I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 217 This Doesn’t Seem Quite Right

Again late, Chapter Three will be released later, apologies!

...

The lanterns are just lit, and the moonlight is gentle.

Tijani held a ball on the top floor of the Ritz Hotel in Paris’s 1st district, inviting mostly military officers who were rescued by Shire during the Cape Town battle, as well as many nobles and celebrities.

Upon entering the ballroom, Shire found everything quite unfamiliar. The officers were engaged in high-spirited discussions, the women exuding charm, and the atmosphere was ambiguous. Neatly dressed waiters skillfully weaved through the crowd, offering drinks to those in need.

The men and women in the dance floor were dancing gracefully to the music, presenting a scene of harmony and joy.

Tijani was discussing something with a few elegantly dressed ladies. Upon seeing Shire, he casually took a glass from a waiter and tapped it with a spoon, raising his glass towards Shire and shouted, "Gentlemen, let’s toast to Shire!"

"To Shire!" The officers in the ballroom cheered, their gazes converging on Shire.

Along the way, officers and ladies greeted Shire one after another, and Shire smiled and nodded in response, even though he didn’t know any of them.

Tijani warmly greeted him with a handshake, glancing at the gold thread on Shire’s sleeve, and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Colonel!"

Shire looked displeased, "I seem to have told you there’s no need to flatter me for the breakout!"

"I know," Tijani put on a look of innocence, "But it wasn’t my idea, it was them who thought they should meet you and at least thank you in person."

As expected, a few officers stepped forward to introduce themselves, some even mentioning their unit numbers.

Shire was a bit speechless. With so many people and names, he would forget them all as soon as he turned around.

"Next time you can skip me in such occasions!" Shire said, thinking it was arranged by Wells. He didn’t expect it to be a real ball.

"Got it!" Tijani readily agreed.

But the faint smile on his face suggested otherwise, it seemed to imply: You should come out and socialize, Colonel, this is life!

Tijani took a glass of wine from a waiter and handed it to Shire, walking casually and lowering his voice, "He is very satisfied with your plans, Colonel. He has already started developing destroyers and torpedoes."

Shire gave an "hmm," this was Wells’ response, marking the first step in their formal cooperation.

From then on, there was a sort of tacit understanding: Wells would provide support for Shire in the parliament and other possible areas, and Shire would occasionally make suggestions for the shipyard’s development or inventions.

While they were talking, hearty laughter came from the front. It was a woman in her twenties with a rosy complexion. She was surrounded by officers, chatting and laughing freely, and handling herself gracefully in the crowd; occasionally, she would say a few words.

Perhaps noticing Shire’s gaze, the woman boldly waved at Shire, her face full of delight, "Hi Colonel, my little hero!"

Shire did not respond and turned to look at Tijani.

Tijani looked at him incredulously, "Come on, you don’t know her?"

Shire did not answer, glancing around, and walked towards the food area. The only thing that interested him in the ballroom might be that bright red lobster.

"Her name is Hari!" Tijani followed from behind, "A striptease dancer, once very famous in Paris, and many people wanted to associate with her!"

Shire tore off a lobster leg and said sarcastically, "Perhaps you’re one of them?"

"No, Colonel!" Tijani shook his head, "But you would never guess whom she’s associated with!"

"Who?" Shire asked absentmindedly, chewing the shrimp meat.

Tijani leaned closer and whispered, "The Minister of the Navy."

Shire was taken aback and looked at Tijani in confusion.

Shire had seen some information about the Minister of the Navy in the headquarters, knowing he was over sixty years old and still had an interest in such matters?

Tijani nodded slightly with pursed lips and added mysteriously, "She is the Minister of the Navy’s lover!"

Shire’s action of chewing the lobster gradually slowed down.

Speaking of the Minister of the Navy, he remembered that there seemed to be such a woman, who wandered among the officers, disguising herself as a timid young girl afraid of war, chatting with them.

Then, the drunken officers’ protective desires would overflow, and they would rush forward to tell the woman:

"Don’t worry, we have five divisions there!"

"Yes, and two artillery regiments, they will destroy all approaching enemies."

"They will succeed, there will be an attack soon!"

...

The intelligence the Minister of the Navy revealed to her were even more numerous. According to statistics, at least three divisions and more than 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers of the French Army died because of her.

Finally, even the British Army’s commander-in-chief, Kitchener, was intercepted and killed by a German submarine due to information leaks.

Thinking of this, Shire couldn’t help but glance at Hari. She was flirting with the officers, exuding charm, completely disregarding the gazes around her.

This was the state of the French intelligence system at the time.

The Third Republic promoted mutual checks and balances among departments and prohibited autocracy, resulting in many military secrets being unguarded.

For example, Gallieni’s City Defense Headquarters, which should count as the French Army’s second-tier command center, still had many capitalist informants internally.

If capitalists could easily obtain the headquarters’ information, then spies could also get intelligence from the capitalists, making "military secrets" no longer "military secrets."

This was why Gallieni often discussed matters with Shire in the lounge.

Tijani noticed Shire’s odd expression and asked in confusion, "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing," Shire replied, refocusing on the lobster.

...

It was already past ten at night when Shire returned to the headquarters, and he saw the light still on in Gallieni’s lounge.

This was unusual; he should have already been asleep at this time.

As he went upstairs, he faintly heard Gallieni talking to someone. Before he could get closer, Gallieni, upon hearing footsteps, called out, "It must be him!"

Before the words finished, a familiar figure quickly walked out into the light. Seeing Shire, he excitedly hugged him, "Long time no see, my friend!"

Shire looked closely and realized it was Albert I.

"Your Majesty!" Shire asked, "Why are you here?"

Albert I warmly patted Shire’s shoulder, "I had some matters to attend to in Paris, so I came to see you while I was at it. How’s everything?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Shire replied.

"I asked a redundant question!" Albert I laughed, "I can read about you in the newspapers almost daily, it’s no secret anymore."

Gallieni, who had come out, added, "Colonel, we have some matters to discuss!"

Shire felt a bit uneasy, this seemed unusual.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel