16: ultimatum

Northern Emerald Principality, Ming Family Manor, underground conference room.

Cigar smoke curled around the mahogany table. Wei Hong slammed a document onto the table, the gilded Titan Group emblem glaring under the lights.

"Everyone, take a look," Wei Hong's bushy beard twitched with a sneer. "This so-called Titan Group actually wants us to hand over all our assets?"

Bai Zhen slowly picked up his celadon teacup, but his fingers trembled when he saw the contents of the document, spilling tea onto the expensive rosewood table. "They think just because they blew up a few of our outposts, they can lord it over northern Emerald Principality?"

Liu Kun, from the shadows, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses: "I've checked. This Titan Group is registered in the Blue Anchor Free Islands, and its actual controller is very mysterious." A glint flashed in his eyes behind the lenses. "However, from the information, they're just a group of well-equipped mercenaries."

"Mercenaries?" Ming He suddenly burst out laughing, his laughter particularly grating in the enclosed conference room. "I've been in the Golden Triangle for thirty years! What mercenaries haven't I seen? Last year, that foreign legion from the Champs Elysees Federation, weren't they still beaten to a pulp by us?"

Wei Hong pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead: "But this time is different... Old Bai, how did your mine's security team disappear? Thirty fully armed elites, and not even a distress signal was sent out."

Bai Zhen's face darkened: "It was just a sneak attack. If it were a frontal assault..."

The conference room fell into a brief silence. The chirping of night insects from outside made the atmosphere inside even heavier.

"Gentlemen," Liu Kun lowered his voice, "I received intelligence that this Titan might be linked to a special forces unit from a major power."

"Bullshit!" Ming He slammed the table and stood up. "If it were really national power, they'd just send the army directly, why play these tricks? Take the one up north, they wouldn't even need to send an army; if the Jing'an Bureau spoke, would we dare not go?! I say, they're just a bunch of foreigners who want a piece of our pie, not knowing their place..."

"Bang bang bang!" Urgent knocking interrupted his words.

The butler rushed in, flustered: "Master! A black armored vehicle has arrived outside the manor!"

The four exchanged glances, and Wei Hong immediately reached for the pistol at his waist: "How many people?"

"J-just four." The butler swallowed, "But they said they want to see the four family heads, and they said... they're here to deliver a final ultimatum."

Bai Zhen sneered: "How audacious! Let them in, I want to see..."

"No need." A cold voice suddenly came from the speaker in the corner of the conference room. Only then did everyone realize that, at some point, the conference room's surveillance screen had switched to an image of a man wearing a black mask.

"Allow me to introduce myself," the man's voice on the screen was electronically processed. "I am the Titan Group's Operations Commander. Your recent conversation was quite interesting."

A glint reflected off Liu Kun's gold-rimmed glasses: "Quite the hacker, aren't you? You're eavesdropping on us?"

"That's not important." The masked man waved his hand lightly. "What's important is that you have two hours left to consider our proposal."

Wei Hong suddenly drew his pistol and aimed it at the screen: "Stop playing games! If you have the guts..."

"Mr. Wei," the masked man suddenly interrupted, "you have a scar on the web of your right hand, left in Lanna Ancient City in 1998. You prefer Cohiba cigars from the Tobacco Islands, but recently, due to high blood pressure, your doctor advised you to cut back." His voice carried a cold smile, "Do I need to continue?"

Wei Hong's pistol clattered to the floor, his face ashen.

Liu Kun adjusted his glasses, feigning composure: "What exactly do you want?"

"It's simple." The masked man held up three fingers. "First, complete all asset transfers within 72 hours; second, disband private armed forces; third, leave the Emerald Principality." He paused, "Or... refuse to choose, and remain here forever."

Bai Zhen was about to say something when the butler rushed in again, flustered: "Master! We just received news that our casino in Old Street has been taken over! All the security personnel... they... they..."

"What happened to them?" Ming He demanded sharply.

The butler stammered, "They all voluntarily surrendered their weapons... They said, the other side offered too much..."

The masked man on the screen chuckled softly: "It seems our sincerity has been conveyed. Well then, see you in two hours."

The image suddenly vanished, leaving only four pale-faced men in the conference room, and a mess of broken teacups on the floor.

Northern Emerald Principality, Gray Market Old Street.

The night was inky black, and the neon lights of Old Street diffused a hazy glow in the damp air. Casinos, nightclubs, and underground banks were still brightly lit; gamblers were lost in pleasure, and warlords indulged in extravagance. They did not know that above the starlit sky tonight, several dark warships were silently hovering.

Of course, in stealth mode, they couldn't possibly know.

Corporal-class Corvette "Atlas," Tactical Command Module.

Ains stood before the holographic tactical sand table, hands propped on the table's edge, his gaze stern as he swept over the projected 3D map of Old Street.

Communication projections for several coded teams floated nearby. "The main strongholds of the Four Great Families have been marked." The voice was steady yet undeniable. "The Ming Family's casino has just been taken. The Wei Family's armory, the Bai Family's underground bank, the Liu Family's private manor... all are within striking range."

Gideon nodded: "Action plan?"

"Simple." Ains lit a cigar. "First, cut off communications and power. Then, 'titan' and 'Heaven's Punishment' will launch a frontal assault, 'Glutton' will recover valuable assets, and 'Web Weaver' will ensure no information leaks."

"Sounds like a hunt," Morris said, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"No, more like a leisure activity. After all, hunting still requires some thought."

