New York, Argyle & Co. Foods office.
In Felix's hand was the telegram from Catherine detailing the successful meeting with Senator Clark and the valuable, albeit non-committal, political promise received. Miller and Jones stood by, waiting solemnly.
"Sir, have we succeeded on the Washington front?" Jones asked, unable to contain his impatience.
"We can only say that we have successfully fired a shell into the enemy's headquarters," Felix said, folding the letter with a playful tone. "But when, or how, that shell explodes is still uncertain. The real victory or defeat still depends on New York."
He turned to Miller: "Any movement from Lieutenant Carter?"
"Not yet, sir," Miller shook his head. "He is extremely cautious. I believe he's waiting for a foolproof opportunity."
Before Miller finished speaking, a security guard hurried in with a knock.
"Supervisor Miller, a messenger claiming to be from Lieutenant Carter delivered this urgent letter at the factory entrance."
It was a plain, unmarked envelope. Felix tore it open. Inside was a small note, the handwriting rushed and urgent:
"The kitchen is no longer viable. Hudson has tightened security, and the head chef dares not act. The plan is stalled; find a new route quickly."
Jones gasped. "The plan... failed?"
"No, this is not a failure." After a momentary flicker of surprise, Felix's expression returned to calm, even carrying a hint of sudden, dangerous realization. He looked at the note. "Interesting. This Colonel Hudson is more cunning than I imagined; he's not a stupid fat pig."
"Sir, what do we do now?" Miller's face tightened. "Lieutenant Carter is the most critical link. If he cannot deliver the 'Gold Label' to General Reed, all our subsequent designs are meaningless."
"Then we will create a new opportunity."
Felix walked to the wall map, a detailed architectural plan of the Governors Island military base. His finger traced the lines quickly. "Since the enemy has blocked the main entrance, we will find a new, unexpected entrance for our canned goods."
His finger stopped on an inconspicuous area marked: "Officers' Club Reading Room."
"Miller, remind me. What kind of man did your intelligence say General Reed is?"
"A tough soldier, strict, and hates corruption. Besides that," Miller recalled, "He is a fervent admirer of Roman history. His favorite place to spend leisure time is the Officers' Club Reading Room, reading Commentaries on the Gallic War."
"An old general who loves to read Caesar's war commentaries..." A new, bolder smile appeared on Felix's lips. "Very good. A follower of Caesar should receive a tribute from 'Rome.' We have a new plan."
He looked at his two subordinates.
"Jones, I need you to immediately make a donation in our company's name. Not canned goods, not money." A cunning glint sparkled in his eyes. "Go to the best bookstore, find a set of Commentaries on the Gallic War, finest printing, exquisite leather cover. Donate this set of books to the Governors Island Officers' Club Reading Room to enrich the officers' spiritual life."
Jones and Miller were baffled, but Felix continued. "The books are merely the medium. When donating, you must 'casually' make one small, additional request to the administrator. Say that Argyle & Co. Foods, to show respect to the generals, has included an exclusive sample of our latest product specifically for 'senior officers' to taste. This sample does not need to be inventoried. We just hope it can be placed in a quiet corner of the reading room for any officer who feels hungry during reading."
This exclusive sample was, of course, the Premium Gold Label.
"At the same time, immediately inform Lieutenant Carter of our new plan. Abandon the kitchen route, and have him find a way to invite General Reed to the Officers' Club Reading Room on Friday. He will know what to do."
A plan more ingenious and daring than the first was laid bare.
"Sir..." Miller looked at Felix, disbelief in his eyes. "You are fishing. And you are using a book by Caesar to fish for a general who admires Caesar."
"You could say that." Felix smiled. "Moreover, when General Reed is in the reading room, reading about how Caesar conquered Gaul, and 'accidentally' discovers and tastes a delicious military ration that could change his army's logistics... that dramatic impact will be a hundred times stronger than at any dining table."
The gloom caused by the stalled plan was instantly swept away by this imaginative Plan B.
"Go," Felix waved his hand. "Let our old fox, Colonel Hudson, see how interesting this game will become." He picked up a blank telegram form to write new instructions for Catherine in Washington.
That evening, an inconspicuous carriage delivered a beautifully packaged set of Commentaries on the Gallic War and a case of Premium Gold Label canned goods, disguised as "gifts," to Governors Island.
Friday: Governors Island
Today marked the final stage of Felix's entire plan. Yet in his New York office, Felix calmly handled the company's daily affairs.
Catherine placed a new sales report on his desk. "Sir, Mr. Tilford's trading company just placed another urgent order for five hundred cases of the Gold Label series. He complained that your advertising has given all the ladies in New York 'lead poisoning phobia,' and now they only recognize our shield logo."
"This is good news," Felix said, reviewing the contract. "The more cash flow we have, the better."
