red moscow

Chapter 2946

Gerchikov grinned and then said, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, to be honest, a police detachment was formed last month, and I was one of its members. Later, because of that sudden case you know about, I was transferred back."

Sokov's gaze swept quickly across Gerchkov's chest, noticing that he wasn't wearing any medals, and he asked with some surprise, "Didn't you receive any commendation from your superiors after that mission?"

From Sokov's gaze, Gerchikov guessed what he meant, shook his head, and said with a wry smile, "I was arrested before the war and relieved of my duties in the police force. I was sent to the front as an ordinary policeman. But due to that sudden case, my superiors recalled me and temporarily reinstated me to handle the case. Fortunately, with your help, we were able to successfully solve the case and eliminate the German agents who had infiltrated Moscow. Although I didn't receive a medal, I was officially reinstated to my original position."

Sokov extended his hand to Gerchkov and said in a friendly tone, "Felix, congratulations on regaining your post."

“Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov,” Gerchkov said sincerely. “Without your help, I would not have been able to regain my original rank.”

The conversation between the two left Yakov and Khabarov, who were sitting next to them, completely bewildered.

After finally waiting for the two to finish their conversation, Yakov tentatively asked, "Misha, what kind of case are you talking about, the sudden incident? Can you tell me?"

Despite being friends with Yakov, the case Sokov and Geerchkov were handling was classified as top secret and could not be discussed with outsiders. Therefore, when Yakov inquired, Sokov could only apologize and say, "I'm sorry, Yasha, the details of the case are top secret. At your level, you are not qualified to know."

“Yes, Lieutenant.” Gerchkov nodded in agreement. “It’s not that we don’t want to tell you, but the case is top secret. No one outside the personnel involved in the operation has the right to know.”

Seeing that Sokov and Gerchikov were saying the same thing, Yakov stopped caring about the details of the case and instead looked at Gerchikov and asked Sokov, "Misha, you got to know this major through that case, didn't you?"

“That’s right, that’s exactly it.” As Sokov said this, a thought suddenly popped into his mind: since he was friends with both Yakov and Gerchkov, he might as well introduce them to each other formally; it might be helpful in the future.

“Yasha, let me formally introduce you. This is Major Felix Gerchikov, a veteran criminal investigator from the Police Headquarters.” Sokov first introduced Gerchikov to Yakov, and then said to Gerchikov, “Felix, this is my good friend Lieutenant Yakov, his full name is Yakov Dzhugashvili.”

Sokov had assumed that Gerchikov wouldn't react much to hearing Yakov's full name, and that he would need to explain further before the latter could understand Yakov's true identity. However, no sooner had he finished speaking than Gerchikov's pupils contracted sharply. He turned to Sokov, his face filled with shock, and exclaimed, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, could he be the Supreme Commander himself...?"

Seeing that Gerchkov had actually heard of Yakov's name, Sokov nodded slightly before he could finish speaking, indicating that his guess was correct.

After confirming Yakov's identity, Gerchkov immediately shook his hand and said with some emotion, "Hello, Lieutenant Yakov, it is my honor to meet you."

As the two shook hands, Sokov said from the side, "I have already introduced you. If you have the opportunity, you can find a chance to get together more often."

“Of course, of course.” Gerchkov nodded vigorously and said with certainty, “I will keep in touch with Lieutenant Yakov.” With that, he gave Yakov his contact number and said with a smile, “Lieutenant Yakov, if you need my help in anything, just give me a call.”

The saleswoman standing behind the counter looked astonished as she saw the police major bowing and scraping before a seemingly unremarkable lieutenant. But despite her curiosity, she didn't dare approach to find out what was going on.

"Lieutenant Yakov, when are you planning to go to the Armaments Department?" After drinking coffee for a while, Gerchikov asked tentatively, "Although you can take the subway there, you know how the traffic is these days. The subway is always packed. I happened to drive here, so I can give you a ride."

