The boss of a foreign organization called the police, claiming that he was defrauded by me

"Compared to the first batch, this batch of weapons is definitely more advanced and more powerful, and naturally, it is also more expensive and priceless. You should agree with that, right?"

Song Jitian and Sun Zhengming nodded in unison, without a doubt about it. But it was precisely because of this that they were even more anxious—more powerful weapons meant a greater threat.

Seeing them nod, Yang Xia knew they agreed with the premise, so he continued to explain patiently, his tone as if he were enlightening his companions who hadn't quite grasped the point yet: "My point is very simple—such valuable and advanced weapons and equipment, and the other side is so eager to 'send' them to us, how can we refuse?"

"Isn't this a great opportunity? It really is..."

Yang Xia smiled meaningfully, leaving the meaning entirely to Song Jitian and Sun Zhengming to figure out for themselves.

Upon hearing this, Song Jitian and Sun Zhengming were slightly taken aback. Then they exchanged a glance, as if a bolt of lightning had instantly pierced through the fog, and the two of them almost simultaneously showed expressions of sudden realization!

So that's how it is! Only then did they truly understand Yang Xia's good intentions.

It wasn't until this moment that they understood why Yang Xia, upon learning that the Nebula Kingdom was about to transport its second batch of weapons, showed no shock or anxiety whatsoever, but instead appeared calm and even slightly expectant—it turned out that all of this was within his expectations and plans!

Song Jitian's eyes gleamed with admiration. He clapped his hands suddenly, his voice rising slightly with excitement: "I understand! Yang Xia, you mean... we don't need to stop them from transporting the weapons at all. Instead, we should use our power to intercept them halfway through their journey in the most unexpected place, such as the high seas or waters near our controlled territory, without them even noticing!"

"Then, you'll 'accept' all this advanced equipment and add it to Yan's own arsenal? Is that your whole plan?!"

Looking at the two who had finally caught up with his train of thought, especially Song Jitian who had accurately guessed his core intention, Yang Xia smiled with relief, and his tense nerves relaxed slightly. It was good that they understood; things would be much easier from here on out.

However, before Yang Xia could elaborate on the specific operational details, Sun Zhengming frowned and raised a new, and very real, concern.

"Wait a minute... This plan sounds ingenious, but isn't it too risky?"

Sun Zhengming's tone was full of caution, "If we really manage to intercept this batch of weapons, the Nebula Kingdom is no fool, they will definitely realize that something is wrong immediately."

"This is tantamount to directly 'stirring up trouble.' If they abandon their entire follow-up plan because of this, completely retreat into hiding, or change their strategy and switch to more covert channels that are harder for us to monitor, wouldn't we be losing more than we gain, and instead find ourselves in an even more passive position?"

"The Nebula Kingdom is cunning and treacherous. When dealing with them, we must consider every aspect carefully. Any oversight in any link could lead to unpredictable consequences, and might even endanger the overall security of the Yan Kingdom. Personally, I think that although this method is tempting, it seems... it seems a bit too risky."

After listening to Sun Zhengming's concerns, Yang Xia did not immediately refute them, but instead curled up a slightly cold smile.

He slowly walked up to Sun Zhengming and Song Jitian, his gaze deep and sharp, his tone calm yet carrying a penetrating power:

“Lord Sun, your concerns are very valid, but perhaps... we have overcomplicated the issue and overestimated the ‘loyalty’ or ‘caution’ aspect of human nature.”

"Think about it carefully. The fact that John was chosen by the Nebula Nation's high command to be in charge of the infiltration and delivery of the first batch of weapons says a lot. Who would be willing to risk their life for such a high-stakes job if there weren't huge, insane profits behind it?"

“I have thought about John’s motives repeatedly. Such an unconventional approach cannot be explained by simply ‘completing the mission.’ He must have his own deeper reasons and demands.”

Song Jitian and Sun Zhengming listened intently to Yang Xia's analysis, finding it profound, yet unable to fully grasp its key points. Yang Xia's thinking was always so leaping and profound, sometimes making him truly difficult to fathom. This sense of mystery, while convincing, occasionally caused them a slight unease.

