93: Bloody Fireworks

Time’s wheel turned, and two months passed.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee.

The morning sun shone through the blast-proof glass, illuminating the silver-white “Dawn of Freedom” fusion device. Minister of Energy Grayson wiped the sweat from his forehead, forcing a stiff smile for the camera.

“Ladies and gentlemen, today will be a milestone for the Nova United States’ energy independence!” His voice echoed through the empty experimental hall.

A New Township Times reporter whispered, “Strange, why aren’t they allowing close-up shots?”

A colleague beside him shrugged, “Safety regulations, I guess, it’s cutting-edge after all…”

They didn’t notice the scientists in the control room nervously staring at the fluctuating parameters on their screens.

“Minister,” Chief Scientist Wilson said in a low voice, “I suggest you and the other dignitaries leave as soon as possible. The next testing phase…”

Grayson nodded knowingly, turning to the media: “Due to safety concerns, we will move to the observation area.”

As the last official left the experimental zone, Wilson glanced at his watch: 9:07 AM.

Kurchatov Research Institute, Five Ports City.

Grand Duke Winter stood in the blast-proof observation room, expressionlessly watching the “North Star” device below. The Minister of Defense leaned into his ear: “Mr. President, according to procedure, you should…”

“I know.” Grand Duke Winter adjusted his tie and gave a brief speech to the camera: “North Steel science has once again proven its greatness.”

Three minutes later, as the presidential motorcade drove away from the institute, Chief Engineer Petrov stared at the continuously rising temperature curve, suddenly feeling an inexplicable palpitation.

“Strange…” he murmured, “This fluctuation pattern…”

Brussels, European Union Joint Nuclear Energy Center.

The Rhine Empire Prime Minister and Champs Elysees Federation President stood side by side on the viewing platform at a safe distance. Macaron spoke eloquently to the camera: “This is a victory for Europa unity!”

His assistant quietly glanced at his watch: 9:15 AM. According to the plan, they should leave before 9:20 AM.

“Mr. President,” he reminded softly, “we should go to the next meeting.”

Rokkasho Nuclear Energy Research Center, Edo.

The Chief Cabinet Secretary bowed deeply to the camera: “The ‘Apollo’ project proves the strength of East Ocean technology!”

After the flashbulbs, officials quickly evacuated. Four Diamond Heavy Industries’ Chief Engineer Yamada wiped his glasses, suddenly noticing abnormal fluctuations in the plasma confinement parameters.

“It seems something is wrong…” He turned to his assistant, “Immediately activate the emergency plan!”

Across the entire Blue Star, the countdown for various countries began to synchronize. A pre-written tragedy was about to unfold.

Federal Center Time 9:28 AM, Oak Ridge Laboratory.

Wilson suddenly widened his eyes: “My God! The confinement field is collapsing!”

Five Ports City Time 5:30 PM, Kurchatov Research Institute.

Petrov’s scream was drowned out by the alarms: “Shut it down—!”

Brussels Time 3:32 PM, European Union Nuclear Energy Center.

Champs Elysees Federation Chief Scientist Dupont frantically pounded the emergency stop button: “It’s no use! The system isn’t responding!”

Edo Time 11:35 PM, Rokkasho Research Center.

Yamada watched the soaring temperature curve on the screen, falling to his knees in despair: “It’s over…”

They say that the gifts of fate have long had a price written in the dark. Now, the nations that borrowed from the devil by sending agents and spies have finally received the bill for their souls.

Federal Center Time 9:31:07 AM.

The “Dawn of Freedom” device’s confinement field completely collapsed. The plasma, like a wild horse, broke through the magnetic cage, instantly vaporizing the first protective shield. The last thing captured by the surveillance footage was the terrified face of the person in charge. The next second, 50 million-degree high-temperature plasma engulfed the entire experimental hall.

Five Ports City Time 5:33:12 PM.

