Ling Qingyu had no idea she had been misunderstood—and that, thanks to the two's overthinking, her identity had already reached a mythical level.
Inside the convoy, silence prevailed.
No one chatted, as if still unable to recover from the overwhelming display of Elena's firepower.
If not for Athena's tily assurance, they would have panicked like everyone else, scrambling to find Ling Qingyu in a state of fright.
But now, they trusted Athena's calm statent that Ling Qingyu and Xiao Yue would co out in one piece.
Well, at least vertically, like before—not horizontally.
Everyone was still imrsed in the recent event, too stunned to even notice the scenery outside.
After all, the so-called "fire support" they had witnessed had shaken their understanding of warfare.
You call this fire support? Or air support?
Heck, this was strategic-level fire support.
Perhaps their boss had a unique definition of "fire support," especially since Ling Qingyu herself was already absurdly powerful.
They had seen her 'zealots' before—especially during the hostage rescue with Tang Ziyi, where the team slipped in and out clean.
So, maybe in her dictionary, "levels" were just suggestions.
Ling Qingyu and Xiao Yue were silent too—very different from the confident deanor they'd shown during the eting.
Each silently blad Elena after receiving such a jaw-dropping surprise.
Compared to the other operators, the duo had it worse—they'd witnessed the destruction firsthand instead of watching the aftermath.
And now, they were dealing with… unstable knees.
If not for the risk of public embarrassnt, they might have hugged each other just to calm down.
They were supposed to be the strongest ones here, after all.
When the entire hill disappeared into nothingness and a localized earthquake struck, even Ling Qingyu and Xiao Yue—despite their calm appearance and strong lower-body control—nearly collapsed like the President had earlier.
Thankfully, Athena's forewarning and Ling Qingyu's own orders had lessened the impact.
Still, her trembling fingers were hidden just well enough to preserve that carefully maintained "Presidential CEO AURA."
Her pretense held strong.
In the coming days, the dical city likely wouldn't suffer nuisance events like pirates trying to rob incoming logistics.
Maybe the island's previously declining deterrence could be renewed—with Ling Qingyu's presence alone frightening off malicious eyes.
Oh right, she almost forgot to inform Carol that her nephew had been rescued.
Though the woman looked a bit older now, she still matched Ling Qingyu's type.
Curvy, tall, and slender.
If news of the terrorist attack reached Carol's ears via the dia first, Ling Qingyu would have to explain—though, honestly, comforting a beauty didn't sound like a bad chore.
Provided, of course, Xiao Yue didn't tag along like a disgusting lightbulb.
If Xiao Yue ever heard her inner complaints, a bump on her head would probably be the least of her punishnts.
Ling Qingyu sent a ssage to Carol to confirm her nephew's safety. She also asked Athena to share a more detailed—but non-classified—report, including the airport attack and its links to the man involved.
The reply was swift—full of gratitude and renewed loyalty.
Carol even promised to ensure the hospital would function better than ever.
Ling Qingyu smiled.
Rescuing the boy on a whim wasn't such a bad decision after all.
Like it or not, she would've had to deal with the terrorists once her plane landed at the airport anyway.
Either way, she'd gained an unexpected favor and the full loyalty of a subordinate she might not have interacted with much otherwise.
And in case she couldn't go personally, having soone dependable to delegate to… was a win in itself.
Not to ntion, in addition to scaring local officials from planning anything disadvantageous, Ling Qingyu truly realized the combat capabilities of her daughter—Elena.
Tang Ziyi's description now seed like an understatent based solely on Elena's basic firepower. Which conventional unit could withstand an attack like that?
Sure, logistically, Elena couldn't sustain a prolonged war, but wiping out an entire army through sheer firepower alone wasn't beyond her.
Unless the enemy dispersed and waited out Elena's mana exhaustion, her daughter was practically invincible.
Well, Ling Qingyu mused, maybe she could start walking sideways like a crab and bulldozing through all liabilities.
Of course, she didn't know she was underestimating Elena's self-sufficient productivity. The submarine could produce and supply enough ammunition to support a small campaign.
It seed she must contact Elena more often. This ship-daughter might be even more outrageous than Athena.
