51: The Battle of Steel and Rye

A week later, Five Ports City, Federal Security Bureau.

The Deputy Director stared at the sudden surge in the North Silver Shield Alliance's military exercise plans: "Have the Nova people gone mad? Suddenly they want to hold joint exercises in the North, and they've even dragged Blackland Kelan into it?"

The technical officer pulled up the frontline report: "What's worse are some new electronic reconnaissance devices outside Gneiss State; our covert command post has been located three times."

SIA Director Boltnikov suddenly slammed his hand on the table: "Find out! What intelligence has the SIA gotten?!"

At the same time, Five Ports City, Birch Palace Operations Command Center.

The Minister of Defense slammed his fist on the sand table, making the models tremble slightly: "They've fired 126 rockets at the border in three days! What does the North Silver Shield want?!"

Chief of Staff Surovikin pulled up the loss report: "Our electronic countermeasures equipment is still at 1990s levels; after being jammed, we can't detect the specific situation beyond the border."

Grand Duke Winter's gaze swept over the generals present: "This is them threatening us to abandon the referendum results and withdraw from the three states."

"Judging by their posture, they are very likely to test cross-border," Surovikin pointed to the map, "but the Nova United States is monitoring the entire process with satellites, so as soon as we move, they—"

"Then let them watch," Grand Duke Winter suddenly interrupted, his icy blue eyes flashing with dangerous light, "Order all railway transport to move at night, bring the U-14 tanks out of the warehouse, and let the whole world see our steel torrent."

North Steel's northwestern border, North Steel Army's 237th Tank Regiment position.

"Load armor-piercing rounds!" Regiment Commander Zaitsev roared into the radio, "Aim at that Budrila, 800 meters!"

The U-90M's 125mm smoothbore cannon let out a deafening roar, and the shell accurately hit its target, blowing the Nova-made infantry fighting vehicle into a fireball.

"That's the third one!" The gunner shouted excitedly, but the cheering abruptly stopped.

A deathly howl came from the sky.

"Missile! Evasive action!"

Three "Dart" anti-tank missiles descended from the sky, instantly turning two U-90s into burning scrap metal. Zaitsev's vehicle barely dodged, but its right track was blown off.

"Everyone abandon the vehicle!" As he kicked open the hatch, he saw an armored formation of the North Silver Shield Alliance surging over the horizon, at least two battalions strong.

The signalman, dragging a bleeding leg, crawled over: "Colonel... Division Command orders us to hold until dark, the 4th Guards Division is outflanking them!"

Zaitsev spat out the blood in his mouth and grabbed an anti-tank missile: "Then let these North Silver Shield Alliance pups see what a North Steel People's steel defense line looks like."

Federal Center, Starlight Command Operations Center.

"The North Steel Army's 4th Guards Division has suddenly appeared on the Suville Rift front!" The intelligence officer pointed to the satellite images showing armored columns stretching for tens of kilometers, "They've even activated U-14 Mata tanks!"

Minister of Defense Mitchell frowned: "Aren't these troops supposed to be in the Far East defending against the Eastern Union?"

"It must be unknown inventory, and the North Steel People dismantled civilian carriages from the Trans-Siberian Railway to transport troops," the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff whispered, "Our satellites were fooled by their railway camouflage nets for a full 48 hours."

Suville Rift battlefield, 24 hours later.

On the smoke-filled position, Colonel Zaitsev, stepping on melted snow, inspected the recaptured position. Dozens of destroyed armored vehicles were scattered around, some from the North Steel Army, some from the North Silver Shield Alliance.

"Count the results!" he commanded hoarsely.

"Confirmed destruction of 34 North Silver Shield Alliance tanks and 77 infantry fighting vehicles," the staff officer said, holding a tablet, "We... lost 48 tanks and 112 brothers."

Sporadic gunfire could be heard in the distance; the front line finally stabilized again, and both sides returned to the familiar stalemate. Just like in the past. Only this time, the Northern Steel Federation used its strategic reserves to earn the right to remain at the poker table.

Mandala, Eastern Federation Titan Office.

Lin Mo signed for the metal box as torrential rain poured outside the window. Rainwater snaked down the bulletproof glass, blurring the outline of the skyscraper in the industrial city in the distance.

"Team Leader Lin, this was specifically designated for transfer by Ms. Emerald," the young staff member wearing an ID badge whispered, leaving a slight scratch on the box lid with his left pinky finger. Lin Mo noticed the name on his ID badge: Zhou Ping.

Lin Mo immediately realized that this was one of the two Eastern Federation people working at Titan. He signed without batting an eye, and after the other person left, he immediately locked the door.

When the office returned to silence, Lin Mo opened the metal box.

The moment the metal box opened, Lin Mo frowned. Inside were neither the expected hard drives nor chips, but twelve neat manila folders, each sealed with a "Titan Group" wax stamp.

He casually opened the first folder; the yellowed paper was densely covered with formulas. When he saw the words "Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Rate Theoretical Model," his fingers paused slightly.

"This is..."

