes for Austria, seven votes opposed."

Friedrich Ancillon stared angrily at the Archbishop of Frankfurt, wanting to get an answer from him.

The Archbishop of Frankfurt merely shrugged. He did indeed support Prussia and had cast a dissenting vote, but he had no idea how the situation had devolved into its current state.

However, he knew that the Prussians were no longer the sole power; now that Austria had arrived, he had to consider the future, so he forced himself to appear cheerful.

"Austria!"

The vote counting continued, but Friedrich Ancillon had already collapsed into his chair.

Ankett turned toward Friedrich Ancillon once more, enunciating each word clearly.

"Con-grat-u-la-tions, you have a ri-val now."

He then raised his glass, signaled to Friedrich Ancillon, and drained it in one gulp.

At this moment, the Archbishop of Frankfurt made the official announcement.

"The Zollverein, with 25 votes in favor, 10 against, and 1 abstention, has approved Austria's application to join the Zollverein. We shall welcome the 37th member of the Zollverein! Germany will see a brighter future!"

Facing the result before him, Friedrich Ancillon knew his political career was over.

Friedrich Ancillon knew the Austrians must have bribed Prussia's allies, but since the vote was conducted by secret ballot, he had no way of knowing who had betrayed Prussia.

He still had 47,000 Thaler left unspent; if he returned to Berlin like this, William III and the Minister of Finance Motz would certainly not let him off the hook.

Thus, he devised a plan.

Friedrich Ancillon told Ajani to wait for him in his room. He had spent 5,000 Thaler for this, but he no longer cared; he just wanted to spend all the money.

Excluding the 8,000 Thaler already spent, he converted the remaining 42,000 Thaler into jewelry and land deeds, packing them into a suitcase.

On the way, Friedrich Ancillon's throat felt tight, and the moment he entered the room, he impatiently began to undo his belt.

However, a dagger circled around from in front of him and pressed against his throat.

"Put your pants back on. Where did you put the money?"

Friedrich Ancillon hurriedly fastened his belt and said, "You thieving woman, I am an envoy of Prussia! Do you dare to rob me?"

Friedrich Ancillon spoke while desperately searching for an opportunity.

To his despair, another woman emerged from the room, a pistol tucked into her waist.

Ajani walked toward Friedrich Ancillon with elegant strides, leaving him feeling somewhat flustered.

Just then, Ajani snatched the suitcase from Friedrich Ancillon's hand and pried it open with her dagger, revealing the glittering jewelry inside.

"That is the property of the King of Prussia," Friedrich Ancillon threatened.

Ajani fastened a string of gemstone necklaces around her own neck and said with a smile, "Not anymore."

"Who are you people?"

"The Polish Restoration Army," Ajani replied, then nodded toward the woman behind Friedrich Ancillon.

Before Friedrich Ancillon could speak again, the woman picked up a vase and smashed it hard against the back of his head.

Looking at Friedrich Ancillon lying on the floor and the shattered vase scattered everywhere, Ajani sighed helplessly.

"Caroline, how many times have I told you not to use a vase? It's a pain to clean up."

"What's done is done, it's already smashed."

"Carry him inside and make it look like a hanging. I'm leaving tonight; you go notify the other sisters to leave quickly as well." After saying this, Ajani tossed a gemstone-encrusted ring to Caroline.

Vienna News: Prussian Ambassador commits suicide in hotel to escape punishment.

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