CHAPTER 313: CHAPTER 299: FIRST ARRIVAL IN THE MIDDLE EAST

"Nonsense!" Xiao Lin exclaimed displeased. This Middle East journey is fraught with danger. Adding one more person is adding one more burden, especially someone like Hua Qingyi—there can be no mistakes involved.

"Brother! The military advisor is also our friend. Moreover, when going to the Middle East, we need a mediator, and this Miao Shaoqing is a good guide."

"Yes, General." Miao Shaoqing responded in Arabic, followed by several other languages that Xiao Lin couldn’t quite discern, leaving him a bit surprised.

Seeing the surprise on Xiao Lin’s face, Miao Shaoqing couldn’t help but say, "I once worked as a laborer in Afghanistan."

"Brother, trust him. This guy is very capable." Hua Qingyi moved next to Miao Shaoqing and patted him. "As for me, there’s no need for introductions. In short, our mission is to protect you until the last moment, and your mission is to rescue the military advisor."

"Someone will provide support over there, no need for further intervention from you."

"Brother!" Hua Qingyi flickered into Xiao Lin’s view, her beautiful face now carrying an undeniable air of authority and a hint of worry. "Do you understand the current situation in the Middle East? If there was someone to provide support, would Night Eagle have vanished without a trace?"

Xiao Lin fell silent, unable to counter Hua Qingyi’s argument. None of the people Dragon Soul sent to the Middle East have returned—either dead or missing. If it weren’t a thorny problem, Lao Long wouldn’t have dispatched the military advisor, and Night Eagle wouldn’t have disappeared because of the advisor’s unknown fate. Before him stood a gigantic abyss, unclear to anyone. The Middle East, like a magnet, drew Dragon Soul’s people in, and though he knew it was a trap, he had to jump in.

"Shaoqing can follow me; you cannot." This was the largest compromise. Elder Miao had once said that the three people he entrusted to the master each had distinct traits and potential abilities. Xiao Lin believed Miao Shaoqing’s talents were not just linguistic but in other fields as well, bringing someone like him in an unfamiliar country would provide many conveniences.

"Even if you don’t bring me along, I’ll find another way into the Middle East. You must believe that the Hua family has the ability in this area. If I really do this, it will only turn your worries into reality."

"You’re threatening me!" Xiao Lin said coldly.

"If threats would work, I would gladly do it."

The two were locked in a standoff, neither willing to back down. Their mutual understanding had become a burden. Time didn’t allow such a standoff to continue; the aviation personnel had already prepared flying equipment, and three passports were in his hands. "General, we must take off to reach within the scheduled time, and afterward enter Saudi Arabia on land."

"Depart!"

On the map, Jordan appears a very small country, an inland nation in the Middle East. It lacks oil and other energy resources, as well as water resources. Since the outbreak of the first Gulf War, Jordan’s economy has struggled, with many Palestinian refugees within the country, financial aid from other Gulf nations, and Jordanian citizens working abroad, all contributing to significant economic turmoil, rendering the nation’s economy highly unstable and complex.

Dressed in local attire, they wandered through the streets of Jordan’s capital, Amman. Here, it is the financial and cultural center of Jordan. The streets in the city are narrow and winding, some sections with fairly steep slopes. Most buildings have walls made from white stones, giving them an exceptionally clean appearance. Looking up from the mountainside, the entire city appears like a gigantic multi-layered pagoda. At night, the lights shimmer, presenting a beautiful scene.

Xiao Lin and his companions turned into a restaurant known for having some of Jordan’s best chefs. Most people coming to the Middle East for business choose this restaurant to entertain VIPs or friends.

"Do you have a reservation?" A middle-aged man in a Chinese suit approached with a welcoming smile, his white teeth prompting an urge to knock them for study.

"An old brand private room, four people!"

"Oh! Excellent, please follow me." The group walked up the passage on the right of the second floor. The private rooms here have distinctive names, almost covering many famous restaurants and regional cuisines from China, and their room was closest to the street in the old brand area.

"The dishes have been prepared as instructed, please enjoy."

Every city’s Chinese restaurant has its own charm, and many international friends come for these flavors. Any boastful bit makes Chinese restaurants very likable, and the owner here must be quite the businessman.

Looking out the window offers a panoramic view of Financial Street. Xiao Lin and his companions found a seat, the table full of tempting dishes enticing their senses, yet none picked up the chopsticks.

"General!"

"Eat!" Xiao Lin gestured to the pilot, seating them with intention: "Tonight, we stay in Jordan; the scenery is nice, worth touring."

After delivering to the destination, the small aircraft took off again, the pilot not accompanying them, left in Xiao Lin’s team, a contact needed here.