Seeing that the two remained silent, Yang Xia stopped beating around the bush and stated directly:
"When a person is willing to risk their life and fortune to do something, there are only two fundamental reasons, which are worth analyzing in depth."

Song Jitian couldn't help but press, "Your Majesty, please stop beating around the bush. We are both really uneasy. What are the two reasons? Please tell us clearly!"

Yang Xia's gaze swept over Song Jitian and Sun Zhengming, his eyes suddenly turning cold and sharp, as if piercing through the wall in front of him and looking into the distant and unknown enemy territory.

"The first reason, which I have already emphasized, is the 'huge profit' that is enough to make people take risks. This profit may be so large that it can make them forget their fear and ignore the risks."

"And the second reason is perhaps even more crucial—"

Yang Xia paused, lowering his voice even further, "I suspect that John may have been subjected to some kind of deadly coercion or control by the higher-ups in the Nebula Kingdom, forcing him to take a desperate gamble and risk his life. Otherwise, given his cunning and cautious nature as indicated by intelligence, he would never have so easily placed himself in such a dangerous situation."

Yang Xia peeled back the layers of the problem, hoping that Song Jitian and Sun Zhengming could see through the schemes of the Nebula Kingdom and the vulnerability of John, the key figure.

This analysis, especially regarding "coercion,"

The possibility of this greatly shocked Song Jitian and Sun Zhengming, as it was a perspective they had never considered in depth before!
Yang Xia seized the opportunity and immediately put forward a highly constructive idea:

"In that case, why don't we take a two-pronged approach? On one hand, we prepare a plan to intercept the weapons; on the other hand, we can try to secretly contact John." "As long as we can offer him a stronger and more reliable security guarantee than what Nebula Kingdom can provide, and promise him an even more irresistible amount of benefits, someone like him, who wavers between profit and fear and whose will is not firm, could very well be turned by us and used by our Yan Kingdom!"

"Actually, dealing with someone like John who values ​​profit so much that he's even willing to risk his life is relatively simple. As long as our offer is tempting enough and our promises guarantee his safety and future, he'll most likely be unable to resist and eventually turn to us. This is far more effective than trying to intercept weapons, and it gives us a greater strategic advantage."

Song Jitian listened and found it increasingly reasonable. His eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly: "Brilliant! Yang Xia, your idea is indeed brilliant! If we can really win John over at this critical juncture, it will undoubtedly sever an important tentacle of the Nebula Kingdom for our Yan Kingdom, and we can also use him to obtain a lot of core intelligence! This is simply a brilliant move!"

Yang Xia and Song Jitian had a heated discussion about the feasibility of this new strategy. The more they talked, the more they felt that this matter was very promising, and their faces showed excitement.

Watching the two men delve deeper into their discussion and their plan become clearer and more feasible, Sun Zhengming's tense emotions finally began to relax. He let out a long, almost imperceptible sigh of relief, his heart finally settling down. He knew that as long as Yang Xia was strategizing and Song Jitian was fully cooperating, they would definitely be able to devise a foolproof plan to counter the Xingyun Kingdom's conspiracy.

Seeing that the discussion about the second batch of weapons from the Nebula Kingdom and subsequent countermeasures had come to a temporary end, and the main policy had been basically determined, another long-brewing idea quietly emerged in Yang Xia's mind.

He felt that now was the perfect time to make that request. This trip to Yan was different from any of his previous ones; he carried a far deeper purpose that he was determined to achieve.

He raised his head, his gaze lingering on Song Jitian and Sun Zhengming's faces for a moment, a rare, slightly shy smile appearing on his face. He even rubbed his hands together somewhat awkwardly and took two steps forward.

Sun Zhengming keenly noticed Yang Xia's unusual demeanor and couldn't help but cast a curious glance at him, wondering what this monarch of the Great Zhou was up to.

Song Jitian, however, seemed to have discerned something from Yang Xia's hesitant expression and subtle movements. He smiled knowingly, took the initiative to speak, and spoke in a gentle and encouraging tone:
"King Yang Xia, we have been fighting side by side for a long time, so there is no need for formalities. If you have any thoughts or requests, please speak freely and do not have any concerns."

