Chapter 108 The Destitute Pilot

The police station is right next to the headquarters, and Charles can reach it just a few steps downstairs.

Charles originally thought that he would have to introduce himself, such as who I am and what I do. After all, the army and the police are two departments, and they perform their respective duties in their respective fields, although during this war they were also commanded by Gallieni.

But Charles immediately knew that this was unnecessary. As soon as he walked into the door of the police station, the busy police officers stopped as if the pause button had been pressed. Everyone's eyes were focused on Charles. body, and then surrounded him with a "hula":

"God, you are Ciel!"

"We know you're right next door, but we can't get in, that's where the military is!"

"It's an honor to meet you, Lieutenant! We've heard a lot about you!"

…

The police were much more casual than the soldiers, or perhaps the matters in their hands were not as urgent as the army's, and leaving him alone temporarily would not have much impact, so groups of people gathered around him, vying to shake hands with Charles.

Charles' hands were a little sore, and he finally found a chance to speak: "I'm here to see Eric..."

"Eric?" The police officers looked confused.

"The pilot!" Charles explained. "The pilot who took me to Antwerp!"

The policemen reacted immediately and replied in a flurry of words:

"The one who keeps clamoring for drinks all day long!"

"He considers the police station his home, and he still wants to drink while committing such a crime!"

"Don't worry, Lieutenant, we will keep an eye on him until he confesses all the crimes and those behind it!"

…

Charles thought to himself, these guys wouldn't torture Eric to extract a confession, would they?

Fortunately, this did not happen. This had something to do with Gallieni. He ordered the police to interrogate them with normal procedures. Gallieni actually knew that these people were innocent, and he had other motives for arresting these people.

Eric was held alone in a detention room, huddled in the corner and fell asleep.

The police opened the iron door, and Charles stepped forward to wake him up. Eric opened his eyes in a daze, and saw that it was Charles who turned over and sat up: "Hey, little guy, you are finally here! They said that I Kidnapped you..."

"It's okay, Uncle Eric!" Charles said with an apology on his face: "I've explained it clearly to them, I didn't know they locked you up here!"

Eric said "Uh-huh" twice: "So, I can leave?"

"Yes!"

Eric looked behind Charles again and asked, "What about them?"

Charles turned around in confusion. Behind him were several detention rooms surrounded by iron bars, in which were held more than twenty young and middle-aged men with unkempt hair and ragged clothes.

"They are..." Ciel looked at Eric doubtfully.

"They are from the Carter Flying Club!" Eric replied: "They were all brought here for interrogation because of you!"

"Flying Club? You mean they are all pilots?" Charles looked at these people in disbelief.

They are almost like homeless people, or a violent gang on the street, non-mainstream, and many of them can still clearly see tattoos on their necks.

Are all pilots at this time so depressed?

Ciel thought that Eric was an exception, but he didn't expect that they were all similar!

Later, Charles discovered that his guess was correct. Pilots in this era were indeed depressed, and this was just the tip of the iceberg.

…

In order to apologize, Charles took them to the officers' mess at the headquarters and gave them a good meal.

Compared with ordinary food, the food in the officers' mess is very good.

Common foods such as sausages, bread, jam, and coffee are all self-service and unlimited, but almost no one touches them. They all choose to brew their own wine.

The most important thing is beef stew with white beans, which is an improvement for ordinary soldiers, but it is almost every day, as well as mashed potatoes, pizza and fruit.

The owner of the club is a middle-aged uncle named Carter. He has disheveled hair and a beard. He is wearing a faded jacket and looks a bit like a Viking in the movie!

He almost got into the plate and devoured it. When he raised his head again, the plate was empty, and the soup dripped on his beard, glistening with oil.

Carter didn't wait for the food to be completely swallowed before he couldn't wait to raise the glass of wine. After a few greedy sips, he seemed to remember something. He raised half the glass of wine and shouted vaguely: "Cheers to Lieutenant Charles!"

Others responded:

"Cheers, to the Lieutenant!"

"For Ciel, you are a good man!"

"He is the savior of France!"

…

Then Carter turned around and asked Charles at the next table with interest: "Lieutenant, I heard that you plan to buy Eric's aircraft factory?"

"Yes!" Charles replied.

He sat at the table drinking coffee. He just had breakfast and couldn't eat anything, and the food didn't whet his appetite.

Charles's answer immediately attracted exclamations from the pilots. Some of them even cast envious and jealous glances at Eric and sighed:

"What a lucky guy!"

"I thought he was bragging, but I didn't expect it to be true!"

"Eric is going to get rich!"

…

Eric smiled with his eyes narrowed while drinking, and even raised his glass in a proud salute. He looked more like he was showing off!

Carter smiled bitterly and raised his hands to persuade Charles: "I hope you will think carefully, Lieutenant, and look at us! If you buy an aircraft factory, we may be your customers!"

Eric said "Hey" and stared at Carter, seeming to be somewhat dissatisfied with his words.

Everyone laughed "Hehe", but the laughter was full of bitterness, helplessness and desolation.

Charles thought about it and seemed to understand why they were in this situation.

What can planes do in this era?

Transport goods?

With the limited space and capacity of the plane, it is afraid that the fuel cost will not be earned after a few round trips!

Transport people?

Let's not talk about the safety issue, even if someone sits, only a two-seater plane can carry one passenger!

Combat?

There are no machine guns or bombs, and it can only perform reconnaissance missions. Even so, it has to be robbed of the market by cheap and durable balloons...

Therefore, most of those who can fly planes during this period are because of their hobbies, and they must be very persistent, just like most online writers, who continue to waste time without royalties, invest a lot of time and energy but get nothing!

After a long time, even well-off families can't hold on, and the final result is that everyone has fallen into the current state.

Charles couldn't help but ask, "How much do you earn a month?"

Carter smiled, turned his gaze to the pilots, and called out their names one by one: "Belmondo?"

"I can make 20 francs a month!" Belmondo gently raised his glass: "But this is without buying aircraft parts. If any part is broken, I will have to starve this month!"

"Luccini?" Carter called out the next name.

"I'm a little better, Lieutenant!" Luchini stood up and faced Charles: "I make 25 francs a month, but that's because I've been delivering urgent documents for the military for a long time!"

"Cornelus?" Carter turned his gaze to a guy with a pale face and skinny body but a round belly.

"I..." Cornelus stood up tremblingly: "I don't have money to repair my plane. I haven't had any income for two months!"

He burped and nodded to Charles: "Thank you very much, Lieutenant. I haven't had such a good meal for a long time!"

Charles felt a little sad. These pilots who are called "the pride of heaven" and sought after by thousands of people in modern times are in such a predicament because the aircraft has not been developed.

Just when Charles was sighing at the fate, a signalman came up to Charles and reported: "Lieutenant, the general asked you to go!"

Thanks to Beiyang Duohaojie for the reward! Thank you!