The team leader's head was being held at gunpoint by the opponent.
Naturally, his subordinates exchanged glances.
Then, they slowly retracted their guns.
After all.
Their orders when accepting the mission were that as long as Meng Hao did not forcefully leave, and unless it was absolutely unavoidable, they were not to harm Meng Hao in any way.
Seeing the seven or eight men in black put their guns away.
Meng Hao no longer held his gun to Charles's head.
However.
The matter of Charles threatening him earlier was not over.
Meng Hao raised his hand.
He directly smashed the butt of his gun into Charles's forehead.
The latter saw stars from the impact.
"This is a return for your threat... Tell me, what's your intention in tricking me here?"
...
Great Xia.
The capital.
Zhang Weimin received the situation feedback from the team sent to Australia.
Every day before midnight, they reported the day's situation; this was a rule set before departure.
"Attended a banquet... interacted with a blonde American beauty for nearly two hours... did not leave via the back door, but instead went to the blonde American beauty's residence!"
Hmm?
Zhang Weimin's brow furrowed slightly.
At first glance, the feedback report for that day seemed to have no issues.
However.
This last section, regarding Meng Hao's rendezvous with the blonde beauty, made Zhang Weimin feel something was off.
Based on his understanding of Meng Hao.
Meng Hao should be a cautious person, so how could he so casually go to the home of a woman whose background he knew nothing about in a foreign land?
Something is not right.
There's a problem.
Zhang Weimin immediately called Zhang Xijin, who was far away in Australia.
"Where are you now?"
"Are you with Meng Hao?"
Zhang Weimin, without any of the gentleness of a doting father, began his interrogation.
"I am at my residence."
"I did not attend today's banquet."
"I have some manuscripts to handle."
Zhang Xijin was a bit confused.
Why was her own father reacting so strongly?
She had to know.
Meng Hao was being secretly protected by over a hundred special forces soldiers... and it was an official Australian banquet, so it was unlikely anything would happen.
"Nonsense."
"Before you left, wasn't it repeatedly emphasized that you must stay by Meng Hao's side 24 hours a day!"
"How could you let Meng Hao leave your sight?"
Uh!
24-hour close personal escort?
She, Zhang Xijin, had done that... she had even "given herself away."
"Dad, is there any need for such a strong reaction?!"
Zhang Xijin's pretty face blushed, and she subconsciously questioned.
"How many times have I told you, in a professional setting, do not use family terms to address me."
"Now, you immediately contact Meng Hao."
"I will contact Lieutenant General Chen Shu, and see what the situation is."
After hanging up the phone.
Zhang Xijin instinctively took out her phone.
Damn it.
Meng Hao is a grown man, could he possibly get lost?
Muttering and complaining softly, Zhang Xijin took out her phone and called Meng Hao.
The next second.
She panicked.
Meng Hao's phone was turned off.
...
Lieutenant General Chen Shu.
He was the head of the Great Xia delegation, that very Lieutenant General!
He had already returned to the accommodation arranged by Australia from the banquet venue.
As for not seeing Meng Hao, he hadn't paid much attention.
The captain of the special forces secretly protecting Meng Hao had said that the young man had gone back to the American girl's residence with her.
Young people these days.
They always need their private space.
However, this Meng Hao truly didn't know how fortunate he was.
With such a beautiful Zhang Xijin by his side, he still wanted to taste wild game from outside.
But, as someone who had been through it, Lieutenant General Chen could understand.
Young people.
Full of vigor.
Having tasted delicacies, it was normal to occasionally try street food.
When Chen Shu received Zhang Weimin's call, he was even somewhat nonchalant.
It wasn't until the special forces captain and Zhang Xijin reported to him that Meng Hao had disappeared and his phone was turned off and unreachable that he panicked.
"Report, we have located the vehicle Meng Hao was in, but the license plate is a fake, the situation is not good..."
"Report, we have negotiated with the Australian side and reviewed the surveillance footage. Strangely, three minutes after the fake-plated car drove away, all surveillance lost track. We suspect there may have been infiltration into the Australian official departments..."
"The information about that woman has been found; she is American, studying in Australia. Her entire resume is normal, even abnormally normal... For example, such a young woman with an extremely simple private life and ordinary family background would not be invited to an official Australian banquet..."
"Our intelligence department found that two days ago, an unregistered, unknown small vessel docked at the port..."
"..."
Various pieces of intelligence converged.
Beads of sweat began to slowly seep down Chen Shu's forehead.
Piecing together all the scattered information, a conspiracy quickly emerged.
This was a setup, a trap set by the American intelligence department specifically targeting Meng Hao!
It was just that.
No one, including Chen Shu, could have imagined that America would actually resort to such measures on the territory of its ally, Australia, risking a falling out with the official Indian and Great Xia authorities, to abduct Meng Hao!
Pacing frantically in the room like an ant on a hot pan, Chen Shu, in desperation, could only choose to call back to the country.
He knew.
He had caused a huge problem this time.
But.
As a soldier.
Evading responsibility was not his style.
The call connected.
The person who answered was a gentle and refined old man, who seemed to remain unruffled by anything.
"I am Old Man Ouyang, what is it, Chen Shu?"
Chen Shu swallowed.
"I'm sorry, Elder, to call you so late..."
"But, something big has happened..."
Chen Shu's tone was extremely grave.
The Old Man Ouyang on the other end of the phone felt a jolt in his heart.
The watering can he was holding slipped from his hand and fell to the ground, splashing water onto his cloth shoes.
"Meng Hao, something has happened?"
"You, speak slowly!"
Chen Shu quickly recounted the incident at an extremely rapid pace.
"We never imagined America would be so despicable!"
Chen Shu's statement was not to defend himself but merely to state the facts.
A few seconds later.
Old Man Ouyang's slightly cold voice sounded again.
"Find out if Meng Hao has been abducted by Americans, at all costs... No matter what, bring him back."
Before hanging up the phone.
Old Man Ouyang, in a rare display, spoke sternly.
"I truly didn't expect, Chen Shu, that such a simple matter would be messed up by you... Do you know how important Meng Hao is to our Great Xia?"
At Old Man Ouyang's status.
He was almost always inscrutable, always maintaining a composed demeanor.
But when he spoke words of blame and reprimand.
It indicated that the situation was extremely serious, and he was extremely disappointed in Chen Shu.
After hanging up the phone.
Old Man Ouyang frowned, pondered for a moment, then quickly walked to his desk and picked up the receiver of the red telephone.
"I am Old Man Ouyang, please inform the heads of the following departments..."