284: Chapter 284 The Silent Thorn and the Key to Deceiving the World

The video was only two minutes long, but it left all viewers feeling as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.

In the footage, although the faces were processed, the distinctive "Gray Wolf" combat uniforms, equipment models, and the crystal-clear close-up of the "McLean, R., Colonel" ID tag at the end were enough to explain everything.

"Gray Wolf" Team A, wiped out; commander captured.

Disgrace. An unprecedented disgrace.

Meanwhile, in the jungles of eastern Shan State, the fate of Team B was also sealed.

When Major Calvin led Team B to finally approach the so-called "Team A rendezvous point," what awaited them were not their comrades, but the main force of "Shadow Blade" lying in ambush on the surrounding high ground, along with "Swarm" attack drones descending silently from the sky.

The battle broke out briefly but intensely. Team B showed extremely strong adaptability the moment they were ambushed, but having lost the initiative, with communications jammed, and facing a three-dimensional strike from an overwhelming force and the drone Swarm, their resistance was crushed within twenty minutes.

Major Calvin was wounded and captured by a small grenade launched from a drone while attempting to call for air support (despite knowing the hope was slim). Of the twenty men in Team B, eight were killed on the spot, seven including Calvin were captured, and the remaining five scattered and fled into the jungle during the chaos. However, they were continuously tracked and driven by subsequent drones and ground patrols; eventually, three were captured due to injuries, and two were discovered and detained by Thai border guards near the borderline (sparking another diplomatic incident).

By this point, more than two-thirds of the "Gray Wolf" special operations detachment sent for "Operation Blunt Knife" had been annihilated or captured, with only a few lucky enough to escape. The mission was a total failure.

The next morning, the press briefing room at the Presidential Palace in Naypyidaw.

This was the first public response from the Federation of Myanmar government after the incident. There were not many foreign journalists present, but they were all representatives of major news agencies and key media outlets stationed in Myanmar.

The spokesperson was not Li Lanzhi, but a serious-looking official from the Ministry of Defense.

"Ladies and gentlemen, last night, our border defense forces and national security agencies successfully thwarted a large-scale illegal infiltration operation by foreign armed personnel in the eastern Shan State region."

The journalists below pricked up their ears. They had heard some rumors, but the official tone being so direct was still surprising.

"The infiltrators were well-equipped and highly trained, attempting to sabotage our country's critical infrastructure. After warnings proved ineffective, our border defense forces took decisive measures in accordance with the law and launched a resolute counterattack."

The spokesperson displayed some processed photos—wreckage of equipment with clear foreign military characteristics, some seized firearms (with serial numbers blurred), and... footage of several individuals in foreign combat uniforms being escorted with their heads covered (faces and identifying features completely obscured).

"In this operation, a total of fifteen illegal militants were killed and eleven were captured. Several of our officers and soldiers sustained minor injuries, with no fatalities. We sternly warn certain countries and forces that any action attempting to undermine the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of the Federation of Myanmar will surely meet a head-on blow and pay a heavy price."

"Regarding the identity and subsequent handling of the captives, it will be carried out in accordance with our national laws and relevant international law. We urge the relevant countries to face the facts and stop all hostile and infiltrative actions against our country."

The statement was brief, mentioning neither the USA nor "Gray Wolf," but all the hints were in place. The journalists asked questions frantically, but the spokesperson brushed them all off with 'details are pending further investigation.'

But the news had already spread like wildfire. Combined with the "limited live stream" clips received earlier, the intelligence communities and military high commands of the relevant countries were in an uproar and filled with fury.

Naypyidaw, Underground Command Center.

Zhang Cheng looked at the scrolling global news reports and intelligence summaries, saying to Old K and Li Lanzhi, "Phase one is a complete victory. The 'Gray Wolf'—this blunt knife—has had its edge dulled."

"The USA's reaction is intense. Statements from the Pentagon and the State Department are expected within hours; the wording will be very tough, possibly accompanied by threats of a new round of sanctions, and even a show of force in the South China Sea or the Gulf of Thailand cannot be ruled out," Li Lanzhi reported.

"What about Dragon Country?" Zhang Cheng asked.

"Envoy Zhao Gang just sent a secret telegram. Dragon Country highly appreciates our ability to maintain sovereignty and security and reiterates its support for us. They suggest we maintain a posture of being 'justified, advantageous, and restrained,' and that we can privately engage in 'crisis management' contact with the US side through channels, but must remain tough on a public level. Dragon Country is willing to provide necessary diplomatic mediation."

Zhang Cheng nodded. Dragon Country's attitude was as expected; it was the strongest backing.

"How should we handle those captives, especially McLean?" Old K asked.

"Detain them separately and conduct strict interrogations. The focus is to obtain 'Gray Wolf's' tactical manuals, equipment data, and high-level decision-making information related to this operation. Watch your methods; don't leave any evidence behind. These people are the cards in our hand," Zhang Cheng mused. "As for the display... too much is as bad as too little. Yesterday's 'limited live stream' and today's press conference are enough. Any more provocation, and those people in Washington will truly be driven to desperation."

He stood up and walked to the world map.

"This crushing defeat of 'Gray Wolf' will make them hesitate in special operations in the short term. But the pressure won't disappear; it will only transform. Economic sanctions and technological blockades will intensify, cyberattacks will escalate, and diplomatic isolation will strengthen. At the same time, they will definitely step up efforts to find new proxies in Southeast Asia or plan more covert and insidious actions."

Zhang Cheng turned around, his eyes burning brightly.

"Therefore, we cannot stop. The two fires in the Middle East must continue to burn brightly, burning so much that Lavitz and the Saudi Crown Prince cannot sleep. Domestic construction must accelerate, especially the integration of 'Shuguang Technology's' physical industries and defense industry. The second phase of the Kyaukpyu Port to Kunming oil and gas pipeline project proposed by Dragon Country must be implemented as soon as possible; it is our economic lifeline and strategic bond."

"Additionally," he pulled up the system interface, looking at the generous bonus point reward for successfully defending against and annihilating "Gray Wolf," as well as a new prompt that popped up. "The system's evaluation of 'successfully implementing a high-level technical asymmetric defensive war' is very high, unlocking a new exchange category—initial access to the 'Battlefield Environment Shaping and Deception System.' This thing... is quite interesting."

Old K and Li Lanzhi looked at the brief description on the screen: it included advanced meteorological intervention equipment, temporary terrain modification technology, large-scale holographic projection camouflage arrays, and more... It sounded like science fiction, but coming from the system, it meant it was possible to achieve.