Chapter 398: The Gift
"Hey, Djoka." James greeted with a wide smile as Djoka appeared at the door. He extended his hand warmly. "It's great to see you. I was planning to visit you the last time I passed by Davaus, but they said you were busy at the factory."
This was merely a pleasantry. James hadn't left Paris in recent weeks.
"Yes, the factory has been keeping me occupied lately," Djoka replied.
"How's business? I bet the insurance company is doing quite well," James asked casually.
"Not particularly," Djoka chuckled lightly. "And besides, it's hard to call it 'profit'—risks during wartime are unpredictable."
James let out a knowing "hmm" as he took two glasses of red wine from Paulina, handing one to Djoka. "Charles always seems to hit the mark in these matters, doesn’t he? Just like how he bombed the steelworks."
Though his words carried a veiled barb, James maintained a friendly demeanor as if catching up with an old friend.
Djoka laughed off the remark. "Charles is merely doing his best to defeat the enemy."
The statement was deliberately ambiguous. The "enemy" could mean the Germans on the battlefield or the capitalists targeting Charles in the business arena.
James paused, then exchanged a knowing smile with Djoka. After this round of verbal sparring, both understood that the other was not one to be trifled with.
Unlike their last encounter, Djoka appeared much more at ease. He wore his usual old suit, yet his confidence and composure were more evident.
In contrast, James seemed slightly tense, as if concealing his anxiety. He didn’t want Djoka to perceive his unease.
"So, what brings you here this time?" James settled into the sofa as gracefully as possible, raising his wine glass toward Djoka. "Surely, you're not planning to bomb another site?"
"Of course not, Mr. James," Djoka replied. "I've come to discuss a potential collaboration."
"Collaboration?" James feigned surprise.
In reality, he had already guessed Djoka's intention: most likely, to purchase some premium assets from Schneider, taking advantage of their internal and external troubles.
"Yes," Djoka said with a look of feigned helplessness. "The Bernard Company isn't having an easy time either, Mr. James. Although we’ve purchased the steel plant, we lack both the technology and the talent, and the plant itself remains in a German-controlled area, not yet recovered."
Djoka shook his head in mock self-deprecation. "To produce qualified steel on our own, who knows how long it would take?"
James hummed in acknowledgment, picking up on Djoka's underlying message. "You're hoping to buy smelting and forging technologies from me to prepare for the steel plant?"
Djoka nodded emphatically. "Yes, Mr. James. And if you could also transfer some skilled workers, that would be even better."
James smiled faintly. "When would you need them?"
"As soon as possible," Djoka answered. "I've set up an experimental factory in Davaus to train a group of qualified workers in advance. You know, to prepare for taking over the plant."
"Hmm." James nodded approvingly. "A very sensible idea."
As he sipped his wine, a flicker of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
The question had been a test.
If Djoka had given a specific timeline, James would have known the deadline by which Charles hoped to acquire the steel plant. James could then use the Germans to create trouble for Charles before that time.
However, Djoka skillfully gave a vague response.
After some thought, James replied, "No problem, Mr. Djoka. Since you’re asking, I’ll do my best to accommodate. Draw up a list another day..."
"Thank you very much." Djoka eagerly pulled a document from his briefcase and handed it over.
The smile on James's face turned slightly stiff.
This was not what he wanted. Skilled workers were a valuable asset to the company, and some positions even involved trade secrets that couldn't be casually transferred.
Yet James understood he had no choice.
Charles didn’t actually need James’s approval. The workers were already protesting outside the gates. With a single call to arms, most of them would move to Charles's factories.
Charles sought James's consent only to ease tensions. At least, that’s what James thought.
This worked in James’s favor. He could publicly claim that Schneider and Charles had reached some level of cooperation, easing public opposition and protests against Schneider.
James glanced over the list. It was unproblematic—Djoka had asked for few workers and carefully avoided sensitive positions, clearly well-prepared.
"In addition," Djoka added, "I heard your company has a batch of 'Saint-Chamond' tanks sitting unsold in the warehouse. I’d like to purchase them for 10,000 francs each to train workers. If the price is right, I’d also be interested in acquiring the industrial rights to 'Saint-Chamond' to avoid potential legal disputes."
James's ears perked up. A good deal?
There were over a hundred 'Saint-Chamond' tanks gathering dust in the warehouse, originally intended to be scrapped as scrap metal. Now, they could be sold for 10,000 francs each, and the industrial rights alone could fetch at least two million francs.
While it wasn’t a fortune, it was still a welcome inflow, so he readily agreed.
James had no idea that Djoka’s circuitous approach, seemingly incidental to the purchase of the 'Saint-Chamond,' was in fact a carefully orchestrated maneuver to make the tanks the true prize.
To be precise, they were what Charles truly wanted.
When Djoka first heard Charles's idea over the phone, he was incredulous:
"Are you crazy, Charles? Buying 'Saint-Chamond' tanks?"
"Aren’t those the same machines repeatedly defeated by the Germans on the battlefield?"
"Everyone already considers them unsuitable for warfare. Your 'Charles A1' is far superior, yet you’re planning to buy them now?"
Charles didn’t offer much explanation. He simply replied, "That’s because they don’t know how to use them, father. The 'Saint-Chamond' is not entirely useless; it can find its place on the battlefield."
On the other end of the line, Djoka gaped in silence for a moment.
This was still the Charles he knew?