Chapter 272: The USB Drive

At 5 PM in the evening, the press conference began on time.

Li Mingsheng sat properly dressed at the presiding platform, adjusting the microphone saying: "Time has come, let's officially begin. Regarding the Supervision Assembly hostage case, our Dragon City Political Assistance, garrison troops, special forces responsible for anti-terror, Police Bureau and multiple other departments with authority should face the public and all Dragon City civil servants to apologize. Due to various departments' negligence and lack of proper plans for settling laborer friends, leading to this emergency incident... this is Political Assistance's responsibility - we can't argue, we're sorry!"

After speaking, Li Mingsheng immediately stood and bowed in apology, while the Garrison Corps Commander and multiple Police Bureau leaders all stood to join in apologizing.

Below the presiding platform, various media's cameras and live broadcast equipment all lit up crackling.

After bowing and pausing for several seconds, Li Mingsheng slightly nodded, slowly sitting down and continuing into the microphone: "I need to publicly disclose to the media and public several key statistics from this incident, as well as our prepared rescue plans. Innocent civilians and civil servants who died in the Supervision Assembly building numbered up to 160... Outside Dragon City district, our second organized rescue plan eliminated over 40 bandits, captured over 10, with several ringleaders arrested..."

None of the series of statistics were falsified or inflated, because this casualty report had already spread among the public and media - lying now would instead cause public resentment and further lower Dragon City government's credibility.

After reporting the statistics, Li Mingsheng looked up at the media, eyes wide saying: "I'll emphasize again - Order No. 1's border closure was to protect our Dragon City citizens' safety and the safety of some Chinese doing business in war-torn areas. The Chi Army's extremist attack this time has broken our bottom line - in future, we will strike to the greatest extent possible against extremist armed groups active in Kasalo and Xinaluo regions, to demonstrate our determination to eliminate all terrorist elements. Good, now please reporters ask questions..."

"Mayor sir, I want to know - when you chose to enter the Supervision Assembly main building without any weapons or security personnel, using yourself as a hostage - was this following Zone One upper level orders? Did they order you to do this?" A middle-aged reporter stood asking: "Also, was the second forced rescue plan organized outside the district ordered by you? You were still being held by bandits then - didn't you consider your own safety?"

Li Mingsheng adjusted the microphone, speaking straightforwardly and truthfully: "First, my choice to enter the Supervision Assembly to exchange hostages wasn't following any orders. At that time, the Chi Army commanders specifically named me to enter, otherwise they would kill people... so I had no choice. I am the political chief - I should take responsibility at critical moments."

"Then when executing the second rescue plan, you were still in the bandits' hands - how could your safety be guaranteed with our forced attack?"

"Before I left, I had already informed the city command center - we cannot accept bandits killing people in the city and swaggeringly running back to war-torn areas. So we needed to detain them to the greatest extent possible, without considering my personal safety," Li Mingsheng replied fluently. "In fact, the city command center did exactly this. I don't blame anyone - they did very right. No matter when, we should never compromise with extremists..."

As he finished speaking, thunderous applause rang out below the presiding platform.

Li Mingsheng's words were actually very honest - he hadn't lied in the first half of the press conference, and regarding details of the second rescue plan, he couldn't speak even if he wanted to, as this involved political struggles within Dragon City.

However, Li Mingsheng as a dignified mayor willingly binding his hands to be taken hostage by bandits to exchange for captured hostages was indeed very good for gaining favor. There had been live broadcast then - the public had seen him enter with their own eyes.

So everything has two sides - Li Mingsheng's brush with death also let him firmly establish his footing after returning. In his over two years as mayor, he had always acted with constraints. The Supervision Assembly influenced him, Dragon City's various circles and factions also checked and balanced him - he could always feel his chair was unstable.

But after returning this time, his position became much more secure - many citizens had good feelings toward him.

......

In the city, at the Dock Workers Association headquarters.

After being rescued by the special forces, Jing Yan sat alone in his office for half a day. His mood was especially depressed and angry, because he knew what price he had paid to return this time.

"Knock knock!"

A knocking sound rang out.

"Come in!" Jing Yan called.

A middle-aged man walked in, saying softly: "Gu Baishun ran - not in the hospital!"

"Why run?" Jing Yan asked frowning.

"He heard from detention center people that Wei Xiangzuo was taken out by Su Tianyu, so he probably became scared," the other replied softly. "Su Tianyu holds the imperial edict and might choose to use force against force, so Gu Baishun felt uncertain and ran to hide outside the district first."

Hearing this, Jing Yan was very surprised: "I didn't even know these details - how did Gu Baishun know?"

"Not clear."

"...!" Jing Yan took up his cigarette pack, saying softly: "This kid reacts so fast! I was able to return this time thanks to him!"

......

In the Kasalo region.

Zhao Weihu lay on the hospital bed, eyes fixed outside the window, slowly taking out a USB drive with internal electronic password from his pants pocket, then telling the guard: "Get me the third book from the third shelf."

"Yes!"

Hearing this, the guard walked to the bookshelf, took down that book and gave it to Zhao Weihu.

"You go out," Zhao Weihu instructed.

The guard nodded and left as Zhao Weihu held that small USB drive, thinking for a long time before inserting it into a small groove inside the book.

......

One day later.

After sleeping once at the Anti-Terror Squad and once at the Police Bureau, Su Tianyu finally recovered from exhaustion.

The Police Bureau handled Secretary-General Lu's case completely according to Secretary Li Yuan's instructions - after just recording a statement, Su Tianyu was released.

Just out, Dog Six originally wanted to go home, but was directly picked up by Li Yuan and taken to Li Mingsheng's office.

"Uncle Li!" Su Tianyu called out bowing and nodding.

Li Mingsheng was somewhat surprised by this form of address but still smiled and nodded: "You need to run another errand."

"Fine, where to?"

"Kasalo, Chi Army base."

"Ah?! You're not joking?" Su Tianyu replied somewhat stunned.