I Became a Tycoon During World War I: Saving France from the Start Chapter 106 106 - Colonel Estigny

The atmosphere in the parlor grew tense, so Armand deftly changed the subject, sensing it was a chance to diffuse the awkwardness.

"There's no way around this, Francis," Armand began, seeming to defend Grevy. "We all know that before a draft notice is issued, things can be adjusted, but once it's sent, it's as good as a public declaration that this person is to beco a soldier. If we tried to interfere..." He mid a cutting motion across his throat, implying that even their status as deputies and party leaders wouldn't protect them from the consequences.

Francis sighed. He had suspected as much but had wanted to make one last attempt. It was clear there was no turning back now.

Taking advantage of the break, Nicolas chid in with a hint of irritation. "You promised an exclusive story after the fact, but now…"

"You're the one trailing behind The Daily Post, Nicolas!" Grevy interrupted, dismissively. "I can still give you an exclusive, but do you even want it now?"

Nicolas had no response. Grevy was technically correct; he'd never specified when the exclusive would be. Still, Grevy was partly to bla here—he hadn't anticipated Charles's return, and the delay had cost Le Figaro its chance to scoop The Daily Post. While Grevy wasn't particularly concerned about monetary losses, he did care about how traditional conservative voices, like Le Figaro, were losing influence. The paper had once wielded enough sway to capture the attention of officials and military leaders, but now the opposite was happening.

Francis slumped into a chair, trying to collect himself. After a mont, he spoke, calr now. "A bigger problem looms over us, gentlen," he said gravely. "Charles has gained a stellar reputation in Belgium. His position is nearly unassailable now in the eyes of both the military and the public. This ans they'll be more inclined to trust his tanks—and those tanks will easily crush us underfoot."

Grevy nodded, relieved that they had finally reached the heart of the matter. Armand turned expectantly toward Grevy; this was his mont to devise a solution. Yet Grevy didn't speak right away. Instead, he took a leisurely sip of his wine, as though he hadn't heard Francis at all.

A strange silence settled over the room, and everyone seed resigned to the impasse—until a servant entered and announced, "Mr. Grevy, Colonel Estigny is here to see you. He says you invited him."

Grevy nodded and gestured for the servant to bring the colonel in, raising his wine glass as he addressed the others. "Gentlen, I'd like you to et soone."

Monts later, a tall figure strode into the room, standing proudly with a saber at his side and high cavalry boots. Unlike the infantry's traditional red trousers, his uniform was blue with two broad red stripes along the seams. Francis and the others imdiately recognized him as an artillery officer. They were puzzled as to why Grevy would invite an artillery colonel to a private eting like this.

"Welco, Colonel!" Grevy rose to greet him, offering the colonel a seat and pouring him a glass of wine.

Grevy introduced Colonel Estigny to everyone in turn. Estigny acknowledged each person with a polite nod before Grevy finally returned his gaze to the colonel. "Would you mind sharing your thoughts, Colonel?" he asked.

"Of course." Colonel Estigny inclined his head in assent, then leaned forward and raised his glass to Francis across the table. "It's an honor to et you, Mr. Francis. The soldiers at the front are using the tanks you manufacture. However, I haven't co to offer thanks. I believe they need substantial improvent—a view shared by the troops at the front."

At this, everyone in the room caught on to Grevy's purpose. He wanted the colonel's candid feedback from the front lines. A mont later, they began to suspect there might be even more to this.

Colonel Estigny then pulled a set of docunts from his briefcase, distributing them to the group. "This is my concept for an improved tank. It's still a prototype, of course, and much work remains, but with developnt, it can be refined."

Francis skimd the blueprints with a wary eye. "How does it differ from our current models?" he asked.

"The primary difference, Mr. Francis, is firepower," Colonel Estigny replied. "We need more powerful weaponry. Your tank is equipped only with machine guns, but we need to mount artillery on a tank."

Everyone nodded in agreent.

"A fantastic idea!" Armand exclaid, grinning. "That should certainly surprise Charles!"

The room erupted in laughter, everyone playing along.

"Doesn't Charles know about mounting artillery on a tank?" Grevy asked uncertainly.

"As far as I know, he hasn't considered it," Francis replied confidently. "At least, not yet."

With a workforce composed partly of Francis's forr employees, Charles's tractor factory would be easy to infiltrate with informants if he wanted.

Grevy nodded, taking a closer look at the designs. "That's the aim, gentlen. We can't afford to stagnate; we need to improve as well. Only by pushing forward can we maintain our advantage. Competition is ruthless, real, and urgent. We can't afford to sit back and wait to be defeated."

Both Francis and Colonel Estigny nodded in agreent, but Nicolas and Armand exchanged uncertain looks.

Grevy had never been an advocate for this kind of competition. In his view, it was wasteful. He had always believed that the best products would erge naturally through production, not through "self-destructive battles" between capitalists.

But Grevy knew the truth: his reluctance was due to Charles's absence in earlier tis. He had been unwilling to join the fray back then, dismissing it as a low-level struggle. Now, however, there was no choice. Failing to defeat Charles would an facing him and his tanks on the battlefield.

After more than an hour of discussion, Grevy promised to back Colonel Estigny's project, even offering to purchase the patent for the new tank—on the condition that it proved effective.

"Do you think…" Armand mused, watching Estigny's figure as he left, "that he can defeat Charles?"

"I can't say," Grevy admitted, still poring over the blueprints. "But it will be better than what we have now. At least we're making progress."

Armand nodded. There was no disputing that.

Grevy raised his head, sweeping his gaze over everyone. "Our greatest advantage is that we're considering the needs of the soldiers on the front lines, whereas Charles can only theorize from his position in the Paris Defense Headquarters. He has no idea what frontline soldiers truly need—and that gives us an edge."

The others nodded in agreent, reassured by Grevy's words. After all, tanks would ultimately be deployed by soldiers who would put them through their paces on the battlefield. If Charles couldn't understand or deliver what the troops needed, they were confident they could win this battle of innovation.

Yet they failed to realize that this was precisely Charles's strongest advantage.

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