Chapter 280: Unprecedented Cooperation
June 27, Saturday.
Northeast D City in Province S, Guanyin Mountain.
The summer resort deep in the mountains is lively today, with a large number of security personnel distributed inside and outside the villa.
In the antique-style main hall, a television is awkwardly set up, currently playing the noon news from China Central Television. Perhaps on the internet, the Chinese Navy’s aircraft carrier group entering the Indian Ocean for the first time has already become the hottest topic both domestically and abroad.
As expected, the first country to respond was North America, which expressed “serious concern,” followed by India, which was “deeply worried.”
“…According to confirmation from a spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense, our Navy’s group, consisting of the aircraft carrier Ludong, the amphibious assault ship Qionghai, and other escort vessels, has officially passed through the Strait of Malacca and entered the Indian Ocean. The group will successively visit Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and East Africa, where they will conduct joint exercises in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden, focusing on maritime humanitarian rescue and anti-piracy operations.”
The spokesperson of our Ministry of Defense stated that this voyage of the Ludong aircraft carrier group strictly follows international law, conducting normal offshore operations and diplomatic activities. The joint exercises will enhance communication and cooperation between our Navy and multiple Middle Eastern countries, upholding a posture of security, peace, and professionalism to maintain international maritime security…
“Our country firmly opposes certain nations commenting on our Navy’s normal overseas activities and hopes that some countries will abandon Cold War thinking, discard hegemonic ideologies, and genuinely uphold peace, stability, and development in the Middle East…”
On the television, scenes of the majestic Chinese Navy vessels evoke a sense of “the great powers are actually ourselves.”
The Wang family ancestor sits in the main seat, leisurely sipping tea and watching television, while Katherine from the James family feels extremely uneasy in her guest seat.
“Dear lady, you did not inform the James family in advance that the Wang family and the Dark Arrow have reached a private cooperation! The actions of the Chinese military may cause a misjudgment by the federal government!”
Katherine glances at the now lukewarm tea, her face looking quite grim, and her awkward Chinese sounds even more jumbled.
Chinese, although in the world of normal people it hasn’t yet reached the influence of English, is essential among the world of vampires, at least among the established great families.
Among the three, or now just two, duke families in the vampire world, those with the privilege of teaching the rest of the vampire world how to speak are rare.
“North America’s aircraft carriers can go, but our aircraft carriers cannot?” The Wang family ancestor laughs and lightly waves his hand, prompting someone to remove the television, “My girl, Mr. Edward sent you, the great count, here, which means he has long been prepared.”
“My girl” is the unified address the Wang family ancestor uses for all young vampire women, and no one dares to voice dissent.
Katherine suppresses her inner anger, lowers her head, and grits her teeth: “Madam, the clan leader wishes to receive your real explanation regarding the ancestral plan and the queen…”
What is the wolf king preparing to exchange for?
The Wang family ancestor leisurely sips his tea, gently blowing on it without haste.
“Previously, I have already shared all the intelligence held by the James family with the Wang family; isn’t that sincerity?”
Katherine straightens her posture, adjusting her breathing, regaining her formal smile.
“Yes, it is useful, but still lacks the exact coordinates of the Eden Base.”
The Wang family ancestor takes a sip of tea, casually.
Katherine is taken aback, slowly furrowing her brows: “Is the Wang family really planning to directly take action against the ancestors? This would be tantamount to opposing the entire alliance of European and American families…”
Hmph, being forced to this extent shows that certain actions by the Engel family can be equated to those of the Gothic family and the Baal family. If the James family is unwilling to speak, I have ways to find out; it just takes a bit more time and cost.
The smile on the Wang family ancestor’s face recedes, and although the tone seems relaxed, it brings greater pressure to Katherine.
Katherine bites her lip and nods slowly: “I cannot answer you immediately, but if your explanation aligns with the fundamental interests of both families, I believe the clan leader is willing to cooperate with you, madam, to jointly maintain the order of all vampires in the world!”
“You may all leave.”