A hint of worry was in Catherine's tone. "Sir, on Governors Island… will there really be no accidents? Lieutenant Carter, he…"
"The piece has been played, Catherine." Felix looked up at her. "Now, we are no longer the players. We just need to wait patiently and watch our opponent walk into the trap we've set for him."
General Reed had just finished a headache-inducing front-line supplies meeting. Distraught, he brought Lieutenant Carter, whom he rarely saw, to his favorite reading room, hoping to find peace in the history of ancient Rome.
"General," the reading room's administrator, a veteran, saluted him respectfully. Following Carter's covert instructions, he spoke of the donation. "A food company from New York donated a very exquisite set of Commentarii de Bello Gallico to the reading room. I placed it in your usual seat."
"Oh? Is that so?" General Reed walked to his exclusive window seat. Indeed, a brand-new set of leather-bound books lay there, still smelling of leather and ink.
Next to the books was a distinctive wooden box, also bearing the Argyle & Co. Foods shield logo. A card was attached: "A tribute from a patriotic businessman in New York. For Federal officers who need to replenish their energy during reading breaks."
General Reed murmured the name "Argyle", he remembered Senator Clark's recent inquiry letter. Curious, he opened the box. Inside were several cans of "Premium Gold Label" stewed beef, packaged like works of art.
The General looked out the window; it was an hour until lunch, and he did feel peckish. He called the administrator for a can opener and a plate.
When the can was opened, the rich, mellow, and complex aroma instantly filled the quiet reading room.
General Reed took a bite.
The next second, an expression of disbelief appeared on his face. In forty years of military service, he had eaten countless terrible rations. He had never imagined canned food could be this delicious. In his eyes, this was no longer food; it was a weapon that could boost morale!
He silently ate the entire can clean. Then he stood up, his face devoid of any expression, but the administrator could sense a suppressed rage building up in the old General.
"Someone!" General Reed's voice was not loud, but it was filled with unquestionable authority.
An orderly rushed in. "Go, call Colonel Hudson of the Quartermaster Department to me. Also, go to his office and bring me all samples and documents related to 'Argyle & Co. Foods' from his files, without missing a single one! I'll wait for him here."
"Carter, you go invite the person in charge of Williams Company over."
Fifteen minutes later, Colonel Hudson walked into the reading room, still smelling faintly of alcohol. "General, you were in such a hurry to see me?" he asked with a playful grin.
General Reed did not answer. He merely pointed to the empty golden can on the table. "Hudson, tell me, what is this?"
"A can, General." Hudson replied, bewildered.
"I know it's a can!" General Reed's anger began to rise. "I'm asking you, why does such a can appear as a donation in my reading room, and not on my desk, in an emergency procurement report signed by you?"
"Uh… this…" Sweat began to bead on Hudson's forehead. "Reporting, General, this company did submit samples. But as you know, the process… is very complex. Our review takes time…"
"Time? Will war give you time?!" General Reed's roar made the windows hum.
Just then, the orderly walked in, carrying the box of substandard samples from Hudson's office. "General, the samples have been retrieved."
"Open it!"
As Hudson's gaze grew increasingly confused, a standard red can was presented.
General Reed's voice was cold as ice. "Hudson, taste it yourself. Then tell me, is this official sample, which you personally received, the same as the one I just ate?"
Hudson's hands trembled as he scooped a spoonful into his mouth. The next second, his face changed. The taste was clearly substandard, nothing like the aroma he had just smelled. "This… this…" He stammered, unable to speak.
"Can't you say it?" In General Reed's eyes, there was only disappointment and rage. "Can you give me a reasonable explanation now? Why is it that samples from the same company, delivered through two different channels, have such a world of difference in quality?"
"I… I don't know, General! I swear! What I received tasted like this." Hudson was truly panicked.
"Of course you don't know," General Reed completely erupted. "Because you don't care at all. In your eyes, these are just tools for you to get rich; you don't care what our soldiers are eating on the front lines!"
"Enough! I don't want to hear another one of your lies." General Reed's words were the finality of a verdict.
"Guards!"
Two fully armed guards immediately rushed in.
"From now on, suspend all of Colonel Hudson's duties! Arrest him immediately and await trial by court-martial! I order Lieutenant Carter to temporarily assume the role of Quartermaster Department supervisor!"
Colonel Hudson collapsed to the ground, then was dragged out.
Silence returned to the reading room.
General Reed turned his gaze to Felix, who had been standing at the door, witnessing everything at Lieutenant Carter's urgent request.
"Mr. Argyle." The General took a few deep breaths and his tone returned to business. "It seems there was a big woodworm in my army, and you found him for me in a very special way."
He looked at the young man who had acted like an innocent victim throughout the encounter.
"I don't care what happened between you and Hudson. Now, let's talk about business."