Three days had passed since Colonel Chatham, commander of the French occupation forces, was attacked.
In a factory on the outskirts of Stuttgart that was apparently abandoned due to a bombing, some messy footprints appeared on the white snow, causing the wild dogs that had been foraging nearby to hide.
In a dilapidated factory building, more than a dozen men with nervous expressions were looking out the window vigilantly through the leaky windows.
The leader was a middle-aged man who was missing a little finger on his left hand.
Unlike the nervous men around him, this man seemed very calm, as if he was sitting by his own stove. He leisurely lit a pile of sundries and stretched his frozen and blue hands over the flames to warm them back and forth.
The men around were looking around with vigilance, glancing at the fire in the middle from time to time.
What was revealed in his eyes was not desire, but worry.
"Okay, don't be so nervous, it's just a small fire. It won't attract the French. Arrange someone to guard the surrounding area, and everyone come over and warm themselves by the fire!
This is damn cold.”
...
...
The middle-aged man said impatiently.
"Sir, why did Commander Leon call us here?"
There was an older man who continued to observe the situation outside without being moved, and asked the middle-aged man.
After hearing the man's question, the middle-aged man said unhappily:
"You ask me, who should I ask? These Gestapo people are always evasive when doing things, not straightforward at all."
The man waved his hands and said:
"Sir, do you think we may have found something?"
The middle-aged man's eyes sparkled, and he said to the people around him with a playful expression:
"He was responsible for hiding the things. Shouldn't it be easy to find them?"
The people around him began to show slightly excited expressions, as if their nervousness was relieved.
"Now you should think about whether he will swallow this batch of things."
"Sir, isn't this used as military funds for our resistance? If he dares to swallow it, we will kill him."
Hearing this, the middle-aged man gave a disdainful smile.
These idiots haven't figured out the situation yet and still believe that Germany still has a chance to make a comeback.
But it’s better this way. If it weren’t for these naive guys, how would he have had the opportunity to come into contact with such a huge fortune.
Although he looked down on these fools under his command, he was very wary of the Gestapo named Leon.
Because he knew what a terrible guy this was.
What he couldn't understand the most was why this guy was willing to use this wealth as military expenses for the rebels.
Leon is a clear-headed and cruel guy.
Is he really so loyal to the Führer?
This was really hard for him to believe.
Seeing that the middle-aged man didn't say anything, the people around him also had different expressions and didn't ask any more questions.
He continued to observe the surrounding environment silently, and his extremely nervous mood eased a little.
No one knew how long it had been, but just when these people were getting impatient, one of them saw two dark shadows slowly approaching the hiding place from afar.
"Sir, two people have arrived. They look like Sir Leon."
When the middle-aged man heard the report, he quickly stood up and looked through the telescope at the two figures on the snow.
Both of them were wrapped up tightly and their appearance could not be seen clearly.
However, he still recognized one of them from the way he walked.
"They are coming. Keep observing the surroundings and pay attention to whether there are any tails behind them. I will go to greet them."
After saying that, he handed the telescope to the person next to him, put on gloves, wrapped a scarf around his neck, walked out of the hiding place, and headed towards the two people opposite.
Seeing wisps of green smoke coming out of a house in the distance and slowly approaching the dilapidated factory, one of the two men frowned and looked around with some dissatisfaction.
Seeing that there was nothing unusual around, he continued to move forward.
The two men were walking in the snow, wrapped so tightly that their identities could not be seen at all.
"Sir, there's a man coming out."
Both of them saw a person walking out of the house.
After hearing his subordinate's report, the other man just snorted coldly and didn't say anything more.
But keep moving forward.
Soon the two sides met at a collapsed brick wall in the factory.
The man coming out of the factory gave a Nazi salute and said:
"Commander Leon, former Major Sabio Robin of the 2nd Battalion of the SS Führer Guard reports to you."
The two people on the other side also gave a Nazi salute.
"Major Robin, we meet again. Let's talk inside! It's too cold outside."
Then one of the two said.
Soon, they passed through the ruins and entered the dilapidated house where everyone was hiding.
The two people who came in took off the scarves around their necks and the hats on their heads.
He raised his right hand and saluted along with everyone else in the room.
The house was filled with uniform shouts of "Hey! Hettler!"
The two people who entered the room were Bormann's neighbor Leo and Leo's superior.
This man's real name was obviously not Paul.
"Sir, are we going to start the operation?"
Major Robin was a little impatient, and greed flashed in his eyes.