"Yes, I’ll go make arrangements right away."

"Brother, shouldn’t we head directly to Saudi Arabia?" Hua Qingyi whispered.

"Look at this table of dishes first, then speak." Xiao Lin grinned at Hua Qingyi and casually picked up a morsel. Watching Hua Qingyi about to pick up some food, he suddenly said, "Wait a moment."

Hua Qingyi’s interest was piqued. His eyes fixed on the spread of dishes, but to his regret, he couldn’t see what was wrong. The table was abundant with meat, fish, chicken, vegetables, and grilled flavors—nothing different from what he had at home. Curiously, he asked, "Is there something special about the dishes?"

"The dishes themselves are fine; it’s just the arrangement that’s questionable."

"What do you mean by that?" Hua Qingyi raised an eyebrow, evidently intrigued.

"In Chinese dining etiquette, the guest follows the host’s lead. We’re the guests, so the chicken’s head should face the honored position. But where is this chicken’s head facing?" Xiao Lin said with a smile.

Hua Qingyi glanced at the chicken’s head direction, walked to the window, and saw it was facing east, towards his country. He turned around sharply, "Brother, do you suspect..."

"Without any concrete evidence, anything is possible. There’s no issue with the pilot. But what’s the purpose of the one who brought us here? Intentionally positioning the chicken’s head towards the east, is it just to tell us he’s on our side? That’s not Night Eagle’s style, and it’s not the Dragon Soul’s way either."

"What does Brother want to do?"

"Wait!" Xiao Lin’s eyes gleamed. No matter who the other party is, they can’t escape easily, "Wait for them to come knocking."

Miao Shaoqing wasn’t a man of many words, and upon entering the Middle East, he indeed became the guide for the group. He seldom mentioned his past in Afghanistan, only attributing his knowledge of every Middle Eastern city to frequent map reading. Xiao Lin didn’t inquire further, uninterested in others’ personal privacy. Everyone who entered Dragon Soul was thoroughly vetted for generations; there’s no need to worry about individual matters.

The nightlife in Amman is vibrant, and the women here are beautiful, or so Hua Qingyi thinks. He judges a woman’s appearance based on her figure. Here, unmarried women wrap themselves up like they’re guarding a fleshly treasure. Meanwhile, men as handsome as Hua Qingyi aren’t much appreciated in these women’s eyes, something that considerably frustrates him.

"The largest casino in Amman is ahead, rumored to host many black-market transactions."

"Want to try it out?" Xiao Lin glanced at Hua Qingyi, feeling a surge of excitement. If the Military Doctor has a weakness, gambling is it. After every mission, he would play in some unfamiliar locale for a few days. However, after the Liang Hu incident, this habit was slowly changing. Yet, being here now, Xiao Lin’s gambling urge rose again. Of course, going to such a place now isn’t just about getting a fix; it’s the best place to gather intelligence amidst the hustle and bustle.

"OK, no problem." Hua Qingyi naturally knew that Xiao Lin’s intentions for visiting weren’t just for a thrill.

"General!" The pilot was a bit fearful of their enthusiasm. According to the plan, they should return to the hotel and head to Saudi Arabia by car the next day.

"You don’t need to follow. Go back to the hotel first." Hua Qingyi hooked his arm around Xiao Lin, disregarding the pilot, while Miao Shaoqing helplessly comforted the pilot before following.

In his role as a bodyguard, Xiao Lin followed Hua Qingyi, wearing sunglasses, along with Miao Shaoqing to protect their leader.

"On our left, the man in the white hat is a well-known real estate tycoon here, involved in human trafficking. Most men or women captured from Africa first pass through his hands before being sold to other Middle Eastern regions," Miao Shaoqing quietly introduced as they walked.

Half an hour later!

The card game had started. Hua Qingyi favored Blackjack, his confident smile causing the dealer to blush shyly. Xiao Lin glanced at the bearded man in the white hat, then refocused on Hua Qingyi’s hand. Currently, Hua Qingyi’s card total was 7, meaning his hand was quite low, while the gambler to his right had a total of 4, and the bearded man had 12.

"4, your turn!" the dealer announced softly, her voice pleasing and her big eyes twinkling.

The gambler seemed confident in his hand and pushed out a million, Hua Qingyi matched it, while the bearded man passed. The dealer dealt the fourth card, bringing Hua Qingyi’s total to 11, while the gambler on the right was at 10, and it was his turn again.

He doesn’t look at the cards? When the gambler pushed out another million, Hua Qingyi smiled and closed his hand.

The dealer gathered the chips towards the guest on the left. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)