Huai Shi sighed, "How little confidence do you have in me?"
"What do you think?"
Ai Qing's retort left Huai Shi at a loss for words.
"So, I'm just supposed to be a decoration, right?" He shrugged, abandoning the argument. After all, with my track record, who would believe me if I claimed I didn't intend to stir up trouble?
In silence, he sat back down and continued trying to build rapport with his awkward 'Predecessor.'
For some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that Ai Qing was in a bad mood. Though her expression remained unchanged, Huai Shi, who knew her slightly better than most, acutely sensed the low pressure and the gloom hidden beneath her calm facade.
Soon, he realized the source of this gloom.
They had reached the rendezvous point.
The speedboat pulled up alongside a massive cargo ship. Workers on the bow held up lights, illuminating those below. After a moment, they waved to someone behind them, and a rope was lowered.
"Come up," someone above called out. "We've been waiting for you for a long time."
Huai Shi stood up first, then paused. He looked at the rope, then at Ai Qing, who remained seated in her wheelchair, motionless and expressionless, her gaze fixed on the person above.
It wasn't until that person's gaze began to waver and they retreated a few steps, gesturing behind them again, that a mobile ramp was slowly lowered from the side.
A grinning face appeared at the top of the ramp. "Apologies," he said to Ai Qing. "The people down below are a bit clueless, rather clumsy."
"It's fine. The world is never short of morons."
Supporting herself with her crutch, Ai Qing rose and started up the ramp, ascending slowly, step by step, onto the deck. As she passed the man with the grinning face, she tilted her head slightly and whispered in his ear, "What's lacking are brainless idiots like you."
The grin froze on the man's face for a moment. He took two steps back and shrugged. "It was just a joke. Why so serious…"
"Excuse me, make way!" Before he could finish, a voice interjected from the side. Then, something dark swept past in front of him, nearly knocking him off balance.
It was Huai Shi. He was carrying a wheelchair, swaggering up the ramp as if he were a country bumpkin visiting the city for the first time, gazing around and clucking in feigned amazement.
Ai Qing looked at the wheelchair placed before her, glanced at Huai Shi, and couldn't help but sigh, "Do you remember what I said?"
"Sorry, it's a bit fuzzy," Huai Shi shrugged.
Ai Qing said no more. She simply sat down, gesturing for him to take up his promising post as wheelchair attendant. Guided by a crew member, they entered the ship's cabin.
The cabin was surprisingly spacious, furnished with several old sofas already occupied by people, both old and young. A few of them radiated a subdued Source Fluctuation, clearly Action Officers from various places.
Compared to the earlier fellow with the ill-mannered jest, the other Inspectors were quite amiable. After exchanging greetings, everyone sat down and looked towards the head of the room.
"The detailed information has been sent to everyone's phones, and you've all likely read it by now," the middle-aged man from Jinling began bluntly. "There are about sixteen armed personnel and two Sublimators on that smuggling ship, involving fragments of the Philosopher's Stone. Our predictions may not be entirely accurate, but they generally won't be far off.
"Everyone should have reviewed the dangerous goods storage plan. Just follow it. This operation will be led by Old Xiao; the rest of you follow his command. Any objections?"
"No Fourth Stage Sublimators?" Ai Qing asked before anyone else could speak. "Only two at the Third Stage? Isn't that a bit reckless when fragments of the Philosopher's Stone are involved?"
"No need," the man with the earlier grin stated nonchalantly. "It's just one fragment. Why the excessive caution?"
"Yin Yan, an Astronomical Society operation isn't a game for you to play house," Ai Qing retorted, her gaze cold. "Engage your brain before you open your mouth."
"It's just one smuggling ship with two Sublimators. Are you telling me that warrants deploying a Fourth Stage?" Yin Yan sneered, glancing at Huai Shi. "Or are you worried your little pet might get into trouble? If you're that scared, you should just stay home and make babies."
Ai Qing didn't respond, her expression indifferent, as if she were looking at an utter fool.
"AHEM. If there's a problem, I'll assist everyone," the lean young man beside the man at the head of the room said, adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose and offering a reassuring smile.
The man presiding at the head of the room remained silent for a moment, his expression somewhat complex. Soon, he introduced to the group, "This gentleman is external support for this operation. He will take action if necessary."
"HAHA, no need to be so serious." The lean man waved his hand with a smile, then gathered the pile of papers covered in handwriting and a few peculiar-looking dice from the table in front of him.
"If possible, I'd like to be everyone's best friend," he introduced himself. "Just call me KP."