"As long as it is within the power of our Yan Kingdom, we will certainly do our utmost to help without any reason to refuse. Now, the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Yan Kingdom are in the same boat, fighting against powerful enemies together. We are one family with a shared destiny."

With Song Jitian's sincere words as a prelude, Yang Xia seemed to have mustered his courage. He took a deep breath, and the slight embarrassment on his face was quickly replaced by a serious and mysterious expression. He lowered his voice and said:

"Since Chief Song is so straightforward, then I will speak frankly. I... I do have a request that I have been thinking about for a long time, and I feel that I should bring it up now, and I would like to hear your opinions."

Upon hearing this, Song Jitian immediately waved his hand, displaying an extremely carefree demeanor: "Whatever Your Majesty desires, please speak freely!"

Yang Xia remained silent for a moment, as if making a final internal assessment, his eyes flashing with complex emotions. Finally, as if he had made up his mind, he abruptly raised his head, his gaze meeting Song Jitian and Sun Zhengming's with unwavering determination, and said clearly and forcefully:

"Chief Song, Lord Sun... Regarding the second batch of weapons that the Nebula Kingdom attempted to transport, after we successfully intercept it, I... I hope that they can be handed over to my Great Zhou Dynasty for disposal. I wish to take them with me, and I humbly request that you both grant my request."

"This idea has been lingering in my mind for a long time, but I have always found it difficult to say. Today, I would like to take this opportunity to tell you frankly, and I hope... I hope that this will not make things difficult for you two, and I certainly do not want to be rejected."

When Yang Xia finally uttered this earth-shattering request, Sun Zhengming's eyes widened instantly, his face filled with shock and disbelief!
He was almost about to blurt out his objection—how could this be?! This batch of weapons is of paramount importance; it is the most legitimate and safest course of action for the Yan Kingdom to handle it. For the Great Zhou Dynasty to rashly take over is not only unreasonable but could also lead to endless troubles!

However, just as Sun Zhengming was about to speak, Song Jitian suddenly raised his hand, stopping him with a slight but decisive movement. Song Jitian's gaze did not look at Sun Zhengming, but remained firmly fixed on Yang Xia, his deep eyes flashing with an indescribable, extremely determined light.

Without much hesitation, Song Jitian responded in a deep voice, his tone resolute and without the slightest hesitation:

"Alright! Since you want these weapons, then as long as we can successfully intercept them, they are yours! You can take them as you please! On behalf of the Yan Kingdom, I, Song Jitian, agree to this request!"

"Whatever your reasons, as long as it's a request from you, Yang Xia, and it's within my capabilities, I will do my best to fulfill it!"

This unhesitating agreement left Sun Zhengming utterly speechless and bewildered. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He could only stare incredulously at Song Jitian, then at Yang Xia, completely unable to comprehend what the two were thinking. Yang Xia's unconventional request was already astonishing, yet Song Jitian had agreed without a second thought. What was the logic behind this? Sun Zhengming was utterly confused, and a strong sense of unease welled up within him.

Upon hearing Song Jitian's quick agreement, Yang Xia's face instantly lit up with an expression of immense joy and gratitude. He immediately stepped forward and solemnly assured him:

"Thank you, Chief! Thank you for your trust and generosity! Rest assured, I, Yang Xia, will not take these weapons for nothing!"

"Now that I have obtained them, I will make the most of their value and use them to create results and benefits far exceeding the value of these weapons themselves, in order to repay the kindness of the Yan Kingdom!"

"I will make sure that you, Chief, feel that making this decision today was absolutely the right and worthwhile!"

Yang Xia spoke with great conviction, his tone filled with confidence and determination.

Upon hearing his assurance, Song Jitian's mysterious smile reappeared. He gave Yang Xia a meaningful look, then glanced at Sun Zhengming, who was still in shock beside him. He didn't say anything more, just nodded, then turned and strode out of the room, seemingly to arrange related matters immediately.

Watching Song Jitian's rapidly departing figure, Sun Zhengming felt a surge of unease and doubt, making him restless. Unable to put his mind at ease, he quickly walked to Yang Xia's side, lowered his voice, and asked urgently: (End of Chapter)