Special Forces: At the beginning, An Ran pulled him to get his certificate.

Chapter 1519 This is not a threat, this is the truth

In the South Vietnamese government reception room, the curtains were drawn and the lights were dimmed, except for the large LCD screen on the front wall emitting a cold light.

On the screen, silent images flashed by frame by frame, assaulting the vision and nerves of every South Vietnamese official and military representative sitting around the long table.

The footage begins from the perspective of a dashcam.

The winding mountain road offers monotonous scenery.

Suddenly, several tongues of fire erupted from the bushes on the hillside beside the road! Bullets rained down, striking the windshield and body of the vehicle, spiderweb-like cracks spreading instantly, the crisp sound of metal being pierced seemingly transmitted through the silent screen. The vehicle jolted violently, braked abruptly, and the camera swayed wildly.

The camera shifts to what appears to be the view from a hidden camera, positioned on the windowsill of a hotel room. Outside, the streetscape of a city in southern Vietnam appears peaceful. Suddenly, several modified motorcycles and pickup trucks rush out from both ends of the street, their riders armed with automatic weapons, unleashing a furious barrage of fire! Muzzle flashes glint off the dimly lit street, spent cartridges flying everywhere. Stray bullets strike the hotel's exterior walls and windows, the sound of shattering glass is deafening, and shards of glass scatter onto the interior carpet.

Immediately following this is a distant view that has clearly been technically processed, zoomed in, and stabilized.

The perspective seems to come from a hidden spot in the opposite building, with the main building of the hotel where Chen Jun was staying at the time in the center of the shot.

The image clearly shows a Soviet-made RPG-7 rocket launcher slung over his shoulder! Aim, fire!

"boom--!"

The explosion burst into flames on the screen, thick smoke billowed up, and debris and glass from the building scattered like fireworks.

Although the scene remained silent, the instantaneous release of destructive energy was enough to make viewers feel suffocated.

The scene didn't end there; several more clips flashed by quickly.

Finally, the image freezes on an enlarged satellite image, with several locations marked in red, accompanied by simple text descriptions and timestamps—these are the main locations where Chen Jun was attacked, as well as the approximate areas of the Abyss organization's exposed strongholds.

The video ended, the screen went dark, leaving only the pale light from a few spotlights on the ceiling, illuminating faces with varying expressions, yet all equally unsightly.

The South Vietnamese attendees, from Minister Nguyen who chaired the meeting to the military general in charge of security, and several deputy heads of relevant cabinet departments, all fell silent at this moment.

Some people subconsciously loosened their ties, as if the fabric had suddenly become too tight; others stared down at their notebooks, unable to write a single word, their fingertips turning slightly white; still others exchanged glances with their colleagues, their eyes filled with surprise, unease, and a hint of shame at being publicly exposed. A heavy, awkward atmosphere hung in the air, along with a faint, almost imperceptible panic—the other side's video footage was so detailed and so impactful, far exceeding their expectations.

Chen Jun stood to the side of the screen, his figure appearing exceptionally tall in the dim light. He didn't sit down, but simply waited quietly for a few seconds, allowing the impact of the video to fully resonate in the room.

Then he spoke. His voice was soft, without raising his tone at all, yet it was exceptionally clear due to his extreme calmness. Each word was like a cold pebble thrown into stagnant water, stirring up suppressed ripples.

"Before entering this room, I was still an active-duty general of the Yan Kingdom. I set foot on your country's soil under the guise of a semi-public friendly visit."

His gaze slowly swept across the faces on both sides of the long table.

"However, within 48 hours of arriving in your capital, from the border road to the capital hotel, I personally encountered at least three premeditated, organized armed attacks that used heavy weapons, including rocket launchers."

He paused briefly, letting the word "rocket launcher" echo in the silence.

"I would like to ask you all, when an attack occurs and the lives of high-ranking foreign officials are directly threatened, where are your country's police responsible for protecting these officials? When terrorists use heavy weapons to attack civilian facilities on the streets of the capital, does your country's military force responsible for maintaining law and order respond in a way that meets international standards? Several days after the incident, to what extent has your country's investigation progressed regarding the identity of the attackers, their motives, and the possible instigators behind them? Can you provide a convincing explanation?"

