Chapter 23: A Unique Banquet

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  "Reporting for duty, General! You have something for me?"

  "Oh, Captain Konti! It's like this, I received orders that since your company has suffered heavy casualties in continuous battles, you will supplement the troops with new recruits from Coutances and carry out some lighter tasks."

  "What task?"

  I'm increasingly concerned about the weight of my missions, I no longer get excited to the point of being unbearable when I receive a new task like I used to. Instead, I worry that the tasks given by my superiors are too easy. The more battles I fight, the more dead people I see, and whether it's soldiers or officers like me, we're all getting increasingly tired of this bloody life. When I calm down and think about it, I wonder why some people become more addicted to fighting the more they do it? Is it because they're not afraid of death, or is it because they have a taste for blood?

  "After you've replenished your regiment, go and sweep away the roaming German troops in the Monastery area!"

  "Yes! General!"

  "Oh! Your D-Link officer casualties should be replenished too, go back and see if there are suitable candidates to report!" said General Zhu En.

  "Thank you, General!"

  "Alright, go!"

  The matter of selecting new recruits was actually quite simple, as the US Army training centers at home were pushing large numbers of new recruits to the front lines in France, and there were large numbers of troops who had just landed in Normandy. In less than two days, my unit was fully replenished and assigned to various combat platoons. Another thing, for my D Company's four platoon leaders, miraculously, not a single one died despite the unit suffering 80% casualties, except for Bruce, who was shot in the leg by German troops during the subsequent retreat.

  Qiao Sen couldn't help but boast to the other troops, "Our captain is God's 'darling', and we're benefiting from it too, haha..."

  What Jossen said is a spoiled child, only our people understand what it means. In fact, the meaning is not good, referring to a bastard son. Although he is God's bastard son, think about it and forget it!

  Afterwards, taking advantage of the new recruits' pre-war rush training, I reported the achievements of Joelson, Jones, David and other meritorious soldiers to the higher-ups. It's possible that new appointments will be made soon. Another thing that is very troublesome for me is writing a combat report. To be honest, my writing skills are not good, especially when it comes to these kinds of reports, it's really frustrating. I patiently started several drafts, but none of them felt right, and in annoyance, I threw the discarded reports into the wastebasket. Just as I was getting frustrated, there was a knock at the door outside.

  "Come in!"

  "Hello, Captain Konti! Don't mind me disturbing you!" It was Anna who came looking for me.

  "Oh, it's Miss Anna! How could I mind your arrival? To be honest, I thought you'd still hold a grudge against me for my unreasonable behavior in Carrington."

  We all fell silent when it came to Carrington. Major John Joe had already fallen, and most of the troops defending Carrington were also captured by the Germans. Although the reinforced US military once again relied on its numerical superiority and air superiority to drive the Germans out of Carrington, Major John Joe's battalion was completely wiped out.

  John Joe died, a very good man.

  After a moment of silence, as if we had both forgotten our previous unpleasantness at the same time, Anna and I said in unison.

  "I've been looking for you..."

  "Last time's thing..."

  Haha, a bright and cheerful laughter broke the silence just now. I laughed and said: "Miss Anna first, ladies first!"

  "You're good at making excuses!" Anna laughed. "I came to find you, I'm sorry for my previous temper! Speaking of which, you can be considered as my lifesaver, regarding the original matter"

  I stared at Anna in astonishment, I really didn't expect this woman to be so rational. This expression was naturally seen by Anna in her eyes, and she said somewhat displeased: "Captain, don't you believe it!"

  "No, no! Miss Anna, you've got it wrong. I should be the one apologizing for my rudeness to you instead! It's just that there have been a lot of things going on lately and I haven't had a chance yet."

  "Ahah, now this opportunity is just right!"

  "Honestly, Anna must have something on her mind to come looking for me!"

  Anna said seriously: "After the Kursk exhibition, the Red Soviet Union launched an attack on the German army from the east in 1944 and has recently recovered most of the territories occupied by the German army. The Soviets are now actively preparing to enter Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and other countries for battle. I don't know what Lieutenant Konti thinks the situation will be like later. At the current speed of the Allied forces' attack, can they occupy the German capital Berlin before the Red Soviet Union?"

  "This matter is probably not for a small captain like me to consider, Ms. Anna! You should go up there and interview someone like General Zhuen!"

