Chapter 20 The Smiling Man

Dejoka and Charles got off the car in front of Francis' villa.

They waved goodbye to Brownie and others, and the car drove towards the Marne River with the sound of the engine. There were sporadic gunshots from the front line, and occasionally a few cannons. Charles guessed that it was the 75MM field artillery brought up by the French army.

The two walked into the villa under the guidance of the servants, and vaguely saw Francis and Pierre discussing something with several people in the living room, and it seemed that red wine was served.

Dejoka was about to take Charles to greet him, but the butler Simon stopped him in time and said politely:

"Mr. Dejoka, Master Charles, the master is talking business with guests. He told you that if you come, go to the study and wait for him first. He has something to discuss with you!"

Dejoka said "um" and took Charles upstairs.

Charles deliberately slowed down his pace when he went upstairs, trying to listen to the content of the conversation in the living room.

I couldn't hear clearly because of the distance, but I still heard the word "tank", and I knew what was going on.

Seeing Charles falling behind, Djoka turned back and asked in confusion: "What's wrong, Charles, are you tired?"

"No, father, nothing!" Charles replied, quickening his pace to catch up with Djoka.

In the antique study, the housekeeper served coffee to Djoka and Charles: "If you need anything, please tell me at any time!"

"Thank you, Simon!" Djoka sat in the chair and stretched his limbs to his heart's content. The taxi was too crowded and he felt oppressed.

After taking a sip of coffee, Djoka cast his eyes on Charles who was casually browsing on the bookshelf and asked: "Are you sure someone has bought the tank property rights at a higher price?"

If not, they will face the suppression of the two hundred family-owned military enterprises. Djoka is not very confident about this. After all, the other party has wealth, connections and power that are completely asymmetric with the Bernard family.

Even if he wants to fight against them, Djoka thinks now is not the time.

Therefore, selling the property rights to strengthen their own strength should be the best choice at present.

"Sure!" Charles answered calmly: "Because they are downstairs!"

"Knock!"

Deyoka was so shocked that the coffee cup in his hand fell on the tray, and some spilled on his pants.

"You mean..." Deyoka took out a handkerchief and wiped it while asking Charles half-doubtfully: "The person who is talking to Francis downstairs is here to buy the tank property rights?"

Charles took out a book, which was Hugo's "The Man Who Laughs", which exposed the corruption, decay, ugliness and unscrupulousness of the French aristocratic upper class.

Charles answered while flipping through it, with a casual tone:

"Father, if I'm not mistaken, they should have offered a considerable price."

"The reason why Mr. Francis asked us to avoid it is..."

Charles didn't continue to speak. Deyoka has always been concerned about that family affection, which may completely cut off his thoughts.

Deyoka's face turned pale, and his eyes gradually became dull. He looked at the half cup of coffee in front of him and continued Charles' words with difficulty: "Is it to take the benefits away from us?"

Charles did not answer. This required his father to make his own judgment.

"No, it's impossible!" Deyoka shook his head slightly: "He won't do that. You are his grandson..."

"Father!" Charles interrupted Deyoka: "Mr. Francis will come up later. He may find an excuse to ask us for property rights, or exchange, what he thinks is an exchange. You should think about how to deal with it!"

Deyoka remained silent. He didn't believe what Charles said was true, but he inexplicably wanted to run away with Charles.

...

In the living room downstairs, the butler whispered a few words to Francis' ear. Francis nodded slightly, stood up and bowed slightly: "I'm very sorry, gentlemen! I have something to deal with. I'll be gone for a while. You continue to discuss the details!"

He nodded to Pierre.

Pierre understood and immediately took over the topic and continued to chat and laugh with the guests. He was very good at this.

Francis took the wet towel from the servant, wiped the sweat off his forehead, wiped it on his hands, threw it back to the servant, looked upstairs, and then walked up the stairs to the study.

As he walked, he thought:

"Sorry, Dejoka, and Charles."

