98: The world situation suddenly reversed

In the holographic projection conference room of Mandala Industrial City, Jade was projecting a global situation map onto the circular table. On the 3D model of Blue Star, the red dots representing New Union bases were receding like a tide.

"Boss, the Roman Palace just signed Executive Order No. 1141."

Jade's slender finger tapped, and the North Roman Continent lit up with a red glow, "The Nova United States has begun withdrawing troops from its overseas bases, including three major bases in East Ocean."

Chen Hao's virtual image sat in the main seat, his fingertips tapping rhythmically on the armrest. In the projection, he wore a dark gold uniform, and the silver Star AI emblem on his collar gleamed coldly under the lights.

"Faster than expected."

Chen Hao chuckled, "It seems the gentlemen on Golden Serpent Street have finally realized that in front of the Company, aircraft carrier battle groups are no different from paper models."

In the shadows of the conference room corner, Aventurine played with a golden chip, then suddenly flicked it into the air. "Odds 1:5, I bet their consortium won't be able to stand the loneliness."

The chip arced through the air, landing steadily back in his palm.

"I'll take that bet."

Topaz looked up from her data screen, a small lock of white hair tied into a neat ponytail at the back of her head, "Rhine Empire Premier secretly met with the Eastern Federation ambassador yesterday, and the Champs Elysees Federation Foreign Minister is drafting a 'Technology Sharing Agreement'—these old Europa Union are more pragmatic than we thought."

The holographic projection suddenly flickered, and Bronya's virtual image appeared in the center of the conference table. The girl wore a Star Rail-style uniform that Chen Hao had replicated in his free time, her silver-grey twin pigtails swaying gently with her movements.

"Latest intelligence."

She snapped her fingers, and dozens of surveillance screens unfolded in the air, "The Nova United States' 82nd Airborne Division is evacuating Camp Humphreys, and the East Ocean Self-Defense Force has taken over the air defense system of Yokota Air Base. However—" The screen switched to the streets of Edo, where protesters held signs saying 'Abandon War', "—the East Ocean cabinet's approval rating has fallen below 20%."

Chen Hao stood up, his projected image taller than his actual height. He walked to the projection of Blue Star and magnified the images of several national Capitals. "Jade, I have a task for you. Since they want to split, we'll help them out."

"Understood."

Jade quickly operated on the data pad, "I've already filtered out 12 Europa Union military-industrial enterprises on the verge of bankruptcy, with quotes at 30% of market price."

"That's a bit too merciful, isn't it?"

Aventurine suddenly interjected. He had appeared behind Jade at some point, putting the chip into his pocket, "Their stock prices should first be allowed to fall into negative territory, then acquired under the guise of 'humanitarian aid'."

Topaz frowned: "This doesn't fit the Company's image. We promised to develop 'Interstellar Peace'."

"My dear, the Company's full name is Interstellar Peace Corporation."

Aventurine revealed his signature dangerous smile, "It never said Blue Star Peace."

The conference room door suddenly slid open, and Ains walked in, smelling of gunpowder.

"Sorry, I'm late."

He hung his coat on the rack and apologized to everyone in the conference room: "Gideon and his team just finished clearing out the last of the diehards. I went to check on them."

Chen Hao nodded, motioning for him to sit down: "Perfect, take a look at this."

He brought up a satellite image. A thirty-meter-high isolation wall was being built on the New Union border, patrolled by the latest model of 'Patriot' robots.

"The Roman Palace calls this the 'Southern Defense Plan'."

Chen Hao scoffed, "They've piled all the troops withdrawn from the East Ancient region onto the New Taian border."

Ains narrowed his eyes: "Those robots are models Zeus Technology just announced last week, said to be the product of a secret project."

"On the surface, yes."

Bronya suddenly interjected, the screen zoomed in to show subtle modifications at the robot's joints, "In reality, it's a clumsy imitation of Warrior technology."

The conference room suddenly fell silent. Topaz's pen paused mid-air, Jade's pupils widened slightly, and even Aventurine stopped spinning his chip.

