Chapter 296 Countdown: Time to Settle Accounts
Tokyo, the Prime Minister's official residence.
Prime Minister Kishida of Japan spoke into a microphone connected to an encrypted line, his voice hoarse and pleading.
"Your Excellency, we truly do not wish for war!"
"The tragedy in Yokosuka has already caused public resentment to boil over, and the economy is on the verge of collapse!"
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"We're willing to pay compensation, and privately... we can increase the compensation amount by 30%! No, 50%!"
"We only ask that you stop pressuring us to issue a public apology!"
"As you know, regarding the US... we have no choice! The Seventh Fleet is already on its way!"
There was a full three seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.
Those three seconds felt like an eternity to Kishida.
Finally, a calm voice, devoid of any emotion, came through.
"Apologizing is admitting a mistake."
"Compensation is to make up for the loss."
"Both are indispensable."
Kishida's heart sank.
The voice continued, "Open provocation demands an open explanation."
"This is the bottom line."
“But Your Excellency…” Kishida hadn’t finished speaking.
"Beep...beep...beep..."
Communication was abruptly cut off.
Kishida held the microphone, his arm hanging limply at his sides, and he slumped into the chair.
It's over.
...
In China, the silence was broken by the ringing of a telephone.
“Boss.” Zhang Yuanchao spoke first.
A steady, powerful voice came from the other end of the phone: "The Japanese just called, wanting to settle this privately."
Zhang Yuanchao remained silent. He knew that his boss would never agree to a private settlement. If he did, then China's reputation would be at the mercy of the other side.
"I refused." Just as expected.
"They won't apologize. Get ready to take action."
"clear."
After hanging up the phone, Zhang Yuanchao looked at Chen Jianguo standing to the side.
"The land of cherry blossoms has chosen a different path."
Chen Jianguo pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting the countdown timer flashing on the screen.
"As expected."
"They still had other people's chains around their necks."
...
Tokyo, the Ministry of Defense's underground command center.
Kishida sat on the command seat, his face ashen. He had just issued a series of orders that he never wanted to issue in his life.
A general strode over, stood at attention, and reported.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, the emergency evacuation of coastal residents has begun!"
"Our Standard Missile-3 and Patriot missile defense systems have all entered the highest state of combat readiness!"
Kishida raised his head, his bloodshot eyes filled with only a sliver of hope.
"Can you stop them?"
The general stood tall with his chest out, his voice booming, as if he were encouraging himself and everyone else.
"Sir! No matter how advanced their weapons are, they must still abide by the laws of physics!"
"We have a chance to intercept any missile!"
"Although it's unclear why one of the two shells fired from the US base disappeared while the other returned along the same path, defense and offense are two different things!"
"If we can successfully intercept their first wave of attacks and prove to the world that their 'weapons' can be intercepted, the US support will be even more powerful! We will be able to turn the tide!"
Kishida nodded weakly.
This was his only gamble.
The "shield" that China uses to gamble on may seem indestructible.
The "spear" that bets on China can still be broken.
...
In this so-called land of freedom, a new performance is underway.
The president stood behind the podium, straightened his tie, and gave a resolute smile to the dozens of cameras in front of him.
A televised address to the world has begun.
"My fellow countrymen, my friends in the free world."
His voice, transmitted via satellite signal, reached every corner of the earth.
"Today, we face an unprecedented threat."
"During our military exercise, two artillery shells were fired. One disappeared, and the other returned along its original path. What does this mean? It means that some countries have mastered a new technology!"
"And they also applied this technology to their territory!"
"This is not defense, it's the prelude to attack!"
"We cannot sit idly by and wait for this dark force to engulf the entire world!"
The president's tone became increasingly impassioned, and his gestures became more forceful.
"Therefore, I call on the world to unite. I demand that this technology be made public, or we must face the judgment of the world!"
"Science knows no borders! Any attempt to create barriers is unacceptable!"
"If the other side remains obstinate, then our country will conduct a new military exercise!"
This sentence seemed to freeze the air around the world.
"I have already given the order!"
The president's voice resounded throughout the sky.
"In addition to the Seventh Fleet, which is heading to the East China Sea, our powerful Third Fleet will also set sail immediately for the Asia-Pacific region!"
"Long live freedom, my friends!"
The speech is over.
The US president not only put the chips on the table, but also increased them again!
He was betting that the whole world would still follow in his footsteps.
He was betting that other countries, seeing this unknown technology, would also want a piece of the pie.
He was betting that this ancient country, which has always upheld the ideal of peace, would not actually fire any shells.
...
China.
On the side screen, a replay of the US president's speech was playing.
But nobody went to see it.
All eyes were fixed on the blood-red countdown in the center of the main screen.
【00:01:00】
【00:00:59】
【00:00:58】
...
The entire command center was so quiet that you could hear the faint hum of the equipment running.
Time seemed to slow down dramatically at that moment.
On the screen, the official communication channel representing the Sakura Kingdom was completely silent.
There is no indication of an apology.
【00:00:03】
【00:00:02】
【00:00:01】
【00:00:00】
The bright red numbers are frozen in time.
The 24-hour deadline has passed.
Zhang Yuanchao didn't look at anyone, and walked steadily to his command post.
In the command room, all the officers stood at attention with a snap, their postures as straight as pine trees.
At the same time, in Tokyo, at the Prime Minister's official residence underground bunker.
Kishida stared at the screen, his face pale, gripping the armrests tightly with both hands. If the other side really launched a missile, could they really intercept it? He recalled the other side's weapons demonstration earlier.
The defense minister beside him was muttering something repeatedly, as if in prayer.
【00:00:00】
The countdown on the screen turned into a row of zeros.
The live broadcast showed a completely silent missile launch site in inland China.
Those two "Dongfeng" missiles, which are a global deterrent, still stand quietly beside the launch silo, motionless.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com