red moscow

Chapter 3151

Gulia was worried about Sokov's health. Seeing his pale face and fine beads of sweat on his forehead, she hurriedly ran to the back of the car, quickly opened the trunk, took out a folding wheelchair, skillfully unfolded it, and pushed it to Sokov's side. She bent down to adjust the wheelchair's position and said respectfully and concernedly, "Comrade General, you are not well yet. Don't stand, sit down first. The doctor advised that you need to rest more."

Sokov thanked Gulia, then slowly sat down in his wheelchair, feeling the support in his back, and let out a soft sigh. He quietly watched Chekalov negotiate with the arriving patrol, his hands folded on his knees, his eyes calm and deep, patiently waiting for those who could handle the matter. The surrounding air seemed to freeze, broken only by sporadic sounds from afar.

The first to arrive was a colonel from the garrison command. He got out of a military green jeep, straightened his uniform, and with a stern face, strode quickly to the scene, asking the lieutenant who had arrived first with his patrol, "Lieutenant, what happened here? Why are so many people gathered?"

The lieutenant immediately stood at attention and reported to the colonel, his voice slightly tense: "Comrade Colonel! An internal affairs vehicle was attacked here by unidentified individuals. The attackers have now been killed... The scene has been initially brought under control, but further investigation is needed to determine the details."

Before the lieutenant could finish speaking, the colonel raised his hand to interrupt him, his brow furrowed, and asked impatiently, "Do you know who was attacked? That's the important point!"

The lieutenant turned to look at Sokov, who was sitting in a wheelchair, and lowered his voice to answer cautiously, "Colonel, it's that young man in the wheelchair. Although he was in civilian clothes, the two officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs treated him with great respect and stayed by his side at all times. I guess he's some important person."

The colonel carefully observed Sokov, who was sitting in a wheelchair. He noticed that a female lieutenant from the Internal Affairs Department was pushing the wheelchair, her eyes revealing both vigilance and loyalty. A male captain from the Internal Affairs Department stood not far away, speaking to him with a slight forward lean and a respectful tone, as if a subordinate were reporting to a superior. A question arose in the colonel's mind: why was such a young man receiving such treatment?
"Lieutenant, who is that young man in the wheelchair?" the colonel asked again, his voice tinged with doubt.

The lieutenant gave the colonel a strange look, thinking to himself, "Didn't I already report this to you? Why are you asking again?" But since the colonel had asked, he could only bite the bullet and answer, "I'm sorry, Colonel, I don't know his specific identity, but judging from the attitude of the two MI6 officers towards him, he must be an important person."

“That’s impossible.” The colonel shook his head, a hint of disdain on his lips. “He looks to be only in his twenties. How could he be some important figure? You must be mistaken. Forget it, I’ll go ask him myself to avoid wasting time.”

As the colonel stepped toward Sokov's wheelchair, Gulia quickly blocked his way. She straightened her back and said firmly, "Comrade Colonel, what brings you here? Please state your purpose first."

"Second Lieutenant!" the colonel said expressionlessly, his tone carrying a commanding tone. "I'd like to speak with the young man behind you. This is official business of the garrison command; please move aside."

Seeing Gulia blocking the colonel's way, Sokov gently raised his hand, signaling her to relax, and then said, "Gulia, let him come over. I want to hear what he has to say." His voice was steady and powerful, exuding an unquestionable authority.

Upon hearing this, Gulia stepped aside to make way for the colonel, gesturing for him to pass, but her eyes remained wary as she watched his every move.

The colonel approached Sokov, sized him up, and asked arrogantly, "Young man, what's your name? Was the killer you the target of the attack? I expect an honest answer; it concerns the safety of Odessa." Sokov smiled faintly, not immediately answering the colonel's question, but instead asking in return, "Comrade Colonel, what's your name? Which unit are you from? Introducing yourself before asking others is basic courtesy."

The colonel was taken aback by Sokov's question, not expecting the other man to respond so calmly, but he answered without hesitation, "My name is Bryantsev, and I'm from the garrison command. Young man, now you can tell me your identity, right? Stop beating around the bush."

Sokov still didn't answer his question. Instead, he turned to Gulia and said seriously, "Gulia, tell him my identity. Since the colonel is so curious, let him know."

Gulia nodded and said to the colonel, "Colonel Bryantsev, the young man in front of you is General Sokov, the newly appointed deputy commander of the Odessa Military District. He is currently recovering, and today's incident requires the full cooperation of your garrison command in the investigation."

Upon learning that the person in front of him was the newly appointed deputy commander of the military region, Bryantsev's attitude immediately became respectful: "I'm sorry, Comrade Deputy Commander, I didn't know you were you. If I was impolite to you just now, please be magnanimous and don't hold it against me."

“Colonel Bryantsev,” Sokov said casually, “I want to figure out one thing now: was this attack on us an accident, or a targeted conspiracy?”

“Comrade Deputy Commander!” Bryantsev wiped the sweat from his forehead and replied somewhat nervously, “I will immediately report this to Comrade Garrison Commander and have him send special personnel here to investigate and find out the identity of the attacker and his purpose.”

"Okay, then you should go and report it quickly."

Shortly after Bryantsev left, two black sedans and three trucks full of soldiers drove up.

The convoy stopped not far from Sokov. As soon as the vehicles came to a stop, the soldiers in the trucks jumped off and began to line up at the commander's order.

Chekalov glanced at the convoy, then bowed to Sokov and reported, "Comrade Deputy Commander, it's a convoy from the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

As soon as Chekalov finished speaking, the back door of the first black sedan opened, and Major Zhivagin, Butko's adjutant, stepped out. He quickly approached Sokov's wheelchair and said respectfully, "Comrade Deputy Commander, the Director learned that you were attacked en route and specially sent me to handle this matter."

(End of this chapter)