Chapter 546: Chapter 519 Upright and Selfless (Please Subscribe)
President Chief of Staff saw Lin Rui’s dark expression and hurriedly clasped his fists in explanation: “Mr. Lin, these gifts are merely common specialty products from our side, nothing particularly precious.
Before we came, we enquired about Mr. Lin’s personality and know that you, as a government official, are clean and upright, impartial, and selfless. How dare we attempt to bribe you with wealth to blind your sight? We can only prepare some of our Federation’s precious local products, to modestly express our respect for you.”
Lin Rui sneered upon hearing this, and with a wave of his sleeve, he used his True Yuan to flip open all those gift boxes from afar.
What the President Chief of Staff said made sense, but he couldn’t just take his word for it.
Some wealthy merchants and high officials who visited him in the past also spoke with seeming integrity, yet hid various things in their gifts.
Such as hiding a silver note inside books, mixing Divine Gold in rice and flour, making them hard to guard against.
...
These people are foolish, he does business with East Asia, where a trade can be completed in about ten days, and the net profit from one trade is around fifty to sixty billion—what use does he have for their bribe money?
That would only just dirty his hands, ruin his reputation, and next time he faces these people, he wouldn’t be able to stand tall.
Moreover, he just saw that outside, there was a group of reporters secretly filming, with some particularly bold ones even aiming their cameras at his face.
Lin Rui thought, isn’t this setting someone up? What instructions did Li Xianglong give to these Chief of Staffs? If he just carelessly accepts these items, wouldn’t that lead to his downfall?
After a moment, Lin Rui’s expression slightly cleared, half-believing, half-doubtful: “Is this truly your specialty product? It is indeed elegantly packaged.”
Indeed, there were no silver notes or precious items within.
Lin Rui shook his head internally, pondering how James Bradley managed to become the President Chief of Staff and that it’s fortunate he encountered him.
Anyone else would definitely feel uncomfortable. Are these Outer Heaven Demons using such things to test their officials?
He is a man of integrity, who keeps himself clean and does not accept such wealth, but you can’t just not offer it!
However, to Lin Rui’s surprise, he actually found products from his own Rui Fang Pharmaceutical Company among these gift boxes.
It was his company’s latest-launched skincare set, including essence, lotion, cream, facial mask, etc., totaling six items all beautifully packaged in an exquisite gift box called ‘Rui Fang Limit Skincare Exclusive Set.’
The Chief of Staff gave a slight smile: “Mr. Lin, I apologize for the laughter. In our place, for the convenience of sales, most goods are packaged this way. The items in these gift boxes are all popular skincare products from our side, which can whiten and protect women’s skin. Despite their delicate packaging, the most expensive set costs only 30,000 federal coins, which is about 30 taels of Magic Silver.”
Actually, the idea of the skincare product set was suggested by Li Xianglong. He said that Lin Hao himself had grand aspirations and was incorruptible; if so, perhaps take the wife’s route and start with the women around Lin Hao.
The Chief of Staff didn’t know whether this strategy would work, but still asked his subordinates to pick up several sets of popular skincare brands from the market, together as a state gift.
“Skincare products?” At this moment, Ji Xueying’s expression changed as she reached out her hand and grabbed the ‘Rui Fang Limit Skincare Exclusive Set’ in her hand.
She took out one of the essence bottles shaped like a pill bottle from the set, the ‘Rui Fang Whitening Anti-Aging Essence,’ and sniffed it, her eyes filled with surprise: “Master, there’s something interesting about these Heavenly Demon skincare products. It seems they have integrated our Tianji World’s Alchemy Techniques, as well as some of our medicines, yet they are quite different.”
Lin Rui silently praised Ji Xueying and thought that little Xue Ying had indeed made progress. Although she was usually stubborn, her mind was flexible when needed.
And old Li— not the Imperial Guard General Li Wei, but Li Xianglong, was also very adept at socializing.
The Federation delegation outwardly did not give any bribe, but in fact, all that needed to be given was already in place.
His face turned slightly stern, and he sharply reprimanded in a chill voice: “Audacious! What kind of occasion is this? How dare you act so frivolously and disrespectfully?”
The Chief of Staff was slightly pleased at the sight. Seeing Ji Xueying holding the ‘Rui Fang Ultimate Skincare Limited Set’ with reddened eyes and a look of grievance, biting her lower lip with her pearly teeth, he felt even happier.
“Why would you say that, sir? This is not an official negotiation, nor a diplomatic meeting, but a private request for advice from you. How is this considered frivolous or disrespectful? I personally appreciate such genuine emotions.”
