The Japanese scientist Koizumi Ichiro immediately leapt forward, screeching in a shrill, duck-like voice:
"What nonsense is this? You people from Great Xia boast far too shamelessly!"
"Cancer is incurable! Sasamaru can significantly prolong patients' lives and alleviate suffering—this is a glorious miracle unearthed from the ancient shrines of our Cherry Blossom Country, a relic of past grandeur! How could a petty nation like Great Xia possibly compare itself to us?"
Koizumi Ichiro's arrogant outburst undoubtedly ignited fury among the many passionate citizens of Great Xia, their anger rising to the boiling point.
"Damnable Japanese! This is the capital of Great Xia—how dare you spew such insolent words and act with such impunity!"
"Get lost, you little devils!"
"A tiny island like yours dares to compare itself to Great Xia?"
The citizens of Great Xia voiced their outrage vehemently.
Koizumi Ichiro and the other Japanese scientists appeared even more smug and triumphant.
Accustomed to acting with unchecked arrogance, they relished the opportunity to openly provoke and humiliate Great Xia on its own soil—nothing, in their view, brought greater satisfaction than "kicking down the door" and disparaging their host.
"Haha! In recent years, we Japanese have claimed hundreds of international scientific awards! How could Great Xia possibly compare?"
"To all of you seated here from Great Xia—I say you are nothing but amateurs!"
Koizumi Ichiro grew increasingly overbearing and brazen.
Su Xiaoyin's expression turned icy as she cast a cold glance at him:
"You foolish man! Our Blue Silver Tablets from Great Xia far surpass that rubbish Sasamaru you dug up from your so-called shrines!"
Director Zhou Chuan added with emphasis:
"Mr. Koizumi Ichiro, in three months' time the Global Pharmaceutical Expo will take place. At that event, Blue Silver Tablets will be launched simultaneously and presented for international inspection and evaluation!"
"The Global Pharmaceutical Expo is a grand gathering hosted by the Health and Sanitation Committee of the Human Alliance, held once every three years. Hundreds of nations from around the world participate—it is the premier conference in the pharmaceutical field. Mr. Koizumi, let us settle this matter there and compare our achievements!"
Director Zhou Chuan issued a formal challenge.
As a Japanese scientist, Koizumi Ichiro was naturally well aware of the Global Pharmaceutical Expo: it served as a global showcase for a nation's medical pharmaceuticals and healthcare technologies.
"Yoshi! Director Zhou, our Cherry Blossom Country will of course participate! At that time, our two nations shall compete directly!"
Koizumi Ichiro declared with supreme confidence.
With that, he snatched the microphone once more and proclaimed in a booming voice:
"Of course it must be a competition—and in my view, there should be stakes between our two nations!"
From the audience, several Japanese operatives and Great Xia collaborators immediately began to stir up the crowd:
"Yes! Stakes! Make it a big one!"
Su Xiaoyin's face flushed crimson with rage; she was about to step forward to argue.
But Koizumi Ichiro spoke first, pointing imperiously:
"If our Cherry Blossom Country's Sasamaru proves superior in efficacy, then you, Director Zhou—Director of Research Institute No. 19 at the Highest Institute of Science and Technology of Great Xia, world-renowned second-tier professor—shall kneel before our Cherry Blossom Country on behalf of Great Xia!"
"Furthermore, you must publicly declare that Great Xia's science and technology are far inferior to ours, and that the Japanese are the most intelligent race in the eastern hemisphere of Blue Star!"
Koizumi Ichiro pressed his advantage relentlessly, his words dripping with boundless arrogance.
Director Zhou Chuan remained unflinching and responded in a cold voice:
"Koizumi Ichiro, do not be so presumptuous! And if Great Xia wins?"
Koizumi Ichiro laughed disdainfully:
"How could we possibly lose? Should we fail, I shall represent both the military and scientific communities of Cherry Blossom Country in paying reparations of ten billion USD to Great Xia, while all full and associate professors jointly kowtow in apology! As for myself—I will commit seppuku on the spot!"
