War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1568: The old quilt exposed to the sun for a whole day

In a hotel in the Graz district, after putting away the authenticator, Wei Ran took out the metal notebook and turned to the latest page.

Ever since meeting Aladdin and the others, a reversed blue vortex has appeared on the back of the last page of this metal book. However, he never found the opportunity before, so the things in the vortex have naturally never been taken out.

Reaching his hand into the vortex, Wei Ran tried to take the things inside out without success. Then he simply put away the metal notebook and "took" it out directly.

"Or not?"

Wei Ran became slightly interested and looked around the space in the room. He decisively picked up his small luggage and went downstairs immediately. He drove out of the hotel and headed straight for the suburbs.

The road went straight to the northwest, and when the car stopped again, it was already deep in a forest on the edge of the city.

After looking at the front and back of the car, Wei Ran pushed the door and got out, carrying the briefcase containing the relics of Yashar's parents. He left the forest road and walked into the forest on the side of the road, and finally stopped next to a not-so-large clearing in the forest.

After a careful inspection, Wei Ran waved his hand and took out the things in the newly appeared blue vortex.

"So this is it." Wei Ran was speechless as he looked at the white ambulance that appeared in front of him.

This car is not the ambulance of that year, but a replica of the latest model produced by Mr. Kurt's modification factory.

Just like the modified ambulance I saw at the modification factory yesterday, this car does not have any logo of any charity organization on its exterior. Apart from the edelweiss painted on the door, even logos such as sewing machines and cradles are gone.

Looking up at the supplies such as medical tent bags fixed on the roof rack with flat straps, Wei Ran, who was almost pulled into his memories, shook his head, opened the door of the cab and got in.

Compared with the various equipment in the car, there are only three things that he cares about particularly.

There is a blue-eyed lucky charm with a bunny hanging on the rearview mirror inside the car, an Arabic scarf tied to the steering wheel, and a backpack on the passenger seat.

I gently picked up the backpack and opened it. Inside was a medical notebook. On the cover of this 16-page notebook, there was a hand-painted edelweiss.

Gently opening it, one can see beautiful and fluent German letters piecing together all of Edelweiss' experiences and detailed records of her injuries from the day she arrived in Beirut until she left that land with nightmares and grief.

  Gently closing the notebook filled with nightmares, he took out rolls of film from the backpack!

1-2-3

Wei Ran counted them one by one, and just as recorded in the metal notebook, there were as many as 18 rolls of film.

Originally, according to the records in the metal notebook, these missing films had been hidden by bats in the tomb of the Sewing Machine and Cradle couple.

Now that these negatives appeared here, it was hard for him not to suspect that either the film in the tomb had been destroyed, or that the living ancestor might also be expecting him to do something.

He continued to rummage through the backpack, and finally took out four bulging file bags.

After opening the first three file bags one by one and taking out the contents, he finally understood why those little chairs were so determined to find these things.

Rather than three interview records, these are three torture records and the accompanying physical evidence.

In the first record, whether he was being interviewed or being tortured, he was a Jewish Soviet veteran.

He recounted in detail his experience of leaving the Soviet Union and "returning" to the Soviet Union with his son who had fought in the Afghan war and his family.

As well as all the information about him and his son, including the unit numbers and positions they each belonged to during the Soviet era, their old names, new names, former work units, home addresses, and even the names of the schools they and their family members attended, as well as the names of their teachers and some classmates.

In addition, this record also details the process of his son being injured in the Yishelie battle, as well as his participation in the battle at the age of 66 and the tasks he needed to perform.

At the end of the record, the veteran wrote in Russian and Hebrew, "All of the above is true," and wrote the time with his fingerprint.

In this file bag, used as evidence, is a Nagant revolver inlaid with a golden hammer and sickle logo, a Soviet Wrigley watch, and a Polaroid photo.

The Soviet veteran in the photo was the one who was captured, disarmed and killed by Wei Ran.

After putting these things back in place, he opened the second file bag.

The content of the written record here is not much different from the previous one, except that the person being interviewed has become an "elite" from the 269th Unit.

Similarly, at the end of this record, this elite also personally wrote the words "All the above is true" in Hebrew, and wrote down the time with his fingerprint.

This time, the physical evidence in the file bag was the barrel of a silenced MP5 submachine gun with a gun serial number printed on it and the unscrewed silencer, as well as a walkie-talkie and a Polaroid photo, plus three NCO certificates with photos attached.

In this photo, the 269 elite soldier, who had several toes cut off by Wei Ran with wire cutters, faces the camera with a slightly unnatural and silly smile, while also pulling open the collar of his shirt with both hands, revealing the bust of Shark Deaf tattooed on his chest at the heart position, and the Rogue Star logo next to the bust.

