Chapter 501 Long Ao'ao Takes Action!

In the city center of a bustling metropolis in Country A.

Inside a presidential suite on the top floor of a five-star hotel known for its luxury.

Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, skyscrapers stood row upon row, and the endless stream of traffic flowed like a river; it felt as if the pulse of the entire city was within reach.

Inside the room, the soft wool carpet was deep enough to sink one's ankles into, priceless artworks were casually placed in the corners, and a faint scent of aromatherapy drifted through the air.

Professor Liu was sitting in this room.

He was dressed in a well-fitting casual outfit, sitting quietly on the sofa. On the coffee table in front of him sat a cup of black tea that had already gone cold.

He did not look at the bustling scenery outside the window, nor did he touch any of the expensive furnishings.

Ever since he was forcibly taken away from the university by those CIA agents, he had been "invited" here.

There were no cold iron chairs of an interrogation room, no blinding floodlights, and certainly no harsh torture.

Instead, there was top-tier room service and material comforts comparable to a vacation.

But Professor Liu knew clearly in his heart that all of this was just a facade.

He could not take a single step out of the door of this presidential suite.

Placing him here instead of escorting him directly back to Langley headquarters was, in itself, a clever move.

The CIA's calculations were very precise.

They knew very well that this operation had no legitimate justification; it was entirely based on a hardline order from the higher-ups.

If they brought him directly into their heavily guarded headquarters, and once the pressure from the Eastern Country became too great, their superiors might be forced by necessity to reach some sort of release agreement with the other side. Wouldn't the departments actually executing the task then become the scapegoats? At that point, all diplomatic accusations would be directed at the CIA.

But now, by placing him in this five-star hotel, their explanation was much more flexible.

They could completely claim to the outside world that they were just inviting Professor Liu to assist with an investigation and had provided him with the highest standard of courtesy.

"Look, we didn't even bring him back to the office; he's staying in a presidential suite and enjoying three-star Michelin meals every day."

Furthermore, if the situation changed, they could completely wash their hands of any responsibility.

"The people who took Professor Liu were definitely not our CIA agents. Otherwise, how could he have been brought to a hotel instead of a professional interrogation facility? This must have been the work of some unknown organization; we are victims as well."

This layout, which allowed them to advance or retreat, left them with plenty of room to maneuver.

Click.

Just then, the suite door was swiped open from the outside.

A tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed senior CIA agent walked in, wearing a professional, hypocritical smile on his face.

His name was Tom De, and he was the on-site person in charge of this operation.

"Professor Liu, are you getting used to staying here? If you need anything, please be sure to tell us." Tom De's voice was gentle, as if he were greeting a distinguished guest.

Professor Liu slowly raised his head, looked at him calmly, and said nothing.

He didn't even have the interest to respond to such hypocritical pleasantries.

Tom De did not feel awkward; he walked to the side of the sofa on his own and took a tablet computer out of the briefcase he was carrying.

He lit up the screen and handed the tablet to Professor Liu.

On the screen was the page of the Eastern Country's largest social media app.

The eye-catching headlines and the countless unsightly comments below were clearly displayed on it.

"Professor Liu, take a look at how the Netizens in your country are evaluating you."

Tom De said in a tone full of sympathy.

"The country you dedicated your life to, the compatriots you think about day and night, are rewarding you like this. Do you really still want to go back to such a place?"

Professor Liu frowned slightly and took the tablet.

His fingers slid slowly across the smooth screen.

"Traitor!"

"Turncoat! Ungrateful wretch!"

"The country raised you for so many years, and this is how you repay the motherland? Get out of the Eastern Country!"

"This kind of person deserves to be nailed to the pillar of shame in history!"

Vicious curses and indignant avatars flashed before his eyes one after another.

Tom De stood to the side, observing Professor Liu's expression with composure, waiting for the moment when the other party would have an emotional breakdown.

In his view, no one, especially an old scientist with a high sense of national honor, could remain calm under such overwhelming betrayal and slander.

However, he clearly underestimated the seemingly frail old man in front of him.

...

Although Professor Liu had spent most of his life immersed in dull formulas and data, the storms he had experienced were far greater than what this young agent could imagine.

His age was a testament to his experience; he had walked step by step through the most complex and turbulent eras of the Eastern Country. He had seen all the ways of the world—what kind of conspiracies and schemes had he not seen?

"Remote farming..."

This thought emerged in Professor Liu's mind; his eyes were clear, and his heart was as bright as fire.

"First, paint you as a traitor in public opinion, make you lose the support of everyone, and then hypocritically extend an olive branch. It's an old tactic from decades ago, and they are still using it; it's truly devoid of any novelty."

He even felt a bit amused in his heart.

This seemingly surging public opinion was nothing more than a bunch of bots.

His finger, which had been sliding across the screen, stopped, and he gently placed the tablet back on the coffee table.

Throughout the entire process, his expression did not change in the slightest; he was as calm as an ancient well.

"Finished looking?" The smile on Tom De's face stiffened; he had not expected the other party's reaction to be so indifferent.

Professor Liu picked up the cup of tea that had already gone cold, brought it to his lips, took a sip, and then slowly spoke: "Are you finished? If you are, then get out; I want to rest."

These understated words slapped Tom De hard in the face.

The series of coercive and enticing arguments he had prepared—including offering a top-tier laboratory, a generous annual salary, and even Country A citizenship—were all stuck in his throat.

The other party was impervious to everything and simply did not take his bait.

Tom De's face finally darkened, and that hypocritical smile disappeared, replaced by a cold gloom.

He realized that he was facing a tough nut to crack.

"Hmph."

He gave a cold snort, put away the tablet, and turned to leave.

Just now, they had tried to coerce and entice Professor Liu, but the other party was completely unmoved.

When he reached the door, he gripped the doorknob and suddenly stopped.

Tom De turned his head, stared coldly at the old man on the sofa, and left a threatening remark.

"Professor Liu, you had better watch yourself; our patience is limited."

Bang!

With a loud bang, the door was slammed shut.

In the hallway outside the door, Tom De's chest heaved violently, his face full of anger.

This psychological pressure attempt had failed completely, making him feel that he had lost all face.

Just as he was about to take out his phone to report the situation to his superiors, he suddenly frowned, sensing several gazes falling upon him.

He raised his head and noticed a group of people not far away in the hallway.

It was a couple with Eastern Country features, accompanied by a child who looked under ten years old, pulling a suitcase; they seemed to be travelers who had just checked into the hotel.

At this moment, the family of three was standing at the door of their room, seemingly startled by the loud door-slamming sound just now, and were staring at him wide-eyed.

Tom De scanned them with a scrutinizing gaze.

Tom De's gaze lingered for a moment on the child behind the couple.

Because this child was poking his little head out from beside his father's leg, peeking over at him in a sneaky manner.

Those big, dark, shining eyes were filled with undisguised curiosity.

And the child, whom the CIA officer saw as sneaky, was none other than Long Aoao, who was holding the transformation wand and intending to deal with the foreign devils.

At this moment, he looked at this gloomy-faced CIA officer who didn't look like a good person, then looked at the presidential suite door that had just been slammed shut, and his little brows furrowed slightly.