Chapter 202: No Turning Back

“The first mate should be Liu Yaofeng, right? Dream Technology has been sanctioned for a while, but it’s still thriving and remains one of the most profitable companies in the world.”

“In that case, I previously promised Sister Yuan to have you stationed in Magic City. Pack up as soon as possible and head to Magic City,” Du Qiu said.

“Are you worried that the Germanic government will succumb to pressure from the United States?”

Du Qiu shook his head and said, “I’m worried that after my retaliation, the United States will direct its anger toward you.”

Rein Leinar was greatly surprised and asked, “Your retaliation? Have you already retaliated?”

Du Qiu calmly said, “As long as I have the capability, I never postpone my vengeance! The frontline forces that launched the air strike on South Sudan have been annihilated by me!”

“Du Qiu, do you… already possess such strength?” Rein Leinar cautiously asked.

“Hmm, arm wrestling with the Americans is still doable,” Du Qiu said nonchalantly.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier!” Rein Leinar suddenly exclaimed loudly, “If we knew we had such strength, we should have been more tough on the United States! You don’t know how relieved I was when you said we would defeat the famous companies in their electronic and machinery industries. Since we’re not afraid of the United States, we should fully counter-sanction them! If necessary, we can start a war between a corporation and a country!”

Du Qiu was momentarily speechless. He hadn’t realized that Rein Leinar was even more belligerent than himself. Could it be that this was in the genes of the Germanic people?

“Batty, keep calm. The United States has so many nuclear bombs, even if we could win, Blue Star would be nearly destroyed, and we haven’t even started building Heaven!”

Rein Leinar instantly understood and said somewhat embarrassingly, “Right, what should I do now?”

Du Qiu instructed, “You first arrange for a group of people from the Berlin Research Center, along with their families, to come here to the Tanga Federation. I will send you the list later. These scientists must join us, and I will give you an outline of the Heaven project plan. You use this outline to persuade them to bring their families and conduct fully enclosed secret research.”

“Du Qiu, although scientists have a strong curiosity and desire to research, some may not be willing to do closed research with their families,” Rein Leinar remarked.

“Send me the names of those who are unwilling, and I will take care of them.”

Rein Leinar asked worriedly, “You’re not going to do anything to them, are you?”

“What do you think I would do to them?” Du Qiu replied, somewhat amused.

“I’m worried that you might ‘handle’ them, you know. In Tang language, the term ‘to handle’ can imply something quite grim,” Rein Leinar explained.

As a longtime friend of Du Qiu’s, he knew that Du Qiu was a person of deep loyalty and affection, but suddenly hearing that Du Qiu claimed to have great power, it was natural to let his thoughts run wild.

“In fact, you’re not entirely wrong. I will arrange for comprehensive surveillance of those refusers. If they try to betray our secrets, we will show no mercy. Otherwise, everything will be peaceful.”

Rein Leinar breathed a sigh of relief and said, “That arrangement makes sense. We won’t force anyone, but we also can’t be betrayed.”

“Batty, before you go to Magic City, bring your relatives to the Tanga Federation as well. These researchers and their families could serve as the first citizens of Heaven and enjoy the lifestyle in advance.”

Rein Leinar asked in surprise, “Have you established a nation within the Tanga Federation?”

“Of course not. It’s just a closed base. You’ll see for yourself when you arrive,” Du Qiu didn’t elaborate further.

Still, he added one more thing, “Once a group agrees, let them depart in batches. I will arrange for Iron Guard Security to escort them throughout the journey. If there’s any problem, you can contact your head of security. He’ll make the necessary arrangements. Additionally, as a representative of Dream Technology, protest against the United States’ air strike on the Zhuba industrial park in South Sudan!”

“Got it, rest assured, I will arrange everything meticulously and there won’t be any slip-ups!”

After ending the call with Rein Leinar, Du Qiu then said to Star Ocean, “Star Ocean, arrange for the assassination of Director Sanders and Director Clark. These two cannot be spared. Make it look like an accident or sudden illness. We need to keep the United States confused for a while longer.”

