Chapter 485: National Security's Confidence

Having obtained the interrogation transcript, Yu Dazhang quickly began flipping through it.

He had already known much of the content beforehand.

For instance, the relationship between Ying Xuelian and that education foundation, and why she had betrayed Researcher Zhang.

However, there were also some things he did not know.

Tonight, the other party would come to extract her from Institute 53... When Yu Dazhang saw this line in the transcript, his heart suddenly tightened.

He had guessed Ying Xuelian intended to flee, but he hadn't expected it to be so soon.

Fortunately, the National Security team had returned in time; otherwise, he truly would have been unable to stop Ying Xuelian from escaping abroad.

After all, those armed police and guards outside would not take orders from him.

Moreover, in his view, Ying Xuelian's chances of a successful escape were extremely high.

The other party wouldn't even need to infiltrate the test zone; they only needed to wait for her to come out of the test zone.

Ying Xuelian must also have a way to reach the outside of the test zone; the only thing difficult for her would be the outermost guards.

Yu Dazhang suddenly remembered the agent Li Mingzhao had mentioned earlier.

"Leader, could Ying Xuelian be the one called Wild Fox?"

He felt this codename suited a high-IQ woman like Ying Xuelian.

"No," Li Mingzhao denied:

"Ying Xuelian counts at most as a spy, far from reaching the level of an agent. If she were an agent, she wouldn't need others to extract her; she would have the ability to escape from here on her own."

Are agents that powerful... Yu Dazhang thought Li Mingzhao was exaggerating the capabilities of agents a bit.

He continued flipping through the pages.

The following parts were mostly technical content, largely the methods Ying Xuelian used to contact the outside world, and the project information she possessed.

Parts involving secrets were all glossed over in a single stroke; obviously, this interrogation transcript had also been vetted.

Flipping all the way to the end, Yu Dazhang still hadn't found what interested him.

This castrated version of the interrogation transcript is actually the most boring... he complained inwardly.

Hiding and covering up, deleting all the most important content; it would be better not to bring it out at all.

Seeing him close the document, Li Mingzhao immediately asked:

"What is your opinion?"

"I have no opinion," Yu Dazhang answered sincerely:

"I will follow the leader's arrangements completely."

The words were good, but coming from his mouth, they gave a particularly perfunctory and indifferent feeling.

"Did you read it carefully?" Li Mingzhao's tone carried a hint of coldness.

"Of course," Yu Dazhang's expression remained unchanged, unmoved:

"Precisely because I read it carefully, I have no opinion."

Seeing Li Mingzhao staring at him, he hurriedly explained:

"There is an information asymmetry between us, so I cannot make a comprehensive inference."

"The three chess pieces you released earlier, I think should have sent messages back to you; I estimate you have already mastered the list of personnel the other party sent to extract her this time."

His tone carried a touch of admiration:

"With this information in hand, the team must have already formulated the next plan; since that is the case, why should I bother my brain again? I just need to follow the arrangements."

Yu Dazhang knew Li Mingzhao wanted him to give an opinion so he could compare it with the existing plan.

Precisely because he saw through his thoughts, Yu Dazhang did not want to do this superfluous thing.

If you have a plan, just say it; you don't have to play the game of letting out gas by taking off your pants.

He had been tricked by Li Mingzhao once before and had already played the role of a clown; naturally, he dared not show off his cleverness again.

Give advice to National Security?

Better not.

Everyone is quite busy; let's not waste time on nonsense.

"What else did you see?"

Li Mingzhao not only didn't get angry, but smiled, as if he had known Yu Dazhang could guess all along.

But this action of his left the team members present stunned.

Except for Ye Lin, everyone wore an expression of "seeing a ghost."

Although Team Leader Li was usually quite easygoing, when working, that cold and stern demeanor was unquestionable.

They had never seen Li Mingzhao smile at anyone while working before.

However...

This fat man was indeed worth someone making an exception for.

