Chapter 32: Not reciprocating is impolite

Let's not talk about the Middle Eastern prince's visit for now.

Right now, several senior figures of Yanhuang Guo are discussing something.

"Reciprocity is our traditional virtue."

Luo Lao tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"They came all this way, sending four aircraft to pay their respects; we can't be rude."

The generals present all exchanged knowing smiles.

Zhang Xianzhong stood ramrod straight, his voice brimming with uncontainable excitement:

"I've been waiting for these words! The Divine Dragon Squad has been on standby for twenty-four hours, fuel fully loaded, ammunition—uh, never mind the ammunition, we're on a 'friendly visit'."

This slight change of wording drew light laughter in the meeting room.

Zhang Yunfeng also smiled: "Commander Zhang, you used the term "friendly visit" well. Then let's go, and let them know what so-called free flight means."

"What's the specific route?"

A chief of staff called up a real-time situation map of the Western Pacific on the electronic map, a red symbol representing the Eagle Sauce carrier battle group standing out prominently.

"The higher-ups have decided: we'll go above their carrier formation, make a circle, say hello, then return."

Luo Lao's tone was as flat as if he were talking about popping over to a neighbor's house.

"Maintain radio silence the whole way, don't actively expose ourselves; I just want to see if their radar can detect our aircraft."

"Understood! Guarantee mission completion!" Zhang Xianzhong sprang to his feet.

…

Several hours later, in a certain area of the Western Pacific.

On the deck of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, ground crew were orderly conducting aircraft takeoff and landing operations.

The sea breeze blew, the sun shone brightly, everything appeared peaceful and routine.

Inside the carrier battle group's Command Center, the atmosphere was equally relaxed.

The radar operator stared at the steadily moving green dots on the screen, occasionally chatting with a companion and complaining about the mess hall food.

To them, this sea area was like their own backyard swimming pool, as safe as could be.

"Hey, Mike, what's that?"

On the deck, a ground crew member loading munitions onto a fighter jet suddenly stopped, pointing at a certain direction in the sky.

His companion followed his gaze and narrowed his eyes.

Above, four silver-gray shadows moved with an elegance verging on arrogance, silently slicing across the sky.

"Fuck! What kind of aircraft is that!"

"Sound the alarm! Quickly sound the alarm! Unidentified flying object! Over our heads!"

Sharp cries over the intercom instantly shattered the Command Center's calm.

"What's the situation?" The duty commander shoved his chair aside and rushed to the radar screen, asking, "What's showing on the radar?"

"Report, sir! The radar shows no abnormalities!" the radar operator said, voice panicked.

But the real-time deck footage clearly showed those four sci-fi-like aircraft on every screen in the Command Center.

They flew in neat formation, unhurriedly passing overhead the carrier, and one could even see the distinctive red dragon emblem under their wings.

Visible to the naked eye, the radar was blinded.

This situation felt like a bucket of ice water poured from head to foot.

"Emergency scramble! Intercept! Quick!"

The commander bellowed, but even he knew how feeble and futile the order was.

By the time their fighters scrambled into the air, the four Ascending Dragon aircraft had already completed a leisurely circuit, gracefully adjusted course, and vanished over the horizon.

From appearance to disappearance, the whole process took no more than three minutes,

What remained was a chaotic carrier deck and a group of Eagle Sauce sailors questioning their lives.

The news quickly reached Eagle Sauce's high command.

In the office of Air Force Commander General Marcus, the atmosphere was so oppressive you could wring water from it.

He had just been grilled by Congress over the previous Y-35 incident, and now the navy handed him a 'big gift'.

"They flew over our carrier formation? Visible to the naked eye?"

Marcus's voice was dry and raspy; he stared intently at the report, as if trying to bore a hole through the paper.

"Yes, General."

The navy liaison's face was equally grim: 'The entire air defense system gave no alarm. If they were carrying weapons… the consequences are unthinkable.'

"Consequences?"

Kusi let out a bitter laugh, slammed the report on the table: 'This is the worst possible consequence! Our faces are being pressed into the ground and rubbed back and forth!'

Panic, anger, but above all a deep-seated feeling of helplessness.

Last time they were ambushed at close range; this time they literally showed up for a 'visit'—each incident more outrageous than the last, each a greater slap in the face.

"We must block the news!" a senior official declared firmly, "Absolutely cannot let the outside world know, otherwise our face is gone."

"Block? How?" another objected.

"You don't think Yanhuang Guo's aircraft are just sightseeing, do they? They surely have full video and photos of the whole thing, just waiting for us to deny it so they can slap us!"

The meeting room fell into dead silence.

Fight? We can't win.

Conceal? We can't hide it.

This problem has no solution.

Just as everyone was at a loss, Yanhuang Guo 'accidentally' leaked a blurry video onto the international internet.

The video was shot from the "Rising Dragon" cockpit, clearly showing the massive aircraft carrier fleet below.

When the video was released, global military forums and intelligence agencies erupted again.

"God, isn't that Yanhuang Guo's newest fighter jet? They actually flew over to Yingjiang!"

"Yingjiang's carrier fleet became a tourist backdrop? This world is insane."

"Just waiting for Yingjiang's reaction!"

All eyes worldwide focused on Yingjiang Guo, waiting to see how they would respond to this scene that could be called a "national humiliation."

Yet no one expected that what came was an official announcement that left the world stunned.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of Yingjiang Guo, at a press conference, faced a barrage of questions and solemnly read the official statement:

"Regarding the video circulating online, after verification we confirm that four Yanhuang Guo aircraft flew in the West Pacific International Airspace.

We believe this flight activity fully complies with relevant international law provisions; it is a routine, free flight, and they did not violate our airspace."

When the statement was released, the world fell silent.

Reporters looked at each other, thinking their ears must be deceiving them.

No protest? No condemnation? No sanctions?

Instead they explained the "legality" for the other side?

Is this still the domineering Yingjiang that gives no face to anyone?

The news was transmitted back to Yanhuang Guo at light speed, and the online atmosphere instantly shifted from anticipation to revelry and laughter.

"Damn! Did I see that right? Yingjiang actually says our flights are good, legal?"

"Hahaha! I'm dying! Killing people and also tormenting the heart! This hurts more than directly berating them!"

"The upstairs layout is small! What does that show? It shows that when you're strong enough, even your opponents must speak for you with a guilty conscience!"

"On Yingjiang's Legal Literacy"

"The Limits of Free Flight"

"Before we protested, saying they infringed on us. Now we took a stroll, and they say we are free flying. This is so surreal, but I like it!"

"This flourishing era, as you wish! Our aircraft can finally fly freely wherever needed!"

Qin Hao also saw the news while he was drinking Cheng Haitang's treasured fine tea.

"Old Cheng, look, they're actually quite reasonable," Qin Hao said seriously, pointing at the phone screen.

Cheng Haitang's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, almost spilling the tea.

He stared at Qin Hao's solemn face, held back for a while, then squeezed out a few words through his teeth: "Indeed… far too reasonable."