Cannon Fire Arc

Wang Zhong's plane landed in Abawahan at 10 p.m., and it was already getting dark.

However, Abawahan hadn't implemented light-out controls yet, and the airport was brightly lit, allowing Wang Zhong to clearly see Pavlov's face from the plane.

The Chief of Staff was there with a big group of people, crowded around the apron area, watching the incoming plane.

A few minutes later, Wang Zhong walked down the airstairs and shook the Chief of Staff's hand, saying, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Pavlov said, "I thought you were going to wait until the baby's christening; then it really would have been too late."

Wang Zhong replied, "How could I? You mentioned everything was almost ready, so it must mean we could act immediately. Of course, I had to come over to find out the situation right away."

As he spoke, he looked toward a group of unfamiliar faces and said, "Would you mind introducing them?"

"Of course," Pavlov replied, letting go of Wang Zhong's hand and stepping back to make space, pointing to two men in red berets and camo, "This is Colonel Charlie, the commander of the United Kingdom's 1st Paratrooper Division's task force, and his deputy, Lieutenant Colonel Richard. And this gentleman here is Admiral Rokossov."

Red beret saluted Wang Zhong, "I've long admired you, Admiral sir."

Wang Zhong, not waiting for his Deputy Officer Yakov to translate, answered, "The same to you. I did not know the Red Devils would be acting with us."

After all, he had studied Antenese before he transferred here; though he returned most of it to his teachers after finals, he could still understand "I've heard a lot about you."

The United Kingdom's 1st Paratroopers, known as the "Red Devils" for their red berets, were infamous on Earth for being disastrously engaged in Operation Market Garden led by Montgomery, ending up fighting against Sturmtiger forces with light arms for many days and remarkably escaping largely intact, keeping their designation.

The British later made a famous WWII movie titled "A Bridge Too Far" based on this event.

Wang Zhong really enjoyed that movie, mainly because of its stellar cast—Sean Connery, Anthony Hopkins, and many more.

Now seeing real "Red Devils," Wang Zhong felt as if his childhood admiration was turning into reality, even though this wasn't Earth.

When Yakov had finished translating, the two red berets seemed thrilled, "You've actually heard of us and even know our nickname! Yet we haven't been in many battles."

Wang Zhong got stuck—this was rather long, and he barely understood until after Yakov translated, he got stuck—indeed, the Red Devils hadn't made a name for themselves in battles yet.

His only response could be, "It was mentioned in the information provided by the Tribunal, saying you got that nickname because of your rigorous training within the United Kingdom's forces."

Upon translation, Lieutenant Colonel Richard exclaimed, "Truly, the Tribunal's intelligence capabilities are well-deserved!"

Wang Zhong agreed, "Indeed, especially their interrogation skills. We have a joke about that here…"

Wang Zhong retold the joke about the Judge making corpses confess, which Yakov translated almost simultaneously, causing everyone to burst out laughing.
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After the laughter, Pavlov jumped in, speaking to Wang Zhong, "This is the United Kingdom's Army liaison officer. He has brought encryption books and a radio. Once we commence operations, he will be responsible for coordinating with the United Kingdom's land and air forces."

Just as Pavlov was about to continue introducing Wang Zhong in accordance with the protocol, the liaison officer interjected using the Antenese language, "Admiral Rokossovsky, I've seen his name in the newspapers every day before coming here, as if he were one of our own generals."

Then standing straight in his greenish-yellow United Kingdom army uniform, he saluted, "Colonel Benjamin, in charge of liaison with the United Kingdom's Army."

Wang Zhong returned the salute, "I'm glad to meet you."

Pavlov continued, "This gentleman is an air force Colonel from the Free Carolingian forces, leading a fighter squadron that will take part in this attack."

Wang Zhong went through the same introductions again and then asked Pavlov, "Didn't you say that the Royal Air Force would also be taking part? Where are they?"

"I'm here," a female voice caught Wang Zhong's ear, though her Antenese accent sounded a bit off, far less fluent than Colonel Benjamin's.

He turned and saw a blonde girl.

Wang Zhong was surprised, "I wasn't aware that the Royal Air Force had female pilots?"

Pavlov shrugged, "Indeed they don't, but this lady is a witch."

Wang Zhong, "A what?"

"A witch," Pavlov stated.

Wang Zhong hesitantly asked, "Like those who can ride brooms in the sky and have a black cat as a servant… that kind of witch?"

Before the girl could respond, a black cat climbed out from her clothes onto her shoulder.

The girl confirmed, "You got it right."

Wang Zhong's eyes widened, "Can you really fly on a broom?'

Previously, Wang Zhong had thought all that talk of magic and miracles was ambiguous at best, and certainly something that penicillin could conquer.

Could there really be witches flying on brooms?

Wang Zhong felt as if he had discovered a new world.

But that new world quickly rejected him!

The girl responded with a hint of irritation, "Of course not, how could people possibly fly? And this black cat is just my pet. My mentor said witches should have black cats, so I got one—it's already my second partner."

