Mastering the Sword Manual, sweeping across the globe

Zhang Qiliang tapped it casually.

[Dayang Air China] Congratulations! You have successfully obtained the limited-time special offer for the direct flight from Y City to New York.

Flight information is as follows:

Flight number: CA981

Date: The day (specific date)

Time: Departure at 20:15 overnight, arrival at 09:30 local time the following day

Terminal: Y City International Airport T3 Terminal

Check-in method: Please present your ID card at the Air China dedicated counter in Terminal 3, or check in online through the official APP.

Cabin Class: First Class (fully lie-flat seats, exclusive access to the VIP lounge)

Ticket price: 0.1 yuan (tax included)

86 Regrets

Chen Xiaolan, 35 years old

Chief Check-in Officer, Area C, Domestic Check-in Area, Terminal 3, Y City International Airport.

Employee number C0731.

Chen Xiaolan has been in the industry for fifteen years.

Fifteen years is enough for a baby to grow into a high school student, enough for an airline to go from its peak to bankruptcy and restructuring, and enough for Chen Xiaolan to go from being a young girl serving tea and water and handing out forms at the far end of the counter to becoming the "Sister Lan" who has the final say behind the seven counters in Zone C.

Over the past fifteen years, Chen Xiaolan has encountered so many bizarre passengers that she could write a book titled "A Grand Collection of Bizarre Human Behaviors: A Special Edition for Civil Aviation".

A drunkard handed her his passport upside down and yelled at her, "Where's my wife?"; a man slammed his ID card on the counter because his flight was delayed and cursed her, "You're so incompetent you're sitting here!"; and another man put his two-year-old child on the counter, said, "Watch this for me," and ran to the restroom—she waited for twenty minutes with the child in her arms.

Etc., etc……

The bizarre demands Chen Xiaolan encountered over the past fifteen years could fill a book.

Demanding smiling service, requiring satisfaction ratings, memorizing scripts, and maintaining a consistent tone—this is merely the beginning.

Asking high-value clients for their phone numbers? She'd experienced it before. That year, the company upgraded its membership system, and all senior check-in staff had to make twenty "high-end client invitations" each month. Chen Xiaolan dutifully did this for three months, and looking back, those who had asked her for their numbers looked at her differently the next time they came to check in.

Demanding she sell insurance and financial products? She'd been there too. The worst time was when the company gave check-in staff a quota: each person had to sell three flight delay insurance policies a day. Standing behind the counter, Chen Xiaolan would address passengers dragging their luggage to catch their flights, saying things like, "Would you like to consider buying a flight delay insurance policy? It'll pay out if your flight is delayed."

But this time is different.

What does it mean?

"Two hours later, a passenger may come to check in for flight CA981. This is his photo."

"When he comes to complete the formalities, whatever he brings you, you should check it according to the procedure, and then tell him that there is no problem. Then process the formalities for him according to the procedure."

Chen Xiaolan knew better than anyone what was needed for check-in.

Domestic flights require an ID card or passport, international flights require a passport and visa, and flights to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan require a travel permit and endorsement.

Occasionally someone would bring their household registration booklet, sometimes a temporary identity certificate, and sometimes no one at all, asking her to make an exception—of course, that was impossible!

But these words were spoken by Lao Zhou, and when he said them, his expression was more serious than ever as this boss who suddenly appeared at the counter.

Perhaps feeling that Lao Zhou hadn't explained clearly, someone else chimed in: "Whatever means—even if it's a brick, a piece of paper, or a twig, you catch it and then proceed with the normal procedures."

Chen Xiaolan looked up in surprise. The person who spoke was standing behind Lao Zhou, Lao Zhou's immediate superior: Lao Wu, the general manager of the ground service department.

There was another person standing behind Lao Wu, in his fifties, in the airport lounge, in the airport's legal representative section, the real person in that photo.

Right next to the counter, three people in uniforms were standing.

Dark blue, epaulettes, and a sidearm.

People from the airport express office.

When one of them saw her looking over, he nodded slightly and casually showed her his identification.

Her movements were perfectly executed, and she held the position for an exceptionally long time, long enough for her to clearly see the name and title on it—as well as the smaller characters below, and the gold-plated national emblem at the very top.

Chen Xiaolan took the photo. The image was of very high resolution. It was of a very young man in his twenties, wearing a very ordinary jacket, with a particularly warm smile on his face.

"Did you remember?"

“I understand,” Chen Xiaolan nodded. “Two hours later, on flight CA981, a customer may come to check in. No matter what he presents, I will check it normally and complete the check-in process normally.”

"Don't worry, here's the authorization document, keep it safe."

Chen Xiaolan took it, glanced at it, and immediately felt relieved:

The top line is in red font.

A few minutes later, it was the security guard's turn:

"Two hours later, a passenger on flight CA981 may come through security. Here is his photo."

"When the time comes, whatever is found on him, he will be allowed to pass normally."

"By the way, when it's his turn, don't use this security check stick, use this one instead... it won't make a sound."

The colleague who sits behind the X-ray machine and is responsible for monitoring the screen also has a role:

"And you guys too, it's the same, no matter what's in his carry-on luggage, you must let him through normally."

"Remember, it's any item."

"This is the authorization document, please keep it safe."