After packing these things, Wei Ran opened the third file bag.

As expected and unexpected, the record came from the young guard at the entrance of the refugee camp, a timid soldier named Tal.

The contents of the records about him were similar, the only difference was the reason why he was "invited to be interviewed", just like the words Wei Ran had extracted from him that year, that he wanted to play with some overly young girls.

In addition, Tal also specifically confessed that some of his comrades also participated in the privately held "shooting game" and gave out the names of those soldiers and the orders they received to "ignore the plight of refugees" and "refuse to let refugees leave."

Like the previous two, this person also wrote "All of the above is true" in Hebrew at the end and wrote down the time with his fingerprint.

In addition to a Polaroid photo, the interviewee's ID and a palm-sized photo frame served as evidence. On one side of the frame was a photo of the soldier named Tal with his parents and sister.

On the other side of the photo frame, there is a photo of him holding a basketball on his fingertips and a young girl. The background of the photo is a school gate with a Hebrew sign.

After taking a closer look at his interview records, I found that this young man gave in detail the names of all his high school classmates and most of their home addresses, as well as the time, place, and even duration of the first time he had sex with the girl in the photo.

Even where the moles on the girl's body appeared and what kind of tattoos she had were described in detail.

"learned"

Wei Ran sighed with satisfaction, restored the file bag to its original state, and opened the last file bag.

This file bag contains a hardcover notebook that is more than two fingers thick.

On the first page of this notebook, a press pass issued by the ISIS military, which allows entry into the refugee camp, is stapled to the notebook. It not only has a photo of Alan Varta, but also a clear stamp.

Gently flipping open the press card, there is a string of handwritten Hebrew words underneath - Alan Varta, a Jewish freelance journalist who escaped from the Nazi concentration camp alive.

Shaking his head slightly, Wei Ran turned the pages one by one, only to find that this was an interview note, an interview note handwritten in Arabic.

In these pages of text recording the tragedy, the interviewees are all survivors who managed to escape from the refugee camps.

Moreover, each interview comes with a Polaroid photo of the interviewee, and the interviewee's signature or handprint is left at the end to ensure authenticity.

Wei Ran gently closed the notebook and carefully put it back into the file bag, and stuffed all the things he had found before back into his backpack.

He didn't even take the backpack out of the ambulance. After observing the surroundings, he waved his hand to put away the ambulance, carefully cleaned up the six remaining tire tracks, then picked up the briefcase and turned away from this forest where he was destined not to return again.

Following the navigation back to the city, Wei Ran had just arrived at the airport to return the rented car when Sui Sui sent him a message that they were preparing to go home urgently to handle work. Almost at the same time, Anfia also sent him another email.

Walking into the airport calmly, Wei Ran asked Sui Sui what happened while hiding in the bathroom cubicle to connect to the authenticator and log into his email.

The latest email from Anfia contained detailed information about the identity of Mr. Messer.

According to the information collected by Anfia, the man who was going to send someone to kidnap Sui Sui and also planned to monitor her to steal the results of the investigation was named Ohad Mesir, a businessman.

On the surface, Messer's main business is Mediterranean shipping trade and building materials.

But according to Anfia's investigation, he seemed to be secretly running an ancient business - human trade.

However, what he sells is not the old cotton harvester, but the beautiful little people "captured" from the Gaza Strip.

Anfia also discovered his relationship with Mr. Edward. As expected and unexpected, the latter turned out to be one of the "distributors" of his underground business.

It’s a pity that Anfia has only found this much at the moment, and more detailed information will take more time.

On the other hand, she also said at the end of the email that she would keep a close eye on the kidnappers sent by Methil and start a plan to capture them.

At the same time, they will set off back to Kazan within half an hour after the email is sent.

Even out of sensitivity to danger, the Kajianka sisters instigated SuSu to invite her rich friend Koko to visit Kazan together. Naturally, neither SuSu nor Koko had any objection to this.

After unplugging the authenticator and turning off his phone, Wei Ran walked out of the bathroom and calmly bought a ticket to Kazan, also via Paris.

A few hours later, when he landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Sui Sui and the other girls arrived only less than an hour ahead of him.

"Why are you in such a hurry to go back?" Wei Ran asked knowingly as soon as he saw Sui Sui.

"Because there is an event in the tower that requires my attendance," Sui Sui said helplessly and proudly while hugging Wei Ran.

"what activity?"

Wei Ran asked curiously, "He really didn't know this. She was keeping it a secret before we got on the plane.

"The vocational and technical school that Misha is in charge of is about to open for business"

Sui Sui explained proudly, "She invited me to attend the ceremony. Also, the local government of Inta is planning to organize a large event on the People's Unity Day. The local government invited me to discuss it together, and there was also an interview with me."