A barrage of questions, delivered in a calm tone, lashed at the hearts of the South Vietnamese officials present like whips. No one answered. Minister Nguyen's forehead was beaded with sweat. He opened his mouth, wanting to explain the complexity of the security situation, to illustrate the difficulties of the investigation, but faced with the overwhelming evidence in the video, any explanation seemed pale and powerless.

Chen Jun didn't seem to expect their answer. He leaned forward slightly, placing his hands on the smooth tabletop, a gesture that conveyed an invisible pressure.

"This is not an isolated case."

His tone shifted to a more penetrating statement.

"According to our incomplete statistics, in the past three years, the number of reported security incidents in South Vietnam targeting our citizens, investment companies, aid projects and personnel, including vicious kidnapping and extortion, intentional injury, property damage and even individual unfortunate injuries and deaths, has increased by 237 percent. Of these, less than 15 percent were ultimately resolved properly, the victims received fair compensation or the perpetrators were brought to justice."

The numbers he gave were cold and precise.

“Protecting the legitimate rights and basic safety of every overseas citizen is a core responsibility that our government cannot shirk. When our overseas citizens are repeatedly targeted by crimes in your country, and your country’s protection and judicial remedies are often absent or delayed, we can no longer be satisfied with just diplomatic notes and subsequent ‘regret’ and ‘condemnation’.”

His gaze finally settled on Minister Nguyen and the military representative who had remained silent, his eyes sharp as knives.

"Therefore, based on the current grim reality and in order to prevent potentially more serious crises in the future, I formally propose the following cooperation suggestions to your government on behalf of our side:"

He raised his voice slightly to make sure every word was heard clearly.

"To effectively address the security risks in parts of South Vietnam, ensure the safety of all foreign nationals, including our citizens, and provide a stable environment for bilateral economic and trade cooperation and personnel exchanges, we propose the establishment of a 'Yan-South Vietnam Joint Security Coordination and Emergency Response Mechanism.' Under this mechanism, intelligence sharing, emergency response coordination, joint patrol demonstrations in specific areas, and... the establishment of small-scale, clearly defined security liaison and rapid response outposts in key hubs or high-risk areas, subject to mutual agreement and full transparency."

He skillfully avoided the sensitive term "troop deployment," instead using a series of more cooperative and internationally consistent expressions such as "joint security coordination," "emergency mechanism," and "liaison outpost."

“Of course,” Chen Jun’s tone softened slightly, but carried a deeper chill, a warning that offered a choice but required the country to bear the consequences. “Whether to establish such a mechanism, whether to accept our security cooperation proposal, is up to your country. We fully respect your country’s sovereignty and independent foreign policy.”

He straightened up, his gaze sweeping across the room once more, his expression indifferent as if he were looking at a group of objects that had nothing to do with him.

"I can temporarily refrain from publicly pursuing the dangers I personally encountered during this visit, as well as the significant oversights exposed by your country's relevant departments in their security work. This video can also be kept secret from those present today."

He held up three fingers, his movement slow but firm.

"However, we urge your country's highest decision-making body to give our proposal of a 'joint security coordination mechanism' the most serious and urgent consideration."

"Three days."

"I need a clear, formal, written response within 72 hours."

After saying that, he didn't linger for a moment, nor did he even glance at anyone else. He turned around and walked steadily toward the heavy paneled wooden door of the reception room.

“General Chen! Please wait! This matter… involves too many aspects. We need the cabinet to discuss it and the parliament to hold a hearing. Three days is simply too much time…” Minister Ruan hurriedly stood up, his voice trembling with anxiety, trying to persuade him to stay or buy more time.

Chen Jun's hand was already on the doorknob. Hearing this, he paused slightly, but did not turn around.

“Seventy-two hours,” he repeated, his voice not loud, but like a hammer striking a nail, leaving no room for negotiation. “Start counting from this moment.”

"Bang."

The wooden door was pulled open and then gently closed behind him, isolating the stagnant air in the room and the sorrowful-looking Southern Yue official inside.

The corridor outside was brightly lit. Lu Da and Zhang Tie, who had been waiting nearby, saw Chen Jun come out so quickly, and his face was calm as water (which was often a sign of his extreme displeasure or determination), and immediately hurried to greet him.

