30: Operation Fire Stealer! Western Alliance's top agents infiltrate!

"One month!"

"A whole month!"

"Jack, are you trying to fob me off with this garbage report, full of 'possibly,' 'maybe,' and 'probably'?"

Western Alliance, Langley, CIA Headquarters, inside that cold, underground conference room.

Director William Burns violently threw a document right into the face of Jack Anderson, the head of the intelligence station!

The papers scattered across the floor like snowflakes.

Anderson lowered his head, his refined face filled with humiliation and... helplessness.

He did not dare to refute.

Because he knew the Director was right.

Over the past month, he had mobilized every resource he had accumulated during his decade-plus of deep cover in Xia Guo!

He had turned a logistics staff member on the periphery of the Kunlun Mountain Base.

He had bribed a cleaner at the Xia Guo Academy of Sciences.

He even spared no expense hiring the world's top hacker team, attempting to find the slightest clue online!

But the result... was nothing!

Xia Guo was like an iron can, sealed shut with welding!

Hermetically sealed!

They only knew that the pangu, code-named "pangu," was of an unimaginably high level!

They only knew that the mysterious department called the Dragon Shield Bureau possessed enormous, outrageous power!

As for what exactly they were researching... Heaven knows!

"Trash! A bunch of trash!"

Burns was trembling with rage!

In his hawk-like eyes burned unprecedented anxiety and... fear!

As the head of the world's most powerful intelligence agency, what he feared most was not how strong the enemy was.

But... the unknown enemy!

This feeling of powerlessness—watching the opponent develop rapidly in the shadows while being completely unaware of their activities—was nearly driving him mad!

"Sir..."

Anderson took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and raised his head.

"Conventional methods are no longer effective."

"I suggest..."

A flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes!

"Activate... the 'Prometheus Action'!"

"Prometheus"?!

The moment that word was uttered, the faces of all the senior intelligence officers in the conference room drastically changed!

The "Prometheus Action"!

This was the CIA's highest-level, S-Rank infiltration plan!

It was only authorized for activation when facing a massive crisis capable of overturning the world order!

And the one who executes this plan is a singular, legendary figure—

"Shadow"!

The CIA's most elite Ace Agent!

A ghost who lives in legends!

No one knew if he was male or female, old or young.

They only knew that in the ten years since his debut, he had executed hundreds of S-Rank missions without a single failure!

He was the sharpest, and... most lethal, dagger in the CIA's hands!

"Are you sure?"

Burns's hoarse voice echoed in the silent conference room.

For the first time, a look of struggle appeared on his face.

Once "Shadow" was deployed.

It meant they would completely fall out with Xia Guo!

If "Shadow" failed within Xia Guo's borders... the resulting diplomatic storm would be devastating!

"I am sure, Sir!"

Anderson's gaze was unwavering!

"According to our latest risk assessment."

"The potential threat that the pangu poses to the Western Alliance has already surpassed the 'Cuban Missile Crisis' of the last century!"

"We have no retreat left!"

Burns fell silent.

He slowly closed his eyes.

In his mind, the top-secret simulation report submitted by the Rand Corporation appeared.

The end of the report contained only one cold assertion that sent a shiver down his spine—

[If the pangu truly represents a disruptive breakthrough by Xia Guo in the fields of Artificial Intelligence or energy...]

[Then, within five years, the Western Alliance will completely lose the qualification to compete with Xia Guo in the field of technology.]

[Within ten years, the hegemony of the US Dollar will completely collapse.]

[Within twenty years...]

[The Western Alliance will cease to exist.]

"Hoo..."

Burns slowly exhaled a long breath.

When he opened his eyes again.

All the struggle in his hawk-like eyes had vanished!

Replaced by a madness and... determination, staking everything on the line!

He pressed the red, top-secret communication button in front of him.

The call was connected almost instantly.

"This is Burns."

His voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.

"Authorization granted for the activation of the 'Prometheus Action'."

"Order 'Shadow' to immediately enter Xia Guo."

"Spare no expense!"

"I need to know what kind of... devil the Xia Guo people are hiding beneath the Kunlun Mountains!"

...Three days later.

Xia Guo, Jinghai City, International Airport.

A young man, wearing cheap sportswear, carrying a worn hiking backpack, looking completely ordinary—just like a blond backpacker touring Xia Guo—slowly walked out of the arrival gate.

He mingled with the bustling crowd, completely inconspicuous.

He even politely showed a sunny and brilliant standard smile to the airport security staff.

No one knew.

That this seemingly harmless "tourist."

Was the Ace Agent who terrified all intelligence agencies worldwide—

"Shadow"!

He raised his head and glanced at the slightly hazy sky over Jinghai City.

In the depths of his blue, gem-like eyes, a flicker of excitement—like a hunter seeing his prey—flashed.

He took out a specially encrypted satellite phone from his pocket.

And dialed a number he knew by heart.

"This is 'Shadow'."

His voice was calm, yet carried a chilling coldness that made people shudder.

"I'm home."

On the other end of the line came Jack Anderson's voice, suppressed with excitement.

"Welcome home, 'Shadow'."

"Your first 'tour guide' is already waiting for you."

"I wish you..."

"Happy hunting."