Chapter 63: Support Rather Than Interfere

Pei Ziying's presence was practically carved from the same mold as Ling Wu's, but the former was clearly sharper, more piercing, carrying a latent danger like a resting lion, yet also like a towering mountain, giving one a sense of stability.

Ling Wu had called him Senior Brother for ten years.

The Federation's Living Yama.

The air was permeated with a fishy, salty scent.

Xi Huaizhi rested one hand on the ship's railing, the sea breeze whipping his thin black trench coat high; with single-lidded eyes, a high nose bridge, and deep eye sockets, he lazily raised his pale blue eyes, the corners of his lips pulling into an arrogant, spirited smile, fearlessly saying: "Pei Ziying, do you dare try touching me?"

The atmosphere instantly became tense and ready for battle.

Pei Ziying's posture was composed: "You think I don't dare?"

"Hahaha..." Xi Huaizhi spread his arms, facing the boundless sea as he sneered: "Of course you dare! What is there that you, Pei Ziying, wouldn't dare to do?"

He hooked the corners of his lips into a provocative arc: "If you kill me, Ling Wu will hate you for the rest of his life."

"Believe it or not?"

Pei Ziying narrowed his eyes: "You dare use him to threaten me?"

Xi Huaizhi shrugged: "I don't dare."

After all, he came from the Thief Family and had lived on the edge of a blade for so many years; even if he disguised himself as carefree and wanton on the surface, the ferocity in his bones was indelible.

Pei Ziying's Adam's apple bobbed, and a cold laugh spilled out: "Heh."

"I am the Senior Brother he has called for ten years, while you are merely an insignificant outsider who appeared halfway through; what makes you think he would hate me for your sake?"

Xi Huaizhi found it laughable: "I'm an outsider?"

"Fine then, you are his good Senior Brother, his kin, so why did he hide his departure from the Federation from everyone but you, and then come to me for help?"

Pei Ziying's gaze turned cold: "Sharp-tongued!"

Xi Huaizhi: "Chairman, it wasn't in vain that you chased me for thousands of miles; of course I must treat you well."

"Clap!"

"Clap!"

He clapped his hands, and people holding firearms immediately appeared on the second deck of the cargo ship; the mechanisms on both sides of the ship's gunwales opened simultaneously, and in an instant, countless pitch-black gun barrels were aimed at Pei Ziying, needing only one order to take the life of this young Chairman.

Pei Ziying was confident of victory: "I advise you to return what you intercepted from the armory; the Federation's missiles have already locked onto this ship of yours. As long as you dare to step half a step outside territorial waters, the ship will be destroyed and you will die."

"If you don't want everyone on the ship to be buried with you, it is best to be a wise man who submits to circumstances."

A wise man who submits to circumstances?

Xi Huaizhi provoked: "I'm afraid I'll never learn that; if it weren't for that person of mine giving the word, would I have waited at the border for you to catch me?"

"Who do you think I'm working for for free in the Federation?"

With his skills, he had a thousand ways to escape.

Pei Ziying lowered his pistol: "I can choose not to kill you, and even let you pass through customs safely, but you must remember one thing..."

The sea tides were surging, and the sea breeze roared past his ears, blowing his hair up; his gold-rimmed glasses refracted a bit of cold light, making his expression unreadable.

Pei Ziying said: "Bring Ling Wu back to my side safely."

Back to his side.

The moment the words fell, it was as if the sound of the wind and the waves had stopped churning.

Xi Huaizhi looked at him for a long time.

"Heh, as if you needed to tell me."

Dark light flashed in Xi Huaizhi's pale blue eyes, and he said sarcastically: "If the Chairman hadn't abandoned his government duties to chase me, I would have already crossed the Federation border by now, preparing to start bombing the Empire."

Pei Ziying made a gesture to the aide at his side: "Let him go."

The aide wore a classic black suit, revealing the AR Electronic Bracelet on his wrist; he summoned a virtual screen, and after his fingers touched the screen, the alarm on the ship was immediately deactivated.

Xi Huaizhi looked at the speedboat nearby, climbed down from the cargo ship, and glanced at him: "You're sensible."

He started the engine and sped away.

The aide was puzzled: "Chairman, are we just letting him leave like this? I'm afraid it won't be easy to explain to the Federation."

Pei Ziying threw the Colt M1911 pistol into his hand, his expression somewhat intriguing: "Do I need to give them an explanation?"

The all-powerful Chairman certainly did not need to give anyone an explanation; to him, justice was whatever he decreed.

The aide dared not disobey, turning instead to report another matter: "Ever since Director Ling left, that core research project at the Military Base Research Institute has made no progress. Those councilors have been dissatisfied for a long time, saying that Director Ling should be made to return immediately to take over the research project."

The research project.

Ling Wu had obtained multiple doctoral degrees in the Federation by the age of 16; after graduation, he became a core member of the Military Base Research Institute, holding great authority in the fields of weapons research and genetic engineering. Six months later, he was appointed as Research Director, and his background information was SSS-encrypted by the Federation's top brass; apart from a few high-ranking councilors and the Marshal, very few people knew his identity.

Logically speaking, Ling Wu held a high position, and the research projects under his charge involved national security, sensitive technology, and important secrets; a core researcher like him needed to comply with specific security regulations and approval procedures.

Leaving the Federation also required review and approval from relevant departments.

But the time Ling Wu needed to be away was too long, making approval basically impossible; he resigned from his position as Director and left the Federation through special channels, hiding it from everyone.

Pei Ziying understood the reason Ling Wu had to choose this juncture to return to the Empire.

Ten years.

A full ten years.

Hell is empty, and the devils are here; he could no longer let his enemies remain free and at ease.

"Ten years have passed in a flash." Pei Ziying sighed: "It's really fast."

The aide Wen He had followed Pei Ziying for many years, and most of the time, he could not fathom the thoughts of this youngest Chairman in the Federation's history.

But at this moment, he actually saw worry and concern in those eyes that were usually as still as an ancient well.

Wen He: "Since you are so worried about Director Ling, why not have the people from the Intelligence Bureau bring him back?"

The sea surface was sparkling.

Pei Ziying did not agree: "Support him, rather than interfere with him."

Support rather than interfere.

His voice carried an indescribable charm: "My junior brother has been law-abiding and self-restrained since he was a child; if he wants to act recklessly just this once, how could I bear to stop him?"

"While I still have the ability to cover for him, he should go get whatever he wants and strive for whatever he wishes to do."

Wen He was shocked; the Chairman was going to openly slap the council members in the face and defy public opinion to protect Ling Wu.

"Then, what about the research?"

Pei Ziying's tone was profound: "The research is not urgent."

Wen He nodded, slightly tucking his chin, and saw his Chairman turn around, back to the light, the cold glint in those eyes piercing straight through the lenses, very icy and ruthless, as he said: "Go back and tell that bunch of trash, if they haven't been weaned yet, go back and find their mothers; don't blame everything on my junior brother. If he leaves, they can't carry out the experiment anymore?"

"What is the Federation paying them for, anyway?!"

Wen He silently lit incense for that group of council members and researchers.

May they be well-advised.

"Yes..."