Translator: CinderTL
Whoosh!
Three silver-gray aircraft pierced through the sea mist, streaking across the sky.
The red maple leaf emblems reflected sunlight against the cloud sea, while the vast azure ocean was cleaved by their wake, leaving long, white trails in their wake.
"They're here," someone murmured in the port city, their eyes gleaming.
In a distant manor, a Roth Family woman issued cold commands, and spies quietly dispersed throughout the streets.
The already bustling city grew even more frenzied.
Under the scrutiny of countless eyes, the Red Nation delegation finally descended, hovering above the port.
"Then, I'll leave it to you two," Chairman Li Yun said solemnly, his voice filled with emotion as he gazed at Chen Feng and Wang Cheng, listening to their assurances.
The other members of the delegation nodded in agreement, their expressions conveying both trust and gratitude.
Chen Feng and Wang Cheng exchanged glances—some smiling, others composed—before turning their gazes toward the approaching coastline.
Tens of thousands of tons of cargo containers were being unloaded at customs, while hundreds of cargo ships and merchant vessels swarmed the port.
Their eyes swept past the coastal aircraft carrier fleet and warships, settling on a restricted, gray-black area of the port.
Visible were over a dozen figures in suits standing in two neat rows, protected by numerous white security personnel, as if awaiting and welcoming them.
"Those are members of the federal foreign affairs bureau," Han Chao, who was accompanying them, recalled the information and explained again. "Black Harbor City is the largest city in the southern region of the Platinum Federation and the place where Han Mingchuan initially fled to hide."
"After multiple revisions, the final location for the detailed negotiations was set here."
During the explanation, Chen Feng nodded slightly, asking no further questions.
He had received detailed information on the way here.
The Platinum Federation Council held supreme authority, but its members were a complex mix.
Many were affiliated with major consortiums such as the Orlan Group and the Roth Family.
This led to the formation of various factions within the council.
For example, the traditionalist Old Covenant Faction and the increasingly powerful New Covenant Faction, known for its aggressive and domineering foreign policy.
"If I remember correctly," Chen Feng suddenly asked, his gaze fixed on the rapidly approaching earth of the harbor, "the Roth Family are members of the New Covenant Faction, aren't they?"
Han Chao's expression turned serious as he nodded.
"Don't act rashly," he cautioned in a low voice, aware of Chen Feng's long-standing feud with the Roth Family.
In truth, it wasn't just their opponents who harbored deep resentment toward the Roth Family and the New Covenant Faction. The Red Nation's military and even the General Federation in Red City shared this animosity.
The faction had been implicated in numerous uprisings across the Red Nation's history, as well as internal conflicts in various countries throughout the southwestern regions of the Eastern Continent.
Had it not been for the necessity of negotiations, coupled with the Old Covenant Faction's mediation and willingness to compromise, they would never have agreed to come here.
"I understand the situation," Chen Feng replied calmly, nodding in acknowledgment.
His expressionless face made Han Chao uneasy, but before he could say more, the aircraft began its final descent.
Whoosh!
The air vibrated with a resonant hum as the wind howled.
Dust swirled briefly as the three aircraft landed almost simultaneously on the wide, flat clearing.
Instantly, the anti-gravity systems within the cabins activated, and a faint tremor ran through the metal floors as they made contact with the ground.
Exchanging glances, Chairman Li Yun and the other Federation Councilors rose one by one.
Some straightened their collars, while others stood tall and proud.
Subtle smiles of confidence flickered across their faces before the cabin doors slid open, revealing the light of the other continent.
"Let's go," an aged voice echoed. Chairman Li Yun, flanked by security personnel, led the way out with dignified bearing.
The rest of the delegation followed, and the three aircraft disgorged a stream of Red Nation's elite.
Tap, tap, tap!
Chen Feng stood at the head of the group, his footsteps steady.
Wang Cheng flanked him on the left, while four Peak Flying Generals and twelve Red Generals followed the delegation.
Whoosh!
The moment they stepped out of the airship, the cacophony of the harbor flooded their ears.
The mournful wails of cargo ships mingled with the crashing of waves.
The gray-black open space was flanked by white security walls, and armed security personnel patrolled the perimeter, maintaining order.
A long row of black Lailaus Sedans waited at the far end of the open space. Federal citizens, kept at bay by the security barrier, craned their necks to observe the delegation from a distance of several dozen meters.
After a brief adjustment to the outside environment, the delegation's vision cleared, and they saw a group of figures approaching.
"Welcome to the Red Nation delegation!"
A unfamiliar voice rang out, and the delegation's communication devices automatically activated their translation modules.
Focusing their attention, they saw a dozen figures in suits approaching at a measured pace.
Most were middle-aged men in their forties, with a few younger assistants and translators in their early thirties.
Both men and women were present, their skin tones ranging from pale to dark, each radiating an aura of elite status and authority.
"Representative Li, it's an honor to meet you. I'm Lyle, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Bureau, and I'll be coordinating your itinerary."
