Chapter 73: The Ill-fated Hardra

“Do you like it?” Akado asked gently in the dark, his voice soft, to the girl leaning on his shoulder.

“I like it. This movie is so touching, I couldn’t stop crying,” Mercedes also replied softly.

This was a movie filmed by Germany called Unchained Melody (Ghost). The film company that invested in it was a small, unknown company under the Reichswehr’s name. And the one who came up with the idea and perfected the script was none other than Akado, the transmigrator. As everyone knew, this movie depicted a deeply moving love story, which moved the high-ranking members of the Greater Germany Party and the high-society nobles who attended the premiere to tears.

This movie also used sound film technology, conquering all the audience in the cinema with its magnificent musical score and fresh, refined dialogue. It was imagined that after its market release, it would be even more popular.

“I never thought you were also an artist,” Mercedes Cassia was very happy recently, because her lover was one of the top military figures in Germany, a hero in the hearts of the entire German people. That half-hidden photo of his was still plastered on the walls of streets and alleys. What was even more surprising was that such an outstanding man also knew how to write a romantic love story—Oh God, you created such a monstrously talented man. Are you even going to let us women live?

Besides the several important subsidiaries under Akado’s own White Orchid Group, the Reichswehr also had its own system of reinvesting its funds for profit. The industries involved were diverse, including film, real estate, food processing, and others. The Reichswehr even used its military transport planes to start an express delivery service and used its own engineering corps to participate in the construction of roads and railways.

The movie finally finished. The surrounding lights came on, and everyone stood up and applauded. The film’s lead actress, Lilian Harvey, hugged the director and cried with excitement. This film might win her the title of Germany’s Best Actress. She would become a household name in the world for having taken this role.

Akado and Mercedes also stood up and applauded. Afterward, they were to attend the film’s unveiling reception together, which was also a social event for Berlin’s high society. However, the smiling Akado saw Gascoigne walk in from a side door with his adjutant. The moment he entered, he began to search for Akado’s position. It seemed he had something to report to him.

“I’m sorry, please excuse me for a moment,” Akado said very politely to Mercedes, then pointed to Lieutenant Colonel Gascoigne, who was walking towards him, and made a well-intentioned joke, “My subordinates just can’t stand to see me have any leisure time.”

“Your leisure time is all dedicated to the German people. They will worship you as they worship a god,” Mercedes said with a smile.

“And you?” Akado asked with a smile.

“Me?” Mercedes smiled. “Me? I already worship you.”

“Thank you. Being worshipped by you gives me a great sense of accomplishment,” Akado was a little shy from Mercedes’s words. He pointed a finger at the main actors in the front row and said, “Go and chat with Lilian Harvey. Perhaps you can hear many little stories from her that happened during the filming.”

Mercedes knew she should leave. There were some things she was not supposed to know and did not need to know. “I’ll wait for you,” she said, then turned gracefully and walked away slowly.

Gascoigne also reached Akado’s side at this time and whispered in his ear, “General, ‘Gray Wolf’ in Britain has sent back intelligence, confirming our battle result.”

“Were those few people really on the ship?” Akado asked, his eyes narrowing.

“They were indeed on the ship. These few people were the British fighter jet design personnel who had secretly visited the United States a few days ago, including Rolls-Royce’s famous aircraft designer, Michell. According to our intelligence, he is one of the few aircraft designers the British Air Force is very optimistic about,” Gascoigne said. “But I still don’t understand. Was it really worth it to use our hidden submarines and risk attacking this British transport ship?”

Akado nodded. “Compared to our opponents, we do not have a numerical advantage. We can only rely on a technological advantage to make up for it. So we must use all means to delay the opponent’s technological development! Therefore, this operation was necessary. More importantly, we succeeded, and we didn’t leave any loose ends.”

“The British Navy has already confirmed the news of the transport ship’s sinking. The navy’s 10 destroyers are still searching in the North Atlantic. Should we notify Admiral Raeder and call these ships back?” Gascoigne asked.

“En! They can be allowed to return, but at a slow speed. Let them practice escort combat more on the sea. This is a rare long-range training opportunity,” Akado said after thinking for a moment, nodding.

Not far away, Anna walked over hurriedly. Akado glanced at her long hair swaying from her brisk walk and sighed, “Sigh, it’s really helpless. When it rains, it pours.”

“I’m sorry, General, Lieutenant Colonel Gascoigne. We just received news that a secret delegation from the Soviet Union has arrived in Berlin. They have specifically requested to see you, General. Mr. Merkel, who received them, said that this time they are most likely here to obtain submarine technology,” Anna said, walking to Akado’s side. She gave a military salute and then reported in a low voice.

