War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1924 End of War Birthday Party Friendship
When the intense white light faded and Wei Ran could see everything around him clearly, he breathed a sigh of relief. He was back, back in his own campsite tent, back alive in a world where there was no war for him.

He rubbed his face vigorously before looking at the metal notebook in front of him, and at the lines of text written with the metal quill pen:

We are here to end the war.

Dragan Popescu, an internationalist fighter, dropped out of school in 1936 to join the International Brigades in Spain. In the winter of 1937, he evacuated Spain with the ashes of his comrades and eventually returned to Romania.

In 1939, Dragan entered Yugoslavia via Greece, but stayed there due to health reasons. In the winter of the same year, he joined the Yugoslav partisans.

In the summer of 1942, during the breakout from Kozara, Dragan was wounded and disabled, but survived thanks to treatment by German military doctor Gerhard Schäfer.

After the breakout from Kozala, Dragan partnered with partisan Milos as an observer and distinguished himself in the Battle of Sutjeshka and the defense of Dvar.

In September 1944, Dragan was killed in action during the Battle of Belgrade while countering sniper fire.

In September 1945, the ashes of Dragan Popescu and his international companions were returned to Romania by partisan Milos Constantine and buried alongside his sniper rifle and binoculars next to his parents' grave.

Milos Constantine, a Yugoslav partisan, was killed in retaliatory massacres by German French troops in 1939 because his parents and fellow villagers were implicated in the guerrilla war.

After narrowly escaping, he officially joined the guerrillas and, after the breakout battle at Kozala, partnered with internationalist fighter Dragan to carry out numerous sniper and blockade missions.

He participated in numerous battles, including the Battle of Sutjeshka, the defense of Dvar, and the liberation of Belgrade.

After World War II, Milos escorted Dragan and his comrades home as promised, and unexpectedly met Dragan's sister Florica.

In the spring of 1947, the two officially became partners and started a family, and Milos joined the Romanian police force in the summer of the same year.

On January 1, 1950, Milos and Florica's son was born, named Dragan Constantine.

On January 1, 1990, Milos's son, Dragan Constantine, was arrested and shot for taking the wrong side, and his family's property was seized. Milos's unfinished memoirs, some of his letters, and the belongings of Dragan and his sister were also burned.

That month, Milos had no choice but to take up arms again and hide in the Bucharest sewers with his grandchildren to survive.

Milos died of tuberculosis in the summer of 2005 and, in accordance with his will, was buried with his wife Florica.

German doctor Gerhard Schäfer was drafted into the army in 1936 to serve as a surgeon.

In 1938, Gerhard's wife was arrested on "racial issues." In the same year, Gerhard was transferred to serve on the Eastern Front.

In the summer of 1941, Gerhard was transferred to Yugoslavia, and the following year he was transferred to the Prinz Eugen Division.

Since the spring of 1942, Gerhard had repeatedly abandoned medical supplies to support local guerrillas during marches or missions, or worked with his assistants to provide medical assistance and cover for guerrillas.

During the Battle of Belgrade in 1944, Gerhard was shot and killed by soldiers of the Prinz Eugen Division while protecting the wounded. His remains were cremated and preserved by Yugoslav partisan Milos Constantine after the battle.

In the summer of 1948, Milos handed over his ashes to Gerhard's son to be taken back to East Berlin for burial.

The metal quill pen stopped here and started a new line with a detailed address in Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with a set of coordinates corresponding to that address.

Then, the pen started a new line and wrote down an address in Berlin, Germany, along with a telephone number.

The contact person for this phone number was named Milos Schäfer.

Amid Wei Ran's shake of his head and sigh, the metal quill pen began writing another line: "To end the war, and to allow those waiting for peace to live the days they long for, I do not mind falling before dawn."

Ugh.
Wei Ran shook his head, letting the pale yellow page turn over, watching as the metal quill pen wrote under the blood-red vortex: This gun is used to shoot down magic-absorbing silk, and to end the war.

