Cannon Fire Arc-Chapter 914 - 28 Ugly Behavior

Vasily took on the task, riding Bucephalus as he wandered through the city.

He stopped an old man by the roadside and asked in hastily learned Melanianese, "Sir, I'm looking for the Headquarters address for Marshal Rocossov. Do you know where there are intact buildings? I've been searching for a while without success."

Old man: "Marshal's Headquarters? Young man, you might as well check if the Prosens' Headquarters and barracks have any intact buildings left. Look at that church over there; it's already the best-preserved building in this district."

Vasily glanced at the half-collapsed church and scratched his head.

The old man, worried that Vasily might not believe him, added, "Look around, there's no other building here!"

Vasily didn't need to look around; he had just searched and indeed found no intact large buildings in several blocks.

"Alright, then, if you could trouble yourself, please point out where the enemy Headquarters is." Vasily took out a map and spread it out in front of the old man.

Old man: "I can't read maps, but I know the way. Young man, follow me."

With that, the old man tottered forward.

Bucephalus immediately matched his pace to follow.

Old man: "This street was beautiful before; there was even a pianist who played the piano every day. I heard that pianist had two respectable jobs at the national radio station and Philharmonic Orchestra. His wife was a soprano singer, practicing her voice upstairs in the morning."

Vasily: "Where are they now?"

Old man: "Initially, the singer thought it wasn't bad to be a Prosen, and the pianist agreed with his wife's opinion. After all, it had been over a hundred years since Melania lost its freedom, and it seemed better to be ruled by the Prosens than by the Ante brutes.

"Back then, many intellectuals thought this way; they eagerly wanted to become authentic Prosens."

Vasily: "What? Isn't this surrendering? In Ante, such people have been wiped out by the Tribunal, and even their relatives and friends were captured and sent to the Far East to dig potatoes."

Old man: "There was a special unit in the guerrilla dedicated to handling such Melanian traitors, sometimes hanging them, but the Prosens greatly assisted the guerrilla."

Vasily: "How do you mean?"

"You don't know, young man; the Prosens genuinely slaughtered us Melanians like pigs. The pianist's wife was required to kneel and lick clean a Prosen lieutenant's shoes just because she dirtied them on the road.

"After she licked it clean, the lieutenant maliciously spat on it and demanded she continue licking. At this moment, the singer refused, stating she knew Major von Hoffmann and intended to report the abuse.

"The lieutenant then drew his pistol and shot her dead.

"Afterwards, Major von Hoffmann sent a gift box to the pianist, with a card saying, 'Congratulations, you can find a new wife now.' The lieutenant faced no consequences and was even promoted shortly after."

Vasily: "And then?"

"Then the pianist invited that major for a meal, got him drunk, and killed him, setting his house on fire and presenting the major's head as a pledge to join the guerrilla."

Vasily: "The guerrilla actually let him join? Didn't they suspect him of being an enemy spy?"

Old man: "It's said the pianist made a demand to the guerrilla; he wanted the lieutenant who killed his wife—now a lieutenant—to be executed and publicly displayed with a sign outlining his crimes. He insisted on personally participating in the action.

"The guerrilla later sent two volunteers to assist him, and the three of them successfully ambushed him on his patrol routeto attain their goal."

Vasily: "Ah, I see."

"The Prosens have occupied this city for six years now, with such occurrences happening daily, even those who initially supported their occupation gradually joined the guerrilla.

"Helman was right; resistance is the only way out. Resistance is not just a bullet, but a dignified and honorable life."

Vasily: "Of course, strive to be free men."

The old man looked back at Vasily: "The young people have forgotten the times of Ante's rule over us. But I remember. You're the Marshal's Deputy Officer, aren't you? Are you still planning to treat us as a duchy of Ante as before?"

Vasily: "The Marshal mentioned that Melania will exist as an independent nation, becoming an ally of Ante. As long as we adhere to the secular faction, we are Davarish, nationality doesn't matter."

The old man nodded: "Yes, during the great uprising against the Tsar, the secular faction stood with us and faced suppression for it.

"I'd love to chat longer, but we've arrived; ahead is the Prosen occupation army Headquaters."

Vasily looked up and indeed saw a cluster of mostly undamaged buildings.

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The walls of the building complex were riddled with bullet holes, but it seemed that the guerrilla's firepower wasn't enough to breach through, even the wooden sentry post at the entrance remained intact.

A guerrilla fighter was already standing in front of the sentry post, but he was chatting with a young woman.

Vasily rode up and questioned, "Why are you chatting with a young woman while on duty?"

"The Prosens have been defeated, and they've fled with their tails between their legs, we've won!" the young man replied. "Of course, we should enjoy the praises and flowers from the girls!"

Vasily said sternly: "Nonsense! With the speed at which the Prosens recover, by tomorrow they could regroup and launch a probing counterattack. Underestimating them will lead to great suffering!"

The guerrilla fighter frowned: "Who are you? Marshal Rocossov drove the enemy away; his forces are pursuing them; there won't be any Prosens returning to this city!"