Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: The Vault Ambush

The Dubois factory stood like a shadowed fortress under a starless sky, its brick walls silent save for the occasional creak of cooling machinery. The air was thick with the metallic tang of steel and the faint, lingering scent of pine from the estate's woods, but Julien's senses were razor-sharp, tuned to the faintest rustle or whiff of rich tobacco that had become the hallmark of Armand de Vigny's enforcers. The trap was set: Élise's rumor of a "new prototype" hidden in the factory vault had spread through the workers, designed to lure de Vigny's men into a final mistake. The Mark I rifles were secure, General Leclerc's contract for a thousand units imminent, but the pocket watch's serpent crest and the saboteur's warning—The patron owns the Ministry—kept Julien's past life's instincts, forged in blood-soaked trenches, on high alert. Tonight, he'd unmask the "silent partner" or lose everything. Julien crouched behind a stack of crates near the vault, his knife gripped tightly, his heart steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. Antoine was positioned on a catwalk above, his pistol ready, his poet's charm replaced by the warrior's focus Julien had drilled into him. Claire, against Julien's protests, hid nearby with Élise, her wrench in hand, her auburn hair tucked under a cap, her hazel eyes fierce with determination. The memory of her touch in the garden, her vow—You've got me, Julien. Always—burned in his chest, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the vault's reinforced door, the bait for de Vigny's men. "They'll come," Julien whispered to Claire, his voice low, his eyes scanning the shadows. "De Vigny can't resist a new prototype. We catch them, tie them to Fournier's letter and the watch, and Leclerc buries him." Claire's hand brushed his, her voice steady but urgent. "Be careful, Julien. De Vigny's not Moreau—he won't send amateurs. If he's the 'silent partner,' he'll fight dirty." Her resolve mirrored his own, and he nodded, grateful for her fire but terrified of losing her. Élise, crouched beside them, clutched her notepad, her fox-like grin sharp. "Rumor's working," she whispered. "Heard a worker whispering about the 'vault' to a stranger in town. They're coming—tonight." Her eyes gleamed, but a flicker of fear betrayed her bravado. A faint crunch of gravel outside snapped their attention. Julien signaled Antoine, who nodded from above, his pistol glinting faintly. The tobacco scent hit—rich, sharp, unmistakable. Three figures emerged at the workshop's side door, moving with predatory precision: two burly men with crowbars and a third, the mustached enforcer from the trial, his coat expensive, his eyes cold. They headed straight for the vault, the enforcer muttering, "De Vigny wants the prototype tonight. No mistakes." Julien's blood chilled, but his soldier's instincts took over. He waited, counting their steps, then sprang as the enforcer reached the vault. His knife flashed, pinning the man's sleeve to the door, his voice a growl. "You're done, de Vigny's dog. Where's your master?" The enforcer sneered, his tobacco scent choking the air. "You're too late, Dubois. The patron's already won." But his eyes darted, betraying fear as Antoine dropped from the catwalk, pistol trained on the burly men. Claire swung her wrench, catching one man in the arm, while Élise threw a rope, tangling the other's legs. The stablehands, alerted by a prearranged signal, rushed in, cudgels raised, overwhelming the second man. But the enforcer twisted free, pulling a knife and lunging at Julien. Instinct kicked in; Julien sidestepped, using a trench move to disarm him, the blade clattering to the floor. He pinned the man, his knee on his chest. "Talk," he snarled. "Who's de Vigny answering to?" The enforcer spat, his voice low. "You'll never touch him. He owns the Ministry, the banks— everything." But a crumpled note in his coat pocket, snatched by Élise, told a different story: orders from de Vigny, detailing the vault hit and a meeting in Lyon tomorrow. Antoine secured the men, his grin tight but triumphant. "We've got them, Julien. This note's gold—Leclerc will eat it up." Claire's hand found Julien's, her touch grounding him. "You did it," she said, her voice soft but fierce. "But de Vigny's still out there." Julien nodded, his heart racing as he handed the note to Élise. "Get this to Leclerc—ride to Paris now. Tell him to raid de Vigny's Lyon office tomorrow. We end this." He turned to Antoine. "Double the guards. No one touches the rifles." As Élise dashed off, the stablehands dragged the men to the stables, but the enforcer's words echoed: He owns everything. Julien's eyes met Claire's, her fire a beacon against the fear. The vault was safe, the trap sprung, but de Vigny's reach was vast, and the tobacco scent lingered like a promise of more to come. Leclerc's raid would strike, but Julien knew the "silent partner" wasn't finished—and neither was he.