"Comrade Felix, I'm afraid we won't be able to return to the Armaments Department until the afternoon," Yakov said with a hint of helplessness. "Because only then can we find the leader who will decide Comrade Khabarov's fate."

“Oh, I see.” Gerchkov nodded, then turned his gaze to Sokov: “Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, are you also planning to go to the Armaments Department with them?”

Sokov had initially intended to accompany Yakov and his companion to the weapons and equipment department, but then he reconsidered, realizing that even if he went, he might not be allowed to enter. Rather than face rejection, he decided to hitch a ride with Gerchkov to the military hospital to visit Victoria.

"Yasha, Anton, I've thought about it, and I'll decide not to accompany you to the weapons and equipment department later." After apologizing to Yakov and Khabarov, Sokov turned to Gerchkov and said, "Comrade Felix, I'm going to visit a friend at the military hospital, and I'd like to hitch a ride with you."

"Can we leave now?" Gerchkov asked Sokov tentatively. "I have a lot of work to do later and can't stay here for long."

“Alright, let’s go now.” Sokov said, standing up. He then said to Yakov and Khabarov, “Yasha, Anton, I have to visit a patient at the hospital, so I can’t accompany you to the weapons and equipment department. We’ll meet again.” After shaking hands with the two men, he called to Gerchkov, “Let’s go.”

A black sedan was parked in front of the coffee shop. Gerchkov walked over, opened the door, and invited Sokov to get in.

Sokov opened the passenger-side door, got in, closed the door, and told Gerchkov where he was going to the military hospital.

As Gerchkov started the vehicle, he asked curiously, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, is the person in the hospital your friend?"

“Yes, she’s a friend, a female friend.” Sokov said, then suddenly remembered that Victoria was also a police officer. If he could introduce her to Gerchkov, it might be helpful for her. He quickly added, “My friend is also a police officer. A few days ago, she was injured by a grenade thrown by saboteurs while on duty and has been receiving treatment in a military hospital.”

"Oh, your friend is a police officer?" Gerchkov asked, somewhat surprised. "What's her name, her rank, and which precinct does she work at?"

“Her name is Victoria, and she has the rank of corporal.” Seeing that Gerchkov was very interested in Victoria, Sokov quickly told him Victoria’s name, rank, and the name of the police station she worked for.

After listening, Gerchikov nodded slowly and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you can leave my phone number with her. If she needs any help in the future, she can call me directly, and I will do my best to help her."

After receiving Gerchkov's promise, Sokov smiled with relief. Victoria and Gerchkov were in the same system, and his help would be very beneficial to Victoria's future. The car drove for more than forty minutes before arriving at the entrance of the military hospital.

After parking his car at the entrance, Gerchkov turned to Sokov and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I have work to do, so I won't go in with you. If you need anything, just give me a call."

Sokov thanked Gerchkov, shook hands with him, then got out of the car and walked into the military hospital.

The nurses on duty at the nurses' station were the same ones as yesterday. Upon seeing Sokov's arrival, they immediately greeted him, "Hello, Lieutenant Colonel, are you here to visit Victoria again?"

“Yes.” Sokov glanced at the wall clock and asked tentatively, “She’ll be out for some fresh air soon, won’t she?”

“That’s right, Lieutenant Colonel.” A tall, thin young nurse nodded and said, “She should be out in five minutes. Please go sit on the bench over there and wait for a while.”

Sokov nodded his thanks, then sat down on a bench, gazing down the other end of the corridor, hoping Victoria would appear soon.

A wounded soldier in a hospital gown, leaning on crutches, walked over. As he passed Sokov, he stopped and politely asked, "Comrade Commander, could I have a cigarette?"

Sokov would naturally not refuse a wounded soldier's request. He took out a silver cigarette case from his pocket, opened it, and handed it to the wounded soldier, saying politely, "Please!"

