173: Let go of this idea

It was both a worry about the uncertainty of the future and a hint of doubt about the correctness of his own decisions.

However, he knew that no matter the outcome, at this moment he could only press forward bravely.

The negotiation was a complete victory, and Xu Ning's heart was filled with the joy of triumph. He thought, "Starting tomorrow, I'll be heading back home. Finally, I can say goodbye to the monotonous and boring days here and return to familiar land to enjoy a steaming hot pot and some home-style stir-fries."

During his time in this foreign land, aside from the one time he shared Sichuan cuisine with Mr. Makarov, his taste buds were almost entirely dominated by rye bread. The bland food had long made him miss the taste of his hometown.

Now, even a bowl of stinky tofu could ignite his longing for delicious food.

Although there was a slight regret in his heart that the factory matters could not be fully handed over to Security Guard Lie, the issue with those few "Qiongqi II" tanks was unresolved, and the plan for the 160 Bomber could only be shelved.

But Xu Ning understood that things had to be taken one step at a time, and the most urgent task was to successfully bring the aircraft carrier back to the organization.

He had previously sent his subordinates to explore the unexpectedly discovered, heavily guarded, and mine-laden Air Force base, but had to reluctantly abandon that idea for the time being.

Early the next morning, Xu Ning woke up early, full of energy. His eagerness to return home drove him to impatiently head to the shipyard.

Xie Biao stood palely to the side. Old Shi had driven him here after a long journey last night; although he could move, strenuous exercise was still forbidden, so no special auxiliary equipment was needed.

Soon, the group arrived in front of the shipyard gate.

Whether it was an illusion or not, the guards standing at the gate seemed to have changed, and their eyes revealed a more vigilant aura.

After a brief negotiation, they were led to the area where Mr. Skolov's office was located.

Facing the solemn guards on both sides, Xu Ning gently knocked on the door.

"Please come in." A slightly unfamiliar voice came from inside the room.

Although surprised, Xu Ning still led his companions into the room.

He saw the swivel chair behind the desk slowly turn, revealing a completely unfamiliar face: his short hair was messy, a sharp jawline was clearly defined beneath his mustache, and he was wearing a well-tailored black suit. The entire person exuded a cold aura, different from the gentle scholar temperament of the previous director.

In that instant, a smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and his gaze swept over everyone present: "May I ask who is Mr. Xu?"

Almost without any hesitation, Xu Ning stepped forward and stood before the others, saying, "That would be me. May I know where Mr. Skolov is at the moment?"

"Utopoonia couldn't have found out so quickly." He muttered to himself, his voice low enough that only he could hear it.

The other party first stroked the beard on his chin, then showed a hint of a smile: "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Alexei, the newly appointed director of the Nikolaev Shipyard."

"As for Skolov and Makarov," Alexei continued, "they have been dismissed and imprisoned for dereliction of duty."

"Therefore, I'm afraid you won't have the chance to meet Skolov."

These words struck Zhao Zhide like a bolt from the blue, making him stare at Alexei in disbelief, wondering if there was something wrong with his ears.

This change came so suddenly that even Big Guy, who was usually quick to react, was stunned at this moment.

Only Xu Ning felt his heart sink, but he did not immediately express his opinion. At this point, Alexei took out a stack of documents from the drawer and gently placed them on the desk.

Looking at the familiar agreement, Xu Ning's eyes narrowed sharply. It was the very one Mr. Skolov had personally signed yesterday.

"Regarding this agreement, I regret to say that with Skolov's downfall, it has also become invalid," Alexei explained indifferently. "Everyone, please leave."

However, Xu Ning remained standing, his gaze fixed on the other party: "Then, are you the person appointed by the Utopoonia leader?"

Alexei stroked the tip of his mustache again and smiled slightly: "You could say that."

"Guards, see them out."

The soldiers who had been waiting outside the door quickly took action after receiving the order.

Facing this situation, the faces of Xie Biao and the others became very ugly, but they still did not move, waiting for Xu Ning's instructions.

Big Guy even stepped in front of Xu Ning first, firmly preventing anyone from getting close.

This action angered a guard, who cursed and swung his rifle butt, hitting Big Guy hard in the waist, almost knocking him to the ground.

"By the way, take these waste papers with you too," Alexei said, throwing the stack of documents onto the floor, a mocking smile on his face. "Oh, that's right, Mr. Harvey asked me to convey his regards. He said that after the Hulifuka aircraft carrier handover ceremony is completed, he will personally come to talk to you."

With the desire to return to his homeland as soon as possible, Xu Ning led his companions here early, never expecting such an outcome to greet them.

As Xu Ning approached the factory exit under the guards' urging, he happened to coincide with the shift change between the night and day shift workers.

The road was crowded with people, and workers shuttled past them in twos and threes, whispering to each other about the recent changes inside the facility.

Xu Ning's hearing was sharp, and he caught fragments of several conversations. "Alas, do you know? Mr. Skolov was taken away last night."

"Yeah, they said something about dereliction of duty." But someone immediately retorted, "Don't believe that story. Skolov is an upright person. There must be something behind this."

As the conversation deepened, more details emerged. "No wonder there have been more guards these past few days. It turns out it was for a secret operation."

"Even worse, I heard that his brother, Mr. Makarov, was also arrested, and both were sent to Kiev overnight for trial. I'm afraid they will never see the light of day again."

"Are they really going to be convicted so quickly?" A voice that had been silent for a long time suddenly interjected: "I heard from my uncle that they didn't even make it to Kiev. Those people executed them directly in the suburbs."

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.

"Killed before trial? Is that true?" The person nodded in confirmation, "That's right. I heard it from the guards at the bar last night after they got drunk."

"It is said to be because they offended a big shot named Harvey, who is from a foreign power."

"Truly, the world is unpredictable. Such a kind-hearted person just disappeared like this."

"Poor Skolov didn't even get a decent funeral in the end."

Just as they were discussing, an alert guard noticed their conversation and suddenly raised his gun, pointing it at the crowd: "What are you whispering about?"

Instantly, the previously noisy environment became silent. Several workers quickly waved their hands to explain: "We didn't say anything."

Facing such a reaction, the guard became more irritable: "Now hurry up and get back to work."

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