Upstairs is Gallieni’s lounge, and downstairs is the officers’ canteen. Though separated by just one wall, their discussions are worlds apart.
Upstairs: We are in dire need of pilots. This number far from meets our demand, and even more will be needed in the foreseeable future.
Downstairs: Will the military even want us? Finding a long-term stable job is not easy these days!
Upstairs: If they are unwilling, we can consider increasing the allowances. If 60 francs don’t work, then 80 francs!
Downstairs: We only need 20 francs a month, just like ordinary workers. This itself is a luxury for us!
Upstairs: This involves risking one’s life; it’s not something that money can buy!
Downstairs: What kind of life-threatening danger can pilots face? Just fly a plane to see where the enemy is. The most dangerous thing is launching rockets at balloons! Compared to being penniless and starving on the streets, is that even considered dangerous?
Carter came up with a brilliant idea. He placed his hand on Eric’s shoulder, trying to sound as friendly as possible: "Brother, if Shire bought my flying club, all our problems would be solved!"
This suggestion immediately received a lot of support from the pilots:
"Right, right, then we wouldn’t have to worry about the military not assigning us tasks since Shire is with the military!"
"He will surely take care of his own business!"
"That way, we can skip the step of relying on Shire’s connections to get tasks as long as he buys the flying club!"
Eric stared around in shock. Aren’t they going too far? Buying a flying club is no small matter!
Shire walked downstairs, frowning, thinking about issuing a recruitment order to bring the pilots into the military... Would they beat him up for it?
He even glanced at the guard room, considering whether to bring Lauren along, but eventually decided against it. The army’s guns shouldn’t be aimed at their own people, and guards wouldn’t solve this issue.
As soon as he entered the canteen, Shire was surrounded by a group of pilots.
Shire was taken aback, sensing something was wrong. Could it be... they had caught wind of it?
Eric reluctantly stood forward, hesitating as he asked, "Lieutenant... they are saying they hope you could buy the flying club!"
"What?" Shire was dumbfounded.
This was one of his tasks. Like Gallieni had said, the military needed a dedicated airport.
Carter immediately stepped forward, his tone with a hint of pleading: "Don’t worry, Lieutenant, I won’t hike the price. I put in 200,000 francs for this club; I am willing to sell it to you for 100,000. What do you think?"
"100,000 francs?" Shire looked astonished.
Earlier, he had spent some time with Major Fernan checking the records; they both agreed that buying the flying club would require around 300,000 francs.
The military routinely overestimates prices. After all, they often purchase overpriced materials from capitalists.
Seeing Shire’s astonished expression, Carter quickly updated the offer: "No, Lieutenant! As long as you’re willing, 80,000! 80,000 francs is enough, but there’s one condition: you take all the club’s pilots, including myself!"
"You mean... buy the club, and get the pilots too?" Shire could hardly believe what he was hearing.
Pilots were also what he needed, and they were in short supply, needing mass recruitment!
Carter raised his hand to assure: "Please rest assured, Lieutenant! We’re all experienced pilots and most of us have over two years of flight experience!"
The airplane had only been invented 11 years ago. Surviving with two years of flying experience was quite an achievement.
The pilots chimed in:
"Yes, Lieutenant, we don’t ask for much, just 20 francs a month, and we’ll be satisfied!"
"We won’t trouble you, we will strive to do our best!"
"You can let Carter continue managing us; he’s an excellent manager!"
Shire looked at the pilots, then swallowed hard and replied, "I will buy the flying club for 100,000 francs!"
Carter, moved to tears, grasped Shire’s hands tightly, his voice choked up: "Thank you, Lieutenant, thank you so much!"
Shire continued: "And I will take all the pilots, and any pilots you all know, so they can work for me too!"
The pilots erupted in cheers. Some even shed tears of joy; they would finally have a stable income.
However, this was just the beginning...
Shire continued: "I will give you a minimum of 60 francs per month, with the possibility of raise depending on circumstances..."
The cheering suddenly halted. They couldn’t believe what they heard, and it took quite a while for them to react:
"Did I hear it wrong, 60 francs a month?"
"That’s three times what we asked for!"
"And we can get raises?"
Shire nodded, confirming their guesses, then stated the key point: "There’s only one condition: I will implement military management on the club. In the future, it might turn into a military facility. You might become military pilots. Is that alright?"
Shire immediately received multiple affirmative responses:
"Of course, no problem!"
"God, 60 francs a month, that’s insane! Who would reject such a condition?"
Shire was a bit surprised by the pilots’ reactions.
Shire thought it was because the pilots were mostly living unsatisfactorily and had suffered from society’s harshness. Now they couldn’t refuse such a high salary of 60 francs a month.
Another reason was that they had no idea how dangerous being a future pilot could be. They still thought a pilot’s job was merely delivering documents or holding binoculars to look around.
Is this considered deception?
Shire looked at the excited pilots and thought that for them, surviving and still flying in the sky might be the perfect life.
So, this isn’t deception; it’s helping them achieve their dreams.
"If there’s no issue!" Shire made up his mind: "Then let’s prepare to sign the contract. I want to sign you all on!"
The pilots cheered, each of them coming forward to shake Shire’s hand, as if Shire were their savior.