"If Camille hadn't happened at the beginning, I might have treated you and Pierre's family fairly."

"However, I have ignored you for nearly 20 years. How can I guarantee that Charles didn't do everything for revenge? And you, don't you have any grudges?"

Pierre, who was in the living room, took advantage of the conversation to turn his head and look at Francis' back as he went upstairs, with a meaningful and fortunate look in his eyes.

Francis walked to the door of the study and hesitated for a moment. The moment he pushed the door open, he smiled: "Djoka, Charles, have you been waiting for a long time?"

"No, father!" Djoka replied expressionlessly: "We just arrived a while ago!"

Francis noticed that Djoka's expression was wrong, and asked with his head tilted: "What happened?"

"Oh, no, nothing!" Djoka covered up: "It's just... Camille was frightened by the sound of artillery, I'm a little worried..."

Francis laughed: "Don't worry about this, we have stabilized the defense line, and reinforcements have been sent from Paris. I heard that the 6th Army is gathering and will soon launch a counterattack against the Germans!"

As he said, he turned his gaze to Charles with a kind smile on his face: "Thanks to our Charles, there is such a situation!"

"This is what I should do, Mr. Francis!" Charles answered politely.

Francis nodded approvingly, and then seemed to remember something: "Have you heard? Jarrel is coming back!"

Jarrel is Pierre's eldest son, Francis's designated heir, and has been studying in the UK.

"Really?" Djoka answered expressionlessly.

"Yeah!" Francis sat down in the main seat behind the desk and raised his eyebrows: "Bring Camille with you next time. The Bernard family should take this opportunity to get together!"

Djoka was stunned. His father had never invited Camille. Does this mean... he has already admitted that she has Charles?

Djoka suddenly relaxed and said excitedly: "Okay, father! It's an honor, I..."

"Let the past be the past!" Francis shook his hand: "You have educated my grandson very well, which is worthy of recognition!"

Francis then cast his admiring eyes at Charles.

Djoka breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Charles meaningfully, as if to say: You guessed wrong this time, Charles, Grandpa just wants to recognize us!

Charles did not respond, pretending not to hear anything and flipping through the book by himself, he knew that the important part was often the latter part.

Francis changed the subject: "But there is a problem, Djoka!"

"What?" Djoka asked.

"It's like this!" Francis' face turned cautious: "Jarrell received a call-up order and had to come back, we need to solve this problem!"

Djoka's heart tightened: "You mean..."

Francis continued: "I was thinking, can we let Jarrell have a tractor factory to produce tanks and machine guns, so that he can be exempted from being called up as a special talent. In exchange, I will give the motorcycle factory to Charles to manage!"

The joy on Djoka's face gradually disappeared, replaced by disappointment, anger, and sadness.

Francis seemed to have noticed the change in Dejoka, and he spread his hands: "I know this is unfair to Charles, but... you don't want Jarrel to be drafted, right?"

More than unfair? !

The potential of the tractor was tapped by Charles and was about to be sold, but Francis took it away from Charles!

He also took away the tank invented by Charles with good reason!

Including the machine gun factory that was exchanged at Charles's suggestion was also taken away!

All that was left for Charles was a motorcycle factory that had no value, and it was just "management". In the future, Francis might still take it away from Charles with just one word!

He wanted to take away everything from Charles, and in exchange, he just verbally recognized the identities of Charles and Camille!

Is this just unfair?

Deyoka slowly stood up, his tone surprisingly calm:

"Sorry, father!"

"Unfortunately, we just came back from Paris. We have registered the industrial property rights for the tank this morning and have also negotiated with the buyer!"

"So, if Jarrell wants the right to produce the tank, I think there may be some problems!"

Francis was shocked: "You registered the property rights? And negotiated with the buyer?"

Charles was stunned. He knew that this was not the case. The buyer of the tank property rights had not been negotiated. His father seemed to have become another person!