Chapter 77 The Eagle's Reconnaissance

Time flew by amidst intense and fulfilling research, development, and construction.

In the blink of an eye, two more months passed.

During these two months, the international situation on Earth underwent some subtle changes.

Ever since the last 'East Sea dragon king lord' incident, Little Sun Country had become completely obedient.

After their 'global leading' 'deep sea 20000' returned, repeated inspections revealed no physical damage, other than a missing flag and a recorded, unexplainable 'ghost signal.'

However, the entire submarine crew, including the arrogant Yamamoto, was sent to a psychiatric hospital collectively due to excessive psychological trauma.

It is said that every day in their hospital rooms, they nervously mutter things like 'there's a ghost' or 'dragon king lord.'

Although the high-level officials of Little Sun Country were so frustrated they were spitting blood, they could find absolutely no evidence to accuse Great Xia Country.

They even employed the highest-level 'Shinto' masters to perform rituals in that sea area, attempting to find the 'dragon king lord' who 'took away' their flag, but naturally, they achieved nothing.

In the end, this grand 'flag-planting' farce could only conclude in a humiliating manner, citing 'encountered unknown deep-sea phenomena, scientific expedition forced to terminate.'

But the one truly feeling fear was Eagle.

The Pentagon had barely slept in these two months.

They utilized all reconnaissance methods, turning that sea area inside out.

But the result remained the same: nothing.

That 'God signal' was like a ghost; it came without a shadow and left without a trace.

The more they studied it, the more fearful they felt.

Because all their analysis pointed to a conclusion they were most unwilling to believe: Great Xia Country likely truly mastered 'spatial jump' technology.

This conclusion plunged Eagle's entire military and political leadership into a massive, unprecedented state of anxiety.

"We must find out what exactly they have mastered!"

"We cannot remain this passive any longer!"

"I propose launching the highest-level close-in reconnaissance operation against Xia! Utilize our most advanced 'Aurora' high-altitude high-speed reconnaissance aircraft! Even our 'TR-3B'!"

At a secret defense meeting, a hawk general slammed the table and roared loudly.

His proposal was quickly passed.

A top-secret reconnaissance operation against the hinterland of Great Xia Country, codenamed 'God-Peering,' quietly commenced.

Half a month later.

Great Xia Country, northwest inland, above a vast Gobi desert, at 30,000 meters.

The air was thin, the temperature extremely low; it was a forbidden zone for life.

An all-black, strangely shaped, triangular aircraft was silently streaking across the sky at a terrifying speed of over Mach 6.

This was precisely Eagle's trump card, the legendary TR-3B anti-gravity reconnaissance aircraft that utilized 'anti-gravity' technology.

Inside the cockpit, two of Eagle's top pilots were drinking coffee with relaxed expressions.

"Oh, God, the scenery below is truly spectacular," the pilot codenamed 'Lone Wolf' whistled. "The people of Great Xia probably never dreamed that right above their heads, there is an eye from God watching them."

"Don't be careless, Lone Wolf." His partner, codenamed 'Viper,' was much more cautious. "Our mission is to find the location of the legendary 'South Heaven Gate' base. According to intelligence, it is in some corner of this desert."

"Rest assured, Viper." Lone Wolf said nonchalantly. "We have the world's most advanced stealth technology and anti-gravity engines. We are the ghosts of the sky. Their radar is just a pile of scrap metal in front of us."

He was right.

The stealth performance of the TR-3B far exceeded the F-22 and B-2. Coupled with its strange flight mode, no existing radar on Earth could effectively capture its trail.

They were like playing a game with 'God Mode' enabled.

"Alright, let's get to work," Viper activated the onboard, state-of-the-art 'multi-spectral synthetic aperture' reconnaissance system.

Beams of invisible detection waves scanned across the vast desert below.

They believed that before long, they would be able to find the base hiding Great Xia Country's biggest secret in this barren desert.

However, what they did not know was...

The very moment they began scanning.

Far away, thousands of miles away, inside the underground Command Center of the 'scavenger' project.

A piercing alarm sounded throughout the entire base!

"Alert! Alert! Detected unknown high-altitude, high-speed aircraft conducting illegal reconnaissance activities in our airspace!"

"Target speed: Mach 6.2! Altitude: 31,000 meters!"

"Target signal characteristics unrecognizable! Possesses extremely high stealth properties! Our conventional radar cannot lock on!"

The Minister of Intelligence Analysis looked at the faint, flickering red dot on the screen, their expression turning extremely grim.

"Is it Eagle's 'Aurora'? Or that legendary TR-3B?" Chen Weiguo walked to the screen, his face as dark as water.

"Based on its flight characteristics and signal strength analysis, the probability of it being a TR-3B is over 90%."

"TR-3B..." Chen Weiguo muttered to himself, his fists tightening involuntarily.

This legendary 'black triangle' had always been a dark cloud hanging over the air force of Great Xia Country.

They knew of its existence, yet they could never do anything about it.

Its speed was too fast, its altitude too high, and it was too 'stealthy.'

Their fighter jets couldn't fly that high.

Their anti-aircraft missiles couldn't catch up that fast.

Their radar couldn't see something so 'ghostly.'

They could only watch helplessly as this 'ghost' came and went freely in their own airspace, showing off its power.

This was a naked, technological crushing and humiliation!

"Chief, our J-20s have already taken off in an emergency, but I'm afraid it will be difficult to intercept it effectively." The Air Force liaison officer's face was full of helplessness and unwillingness.

"I suggest activating the 'HQ-29' long-range air defense system to fire a warning shot!" a young staff officer said excitedly.

"It's useless," Chen Weiguo shook his head. "Firing blindly without radar lock is no different from setting off fireworks. It will only expose our positions and allow them to collect more electronic intelligence."

The Command Center fell into a stifling silence.

Everyone felt as if a giant rock was pressing on their chests.

Were they going to just watch helplessly again, just like before, as this 'bandit' took a stroll through their home and then left swaggeringly?

Just then.

A lazy, slightly playful voice sounded in the Command Center.

"Chief, leaders, don't look so gloomy."

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice.

They saw Lin Yuan leaning against the laboratory door, munching on an apple while watching the big screen with great interest.

"Isn't it just a piece-of-junk plane that flies a bit higher and faster? Is there a need to be so nervous?"

"Piece-of-junk plane?" An air force staff officer heard this and almost spat blood from anger. "Comrade Lin Yuan! That's a TR-3B! It's Eagle's top-tier..."

"I know, the 'black triangle,' right? Anti-gravity technology, touted as an aircraft 'from outer space.'" Lin Yuan curled his lips, his face full of disdain.

He walked to the screen, pointed at the red dot, and said to Chen Weiguo.

"Chief, how is the construction of that 'nantianmen no. 1' going now?"

"The main keel is finished, and we are currently laying energy lines and installing core components," Academician Wang replied. "Why?"

"And that main cannon of its, the 'Focused Heavy Particle Cannon,' has it been installed yet?" Lin Yuan asked again.

"It's installed, but it's just an empty shell. The energy system hasn't been connected yet, so it can't fire at all!" Academician Wang looked puzzled.

"No need to connect it." A mischievous grin, identical to the one he had during the 'flag-pulling' incident last time, appeared on Lin Yuan's face.

"I just want to borrow its 'scope' for a moment."