Admiral Gephardt had just left when Albert I entered the office with Major General Eden.

"Long time no see, General." Albert I smiled warmly as he stepped forward to shake Shire's hand.

He then took a box and certificate from Major General Eden, handing them to Shire: "This is the Leopold Medal, General, to commend you for your contributions to Belgium."

(The above image is the Leopold Medal, one of Belgium's three major national knightly honor medals, personally awarded by the King to those who have made outstanding contributions, whether dignitaries or members of the royal family.)

Shire wasn't particularly interested in the medal, but out of courtesy, he stood up, saluted, and accepted it with both hands, expressing his thanks.

Albert I pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Shire: "General, I heard you defeated the Germans at sea and even sank a battle cruiser?"

"Yes." Shire nodded.

"I want to confirm something," said Albert I. "Regarding that aircraft capable of launching torpedo attacks on enemy warships..."

Shire took the documents from his staff and began signing them while answering, "You want to know if the British are capable of carrying torpedoes into the air like I did?"

Albert I was taken aback, then laughed awkwardly: "You guessed right, Vice Admiral. I need an answer."

Shire paused and looked up: "Let me put it this way, Your Majesty, although they can't do it now, it's only a matter of time before the British hang torpedoes on their planes. You know this is inevitable."

Albert I frowned slightly, nodding thoughtfully.

He had thought about this issue on his way here.

Considering Britain's industrial and technological capabilities, if they put all their effort into it, it wouldn't take long to develop similar torpedo attack aircraft.

By then, Belgium's naval threats from Shire might still persist.

But Shire changed his tone: "However, I don't think you need to worry about that, Your Majesty."

"Why?" Albert I asked, puzzled.

His thinking was to compare enemy and friendly equipment one-on-one, like matching pairs.

Torpedo attack aircraft against torpedo attack aircraft, warship against warship, ultimately concluding that the Royal Navy had the advantage.

However, actual combat is not like that.

Shire reminded him: "The important thing is the fighter jets."

"Fighter jets?" Albert I looked confused: "Can they carry torpedoes too?"

Shire shook his head, answering calmly: "No, Your Majesty, they can shoot down enemy bombers carrying torpedoes."

Albert I was suddenly enlightened, nodding repeatedly with his mouth half open.

Major General Eden, standing behind him, also understood and exclaimed:

"Yes, fighter jets can achieve air superiority. As long as they are around, no torpedo attack aircraft can approach our warships."

"So they are the most important!"

"And we... no, it's the General's fighter jets that are the most advanced."

But then Major General Eden hesitated and said, "But General, Britain seems to have acquired some 'Camel' fighter jets. Does that mean..."

Shire pointed his pen in the air toward Eden: "The key to fighter jets is their engines, Major General. They determine whether a fighter jet can fly faster, farther, and more maneuverably."

Major General Eden and Albert I exchanged a glance and finally relaxed. It was clear Shire had the most advanced engines.

Thus, it was easy to conclude that Shire was the one who could fully control the La Manche Strait.

"Of course." Albert I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling reassured: "I have always believed that no one can surpass you, General, whether on land or at sea!"

Shire smiled without speaking.

Albert I's inquiry proved he wasn't "firmly convinced."

Nevertheless, Shire thought it was understandable; as a king, he had to consider Belgium's future.

After all, one wrong step or one overlooked detail could spell disaster for Belgium.

"General," a communication officer reported at this moment, "General Winter is here. He wishes to speak with you."

Shire raised his eyebrows at Albert I, and the few individuals exchanged smiles, guessing Winter's purpose for arriving.

Soon, General Winter appeared at the office door.

He looked somewhat pale, huddled in himself and exhaling cool breaths, evidently chilled on the plane.

General Winter was startled upon seeing Albert I, then shook his head with a bitter smile and stepped forward to shake hands and greet everyone individually.

"It seems I am unlikely to be successful on this trip, isn't that right?" General Winter shrugged at Shire.

Belgium's interests were held back by Shire alone from threats posed by all other countries, including Britain's naval threats.

Therefore, with Albert I here and Shire not asking him to leave, it indicated that the chances for successful negotiations were slim.

Shire didn't respond, simply instructing the steward to get Winter some coffee: "Have a cup before you go, it's not easy to make a trip."

"But Vice Admiral," General Winter was not reconciled, "if Britain also has this torpedo attack aircraft, we could easily block the North Sea and defeat the German Navy within a short time. Don't you want to see victory?"

It was moral coercion, linking "not providing Britain with torpedo attack aircraft" with "not wanting to see victory."

"Think about it, Vice Admiral," General Winter added, "There are thousands of soldiers dying on the battlefield, people suffering from war, going hungry, many freezing or starving to death. You are the only one who can save them!"

This was the argument General Winter had prepared on his way here.

Given that Shire was a "conscientious capitalist," this was supposed to move him, and nothing else would.

Otherwise, no one would be foolish enough to provide torpedo attack aircraft to the world's strongest navy, the nemesis of battleships, a tool to pull Britain from its throne as the top naval power.

Yet Shire remained unmoved; he nodded in agreement but smiled without speaking, continuing to sign documents.

Albert I and Major General Eden sat aside, not intervening, sipping coffee and watching as if enjoying a show.

Politics is realistic, sounding grand in the face of national interest seems weak.

General Winter had no choice but to say: "Vice Admiral, I think you wouldn't want the media to make these words public, would you?"

There was a hint of threat in his tone.

Shire looked at Winter unexpectedly, answering calmly: "You may have forgotten, General, if you and your country cared about the sacrifices and suffering of soldiers and civilians, you could end this war at any time."

General Winter was rendered speechless.

Shire was correct; the Germans had long called for "peace negotiations."

It was only obstructed by politicians bought off by the United States, misguiding the public, thus preventing ceasefire negotiations.

Therefore, as a Brit, he had no qualification to say such things.