The “North Star” device’s cooling system suddenly reversed, and liquid helium vaporized and expanded in a thousandth of a second. The blast wave tore through three blast-proof walls like paper, and 30 top physicists were instantly incinerated.

Brussels Time 3:34:45 PM.

Europa’s “Phoenix” reactor core underwent a chain overload. Surveillance footage showed the project leader’s final expression frozen in disbelief and shock, before the entire building was engulfed by a blue-white fireball.

Edo Time 11:36:28 PM.

The “Apollo” device’s fuel circulation system suddenly accelerated to a critical point. In his last moments, Dr. Yamada seemed to see a strange golden flash, followed by the complete vaporization of the entire research center.

Federal Center, in the Roman Palace War Room. The moment the real-time monitoring screen suddenly turned to static, Hixon’s face went pale.

“Oak Ridge… lost contact.” The Minister of Defense’s voice trembled.

On the SIA Director’s tablet, emergency alerts from Five Ports City, Brussels, and Edo popped up simultaneously. His fingers trembled uncontrollably: “North Steel… Europa… East Ocean… all of them…”

The President suddenly stood up: “Contact Titan immediately! Now!”

Five Ports City, Birch Palace emergency meeting.

Grand Duke Winter looked at the satellite images of the Kurchatov Research Institute ruins, his fingers digging deeply into the table: “All of our atomic energy experts…”

Minister of Defense Gerasimov’s face was ashen: “Only a few survivors at the scene…”

“Contact Titan.” Grand Duke Winter’s voice was chillingly cold, “We need to talk!”

Brussels, at the Europa emergency summit, the Rhine Empire Premier’s suit was still dusted from his hurried return from the outskirts. He surveyed the silent conference room: “34 top scientists… half of Europa’s nuclear energy research capability…”

Champs Elysees Federation President Macaron suddenly smashed a water glass against the wall: “This is an act of war!”

“No,” European Union Commission President von der Leyen shook her head wearily, “we cannot acknowledge the source of the technology.”

Edo, Prime Minister’s official residence underground bunker.

The Prime Minister watched the last surveillance footage of the Rokkasho Research Center, the screen freezing at the moment Engineer Yamada looked back.

“Four Diamond, Higashi Chiba, Nichi Station…” He mumbled the names of the lost companies, “East Ocean high-tech industry… no hope…”

Pierpoint, Strategic Investment Department conference room. Aventurine watched the explosion footage coming in from around the globe, his sunglasses slipping to reveal raised eyebrows: “Wow, these fireworks are even more spectacular than I imagined!”

Emerald watched the images with interest, his tone flat and cold: “North Steel lost 42 top experts, Nova United States 37, Europa 34, East Ocean 28… What a truly regrettable ‘accident’.”

Topaz was also unconcerned, taking a sip of lemon tea: “Perfectly consistent with ‘operational error’ characteristics. They wouldn’t dare admit it, unless they really are as crazy as the boss guessed.”

Kafka’s face still held that elegant yet profound smile: “The screams of despair and fear are indeed beautiful, though I don’t understand why.”

Chen Hao stood by the panoramic window, gazing at the distant blue arc: “Of course I wouldn’t be wrong. I know exactly what these guys are. Notify Ains, it’s his comfort zone.”

New Village, Ten Thousand Nations Roundtable Headquarters.

William Howard, Nova United States Permanent Representative to the Ten Thousand Nations Roundtable, stood at the podium, his fingers heavily tapping the lectern: “Representatives, please look at these shocking images!” He clicked a remote, and the large screen displayed the horrific aftermath of the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory explosion.

Twisted metal components, charred walls, and bodies wrapped in white sheets.

“This was no accident! This was a meticulously planned murder by Titan Industries!” Howard’s voice trembled, “They deliberately provided false technical parameters, leading to explosions in 37 laboratories across six countries—America, Russia, Britain, France, Germany, and Japan—and the deaths of 213 top scientists!”

