Chapter 40 - 40:

Words : 1112 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

The sun had barely begun to rise when the roar of engines shattered the morning silence. Moreau had barely managed a few hours of restless sleep, his mind haunted by the images of blood, bodies, and the cold, merciless reality of war. He hadn't even changed his uniform yet, the dried blood of the battle still staining his sleeves. Then came the distant rumble of heavy military trucks. His instincts screamed danger. Within moments, he was out of his bunk, pistol strapped to his belt as he stepped outside, blinking against the early morning light. And there it was. A massive convoy of military trucks and armored vehicles rolled toward the base, kicking up dust in thick clouds. At least a hundred men, heavily armed, moving in perfect formation. This wasn't just a routine inspection. This was a lockdown. Moreau watched as soldiers scrambled from their bunks, some still fastening their belts, others clutching rifles, confused, uncertain. "What the hell is going on?" A corporal ran past, adjusting his helmet, his face pale. "They're sealing the fucking base! High command is here!" Moreau's eyes narrowed. His gut told him, this was bigger than they expected. The lead truck came to a halt at the entrance of the base, its brakes hissing. Before the dust had even settled, soldiers jumped down, moving fast, spreading out like a well-oiled machine. A lieutenant barked orders as more troops stormed in, blocking every exit, locking down key areas. "I WANT EVERY ENTRANCE GUARDED! NOBODY LEAVES WITHOUT CLEARANCE! SEAL EVERY GATE! NOW!" Men moved instantly, reinforcing the perimeter, setting up roadblocks. Within minutes, the base a place of order, routine, familiarity was now a fortress. From the lead truck, a tall, decorated officer stepped out. Moreau didn't recognize him, but his uniform alone demanded attention. A Lieutenant General. seaʀᴄh thё NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was flanked by two adjutants and six personal guards, all of them armed. The base stood still. The soldiers who had been whispering straightened up instantly, falling silent. Moreau stood at a distance, watching as Perrin stepped forward to greet the general. The moment Perrin saw him, his posture relaxed slightly. A sign of relief. This was no enemy. This was reinforcement. Perrin stepped forward, his boots clicking against the ground as he approached the general. "Lieutenant General Delon." Perrin's voice was steady, but Moreau, even from a distance, could hear the slight relief in his tone. The general, a tall, sharp-featured man with an aura of quiet authority, studied Perrin for a brief moment. Then, he extended his hand. "Colonel Perrin." Perrin shook his hand firmly. Moreau watched closely. There was a moment of silent understanding between them soldiers who had seen too much, who knew the cost of war and corruption. "Your decisiveness has not gone unnoticed," Delon said, his tone calm but pointed. Perrin exhaled, glancing at the soldiers now securing the base. "I assume you're here to clean up what's left?" Delon looked around and said "Let's go have a talk in your office." Perrin and agreed and they moved toward his office. After settling down in the office Delon spoke. "We had men moving the moment we got your report. This base is now under military intelligence jurisdiction. No one enters or leaves without clearance." Perrin ran a hand over his face, exhaustion finally catching up to him. "Then I take it you've started moving against them? The ones behind this?" The general glanced toward the windows, his voice dropping slightly. "Not yet." Perrin's brow furrowed. "Why the delay?" Delon sighed. "Because we don't know how deep this goes yet. Thanks to yesterday's events, many… uneasy men have been caught. It won't be long before a purge begins." Perrin's jaw tightened. "You're telling me we still don't have a stronghold over it?" Delon gave a dry chuckle. "You think rats show themselves when you rattle the cage? No, Colonel. They run first. Then they fight when cornered." Perrin exhaled slowly. "How many are we talking?" Delon tilted his head slightly. "Enough to make people in Paris very, very nervous." A sharp knock at the door interrupted them. A sergeant stepped in, saluting. "Sir, all key areas secured. Prisoners have been moved. Perimeter locked down. No leaks." Delon nodded. "Good. Maintain full lockdown. No one talks to the prisoners except my men. Anyone who asks questions detain them." The sergeant saluted. "Understood, sir." As the door shut behind him, Perrin turned back to Delon. "This is bigger than even you expected, isn't it?" Delon's face remained neutral, but his silence was answer enough. "And what now?" Perrin pressed. The general turned, his eyes scanning the office for a moment before finally settling on a single name. Moreau. Then he looked outside the window and his gaze fell upon him. Moreau had been watching everything from the barracks, his gut churning with unease. The moment Delon's gaze landed on him from the window, he straightened. Perrin followed Delon's gaze, nodding slightly. "Capitaine Étienne Moreau." Delon's lips curled slightly. "So that's him." Perrin crossed his arms. "He's the reason we have them. Without him, the bastards would've disappeared." Delon nodded. "I've read his record. Good soldier. Tactical. But also… difficult." Perrin smirked. "Difficult men are the ones who change history." Delon chuckled, shaking his head. "That's what I'm afraid of." The general turned back to Perrin. "You'll go with my men. Help handle the interrogations and investigation. I trust you to be thorough." Perrin gave a sharp nod. "I wouldn't have it any other way." Delon exhaled, running a hand over his uniform. "We need to be careful. If we act too fast, we'll purge the wrong men while the real traitors slip away." Perrin didn't argue. He knew it was true. Delon's gaze drifted back toward Moreau, who still stood by the barracks, waiting. "Now… bring me the captain." The moment Moreau was summoned, he wasted no time. He straightened his uniform, wiped away the remaining dried blood from his hands, and marched toward the command building. Every step felt heavier. By the time he reached the entrance, Delon was already waiting. Moreau snapped a sharp salute. "Capitaine Moreau, reporting as ordered, sir." Delon studied him for a long moment. His piercing gaze was unreadable. Then, a small smirk tugged at the edge of his lips. "I've been waiting to meet you."

Chapter 40 - 40:

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