"That's all," Yu Dazhang answered with a serious face:

"I said, there is an information asymmetry between us, so I cannot judge your plan, nor do I want to make useless analyses."

He didn't even want to know the content of the plan.

Anyway, in the upcoming operation, he would only cooperate symbolically. The Action Team would truly execute the mission; at most, he would just be their eyes, providing some intelligence information.

The arrest wouldn't need him at all, unless National Security didn't want to arrest anyone.

With his weight, he could pant for half an hour just climbing a hill, let alone chase down those well-trained agents.

To put it bluntly, if those agents saw a fat man chasing them, they probably wouldn't have the heart to run too fast.

Seeing he didn't want to speak, Li Mingzhao didn't press him further, but changed the subject:

"Your guess is correct; the three people sent out transmitted messages yesterday."

"Among the people sent this time, there's only one intelligence operative; the rest are all mercenaries hired with money."

There was a hint of contempt in his words, as if he wasn't quite satisfied with this lineup.

After a pause, he continued:

"So we decided to play the long game this time."

The risk is a bit high… Yu Dazhang felt this plan was somewhat reckless.

The other party's ultimate goal is to escort Ying Xuelian out — wouldn't that just be playing right into their hands?

If this turns out to be a trap set by the other side, then the Ministry of State Security is done for this time.

If word got out, Li Mingzhao and the others would inevitably become a laughingstock.

Such an obvious loophole — would the Ministry of State Security really not see it?

Since they know the risks involved, why would they still dare to act this way?

Confidence!

Li Mingzhao daring to come up with such a plan means he has absolute certainty.

But where does this confidence come from?

For a moment, Yu Dazhang actually felt a little dazed.

After a beat, he couldn't help but ask:

"How can you be so sure those three people you released won't defect?"

After all, those three were originally hired by the other side.

And in those mercenaries' eyes, money comes first — they have no faith whatsoever.

As long as the money's right, they'll work for anyone.

Li Mingzhao glanced at him and replied offhandedly:

"They wouldn't dare."

Yu Dazhang: …

Who understands the weight behind those four words.

It's nothing but sheer dominance.

To have such confidence means Li Mingzhao and the others do this often, and have never once failed.

"What about Ying Xuelian, then?"

Yu Dazhang was still a little uneasy:

"She knows the core secrets — if they leak, the consequences would be far too serious."

He had to give them a heads-up; this kind of thing can't be taken lightly.

Li Mingzhao, however, was quite calm, and answered confidently:

"She wouldn't dare either."

Yu Dazhang: …

How on earth do you people do it?

Seeing him spacing out, Li Mingzhao explained further:

"We naturally have ways to make her keep the secret, and the moment we spot the target making contact with her, we'll immediately close the net."

After hearing his explanation, Yu Dazhang no longer knew what to say.

A plan like this would be utterly impossible to carry out over at the police.

But in the hands of the Ministry of State Security, it somehow feels airtight.

Absolute legends — it's got to be you guys.

That same afternoon.

After Yu Dazhang finished surveying the terrain with the operation team, the group found a flat spot at the foot of the mountain to rest temporarily.

"Now that the plan is clear, next comes dividing into groups."

Li Mingzhao looked at Yu Dazhang and said:

"We usually operate in three-man cells — the so-called three-three system — and the team members in each cell all know each other well."

"You're the exception this time, but you can choose to follow any one of the groups."

That's perfect… Yu Dazhang nodded, then turned his gaze toward them.

The team members were very self-aware; seeing him look their way, they quickly stood up and grouped with their own cellmates.

Counting Li Mingzhao, they were exactly nine people, and naturally split into three cells.

Just as Yu Dazhang expected, Li Mingzhao was indeed in a cell with Ye Lin.

Just when everyone thought he was going to pick Li Mingzhao's cell, Yu Dazhang instead pointed at another three-person cell:

"I'm with them."

(End of chapter)