Chapter 225 involves a comprehensive 'evidence gathering' and 'assessment' of the products in question.

The air in the meeting room was somewhat stagnant.

"His destiny is too cursed..."

These words lingered in the hearts of everyone present.

Especially those insiders who had participated in the "robot dog" and "gas canisters" incidents; seeing Liu Jianguo's look of utter despair, they wanted to laugh but didn't dare, their faces turning red as they completely lost control of their expressions.

Who would have thought?

After going in a huge circle, the culprit who had turned the world upside down and shattered Curry Country's aerospace dreams was actually that toy factory director from Baishui City!

"Ahem."

The Old General sitting in the main seat coughed twice, forcibly pulling the straying atmosphere back on track.

Although he also felt this matter was absurd to the extreme, they were in a meeting right now, discussing a serious international trade dispute—even if the dispute itself was quite nonsensical.

"Since the identity of the defendant has been confirmed, we need to discuss how to respond."

The Old General tapped the table and looked toward the leader from the Ministry of Commerce.

"Old Zhou, from the perspective of law and trade rules, what's your take on this?"

The Ministry of Commerce leader, Zhou, who had been called upon, pushed up his glasses. His face wore a look of speechlessness—speechlessness toward the Curry folks.

"Chief, if we lay this out on the table, we aren't in the wrong at all."

Leader Zhou opened the folder in front of him and pointed to several clauses, saying:

"First, according to the evidence we have, although the Li Family Toy Factory shipped the goods, the relevant personnel from Curry Country, acting as the buyer, did not pay the remaining fifty percent balance."

"This constitutes a material breach of contract."

"In international trade, if the buyer breaches first, the seller even has the right to reclaim the goods and demand liquidated damages."

At this point, Leader Zhou paused, the corner of his mouth twitching uncontrollably.

"Moreover, the most critical point is that they claim in their lawsuit that the product has quality defects."

"But that simply doesn't hold water."

"Because on the product catalog sold by the Li Family Toy Factory, it clearly states 'toy sky rocket'."

"It's a firework; you hear a bang, see a light, and that's it, right?"

"Did it bang? It did."

"Did it light up? It was incredibly bright—it lit up the entire Pacific Ocean."

"Since it was both loud and bright, that means the product functioned perfectly normally and meets the definition of a 'firework'."

"As for them insisting on using fireworks as launch vehicles, that's their own improper use. What does that have to do with product quality?"

As soon as Leader Zhou said this...

A wave of suppressed low laughter echoed in the meeting room.

This was like buying a microwave, insisting on using it to smelt steel, and then blaming the manufacturer for poor quality when the microwave exploded.

It was simply the world's biggest joke.

"Therefore, my opinion is that we can respond to the lawsuit with full confidence."

Leader Zhou closed the folder and concluded:

"We can even countersue them for malicious non-payment and defamation."

Hearing this, Liu Jianguo nodded slightly, the weight in his heart halfway lifted.

As long as they were in the right, things would be easy to handle.

It seemed that although that brat Li Jiajun had caused trouble this time, he at least hadn't dug a pit for himself.

However.

Just when everyone thought this matter was going to be categorized as a common "commercial squabble" case...

An elderly man sitting on the other side of the conference table, who hadn't said much, suddenly spoke up.

"I don't understand legal matters."

The old man's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an air of authority and rigor.

He was Elder Qian, a giant in the scientific community specially invited by the General Armament Department.

Elder Qian held a few blurry photos in his hand—imagery obtained by the intelligence department regarding the wreckage of Curry's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, as well as the simulated data released by Curry Country.

"However, from a technical perspective..."

Elder Qian's eyes became exceptionally sharp, even carrying a hint of fanaticism.

"This rocket derived from a toy sky rocket is not simple at all."

As soon as these words were spoken, the meeting room instantly fell silent.

Everyone's eyes turned to Elder Qian.

Liu Jianguo's heart skipped a beat.

He heard Elder Qian point to the data in his hand and say in a serious tone:

"Look, everyone. According to the data released by Curry Country, the thrust-to-weight ratio of this 'toy' reached a staggering value."

"And..."

"There's also this..."

The Old Expert stated that based on the data, even if it was just a failed launch product, the technical level demonstrated by this "toy sky rocket" was still very significant for reference. In some design concepts, it was even more advanced than their existing solutions.

After finishing these words, Elder Qian pushed up his glasses and said in an extremely rigorous tone:

"...To truly evaluate its value and determine the root cause of Curry Country's launch failure, looking at this second-hand information is not enough."

"We must obtain a complete sample and conduct on-site, comprehensive testing."

"Only by getting the physical object can we know how many good things that boy has hidden inside!"

These words were powerful and resonant.