The wounded soldier reached for a cigarette, thanked Sokov, put the cigarette in his mouth, and left with his crutches.

Sokov had just put away his cigarette case when he saw Victoria being wheeled over by a nurse, and he quickly got up to greet her.

Victoria's face lit up with surprise when she saw Sokov. She tilted her head and looked behind Sokov, asking with some surprise, "Misha, are you alone today? Where did Anton go?"

As Sokov took the wheelchair from the nurse and pushed Victoria out, he revealed Khabarov's whereabouts: "He's currently in the café on Mayakovsky Square, having coffee with Yakov."

“Yakov?!” Victoria repeated the name, then asked in shock, “Misha, are you talking about Stalin’s son, Yakov?”

"Yes, that's him."

"How come these two complete strangers are sitting together drinking coffee?"

“Naturally, I was the one who acted as the middleman,” Sokov said with a hint of pride. “When we were chatting yesterday, I mentioned that I planned to send Anton to the Armaments Department. And the best candidate for him to get into that unit is Yakov. This afternoon, Yakov will take Anton to the Armaments Department to meet Ustinov. After the meeting, he will be officially hired.”

“Misha, you’re so thoughtful of Anton.” Victoria pointed ahead and said, “There’s no one at that spot yesterday, let’s go there.”

The two arrived at a bench in the small garden, and Sokov, as usual, placed his wheelchair opposite him so that they could notice each other even while talking.

After the two were seated, Victoria spoke first: "Misha, last night I carefully reviewed the history of this period. With the fall of Volokolamsk, the 16th Army's defenses were in grave danger. In order to prevent the Germans from breaking through the defenses, the Supreme Command ordered Rokossovsky to launch a counterattack, concentrating his superior forces to launch a counter-offensive in the north of the city and to seize the opportunity to recapture Volokolamsk."

Upon hearing Victoria's words, Sokov nodded slightly and said, "No wonder Rokossovsky converted my infantry brigade into an army group reserve and placed it under his direct command; it turns out he intended to deploy it in the counterattack."

“Misha, if you go back in a day or two, you’ll definitely be involved in this counter-offensive, and you might even be put in charge of a section of the operation,” Victoria said seriously. “But if you stay in Moscow, it means you’ll lose command of your troops. After all, this is wartime, and a unit can’t be without a commanding officer for an extended period.”

"Vika, do you want me to return to the front lines as soon as possible, or stay in Moscow?"

Victoria thought for a moment, then said, "Misha, if you can perform as well as you did in your previous life, I think you should return to the front lines as soon as possible. You will be able to better utilize your military command skills and gain the appreciation of your superiors."

"Aren't you worried that my life will be in danger after I return to the front lines?"

“It would be a lie to say I’m not worried.” Victoria organized her thoughts for a moment before saying, “But you are different from ordinary people. As you said, as long as you are not blown to pieces by a shell, even if you are seriously injured, you can recover in a very short time thanks to your miraculous blood. But no one knows whether your blood has a permanent self-healing function or whether there is a limit to the number of times it can be used. Therefore, I hope you can stay safe and sound on the front lines and not get injured easily.”

“Vika, thank you for your concern.” Sokov took Victoria’s hand and said softly, “I know a police major named Gerchkov. I’ll give you his phone number later. If you ever have any problems that you can’t solve, you can call him for help.”

“Gerchkov?!” Victoria raised an eyebrow, asking in surprise, “How do you know him?”

“I returned to Moscow last month on a secret mission, and Major Gerchkov happened to be my partner. That’s how we met.”

After figuring out how Sokov and Gerchkov knew each other, Victoria nodded: "So you two went on a secret mission together. That means your friendship is quite solid. He should be able to help me when I call him for help."

Sokov chatted for a few more minutes, then suddenly remembered something important. He looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then lowered his voice and asked Victoria, "Vika, I want to ask you, do you know what District 13 is?"

(End of this chapter)