234: press conference

On the other side, the only real danger inside the vehicle came from the two bribed attendants.

The Guard Team inside quickly finished their search and reported the situation to Bai Shan.

Bai Shan said, "This incident has taught us a lesson: don't put all your eggs in one basket. From now on, we need to think more comprehensively about everything."

The guards beside him nodded in agreement.

It was their carelessness. Fortunately, they were given sleeping pills this time. If it had been poison, they would have been wiped out.

In their eyes, their own deaths were nothing, but the deaths of Bai Shan and his group would be a significant loss for the Tianlong Republic.

Bai Shan looked at the expressions of the Guard Team and said no more.

"Alright, contact the people on the mountain to confirm the situation outside."

"Yes, sir." The Guard Team leader stood at attention and saluted.

He then had the signalman contact the people on the mountain. Although walkie-talkies had only recently been introduced for military use, the military now had dedicated signalmen. They used specific codes to prevent walkie-talkies from being intercepted and used to transmit false information, all based on suggestions from Xu Bai.

The signalman turned on the walkie-talkie, confirmed the password with the other side, and then began to report the situation here.

"Report: The danger inside the steam train has been eliminated. Two attendants have been subdued. There were no casualties. After interrogation, it was confirmed that the people who contacted them were from the Cronian Principality."

The signalman on the mountain received the message and replied.

"Alright, the danger outside has also been eliminated. Fifteen people were killed. No other suspicious personnel were seen. It is safe now. You can continue forward. We wish you a smooth journey."

"We also wish you a safe return."

..."Withdraw."

After confirming the situation, the train continued to move forward.

The snipers outside packed up their weapons, and other personnel went to examine the bodies to check for any clues.

The two groups did not meet but returned separately.

This operation was conducted in secret, and the negotiations would also be in secret. Of course, they would not let the other party off so easily... Once everything was confirmed, the Students and teachers, who had been hiding in the "turtle shell" compartments, emerged after hearing the corresponding signal.

Xu Bai placed the sleeping Xu Le on the bed, then opened the door alone to understand the situation.

The train car was no longer as dark as before. The Guard Team had taken out and lit their lamps. Previously, because they had been inside for a short time and it was night, only kerosene lamps were lit outside.

Now, everyone had just experienced danger and was still a bit unsettled, so the bright environment made them feel more at ease.

As Xu Bai walked out, he saw Wu Zijin from the next compartment also opening his door and coming out. The two then went together to gather with the Students.

Before they even reached the rear car, the chattering voices of the Students could be heard.

Everyone had now experienced danger for the second time, so they weren't overly scared. Instead, they were bragging to others about how they had activated their cardss at the first sign of trouble.

After Xu Bai arrived, he stood by and listened for a while, confirming that no Students had impulsively gone out to save people. He nodded with satisfaction.

At this moment, Bai Shan also walked over.

Seeing him, Xu Bai quickly inquired about the whole story from Bai Shan.

Actually, everyone on the train was their person; their primary defense was outside the train.

However, there was a lapse in security: some individuals who had stayed in the Luo Lan Empire for too long had been corrupted, leading them to drug the group.

Everyone boarding the train would undergo inspection, and any poisons would certainly be detected. However, the medicine they carried was for sleeping. They had falsely claimed to have insomnia, which allowed them to bring it on board.

Fortunately, these two did not dare to act, otherwise, they would have been in danger.

This incident also served as a wake-up call for everyone: the food on the train needed to be kept separate. Putting it all together made it easy to lose everything at once.

Later, because of this incident, the food in the army would also be specially separated, which saved a large number of people.

Of course, that is a story for another time.

This small incident did not cause any casualties on the Tianlong Republic's side, so everyone was not overly worried and continued to maintain a happy mood... After another journey involving a steam train, a steamboat, and then another steam train, everyone was finally about to arrive at the capital of the Tianlong Republic.

There were quite a few people meeting them at the train station this time, including Government officials and the Students' relatives and friends.

After all, these Students were away from home for such a long time for the first time, so their parents were very worried. They all inquired with the Government, and the Government, seeing their parental concern, and thinking that the Students would also want to see their families immediately upon returning, told the parents the date of their children's return.

The Students were already very happy to be back here, and seeing their parents in the distance made them even happier, so they all waved to their parents.

However, the Students were not allowed to leave directly; instead, they first underwent interviews with reporters according to official arrangements.

Reporters' equipment was now more professional. Ever since cameras appeared, reporters, like beasts smelling meat, swarmed forward, frantically buying them up.

So Xu Bai and his group were initially surrounded by a blinding array of flashlights, their eyes almost unable to open.

Fortunately, the reporters at this time were not too bold; they only took three photos as previously agreed and then stopped, not daring to continuously photograph them. Next was the press conference segment.

"May I ask, our country achieved first place in this 'Innovation Cup' Competition. Will we maintain this achievement in the next competition?"

"Achieving this result is the outcome of the combined efforts of all teachers and Students. We will also strive for first place in the next competition, but no matter what result is achieved, the participating Students and teachers bring honor to the country."

"Hello, I would like to ask if these Students are still from the Elementary Academy. Will the Higher Academy directly recruit them through special admission?"

"I believe the academic achievements of these Students have already met the standards for entering the Higher Academy. However, whether the Higher Academy will directly recruit them through special admission depends on the enrollment arrangements of each academy and the wishes of the Students."

"Then will there be Students who do not attend school and directly enter research institutes?"

"I believe that studying and entering a research institute for research are not in conflict. Many Students in Higher Academies also study while conducting research in institutes. Learning is a lifelong endeavor; even we teachers are constantly learning."

"I heard that the Students became so capable because they participated in the training camp. Will training camps continue to be organized in the future?"

"Yes, we will continue to organize training camps in the future to continuously tap into the potential of the Students and enable them to create better cardss."

...After the press conference ended, the Students all went home.