Chapter 47: In the Name of Istolte

Kochagin’s work efficiency was indeed remarkable. Not long after Chen Lai finished speaking with him, he instructed Uliya to organize the remaining personnel to meet Chen Lai.

“Please come in, all of you.”

When Chen Lai opened the door, the golden glow in his eyes had already faded. His voice was sincere and strong, completely unlike someone who had just awakened from unconsciousness.

“Child of Mother Rosa, may God bless you.”

An elderly woman, wearing a headscarf and reading glasses, stooped forward and prayed for Chen Lai in the manner of the Orthodox Church. Afterwards, they pressed their cheeks together in greeting.

“This is Grandma Joanna, Julie’s mother. She volunteered to stay behind… She’s old and her legs are weak. The organization considered this and approved her request,” Uliya explained as several old people entered the room. Among them was an old man missing an ear, silently smoking, but most were grandmothers. The young men and women had to leave, leaving only these elderly bones behind in the enemy-occupied territory.

Oh, and Uliya remained as well — a young woman and a member of the Rosa Youth League.

“Comrade Warrant Officer, I heard that the Prussian soldiers eat people. Is that true?” the smoking old man asked anxiously.

“The Prussians don’t eat people. They eat bread, cheese, and butter just like us,” Chen Lai tried to ease his tension.

“Don’t lie for those devils who deserve to burn in hell, Comrade Warrant Officer. You can’t fool me,” the old man glared, eyes wide. “What don’t I know? If they didn’t eat people, why would the lively villages be empty? Not a single young man who left here has come back!”

“And the girls, those golden-haired beauties who sang and danced like Uliya — none of them have returned either. Never again!”

Chen Lai was silent, unable to respond to the old man’s accusations.

Old Kanter, seeing he had stumped the warrant officer, did not feel triumphant but smoked quietly in even deeper silence.

Sensing the atmosphere growing tense, Uliya quickly stepped in to explain:

“Ah, Comrade Warrant Officer, please don’t mind him. Old Kanter is from the Tsarist era. Everyone fears what life will be like under occupation. No one knows what the village will become under the Prussians…”

Chen Lai nodded slightly, understanding the old man’s feelings. Although the Prussian army’s behavior in 1939 had not yet become so brutally savage, signs of what was to come were already visible.

“Comrades, I understand what you feel. Anyone who sees our homeland’s magnificent rivers and mountains trampled under the enemy’s hooves would be furious yet fearful.”

“This winter, our troops, under the leadership of Commander Stolt, successfully defeated the Prussian forces at Moscow. That is why they are trying to break through our flanks, while our main forces are concentrated in Moscow, unable to send reinforcements.”

“But I believe, as long as we persist and fight bravely even behind enemy lines, the liberation of all Rosa will be within reach!”

Chen Lai’s tone was steady and convincing. Coupled with the rifle leaning against his bedside and the grenades strapped to his waist, his resolve to resist was unmistakable.

“With those words from you, sir, I think I can rest assured,” Old Kanter suddenly said.

“Old Kanter, this is the Rosa Federation now. There are no ‘sirs’ here,” Uliya said nervously, glancing at Chen Lai, fearing he would be angered and call Old Kanter a “white bandit” stuck in feudal customs.

“Who can tell the difference? When the Tsar was around, ‘sirs’ were everywhere. The golden-eyed ones roamed freely. Now they’ve made some federation and purged the golden-eyed, but the Prussians have come again…”

“They’ve come only to become the new ‘sirs’. Has the history of ‘sirs’ in Rosa’s land been short?”

Old Kanter smiled bitterly. Chen Lai said nothing. He was pondering how to smoothly contact General Pskov and still cover up the matter of the missing assault serum.

After all, he really didn’t know any “guerrilla Pskov.” He had only said that to get the serum.

Thus, Chen Lai frowned in thought; Old Kanter smoked silently; and the old women sat silently on the edge of the bed and small stools.

Seeing the atmosphere grow stranger, Uliya was the first to lead the elders out, then anxiously poured Chen Lai a glass of water, watching his expression nervously.

“Comrade officer, please don’t be angry with Old Kanter. When he was young, he joined Kolchak’s White Army and fought against us. He doesn’t really accept the Federation’s ideals, but his life has improved in recent years, and he’s gradually stopped saying such things…”

“It’s only recently, with the war going poorly, that he’s started muttering these things again.”

After speaking, Uliya glanced nervously at Chen Lai’s face. She knew how serious this was. If he were displeased, he could immediately execute Old Kanter on charges of disloyalty and counterrevolution.

“Angry? I’m not angry.”

Chen Lai snapped out of his reverie and shook his head at Uliya. Why would he be angry? He was not the political commissar of Rosa, merely a lowly warrant officer.

“Oh, you scared me! I thought you’d be like those blue-capped men sent before, always overreacting!”

Seeing he was truly not angry, Uliya relaxed and patted her chest, causing a slight ripple.

“Ahem, Uliya, I want to ask you — are there any good sniper positions for hiding in the village, or secret passages where one can take shelter?”

“What do you intend to do?” Uliya covered her mouth, surprised.

“I don’t plan to be a submissive subject of the Prussians. But for some reason, I need to stay in the village for a few days. Once the task is done, and you’re certain it’s safe, I will leave.”

“Then you’ve come to the right person, Comrade Warrant Officer. I’ve been sneaking around the village since I was a child. I know exactly which attic hides what!”

Uliya spoke with pride, blushing under Chen Lai’s faintly amused gaze.

“I mean sneaking and scouting secretly…”

Chen Lai did not expose her slip. “Then I’m counting on you. The Prussians will arrive by tomorrow at the latest. I have to move to a concealed position tonight. We must clean up any traces here, or the Prussians won’t spare a single person in the village.”

“I fully understand, Comrade Officer. Rest assured, I will complete the mission—in the name of Stolt!”

With that, Uliya suddenly gave a crisp military salute, her golden short hair swaying.

Chen Lai was momentarily stunned, then responded with equal solemnity, standing straight with legs together, returning her salute in the finest form.

“In the name of Stolt!”