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Chapter 91: Fleecing the French (3)
🕑 Added 2024-12-15 14:30:01 +0000 UTC"Don't be so worried, General de Gaulle. Even though you have a lot of autonomy in the post-war decisions, it's still necessary to have things in writing, don't you think? So a treaty must be signed. In addition, I'll invite our country's ambassador and General Eisenhower as witnesses. Is that acceptable?" Josh said calmly.
“Phew... Of course, that’s fine!” De Gaulle sighed deeply and nodded.
“Then, I wish us a pleasant cooperation!” Josh’s face lit up with a dazzling smile as he extended his hand to De Gaulle.
De Gaulle, feeling both relieved and heavily burdened, said nothing and simply reached out to shake Josh’s hand.
“I’ve arranged a banquet. Would You honor us with your presence for a casual meal?” Josh generously invited.
In business dealings, Josh didn’t mind making friends if there was no business being discussed.
After all, De Gaulle was the last "real man" of France—an endangered species indeed.
De Gaulle didn’t decline Josh’s invitation. For the sake of his country and this city, he had borne so much—why not have a good meal?
The next day, under Josh’s special invitation, the newly-arrived U.S. Ambassador to France and General Eisenhower witnessed the contract signing between Josh and De Gaulle at the George V Hotel conference room.
Under normal circumstances, Eisenhower, as the Supreme Allied Commander with immense authority, wasn’t so easy to invite, nor was his relationship with Josh particularly close.
However, this agreement benefited the U.S. as well. After all, the Americans doubted whether De Gaulle or the French government could repay, or even be willing to repay, the debt for two armored divisions after the war.
But with this contract signed, if France defaulted on its debt, the U.S. could justifiably deduct it from France’s post-war reparations!
Thus, Eisenhower was happy to oblige as a favor.
The day after the contract was signed, two Liberty ships loaded with canned meat appeared on the Seine River.
These Liberty ships were second-hand goods Josh had bought at half price from a British shipping company specifically for transporting bulk goods.
With Josh providing 10,000 tons of canned meat, combined with the rationing system implemented since the fall of France, the food shortage in Paris was somewhat alleviated.
And even though these canned meats were sold to the interim government at a 'low price,' Josh and other merchants would till make a profit.
The food crisis persisted, but at least people wouldn’t starve.
Paris’s wealthier citizens were still willing to pay extra to eat better.
Even those without money—well, the charming French women could always earn some from the American soldiers.
Moreover, if Josh stopped selling food, he could still sell other goods instead.
Now that people weren’t starving, wouldn’t the romantic French indulge in some small pleasures? Cigarettes, wine, coffee, and sweets—all of which the interim government wouldn’t distribute.
Thus, Josh continued to loot the French people while quietly waiting for the Return to the Eagle’s Nest operation to unfold.
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“I thought you wouldn’t return until the operation began!” A few days later, in the study of the presidential suite, Josh carefully wiped a bronze dragon head while speaking to the woman sitting opposite him.
“I missed you too much! Without seeing you, I couldn’t eat or sleep,” the woman said coquettishly, fiddling with the collar around her neck.
It was none other than Ophelia.
“Is that so? I didn’t know I was that charming!” Josh raised an eyebrow and carefully placed the dragon head into a box. Miss me? Probably just hoping I’d die, huh?
“Tsk, tsk. Lord Kahn is being too modest. Which young lady in Paris doesn’t dream of spending a night with you? But alas, it seems our dear Lord Kahn has... peculiar preferences,” Ophelia mocked.
“…Heh. Are you trying to provoke me?” Josh’s expression turned cold.
Recently, Vito and others had informed him of rumors in Paris suggesting his sexual orientation might be unusual.
These rumors arose simply because, despite Josh frequently visiting cabarets like the Moulin Rouge and Le Lido, he had never been involved in any romantic scandals.
In this era, such behavior was almost unheard of—especially in the romantically renowned France.
With Josh’s exceptional appearance, the rumors seemed all the more plausible.
But Josh had always dismissed such gossip.
Whether I’m a man or not isn’t up to you to decide. The truth was, Josh was simply picky. Though Paris was famous for its romance, most women didn’t catch his eye.
As for these baseless rumors, no one dared confront him about them. Powerful figures wouldn’t offend him, and commoners who tried would end up feeding the fish in the Seine river.
But Ophelia’s mention of the subject was pure provocation.
To be fair, her grudge against Josh ran deep—she had returned to Austria and tried various methods to remove the collar but failed.
“Apologies, I shouldn’t have said that, but… ahhh—” Before Ophelia could continue mocking Josh, he pressed a button on her collar controller , causing her to collapse onto the sofa, twitching.
“Pfft. Pathetic,” Josh sneered, opening another box on the table to reveal a bronze snake head.
These bronze sculptures were the zodiac heads from the Old Summer Palace, which Josh had recently acquired from French collectors.
Earlier, he had also obtained the rat and rabbit sculptures.
Back in Britain, he had found four more.
Now, Josh had eight of the twelve zodiac heads.
As for the remaining four, their whereabouts were still unknown.
But Josh wasn’t in a hurry; he would find them eventually.
Besides, he had already acquired other national treasures from Britain and France, including Napoleon’s golden laurel crown. Though, honestly, that crown wasn’t particularly impressive—it had only three leaves left.
While Josh admired the bronze heads, the phone in the study rang.
He answered it, and the robust voice of General McGinnis came through.
“Josh, head to the window! We’re starting!”
Hearing this, Josh paused, then heard a deafening roar outside. He quickly put down the bronze sculpture and walked to the window.
The sky was filled with countless planes heading northeast from Paris.
The Eagle’s Nest Operation had begun!
“Magnificent!” Ophelia, who had somehow recovered, walked to the window and murmured in awe at the spectacle.
Josh glanced at her, then pressed the electric shock button on her collar again, watching her collapse once more before turning back to the historic scene unfolding outside. The number of aircraft used for this operation was far greater than for Normandy.
Comments
incognito viewer
His taste must surely be asians, specifically, those of white jade skin, silk smooth outlines, and slender long legs.
