Chapter 398 - 397: The Grand Commander’s Confidence
"Has he gone mad?"
In the Yandu Taoist Cultural Exchange Support Office, a press conference given by the Huaqi Grand Commander from the White House was playing on the big screen.
They called it a press conference, but it was really just the Grand Commander’s personal monologue.
"This world has Supermen!"
"But our Huaqi Country’s Supermen are the strongest!"
"Therefore, Huaqi Country is the greatest nation in the world!"
One had to admit, the Huaqi Grand Commander’s logic was at least consistent. "Whether it’s Celestial Xia, Mao Bear, Mi Qi, or Gaul, their Extraordinary Beings are no match for ours!"
"Nobody knows more about Superpowers than I do!"
"We have the world’s most powerful Extraordinary organization: the Superpower Special Service Bureau!" The Grand Commander started giving examples. "They’re stronger than the FBI and the CIA! They are Huaqi’s own Avengers, representing light and justice!"
"The Superpower Special Service Bureau is the world’s first Extraordinary organization. Whether in technology or the Extraordinary, the great Huaqi Country will always lead the world!"
"Our Supermen possess all sorts of Superpowers: invisibility, flight, breathing fire, super speed, mind control! Most importantly, they respect me deeply, because I’m the one who brought them into the spotlight and gave them their respected status."
Watching the video on the big screen, everyone in the office was momentarily speechless.
"Does he really not know about the Berkeley incident, or does he know and is just refusing to back down?" someone asked.
"Don’t forget the sixth-generation fighter incident," another person said calmly. "Ours has already completed its test flight, yet he still dared to hold a press conference and brag with nothing more than a photo."
"Have they fallen so low they don’t even have a PowerPoint presentation?" someone sighed. "If they had a PPT, we could at least use it as a benchmark, giving us a target to pursue."
Everyone couldn’t help but laugh.
"But doesn’t he realize? As long as they don’t provoke us, a hot war won’t break out across the Pacific. But we can’t control those old Taoist Masters from the research institute," someone asked. "He’s overdone it with the boasting. What if the Taoist Masters decide to pay him a visit at the White House?"
"On the contrary, perhaps he’s judged that the research institute won’t be paying a visit to the White House, and that’s why he dares to say such things," Chen Yao said thoughtfully.
An ordinary-looking, middle-aged man nodded. "Setting aside the rescue missions within our borders, and just looking at the incidents abroad—Berkeley, Kabia, and most recently, the Western Mediterranean Coast—all of them were cases where the other side engaged in actual, tangible provocation."
"So he thinks that as long as it’s all talk, with no tangible harm done, the Taoist Masters won’t act?"
"That seems to be the case."
"He dares to gamble?"
"Why wouldn’t he? Haven’t you seen how fired up the comments section is under that tweet of his?"
"But while he’s feeling good about himself, the global court of public opinion is in chaos," someone said helplessly. "It has even dragged us down domestically, disrupting our plans and causing all sorts of speculation and conspiracy theories to run rampant."
"It’s fine. This was bound to come out eventually, and we’ve already laid most of the groundwork," Zheng Hongsheng said.
"Are we going to acknowledge it publicly?" Chen Yao asked, looking at Zheng Hongsheng.
"We’ll find the right opportunity. It makes no difference whether we acknowledge it or not," Zheng Hongsheng said calmly.
...
"WTF!"
"Who told him to say that?"
"Don’t forget, he’s the Grand Commander of Huaqi Country."
In a hidden basement somewhere, a meeting was being held regarding Huaqi Country’s Extraordinary affairs.
"Do we not know what kind of joke the Superpower Special Service Bureau is?" someone said coldly. "They might be useful in a surprise attack or against an unprepared opponent, but against anyone ready for them, they’re worse than a single Marine."
"Forget the people behind the Berkeley or Kabia incidents. Just Gu Zhao, the one who killed Aaron, could wipe out the entire Superpower Special Service Bureau by himself."
"So what on earth is the Grand Commander trying to do?"
"The Grand Commander isn’t trying to do anything," a new face in the room said calmly. "He’s simply rebuilding the confidence of the Huaqi citizenry."
"Eric," Lawrence said, looking at the man. "You people simply don’t understand the Extraordinary Beings we’re up against."
"We don’t need to understand them," Eric said with a small smile. "We’re not like you. You have designs on them, whereas we have no such intentions."
The meeting room fell silent. Even Lawrence was at a loss for words.
"You’ve been at this for over a year and spent a fortune. Besides creating the Superpower Special Service Bureau, what else have you accomplished?" Eric taunted. "Or should we count the time someone attacked you on your home turf and broke a statue?"
"The Frank Clan are founding members of the Elephant Faction!" Frank glared at Eric.
"Fine, my apologies," Eric said with a dismissive nod. "But the fact remains, you’ve achieved absolutely nothing."
"We’ve identified many of them," someone argued. "Taoist Ming Yu from the Celestial Master’s Mansion, Taoist Yi Hong from White Cloud Temple, Taoist Jingyi from Lao Mountain."
"Their identities are practically public knowledge by now," Eric scoffed.
"We have also ascertained their patterns of behavior," said Rockefeller from the head of the table, raising a hand. "Without our analytical report, do you think the Grand Commander would have dared to hold this press conference?"
Eric shrugged. "Of course he would."
"That’s why the Grand Commander held this press conference and rolled out the Superpower Special Service Bureau—to justify the funds you wasted," Eric said to the group. "That can be considered your accomplishment for the past year and a half."
"But a single Daoist from Celestial Xia could take on the entire Superpower Special Service Bureau with one hand tied behind their back," Lawrence stressed. "A lie like that can be exposed very easily."
"Then just don’t put it to the test," Eric said with a laugh, adding, "Besides, these hot-button issues always blow over."
"A ’hot-button issue’ like this won’t just ’blow over’!" Rockefeller couldn’t contain his anger. "Does he think news about Extraordinary Beings is just some domestic scandal? This is a paradigm-shifting event!"
"But Celestial Xia’s Extraordinary Beings haven’t upended the world," Eric said with a shrug. "That means they’re still wary of us, because we hold strategic weapons too. As long as we don’t cross the line, they won’t do a thing."
The meeting room fell silent once again.
Frank sneered. "Are we going to be reduced to Mao Bear’s level, constantly dangling the threat of strategic weapons?"
"Of course not," said Eric. "As I said, the Grand Commander has no designs on them."
Lawrence said calmly, "And what if the Grand Commander changes his mind?"
Eric, "..."
This time, it was Eric’s turn to fall silent. Then, he heard Lawrence continue, "I feel obligated to remind you, they are not above killing. They might not kill the Grand Commander, but you had best watch your own back."
After a moment of silence, Eric finally said, "I understand. Thank you for the warning."