I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping
Chapter 1444 - 974 The Jianghu Is Not Just About Fighting and Killing_2

Chapter 1444: 974 The Jianghu Is Not Just About Fighting and Killing_2

"Don’t worry, Officer Zhong, I will definitely cooperate. I only have one request: safely rescue my friend."

Safety.

On these two words, Luo Peng deliberately emphasized his tone.

With the national power involved, rescuing someone shouldn’t be too difficult; the key is whether they remain unharmed.

Just like the bear.

Rescue operations there never consider the safety of hostages.

"If those people have any conditions, I will try to meet them."

Luo Peng added.

He wanted them alive; if they rescued only bodies, it would mean nothing.

"I appreciate Director Luo’s loyalty to his friend, but I don’t think there will be any opportunity to negotiate conditions."

Luo Peng was puzzled.

However, the other party did not explain further, turned his head away, and closed his eyes to rest.

Seeing this, Luo Peng decided not to disturb any further.

Over three hours passed, with the sun moving from east to west.

Worried about being plagued by nightmares again, Luo Peng did not sleep for the whole journey. When the convoy stopped, he found they had arrived at a... military camp.

Indeed.

A military camp.

Weren’t they going to rescue someone?

Could it be that Xia Wanqing was abducted to a military camp?

Even knowing that the Spridan Federation was extraordinary, Luo Peng couldn’t accept such a guess.

"Director Luo, get off the car."

Zhong Xiaoai had already stood up,

Luo Peng nodded, his face solemn, keeping his promise, and followed Zhong Xiaoai and a group of embassy personnel off the car without a word.

"Officer Zhong, hello, I’m Colonel Kolb."

An officer, surrounded by a group of soldiers, extended his hand towards Zhong Xiaoai.

"Hello, Colonel Kolb."

Both sides shook hands.

"My unit has received orders to assist your honorable country’s embassy in this operation. Please, Officer Zhong, rest assured, we will fully rescue the hostages and ensure the safety of all your personnel."

"Thank you, Colonel Kolb."

Although the communication between both parties was in Thai, Luo Peng could roughly guess about seventy to eighty percent through body language.

After exchanging greetings, everyone got back in the car, turned around, and set off again.

The only difference was that the escorting police cars had become imposing military vehicles.

"Colonel Kolb is overseeing the operation to rescue Ms. Xia Wanqing."

No need for Luo Peng to speak, as the car started moving, Zhong Xiaoai took the initiative to explain.

When working abroad, it would be rare not to understand the local language.

Two vehicles in front, two vehicles behind.

Four military trucks, fully loaded with heavily armed soldiers.

The display was grand enough.

Relying solely on the embassy’s clerical staff was impractical, and besides, this was on foreign territory, with no law enforcement authority.

"With such a commotion, won’t it alert the enemy?"

Luo Peng asked in a low voice.

Zhong Xiaoai, across the aisle, glanced at him.

A young talent indeed.

Such quick thinking.

"Director Luo, Xiang Country is our friend, and we should choose to trust our friends."

Hearing this, Luo Peng nodded and said no more.

He wasn’t a fool.

Neither was this female diplomat.

After another hour or so, the once radiant sun was now hanging low in the sky, barely holding on.

With the military leading the way, the embassy’s official bus drove unimpededly into Song Chaban Port.

Fully armed soldiers jumped out of the vehicles, united with customs, and under Colonel Kolb’s command, immediately locked down the entire port.

"Everyone stop what you’re doing and gather at the sorting square for inspection."

The announcements were broadcast over and over through the loudspeaker.

Not just the port’s staff, even the ships docked at the port, including those about to set sail, were forcibly ordered to halt.

The massive machine of Song Chaban Port, which operated day and night, had rare pauses in its operation.

Thousands of port workers gradually converged from all directions to the sorting square, facing the surrounding heavily armed regular soldiers, probably all a bit bewildered.

Of course, Luo Peng didn’t go to the "front line." Together with Zhong Xiaoai and embassy personnel, he was stationed at an absolutely safe location by Colonel Kolb of the Xiang Country army, the customs inspection center, able to clearly see the scene at the port through the surveillance screen broadcast.

