With the loan settled, Xia Lei could finally rest easy. The Thunder Horse Organization was also freed from the shackles of monetary burden and were ready to take things one step further.
Following that, the Sweeper underwent multiple thorough testings with returning results that proved its superiority over similar international products. In conclusion, the Thunder Horse Organization’s Sweeper was at least fifteen years ahead of the current serving state of the art infantry fighting vehicles in Europe and America!
That came as a shock to many who were skeptical, but the truth was before them.
Xia Lei went ahead to register multiple patents for Sweeper’s technology, obtaining more than a hundred different patents for it. The most impressive among them was the Thunder Dragon intelligent lathe’s core components and the various optimized design of Thunder Engine.
Proudly, Xia Lei was ready to send Sweeper over to France for the Parc des Expositions de Villepinte International Army Weapons Exhibition as soon as it cleared its remaining tests.
Although he was fully aware that the current exhibition was approaching its end, he was reluctant to wait for another two years for the next one. Sweeper’s advancement was worthy of a reveal during the world’s largest military weapon exhibition and it shall receive the praise and respect it deserved.
Needing to lay low, Xia Lei was unable to go to France so Liu Zhengnan was assigned for the task instead. With him and Qing Caiyue in charge of the Sweeper’s debut, Xia Lei was assured that it would go smoothly.
At Jingdu International Airport, the Sweeper was carefully loaded into a military transport aircraft.
Right beside the busy Y-20 military aircraft, Xia Xue held Liu Zhengnan’s hands tightly, reluctant to let go.
Her unwavering grip had rendered Liu Zhengnan in an awkward position. “Hey, don’t be like this, your brother is still nearby. He’ll surely tease us if he sees this.”
The scene didn’t go unnoticed by Xia Lei’s watchful eye. Liu Zhengnan and Xia Xue made a great pair. Xia Lei was glad that his sister had found her other half, someone she could lean on for support and solace.
“Make sure to wear more layers and keep warm in France. Try not to catch a cold, okay?” gushed Xia Xue.
Xia Lei failed to hold his laughter at that. “Xia Xue quit being so mushy! Zhengnan might be unfazed but I’m suffering from intense goosebumps now!”
His sister turned to glare at him. “Shut up! Keep talking and I’ll ignore you forever!”
Xia Lei snorted in response.
“Alright, I need to leave now,” announced Liu Zhengnan, face red from embarrassment.
“Wait.” Xia Xue lifted her chin, her dainty features illuminated by the sun. “Kiss me.”
“I…” Liu Zhengnan wanted to die. The embarrassment was too much! Xia Lei was still right beside them!
Xia Lei may be thick-skinned but this was getting too much, urging him to turn around to give the love birds some privacy.
“Are you going to kiss me or not?” whined Xia Xue. “No more kisses for you if you don’t kiss me now.”
That was a severe punishment.
Liu Zhengnan dared not hesitate another second, he pulled her closer by the neck to capture her cherry red lips.
Xia Xue hummed, melting into her lover’s embrace.
One minute passed.
The sight of them kissing was so passionate that everyone around them averted their gazes elsewhere.
“Uh… cough cough.” Xia Lei decided that he had enough. “That’s enough, are you two not done yet?”
That finally prompted the lovers to draw their lips apart, Xia Xue and Liu Zhengnan were blushing furiously.
“Brother, I’ll be taking my leave now,” announced Liu Zhengnan to Xia Lei.
The latter nodded. “Go, do your best and I’ll pick a good date for you two.”
“Brother, I’m not getting married so soon!” whined Xia Xue.
Xia Lei laughed at the display. “Hey, a good date doesn’t necessarily mean a wedding. Why are you so desperate to be wedded? I meant to arrange a day for Zhengnan’s parents to come and visit Father. Only then will we pick a date for the wedding”
“Hmph! I’m talking to you anymore!” pouted Xia Xue.
“Hahaha!” Xia Lei laughed so hard that he doubled over.
Irritated, Xia Xue came running over with her small clenched fist. Xia Lei quickly avoided her and soon, the siblings were chasing after each other. The track was filled with his boisterous laughter.
A day later, at the Parc des Expositions de Villepinte in Paris, things were starting to go underway.
Hoards of reporters, higher executives of European and American military enterprises, engineers and international customers came swarming into the Thunder Horse Organization’s showroom. No one had expected something so formidable to come from them. People were mocking Thunder Horse as they had only showcased three light weapons since the exhibition began. But things were different now. The organization had shipped over its own military vehicle right before the event came to an end. It was obviously a challenge to the other manufacturers saying “Watch out!”
The Sweeper was proudly displayed in the center of the showroom. Its almost fictional appearance and majestic aura gave it a very cool image. However, its appearance wasn’t the main attraction. Everyone marveled at its features and equipment instead! With its maximum speed at a hundred kilometers per hour plus its impressive features like the in-house designed thirty-millimeter machine gun, hellbound one-soldier cannon, heavy machine gun, reactive armor, and defense system. This vehicle was superior to anything that had ever been produced.