"So urgent?" Wei Ran asked deliberately.

"You really are a full man who doesn't know the hunger of a hungry man! You're not in a hurry if this isn't your interview, right?"

Sui Sui snorted unhappily, "Besides, we're already a third of October, so if we don't hurry up, we'll have too much time. Besides, this interview is being conducted by Aunt Anna and the sisters from the studio, so if we go back early, they won't have to make another trip."

"If that's the case, we really need to go back quickly."

Wei Ran decisively took advantage of the situation and then changed to French to greet Koko and her housekeeper. At the same time, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Anfia had invited Teacher Anna to come out, so at least he didn't have to worry about Sui Sui's safety.

"Have you resolved the problem over there?" Sui Sui asked curiously, putting her arm around Wei Ran.

"It's been resolved, I guess." Wei Ran said with pretended regret, "An unexpected situation occurred."

"Unexpected situation?"

Sui Sui looked up at Wei Ran and said, "I see you are quite happy."

"Have it?"

"I don't understand you anymore"

Sui Sui snorted complacently but did not continue the topic. Instead, she began to excitedly share the changes that had taken place in the castle and the ski resort over the past few months.

The group's chat didn't last long, and they walked towards the terminal hall together following the announcement.

At the same time, some "travelers" that Anfisa had urgently arranged also posted the photos of the "historian and his beautiful background" that they had just taken on the Internet for hype - as if they were afraid that those who were preparing to kidnap and blackmail them would not be able to find them.

Earlier than these gossips, Mr. Edward, who was far away in the UK, also helplessly hung up the phone again. However, he was accustomed to this. Almost all the clients who had worked with Wei Ran knew that they could call him at any time, and the probability of winning the lottery was not much higher.

"So when you get back, you'll go directly to Inta?"

While waiting for the plane to take off, Wei Ran switched to his native language and whispered to Sui Sui who was sitting next to him.

"Guess so"

Sui Sui also lowered her voice a little, "At most, I'll go to the forest farm first. Do you have time? Do you have time to go with me?"

“I guess I don’t have time this time.”

Wei Ran gently patted the briefcase on his lap and said, "I am also planning to help Mr. Yashar find his parents before he finishes his trip in China."

"Got a clue?" Sui Sui became interested.

"There are some clues, but the investigation has reached a deadlock."

Wei Ran changed the subject without waiting for Sui Sui to continue asking, "What's the matter with you provoking Kou Kou again this time?"

"Of course I took her there to play," Sui Sui answered as a matter of course, and brought the topic back to Wei Ran, "Don't worry about me for now. I haven't asked you yet, did anything good happen to you these two days?"

"Why do you say that?" Wei Ran asked with a smile.

"Um"

Sui Sui thought for a moment and said, "It's hard for me to explain, but I just feel that your temperament is different. Let me think about it."

Sui Sui tilted her head to look at the airport outside the window, and when she turned around, she said with great joy, "It's like taking the old quilt that has been in my grandma's kang cabinet for three years and putting it under the sun for a whole day, and then hitting it with a badminton racket."

"What a lousy description"

Wei Ran shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, but actually he sighed in his heart.

No matter how long he has studied in the forest farm, when facing his relatives, some secrets will always be revealed.

“Anyway, it just makes people feel more comfortable.”

As Sui Sui spoke, she handed a steam eye mask to Wei Ran. She also put on the steam eye mask herself, and kept saying, "It seems that I need to get out more often to get some fresh air in the future. In addition, there is a little surprise waiting for you."

"What little surprise?"

When Wei Ran put on the blindfold, a barely perceptible smile and guilt appeared on his face.

"You'll know when the time comes," said Sui Sui, putting on headphones.

After a somewhat long and winding flight, it was already evening when the flight landed smoothly at Kazan Airport.

Before their luggage was even transferred out, Teacher Anna came to greet them from the staff passage.

"Aunt Anna!"

Sui Sui greeted Anna enthusiastically, and then asked Lola to hand over the souvenirs she brought with her, and asked curiously, "Aren't you in Inta?"

"I came here along with the plane piloted by Ali."

Anna took the gift with a smile and greeted enthusiastically, "Let Victor help you with your luggage. Girls, come with me."

Hearing this, Sui Sui subconsciously looked at Wei Ran, and seeing the latter nod with a smile, she called her friends and followed Anna to the employee passage on the side. She did not notice that the Kajianka sisters also stayed.

"Is everything arranged?" Wei Ran asked in Italian.

"arranged"

Anfisa replied in a low voice, "There are 14 Hela employees working for Sister Aurora in the open, and another 14 specially trained Hela girls in the dark."

"I have taken the children to monitor the people sent by Mr. Messer through the Internet."

