54: Conditions of armistice

When Carmen said "Everything is negotiable" in a tone that bordered on begging, the atmosphere in the private club in Manhattan became unusually subtle.

The permanent United Nations representatives from China, Russia, the UK, and France—old foxes who had been rolling around on the international diplomatic stage for decades—exchanged glances with one another.

They all saw a hint of undisguised astonishment and a trace of complete understanding in each other's eyes.

They were astonished that the once arrogant superpower had actually fallen to the point of needing to sell out its national sovereignty in exchange for external intervention.

But they naturally also knew that this was merely the most common and dirtiest move in the game of politics—quenching thirst with poison.

"Mr. Carmen," the Russian representative spoke first. His face, which was always known for being tough, now wore a playful smile. "I sympathize with the misfortune your country is currently facing, but as you know, the principle of non-interference in internal affairs is the most basic guideline of the United Nations Charter."

"Of course," he shifted the tone of his conversation, his voice becoming pointed. "If this really is a serious humanitarian crisis concerning global security, we naturally cannot sit idly by."

The French and British representatives also expressed similar "concern" using ambiguous diplomatic language.

They neither clearly refused nor immediately agreed.

They were all waiting.

Waiting for the figure who could truly make the decision—the stance of the Chinese Representative.

Everyone's gaze focused on the Chinese Representative.

This gray-haired, gentle-looking old diplomat had been quietly drinking tea from the very beginning, as if this secret talk concerning the national fate of the United States was just an afternoon tea party that had nothing to do with him.

Only now did he slowly set down his teacup.

"Mr. Carmen," he looked at the face full of anxiety and pleading, and said in a calm tone, "You have come to the wrong person."

"What?" Carmen was stunned.

"The four of us combined may hold significant weight in politics and economics," the Chinese Representative explained unhurriedly, "but you should know better than us that the force currently interfering most deeply in your country's civil war, and the only one that can fundamentally influence the direction of the war, is not any one of us."

He did not say the name directly.

But everyone present knew it clearly.

"Paradox Technology." The Russian representative said it for him.

"Exactly." The Chinese Representative nodded. "It is Paradox Technology's weapons arming the Alliance, it is Paradox Technology's AI directing the combat, and it is the aid from Paradox Technology's logistics fleet that is providing a blood transfusion to the Alliance."

"It is no exaggeration to say that this war has been a proxy war led by them from the very beginning."

"So," he looked at Carmen, delivering a conclusion that made the other party feel desperate yet unable to refute.

"Before we discuss whether to intervene and mediate, perhaps you should first seek the opinion of Paradox Technology."

His tone carried a hint of meaningful warning. "After all, I don't think any of the four of us is willing to rashly bear the risk of a direct confrontation with such an opponent without their consent."

These words were like a basin of ice water that completely extinguished the last shred of luck in Carmen's heart.

He understood.

In this new world order, the traditional five permanent members of the United Nations were no longer the only players.

A sixth pole possessing power not inferior to a superpower had quietly risen.

At least for now, this sixth pole was the true dealer in this card game.

...

When Carmen relayed the opinions of the four countries to The White House, the atmosphere in that underground conference room became even more oppressive.

"Paradox Technology? They want us to ask for that ghost's opinion?" McConnell was trembling with rage. "What an insult!"

"But they are right, John." The financier who had remained calm until now was filled with bitterness in his voice. "The main enemy we are facing now has never been Elon and his rabble, but that Paradox Technology hiding behind them from the very beginning."

"But how do we contact them?" President Miles asked desperately. "We don't even know where their headquarters are, or who their person in charge is! We can't just shout into the air, can we?"

Just as the entire decision-making layer of The White House was at a loss as to how to contact that mysterious "ghost."

The central display screen that was originally showing the battlefield situation map suddenly flickered.

All images and data disappeared in an instant.

Replacing them was a pure white geometric body, composed of countless light points, slowly changing its shape.

The Paradox Technology logo.

Immediately after, that electronically synthesized voice they were both familiar with and terrified of came out clearly from every loudspeaker in the conference room.

"It seems that everyone has finally figured out who to talk to."

The conference room instantly fell silent.

Everyone was staring dumbfounded at the logo that had suddenly appeared, feeling as if their hearts were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand.

Their underground bunker in The White House, which they thought was impregnable, was like a public restroom that could be entered and exited at will in front of the other party.

This feeling of being completely seen through and even completely controlled made these power-hungry people present, who were accustomed to controlling the lives and deaths of others, feel an unprecedented humiliation and fear.

"You... what do you want?"

In the end, it was President Miles who mustered her final bit of courage as a head of state and asked the logo in a trembling voice.

