Stone Forest.
Huarong Technology Headquarters.
Qin Muyan was working in Meng Hao's living and working area as usual.
On the huge computer screen.
Meng Hao's negative news was overwhelming.
These days.
As the head of Huarong Technology's public relations department.
Qin Muyan had tried her best, but still could not salvage Meng Hao's reputation, which was collapsing like a mountain flood.
Not just Meng Hao.
Even the Huarong Technology headquarters was attacked daily.
Even saying.
These attacks had already extended from online to reality.
Every day, incited and manipulated masses would come to the entrance of Huarong Technology to cause trouble.
If not for the diligent security personnel.
These netizens, who had been misled, would have rushed into Huarong Technology to smash and loot.
Seeing Cheng Hua hiring a batch of security personnel again with heavy money to drive away the troublemakers.
The infinite grievances suffered these days churned within Qin Muyan's heart.
Meng Hao.
You damned fellow.
Where on earth did you go?
Does Huarong Technology not matter anymore?
Does home not matter anymore?
Does Qin Muyan... not matter anymore?
...
Australia.
The members of the Three Kingdoms of India who had attended the Global Military Exhibition were starting to return.
They no longer felt much guilt about Meng Hao's sudden disappearance.
These representatives from the Three Kingdoms of India had already believed the United States' claims.
Meng Hao's sudden disappearance was a plan to use this opportunity to join the United States.
Even the US military had publicly released Meng Hao's handwritten letter applying to join the United States.
The United States.
No matter how despicable or unreliable their actions, they wouldn't openly deceive the world.
It was this Meng Hao, though.
Suddenly leaving without saying goodbye, without even a word.
He had almost caused a diplomatic conflict between the Three Kingdoms of India and the United States.
As the delegation members continuously departed.
Zhang Xiqin chose to stay.
Out of guilt.
She did not even apply for special funds from the Great Xia military, and instead used her own savings to rent a place in Australia for a long term.
She looked at the countless attacks on Meng Hao online, and the seemingly ironclad evidence, but her face showed disbelief.
She was Meng Hao's woman...
In her interactions with Meng Hao, she could confirm that Meng Hao was definitely not the type to sell his country for glory...
Even if the whole world did not believe Meng Hao, she would still be full of confidence in him...
Though all men in the world may go against me.
...
Kyoto.
The routine meeting at Elder Ouyang's residence.
This time.
Many high-ranking officials attended.
Their expressions were extremely solemn.
"The official announcement from the US military, coupled with the news online identifying Meng Hao as having certainly defected to the US, and even joined them, what are your views on this?"
Elder Ouyang's brows furrowed slightly. He spoke first.
A high-ranking official pondered for several seconds before speaking slowly.
"The United States, while having many points of criticism, should not openly lie on such a major international issue..."
"General Tommy's position in the US is similar to yours in Great Xia, both being pillars of the military. Since he has personally stated that Meng Hao has joined the US, and even presented Meng Hao's handwritten application, I believe this matter is about ninety percent true..."
"Otherwise, if Meng Hao were to step forward and directly deny this, wouldn't the credibility of the United States and its military be completely lost?"
The words of this senior official instantly ignited the discussion.
Indeed.
In the eyes of everyone.
Meng Hao was just a young man who had not experienced the glorious years of war. His loyalty to the country might not be fully guaranteed.
Moreover, as a young person, he might not be able to resist many temptations in this world.
Seeing the executives in the meeting discussing animatedly.
It seemed they had already concluded that Meng Hao had completely joined the US nationality.
Some even suggested terminating negotiations with Meng Hao.
After all.
Their painstaking efforts, mistakenly believing Meng Hao was detained by the US, only to find out he had joined US nationality.
This was a huge loss of face.
The discussion lasted for nearly half an hour.
When everyone stopped speaking, Elder Ouyang slowly and calmly, with a furrowed brow, spoke.
"Actually, my judgment is the exact opposite of yours..."
"I believe that Meng Hao has not only not betrayed, but I also persist in my previous judgment that Meng Hao was likely detained..."
"As for whether the US would do something that would tarnish its own credibility, I still believe they would..."
Elder Ouyang's words instantly made the entire meeting hall unusually quiet.
In the next ten minutes or so.
Elder Ouyang, unhurriedly and deliberately, expounded his judgment.
The United States was a country that prioritized profit.
As long as it could bring sufficient benefits to the country, they were fully capable of taking risks.
Let alone the so-called loss of credibility.
Back then, how many gambles did the US make for "national security"?
For example, the nuclear standoff with the predecessor of the Bear Country, the Soviet Union...
For example, defying the world and directly going to war with a country rich in oil, directly provoking global scorn and condemnation...
For example, when attacking a landlocked country, the reason given was that the country possessed weapons of mass destruction, and the evidence presented at the end turned out to be a small bag of laundry...
From these incidents.
The United States had never been a country of credibility.
And what about Meng Hao's benefit to the United States?
Someone who could independently develop and master the core technology of the F-35 fighter jet and develop lithography machines.
This was far more profitable than oil or mineral resources.
Someone like Meng Hao.
Whether joining the US, staying in Great Xia, or going to the Bear Country or Western European countries, could significantly boost the country's scientific research and national strength for decades.
Elder Ouyang's line of reasoning was completely beyond everyone's comprehension.
"Think about it, for such talent, who can allow US scientific and military technology to continue to lead the world for decades, with such enormous interests involved, would the US gamble its so-called insignificant credibility?"
"Furthermore, if Meng Hao truly wanted to defect to the US, he could have left openly. We have never restricted his freedom... Of course, there is the most crucial and important point: what Tommy mentioned about the conditions the US could offer Meng Hao, we can also offer."
"So, why didn't Meng Hao directly ask for these conditions from his motherland, Great Xia, but instead chose to defect to the US, bearing infamy?"