The meeting, for a time, fell into a stalemate.
The nation of India vouching for Meng Hao's safety was already a troublesome enough matter.
Furthermore, the delegation from Great Xia had brought an enhanced company of elite soldiers to escort Meng Hao.
Putting aside the fact of whether abducting Meng Hao would trigger conflicts between India and Great Xia with the United States.
Even if they didn't care about that.
To abduct Meng Hao under the noses of over a hundred elite special forces soldiers would be an almost impossible feat.
Unless.
They deployed troops on a massive scale.
However.
If they were to do so.
It would essentially be equivalent to declaring war on India and Great Xia.
The meeting had reached an impasse.
Seeing that the discussion could not continue with nonsensical talk, the blonde, red-lipped woman rolled her eyes, placed her hands on her hips, and fully displayed an expression of sympathetic misfortune and indignant disappointment.
"So then?"
"Can't your intelligence departments offer some advice?"
"Are you the professionals, or am I?"
"Kidnapping, isn't that something within the professional scope of your intelligence departments?"
Good heavens.
Kidnapping was within the professional scope of intelligence agents?
If it weren't for the fact that this woman was the head of the Department of Homeland Security.
The intelligence department might have directly clashed with her.
What did she mean, kidnapping was within their professional scope?
Please.
They were agents, not bandits, and certainly not robbers who made a living by kidnapping.
Suppressing his anger.
The head of the intelligence department cast his gaze towards the highest authority of the White House.
"Your Excellency, the highest authority."
"If we wish to obtain Meng Hao, we do indeed have some unconventional methods."
"However, the prerequisite is that we must pass a risk assessment... and obtain your secret authorization, and that of Congress!"
Indeed.
Whether it was outright kidnapping or using subtle tactics to abduct Meng Hao.
There was a risk of falling out with India and Great Xia.
Currently.
What needed to be done was to assess whether it was worth taking such a great risk to bring Meng Hao to the United States!
"Meng Hao, using the scrapped hull of our F-35 fighter jets, directly developed mechs with extraordinary power!"
"Meng Hao, using the decommissioned core from the Netherlands, scrap lithography machines that were akin to junk, directly researched and manufactured Great Xia's indigenous optical technology!!"
"Meng Hao, using a nuclear submarine with its nuclear power engine removed, leaving it almost an empty shell, helped India research and manufacture the Annihilation Type 2 nuclear submarine, which already performs very close to mainstream nuclear submarines!"
"..."
The expert panel continuously provided judgments and evaluations.
"A research expert with such terrifying capabilities, if left in Great Xia, will eventually elevate their military research level to surpass or even crush ours in the United States!"
"The United States absolutely cannot lose its position as the world's overlord and the number one power in global military technology."
"Rather than waiting until Great Xia has the strength to challenge us with Meng Hao's help before falling out, it is better to directly abduct Meng Hao to our United States now!"
It was very clear.
The consensus among the US government officials and high-ranking military officers present was unanimous.
Meng Hao's existence.
Would eventually threaten the United States.
Rather than finding a solution later, it was better to risk falling out with Great Xia and India now to abduct him.
"According to the assessment."
"The result of abducting Meng Hao is to limit Great Xia's further development."
"The price to pay is to fall out with Great Xia and India... and even cause devastating damage to the United States' international reputation."
"However, at present, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, so we recommend approving this mission!"
The highest authority of the United States White House nodded.
"Good."
"Since everyone has decided this."
"Intelligence departments, proceed as you see fit... however, one point needs attention: try to minimize the negative impact."
The head of the intelligence department nodded.
He no longer participated in the meeting and left his position.
...
The day's exhibition came to an end.
Australia hosted a banquet at a large hotel.
Over a thousand members of various national delegations gathered together.
Outside the hotel.
Numerous covert elite soldiers from various countries were strictly monitoring the surrounding security.
After all.
Many government officials and military generals were attending the exhibition.
Meng Hao was the focus of this evening's banquet.
Members of many national delegations, holding wine glasses filled with various red wines, champagne, and sparkling wine, approached Meng Hao to strike up conversations.
"Oh, my dear Meng, you are so handsome, even many men in our United States bow down to you."
A blonde woman with fiery red lips, and an extremely alluring figure.
She approached Meng Hao with her wine glass and conversed with him in fluent Great Xia language.
"You are too kind, the United States also has many handsome and elite men."
In such a setting, polite words were certainly in order.
Seeing the attractive and curvaceous American woman take a small sip of the sparkling wine in her glass, she then offered the glass, bearing the imprint of her red lipstick, to Meng Hao.
"My dear Meng."
"I noticed that no matter who toasts you, you only drink plain water."
"Isn't that a bit of a party pooper?"
"This sparkling wine has a very low alcohol content, it's practically a water beverage with a hint of alcohol... and I've already drunk from it, would you like a sip!"
Looking at the red lipstick mark on the rim of the glass.
Meng Hao felt no trace of romantic allure.
Instead, he felt a sense of disgust and nausea.
Damn it.
Offering him, Meng Hao, a drink she had already drunk from?
Did she not find the idea of sharing saliva disgusting?
Wait.
This woman from the United States seemed to be a Great Xia enthusiast!
She had just emphasized that this glass of sparkling wine was no different from plain water.
Meng Hao suddenly recalled a meme.
Drink my water?
Sleep with me!
Damn it.
No wonder this woman was constantly flirting and repeatedly asking Meng Hao if he wanted to drink this wine.
Damn it.
So, she had set her sights on his, Meng Hao's, body!
As expected.
The openness of Western women was beyond imagination.
Meeting for the first time, and already intending to have a deeper understanding with Meng Hao.
Meng Hao was wary of such a delivered encounter.
"I'm sorry, I am actually allergic to alcohol!"
"Perhaps next time!"
Meng Hao casually picked up the water cup beside him and took a small sip.
"However, I am very grateful for your toast."
"So, please forgive me for substituting tea for wine!"
The teacup was brought by Meng Hao himself.
And it had remained within his line of sight, so he didn't have to worry about being drugged.
Although, at such a global exhibition of military equipment, it was unlikely that any small country would attempt any foul play.
However.
Better safe than sorry.
"Oh dear."
"That's truly a pity."
"However, can we chat for a while?"
The American woman did not seem displeased at all by Meng Hao's refusal.
Instead, like a fangirl, she asked Meng Hao a barrage of questions from beside him.