Chapter 471 The Climax of Old A Country

Why was the colonel at the front so certain that the big bosses at the pinnacle of power would be grinning from ear to ear after seeing this battle report?

You have to understand, this group of high-ranking military officials in Country A was under immense pressure.

Their suppression operation targeting the various armed groups in the Middle East hot spot region, led by Hassan, had been a bit embarrassing, to say the least.

One could even say they had lost all face.

Let's rewind a few months.

In the beginning, everyone in Country A, from the policymakers to the high-ranking generals in the Dead Corner Building, believed that as long as they, the world's number one hegemon, stepped into the fray themselves, they would wipe out all the armed groups in this hot spot region in a matter of minutes.

After all, on paper, the two sides' combat capabilities were not even in the same league.

One side was a behemoth armed to the teeth, possessing the world's strongest satellite reconnaissance network and firepower projection capabilities.

The other side was a bunch of ragtag rebels who didn't even have a full complement of anti-aircraft radar.

In Country A's wargame simulations, a battle like this should have been as simple as using a Big Hammer to smash an egg.

But the reality was anything but.

Over the past few months, the coalition forces of Country A had suffered greatly.

Those slippery militants, like loaches, had not only evaded destruction but had dragged them into a quagmire, locking them in a stalemate.

The armed groups hadn't just refused to yield under the intense bombardment; they had repeatedly used their familiarity with the terrain and some equipment that seemed to have sprung up from nowhere to make life miserable for Country A and Israel.

This prolonged stalemate ruthlessly exposed that Country A was no longer as powerful as it once was.

The halo of the "world police" was fading at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Their international prestige was severely damaged.

Even some allied countries that usually just cheered them on and served as their pawns had started to look at them with a hint of scrutiny when speaking and acting.

Some regional powers that were already dissatisfied with Country A's hegemony took the opportunity to fan the flames in the shadows, attempting to break this unipolar international order.

Therefore, for these high-ranking officials in Country A, they desperately needed a resounding victory to prove to the whole world that they were still the hegemon of the planet and that the spear in their hands was still sharp.

Thus, when the battle report, smelling of battlefield smoke, arrived via the transoceanic encrypted network, and the high-ranking officials in the Dead Corner Building received the news of the "fruitful results" from the brigadier general, the entire leadership was instantly ecstatic.

Several generals, their shoulders adorned with stars, who usually kept a straight face, didn't even bother with military decorum; they picked up the coffee on their tables and downed it as if it were celebratory wine.

"We've finally caught these ground rats!!!"

"I told you, with absolute air superiority, they couldn't stay hidden forever!"

The high-ranking officials congratulated each other.

They felt that they were still the most powerful in the world.

Without any hesitation, in order to maximize the political benefits of these results and completely reverse the recent downward trend in public opinion, the high-ranking officials immediately held a grand press conference, preparing to solemnly announce this news to the outside world.

On the first floor of the Dead Corner Building, the multi-functional media press hall, which was used year-round to broadcast to the world and featured exquisite decor, was buzzing with noise.

Journalists from various international media outlets had received urgent notifications and, carrying cameras and audio equipment, had packed the place to bursting early on.

The seats below were full, and even the aisles were crowded with special correspondents holding recording pens.

Facing the flashing lights below the stage, Country A's press spokesperson, wearing a custom-tailored high-end suit and a dark tie symbolizing power, walked onto the podium that represented authority with a calm and confident stride.

He placed his hands on the edge of the podium, wearing that arrogant smile exclusive to a hegemonic nation.

Of course, when the spokesperson spoke at the press conference, he would never admit that the essence of this war was to plunder geopolitical interests and suppress dissidents.

Instead, without blinking an eye, he packaged the annihilation of the armed groups led by Hassan as being for the sake of civilization and freedom—the same old routine.

"Good afternoon, friends in the media."

The spokesperson spoke into the microphone, his voice modulated and full of persuasive intent.

"In the past dozen hours, we have conducted a perfectly precise strike against the armed forces in the Middle East hot spot region that were undermining regional peace."

"We have successfully destroyed the hidden airfields they rely on for survival."

"We have deprived them of their air power that endangered innocent civilians."

"This is not only a great military victory for us, but also a great step forward for human civilization!"

While saying these words, the spokesperson's expression was compassionate, as if he represented absolute justice.

He even pointed with great seriousness to the slides projected on the big screen behind him.

These were all high-definition photos taken before the bombing.

On the photos, realistic 3D visual patterns, after being captured by radar, combined with the surrounding desolate Gobi background, looked exactly like fighter jets neatly arranged and ready for action.

If a layman were to look at it, this would definitely be ironclad proof of a military base.

Then, this press conference was made into a big deal.

A Western reporter even stood up and asked loudly: "Mr. Spokesperson, does this Thunder Operation mark the complete annihilation of Hassan's organization?"

The spokesperson adjusted his collar and flashed a confident smile at the camera.

