23: Chapter 23: The US is enraged and assembles a joint exercise involving ten nations' fleets.

"Mr. President, this is the latest intelligence we received today."

In the underground command center of The White House, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.

The intelligence officer's face was pale, and his voice trembled slightly.

On the massive screen, the live footage of the Long Country's "China Core" launch event was displayed, along with K-line charts showing the global stock market in the red.

"The advent of the Pangu Chip has completely destroyed our advantage in the semiconductor industry in the US. Companies like Intel and Nvidia have seen their market value shrink by over 90% and have already announced they are entering bankruptcy liquidation!"

"Our tech hegemony, which we were so proud of, has been completely crushed by the people of the Long Country in just a few short months!"

The intelligence officer's voice was filled with endless despair.

The President's face drained of all color; he slammed his fist onto the table with a loud "bang."

"Damn it! Damn it! This is impossible!"

His voice carried unprecedented anger and hysteria.

He could not accept that this Eastern country, which he had once viewed as "backward," could erupt with such astonishing technological power in such a short time!

"Mr. President, we can no longer sit by and wait for death!" The Secretary of Defense stood up, his gaze cold and resolute. "The people of the Long Country have already launched an all-out offensive against us in the fields of technology and finance!"

"If we don't strike back, we in the US will be reduced to a second-rate nation!"

"Strike back? How can we strike back?!" the Secretary of the Treasury said with a bitter smile. "Our economy is on the verge of collapse, our financial firewall has been breached, and our allies are defecting to them, tempted by the Long Country's 'dirt-cheap chips'!"

"They no longer need our technology, nor do they fear our sanctions!"

"Then let us respond with our most powerful weapon!" the Secretary of Defense roared. "Since technology and finance won't work, then we'll use military force! Let them know who the true hegemon of this world is!"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed the President's eyes.

He knew this was their final trump card.

"Immediately summon all our allies in the Pacific!" the President's voice was cold and resolute. "We will show the Long Country who the true master of these waters is!"

"Order the Pacific Fleet to immediately enter the highest level of combat readiness! Notify our allies—Neon, the Kangaroo Nation, the Curry Nation, John Bull, and the Gallic Chicken Nation—to hold a joint military exercise of unprecedented scale!"

"The location shall be the disputed waters of the South China Sea near the Long Country!"

"We will let them know that our fist is still the hardest in this world!"

At the President's command, the entire US military machine instantly began operating at high speed.

Over the Pacific, dark clouds gathered and fighter jets roared.

Dozens of aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and thousands of fighter jets from every corner of the Pacific, like sharks smelling blood, rapidly assembled and sped toward the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

A military exercise meant to shock the world began on an unprecedented scale!

Global media was once again shocked by this move from the US.

"The US assembles a ten-nation fleet for joint exercises in the South China Sea, pointing its sword at the Long Country!"

"Geopolitical tensions intensify; a world war is on the verge of breaking out!"

"How will the Long Country respond to the US's military provocation?"

News headlines were filled with the shadows of war.

International oil prices soared, global stock markets fluctuated again, and panic spread rapidly.

At the Long Country's supreme command center, Elder Chen looked with a grave expression at the massive screen, watching the dense ten-nation fleet gathering toward the Long Country's waters like locusts.

"Comrade Lin Yun, the US is truly desperate this time." Elder Chen's voice carried a hint of worry. "They have assembled over one hundred main warships, thousands of fighter jets, and one hundred thousand troops! This is no longer just an exercise; this is a naked military threat!"

Xiao Zhang also stood nearby, his fists clenched tightly, his eyes filled with anger.

"These bandits! Since they can't compete in technology, they want to use force to suppress us! We must never let them succeed!"

Lin Yun stood before the massive screen, calmly watching the vast fleet. There was not a ripple in his eyes.

It was as if what he saw was merely a group of paper tigers, vulnerable to a single blow.

"Elder Chen, it is time for the US's military hegemony to be broken." Lin Yun's voice was like a gentle breeze over a hillside—calm yet filled with power.

"They think that by relying on a few aircraft carriers and fighter jets, they can change the world order? They underestimate our Long Country, and they underestimate the power of technological progress."

Elder Chen looked at Lin Yun, his eyes filled with anticipation.

He knew that every time at a critical moment, Lin Yun could produce a solution that transcended the era and solved the problem.

"Comrade Lin Yun, do you have a way to deal with them?" Elder Chen asked.

Lin Yun smiled slightly without answering directly.

In his mind, the system was sending a familiar notification tone.

[Ding! Detected that the host is facing a high-intensity military threat! The system is matching a solution for you...]

[Congratulations, Host! Your second S-rank offspring is about to be born! Their birth will be accompanied by a 'birth gift' sufficient to change the military landscape!]

Lin Yun's gaze turned toward the window, to the distant and tranquil night sky.

He knew that Nightingale's due date was also approaching.

What would that "birth gift" be?

He looked forward to seeing what kind of powerful black technology that "surprise," enough to reduce the US ten-nation fleet to ashes, would be!

He believed this would be the most painful price the US would pay for their arrogance and stupidity!