Chapter 281

Xia Wan voluntarily requested to be assigned to work beside Qin Feng; after Su Wenqian carefully conveyed this wish, it sank without a trace, receiving no immediate response. Qin Feng seemed immersed in processing the vast data of the Kunlun Star Core and deducing clues related to Jing Yi, and did not immediately decide on the matter.

Xia Wan did not grow impatient; she calmly recuperated at the Medical Center, using this time to gradually restore her physical and mental condition, while consciously attempting to sense and guide the dormant Bloodline Power within her.

Just as all was proceeding steadily within the New Era, a high-level online meeting request, originating externally, was delivered to Qin Feng's desk.

It was initiated by Han Lao, from the highest echelons of Dragon Country.

The meeting's topic was labeled: "Informal Consultation on Post-Kunlun Mountain Incident Handling and Future Cooperation Directions."

Clearly, although Dragon Country had, per Qin Feng's strict orders, withdrawn all peripheral personnel and sealed the news, the death of Silver Wing and the sudden cessation of Kunlun Mountain's anomalies had left them filled with countless questions and profound shock. They urgently needed to communicate with Qin Feng to determine their next course of action and to probe the possibility of deeper cooperation.

Qin Feng approved the meeting.

The time was set for that evening.

In a specially encrypted conference room at the New Era Command Center.

Qin Feng sat alone at the head position. A massive circular holographic screen lit up before him, its signal established through multiple layers of encryption and anti-tracking measures.

On the screen appeared three figures.

In the center was Han Lao, dressed in a traditional Chinese stand-collar casual outfit, his expression more solemn than ever, with traces of unmistakable fatigue and weight deep in his eyes. To his left stood a military representative, shoulder adorned with general's stars, face rugged, eyes sharp as an eagle's. To his right sat a middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses, possessing a refined and composed demeanor—the core strategic and intelligence analyst.

"Mr. Qin, good evening," Han Lao spoke first, his voice transmitted through the encrypted channel, steady as always but carrying an unmistakable gravity.

"Han Lao," Qin Feng nodded slightly in greeting, his tone flat.

After brief pleasantries, the meeting immediately turned to the subject.

The military representative spoke first, his tone direct and forceful: "Mr. Qin, first, thank you for intervening to quell the Kunlun Mountain crisis and preventing further escalation. But I must confirm one point—was our operative, codenamed Silver Wing, confirmed dead?"

"Confirmed," Qin Feng replied definitively, offering no further explanation.

The other end of the meeting room fell silent for a moment; the military representative's fist clenched unconsciously, then slowly relaxed. He took a deep breath and continued: "According to the last fuzzy imagery we received, he died from an… incomprehensible form of attack. Mr. Qin, could you tell us what exactly it was? Has it been eliminated? This is critical for our assessment of future threats."

Qin Feng glanced at him but did not directly address the specifics of the shadow derivative. He merely said calmly: "The source of the threat has been contained; all related derivatives have been cleared. The Kunlun Mountain region is temporarily secure."

"Temporarily?" The strategist sharply seized the word, adjusting his glasses. "Do you mean the hidden danger has not been eradicated? Or that Kunlun Mountain's anomaly is connected to something deeper… such as the 'Star Ring' threat you mentioned before?"

Qin Feng did not deny it: "There is a connection."

Upon hearing this, the three figures on the screen grew even more grave.

Han Lao spoke slowly, his voice low: "Mr. Qin, we trust your judgment and fully understand the level you face far exceeds our comprehension. The sacrifice of Silver Wing… has made us acutely aware of our own limitations. We have no intention of probing your core secrets, but we wish to know: in facing future crises—similar or even more severe—what can we… Dragon Country… do? How should we position ourselves?"

His question embodied the core concern and demand of Dragon Country's high command after a series of shocks. They needed to redefine their relationship with the New Era and Qin Feng, and find their place in the impending crisis that might engulf the globe.

Qin Feng fell silent for a moment, his gaze calmly sweeping over the three figures on the screen.

He knew that after the Kunlun Mountain incident, the destruction of Pandora, and his display of superhuman abilities, Dragon Country's leadership had fully accepted reality, abandoned unnecessary pride and probing, and now sought a more pragmatic, even dependent form of cooperation.

This aligned with his expectations.

"Do what you are meant to do," Qin Feng said, his tone still flat, yet carrying an undeniable directive weight. "Maintain stability, develop technology, accumulate strength. The Star Ring threat is global—not the concern of one nation or region. When the time comes, the New Era will need reliable allies."

He gave no concrete promise, but the words "reliable allies" caused a glimmer of hope to flash in Han Lao's eyes.

"As for Kunlun Mountain," Qin Feng continued, "everything there is now under the New Era's jurisdiction. You need not intervene further, nor attempt any investigation. Relevant data and some non-core analytical results will be shared with you at the appropriate time."

This was both a boundary drawn and a measure of reassurance.

Han Lao exchanged a glance with the other two, then nodded firmly: "We understand. Dragon Country will fully maintain internal stability and development, and stand ready to respond to the New Era's call at any time."

The purpose of this online meeting had been achieved.

The fate of Silver Wing was confirmed; the threat was understood to be temporarily contained; their own position was clarified; and the prospect of limited future cooperation had been established.

"One more thing," the strategist seemed to recall something, adding, "regarding the destruction of Pandora's fleet in the South Pacific—while the international community has publicly accepted the 'extreme sea conditions' explanation, covert investigations have never ceased, especially among major powers, who appear to have linked this event to recent fragments of 'mysterious signals' and 'alien technology' circulating on the dark web. Their movements are subtle. Mr. Qin, would you like us to…?"

"No need," Qin Feng cut him off directly. "Let them investigate."

He did not care about those watching eyes.

Before absolute power, all speculation and calculation are meaningless.

The meeting was essentially over.

Just as Han Lao prepared to end the connection, Qin Feng seemed to remember something and added:

"Also, pay attention to internal cleanup."

He spoke these words without context, then severed the communication.

The screen darkened.

In Dragon Country, that secret conference room.

Han Lao and the other two stared at each other.

"Internal cleanup?" The military representative frowned. "Are you suggesting… we have a problem within?"

The strategist mused: "It may not refer specifically to us. Perhaps it's a general warning—to be alert for moles planted by various factions. After all, Pandora's precise targeting of that coordinate likely involved other powers behind the scenes. Moreover, the 'bait' the gentleman deployed earlier may have already caught some large fish we didn't know about…"

Han Lao slowly rose, a resolute expression on his aged face: "Issue orders. Activate the Cleaners plan—highest level. We must ensure our internal unity is ironclad, so we may truly become the 'reliable ally' the gentleman needs."

The online meeting ended.

The relationship between the New Era and Dragon Country, after undergoing a series of trials, entered a new, clearer, and more stable phase.

And Qin Feng, after concluding this brief external negotiation, once again turned his gaze toward the endless stars and the hidden depths beyond the fog of time…

Jing Yi.