Chapter 330: Chapter 330: Negotiation Storms

Xu Ying was packing her luggage, preparing to end over half a month of border work.

Outside the window, a newly settled snow leopard was leisurely basking on the rock face, while herds of wild horses galloped freely across the prairie — this harmonious scene brought a satisfied smile to her face.

Suddenly, the ringing of her phone shattered the silence.

"Little Xu Station Chief, the situation has changed!" Director Yi’s voice carried urgency, "Desert North Country is sending a diplomatic mission over; they want to negotiate at the Ecological Corridor Headquarters tomorrow. They specifically requested your attendance."

Xu Ying paused her movements: "The Desert North Country’s ambassador? What do they want to discuss?"

The sound of pages turning came from the other end: "What else could it be?" Director Yi sneered, "Most likely they’re here to reclaim those relocated animals."

"Oh," Xu Ying forcefully stuffed the folded clothes into her suitcase, "They didn’t show any compassion while mistreating animals before, and now they think of wanting them back?"

She gazed at the furry creatures outside the window, now finally living peaceful lives, her eyes resolute, "They’re dreaming!"

Director Yi sighed: "Tomorrow’s negotiation won’t be easy. Recently, Desert North Country has been heavily publicizing internationally our ’theft’ of their wildlife resources, and many Western media outlets have jumped on the bandwagon."

"I understand." Xu Ying took a deep breath, "Let them come."

After hanging up, she reopened her suitcase and took out the formal attire she had kept at the bottom.

The Sand Rat Boss jumped onto her shoulder: [Are we going to fight? Do you need me to call the brothers for backup?]

Xu Ying laughed: "Tomorrow is a battle of words, not a physical fight." She gently tapped the sand rat’s little head.

As night fell, Xu Ying stood by the window, looking at the flickering lights along the border.

Tomorrow’s negotiation is destined to be a tough battle.

The next day.

In the conference room, the Desert North Country Ambassador Enhe Suren sat upright with a grave expression.

This small-framed old man wore a dark gray suit, with sharp eyes beneath his graying eyebrows, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

As the negotiation began, Suren aggressively slammed a stack of documents onto the table: "A large number of wild animals have illegally crossed from our country and are staying in your country. We demand their immediate repatriation!"

His voice was rough as sandpaper, and the interpreter hurriedly translated simultaneously.

Director Yi sat with his fingers interlocked on the table, speaking calmly: "Ambassador, these animals migrated voluntarily. The Earth is not just humanity’s, it’s also their home."

"Then drive them back!" Suren’s fingers struck the table forcefully.

"That would cause stress reactions in the animals, jeopardizing their health." Director Yi frowned.

Xu Ying timely interjected: "If you want the animals to return, you should first improve your country’s ecological environment." She opened the materials in front of her, "Desertification, poaching, habitat destruction..."

Director Yi agreed: "Your country should indeed address desertification, plant trees; we are willing to provide saplings, strategies, and expert teams for desertification management."

"That’s Desert North Country’s own business!" Suren suddenly raised his voice, his face flushing, "It’s not your place to interfere!"

Xu Ying calmly closed the materials: "So why should the animals go back to die? In such a poor environment, they and their offspring would suffer greatly."

"The little animals have minds of their own too."

—"I’ve heard a lot about a famous Beast Language Communication Master in your country, said to communicate with animals flawlessly, surely it must be this lady here."

Suren suddenly turned to Xu Ying, a glint in his eyes: "You must be the Xu Station Chief who understands ’Beast Language’?"

He sneered, "The mass animal escape from our country couldn’t have happened without your ’guidance’."

"Oh my, that’s a wrong accusation." Xu Ying innocently spread her hands, "I’m just a little station chief who loves animals. Blame your country’s poor ecological environment; the animals voted with their feet."

"Nonsense!" Suren slammed a stack of photos, "Infrared cameras captured different species cooperating to cross borders, this is definitely not something animals could think up! Someone must be advising them, and the animals only understand your command!"

Xu Ying glanced at the photos, chuckled: "This shows the animals understand cooperation and win-win better than some people."

She stood up, "Today it’s the wild horses and snow leopards leaving, tomorrow it could be the birds and beasts. Ambassador, instead of asking us to force the animals back to Desert North Country, why not think about how to win their hearts."

Suren’s face turned from red to green, his fists clenching and rattling. The atmosphere at the negotiation table instantly dropped to freezing point.

Ambassador Enhe Suren’s face darkened, and after taking a phone call, suddenly slammed the table: "Since your country insists on detaining our wildlife, Desert North Country decides to unilaterally cease crude oil exports to Dragon Country!"

This threat was delivered with a loud thud.

While Desert North Country possessed abundant oil resources, its domestic refining capacity was severely lacking, with over 90% of its crude oil transported by rail to Dragon Country’s refineries. Owing to the short transport distances and low costs, Desert North crude had always maintained a price advantage in Dragon Country’s market.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this threat, not only did the Dragon Country delegation remain unfazed, but they exchanged smiles and turned their gazes collectively towards Xu Ying who was seated in the center.

Xu Ying calmly stood up, a composed smile on her lips: "Ambassador Suren, we fully respect your country’s decision."

She opened the folder in her hand, "Coincidentally, our country recently discovered a new oil field with an estimated reserve of about fifty million barrels."

She deliberately paused, watching Suren’s face gradually freeze: "Since your country wants to keep its crude oil for internal use, we certainly understand. After all..."

Xu Ying thoughtfully added, "Resource sovereignty is indeed an internal matter of a country, not for us foreigners to meddle in."

This retort was like a perfect comeback, returning Suren’s earlier statements intact.

The room erupted with a few restrained chuckles, while Suren’s face turned from red to pale white, evidently not having anticipated Dragon Country being so well-prepared.

After hearing Xu Ying’s words, he was stiff in his seat, his sharp eyes wide open, lips trembling slightly: "This... when did this happen?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Xu Ying elegantly adjusted her attire, flashing a smile that was both humble and slightly proud: "Just in these past two weeks~"

She casually waved her hand, "We didn’t plan to announce it so soon. After all, in our vast and resource-rich Dragon Country, discovering an oil field hardly counts as big news."

Just then, Suren’s assistant hastily handed over a document.

Suren quickly scanned it, his expression growing more troubled — the report confirmed that Dragon Country had indeed discovered a new, significant oil field in the Northwest desert.

His hands began to tremble involuntarily.