"titan" team, Corporal-class Corvette "Ares."

Gideon sat in the cockpit, legs crossed, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of his seat. His power armor was already debugged, the twin railguns on his shoulders glowing with a faint blue charge.

"Brothers, we're the main event tonight." He grinned. "The boss gave us new toys, let's not mess it up."

"Come on, Boss," Jeremy idly adjusted the electronic warfare equipment. "These bumpkins don't even have decent air defense; our firepower is pure overkill."

Ilona wiped the barrel of her "Meteor" electromagnetic sniper rifle, stating flatly: "Don't underestimate them; finish it quickly."

Angela's voice came through the comms channel: "Target area locked, communication jam starting in 10 seconds."

"Heaven's Punishment" team, Corporal-class Corvette "Thunder God."

Zhang Cheng sat with his eyes closed, arms crossed, seemingly undisturbed by the impending battle. Viktor, meanwhile, meticulously checked a neurotoxin injector, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"Old Zhang, who's making the first move later?" Lin Wan asked casually, operating the terminal for the micro-drone swarm.

"According to the plan." Zhang Cheng opened his eyes. "I'm responsible for the frontal breach, you control the drones to block retreat routes. Viktor, you deal with the targets."

"Understood." Viktor caressed the injector. "I'll make sure they die with artistic flair."

"Glutton" team, Corporal-class Corvette "Hephaestus."

Maxim chewed gum, his thick fingers tapping on the control panel, pulling up a map of material distribution in the target area.

"Weapons, cash, white powder... Tsk, tsk, these warlords are quite rich." He grinned. "Too bad it won't be theirs after tonight."

"Boss, are we really taking all this stuff?" Carson scratched his head. "Even the white powder?"

"Of course not." Maxim scoffed. "That stuff is strictly forbidden by the company; don't go looking for trouble. We only want hard currency, gold, and weapons."

Eileen stretched her wrist, her alloy claws clicking out: "Then I'll be responsible for 'cleaning up' those who don't cooperate. Maybe I'll even find a few good teeth."

"Web Weaver" team, Corporal-class Corvette "Hermes."

Morris elegantly adjusted his suit cuffs, as if about to attend a dinner party rather than a military operation. Susie touched up her lipstick in the mirror, while Rashid silently checked the trigger mechanisms of the trap devices.

"Remember, our mission is to ensure no witnesses can relay messages," Morris said calmly. "Whether they're living people or electronic signals."

Susie chuckled: "Don't worry, my 'lipstick' will shut them up."

Rashid nodded: "All possible escape routes are set up; no one can run."

Operation begins.

00:00:00 — Communications cut off.

The moment Angela pressed the jamming button, the entire communication network of Old Street instantly collapsed. Cell phone signals vanished, radio channels were drowned in static, and even the street surveillance cameras turned into static screens.

The gamblers in the casino hadn't even reacted when the lights suddenly went out, plunging the entire district into darkness.

00:00:10 — Power system disabled.

Jeremy grinned, tapping the last command on the virtual keyboard with his finger.

"Done."

00:00:30 — First round of strikes begins.

8000 meters above Old Street, the missile bay on the belly of the "Ares," a Corporal-class Corvette from the "titan" team, opened. 12 miniature missiles roared out, precisely hitting several strongholds of the Four Great Families.

Boom—!

The explosion's fire instantly lit up the night sky. One of the Liu Family's private manors collapsed in the shockwave, and the Wei Family's armory became a sea of fire. Except for the main building, the rest was ruins.

00:01:00 — Ground insertion.

Gideon's heavy power armor smashed directly into the battlefield from high altitude, shattering the ground. He raised his railgun, and an electromagnetic projectile blasted the armed militants, wall and all, into fragments as they tried to retaliate.

"Clear them out!" he roared, and the Warrior squad behind him surged into the building like a black torrent.

Jeremy leaned casually behind cover, his fingers gliding across a tablet, disabling all enemy electronic equipment. Every time Ilona's sniper rifle fired, another target attempting to escape fell.

00:03:00 — Decapitation strike.

Zhang Cheng's "Heaven's Punishment" team infiltrated the Bai Family's underground bank like ghosts. Lin Wan's drone swarm sealed all exits, while Viktor silently crept into the target's bedroom.

The head of the Bai Family's underground bank had just woken up in a start when the injector pierced his throat.

"Good night," Viktor whispered.

00:05:00 — Resource recovery.

Maxim's "Glutton" team brutally kicked open the vault door. Carson quickly scanned for valuable items, while Eileen used her alloy claws to tear apart several bodyguards who resisted stubbornly.

"Gold, US dollars, jade... Pack it all up! Oh, no diamonds!" Maxim grinned broadly. "The rest, burn it!"

00:10:00 — Information lockdown.

Morris's "Web Weaver" team strolled through the chaotic streets. Susie's "lipstick" silently brought down several passersby attempting to record with their phones, while Rashid detonated the pre-set electromagnetic pulse device, ensuring all newly activated electronic devices were completely Waste and scrap.

"Mission accomplished," Morris said calmly. "No effective information leaked."

Atlas Command Module.

Ains looked at the red dots on the holographic map, each marked "Cleared," and nodded in satisfaction.

Ains pressed the comms button: "All teams, withdraw from the battlefield, return to the mothership."

In the sky, several enormous, almost invisible transparent bubbles quietly ascended, disappearing above the clouds.

On the ground, only burning ruins, charred bodies, and...

A brand new, jet-black Titan Group logo, branded in the center of the ruins.