Oops. She must have committed a great sin in her past life to end up raising two daughters who casually toyed with global balance.
While most mothers feared their kids getting into trouble or destroying property, Ling Qingyu feared the day her children accidentally triggered world-ending events.
She sighed, imagining her hair graying before she even hit her mid-thirties. So much for golden fingers.
Alas, sotis being too invincible brought its own burdens. Ling Qingyu lanted, but Miss System didn't spare her versailles behavior.
[So, you want to reduce the monthly rewards?]
'Of course not, my dear System. Please allow to express my joy cynically,' Ling Qingyu hurriedly backpedaled.
[Hmph. As the world turns, great strength must serve deeper responsibility. Destiny made you rich so you could do sothing for the world.]
'I'll never forget your teachings,' Ling Qingyu swore and flattered her sugar mommy without hesitation.
Even if she wouldn't need Miss System's help in the future, who would ever complain about receiving more wealth?
More importantly, Ling Qingyu gradually understood the ambition and path Miss System wished her to pursue.
All those private rits she earned? They might have been a calculated deception, designed to lure her into becoming a force for good.
Miss System didn't need feedback from re mortals like herself. Ling Qingyu often wondered—why her?
Regardless of such complexities, the convoy was now heading back to the airport.
Ling Qingyu didn't feel at ease leaving her close confidantes behind, even if over a dozen Spirit Fox operators were guarding them diligently.
Logic aside, emotions weren't easily suppressed.
On the way back, there was little to see aside from the sa desolate scenery. The harsh living conditions of the people no longer evoked sympathy from her.
Her mindset had surpassed that of her forr self. Rather than drowning in negative emotions, Ling Qingyu understood her actions were paving the way for a better future in Country E.
She had done her best and had no room left for guilt. Perhaps the country would grow beyond what its people had ever imagined.
And now, she finally understood why so people viewed others as pawns on a chessboard.
Like when she had implicitly threatened that guard by exposing his spy work—she had seized the initiative and his lifeline in one stroke.
She had invested in two factions. Whichever won would bring her surplus gains. Personally, she preferred the reformists' victory.
Her investnt would be far more efficient, and her hidden influence stronger, if she worked with those aiming for change. The potential returns were incomparable.
Sure, risks like betrayal or broken promises were inevitable, but after her display of power and thods, she doubted the reformists would dare challenge her—so long as she didn't cross their bottom line.
Ling Qingyu wasn't so unscrupulous businesswoman chasing profit at the expense of people's lives or the environnt.
Those blatant capitalists were short-sighted, thinking they were saving money by cutting corners.
In truth, long-term profits vastly outweighed the gains from such destructive shortcuts.
What many failed to understand was that money ant nothing without a functioning system and healthy circulation.
If no one could afford to spend, the capitalists' wealth would beco aningless. Generation of wealth was achieved through contribution, not exploitation.
Who cared about a rich family in a village if that family did nothing? No one.
Only when a family built roads, created jobs, ran the local economy, gave donations, and grew alongside the community would the villagers be willing to serve and protect them.
Such a family would gain imnse prestige and reputation, becoming a de facto source of authority.
All nobles throughout history had begun their rise this way.
No one was born a noble.
Sotis, a show of power was necessary—to let the public, and especially those with ill intent, know who was in charge.
The proper approach was always a balanced one: a knife in one hand, and grace in the other.
But over ti, those political hands—once raised to protect—grew stained with dirt.
Eventually, they lost their original purpose and beca tyrannical, harming the very people they were ant to lead.
It was the later generations—those who bullied others by relying on inherited power—who ultimately destroyed the legacy and strength of their ancestors.
Philosophically speaking, everything is destined to end through self-destruction in one form or another, only to be seized by outsiders.
Nothing is eternal—except for nothingness itself.
Likewise, the more Country E developed through Ling Qingyu's investnt, the more she stood to gain—as long as the policymakers didn't ddle and sabotage her interests.
Of course, that scenario was nearly impossible to avoid, inevitably pushing Ling Qingyu to intervene directly.
In the end, she would have to assert her influence, attain veto power, and secure her wealth.
User Comments
0 comments from readers