Chapter 44: This Move is Impressive, Totally Learned It

The United States set up a private kangaroo court, declaring the Chinese company, Global Mining, to be illegal and demanding the transfer of its equity.

What utter nonsense!

Every Chinese person who heard about this felt an urge to curse out those American bastards.

You’ve really lost all shame.

Naturally, the great Eastern power did not give an inch in response to this.

The diplomatic rhetoric was stern and resolute.

Comply? What a joke. If I complied, wouldn't I become the joke?

It felt much like the arbitration case back in 2016.

Regarding the unilateral arbitration award issued by the Philippines, the great Eastern power completely ignored it, paying it zero heed.

They even went ahead and sent warships to take a stroll right outside the other side's doorstep!

Naturally, it was no different this time.

That very day, barely an hour after Robert’s video dropped, a missile was spotted streaking wildly across the skies in the Northwest.

The stance of the great Eastern power was crystal clear: don't sit here running your mouth at me—take a look at what this is!

And then, with a swift snap, the Rocket Force was promptly brought into play.

Naturally, the belligerent and pugnacious America refused to let the matter rest.

Unexpectedly, however, the aircraft carrier normally stationed at Yokosuka was due for routine maintenance at the mainland naval base.

Consequently, they had no choice but to dispatch two carriers from the continental US, preparing to steam toward the South China Sea to flex their muscle.

To be honest, China had been through this kind of posturing more than once, and this time nobody was scared.

If you want to come, then come.

By the time you reach combat positions, it will still be nearly a month from now.

I'll just deploy my forces right here along the coastline—if you've got the guts, let's trade blows!

One month.

That was more than enough time for the other side to cool down.

A joint meeting of the three armed services.

"I reckon it'll all end in a whimper again, leaving them with no way to back down gracefully," the senior Army officer spoke up, assuming this was just another one of their hollow stunts.

"That's a high probability, but we can't afford to lower our guard," the senior Rocket Force commander said with a heavy frown. "We will deploy mobile defenses along the coast to keep them from jumping over the wall in desperation."

"Indeed, that makes sense. We must treat this with utmost seriousness, and the Navy will coordinate accordingly," the senior naval commander nodded.

The situation was indeed showing a faint hint of crisis.

Although minor, they could not afford to be unprepared.

"Wait a minute, how are the anti-electromagnetic pulse upgrades coming along for the Navy?"

At that moment, the senior Air Force commander spoke up. A confident smile hung on his face, devoid of any tension.

"Several large destroyers have already been completed." The naval commander paused slightly, looking at the Air Force commander in confusion as he raised an eyebrow: "What are you getting at?"

"Hehehe, one of our Air Force squadrons has completed its anti-electromagnetic pulse retrofitting."

The Air Force commander curled the corner of his mouth into a light smile, glanced around the room, and suddenly said with reassuring ease:

Since both the Navy and the Air Force have partially completed anti-EMP modifications, what on earth do we still have to fear?

"We've got kinetic energy missiles!"

"And with a whole month left, I want the production lines running at full throttle!"

"If they dare pull any stunts when the time comes, we'll break their kneecaps and make them hop out of the Asia-Pacific on one foot!"

With his speech concluded, the Air Force commander leaned back comfortably in his seat, completely unfazed.

The other senior commanders pondered this for a moment.

That's true!

It's fine to respect your opponent strategically, but when a real war breaks out, electromagnetic pulse weapons are bound to fly everywhere.

When that time comes, who the hell cares about any of that?

"Alright, let's do it!"

"Agreed, keep all other defenses on standby as well, and use kinetic energy as our ultimate anchor."

"If they dare show up, we'll pin them down and crush them right here in the Asia-Pacific!"

"Damn it, those American bastards—we've been wanting to deal with them for a long time!"

...

Five days passed in quiet succession.

The so-called anti-dumping case fell completely silent, just as everyone thought the US had finished throwing its tantrums.

France, nighttime, a certain coastal military installation.

Night had fallen, and a banquet was underway at a distant estate.

Two Anglo-Saxon men in plain clothes stealthily approached a residential building.

Young and relatively inexperienced, Mike felt a bit nervous as he looked at his teammate, the seasoned veteran Aaron.

"Aaron, what should we do?"

"We charge in. They aren't in their rooms; they're at the banquet. No need to worry, Mike."

Aaron sported a long walrus mustache, wore a small beret, and had a cigar clenched between his teeth. His voice was cold and resolute.

Without waiting for Mike to react, he strode out from the alley corner and hurried up the stairs.

With a jolt of anxiety, Mike quickly followed.

Aaron led him right up to a doorway.

"I'll pick the lock!"

Feeling that this was his chance to shine, Mike immediately whipped out a full set of lock-picking tools, ready to spring into action.

Instead of yielding, Aaron merely glanced at the keyhole and sneered.

Without a moment's hesitation, he delivered a fierce kick.

"Bang!"

The closed wooden door was smashed wide open with a single blow!

"I honestly much prefer these wooden doors; security doors are the most disgusting invention of the 21st century!"

Muttering to himself, Aaron shook his leg and tossed a glance back at the dumbfounded Mike.

Kid, you're still a bit too green!

"Uh..."

Awkwardly putting away his lock-picking tools, Mike followed Aaron inside.

"Search!"

Aaron barked the order and immediately began rummaging through the place.

Mike followed suit, turning the room upside down.

"There's a safe here!"

In a corner of the bedroom, Mike discovered a wall safe concealed behind a panel.

By the time Aaron walked over, Mike had already used his superior lock-picking skills to pop the safe open.

Flashing his lock-picks with a smug grin, he said excitedly:

"It's an older model from 2003, and it only took me fifteen seconds!"

"Good job, Mike."

Aaron chuckled.

Together, the two men pulled the safe door open.

Inside lay only a stack of cash totaling about five thousand dollars, and nothing else.

"Aaron, did the informant give us the wrong intelligence? There's no stolen data belonging to the Chinese scientist here."

Seeing the empty safe, Mike felt a wave of disappointment.

So, had their mission failed?

"Heh."

Seeing Mike's expression, Aaron let out a soft laugh.

This kid was still too young.

Patting Mike on the shoulder, Aaron exhaled a puff of smoke, slipped his hand into the inner pocket of his trench coat, and said in a profound tone:

"Mike, why do you suppose the orders from above were to bring back the documents, rather than search for them?"

"Why?"

Not yet fully versed in CIA operations, Mike was somewhat confused.

That's right—if they hadn't even searched for them beforehand, how would superiors know there were documents here in the first place?

"Heh, because..."

Aaron sneered, slowly drawing his hand out from the inside pocket of his trench coat.

He pulled a file folder out from his jacket.

Then, right before Mike's utterly shocked eyes, he slowly placed the file into the empty safe.

After closing it, Aaron turned around, gazed quietly at Mike, and continued:

"Because there *has* to be a file here, regardless of how it actually got here!"

"Mike, we lie, we cheat, we steal. We even have specialized courses taught to us just for that. That is the glory of America's continuous exploration and progress."

"You still have a lot to learn."

Patting the frozen Mike on the shoulder, Aaron walked straight toward the exit.

"Our mission is complete. Now we leave the rest to the French police."

"Mike, time to go!"

Mike stood frozen in place.

Holy crap, you can actually do that?

The target didn't steal the documents, so you just drop them into their safe yourself?

What kind of operation is this?

Good grief, lesson learned.