345 An Opportunity to Prove Oneself (2/2)

Gu Zhanguo snickered to himself, wondering how shocked these engineers would be if they knew that Bailing was only in her early twenties. Wouldn't they be so ashamed that they'd be looking for a place to bury their heads?

Of course, he was well aware why these people doubted that Xiao Luo was Mie—it was because to be challenged by one much younger to themselves was a slight to their dignity.

Each of them prided themselves as experts in their specific computing and IT technology fields, the best the country had to offer. And yet, the enigmatic Mie outdid the entire force of elite engineers during the last cyber-attack crisis. How could they accept that a man ten years younger saved the day and reduced them to mere spectators? That would be disgraceful.

So, it seems these engineers want to redeem their dignity, and that is a good thing!

Gu Zhanguo now walked up to the mic to address the assembly and said, ”Who else questions Mr. Xiao's identity as Mie? Stand up, let me see how many there are.”

One after another, the engineers hesitantly stood up, and they were mostly male engineers, aged around forty years old. If Mie was indeed a man much younger to them, it would insult each of them. And it'd a particularly painful one at that, as they were national-level IT experts, selected from all over the country through a rigorous screening process before being accepted by the NSA.

It was an honor to be in such an elite outfit, but now that their reputation was being trampled upon, they would naturally close ranks to defend it.

Gu Zhanguo smiled and said, ”Hmm, I didn't expect there to be quite this number, more than half of you here challenge Mie's identity.”

”Director Gu, we are defending our honor!”

The team leader, Zhou, lifted his chin and responded, ”Please give us a chance to prove ourselves, Director Gu.”

”A chance to prove yourselves?” Gu Zhanguo thought he had misheard the man.

”Yes.”

The team leader glanced at Xiao Luo, who had remained silent since arriving on stage, and he didn't hide the hostility in his eyes. ”And this also gives him a chance to prove that he's Mie,” the team leader said, pointing at Xiao Luo.

”Zhou Yuhang, what are you saying? Why are you jumping to conclusions when you've not even heard the man, where's your discipline?!” Dongfang Shuoyu roared.

Gu Zhanguo waved his hand and gestured for Dongfang Shuoyu to stand down. He then turned to Zhou Yuhang and said, ”Team Leader Zhou, how do you want to prove it?”

”It's straightforward, five minutes of defense building, once the five minutes is up, we commence to attack each other. If this man is Mie, then he will be able to withstand our attack. Please give us a chance to prove our point, Director Gu,” Zhou Yuhang replied.

”Please give us a chance, Director Gu!”

The others urged their director in one reverberating voice, which echoed across the hall. Although they were civilian personnel serving in the NSA, they had received systematic training and had adopted the strict military discipline of a soldier.

Gu Zhanguo looked at Xiao Luo. ”Mie, what do you think?”

”I don't mind.” Xiao Luo shrugged his shoulders.

”Okay, Team Leader Zhou, I'll give you all a chance to prove yourselves, but I must tell you that this may not turn out to be the opportunity you seek, but humiliation at your own request,” Gu Zhanguo said.

”Thank you, Director Gu, if it's proven that he is Mie, we will apologize for questioning him. But, if he is not Mie, I hope that you severely punish the NSA agents who got his identity wrong, as it is a slight to our dignity.”

Although Zhou Yuhang was responding to Gu Zhanguo, his eyes were fixed on Xiao Luo. He refused to accept that Mie could be a person more than ten years younger than him. It was like someone telling him that his high school teacher was a kid from grade school.

How could he accept that?

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