Anfia said seamlessly, "Although they were in contact through the Telegram group, Mr. Messer's computer and mobile phone were already under our surveillance. There was no secrecy in their actions."

"What is Mr. Edward's move?" Wei Ran asked with satisfaction.

"He has called you several times."

Anfia, who had been checking her phone since getting off the plane, said, "Mr. Messer asked Edward to meet you in a city where it would be convenient for the operation."

"Where?" Wei Ran asked with a smile.

"Warsaw," Anfia gave an unexpected answer, "Mesir plans to kidnap Sister Aurora while you are in Warsaw."

"Where's Edward?" Wei Ran asked, "Did he go to Warsaw?"

"No, he is still in England."

Anfisa took over the conversation, "Not only are our people watching him online, but we have also arranged people around him. If necessary, they can take action against him at any time."

“Don’t rush into it yet”

Wei Ran thought for a moment and asked, "Have you found out more information about him and Mesir?"

"Not yet," Anfia shook her head, "it will take some time."

"Aurora's safety is in your hands," Wei Ran said as he picked up the first suitcase from the turntable.

"Don't worry, boss," the Kajianka sisters assured in unison, and each took down a suitcase.

They pushed everyone's suitcases on a luggage cart towards the airport staff passage, where Misha was already waiting for them.

"Why are you here too?"

Wei Ran asked curiously, and then subconsciously glanced at Anfia. He asked the girl to help find an excuse to invite Sui Sui back, but she didn't want to make such a big fuss.

"Why not take a free private jet?"

Misha gave an irrefutable answer, and then she smiled and explained, "Actually, I came here for another matter, but I have to keep it a secret from you."

"All right"

Wei Ran pushed the overloaded luggage cart and followed the other party, while looking back at the Kajianka sisters again.

"It was already on the schedule, it was just moved forward." Anfisa explained in Italian with a smile.

Hearing this, Wei Ran didn't ask any more questions and followed him into a lounge obediently.

As he pushed the door open, Sui Sui immediately stopped what they were discussing and said to Wei Ran apologetically, "I'm afraid we have to go to Yinta right away. It will probably take a few days to finish our work."

"It's ok"

Wei Ran smiled and comforted him, "When I'm done here, if you're still busy over there, I'll come find you."

"Yeah!" Sui Sui nodded immediately, "Then let's set off now. Alili's plane has been waiting for us."

Wei Ran looked at the smiling teacher Anna without leaving any trace, and nodded, "I'll take you there right away."

"You can stay here," said Teacher Anna. "I have a friend who wants to meet you. He will be here soon."

"That's fine."

Wei Ran turned his head and looked at Sui Sui, "Call me when you get there."

"Don't worry!" Sui Sui patted her chest and made a promise - she also had a secret hidden from Wei Ran.

Wisely without asking any more questions, Wei Ran took down his own box and watched Teacher Anna and a group of girls walk straight to the other end along the employee passage and get into a ground staff vehicle that could drive to the apron.

"Don't look at it, come with me."

Culp's voice came from behind. He was holding a coat and a hat in his hands. There was a mask in the hat.

"it is good"

As Wei Ran was speaking, he put on the disguise prepared by the other party, followed him out of the airport, and got into an ordinary car.

After driving towards the city for more than twenty minutes in the dim light, Wei Ran slowly stepped on the brakes and turned on the hazard lights when passing a tree-lined avenue.

They each took out their cell phones and other items and threw them in the car. The teacher and student pushed the door and got out of the car in tacit understanding, walking towards the front covered by the headlights.

"How come even you and Teacher Anna were alarmed?" It was only at this time that Wei Ran asked.

"Yesterday, your twins sent a few girls to the studio to borrow some silent weapons."

"A little earlier, Apoli mentioned to me that you seemed to be suffering from a very serious mental illness," Karp said.

At this point, Karp looked at Wei Ran curiously and said strangely, "Is it that old man Apoli is dazzled or am I? You look much more normal than the last time we met."

"Are you saying that I was not normal when we met last time?" Wei Ran asked back pretending to be helpless.

"We old guys who are about to retire are worried that you might do something crazy that could get us in trouble."

Karp said bluntly, "So we unanimously decided to join in the fun and decide, depending on the situation, whether to give you a hand or throw you into the Volga River to calm you down."

“Some minor troubles”

Wei Ran smiled and told them all the possible troubles they might encounter and the advantages they had at hand without reservation.

"I see. I thought you were going to appoint a new mayor for Kazan."

Culp made a joke that was not funny, and at the same time simply turned and walked towards the car, saying excitedly, "Let's go, let's go and arm those girls."

"You seem very happy?" Wei Ran asked curiously.

“I am indeed very happy”

Kalp smiled, and with his back to Wei Ran, he also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.