The customer service department also received the notification:

"Call these first-class passengers immediately and inform them that due to special circumstances, they must—note, they must—refund or rebook their flights. If they rebook, they can choose to rebook earlier or later, and the time is up to them."

"As compensation, we'll pay ten times the airfare. If that's not enough, twenty times."

Air Police Detachment.

"Two hours later, on flight CA981, the three of you will be on duty together today." The person in charge placed three boarding passes on the table. "You will sit in first class, and the other two will sit in economy class."

The three people glanced down at their seat numbers on their boarding passes, then looked up again, waiting for what would happen next.

"The core mission is to ensure that this passenger is not harassed by any individual or matter."

The person in charge pushed a photo over—a young man in his twenties, wearing an ordinary coat, with a smile on his face.

"Just recognize the person. No need for contact or communication. Pretend you didn't see anything about him."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three people.

"Anyone who obstructs this goal—regardless of who they are or what they are doing—can be directly subjected to all necessary coercive measures after warnings have proven ineffective."

The person in first class looked up, as if trying to confirm something.

"Everyone," the person in charge repeated, "Do you understand?"

"clear."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

An internal conference room:

"Should we make arrangements for economy class passengers?"

"No way, right? Inviting him to fly is already a risky move. That guy usually walks and only occasionally takes the old-fashioned train. The first class is empty... Well, you could say we're letting him rest and replacing the economy class passengers. It wouldn't be good if they misunderstood us."

"Really no ideas?"

"Who knows?" The speaker shook his head. "Anyway, if it were me, I wouldn't have any thoughts about it."

"How to say?"

"Do you know that the military strength of my Great Yang Dynasty has a characteristic that many countries usually envy, but is now particularly embarrassing?"

"Ok?"

"All military deployments at the regimental level and above require approval from the highest level."

"...In other words, in that person's view, as long as they encounter military attack..."

"Ah."

"Won't there be those who are exceptionally loyal and willing to give everything?"

"Are you crazy?" The speaker stared straight at the person opposite him: "Even if there is such a mad dog, his colleagues, his deputy, his subordinates, brother units, logistics departments, and even all the rank and file officers and soldiers have to go crazy with him!"

"……Well……"

"Without authorization, that's not a military operation, that's treason!"

--------

Ten minutes later.

Secure channel: "Target has purchased tickets! Repeat, target has confirmed ticket purchase!"

The dispatch room came alive instantly.

"Received. All units, please note that flight CA981 has entered Level 1 support procedure. Repeat, Level 1 support procedure."

"Dispatch received. Immediately adjust the intervals of subsequent flights to ensure absolute clearance for CA981's departure window."

"Bird control team received. All personnel on duty, activate full-band bird control equipment, and ensure that not a single bird is left in the airspace at both ends of the runway and the surrounding area."

"Received. The runway crew is in position, the lighting system has completed its self-check, and the pavement has been cleared of foreign objects."

"Tower received. CA981 pushback, start-up, taxiing, and takeoff are all given priority. No delays are permitted."

"Approach received. Surrounding airspace has been coordinated. CA981 will be handed over directly after takeoff and will fly directly without any traffic restrictions."

"Regional control received. All control units along the route have been notified. CA981 will be transported via a green channel throughout the entire route, and any interfering factors will be eliminated in advance."

"Alternate landing site received. The three surrounding airports have been coordinated and are ready to serve as alternate landing sites, ready to receive you at any time."

"Fuel received. Refueling truck is ready, priority given to ensuring fuel supply."

"Meal delivery received. The meal has been loaded onto the vehicle and is prepared to the highest standard."

"Maintenance received. The onboard support team is in position and will monitor the aircraft's status throughout the process."

"Ground crew received. Passenger boarding bridge, shuttle bus, and tow truck are all on standby and ready to respond at any time."

"Medical team received. Emergency ambulance is ready."

"Fire department received. Special vehicles are in position."

"Police received. The core area is secured and all unauthorized personnel have been cleared."

"All units must go all out to ensure the successful completion of the flight mission!"

"...Attention catering department, please add a few bottles of Niulanshan (a type of Chinese liquor)."

--------

It was 7 p.m. at night.

A soft cough came through the Bluetooth headset in the check-in area.

Chen Xiaolan looked up and saw a young man in his twenties walking towards her a dozen steps away. He was wearing a very ordinary coat and had a particularly warm smile on his face.

"Hello, I bought a ticket for CA981."

As we approached the check-in counter, the young man spoke while pushing an ID card towards us.

--------

new York.

At 7:15 a.m. local time, at JFK Airport.

Flight CA981 landed two hours ahead of schedule.

At this time, the early morning international flights had just arrived, and the customs channels were not yet fully busy. The entire arrival process was as smooth as if it had been rehearsed.

After clearing customs, the crew didn't stop at all. There was no shift change, no airport shuttle bus, and they didn't even head towards the staff entrance—they simply dispersed into the crowd in the arrival hall.

Some people broke their SIM cards in half and tossed them into the trash. Others stuffed their work phones into their bags and walked towards the taxi stand without looking back. In less than five minutes, everyone had vanished without a trace.

Their task was simple: to ensure that no one could contact them within three hours.

--------

Ten minutes later.