"With a port this big, with so many people, how long will it take to search?"

Since Zhong Xiaoai had mobilized such forces and had such a clear destination, it indicated that they surely had some information.

But looking at the heaps of containers in the footage and the giant ships anchored offshore, Luo Peng couldn’t help but feel his scalp tingle.

"It definitely can’t be done in one or two days."

Luo Peng turned his head, seeing the other party calmly watching the surveillance.

"Will Xiang Country agree to keep the port closed like this?"

Not to mention a day or two, such a crucial port, if stopped for even an hour, the losses would be astronomical.

Partners are partners, but surely they wouldn’t sacrifice their own interests without limits to maintain this friendship; after all, both parties are equal.

As friends, one shouldn’t make such unreasonable demands. So, Zhong Xiaoai replied, "The time we’ve communicated with Xiang Country is before dawn tomorrow."

Before dawn tomorrow.

Luo Peng looked at the sky in the surveillance, outside the port had already transitioned from dusk into night.

In summer, it usually gets light early, which meant that the time left for them was less than twelve hours.

And with such a massive workload, this amount of time was undoubtedly far from sufficient.

"Officer Zhong, are you sure my friend is here?"

Throughout, Luo Peng, who had been reasonable, couldn’t help but ask.

Zhong Xiaoai remained silent.

"I’ll go out and help."

Luo Peng said, without asking further, "With one more person, we can make a little more time."

"Director Luo, in such a big port, one person’s strength is negligible, and we have agreed beforehand."

Zhong Xiaoai said calmly, "The Xiang Country military won’t allow it either; this is their important commercial port, and they won’t agree to us moving freely."

Luo Peng understood that what she said made sense.

But the port is so large, with countless places to hide people. Even if Xia Wanqing is truly here, it’s like finding a needle in a haystack, a single battalion of Xiang Country soldiers is far from enough.

Luo Peng remained silent, looking at the monitoring screen, slowly exhaling.

"Director Luo, be patient and wait, there will be good news before dawn."

This was likely meant to be comforting.

Luo Peng’s mouth twitched slightly, saying no more.

Time ticked away.

The entire port had stopped functioning, but no one rested.

With Kolb at the helm, the Xiang Country military conducted their task diligently and methodically, with no slack whatsoever, but the workload was truly overwhelming. From the first half of the night to the latter half, only a small area had been searched, and not only was there no good news, but also not a single useful clue.

However, a small comfort was that no armed conflict occurred, and although nothing had been found yet, things had gone smoothly thus far.

"Thank you for your hard work, Officer Zhong."

The soldiers were unrelenting.

The embassy personnel were the same.

Zhong Xiaoai was having a late-night snack, a bowl of instant noodles without even a sausage, not due to neglect by Xiang Country; customs had graciously offered, but she declined.

"Director Luo, apologies for the hardship."

Luo Peng, too, had shared hardships with embassy staff, without any special treatment, even almost finishing the old altar pickled vegetables.

"What’s the hardship? I actually like instant noodles quite a bit; back in college, I’d make a bowl every few days. Officer Zhong probably doesn’t eat them often, right?"

"Why would you bring your own if you don’t eat them often."

"I didn’t realize diplomats worked this hard as well."

"You’re kidding, Director Luo. If our work is considered tough, then most workers wouldn’t be able to live."

Luo Peng was slightly stunned. Over the past couple of days, this female diplomat had always been competent, logical, solemn, and earnest, but it was the first time seeing her look so approachable.

She lowered her head to eat the instant noodles and even lifted the bowl to drink the soup.

Just like licking the lid of yogurt—it’s the essence.

"Officer Zhong, look!"

Suddenly.

A voice called out.

Then the entire monitoring hall swept away the gloom and fatigue, quickly turning lively.

"Found them!"

Accompanied by the joyful cries, Luo Peng quickly turned his head towards the big screen.

In one of the surveillance screens, soldiers were indeed crowding around, carrying a person.