75: Chapter 75 The Allies' Revelry and the Opponents' Lament
The declaration by Dragon Country to establish a global quantum communication standard was like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up two completely different waves in the international community. On one side was a rush to embrace and celebrate, while on the other was indescribable despair and wailing.
Polar Bear Country, the Kremlin.
Inside the presidential office, the leader known for his tough stance watched the image of the Dragon Country press conference ending on the screen and, without hesitation, grabbed the dedicated line to the top leader of Dragon Country. His movements even carried a hint of urgency.
"My friend!" Once the call connected, his booming voice echoed through the secure room. "Congratulations on achieving such a stunning success! 'Mozi Network', quantum communication... This is not just a victory for Dragon Country, but a shared victory for all countries longing to break free from the shackles of hegemony!"
He skipped the pleasantries and cut straight to the point: "We, Polar Bear Country, are willing to become the first international partner of 'Mozi Network'! We need it, immediately, right now! Our diplomatic, military, and energy sectors have had enough of the all-pervasive surveillance!" His tone was resolute, filled with deep detestation for Pretty Country's cyber hegemony.
A few hours later, the official website of the Dragon Country Ministry of Foreign Affairs and official media simultaneously released a brief but weighty message: "Dragon Country and Polar Bear Country have officially signed the 'Memorandum of Understanding on Jointly Building Quantum Secure Communication Channels' today. Both sides will build the first cross-border, absolutely secure information corridor based on Dragon Country's 'Mozi' technology."
Once the news broke, the whole world took notice. The public and elite classes of Polar Bear Country were jubilant, as this meant their most critical communications would receive indestructible protection, gaining a vital "information shield" in the increasingly fierce confrontation with the West. On the streets of Moscow, some even spontaneously raised glasses to celebrate, calling it a historic step "towards true information sovereignty."
European Union, Brussels headquarters.
The atmosphere here was much more complex. Inside the classical-style conference hall, the arguing was loud enough to almost lift the carved dome.
"We must follow up immediately! This is the ticket to future technology! Are we still going to cling to that old network which has already been proven to be riddled with holes, just to wait and be abandoned by the era?" The representative from Gaul Country waved his arms excitedly. Multiple high-end manufacturing and financial enterprises in his country had already placed immense pressure on him, demanding to connect to the quantum network as soon as possible to ensure the security of commercial secrets.
"Calm down! Hans! We need to consider our alliance! As for Pretty Country..." The representative from Germanic Country was relatively cautious, but his brow was full of struggle. He knew well the extreme demands for data security in his country's Industry 4.0 and precision manufacturing, and the temptation of 'Mozi Network' was fatal.
"Pretty Country? Besides sanctions and surveillance, what else can they give us? A broken, old system that they can't even protect themselves?" The representative from Italy Country scoffed. "Be realistic, Gentlemen! A technological generation gap has already appeared, and the result of picking the wrong side is being completely marginalized!"
The meeting lasted from daytime until late at night, with coffee cups piling up at the corners of the table. Ultimately, driven by fierce debate and huge realistic interests, European Union reluctantly reached a consensus: authorize the committee to immediately contact Dragon Country to explore the possibility of conducting quantum communication technology cooperation in "specific non-sensitive fields." This was undoubtedly a huge crack pried open in the old order dominated by Pretty Country.
Japan, Tokyo, Prime Minister's Official Residence.
The atmosphere was even more oppressive, like a storm about to arrive.
The cabinet members kept their heads down, with no one daring to speak first. On one side was the strongly worded "reminder" call just made by the Pretty Country commander stationed in Japan, demanding they "consider carefully and maintain the unity of the alliance of common values." On the other side was a joint report submitted by giant conglomerates like Mitsubishi, Toyota, and Sony, with wording that was almost pleading. The core idea was only one: if they did not connect to the quantum network, Japan's cutting-edge industries would fall completely behind in information security, and their competitiveness would vanish!
"Prime Minister..." the Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke with difficulty. "On the Dragon Country side... could we perhaps first conduct some low-level technical exchanges?"
"Baka!" the Minister of Defense slammed the table. "This is a strategic issue! Not a technical one! Once we connect, won't all our movements be... in front of Dragon Country?"
"Aren't we transparent already?!" an official from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry couldn't help but retort, his voice filled with grief and indignation. "Under the old network, haven't we always been transparent people to Pretty Country? At least Dragon Country has provided a promise of 'absolute security'!"
The meeting ended on a sour note with no conclusion. But the internal division and anxiety within Japan had already been exposed without reservation. On the internet, public panic was spreading, and dissatisfaction with the government's incompetence was fermenting.
Pretty Country, White House, underground strategic conference room.
This was the center of the wailing.
The President's face was livid. Watching the news flash about Polar Bear Country and Dragon Country signing an agreement, as well as the briefing that European Union was in contact with Dragon Country, he was shaking with rage. Scattered on the table in front of him were urgent letters from Silicon Valley giants and Wall Street bankers, all requesting the government to "come up with countermeasures as soon as possible" or to "seek technical cooperation with Dragon Country."
"Traitors! They are all a bunch of traitors!" he roared in a low voice, yet it sounded so powerless.
The acting director of the CIA reported cautiously: "...Our allies... are wavering. According to the latest 'Prism'... no, traditional surveillance channel feedback, many of their high-level communications have started to shift to more primitive, non-electronic methods, clearly to guard against us... and also against the possible existence of new channels that we cannot monitor."
This meant that the global surveillance system that Pretty Country had operated for decades was not only being crushed by Dragon Country at the technical level, but was also beginning to collapse at the level of trust!
Meanwhile at NASA, the despair of Dr. Green had reached its peak. She looked at the huge map of the Solar System on her office wall. Once, it marked the glorious footprints of human exploration, but now it seemed to have turned into a huge notice board filled with "Road Closed."
"Quantum standard... they have established the quantum standard..." she muttered to herself, her eyes hollow, "We... we don't even have the qualification to compete anymore..."
Carnival and wailing, like ice and fire, were violently colliding at two extremes of the world. The hegemon of the past was struggling and wailing in the information cage it had built with its own hands, while the new leader was calmly weaving the net of rules that belonged to the future with its irrefutable technical strength. This net was named "Mozi". Its first node had already been lit. Who would be the next?