293: Chapter 293 National Paralysis

The Chief of General Staff's villa: A thermobaric bomb detonated outside the ventilation ducts. There was no massive explosion, only a dull roar absorbed by the earth. The villa shook slightly. The video conference inside the underground safe room was abruptly cut off, and all monitoring screens turned to static. Surface guards rushed into the villa to find the heavy steel door to the basement intact, but charred heat and an indescribable smell of cooked meat were seeping through the cracks...

The Mossad Director's safe house: A straight red line suddenly lit up on the wall behind him. Immediately, the wall was silently and neatly sliced open along the red line. A jet of high-temperature molten metal pierced his body, pinning him and his chair to the opposite wall. The cutting cord cooled rapidly after finishing its job, leaving the wall's incision smooth, as if it had always been a secret door.

Other target locations: The Dean of the Haifa Military Academy was strangled in his study; the far-right Finance Minister was blown to pieces by a miniature car bomb in his garage; a pro-war TV tycoon was killed by a poison needle in his dressing room during a broadcast break; another cabinet minister had his throat slit by an intruding "Ghost" at his mistress's home...

Ten locations, near-simultaneous.

Precise, cold, and efficient.

As Tel Aviv police, Mossad agents, and military rapid response forces rushed to the various scenes like headless flies, all "Shadow Dancer" assassins had already vanished into the vast crowds or the city's underground pipe network according to pre-set, complex escape routes. They left behind only the lifeless bodies of the powerful and that cold badge, seemingly mocking, engraved with crossed rifles and a map of Gaza.

22:07, only seven minutes since the start of the operation.

The key figures of Squid Nation's supreme decision-making body, military command core, and media mouthpieces were almost entirely wiped out.

In the wake of blood and death, a massive, suffocating vacuum of power emerged.

22:10, Squid Nation's national television, major news websites, and news agencies were simultaneously hacked. A brief statement in red letters on a black background scrolled in Arabic, Hebrew, and English:

"To the military and civilians of Squid Nation, and to the world:

Negotiations are dead; the lies have ended.

'Operation Eradication' has been completed. Ten war criminals, including Netani, Lavitz, and Elizer, have been executed.

This is the final response to the ongoing slaughter, deception, and delays.

The military must immediately cease all military operations, unconditionally withdraw from all occupied territories, and completely lift the blockade on Gaza.

Otherwise, the list will continue.

— Jiasha Resistance Organization High Command, Sinwar."

Below the statement were ten photos marked with blood-red "X"s.

The entire nation instantly fell into extreme panic and chaos. Sirens wailed wildly on the streets, the military was at a loss, government buildings were in disarray, and surviving high-ranking officials trembled, frantically increasing their security, none knowing if they were next.

In the White House Situation Room of the USA, the President and his staff were stunned by the emergency report, hardly able to believe their eyes. A single operation to decapitate almost the entire leadership of a nation? How was this possible?! What level of terrifying intelligence, infiltration, and operational capability would this require?!

"My God... they... they actually did it..." the Secretary of State murmured, his face pale. This meant that all their Middle East strategies were built on sand. An enemy capable of performing "surgical removals" on an ally's top leadership at any time was a nightmare no ally could endure.

"Immediately! Contact the remaining... damn it, who is still in charge in Squid Nation? Contact them! Order them to stay calm and not overreact! No... request them to!" The President was incoherent; he realized the situation had spiraled completely out of control, sliding toward the most unpredictable direction.

Meanwhile, the aircraft carrier "USS Dwight D. Eisenhower" in the Red Sea, though powerful, was helpless against this silent coup occurring on land. Houssa's missile batteries were pointed coldly at them.

Tel Aviv time, six hours after the operation, 4:00 AM.

In the emergency meeting hall of the Squid Nation Parliament House. The atmosphere was like a funeral home. Surviving cabinet members, parliamentarians, and military generals were huddled together, every face ashen and eyes filled with terror. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, smoke, and fear.

Pushed to the front to handle the situation was Levi, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio, who had originally been low in the rankings and relatively mild-tempered. He was now the nominal supreme leader. Sitting beside him were the junior Vice Chief of General Staff, who had also luckily escaped the list, and the new Acting Defense Minister (formerly the Minister of Logistics), who was so scared he was nearly wetting himself.

"Gentlemen... Ladies..." Levi's voice was dry and trembling, "We... we are experiencing the darkest moment in our nation's history. We must immediately decide how to respond... how to end this disaster."

"Respond? How else can we respond?" a far-right member of parliament screamed in a breakdown. "If they can kill the Prime Minister, they can kill all of us! My family has already hidden in the basement! How can we even fight this war?!"

"Our military! Our Mossad! Are they all useless?! Why couldn't they even protect the Prime Minister!" another minister roared, but his voice was full of helplessness.

Wiping away cold sweat, the Acting Defense Minister stammered, "The... the military's current state is unstable. Many unit commanders cannot be reached, or... or they are waiting to see. Frontline units report that the Resistance Organization in Gaza is slowly moving forward, but there is no large-scale offensive. They... they seem to be waiting for our answer."

"An answer? What answer? Surrender?!" someone bellowed.

"What else?!" Levi suddenly raised his voice, his tone tearful. "Do you want to wake up tomorrow morning and find yourselves on their new list?! Look outside! The people are in a panic, the military has lost its command, and the international community—besides issuing statements of 'deep concern' and 'calling for restraint'—what else can they do? The President of the USA just called; besides expressing shock and support, does he dare send a single soldier to protect us? Does he?!"

The meeting hall was deathly silent. The cruel reality lay before them: the top leadership had been wiped out, the state machinery was instantly paralyzed, external aid was a drop in the bucket for a fire nearby, and the lethal dagger could fall again at any moment.

"That statement... Sinwar's statement..." the Vice Chief of General Staff said in a low voice, "demands that we cease military operations, withdraw troops, and lift the blockade..."

"That is a humiliation! It's surrender!" someone objected, but the voice was weak.

"It's survival!" Levi roared with bloodshot eyes. "It's the only choice... to let this country, to let us, see the sun tomorrow! Do you want more Prime Ministers, ministers, and generals dying in their offices, at home, or even in their mistresses' beds?!"

Silence. A heavy, suffocating silence.

Finally, an elderly, originally neutral member of parliament spoke slowly: "Perhaps... it is time to end this war that has no winners, only endless pain. For the future of this country, so that no more children and mothers cry... we need the courage to admit defeat."