  I still don't want to comment on this matter. To be honest, I'm still a bit resentful about the last interview. We had agreed that it was just a private discussion, but as soon as Anna returned to Kudanz, she immediately spoke out of turn. She published an article titled "The Gains and Losses of the Germans", which deeply analyzed the causes of Germany's war and its inevitable defeat. Although some parts were modified, it was almost identical to what I had told her. The latter part also included her own thoughts, calling for the establishment of a joint department after the end of the war to fairly discuss international affairs. It is said that this article caused a huge stir in the country immediately after its release, and Anna suddenly became an internationally renowned figure. This incident has left me feeling quite uneasy, and now she's come to find me again, I'm afraid she's got some new scheme up her sleeve!

  "Captain Konti, sir, wasn't I angry last time for not greeting you and intruding on your thoughts without consulting you? Don't worry, it was my fault, but when the opportunity arises, I will explain everything clearly to the public!"

  "It's nothing for me! Don't worry about it, Miss Anna!"

  "Oh, thank you so much for your generosity!"

  I suddenly feel that being a reporter's skin is indeed thicker, and Anna is really good at climbing up by hitting the snake with a stick.

  "But Miss Anna, you've really asked the wrong person! As for who took Berlin first, our Allied Command knows best!"

  Anna smiled and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. I'm leaving here tomorrow! I wonder if I can have the honor of inviting you to my farewell dinner party tonight?"

  "Of course it can!"

  I feel exceptionally relaxed that I can see Anna today. After a busy day, to be honest, I was really looking forward to attending Anna's party tonight. Not for the party itself, but for being able to spend time with this woman.

  In the two days that Jossen, Linberna and others came to Coutances, they somehow found a brothel and ran there to release their passion. This brothel was actually just a larger courtyard where all the women were French, who had no place to live due to the war and could only rely on selling their bodies to American soldiers in exchange for living supplies to survive. For such an institution that is considered a battlefield brothel, General Zhuen and the newly established French temporary government did not even bother to manage it, actually hoping for more of these establishments to exist, so that these frontline soldiers could release their tense nerves due to the war.

  I'm ready to finish some work and also satisfy my physical needs, this is not a sin, just like when people are hungry they need to eat. Women of course all want one that belongs to them, unfortunately as a low-ranking officer I don't even know if there will be a tomorrow after going onto the battlefield. I didn't look down on those women's intentions, actually I'm no different from those women who do it for survival, one sells their body, the other sells their life.

  However, if being with Anna can also bring relaxation, I don't mind being with her. Of course, as for physical intimacy, I haven't thought about it much, and that's also impossible.

  "Why is your wine here, yet up until now there isn't a single guest?" I arrived at Anna's residence and was surprised to find that apart from me, there wasn't a single guest!

  "Because of my wine party, the guest I'm entertaining is just you!"

  Anna's evening dress was very seductive, with golden curly hair draped over her shoulders; a pure white long gown that set off Anna's proud curves, the two proud bulges on her chest seemed like the devil's eyes, capturing people's souls and making them have a desire to pounce.

  "My God, you're absolutely devilish, too tempting!" I exclaimed sincerely!

  "Is it? Captain Conti!"

  "Of course!"

  "Mr. Kongdi, I'm afraid after this time I leave, there will be no more chance for me to get to know you."

  I understand this result, I said lightly: "Then congratulations to Miss Anna for leaving this hell!"

  "Aren't you sad at all?" Anna asked, looking at me curiously with her enchanting blue eyes.

  "Of course, I'm sad that I won't be able to see Miss Anna again. But I'm also happy for Miss Anna, who can now get away from the war, and it's a more pleasant thing overall!"

  "Thank you!"

  The one who should be thanked is me, it's you who brought me a different kind of good mood!

  "Thanks for your compliment! Here's a toast to you!"

  Anna picked up a glass of wine, nodded at me and downed it in one gulp.

  "Are you ready to go back home?"

  "Yes, and maybe also deal with those big shots in Congress!" Anna said with a dismissive pout.

  "Hehe, maybe President Roosevelt wants to see you too!"

  "That's a good thing!" Anna laughed happily, her high-pitched chest heaving rhythmically with her laughter, as if a little devil's hand was beckoning to people nonstop.

  I resisted this extreme temptation with all my might and turned my head to one side. Anna saw it in her eyes, and laughed even more!

  "Miss Anna, you know or don't know, with your current appearance, you can kill men of all ages." I said helplessly.

  "That's just too good!" Anna, who was always receptive to such praise, straightened up and said: "However, I still want to thank you, it was you who gave me such an unimaginable honor and status!"

  I couldn't help but say: "Is it that Miss Anna deliberately set up this special banquet to repay with her body?"

  "Oh no, no, no! Mr. Conte, I just have a special appreciation for your personal charm and would also love to spend a beautiful evening with you."

  "I'm more than happy to accept!"