CHAPTER 410: CHAPTER 410: IT’S ACTUALLY A CANNON!

This guerrilla unit is the "Belgian National Front," with over five hundred members, mostly wounded soldiers and stragglers left in the country during the Belgian Army’s retreat. Their military prowess is far superior to ordinary guerrilla units.

They fought with great order; ten 37mm cannons were divided, with four positioned at the front and back. After the tanks at both ends were destroyed, they blocked the road, leaving the tanks in the middle helplessly trapped despite being unharmed.

The guerrillas, who occupied advantageous terrain, bombarded the German Army with grenades and bullets.

The German Army was thrown into chaos. Initially, they tried to stabilize the situation, but following the ignition and explosion of two gasoline trucks, they completely collapsed and fled in all directions.

Erwin and Major General Nicholas escaped the ambush under the cover of their guards.

Major General Nicholas did not hesitate and promptly ordered his subordinates to regroup the scattered soldiers.

"The enemy doesn’t have many troops." Major General Nicholas, holding his pistol, cautiously looked toward the direction of the gunfire: "If we can retake the high ground, we will still hold the advantage."

We must at least blow up the highway bridge, Major General Nicholas thought. Otherwise, Shire’s forces will advance from here all the way to Brussels.

That’s the capital of Belgium and holds great symbolic significance for the country!

Erwin remained silent.

Major General Nicholas’s consideration was correct. Regrouping the scattered soldiers along with the infantry arriving from the rear could gather at least one to two thousand men.

They could use them to attack the guerrillas without difficulty.

However, did Shire not anticipate this?

While pondering, the engine noise that made Erwin’s heart race sounded in the sky again.

At that moment, Erwin understood the situation.

"No, General," Erwin said, "We can’t do it. If we don’t want to be captured, we should change our route right now."

While he was speaking, bombers emerged from the clouds, lowered their altitude, and roared as they dropped bombs on the German Army positioned on the highway.

...

Unlike other wealthy individuals who preferred living in the 15th or 16th districts, James chose to reside in the city center. He believed it was more convenient for both travel and business, and allowed quicker access to information.

James felt unwell and stayed in his villa located in the 2nd district all day.

Feeling a bit better around ten in the morning, he instructed the butler to bring breakfast to his bedroom.

The butler placed the breakfast on the small table by the window, added the newspaper as per James’s habit, and said, "Today’s edition is urgent, sir."

"Oh." James was not surprised and replied with some sarcasm: "Is it about Shire’s impressive parade performance?"

"No, sir," the butler responded, "Shire did not attend the parade, nor did his troops. They are attacking the German Army in Combray."

James was stunned and instantly lost interest in breakfast. He quickly grabbed the newspaper and saw the headline: "At nine o’clock when the parade ceremony began, Shire’s forces launched an attack on the German Army’s defenses!"

James sneered, "Using only tanks to break through the German defenses without artillery—it’s suicidal, isn’t it?"

James had always thought Shire would wait until his new artillery was mass-produced to launch a counterattack, given his factory was rushing production.

That was a mistake by Shire, James thought. Shire wanted to demonstrate his power to the French people on their national day!

The Germans would teach him a lesson.

However, the butler hesitated and said, "Sir, I heard that Shire’s army has successfully broken through the German defenses. The newspaper information is outdated!"

"Already broken through?" James glanced at the butler, then shook his head firmly, "No, that’s impossible. This is just a rumor; people believe Shire can’t fail, so..."

The ringing phone interrupted James’s words. He picked up the receiver to hear Paulina’s voice. She only said two words: "Sir."

"Bad news?" James’s heart sank, sensing something wrong.

"Yes." Paulina replied, "Maybe you’ve heard; Shire has broken through the German defenses."

James sighed lightly, acknowledging the news.

At the same time, he felt somewhat relieved, "This is not bad news, it has nothing to do with us."

The other end of the line was silent for a moment before slowly adding, "Shire broke through the German defenses using the ’Saint-Samont.’"

"What? ’Saint-Samont’?" James exploded, shouting, "Are you kidding? The ’Saint-Samont’ cannot!"

"Sir, every word I say is true." Paulina spoke with frustration, "It was ’Saint-Samont.’ Shire removed the machine guns and made slight modifications, using it as artillery to attack the enemy’s 105 howitzer positions!"

James stood there stunned, unable to react for a long time.

All this time, he had been racking his brains over the purpose behind Shire’s purchase of the ’Saint-Samont,’ yet he never figured it out.

But now, with Paulina’s insight, he finally understood.

"As artillery, he actually used the ’Saint-Samont’ as artillery!" Suddenly feeling dizzy, if not for the butler’s timely support, James would have collapsed to the ground.

"How did I not think of that?" James slumped onto the bed, muttering, "It’s not a tank; it’s artillery. God, I invented it only to hand it over to Shire! That bastard, he knew all along..."

James buried his face in his hands in distress.

After James calmed down somewhat, the butler once again handed the receiver to him: "Sir, Paulina seems to have more to say."

James weakly took the receiver, and heard Paulina speak in a lowered voice: "Sir, Grevy and Arman have been arrested."

James replied dismissively, "Hm," as if it were a minor issue.

"You know what to do," James said, "No traces, understand?"

"Yes, sir."

...

That afternoon, Major Durra received shocking news: Shire’s grandfather, Francis, was found dead in his bedroom from a heart attack.

"It couldn’t possibly be a heart attack, Major." Gabri urgently said, "We just arrested Grevy; everyone knows Francis was closely associated with Grevy..."

"Really?" Major Durra coldly interrupted Gabri: "If there was a murderer, who do you think did it?"

Gabri opened his mouth but hesitated to speak.

Everyone knew it was James; Francis was the intermediary between James and the right-wing. With Francis dead, the link was severed.

But this was just speculation; without evidence, nothing could be done against him.

Moreover...

Gabri glanced at Major Durra with a flicker of doubt in his eye.

Major Durra should have anticipated this result long ago, yet he did not arrange protection for Francis in advance.

This meant that Major Durra had, in fact, given James the opportunity to silence him?

Gabri swallowed hard, feeling chills all over.

This world is full of dangers, and life-threatening situations are not confined to the battlefield!