23: Chapter 23: Is the US breaching its defenses and seeking military pressure?

United States, The Pentagon, The President's Office.

The thick bulletproof glass completely isolated the clamor outside the window. The room was so quiet you could hear the faint hiss of the central air conditioning vent.

An oppressive anxiety permeated the air.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"

The slightly overweight US President, George, slammed his fist onto the hard mahogany desk, causing the pens in the pen holder to buzz.

Every inch of muscle on his flushed face expressed his fury.

"How long has it been? Twenty-four hours!"

"The Chinese have already been boasting to the heavens at the United Nations, and here I am, still having zero intelligence on their so-called 'Miracle Cancer Drug'!"

He stared fixedly at the head of the intelligence center before him, his eyes looking as if he wanted to devour the man whole.

"I don't even know if this news is true or false! Where is our intelligence network in China?"

"Are the hundreds of millions in annual funding fed to the dogs?!"

The head of intelligence broke out in a fine layer of cold sweat on his forehead. He swallowed hard, his voice dry.

"Mr. President... Our informants at every level cannot access the core information."

"China's level of secrecy this time... is the highest it has ever been."

He paused, seemingly organizing his words, and added:

"However... we detected an anomaly. China recently reactivated an abandoned underground base codenamed 'Dawn'."

"This base was built during the Cold War and theoretically should have long fallen into disuse."

"But recently, the energy signals and signs of personnel activity there... have been extremely active."

"Specific details?" George pressed.

"No specific details." The head of intelligence was almost in tears.

"Their defense system has been fully activated—physical isolation, signal jamming... Our people couldn't even get within five kilometers of the base perimeter."

"We suspect... this is related to their biological project."

George's expression grew even gloomier.

"Suspect? Isn't there even one piece! Even one word that can be confirmed?!"

Just then, the office door was pushed open, and a tall, broad-shouldered man walked in.

He was wearing a sharp suit, but his gait carried the unique steadiness and strength of a soldier.

It was the US Secretary of Defense, General Holman.

"Mr. President, there is no need to worry about such trivial matters."

Holman's voice was loud and confident, as if possessing a power that could soothe people's hearts.

He walked straight to the desk, ignoring the trembling head of intelligence, and offered George a relaxed smile.

George looked up, his anger still unspent.

"Trivial matters? Holman, the media around the world is cheering for China. They say China has grasped the Scepter of God! And you tell me this is a trivial matter?"

"A medical breakthrough is ultimately a blessing for all mankind, isn't it?"

Holman shrugged dismissively, his words carrying a deep-seated arrogance.

"The Chinese dare not, nor can they, hoard such technology. Otherwise, the spitting of the entire world could drown them."

He paused, a hint of disdain curving his lips.

"Just wait. Soon they will seek international cooperation or sell it at a high price. At that time, we can just spend some money to buy it."

"With our top US research teams, once we get a sample, is it really that hard to replicate? Maybe we can even do it better, at a lower cost."

The aides in the office heard this and the tension on their faces slightly eased.

That's right, this was the script they were familiar with.

George nodded thoughtfully; Holman's words seemed to hold some truth.

General Holman noticed the President's wavering. He stepped forward, lowering his voice slightly, making it more penetrating.

"Mr. President, please remember, in the rivalry between great powers, the final chip on the table will always be military might."

"Medicine can save people, but aircraft carriers and nuclear bombs can determine who is qualified to sit in the top seat on this planet."

His words resonated powerfully, and everyone in the office subconsciously straightened their backs.

That pride unique to the world's foremost military power instantly dispelled the gloom from moments before.

"We are still number one, and number one by a wide margin."

Holman surveyed the group, his tone decisive.

George finally managed a slight smile. He leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.

"You are right, Holman. The hundreds of billions in military spending paid by taxpayers are certainly not spent in vain."

"Certainly not," Holman interjected, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Therefore, we need to remind a certain country that is getting a bit too carried away."

He changed the subject and proposed a concrete suggestion.

"In a few days, we have our Navy's routine exercises."

"I suggest we have the USS Reagan carrier strike group from the Seventh Fleet go for a 'stroll' near China's Taiwan Strait."

As soon as this was said, an aide wearing gold-rimmed glasses changed color slightly and couldn't help but speak up.

"Mr. Secretary, wouldn't doing this... be a bit too conspicuous? What if it provokes friction..."

This was no longer just conspicuous; it was a direct provocation to their faces!

"Friction?" Holman sounded as if he had heard a joke.

He let out a cold laugh, turned to look at the aide, and said, "So what? What would they dare to do?"

He shifted his gaze back to the President, his voice filled with unquestionable dominance:

"We are not going there to provoke; we are going there to demonstrate. This is a reminder for them."

"A reminder that conquering a small thing like cancer won't change the global structure."

"On this planet, the military is the sole standard for measuring the status of a great power."

"A reminder of who the rule-makers are."

The President was silent for a moment, and the atmosphere in the office once again became grave.

He looked at Holman's supremely confident face and finally nodded slowly.

He waved his hand and said to the head of intelligence and the other aides, "All of you, leave."

After everyone left, the President stood up and walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, looking down upon the city beneath him, which symbolized the empire's power.

"Holman, I need an absolute victory to stabilize the confidence of the populace."

"You will have it, Mr. President," Holman's voice sounded from behind him.

"We will make them clearly see that the ticket to the new era is still firmly held in our hands."

However, neither of them knew.

On the other side of the world.

The medical breakthrough they considered a 'trivial matter' was merely an insignificant byproduct brought about by a young man fighting a few monsters in another world.

And the carrier strike group they prided themselves on was about to sail into unknown waters where the rules had been completely changed by the appearance of a 'Player.'

The ticket for the old era had quietly expired long ago.

It was just that the people on the ship were still completely unaware of it.