Lu Mingyu shook his head, rejecting the proposal.
"There's no time," he said in a deep voice.
"The maiden public test flight of the J-35A is not just a technical verification; it's also a display of national power."
"Relevant news and announcements were already released through various channels half a month ago."
"The eyes of the whole world are on us."
"Temporarily changing the location or postponing the test at this time would send a signal to the outside world that we are afraid, that we are backing down."
"This kind of blow to our national image and ethnic self-confidence is more serious than losing a prototype."
"Therefore, the test location cannot be changed, and the test time will not change."
Lu Mingyu's tone was resolute and beyond doubt.
"The only thing we can do is to set up a dragnet here, in Diannan."
"We will chop up everyone who dares to extend their claws!"
His gaze turned to Wu Tianlong.
"Tianlong, all the information on these fourteen bounty missions, including the accepting organizations' information, known members, activity range, usual methods, and so on."
"Compile it all into a top-level encrypted file and send it to me immediately."
"Yes, Captain!" Wu Tianlong immediately began to operate.
Lu Mingyu stood up, walked to the window, and took out his encrypted satellite phone.
"I need to make a call home."
The call was quickly connected, and a steady, authoritative voice came from the other end.
"Mingyu, what is it?"
"Grandpa," Lu Mingyu's tone carried the unique respect of a soldier.
"I need to report something urgent to you."
On the other end of the phone was General Lu Wei, the supreme Commander of the Air Force First Military Region of Xia Nation.
Lu Wei was reviewing documents in his office at the time, and upon hearing his grandson's unusually serious tone, he put down his pen.
"Speak."
"We have detected at least fourteen high-value bounty missions targeting our J-35A prototype on global dark web platforms."
Lu Mingyu reported the situation concisely.
"The mission objectives include stealing core technology, destroying the prototype, and even hijacking the entire aircraft intact."
"Currently, these fourteen missions have been accepted by over thirty different mercenary and criminal organizations worldwide."
"Among them, the latest mission publisher is the 'Viper' organization, based in Mandalay, Myanmar."
"They are not only offering a bounty for snatching technology but also an additional bounty for capturing our security personnel alive."
"Their target is directly our special forces."
Lu Wei's brows furrowed tightly, and his fingers unconsciously tapped on the desktop.
"'Viper'... I remember them; they were crippled by you a few years ago. I didn't expect them to resurface now."
"Yes, and according to intelligence, they have new financial backing and are coming on strong."
Lu Mingyu continued:
"Grandpa, the test flight location in Diannan is too close to their lair; the risk level is extremely high."
"I suggest either immediately canceling this test flight or significantly raising the security level and granting us greater operational authority."
"If necessary, our Megakaryocyte Special Operations Group can carry out preemptive strikes against some high-threat targets."
Lu Wei was silent for a moment.
He fully understood the weight of his grandson's words.
"I understand the situation."
Lu Wei's voice revealed no emotion.
"I will immediately report the situation you've relayed to the Supreme Command, and they will make the final decision."
"Until new orders are received, you should make all preparations according to the original plan."
"Yes!"
"Grandpa, if the Command decides to continue the test flight, I request that our Megakaryocyte Special Operations Group be made the core force for this operation," Lu Mingyu added.
"We have the most experience dealing with 'Viper'."
"I will consider it," Lu Wei said before hanging up the phone.
Silence filled the office.
Lu Wei leaned back in his chair, gazing out the window, his eyes deep.
An assistant wearing gold-rimmed glasses gently knocked and entered, replacing his tea with a fresh hot cup.
"Commander, was that Captain Mingyu on the phone?" the assistant asked carefully.
Lu Wei nodded, not concealing anything.
"There's trouble on the dark web; a bunch of fearless flies have set their sights on our new treasure."
Upon hearing this, the assistant's expression also became solemn.
He pondered for a moment, then suggested in a low voice:
"Commander, since the risk is so high, shouldn't we consider... suspending the test flight?"
"After all, there are only two prototypes."
"Each one is incredibly precious; if anything goes wrong, the loss would be too great."
"Suspend?" Lu Wei glanced at him and shook his head.
"Little Wang, you can't just look at things on the surface."
"You know better than I how much attention this test flight is receiving, both domestically and internationally."
"How much publicity we've done beforehand, how enthusiastic the public's anticipation is."
"You've seen the height to which national pride has been elevated."
"If we suspend it because of a bunch of rats hiding in the sewers, how will others see us? How will the public think?"
"They will think our military is incompetent, unable to even protect its own national treasure."
"This is not just a matter of face; it's national prestige, military morale, public opinion, and a bottom line that absolutely cannot be conceded."
Lu Wei's tone became firm and powerful.
"If the plane is lost, it can be rebuilt; if the technology is leaked, we can upgrade it again."
"But once a nation's self-confidence and backbone are broken, it will be difficult to stand tall again."
The assistant lowered his head, fine sweat beading on his forehead.
"Yes, Commander, it was my oversight."
Lu Wei said nothing more.
He simply turned his gaze once again to the country on the map that was tightly connected to Xia Nation's southwestern border.
Myanmar, Mandalay region.
This is a world-renowned city of sin, and one of the most rampant distribution centers for all kinds of illegal transactions globally.
Weapons, drugs, human trafficking, and even prohibited biological technologies.
As long as one can afford the price, almost anything can be bought here.
And dominating this chaotic land was precisely the man named "Viper" and the organization he founded with the same name.
Three years ago, it was this organization that crossed the border and kidnapped eight children of wealthy Xia Nation businessmen who were traveling in the border region, attempting to extort a huge ransom.
That time, the fledgling Megakaryocyte Special Operations Group received orders.
They launched a long-distance raid, safely rescuing all the hostages with lightning speed, and dealing the "Viper" organization its first heavy blow.
That operation also initiated the years-long bloody entanglement between the Megakaryocyte Special Operations Group and "Viper."
After that, the two sides successively erupted in four more large-scale armed conflicts.
Each time, the "Viper" organization was severely weakened, its core members killed or wounded, and its sphere of influence repeatedly shrunk, almost to the point of disbanding.