Chen Hao revealed a mysterious smile: "No need to give it to them openly, just a small modification to Star AI's permissions will do."

"Boss!"

Topaz shot up, files scattering across the floor, "What are you doing? No, are you leading the way in aiding the enemy?!"

"It's just a Castrated version (castrated version)," Bronya interrupted her, hands on her hips, "No, it should be called the beggar's version of the beggar's version. And the combat AI wasn't given; they used their own, so the overall efficiency is less than 5% of the basic Warrior model."

The girl proudly raised her head, "But it's enough to deal with the drug trafficking armed forces of the Sun God Federation."

Aventurine suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing between the metal walls. "Let the Nova United States use robots to fight drug wars? If that's the case, those military-industrial enterprises will have guns in their hands. Boss, you're not planning to..."

"This is called cleaning up your own mess. As for the consequences, that's their problem."

Chen Hao walked towards the door, and the projection began to flicker, "Jade, prepare to receive a batch of Europa Union assets, they'll be useful. Ains, put the Codename team on standby."

He turned at the door, a silver light flashing in his eyes, "It's time to let this era run wild."

As his figure disappeared, the holographic projection in the conference room switched to a real-time battle map. Blue arrows representing the New Harmony Army's retreat surged from all over the world towards the North Roman Continent.

Federal Central District, Zeus Company Underground Conference Room

The heavy blast doors slid open silently, and twelve men in suits walked in one by one. Their leather shoes made no sound on the sound-absorbing carpet. In the center of the conference room was a black long table, with a huge holographic projection screen embedded in the tabletop, displaying a map of the Nova United States.

Red dots marked closed military bases, while blue dots indicated facilities still in operation.

"Gentlemen,"

Lockheed Martin CEO James Teklite stood at the head of the table, hands resting on the surface, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, "We've been played."

Zeus Technology CEO Greg Hayes sneered, tapping his finger on the tabletop, bringing up a news clip. Trump announced the successful deployment of 'Patriot' robots to the Sun God Federation border on the Roman Palace lawn, with clumsy mechanical soldiers parading in the background.

"Look at this joke,"

Hayes scoffed, "Our 'Patriot' can't even compare to a Titan Warrior's toe, but those fools on Golden Serpent Street actually believed it."

United Technologies CEO William Novak's face was grim: "Trump used our technology to save face, then turned around and cut overseas orders by half."

"Not only that,"

Boeing Defense President Ted Colbert brought up a financial report, "Our stock price has fallen by 40%, while Longteng's 'Bai Jue' terminal sales in the Europa Union have tripled."

The conference room fell into a brief silence. Teklite slowly sat down, his finger sliding across the holographic screen, bringing up an encrypted file.

"Gentlemen,"

His voice was low and dangerous, "We can no longer be led by the nose by the Roman Palace."

New Village, White Stone Group Headquarters Top Floor

Stephen Schwarzman stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the brightly lit Manhattan. His personal terminal suddenly lit up, and Teklite's encrypted communication request popped up.

"James,"

Stephen Schwarzman answered the call, his tone flat, "Calling me so late, have you finally figured it out?"

Teklite's projection sneered: "Don't play dumb, you know what we're talking about."

Stephen Schwarzman gently swirled his wine glass, the red wine leaving dark red streaks on the glass: "You military-industrial groups want to drag Golden Serpent Street into this?"

"As if you're all so clean yourselves."

Teklite's voice was seductive, "Cooperation, that's a different matter."

The holographic projection switched, revealing a detailed commercial community architecture diagram—the "Nova United States Industrial Alliance" (AIC), encompassing four major fields: military industry, finance, energy, and medicine, with cross-shareholding, resource sharing, and even... private armed forces.

Stephen Schwarzman's eyebrows raised slightly: "You want to be the 'Titan' of the Nova United States?"

"No,"

Teklite corrected, "We want to be something more terrifying than Titan, a super-enterprise not controlled by the Federal government."

"We will have all the powers that only a nation has, but without having to bear the responsibilities of a nation."

At this moment in the Roman Palace, Trump was having dinner with energy magnates when a private assistant suddenly hurried over and whispered a few words in his ear. The President's face instantly darkened.