The hall erupted in an uproar. North Steel Representative Zorin immediately stood up, uncharacteristically aligning with the Nova United States: “The North Steel Federation fully agrees with the American position. Our Kurchatov Research Institute lost 28 top experts. This is a terrorist attack on all of humanity’s scientific endeavors!”

Fog City Islands Representative Richard Anderson pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses: “Great Britain demands that the Ten Thousand Nations Roundtable immediately implement comprehensive sanctions against Titan Industries, including asset freezes and technology embargoes.”

Champs Elysees Federation Representative Maso elegantly but firmly added: “Military options should be considered if necessary.”

Eastern Federation Representative Zhou Zhengyang suddenly stood up: “The Eastern Federation objects to these baseless accusations! Your so-called ‘evidence’ cannot prove at all—”

“Representative Zhou!” Howard sharply interrupted, “Your country is the only major power that received Titan’s ‘Golden Crow’ reactor technology. Isn’t that strange?” He turned to the entire assembly, “The ambiguous relationship between the Eastern Federation and Titan Industries warrants caution from all of us.”

Howard’s face was ashen: “The fact is, Titan Industries murdered our scientists!”

“Murder?” Zhou Zhengyang raised his voice, “According to the ‘International Convention for the Protection of Intellectual Property,’ any act of commercial espionage is not protected by law. Titan Industries never provided any technical data to these countries. It is you!” He pointed at the five country representatives, “Who are reaping what you sowed!”

Fog City Islands Representative Anderson suddenly interjected: “If the Eastern Federation continues to shield Titan, the Fog City Islands will re-evaluate all high-tech export licenses.”

“Including the 3-nanometer lithography machine Longteng Technology is currently applying for,” Champs Elysees Federation Representative Maso added meaningfully.

East Ocean Representative Takenaka Heizo immediately followed: “If the Eastern Federation continues to shield Titan, East Ocean will also reconsider all technological cooperation.”

Zhou Zhengyang’s expression changed dramatically.

After voting began, facing the political coercion of the entire Western civilization, the Eastern Federation delegation ultimately cast an abstention vote.

Imperial Capital, Zijin Pavilion emergency meeting.

The Premier placed his teacup heavily on the mahogany conference table, spilling some tea: “This is blatant blackmail and intimidation!”

Zhou Jianjun quickly scanned the Ten Thousand Nations Roundtable resolution text: “The five-nation joint proposal demands that Titan hand over all technical data within 72 hours, or face ‘all necessary means’ of attack.”

“Our technical department analyzed those explosion sites,” Minister of Science and Technology Academician Xu Qingshan took off his glasses to wipe them, “All damaged facilities had one thing in common: they all tried to replicate Titan’s confinement field design. The most crucial thing is that the accidents happened almost simultaneously.”

“This is the key,” Security Director Zhou Zhengguo pulled up an intelligence report, “The Nova United States Pacific Fleet has entered a state of combat readiness, and three aircraft carriers are moving towards the Emerald Principality.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Mingyuan frowned deeply: “New Union has already hinted that if we continue to support Titan, they will completely block all international commercial licenses for Longteng Technology and Interstellar Peace, and freeze all our patents in Silicon Valley.”

“Their true intention is not the wine,” Academician Xu Qingshan suddenly sneered, “They aren’t trying to deal with Titan at all. They’re clearly trying to use this opportunity to suppress our technological development again!”

The Premier slowly nodded: “The fusion energy, superconducting materials, artificial intelligence, and military exoskeletons controlled by Titan — each of these could trigger a new industrial revolution. Western countries will never allow us to master these technologies first.”

“Even more terrifying,” Zhou Jianjun pulled up another report, “Starlight Command’s latest assessment believes that if they can annex Titan, the Nova United States will regain complete technological dominance over the Eastern Federation within the next fifty years.”

The conference room fell silent. Suddenly, Zhou Zhengguo spoke: “I suggest Lin Mo go to Titan.”