“Oh, my God. It’s the Minister of Defense, Mr. Arnold!”

  “And the FBI Director, Robert, and the Secretary of State, Mr. Pompeo!”

  “Chief of the White House office, Mr. Kelly, and the CIA Director, Ms. Haspel…… They’re all here as well.”

  “Wow! There’re so many important officials here. Is the Kennedy family so influential?”

  “Lyon is badly injured and it must have infuriated the Kennedy family. There’re so many important government officials getting involved in the case. It looks like this Hua national is in serious trouble and they will destroy him even before the court can pass sentence.”

  The crowd that had gathered outside the gate of the Washington University had yet to disperse. They could barely believe their eyes when they saw these high-profile government officials getting out of their black limousines. That was the first time they had seen so many high-ranking officials appearing in public together. The onlookers suddenly realized the power that the Kennedy family wielded. They could summon so many top government officials to seek justice for Lyon.

  As a teacher who had traveled regularly between the Mei nation and the Hua nation, Zhong Meili recognized these top Mei government officials. The various media outlets and magazines often featured them. These were powerful people who were high in the social order, and Zhong Meili felt they were in no position to say a thing. She unconsciously pulled her students closer toward the crowd.

  “Has this incident gone all the way to the Mei government officials?”

  Zhu Xiaofei struggled to swallow his saliva as all these officials had a stern and intimidating presence. He stared at them nervously and was very concerned for Xiao Luo.

  Ding Kai looked at the group and slowly said, “It looks like that’s what is happening here. I would not have imagined that the Kennedy family was that influential in the Mei nation.”

  The appearance of the officials at the scene had also shaken up both Wang Ling and Huang Ruoran.

  “Stop saying that. None of us have what it takes to help Xiao Luo. Right now, we ought to cut off all ties with him. If they ask, we say that we do not know who he is. Do you all understand?” whispered Zhong Meili softly.

  \r \r \r

  “Teacher, won’t we be treacherous if we do that?” Zhu Xiaofei said in a displeased tone.

  “Now is not the time to worry if we are treacherous or not. Even if we admit we know Xiao Luo, we cannot help him. Instead, we will cause additional trouble for ourselves.”

  Zhong Meili was thinking for the group. “This is a crime that Xiao Luo has committed. No one else can be responsible for it. If you do not want to be detained in the Mei nation, then do as I say,” she said.

  “Let us listen to Teacher Zhong. What Hero Luo has done this time is just unacceptable. Besides, we are just ordinary students and we can’t do much for him even if we speak out. We might get implicated in the incident instead, and there’s a chance they may even arrest us as well,” Wang Ling said.

  Although the guys were unwilling to accept it, they knew that Wang Ling was speaking the truth. They had no power to help Xiao Luo. Even if they stepped out and fought with all their might, there was nothing they can do except to share the same fate as Xiao Luo.

  Compared to them, Xiao Luo was a lot calmer. He had his hands in his trouser pockets. He looked like an employer waiting for his employees to submit progress reports to him.

  And, as it turned out, that was precisely the scenario that was playing out. The Defense Minister, Arnold, led the entourage from the Mei federal government. The group hurried toward Xiao Luo to greet him. Arnold was in his well-fitted, custom-tailored military uniform decked with medals as a mark of respect.

  “Mr. Xiao Han, I am the minister of Defense, Arnold. We…… We spoke on the phone,” Arnold said a little hesitantly. Then he smiled and put his hand out toward Xiao Luo for a handshake.

  “Oh, so it is you,” Xiao Luo answered offhandedly.

  Xiao Luo did not return the same level of courtesy to Arnold. He lightly shook his hand before releasing it. Then in a rather brisk tone, Xiao Luo asked, “What is the matter? Why are you looking for me? Are you planning to invite me to stay a little longer in the Mei nation?”

  When they heard that, the officials quivered a little. Oh, my God. Did he want to stay longer? He had already caused so much damage. If he continued to stay, he would turn the entire nation upside down. No, no…… That would be unthinkable. They were more than willing to spend a sizeable amount of money to get him out of their nation.

  Arnold felt the pressure and started mopping the sweat off his forehead. He continued, “Mr. Xiao Han, the thing is that our president is planning to visit the Hua nation. If you wish to return, you can join him on his private plane. Also, our people had taken an aggressive stance toward you since you arrived, and we plan to compensate for what you had to endure with ten million USD.”

  A private plane? Ten million USD?

  Xiao Luo raised his eyebrows and sighed. “This is the Mei nation indeed. Big households and enormous fortunes. No wonder you can afford to be so generous,” he sneered, then he added, “Alright, looking at how sincere you guys are, I will return to my country then.”

  He was already planning to head back home, but now that he was receiving an immense sum of money, he was more than happy to accept that windfall.

  “Phew!”

  Everyone exhaled sighs of relief, and everything was in order as long as Xiao Luo left their country. As for the money, it was merely a worldly possession, and they could earn it back. That price was nothing compared to the devastation he would cause if he stayed on.

  “Then please come with us, Mr. Xiao Han. Our President is already waiting for you in his private plane,” Arnold said with a smile.

  “Why are you in such a hurry?” Xiao Luo said playfully.

  Of course, we are in a hurry! If we do not send you off, no one will have a peaceful night of sleep.

  All the top officials there had the same thought in their minds.

  Arnold looked at Xiao Luo with a patronizing smile and said, “The main reason that our President is eager to visit the Hua Nation is that he cannot wait to meet with your leader to show him his appreciation.”

  The fawning, sweet-talk from Arnold almost made Xiao Luo throw up.

  “I see. So, that is why,” Xiao Luo said calmly, cocking an eyebrow.

  Everyone in the crowd could not believe what they had just witnessed at that gate. The onlookers were all flabbergasted. The police had left earlier on, looking disgruntled and dejected. Then, these high-ranking federal government officials arrived and treated that Hua national with such high regard. What was going on there? Did they not come to seek justice for the Kennedy family?

  “Oh, my God. What kind of background does this Hua national have?”

  Everyone stared blankly and could not find the words to express the shock and confusion they were experiencing.

  Zhu Xiaofei, Ding Kai, Wang Ling, Huang Ruoran, and their teacher, Zhong Meili, all stood rooted in a stupor. No one could have imagined that things would turn out the way it did. Those high-ranking officials were so respectful toward Xiao Luo. If they had not witnessed it in person, they would have never believed what had happened there.

  “Is Brother Luo that powerful?” Zhu Xiaofei muttered with a hint of wonder in his voice.

  “I only realized now that Brother Luo is already standing at the top of the pyramid. As for us…… oh, my God! To think that I, Ding Kai, lived in the same dormitory with a person of such status. How unbelievable!” Ding Kai exclaimed in shock. He felt an inexplicable, whimsical feeling in his heart.

  Zhong Meili was in shock, and the color of her face slowly changed from a pale hue to a deeper shade of red. She had heard what Ding Kai had said, and he was right, for Xiao Luo was already at the top of his game. Even the high-ranking Mei government officials had to treat him with such courtesy. She was just a teacher, and she had no right to reprimand him as she had done earlier on.

  Before Xiao Luo left, he pointed at his friends and explicitly told Arnold, “Those Hua nationals over there are my friends. You guys better treat them well. If they make any complaint at all about the Mei nation when they return to our country, I will be back to pay you guys another visit!”Shiver!All the high-ranking officials from the federal government hurriedly turned to look at his friends. They made sure that they committed those faces to memory so that Xiao Luo would never step foot into their country again.”Mr. Xiao Han, do not worry. For as long as they are in our country, they will receive presidential treatment from us,” said the Minister of Defense, Arnold, with a stiff nod.