Meng Hao remained silent.
He merely glanced at Zhang Xinjin beside him, who was currently focused on her food, looking every bit the demure young wife.
The two of them were already as one, soul and body intertwined.
Meng Hao shot her a look.
Zhang Xinjin immediately understood.
"Young Master Songzan."
"An appearance fee of one hundred million is indeed substantial!"
"However, when it comes to Brother Hao's safety, let alone one hundred million, no amount of money would be enough."
"Furthermore, with your intelligence network, it shouldn't be difficult to ascertain that while I'm publicly known as Brother Hao's bodyguard and assistant... in reality, I'm affiliated with the military, holding the rank of Captain. My primary duty is to protect Brother Hao!"
The fact that Zhang Xinjin had a background with the Great Xia military.
Even if the Indian subcontinent didn't investigate, the Great Xia authorities would intentionally let it be known.
The reason was simple.
No matter how much Meng Hao protested about not cooperating with the Great Xia military.
He was still a national treasure of the Great Xia.
If the Indian subcontinent were to treat him with disrespect, or worse, if Meng Hao's personal safety was not guaranteed, then the Great Xia government would not hesitate to sever ties.
Songzan chuckled somewhat awkwardly.
"I treat Brother Hao as a friend."
"How could we possibly investigate a friend's background?"
His words.
Lacked any conviction.
However.
Neither Meng Hao nor Zhang Xinjin chose to expose him, instead waiting for him to continue.
"This trip to Australia for the military equipment exhibition will be undertaken under the banner of our Indian subcontinent's national team... both of you will be included in our national delegation... I believe that our Indian subcontinent is, after all, a major power, and no country would dare to provoke a confrontation with us by harming members of our national delegation."
Indeed.
The Indian subcontinent was a major power.
But apart from its size and population, there seemed to be little else worth mentioning.
"Furthermore, I will officially notify the Great Xia government about this matter."
"With the national credibility of the Indian subcontinent as backing, we will guarantee the safety of both of you."
"Will that be satisfactory?"
Meng Hao glanced at Zhang Xinjin and nodded slightly.
Since they were notifying the Great Xia government.
Elder Ouyang and the others would undoubtedly assess the safety of this trip to Australia.
If the Great Xia had no objections, it would indicate that the journey was safe.
"Mm."
"No problem."
Having received Meng Hao's approval.
Zhang Xinjin also agreed.
She then raised her wine glass.
"Here's to a successful trip!"
...
Great Xia.
The capital.
Elder Ouyang was meditating in the sunlight.
Tiptoe.
A military officer entered.
"Elder, there is an official communication from the Indian subcontinent."
Oh?
The Elder opened his eyes and gestured for the officer to read it aloud.
"Oh?"
"So, this kid Meng Hao actually helped the Indian subcontinent secure a nuclear submarine?"
"Although the technology is considerably inferior to ours, it's still considered top-tier among countries in the second tier worldwide."
"It seems Meng Hao has rendered a great service to us this time."
Indeed.
Besides receiving a reward of five hundred million, Meng Hao had also secured preferential access for Huayong Technology's products to the Indian subcontinent's market in the future, and had also earned the friendship of the Indian subcontinent for the nation.
Globally, it was probably only the Indian subcontinent itself that believed the news of hiring a civilian entrepreneur from the Great Xia to participate in the development of the Jiemie-2 nuclear submarine could be kept secret.
In reality.
Even if the Indian subcontinent didn't mention it.
The Great Xia could obtain this information through its own intelligence network.
Of course.
The fact that the Indian subcontinent's military proactively reported this matter to the Great Xia and vouched for Meng Hao's safety with their national credibility.
This, in essence, meant they owed the Great Xia an immense favor.
In this day and age.
Monetary debts were easily repaid.
Debts of gratitude were hard to settle.
From individuals to entire nations and organizations.
The principle was the same.
"Meng Hao's safety is of utmost importance."
"However, since the Indian subcontinent has already pledged its national credibility, we shall grant them this favor."
"I doubt that the United States and its Western allies would be so base and despicable as to risk a falling out with both the Indian subcontinent and the Great Xia to abduct Meng Hao."
After speaking.
Elder Ouyang pondered for a moment.
"We are also participating in the Australian military exhibition, aren't we!"
"How about this, you instruct the team leader to bring more personnel, and also keep an eye on Meng Hao."
"If anything were to happen to Meng Hao, then those individuals should just pack their bags and go back home to farm."
...
Several days later.
Australia.
All the national representatives participating in the military equipment exhibition had arrived.
It was called a military equipment exhibition.
In reality.
Each country attending this grand event harbored its own agenda and intentions.
The uncles from Africa, despite their poverty, loved to fight!
If they could procure some cost-effective military equipment at the exhibition, they might be able to conquer another province or city, and then seize even more wealth.
Ordinary second and third-tier nations would come to see what powerful equipment their big brothers had developed, then purchase a few items, offering face to their patrons while simultaneously strengthening their own national power.
As for the oil-rich Gulf states, it was akin to a shopping spree for Black Friday.
Regardless of the equipment's quality or suitability for their own country's conditions.
They would buy not the best, but the most expensive.
It was just money, after all.
The oil-rich sheikhs were unconcerned.
And then there were nations like the Indian subcontinent, which considered themselves great powers.
Occasionally, they would churn out equipment that second-tier nations struggled with, and that first-tier, superpower nations overlooked, just to show off.
Attempting to leverage their great power status.
Of course.
The most dazzling participants were nations like the Great Xia, the United States, and Russia.
They were the true centerpieces of the entire conference.
They would compete with each other showcasing various high-end military equipment, continuously courting nations like the Gulf states, and demonstrating their might to the world and their smaller allies.
...
In the luxurious hotel where the national delegates were staying.
Within one of the presidential suites, which boasted seven or eight rooms.
Several generals, each with at least one star on their shoulders, were chatting.
On the table before them were anti-reconnaissance and anti-eavesdropping devices, which gave them the confidence to speak freely.
"Are there any new equipment worth noting at this military equipment exhibition?"
The one in the lead, with two stars on his shoulders, was clearly the head of the Great Xia's delegation.
"Haven't heard anything."
"These countries are all as cunning as monkeys."
"Before the official start of the exhibition, not the slightest bit of information will be leaked."
"Oh, right, there's one exception, the Indian subcontinent..."
The Indian subcontinent?
Pfft, pfft!
The generals burst into laughter in unison.
The Indian subcontinent was acting particularly boisterous this time.
It was all because they had allegedly developed the "Jiemie-2 nuclear submarine" with indigenous technology.
The crucial point was.
Any country with even a moderately competent intelligence department had already received the news.
This so-called "Jiemie-2 nuclear submarine" was not independently developed by the Indian subcontinent at all.