Chapter 159: The Focus of Diplomacy

The military vessel returning to the country docked at the port closest to Yuncheng, though it was still over a thousand kilometers away.

Personnel at the port had received word early on, and people were being taken away in droves—some in handcuffs, some in ambulances, and there weren't even enough body bags, so they simply covered them with cloth and loaded them onto trucks. All in all, the port was exceptionally bustling.

The local leaders of Jiangcheng accompanied a certain individual as they stood at the dock to oversee operations.

The ship's captain led people off the vessel, while a few mercenaries stood on the dock, still under watch.

The leaders from both sides exchanged greetings, and a group of them walked toward the mercenaries.

Fair is fair: if foreign leaders and officials were the ones arriving, these people wouldn't feel nervous in the slightest.

Throw a brick off a high-rise building abroad and hit ten people, and six of them would likely be senior executives, three high-ranking officials, and one retired high-ranking official.

However, they were on home soil now.

Meeting their own elders inevitably brought a touch of nervousness.

Baitian had been stiff all day to the point where, had you splashed mud on him, he would have passed for a clay sculpture. Natalie and Qin Qing also turned solemn.

"You must be the enthusiastic citizens who assisted our investigation into human trafficking, illegal practice of medicine, and the organization of organ sales," the leader said, extending a hand with a cheerful expression. "Heroes truly do emerge from the youth."

Seeing the outstretched hand, Natalie frantically signaled Qin Qing with her eyes.

They couldn't just leave the man's hand hanging awkwardly; Baitian was completely immobile and utterly useless in this situation, leaving only Qin Qing to step up.

Better a fellow Taoist than this hairy Russian!

Qin Qing understood Natalie's meaning, but he wished with all his heart that he hadn't.

True to form, whenever they encountered someone they all wanted to avoid and needed to push a scapegoat forward, it was invariably him.

Qin Qing forced a stiff smile and shook the leader's hand. "You're too kind, just doing our part."

The leader acted as if he hadn't noticed their silent eye-communication, maintaining his warm expression. "Judging by your appearances, you are fellow citizens, and this young lady is from our neighboring bear country, correct?"

"Y-Yes, we are."

"You must all be tired after working on the ship for so long. Leave your food and lodging to us; just take a good, long rest for now."

Without giving them a chance to refuse, the leader smiled benevolently and instructed his subordinates to make arrangements.

The people working under him were well-versed in this routine, maintaining a thoroughly friendly attitude as they chatted and guided everyone toward food and rest.

Old Zhang took in the scene and chuckled. "Well, well. Lao Jiao, your smiling-tiger routine hasn't lost its edge at all over the years."

Lao Jiao was dressed in a respectable suit, exuding a cultured and gentle demeanor with the air of a scholar of distinction. "I haven't thanked you yet, Comrade Captain, for finding me such a massive piece of work."

"There's more to what you're saying, isn't there?" Old Zhang shook his head. "As if I didn't know—though this matter is troublesome, if handled properly, it puts steel in your spines."

"Besides, given the current situation, it's not like it was decades ago. If anyone gives you trouble, just curse them out to your heart's content; if a fight breaks out, we've got your back."

Lao Jiao lowered his head with a chuckle, then looked back up at him with an inscrutable expression.

Old Zhang felt a bit uneasy. "What's that look supposed to mean?"

Lao Jiao shook his head and turned to walk away.

One must manage their own sphere of responsibility. Old Zhang was a navy man, so having a bellicose mindset was hardly surprising.

However, Lao Jiao was in diplomacy; his thoughts were far deeper and more complex.

They say the fiercest hawks in the country are among the civilians, always yearning for radical action—crossing the ocean in three days, sweeping across the globe in five, settling old scores and conquering the world.

There were conservatives too, though they felt radical ideas were too tame and believed in achieving global nuclear peace by painting the entire earth red.

Lao Jiao belonged to neither faction.

Those who worked in diplomacy could not afford to belong to factions; everything they did had to be grounded in long-term interests.

Whether in the past, future, or present, peace was an immeasurably precious thing for humanity.

The country had only been free of war for a few decades; the sacrifices made by the older generation were meant to ensure that future generations would no longer bleed. Therefore, even if a war had to be fought, they must first ensure they could win without losing a single soldier before ever striking—

Bah!

He had let Old Zhang lead him off track.

"Wait a minute!" Old Zhang called out from behind. "Don't you want to meet the kid who got on that ship to save people? And what about those two dual-national mercenaries!"

Lao Jiao's departing steps paused. He turned around and smiled. "Next time, finish what you have to say all at once."

They did not recognize dual nationality, which meant those two dual-national mercenaries fell under the category of foreign personnel entering the country.

Entering without proper procedures.

And entering as dangerous individuals at that.

Even if they were all helping with the investigation, they were still dangerous entities.

Investigation first, record-keeping second. Personal favors could be granted, but procedures could never be skipped.

Mo Fei's physical recovery had been progressing nicely after being admitted to the hospital, and he was crunching on an apple when Lao Jiao came to visit him.

Because of his unique role in the incident, he had been assigned a private room.

Long Er and Long Si were essentially two stone guardian lions, sitting on the left and right as if standing vigil over something sacred.

Having been through the storm aboard the ship, Mo Fei was quite satisfied with the ultimate outcome.

Officer Xiao Xu was still alive, the bad guys had been hauled back to face justice, the victims had been sent to the hospital, and their own people had suffered no losses beyond minor scrapes and bruises.

A complete and total victory.

Long Er was peeling an apple nearby, slicing a piece for Mo Fei and one for Long Si.

"This whole ordeal is finally over. It had me so stressed these past few days I couldn't eat or sleep; I've even lost weight." Mo Fei crunched down, only to notice bloodstains on the apple in his hand. "Look, my vitamin intake hasn't kept up, my gums are even bleeding."

The doctor conducting the round nearby jotted down notes and chimed in, "Your bleeding isn't from a lack of vitamins; it's from internal injuries."

"Three fractured ribs—though not severe; a mild concussion—though not severe either; and mild poisoning—again, not severe." The doctor sucked in a breath. "And yet you were still bouncing around causing trouble afterward. I honestly don't know whether to call you resilient or simply thick-skinned."

"Is it really that serious?" Mo Fei blinked in surprise. "I guess I need to eat more to nourish myself."

With that, he sped up his apple-eating pace, looking remarkably like a rabbit.

Long Si caught the apple slice tossed by Long Er, took a bite, and stood up. "I'll go find you something to eat."

"I want barbecue seafood, extra numb and extra spicy!" Mo Fei's eyes lit up.

Long Si looked to the doctor.

The doctor capped his pen, closed his notepad, and smiled faintly. "No numbness, no spice, no seafood."

Long Si smiled, bit into her apple, and strolled out.

Mo Fei wilted, staring at the doctor as he gnawed on the apple core. "You and I have no grievances—"

"Even if we had grievances, I'd still give the exact same orders." The doctor instructed Long Er, "Follow medical advice and keep a close eye on him."

This guy looked precisely like the kind of thorn who would ignore medical advice, sneak food, and stir up trouble.

Long Er nodded silently.

When Lao Jiao arrived, he crossed paths with the doctor just as the latter was leaving.

As Lao Jiao stepped into the hospital room, Mo Fei had rolled over, turning the back of his head toward Long Er in a silent refusal to communicate.

Long Er was still peeling an apple.

With nothing else to do at the moment, peeling apples was his only way to pass the time.