The Wang family ancestor smiles again; with a wave of his hand, only Katherine and she are left in the main hall.
My girl, I know that your Western noble families enjoy compiling statistics. In the past one hundred fifty years, only one marquis has been born from the Fujiwara family; do you think that’s normal?
In the seventy years after the last world war,
For more than seventy years, everyone has been discussing how to restore power enthusiastically, but to our knowledge, there have been barely fewer than ten new barons and earls born worldwide; don’t you think that’s normal?
In the world of vampires, not only dukes but even marquises are on the verge of extinction; perhaps in another hundred years, there won’t be many earls left. Your clan leader has always been very concerned about what transpired among me and a few dukes over a hundred and fifty years ago…
At this moment, the Wang family ancestor narrates as if telling a story unrelated to herself. As she speaks, Katherine gradually becomes dumbfounded, even feeling a bit terrified.
The Engel family intends to restore the Sophia vampires, not simply to monopolize the perfect Sophia bloodline… No wonder Elvin took away all the Frankenstein potions, concealed so much of the ancestral plan’s progress, and misappropriated a large amount of research funds…
Katherine stares blankly at the ground, her eyes revealing a hint of cruelty.
Since you have eyes and ears hidden within the Engel family, you’ll inevitably find out about this… The results of the scouts and the Frankenstein potions will all become the capital he uses to guard the ancestors; do you think the James family still needs such an ancestral plan?
If the James family is unwilling to act, the Wang family can proceed alone…
The Wang family ancestor stands up and walks to the main hall door, her smile growing more mysterious.
What a surprising truth; thank you, madam, I must return to North America immediately to inform the clan leader of the situation. However, before the clan leader officially states a position, I hope the Wang family won’t make a move.
Katherine quickly stands up and bows deeply to the back of the Wang family duke.
The Wang family ancestor turns back, her expression gentle: “No rush, let’s have some of our traditional Dragon Boat Festival rice dumplings first.”
Katherine smiles awkwardly and, with the guidance of a maid, leaves the main hall.
The representatives of the James family hurriedly arrived and left; only the Wang family ancestor remains enjoying her tea in the main hall.
Ancestor, the wolf king can abandon the Engel family, but he cannot truly give up on the ancestral plan. The truth you mentioned is too tempting for them; if they leak information and strike some private deal with the Engel family…
Uncle Four walks into the main hall, his face showing concern.
Haha, if it were that old man Otto, he might indeed share with Edward, but do you think Otto is still alive? Elvin is a young lion, more arrogant, and his ambition far exceeds that of Otto… Not to mention, dealing with Wang, how could one bargain with a count whose ambition is not less than his?
Uncle Four, what I want is simply to bind the James family to our side; given their greed for the ancestors, they won’t stand idly by. Holding a firm position to be the last to pick the peaches is what they excel at.
The Wang family ancestor smiles lightly, unconcerned, but after a few seconds, she deeply sighs: “I heard that the little girl Zhong Yao has developed other thoughts?”
It doesn’t affect the plan.
Uncle Four restores his normal expression, even showing some indifference.
Uncle Four, you are good at everything, but you lack empathy; on this point, actually, Uncle Five is better than you. Ah, let Uncle Eight protect them well; these two kids are our hope…
Indeed…
Uncle Four quickly lowers his head.
…
During the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the senior executives at the Dark Arrow headquarters spent their time in heated discussions during secret meetings.
The newly-promoted Lieutenant Han Jie-jian, still like a small transparent figure, huddled in the corner of the conference room, sitting next to the temporary meeting secretary Han Xiao, appreciating the verbal sparring between the top executives of the Dark Arrow.
…Intelligence is seriously insufficient; even if the Russian secret troops are willing to cooperate, what if these people secretly collude with North Americans? The Blood Dragon Brigade could face a total annihilation!
After the Ye Zhijun incident, the Han family faction faded away, and Wang Hongjun was transferred from the western supervision district to headquarters, becoming the new operations minister of the Dark Arrow, abruptly entering work mode while being shocked by certain top secrets.
