Chapter 287 The Inescapable Security Circle and the "Slippery Fish"

liu family.

Liu Jianguo hummed a nameless tune and walked into his home with light steps. After telling his wife and children the good news, the atmosphere in the whole house instantly boiled over.

"Yay! Long live Dad!"

The little daughter cheered and jumped directly onto the sofa.

"You old ghost, at least you still have a conscience."

Although his wife scolded him, the smile on her face couldn't be hidden. She turned around and started rummaging through boxes and cabinets to find the floral dress she had bought a long time ago but never had the chance to wear.

Looking at this heartwarming scene, Liu Jianguo felt that the suffering he had endured during this period, and the gray hairs scared out of him by Li Jiajun, were all worth it.

"Pack up! Pack up!"

"We leave tomorrow morning!"

Liu Jianguo waved his hand with the heroic spirit of a leader.

The family began their excited and busy preparations.

You must know, for Liu Jianguo, this was not just an ordinary trip.

This was a thorough, complete relaxation.

As a leader of his level, especially one in the military-industrial system who held a large amount of the country's core secrets, wanting to go abroad was harder than ascending to heaven.

For ordinary people, going abroad meant buying a plane ticket, grabbing a passport, and leaving; it was a truly spontaneous trip.

But for Liu Jianguo, it was a long, tedious, and even somewhat oppressive "political review" long march.

For this mere seven-day vacation, he had submitted his report three months in advance.

The application report for traveling abroad (leaving the country) for private reasons was reported level by level from his unit.

Every level of leadership had to sign it after strict review.

Not only that.

Relevant security departments had to conduct a comprehensive background check on him and his accompanying family members to ensure there was no risk of being turned or infiltrated.

Just regarding the confidentiality regulations, he had been pulled in for talks no less than five times.

Each time, he had to sign a thick stack of commitment letters.

Promising not to carry any classified documents.

Promising not to carry any classified electronic equipment.

Promising not to have contact with any sensitive personnel while abroad.

Even his mobile phone couldn't be his usual one; it had to be replaced with a specially processed "blank" phone with no work materials.

"Phew..."

Liu Jianguo sighed in his heart while stuffing shorts and sunscreen into his suitcase.

"It's not easy."

"For these few days of peace and quiet, is it easy for me?"

Furthermore.

For safety reasons, his itinerary was also extremely strictly restricted.

Countries that had tense relations with the Eastern Country or rampant intelligence activities were out of the question and were directly blacklisted.

The one approved this time was a diplomatic country with excellent relations with the Eastern Country.

The scenery there was beautiful, the political situation was stable, and most importantly—it was safe.

And the stay was strictly capped at seven days.

Not even an hour more.

Even so, the organization was still worried.

While he was packing, he knew very well that during his trip abroad, a team codenamed "Escort Support Group" would accompany him the whole way.

It sounded nice to call it "support."

To put it bluntly, it was close-range surveillance and protection.

These Special Agents would disguise themselves as ordinary tourists or fellow travelers in the same tour group, appearing in some corner within his line of sight at all times.

They had to prevent foreign hostile forces from kidnapping or assassinating Liu Jianguo, and also prevent Liu Jianguo himself from making mistakes.

This was a necessary measure and also a form of protection.

Liu Jianguo knew this clearly and understood it.

After all, the things in his head were priceless treasures.

"As long as you don't disturb my fishing, you can follow if you want."

Liu Jianguo had a good attitude.

After several rounds of inspections, on this day, Liu Jianguo's application to go abroad was finally approved, and the red-headed document was officially issued.

Just when the family had finished packing.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The door of the house was knocked.

Liu Jianguo went to open the door.

Standing at the door was a young man in plain clothes, but with a straight back and sharp eyes.

This was Security Officer Xiao Sun from the unit's confidentiality department.

He was also the staff member responsible for the final confirmation before Liu Jianguo's departure.

"Director Liu, sorry to disturb you."

Xiao Sun saluted, then walked into the room, his eyes quickly and professionally scanning the luggage piled up in the living room.

"Xiao Sun, come, sit."

