116: Chapter 116 Craig's Last Madness: Mutual Destruction?
The cheers from the Dragon Country's lunar celebration were like the sharpest needles, densely piercing Craig's already scarred heart. He hid in that isolated safe house, the screen looping the magnificent sight of the "Guanghan Palace" port and the overwhelming celebrations on Earth. As for him, he was like a husk drained of its soul, curled up in the shadows, with only the flames of utter madness remaining in his eyes.
It's over, everything is over.
His career, the ambitions of the forces behind him, the hegemony of the Pretty Country in space... everything had been crushed to dust before that soaring dragon of the East. Continuous failures had long since caused him to lose all chips for a comeback and his last shred of sanity.
"It can't end like this... I can't... they shouldn't expect to have it easy either!" He suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes staring fixedly at the image of "Guanghan Palace" on the screen, a beast-like low growl emitting from his throat. An extreme, dangerous, and bone-chillingly hateful thought grew wildly in his mind—since he couldn't win, then they would all be destroyed together!
He no longer hoped to seize technology or find "Patriot X"; what he wanted was the most direct, most violent destruction! His targets pointed straight at the Dragon Country's seemingly impregnable Moon Base, as well as the key nodes supporting its Earth-Moon linkage!
Like a dying trapped beast, he used his last strength to activate the ultimate emergency protocol he had reserved, one that very few people inside the CIA even knew about—"Ragnarok". This protocol authorized him to mobilize a group of "dead soldiers" in deep hibernation, lurking near critical infrastructure under various covert identities, as well as several strictly sealed, asymmetric, strategic-level destruction devices.
His instructions were simple yet insane:
"Target one: Northwest Dragon Country, the 'Golden Crow' fusion demonstration reactor and main energy hub. At all costs, create a core meltdown accident!"
"Target two: Western Xinjiang, Dragon Country, the location of the 'Tian Suan Center' and the 'system' host. Detonate the pre-set physical explosives to destroy its core computing unit!"
"Target three: Southeast coast of the Dragon Country, one of the main quantum communication ground stations. Execute a high-intensity electromagnetic pulse attack to paralyze its connection with the moon!"
He wanted to sever the Dragon Country's energy lifeline, intelligent brain, and communication nerves all at once! Even if it meant triggering localized ecological disasters, massive humanitarian crises, and unpredictable international consequences, he would not hesitate! This was a typical desperate mentality of "if I can't have it, I'll destroy it," attempting to drag the Dragon Country back into the same quagmire as him through the most extreme means, not even stopping at dragging the entire human civilization into darkness.
The instructions were sent through untraceable secret channels, and several deadly cards were quietly played. Several "dead soldiers" disguised as engineers, cleaners, or even local farmers received the final order and began to quietly approach their targets. The tactical nuclear devices (with yields precisely controlled to trigger a fusion reactor chain reaction) and large electromagnetic pulse bombs, sealed in special containers and originating from a crazy plan during the Cold War, had their safety locks remotely disengaged.
Craig did not know, or perhaps he deliberately ignored one fact—during the time he was bumping into walls like a headless fly, the "S.H.I.E.L.D." led by Long Zhantian had long since used the prototype of the "network" and the powerful analytical capabilities of the "system" to make the country as secure as an iron bucket. Especially regarding those known or potential threat nodes, surveillance had never relaxed for a single moment.
The moment the "Ragnarok" order was issued, its abnormal information flow and energy signals immediately triggered the dragnet set by the "system"!
"Report! Multiple high-risk threat signals detected as active! Targets point to our energy, computing, and communication core facilities!"
"Threat level: Maximum! Determined to be of destructive intent!"
"All preset emergency plans activated! 'Great Wall' countermeasure system on standby!"
Long Zhantian received the alert at the Beijing Command Center, his eyes instantly becoming as cold as knives. He felt not a shred of panic, only a coldness of "it's finally here."
"Execute according to Plan One. Authorize the 'Great Wall' system to implement 'physical elimination' on all identified threat sources." His order was concise and lethal.
The moment the order was issued:
Somewhere in the Northwest, a "dead soldier" had just approached the outer perimeter of the "Golden Crow" demonstration reactor. Before he could make a move, an anesthetic dart shot from a hidden location accurately hit his neck, causing him to instantly lose consciousness.
In Western Xinjiang, on the outskirts of the "Tian Suan Center", two "dead soldiers" attempting to detonate pre-set explosives were subdued with lightning speed by a special operations team that had long been lying in wait.
On the southeast coast, the vehicle transporting the electromagnetic pulse bomb was forced to a stop by roadblocks and armed personnel several kilometers away from the ground station, and everyone in the vehicle was captured.
The "Ragnarok" plan, in which Craig had placed high hopes and which was capable of triggering a disaster, was silently strangled in the cradle by the Dragon Country's extremely tight defense system before it could even cause a ripple.
In the safe house, Craig watched the scene of the Dragon Country on the screen, still peaceful and filled with lingering celebrations, and his own terminal signals that were rapidly turning grey and losing connection; he finally understood completely.
He didn't even have the qualification... to go down in flames together.
Immense despair and a sense of powerlessness, like a cold tide, completely submerged his last shred of madness. He slumped in his chair, staring at the ceiling, and emitted a strange, nonsensical sound, a mixture of crying and laughing.
His madness ultimately only proved his opponent's strength and unshakability, and it also tolled the final knell for his own end.