Not only are we cooperating with the Dark Arrow and the Russian secret troops, there’s also the Wang family. Han Guowei leisurely sips tea, pointing at the documents in front of him, “The Blood Dragon Brigade has suffered heavy losses, but if combined with the Wang family, the combat power of the Engel family may not exceed ours.”
Old Han, is the strength of three operational brigades not enough?
On the other side, Chief of Staff Wu Zhongxian seems hesitant. “Currently, all four barons of the Blood Dragon Brigade are absent, especially the guard and Qiang, as their injuries are too severe; they can’t…”
In the top ten, recovery within a few days.
To put everything into one battle, to raise troops for a moment, everyone,
What is the purpose of our formation of the Blood Dragon Brigade!?
Han Guowei’s tea cup
heavily drops onto the table, his expression serious:
“This is the final battle,
we must concentrate all our forces!
This operation, I will personally lead the team!”
“Guowei, will the Wang family truly be willing
to fight alongside us? Just because of the cooperation with the Red Diamond?
The Wang family has played too many tricks for hundreds of years…”
Disguised as the deputy general manager of Huayao Group, Han Guoping cautiously asked from the side.
“Haha, Guoping, don’t underestimate the relationship between the Red Diamond and that elder from the Wang family…”
Han Guowei smiled mysteriously,
his expression causing those present to fall into contemplation.
Alright, there’s no turning back; the Navy has constructed a battle base for us in advance according to the military committee’s deployment,
let’s not create a big joke because of our internal entanglements. Next, we just wait for information from the Wang family!
Wu Zhongxian decisively concluded, finally completing the last troop deployment for the overseas secret operation code-named Pangolin.
The time window is indeed narrow,
causing the action plan to be drafted and executed almost simultaneously, everything feels so hurried.
Three Dark Arrow action brigades
combined with the Blood Dragon Brigade will disguise themselves as the Marine Corps, using the long-range deployment capabilities of the Lulei aircraft carrier and Qionghai amphibious assault ship to launch a secret raid on the Engel family’s underground base.
According to the latest established troop mobilization plan, the Blood Dragon Brigade will be secretly transported to the naval logistics base in Djibouti by our country in the Red Sea twenty-four hours before the battle, where they will meet with the three operational brigades on board the Qionghai amphibious assault ship.
For this, our country also specially achieved intelligence sharing and joint action agreements with Russia’s secret agencies through secret channels, ready to destroy the ancestral plan that has lasted for two hundred years in one fell swoop.
After the meeting, within those present,
the two countries most harmed by the ancestral plan are China and Russia.
The meeting participants gradually left the conference room, with Han Xiao and Han Jie-zhong lingering until the end.
Han Xiao glanced at her father’s departing figure and said softly, “Xiao Zhi, can I go too?”
“Don’t, the men of the Han family are still alive; it’s enough for me and Third Uncle to handle this… Ouch!”
Han Jie-zhong blurted out and was predictably pinched hard by Han Xiao.
Han Xiao’s eyes slightly reddened, her voice trembling: “Dad is already planning to take up arms, and you still want to follow?!”
“Witnessing history, how can Third Uncle and I miss out?”
Han Jie-zhong reined in his smile, gently patting Han Xiao’s arm, speaking calmly, “Let the Han family complete the final period…”
“You…”
Han Xiao turned her head, covering her face with her hand, and ran away with a cry.
Watching his cousin leave, Han Jie-zhong sighed, glanced at the time,
and hurried down the stairs.
As evening approached, Han Jie-zhong hurried to the West Peak Martyrs’ Cemetery.
The last time he came here was during the chill of winter, to pay respects for his great-aunt Han Zhongyue, whereas now, the summer sun is out, the mountains are lush and green.
As for the individuals he previously memorialized, they are currently standing with Han Guowei in front of a gravestone.
“Sorry, there was a bit of a traffic jam on the way!”
Han Jie-zhong, in a sweat, rushed to join Wanyue and Han Guowei, carrying a large stack of incense, paper, and flowers, panting heavily.