"Gentlemen,"

Trump put down his dinner knife, his voice cold, "It seems our 'friends' are not very well-behaved."

Exxon Red Rock CEO Darren Woods frowned: "Military-industrial groups?"

Trump sneered, bringing up a surveillance report—the CEOs of Zeus Technology, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and United Technologies had a secret meeting tonight, followed by encrypted communications to senior executives of White Stone, Low Prosper, and Huge Rong Consortium.

"They want to form a business empire,"

Trump's finger tapped on the table, "A monster that can bypass the Roman Palace and directly control the military and the market."

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Trump's eyes, "But they won't get to ride over me!"

A few days later, Florida, Mar-a-Lago underground conference room.

Candlelight refracted a hazy glow from the crystal chandelier, illuminating the seven leather chairs like thrones. Trump's red tie was particularly striking in the warm light, and his slender fingers gently tapped the gilded conference table, each tap like a countdown pendulum.

"Gentlemen,"

His voice suddenly broke the silence, "Do you know why I only invited the six of you?"

Darren Woods' cigar trembled slightly between his lips, ash falling onto his custom Hermès suit. This scene, it seemed, had happened not long ago.

But this time, there was a feeling of stepping into a death trap.

"Because you hold something more terrifying than nuclear bombs."

Trump suddenly leaned forward, his shadow covering half the table, "Energy, and life."

A holographic projection lit up in the center of the dining table, displaying the production curve of the Nova United States shale gas fields over the past three months. Woods' pupils suddenly constricted—those data, precise to two decimal places, should have been Exxon's top secret.

"Darren, your new drilling platform in the Permian Basin..."

Trump's finger traced a section of an abnormal fluctuation in the curve, "Quietly reducing production by 15% every day, yet going long on natural gas prices through the futures market."

Woods' cigar fell onto the Persian rug, burning a charred hole.

The projection switched to medical data. When Bratt saw the unreleased gene drug formulas from his lab, his Adam's apple bobbed violently.

"Albert, these special medicines for radiation sickness..."

Trump suddenly raised his voice, "Why did their inventory suddenly increase last month? And why were they stockpiled but not put on the market? Waiting for a nuclear war to break out to sell at exorbitant prices?!"

The Secret Service agents in the corner of the conference room simultaneously pressed their earpieces, a gesture that sent cold sweat down the backs of the CEOs present.

"Mr. President..."

Chevron CEO Michael Wirth finally broke the silence, "What exactly do you want?"

Trump suddenly revealed his signature business smile, taking out six gold-embossed documents from his inner suit pocket. As the documents slid across the table, the candlelight danced on the steel stamp of the "National Energy Security Agreement."

"It's very simple."

His voice suddenly became as gentle as a venomous snake's hiss, "I want you all to collectively announce your withdrawal from the AIC alliance tomorrow morning at nine o'clock."

Bratt suddenly stood up, a wine glass rolling to the floor: "This is impossible! We've already signed with the military-industrial groups—"

"—signed an 80-billion-dollar long-term supply contract?"

Trump picked up the wine glass from the floor and gently placed it in front of Bratt, "Do you know what the DEA boys found yesterday? The latest batch of unapproved stimulants seized by the FDA is enough to shut down your lab for three years."

The projection changed again, this time showing a secretly recorded meeting between the Lone Star State Governor and the Zeus Technology CEO. In the footage, the two were discussing how to use the Tenth Amendment to secure "special autonomy."

"Look at your good allies."

Trump sneered, "Preparing to take their technology and run off to Texas to go solo."

Woods suddenly coughed violently. He realized that the shale gas data could only have come from one person—Exxon's chief technical officer, Dr. Smith, who had "accidentally" crashed last week.

"The choice is clear."

Trump wiped his hands with a tissue, "Either become national heroes tomorrow..." He paused deliberately, letting silence swallow the entire room, "Or become the target of an antitrust investigation tonight."

The projection switched to the final slide: six draft indictments prepared by the Department of Justice, each marked "Economic Treason."