Chapter 444

Chapter 444 A Bunch of Old Foxes!

“Immediate enforcement authority?”

　　The vast majority of people present had never heard of this term!

　　But they knew that since the degree of enforcement could be determined at discretion by the degree of enforcement itself, that was more than enough to show that this immediate enforcement authority was practically equivalent to an imperial sword — strike first, report later!

　　The major continued: “Don’t be surprised, and don’t doubt it either. This kind of immediate enforcement authority has always existed, especially for a high-level enforcement agency like the Top Secret Operations and Training Division!”

　　Jiang Qingyuan’s face had already turned deathly pale!

　　Just a few hours ago, she had been lying on a lounge chair by the pool, telling Bai Qinchuan over the phone something about “governing the country by law,” saying that as long as they followed proper legal procedures, they could completely destroy Su Rui. But now it seemed that everything she had said back then was nothing but wishful thinking!

　　The confidence she had felt at that moment now looked like the most ignorant kind of arrogance!

　　How could she have imagined that even after being expelled from the country, Su Rui’s position still remained under the Top Secret Operations and Training Division, and that even with his merits and faults canceling each other out, he still held this kind of immediate enforcement authority!

　　Just five years of expulsion, without stripping him of his position or public office — this was practically the National Security Bureau and the Top Secret Operations and Training Division cheating together!

　　Five years ago, when everyone from the five great families had breathed a collective sigh of relief over Su Rui’s expulsion, none of them had ever imagined that the Top Secret Operations and Training Division had already quietly laid the groundwork back then! They had pulled a trick that nobody had paid any attention to!

　　Even though Jiang Qingyuan only now realized they had been cheating, it was still too late to do anything about it. They had cheated so openly and brazenly! Their reasoning was thorough and airtight, leaving absolutely no room for rebuttal!

　　”Ms. Jiang Qingyuan, do you have any further questions?” The major looked at Jiang Qingyuan, his voice ice-cold.

　　”No questions whatsoever.”

　　Whether in terms of reason and principle or legal procedure, the other side had not a single flaw — completely unassailable!

　　If they still couldn’t win under these circumstances, when could they ever?

　　A loss was a loss, and she accepted it wholeheartedly!

　　Under the other side’s thorough preparation, the schemes of the five great families were utterly child’s play! Truly not fit to be seen in public!

　　Thinking back to how Nangong Shun had earlier manipulated five people to harass Zhang Ziwei in order to lure Su Rui into a trap, Jiang Qingyuan felt a wave of shame wash over her!

　　Such a scheme was beyond the word “despicable” to describe!

　　The mistakes he had made, yet she was the one who had to pay for them!

　　”I apologize for tonight’s matter.”

　　Jiang Qingyuan forced out a faint smile, then nodded to the group, turned, and walked away, her steps looking steady and resolute.

　　Watching her graceful retreating figure, Su Rui narrowed his eyes. He had already realized that this was a woman with extraordinary self-control — absolutely someone who deserved to be taken seriously!

　　Once she left, the police officers scattered around the area began to withdraw one by one.

　　Diao Yiping, the head of the criminal investigation unit at the Capital City Bureau, was trembling almost all over, his strength draining away, barely able to hold himself upright.

　　How could he have anticipated things turning out this way — not only had he failed to latch onto the powerful figure in the Public Security Ministry, he had also completely offended the Qin family! From now on, everyone in the circle would know he was a two-faced opportunist who sold out his own people!

　　Who would ever dare use him again?

　　Diao Yiping stared at Su Rui’s figure and began to deeply regret his own actions!

　　At that moment, he made a certain resolution in his heart, took one last long look at Su Rui, then turned and left.

　　”Esteemed seniors, today’s matter — Su Rui has taken it to heart. In the future, if any of you ever need my help with anything, I will give it everything I have. These are not empty words.”

　　Su Rui’s gaze swept across Qin Zhizhang, Li Zonghan, and Luo Yunlu, his tone earnest and grave.

　　A man’s word should be worth a thousand gold! Especially for these elders who had come to his rescue — what would it matter to stand by them with his life?

　　Li Zonghan chuckled: “Good lad, you don’t need to thank us like that. To be honest, although righteousness mattered greatly today, I have to admit that whether it’s me, Uncle Qin, or Minister Luo, each of us had our own little calculations — to varying degrees, we all saw you as part of a means to achieve certain goals of our own.”

　　Li Zonghan’s words were so direct that he stopped just short of telling Su Rui outright “we were using you.”

　　Qin Zhizhang rarely blushed, but he did now, while Luo Yunlu let out a couple of dry laughs — clearly, Li Zonghan’s words had hit the nail right on the head of what they each had in mind.

　　In truth, the game of power among top figures had never ceased. Li Zonghan hadn’t put on a show of passionate idealism; instead, he had stated his motives this directly — a style of conduct truly worthy of a representative of the hawkish faction.

　　And yet, it was precisely because of this directness that Li Zonghan had at that moment earned a great deal of goodwill from Su Rui!

　　”Esteemed seniors, although I can appreciate some of what Minister Li has said, regardless of anything else, this whole matter started because of me. The kindness each of you has shown me — I will carry it in my heart.”

　　”Good lad, those words are more than enough.” Luo Yunlu patted Su Rui’s shoulder with a grin, looking every bit the old fox: “Speaking of which, the Top Secret Operations and Training Division’s roster is still under the National Security Bureau, which makes you one of ours. If the National Security Bureau ever has a mission that absolutely requires you to carry it out, I certainly won’t hold back from asking!”

　　The smile on Su Rui’s face instantly froze!

　　He stared at the hand Luo Yunlu had placed on his shoulder, and no matter how he looked at it, the whole thing reeked of scheming!