"This is Mr. Ollie, Speaker of the Black Harbor City Council, and this is Councilor Nord from the National Congress."
Leading the welcoming party was a middle-aged white man, slightly overweight, with piercing blue eyes and neatly parted brown hair.
Chairman Li Yun, leading the delegation, exchanged brief introductions and handshakes with the group, his gaze lingering on the man's bulging white shirt.
As they engaged in casual conversation, Li Yun maintained a polite smile, but his brow furrowed imperceptibly.
"Director Lyle, may I ask about Commissioner Moke?"
He recalled that the designated negotiator for the Platinum Federation was a congressional commissioner from the Old Covenant Faction—a true core member of the federal government.
In contrast, the individuals before him seemed far less significant, even lacking the necessary authority.
"Commissioner Moke has urgent matters to attend to and cannot be present," Lyle replied with a practiced smile. "However, rest assured, the Platinum Federation takes these negotiations extremely seriously."
"Commissioner Moke has instructed us to handle your reception. Formal negotiations will commence no later than 9:00 AM tomorrow, once his affairs are resolved."
As Lyle spoke, Chairman Li Yun glanced at the other two members of the welcoming party.
The yellow-skinned Red Nation man was the liaison arranged by the embassy. Their eyes met, and the man nodded in acknowledgment.
Only then did Chairman Li Yun relax his brow, grudgingly accepting the explanation.
"Gentlemen, please proceed."
Lyle, a high-ranking official from the foreign affairs bureau, smiled warmly and gestured toward the convoy behind him.
A line of sleek black Lailaus Sedans stood ready, each adorned with both the golden Flying Eagle and crimson-crested flags fluttering from their hoods.
The sight eased the tension on the delegation's faces, and several members began to doubt their earlier suspicions.
Perhaps the Platinum Federation truly wants to negotiate in good faith and de-escalate tensions?
The thought flashed through their minds as they approached the convoy.
Along the way, they noticed cargo containers stacked higher and higher in the port's open space, and the pedestrian traffic outside the restricted zone had grown noticeably congested.
"Something's not right," Wang Cheng murmured, his face grim as he stood beside Chairman Li Yun.
Though his lips didn't move, electromagnetic pulses transmitted through Chen Feng's communicator, conveying a silent warning.
"Mm," Chen Feng replied with a calm nod, his Perception already amplified as he scanned the surroundings with the accompanying security personnel.
The federal foreign affairs bureau's welcoming party appeared cordial, but Chen Feng sensed a faint, hidden malice beneath their smiles.
Moreover, the moment he stepped out of the shuttle, he had detected a hidden scan similar to the Sky Eye System, as if someone were trying to penetrate their every secret.
The Star Spirit remained silent in his mind as the delegation moved toward the convoy, preparing to depart.
Boom!
But then...
"No!!"
"Run!!"
A scream suddenly pierced the air, followed by the sharp crack of a gunshot.
The crowd froze in unison. The security personnel of the delegation exchanged uneasy glances and dispersed, their eyes scanning the surroundings warily.
In an instant, Red Nation people with yellow skin were being apprehended from the crowd outside the restricted zone. Some were handcuffed, while others were forced to kneel on the ground.
White men in black combat suits had materialized as if from thin air, brandishing firearms and conducting mass arrests through the panicked crowd without hesitation. They even temporarily sealed off the pedestrian passage at the port.
"Director Lyle, what's happening?" Chairman Li Yun frowned, clearly taken aback by the scene.
And perhaps it was just his imagination, but he sensed the white men in black combat suits had cast a defiant glance at him and his delegation.
"Heh, Representative Li may not be aware," Director Lyle said, his smile never faltering. "Recently, many citizens have been incited to protest against congressional regulations, leading to riots."
He withdrew his gaze with a smile and turned back to Li Yun and the others, as if offering an explanation. "After some investigation, we've identified the source."
"These overseas Chinese are the instigators of the protests, having repeatedly incited riots."
The tone was assertive, yet it left an uneasy feeling in the listeners' hearts.
Chen Feng, Wang Cheng, and the others followed Lyle's gaze and saw that nearly all those arrested were overseas Chinese from the Red Nation.
Among them were even some young men and women, their faces now pale with terror as they were humiliated with their hands cuffed behind them and their faces pressed against the ground.
"Why haven't I heard about this before?" Chairman Li Yun asked, his voice strained with suppressed emotion.
"To ensure the success of this operation, we deliberately suppressed all related information," Lyle explained with a smile. The other members of the foreign affairs bureau and the accompanying Federation Councilors echoed his words.
"Representative Li, rest assured that the Federation's arrests are based solely on evidence."
"Exactly. These overseas Chinese have been acting unlawfully. We would never make wrongful arrests."
"Speaking of which, many of these overseas Chinese are illegal immigrants. We'll need to conduct a second investigation in the future."