The President’s Chief of Staff then looked up smilingly at Ji Xueying and said, “Ms. Ji has a discerning eye. The name of this product is the ‘Rui Fang Ultimate Skincare Limited Set.’ It’s very popular among our women and highly sought after recently. It’s said these six skincare items indeed incorporate the Alchemy Techniques from Sky Etreme Star. Whether it’s for skincare, whitening, or anti-aging, the effects are top-notch. If Ms. Ji is interested, she might like to try it. It is said to have miraculous effects on Martial Artists undergoing Dragon Transformation, allowing Sixth Realm Martial Cultivators to preserve their youth almost to the point of Longevity.”
In truth, the Chief of Staff didn’t know the actual effects; he was just embellishing what his female secretary had said with some bravado.
Upon hearing this, Lin Rui frowned deeply. He looked at Ji Xueying with a mix of indulgence and helplessness, then reached out to grab the remaining sets of the ‘Rui Fang Ultimate Skincare Limited Set’ and handed them all to Ji Xueying by his side: “If you like them, then keep them.”
Lin Rui’s expression was solemn as he saluted the Chief of Staff: “I’ll accept this gift with pleasure. The President’s Chief of Staff and your country’s kind intentions and respect, Lin has duly noted. However, as for the other items, I hope the Chief of Staff would take them back. Our Great Song has its own rituals and regulations, and I dare not overstep them.”
Then, without waiting for the Chief of Staff to persuade otherwise, he turned to look out of the window, curiously saying: “Those standing outside seem to be secretly filming. I’ve studied some of your technology, and your photographic equipment is quite powerful. A device the size of a fingernail chip can capture images of a large area around it.”
“My apologies,” the Chief of Staff said with a wry smile, “Our President decided to come to Great Song to negotiate, taking on considerable controversy. To avoid criticism from political opponents, the President invited reporters from several influential media agencies to accompany us and oversee—You can think of these reporters as civil Imperial Censors. If Lin sir finds it uncomfortable, I can ask them to step back.”
“There’s no need for that. What we discuss should not be anything secretive.”
Lin Rui thought it was good to have people watching, which could prevent others from suggesting he was colluding with the Heavenly Demon in secret deals.
Someone else might not have such concerns, but he himself was an Alien Walker, an internal spy, so he was extra careful.
Lin Rui also glimpsed the true intent of the Chief of Staff.
His expression turned serious as he got to the point: “May I ask what the Chief of Staff wishes to inquire about?”
The Chief of Staff noticed that upon accepting the skincare gift set, Lord Lin’s tone had become significantly smoother, no longer as cold and harsh as before.
He was secretly pleased and then with a serious expression said: “I’d like to ask what the Earth Federation must do to quell the Divine Venerable’s thunderous anger and have your country retract the ultimatum?”
Lin Rui knew that the negotiations between the two sides were beginning at this moment.
He smiled lightly: “Chief of Staff, that’s a strange question. The method for us to retract the ultimatum is already laid out within the ultimatum itself; why would you need to inquire from me?”
“That is precisely our difficulty,” the President’s Chief of Staff shook his head. “If we were to agree in full to the demands of the ultimatum, not only would our national integrity cease to exist, but our legal system would Collapse, which our citizens could never accept no matter what.
Our President personally leading the delegation here is to discuss and communicate with your country, hoping to find a win-win solution to satisfy the Divine Venerable while also answering to our own citizens.”
“I see,” Lin Rui nodded slightly. He seemingly casually picked up the teapot next to him and poured a cup of tea for the two of them.
“So, I would also like to ask the Chief of Staff, in your view, what are the core interests of Great Song? You have your untouchable bottom lines of legal system and national character, but what about our Great Song? What are our inviolable bottom lines? Also—”
Lin Rui paused, his voice taking on an added chill, “I find it hard to believe that the Chief of Staff is unaware of the Longevity Association’s base and what they’ve been doing there. I wonder, in your Heavenly Demon Federation, is it legal for civilians to conduct biomedical experiments? Can others enter your country without your consent and use your citizens for research?
Or, in your eyes, is it only your laws that are laws, your lives that are lives, whereas the laws of Great Song and the lives of its citizens are worthless? If your answer is ‘yes,’ then there is nothing for us to discuss. I will report to the Divine Venerable that your Federation is barbaric and uncivilized, a group with whom we should not communicate!”
The Chief of Staff was rendered speechless, staring fixedly at Lin Hao across from him, inwardly admiring the young prodigy who climbed to this position within just a year. These words were polite yet sharp, making him a difficult opponent—
At the same time, outside, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Cao Xi, was satisfied to retract his enhanced hearing Divine Skills.
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He was somewhat concerned about this National Guardian who was only 19 years old, so he stayed to listen to Lin Hao’s words. If the National Guardian erred, he wanted to be ready to correct it. Now he was completely relieved.
Although the National Guardian was known to be tough and conservative, merciless and ruthless towards Heavenly Demons, he was not brainless; his words were logical and dignified, leaving no room for criticism.