142: Chapter 142 Trial Mission Tests Strength

Dr. Hartford stood at the back of the crowd. When he heard the adjective "low-end," his lips parted slightly, and he muttered in a voice only he could hear:

"Things that are considered low-end by the Deep State are likely top-tier technology for Earth's science."

Margaret Vaughan stood with her arms crossed over her chest, her fingers tapping lightly against her elbow—a subconscious action she only displayed in the laboratory when encountering breakthroughs that exceeded expectations by several orders of magnitude.

Just then, beneath the amber sky overhead, a transparent barrier slowly descended.

Diana Hopkins and Augustus Knox each stood within their own Chengyu Barrier.

Upon touching the ground, the barriers silently dissipated into the air.

The two walked toward Zhang Long simultaneously, their steps steady and their demeanor composed, as if they had just stepped out of their private studies to receive guests.

When Biden and the high-ranking White House officials behind him saw Diana approaching, their gazes changed in unison.

Harris lowered her arms, which had been crossed over her chest, clasped her hands together in front of her, and gave a slight nod in Diana's direction.

It was a small gesture, but it was the highest courtesy a Vice President could show to a representative of a military-industrial giant.

Graves put his military cap back on, adjusted the brim, and leaned forward slightly, almost unconsciously.

Mark Milley stood still, not moving.

But the way he looked at Diana was no longer the condescending scrutiny from before; it was the calm gaze one reserves for a confrontation with an opponent of equal weight.

Madeleine and Sawyer went even further, turning their bodies to face Diana and bowing slightly.

When Zhang Long publicly designated Diana as the intermediary for the Longevity Faction's technological aid, her status was no longer that of an ordinary head of a military-industrial giant.

She was now the Longevity Faction's technological relay station on Earth, the power behind the throne.

Zhang Long scanned everyone present, brought his blue-gloved hands from behind his back to his front, and waved them casually.

"I have said all that needs to be said."

"As for how you complete the mission, that is your own business."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sub-spatial gate tore open before them again.

[Chengyu Barrier] appeared beneath the feet of Biden and the others, lifting everyone slowly into the air and drifting toward the gate.

As they flew past the edge of the spatial opening, Biden looked back at the center of the plaza one last time.

Diana and Augustus were walking toward Zhang Long, who stood with his hands behind his back among the suspended pillars of light, seemingly instructing them on something.

As for what was specifically being said, he couldn't hear a single word through the transparent wall of the Chengyu Barrier.

Diana and Augustus were the ones who truly belonged to the Longevity Faction.

These high-ranking White House officials were currently at most in a probationary stage; before being confirmed, standing inside the Chengyu Barrier to visit the floating city was the extent of their privileges.

The Chengyu Barrier crossed the spatial opening and returned to the sky above the stone-paved courtyard of Casablanca Manor.

The transparent walls silently dissipated upon touching the ground, and Biden and the group of White House officials stood once again under the scorching desert sun.

The few unopened bottles of mineral water on the stone table were still scorching hot from the sun.

Biden shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and turned to face the group of White House officials and scientists behind him, who were still exchanging opinions in low voices after stepping out of the Chengyu Barrier.

His tone returned to the steady, concise manner he used when presiding over meetings.

"Regarding the mission Zhang Long just assigned us, what are your thoughts?"

Hartford stepped forward from the back of the crowd; his silver hair was disheveled by the hot desert wind, but his train of thought was clearly much more organized than his hair.

"The mission Zhang Long spoke of is for us to destroy everyone who affects the 'Seal Earth' directive."

"But Mr. President, in this world, who else could possibly affect the plans of the Longevity Faction, who are so powerful?"

"If there really is anyone who can stop the Deep State, the power of such people likely already exceeds our conventional assessment range."

Margaret Vaughan lowered her arms from her chest, tapped her fingertips twice against the edge of the stone table, her tone calm and precise.

"According to the intelligence we currently possess, there has always been a Tech Faction within the Deep State that opposes the Longevity Faction."

"Their goal is to break out of the Solar System and conquer the sea of stars."

"If we are talking about who is most likely to block the 'Seal Earth' plan, the Tech Faction should be ranked first."

"Are we supposed to destroy the Tech Faction?" Graves placed his military cap on the stone table, his voice a few degrees rougher than usual.

"That's a branch of the Deep State; we don't even understand how their fleets fly."

"That's even more absurd than making Grey Alien kneel before Earth!"

Mark Milley braced his thick palms against the edge of the stone table, tilted his head to look in the direction where the sub-spatial gate had just vanished, his tone steady and carrying the characteristic composure of a professional soldier.

"When the spatial gate closed just now, Zhang Long was instructing Diana on something; it is likely related to this."

"If it really were about destroying the Tech Faction, there would be no need for us to go; we don't have the qualifications."

Sawyer picked up an unopened bottle of mineral water from beside the stone table and turned it over in his hands, his brow still slightly furrowed as he spoke.

"Then who else is there besides the Tech Faction? On Earth right now, what other force could be written into the Longevity Faction's 'Threat List'?"

"The Jewish Financial Groups."

Madeleine snapped her folder shut, her tone cold and clear.

"From the wreckage of the UFO of Grey Alien that crashed around the Hoover Dam earlier, we deciphered conversation records of the Solomon Crane family conspiring with the Mothmen to rule humanity."

"If the Tech Faction is the opponent within the Longevity Faction, then that group around Solomon is the classic example of colluding with extraterrestrial forces."

"According to the logic of the 'Seal Earth' ban, they are targets that must be destroyed."

"Wait a minute! Did Zhang Long's 'Seal Earth' ban not explicitly exclude the human elite?"

Harris crossed her arms over her chest, tilted her head slightly, and spoke at a measured pace, but her question hit the mark precisely.

"No matter what, those Jewish Financial Groups are part of the elite class; if they are willing to submit to the Longevity Faction, are they not also on the exemption list?"

Sawyer placed the mineral water bottle back on the stone table, the bottom of the bottle hitting the stone surface with a dull thud. When he spoke, his tone carried unconcealed sarcasm.

"Zhang Long said: the elite who want to become heroes and knights."

"I don't think a bunch of people who only know how to practice usury would be any kind of heroes or saints."

"They have been practicing usury for two thousand years," Madeleine added coldly. "There has never been an era that included usury in the code of chivalry."