In room 305 on the third floor of the White Horse Inn, four young men sat apart from one another. Claude was sitting on the bed, while Ivan had pulled over a chair and sat on it.
Zack, another young man who had earlier tried to dissuade Ivan, sat to Ivan's right, and the last, rather taciturn youth, Guy, sat on the other side of the bed.
Ivan was still clinging to his idea, attempting to persuade Claude to support him by providing him with muskets and explosives.
"Claude, you have to believe me, I will definitely succeed."
Ivan's expression was urgent; he genuinely wanted to accomplish something to prove his determination.
But Claude sighed and said, "You are blinded by hatred. This matter is not as simple as you think. Even if I provide you with help, you may not succeed."
"Ivan, you must look beyond the suffering of the nobles and lower-middle classes who oppose Napoleon I; you must also see the followers and the loyal army tightly bound to Napoleon."
"He has been in the military for over twenty years, and his prestige in the army is unrivaled, not to mention the vast number of people who have gained benefits by following him."
"You ask me to provide you with muskets and explosives—that's simple enough, but do you have a detailed plan? Do you have reliable helpers? You have nothing. You are simply going to your death."
"As your friend, I cannot watch you fall into the abyss without extending a helping hand. Ivan, you must endure and wait for an opportunity."
"But—!"
Chapter 326