Today, Wanyue is dressed in a plain black straight dress, solemn and understated. Facing the tardy Han Jie-zhong, she merely smiles gently, grabs a handful of grass incense, ignites it, and kneels before the gravestone.
On the gravestone, below the red military emblem, the words “Zhu Qianhua’s Grave” are inscribed, along with a glass frame embedded in the gravestone, containing a dignified portrait of an elderly female soldier.
“Mom, it’s been sixty-one years,
I’m here to see you.”
Grass incense placed in the incense stand in front of the gravestone, Wanyue unexpectedly bowed her head three times.
Han Guowei and Han Jie-zhong stood with bowed heads to either side of Wanyue, their eyes turning red as well.
Flowers gathered, grass incense wafted, yellow paper burned away; throughout, Wanyue didn’t speak a word, only smiling at the gravestone.
“Aunt… Miss Wanyue, the actions of Dark Arrow have begun, when will the Wang family’s intelligence arrive? Without specific coordinates, this operation might end halfway. Han Guowei still feels somewhat awkward not directly addressing her as ‘Aunt,’ but politely continues to use the current title. Wanyue turns around, smiling brightly.
The middle-aged Han Guowei gently shakes his head: “Your distant personality is quite similar to my second brother… I became a seed when you weren’t even born yet; your elder brother Han Lei was only a few months old.”
That, great-aunt, how exactly is the Wang family’s action unfolding? It can’t be that this time relies on everyone fighting for themselves again?
Han Jie-zhong, lacking shame, directly leaned closer to Wanyue, his eyes shamelessly lingering for a moment.
“Jie-zhao!”
Han Guowei glared, shouting loudly, causing Han Jie-zhong to quickly take two steps back.
A young officer, all swagger, cozied up to a remarkably beautiful young woman, making him look like a spoiled second-generation military child.
“Haha, what kind of man haven’t I seen? At this age, I’m not concerned, and you’re in such a rush? This child’s innocent nature is a rare thing; if he had a personality like you and Second Brother, our Han family would probably stumble into a ditch sooner or later.”
A double entendre made Han Guowei recall his father Han Zhongliang, and his expression became much darker.
“The simpler the plan, the better; you only need to open the base’s breach, and leave the rest to the Wang family. Your strongest opponent might not necessarily be the Engel family, so don’t let anyone pick the peaches; understand…”
Wanyue thought for a moment and roughly outlined the Wang family’s action plan; both Han Guowei and Han Jie-zhong fell into deep thought.
The biggest enemy in this operation for Dark Arrow might not be the Engel family… This implication made both Han Guowei and Han Jie-zhong’s expressions become serious.
I won’t participate in the second brother’s violent act; time is tight as I have to catch an evening flight back to City C… Han Jie-zhong, you don’t need to take part in this operation, consider it my selfishness. The Han family can take a break after fighting for hundreds of years.
Before leaving, as if remembering something, Wanyue quickly turned back and reminded him.
No.
Han Jie-zhong firmly shook his head, without a hint of negotiating room.
…
“Alright, I’ll be on my way; do you have anything else to say?”
Stepping into the cemetery parking lot, Wanyue stopped and turned to look at the pair of uncles and nephews behind her with a smile.
“Um, great-aunt, the last time at Hyacinth Villa, that girl named Xiaoqiu, could you, could you introduce her to me…”
Han Jie-zhong rubbed his hands, suddenly looking bashful.
Five days ago, during the battle command vehicle’s situation monitoring, Han Jie-zhong was most impressed by a certain Hyacinth girl.
Leaving aside her appearance and figure, she single-handedly stalled a Dark Arrow squad leader for five minutes as a Blood Servant, ultimately being suppressed by Meng Huai; the whole combat process left Han Jie-zhong very shaken.
“Xiaoqiu… I remember her, outstanding talent, in the three years of blood invasion, she’s already an upper-tier Blood Servant, brought in by Jiang Yan and Meng Huai from Y Province. So, do you have a crush on her?”