Not bad either.
Wei Ran sighed, watching the fluttering pages turn forward, and placed a 10-day countdown seal on the previously damaged sailor bag and entrenching tool.

Once the troublemaker stopped causing trouble, Wei Ran put it away and took out the item that had recently appeared in the red vortex.

Both expected and unexpected, what he took out this time, besides the G43 semi-automatic rifle, was a retro-styled LV suitcase.

Bending down to pick up the semi-automatic rifle lying on the suitcase, Wei Ran couldn't help but smile. Just like his SVT40, this rifle also had a copper plate inlaid on the stock, with an embossed image of a hastily taken group photo of him, Dragan, Milos, and the German doctor Gerhard in that abandoned building.

In addition, a canvas magazine pouch is fixed to the stock of the gun, containing two extra magazines that are fully loaded with bullets.

Holding the gun, Wei Ran aimed it at the lake outside the tent, then set it aside for the time being and opened the retro-styled, well-preserved suitcase.

Along with the strong smell of ink and a faint musty odor, Wei Ran also saw many familiar things.

This contains the photo album he saw at Milos's house during the final scene.

There was a thick stack of letters, and a quick glance at the addresses revealed that they were all sent from East Germany to Bucharest.

In addition, there are several picture frames inside, all filled with photos of Milos and Florica together.

As he continued searching, he also found the notebook that Dragan had kept in his suitcase and a complete set of Robert cameras that they had seized from the chain dog.

There was also a blood-stained, blackened international cruise ship hat, a set of Zundap motorcycle keys, and a loose-leaf notebook.

The first page of this loose-leaf notebook, which is about the size of an A4 sheet of paper, features a crayon drawing of the flag of the Yugoslav partisans.

Beneath this flag, a line of Serbian text was written in pen: "The shepherd who ended the war."

Gently turning the page, Wei Ran couldn't help but smile. The second page of this loose-leaf book contained a group photo of Milos, Dragan, and Gerhard in the ruined stairwell.

Besides the group photo, the recipe for the shepherd's stew is written in detail below the photo.

Turning the page further, a line of dark blue penmanship begins the story: All the pain and glory must begin at a mill at the foot of Mount Kozala.
Gently closing the memoir and placing it back in its original position, Wei Ran rummaged through the box and successfully found a group photo of Dragan and his classmates.

After closing the box and failing to put it back into the metal notebook, Wei Ran finally put away the semi-automatic sniper rifle separately and lay down wearily on the folding bed.

However, he did not fall asleep. Instead, after some thought, he dialed Greva's number.

Good afternoon, Mr. Victor.

As soon as the call connected, Greta respectfully offered her greetings.

Hello to you too.

Lying on the folding bed, Wei Ran smiled and said, "I plan to invite Mr. Miguel and Mr. Giuliano from Spain to my home. Let's set the date for April 20th."

"Greeves, could you please invite them for me? You should come too."

“I will keep my appointment with them on time,” Greva respectfully promised on the other end of the phone.

We look forward to your arrival.

Wei Ran said with a smile, "We'll give that bitch with the mustache a proper birthday celebration then."

“I will bring him some decent birthday presents,” Greva said seriously.

"Then it's settled. I need to inform the others. We'll have a good drink then."

After saying that, Wei Ran hung up the phone and dialed Mr. Hans, who was in Germany, and sent an invitation in the same name. After the old man agreed to attend, Wei Ran hung up the phone after some pleasantries, took out the authentication device and connected it to his phone, and then sent a very simple "attendance notice" to Qin Ershi, Ninell, and even the Kadenka sisters.

After finishing these tasks and unplugging the authenticator, he "reported" the news to Sui Sui, who was busy at home planning the blueprint.

No sooner had she hung up the phone than Sui Sui sent an invitation to another meeting in her "Golden Fleece Group".

That evening, just as Wei Ran was driving back to the city, a phone call came in from Spain.

"Hello, Mr. Victor, I am Mr. Miguel's translator."

As soon as the call connected, the woman on the other end respectfully identified herself.

