Chapter 257 Eastern Country's Opposition

New York, United Nations Headquarters.

The doors of the conference hall slowly closed, shutting out the external noise, but they couldn't contain the storm that was about to erupt within.

The Security Council's special meeting regarding the non-ownership of space officially commenced.

The atmosphere in the venue was solemn and tense, as if invisible sparks permeated the air.

Around the massive circular conference table, representatives from countries around the world took their places, each with a different expression.

In the surrounding media section, countless cameras and microphones, like weapons in the hands of soldiers standing ready, were aimed at the center of the venue.

Flashbulbs occasionally flickered, recording this destined historic moment.

After the meeting agenda began.

There were no pleasantries or introductions.

The Representative of the Ugly Country was the first to launch an attack.

The Representative of the Ugly Country, dressed in a sharp suit with meticulously combed hair, adjusted his tie with confidence and strode towards the podium.

In his hand, he held a carefully prepared document capable of altering the course of human space exploration.

"Distinguished representatives."

The Representative of the Ugly Country's voice was sonorous as he formally submitted the "Space Non-Ownership" proposal to the Security Council.

"Today, we stand here for the future of humanity."

He looked around, using a set of high-sounding rhetoric to begin his performance:

"Outer space is the final frontier bestowed upon all mankind by God."

"The proposal we have submitted is to promote the 'free development' of all humanity and to break any potential monopolies."

At this point, he intentionally glanced toward the Eastern Country's delegation, his eyes carrying a hint of provocation:

"We are doing this to prevent a few countries from using administrative means to claim space for themselves, hindering technological progress."

"Only by establishing the principle of 'first to develop, first to benefit' can we incentivize nations to invest resources, allowing humanity to truly utilize outer space in peace and freedom!"

"Freedom! Competition! Development!"

"This is the true essence of space exploration!"

...

These words were spoken quite beautifully.

To those unaware, it would seem as if he were pouring his heart out for the well-being of the entire universe.

It completely masked their bandit logic: wanting to use SpaceX's existing scale advantage to stake claims and completely lock out the development space for latecomers.

The presentation of the proposal concluded.

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The Representative of the Ugly Country slightly tilted his chin and scanned the room.

His eyes were full of confidence—the confidence of a hegemon accustomed to setting the rules.

Immediately following.

As if it had been rehearsed.

As the Ugly Country's die-hard lackey, the former empire on which the sun never set, now the professional meddler—the John Bull representative—immediately signaled to speak.

"John Bull fully agrees with the Ugly Country's proposal!"

The John Bull representative stated clearly, "This aligns with the spirit of the free market."

Closely following.

"Little Sun seconds the motion!"

The Little Sun representative stood up, looking at the Representative of the Ugly Country with a fawning expression: "Space belongs to all humanity; whoever has the capability should develop it. This is the fairest way!"

"France also expresses its support."

For a moment.

The Ugly Country's allies one after another raised their hands, clearly signaling their approval of the proposal.

The entire venue seemed instantly drowned out by these voices of "approval."

Watching all this.

Standing beside the podium, the Representative of the Ugly Country's lips curled up uncontrollably into a victorious smile.

'It's in the bag.'

He smugly calculated in his mind.

'As long as this proposal passes, with the 4,400 Starlink satellites Musk has already deployed in the golden orbit...'

'Plus our subsequent launch plans.'

'That 480-kilometer golden orbit, and even the entire Low Earth Orbit, will be the Ugly Country's backyard!'

'We will completely lock out the development space for latecomers, gaining an absolute advantage in this new great power competition!'

'Eastern Country? Heh, you can just stick to your PPTs and cry!'

Thinking of this, he even began to conceptualize in his mind which champagne to drink at the victory banquet tonight and what kind of moving victory speech to deliver.

...

Meanwhile.

Although not on-site, as the core executor of this "Space Land Grab" plan.

Musk, known as the Iron Man of Silicon Valley, was currently sitting in his high-tech office, watching the live broadcast of the meeting.

Seeing the one-sided situation on the screen, a relaxed smile appeared on Musk's face.

"It seems those politicians did a decent job this time."

Musk picked up his coffee and took a sip.

Just then.

"Boss."

His assistant, holding a tablet, walked over somewhat hesitantly.

"What is it?" Musk asked without turning his head. "Can't you see I'm busy witnessing history?"

"Boss."

The assistant said, "A subordinate department reported something. I think you might need to know about it."

"Speak."

"Our security department detected that someone on the Ugly Country Treasury's OFAC sanctions list has registered a new account ID called 'Looking for Art.' Furthermore, they are frequently using Twitter to watch those 'big, white, and black' talent performances. Should we ban them?"

Hearing this.

Musk was stunned for a moment. Did they really need to ask him about something like this?

After all, to him, this was a trivial matter. But for his assistant to bring it to him, it must be because the person's identity was unusual.

"Who is this person?"

"It's the Factory Director of the Li Family Toy Factory you specifically paid attention to," the assistant replied.

Suddenly, Musk remembered who it was.

This Factory Director of the Li Family Toy Factory... the Ugly Country Navy was using the arresting cables he produced, but then he stopped supplying them.

That was what led to him being placed on the Ugly Country Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list.

Because of that incident, Musk had looked into him; some of the man's inventions and creations were quite well-made.

Since he himself held the title of inventor, he naturally had a strong impression of this fellow inventor, Little Factory Director Li.

Of course he remembered.

"Boss, how should we handle it?" the assistant asked.

Musk said with a slight chuckle:

"Since he registered a new account and it's just to 'seek art,'"

"Then leave it alone."

"Besides, I have no personal grudge against him."

Although Musk was arrogant, he considered himself an inventor with class.

Having handled this small interlude.

Musk seemed to remember something and asked casually:

"By the way, did you find out what I asked you to investigate earlier?"

"Exactly who is providing Starlink satellite signal support to Venezuela?"

This was also a problem that had been giving Musk a headache recently.

The whole world thought he was behind it, but only he knew it really wasn't him.

This made him very curious about who exactly was competing for business with him in space.

The assistant shook his head with a helpless look: "No, Boss. That signal source is too strange. The encryption is extremely sophisticated; we still haven't found the source."

"Alright, I understand."

Musk breathed a long sigh of relief but didn't pay it too much mind.

In any case, as long as today's proposal passed, no matter who the other party was, he, Musk, would have the final say in space from now on.

So, he nodded, stopped worrying about these trivialities, and refocused his attention on the live broadcast of the Security Council's special meeting on space non-ownership.

...

At the United Nations special meeting venue.

The atmosphere had been built up to its peak.

The Representative of the Ugly Country watched his allies expressing their support one by one, the smile on his face nearly overflowing.

He straightened his collar and had even started mentally drafting the tweet he would post in a moment.

In his view, the matter was settled.

And at that moment.

From the quiet Eastern Country delegation's seats.

A hand was raised.

The movement wasn't fast, nor was it exaggerated.

But in this moment, it possessed a magic that instantly drew every eye in the room and every camera lens in the world.

Swish, swish, swish.

All cameras and all eyes converged on that spot.

Under the gaze of millions.

The Representative of the Eastern Country, a battle-hardened man of refined yet dignified temperament, steadily stood up.

He adjusted the microphone in front of him.

His gaze was calm and sharp, like two unsheathed swords, slowly sweeping across the room before finally fixing on the face of the Representative of the Ugly Country, who was preparing to celebrate.

Then.

He spoke.

He said only three words:

"Eastern Country opposes."