Liu Jianguo greeted him enthusiastically. Although the other party was there to check him, he was not unhappy.

"Director Liu, I won't sit."

Xiao Sun maintained professional seriousness, took out the final form from his briefcase, and handed it to Liu Jianguo.

"According to regulations, before you depart, I need to conduct a final physical check and confidentiality reminder with you."

"Among all the luggage items you are carrying this time, do they include any electronic equipment with USB interfaces, Bluetooth transmission functions, or storage capabilities, other than the reported blank phone?"

Liu Jianguo shook his head, his tone firm: "No, I've checked three times, I didn't even bring a USB drive."

"Have you brought any paper work documents, drawings, or notebooks that might involve unit information?"

"Absolutely not." Liu Jianguo pointed to the suitcase, "It's all clothes and daily necessities. If you don't believe me, you can rummage through it."

Xiao Sun certainly wouldn't really rummage through the Director's underwear. He nodded and continued to ask:

"Then, have you brought any prohibited items that are under control?"

... Hearing this question.

Liu Jianguo subconsciously looked at the exquisite black long rod case standing in the corner.

That was the super Fishing Rod sent to him by Wang Dachui.

"Well, this..."

Liu Jianguo smiled and pointed at the rod case, saying:

"There are definitely no prohibited products."

"But I did bring a Fishing Rod, planning to go to the seaside to cast a few times."

"This thing is pure carbon fiber, it doesn't have electricity, and it doesn't have a chip, so it shouldn't be considered a violation, right?"

Xiao Sun looked at the rod case following his finger.

It looked high-end, but it was just fishing gear.

In his professional understanding, prohibited products usually referred to classified carriers, weapons, or precious cultural relics.

A Fishing Rod?

What could be the problem with that?

Even if it was a high-tech Fishing Rod, it was just for fishing.

It couldn't be that this Fishing Rod contained state secrets, could it?

"A Fishing Rod is a personal entertainment item. As long as it meets airline check-in regulations, it does not fall under the category of prohibited items."

Xiao Sun nodded and checked "No Abnormalities" on the form.

"Alright, Director Liu, since you have confirmed it, I won't disturb you anymore."

"I wish you a pleasant journey."

Xiao Sun put away the form, saluted again, and then turned to leave.

Watching Xiao Sun's departing back, Liu Jianguo was speechless.

"These security people are just too serious."

"I'm such a big leader, could I knowingly break the law?"

He closed the door, and the last bit of worry in his heart was dispelled.

Since the professional security officer said there was no problem, then there must be no problem.

This Fishing Rod was innocent!

It was safe!

It was a purely civilian product!

Liu Jianguo happily picked up the rod case and placed it on top of his suitcase.

However.

What he didn't know was.

Just at the moment he closed the door.

In the hallway.

Xiao Sun didn't go downstairs immediately, but said in a low voice into his headset:

"Target confirmed, pre-departure check complete, no abnormalities."

"All groups pay attention, the target will depart tomorrow morning."

Following his order.

In the garden downstairs of the residential complex, several old men playing chess.

At the entrance of the residential complex, the vendor selling roasted sweet potatoes.

And in an inconspicuous commercial vehicle parked on the side of the road.

Several pairs of eyes lit up at the same time.

"Group one received."

"Group two received."

"Peripheral security is in place."

An invisible, tight security net that even a fly couldn't fly out of had already been quietly spread, tightly protecting (or rather, trapping) the liu family in the middle.

This should have been the safest security measure in the world.

Any external threat, any internal leakage, could not escape the eyes of these elite agents.

However.

Whether it was the experienced Liu Jianguo, the professional and rigorous Xiao Sun, or those heavily armed agents outside.

They all made a fatal mistake.

They guarded against electronic equipment, guarded against paper documents, and guarded against suspicious personnel.

But they uniquely missed that "black demon" which looked harmless to humans and animals and was lying quietly in Liu Jianguo's suitcase.

That product which assembled a series of heaven-defying black technologies such as spider-web bionic spiral weaving, antelope-hanging-horn crystal lattice, and raptor hollow bones.

It was not an ordinary Fishing Rod.