289: 28th minute

"This is the finale of Minister Lavitz's 'final offensive.' It is not a military confrontation, but an indiscriminate massacre of civilians, a violation of the bottom line of humanity. Under those ruins they 'purified,' there is nothing but stones. But three kilometers away, the blood of children is real."

"Soldiers of Squid Nation, look at what your superiors ordered you to do. People of the world, look at how this country, which calls itself 'civilized and democratic,' has revealed its fangs in failure and madness."

"Lavitz has fallen. But the crimes must be settled. Gaza is still here, the resistance is still here. We still stand by our conditions: complete withdrawal of troops, lifting the blockade, compensation for reconstruction, and accountability for war responsibilities."

"Or, you can continue to try to 'purify' us. Let's see if you have more bombs, or if the will to survive nurtured by this land is stronger."

The video stopped abruptly here.

Global public opinion completely exploded. If the previous 'Steel Coffin Fleet' was primarily a military disaster, this time, it was a complete and irrefutable moral collapse. The ironclad evidence of using banned weapons, attacking civilian facilities (even simulated ones), and causing civilian casualties was as solid as a mountain.

The Squid Nation government held a press conference overnight. The newly appointed acting Minister of Defense (formerly the Deputy Minister) denied the use of banned weapons with a pale face, claiming they targeted 'legitimate military targets' and that the video was 'forged and edited,' but his tone was weak and riddled with loopholes. The Prime Minister's Office urgently issued a statement, announcing an indefinite suspension of all large-scale military operations in Gaza and calling for an 'immediate unconditional humanitarian ceasefire,' expressing willingness to accept an international investigation.

But it was already too late. A wave of protests swept from within Squid Nation to major cities in Europe and America, and anti-war marches even broke out in many Jewish communities. Governments of various countries, including some traditional allies of the USA, had to issue statements expressing 'serious concern over allegations of using banned weapons' and demanding a 'thorough and transparent international investigation.'

In the USA, the White House and the Pentagon, which were originally planning operations against Yemen, were caught off guard by this sudden and even uglier public relations disaster. They had to temporarily press the pause button on their operations to handle the immediate crisis with their ally.

On the ruins of the Gaza Strip, a tattered but still standing flag fluttered slightly in the morning light. Sinwar walked out of the hidden exit of the underground command post, breathing the air filled with gunpowder and dust, looking out at the battle line that was gradually quieting down in the distance.

He knew that the cruelest fighting might have come to a temporary end, but the political and diplomatic contest had only just begun. And he had already won the most favorable position and the heaviest bargaining chips for the upcoming negotiations.

Zhang Cheng watched all this in Naypyidaw and nodded slightly. Sinwar had done a beautiful job. Lavitz, the biggest stumbling block, had been removed in the most disgraceful way. Next, it was time to see how to transform military victory into tangible political results.

His gaze turned toward Yemen again. Over there, things probably wouldn't go so smoothly. The USA's retaliation would not stop easily. Houssa, are you ready?

Yemen, Sanaa Republican Palace, Underground Strategic Command Center.

Houssa stood before a massive electronic sand table, which clearly marked the real-time situation across Yemen, the Red Sea coast, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The green representing their controlled areas already covered most of the key regions on the map, but red light dots representing potential threats were faintly approaching from several directions.

"President, here is the latest intelligence summary." Chief of General Staff Major General Adil (a Death Soldier) pointed to the sand table. "On the Saudi Arabia border, the 5th Armored Brigade and a mechanized infantry brigade are massing toward Najran, showing signs of cross-border probing. In the Red Sea, although the USA's 'USS Dwight D. Eisenhower' carrier strike group remains three hundred kilometers away, its carrier-based aircraft activity has increased, and E-2D Hawkeyes are continuously patrolling the edge of the airspace. More notably, we have detected at least three midget submarines of unknown nationality and over twenty suspected armed speedboats lingering outside our territorial waters in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, seemingly conducting hydrological reconnaissance and surveying infiltration routes."

"The Americans' tricks," Houssa sneered. "They fear our 'DF-21D' in a direct assault, so they want to play with special operations infiltration, proxy harassment, or create 'accidental conflicts' to find an excuse. The Saudis are nothing more than their pawns and probing tools."

"Our 'Coastal Defense-1' system and the newly added 'YJ-18' system deployed along the coastline are sufficient to cover the entire strait and most of the coastal areas," Adil said with confidence. "As long as they dare to enter, we can keep them here. On the land border, our tribal militias and the First and Second Mechanized Brigades are no pushovers either."

Houssa nodded but frowned slightly. "I'm not worried about the equipment and defensive lines. What I worry about is the internal situation. Our nation hasn't been established for long. The various tribes, surrendered personnel from the former government army, and those old bureaucrats with ulterior motives may not all be truly loyal. The Americans are best at creating internal rifts. The security of Sanaa and the personnel screening of all key departments must be flawless. Notify the 'Ministry of Internal Affairs' (controlled by loyal Death Soldiers) to activate the 'Scavenger' contingency plan, conduct strict surveillance on suspicious personnel, and take preemptive action if necessary."

"Yes!" Adil stood at attention.

At that moment, a communications officer walked over quickly. "President, an urgent encrypted communication from Naypyidaw, President Zhang Cheng."

Houssa immediately went to the secure communications room. Zhang Cheng's face appeared on the screen.

"Houssa, over in Gaza, Sinwar has dealt the final blow to Lavitz. Squid Nation has effectively declared a ceasefire and is leaning toward the negotiating table." Zhang Cheng got straight to the point. "But the Americans' anger needs an outlet. You and Yemen are now their most likely targets. They won't dare a large-scale invasion, but special operations sabotage, proxy attacks, economic blockades, and internal subversion will surely follow one after another."

"I understand, President," Houssa answered steadily. "We are already prepared. The coastal defenses are rock-solid, and internal purging has begun. If the Saudis dare to come, we will break their claws. If the Americans play dirty, we will make sure their people never return."

"Good," Zhang Cheng praised. "But it's not enough. Passive defense will always reveal weaknesses. We must actively shape the situation. I approve your previous proposal regarding opening the 'Red Sea-Gulf of Aden Maritime Security Corridor' and establishing links with coastal powers like Eritrea and Somaliland. You can use some of the captured old patrol boats and light weapons as bargaining chips to exchange for port usage rights and intelligence cooperation, expanding our strategic depth and early warning range."