180: Chapter 180 Gunshots Settle the State, the Lifetime President Ascends the Throne

"I agree too! Only Chairman Zhang can save Myanmar!"

"We were confused before! Now we understand! We must centralize power! We must unite!"

"If anyone dares to oppose Chairman Zhang, I'll be the first to disagree!"

In an instant, the hall was filled with voices pledging loyalty, everyone scrambling to be first, fearing that a slow shout would be misunderstood by Zhang Cheng.

Of course, there were one or two "tough nuts."

In a corner, a young politician—perhaps he had studied himself into stupidity, or perhaps there was the shadow of the USA behind him—stood up tremblingly.

"Gen... General Zhang, I feel... the procedure is still somewhat improper... a vote under this kind of violent coercion, the international community will not rec—"

*Bang!*

A gunshot rang out.

Before the young man could finish, a red dot appeared on his brow, and his whole body fell straight backward, splashing blood all over the person next to him.

It wasn't Zhang Cheng who fired.

It was Night Owl, standing in the shadows. He blew on the faint smoke from the muzzle as if he had just done something insignificant.

"Sorry, it misfired."

Night Owl said coldly, his gaze sweeping across the room like a venomous snake. "Does anyone else feel the procedure is improper?"

The entire hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone held their breath; even the person who had just been splashed with blood didn't dare to wipe it off.

"You see, this is very awkward." Zhang Cheng shook his head with a look of regret. "There are always one or two extremists who want to destroy our unity. But it's fine; I believe the majority are rational."

"Now, let the formal voting begin."

This time, there was no suspense.

Votes in favor: 100%.

No abstentions, no opposition.

When the words 'Unanimously Passed' appeared on the large screen, Zhang Cheng finally showed a satisfied smile.

"Very good."

He stood up, and thunderous applause followed; though everyone's hands were shaking, the applause was more enthusiastic and rhythmic than ever before.

"Since everyone trusts me so much, I shall not decline."

Zhang Cheng announced: "As of today, all local armed designations are abolished. The country is divided into five directly-controlled war zones, and all administrative power belongs to the Central Government!"

"I, Zhang Cheng, assume office as the Federation's first Life-term President!"

"Long live! Long live! Long live!"

The cheers shook the heavens. Regardless of whether it was sincere, at this moment, no one dared to say a single 'no.'

After the meeting ended, Zhang Cheng stood on the balcony of the Parliament Building, looking at the new national flag fluttering in the square below.

Li Lanzhi stood beside him, looking at this man who had ascended to the pinnacle of power. Her eyes were full of admiration, but also a hint of hidden worry.

"Brother Cheng, is this... a bit too ruthless? Internationally..."

"Ruthless?"

Zhang Cheng turned his head and looked into the distance. "Lan Zhi, these are the rules of chaotic times. Without thunderous methods, one cannot show a Buddha's heart. If I don't kill these people, Myanmar will remain in chaos for another fifty years, and millions more will die. By killing these few hundred parasites, I exchange them for the peace of the entire nation."

"As for the international community..."

Zhang Cheng gave a cold laugh, casting his gaze toward the West. "The Americans are busy with their general election and can't even look after themselves. As long as we boost our economy, sell rare earths to the Dragon Kingdom, and open our ports to the Dragon Kingdom, with that great tree behind us, who would dare touch us?"

"Next comes the real hard battle."

Zhang Cheng clenched his fist, the light of ambition flashing in his eyes.

"Focus on construction! Focus on the economy! Within five years, I will turn this place into the most prosperous area in Southeast Asia! When that time comes, I'll make those who cursed me in their hearts today kneel on the ground tomorrow and beg me for a single glance!"

Naypyidaw, in the top-secret strategic room deep within the Presidential Palace.

The sky outside wasn't fully bright yet, and the air still carried the burnt smell and blood-scent left by last night's 'barbecue feast,' but Zhang Cheng's mood at this moment was more brilliant than the morning sun outside.

He sat in the large office chair symbolizing the highest power of the nation. He wasn't holding a pen, but a cup of freshly ground Blue Mountain coffee. His eyes were unfocused, staring at the air—to an outsider, he was in deep thought, but in reality, his consciousness had already sunk into the blue ocean of the System.

"System, report current point balance," Zhang Cheng commanded in his mind.

[Ding—]

A crisp, pleasant notification sound followed, and then a string of numbers that made Zhang Cheng's heart skip a beat.

[Congratulations to the Host for completing the Epic Mission: 'Unification of the Realm'! Completely cleared domestic separatist forces and established a unified central regime!] [Mission Rating: SSS (Perfect)!] [Base Reward Points: 2,000,000!] [Combined with the previous accumulated balance, current total available points: 2,654,300!]

"Two point six million..."

Zhang Cheng's hand trembled, and a few drops of scalding coffee splashed onto the back of his hand, but he didn't feel the pain at all.

I'm rich! I'm really rich this time!

You have to know, in the past, he had to calculate carefully for days just to exchange a few hundred thousand points for a tank regiment. Now, clutching over two million, he felt like a poor kid who had suddenly won the super lottery and was standing at the door of an LV store wanting to buy out the whole shop!

"Old K." Zhang Cheng set down his cup, his voice carrying an irrepressible pride.

In the shadows, Old K's statue-like figure appeared: "Here, Master."

"Send word that the first supreme military expansion meeting after the founding of the nation will be held tomorrow. Also..." Zhang Cheng stood up and walked to the massive electronic map covering an entire wall. His gaze moved from the land to that azure ocean—the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

That place was Myanmar's soft underbelly and also the throat leading to the world.

"Before, we were landlubbers, playing king of the hill in the mountain gullies. Now that the country is unified, if we don't have a few ships to hold down the fort, wouldn't we be a joke?" Zhang Cheng waved his hand grandly. "System, open the Naval Exchange List!"

The light screen shifted, and countless models of warships emerged before his eyes.

['Aegis' Class Destroyer (Full Spec): 50,000 points/ship] ['Kilo' Class Conventional Submarine (Enhanced Silent Version): 20,000 points/ship] [Type 065 10,000-ton Destroyer (System Modified Version): 80,000 points/ship] [Amphibious Assault Ship (with VTOL aircraft): 150,000 points/ship] ...

Looking at these gold-consuming beasts, the corner of Zhang Cheng's eye twitched. Over two million looked like a lot, but if he really wanted to form a carrier strike group, it would probably only be enough to make a splash.

"No rush for the aircraft carrier; that thing is too flashy, and the current strategic focus is coastal defense and the security of the Indian Ocean passage." Zhang Cheng quickly calmed down and began constructing the most cost-effective plan in his mind.

"Exchange! Four Type 065 10,000-ton destroyers (System Version)!"

These were true 'Sword-bearing Guards.' With these, if the Americans' carriers wanted to wander into the Andaman Sea again, they'd have to consider whether the missiles in those 112 vertical launch cells would agree!

"Consuming 320,000 points!"

"Give me eight Type 032A frigates! These things are sturdy and durable, jacks-of-all-trades for anti-submarine and air defense! Unit price 15,000, consuming 120,000 points!"

"Can't forget the submarines; we need trump cards underwater. Give me sixteen 'Ocean Black Hole' Kilo-class modified submarines! Consuming 120,000 points!"

After this wave, 560,000 points were gone. Although Zhang Cheng felt the sting, looking at the fleet gradually taking shape in the virtual space, he felt truly at ease.