dognovel Chapter 23: Is the US breaching its defenses and seeking military pressure?
Chapter 23: Is the US breaching its defenses and seeking military pressure?
United States, the Pentagon, the President's Office.
The thick bulletproof glass completely shut out the noise from outside, and the room was so quiet that you could hear the faint hiss of the central air conditioning vents.
A sense of oppressive anxiety permeated the air.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"
The slightly overweight U.S. President George slammed his fist on the hard mahogany desk, making the pens in the pen holder buzz.
His flushed face was a mask of fury, every muscle conveying his rage.
"How much time has passed? Twenty-four hours!"
"The Chinese have already boasted to the heavens at the United Nations, while here, I have absolutely no information about their so-called 'miracle cure for cancer'!"
He stared intently at the head of the intelligence center in front of him, his eyes seeming as if he wanted to devour him alive.
"I don't even know if this news is true or false! What about our intelligence network in China?"
"Are all those hundreds of millions in funding each year just going to feed the dogs?!"
The intelligence chief's forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat. He swallowed hard, his voice hoarse.
"Mr. President... none of our informants at any level have access to core information."
"The level of secrecy China has maintained this time... is the highest level ever."
He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts, and added:
"However... we have detected an anomaly. China has recently reactivated an abandoned underground base codenamed 'Dawn'."
"This base was built during the Cold War and is theoretically long abandoned."
"But recently, the energy signals and signs of human activity there... have been very active."
"What specific information?" George pressed.
"There's no specific information." The intelligence chief was almost in tears.
"The defense system there is fully activated, with physical isolation and signal jamming... Our people can't even get within five kilometers of the base's perimeter."
"We suspect...this is related to their biological project."
George's face grew increasingly grim.
"Doubt? Not even a single doubt! Not even a single word can be confirmed!"
Just then, the office door was pushed open, and a tall, broad-shouldered man walked in.
He was dressed in a sharp suit, but his steps carried the composure and strength unique to soldiers.
It was General Holman, the U.S. Secretary of Defense.
"Mr. President, there's no need to worry about such a trivial matter."
Holman's voice was loud and confident, as if it possessed a calming power.
He walked straight to his desk, ignoring the trembling intelligence chief, and gave George a relaxed smile.
George looked up, his anger still simmering.
"A trivial matter? Holman, the world's media are cheering for China, saying that China has grasped the scepter of God! You're telling me this is a trivial matter?"
"Medical breakthroughs are ultimately a blessing for all mankind, aren't they?"
Holman shrugged dismissively, his words revealing a deep-seated arrogance.
"The Chinese people dare not, and cannot, keep this technology secret. Otherwise, they would be drowned in the spittle of the whole world."
He paused, a hint of disdain creeping into the corner of his mouth.
"Just wait, they'll soon seek international cooperation or sell it at a high price. Then we can just spend some money to buy it."
"With our top-notch research team in the United States, if we get the samples and want to replicate them, is it really that difficult? Perhaps we can even do it better and at a lower cost."
Upon hearing this, the tense expressions on the faces of the staff members in the office eased slightly.
Yes, this is the script they're familiar with.
George nodded thoughtfully; Holman's words seemed to make some sense.
General Holman noticed the president's wavering. He stepped forward, his voice lower but more penetrating.
"Mr. President, please remember that in the struggle between great powers, the ultimate bargaining chip at the table is always military."
"Medicine can save lives, but aircraft carriers and nuclear weapons are what determine who deserves to sit at the top of this planet."
His words carried weight, and everyone in the office instinctively straightened their backs.
That sense of pride unique to the world's leading military power instantly dispelled the gloom from before.
"We are still number one in the world, and by a wide margin."
Holman looked around at everyone, his tone resolute.
George finally smiled, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long sigh of relief.
"You're right, Holman. The hundreds of billions of dollars taxpayers spend on the military every year are certainly not wasted."
"Of course not," Holman replied, a sharp glint in his eyes.
"Therefore, it is necessary for us to remind some countries that are getting a little too complacent."
He then changed the subject and offered a specific suggestion.
"In a few days, it will be our navy's routine military exercise."
"I suggest that the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group of the Seventh Fleet go to the waters near Taiwan Island in China... for a look around."
Upon hearing this, an aide wearing gold-rimmed glasses changed his expression slightly and couldn't help but speak up.
"Minister, isn't this a bit too conspicuous? What if it causes friction..."
This isn't just being ostentatious; it's blatant provocation!
"Friction?" Holman asked as if he had heard a joke.
He sneered, turning to stare at the aide. "So what? What can they do?"
He withdrew his gaze, looked back at the president, and his voice was filled with an undeniable domineering authority:
"We're not going to provoke them, we're going to demonstrate. This is to give them a wake-up call."
"Remind them not to think that conquering a small cancer can change the world order."
"On this planet, military strength is the only standard by which to measure the status of a great power."
"Remind them who the rule-makers are."
The president remained silent for a moment, and the atmosphere in the office became heavy again.
He looked at Holman's extremely confident face and finally, slowly nodded.
He waved his hand and said to the intelligence chief and other staff members, "You may all leave."
After everyone left, the president stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the city that symbolized imperial power.
"Hollman, I need an absolute victory to bolster public confidence."
"You will get it, Mr. President," Holman's voice sounded behind him.
"We will show them clearly that the ticket to the new era is still firmly in our hands."
However, none of them knew.
On the other side of the world.
The medical breakthrough they considered a "minor matter" was merely a trivial byproduct of a young man fighting a few monsters in another world.
Their proud carrier battle group is about to sail into an unknown sea area where the rules have been completely changed by the appearance of a "player".
The tickets from the old days have long since expired.
However, the people on the ship were completely unaware of this.