Leon heard his question and did not answer directly, but asked back:
"Major Robin, what are my orders to you?"
Obviously, he did not expect that Lieutenant Colonel Leon of the Gestapo would ask this question.
I couldn't help but complain in my heart, you really take me for granted, I am from the SS, not your Gestapo.
We are all working together temporarily, and you really want me to be your boss and give orders to you?
But he certainly wouldn't show it directly.
After all, the other party promised to provide them with military funds, but the money is not their own, so why are they so arrogant?
"Sir, half a month ago we received the order to hide and wait for your call."
No matter how big your opinion is, you still have to show enough respect on the surface.
Otherwise, why would others provide you with military funds?
"So did you follow orders?"
Leon's tone remained calm, and no emotion could be heard.
But Leo, who was standing next to Leon, secretly took a step back.
Leo has a clear understanding of his superior.
Beneath the seemingly calm surface at this moment, there is a volcano hidden that could erupt on a large scale at any time.
Hearing Leon's question, Robin realized that he and others' actions a few days ago were known to him.
So this is to ask for punishment.
"This... Sir! Listen to me, we just happened to run into the other commander going out.
At that time, time was very tight and we didn't have time to inform you.
But this opportunity is too rare to pass up.”
"So, you don't think you're wrong?"
Leon's tone became even colder, and his fingers tapped on his thigh unconsciously.
This is a sign of his anger.
"Sir, we are the resistance army, and there is nothing wrong with attacking the French bigwigs!"
Robin continued to argue with his neck stiff.
Leon tapped his thigh with his hand and slapped the fool in front of him in the face.
There was a loud "bang" sound, causing everyone around to tremble.
He stood there obediently, not daring to move.
"You still know you are a rebel! The French are now under martial law and searching for you. How dare you light a fire here to keep warm?
Don’t you know that the smoke from your fire will attract other people’s attention?
Are you brave or stupid? Can't you tell the difference yourself?"
After being slapped in the face, Robin clenched his fists so hard that they made a creaking sound. He wished he could smash the man in front of him in the face.
Because he really didn't think he had done anything wrong.
It was they who had initiated the attack on Colonel Chatham.
They had been hiding near the French occupation headquarters, and they had mastered the principle of hiding in the dark.
It did not attract the attention of the French occupation forces at all.
When observers noticed that Chatham had simply entered a nearby hotel, Robin knew his chance had come.
He made an impromptu attack without hesitation.
The plan was also very simple and straightforward. It was the result of plans that were made while they were hiding nearby and were continuously improved.
Contrary to what Fang Lang and Colonel Chatham had expected, they did not receive any advance news of this attack.
Everything is decided on the spur of the moment.
Unfortunately, their firepower was insufficient and they were unable to kill Colonel Chatham immediately.
Furthermore, the people in the hotel who were about to attack from behind were frightened by Fang Lang's guards and did not dare to do so.
So the plan failed.
But Stuttgart was their home ground, and although the assassination attempt failed, they still easily shook off their pursuers.
As for whether the fire would attract the French occupation forces, he felt there was no need to worry at all.
In such cold weather, many people lit fires to keep warm, and many homeless Germans also needed to burn fires to keep warm.
He doesn't think he is wrong.
Robin was very angry after being slapped.
However, he now knew very well that now was not the time to resist, after all, the other party had something he wanted.
So he decided to hold it in and squeezed out a few words from between his teeth.
"I'm sorry, sir!"
Leon could see Robin's dissatisfaction.
After all, the other party and I are not on the same page. The other party is a SS combat unit, while I am the Gestapo and belong to the intelligence department.
He also hoped to expand the size of the resistance army, so he took the initiative to approach the other party and expressed that he could provide them with military funds.
In fact, in Leon's heart, he admired Robin's spirit of persisting in fighting in such a difficult environment.
Unfortunately, it now seems that the other side does not know how to fight behind enemy lines. What is the difference between now and before?
They completely lack the vigilance that a guerrilla force behind enemy lines should have.
Instead, he felt that this was his own territory and was so arrogant that he looked down on the enemy.
This is extremely dangerous. If we are not careful, we will be caught by the French and our entire army will be wiped out.
Looking at the soldiers around him who were looking at him, Leon knew that he could not be too harsh on these soldiers who were still fighting.
After all, these people are our own people and it is impossible to treat them like enemies.
Moreover, they had just launched a very deterrent attack and suffered certain casualties.
If you completely deny the other party's achievements, it may cause a serious blow to the enthusiasm of the soldiers.
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