“Sigh, let’s head back to the High Command. I was supposed to be on leave this afternoon, but unfortunately, now I’m on duty,” Akado sighed and then said with a smile, “I should apply for two salaries from President Hindenburg, because the Greater Germany Party advocates for paying workers in full for overtime.”

“General, if you need to rest, I can make arrangements. It’s no problem to make the Soviets wait a day,” Anna said with a frown.

Akado waved his hand and smiled with some embarrassment. “I was just joking, don’t take it seriously. Go to the theater manager’s office and call. Have Captain Cindra prepare the materials. You go and have Depp start the car and wait for me at the front door! I’m going to say goodbye to Miss Mercedes.”

After giving out the tasks, Akado discovered that Mercedes, who was standing with Lilian Harvey, was being pestered by a man. Interesting! Akado straightened his suit and walked directly towards Mercedes not far away. “Miss Mercedes, do you need any help?”

“What are you? Interfering with my business here?” The man didn’t look very old and was wearing a very well-fitting custom suit, looking extremely wealthy at a glance. After cursing, he turned his head, glanced at Akado, and was slightly taken aback, because he recognized that the other’s clothes were very expensive.

“I was pursuing this young lady first. You’d best be sensible and get lost quickly!” He changed his tone, but it was still incredibly arrogant. He waved his hand with a provocative look, very deliberately and proudly letting Akado see the ring he was wearing. “The Hardra family is not someone a minor figure like you can afford to offend!”

The Hardra family? This was the first time Akado had heard of this family name. He couldn’t help but be stunned. Where did this family come from? So arrogant?

“The Hardra family is a very old family in Europe, with very friendly relations with the royal families of various countries. They operate many large-scale food and pharmaceutical businesses in the Western European region. This family has always been relatively low-key, so many people have not heard of them. However, they are still one of the top Jewish financial consortiums in Germany,” Mercedes spoke up from behind Akado while he was still puzzled.

Akado nodded, as if a light had dawned on him. He asked very politely, “Well then, since you are from the Hardra family, I would like to know, can you represent the decisions of the entire family?”

“Of course! My family has a very good relationship with the Reichswehr! You’d best get lost quickly, otherwise…” the young man said smugly, seeing that Akado was somewhat intimidated.

Akado laughed heartily. “Seeing how proficient you are at threatening people, I imagine this isn’t the first time you’ve done this, is it?”

“So what if it is? Kid, although you might also be very rich and have a strong background, I am richer and have a stronger background than you! You can only blame yourself for being born into the wrong family!” the youth laughed and grinned at Mercedes behind Akado. “Little beauty! You come to my hotel room tonight! I’ll give you a hundred thousand US dollars.”

Some of the ladies in the surrounding crowd couldn’t help but gasp. A hundred thousand US dollars was no small sum. Many women here felt they would go with someone for an offer of ten thousand.

Akado nodded and beckoned to the side. “Gascoigne.”

“Here!” Gascoigne had been watching the fun from the side. He had already placed his hand on his sidearm, waiting for Akado’s order to go and arrest the man. Hearing Akado call him, he immediately took a step forward and answered.

Akado walked to Gascoigne’s side and said in a low voice, “Don’t we still owe the MAN company a sum of money? Let’s get it from here! Make a move tonight. Uproot the Hardra family! Leave no survivors! Frame the anti-Semitic Nazi Party! Can you do it?”

“Un-understood!” Gascoigne was shocked that Akado was so ruthless, directly giving an order to exterminate them completely. He swallowed hard and looked at the young man before him with the eyes of one looking at a dead man.

“What are you waiting for?” Akado had already turned his head and no longer looked at the young man. “Start with him!”

“Adjutant! Arrest him!” Gascoigne immediately ordered. “He insulted a high-ranking officer of the Reichswehr, with intent to assault!”

The adjutant behind him rushed forward like a wolf, carrying a pistol, and kicked the young man, who was still standing there stunned and not knowing what had happened, to the ground. This caused a stir of gasps from the surrounding nobles and socialites.

Akado looked at Mercedes beside him. “See? I’m not a god, not even a good person.”

“En!” Mercedes nodded. “I know. And I’m not a little girl who likes fairy tales anymore. We’re a perfect match.”

“I’ll have Depp take you home,” Akado said, dismissing his original thought of letting Mercedes go home by herself. “Gascoigne, I’ll take your car back.”