4: Level One Alert! Martial Law Declared Citywide!

The moment the call was placed, the room fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

There was no ringtone, nor any prompt indicating the call was connecting.

Only a dull, heavy "beep... beep..." sound,

as if it came from another world.

Each sound was like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of the Su Yuan family.

Time passed second by second.

Ten seconds.

Twenty seconds.

Just as Su Yuan thought the number was invalid,

or that it wouldn't go through at all, the call... connected.

"Hello."

A steady, calm,

emotionless male voice came through the receiver.

Just one word made Su Jianguo, a tough man who had served in the military for over a decade,

instantly straighten his back, as if he were back in the barracks facing his highest superior officer.

"Ch-Chief... Hello, Chief!"

Su Jianguo subconsciously used his military address, his voice loud and nervous.

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds, seemingly assessing something.

"Who are you? How did you get this number?"

The man's voice remained steady,

but Su Yuan keenly sensed a trace of caution.

Su Jianguo quickly reported his name and former unit designation.

"Reporting, Chief! My name is Su Jianguo, formerly of the First Battalion, Tiger Third Regiment, Southeast Military Region..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted.

"Verifying clearance... Please wait."

Another half minute of silence followed.

Su Yuan's heart was in his throat. He could imagine that on the other end of the line,

countless machines were likely running at high speed, verifying his father's identity information.

"Identity confirmed. Su Jianguo, First-Class Meritorious Service recipient, retired due to injury during the Southwest Border Conflict twenty-five years ago. Information verified."

The male voice sounded again, slightly softer,

but still maintaining a formal, businesslike tone.

"Comrade Su Jianguo, you signed a Non-disclosure Agreement upon retirement. You should know that this number is not to be dialed unless it is a National-Level Supreme Emergency. Now, tell me, what situation have you encountered?"

Su Jianguo took a deep breath,

trying hard to keep his voice steady.

He glanced at his son beside him, then spoke into the receiver with all his might:

"Reporting, Chief! My... my son has top-level intelligence concerning the national destiny arena that must be reported to the state!"

The moment the four words "national destiny arena" were uttered,

the other end of the line fell silent again.

But this silence,

was completely different from before.

Su Yuan felt as if he could sense, through the receiver,

the sudden, tumultuous wave of shock rising from the other side!

If before it had been caution and scrutiny,

now it was utter shock and gravity!

It took a full dozen seconds before the male voice sounded again,

but his tone was now laced with an unbelievable urgency.

"What did you say? Repeat that!"

"Reporting, Chief! My son, Su Yuan, he... awakened the national destiny arena's... administrator system!"

"administrator system?!"

The voice on the other end suddenly rose, filled with alarm!

Clearly, for those in the nation's core leadership,

since the national destiny arena had appeared,

they likely had contingency plans for the so-called system!

"Is this information true?!"

"Absolutely true! I guarantee it on my honor as a former soldier and my Party Spirit!"

Su Jianguo replied decisively.

There was another brief silence on the line,

but Su Yuan could hear the rapid clicking of keyboards and low voices communicating.

A few seconds later,

the male voice became unprecedentedly serious.

"Comrade Su Jianguo, heed my command!"

"Yes, sir!"

Su Jianguo straightened his body.

"From this moment on, you and your family are to remain where you are. Do not leave the room, and do not make any form of contact with the outside world! Draw the curtains and lock the door!"

"I repeat, do not contact anyone!"

"Our personnel will arrive as quickly as possible! Before they arrive, ensure your son's absolute safety! Can you do that?"

"Guaranteed, mission accomplished!"

Su Jianguo answered loudly.

"Good! Keep the line open!"

The call was disconnected.

Su Jianguo put down his phone and let out a long breath,

only then realizing his back was drenched in sweat.

The conversation, which lasted only a few minutes,

was more exhausting than fighting a battle back on the front lines.

And at the exact same moment the call ended.

Dragon Country, Capital City.

In a supreme Command Center located hundreds of meters underground,

with a massive world map hanging on the wall,

the atmosphere was extremely tense.

More than a dozen elderly men, some bearing General Stars on their shoulders, others dressed in Zhongshan suits, all possessing a mountain-like composure,

were seated around a large conference table.

Seated in the main position,

was an old man with white hair,

but who was vigorous and had eyes sharp as an eagle's.

The Red Confidential Phone in front of him had just been put down,

and the air inside the entire Command Center seemed to freeze.

"Investigate!"

The old man only spoke one word. His voice was not loud, but it carried undeniable authority.

"Yes, sir!"

A General responsible for intelligence work immediately stood up,

and issued a rapid series of commands to the Liaison Officer beside him.

"Command! Jiangnan City National Security Bureau, Municipal Police Department, and Garrison Troops, immediately initiate Level One Emergency Protocol!"

"Target Location: Jiangnan City, Qinghe District, Xingfuli Residential Area, Building 3, Unit 2, Room 402!"

"Mission requirements: Within three minutes, complete a silent lockdown of a five-hundred-meter radius around the target location! Within ten minutes, evacuate all residents from the target building! All communication signals are to be regionally controlled!"

"Dispatch the highest-level Action Team immediately to the target location to make contact with the target individual Su Yuan and his family! Remember, the attitude must be absolutely gentle, ensuring the target individual's absolute safety and emotional stability!"

"Transmit all data on the target individual here immediately, using the highest encryption level!"

"Furthermore, notify the Jiangnan City Municipal Committee to implement a comprehensive curfew in the area under the guise of an emergency gas pipeline leak repair! All main roads are subject to traffic control! No unauthorized personnel are permitted entry or exit!"

Instructions were rapidly issued, one after another.

The entire Dragon Country's most powerful state apparatus,

at this very moment,

triggered by a phone call from an ordinary citizen,

began operating with unprecedented, terrifying efficiency!

Meanwhile, in Jiangnan City.

Police officers directing chaotic traffic on the streets,

suddenly heard the most urgent commands from the Command Center in their earpieces.

Soldiers who were urgently assembling in the barracks,

received orders to arm themselves with live ammunition,

and deploy immediately.

Countless black sedans bearing special license plates,

roared out from various hidden corners of the city,

speeding frantically toward the same location—Xingfuli Residential Area!

A storm,

before anyone could fully comprehend it,

centered around Su Yuan's home,

suddenly swept across all of Jiangnan City!

At this time, Su Yuan,

following his father's instructions, drew the curtains,

and waited quietly with his parents in the living room.

He didn't know what would happen next,

but he knew that starting today, his life would no longer be ordinary.

Just then, on the system panel in his mind,

the cold countdown finally reached its end.

[00:00]

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