I Became a Tycoon During World War I - Chapter 275

Chapter 275: The Second Bureau

The sky gradually darkened. Paris' winter was particularly bleak and cold, especially during the brief moment before nightfall, when the little light and warmth would be instantly sucked away, leaving only endless darkness and cold.

The French National Defense Intelligence Bureau, also known as the French General Staff's Second Bureau, was commonly referred to as the "Second Bureau" or simply "the Bureau" by many.

Captain Gabri of the military intelligence anti-espionage group sat under the desk lamp, staring absent-mindedly at the telegram in his hand.

The telegram had been sent by Captain Watson of the British MI6. Watson was in charge of MI6's operations in France, and coincidentally, Captain Gabri had trained in Britain alongside him.

Perhaps because of this connection, their cooperation was close, with both sharing intelligence and exchanging anti-espionage knowledge and experiences.

In the telegram, Captain Watson complained, "The battle was lost, utterly lost, it's unbelievable. The Royal Navy wasted the opportunity Charles secured for us with such inefficiency!"

This wasn’t news; Captain Gabri had already learned the outcome of the Dardanelles offensive.

What intrigued him was the latter part: "Wasted the opportunity Charles secured for us."

What opportunity? How did Charles secure it?

Could Charles have cooperated with MI6?

Charles was French—how could the British know what he had done while the French Second Bureau had no idea? This was a disgrace to the Second Bureau!

Thinking deeper, Captain Gabri suspected this could be related to espionage.

Previously, Captain Gabri had always found it strange that the Entente forces had been attacking the Dardanelles for 28 days, but it wasn’t until the very end that the Germans sent reinforcements to the Ottoman Empire.

This was not like the German efficiency, especially since Germany had always been keen on cultivating relations with the Ottoman Empire.

It was… Charles’ doing!

Captain Gabri keenly realized that Charles had likely played a role in the operation and had used some method to deceive the Germans.

And the only way the Germans could have been convinced was if they were manipulated through their own spies.

Thinking of this, Captain Gabri abruptly stood up from his chair, exclaiming to his assistant Benoit, "Go to the City Defense Headquarters!"

"City Defense Headquarters?" Benoit nervously followed behind. "Captain, if we’re going there to investigate someone, shouldn't we file a request or ask Major Dura..."

"No, we’re just looking for an acquaintance," Captain Gabri explained as he put on his military cap. "It’s not official business."

Captain Gabri believed this could be an opportunity to earn merit; he might catch a big fish!

Benoit felt somewhat relieved. The Second Bureau wasn’t particularly popular, and now they were going to the City Defense Headquarters.

However, when they showed their identification and entered the City Defense Headquarters, Benoit realized he was wrong.

Captain Gabri walked directly up to Colonel Charles, who was about to leave, saluted, and extended his hand, introducing himself, "Good evening, Colonel. My name is Gabri, and I am from the Second Bureau’s anti-espionage group."

Benoit’s face turned pale with fright.

Captain Gabri had actually found Charles, and even at the City Defense Headquarters! He was crazy!

Sure enough, the officers who were about to leave stopped in their tracks, and Colonel Fernand, who had already gone downstairs, was called back.

One by one, they surrounded Captain Gabri and Benoit, their expressions unfriendly.

...

General Gallieni had already returned to the lounge, lying on the bed waiting for his dinner to be brought by the servant. Suddenly, a messenger rushed in with a report, "General, it’s the Second Bureau; they’re here to find Charles!"

Gallieni froze for a moment, then quickly sprang to his feet, not even bothering with his hat, and hurried out of the lounge.

Gallieni was anxious, but not to protect Charles—he was more concerned about the impertinent people from the Second Bureau. How dare they barge into the City Defense Headquarters to arrest a spy, especially one as important as Charles?

They would be beaten by the staff in the headquarters and thrown out. If the citizens of Paris found out, they might just do it again.

Sure enough, by the time Gallieni reached the operations room, Colonel Fernand was already gripping Captain Gabri by the collar, speaking in a provocative tone, "This is not your place, Captain. There are too many military secrets here that you should not know. I have reason to believe you came to gather intelligence..."

"Enough!" Gallieni shouted as he walked toward them, the officers parting to let him through.

"My apologies, General," Captain Gabri hastily explained. "I just wanted to ask Charles a few questions..."

Gallieni interrupted, "You know the procedure."

Captain Gabri replied, "No, no, this doesn’t require following procedures. I—"

Just then, Major Dura rushed in, shouting from a distance, "General, this is a misunderstanding. Captain Gabri is a big fan of Charles and just wanted to talk to him about a personal matter!"

Gallieni raised an eyebrow. He recognized Major Dura, the head of the Second Bureau’s anti-espionage group. If he was here, something serious was going on, and it wasn’t just as he said.

Charles said nothing, only giving a light smile. It was quite absurd—was the Second Bureau only just realizing this now? Wasn't it a bit too late?

...

Major Dura and Captain Gabri sat in the back seat of the car on their way back to the intelligence bureau, with Dura's face clouded in anger.

Finally, it was Captain Gabri who spoke first, "Major, Charles must know something..."

"You fool!" Major Dura coldly interrupted, "You guessed that Charles set up a trap for the Germans, but you didn’t realize what you were doing? What if the trap is still ongoing? Do you think you can handle the consequences?"

Captain Gabri froze, suddenly understanding: If this was related to military secrets, ones that could even affect the outcome of the Dardanelles campaign, his rash actions would not only fail to catch a big fish but might expose the plot Charles and the British set up with the Germans.

The realization made Captain Gabri break out in a cold sweat.

This wasn’t just about his future being ruined; the entire Second Bureau might be implicated.

Major Dura gritted his teeth in anger. He had almost drawn his revolver to shoot this clueless officer who was only thinking of merit.

Charles, someone as significant as him, could a mere captain like you just approach?

Dura had suspected something was amiss for some time, but had never dared to act on it. Now this reckless captain had blundered in.

Though Charles was only a colonel, a campaign as major as the Dardanelles could very well be his plan. And you wanted to talk to him?

If Dura hadn't seen that telegram and guessed that Gabri would find Charles, this could have turned into a huge mistake.

No, perhaps the mistake had already happened.

If there were German spies at the City Defense Headquarters or nearby, Gabri’s actions today would surely raise suspicion.

Now, all they could do was hope that the secret was already in the past.

Otherwise, the entire Second Bureau might be disbanded!

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