It was practically the final word.

What was originally just an administrative meeting to deal with an international lawsuit instantly changed flavor.

It turned into a "technical discovery" mobilization meeting.

It turned into a... perfectly justifiable "requisition" preparation meeting.

Slap!

The Old General in the main seat slammed the table, a "just as I thought" smile appearing on his face.

"Well said!"

"Elder Qian is right!"

The Old General's eyes shone brightly as he scanned the room.

"Since Curry Country is accusing us of product quality issues, then we must go and verify it!"

"We have to be responsible to our international friends!"

"We need to go to the scene and give this so-called 'sky rocket' a good, careful inspection to see if there are really any quality problems!"

"If there are no problems..."

The Old General paused, his tone carrying a hint of hidden meaning.

"Then how can such a good thing be left wandering outside? How can it be allowed to just be a firework?"

This was already a clear hint.

This was using the name of an investigation to get the good stuff back!

A justifiable cause!

And it was perfectly righteous!

"About that..."

The Old General's gaze swept around and finally, without suspense, landed accurately on Liu Jianguo, who was shrinking into his chair, wishing he could turn invisible.

"Jianguo."

The Old General called out with a smile.

Hearing this name, Liu Jianguo's whole body stiffened, and his face instantly donned a mask of pain.

The thing he feared most had happened after all.

"Chief, I..."

Liu Jianguo opened his mouth, wanting to find an excuse to decline.

Like his health wasn't good lately, or the unit was too busy, or his cat at home was having a second litter...

He really didn't want to go!

He really didn't want to see that brat Li Jiajun!

On one hand, it was because he had symptoms of PTSD regarding that boy.

Every time he saw him, nothing good happened.

He was either nearly angered to death or nearly scared to death; he was practically eating quick-acting heart-saving pills as if they were meals.

On the other hand, and more importantly...

He had a guilty conscience.

After the last "robot dog" incident, he had solemnly promised Li Jiajun that he would show the boy a clear path and think of an absolutely safe civilian product direction that would never be requisitioned.

And the result?

So much time had passed, and he hadn't even thought of a single thing.

He had even played a disappearing act to avoid Li Jiajun's questioning.

If he went now and the boy asked: "Uncle Liu, where's my clear path?"

Where would he hide his old face?

Was his lifelong reputation as Liu Jianguo going to end with the name of a "promise-breaker"?

"That... Chief, can we send someone else?"

Liu Jianguo said with a bitter face, trying to make a final struggle:

"For such a small matter, wouldn't sending a division chief be enough? I... my blood pressure has been a bit high lately."

However.

The Old General wasn't buying it at all.

"Change people?"

The Old General glared at him:

"Besides you, who else can handle that Little Rascal?"

Liu Jianguo's inner monologue: What capability do I even have?

"Besides you, who is as familiar with his factory?"

Liu Jianguo: Aren't you just exploiting my connections?

"Furthermore, this involves an international dispute and major technical discoveries. Sending a division chief? Could you rest easy?"

Liu Jianguo: I'd certainly rest easy.

Ignoring Liu Jianguo's little thoughts, the Old General waved his hand and made the final decision, giving Liu Jianguo no chance to argue:

"Alright, stop dawdling!"

"Liu Jianguo, take your orders!"

Whoosh!

Out of a soldier's instinct, Liu Jianguo subconsciously stood up straight.

"I order you to lead again and immediately form a Joint Investigation Team composed of Aerospace Experts, legal advisors, and National Security personnel!"

"Rush to Baishui City at once!"

"You have two tasks!"

"First, investigate the truth of this malicious international trade dispute and protect the legal rights of our country's enterprise!"

"Second, and most importantly, conduct comprehensive 'evidence collection' and 'evaluation' of the involved products!"

"Be sure to bring the good stuff—ahem, be sure to bring the evidence back!"

After the Old General finished, his eyes showed a look of encouragement that said, "I have high hopes for you."

The situation was stronger than the person.

A higher rank could crush a person to death.

Looking at the Old General's expression, Liu Jianguo knew he couldn't escape this time.

He felt speechless in his heart, even wanting to recite a poem on the spot to express his grief and indignation.

In the end, he could only give a weak salute.

"Yes! I guarantee the mission will be completed!"

The moment he took the order.

An extremely complex expression appeared on Liu Jianguo's face.

It was a look mixed with helplessness, despair, guilt, and deep exhaustion.

To describe it with an idiom, it was—

As if mourning his own parents.

'I have to go there again...'

'I have to see that boy again...'

'My quick-acting heart-saving pills... did I bring enough?'

Liu Jianguo touched the pill bottle in his pocket as this thought surfaced, feeling that the road ahead was pitch black.