The second folder contained experimental data, the third was material synthesis processes... When he flipped to the seventh folder, a sticky note fluttered out:

Team Leader Lin: Paper media can prevent data loss due to electromagnetic anomalies. Recommend returning to the country within 72 hours. —Emerald

Lin Mo immediately pressed the communicator: "Prepare a special plane, taking off in half an hour."

Outskirts of the Imperial Capital, a military airport. In the night, the cargo-20's hatch slowly opened. Special personnel who had been waiting for a long time quickly escorted the metal box onto an armored vehicle.

"Go directly to 'Red Wall'," Zhou Zhenguo personally took the handover slip, "The Premier and the Minister of General Armaments are both waiting."

It wasn't until the motorcade entered the Eastern Federation Academy of Sciences' underground laboratory that Lin Mo realized the back of his shirt was soaked. The twelve folders were carefully removed and spread out one by one on a workbench behind bulletproof glass.

"This is impossible!" Professor Qian, with his white hair, suddenly grabbed the edge of the table, "This kind of carbon nanotube woven structure, theoretically, would take at least ten more years to..."

The Minister of General Armaments picked up a page of the process flow chart: "Old Qian, is it true that it says an annual output of ten thousand tons?"

"If the process is feasible," Professor Qian's voice trembled, "the entire air force fleet could be refitted in a month!"

One day later, Eastern Federation Academy of Sciences.

"Success!" A young researcher rushed into the conference room, holding a test sample, "X-band reflectivity 0%! We don't know if it's truly zero, but it's definitely lower than our detection equipment's threshold!"

Director Zhao Zhigang took the drab, thin film and gently placed it on the radar test stand. The curve on the display instantly dropped to zero.

"Technical analysis and production will proceed simultaneously," the Minister of General Armaments signed the order, "Prioritize the modification of the J-22 and the 505 ship."

Eastern Blackland Kelan, North Steel Army General Headquarters.

"Send two more regiments over!" Dmitri roared into the phone, "The SIA has sent at least twenty commando teams to probe towards Sacred Mountain!"

The electronic map on the wall displayed the latest news from the Federal Security Bureau. The dozen red markers around Sacred Mountain were all SIA agent infiltration routes.

"Eliminate those agents at all costs," Grand Duke Winter's voice came over the encrypted line, "What's in the Sacred Mountain's third-floor underground laboratory is more important than the entire Blackland Kelan."

"Yes, President. I will deploy three more brigades to the Sacred Mountain area."

Federal Center, Roman Palace War Room.

"Have the New Union people gone mad?" Minister of Defense Mitchell pointed at the satellite image, "They've deployed an entire army group around Sacred Mountain?! What's hidden here? An alien spaceship?!"

SIA Director Hayes pulled up another set of images: "In the past 72 hours, the North Steel Army shot down three of our 'Global Birds' and blew up two border observation posts. We've sent out nearly 100 agents, but no one has been able to approach the center of the defense zone, nor have they been able to investigate relevant information."

"This time, the KGC's disciples are serious."

Mitchell suddenly looked up: "There's only one explanation: something more important than high-purity rare earth is hidden in Sacred Mountain."

"Send 'Delta' in," the President tapped the table, "Bring geological scanners."

Sacred Mountain Forest Park, third-floor underground laboratory.

"The New Union people are only 500 meters from Sector B!" The technician exclaimed, staring at the monitor. On the screen, a dozen heat signatures were breaking through the outer defenses.

The lab director pressed the red button, his tone calm, "Activate 'Black Snow' protocol." With the sound of machinery, hundreds of kilograms of rare earth samples were sent into pre-dug pits. The 'Stone of Immortality' dug out earlier had already been secretly transported away.

When the SIA agents blew open the last blast door, all they saw were a few 'researchers' in white coats staring at them in shock. On the computer screen were spectral data, showing that the minerals here were merely high-purity rare earth.

Five Ports City, Federal Security Bureau Headquarters.

"The New Union people took the bait," Boltnikov sneered, looking at the real-time footage, "The specially prepared high-purity rare earth should be enough for you to keep guessing."

Above Sacred Mountain, "Night Owl" bridge.

"Wow~ Host is so bad~" Xiao Jixiang looked at the Sacred Mountain monitoring screen, "This is more exciting than a spy movie! They're all fighting! I love watching fights~"

"Speaking of which, Host, how do you plan to start the next collaboration with the Eastern Federation? How about I help you come up with a classy plan?"

Chen Hao raised an eyebrow, "Oh, tell me about it?"

"Look, they now think you're a young genius, so you can't use a simple identity, right?"

"Hmm... makes sense."

"To highlight the temperament of looking down on all heroes, there needs to be enough groundwork, right?"

"Hmm... also right."

"Do you remember my idea when we first met?"

"Oh? You mean... 'that plan'? It doesn't seem impossible... Wait, what about my dear mom and dad?"

"Oh, come on~ As my ox, no, partner, I'll definitely sort it out for you~"

"Oh ho~ Xiao Jixiang, you've already designed it, haven't you?"

"Of course~"

"Alright, let's do it!"

"Okay~"

Xiao Jixiang was smug, indicating that she was indeed amazing. Chen Hao waved his hand in approval, indicating that she was indeed amazing.