Howard's jawline tightened: "The communications equipment project is related to border defense communications security, so it has the highest priority."

As the border defense regiment commander, I have a responsibility to understand the basic progress of the project to ensure that the requirements are met.

I entered the lab because I received a report that someone was deliberately making things difficult for the project leader, Comrade Mingzhao, and was being uncooperative, which was affecting the research and development progress!

The term "liaison person" was a concept temporarily proposed by Comrade Mingzhao based on the project's confidentiality requirements. I believe it is within the rules and falls under the authority of the project leader.

His answer was clear and logical, delivered in a cold and hard tone, carrying the iron-blooded aura of someone who had come from the battlefield.

"Is this deliberate obstruction? Passive cooperation? Where's the evidence?" the investigating officer pressed.

"Discarded and faulty equipment being used as experimental instruments, key components being maliciously marked as 'out of stock,' core laboratory director Liu Wenjun publicly questioning the project leader's authority, and technical backbone Professor Chen Songnian's ambiguous attitude... These are all facts that Dean Zhang Mingyuan and some members of the project team can attest to!" Huo Hua's voice was resolute.

At this moment, the door was pushed open, and Brigade Commander Wang, Huo Hua's direct superior, walked in. His face was solemn but protective: "Comrades, Comrade Huo Hua is a soldier I personally trained! I guarantee his party principles and loyalty to the country with my life!"

His involvement in the project may have been ill-considered, but his motives were definitely to ensure the project's smooth progress and to safeguard border communications security!

If he really had any ulterior motives, would he push his wife into such a dangerous situation?

Brigade Commander Wang's words carried significant weight. The investigating officers exchanged a glance and noted down the key points.

On Howard's side, although the conversation was stern, thanks to Brigade Commander Wang's protection and Howard's own excellent performance, coupled with the fact that the "adopted daughter of a spy" identity discovered by Mingzhao was not directly related to him, he was eventually allowed to leave the interview room after a full day of rigorous interrogation.

However, they are temporarily prohibited from contacting the communication device project and are required to be available for further inquiries at any time.

---

In another, even more heavily guarded interrogation room in the military region.

Mingzhao sat quietly.

No matter how harshly the investigators questioned her, how they subtly inquired about the espionage identities of her "adoptive parents" Huang Weiguo and Li Hongmei, or how they questioned her strange abilities and the source of her knowledge, she always only said one thing: "I can't remember."

His clear eyes were open and calm, without any evasion, yet without any emotional fluctuation.

"Can't remember?" The presiding judge slammed his hand on the table. "Huang Weiguo and Li Hongmei have been lying low for years, using their adopted identities to gather intelligence! You are their only adopted daughter, and you've been with them day and night! You say you can't remember? Comrade Mingzhao, your background is a serious stain! This concerns national security!"

Mingzhao remained silent. Her silence was like an invisible wall.

The review has reached a stalemate.

Mingzhao's tainted background (being an adopted daughter) is an undeniable fact that cannot be erased. However, her demonstrated research capabilities are undeniable; her approach to improving the No. 01 communicator is clear and effective, and the methods she employs after independently taking charge of a project are truly astonishing.

Outside the interrogation room, Zhang Mingyuan was frantic, his hair turning gray with worry. He pounded the table and swore oaths to Minister Wang Zhenshan and the other interrogation officials:

"A stain? A stain my ass! Just because Huang and Li are spies doesn't prove Mingzhao is one too! She personally sent them in! That's called putting righteousness before family!"

If she were a spy, would she have sent her adoptive parents to the National Security Bureau? Would she have come up with such an advanced communication device? Would she have been thinking about developing an airship?

Look at this! Look at what she's done these past few days at the institute! She used a pile of junk! Junk! to power up a broken oscilloscope!

They pulled out parts that were impossible to find from the scrap heap! And now you're locking her up for interrogation? Are you preventing a promising young researcher from conducting scientific work, making us a laughingstock for the enemy?!

You're helping the enemy!

At the same time, several earnest letters bearing bright red official seals were urgently delivered to the desks of the military region leaders.

A certificate from the Party Committee of Hongxing Machinery Factory: Comrade Mingzhao worked diligently and made progress in his thinking during his time at the factory, and has no bad records.

Zhang Mingyuan, representing the Party Committee of the Institute, wrote a letter strongly praising Mingzhao's abilities, contributions, and indispensability to the project, and guaranteeing his position with his Party spirit.

The joint letter from Liu Wenjun and Jiang Feng acknowledged that they had underestimated Comrade Mingzhao's abilities, but had no doubt about his performance and patriotic stance during his time at the research institute. They earnestly requested the organization to trust him and allow him to redeem himself through meritorious service.

There was even a vague but weighty internal letter from a certain department of the National Security Bureau, confirming that Mingzhao provided "key clues" in cracking the Huang-Li spy case, and that his identity was sensitive but controllable.

Under immense pressure and with the challenge of demonstrating real capabilities, the review panel ultimately made a difficult compromise:

There are significant doubts surrounding Comrade Mingzhao's background, and he needs to be closely monitored.

However, given his exceptional research abilities and the extreme importance of the current project, he is permitted to return to the institute to continue leading the communication device development project under absolute confidentiality and close monitoring. All project materials and drawings are strictly sealed and managed, and access requires approval.

At the same time, two full-time supervisors (one male and one female, both military personnel) were assigned to monitor Mingzhao 24 hours a day, including his work, life and contact with the outside world.

If the project fails, or if any suspicious behavior is discovered in Mingzhao, it will be terminated immediately and dealt with severely!

---

The night was as dark as ink.

Howard drove his military jeep at breakneck speed toward the research institute.

He rushed over as soon as he was released, and the unease he felt was amplified when he saw the guards under martial law at the entrance of the research institute and the oppressive atmosphere inside.

"Where's Mingzhao?" He grabbed a passing researcher, his voice low and frightening.

"I was... I was taken away by the security department! All afternoon!" The researcher stammered, frightened by the man's iron-like hands and terrifying face.

Howard's heart sank to the bottom! He took out his communicator and called Minglang.

"Minglang! Mingzhao has been taken away! Military Region Security Department!"

On the other end of the communicator, a bright voice exploded, filled with boundless rage and ruthless determination: "What?! Damn it! I know! Hua Zi, don't panic! Even if it means causing a huge uproar, I'll get my sister out of here safe and sound! Wait for my news!"

Howard held the microphone, listening to the busy tone coming from it. Standing in the cold duty room, he felt a deep sense of powerlessness for the first time.

He promised to protect her, but when the real storm came, he was left out.

Minglang made a phone call to the other end.

The old man had just finished dinner at that time.

He was in a good mood when he heard that his granddaughter was doing very well and was even leading a research project.

"Dad, Minglang called you."

"Oh, so fast? You were just saying yesterday that you were waiting for Mingzhao to make me a communicator, why are you calling again today?"

Grandpa Ming answered the phone: "You kid, why are you calling me so often? By the way, your mother just sent a package to Zhao Zhao today, remember to pick it up in a couple of days."

"Grandpa, something has happened to Zhaozhao."