Chapter 2066 - 2066: 2066

Liu Zhizhong froze for a moment, then laughed. "What's up? Some urgent mission?"

Wen Bao nodded. The relaxed look he had earlier was gone, replaced by a serious expression.

"An urgent mission in Kekistan, absolutely critical."

"Oh?"

Liu Zhizhong didn't press, just looked a bit curious.

"Yeah. Recently, Evil Luo Country got a bunch of manpower and shells from Beicao, spread their lines across the battlefield and started fighting like crazy. The whole situation's kind of bogged down. And according to classified intel, the Evil Luo people also got a lot of drones from Great East Pot. On some local fronts, they're actually seeing a bit of an uptick."

Liu Zhizhong frowned. "Great East Pot supplied the Evil Luo people with military drones? That's crossing a big red line."

"No. It's just Great East Pot's 'Changjiang' drones, the civilian model. The Evil Luo people bought them and converted them for military use—that's what they themselves admitted. Heh… Evil Luo people, they really are fucking inhuman."

When Liu Zhizhong heard that, he was startled, then understood, and nodded. "The kind of thing the Evil Luo people do is always about dragging others into the mud, huh? Remember that old intel analysis? It said Porlaxi Shijin told Gu Changsha he'd 'show him a sample', and then Kekistan would fall in no time. What 'sample' was that supposed to be?"

Wen Bao thought for a bit, then laughed. "Wasn't it the 'sample' of hitting Bend Island? Back then, ever since Gu Changsha took the top seat, he'd always wanted to take Bend Island back, but he didn't dare act rashly. Just then Evil Luo invaded Kekistan, so he wanted to use that as a model. And then… hahaha…"

Liu Zhizhong laughed too. "That 'model' turned into a negative example. The Evil Luo people miscalculated. But they kept trying to drag Great East Pot into the water, trying to get more assistance out of them. Too bad their 'sample war' turned into a flop, and Great East Pot was half-hearted from the start. Deep down they didn't want to support them, just kept bullshitting on the propaganda front."

"Exactly. Great East Pot just doesn't have what it takes to recover Bend Island right now. Besides, Bend Island is our own little brother, living a pretty good life. You go 'recover' them now, how's that supposed to sound reasonable? It's not like they're suffering in some sea of misery; you go in to 'take them back', it's totally unjustified. Sure, Bend Island will sometimes make noise about self-determination or independence or whatever, but in reality they don't have the numbers to stir up a real storm. Different political aims, but it's not like they actually want to be independent."

"The Bend Island issue is feeding a whole bunch of experts on both sides; that's actually not a bad thing. Whatever happens, the folks on Bend Island are still Dadong people, that can't be changed. Great East Pot doesn't have the capability to 'eat that unification meal'; they can only talk tough. That's all." Liu Zhizhong took a sip of coffee, speaking very frankly.

"Right! All that talk about 'leveling it with artillery, at any cost', that's just crap. If you really do that, casualties go through the roof, the civilian humanitarian disaster would be insane, and the whole world would be pointing fingers at you. No good ending. Gu Changsha's not stupid. Seeing Evil Luo Country fight itself into such a pathetic state, he doesn't dare make a reckless move either. The folks shouting slogans at the grassroots level, just let them shout. This time Evil Luo Country is going to take a heavy hit from Kekistan. Once I get off this plane, I have to immediately fly to Kekistan to take part in this operation. I have to be in on it."

Liu Zhizhong thought for a moment. "Oh, if you're going, are you operating together with Ye Tianping and Director Ye's people?"

"Yeah! This time we're playing something trendy, playing it big. Just wait for the news. I'm not gonna spoil the story for you."

"Hahaha… fine, I don't meddle in military matters. You guys just do what you need to do."

"Good! Once you get off the plane, remember to go visit my mom for me!"

"No problem, heh… no problem, no problem. The pancakes you want to eat, I'll help you eat them, haha…"

Liu Zhizhong laughed happily. Just thinking about Auntie from the Wen Family's scallion-and-pork pan-fried pancakes was enough to make his mouth water.

Seeing his buddy with that greedy look, Wen Bao was genuinely delighted.

How is this a president? He's like some adorable foodie.

Can a president not be adorable?

Of course he can.

Adorable as he likes!

He's naturally the kind of person everyone can't help but like, hahaha…

There were still about twenty minutes before the special plane landed. The two of them had already fastened their seat belts and were waiting for descent.

At this point, Wen Bao finally couldn't hold it in anymore.

Faced with such an adorable friend, such an adorable president, he was really torn up inside.

In the end, Wen Bao coughed lightly. "So… Brother Zhizhong, there's something I've never told you. Want to hear it or not?"

"Brother Wen, if you feel like saying it, I'll listen. If you don't, then I won't."

That's just how Liu Zhizhong is.

To have made it this far—global political youth leader—this level of mental composure and emotional control really is top-tier.

Wen Bao nodded. "That's my brother alright, what a temperament. I'm really glad I didn't kill you back then. Otherwise I wouldn't have such a good brother today."

"Oh? Kill me? What was that about?"

Liu Zhizhong got interested instead. "Now that sounds like something fun, my brother."

Wen Bao said, "That time, I failed to kill you and instead your people trashed us so badly I wanted to die. I even got wounded and almost fell into your hands. Sigh… who knew your power base was already that strong inside the country back then?"

"Oh? Oh… haha…"

Liu Zhizhong's expression was quite something—he suddenly realized something, then put the pieces together, and finally laughed again.

He lifted his hand and pointed at Wen Bao. "Well, well, that time my wife got kidnapped, that was you? It was actually you? Haha…"

As he spoke, he found it funny himself.

After all, that time his old classmate made a move and wiped out that whole group of kidnappers.

Wen Bao admired Liu Zhizhong's brain, smiled, and told the story from start to finish, naturally dragging Zhang Hongyang's name into it as well.

At this point, what was there left to hide?

What could Zhang Hongyang do about it now, anyway?

Liu Zhizhong listened and understood. In his heart he no longer bore any real hatred toward Zhang Hongyang; that man no longer even qualified to compete with him.

Could the height Zhang Hongyang reached in his life ever match that of President Liu Zhizhong?

Liu Zhizhong nodded with satisfaction. "Back then, when I saw my wife wasn't really wronged, I knew this wasn't some ordinary gang of kidnappers. At the very least, they had some code of conduct. Didn't expect the one leading them to be you personally, Brother Wen, haha…"

Wen Bao was actually embarrassed by the compliment. He rubbed his nose. "Don't praise me, brother. I feel guilty about it. Sigh… without you, I wouldn't be where I am today."

"Without you, I wouldn't be where I am either. What happened back then and what came after, it all kind of pushed each other along. Too bad you still don't know who helped me back then, do you?"

"I really don't! They were terrifyingly good. Beat me till I was running around like a headless chicken. If I hadn't jumped into the river and hidden under an uprooted tree by the bank, I really would've been captured. Who was that man and his team?"

"Liu Dongyuan. Marshal Liu and his Sea Wolf Assault Team. My old classmate."

"Holy shit, it was him? Nice, nice, then I didn't lose unjustly. Not unjust at all, haha…"