46: Chapter 46 This is Cross-Border Trade

What came through the speaker was not the roar of a fierce ghost as everyone expected, nor was it some profound divine language, but the slightly complaining voice of a young girl, accompanied by a crisp 'crack, crack' sound.

Was she... cracking melon seeds?

In the background noise, lines from a soap opera on the television were mixed in, along with faint, extremely shrill screams from outside the door: 'Help! There's a ghost! Pei Duo, you heartless wretch... Ah!!'

The air in the command center solidified.

The touch pen in the hand of the head of the Technical Department snapped into two pieces with a 'pop'.

They were here racking their brains, even deploying national strategic-level resources for a breakthrough, only to find that the target subject was inside cracking melon seeds and watching TV?

What kind of magical realism is this?

Xu Mo's lips curved upwards almost imperceptibly, and he said calmly into his phone, 'Your Highness, it's me, Xu Mo.'

The sound of cracking melon seeds on the other end of the line stopped.

'Oh, Strategist Xu,' Pei Duo's voice instantly became cheerful. 'What's up?'

Xu Mo said respectfully, 'I'm downstairs at your residence. Beside me is Director Zhao Guobang of the Special Operations Bureau. We want to intervene in the Pei family's security work and help you clear out those... bothersome flies at the door.'

'Director Zhao?' Pei Duo paused. 'Someone from the government?'

'Yes. The nation comes with the utmost sincerity,' Xu Mo glanced at Zhao Guobang and added, 'Furthermore, I am now a specially appointed instructor for the Special Operations Bureau.'

'If it's people you brought, then it's fine.'

'Let's video call,' Xu Mo tapped to open the camera.

Pei Duo's figure appeared on the large screen. She was wearing simple loungewear, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, holding a throw pillow in her arms, looking no different from an ordinary girl next door.

But Zhao Guobang dared not show the slightest contempt.

He straightened his collar, sat up straight, and slightly inclined his head toward the camera: 'Miss Pei, I am Zhao Guobang. I apologize for disturbing you in this manner.'

'Director Zhao is too kind.'

Pei Duo put down the melon seeds in her hand, and the casualness on her face receded slightly.

In that instant, Zhao Guobang actually saw a familiar aura about her—that composure of someone who has long held a high position and controlled the overall situation.

That was the confidence Pei Fei had left her.

'Let's skip the pleasantries,' Pei Duo looked directly into the camera, her eyes clear. 'I know what you want, and I know what you fear. My brother specifically instructed me before I returned.'

Hearing this, the finger Xu Mo used to push up his glasses paused.

The main event was here.

'My brother said that the Underworld is not a bandit's den; we don't engage in forced buying or selling.' Pei Duo held up one finger and wiggled it. 'We value... equivalent exchange.'

'Equivalent exchange?' Zhao Guobang keenly seized upon the word.

'That's right.'

'My brother taught me a method called the 'Fengdu Sacrifice Art,' and I will pass it to you. You can use the sacrificial altar to perform the offering ritual.'

'Collect certain specific materials, such as aged jade, antiques, or some special rare metals. Then, use this Sacrifice Art to submit them to the Underworld as 'tributes.''

Pausing here, Pei Duo's lips curled into a sly smile:

'As a return gift, the Underworld side will send back some 'basic supplies' through this channel. For example, standardized talismans that can dispel evil, concentrated Lady Meng's Soup liquid that can soothe mental trauma, or even... some standardized weapons that have been 'consecrated.''

Boom—!!

That sentence was like a nuclear bomb exploding directly in Zhao Guobang's mind.

The best outcome he had anticipated was the Pei family accepting the nation's protection, maintaining a superficial peace between the two sides.

But he never imagined that what Pei Duo was throwing out was a complete, sustainable strategic supply chain!

What concept was this?

This meant that in an era of bizarre resurgence, where Western deities still needed bloody sacrifices to convey even a few words, the Dragon Country surprisingly possessed an 'official mall' that could directly exchange materials with deities!

This was an arms line! A line that could make the Dragon Country even more stable amidst the instability brought by the Thriller Game!

'Is what you said true?' Zhao Guobang's voice trembled as he gripped the edge of the table tightly.

'I am the Eldest Princess; my word is the rule of the Underworld,' Pei Duo slightly lifted her chin, her tone carrying a hint of arrogance. 'This is called... cross-border trade.'

'Good! A fine cross-border trade!'

Zhao Guobang slammed the table hard and abruptly stood up. The anxiety in his eyes vanished, replaced by unprecedented decisiveness and boldness.

Compared to those fickle Western gods who viewed humanity as ants, the 'business-like, pay money and ship goods' bureaucratic style of the Huaxia Underworld was simply the light of civilization!

This was the diplomacy a great nation should have!

'Miss Pei... no, Your Highness the Eldest Princess,' Zhao Guobang performed a standard military salute towards the camera, his tone extremely solemn. 'On behalf of the Special Operations Bureau, and indeed the nation, I accept this cooperation! We will list all the materials within 24 hours!'

'As a 'deposit' for this cooperation...'

Zhao Guobang turned to look at the secretary beside him and ordered sternly: 'Transmit my order! Effective immediately, raise the security level of the Pei family residence to the highest!'

'Also...'

Zhao Guobang's gaze turned cold as iron as he looked at those clowns still milling about in the surveillance footage displayed in the corner of the screen.

'Notify the action team outside. Since that channel has been opened, don't waste it.'

'Those people at the door who are attempting to assault a nationally key protected target, and even spreading rumors and inciting public opinion online...'

Zhao Guobang paused for a second, spitting out the definitive charge:

'Arrest them all for 'Endangering National Security'! Resisters will be shot on sight!'

On the other side of the camera, Xu Mo nodded slightly at the screen, pushed up his glasses, and hung up the video.

Mission complete.

...

Jiangcheng, in the old stairwell of the Pei family home.

'Ow... I'm not spinning anymore... I'm going to throw up...'

Pei Dongsheng had completely lost his previous arrogance. He leaned against the wall, vomiting bile. Those few internet celebrities were sprawled on the ground, unable to even hold their phones steady, their faces smeared with snot and tears.

Just then, a set of neat, heavy, and powerful footsteps pierced through that despair-inducing mist.

'Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!'

The mist dispersed.

A team of SWAT officers in all-black combat uniforms, heavily armed, surged into the stairwell like a black torrent of steel.

'He... help! Uncle Police! Help! There's a ghost!'

Pei Dongsheng acted as if he had seen a savior, scrambling and crawling to hug their legs: 'Quick! Arrest Pei Duo! She's raising ghosts in her house! She's trying to kill her own uncle!'