"Hello, please give my regards to Mr. Miguel and his wife, and to Mr. Giuliano."

After switching to speakerphone, Wei Ran went straight to the point, "Mr. Miguel, are you asking about the progress of the investigation?"

"Is such that"

The blonde woman on the other end of the phone said, "We received an invitation to a birthday party not long ago."

"The investigation is making some progress."

Wei Ran didn't hide anything, "I've obtained some key items. They can come and take a look whenever they have time."

If there's no rush, we can verify it after the birthday party.

"Please wait a moment while I ask Mr. Miguel for his opinion."

The woman on the other end of the phone went silent after speaking, but soon she spoke again, "Mr. Victor, if it's convenient for you, we'll be there as soon as possible."

“I’ll be in Kazan from now until the birthday party,” Wei Ran paused and added, “if nothing unexpected happens.”

We'll arrive as soon as possible with birthday presents.

The woman on the other end of the phone made the promise on Miguel's behalf.

After hanging up the phone in a few words, Wei Ran stepped on the gas when he drove the car to the shooting range.

"Why are you here?"

Wei Ran opened the car door and asked Jima and Maya in another car that was driving towards them.

"Of course I came to see you."

As Ji Ma spoke, he pushed open the car door and jumped out, waving at Wei Ran.

Seeing this, Wei Ran also jumped out of the driver's seat and followed the other person a few steps away.

"I heard you and Her Majesty were attacked?"

Ji Ma offered Wei Ran a cigarette, his gloating tone tinged with barely concealed concern.

"A mine owner who isn't even an oligarch," Wei Ran thought for a moment before giving his answer.

"It seems you've already resolved those problems."

Ji Ma breathed a slight sigh of relief. He and Wei Ran were truly like brothers, even though they were not from the same father.

That's why he was assigned to sound out Wei Ran and find out what this seemingly mild-mannered young man was planning to do next.

Unfortunately, now that he and Wei Ran are standing together, putting aside who is better at lying, it won't be so easy for him to deceive Wei Ran.

That's why, after lighting the other person's cigarette, Wei Ran asked bluntly, "Who sent you?"

"Teacher Dalia"

As if he had no intention of hiding it at all, Dima said through a cloud of smoke, "She's worried that you might go crazy and do something impulsive because of the attack on Aurora."

"Do I really look that crazy?" Wei Ran shrugged, both amused and exasperated.

Their retaliation for the previous attack has now come to a temporary end.

"Did Gorbachev suck your asshole?"

"Otherwise, why would you ask such a stupid question?" Jima said irritably.

Before Wei Ran could speak, Ji Ma said seriously, "In short, you need to act like a civilized person lately. I mean, a historian who can't even kill a chicken."

"What do you mean?"

Wei Ran looked at Ji Ma curiously; the last part of the other man's sentence was even spoken in somewhat broken Chinese.

"You will receive a medal from St. Petersburg on Victory Day this year."

Jima cautioned, "This is something Her Majesty the Queen traded for you with that free movie. In other words, don't go crazy before you get that medal."

"If I'm not mistaken, you still can't go crazy after you get it, right?" Wei Ran asked with a smile.

Russia is very big.

Dima shrugged. "But isn't the world outside of Russia bigger?"

"Did Teacher Dalia ask you to pass this message on to me?"

"This is a reminder to me."

Ji Ma patted Wei Ran on the shoulder, "Just like I'm no longer the little hoodlum who dyed my hair seven colors, Victor, you're no longer the international student who used to hug a silicone doll and take a bath in the pool. We're respectable people now."

"So?" Wei Ran asked with a smile.

"So, let Greta handle those less respectable tasks."

"Don't worry," Dima said with a grin. "He will help you, me, Aurora, Niner, and all our friends maintain the decorum we deserve."

"Don't worry, I won't go crazy."

Wei Ran smiled and responded to the other party's promise, then changed the subject and asked, "Let's talk about the medal you just mentioned. What kind of medal is it?"

Friendship Medal

"If I remember correctly, Victor, why are your eyes so wide?" Jima said.