"Director Chen? Are you done talking?" Lu Da lowered his voice, his eyes probing. Normally, negotiations of this level would take at least several hours, but Chen Jun came out in less than forty minutes, and judging by his demeanor…

Chen Jun didn't explain, or even look at them, but simply walked straight toward the exit, raising his hand and making a simple gesture.

"Back."

In short, it was decisive and efficient.

Lu Da and Zhang Tie immediately fell silent, exchanged a glance, and asked no more questions. They quickly followed Chen Jun, maintaining a guard formation, and accompanied him through the corridor, out of the building, and into the inconspicuous but highly bulletproof black sedan.

The car drove away from the government district and merged into the traffic. In the back seat, Chen Jun had his eyes closed, seemingly resting or perhaps deep in thought. The car was silent except for the low hum of the engine.

Back in the ordinary-looking but heavily guarded temporary safe house, Chen Jun went straight into his room and closed the door.

He barely came out throughout the evening and night. Apart from having Lu Da bring him a glass of water, his only contact with the outside world was a phone call he made to his wife Anran in China around nine o'clock at night using a secure line.

The call lasted only about ten minutes. Through the door, Lu Da and Zhang Tie could vaguely hear Chen Jun's voice, which was completely different from his cold tone during the day. It was an extremely gentle tone, even with a hint of a smile, that they had never heard before. He was talking about everyday trivial matters, such as the children's homework, the parents' medical check-up, and the weather... as if the tense and scheming meeting during the day had never happened.

After the call ended, there was no further sound in the room.

As expected, the news from South Vietnam vanished without a trace, with no further updates arriving. That night was exceptionally long and quiet for Chen Jun's safe house and, perhaps, for the brightly lit core office area of ​​the South Vietnamese government. But this quiet wasn't true tranquility; it was more like a tremendous pressure accumulating in silence, a gap in the invisible struggle between the two sides' wills, a brief and eerie respite in the eye of the storm.

The next morning, before dawn, the encrypted satellite phone Chen Jun had placed beside his pillow, used for top-level communication, began to vibrate steadily. The screen displayed the codename of Jiang Ling, Director of the National Security Bureau.

Chen Jun opened his eyes, his gaze clear and unwavering, devoid of any sleepiness. He picked up the phone and answered it.

"Chen Jun!" Jiang Ling's voice immediately came through, lacking his usual composure and filled with obvious urgency, even a hint of barely suppressed annoyance. "What exactly did you talk to them in South Vietnam yesterday?! You've stirred up a hornet's nest! International public opinion is in complete uproar!"

Chen Jun sat up, leaning against the headboard, his tone still calm: "Director Jiang, speak slowly. I merely made necessary cooperative suggestions to them regarding the protection of our citizens' safety based on facts. What happened?"

"Necessary cooperation proposals?!" Jiang Ling's voice rose slightly. "Just two hours ago, the Prime Minister of South Vietnam, during an emergency speech at a regional multilateral meeting, delivered a twenty-minute 'accusation'! He tearfully accused our country of bullying the weak, using security pretexts to carry out 'naked military threats' and 'sovereignty interference' against South Vietnam, undermining ASEAN unity and regional peace! The video of his speech has been widely reposted by major Western media outlets, accompanied by all sorts of sensational headlines!"

Jiang Ling spoke very quickly, clearly under immense pressure.

"The Western propaganda machine has been fully mobilized, accusing us of disregarding the wishes of small countries and undermining the rules-based international order! The United States, in particular, has just held an emergency press conference to strongly condemn us, declaring that the United States and its allies are seriously concerned about the developments. This is almost an open threat of force and a signal of intervention!"

Jiang Ling took a deep breath, his tone heavy: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now in the eye of the storm, holding meetings overnight to prepare a response plan. Several foreign media outlets have applied for interviews, demanding that we explain our military intentions in South Vietnam. Chen Jun, the ripples you've caused are enormous."

On the other end of the phone, Chen Jun listened quietly to Jiang Ling's anxious narration, his face showing no change in expression.

After a few seconds of silence.

Chen Jun burst out laughing after hearing this.