"What I want?" The voice known as the "spokesperson" seemed to let out a chuckle. Although it was just a soulless electronic voice, everyone present heard a hint of undisguised mockery in it.

"What I want, you cannot afford."

"But considering that you at least have a little self-awareness, I can give you a chance to retain some dignity."

"These are the five conditions proposed by Paradox Technology, and by me personally."

"As long as you can fulfill all of them, we can immediately stop all aid to the Alliance and tacitly allow you to end this farce in a relatively peaceful manner."

Lei Wen had the white flower read out the surrender agreement prepared for these remnants of the old era, one item at a time.

"First: You, and all the traditional energy giants and technology giants you represent behind you, must unconditionally hand over all physical industries under your control to Paradox Technology—including but not limited to oil fields, refineries, pipelines, chip factories, and all related patented technologies. You are only allowed to retain pure financial industries, to play the digital games you are best at."

Once this condition was put forward, the faces of several capital tycoons present instantly turned pale.

This was no longer cutting off flesh.

This was pulling out their backbone.

Physical industries were the foundation of their century-old foundation.

Having lost these, they would fall from industrial oligarchs who controlled the economic lifeline of the country to ordinary speculators who could only float in the virtual economy.

"Second: All remnants of the Earth Purity Faction led by Senator John McConnell, as well as all the masterminds who participated in planning the assassination of President Donald, must immediately confess their crimes to the public and be dealt with according to the maximum sentencing for treason and murder, in order to appease the public's anger."

Hearing this, McConnell's legs went weak, and he slumped directly into his chair, his face ashen.

He knew he had been treated as a sacrificial lamb.

"Third: From this day forward, the United States' foreign policy and national defense construction must be conducted under the strategic framework of Paradox Technology. Any major military deployment and diplomatic action must be consulted with us in advance, and we will reserve the right of veto over all decisions that we believe are detrimental to the overall interests of Earth's civilization."

This condition made everyone present feel a chill from the marrow of their bones.

This was no longer interfering in internal affairs.

This was equivalent to adding an emperor above the United States government.

"Fourth: To ensure the scientific nature and rationality of future economic policies, the position of United States Secretary of Commerce will be permanently held by a dedicated AI provided by Paradox Technology. It will be responsible for supervising and managing all commercial activities in the United States, ensuring that they conform to our common interests."

Let an AI be a secretary?

Everyone was so shocked by this whimsical and even somewhat ridiculous idea that they couldn't speak.

But they soon couldn't laugh anymore.

Because they knew that what this AI secretary represented behind it would be the all-pervasive absolute control of Paradox Technology.

"Fifth, and the last one."

The voice of the white flower paused, then said the last straw that broke the camel's back.

"Ms. Miles, you must announce your resignation from the position of interim president within 24 hours, and then immediately restart the presidential election."

"And," her electronic synthesized voice without any fluctuation continued, "in the upcoming election, you must not interfere with Mr. Elon's campaign activities in any way."

"All you need to do is ensure that he can win this election without any suspense."

When all five requirements were read out, only dead silence remained in the underground bunker of The White House.

Everyone present had an extremely ugly expression.

Anger, humiliation, unwillingness, despair...

Various emotions intertwined, making them almost suffocated.

These terms could no longer be described as "unequal."

They were even harsher and more excessive than any surrender agreement signed by a defeated country in history, and any obligation that a vassal state needed to fulfill.

If the first article only deprived them of their economic foundation.

Then the second article was a political purge of them.

The third and fourth articles completely hollowed out their future national sovereignty.

And the last article completely extinguished their last hope of a comeback.

"This... this is impossible!" McConnell finally struggled out of his despair and roared hysterically at the logo. "You are trying to turn our great America into your colony! Even if we fight to the last person, we will never accept such terms!"

"We can talk!" President Miles also forced herself to perk up, trying to make a final bargain. "We can give up part of our physical industries, we can punish some people, but national sovereignty and elections... these are our bottom line!"

However, what greeted them was an ultimatum that was cold and left no room for negotiation.

"This is not a negotiation agreement, ladies and gentlemen."

"This is the bottom line we have given."

"You can choose to accept, and then gracefully exit the stage of history."

"Or, choose to refuse."

"In that case, Paradox Technology will provide Elon with a special weapon in the near future, the effect of which I believe you would not want to see."

"That is all I have to say."

"You have 24 hours to make your final choice."

After speaking, the logo on the screen vanished instantly as if it had never appeared.

The conference room's display screen returned to the normal situation map.

As if everything just now was just a nightmare.

Only the silent yet deafening silence remained in the conference room.