But a new issue had appeared for the western hemisphere. How did China, a country that was behind in many fields, manage to produce such warfare technology? Producing a vehicle was very different from producing a gun. It was infinitely more complex. Till now, China had failed to produce a single car engine, so how was the existence of Sweeper even possible?!
No one understood it and many were reluctant to accept reality.
“This is impossible,” commented a baffled Mark Amin amongst the crowd. “With my estimations, Thunder Horse Organization’s infantry fighting vehicle would’ve required a year before it was ready for its production line. Even if they made one, the overall functionality should be behind our technology by twenty years. The Sweeper is undeniably advanced! I’d even say its fifteen years ahead of our current capabilities. I won’t comment on the others but there is absolutely no way they could’ve designed the engine.”
“Could they have imported the engine from Russia?” commented a senior engineer working for Rheinmetall AG. “Perhaps from Ukraine?”
“From what I gathered, Thunder Horse Organization did, in fact, outsource some minor spare parts from Russia and Ukraine for its engine. They also bought some parts from their domestic market but the core was produced in-house.” A woman voiced from the back.
Mark Amin turned to face its source. He was greeted by the sight of a pretty face adorned with the dainty features and smooth skin of the far east but also blue eyes and chiseled structures akin to that of a caucasian.
She went by the name of Hattori Mei. Who was the current chief assistant directly under Lockheed Martin’s CEO, Madam Folsom. Lockheed Martin was the ace of America’s military industry. It had its own information network and could even access shared information from the CIA database. It only made sense for her to know more than Mark Armin.
“Miss Beryl, you’re saying that its engine was a genuine product of Thunder Horse?” Mark Armin still found the idea odd. He believed that Thunder Horse Organization was capable of producing the best gun in the world but definitely not the world’s most advanced infantry fighting vehicle.
“Mister Mark Armin. I understand that the truth is difficult to accept. But this is reality, it’s already a fact.” Hattori Mei continued, “Now that Thunder Horse Organization had entered unchartered territory, I think it's best for a collaboration to happen between Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall. I’m sure you’re clear on what needs to be done moving forward, right? “
At this very moment, Qing Caiyue made her appearance and it didn’t take long for her to be surrounded by reporters.
“Miss Qing, did Thunder Horse Organization really designed and produced this vehicle?”
“Yes, of course. I remember you. You were the one who commented that our company is only capable of producing light weapons and is unworthy of a spot here. Right now, I’m proud to say that the Sweeper is the most advanced of its kind and most definitely far superior to the European and American models.”
Women were the best at holding grudges and Qing Caiyue was not an exception. Who would have expected her to remember said reporter and even ridicule him in front of a crowd. If Xia Lei was here, he’d probably be stuck between complimenting her impressive memory or to laugh at her pettiness.
“You claim that this is the most advanced military vehicle in the world. Do you have any evidence to back that up?” questioned another reporter.
“Well, our Director Xia has made it clear. He welcomes any similar product to challenge its status,” stated Liu Zhengnan. He continued, “If you could contact any relevant companies and prompt them to challenge us, be it Rheinmetall or Lockheed Martin, we will gladly accept it.”
Heated discussions erupted across the floor.
Challenging the two biggest internationally renowned military aces straight on was Xia Lei’s wish. It was also part of his business strategy.
It didn’t matter if any of them would actually act on the challenge. Thunder Horse Organization would be bound to receive mass attention over such a daring stunt. If they decided to ignore it, the mass media would surely label them as cowards. It would be most ideal if they could agree to it, though Sweeper’s advanced technology would surely wipe them out with ease. With that, Thunder Horse’s advertisement funds could be cut down as the victory would surely become great publicized!
“Isn’t that Rheinmetall’s Chairman, Mister Mark Armin?” mentioned a reporter. The reporter quickly went forward with his mic aimed towards Mark Armin’s face. “Mister Mark Armin, what do you…”
Before he could even utter the next word, Mark Armin had turned away and left. The stubborn reporter who wanted to pursue him further was quickly halted by his bodyguards.
Meanwhile, Hattori Mei was facing the same situation.
“Miss Beryl, would Lockheed Martin respond to Thunder Horse Organization’s challenge? What are your comments on behalf of your company?” asked the reporter.
“Challenge us? That’s absolutely ridiculous coming from an unheard-of company. Thunder Horse is unworthy of our time. We’re not going to do anything about it.” That was all Hattori Mei commented before she left. Her bodyguards quickly blocked off the other reporters.
She made a phone call as soon as she exited the hall. “Father, I think you should bring your men from Mitsubishi to study Thunder Horse’s Sweeper…”