Iron and Blood: A Triumph of the Will

Night had fallen, and as the clock struck twelve, a light rain began to fall outside.

With the whole of Germany gradually entering winter, it's quite rare for it to rain at this time.

The camera zooms out slightly, focusing on the unpaved dirt roadside.

A luxurious Daimler car was parked on the side of the road with its engine running, and Joachim was smoking inside.

Listening wistfully to the raindrops pattering on Daimler's awning, he thought, "It seems the quality of Daimler's luxury cars isn't all that great..."

"Your Highness, hardtop cars are for women to drive; we men should drive these sporty ones."

Wolf was also in the driver's seat, smoking a cigarette.

He had one hand dangling on the steering wheel and the other holding a cigarette.

"Does canvas count as a tough guy style?"

"certainly."

Having received an affirmative answer from Wolf, Joachim had nothing more to say.

He casually rummaged through his pockets and pulled out Tirpitz's number.

Prince Leopold's words also echoed in his mind: I will have Tirpitz call you, remember this number.

What kind of return do you need?

I don't need anything in return; I'm just here to connect people.

"Let's go...back."

Joachim patted Wolf on the shoulder, and the latter immediately started the vehicle.

Although cars in this era were considered a means of transportation, they were still seen as toys for the rich by the general public.

Because it is not fast and has little horsepower, it is really not cost-effective compared to the common horse-drawn carriages.

Posen suburbs

Joachim's car slowly came to a stop next to the luxurious Daimler, next to a detached house.

Joachim lived here during his time in Posen.

In the Western world, officers have privileges; they do not live with soldiers and can return to their own homes outside the military at night.

This is why Joachim also enjoys privileges, especially since he is no longer a pure soldier.

There's no need to follow those so-called rules.

Joachim sat in the car, closing his eyes to rest.

At this moment, Wolf had already gotten out of the car and went up to knock heavily on the door.

The door slowly opened, and a tall, slender young woman immediately greeted them: "Where is the master?"

"In the car." Wolf coldly shook his head, then pointed to the dining table inside: "We haven't eaten yet, so prepare some good food for us."

At this point, he seemed to remember something, and suddenly lowered his voice, coldly threatening, "I fucking never want to eat black bread again. If you give me black bread again, your whole family can forget about working. Get out of the factory right now..."

The girl shuddered at Wolf's threat, her already malnourished lips trembling involuntarily as if staring at a demon.

In her memory, Wolf was definitely not a good person.

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

The darker it was, the more sensitive Joachim's ears became. He naturally heard Wolf's threats and spoke up in the darkness: "You guys have it tough too. Just bring your usual bread; we can eat it."

At this point, Wolf felt a sharp pain in his back, as if he were being pricked by needles.

"Your stomach isn't that delicate, is it, Wolf?"

"Yes, sir!"

Without even thinking, Wolf knew that Joachim was watching him, so he quickly lowered his head.

"Elizabeth, go do what you're supposed to do."

"Wolf, come here!"

Upon hearing this, the girl felt as if she had been granted a pardon and turned to prepare the meal.

Wolf, who had been fierce just moments before, walked over as meekly as a sheep.

"How many times have I told you to stop doing such humiliating things? Can't you just treat things normally?"

Joachim patted the window: "Let me tell you, the people you absolutely can't afford to offend in this world are cooks. If they put poison in your food, you won't even know how you died, understand?"

"Especially at this critical and sensitive time, we need to keep a low profile."

"I understand, Your Highness...My Lord!"

Joachim rolled his eyes at Wolf, took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and placed it on the driver's seat: "Alright, go do what you're supposed to do."

"Put the car parked and come up. I'm waiting for you to eat."

After saying this, Joachim got out of the car and walked straight into the house.

The food inside was ready, and it seemed that the girl had been waiting for them to return.

"Sir...sir."

The girl looked at Joachim's poker face and stammered her reply.

Have you eaten yet?

Joachim took out his pocket watch, checked the time, sat down at the table, and casually asked...

"I've already... I've already eaten," the girl named Elizabeth replied timidly.

"Are you full?" Joachim asked again, then checked the time.

"eat......."

"Then sit down and have some more."

Joachim gave her no time to react and made his decision immediately.

He then pointed unequivocally to the table next to him, gesturing for the girl to sit down.

He picked up his cutlery and cut the dark, hard bread in two, giving one half to her and keeping the other for himself.

"Yes."

The girl picked up her utensils and started eating, though she had never actually eaten her fill from the beginning.

Before Joachim arrived, someone in their family had been unemployed. Although Pots was an agricultural province, it could barely feed itself to keep from starving; Pots' grain production was nowhere near that of Lower Silesia...

So Elizabeth's reply revealed a hint of gratitude.

After checking the time again, Wolf came up.

The two nodded in acknowledgment, without saying much more.

Elizabeth sat to Joachim's left and Wolfe to his right, until they had all begun to eat.

Joachim didn't touch his chopsticks either. Instead, he turned to Elizabeth and asked, "How's your father's work going lately? Is everything going smoothly?"

"Thanks to your help, sir."

Upon hearing Joachim's question, Elizabeth put down her cutlery. She felt her breathing quicken and her face flush. "My father is working in the factory, and everything is going well. I heard he'll be getting paid soon. He often packs food for us, which greatly eases the family's burden. All of this is thanks to you..."

"Packaging food from factories isn't allowed. Who gave your dad permission to do this?" Wolf chimed in again. "Your dad is smuggling public property; he'll go to jail, you know that?"

"what?"

Elizabeth was startled by the threat again, and her heart suddenly jumped into her throat.

Her face turned pale with fright, and her eyes as she looked at Joachim were filled with despair.

She was genuinely scared; her family had finally managed to find a stable job.

Now, because of this reason, not only have I lost it, but I also have to go to jail?

"Alright, stop scaring her."

Joachim delivered the final blow: "It's just taking a small advantage, nothing serious."

Elizabeth only managed to put her heart back in her stomach after hearing the important person speak.

"Go on."

"My lord, is there anything else you would like to hear?" Elizabeth asked timidly.

"Your father is Polish, and he's been hanging out with those Poles lately. Have he heard any rumors?"