"Very well—let it be agreed! Today, all international journalists present shall bear witness!"
Director Zhou Chuan accepted without hesitation, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
Thereafter, a Japanese female performance group took the stage to provide musical and dance entertainment, concluding the press conference.
...
On the return journey, Su Xiaoyin clenched her fists tightly in fury:
"Director, those Japanese have truly gone too far!"
Director Zhou Chuan let out a cold snort:
"Indeed. The Japanese have always harbored wolfish ambitions. As citizens of Great Xia, we must never forget the enmity we hold toward them! For nearly a century, Japanese hands have been stained with the blood of our people. The countless massacres and blood debts from a hundred years ago must never be forgotten!"
More than a century ago, Blue Star's Great Xia—impoverished and weakened—had been invaded by the Japanese, who unleashed a brutal war. Countless citizens of Great Xia perished beneath Japanese blades. While many of the newer generation of students and young people in Great Xia were unfamiliar with these historical atrocities, the older generation—such as Director Zhou Chuan—retained vivid memories and harbored profound hatred toward the Japanese.
"As for the mass production of Blue Silver Tablets, I shall once again request Vice-Director Dou Chen to coordinate resources from all relevant parties! At the Global Pharmaceutical Expo three months from now, Great Xia must win—no matter the cost!"
Director Zhou Chuan spoke with resolute determination.
Su Xiaoyin nodded repeatedly:
"Yes, Director! Xiaoyin will fulfill the mission without fail!"
As the two conversed, seven or eight masked men and women suddenly approached from the opposite direction.
The leader was an exceptionally tall and upright man, measuring nearly one meter ninety in height.
He wore a plain deep-gray special operations uniform devoid of any insignia, its tailored fit accentuating powerfully explosive musculature.
His face was concealed behind a full-coverage black tactical mask, revealing only a pair of deep, calm, and piercing eyes—sharp as those of a falcon. Standing motionless, his posture resembled a sheathed sword: though its edge remained hidden, it exuded an aura of chilling lethality and unshakable composure that caused one's heart to tremble.
The tall man's voice was icy:
"I have already meted out punishment to this Japanese scholarly exchange delegation."
With that, he lightly hefted a heavy-looking black cloth sack in his hand.
At the bottom of the sack, dark crimson blood faintly seeped through the fabric.
"What is…?"
Su Xiaoyin was momentarily stunned.
The man offered no reply. Instead, he tossed the black sack to a stocky individual:
"All the 'chicken pieces' inside—feed them to the dogs."
A burly, thickset man caught the sack and grinned broadly. Though his face remained hidden behind a mask, the cold menace in his smile was unmistakable:
"Understood, Captain. I guarantee they'll be eaten clean."
Director Zhou Chuan introduced him to Su Xiaoyin:
"This is Captain Ling Feng, leader of the Second Special Operations Team of the Dragon Group, Bureau 749."
The tall man—Captain Ling Feng—gave a slight nod:
"Director Zhou. We were delayed en route and had to handle some incidental matters along the way, which caused us to arrive late for the rendezvous…"
Su Xiaoyin's eyes brightened:
"Director, these are the members of the mysterious Bureau 749 you mentioned?"
Director Zhou Chuan smiled:
"Precisely. Moreover, Captain Ling Feng and his team belong to the Dragon Group! The Dragon Group is Bureau 749's dedicated combat sequence—the bureau's elite special operations unit, possessing formidable strength and an exceptionally high standing."
"This time, Captain Ling Feng's team is also responsible for preparing the supplies destined for Tang Yi on the Douluo Continent."
Captain Ling Feng spoke with crisp efficiency:
"The materials assigned to Bureau 749 are already loaded in the vehicle. We can transport them to the research institute at once."
Su Xiaoyin nodded, a faint smile appearing on her face:
"Excellent! The Director and I will organize the remaining items, and we can proceed with transmission as soon as possible."