157: Chapter 157 Jiang Chen: The Moon is Now My Private Territory

The moment the signal connected, hundreds of millions of mobile phones, computers, and outdoor screens across the globe flickered simultaneously.

Immediately after, that familiar livestream room—the one people both loved and hated—lit up once again.

But this time, the background was neither the luxuriously decorated villa living room, nor the smoke-filled battlefield, nor that shabby barbecue stall.

Instead, it was a massive, azure planet.

It hung in the pitch-black, deep space, emitting a soft and sacred halo, occupying two-thirds of the screen.

Clouds swirled, oceans were deep, and it was breathtakingly beautiful.

That was Earth.

It was the perspective of looking back at one's homeland from 380,000 kilometers away.

"Hello, everyone."

The camera shook for a moment, revealing Jiang Chen's face, which remained strikingly handsome even inside the space helmet.

He stood at the entrance of the airlock, with the gray-white lunar wasteland in the background, along with the six captives from the Eagle Nation being herded away by Zhao Gang like ducks.

"Long time no see, I've missed you all."

Jiang Chen waved at the camera, his tone as relaxed as if he were checking in at a tourist attraction.

"Just letting everyone know I'm safe. I'm currently on the Moon, having just dealt with a small dispute."

"By the way, I'll show you something interesting."

He turned sideways, aiming the camera at those dejected former special forces soldiers from the Eagle Nation, who were wearing work clothes and carrying pickaxes.

"See that? These international friends were so enamored with the lunar scenery that they insisted on staying behind to work for me."

"I couldn't chase them away even if I wanted to; they're just too enthusiastic."

In the livestream room, the chat exploded instantly.

[Holy crap! Are those Eagle Nation astronauts? Why are they dressed like miners?]

[Work for you, my ass! They're clearly captives!]

[God Jiang is awesome! Press-ganging people on the Moon? Talk about an unbelievable move!]

[The Earth in the background is so beautiful! This is really on the Moon! It's not special effects!]

Jiang Chen ignored the clamor in the chat.

He put away his smile, held Pikachu in his arms, and reached out to rub the little guy's ears, which were still carrying static electricity.

At this moment, Pikachu was biting its fingers with a look of grievance, clearly unhappy about the "surprise attack" from earlier.

"Let's talk business."

Jiang Chen cleared his throat, his gaze gradually sharpening, revealing an unquestionable dominance.

"Everyone knows that I am a person who values harmony above all else."

"But."

"There are always some lawless elements who, relying on their crappy spaceships, want to wander around my backyard and even try to steal my pet."

"This makes me feel very insecure."

"Very insecure indeed."

He paused and pointed a finger at the hard lunar soil beneath his feet.

"So, to prevent similar 'dog-stealing' incidents in the future, and to protect the privacy of myself and my family."

"I have decided to make a decision that goes against my ancestors… no, that's not right—a decision that will make history."

Jiang Chen snapped his fingers.

The holographic projection equipment behind him activated.

A massive, high-precision map of the Far Side of the Moon floated in the livestream frame.

On it were marked countless craters, impact sites, and that alien ruin which had just been unearthed.

"Everyone, watch closely."

Jiang Chen reached out and gestured on the map.

His finger swept from the South Pole to the North Pole, and from the eastern longitude to the western longitude, with a dashing and sweeping motion.

Finally, he drew a large, red circle over the entire region of the Far Side of the Moon.

"From today on."

"Every inch of land, every rock, and every grain of dust within this circle."

"Belongs to me."

Jiang Chen looked up, staring directly into the camera. His voice was calm, yet it exploded like thunder in the ears of viewers worldwide.

"I declare."

"The Far Side of the Moon shall, from this day forward, become my—Jiang Chen's—private territory."

Boom!!!

The livestream room froze instantly.

Servers all over the world let out an overwhelmed wail at that moment.

Everyone was stunned.

What kind of insane statement was that?

Private territory?

Did he think he was fencing off land back home to build a pigsty?

This was the Moon! It was the common wealth of all humanity!

"He's crazy! God Jiang is truly crazy this time!"

"Occupying half the Moon by himself? That's too arrogant!"

"What about the United Nations convention? What about the Outer Space Treaty? This isn't legal!"

"Don't be naive, upstairs. In the face of absolute power, treaties are just toilet paper! He even has a warship; what's wrong with him fencing off some land?"

Facing the screen full of question marks and exclamation points, Jiang Chen remained completely unmoved.

He seemed to have anticipated this reaction long ago.

"I know some people will try to pressure me with the 'Outer Space Treaty'."

Jiang Chen sneered, his eyes filled with disdain.

"Talking about how the Moon belongs to all of humanity, saying it cannot be claimed as one's own."

"Those kinds of words are just for show."

"Truth is always within the range of the cannons."

He pointed to the distant, faintly visible, and already operational planetary-level defense tower (which was actually part of the ruins).

"I have the capability to come up here; do you?"

"I have the capability to develop it; do you?"

"I have the capability to hold this ground and keep others from coming in to piss and shit; do you?"

"Since you don't."

Jiang Chen shrugged, looking completely matter-of-fact.

"Then this is a no-man's land."

"Since it's a no-man's land, I arrived first, I planted my flag, and I built my house, so it's mine."

"This logic is sound, right?"

This pirate logic left people dumbfounded, yet they had no way to refute it.

Indeed.

He was already building villas, constructing elevators, and raising pets up there.

You were still on Earth looking through a telescope; did you even have the face to say it was yours?

"So."

Jiang Chen tidied up his hairstyle, which had been messed up by the wind, and issued an ultimatum to the camera.

"From now on."

"Any country, any organization, any individual."

"Who wants to enter the Far Side of the Moon must first submit an application to me and pay a sufficient amount of… ahem, 'environmental protection fees.'"

"Anyone who intrudes without permission."

He patted the Pikachu in his arms.

"Zzzzt—"

The little guy cooperated extremely well, lighting up the electric arcs on its cheeks, baring its teeth and looking fierce.

"Will be responsible for the consequences."

"Don't blame me for not warning you when the time comes. The voltage of my 'mousetrap'…"

Jiang Chen's lips curled into a cruel smile.

"…is blind."

"Even if you are an aircraft carrier or a spaceship, if you dare to cross the line."

"I will electrocute you into scrap metal!"

After saying this, Jiang Chen didn't give the world any time to react and directly cut the livestream signal.

The screen went black.

But the global uproar had only just begun.

The emergency hotlines of various national leaders were being blown up.

The doors to the United Nations conference room were kicked open.

Everyone realized that this was not just a livestream; it was a—declaration of war.

A declaration of war by a single human individual against the entire old world order.

Meanwhile, inside the Moon Base, Jiang Chen tossed his phone to Zhao Gang and let out a long breath.

"Refreshing!"

He stretched.

"Old Zhao, did you see my circling gesture earlier? Was it cool?"

Zhao Gang wore a bitter expression, still holding the chain that restrained the Eagle Nation captives.

"It was cool. But Boss… isn't doing this a bit too flashy?"

"This is openly provoking the whole world! What if the United Nations…"

"The United Nations?"

Jiang Chen sneered and turned to walk toward the mining machine that was running crazily.

"Let them protest."

"If protesting were useful, why would we need warships?"

He looked at the rare ores being transported out in a steady stream, the light in his eyes brighter than the stars.

"In this era of the sea of stars."

"Rules are made by the strong."

"And now…"

"I, am the rule."