Wang Zhong looked at the black cat and asked, "What happened to your first one? Did you send it fifty kilometers away and lose it?"

"She died of old age," the girl replied, her face tense as if she were trying to control her expression.

Wang Zhong said, "Sorry. So, what can you do? Make the weather clear up?"

"No, I can fly planes. I'm the best fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force, piloting a specially modified Spitfire with cut wings."

Cut wings are a type of wing shape. This airplane is an upgraded version of the Spitfire fighter.

Wang Zhong said, "Are you... the best pilot because you're a witch?"

"Yeah," the girl replied. "Otherwise? My situational awareness is much stronger than that of average pilots, and I don't even need to install rearview mirrors on the plane."

Anyone who has played flight simulation games knows that rearview mirrors are a common configuration on fighter planes, used to observe the blind spots behind the cockpit.

This meant that witches, like Divine Arrows, indeed have supernatural aspects, but they weren't powerful enough to change the entire battle situation directly; they were just a more potent weapon.

Wang Zhong extended his hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Witch. How may I address you?"

The girl shook Wang Zhong's hand and replied in Antenese, "Amelia Brown, just call me Amelia. You don't need to bother with those complex Antean formalities. Honestly, I can barely remember your long Antean names that are as long as a train."

Wang Zhong thought to himself that he couldn't remember either; it was all thanks to cheats.

He also replied in Antenese, "I'm Rocossov; you can call me Alyosha. Good reading indeed!"

The last line was a culmination of all the Onsa language Wang Zhong had learned.

Amelia laughed, "Good reading indeed. I'll still call you General Rocossov though; if I call you Alyosha, your maid might just kill me."

Wang Zhong turned around and saw Nelly with a pleasant face and no intention to kill.

Amelia let go of Wang Zhong's hand, "Besides being a witch, I'm also the captain of the Royal Air Force's special task force. You saw the rank yourself. We'll be fighting alongside the Antean Air Force."

Pavlov finally found a good chance to jump back into the conversation and quickly interjected, "You have met all the Allied high command involved in this operation. Let me introduce the Naval Infantry involved. This is Brigadier Aromeyev, commander of the 393rd Naval Infantry Brigade, which will be responsible for establishing the beachhead."

Aromeyev stood at attention and saluted.

After returning the salute, Wang Zhong asked, "Isn't it said that two divisions of Naval Infantry are participating in the operation?"

"Originally, there were two divisions, but the enemy launched an encircling operation in the north, and the Navy is worried about the Northern Ice-free Port being captured, so they reassigned those divisions."

As soon as Pavlov finished speaking, Aromeyev interjected, "Don't worry, I personally inspected the coastal defense line by speedboat. There are just some poorly equipped old armies there. We can easily capture the beachhead and even take the city. Additionally, we have support from the Allied paratroopers."

Wang Zhong always felt that reassurance from the Naval Infantry was particularly comforting.

Pavlov then said, "Because transport capacity has been freed up, we can have a portion of the infantry assigned to us go ashore, and we might even deploy some tanks."

Wang Zhong said, "Very good, and where is my Armored Division? Where is my Armored Division?"

"This operation will have a tank corps under our command; this is Nikolai Fyodorovich, commander of the 51st Tank Corps."

Nikolai saluted Wang Zhong, "Salute to you, General. Our corps is equipped with a battalion of T34W tanks, and I have already selected the one in the best condition, marked with the tactical number 422."

Really, has that tactical number become so widely known?

Wang Zhong said, "Good, I will personally command that tank."

He then asked Pavlov, "Do we have any other troops? Just a tank corps?"

"No, there's also an Infantry Division. They've sent us a mix of various units, which I have inspected all over, and the quality is mixed. The 51st Tank Corps is relatively well-trained."

Pavlov shook his head.

"The good news is, the 393rd Naval Infantry Brigade is entirely under our command now, which is the most reliable infantry unit, probably as compensation for the two divisions that were reassigned."

Wang Zhong looked at Aromeyev, "Are you under my command now?"

"Yes, General. It is an honor to serve under your command."

Wang Zhong was delighted, "Good, good! Will you be under my command in the future too?"

Pavlov rolled his eyes, "Don't get greedy, but... you could ask His Majesty the Tsar to order it. Can a brigade commander really fall out with His Majesty over one brigade?"

When Aromeyev heard this, he smiled awkwardly.

Amelia and Colonel Benjamin, who understood Antenese, were making meaningful expressions at Wang Zhong.

A few officers from the United Kingdom didn't know what they were talking about and felt awkward standing there.

Wang Zhong said, "Let's go and see what random assortment of troops they've assigned us."

Pavlov said, "It's ten o'clock, my commanding officer of the Expeditionary Force, Davarish."

Wang Zhong looked at the sky, "Oh, indeed. Let's find a place to sleep first; I've had enough of flying for such a long time."