CHAPTER 398: YOU WOULDN’T BE SO RECKLESS, WOULD YOU?

"She has a fever."

Zhongli Wuzhi frowned as he spoke. At the same time, Wen Nian’s call came through.

Song Lili started the video call with Wen Nian, while reaching out to feel Lu Xiaoer’s forehead, furrowing her brows as well.

"Lili, how are you all doing? I just received news—"

"Don’t panic. The area was bombarded. We have already left that block, but I don’t know about the people you arranged..."

Before Song Lili could finish, Wen Nian’s face turned pale, his concern was evident.

"That’s because I can’t reach them, so I had to contact you."

"Xiaoer is in bad condition, running a high fever. I’ve decided to head northeast towards Caesar, staying as far away from the city center as possible."

"Good, make sure at least one of your phones’ locations is on."

"Yeah, don’t worry. I’ll not talk much."

Song Lili gestured with her eyes for Zhongli Wuzhi to pick the person up, ready to move forward.

"Xiao Li, wait for me."

Wen Nian told her.

Song Lili nodded her head. In this chaotic situation, stations and airports are the routes most people choose to evacuate through, but often at times like this, stations and airports are the most dangerous.

At this moment, they could only find a relatively safe place to stay and wait for Wen Nian’s rescue.

The two temporarily ended their call.

Song Lili and Zhongli Wuzhi continued to move forward.

————

This night at the Anlin President’s Mansion was destined to be sleepless.

At this moment, Wen Nian, in the President’s Office, was having a private video call with the President of M Country.

Minister Bu from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was negotiating with M Country, whose biggest concession was allowing G Country to evacuate its expatriates using civilian transport, but firmly refusing entry to armed militants.

Wen Nian could understand the decision of M Country, but in these extraordinary times, he had to negotiate and strive for more.

The evacuation operation of G Country was much faster than other countries, involving air, sea, and land. The expatriates in all the provinces and cities of M Country just needed to hold a G Country passport to follow the evacuation routes issued by the embassy.

Originally, Lili and Zhongli Wuzhi, after rescuing Lu Xiaoer, could also leave following the evacuation route.

However, at 8 p.m., Caesar City was attacked again by the rebel army, and all plans were disrupted!

The atmosphere in the office was tense to the extreme, Qu Yu, Bu Sheng, and other secretaries and diplomats were all holding their breath.

Wen Nian and President Wu Daqi of M Country, who was twenty-four years older, had a conversation that lasted only five minutes. After ending the video call, he stood up,

"When will the "Osprey" assault team arrive!"

The command Wen Nian gave to the Naval Commander was that they should arrive by noon the day after at the latest; there weren’t even ten hours left...

"Mr. President, as per your orders, they were already pushed earlier and should now be on the plane."

"Once they arrive, have them report to me immediately!"

"Yes."

Wen Nian scanned the room, everyone’s eyes were on him, some faces filled with great perplexity, seemingly unable to understand the President’s urgency and anxiety.

Just then, his office phone rang,

"Mr. President, Minister Lu Yonghuai requests to see you."

Lu Yonghuai, Deputy Director of the Central Population Intelligence Bureau, father of Lu Xiaoer.

"Send him in. Qu Yu stays; everyone else leave."

"Yes, Mr. President."

The office quickly emptied.

"I talked to Wu Daqi," I said, "several senior scientific researchers and some important officials’ relatives are still in Caesar City. Regarding the researchers, he mentioned he would send someone to protect them, but as for the relatives..."

Wen Nian exhaled lightly, his eyes steady, but before he could finish, a knock at the door interrupted him.

"Come in."

The person who entered was none other than the head of the Central Population Intelligence Bureau, Lu Yonghuai.

His expression was anxious, his brows furrowed tightly as he hurriedly stood in front of Wen Nian. "Sir, I have a very important and urgent matter to ask of you!"

"Is it about your daughter, Lu Xiaoer?"

Lu Yonghai was momentarily stunned, clearly shocked that Wen Nian already knew about the matter.

"...Yes, sir, my daughter joined an international rescue organization, and she is in Caesar City, but we’ve been unable to contact her. We finally got through to her organization, and they said..."

"She was attending a class at Angus Church today,"

Wen Nian said.

Lu Yonghuai swallowed nervously, his aged eyes suddenly filled with tears.

Even with his slow reactions, he knew that Angus Church had been bombed into ruins by the M country’s rebel army the previous night. According to today’s international news, seventy-eight bodies had been excavated from the ruins, all deceased.

The fifty-something man, a smart and efficient father, swayed slightly, a profound grief hitting his chest.

Regret and despair overwhelmed his heart for a moment.

"She wanted to do this, and I just let her, it was I who forced her into that situation! It was I..."

"Minister Lu, your daughter is still alive."

"..."

Lu Yonghuai’s grief-stricken face contorted in agony, and as he looked up at Wen Nian, tears streamed down his face,

"Two of her friends saved her, but she’s not in good shape now, buried for a long time, she suffered a head injury, and is now in a delirious fever."

"..." Lu Yonghuai’s eyes widened, and he quickly grasped Wen Nian’s shoulder, "Sir, where is Xiaoer right now? I need to go there immediately!"

"Gunfire is ongoing in Caesar City, the rebel army has made the capital their first target."

Wen Nian honestly relayed the situation in Caesar, unaware that Lu Yonghuai was fearless,

"I’m not afraid, it doesn’t matter, my daughter really needs me now! Sir, please just tell me her exact location!"

Wen Nian looked at Lu Yonghuai, feeling a wave of envy.

"Minister Lu, you’re older, what could you do if you went there?"

"Sir! Even if I can’t do anything, I can’t just sit here and wait! Bullets don’t discriminate..."

Lu Yonghuai, just thinking of his daughter in a war-torn foreign land, uncertain of her life or death, felt a heart-wrenching pain!

"I only have this one daughter... Sir, the day you become a father, you’ll understand—"

Wen Nian stopped Lu Yonghuai,

"Minister Lu, I’m trying."

"..."

"I’m doing everything within my power as the president, everything within my power as Wen Nian. I can assure you, assure you that your daughter will return to you safely."

"Sir..."

Lu Yonghuai looked at Wen Nian, his expression grave yet hesitant.

"But Minister Lu must stay in the country. If something were to happen to you, the Cabinet would be short another minister, and there are many areas where Wen Nian relies on your support..."

Wen Nian’s words were comforting, but... Qu Yu narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed intently on Wen Nian.

This restless Mr. President, what was he really thinking—suddenly, Qu Yu thought of something.

Looking at Wen Nian, he involuntarily swallowed.

Surely he wouldn’t do something so reckless, would he?