“Yes, sir,” Star Ocean agreed and added, “Also, there’s the latest situation domestically. The forces of harmony are too strong; I suggest you abandon the plan to return to the country. Especially now that we are at odds with the United States, it wouldn’t be beneficial for you to be in the country, and it may even lead to our country clashing with the United States.”

Upon hearing this, Du Qiu fell silent for a moment.

Yes, he hadn’t anticipated the force of harmony to be so powerful!

Well, so be it. The world is vast; why confine oneself to a corner?

Even if the country needed help, it could still be provided from abroad. But how to explain this to Ning Shuangshuang?

“Star Ocean, let me think this over,” he said.

At this time, in the temporary command center in the United States, the atmosphere was incredibly somber because the Graveley-class destroyer had also lost contact.

“Director Sanders, does the power behind Dr. Du Qiu have the capability to silently deal with one of our Burke-class destroyers?”

In the silence, Vandiat turned to look at Director Sanders.

It was unbelievably shocking. All the frontline forces that launched the air strike on the Dream Technology industrial park in South Sudan had lost contact. How could it be such a coincidence?

But acknowledging that the opponent had such capability meant that the U.S. military had indeed stirred up a hornet’s nest.

Now that they had eliminated Dr. Du Qiu, the other party had retaliated without hesitation. What would happen next was unpredictable.

This matter would probably need to be reported to the President, as it might involve national security for the United States.

Sanders, with a bitter expression, glanced at Clark, who was looking down as if lost in thought, feeling a sense of speechlessness.

However, Vandiat’s question still had to be answered.

“General, based on the intelligence we have, I believe that the loss of contact with our satellite might be related to them, but I think they don’t have the capability to take out two B2s and the Graveley-class destroyer,” Sanders responded.

“How do you explain the successive loss of contact of the B2 and the destroyer?”

Before Sanders could reply, his deputy had already announced another report.

“General, we’ve received word from Diego Garcia Base. The patrol aircraft sent to search for the B2 bomber found no trace of it. However…”

Sanders, impatient, interrupted, “However, what?”

The deputy felt a surge of irritation—interrupted again. Although annoyed, he continued, “But the aircraft noticed an Asan country fleet patrolling that sea area.”

Vandiat was taken aback, “An Asan country fleet? Did they spot and mistakenly shoot down the B2?”

General Hunter immediately denied, “Even Asan country’s Aegis ships can’t detect our B2 stealth bombers; I’m very familiar with their radar capabilities.”

Vandiat asked the deputy to confirm, “Check with the patrol aircraft. Is there an Aegis ship among the Asan country fleet on the sea?”

“Reporting, there is—it’s the Asan country’s Visakha,” replied the deputy.

A colonel immediately said, “I understand now. This is Asan country’s advance fleet, trying to recover their Kuchin.”

Sanders couldn’t help saying, “How can this be such a coincidence? The B2’s return route just happens to pass here? And coincidentally, it loses contact—are the two not related at all?”

The deputy added, “We just so happen to have a salvage ship in the area. The patrol aircraft has communicated with the salvage ship, which reported that the Asan country fleet issued a sudden alarm around 3 a.m. and subsequently launched a batch of anti-air missiles.”

Vandiat’s expression darkened and he ordered, “Notify all our naval vessels in the Indian Ocean to maintain level one combat readiness. Command Diego Garcia Base to dispatch a division fleet to the area. If it’s true that the Asan country fleet shot down our B2, that fleet will have to accompany the downing! Direct the salvage ship to the B2’s crash area to see if any wreckage can be recovered. I recall there is a Virginia-class nuclear submarine cruising in that direction. Have it monitor the Asan country fleet! Order the patrol aircraft to continue towards the Graveley’s last known location to find out what happened. If fuel is insufficient for the return flight, land at the nearest Kenyan base for refueling.”

“Yes, General,” the deputy confirmed.

Vandiat then addressed the colonel, “Colonel, immediately inform the command center to dispatch a satellite to monitor the destroyer’s last known location.”

“Yes, General.”

With a series of commands issued, the entire U.S. naval and air presence in the Indian Ocean was thrust into a state of busy readiness.

Due to the war with Persia, this region held vital logistical significance for the U.S. military. Now that a significant incident had occurred, it was imperative to thoroughly investigate.