　　Was he really going to be pulled back into the system after tonight?

　　Could there be a more absurd plot twist than this?

　　Qin Zhizhang also let out a couple of dry laughs and stepped forward: “Su Rui, you’d better give it your all from now on. After tonight, I’m afraid everyone in all of Huaxia will know that my old Qin family is standing behind you. If you embarrass yourself, it means my old Qin family is embarrassed.”

　　Su Rui’s face was covered in exasperation!

　　Well then — these old men had just moments ago looked so fired up and passionate that one couldn’t help but admire them, yet in the blink of an eye they had turned into something else entirely! Practically no different from a bunch of crafty merchants!

　　Qin Zhizhang noticed Su Rui’s expression and felt he had been a bit too blunt. He blushed again, coughed twice to cover the awkwardness, then continued: “Also, young Su — when are you going to settle things with Yuran?”

　　”My situation with Yuran?”

　　Su Rui’s expression once again became a spectacle!

　　”Yes, what’s going on between you and Yuran is known throughout the entire capital. If you don’t want her, who would dare?” Qin Zhizhang spoke the plain truth.

　　Indeed — arriving with twelve helicopters in a thunderous display to steal the bride, so domineering and forceful in snatching away the fiancée of the number one young master Ouyang Xinghai — from that point on, what man in any family would dare set his sights on Qin Yuran? Did he have a death wish over a woman?

　　Su Rui’s expression was twisted with conflict, like someone who had been constipated for many days.

　　He himself didn’t even know what kind of relationship he had with Qin Yuran. Even if Qin Zhizhang wanted an answer right now, he simply couldn’t give one.

　　Su Rui gave Qin Zhizhang a labored nod, then turned to Li Zonghan: “Minister Li, if you have any requests, feel free to say them all at once.”

　　Li Zonghan shook his head with an awkward smile: “Actually, I was originally going to ask you to reimburse the fuel costs for my helicopters, but seeing how direct those two were, I really find it a bit hard to say.”

　　Su Rui was nearly in tears — you’re saying it even though you find it hard to say? Does this look like someone who finds it hard to say?

　　”Minister Li, didn’t you tell Ran Long earlier that doing something like this would count as accepting bribes?”

　　”If he did it, it would count. If you do it, it doesn’t.” Li Zonghan was truly too direct.

　　”Then… alright.”

　　Compared to the demands from Qin Zhizhang and Luo Yunlu, Li Zonghan’s fuel costs were really far too easy to fulfill!

　　”Alright then, things are wrapped up here and I won’t linger. I still have to attend the forum in Haizhou, so no more talk — I need to head back now.”

　　With that, Li Zonghan turned and boarded his helicopter. Before closing the door, he waved at Su Rui: “When I come to Ninghai, you’d better treat me to a drink!”

　　”No problem.” Su Rui waved back, watching as the helicopter gradually lifted into the sky.

　　Shortly after, National Security No. 1 and Qin Zhizhang’s aircraft also took off simultaneously. Su Rui stood there waving, his expression as conflicted as if he had bitten into a bitter melon.

　　Just moments ago, Luo Yunlu and Qin Zhizhang had followed Li Zonghan’s lead and also asked Su Rui to reimburse their fuel costs, with the reasoning that the National Security Bureau’s budget and the Qin family’s income were both rather tight.

　　To this request, Su Rui truly had no way to refuse.

　　The three helicopters had already disappeared into the distance. Su Rui then turned to face Major Wang Zhizhong and said: “Comrade, great kindness needs no words of thanks. I’ve taken today’s matter to heart. I’ll say the same thing again — if there’s ever a need for me in the future, I will give it everything I have.”

　　Wang Zhizhong said: “You don’t need to say that. I was simply here on orders from my superiors — this was their intention.”

　　”Alright, how about you don’t leave too early then. Dawn is almost here — what do you say we have a morning drink together?” Su Rui found himself liking this major more and more. That triple strike earlier had left Jiang Qingyuan completely unable to fight back — now that was truly something beautiful!

　　Upon hearing this, Wang Zhizhong looked at Su Rui with a somewhat peculiar expression and said: “But the commanders are still waiting for you to attend a meeting.”

　　”A meeting?” Su Rui’s expression instantly became strained: “When you mentioned a meeting just now — was that real?”

　　Half an hour ago, Wang Zhizhong had said that the military commission commanders were all holding a meeting at the Army Special Forces Headquarters, and had invited Su Rui to come share his views and suggestions on special operations.

　　At the time, Su Rui had assumed the other party was only saying that deliberately to stop Jiang Qingyuan’s actions. He never imagined there was actually a real meeting to attend!

　　Hearing the word “meeting” again, Su Rui — who had been away from the system for many years — suddenly felt an utterly unfamiliar sensation!

　　”Of course it’s real. The commanders are still waiting for you.”

　　Wang Zhizhong noticed Su Rui’s flustered state, and a faint smile finally appeared on his face: “If you have time, why don’t you come along with me.”

　　”Of course — can’t keep them waiting too long.” Su Rui’s face was once again covered in exasperation: “Army Special Forces Headquarters is so far away!”

　　Although Su Rui was used to doing things his own way and didn’t particularly care about ranks within the system, letting a group of seniors who had done him such a great favor wait for him that long was simply inexcusable no matter how you looked at it!

　　”Let me fly the helicopter — that way we’ll get there faster.”

　　As he said this, Su Rui without further ado pulled the pilot — who was giving him a thoroughly skeptical look — to one side.

　　…………

　　In a car parked at a distance, watching that helicopter bearing the “Army Special Forces 001” license plate surge up into the sky, Jiang Qingyuan covered her mouth, tears already streaming down her face!