Chapter 49 Clash

"As I happened to be on leave and heard that Miss Fenner had returned from Berlin, it was only proper for me to pay a visit. I've been putting it off for too long and feel somewhat guilty about it now. I hope Miss Fenner can forgive me," Zhang Hainuo's words made the clean-shaven young man's expression even more unpleasant. He had just made a remark with a tone of disdain, saying, 'I heard the navy has been active in the Baltic Sea lately. I didn't expect Baron to have the time to come to this remote estate.' It was obvious he was indicating his lack of welcome. However, the navy was secretly mobilizing fleets for the forthcoming operation in the Skagerrak Strait. If these inland nobles and tycoons already knew about it, Zhang Hainuo couldn't help but worry about the country's confidentiality system. He remembered the tragic losses Germany suffered during World War II due to the Enigma cipher machine decryption technology being in the hands of the Allies. If he were to come into power, he would ensure that such a tragedy never happened again!

Zhang Hainuo's use of the phrase 'as a matter of course' subtly countered the young man, making it clear that he was the nominal fiancé of Miss Fenner. As for the man, Albert von Freyshausen, Baron and Senior Commissioner of the Imperial Ministry of Industry, he could only be considered a guest here, regardless of his title.

"Baron, your kindness is appreciated!" Fenner's response remained lukewarm.

"Uncle and Aunt, are they doing well lately?" Zhang Hainuo had already inquired from Hastin before coming. Fenner's parents were alive, and she had two elder brothers who were assisting with the family business.

"Thank you for your concern, Baron. My parents are doing well lately."

"That's good to hear! Miss Anna, if it's convenient, please convey my sincere regards to them!"

Since Fenner didn't show impatience with these pleasantries, Zhang Hainuo didn't mind extending the conversation. It wasn't to cozy up to the ice queen, but rather to see the discomfort on the clean-shaven young man's face. Frankly, this lad's patience was abysmal, and Zhang Hainuo had no intention of considering him a rival for Miss Fenner's affections.

"If it's convenient for Baron, please stay for dinner. I'll have the servants prepare your guest room," Fenner's words were in line with etiquette, but Zhang Hainuo's attention was on the clean-shaven young man, who was glaring at him murderously. Unfortunately, while Zhang Hainuo was conversing with Fenner, he couldn't find an opportunity to intervene. Nonetheless, he signaled with his eyes to the young man with the short braid. Before Zhang Hainuo could respond, the third son of Baron Heleng, the steel industry tycoon, spoke in a tone that was both sarcastic and complimentary:

"Our Baron is a distinguished lieutenant of the Imperial Navy, residing on an unsinkable vessel is much safer than this castle! Baron, may I ask if you're wearing the Fourth-Class Red Eagle Order and the First-Class Iron Cross Order on your chest? Oh, it's truly magnificent! I heard there are only tens of thousands of people in all of Germany who can receive both the Iron Cross and the Red Eagle Orders!"

Tens of thousands?

The lad with the short braid was not wrong. From 1914 to the present, there were indeed tens of thousands who had received the First and Second-Class Iron Cross Orders and various grades of the Red Eagle Order. But behind each of those decorations were millions of casualties! In other words, each medal represented not just sweat and blood but also countless comrades, known and unknown, who had fallen on the battlefield!

This irresponsible remark made Zhang Hainuo feel a surge of anger. He wanted to march over and show the lad every scar on his body, then toss him onto the battlefield to witness the true bloodshed and death. However, he restrained himself. He disdained to engage with such a dandy, who was unworthy!

Zhang Hainuo stood proudly, his head held high, and spoke, "It is indeed an honor to be one of these tens of thousands. During my tenure as torpedo commander on the SMS Seydlitz, I participated in the Battle of Jutland and was seriously injured, earning me the First-Class Iron Cross and the Jutland Battle Medal. During my time as a submarine commander, I sank tens of thousands of tons of British ships, earning me the Fourth-Class Red Eagle Order! Each of these achievements was earned with sweat and blood. I have no regrets!"

Zhang Hainuo's stern gaze silenced the lad with the short braid, who was too astonished to speak. In Germany in 1917, even those who rarely read newspapers had heard of the Seydlitz's fame and the German submarines that roamed the seas.

People might not necessarily respect the wealthy and powerful, but they respected heroes!

People might not necessarily admire those who had good fortunes, but they admired heroes!

The air in the room became tense, with only the faint crackling of the fireplace breaking the silence. Neither the clean-shaven young man nor the lad with the short braid dared to meet Zhang Hainuo's gaze, and even the ice queen cast him a peculiar glance.

"To serve on an unsinkable vessel and participate in the Battle of Jutland, to command a submarine that strikes fear into the hearts of the British, is something to be envied and admired! Baron, please accept my sincerest respects!" Following the voice, Zhang Hainuo turned to see the handsome young man with the standard haircut nodding slightly in his direction.

The clean-shaven young man shot a complaining glance at his companion, but faced with such overwhelming facts, he had nothing to say. Even if his father was the deputy head of the Ministry of Industry, or even the Prime Minister, he still had to respect the frontline warriors who fought with blood and sweat. This was not only a Prussian tradition but also a German tradition!

Regardless of whether this person was sincere or just trying to smooth things over, Zhang Hainuo courteously replied, "Thank you!"

At that moment, the cherry-red lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

At this point, Zhang Hainuo wasn't expecting her understanding or appreciation.

 He had inherited Hainuo's body but not his love. In his heart, the innocent and kind Anna was the woman he truly loved. Faced with the hopeless situation of returning to his own time, he had begun to consider spending the rest of his life in this era!

"Miss Fenner, gentlemen, I still have matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer. I hope you can understand. Miss Fenner, thank you for your generous invitation. Please convey my regards to my uncle, aunt, and two elder brothers. I bid you farewell!" Without waiting for the ice queen to stop him, Zhang Hainuo strode out of the room. Along the way, he thought about how the clean-shaven young man and the lad with the short braid were both unsavory characters. He wondered if Fenner was associating with them out of familial business interests or shared interests. If it was the former, it was understandable; if it was the latter, as the saying goes, 'birds of a feather flock together,' and the inner world beneath their beautiful exteriors could be imagined.

As he left the Lübeck Manor in a carriage, Zhang Hainuo suddenly felt that while the estate was beautiful, it lacked an intrinsic quality. Despite Fenck Manor being dilapidated, it radiated warmth!