As the chorus of agreement swelled, Lyle's smile deepened, his eyes narrowing into slits that seemed to conceal a hint of mockery.
Chairman Li Yun frowned slightly, about to speak again, when a fresh wave of panicked cries erupted from the restricted zone.
"No!!"
"Let her go! She's innocent!!"
A yellow-skinned boy, his face flushed crimson, struggled against the white man in a black combat suit who gripped his wrists, restraining his movements.
Across from him, a middle-aged woman with similar features was being arrested, forced to kneel with her back bent low, pressed humiliatingly to the ground.
"Let her go!!"
In his rage, the boy bit down on the white man's hand. As the man cried out in pain, the boy seized the opportunity to dash toward his mother.
The rapid tap-tap-tap of his footsteps echoed across the gray-black ground for a few seconds. His face was etched with desperation as he raced to save his weeping mother.
Just as he was about to reach her, a Cyborg suddenly materialized, its massive frame clad in a black suit radiating cold menace.
Boom!
A muffled explosion erupted as a precise side kick slammed into the boy's chest and abdomen.
The boy's eyes bulged as he was sent flying backward, tumbling across the gray-black ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Was that necessary?"
Wang Cheng's expression turned icy, his hand clenching into a fist, a vein throbbing visibly on his wrist.
Whether these people were telling the truth or not, why treat such an innocent child with such brutality?
"Our federation's laws differ from your Red Nation's," one of the white congressmen interjected, glancing coldly at Wang Cheng. "We apply them equally to all."
"Exactly," Director Lyle chimed in, his smile widening as he smoothly took over the conversation, preventing Wang Cheng from intervening or pressing the matter further. "Even though they're just overseas Chinese, as long as they reside within our federation's borders, they must be judged according to our laws."
As they spoke, the boy was already being dragged up by his hair, his hands cuffed despite his obvious pain.
Many overseas Chinese near customs glared angrily, but before they could react, they were swept up in the crackdown and arrested.
Even some white reporters seized the opportunity, as if they had rehearsed this scene beforehand. They positioned themselves perfectly, their cameras flashing incessantly to document the spectacle.
"You..."
Wang Cheng narrowed his eyes, a hint of murderous intent flickering within them.
Han Chao and the other Flying Generals, along with the members of the accompanying delegation, all frowned deeply, veins throbbing at their temples.
By now, they knew all too well that this was a deliberate show of force, an attempt to intimidate them.
Just as they were about to retaliate, Chairman Li Yun suddenly raised a hand, stopping them.
"Old man Li Yun?" Wang Cheng's gaze sharpened, his expression darkening slightly.
But then he saw the complex emotions in Chairman Li Yun's eyes—shame, anger, and a desperate restraint born of being in foreign territory.
They still needed to capture Han Mingchuan and complete the remaining negotiations to ease tensions between the two powers, especially with the Black Tide outbreaks intensifying.
If they escalated the situation here...
Tap, tap!
Footsteps echoed through the air.
Figures in black trench coats emerged from the distance, fully armed, casting long shadows across the port.
Some even descended from the sky on disc-shaped aircraft, landing slowly and deliberately.
Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of metallic Flying Shuttles swirled around them like streams of light, arcs of blue and red magnetic energy crackling around them, making the newcomers appear almost divine.
The atmosphere stilled, and the delegation members sensed something was amiss.
Wang Cheng and the others frowned deeply, their expressions wary. They could feel the unmistakable fluctuations of a Legendary-grade Magnetic Field.
"Director Andrei?" Lyle, the director of the foreign affairs bureau, seemed surprised, his gaze curious as he looked at the approaching group.
The leader, a middle-aged white man, wore a dark trench coat, his brown eyes sharp and his physique robust, his hair slicked back.
Chairman Li Yun's expression hardened at the mention of the name, while Wang Cheng's eyes narrowed with silent vigilance.
This name had been a key focus of their briefing before arrival—belonging to a core member of the federal special operations division, a legendary-grade modified human with a storied combat record.
"Weren't you at Congress?" Lyle asked, feigning surprise at the man's sudden appearance. "What brings you here personally?"
The deferential tone was expected, almost obligatory.
The newcomer remained impassive, offering no response. Instead, he seemed to float in mid-air, descending as if stepping down invisible stairs, his powerful gravity-manipulation device ensuring a smooth landing.
Tap!
His crisp footstep echoed as he stood before Chen Feng.
His gaze swept past Chairman Li Yun, Wang Cheng, and the others. Behind him, the special operations division members silently fanned out, coldly encircling the delegation.
"Mr. Chen Feng," Andrei said, his voice flat and his expression indifferent.
Andrei, the middle-aged white man and director of the federal special operations division, stood motionless, his eyes locked on Chen Feng's.
"We've received intelligence linking you to the Roth Family murder case."
"Now..."
An assistant stepped forward, producing a black leather special operations division badge and a red-stamped arrest warrant.
"Please cooperate with our investigation."
(End of the Chapter)
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