133: Chapter 133 Western Media Ridicule: China is Writing Science Fiction

On the other side of the ocean, it was prime time.

At the set of "Tonight's Laughs," the highest-rated talk show in the United States, the host Jack was slapping the table exaggeratedly, laughing until he was doubled over.

On the big screen behind him, the concept art of the luan niao starship was being displayed.

"My God! Everyone, look at this!"

Jack wiped the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes and teased the camera:

"What is this? The people of the Dragon Country say this is their latest national defense plan? I think this looks more like a rejected script draft from Hollywood!"

"A five-hundred-meter-long aerospace carrier? And it can fly out of the atmosphere?"

He made an exaggerated "explosion" gesture:

"I'm starting to suspect that a Marvel screenwriter jumped ship to the Dragon Country's Ministry of National Defense! Even Stark Industries wouldn't dare to brag like this!"

The audience below burst into laughter, and applause thundered.

This was simply the biggest joke of the century.

A country that still has to import aircraft carrier arresting gear suddenly announces it wants to build a Star Destroyer? This is as absurd as a child playing in the mud suddenly saying they are going to the moon tomorrow.

It wasn't just talk shows.

On serious news channels like CNN and BBC, various military experts and commentators also initiated an all-out "dimension-reduction mockery" mode.

"This is a clumsy strategic bluff."

A gray-haired retired Air Force general sat in the studio, analyzing with a look of certainty:

"The people of the Dragon Country are clever. They are imitating the 'Star Wars Program' from back in the day."

"They want to use this kind of illusory science fiction concept to induce us into an arms race, thereby dragging down our economy."

The general shook his head contemptuously, pointing at the data on the screen:

"Anti-gravity Engine? Particle main cannons? These technologies are still a blank slate in theoretical physics!"

"I can responsibly tell everyone that with Earth's current level of technology, even in another fifty years, this thing won't be able to fly."

"If they really built it..."

The general shrugged his shoulders and flashed a typical American humorous smile at the camera:

"Then I'm willing to eat the table in this studio. Raw."

The whole world was immersed in a joyful atmosphere called "watching a fool perform."

On Twitter, the hashtag "#DragonSciFi" was trending. Netizens were crazily editing images, Photoshopping the luan niao starship into flying saucers, donuts, or even a giant hot dog.

No one believed it was real.

Because it exceeded common sense and went beyond the human understanding of the word "technology."

...

Tianhai City, West Suburb Base.

In the underground command center, there was a deathly silence.

On the giant holographic screen, the mockery from Western media was being broadcast in real-time. The general's bold declaration about "eating the table" echoed in the empty hall.

Jiang Chen stood in front of the console, his hands supporting him on the desktop, with no expression on his face.

There was neither anger nor rebuttal.

He was like a cold bystander, quietly watching this group of clowns perform strenuously on stage.

"Boss..."

Zhao Gang stood to the side, his fists clenched and cracking, his face livid. "These foreign devils are too arrogant! Do you want me to..."

"Want you to do what? Go online and curse at them?"

Jiang Chen turned off the sound, and the world suddenly became quiet.

He turned around and looked at the group of engineers behind him, who were equally frustrated but whose eyes were burning with fire.

Academician Chen Shuyin, Zhong Guodong, and the more than one hundred researchers who had been working day and night and were nearly exhausted to the point of collapse.

"Cursing back is the behavior of the weak."

Jiang Chen's voice was very soft, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears:

"They laugh because they are ignorant."

"They think this is science fiction because their imaginations have been locked down by Earth's gravity."

"And we..."

Jiang Chen walked to the red [Master Start Button] covered by a protective shield.

He placed his hand gently on it, his palm feeling the cool touch.

"We are here to help them... break through the ceiling."

"Everyone."

Jiang Chen's gaze swept across the room, his eyes gradually becoming as sharp as knives:

"Are you ready?"

"Let these country bumpkins who have never seen the world see what is called—"

"Dimensional-reduction strike."

"Ready!"

Academician Chen Shuyin pushed up her glasses, her voice trembling yet firm, "Anti-gravity Engine preheating complete! Fusion reactor output power 100%! Energy shield loaded!"

"Underground anchoring locks released!"

"All ship systems... self-check successful!"

"Good."

Jiang Chen took a deep breath.

At this moment, he was no longer that frivolous rich second generation, nor was he that swindling merchant who talked nonsense.

He was the king of this base.

He was the master of this giant ship from the sea of stars.

"Then..."

"Launch!"

Following his command, his palm slammed heavily onto the red button.

"Rumble—!!!"

It was not the sound of an explosion.

But a dull, extreme vibration coming from deep within the Earth's crust.

The desolate mountain in the Western Suburbs, which was originally unremarkable and even overgrown with weeds, suddenly began to tremble violently.

It was as if an ancient giant beast was turning over inside the mountain.

Rocks rolled down, and trees toppled over.

Immediately after.

Amidst the terrified screams of countless birds.

The top of that mountain actually split open slowly in all directions like a blooming lotus flower!

The huge camouflage dome, pushed by hydraulic rods, emitted a teeth-gritting sound of metal friction.

Sunlight poured down through the cracks.

Illuminating the behemoth hidden in the abyss, shimmering with a cold silver light.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz—"

Blue electric arcs jumped wildly on the surface of the ship's hull.

That was the precursor to the Anti-gravity Engine running at full power.

At the same time.

On the other side of the ocean.

The general, who was still holding court in the studio and swearing to eat the table, suddenly noticed the coffee cup in front of him starting to vibrate violently.

It wasn't just the coffee cup.

The entire studio was shaking.

"What's going on? An earthquake?"

He held onto the table in a panic.

And behind him.

On the big screen connected to the global satellite signal, the real-time weather cloud map of Tianhai City, which had been playing, was suddenly covered by a large swath of glaring red alerts.

All the values were skyrocketing.

Gravitational wave anomaly!

Magnetic field anomaly!

Energy reaction... off the charts!

"My God..."

The director's terrified scream came through the headset:

"Cut the feed! Quickly, cut to the real-time satellite feed!"

"Over in the Dragon Country... something... has come out!!!"