Old Huang said with a smile, "Li girl, I know a little about Qi Lin too. I heard the weapon in her hands was given to her by them. Looks like Su Jiu wants to pull Qi Lin into his camp."
Li Qi asked in confusion, "Pull her into Blue Sword's extra-establishment personnel? What does that mean?"
Old Huang shook his head. "I mean, like Liu Chuang. Understand?"
Li Qi suddenly understood. "Then why didn't they pull me in?"
Old Huang patted Li Qi on the shoulder. "Maybe they don't think much of you yet. Or maybe one day they will, and then you'll have the chance to enter those people's inner circle."
Old Huang looked at the conflicted Li Qi and continued, "I set up an extra-establishment organization for Blue Sword. They didn't refuse, which means they approved of what I'm doing."
Li Qi looked at Old Huang uncertainly. "What exactly are you doing?"
Old Huang said with a chuckle, "Helping them find team members. Haven't you noticed that they've always followed an elite route? These hundred people could be called the elite among elites. Of course, Su Jiu might not like any of them, or he might take a liking to a few."
Li Qi understood. This extra-establishment organization existed to help Su Jiu find team members. In other words, she was part of it now too. And she had just foolishly told Su Jiu about it. How embarrassing.
Old Huang continued, "The question is, what kind of people do they want? They can't all be soldiers. Su Jiu will probably want capable people from society as well."
If Su Jiu had been there, he definitely would have said, Old man, you're far too shrewd. The people I want—maybe you'll blindly stumble upon one by sheer luck.
That afternoon, on a small street in southern Juxia City, Qi Lin checked her phone outside the last shop on the street. "This is the place."
Qi Lin put away her phone and pushed open the door to Private Room No. 6.
Through her father's connections, Li Qi had secretly arranged to meet Qi Lin. They had agreed to meet in Private Room No. 6 of this restaurant. Li Qi had arrived early and waited more than ten minutes before Qi Lin finally pushed open the door and entered.
Li Qi stood and extended her right hand. "Hello. I'm Blue Sword Extra-establishment Personnel No. 1. You can call me Li Qi."
Qi Lin looked at Li Qi curiously, reached out, and shook her hand. "Hello. I'm Qi Lin from Xiong Bing Company. May I ask why you asked me to come out?"
Li Qi scratched her head. "To invite you to join Blue Sword."
Qi Lin looked at Li Qi. "I'm already in Xiong Bing Company. How can I join another department?"
Li Qi said, "Blue Sword is an extra-establishment organization, so it won't affect anything. In other words, you can be part of Blue Sword and part of Xiong Bing Company. If Xiong Bing Company ever can't keep going, Blue Sword will welcome you."
Qi Lin understood now. This girl was here to poach her.
Qi Lin asked, "And what department would I be serving?"
Li Qi waved her hand. "Not serving any department. Blue Sword is within the establishment, but it doesn't serve any department. How should I put it? Protecting the nation. Do you understand?"
Qi Lin murmured, "Protecting the nation."
Seeing that Qi Lin was somewhat tempted, Li Qi continued, "That's right. We serve no department. Blue Sword only mobilizes when the country is in danger. Normally, you can stay wherever you like; nobody will interfere. When the country is in danger, a summons will be delivered to you. That's all."
Qi Lin thought about it. "I agree. I'll join Blue Sword."
Li Qi let out a breath and took out the Blue Book, handing it to Qi Lin.
Qi Lin accepted it and looked through its contents. There was a one-inch photograph of herself and her name, followed by a page certifying her right to carry a firearm.
Qi Lin asked, "Why is this an extra-establishment organization? Is there a core establishment too?"
Li Qi looked at Qi Lin with a hint of envy. "You'll learn about the core later. For now, you're already a member of Blue Sword. I'll take you to see our base."
Li Qi drove Qi Lin to the foot of Liangshan Mountain. At a platform in the military base, Li Qi entered a string of secret codes. A small platform rose up. Li Qi placed her eyes against it, and a small metal door opened in the mountainside behind her.
Li Qi led Qi Lin inside and boarded a fully enclosed elevator. Qi Lin then felt the elevator moving up, down, left, and right. Five minutes later, the doors opened. The first thing Qi Lin saw was a long corridor, with another alloy door at the end. Li Qi aimed her wrist at the door, and a synthesized voice sounded.
Identity confirmed: Blue Sword Major General Li Qi A red light swept across Qi Lin, and another synthesized voice sounded. Identity confirmed: Blue Sword Lieutenant Qi Lin
The alloy door opened, and Qi Lin saw people moving about everywhere. As she passed through the various departments of Liangshan Base, she saw all kinds of advanced technology—far more than what she had seen aboard the Juxia Aircraft Carrier. Some of it even seemed more advanced than the carrier's equipment.
When Qi Lin saw five thirty-meter-tall mechs, she was too stunned to speak.
Li Qi brought Qi Lin to an office, where she saw Old Huang, whom she had met several times before. Qi Lin became a little reserved.
Li Qi found a seat and sat down with Qi Lin. "Old Huang, I brought Qi Lin over."
Old Huang sipped his tea. "I can see that, Li girl."
Old Huang said to Qi Lin, "Qi Lin, don't be nervous. I'm just an old man."
Qi Lin said stiffly, "Old Huang, you're joking."
Old Huang sat down opposite Qi Lin. "Qi Lin, I had Li Qi bring you here for two reasons. First, so you could familiarize yourself with the route. Second, to tell you personally that if you're unhappy in Xiong Bing Company, come to Blue Sword. Blue Sword is a special department that even Xiong Bing Company doesn't know about. Here, you can rest easy."
Qi Lin was not blind. She could see that this base had many research projects and weapons far ahead of their time. This place could be called the foundation of Huaxia.
Only now did Qi Lin roughly understand what kind of department Blue Sword was.
Put nicely, Xiong Bing Company was Xiong Bing Company. Put bluntly, it was a gathering place for aliens.
Blue Sword was different. Blue Sword was Huaxia's foundation, a department belonging to Huaxia itself.
Thinking this over, Qi Lin felt relieved. "Then I'll have to rely on Old Huang and Li Qi to look after me in the future."
Li Qi smiled, and so did Old Huang. Only now had Qi Lin truly acknowledged Blue Sword.
Li Qi showed Qi Lin around Liangshan Base. Li Qi had planned to prepare a mech for Qi Lin as well, but Qi Lin refused, saying she was not suited to piloting one.
That night, Qi Lin returned to Xiong Bing Company, still thinking about joining Blue Sword that afternoon. At Blue Sword, Qi Lin had truly felt like she belonged.
The people there spoke pleasantly and were all talented. Especially that man named Old Wei Qi. Thinking about it, Qi Lin gradually fell asleep.
At nine the next morning, Li Qi eagerly sent Su Jiu a message. "Qi Lin's matter is settled. Have someone send the items to Liangshan Base."
Su Jiu gave the items to Zhao Yun and had him make the trip. Zhao Yun had already wanted to go out and look around for promising talent.
After Su Jiu spoke, Zhao Yun decided to head into the mountains that day to hunt some game and have a proper meat meal.
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