"Undoubtedly, we have broken their backbone. Any force attempting to challenge the international order will face this kind of devastating blow."

The sound of shutters clicking below the stage merged into a sea of white light.

Various media outlets fanned the flames.

Reporters listened to the spokesperson's impassioned speech while typing rapidly on their laptops, sending this news, which was enough to shake the world, to media headquarters around the globe.

Those pro-Western mouthpiece media outlets published long, tedious op-eds.

On the front pages and headlines of major news websites, they added eye-catching exclamation-mark titles.

In any case, international public opinion, after seeing those high-definition photos before the bombing, believed that Country A might soon stabilize the situation in this hot spot region.

Under the rendering of this overwhelming coverage, it seemed as if that war-torn land could usher in so-called peace by tomorrow.

The armed groups hostile to Israel were in a difficult situation.

Under this thunderous blow, they seemed to have reached the end of the road.

With the development of the internet, the spread of information had long since broken through national borders.

Then the news was transmitted back to the country.

The comment sections of major social platforms and news clients were instantly flooded with massive amounts of messages.

Online public opinion in the Eastern Country was also of the same opinion.

Although the Eastern Country had no affection for Country A and Israel.

After all, the style of those two countries on the international stage was always overbearing, often wielding the big stick of sanctions.

Emotionally, domestic Netizens naturally stood on the side of those Middle East militants who rose up to resist.

But they were also helpless against the opponent's firepower advantage.

"Sigh, it looks like Hassan and his people really won't make it this time."

"There's no helping it; look at those radar screenshots released by Country A—they mapped out the home base hidden in the wasteland clearly."

"Country A is too good at putting on an act; they're obviously there to grab territory, yet they insist on setting up a monument to their own civilization."

"Who can blame them when they have the bigger fist? Look at those bombing photos; they really have something."

"In the face of absolute technology and air superiority, just relying on passion is indeed useless."

Ordinary Netizens sighed, their words revealing a deep sense of powerlessness.

Everyone understood that modern warfare is about logistics and equipment.

One side was dropping precision-guided bombs from the sky, while the resistance forces on the ground didn't even have a decent anti-aircraft radar.

This battle was a completely asymmetrical, dimension-crushing suppression.

Meanwhile, within the Eastern Country, some "kneelers" who had long since had their backbones broken became excited when they saw this news.

They were like rats living in dark corners, suddenly seeing the light of the lighthouse they yearned for.

Over the past few months, Country A had suffered repeated setbacks on the Middle East battlefield, leaving these people, who usually revered Country A as their spiritual totem, unable to even lift their heads online.

Every time they wanted to help whitewash it, they would be rendered speechless by normal Netizens using objective battle reports.

Now, it's all good. The master has finally flexed its muscles!

This group of people was also having a climax.

They jumped out on major domestic social platforms one after another to speak up.

Their keyboards were clattering away.

All kinds of baseless, obsequious praise began to flood the comment sections of major news outlets, wildly fawning over them.

"See that! This is the foundation of a superpower!!!"

"Before, it was just Country A being mindful of civilian casualties and not getting serious. Now that they've put in a little effort, those militants have been wiped out."

"This is the light of humanity; this is technology changing the world! YYDS!"

They couldn't wait to take screenshots of Country A's news statements, pair them with various words of praise, and post them on their personal social media pages, saying: "This is the country I yearn for."

In the twisted values of these people, Country A's victory was equivalent to their own victory.

It was as if by shouting a few more slogans online, they could shed their current status, cross class lines, and become a member of that hegemonic nation.

In this murky online carnival, there was even a verified Big V who wrote smugly.

This Big V was usually a visiting scholar at a well-known domestic university, with hundreds of thousands of followers on social platforms.

His daily routine was to post sarcastic articles online, engaging in all kinds of double-standard bashing and fawning.

Relying on this bottomless bashing and fawning, he had gathered a large group of like-minded fans.

At this moment, sitting in his exquisitely decorated study, he pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, watching the replay of Country A's press conference on the screen.

This scholar felt a surge of gratification.

He felt this was an excellent opportunity to show loyalty and establish his persona as a high-end public intellectual.

Thus, his fingers flew, typing out a long, rambling article.

"I am a university professor, and I have now resigned to apply for immigration to Country A. Having witnessed the power of Country A, I know my choice was correct. I have now renounced my domestic citizenship. Soon, I will go to live in the powerful Country A."

Once this post, which carried a strong sense of incitement and showing off, was published, it immediately attracted likes and reposts from countless fellow "kneelers."

The Big V looked at the soaring interaction data in the background, a smug smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.

He felt that he was finally about to escape this place and rush toward that world full of freedom and power.

In this intensifying online trend, there were also "kneelers" who had long since immigrated to Country A, or those who had smuggled themselves over, who were now also speaking up on the domestic network to seek a sense of presence.

Looking at those bombing photos, they seemed to feel as if they had also shared in the glory of that hegemony.