"Yes, we've known about it for a while," said a calm voice as a middle-aged man in civilian clothes slowly entered the conference room. His tone was measured, but the tension in the room was palpable. The blazing, furious eyes of the room's occupants left him in no doubt that, should he fail to explain the situation clearly, they wouldn't hesitate to tear him apart. Damn it! Do you think the Oriental Group only serves as the military's benefactor? Although his anger simmered beneath the surface, the reality of his position forced him to suppress it. He offered Commander Song an awkward smile. "Apologies, Commander Song. Traffic on the way caused me to be late."
Everyone in China knew of the historic friction between the military and police departments. After years of open and covert struggles, neither side could claim dominance, and both harbored grudges. While the National Security Bureau (NSB) technically didn't belong to the police force, its frequent interactions with them had long caused the military to instinctively view them as being cut from the same cloth.
Commander Song extended a stiff, humorless handshake. "No matter, Xiao Jin. Honestly, if you couldn't make it, it wouldn't have been a problem." The underlying message was clear: Even without the NSB, the military can handle this on its own.
Jin Shirong could only respond with a bitter smile and a shake of his head. "Gentlemen, allow me to report on tonight's actions by the NSB. Based on reports from Ms. Xiao regarding repeated exposures of her operations in the United States, as well as the recent revelation of her son's identity, we suspect there is a traitor within our own ranks." As he spoke, Jin's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. With a faint smirk, he swept his gaze across the room.
The room erupted into chaos.
The individuals present were no ordinary officials. Each of them wielded immense power, enough to shake the foundations of the nation with a single decision. Their patriotic commitment was undeniable. After all, would the people entrust their armies to anyone less loyal?
But now, Jin Shirong's cold gaze made it clear: There is a traitor among you. Who could tolerate such an accusation?
General Zhou Pengcheng sprang to his feet, his face red with anger as he glared at Jin. "What are you implying? Forget about our contributions to this country over the years—do you know where I was when you were still in diapers? Out on the frontlines, risking my life for this nation! And you dare accuse us?"
Commander Song, clearly not expecting the situation to escalate so quickly, furrowed his brows. He raised a hand to calm the enraged General Zhou and said in a measured tone, "Xiao Jin, you'd best watch what you say. Words have consequences."
Jin nodded slightly, unfazed by the fury surrounding him. "General Zhou, you're absolutely right. I can't hold a candle to any of you when it comes to seniority. But as a Chinese citizen and Deputy Director of the National Security Bureau, at least I can promise you this: I will never sell out my country or betray my people like someone has."
"You—!" Zhou began, his voice trembling with rage.
"Please, General Zhou. Take a look at this first." Jin gestured politely as his assistant handed a file to Zhou. "After you've read it, I believe you'll understand."
"…Fine."
As General Zhou opened the file, the other officials sat in tense silence, their expressions shifting as the realization dawned.
Jin Shirong clapped his hands sharply. "Arrest them."
The room fell silent. Though no one spoke, most of the generals already believed there was a traitor among them. After all, this was Zhongnanhai, the central hub of China's leadership. No one could have smuggled even a single soldier in without explicit permission. For Jin Shirong to act so boldly, it meant he already had the approval of the highest authorities.
One by one, the generals turned to look around the room, their eyes wide as they waited to see who had won this disgraceful "lottery."
"..."
When the accused general was finally revealed, the entire room froze in disbelief. Some even rubbed their eyes, hoping to wake from what seemed like a nightmare.
But reality is reality, whether one accepts it or not. Regardless of his rank, illustrious military career, or influence, this general had betrayed his country. And for that, all his past glories were erased in an instant.
Under the scrutinizing gazes of his peers, the disgraced general—General X—showed no hint of shame. With a calm demeanor, he extended his hands to be cuffed.
"Hmph… cuff him," Jin Shirong commanded coldly.
As Jin approached, he sneered, "I know what you're thinking. But do you know what I'm thinking? I'll tell you: I'm wondering whether your wife and sons will arrive here this morning or this afternoon. Don't think you can get away with anything. We've had our eyes on you for a while now, but lacked the evidence. Do you know why Ms. Xiao handed over the nuclear suspension technology the moment she got off the plane? It was to lure you out of hiding."
"I must admit, I was impressed by your restraint. You didn't make a move for days, and I started to wonder if we were wrong about you. But Ms. Xiao's sharp instincts kept her in Beijing, leaving her son unprotected to make you think we were unaware of your plans. When you saw the live broadcast showing her son being hunted down, you finally relaxed and gave the order for your wife and sons to act. That was your mistake."
Jin smirked. "Do you know why I'm laughing? It's because I don't know whether to call you smart or stupid."
General X's expression finally changed, and after a moment of contemplation, he asked stiffly, "What do you mean?"
"Do you even know which television station you were watching?" Jin asked mockingly.
"Chongqing TV," General X replied.
"Heh, let me enlighten you. Chongqing has only one satellite channel—Chongqing Satellite TV. But since the broadcast started, the station's logo, which should have appeared in the top-left corner, was conspicuously absent. That's because you weren't watching Chongqing Satellite TV. What you saw was a broadcast from Chongqing's local station, transmitted via satellite to Beijing and then routed to your home by our people. How was the 'live broadcast'? Convincing, wasn't it?"
General X's face turned ashen. Yet he gritted his teeth and blustered, "So what? Don't forget—I'm not just a general in China. I also hold a title as a general in the U.S. military. If you put me on trial, you'll have to notify the United States first!"
"...This..." Jin Shirong was momentarily caught off guard by the revelation.
"SLAP!"
The sharp sound echoed through the room as Xiao Liji stepped forward and struck General X across the face. Stunned, he looked at her, his disbelief evident. "You…"
The other officials were equally shocked. While they were furious at General X's betrayal, none of them had dared to lay a hand on him. Yet this woman, seemingly delicate, had stepped forward without hesitation and delivered a resounding slap.
"You'd better pray my son is unharmed. If anything happens to him, I'll make sure your entire family pays the price," Xiao Liji said coldly, her voice laced with unyielding fury.
The room fell silent.
Everyone stared at Xiao Liji, who stood in front of General X, her frail appearance now overshadowed by her commanding presence. Each person drew a sharp breath. No one doubted her words.
Commander Song couldn't help but think to himself, This woman isn't just fierce—she has a temper to match.
"You dare threaten me? Don't forget who I am!" General X shouted.
Xiao Liji sneered. "You think your American certificate will save you in an international court? Don't kid yourself. From this moment on, your life is no longer yours—it belongs to me… no, it belongs to my son."
"You… You…" General X stammered.
"'General'? Do you think your rank can stop accidents from happening? Thousands of people die from accidents every day. Adding your family to that list wouldn't be remarkable at all," Xiao Liji said icily before turning to Jin Shirong. "You're dismissed. Leave this to me."