Chapter 335: Whether to Pass It On

"The question is, how should we respond?" Deputy Chief Morozov asked the key question.

The room fell into a brief silence, with everyone contemplating the weight of this issue.

"I believe," Lebedev from the intelligence department began,

"that we should immediately notify Long Country of this intelligence. Regardless of political stance, a biochemical weapon attack on a civilian area is the bottom line of human civilization; we cannot sit idly by."

"I agree," Kenuowaluofu nodded, "If Di Guo truly dares to do this, the next target might be us. If they use biochemical weapons on Long Country today, they might use them on us tomorrow. This is a catastrophe for all of humanity."

Discussions rose and fell, but soon, a calm voice interrupted this discussion, which was overflowing with a "sense of justice."

"Comrades," Minister of Defense Vorobyov spoke slowly, his voice low and full of authority, "We need to consider the issue from a strategic height."

Everyone quieted down, watching this battle-hardened, iron-blooded general.

"In the long run, it is most beneficial for us if Di Guo and Long Country weaken each other."

Vorobyov spoke bluntly, "Although Long Country is currently our ally, the speed of their technological development is worrying. Especially that Li Mingyuan; according to our intelligence, he has enabled Long Country to achieve multiple technological breakthroughs in just a few months. If this trend continues..."

He did not finish, but the meaning was already obvious—Long Country might become a more terrifying competitor than Di Guo.

"Are you suggesting we... sit by and watch Long Country be attacked by biochemical weapons?" Kenuowaluofu asked in disbelief.

"I am merely stating facts," Vorobyov responded calmly,

"If Di Guo and Long Country both suffer, the Polar Bear will become the sole superpower. From the perspective of pure national interest, this is not necessarily a bad thing."

The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly grew tense, and people split into two factions, arguing fiercely.

"This is too cold-blooded!" Vice President of the Academy of Sciences Kuznev said excitedly, "We are talking about the lives of millions of innocent civilians!"

"In politics, there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests," the Minister of Foreign Affairs said coldly,

"Li Mingyuan of Long Country has already proven their technological potential. I ask you, if Long Country continues to develop like this, will they be our ally or our competitor in ten years?"

The argument lasted for a full three hours, and in the end, the "Hawks" led by Vorobyov gained the upper hand.

Grigoryev made the resolution: "Based on national strategic interests, we have decided not to inform Long Country of this intelligence. At the same time, we will closely monitor the development of the situation and be ready to respond to possible changes at any time."

After the meeting ended, people left one after another, leaving only Vice President of the Academy of Sciences Kuznev standing alone by the window, looking at the night view of Mocheng with his brows tightly locked.

"Comrade Kuznev," Grigoryev walked to his side, "I understand your concerns, but sometimes, for the sake of national interest, we must make difficult choices."

Kuznev did not answer, only continuing to look out the window.

When Grigoryev left, he took out a small notebook, hurriedly wrote down a few numbers, then tore off the slip of paper, folded it carefully, and put it into his pocket.

That late night, in an inconspicuous small restaurant on the outskirts of Mocheng, Kuznev met a young man—Ivanov's contact in Di Guo.

"This is dangerous, Comrade Kuznev," the young man looked around nervously, "If this is discovered..."

"Some things are more important than personal safety," Kuznev interrupted him, his voice low and firm,

"Tell Ivanov that the official decision is not to notify Long Country, but I cannot stand by and watch a humanitarian disaster happen."

He shoved a slip of paper to the young man: "This is a secret contact point for Long Country on our side. Ivanov must bypass official channels and pass the intelligence directly to Long Country. Remember, absolute secrecy; do not leave any traces."

The young man hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "I will convey it."

Kuznev stood up and patted the young man on the shoulder: "History will remember your choice."

After saying this, he put on his hat and merged into the cold night of Mocheng, leaving behind only one sentence: "May God bless the people of Long Country."

After receiving Kuznev's secret letter, Ivanov fell into a huge dilemma.

"Fuck politics!" He paced back and forth in the safe house alone, his right hand tightly gripping the slip of paper,

"If I notify Long Country, I am disobeying orders from my superiors; if I don't notify them, it is equivalent to indirectly participating in a humanitarian disaster."

He took a sharp gulp of vodka, the burning sensation of the alcohol making his thinking a bit clearer.

"Fuck my career," in the end, Ivanov made a decision, "I cannot let millions of innocent people die because of cold-blooded political calculations."

But the problem was, how to get the intelligence into the hands of Long Country without being discovered by the Polar Bear officials?

Ivanov thought for a full day and finally came up with a risky plan.

He had a cousin who had studied abroad in Long Country and was now working in Long Country as a "cultural exchange envoy," but was actually a low-level intelligence collector for the Polar Bear in Long Country.

This cousin was not in the official intelligence system; he was a connection Ivanov had cultivated privately, and the high-level Polar Bear officials were unaware of him.

Ivanov immediately sent his cousin a seemingly ordinary family letter, which contained a set of complex codes.

This letter had been specially treated; on the surface, it only recounted daily life, but after being developed with a special chemical, the true content could be seen—Di Guo's biochemical weapon plan.

Three days later, in the capital of Long Country, the Polar Bear "cultural exchange envoy" Petrov (Ivanov's cousin) received this letter from "home." He immediately realized the seriousness of the matter.

As someone who had lived in Long Country for many years, Petrov had long since developed sincere feelings for this country.

Without a second thought, he immediately contacted his secret liaison in the Long Country security department.

"This is urgent and concerns the lives of millions of people," Petrov said in a low voice to the liaison in a small teahouse,

"I am risking bringing this intelligence to you because I believe the people of Long Country should not suffer such a disaster."

The liaison Li Weiguo had originally thought it was just a routine intelligence exchange, but when he saw the true content of the letter, his face instantly turned deathly pale.

"Is... is this true?" Li Weiguo's hands trembled slightly.

"Absolutely true," Petrov nodded solemnly, "This comes from the highest-level intelligence source within Di Guo, confirmed personally by Ivanov. Di Guo is indeed planning to use biochemical weapons on Long Country in three weeks."