Seeing the previously shy and bashful boy before her, Wanyue couldn’t help but smile widely.
“Hehe, just introduce her; you just need to start us off… By the way, how old is she, I mean, her real age.”
“Han Jie-zhong!”
Han Guowei frowned, directly interrupting the currently awkward atmosphere, then with a cold face, pointed toward the far end of the parking lot: “Go, bring the car over; we’ll transport Miss Wanyue to the airport.”
Han Jie-zhong walked away, looking back three times, with Han Guowei increasingly feeling awkward, his face flushing deeply.
“Could Han Jie-zhong be serious about this?”
Han Guowei hesitated, quietly asking.
“Fake.”
Wanyue shook her head without hesitation, but the smile on her face remained: “However, this child, while his ideas may be false, his feelings are genuine.”
“He’s trying to figure out my stance and recognize my strategic tasks…”
Han Guowei was taken aback, then suddenly realized, and a bitter smile spread across his face.
…
After everyone left, the private villa in Longquan Mountain became a temporary residence for Jiang Yan and Meng Huai.
The villa, both inside and out, had not been taken care of for a long time; the outdoor lawn area is a jumble of red and pink hues, unlike its former grandeur and wildness, and the large mansion seemed very desolate.
In the first-floor living room, Meng Huai was handling juice behind a half-open kitchen countertop, while Jiang Yan contemplated in front of the television screen.
The television continued to broadcast imposing footage of the Chinese Navy aircraft carrier group exercising in the Indian Ocean. Clearly, this is the most talked-about domestic news since the founding of New China and in the internet era.
Jiang Yan, stunned, slowly nodded: “Sister Wanyue and the Wang family ancestor have been planning a counter-offensive against the Engel family, and I may very well become a bait, covering the Wang family’s Trojan Horse aimed at the research on the ancestors, approaching the ancestors.”
“But once I exhibited instability and distortion, the Wang family stopped mentioning this matter.”
Jiang Yan raised her left hand, looking at the nearly bandaged arm, revealing a hint of confusion in her eyes: “This time, my boiling blood stability has been declining, showing signs of boiling blood exhaustion in just a few minutes, which aligns with the description of the queen nearing the third stage.”
“But now, the odor in the distorted area has inexplicably disappeared; I don’t know what new changes have occurred. The Wang family asked Qiu Ming to come here again tomorrow to conduct a full-body check and sample collection.”
As she spoke, Jiang Yan turned slightly, in front of Meng Huai, she pulled down the stocking from her right leg, uncovering the bandage to scrutinize the expanded festering scar after the last battle.
There was no disgust or discomfort; the original dark fragrance of Jiang Yan’s body returned, causing Meng Huai to be momentarily captivated.
Noticing Meng Huai’s change in expression, Jiang Yan’s ears flushed slightly as she quickly put her stockings back on, drawing her legs onto the sofa, and looking at him with sparkling big eyes, teasingly: “Meng Huai, after entering the queen realm, in the days leading up to my monthly cycle, I’ll have a strong urge, affecting the men around me; in the future, can you handle it…”
“I’ll step out to buy something; do you need anything?”
Hearing this, Meng Huai swiftly set Jiang Yan aside, stood up, and hurriedly pulled out the car keys from his pocket, pretending to leave.
Jiang Yan sat straight up, watching the obviously nervous and anxious young man trying to change the subject, growing bolder in her heart.
After a few seconds, Jiang Yan raised a hand, gently pressing on her chest: “These past two months, it’s been developing here, the bra has become a bit uncomfortable, so I guess I need to wear 36/80B, get me two pieces, don’t bring any padding, just choose the style you like.”
Meng Huai fled in a panic; Jiang Yan finally spoke, her face flushed red.
The retaliation and reckoning for Meng Huai’s various quirky behaviors in the past were indeed stimulating and extremely fulfilling—perhaps as Wanyue had once teased and hinted, dealing with someone like Meng Huai, the methods shouldn’t be overly simplistic.
