Chapter 565 - 565: This Matter is Top Secret

Cao Shan set down the medical text in his hands, his expression grim.

Shanghai is not within the Western Territory War Department's jurisdiction!

Yet now they were meddling in Shanghai's affairs, and he was thoroughly displeased.

"Patriarch, what should we do now?" a Cao Family guard asked immediately upon seeing Cao Shan's expression.

Cao Shan mulled it over for a moment before speaking. "First, find the location of Nightingale and the man she took. I have my own plans."

"Yes, Patriarch," the Cao Family guard replied, then departed swiftly.

Cao Shan picked up the medical text again, but he could no longer focus on his studies.

'The Western Territory War Department actually dares to interfere in the Imperial City's affairs,' he thought. 'This is no small matter.'

He had to get to the bottom of this before deciding on his next move.

「Midday.」

The Cao Family guard returned to report to Cao Shan. "Patriarch, the man taken by Nightingale is named Jiang Xinghai. His identity is unknown; it seems his information was deliberately erased. Right now, the two of them are on a yacht at sea."

"Jiang Xinghai? His information was deliberately erased? And yet we still found him."

Cao Shan's face darkened, and he sneered. "Since those two are out enjoying themselves on the ocean, how could we not join them?"

"I'll have the car prepared at once," the Cao Family guard responded with a nod.

Afterwards, Cao Shan got into the car and departed, heading straight for the coast.

En route, he made a phone call.

"Father-in-law. What are your instructions?"

On an island somewhere along the coast, a square-faced, middle-aged man answered the call. It was none other than Zheng Wuji, a Three-star General of the Eastern Territory War Department and Cao Shan's son-in-law.

"Wuji, the Western Territory War Department has come to Shanghai. Are you aware?" Cao Shan asked in the tone of a senior addressing a junior.

Zheng Wuji frowned slightly and shook his head. "Father-in-law, is this information confirmed?"

Cao Shan then briefly recounted the situation with Nightingale and Jiang Xinghai, omitting the detail about the heart transplant.

Zheng Wuji looked perplexed. "It's one thing for the Western Territory War Department to send people here unannounced, but for them to be so disrespectful to our Cao Family... that's unacceptable!"

"I'm about to reach the coast. Let's meet on Cui Mountain Island later." Cao Shan felt it necessary for his son-in-law to step in and resolve this.

"Rest assured, Father-in-law. I'll depart for Cui Mountain Island at once." Zheng Wuji hung up and rose abruptly to his feet.

His rise to the position of Three-star General was inextricably linked to his father-in-law's Cao Family.

Naturally, he had to prioritize the Cao Family's affairs.

"Ready the boat. We're going to Cui Mountain Island."

With a wave of his hand, Zheng Wuji was accompanied by several fully equipped soldiers.

Cui Mountain Island was one of many islands leased by the Cao Family, a private island for their exclusive use.

The other six islands were for commercial purposes.

"RING RING RING!!!"

A satellite phone rang. Zheng Wuji glanced at the caller ID, immediately straightened his posture, and gave it his full, undivided attention.

"Tang General! Your orders!" Zheng Wuji answered the phone at once.

"Zheng, there will be a Marshal Conferment Ceremony in Shanghai the day after tomorrow."

Elder Tang, a four-star general, was on the other end of the line. "You'll be in charge of coordinating security for the event."

"Yes, sir!" Zheng Wuji was inwardly shocked. 'Someone else is being promoted to Marshal.'

"This new Three-star General was originally a commoner, promoted unconventionally due to special meritorious service."

"Therefore, only the three great families and a few local officials will be allowed to attend. If there are any security lapses, you will be held solely responsible!" Elder Tang warned.

When Zheng Wuji heard that the new Three-star General was a commoner, he was completely stunned.

"Do you understand?" Not getting a response from Zheng Wuji, Elder Tang raised his voice.

"Understood!" Zheng Wuji swallowed hard.

'My God!'

'Who on earth is this commoner? What kind of special meritorious service could he possibly have?'

'He's so unbelievably lucky!'

'He himself had been in the War Department for twenty years! It took pulling strings through countless connections, on top of his own hard work, just to make it to Three-star General!'

"Barring any surprises, I'll arrive in Shanghai tomorrow. The day after, I will personally dress him in his new uniform."

The Tang General's tone softened. "If there are no other questions, that will be all."

"May I ask, Tang General, who is this new Three-star General?" Zheng Wuji asked tentatively, hearing the change in the general's tone.

"That is top secret. You'll find out the day after tomorrow." The Tang General chuckled softly and hung up.

But Zheng Wuji's mind was racing, and he couldn't calm down.

...

Qiongjiao Island, a government-owned island off the coast of Shanghai.

A white yacht slowly pulled up to the shore.

Sun Zhen was the first to leap off the yacht. "Master, the island has plenty of wild fruit. I'll go gather some."

"And remember to bring back some dry firewood. We're having grilled fish for lunch."

Jiang Xinghai was in high spirits after an intimate moment with Nightingale. He looked at the few ocean fish Sun Zhen had caught while diving and rubbed his stomach.

"I'll go get the wine, then."

As Nightingale returned to the cabin to select some drinks, the satellite phone rang.